Thanks for the reviews! I apologize for the wait. My computer went nutso and wouldn't let me online for awhile, and I was going nutso! A computer is a good way to keep an ADD kid like me sitting in one spot for awhile.
Speaking of waits, it'll probably be a couple of weeks before I can update again. I'm leaving for college a week from today (YAY!!!!) and it'll be another week before I even get a computer, much less get it set up. But I will update as soon as I can. I promise. :)
There's a tiny mention of a relationship between Elrond and Thranduil. Just thought I'd warn ya!
Disclaimer: Not mine. Not yours. Don't sue. Good deal.
The Silent Prince
Chapter 12: The Way to Isengard
The first thing he became aware of was the ground beneath him. It was cold and hard. He tried to open an eye...and immediately wished he hadn't.
His face hurt. Now that he thought about it, his whole body hurt. His arms, tied behind his back, were aching deeply. A sharp pain came from his injured leg, and he felt something wet on his shoulder that could only be blood. The Uruk-hai were taking him to their master alive, but only barely so.
For the first time in a long while, Legolas Greenleaf began to despair.
~Why does Saruman want me? Ylana thinks he wants to use me to seek revenge on Gandalf. Whatever it is, I am on my own. Perhaps I can find a way to kill myself before we reach Isengard. Then these Orcs wouldn't have their prize, and mayhap Saruman will leave the others alone.~
~That will accomplish nothing,~ came his sensible side. ~As long as Frodo has the Ring, Saruman will continue to besiege them. And what about Ylana? If you die, you'll break your promise to her.~
~Ylana may already be dead,~ sneered his other half. ~Do you really want to see what Saruman has in store for you?~
Legolas was quick to chase that thought away.
~Maybe I can get away,~ he thought hopefully. ~Orcs may be strong, but they're none too bright. Mayhap I can get free of my ropes.~
He began to twist his hands behind his back, trying to loosen his ropes enough to slide a hand through.
His troubles quickly earned him a swift kick in the ribs.
Legolas winced and bit his lip hard enough to draw blood, but made no sound. ~Be strong, be strong, be strong...~
He heard a snarl from above him. "Hey, Lurnak!" came a harsh voice, making Legolas desperately wish that his hands were free to cover his ears. "The tree-hugger's awake!"
There was another snarl in response. "Get him up," came another voice, this one deeper and further away, but no less harsh.
Another kick was delivered to Legolas's side. "On your feet, scum."
The prince forced his eyes open, knowing at once that both of them were swollen nearly shut. A huge, leering Uruk-hai came into view. He took a step back, leaving enough room for his captive to get to his feet. He wasn't about to help the Elf, not that Legolas would accept it if he had.
Legolas slowly sat up, wincing as his body screamed in agony. Without the use of his arms, it would be difficult getting to his feet, but he did it while managing to look graceful. Once standing, he lifted his head in pride, trying not to betray any of the intense pain that he was in.
Another Uruk-hai from his guard came forward. He stopped a few inches in front of the Elf and began to look him up and down. Legolas fought the urge to cough as the creature's putrid breath washed over him.
Finally, the Orc---who Legolas guessed was the leader---turned away with a growl. "Carry him. He might try to slow us down if he walks."
"Wait." Legolas kept his head held high. He may no longer look like a prince, but he still had the pride and dignity of one. "I assure you that I will not slow you down. I will walk, not be carried like some child."
The Uruk-hai captain stopped and turned. His yellow eyes glittered as his mouth twisted. "You're surrounded by Orcs, tree-hugger. I don't think you are in any position to argue. But if you want to be difficult..." He nodded at the Elf's captor.
Before Legolas could turn to see what the Uruk-hai was going to do, a heavy fist crashed into his jaw, drawing fresh blood and sending him crashing back into the ground.
Darkness once again became his world.
----------------------------------------
The three of them paused long enough to clean their blades in a stream. Ylana scrubbed extra hard at Legolas's knives, making them shine once again. Once she was satisfied, she slid them back into her belt.
Aragorn laid a hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry," he murmured softly. "You'll get a chance to give them back."
Ylana nodded, a smile on her face. She had kept the knives to give back to her friend. She had left the quiver and bow with Bill. The bow was broken, useless. She knew Legolas could get a new one in Terin, but had kept his old one in case he decided to get it repaired.
Boromir stepped up to them, his sword gleaming in the sunlight. "How are we to go about this, Aragorn?" he asked, resheathing his blade. "We were going to have to walk for forty days to reach the Gap of Rohan, and that was the closest we were to come to Isengard. We would need horses to get there in a decent amount of time."
Aragorn shook his head. "No. The Orcs that took him went on foot and so will we. Besides, they took a different direction than the way we were planning."
"Horses wouldn't be of much use," Ylana said softly, brushing a strand of hair away from her face and shading her eyes to gaze off in the direction that the Uruk-hai had disappeared to. "They're skittish around Orcs. As soon as they caught the smell of one, they'd bolt. Besides, if we were to go on to Terin, get horses, and come back, they'd have a four day head start. As it is, they'll probably reach Isengard days before us."
