Deana Thanks for R&R! Yup, sniff/cry poor, poor, Leggy. You can't imagine (well maybe you can, as a fellow writer and Leggy lover) how hard it was to write what we did, and yet we enjoyed it in a twisted way LOL. Yup, We're nuts. He-he duh. Did you expect less?
Strider's Girl Thanks for apologizing most don't, they just quite reading. Don't worry, we aren't mad. Length-not sure. Hopefully it will be very long. Those are always fun. Trolls? He-he, but of course! They are so stupid, yet fun to work with. We are glad you enjoyed the Glorfindel/twin conversations and interaction. That was hard to write LOL! Did you receive our e-mail along w/ other general ramblings? Hopefully ya did!
Someone Reading Gray's Anatomy? Will try! Thank you! Hey, you got an account! Have you had it awhile or did you just get it?
Joee 1 Trolls are cool and easy to confuse! I love to work w/ them. He-he! Managed to sneak in a small post! Wha-hoo!
Part Three
Come find me!
Past...
Aragorn stood on the brink of the cave entrance. A hideous stench of orc rode out of the cave on a stale breeze that was hot and yet cold all at once. It was pitch black inside and the thought of what he must do sent icy shivers down the ranger's spine. He could not imagine Legolas even being alive in such a place as this. It was horrible. He could not even imagine what the elf prince had to be going through at their accursed paws. Even the most horrible thoughts he had were pleasant compared to this dank, dreary place into which he must venture. He had to go on this pathway or let the elf perish in a gruesome death.
He looked with determination into the cave, his eyes became fixed gray steel that glittered with intense wrath. If an orc had shown its face out of the dark at that moment and seen the angry ranger, they would have run yelping back into the cave for fear of the fire in his fervent eyes. For death, for glory, and the life of his dear friend Legolas, he slowly drew out his sword. Putting behind all his fears, he stalked into the cave entrance, to face what he must.
The darkness immediately settled on his weary heart like a midnight blanket. He cried inside for the prince, who like all elves, had a sensitivity towards darkness on their immortal souls. Taking his cloak, the human drew it up about himself to attempt to block out the dark. It was futile and he let the hood fall away from his face. The hood actually made it harder to breathe than it already was fast becoming. He began to doubt that Legolas was alive. It seemed impossible to live here for more than a few minutes.
He found at the back of the cave, a dead end was waiting. In despair, he kneeled against the seemingly solid rock and wept. No! Now how could he save the elf! His sword clattered out of his trembling hand and fell to the rocky floor. He winced at the sound that seemed as loud as a pack of oliphants to his ears. He had heard goblins had hearing that surpassed that of elves, he was in no mood nor had he ever held the desire, to see if this theory were true. He put his head against the cool, smooth, stone surface and stared at the ground. He let his shoulders sag and his muscles relaxed as his weariness caught up with him.
The ranger began to feel tears seeping out of his eyes. He was crying and what troubled him most, was that he had no control over it. He could not stop it. The tears flowed down his cheeks in shimmery cascades of molten silver. He did not waste his now feeble strength trying to stop them. He let them fall, to stain the ground below with the mourning of Legolas's fate and the pain of his own weakness.
Then remembered something his brothers had told him. There was a secret door that looked like stone. Picking up his sword, he stood to his feet. Brushing off his knees with swift strokes of his hand, he stood straight to survey the cave he stood in. He was going to find that door or die. Taking the back of his hand, he wiped away the defoliate tears.
He went to the wall and ran his hand lamely along it, looking, or more like feeling, for a crack that could mean a door. He found what he sought quickly, a rough crack that ran in an oval along and down the wall of rock. He put his fingers in the crack and pulled at the door. It did not budge a millimeter. He pulled until his fingers were bloody with scrapes from all their tugging at the granite door. He sucked his aching fingers and glowered at the 'door'. The ranger kicked at it savagely, and scowled darker at it.
