Thanks again to all those who reviewed! You guys are absolutely the greatest!!!
Disclaimer: I'm a broke college student. Obviously, these guys are not mine. Though I wish they were. Then I could do all sorts of things with Legolas. In a non-sexual way, of course....
The Silent Prince
Chapter 17: Before I Come Undone
Frodo couldn't remember the last time he had felt so refreshed after a long night's sleep. While Gandalf had gone off to speak with the prince and Gimli to find the kitchens, the four hobbits had been shown to a guest room in the western wing of the palace. All four had tumbled into bed and fallen asleep almost immediately.
No dreams had plagued Frodo, no nightmares of his friends being killed. Now, with the bright morning sun shinning in through the room's single window, it almost seemed as if the events of the past few months were only a dream.
Frodo only wished it were so.
He, Sam, Merry, and Pippin were being lead by a Terin solider down long corridors towards the prince's viewing chamber, where, they had been assured, Gandalf and Gimli waited.
The four halflings couldn't help but gaze about them in wonder. To the three foot creatures, the armor that decorated the passageways seemed to belong to giants. A shield with the emblem of a white knight astride a black charger, leaning against the wall, was as tall as Sam.
"It's all so *big*," Pippin said breathlessly, his eyes wide. "I thought Bree and Rivendell were big. But this...this is *gigantic*!"
The solider---his name, he said, was Kellian---turned and smiled. "I imagine it would seem that way to you. Sometimes, it even seems big to those of us who are around it every day." He paused. "Pardon if I seem rude for staring and asking strange questions, but I have never seen a hobbit before. We've only heard about you in tales and legends. Then four show up at once..." He shook his head. "It is quite overwhelming. Legends are coming true left and right today." He was, of course, talking about the appearance of Gandalf as well.
Frodo smiled. "It's quite all right, I assure you." He gestured to his three companions, who were staring at their surroundings with wide eyes and open mouths. "As you can see, you are not the only one overwhelmed. We have seen very little of the Big Folk's things."
Kellian nodded, then stopped in front of a plain oak door. "Well, here you are. The prince and your two companions are in there, waiting for you."
Frodo nodded as he reached out to take the hand the Man offered, despite the fact that the soldier's was easily twice the size of the hobbit's. "Thank you. Perhaps you and I could talk later?"
Kellian smiled. "I would like that very much. I will find you later." With that, he dropped Frodo's hand, stepped back, and dipped his head before turning and walking back down the corridor.
Frodo watched him go, then turned to his three companions. "Come on," he said, tugging open the door. "Let's see what's going on."
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It had been many a long year since Prince Liothiel of Terin had seen Gandalf the Grey, but he had never forgotten the wizard. The pointy hat, kind blue eyes, and long gray beard were firmly imprinted on the young prince's mind forever.
He also knew that, when Gandalf came to any city in a hurry, something was amiss and he would do well to listen to what the wizard had to say.
So he had. Starting late last night, when the Istari and his companions had arrived, on through this morning, when the Dwarf had joined them. He had listened, and now his head was reeling from all that he had learned.
Liothiel sat in his chair made of ash, his cheek resting in his hand, staring off into space. Gandalf and Gimli---if he remembered the Dwarf's name correctly---sat in their own chairs, both with their pipes stuck between their teeth.
The Ring of Power... Liothiel had heard stories tell of it all his life. His tutor had told him that many people had forgotten about the One Ring, but he'd be better off knowing than not. Besides, it would put him at an advantage above the other rulers, who were ignorant of Isildur's choice and the effects that resulted from it.
Still, the young prince never thought that the One Ring would be found again. After all, it had been lost for nearly three thousand years! Sauron had been destroyed, and the goblin and orc raids had become fewer and far between. Things were peaceful.
But Gandalf's information changed all that.
The Ring had been found. Not only that, but, at the moment, it was in this very castle, in the care of a creature known as a hobbit.
That was another shock to Liothiel. He had only heard of hobbits in stories. He had never seen one, and had simply passed them off as myths. But, if Gandalf was right, he would be meeting four of them.
