Disclaimer: Guess what?! I own nothing!
*************Chapter 43****************
Legolas's mouth dropped open. "No!" He said out of reflex.
"Yes!" Eredor said. "It's true, Legolas, and you can do it!"
"But…but…you are one of Curdolin's best fighters!" Legolas said. "Why have you not won?"
A light of failure shown in the young human's eyes. "I came in second last year." He said sadly. "I lost the last round…to him." He nodded his head towards a brutish and huge man standing nearby.
Legolas turned and observed him. He was monstrous! He had to be at least a half a foot taller than Legolas himself, and much more sturdier built too. Surveying him further, Legolas noticed that he was also without a shirt…obviously he didn't mind the cold weather. He had dark locks that hung limply over his shoulders, and there were countless scars across his head, face, and body.
"But why is he still here if he won last year?" Legolas whispered, so the man would not overhear.
"He already is free; a veteran." Eredor said. "But he comes back every year just out of enjoyment, and he always wins. Some say he's the son of a god."
Legolas raised an eyebrow as he looked at the man again. "A son of gods would have looked fairer."
Eredor snorted in amusement, but then became serious again. "You can beat him, Legolas. You have the skills. I've seen them."
Legolas shook his head. "I wouldn't be so sure of it."
"I am!" Eredor said, stepping closer and lowing his voice. "Legolas…if you did this…it would be for the best…"
"No it wouldn't." Legolas protested. "I promised I would help you and Eressa get out of this place too!"
"I know, but…but Legolas, I don't want that. I'd be happy if you'd just get out and I'd stay here knowing you were free." Eredor said.
"And Eressa?" Legolas asked. "You think she feels the same way?"
Eredor blinked. "Well…yes."
Legolas shook his head. "No, Eredor. She wants freedom as much as I do. More, even. And I'm not going to give up on her like that simply because there is an easier solution."
Eredor closed his lips in a tight line, and his eyes fell to the floor. Then he chuckled lightly. "You speak as though you were in love with her!" He joked.
Legolas's heart skipped a beat, and his breath caught in his throat. His reaction was obvious, and Eredor paused and stared at him.
"Legolas? What?" He asked cautiously.
Legolas opened his mouth but nothing came out for a moment. Then he finally mumbled a few words. "I…am."
Eredor's brows furrowed. "What?"
"I am in love with her." Legolas replied softly, unable and not wanting to hide it anymore.
"Eressa?" Eredor asked, stupefied. "How? When? And why didn't you tell me?" His words came across harshly, although they weren't meant to be that way.
Legolas winced, but his mouth kept moving. "It's not just I. She's in love with me also."
Eredor's eyes widened…with anger or surprise? Legolas didn't know. Maybe it was both. "What?!"
"We're in love, Eredor." Legolas said, his voice as flat and hard as a board. "That is why I won't leave her behind."
Eredor's mouth was wide open, and his eyes darted here and there. Finally, they rested on Legolas, and they did not seem friendly any longer.
"How?" He was only able to push out that one word.
Legolas looked down. "I did not want it to happen…but it did. I don't know why." He swallowed, but his throat was like sandpaper. "Eredor…we're…deeply involved."
Legolas let the last words come out like they were a foul taste to his tongue. He watched at his friend processed what he was hearing. The result wasn't what he had hoped it would be.
"You…how could you!?" Eredor sprang forward, raising his voice enough to attract the attention of others. "How could you not tell me this?!"
Legolas stayed where he was despite the fact that Eredor was only inches away from him. "I was…I was afraid…that this would happen. That you'd be angry." He said weakly.
"I should be angry!" Eredor said. "That's my sister, Legolas! My sister!"
Suddenly Eredor stepped back, his eyes staring past Legolas. Legolas looked around his shoulder and saw the guards approaching them, with their weapons drawn. One took Legolas by the shoulder and pulled him back.
"Save the fighting for the ring, slaves!" He said harshly. "Pick out your weapons as you were instructed to do!" With that he shoved Legolas into the wall, causing the elf to knock over a row of shields that were propped up against it. Some of the other men laughed.
