Title: Inseparable

Author: Legolas-gurl88

Disclaimer: It all belongs to Tolkien… except the stuff I made up.

Author Note: Okay, I'm walking at tight rope at the moment. I have a D in Biology and a C in Physics. I told my mom my grades and she said that I can only have one hour to write fanfiction a day! That's not nearly enough to write the whole story in a week, so it will probably take longer to post after the next couple of chappies! If my grades get lower, she said I can't read or write fanfiction at all until my grades get higher, so now I have a major motivation, 'cause I can't live without my fanfiction! So, I'll be workin' a LOT harder than before to get my grades up! Just to let you all know!

On with the story!

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19. Nothing but pain

A week had passed and still, Estel had not made it to Mirkwood. The Elves told him it was not far, maybe a day or so left. He rode double on a horse, his hands tied around the waist of the leader Elf. Most of the time, everyone spoke Elvish. Estel was able to interpret more than he had when he'd been disguised at 'Shy' but still, he was not entirely fluent. The lead Elf, whose name was Arlean, rarely said anything to Estel, making him feel lonely once again. He still had the gag in his mouth so he could not call for help, but the Elves were kinder to him than the Orcs had been. They fed him Lembas and gave him water and it was enough for Estel, who'd eaten worse before. The tired human couldn't keep his eyes open any longer, so he closed them and let his head fall onto the back of the Arlean and he slept.

Finally, true to his word, Arlean, Estel and the rest of the Elves arrived at the forests of Mirkwood. Estel was slightly nervous; Legolas had never invited him to come and stay at Mirkwood, and his father would not allow him to go, so he had never been there. Now, he could see why Elrond or Legolas let him come. All the trees were dark and dull and unfriendly looking. The ground was very hard and twigs and branches lay all over the place. Arlean kicked his horse and he trotted into the wood. Estel shivered. This place scared him a little, like there was always something watching.

They rode for a little over three hours and came into a clearing. Estel gasped through his gag. Seeing Legolas, he had always expected the handsome and happy Elf to live in a place full of cute animals, a running stream full of crystal clear water and a castle, as high as the trees themselves, which were bright green and golden and beautiful.

The place before him was nothing of his imagination.

There were no animals whatsoever, the place where a stream might have used to be was just a long, muddy ditch. The trees were all dark and made the atmosphere very dank. The 'castle' Estel had imagined, was only a wide, two story building type of place, where the bricks making it started to grow mold.

Arlean sighed.

"It has not been the same since King Thranduil and Prince Legolas died. We have tried to lament them through song, as is accustomed to us, but Queen Morier would not allow it. So, now, we must pass every grief-filled day without song. It used to be beautiful here. But now--" Arlean shook his head sadly, "it is nothing but sadness and horrid trees that scream instead of sing-- trees that do not allow the light of the moon to shine through on the palace."

The Elves entered the stables and dismounted. Two Elves took Estel off the horse and tied his hands together again. Then, they lead them to the throne room, where Morier sat in Thranduil's old throne. Estel was untied and un-gagged and the guards left. The boy stared at Morier, his grey eyes piercing her own dark blue ones. Neither said anything and an unnatural silence covered the room. Finally, Morier spoke in an evil and powerful voice.

"Why do you not bow? Bow before the Queen of Mirkwood!"

Estel remained where he was, determined not to give in to Morier.

"Bow before me!" Morier shouted and her voice echoed in the hall. Still, Estel did nothing. Morier slammed her fist on the arm of the throne she sat on. Estel decided to speak up, hoping his voice would sound brave and powerful and unafraid. But what came out wasn't quite what he'd wanted.

"N-no." Estel stammered. He mentally slapped himself.

"What?"

Estel cleared his throat and repeated, "No. I only bow to the true ruler of Mirkwood."

"Why you little--" Morier stood up started to walk to Estel, then caught herself and sat down again. "Estel, dear child, I am the ruler of Mirkwood."

"No, you aren't." Estel said. Morier's eyes flashed dangerously. But Estel did not want to give up, "Thranduil is ruler. And Legolas after him."