~History coming back...Children's tales coming to life... This has got to be the strangest day!~
The prince suddenly stirred, a question on his lips, but stopped as the oak door on the left side of the chamber opened.
He blinked as four small people walked into the room. At first, he thought that they were children, perhaps some of the maids' children, who were helping their mothers. Then he looked closer and realized that, though the had no beards, these were definitely not children. ~Pointed ears, no shoes...They're hobbits!~
His jaw hanging open, he could only watch as the four walked over to Gandalf, who was smiling. "Ah, there you are. I trust you slept well? Good." He gestured to the dazed prince. "I would like you all to meet Prince Liothiel. Your Highness, these are the hobbits I mentioned. Frodo Baggins, Samwise Gamgee, Meridoc Brandybuck, and Peregrine Took, all of the Shire."
They all bowed. "Pleased to meet you," said the one that Liothiel thought had been introduced as Frodo.
The prince pulled himself back together and dipped his head in return. "The honor is all mine. Please excuse my staring, but---"
"You've never met a hobbit before," Pippn said with a grin. "No one around here has."
Liothiel laughed. "I'm afraid you'll have to forgive us, sir. Most of us have never left Terin. Or, if we have, it's to trade with nearby villages."
"You have no room to talk, Pip," Merry scolded him. "This is the first time you've ever been out of the Shire."
"True, but *I* knew the Big Folk existed," the younger hobbit shot back. "I'd even seen some!"
Liothiel chuckled and shook his head. ~Such interesting creatures!~ With a twinkle in his eyes he turned to Gandalf, remembering the question he had been about to ask the wizard when the hobbits had entered. "And you say more will be joining you here?"
Gandalf's face suddenly turned serious. "We are hoping for four more but, in reality, are expecting three."
The prince frowned, noticing that the hobbits' faces all sobered. Gimli's face remained expressionless. "Might I ask what you mean? You spoke of one of your friends being taken by Saruman?"
Gandalf was silent for a moment. Then, "You are a very learned man. You knew many things as a child that grown men were ignorant of. I'm sure you know the history of the Orcs?"
Liothiel nodded, feeling himself flush with pride at this unexpected praise. "Aye. Of how Melkor took Elves captive and, by using his dark powers, twisted and mutilated them until they became Orcs."
Gandalf nodded. "You are correct." He paused, then let out a soul-weary sigh. "The one that was taken from us was an Elf."
Liothiel's eyes went wide, and he could feel the blood drain from his face as realization sank in. "Oh," he breathed. "And you think that Saruman..." He couldn't bring himself to finish, especially with the sad looks on the hobbits' faces.
"I wouldn't put is past him," Gandalf said grimly. "Saruman has shown himself to be quite a cruel person. Not only that, but I believe he is nearing insanity."
"And the other three that you spoke of?"
"An Elf and two Men. They are on their way to Isengard as we speak, trying to rescue our friend. They will head for this town once he is freed. Or once they have determined that there is no way to save him."
Liothiel licked his lips, digesting this newest bit of information.
Silence descended on the group, each lost in his own thoughts. Of course, everyone's thoughts were on the same thing. But they each thought in a different way.
It was the human prince who broke the silence. "How long do you think it will take your friends to get here?" His voice was soft and gentle. He knew what it was like to knot know if a friend was safe or not.
Gandalf gave an apologetic shrug. "Honestly, I don't know. I hope within a week. I know it's quite a bit of time---"
Liothiel waved his hand in the air, cutting the wizard off. "Don't worry about a thing, Gandalf. You know I'll gladly help with anything you need." He suddenly grinned. "Besides, I would like to get to know these hobbits and cure my ignorance."
The Istari laughed. "Are you sure about that, my young friend?" he asked with a twinkle in his eyes. "You'll find that they're interesting, have no doubt. But they're also quite bothersome."
"Hey!" Merry said indignantly, hands on his hips and a scowl on his face. 'What exactly do you mean by that?"
Both Liothiel and Gandalf began laughing. Gimli simply sat there, smoking.
The hobbits watched them for a moment with wide eyes, then Merry threw his hands up in disgust. "Big Folk," he muttered. "I'll never understand them..."