Boromir nodded. "You make a good point, Ylana," he said with a smile. "Very well, then. We go on foot."
Checking to make sure they had left nothing behind, the three set off after their missing friend.
"I still don't understand it," Aragorn muttered with a frown, keeping his eyes peeled for any signs of the Uruk-hai. he couldn't help it, even though he knew exactly where they were taking the Elf. He was, after all, a Ranger.
"Understand what?" Ylana asked with a raised eyebrow.
"What it is Saruman is up to. You said that you guessed that he wanted revenge on Gandalf."
The Elf nodded. "That is what I believe, yes. And both Mithrandir and Lord Elrond agree with me."
"And that he had targeted Legolas because he would be the easiest to get to that would lay a heavy blow on Gandalf?"
"Correct."
The Ranger shook his head. "So why didn't he simply order them to kill him? Why did he tell them to leave the rest of us alive? Better yet, why didn't they just go after Frodo? They could have just as easily separated him from us than you and Legolas. Something doesn't feel right about all of this..."
"You think too much," Boromir scolded. "It doesn't matter why he did the things he did. At least not right now. All we should be concentrating on is getting into Isengard, finding Legolas, and getting out again."
"If he's still himself," Ylana said quietly, a troubled look on her face.
Boromir looked at her in question, but Aragorn knew all too well of what the Elf spoke of.
Both of them had been raised on stories of how the Orcs came to be. Of how Morgoth the Enemy took Elves and twisted and tortured them using the Dark Powers, creating what was now the most hated race on Middle-Earth. Neither of them did not doubt that the White Wizard would turn their friend into one just for spite.
Ylana shook her head, chasing the black thought away. "But Boromir is right. We need to worry about getting in there first before we worry about anything else. I myself have never been to Isengard. I wouldn't even know where to begin to look for Legolas."
"I've been there once," Boromir said. "It was a long time ago. I was but a child when my father took Faramir and I along with him to see the tower. I remember a little..."
"That will have to do," Aragorn said firmly. "While I have traveled to the tower on more than one occasion, I have never been inside."
"There are dungeons there," the human warrior said, more to himself than the others. "In the lower levels. I remember them because Father proudly boasted of the many famous criminals that had been kept there."
"That is probably where Saruman will keep Legolas." Ylana shuddered. She knew how much any Elf hated to be in enclosed spaces, not being able to roam freely or to hear the song of a bird or the rushing stream. But for Legolas, a true child of nature, the torture would be unbearable. "I fear we must hurry, Aragorn. Dark things await. Not only for Legolas, but for us as well."
The Ranger turned to her, gray eyes full of concern. "Man u le kena?" (1)
She shook her head. Her dark hair, so perfect and beautiful the day she had come to them, could now only be described as a mess. It had fallen from the small knot that had kept it pulled back and now lay against her face. Blood from the head wound the Uruk-hai had given her matted it. It fell around her shoulders in thick tangles. Yet she seemed not to care. "Evil. When I look to the future, all I see is evil. For all of us."
Aragorn let out a heavy sigh, a weary look upon his rugged feature. "I fear that is all we shall be seeing for some time," he said softly.
"But we will defeat it," Boromir said strongly. "We will rid Middle-Earth of evil forever!"
"Er turo amdir," Ylana whispered, looking towards Isengard. (2) Towards Legolas. "One can hope."
-------------------------------------------
He was in Mirkwood. He recognized the darkness of his home with much fear and dread. The trees that he so used to love, the streams that he and his friends used to play in, the palace... Everything he used to enjoy, everything that used to make him feel safe now filled his heart with foreboding. He wanted to turn and run though he knew he couldn't. ~Dear Iluvatar, I don't want to be here.~
Since he was unconscious, Legolas hadn't been able to retreat to his sanctuary, to his safe place. Since his mind had been filled with the fear the Uruk-hai had made him feel, his conscious had sent him to the place he feared the most: his own home.
Legolas could remember all too well the nightmare he had had on the journey to Rivendell, only days after his brother's attack. His father was dead, murdered by his elder son. Mirkwood was on fire and Orcs ran rampant through the forest, killing any and everyone they saw. Through it all, Annolir stood watching while laughing. the bloodstained crown now rested on his head.
Legolas had awoke with a shout, trembling as he fought to catch his breath. While he had told himself over and over that it was just a nightmare, he couldn't help but feel that it was a foreshadowing of things to come.
Against his will, the prince found himself moving forward, going deeper into the forest and closer to the palace. There was the archery range where he had spent so much time with his friends competing in matches. A body lay on the ground. A female body wearing a riding dress of green, three arrows sticking out of her back.
Trembling, Legolas found himself inching forward, one hand outstretched. He had to make sure, had to see for himself...
Dark hair spilled out, obscuring the face and nearly hiding the gracefully pointed ears. Biting his bottom lip hard enough to taste blood, the blond Elf reached out a trembling hand to brush away the hair, to see the face. ~Please, not her. Anyone but her...~
It was Ylana.