Finally, in anger he shouted at the door and to the goblins beyond, "why don't you open! Fire take you miserable creatures and quickly if the elf which I seek Is dead or damaged! I will demand retribution for every silvery drop of his blood spilled at your filthy hands!" He was screaming very loudly by now and was panting from the effort. "Curse you foul beasts! Curse you!" He slid down on his knees again and sobbed. "I'm sorry I have failed you Legolas. I'm sorry!"
Suddenly, he felt a strange strengthening of his heart. He stood up and a odd inner feeling to hide himself. He backed up and went to a very dark, deep corner of the cave. There, he crouched and drew his cloak about him, concealing his features and sheathed his sword with a dull clang of metal on metal as it slid into its scabbard. Just as this was completed, the door flung open, and many goblins came forth. They had on heavy armor and spears in their clutches. "Whose out 'ere on our front porch! Show your miserable self or wait until we find you and tear you apart!"
'Stupid creature, I'm not going to just show myself to you!' thought the ranger to himself. How dumb did they think he was anyway? He placed his hands on his sword's hilt as the beasts stepped nearer to his place of concealment. The human's knuckles whitened as his grip increased.
One orc nearby uttered to the captain. "We should go now, we can't be late for the event tonight."
"Shut your yap! We'll go when I say so!" snarled the other orc.
"We need to get back I say. The boss is pretty angry 'bout the ruin of that elf gift to The Great Eye."
"Is he! I think we should kill the damn elf tonight instead of later." Aragorn's heart leaped into his throat.
"Legolas," breathed the ranger before he could stop himself. He snapped his mouth shut. Now, however, the ranger knew for certain he did not have much time to save Legolas. It seemed the orcs had not heard him.
"Yes-but I want to have some sport with it first. We ain't done some'phin like that for a long time!" growled the other orc excitedly.
"That's all part 'o it you slug! But that's not the real fun, the real fun is seeing the eyes glaze over!" What were they going to do to the prince? Aragorn's heart skipped a beat as the orc sniffed the air. "We know you are here," growled the creature threateningly.
Suddenly, there was a commotion outside the cave. Aragorn watched from his corner as two beings came in. They were tall and lean. Shapes of bows and quivers were on their backs. These were men. "Are there no goblins here to welcome Sauron's messangers?"
Aragorn felt a tremor of fear run through the orcs and the air seemed to tense. "What orders from Mordor, what is the Great Eye's bidding?" The ranger heard weapons draw as the men said;
"The Great Eye wants the elf scum now! He has plans!" The headman stepped forward menacingly. He brandished his sword at the orcs. "If you would please hand it over, we will take it from here." Aragorn wondered what the Haradrim, for that was plan that's what they were, meant by 'plans'. He could not help a cold shudder that started at the base of his spine, from creeping up his back to his neck and raising the hair on his head.
"'Ow do we know what you means to do wif it once yer got it?" snarled a particularly large goblin, drawing his sword.
"That is non of your concern mindless wretch," retorted one of the men, Aragorn could not tell which. "Just give us the elf and we will cause no trouble."
"That is for The Great Goblin to decide."
Then men and orcs continued their argument and the ranger listened warily. Finally, when he was certain they were deep in 'discussion', the human slowly rose up from his hiding spot. He placed one foot forward and stepped gently onto the ground. Not a sound.
In this manner, Aragorn managed to sneak into the cave without the orcs or evil men so much as batting an eye at him.
He wanted to sigh heavily, but knew it was not over. His mission had only begun. The dark was worse here and weighed down heavily upon him, driving out sanity. He could only imagine how the light loving Legolas must feel in this death hole. The ranger grimaced as he thought about what he may find waiting for him in the dungeons of the orcs.
Aragorn stepped forward some more and his feet very nearly flew out from under him, as he found out the path was a deep descending one. He dug his heels into the pebbles and winced with anticipation of capture as some of them worked loose and clattered down the trail. Aragorn stepped forward and felt something soft under his foot. The ranger jerked his foot back, wondering what he had stepped on. It had felt like cloth.