---------------------------------------------------
He was back in his cell, huddled in a corner, arms wrapped tightly around his drawn up knees, trying to make himself as small as possible.
He didn't remember coming back to his cell. In fact, now that he thought about it, he didn't remember anything that had happened after he had realized what Saruman had done to him. Oh, he knew that the White Wizard had continued his torture. The agonizing pain in his body was proof of that. he just didn't know what had been done to him.
Legolas started at the cold stone walls around him, shivering. It was not normal of Elves, but this Elf had been through what few others had. He was being held captive in a stone tower where he couldn't see outside, had been tortured, and his voice ripped out. And he knew it wasn't over. Not by a long shot.
Legolas wanted nothing more than to break down into tears. To sit there and cry until the deep ache within his heart had been lessened. But he couldn't, not now. Annolir could walk in at any second, and Legolas wasn't about to give him any tears.
~I still can't believe he's done this,~ the younger prince thought angrily. ~I can understand why he would be upset, but I never thought he would resort to torture!~
Then again, the Annolir that Legolas knew and loved had left a long time ago.
As if on cue, the door to his cell opened with a groan and a clank. Legolas pulled himself out of his reverie to see who it was...
And immediately pushed himself deeper into his corner.
It was none other than Annolir who stood there, leaning back casually against the closed door, arms crossed and a cocky grin on his face.
Legolas wanted to feel hate. Tried to make it well up in his heart.
But all he could feel was a numbing fear.
"Well, well, well," Annolir drawled, a weird light appearing in his emerald green eyes.
"Look at what we have here. The almighty Prince Legolas Greenleaf of Mirkwood, reduced to a mute simpleton." He leaned forward with a sneer. "How does it feel, brother? How does it feel to know that no one is going to want to be around you? To know that, though you were trying to do your best, they ignored you and looked to someone else? Say, this Elven-girl Saruman speaks of? Imagine what they'll say." The elder Thrandullion adopted and air of innocence. "'Oh, Legolas We *know* that you're working hard to protect us. But we decided to replace you with her.'"
Legolas cast his eyes to the floor, feeling the taste of bile rise in his throat. ~No. Aragorn and Ylana still believed in me even when I was so rude to them. They would never do that to me!~
~Would they?~
"There's no point in trying to kid yourself, brother," came Annolir's soft voice, bringing him back to reality. "You're no good to them anymore. What good is a silent warrior, who can't call out warnings to his friends? What good is a Silent Prince? Face it, Legolas. Father will no longer have any use for you. Who will want to be round you now that you have no voice? You won't even be able to communicate with your precious animals anymore." He stood up and casually stretched. "Too bad you can't just end it." Then, with another groan and clang, he was gone.
Legolas stared ate the door for a long moment, straining his ears. When he could no longer hear the clatter of his brother's retreating footsteps, he gave in to the tears that were begging for release.
~He's right, you know,~ sneered a voice inside his head. ~What good are you to anyone? Aragorn and Ylana were the only two people who might have put up with you, but one of them is probably dead! Not Aragorn. You would know if Aragorn was dead. But he's got bigger problems than rescuing you. No one else is going to want to be around you. Annolir was right. A silent warrior is only a liability, no matter how skilled. And a silent prince is useless. He can't hold meetings with counselors or talk to the townspeople. Your father might give you a position of authority, but it would be out of pity. And you know how much you hate pity.
Moving gently so as not to aggravate his numerous wounds, Legolas lay on the floor, facing the wall. A hiss of pain escaped his lips, but he ignored it as he bunched himself up into as small a ball as possible.
~It's not too bad,~ he thought bitterly as he continued to sob. ~At least when you cry now, he can't even hear you.~(1)
-----------------------------------
The three kept walking until there was barely enough light to see their hands in front of their faces. Boromir started a fire, they quickly ate, then Aragorn and Ylana settled down for sleep while Boromir took up the watch.
Sleep came easily to the weary Ranger, but it was not a peaceful one. Not by a long shot.
In his dream, Aragorn wandered the cold, black stone tower of Orthanc, desperately searching for his friend. Something told him that he had to hurry, had to find Legolas quickly. Or else all would be lost.