A hand flew to Legolas's mouth as the unfamiliar sting of tears came to his eyes. He felt as if he was about to be violently sick. ~This isn't real. That's not her. It's only your mind playing tricks on you. None of this is real...~
He quickly got to his feet and stumbled away from the body, tears blurring his vision. ~Ylana's alive and safe. Aragorn took care of her for you. They're probably almost to Terin by now.~
Forcing his tears away---~Prince's don't cry~---Legolas continued towards the palace. That seemed to be where he was supposed to go. Fear settled into the pit of his stomach, but he ignored it. ~Whatever it is, I will deal with it when the time comes. Not before.~
Someone sat at the fountain that was in front of the palace. As he got closer, Legolas could easily tell that it was Aragorn. And from the gleam of a dagger hilt that stuck out of the Ranger's chest, the dark blood that stained the front of his tunic, and the twisted expression on his face, Legolas could also tell that he was dead.
The Elf simply stood in shock, starring at his friend in disbelief. He took a step forward to see if there was something---*anything*---that he could do...and promptly fell to his knees.
Bile rose in his throat as his vision swam, the contents of his stomach threatening to spew forth. ~Why is this happening to me? It's not real. I know it's not! But why Aragorn? Why Ylana?~
Legolas stayed there on his knees until he was sure his last meal was going to stay where it was. The he shakily climbed to his feet, his eyes fixed on the stairs that lead up to his home. The statues that decorated the courtyard. The garden. Anything but the body of his best friend.
Once again, his feet seemed to drag him forward, up the stairs and into the palace. He steeled himself for whatever lay ahead, although he knew nothing could be worse than seeing the dead bodies of his two closest friends. ~Did they die for me?~
The prince could make out someone sitting on the throne on the opposite side of the room. Even in the darkness he knew that it was not his father.
A low chuckling filled the chamber, laughter he recognized as his brother's. Grinding his teeth together and clinching his fists at his sides, Legolas let himself be lead forward by the invisible leash.
Annolir stood as Legolas came closer. "Welcome home, brother," he sneered, his green eyes glittering. "Do you like the changes I've made? Father didn't approve, but he's in no position to argue. By the way, you don't have to thank me."
Tears swam in his eyes, once again obscuring his vision though he desperately tried to fight them back. "Thank you for what?" he asked. He meant for it to come out as a snarl, but it only succeeded as a tortured whisper.
"Why, for granting your wish. You wanted to be alone, didn't you? That's why you haven't told anyone what I didn't, isn't it?" He leaned forward. "They don't care about you, Legolas. They've left you to your own devices. You're all alone."
Legolas simply stared at his brother, shaking with rage as a tear slid down his cheek. ~He's right,~ he thought miserably. ~Even though it's no one's thought, I'm all alone...~
He was suddenly pulled roughly back into reality by a heavy hand striking him across the face. He flinched slightly, but otherwise didn't move. Let them think he was still unconscious.
Legolas thrust himself deep into the back of his mind. Back to his sanctuary, his safe place. Away from all the pain and suffering.
Possibly forever.
----------------------------------
Though Ylana knew that she could run for days without rest or food, she knew that her human companions could not. So they stopped when the last rays of the sun crept from the sky to set up camp for the night. They knew where Legolas was being taken and would need all the strength they had to rescue him.
If there was still a Legolas to rescue.
Aragorn refused to let Ylana stand watch. She had not slept the night before and still had not recovered from the wounds she had received in the battle against the Orcs. She had argued, pointing out that Elves could rest while walking and that she had healing powers that would work quickly on her injuries. But Aragorn had insisted, Boromir backing him up.
So Ylana found herself sitting by the fire, knees drawn up into her chest. She stared into the dancing flames, aware of Boromir and Aragorn talking across the fire from her. But her mind was on other things.
Nearly thirteen years ago, her life had been torn apart. Her brother, a warrior, had just come in from patrol with the others and was sitting at home with their mother. Ylana had been with Arwen doing needlework in Lord Elrond's house.
That's when the Orcs had attacked.
Ylana had tried her best to get to her home, to her family. But Elladan and Elrohir---Arwen's twin brothers---and Aragorn wouldn't let her. Making sure that she and Arwen were safe, the three had run off to help fight.
Ylana's mother had been killed, her brother seriously injured. As he lay dying in the Last Homely House, Ylana had promised that she would do whatever she could to protect those that she loved.
Two days after he had died and was buried next to their mother and father---who had died many years before---Ylana had left to begin her training as a warrior.
For twelve years she had patrolled the boarders of her home, practicing her fighting skills daily in order to hone them to perfection. She had not been able to protect her family when they needed her. She'd be damned if she wouldn't be able to protect her friends.
Now she had broken her promise.
She hadn't been able to protect Legolas, whom she had come to love as a close companion. With all her fighting skills and stories of her being a hero, she still hadn't been able to keep the Orcs from taking him from her, just as they had taken everything else.
