I'm not very fond of this chapter.
"Lingering Shadows"
Chapter 4 - Into The Lions Den
Legolas sat in a wooden cart, his body rocking with the easy pace of the horses that pulled it. The driver sat on the bench at his back, silent as stone. The prince stared at the horizon, bruised eyes watching the brown and brittle bushes that made up the plains behind him. The lush green of Mirkwood's trees had disappeared days ago.
They were heading north, away from his home and the lands he knew. They were making their way through the Withered Heath and across the Grey Mountains to the Northern Waste. It was a poisoned land, bereft of beauty and riddled with death. Even the air was foul and thick with dust. At least, that's what the stories told. No one he knew had ever been there.
A man rode by on a skittish mare and spat at the prince. "Give me a reason, filth. Give me a reason to add another bruise to that pretty face."
Legolas did not take his eyes from the horizon. "You are not worth the effort," he said with all the arrogance of a prince.
The man snarled and raised a gloved fist. "Dane!" The shout whipped the man's head around, fist stopping mid-swing. One of the captains rode up beside him, his good eye glaring. The other was hidden behind a black patch.
"Captain gave orders. Don't touch the elf." The man demanded.
"What's the difference since yesterday?" The first demanded, his hand falling to his saddle horn.
"Difference is, her Majesty gave orders he was to arrive unblemished. We got just enough time 'fore we get there for his bruises to heal. So don't be going and makin' more."
"And if he tries to escape again?" The man asked. The captain glanced over at Legolas, his eye taking in his bruised right cheek, his swollen lips, and the drying blood around his wrists where the chains had been tightened to prevent another escape.
"Handle it. But don't leave any marks."
Legolas smirked as the man growled and rode away.
**
"I cannot find him, your Majesty." The young guard stood stiffly in the council chamber of the king of Mirkwood.
"How did you let him slip away from you again, Avarilas?" Thranduil asked, his long fingers rubbing at his temples.
"I am sorry, my lord."
The king sighed, his eyes rising to meet those of his son's guard. His youngest child was insufferable, to say the least. His spirit would not allow him to stay still for long at a time and that had a tendency to cause headaches to many a citizen of Mirkwood.
"He has been missing for three weeks now, am I right? Thranduil asked.
"Yes, my lord."
"And why did he run this time?"
Avarilas stared down at the thick rug beneath his feet, his hands clenched tightly behind his back. "He wanted to infiltrate the den of Spiders that was found near the forest road. I advised against it. So he left without me."
Thranduil looked up at the guard that had been like a son to him. The young Elf was as opposite to Legolas as night was to day. Where Legolas was cocky, Avarilas was modest. Where Legolas was animated, Avarilas was serious. Where the prince was brash, his guard was cautious. So once again their differences had brought them to a crossroad; one that Legolas had barreled through without a second thought.
"This is not your fault, Avarilas." Thranduil said, rising slowly and walking around his desk. "Legolas is... insatiable. He will do as he wishes and I have learned, as I'm sure you have as well, that nothing will get in his way. Take Lindelen and his contingent and find him. And that boy as well."
"Yes, Majesty." Avarilas bowed low, a heavy sigh escaping his lips. If anything happened to the prince he would never forgive himself.
**
Legolas struggled, gasping for air as another wave of dirty water washed over his head. He spit out the foul liquid and tried to sit up, only to be shoved down again by rough hands. Four guards had come to the cart and dragged him to a nearby lake, then proceeded to wash away the grime that had accumulated on him over the past two weeks.
Two of the guards were sitting on his kicking legs while another held his bloody wrists to prevent any more broken noses; the fourth was supposed to be washing his hair, but Legolas was certain that he had decided to just rip it all out.
There was another sharp tug at his temple as the man pulled out his braids. The prince growled and kicked uselessly at the men that held him down. The man behind him pushed down on his shoulders again and his whole body was submerged under the water.