He pulled his cloak tighter around him as he hurried through the bleak halls, feeling a chill settle deep into his bones. ~Hang on, Legolas. I'm coming.~
A low growl from behind alerted him to the new presence. He whirled around, ready to defend himself. But his sword nearly feel from nerveless fingers at the sight that greeted him.
It was an Orc. A very *familer* looking Orc. One with blond hair and blue eyes.
Aragorn suddenly had trouble breathing. "L-L-Legolas?" he finally managed to stutter.
A snarl was his only answer as the creature, not a sliver of recognition in his once-intelligent eyes, rushed the human.
It took Aragorn a moment to realize what was going on. Once he did, though, he knew what he had to do. He had told Boromir that he might have to do this just the other day.
He planted his feet and met the creature strait on. With tears leaking from both eyes, he plunged his sword strait through Legolas's heart. "Goodbye, mellon-nin." he said in a choked whisper. (2)
As he watched, the Orc in front of him suddenly changed back into the familiar form of the Elf that Aragorn had known all his life. Wearing a shocked expression, he only had time to blink before his legs crumbled beneath him.
With a cry, Aragorn reached out to catch his friend before he could fall. Clutching the dying Elf to his chest, he sank to the ground. "Legolas, I'm so sorry," he sobbed. "Please forgive me."
With his last bit of strength, Legolas smiled and reached up to place a hand on the Man's cheek. "Thank you, mellon-nin," he whispered. "Thank you."
Then he closed his eyes, let out a sigh, and was still.
For awhile, Aragorn could do nothing but stare down at his friend, his tears falling harder and faster. Finally, with a shaking hand, he managed to reach out and brush away a strand of golden-blond hair. "Please, don't go. You can't. There's so much I need to tell you..."
~You're too late,~ a voice sneered in his head. ~He's lost, and it's because you were too late...~
With a strangled cry, Aragorn sat up, eyes wide. His breath was coming in gasps, and his sweat-covered body was shaking violently.
He was outside. That was the first thing he noticed. He was outside, sleeping under stars and sky. Not lost in Orthanc. There, across the fire from him, lay Ylana. He back was turned to him, and her head lay nestled in the crook of her elbow. Of Boromir, there was no sign.
Aragorn placed a hand over his rapidly beating heart, trying to calm it down. ~It was just a dream,~ he told himself sternly, lying back down. ~Just a nightmare. it wasn't real. Legolas is alive and you're going to save him. There's still time.~
Despite the assurances, it was still a long time before the Ranger managed to fall back into a light, uneasy sleep.
---------------------------------
By the time he was taken back to Saruman, Legolas had spent all of his tears. When the Orcs yanked him to his feet, he didn't try to resist them. As he was pushed down and endless black corridor, he showed no signs of life at all.
He was dying. And he knew it.
The elf prince had never been cut off from nature, his source of energy, for this long. He was weak, battered, and sick. With no trees to give him strength, no wind to sing to him, no stars to bathe him, he would soon fade.
~I guess this will put a kink in my brother's plans,~ he thought with a hint of bitter triumph. ~Annolir's revenge will be short lived. Then he'll have to come up with some story to tell Father.~ A cold feeling settled into the pit of his stomach. ~He'll probably try to blame Aragorn. Annolir has never approved of Father's relationship, and accusing Elrond's foster-son of the death of Thranduil's youngest son will definitely drive a wedge between them. There are too many people depending on me. I *must* get out of here!~
Unfortunately, that was a task that seemed impossible. Legolas had single-handily fought and defeated hundreds of Orcs, had fought bravely at the Battle of Five Armies, had even come up against the dreaded Mirkwood spiders time and time again. Yet he could not find the strength to overtake his small guard and escape the tower and the clutches of the evil wizard.
~I only hope that Ylana and Aragorn are still alive, though I think I would know if Aragorn wasn't,~ he thought as they stepped into the room Legolas had been in the day before. Saruman, standing by the torture table, gave the Elf a positively chilling smile. ~And, if they are, that they manage to save me before I come undone.~
~While there's still something left to save.~
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(1)At least when you cry now, he can't even hear you----------Tori Amos 'Blood Roses'
(2)Mellon-nin-------------------my friend
Disclaimer: I'm a broke college student. Obviously, these guys are not mine. Though I wish they were. Then I could do all sorts of things with Legolas. In a non-sexual way, of course....