~And Lord Elrond says I'll become one of the greatest warriors of Middle-Earth,~ she thought bitterly. ~He must have had me confused with someone else, for I am no great warrior.~
But she had a chance at redemption. Legolas was still alive. She could save him, spare him from at least some torment. And it was that determined thought that kept her from sinking into misery, despair, and self-pity.
~Legolas cannot die,~ she told herself fiercely. ~If he does, I'll be all alone...~
"Ylana?"
She blinked, coming back into awareness as someone spoke her name. Looking up, she saw Aragorn, still across the fire from her but now standing, looking down at her, his eyes glittering in the firelight. "It's late," he said softly. "You should try and get some rest."
The Elf nodded and moved away from the fire to lay down, her back to the fire and the humans. She wrapped her cloak around her, hearing leaves and twigs crunch as Aragorn left to find a suitable lookout spot.
~I'm coming, Legolas,~ she thought. Then she let herself slip into Lorien's arms.
-----------------------------
Legolas had no concept of time. While he wandered the beauty of the Rivendell of his mind, days flew by. The Orcs gleefully kicked and beat the already-battered Elf, tearing away flesh and cloth. His hair, normally strait and clean, was now snarled in tangles and a filthy shade of gray. The braids that signified his status as royalty had come undone. Both of his eyes were swollen nearly shut. A dagger had been driven through his shoulder during the fight, leaving a deep wound. His leg wound, which Ylana had so carefully and lovingly bandaged, had been reopened and burned with infection. The Orc captain would frequently whip him, sending the other Uruk-hai into a frenzy. His tunic now lay in tatters and lacerations from the whip and other instruments they look to his tender flesh crisscrossed his body.
But Legolas remained blissfully unaware of all of this. He sat in the Council courtyard, the same seat that he had occupied during the Council, mulling over his actions and decisions made during the Council and where they had lead him. Then he got up and walked into Lord Elrond's extensive library.
The Mirkwood prince couldn't help but smile at all the fond memories he had of this place. This was where a young Aragorn and Arwen had slipped sleeping weed into the Lord of Rivendell's tea. This was where Elladan and Elrohir and put every book on a different shelf, then hid in the closet to watch as their father came in to find a book, only to be caught by their giggling. This was where Lord Elrond had asked him to join the Fellowship...
//He quietly slipped into the library, wondering why the Lord of Imladris wished to see him. Perhaps he was to be reprimanded for starting the argument at the Council. Perhaps Lord Elrond wished to ask of King Thranduil, Legolas's father and Elrond's lover. Perhaps he wanted to hear more of Gollum's escape.
"My lord?" he asked quietly, seeing the dark-haired Elf sitting behind his desk. "You wished to see me?"
Elrond looked up to see who had spoken, then smiled as he stood. "Ah, Prince Legolas. Thank you for coming. Please." He gestured to an empty chair that sat in front of his desk. "Have a seat. Would you care for something to drink?"
"No, thank you," Legolas politely answered, sitting down in the offered seat.
"Very well, then." Elrond sat back down, rested his elbows on his desk and leaned forward, fixing the younger Elf with a steely gaze. "I have a question to ask of you, Legolas Greenleaf. It is a very serious one, and I'm sure you'll want to give it some thought.
"I am searching for others who will accompany the Ringbearer on his Quest. My goal is to have Nine Walkers set out against the Nine Riders, and I would like for each race to be represented. Mithrandir has already volunteered and I do not doubt that my foster-son will ask to go as well." He paused. "I would like for you to go for the Elves. Your skills with a bow and arrow are unsurpassable, and I've heard that you've come to be quite deadly with those knives your father gave you. I know you and Estel are very close. He would be more than happy if you came along."
"I'll go."
Elrond blinked in surprise. "Don't you want to think it over before deciding? It's going to be a dangerous Quest, Legolas. You will have to contend with the minions of both Sauron and Saruman."
Legolas shook his head. "It doesn't matter. I'm going."//
So it was that, a few days later, Legolas had departed with the rest of the Nine of the Fellowship of the Ring.
Legolas shook his head. ~I'm beginning to think Lord Elrond was wrong to place his trust in me.~
Suddenly, the library began to waver and blur.
Legolas began to panic. He knew what that meant. It had happened the morning after his brother had taken his anger out on him.
Someone was trying to wake him.
"No!" he shouted, grabbing the edge of the desk as he desperately fought to stay where he was. But, ever so slowly, he was being pulled from his safe haven and thrust back into his harsh reality.
Finally, Rivendell was gone. He painfully opened his eyes to see the Uruk-hai who had been his guard leering down at him. "Wake up, scum," he sneered, his yellow eyes gleaming.
Legolas, realizing that he was lying on the ground on his back, pulled himself up into a sitting position, hissing in pain as his bruised body screamed in protest. He blinked at the sight before him...and felt his heart come to a halt.
A tower, wrought of some black stone, spiraled up to the sky. An elderly man with white hair, a white beard, and wearing white robes stood on the stairs that lead up to the tower, a sadistic smile on his face.
"Welcome, Legolas Greenleaf," he said in a mocking tone as he bowed. "Welcome to Isengard."
