I think I got people a little freaked out, or scared them off…here's the next part.

Chapter 20--Searching

Qui leaded out the boat and helped several guards drag it onto the beach. He waited while everyone got organized. Aragorn and Gimli came up beside him.

"So where do we start looking?" Gimli asked.

"Most of the tribes live in the woods, if they found him they would take him there," Qui said.

"I hope he is safe. Would they harm him?" Aragorn asked.

Qui sighed. "It depends who he is found by," he said.

"Then we must not waste time," Aragorn said. He gestured to the guards and they entered the dense forest. It was a rather uncomfortable place, very hot and humid. The air was alive with strange sounds from all around them.

*Meanwhile*

Zonobi returned to the shelter carrying a cup early in the afternoon. He seized Legolas's arm and sat him up then put the cup to his lips. He tried to force him to drink.

A foul smell filled Legolas's senses and he gagged. He turned his head away, refusing to take it. He didn't trust him.

Zonobi muttered something angrily and tried again.

Legolas's hands luckily had been bound in front of him. He brought them up suddenly, hitting in the cup, which resulted in its contents going all over Zonobi.

The man made a disgusted sound then slapped Legolas across the face with so much force it knocked him down. He stormed out of the hut.

Legolas could taste blood, but the look on the man's face had been worth it. He had a feeling he'd be back and he'd have help. He was right too.

Zonobi stormed back into the hut with two more men. Between the three of them they forced the vile potion down Legolas's throat then all three left.

After a while Legolas started to feel tired and a bit groggy. He didn't know what they had given him, but he knew he didn't like it. He knew Qui had warned him about using his powers, but he felt he had to chance it. He concentrated on the healing trance. His grogginess made it more difficult then usual, but finally he managed to do it. He had to find away to escape. He examined the bonds, leather. He began working on chewing through them. It was slow going and his jaw was killing him. It was dusk before he succeeded. He could hear drums being played and people hurrying by the hut. He quickly freed his ankles and stood, looking around for something that would work as a weapon.

Finally a found a piece of stone, roughly carved into the shape of a dagger. He picked it up, not much of a weapon, but better then nothing. He moved cautiously to the entrance of the hut and listened. It was quiet. He risked peeking out. There was no one nearby and he could see a large fire. He could try to sneak away. That's when he saw Sari being led towards the fire by another woman. Legolas was in a quandary. He could sneak off, but to leave her seemed like cowardice. She had been kind to him and tried to help him. He made his decision and slipped from the hut. He used the shadows to his advantage as he moved up behind the woman.

The woman didn't realize he was there until he grabbed her from behind, covering her mouth tightly then dragging her back into the hut. The woman struggled, but Legolas was stronger then she was. Soon she was lying on the floor of the hut, bound hand and foot and gagged.

Legolas left the hut and went back to Sari who hadn't moved. Her eyes were glazed and she seemed unaware of anything around her, to top it off she was naked as a babe. Muttering a curse he'd learned from Boromir, Legolas returned to the hut and got a blanket. He wrapped it around Sari and took her hand and led her towards the trees. He was relieved when she followed docilely behind him. They had to get as far from here as possible. He figured that when she wasn't brought to the fire they would start looking. It wouldn't take long for them to find he was gone as well…..

So nice escape, huh? R/R please!!!