The Silent Prince
Chapter 17: Before I Come Undone
Frodo couldn't remember the last time he had felt so refreshed after a long night's sleep. While Gandalf had gone off to speak with the prince and Gimli to find the kitchens, the four hobbits had been shown to a guest room in the western wing of the palace. All four had tumbled into bed and fallen asleep almost immediately.
No dreams had plagued Frodo, no nightmares of his friends being killed. Now, with the bright morning sun shinning in through the room's single window, it almost seemed as if the events of the past few months were only a dream.
Frodo only wished it were so.
He, Sam, Merry, and Pippin were being lead by a Terin solider down long corridors towards the prince's viewing chamber, where, they had been assured, Gandalf and Gimli waited.
The four halflings couldn't help but gaze about them in wonder. To the three foot creatures, the armor that decorated the passageways seemed to belong to giants. A shield with the emblem of a white knight astride a black charger, leaning against the wall, was as tall as Sam.
"It's all so *big*," Pippin said breathlessly, his eyes wide. "I thought Bree and Rivendell were big. But this...this is *gigantic*!"
The solider---his name, he said, was Kellian---turned and smiled. "I imagine it would seem that way to you. Sometimes, it even seems big to those of us who are around it every day." He paused. "Pardon if I seem rude for staring and asking strange questions, but I have never seen a hobbit before. We've only heard about you in tales and legends. Then four show up at once..." He shook his head. "It is quite overwhelming. Legends are coming true left and right today." He was, of course, talking about the appearance of Gandalf as well.
Frodo smiled. "It's quite all right, I assure you." He gestured to his three companions, who were staring at their surroundings with wide eyes and open mouths. "As you can see, you are not the only one overwhelmed. We have seen very little of the Big Folk's things."
Kellian nodded, then stopped in front of a plain oak door. "Well, here you are. The prince and your two companions are in there, waiting for you."
Frodo nodded as he reached out to take the hand the Man offered, despite the fact that the soldier's was easily twice the size of the hobbit's. "Thank you. Perhaps you and I could talk later?"
Kellian smiled. "I would like that very much. I will find you later." With that, he dropped Frodo's hand, stepped back, and dipped his head before turning and walking back down the corridor.
Frodo watched him go, then turned to his three companions. "Come on," he said, tugging open the door. "Let's see what's going on."
--------------------------------------------------
It had been many a long year since Prince Liothiel of Terin had seen Gandalf the Grey, but he had never forgotten the wizard. The pointy hat, kind blue eyes, and long gray beard were firmly imprinted on the young prince's mind forever.
He also knew that, when Gandalf came to any city in a hurry, something was amiss and he would do well to listen to what the wizard had to say.
So he had. Starting late last night, when the Istari and his companions had arrived, on through this morning, when the Dwarf had joined them. He had listened, and now his head was reeling from all that he had learned.
Liothiel sat in his chair made of ash, his cheek resting in his hand, staring off into space. Gandalf and Gimli---if he remembered the Dwarf's name correctly---sat in their own chairs, both with their pipes stuck between their teeth.
The Ring of Power... Liothiel had heard stories tell of it all his life. His tutor had told him that many people had forgotten about the One Ring, but he'd be better off knowing than not. Besides, it would put him at an advantage above the other rulers, who were ignorant of Isildur's choice and the effects that resulted from it.
Still, the young prince never thought that the One Ring would be found again. After all, it had been lost for nearly three thousand years! Sauron had been destroyed, and the goblin and orc raids had become fewer and far between. Things were peaceful.
But Gandalf's information changed all that.
The Ring had been found. Not only that, but, at the moment, it was in this very castle, in the care of a creature known as a hobbit.
That was another shock to Liothiel. He had only heard of hobbits in stories. He had never seen one, and had simply passed them off as myths. But, if Gandalf was right, he would be meeting four of them.