(1)Man u le kena------------What do you see
(2)Er turo amdir----------One can hope
Speaking of waits, it'll probably be a couple of weeks before I can update again. I'm leaving for college a week from today (YAY!!!!) and it'll be another week before I even get a computer, much less get it set up. But I will update as soon as I can. I promise. :)
There's a tiny mention of a relationship between Elrond and Thranduil. Just thought I'd warn ya!
Disclaimer: Not mine. Not yours. Don't sue. Good deal.
The Silent Prince
Chapter 12: The Way to Isengard
The first thing he became aware of was the ground beneath him. It was cold and hard. He tried to open an eye...and immediately wished he hadn't.
His face hurt. Now that he thought about it, his whole body hurt. His arms, tied behind his back, were aching deeply. A sharp pain came from his injured leg, and he felt something wet on his shoulder that could only be blood. The Uruk-hai were taking him to their master alive, but only barely so.
For the first time in a long while, Legolas Greenleaf began to despair.
~Why does Saruman want me? Ylana thinks he wants to use me to seek revenge on Gandalf. Whatever it is, I am on my own. Perhaps I can find a way to kill myself before we reach Isengard. Then these Orcs wouldn't have their prize, and mayhap Saruman will leave the others alone.~
~That will accomplish nothing,~ came his sensible side. ~As long as Frodo has the Ring, Saruman will continue to besiege them. And what about Ylana? If you die, you'll break your promise to her.~
~Ylana may already be dead,~ sneered his other half. ~Do you really want to see what Saruman has in store for you?~
Legolas was quick to chase that thought away.
~Maybe I can get away,~ he thought hopefully. ~Orcs may be strong, but they're none too bright. Mayhap I can get free of my ropes.~
He began to twist his hands behind his back, trying to loosen his ropes enough to slide a hand through.
His troubles quickly earned him a swift kick in the ribs.
Legolas winced and bit his lip hard enough to draw blood, but made no sound. ~Be strong, be strong, be strong...~
He heard a snarl from above him. "Hey, Lurnak!" came a harsh voice, making Legolas desperately wish that his hands were free to cover his ears. "The tree-hugger's awake!"
There was another snarl in response. "Get him up," came another voice, this one deeper and further away, but no less harsh.
Another kick was delivered to Legolas's side. "On your feet, scum."
The prince forced his eyes open, knowing at once that both of them were swollen nearly shut. A huge, leering Uruk-hai came into view. He took a step back, leaving enough room for his captive to get to his feet. He wasn't about to help the Elf, not that Legolas would accept it if he had.
Legolas slowly sat up, wincing as his body screamed in agony. Without the use of his arms, it would be difficult getting to his feet, but he did it while managing to look graceful. Once standing, he lifted his head in pride, trying not to betray any of the intense pain that he was in.
Another Uruk-hai from his guard came forward. He stopped a few inches in front of the Elf and began to look him up and down. Legolas fought the urge to cough as the creature's putrid breath washed over him.
Finally, the Orc---who Legolas guessed was the leader---turned away with a growl. "Carry him. He might try to slow us down if he walks."
"Wait." Legolas kept his head held high. He may no longer look like a prince, but he still had the pride and dignity of one. "I assure you that I will not slow you down. I will walk, not be carried like some child."
The Uruk-hai captain stopped and turned. His yellow eyes glittered as his mouth twisted. "You're surrounded by Orcs, tree-hugger. I don't think you are in any position to argue. But if you want to be difficult..." He nodded at the Elf's captor.
Before Legolas could turn to see what the Uruk-hai was going to do, a heavy fist crashed into his jaw, drawing fresh blood and sending him crashing back into the ground.
Darkness once again became his world.
----------------------------------------
The three of them paused long enough to clean their blades in a stream. Ylana scrubbed extra hard at Legolas's knives, making them shine once again. Once she was satisfied, she slid them back into her belt.
Aragorn laid a hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry," he murmured softly. "You'll get a chance to give them back."
Ylana nodded, a smile on her face. She had kept the knives to give back to her friend. She had left the quiver and bow with Bill. The bow was broken, useless. She knew Legolas could get a new one in Terin, but had kept his old one in case he decided to get it repaired.
Boromir stepped up to them, his sword gleaming in the sunlight. "How are we to go about this, Aragorn?" he asked, resheathing his blade. "We were going to have to walk for forty days to reach the Gap of Rohan, and that was the closest we were to come to Isengard. We would need horses to get there in a decent amount of time."
Aragorn shook his head. "No. The Orcs that took him went on foot and so will we. Besides, they took a different direction than the way we were planning."
"Horses wouldn't be of much use," Ylana said softly, brushing a strand of hair away from her face and shading her eyes to gaze off in the direction that the Uruk-hai had disappeared to. "They're skittish around Orcs. As soon as they caught the smell of one, they'd bolt. Besides, if we were to go on to Terin, get horses, and come back, they'd have a four day head start. As it is, they'll probably reach Isengard days before us."
