Disclaimer: I am not Tolkien. I don't own any of his world or his characters. Life sucks, don't it?
***********************Chapter 5***********************
Legolas saw the cruel weapon and felt the hairs on the back of his neck go up. But his proud mind refused to let him move and be thought a coward.
"Thirty lashes for disobedience." Angarod said softly. Then he drew back his hand and then snapped the whip across Legolas's shoulders. Legolas immediately felt some of the most excruciating pain he'd ever felt in his life. It was like the whip was made of flames, and every time Angarod withdrew it and snapped it back, his back was on fire.
The whip tore easily through his thin clothing, and in no time at all his tunic was in shreds. He only had counted 12 whippings so far. The thirteenth sent him sprawling to the ground, but still he refused to cry out. He wouldn't let these men take enjoyment in his pain.
Angarod showed no mercy until the very last strike ended, meeting thirty like he had said.
Satisfied with his work as he snapped the whip one last time across the elf's back, Angarod sneered. "Now. Chain him to the end of the line." He gestured to where the rows of men were standing. "I want the prisoners to run until dinnertime. If any one of them slows down give them 30 lashes." Angarod shot a hard glance at Legolas and added: "No exceptions." Then he walked away and disappeared through the doorway.
No sooner had he gone had Legolas been roughly dragged towards the end of the rows of prisoners. Many of them were shirtless, and he noticed the countless scars from being lashed with the whip. His back felt like there was a torch of flames to it, and the grimy, cruel hands of Angarod's servants upon them didn't help. He tried not to wince as the chains were tightened around his wrists and ankles.
Legolas glanced to the side and found the man next to him staring at him in sympathy. His elven pride kicking in, he quickly looked away, and the man's gaze fell. Legolas turned his eyes toward the man. No…he was closer to that of a boy, he had youth still in his face. But he was tall and strong, and he shared the slash marks of the whip like the others.
"Alright, move it you filthy maggots!" Screamed one of the guardsmen. Immediately Legolas was jolted out of his standing position and forced to run at a fast pace. Normally that wouldn't have been difficult at all, but with iron chains around his wrists and ankles it was different. Still, he knew he wouldn't tire easily.
The rows of men slowly circled the arena, with the guardsmen following them around and shouting orders. The young man next to Legolas glanced at the elf again but then focused on running. Legolas did the same.
After what Legolas estimated to be about two hours of nonstop running, Angarod reappeared and ordered the slaves to halt. Legolas was breathing heavily, and his muscles ached but not to the point of weakness. He still felt strong.
Angarod eyed him and nodded appreciatively. But he said nothing to the elf. Instead he stood himself up in front of the group.
"Lord Curdolin is expecting guests in three days. They will be bringing you all new playmates." He said with a dangerous tone. "Be reminded that once you step into this ring, you either come out living or you come out dead. I have trained you to live and you will not dishonor Lord Curdolin by dying. Understood?"
Legolas and the rest of the humans were silent. Angarod seemed to accept that as an answer. Legolas's eyes sank to the ground in deep thought. Considering he was new, and an elf, the chances of Curdolin picking him to fight in the ring were high. He was not looking forward to it.
Angarod spoke again. "Go give our boys some meat." He said casually to his guards as he gestured with his thumb over his shoulder. The guards nodded and took the first two men in the line by the arms, and lead them down into the corridor from which they had come. Legolas took every note to where they were going, for if he was to escape from this labyrinth he was going to have to know it well.
The guards led the prisoners to the mess hall, and each of them was unhooked from the line. The guards, however, left the heavy irons on each of the prisoner's wrists and ankles.
Legolas watched as all the other men went to a table where there was a large pot of gruel. Legolas could smell it from all the way over here…it was terrible. His princely pride kicked in again and he made up his mind that he would refuse to eat such food. There were crudely built wooden tables and chairs set up in the room, and he sat down in one of them and watched as all the other prisoners took seats at the opposite end of the room.