"They are dead." Morier answered shortly.

"No they aren't. You're lying."

"They are dead, you insolent little brat!" Morier said, "They died in my arms! They are dead!"

"They did not die!"

"BE QUIET!" Morier shouted. Then, she jumped out of her chair, ran to Estel and slapped him hardly across the face. The boy cried out in shock as Morier slapped him several more times, switching hands every time. Finally, Estel sank to the ground, his legs weak as he sobbed into his hands. Morier hit him round the head, then, turned to the door.

"Guards!" she shouted, "Come take this boy away!" The guards entered through the door and stopped as they saw Estel turn around to face them, his lip bleeding and his face stained with tears. Their hearts went out to him, because they, unlike Morier, were good, but could do nothing against Morier as long as she was Queen.

"Take this boy to the dungeon and make sure he gets a good beating! When he is ready to admit that Legolas and Thranduil are dead, bring him back to me." Morier kicked Estel swiftly in the ribs and he cried out in pain. The guards flinched, then nodded and each took one of they boys' arms and dragged him to the dungeons.

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Several hours later, Estel lay in a heap, bleeding ferociously. He had endured so much that it was almost too much for his small body to handle. In every position he lay, it caused him great pain due to the fact that he had whip marks everywhere. A bleeding hand was closed around the boys stomach. Estel figured he had broken at least three ribs when the Elves kicked him; maybe more. All he knew was great pain.

"Legolas!" Estel cried out in half conciousness, calling for the only person whom he trusted entirely with his life. His body pained him so badly, he wanted to be an Elf so he could give his miserable life away.

The Mirkwood Healer, Belen, came into the cell where Estel lay, his hands full of herbs, rags, bandages, water, Lembas, and other things to dress the boy's wounds and numb some of the pain for him. Belen had been Legolas's friend ever since the prince had been an Elfling. He had mended every cut, scrape and broken bone the Elf had ever bared. He had been the shoulder Legolas would cry on when his Thranduil was out or in council. He loved Legolas as if he were his own son, whom had died due to a giant spider. Belen envied Thranduil for having Legolas.

Silently, Belen poured water into a bowl he had brought with him and mixed in different herbs along with it. He took a cloth, soaked it in the concoction and with a steady and experienced hand, dabbed it on the child's wounds. The boy whimpered slightly, but gave no sign of full conciousness. He silently mumbled things under his breath that even Belen couldn't pick up with his elven hearing. All the while, Belen thought of Legolas. The two had shared a close bond with each other and they always shared stories, whether good or bad.

Belen wrapped a bandage around Estel's wrist where it had been most likely sprained. He sighed. No creature, whether Elf, Human or even Dwarf deserved such torture. And to see this happening to a mere human child was like having one of Legolas's accurate arrows pierce his heart.

"Leave him," A sudden voice rang out in the soundless cell. Belen jumped and turned away from his work to face whoever had come in. He had been so caught up in his thoughts to notice anyone had entered. When he spun around on his knees and realized who it was that had come it, he quickly found his feet and bowed deeply.

"My Queen Morier," he said in a low voice. He hated calling anyone King, Queen, Prince or Lord that wasn't Thranduil, Legolas or someone that he actually believed to be royalty and Morier just hadn't made it into that category.

"Well, straiten up, fool, and be gone." Morier commanded. Belen bowed again.

"With all due respect, My Lady, I must finish dressing the boy's wounds."

"Didn't you hear me, Healer, or did I stutter when I said to leave him?"

"My Lady, he is seriously injured. If I do not dress him, he will surely die of infections."

There was a silence, after these words, that rang so loudly in Belen's ears that he was almost at the point of yelling out.

"Leave him." Morier said evilly. Belen glared at her, yet bowed again, his blonde hair falling over his shoulders.

"I'm afraid I can't do that. King Thranduil appointed me as the Healer and it is my job to--"

"Healer, if you do not leave, I will be forced to injure this boy so badly that even a Healer would find it hard to mend. Do you wish that upon the boy?"

