Ugh, sorry about the last chapter. I should have warned everyone. I don't know what got into my plot bunnies..
Chapter 39--Making Plans
Finally Qui felt warmth returning to Legolas's hand and he tucked it under the blanket. He studied the Elf's face, especially his eyes then nodded. "He is asleep," he said.
"Why did they murder her like that?" Aragorn asked. "It is sickening."
"She disobeyed the one she swore an oath of obedience too. Breaking such an oath is punishable by death," Qui said.
"Why did she keep quiet?" Gimli grumbled.
"She was protecting us. If it was known what Legolas could do he would never be freed and we might have been killed so there was no one to help him. She was preventing it in the only way she could," Qui said.
"I do not know about you, but I have had enough of this place. We need to escape. Do you have an idea where she might have had my men anchor the ship?" Aragorn asked.
"Yes, I am sure I do. The problem is escaping. We must do it soon before we are separated, but I think I know a way, listen," Qui said. They put their heads together and began to discuss how to escape and get back to the ship.
It was several hours before Legolas woke up. He looked around blearily and saw that Aragorn, Qui, and Gimli seemed to be asleep. It must be very late. An image of Mei's crumpled, headless body flashed through his mind. HE shuddered and pushed the image away. He didn't want to see it again. His throat was horribly dry and he desperately wanted a drink. He glanced around and saw a pitcher sitting on a low table with some glasses. He stood and went over, careful not to wake anyone. He filled one of the glasses with water and gulped it down.
"Legolas?" Aragorn said softly. "Are you alright?"
Surprised, Legolas turned to see Aragorn sitting up, watching him. "I thought you were asleep, Aragorn," he said.
"I was, I just woke up," Aragorn said.
"I guess I am alright, but I wish Mei had told me of her feelings," Legolas said.
"I suppose she was wary of doing so," Aragorn said. "You should try to get some more sleep. Tomorrow might be hard."
Legolas nodded and put the glass down. He returned to his mat and eventually fell asleep again.
Early the next morning food was brought and left on the table. "At least they are not going to try to starve it out of us," Gimli muttered.
"They will not try that, not yet, but there is no way of telling how long Wai Chee will wait before trying worse methods to convince us," Qui said.
"You mean torture," Aragorn said flatly.
"Yes, I am afraid I do," Qui said grimly.
Gimli snorted in disgust. "Torture, yet they sneer at us and call us barbarians. Well, this is one Dwarf who they will never break," he said.
Legolas looked stricken. "I cannot let you get hurt because of me, perhaps I should tell them," he said.
"No, that is the one thing that you must not do. Not knowing is the one thing that is keeping us alive. No matter what Legolas, you must not tell," Qui said.
Legolas sighed. Suddenly he wasn't hungry anymore. He picked at the food on his plate listlessly while the others ate.
Aragorn noticed. "The food would help more if you ate it instead of playing with it, Legolas," he remarked.
"I am not hungry, perhaps later," Legolas said. He set the plate aside.
"No wonder you are so scrawny, Elf, you never eat," Gimli snorted.
Legolas scowled at him, but he was in no mood for bantering with him right now. He stood and walked back the one of the mats and sat down. He hated waiting, but it seemed like that was all that any of them could do right now.
Twenty minutes later two men came in. "You, come, the Master would speak with you," one said. He gestured to Legolas.
"What about us?" Qui asked.
"You were not invited. Come now," the man said.
Reluctantly Legolas went and they led him from the room.
"Remember what I said, Legolas," Qui said as they left.
The men took him into the room where Wai Chee was waiting. He looked up as they entered.
So what is he up to now? R/R please!