He leaned forward and extended his hands to pick up the fabric. His hands enclosed on it and he turned it over in his grasp. It was suede and felt soft as only the clothes of the elves do. He felt what seemed like clasps, but no buttons. Then, an emblem of silvery leaf like designs shined up at his face as he looked at it, reflecting their bright design on his face and in his gray eyes. With a start, Aragorn realized this was Legolas's tunic. He dreaded what they could have done to the prince. Was Legolas dead?
Without warning, the human felt a searing pain in his back and feet connect with his ribs, striking him to the ground. A rough hand reached down and rolled the ranger onto his back. Aragorn tried to squirm away and went stock still as he felt the cool blade of an orc scimitar settle on his throat. "What 'ave we got 'ere?" snarled an orc with a smirk. "Is it a man flesh?"
"Release me!" barked the ranger tartly.
"Yes it is. Why is it down 'ere in the dark, eh? Is it spying on us? The boss does not like spies master human." The orc was trying to psychologically freak the ranger out, but it was a futile attempt.
"I came to rescue my friend filth of evil!" retorted the human angrily back. He was not going to lie and cause more trouble; there was no point to it. "Stand between me and the elf and I will slay you where you stand, this I swear by the Valar and all that is good." Aragorn's voice was lethal and dangerously calm.
The orc spat on the ranger's tunic. "You're in no such position to be sassing off to your betters." Aragorn felt repulsed by the orc saliva on his tunic and held back the urge to choke and vomit. All the same, he gagged. "Did you know the elf?"
"I still know him!" growled the ranger roughly.
"You did know him, but you would not recognize him now," cackled the orc.
"What have you done to him!" raged the ranger against the orc. The creature dug the scimitar into the soft flesh of his neck enough to draw a trickle of blood and the human lay back down. His back throbbed and he could feel blood pulsing from an open wound, sticky and hot.
"Come! We will show you!" it laughed coldly.
"We?" There was more than one? So far he had only confronted but one.
"We." The orc yanked the human up by his tunic and flung him back. Aragorn tensed as he felt orc arms wrap around him and tug him close to them. Their stench almost made him swoon. He felt rough hemp wrap around hi wrists, binding them tight.
Aragorn was then shoved forward. He felt staggering pain in his back now and darkness went before his eyes so he could not see clearly. He fell forward onto his knees in the grit of the orc pit. He felt dizzy and his mouth was dry. /Legolas...I have come as I swore mellon nin...But what good am I now../
An orc kicked him. "Get up human! Now! Or shall your friend pay the price for your folly?"
Aragorn struggled to his feet weakly. He would not make Legolas suffer more. Never. Not on his account. He could barely stand. "Can't...walk...," he breathed painfully. He felt nausea, strong and swift, wash over him in an intense wave. He had a sinking feeling his wound was poisoned.
The ranger battled with his will. He did not want Legolas to suffer more and knew that the orcs would with pleasure, carry out their menacing threat and release their wrath on the prince's fair shoulders. Aragorn took a few steps forward and drew a deep breath that as it rushed into his lungs, set his back ablaze.
Soon, he was deep down in the caverns of the goblins. A dimly flickering torch gave him enough light to see by.
The ranger winced as he was shoved forward and an orc said with hissing pleasure, "prepare to meet your friend man flesh." Then the orc went into a round off horrible laughter and ones within earshot cracked up as well.
Aragorn growled under his breath, "shut up you stinking beast! I have known him for many years, and you cannot say half as much!"
Before him, Aragorn could hardly see the outline of bars. An orc came forward and drew the heavy bolt back with a shrieking clang. Then the creature and flung the massive door open. Placing a hand on the back of the ranger's head, they gave him a sharp smack to get him moving.