~History coming back...Children's tales coming to life... This has got to be the strangest day!~
The prince suddenly stirred, a question on his lips, but stopped as the oak door on the left side of the chamber opened.
He blinked as four small people walked into the room. At first, he thought that they were children, perhaps some of the maids' children, who were helping their mothers. Then he looked closer and realized that, though the had no beards, these were definitely not children. ~Pointed ears, no shoes...They're hobbits!~
His jaw hanging open, he could only watch as the four walked over to Gandalf, who was smiling. "Ah, there you are. I trust you slept well? Good." He gestured to the dazed prince. "I would like you all to meet Prince Liothiel. Your Highness, these are the hobbits I mentioned. Frodo Baggins, Samwise Gamgee, Meridoc Brandybuck, and Peregrine Took, all of the Shire."
They all bowed. "Pleased to meet you," said the one that Liothiel thought had been introduced as Frodo.
The prince pulled himself back together and dipped his head in return. "The honor is all mine. Please excuse my staring, but---"
"You've never met a hobbit before," Pippn said with a grin. "No one around here has."
Liothiel laughed. "I'm afraid you'll have to forgive us, sir. Most of us have never left Terin. Or, if we have, it's to trade with nearby villages."
"You have no room to talk, Pip," Merry scolded him. "This is the first time you've ever been out of the Shire."
"True, but *I* knew the Big Folk existed," the younger hobbit shot back. "I'd even seen some!"
Liothiel chuckled and shook his head. ~Such interesting creatures!~ With a twinkle in his eyes he turned to Gandalf, remembering the question he had been about to ask the wizard when the hobbits had entered. "And you say more will be joining you here?"
Gandalf's face suddenly turned serious. "We are hoping for four more but, in reality, are expecting three."
The prince frowned, noticing that the hobbits' faces all sobered. Gimli's face remained expressionless. "Might I ask what you mean? You spoke of one of your friends being taken by Saruman?"
Gandalf was silent for a moment. Then, "You are a very learned man. You knew many things as a child that grown men were ignorant of. I'm sure you know the history of the Orcs?"
Liothiel nodded, feeling himself flush with pride at this unexpected praise. "Aye. Of how Melkor took Elves captive and, by using his dark powers, twisted and mutilated them until they became Orcs."
Gandalf nodded. "You are correct." He paused, then let out a soul-weary sigh. "The one that was taken from us was an Elf."
Liothiel's eyes went wide, and he could feel the blood drain from his face as realization sank in. "Oh," he breathed. "And you think that Saruman..." He couldn't bring himself to finish, especially with the sad looks on the hobbits' faces.
"I wouldn't put is past him," Gandalf said grimly. "Saruman has shown himself to be quite a cruel person. Not only that, but I believe he is nearing insanity."
"And the other three that you spoke of?"
"An Elf and two Men. They are on their way to Isengard as we speak, trying to rescue our friend. They will head for this town once he is freed. Or once they have determined that there is no way to save him."
Liothiel licked his lips, digesting this newest bit of information.
Silence descended on the group, each lost in his own thoughts. Of course, everyone's thoughts were on the same thing. But they each thought in a different way.
It was the human prince who broke the silence. "How long do you think it will take your friends to get here?" His voice was soft and gentle. He knew what it was like to knot know if a friend was safe or not.
Gandalf gave an apologetic shrug. "Honestly, I don't know. I hope within a week. I know it's quite a bit of time---"
Liothiel waved his hand in the air, cutting the wizard off. "Don't worry about a thing, Gandalf. You know I'll gladly help with anything you need." He suddenly grinned. "Besides, I would like to get to know these hobbits and cure my ignorance."
The Istari laughed. "Are you sure about that, my young friend?" he asked with a twinkle in his eyes. "You'll find that they're interesting, have no doubt. But they're also quite bothersome."
"Hey!" Merry said indignantly, hands on his hips and a scowl on his face. 'What exactly do you mean by that?"
Both Liothiel and Gandalf began laughing. Gimli simply sat there, smoking.
The hobbits watched them for a moment with wide eyes, then Merry threw his hands up in disgust. "Big Folk," he muttered. "I'll never understand them..."
