Chapter six

Secrets

Thranduil paced the balcony of his room anxiously. He had not seen Legolas in around two days. In his heart, he feared that his only child was dead. He watched as the trees blew in a breeze that announced the early coming of winter to the realm. Even though it was only Autumn, being an elf, he could sense such things. His face, usually serene and ageless, was now creased with wrinkles of worry. He felt as though his world was empty and dry, like spring without new life. The darkness of the forest was coming, night was arriving early. He turned, preparing to go back into his room and close the curtains when an arrow whizzed by his ear. It struck the pillar and crumpled to the ground. The Elvenking stood frozen as he waited to see if danger had passed.

Going over to the crushed arrow, he saw a tassel of golden hair sticking to it. The hair's golden color was tainted scarlet with blood. Cold fear gripped the elf's heart as he recognized the fair golden hair of his son. A piece of paper stuck to the tip, skewered clear through. The flechings where white, like the bows of his people. One of his son's arrows perhaps? Stooping, Thranduil picked up the arrow and plucked the piece of paper from the tip. Taking it, he felt his face turn white as he read;

King Thranduil,

We are holding your son, Legolas. He is in no great pain yet but he shall soon learn it well if you do not except the terms that will follow. Already he has suffered fractures and uncountable other wounds.

Thranduil passed a trembling hand over his brow. Then his gaze fell upon the bloodied hair of his child. What had they done to him already? Looking back to the ransom note, he continued to read.

My terms are these:

You must come to the old abandoned guardhouse near the edge of the palace grounds the morning you no later than the morning after you receive this message. NOBODY can be with you, unless of course you wish for your son to be put through the wringer before being brutally killed knowing his father feared for his own life too much to save his child's.

Second; you must surrender the thrown and everything to me and leave
the kingdom or stay at your own risk and your son's.

Thirdly; I want a promise from you that once your brat is released you
will take no action against me.

Follow all of the above and your son will be released as soon as possible. Don't and he will take the fall for you and himself.

If You Don't Know Me You Should

The king slid along the pillar. His face was white as a sheet and he trembled visibly. Legolas was in the hands of some treacherous thugs. Who was it? Where was his child? What had they done to him! Thranduil looked at the lock of tainted hair that lay on the ground of the palace, fanned out in fine strands of fair-haired sunshine. A single tear trickled down his cheek. When it fell it landed on the paper, smearing the ink that told of his son's torment and pain to be. He began to wonder how scared his son probably was. Maybe he wasn't really alive. What if he was in terrible pain? It was then Thranduil resolved to get his son and bring him home-no matter the cost. None would be too high.

Picking up the arrow message, hair and all, the king made his way to his son's room. The shutters and curtains were open and the sun shone through, casting much light onto the empty bed where his son normally slept. Suddenly, something caught the elder elf's eye. A dark blotch on the floor near the closet door edge. It looked almost red. Going closer, he saw it was red. It was a pool of blood, not much, maybe about the size of his fist. Was it Legolas's blood? Flinging the door open in eagerness to see who or what lay beyond it, the king's mouth fell open. He jumped back as a dark haired elf tumbled out.

The elf was chalky white and he was bound with a belt. A pillow case was stifling any cry he might make to a squeak, shoved harshly into the warrior's mouth. A deep and crusted over gash ran along the raven haired elf's arm. It was obvious he had been in quite a struggle and had lost miserably. As the elf's head lolled back, one could see a cut, where a knife or dagger must have held him into submission. Thranduil gingerly removed the gag. Suddenly, the warrior's paled lips moved even as he choked on the clean air. As Thranduil watched him, he saw the elf was mouthing his son's name, 'Legolas'. Carefully, the Elvenking, began to shift the elf to a better position for breathing, he had noticed the fair being's breath was coming in shallow and rapid intakes and outtakes. The elf moaned. The king finally recognized the mangled elf's face.

"Rothinzil," he gasped. The elf smiled weakly then grimaced as a wave of pain washed over him.