"And you—get over there to where you're supposed to be." Another guard grunted at Eredor, who continued to glare at Legolas in the most hateful way. With a glance of cold steel he turned his back on Legolas, who was getting up from the ground. He walked back to a small passageway near to where Legolas had entered and disappeared.
Legolas was alone. Valar…could he have lost Eredor's friendship because of all this? He hoped not. He suddenly and shamefully wished that he had never given in to that impulse to kiss Eressa that cold, lonely morning. Then none of this would have happened. What was he to do now?
Legolas looked around, and saw that the guard that had pushed him was still watching, waiting for him to follow his orders. Quickly, Legolas grabbed one of the shields he'd knocked down and pretended to be interested in it.
Valar…he thought. I've failed.
*************
The tournament had started. Legolas was waiting among a dozen other slaves to be let out into the ring, to fight. It was specially organized, and you never knew who you were to fight next. Currently, Legolas had fought two men, and he had beaten both of them. It was a good way to take out all of his frustrations…about everything.
His weapons rested in his hands. He had picked two small daggers, not unlike the two he was trained to fight will at home. Of course, they were men's work, and not as extravagantly made as the elven blades, but they did well in the ring. But they also meant Legolas didn't have a shield, and when some of your opponents were armed with whips and long swords, that wasn't so pleasant. Right now he had one hand tightly plastered to his left side where he had received a miner slash from his last opponents sword. Fortunately, he was able to unarm him in that instant and force him to surrender.
That was the way these "games" worked. If you unarmed your opponent, or he surrendered, you were crowned the winner of that round. And so you ended up were Legolas was now, waiting with the other winners to be set against another man, in another fight.
Legolas was second in line, waiting at the bottom of the staircase that led into the center of the ring. The guards had shut the doors to the stairway so that the slaves would only appear when they were supposed to.
Legola's sensitive elven ears heard the sounds of a fight being finished outside. Then, as he predicted, the crowd cheered in favor of the winner. After a few moments, the doors atop the staircase were opened, and the man in front of Legolas stepped out to greet the crowd and fight. Legolas stepped up one step, taking his weapons with him and sat down on a stair, sighing. It was not long until the other man emerged back into the room victorious and it was his turn to fight again.
The doors opened, and to Legolas's surprise there was a small spot of sunlight shining thru the hole in the center of the arena's roof. He stepped out, and then crowd's cheer grew in volume considerably. They had especially liked his previous fights and now wanted to see more of his elven capabilities.
Legolas walked out into the center of the ring, where the circle of yellow light engulfed him. He watched and waited for his next opponent to be let out from his door too—it was directly across from the one he had just emerged from, on the other side of the arena.
He saw the guards reach for the door's handle, and pull it back, enabling him to see the man he would fight next. Legolas gasped.
It was Eredor.
And he did not look happy. In fact, when Eredor saw Legolas standing in the center of the ring, his expression became darker still. Hurriedly he rushed out and joined the elf in the circle of sunlight, stopping about 20 feet from him and readying his weapons—a medium-sized axe and a shield. Legolas suddenly realized something terrifying.
What if he tends to break the rules of engagement and kill me? He thought.
But would Eredor do that? Legolas didn't have the answer to that either. He'd never seen, nor had Eredor angry with him before. He didn't know how the man would react to these strong, overwhelming emotions.
Suddenly, the sound of a horn reached their ears. Legolas jumped slightly, although he had expected it. It was his first mistake of many.
Eredor didn't hesitate to run towards him the instant the horn was sounded. However, instead of plowing the elf down, as Legolas thought he would, he suddenly sharply turned and pivoted on his feet, spinning around and swinging his axe from the side. Legolas blocked the blow by catching the handle with both his knives, the blades digging deep into the wooden handle. He then forced the larger axe down. He realized this was a mistake only after Eredor had swung the arm that held the shield and nearly struck him on the head. Jumping back, Legolas searched Eredor's eyes for any emotion at all. There was none.
"Eredor, I'm sorry!" Legolas yelled to hear himself over the screaming crowds.
Eredor either didn't listen or didn't hear, but he charged again, this time spinning to the opposite side. Legolas was ready this time. He dropped one of his knives and then reached up his free hand and grasped the shaft of the axe just as Eredor brought it down on him, stopping it's descent.