---------------------------------------------------
He was back in his cell, huddled in a corner, arms wrapped tightly around his drawn up knees, trying to make himself as small as possible.
He didn't remember coming back to his cell. In fact, now that he thought about it, he didn't remember anything that had happened after he had realized what Saruman had done to him. Oh, he knew that the White Wizard had continued his torture. The agonizing pain in his body was proof of that. he just didn't know what had been done to him.
Legolas started at the cold stone walls around him, shivering. It was not normal of Elves, but this Elf had been through what few others had. He was being held captive in a stone tower where he couldn't see outside, had been tortured, and his voice ripped out. And he knew it wasn't over. Not by a long shot.
Legolas wanted nothing more than to break down into tears. To sit there and cry until the deep ache within his heart had been lessened. But he couldn't, not now. Annolir could walk in at any second, and Legolas wasn't about to give him any tears.
~I still can't believe he's done this,~ the younger prince thought angrily. ~I can understand why he would be upset, but I never thought he would resort to torture!~
Then again, the Annolir that Legolas knew and loved had left a long time ago.
As if on cue, the door to his cell opened with a groan and a clank. Legolas pulled himself out of his reverie to see who it was...
And immediately pushed himself deeper into his corner.
It was none other than Annolir who stood there, leaning back casually against the closed door, arms crossed and a cocky grin on his face.
Legolas wanted to feel hate. Tried to make it well up in his heart.
But all he could feel was a numbing fear.
"Well, well, well," Annolir drawled, a weird light appearing in his emerald green eyes.
"Look at what we have here. The almighty Prince Legolas Greenleaf of Mirkwood, reduced to a mute simpleton." He leaned forward with a sneer. "How does it feel, brother? How does it feel to know that no one is going to want to be around you? To know that, though you were trying to do your best, they ignored you and looked to someone else? Say, this Elven-girl Saruman speaks of? Imagine what they'll say." The elder Thrandullion adopted and air of innocence. "'Oh, Legolas We *know* that you're working hard to protect us. But we decided to replace you with her.'"
Legolas cast his eyes to the floor, feeling the taste of bile rise in his throat. ~No. Aragorn and Ylana still believed in me even when I was so rude to them. They would never do that to me!~
~Would they?~
"There's no point in trying to kid yourself, brother," came Annolir's soft voice, bringing him back to reality. "You're no good to them anymore. What good is a silent warrior, who can't call out warnings to his friends? What good is a Silent Prince? Face it, Legolas. Father will no longer have any use for you. Who will want to be round you now that you have no voice? You won't even be able to communicate with your precious animals anymore." He stood up and casually stretched. "Too bad you can't just end it." Then, with another groan and clang, he was gone.
Legolas stared ate the door for a long moment, straining his ears. When he could no longer hear the clatter of his brother's retreating footsteps, he gave in to the tears that were begging for release.
~He's right, you know,~ sneered a voice inside his head. ~What good are you to anyone? Aragorn and Ylana were the only two people who might have put up with you, but one of them is probably dead! Not Aragorn. You would know if Aragorn was dead. But he's got bigger problems than rescuing you. No one else is going to want to be around you. Annolir was right. A silent warrior is only a liability, no matter how skilled. And a silent prince is useless. He can't hold meetings with counselors or talk to the townspeople. Your father might give you a position of authority, but it would be out of pity. And you know how much you hate pity.
Moving gently so as not to aggravate his numerous wounds, Legolas lay on the floor, facing the wall. A hiss of pain escaped his lips, but he ignored it as he bunched himself up into as small a ball as possible.
~It's not too bad,~ he thought bitterly as he continued to sob. ~At least when you cry now, he can't even hear you.~(1)
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The three kept walking until there was barely enough light to see their hands in front of their faces. Boromir started a fire, they quickly ate, then Aragorn and Ylana settled down for sleep while Boromir took up the watch.
Sleep came easily to the weary Ranger, but it was not a peaceful one. Not by a long shot.
In his dream, Aragorn wandered the cold, black stone tower of Orthanc, desperately searching for his friend. Something told him that he had to hurry, had to find Legolas quickly. Or else all would be lost.