"My king." Thranduil grabbed a pillow from the foot of his son's bed. He carefully placed a hand behind the raven haired elf's head and lifted it tenderly up. Roth started to contest that his king should do this but Thranduil hushed him. Almost lovingly, he eased the hurting head back down. Roth winced and the king saw his leg was at an odd angle. Carefully, he began to shift the limb and stopped when he felt a sticky substance on his hand and felt the warrior shudder in pain. Withdrawing his hand, it came away wet with blood. Another wound. He looked at the pain stricken face of Legolas's friend. "You need a healer."

Roth grasped the king's hand. "They have him. They have Legolas." Thranduil gently unwound the hand from his and stood up. He called for a healer.

After a few moments later a blonde haired elf stumbled in. Thranduil gestured to Roth. "Take care of him as you would my own child." The elf nodded and knelt beside Roth. The healer swiftly cut the belt from the elf's frail wrists. Deep wrinkles and creases decorated the pale skin. Roth felt his hands tingle as feeling came back. The warrior gasped and hissed as his wound on his arm was examined. It was deep. Suddenly, the fair being's eyes rolled back. Thranduil fumed. "What happened!"

The healer nearly jumped. "Nothing your highness, he has lost a lot of blood and has fainted dead away. This wound nicks his main artery. It is a wonder he did not die!" Thranduil rocked on his heels. His stomach felt sick. Two more elves came and bore the critically injured elf to a spare room.

He was lain on the bed and made as comfortable as possible. His wounds were cleansed and wrapped. The healer said he would soon wake.

Pulling up a chair to the bedside of his loyal warrior, the Elvenking began to speak to the limp form. "What did they do to Legolas? Come on Rothinzil! Wake!" he said in Quenya. Of course there was no response. The elf was too weak to wake and talk. He looked strangely dead. One would think he would be if his chest was not now rising and falling with deep relaxed breaths. He was sleeping peacefully. It wasn't that the king did not know or care about the younger elf's state, he just could not help willing the elf wake. He had to know more about Legolas, he had to.

Elrohir awakened in his bed. His arm did not hurt as badly anymore and he stared up at the ceiling. /How long have I been sleeping/ he wondered. He saw light coming in through the closed curtains. A sliver of it ran across his face and he blinked. Where were Elladan and his father? He crawled of the bed and walked across the room to the door. Opening it, he began to go along the hall, to his twin's room. "Dan?" he called. No answer. "Dan? Elladan!" A sleep deprived face peered around the corner of the opened door.

"El! Your up!" The older brother's eyes shot open. "We were worried for a while." Elrohir smiled and shook his head.

"Well I see you did not take advantage of being in the safety of home. You must not of slept more than a minute." Elladan shrugged. It was true, but not because he did not try. Sleeping had just not been feasible that night. Strange thoughts of his adoptive brother, Estel, had come to his mind. He was beginning to get the feeling there was more to them than he had thought in the beginning when they first started. They had come anyway to get supplies to leave and go to Mirkwood. If Elrohir was better, they should probably be going, especially if Elladan's inner gut feeling was true.

"El?" said Elladan somewhat groggily.

"Hmmmm?" The younger twin was busy pulling the drapes away form a window and did not even look his brother's direction. As far as Elrohir was concerned, the place needed sunlight if they were awake.

Elladan rolled his eyes and then said. "I still have that feeling."

"Which one I wonder?" responded back Elrohir with a grin. Elladan punched his shoulder on his good arm gently.

"The one about Estel." The elder twin suddenly smiled as he watched Elrohir turn around. In the light of the sun he could see how frizzed and messed up the younger twin's hair had become. Elrohir looked puzzled as he watched his brother's sudden mirth. It was then he realized that he was laughing at something about him.

He looked himself over and said in an aggravated voice, "what!" Elladan coughed.

"Nothing." He began to walk down the hall. Elrohir came running up behind.

Grabbing Elladan by his right shoulder, he spun him around. "No, really? What?" Elladan looked up at the ceiling and mumbled something. "What!"

"I was just asking if a Giant Eagle made a nest in your hair is all." Elrohir paused for a moment then his hand shot up to his hair. He felt his normally perfect hair being out of place. He gave his twin a shove before dashing into his room to fix his dark, frizzy bed-head. Elladan smirked as he saw Elrohir dash off.