"Eredor…please…listen to me!" He said to Eredor, who despite his own strength couldn't wrench the weapon from the elf's iron grip. "I said I'm sorry."
"What you're sorry for can't be helped now that you've already done it!" Eredor snarled, trying to swing at Legolas with his shield arm again. Legolas dodged out of the way, and attempted to rip the axe away from Eredor in the process. But Eredor held onto his weapon tightly, and instead of taking it away, Legolas broke the shaft in half, where it was weakened by the notches the elf's knives had left. The axe head broke off in his hand and he threw the axe to the side.
But Eredor didn't give up. Throwing the other half of the axe-shaft aside, he again charged. Legolas didn't bother to dodge this time. He let Eredor hit him head on. He felt he deserved it.
Flying back into the sand, he quickly rolled to the side. He looked up and saw that Eredor had armed himself with another weapon, the very knife Legolas had dropped. He rushed at Legolas again.
I could easily disarm him…Legolas thought to himself. He's not planning his actions, he's just charging me again and again.
The elf sprang up and back gracefully, suddenly realizing that he was coming to be dangerously close to the wall. Eredor was acting like he really did want to kill him!
He won't. Legolas heard a voice in his head say. He knows he'd be disqualified if he did…and then there would be no chance of either him or Eressa getting out.
And secretly in his heart Legolas thought that if Eredor didn't want freedom for himself, he'd want it for his little sister. That much Legolas was positive he knew.
He won't hurt me knowing Eressa loves me. The voice said again. He knows it would hurt her, and I know the last thing in the world Eredor would want to do would be to hurt his sister.
Eredor again launched himself at the elf, this time shield first. He was too angry right now to think about his fighting. Legolas caught the edges of the shield in his hands, using it to push back his friend a short distance. But Eredor suddenly mustered some hidden strength and shoved Legolas the rest of the way back into the wall, knocking the wind out of the elf.
Legolas suddenly realized he had let his emotions prevent him from fighting well also. He began to raise his remaining knife, but before he knew it the one he had dropped was at his throat, the sharp, cold steel pressing against his flesh.
And Eredor spoke.
"If you hurt her I'll kill you right here." He said quietly. Then he waited for Legola's response.
Legolas breathed heavily. "I didn't. I'd never dream of it. And that, Eredor, is a promise I will never break."
Eredor's gaze softened the tiniest bit. "But how…how could you not tell me?!"
"I should have." Legolas said, sounding calm but not at all feeling that way. "I'm sorry."
Eredor pressed the knife against Legolas's neck a little harder. "I could kill you right now." He repeated.
"I know. But know this, Eredor." Legolas said. "If I'm gone, what will Eressa think of you then? How do you think she would feel if she received news that her lover has been killed by her own brother?"
Eredor's expression changed from that of anger to fear, and then back again. "Her lover, are you?"
"Yes, and she is mine." Legolas replied. He was holding back nothing now.
The knife in Eredor's grip trembled. Suddenly, he turned and faced the crowd, who had been silent as the dead the whole time.
"The elf has surrendered!" He cried loudly. There was a slight pause, but then the crowd began to cheer softly, and then louder and louder.
Legolas stood with his back against the stone and closed his eyes. When he opened them, a guard was at his side, roughly pushing him away towards the nearest door out of the ring.
Legolas kept his head turned towards his friend. He hoped that he would show some sign of forgiveness, some sign of understanding.
But Eredor did not look back.
The guard pushed Legolas through a pair of wooden doors, into halls Legolas recognized. He was being sent back to his cell. As soon as he was out of the arena, another guard hurriedly slapped chains on the elf, and then led him on through the halls and corridors to his quarters. Legolas was barely noticing any of it.
What if Eredor wins? What if he collects money and comes back for Eressa and takes her away from me? He thought. He couldn't stand the thought of losing her.
Finally the guard found the elf's cell, and pulling out a ring of keys he opened the door. Legolas did what he never would have expected himself to do—he walked into his small room without the guard having to force him. The guard didn't notice the change in the elf's behavior and removed his shackles as though nothing had happened and this was just an ordinary day. Then with a slam of the door and some faint disappearing footsteps, he was gone.