He came up gasping again, his long hair clinging to his face and neck. The man that had been scrubbing at his head stood and walked around to his left side. Legolas glared at him but held his tongue. The only thing his insults had gotten him was laughter, and he would not give them the satisfaction of knowing how angry that made him.
The man stared down at him, dark lips curled up in a smirk as he looked over the struggling Elf, then he reached down to his hip and pulled a dagger from his belt. Legolas stopped struggling for a moment, his eyebrows furrowed in confusion. He knew they would not kill him; so what was the knife for?
The man laughed and leaned forward, then he began to cut the ties on the front of his tunic. Legolas snarled and bucked against the men that held him down. The knife slipped and nicked his skin, but he ignored it as one arm came loose and he struck out at the man, catching him across the face.
The man cursed. "Hold him down, you idiots, or I'll have you flogged!" The men immediately doubled their efforts, but so did Legolas.
His legs kicked out with all his strength, catching one man in the groin. The man fell away with a howl, freeing Legolas's leg and he kicked out at the man that still held the knife. The man backed away, missing the bare foot aimed at his stomach. The other man holding his legs scrambled to catch him again.
The Elf kicked out at him and struck him across the face, but by now the other had risen and had grabbed his leg below the knee and twisted; something in his knee popped and Legolas stifled a scream.
"Get the chains on him. We'll have to do this the hard way," the man with the knife demanded.
Despite his struggles Legolas's ankles and wrists were shackled once again and he was pinned to the lake bed. The man stood over him, glaring down at him as he struggled. Legolas spat at him, his eyes darkening with anger.
The man smiled and knelt beside him again and quickly proceeded to cut away his tunic, slicing his skin as he made his way down. Legolas's chest was heaving in rage, small trickles of blood sliding down his skin. He continued to struggle futilely against the men and chains.
The man smirked and tossed the shredded shirt away. Then he winked at the prince and he lowered the knife to the ties of his leggings. "I wouldn't struggle this time if I were you. You might loose something important."
The men all roared with laughter. Legolas bit the inside of his cheek, his hands clenching into fists behind his back. He struggled to control his breathing; he felt his ears turn red as the man began to cut his leggings away. The men that held him down laughed and he snarled in anger.
Legolas felt the man run the knife into his skin and his leg jerked, driving the sharp steel farther into his thigh. He stifled a groan, anger rising through his chest as the men laughed harder. After his leggings were tossed away the man began to scrub away the dirt on his body, rubbing his skin raw with the rough sponge and coarse soap.
When he was finally content with his work he ordered Legolas to his feet. The prince glared up at the man, a mixture of rage and humiliation in his eyes. The man growled and kicked his wounded leg, grinding his boot into the open wound. Legolas groaned, spots of light dancing in front of his eyes as a bolt of pain shot up his leg.
"I said, get up." The man demanded. Legolas glared up at him but didn't move.
The man cursed, then ordered the others to get the prince to his feet. Two of the men grabbed him under the arms and pulled him up. They laughed as he stumbled, his feet constricted by the chains.
The man that had cut his clothes away pulled another object from his belt and walked over to the seething prince. He wrapped the leather strap around Legolas's throat, one hand holding tightly to the rope attached to the center. Then he unlocked the chains and stepped back, out of striking distance.
One of the other men tossed Legolas clean garments. He glared at the men, gathered what little dignity he had left, and turned around, facing away from them as pulled the white garments over his wet, red skin.
When he was fully clothed again the man returned the chains to his wrists, then led him back to the camp by the leash. The laughter of the men rang in his ears.
**
It had been less than an hour since they had left the lake; the sun was now directly overhead. Another man had come to him as they traveled and dressed his wounds. And another had brushed and re-braided his hair, placing a thin circlet of twisted silver over the top. It was his crown. Thoughts of Traice sprang to his mind but he buried them under his hate.
A few minutes ago they had crossed the final foothills of the Grey Mountains and begun their way down into a deep valley. Legolas could see no sight of green things around him. There was nothing but coarse, short bushes and stunted brown trees that grew in small clumps. The whole valley was a circle of poisoned yellow plants and dark brown dust.