Once again, Belen bowed.

"No, My Lady, but King Thranduil--"

"Is dead and I am ruler now and I command you to LEAVE THE BOY!" Morier shouted. Belen bowed one last time and went back to where the boy lay. He scooped up his things and left the cell, unaware that Morier was grinning wickedly at Estel, a whip in her hand.

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Legolas and Barlay were almost there. In the distance, the treetops could be seen, even by Barlay. But it was nearing night. The yellow sun was setting, leaving a bright red horizon to glow for the next half hour until darkness took it and Ithildin showed her white face among the stars.

"Barlay," Legolas said to the man riding next to him, "Put up your hood. From here, there could be spies." Barlay obeyed without protest, pulling the hood of his cloak over his face so his features were completely hidden in shadow. Legolas did the same with his makeshift cloak.

It wasn't long now… they would soon be there and Legolas would reclaim Estel. He remembered the boy with a pang of sadness at one of the last things Estel had said to him; "Leave me alone! I never want to speak to you again!" Then, he remembered Denethor's words; "He's the one making you suffer! He's the one that got you in here, that framed you!" Was he truly doing the right thing? Legolas mentally shook himself; Denethor must have been lying. Estel would never have harmed Arwen. He would have rather killed himself first. Why had Legolas been so quick to believe Denethor's cruel words? Maybe he had been searching for some answer to why he was so miserable.

"I'm coming, Estel, don't give up." Legolas whispered into the wind.

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"It's no use, Dan, I've tried just about everything to get out," Elrohir said wearily for about the hundredth time as his older brother paced the room and every so often returned to the door to jiggle the doorknob in hopes of it giving way. Elrohir now sat on the edge of his bed, his chin resting on his hand.

"I was just checking, Ro, thank you." Elladan said.

"Elladan have you lost your Elven sense?!" Elrohir yelled, jumping up from his spot on the bed, "It's not going to have changed in the past five minutes!"

"Well, how about the window?"

"Locked."

"The walls?"

"Sturdy."

"They won't give way?"

"Nope."

"The floor?"

"Even if the stones could come off have you forgotten how far away the ceiling is from the next level's ground? I'm not jumping, Ro."

"Have you asked the guards to let us out?"

"You were there." Elrohir pointed out.

"There's got to be a way out of here!" Elladan shouted angrily.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Ah ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, haaaaa! Poor people! Poor everyone! Anyway, the next chapter will be longer I hope. I'm not entirely sure, yet! But even if it's not the longest chapter I've written, it's longer than the last chapter! YAY! But time for reviews! P.S. only 22 more days until Troy comes out! I'm so happy! I can't wait! YAY! Review time!

The evil witch queen- Well, you are nice! Don't feel bad! Heh, heh! We're good at feeling bad for ourselves, aren't we? Evil Denethor! Barlay is awesome! He's so nice! See, it's nice irony, 'cause Barlay doesn't know Morier is behind it all! What's gonna happen?!? EVIL MORIER! I feel bad for Estel! He's not doing anything wrong! Still, he's a sweetie! Yes, you did mention you hated Denethor… heh, heh! Okay, I'll have to go and read yours stories! It's not fair! Did you read my author note? It's not fair! WAAAAA! And I have so many stories I want to read! Don't worry, I WILL get around to reading your story and reviewing!

Deana- No, 'tis not a good week for any of them, is it? Heh, heh!

Mistopurr- YAY! A habit of signing in! Ha ha! David Wenham is cool! Sean Bean, Karl Urban, Viggo Mortenson, Johnny Depp and ORLANDO are some of my favorite actors!

Trinityelf- I'm responding to a pretend review! Ha, ha! YAY! Well, I've got nothin' to say! Bye!

Thank you all for reviewing! I'll post again REALLY soon if you review REALLY soon, that is, if I bring up my grades REALLY soon, then I'll post! That's REALLY annoying!

DON'T FORGET TO REVIEW!

Luv,

Legolas-gurl88