Legolas was left there with nothing but his emotions.
He was alive, although he felt like dying. He was afraid.
And he was alone.
*****************Personal thing***********
There. More action. Let the boulders fly. *holds up shield*
Also, sorry for the long wait. I had finals this week, and I could do nothing but study. Again, I apologize! Let's just pray I pass chemistry.
Also also, I've broken 500 REVIEWS!!! Thanks to all you guys! Without you, this story would have gotten nowhere!
breeNbloom: That's ok, I haven't updated in a while anyway. Have you got finals at your school too? I just did. Torture. Ugh. I'm all tested-out. Well, thank you a lot! Bye!
la chica mysteriousa: Ok, ok! There. You have the action. Happy? LOL.
itarilde-elenastar: Thank you! Gosh, every time you review you just shower me with compliments! Thank you so much! I'm just anxious to see what your reaction is to this chapter! It was hard to write! Well, thanks again!
Nikki: Glad you weren't expecting it! I love plot twisters! Thank you!
Inion na Hoice: Thank you so much! Yes, I knew that the stuff on the box was something Celtic, I just forgot the name! I saw it on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and thought it was cool! Thanks again!
eternal_dragon: Thank you very much! I'm honored you spent four hours in front of a computer just to read my story and you compliments are great! Thank you thank you thank you! Well…your gonna have to see about all your questions…sorry, I promised myself I wouldn't give anything out to anybody except my beta. And even she doesn't know everything yet. But thank you very very much! Bye!
PaliminoRider16: Yes, I did miss you! Ah…AOL. That's why I don't have it. Thank you!
Nirobie: I will update as soon as I can this time! Promise! Thanks!
Elainor: Don't worry, as you saw in this chapter, that's not gonna happen. But the stuff that's gonna happen is much worse…Mwahahahaha! Thanks!
XxDarkgoddessxX: I know, I know. I always end my chapters with evil cliffies! My choir concerts went well. I say "concerts" because I got drafted unexpectedly into The Valley 8 Honors Choir and we had a concert Saturday. We sang awesome for that one! Thank you so much, Jennie! I love you!
Truffles: Yes, freedom! Thanks!
LegyLuva: Thank you very much! Yes, my concert went well. Actually, I had two of them, my regular school one, and then I got drafted into an extra-curricular Honors one, and we had a concert Saturday and that went awesome. And you are correct, sir! I'm not answering any questions! Sorry, just my rule. But thanks anyway! Love ya!
Legolas_gurl: Gee, I hope you get signed in soon. And I'm sorry about the band thing. Just practice lots, alright? Maybe they'll switch you. And Yep! Orli is now 27! Gosh, that's old…almost thirty…and I'm only 16…damnit! Oh well. Well, thank you so much and I hope you get signed in soon!
Deana: Yep! That's the way it works. Did you like this chapter? I know some people aren't gonna because Eredor kinda hates Legolas now. Well, sorry to disappoint you but as you read, Legolas didn't win. You'll have to wait and see if Eredor does. Thanks! And by the way, happy really-be-lated birthday! You and Legola's brother have the same birthday! Yay!
HalandLeg4ever: Thank you! Yep, that idea for the arena roof came to me as a surprise too, so I just wrote it in! Thank you again!
Whitecoyote: Thank you very much! Sorry for the late chapter! I had finals. Ugh. I know, the ending is a cliffhanger. Every ending for every chapter in my story is a cliffie! LOL. I don't feel bad about the missed reviews anymore cuz now I actually had time to write them! Yay for me! Well, thank you a bunch!
The Noble Platypus: Hi! SECKSHOOWAL TENSHUN, BABY!!! WEEE! I'm so happy, all my finals for school are now over! Yay! As you can see, Leggy did lose, but it wasn't exactly on purpose. You'll have to see what happens with Eredor in the next chapter. Thank you very much!
Crystal Snowflakes: Thank you very much!
DiamondTook3: You just read what Legolas did! Poor him, right? Thank you! More coming soon!