In the middle of the valley a fortress had been built at the top of a high, steep hill. It was a tall, straight building of dark stone surrounded by a high wall. At the base of the hill a city of short, dirty buildings spread out in a wide circle. The buildings were short and close together, their narrow streets criss-crossing in convoluted patterns. A thick stone wall surrounded the city.
They had entered a low gate, made of thick steel and lined with heavy crossbars. The men on duty stared at Legolas as the cart drove through, laughing and throwing insults. Legolas had kept his eyes fixed ahead of him, back towards his home.
The buildings that surrounded the procession were too close, stifling the prince as they pressed in around him. The streets were dirty and smelled of refuse and human waste. Legolas's heightened senses felt as if they were under attack; his eyes burned with dust and the stifling heat and his nose itched, his lungs stinging with the rancid air.
But there was hardly any sound. He half expected shrieks of despair as they had entered, for that's certainly what he felt like doing in this vile place. But there was hardly any sound save the thump of horse hooves on the dirt road. That's when Legolas realized that there were no people. No women doing chores, no men working. The shops were all closed and the streets were even empty of children.
The silence of the city was more painful than anything else.
As they made their way through the city a man had climbed into the cart to give him one more inspection. His hair--dry and falling over his shoulders in silky waves--was brushed out again and settled over his back and shoulders like a mantle. His face was inspected for any lingering bruises. And his clothes, the white, silver-laced tunic and leggings that had been tailored to fit his body, were adjusted to fall perfectly in place. He had to admit that he looked good enough to attend one of his father's royal banquets. He hated it.
And now they were in the main fortress, heading towards two strong wooden doors, and on the other side was the queen he had been promised to.
To Be Continued...
Nope. Still don't like it. Oh well.
Until next time...
Adrienne
To my wonderful reviewers -
Estel Elven Enchantress - lol. That's a cute one. But probably more along the lines of one he would use whilst arguing playfully with our dear Ranger. I was going for more pissed off than goofy. But I will look into that, thank you.
Twin - Oh yes, he will pay. I'm just not sure yet. And as I said before, as of now the PG-13 rating stands. I'm sorry I can't tell you what it will be later on. I'm not one of those people that writes the whole story first. I haven't even finished the next chapter. But I promise, if I do decided at a later date that the story warrants an R rating, I will warn you before hand. Okay?
seronothenin - Well, I'm glad to hear you've enjoyed my other stories. And yeah, I used to be a lurker too until I realized that hey, I like getting reviews, so everyone else must too! lol.
Templa Otmena - Well, I've already answered on question, as for the other... I don't know. She may have a brief appearance, but I doubt highly if it will be very big.
candidus-lupus-full Moon - You're welcome, and thank you.
Aranna Undomiel - Yes, my sentiments exactly. Traice will have to pay. *runs off to research torture devices*
mIzXxXmALfoY - I agree. :)
LegolasLover2003 - Ooh, you're good. I will definitely have to use those. :)
lolly pop3 - Well, then it's a good thing they're not real, huh?
bailey - My sentiments exactly.
Deana - Yes, *gasp*!
Beling - Hmmm... and me thinks you have not read my other stories. This is a prequel to the two I've already written. They're called 'Memories of Ilithien' and 'Leaves of Glass'. If you want to know how he reacts to our dear Dunadain you should go read them. In that order. Thank you very much for the review!
Coolio02 - Oh but of course. For what is mental angst without the physical? Not worth the effort I tell you. :)
Elven Kitten - I know! Really now, does the man not have a heart? *checks her OC* Nope. Nothing there.
MG87 - *gasp*! 6 whole days? Torture. And yes *hands you Traice* he's all yours.
MelanyeBaggins - Well thank you very much. And I will be sure to check out that site. I get the feeling that Legolas is going to be needing a lot of new curses. :)
AlmatarioofMirkwood - Thank you!
tay - Thank you. And you too!
Alariel - Well, thank you very much. And yes, I agree. I miss my Ranger.