Boromir nodded. "You make a good point, Ylana," he said with a smile. "Very well, then. We go on foot."
Checking to make sure they had left nothing behind, the three set off after their missing friend.
"I still don't understand it," Aragorn muttered with a frown, keeping his eyes peeled for any signs of the Uruk-hai. he couldn't help it, even though he knew exactly where they were taking the Elf. He was, after all, a Ranger.
"Understand what?" Ylana asked with a raised eyebrow.
"What it is Saruman is up to. You said that you guessed that he wanted revenge on Gandalf."
The Elf nodded. "That is what I believe, yes. And both Mithrandir and Lord Elrond agree with me."
"And that he had targeted Legolas because he would be the easiest to get to that would lay a heavy blow on Gandalf?"
"Correct."
The Ranger shook his head. "So why didn't he simply order them to kill him? Why did he tell them to leave the rest of us alive? Better yet, why didn't they just go after Frodo? They could have just as easily separated him from us than you and Legolas. Something doesn't feel right about all of this..."
"You think too much," Boromir scolded. "It doesn't matter why he did the things he did. At least not right now. All we should be concentrating on is getting into Isengard, finding Legolas, and getting out again."
"If he's still himself," Ylana said quietly, a troubled look on her face.
Boromir looked at her in question, but Aragorn knew all too well of what the Elf spoke of.
Both of them had been raised on stories of how the Orcs came to be. Of how Morgoth the Enemy took Elves and twisted and tortured them using the Dark Powers, creating what was now the most hated race on Middle-Earth. Neither of them did not doubt that the White Wizard would turn their friend into one just for spite.
Ylana shook her head, chasing the black thought away. "But Boromir is right. We need to worry about getting in there first before we worry about anything else. I myself have never been to Isengard. I wouldn't even know where to begin to look for Legolas."
"I've been there once," Boromir said. "It was a long time ago. I was but a child when my father took Faramir and I along with him to see the tower. I remember a little..."
"That will have to do," Aragorn said firmly. "While I have traveled to the tower on more than one occasion, I have never been inside."
"There are dungeons there," the human warrior said, more to himself than the others. "In the lower levels. I remember them because Father proudly boasted of the many famous criminals that had been kept there."
"That is probably where Saruman will keep Legolas." Ylana shuddered. She knew how much any Elf hated to be in enclosed spaces, not being able to roam freely or to hear the song of a bird or the rushing stream. But for Legolas, a true child of nature, the torture would be unbearable. "I fear we must hurry, Aragorn. Dark things await. Not only for Legolas, but for us as well."
The Ranger turned to her, gray eyes full of concern. "Man u le kena?" (1)
She shook her head. Her dark hair, so perfect and beautiful the day she had come to them, could now only be described as a mess. It had fallen from the small knot that had kept it pulled back and now lay against her face. Blood from the head wound the Uruk-hai had given her matted it. It fell around her shoulders in thick tangles. Yet she seemed not to care. "Evil. When I look to the future, all I see is evil. For all of us."
Aragorn let out a heavy sigh, a weary look upon his rugged feature. "I fear that is all we shall be seeing for some time," he said softly.
"But we will defeat it," Boromir said strongly. "We will rid Middle-Earth of evil forever!"
"Er turo amdir," Ylana whispered, looking towards Isengard. (2) Towards Legolas. "One can hope."
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He was in Mirkwood. He recognized the darkness of his home with much fear and dread. The trees that he so used to love, the streams that he and his friends used to play in, the palace... Everything he used to enjoy, everything that used to make him feel safe now filled his heart with foreboding. He wanted to turn and run though he knew he couldn't. ~Dear Iluvatar, I don't want to be here.~
Since he was unconscious, Legolas hadn't been able to retreat to his sanctuary, to his safe place. Since his mind had been filled with the fear the Uruk-hai had made him feel, his conscious had sent him to the place he feared the most: his own home.
Legolas could remember all too well the nightmare he had had on the journey to Rivendell, only days after his brother's attack. His father was dead, murdered by his elder son. Mirkwood was on fire and Orcs ran rampant through the forest, killing any and everyone they saw. Through it all, Annolir stood watching while laughing. the bloodstained crown now rested on his head.
Legolas had awoke with a shout, trembling as he fought to catch his breath. While he had told himself over and over that it was just a nightmare, he couldn't help but feel that it was a foreshadowing of things to come.
Against his will, the prince found himself moving forward, going deeper into the forest and closer to the palace. There was the archery range where he had spent so much time with his friends competing in matches. A body lay on the ground. A female body wearing a riding dress of green, three arrows sticking out of her back.
Trembling, Legolas found himself inching forward, one hand outstretched. He had to make sure, had to see for himself...
Dark hair spilled out, obscuring the face and nearly hiding the gracefully pointed ears. Biting his bottom lip hard enough to taste blood, the blond Elf reached out a trembling hand to brush away the hair, to see the face. ~Please, not her. Anyone but her...~
It was Ylana.