He was alone, he realized. He was alone, without friends, without hope. His eyes slowly sank down to the table, where he pretended to be interested in the cracks and holes in the wood.
Suddenly, a bowl full of bitter-smelling gruel was shoved under his face. Surprised, he jerked and looked up to see the young man he had been chained next to earlier. When the elf didn't say anything, he spoke up.
"You have to eat, you know." He said softly. He had his own bowl in his hand and he sat down across from Legolas on the table. "You won't get stronger if you don't eat."
Legolas stared at the young man. How dare a youth tell him what to do. He promptly shot the man his most killing glance and then turned away.
"Sorry. I didn't mean to offend you." He heard the voice say again. There was a pause. Then: "So who are you?"
Legolas finally turned around to face the young man. "That, nor anything else is not your business."
The young man didn't seem to get the hint. "You're an elf right?"
Legolas raised an eyebrow angrily. "No, I'm a sea serpent." He said sarcastically.
Surprisingly, his remark made the boy laugh. "I'm Eredor." He said, sticking out his hand. "I've never met a sea serpent before."
Legolas looked at the Eredor's hand and turned away again. Eredor took back his hand.
"Look." He said seriously. "I know how you feel. It's not easy being told you have to kill someone or die yourself. And it's not easy being a slave. But it's less hard if you have a friend alongside you."
Legolas looked back at Eredor. He was offering him his friendship?
"Why?" the elf muttered.
"Because you seem to be in need of one." Eredor answered simply. Slowly, Legolas turned back to face him.
Legolas wasn't quite sure if he wanted a friend. But he wasn't sure if he didn't either. Eredor was a human, and humans Legolas generally didn't trust, but he really had nothing else to lose.
Eredor offered his hand to him again, and Legolas took it. They shook hands briefly, and then Eredor spoke.
"So, what do you call yourself?"
"Legolas."
"That's a mouthful." Eredor joked, and then he laughed. He had a particularly loud laugh, and one of the guards stepped over and told him to shut up.
Legolas didn't thing making fun of his name was funny either. He gave the young human a look.
"Sorry." apologized Eredor. "I didn't mean to offend you."
Legolas nodded his head. Humans were bound to make mistakes. "You are forgiven."
He decided against telling Eredor or anyone else that he was not only an elf, but a prince of elves, fearing that Curdolin could hold him for ransom and force his father to give up riches, or even surrender to whatever army Curdolin might have. Legolas could not allow that to happen.
"Alright, slaves!" A guard barked. "Meal's over! Move it!"
Legolas looked at Eredor and then at his bowl, still full. If he was going to eat anything he'd better do it now.
"Just drink it fast." Suggested Eredor. "You don't taste it as much that way."
Legolas nodded reluctantly and put the bowl to his lips and drank. The foul-smelling soupy mixture of meat and Valar knows what else slid down his throat easily but not pleasantly. It tasted positively awful. He got down half of it before the guard screamed again and he and Eredor were forced to leave their seats.
Legolas smacked his lips as he walked, trying desperately to get the awful taste out of his mouth. Beside him, Eredor just chuckled.
"You'll get used to it." He said matter-of-factly.
Personal Thingy********
Nikki: Thanks for your compliments. Yeah, I've read a lot of fanfics in which Legolas gets captured too, but not one like this, so I jumped to it and wrote it. Hoped you liked this chapter and the next one should be coming!
Avari: Second opinions are always appreciated! I know there must be some slash fics out there that are really good and romantic, but I've never come across any. Then again, I don't look. But thanks again for your opinions! Also thanks for saying that you love my fic. That means a lot to me! Thanks!!
Louis: Poor you…I don't know what I would do without a computer!! I'd shrivel up and die!! Well, good luck finding one and thanks for reviewing! Also, I don't know if I'll make a series for this story, but I have a sequel in mind. But for now I have to finish this one! See ya! Luv ya chica!