He pulled his cloak tighter around him as he hurried through the bleak halls, feeling a chill settle deep into his bones. ~Hang on, Legolas. I'm coming.~
A low growl from behind alerted him to the new presence. He whirled around, ready to defend himself. But his sword nearly feel from nerveless fingers at the sight that greeted him.
It was an Orc. A very *familer* looking Orc. One with blond hair and blue eyes.
Aragorn suddenly had trouble breathing. "L-L-Legolas?" he finally managed to stutter.
A snarl was his only answer as the creature, not a sliver of recognition in his once-intelligent eyes, rushed the human.
It took Aragorn a moment to realize what was going on. Once he did, though, he knew what he had to do. He had told Boromir that he might have to do this just the other day.
He planted his feet and met the creature strait on. With tears leaking from both eyes, he plunged his sword strait through Legolas's heart. "Goodbye, mellon-nin." he said in a choked whisper. (2)
As he watched, the Orc in front of him suddenly changed back into the familiar form of the Elf that Aragorn had known all his life. Wearing a shocked expression, he only had time to blink before his legs crumbled beneath him.
With a cry, Aragorn reached out to catch his friend before he could fall. Clutching the dying Elf to his chest, he sank to the ground. "Legolas, I'm so sorry," he sobbed. "Please forgive me."
With his last bit of strength, Legolas smiled and reached up to place a hand on the Man's cheek. "Thank you, mellon-nin," he whispered. "Thank you."
Then he closed his eyes, let out a sigh, and was still.
For awhile, Aragorn could do nothing but stare down at his friend, his tears falling harder and faster. Finally, with a shaking hand, he managed to reach out and brush away a strand of golden-blond hair. "Please, don't go. You can't. There's so much I need to tell you..."
~You're too late,~ a voice sneered in his head. ~He's lost, and it's because you were too late...~
With a strangled cry, Aragorn sat up, eyes wide. His breath was coming in gasps, and his sweat-covered body was shaking violently.
He was outside. That was the first thing he noticed. He was outside, sleeping under stars and sky. Not lost in Orthanc. There, across the fire from him, lay Ylana. He back was turned to him, and her head lay nestled in the crook of her elbow. Of Boromir, there was no sign.
Aragorn placed a hand over his rapidly beating heart, trying to calm it down. ~It was just a dream,~ he told himself sternly, lying back down. ~Just a nightmare. it wasn't real. Legolas is alive and you're going to save him. There's still time.~
Despite the assurances, it was still a long time before the Ranger managed to fall back into a light, uneasy sleep.
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By the time he was taken back to Saruman, Legolas had spent all of his tears. When the Orcs yanked him to his feet, he didn't try to resist them. As he was pushed down and endless black corridor, he showed no signs of life at all.
He was dying. And he knew it.
The elf prince had never been cut off from nature, his source of energy, for this long. He was weak, battered, and sick. With no trees to give him strength, no wind to sing to him, no stars to bathe him, he would soon fade.
~I guess this will put a kink in my brother's plans,~ he thought with a hint of bitter triumph. ~Annolir's revenge will be short lived. Then he'll have to come up with some story to tell Father.~ A cold feeling settled into the pit of his stomach. ~He'll probably try to blame Aragorn. Annolir has never approved of Father's relationship, and accusing Elrond's foster-son of the death of Thranduil's youngest son will definitely drive a wedge between them. There are too many people depending on me. I *must* get out of here!~
Unfortunately, that was a task that seemed impossible. Legolas had single-handily fought and defeated hundreds of Orcs, had fought bravely at the Battle of Five Armies, had even come up against the dreaded Mirkwood spiders time and time again. Yet he could not find the strength to overtake his small guard and escape the tower and the clutches of the evil wizard.
~I only hope that Ylana and Aragorn are still alive, though I think I would know if Aragorn wasn't,~ he thought as they stepped into the room Legolas had been in the day before. Saruman, standing by the torture table, gave the Elf a positively chilling smile. ~And, if they are, that they manage to save me before I come undone.~
~While there's still something left to save.~
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(1)At least when you cry now, he can't even hear you----------Tori Amos 'Blood Roses'
(2)Mellon-nin-------------------my friend