A hand flew to Legolas's mouth as the unfamiliar sting of tears came to his eyes. He felt as if he was about to be violently sick. ~This isn't real. That's not her. It's only your mind playing tricks on you. None of this is real...~
He quickly got to his feet and stumbled away from the body, tears blurring his vision. ~Ylana's alive and safe. Aragorn took care of her for you. They're probably almost to Terin by now.~
Forcing his tears away---~Prince's don't cry~---Legolas continued towards the palace. That seemed to be where he was supposed to go. Fear settled into the pit of his stomach, but he ignored it. ~Whatever it is, I will deal with it when the time comes. Not before.~
Someone sat at the fountain that was in front of the palace. As he got closer, Legolas could easily tell that it was Aragorn. And from the gleam of a dagger hilt that stuck out of the Ranger's chest, the dark blood that stained the front of his tunic, and the twisted expression on his face, Legolas could also tell that he was dead.
The Elf simply stood in shock, starring at his friend in disbelief. He took a step forward to see if there was something---*anything*---that he could do...and promptly fell to his knees.
Bile rose in his throat as his vision swam, the contents of his stomach threatening to spew forth. ~Why is this happening to me? It's not real. I know it's not! But why Aragorn? Why Ylana?~
Legolas stayed there on his knees until he was sure his last meal was going to stay where it was. The he shakily climbed to his feet, his eyes fixed on the stairs that lead up to his home. The statues that decorated the courtyard. The garden. Anything but the body of his best friend.
Once again, his feet seemed to drag him forward, up the stairs and into the palace. He steeled himself for whatever lay ahead, although he knew nothing could be worse than seeing the dead bodies of his two closest friends. ~Did they die for me?~
The prince could make out someone sitting on the throne on the opposite side of the room. Even in the darkness he knew that it was not his father.
A low chuckling filled the chamber, laughter he recognized as his brother's. Grinding his teeth together and clinching his fists at his sides, Legolas let himself be lead forward by the invisible leash.
Annolir stood as Legolas came closer. "Welcome home, brother," he sneered, his green eyes glittering. "Do you like the changes I've made? Father didn't approve, but he's in no position to argue. By the way, you don't have to thank me."
Tears swam in his eyes, once again obscuring his vision though he desperately tried to fight them back. "Thank you for what?" he asked. He meant for it to come out as a snarl, but it only succeeded as a tortured whisper.
"Why, for granting your wish. You wanted to be alone, didn't you? That's why you haven't told anyone what I didn't, isn't it?" He leaned forward. "They don't care about you, Legolas. They've left you to your own devices. You're all alone."
Legolas simply stared at his brother, shaking with rage as a tear slid down his cheek. ~He's right,~ he thought miserably. ~Even though it's no one's thought, I'm all alone...~
He was suddenly pulled roughly back into reality by a heavy hand striking him across the face. He flinched slightly, but otherwise didn't move. Let them think he was still unconscious.
Legolas thrust himself deep into the back of his mind. Back to his sanctuary, his safe place. Away from all the pain and suffering.
Possibly forever.
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Though Ylana knew that she could run for days without rest or food, she knew that her human companions could not. So they stopped when the last rays of the sun crept from the sky to set up camp for the night. They knew where Legolas was being taken and would need all the strength they had to rescue him.
If there was still a Legolas to rescue.
Aragorn refused to let Ylana stand watch. She had not slept the night before and still had not recovered from the wounds she had received in the battle against the Orcs. She had argued, pointing out that Elves could rest while walking and that she had healing powers that would work quickly on her injuries. But Aragorn had insisted, Boromir backing him up.
So Ylana found herself sitting by the fire, knees drawn up into her chest. She stared into the dancing flames, aware of Boromir and Aragorn talking across the fire from her. But her mind was on other things.
Nearly thirteen years ago, her life had been torn apart. Her brother, a warrior, had just come in from patrol with the others and was sitting at home with their mother. Ylana had been with Arwen doing needlework in Lord Elrond's house.
That's when the Orcs had attacked.
Ylana had tried her best to get to her home, to her family. But Elladan and Elrohir---Arwen's twin brothers---and Aragorn wouldn't let her. Making sure that she and Arwen were safe, the three had run off to help fight.
Ylana's mother had been killed, her brother seriously injured. As he lay dying in the Last Homely House, Ylana had promised that she would do whatever she could to protect those that she loved.
Two days after he had died and was buried next to their mother and father---who had died many years before---Ylana had left to begin her training as a warrior.
For twelve years she had patrolled the boarders of her home, practicing her fighting skills daily in order to hone them to perfection. She had not been able to protect her family when they needed her. She'd be damned if she wouldn't be able to protect her friends.
Now she had broken her promise.
She hadn't been able to protect Legolas, whom she had come to love as a close companion. With all her fighting skills and stories of her being a hero, she still hadn't been able to keep the Orcs from taking him from her, just as they had taken everything else.
~And Lord Elrond says I'll become one of the greatest warriors of Middle-Earth,~ she thought bitterly. ~He must have had me confused with someone else, for I am no great warrior.~
But she had a chance at redemption. Legolas was still alive. She could save him, spare him from at least some torment. And it was that determined thought that kept her from sinking into misery, despair, and self-pity.