Aragorn heard the clink of chains and caught rough breathing from in the darkest part of the cell. /Legolas/ The human peered into the darkness. The orcs shoved him in and slammed the door with a booming reverberating noise.
Aragorn stumbled back to the darker part of the cell. A pain-wracked voice said, "you stay away from me!" However, it did not sound firm, it was more of a wish than a command.
"Legolas?...Is that you?" asked the ranger confusedly. He did not understand.
"Please don't hurt me. No more please."
"I don't want to hurt you. I came to free you.'
"Free me? This is my life."
Aragorn was stunned. What was the elf saying. "No...no...it isn't!"
What the ranger saw would haunt his memory forever. An elf came forward into the dim light. It was Legolas. He was shirtless and stripes marred his once fair skin. He was pale, except for a flush of fever. His eyes were dull and seemingly dead and his hair was shorter and hung limp about his thin face. Chains bound his wrists and ankles. What hurt the ranger the most was that the elf was thin and clearly starved. Aragorn wanted to faint. No! This was not happening! "You are no orc," said the elf slowly and looked at then human, yet he did not let his guard down. Why did this man look so familiar? Had he ever seen him before?
"Legolas?" the human stumbled a few more steps forward and then fell. When he fell forward, Legolas sprang back a step.
"I don't know of whom you speak...You mistake me for someone else," said the elf prince warily with a touch of fear, he studied the ranger's lean face closely. What was this man talking about? The name, Legolas, touched a sensitive spot in his mind, however. Yet, he knew not why.
Aragorn grunted as he rose to his knees. "No...Legolas, what is the matter?" The elf felt a memory tugging at the back of his mind. Aragorn equally studied the prince. Had Legolas gone mad?
The orcs outside the cell hooted with laughter. "He doesn't even remember you!" Legolas shot them a fearful look and edged towards the back of the cell again. Yet, a strange feeling toiled at his mind. He had seen this man before. But where? No, it was not possible. Aragorn watched the prince and wondered what damage they had done to him he could not see.
All at once the ranger fell forward onto the cold stone and was unable to get up. He panted as he felt the poison jab bolts of pain through his body. Legolas looked at the orcs and at the sick man panting on the floor of the dungeon. He felt a strong want to help the mortal, the man could not have much time. Yet, the elf was not sure what to do.
Aragorn could feel his immune system shutting down, he was dying and the orcs knew it. Legolas had a choice to make, but he was not even sure who he was now and the strange persistent pulling of old memories he had forgotten, were beginning to make him wonder about the life he did not know he had left behind. He was caught between fear and reality, friendship and denial.
TBC...He-he, evil cliffie! My demon cat whispered that this was a good spot to end LOL. Okay-I ran out of time, but my cat was w/ me! I warned you all it was going to be short so if you go into shock that is your fault! Part Three is going to consist of many chapters, he-he! As always, please R&R! Thank you! So long! Hope anyone who celebrated Easter had a good one! TTFN!
Deana Thanks for R&R! Yup, sniff/cry poor, poor, Leggy. You can't imagine (well maybe you can, as a fellow writer and Leggy lover) how hard it was to write what we did, and yet we enjoyed it in a twisted way LOL. Yup, We're nuts. He-he duh. Did you expect less?
Strider's Girl Thanks for apologizing most don't, they just quite reading. Don't worry, we aren't mad. Length-not sure. Hopefully it will be very long. Those are always fun. Trolls? He-he, but of course! They are so stupid, yet fun to work with. We are glad you enjoyed the Glorfindel/twin conversations and interaction. That was hard to write LOL! Did you receive our e-mail along w/ other general ramblings? Hopefully ya did!
Someone Reading Gray's Anatomy? Will try! Thank you! Hey, you got an account! Have you had it awhile or did you just get it?
Joee 1 Trolls are cool and easy to confuse! I love to work w/ them. He-he! Managed to sneak in a small post! Wha-hoo!