Moments later Elrohir returned and said. "Okay. Now will you tell me what's wrong with Estel!" He was sick of Elladan dodging the subject.

"That's just it! I don't know what's wrong!" he fumed in exasperation. If he knew he would be screaming out the answer but all he could do was ponder over it in frustration.

Thranduil bent over the still form of Rothinzil. The elf was still 'asleep'. The healer came into the room when he heard of it. The warrior should have wakened by now. He took the raven-haired elf's pulse then listened to his now shallow breathing. His face went pale and he looked up at the king. "My lord?"

Thranduil bent closer as he heard the healer whisper, "he's not going to be waking anytime soon. Rothinzil son of Elecuiviƫ has gone into a coma." Thranduil felt his own face blanch at this sudden twist of fate. Now if the wretched warrior did not wake, he would never know who did this to the raven-haired elf or his son Legolas.

Legolas tried to get back up but even though his mind told his body to move, it refused to comply. .Pain raced through his body. It hurt tremendously just form the fall he took. He tried again and again to move, but to no avail. He felt trapped. Helpless and utterly alone even though he could hear his friend calling his name and feel his gentle touch on his own aching shoulders. The elven prince hated this feeling more than pain it self. At least with pain he could fight against it, with this he could do nothing at all. Even things as basic as control over his own breathing seemed a treasure.

Aragorn edged close to his friend. The elf was still breathing, why did he not answer? With much effort due to his own wounds and dangers, the ranger rolled the prince onto his back. Legolas's eyes were open and staring. They looked alive and well, behind them sparkled a fear the man had never seen before. The elf gulped. Aragorn tensed as he realized his friend could not move a muscle. Convulsions began to wrack the fair being. He had no control over them. Legolas could not even will them to stop or slow. He could just stare up into the gray eyes of his friend. The ranger felt a thrill of fear race trough him. Why was his friend paralyzed? That was what it was. It was a case of paralysis. But why?

Hissing as his rib shifted dangerously closer to his liver, the human tried to ease Legolas into an easier breathing position. Legolas struggled and finally uttered a single word. "Aragorn." The man felt hot tears stinging his eyes. Would his friend and almost brother die? He felt a sudden sensation of anger burn his heart. How could anyone be this cruel unless they were orcs? It was just wrong! He looked at the eyes of his friend that were now shut tight as the elf shivered and shook uncontrollably. Aragorn thought for a moment.

What of the drug that Iaurgwath had given the prince? Would that have caused this? It must have. What was the wicked adviser going to do to Legolas now? If was going to do nothing he would not have given him a drug that made him utterly helpless. Unless of course, he knew it would break him. Was that all he wanted? To break the prince? Aragorn hoped so but feared the worst. Compared to the emotional and physical pain Legolas was in, he felt his own was small and of no importance. Legolas strove to speak some more. He was roughly forming the words but no sound came out. Legolas felt trapped in his body.

The ranger suddenly saw Iaurgwath from the corner of his eye. He was coming over to them. Legolas caught the look of worry that washed over the human's face when he saw Iaurgwath coming and he knew immediately what was going on. He rolled his eyes, knowing it was inevitable. He was panicked at the fact he could not move.

As the elder elf strode serenely over, he utterly ignored the ranger crouched by the stricken elf's side. His cruel, icy gaze fell solely on the prince. Legolas glared coldly back. His cobalt eyes where fiercely glowing but behind them, the wicked adviser sensed fear. So the pampered prince still had his wits about? Good. It made things more interesting that way. "So how goes things Greeny Leafy?" Iaurgwath smirked with success over his struggling victim. Legolas tried to speak but the words just would not work and his tongue felt numb. "What's wrong? Can't speak? Oh-you can't move either? Poor little prince!" Legolas pressed his mouth into a thin line to show his anger. If he could not say it, he would do his best to get the message across. Iaurgwath was fairly laughing now. He was really enjoying this.

Circling his captive, he kept his eyes on Legolas's face. "Do you know why I absolutely hate your father?" He watched as Legolas's brows furrowed and his eyes darkened with fury. He was beyond anger with this traitor. "He has it so great in his nice palace with his son and everything all so lovely. He gets all the credit for everything! I advise him to do it and what do I get! You want to know! Nothing!" The elder elf's face was turning red in his rage. His joy at tauniting was turning to pure hate and a lust for vengeance.