~Legolas cannot die,~ she told herself fiercely. ~If he does, I'll be all alone...~
"Ylana?"
She blinked, coming back into awareness as someone spoke her name. Looking up, she saw Aragorn, still across the fire from her but now standing, looking down at her, his eyes glittering in the firelight. "It's late," he said softly. "You should try and get some rest."
The Elf nodded and moved away from the fire to lay down, her back to the fire and the humans. She wrapped her cloak around her, hearing leaves and twigs crunch as Aragorn left to find a suitable lookout spot.
~I'm coming, Legolas,~ she thought. Then she let herself slip into Lorien's arms.
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Legolas had no concept of time. While he wandered the beauty of the Rivendell of his mind, days flew by. The Orcs gleefully kicked and beat the already-battered Elf, tearing away flesh and cloth. His hair, normally strait and clean, was now snarled in tangles and a filthy shade of gray. The braids that signified his status as royalty had come undone. Both of his eyes were swollen nearly shut. A dagger had been driven through his shoulder during the fight, leaving a deep wound. His leg wound, which Ylana had so carefully and lovingly bandaged, had been reopened and burned with infection. The Orc captain would frequently whip him, sending the other Uruk-hai into a frenzy. His tunic now lay in tatters and lacerations from the whip and other instruments they look to his tender flesh crisscrossed his body.
But Legolas remained blissfully unaware of all of this. He sat in the Council courtyard, the same seat that he had occupied during the Council, mulling over his actions and decisions made during the Council and where they had lead him. Then he got up and walked into Lord Elrond's extensive library.
The Mirkwood prince couldn't help but smile at all the fond memories he had of this place. This was where a young Aragorn and Arwen had slipped sleeping weed into the Lord of Rivendell's tea. This was where Elladan and Elrohir and put every book on a different shelf, then hid in the closet to watch as their father came in to find a book, only to be caught by their giggling. This was where Lord Elrond had asked him to join the Fellowship...
//He quietly slipped into the library, wondering why the Lord of Imladris wished to see him. Perhaps he was to be reprimanded for starting the argument at the Council. Perhaps Lord Elrond wished to ask of King Thranduil, Legolas's father and Elrond's lover. Perhaps he wanted to hear more of Gollum's escape.
"My lord?" he asked quietly, seeing the dark-haired Elf sitting behind his desk. "You wished to see me?"
Elrond looked up to see who had spoken, then smiled as he stood. "Ah, Prince Legolas. Thank you for coming. Please." He gestured to an empty chair that sat in front of his desk. "Have a seat. Would you care for something to drink?"
"No, thank you," Legolas politely answered, sitting down in the offered seat.
"Very well, then." Elrond sat back down, rested his elbows on his desk and leaned forward, fixing the younger Elf with a steely gaze. "I have a question to ask of you, Legolas Greenleaf. It is a very serious one, and I'm sure you'll want to give it some thought.
"I am searching for others who will accompany the Ringbearer on his Quest. My goal is to have Nine Walkers set out against the Nine Riders, and I would like for each race to be represented. Mithrandir has already volunteered and I do not doubt that my foster-son will ask to go as well." He paused. "I would like for you to go for the Elves. Your skills with a bow and arrow are unsurpassable, and I've heard that you've come to be quite deadly with those knives your father gave you. I know you and Estel are very close. He would be more than happy if you came along."
"I'll go."
Elrond blinked in surprise. "Don't you want to think it over before deciding? It's going to be a dangerous Quest, Legolas. You will have to contend with the minions of both Sauron and Saruman."
Legolas shook his head. "It doesn't matter. I'm going."//
So it was that, a few days later, Legolas had departed with the rest of the Nine of the Fellowship of the Ring.
Legolas shook his head. ~I'm beginning to think Lord Elrond was wrong to place his trust in me.~
Suddenly, the library began to waver and blur.
Legolas began to panic. He knew what that meant. It had happened the morning after his brother had taken his anger out on him.
Someone was trying to wake him.
"No!" he shouted, grabbing the edge of the desk as he desperately fought to stay where he was. But, ever so slowly, he was being pulled from his safe haven and thrust back into his harsh reality.
Finally, Rivendell was gone. He painfully opened his eyes to see the Uruk-hai who had been his guard leering down at him. "Wake up, scum," he sneered, his yellow eyes gleaming.
Legolas, realizing that he was lying on the ground on his back, pulled himself up into a sitting position, hissing in pain as his bruised body screamed in protest. He blinked at the sight before him...and felt his heart come to a halt.
A tower, wrought of some black stone, spiraled up to the sky. An elderly man with white hair, a white beard, and wearing white robes stood on the stairs that lead up to the tower, a sadistic smile on his face.
"Welcome, Legolas Greenleaf," he said in a mocking tone as he bowed. "Welcome to Isengard."
(1)Man u le kena------------What do you see
(2)Er turo amdir----------One can hope