Legolas looked to Aragorn and instantly regretted it. He watched in horror as the treacherous elf's gaze fell upon the ranger. Aragorn ignored Iaurgwath and put a finger to his lips as a sign for Legolas to do the same. The prince saw a look he had seen only once before. It was the look Elladan ad given Elrohir before jumping in the path of an arrow meant for his brother. It was a look of one who knows what they have to do and sees no other way. Legolas shot the ranger an alarmed look that pleaded with him not to do what he knew he was going to. He was going to irritate Iaurgwath to the point of his forget of Legolas. Iaurgwath saw the looks of both of them and knew immediately what was in their minds. Yet he knew how to get to the palace brat.

Going over to the ranger, he spat, "human! How much do you love your friend? What would you do if I said I was to kill him right now before your eyes? Hmmmmm?" Aragorn remained silent, unwilling to play the cruel ones twisted game. Iaurgwath recognized the man's will and began to get emotional about it. "The palace whelps blood running like water. His face cold and white, like snow. What would you say to that eh?"

Aragorn chose his words carefully. "I would say you are a treacherous, sick snake worthy of death and close to receiving what you deserve." His gray eyes flickered with intense anger. Legolas looked at both of them, from one to the other. Iaurgwath scowled darkly at the human. This was not working. Looking back to his king's son, he said;

"Your father was once my closest friend. Then you know what happened?" Legolas squirmed slightly as the adviser's gaze became intensely creepy. "He met an elf maiden. He was a king then, but a warrior too. We were warriors together. I thought he wouldn't stay with her. Then one day their wedding was announced." He watched as Legolas's whole facial expression changed. It began to take on a bewildered look. He had never heard this before. "Once married he began to quite being the warrior I knew long ago. Then," he stared at Legolas with mock affection, "his wife had you." He spat into the brush. "I have sworn revenge ever since that day, when are once close relationship was shattered. Now it looks as though I have it. You see I cannot fail elfling. I will not surrender myself to be locked up and at his mercy. I want no pity in the end nor mercy either. It tends to take the sweetness of revenge out. If I have to go, you are going with me, I will see to that." Legolas was in shock. Aragorn's face had blanched and his jaw had dropped. Iaurgwath gave a sudden command. "Get them both up. Dawn is coming." In a few hours, it would be finished; his goal would be accomplished.

TBC-Only a few more chapters to go folks! We're excited! Soon we can start on a new story! Don't forget to review. We know this chapter wasn't very long but it gives you something to chew on while we put together the last few critical ones. Then comes the preview for Reflections! claps hands joyestly Writhing as quickly as possible!

Deana Got enough 'wows'? Not that I don't appreciate them! grins I'm posting A.S.A.P!

Someone Reading Yah, I thought that the vision would be totally unexpected by everybody. Glad you seem to like the tension! I do seem to have a nasty habit of putting lots of evil cliffys on the ends don't I? grins evilly Muahahahaha!

Stacee Phelps Idol threats AGAIN!rolls eyes Okay, now be reasonable! You can't hold a grudge for long can you? Glad you like it! I'll call ya or you call me mellon nin!

Tychen Nervous twitches? Okay, maybe you need to take nerve stimulators when you read stuff with suspense. Anywhoo-T.L.C.? I don't know 'bout that in this chapter. grins sinisterly Yah, Iaurgwath is one freaky, psychotic nut huh? He needs serious therapy. Yup! It is sort of a blessing he won't have that many guys soon to fight for him. hint Posting A.S.A.P.!

Evenstar Thanks and your very welcome! So I got ya! Wonderful! does happy dance I'm not sure about a talented writer but I do try my best! grins Thanks for the review! Keep it up!

Cassia You reviewed our (mostly Celeb's) story! swoons Sneaky Stacee! Tin is jumping around and we are doing our happy dance! Thank you! Thank you! Luv ya more than ever! We hope you find time to finish it! Yah, Iaurgwath is one bad elf and that is defiantly an under statement! So many questions! Answers to be revealed soon! Once again, thank you!