Part Five
To Watch Hope Fade
Present...
Glorfindel talked above the rumbles of thunder as he and Elladan walked through the woods. They had their hoods drawn about their faces and rain was pouring into them in rivers. Asfaloth followed behind Glorfindel steadily. Neither of the elves were riding the horse, they could not see tracks of the orcs they were attempting to find and slaughter. "I think they passed this way!" he called to Elladan.
Suddenly, Elladan felt a barb of pain go through him. It was like none he had ever felt, but it was not physical. It was all in his mind. Only, the pain seemed far away, and not of his own. He had a abatement feeling it was Elrohir's. He had no idea where his brother was, but this ominous feeling was not a hopeful sign. "Glorfindel!" he called the Gondolin elf. Glorfindel stopped and looked at the Son of Elrond with an expression that simpered grave concern. "I think Elrohir was captured. I felt a pain that is unexplainable in my heart it seems." He touched his chest above his heart lightly. He knew he sounded foolish, but he felt he had to tell someone.
The elder brother did not know if he could deal with another family death at the hands of orcs. He recalled his mother and felt despair wash over him. Hope was lost and all else fading. The rain from the heavens was how he felt inside, tear blinded. Elladan knew that if his brother died, he would as well. Elrohir was his other half. One could not live with only half a heart, or half a soul. Elladan's relationship with Elrohir had been that close, that if one died the other would soon follow.
Glorfindel just sighed heavily. "All the more reason for us to make haste then Elladan." The raven-haired elf nodded and began to walk again. H knew what the olden haired elf meant, he meant that hope was only lost if they quite and that he was not going to. Elladan looked upwards to see the sky and search for any sign of the sun, when he saw a puff of black smoke spreading through the air, like dye in a pail of clear water. It cast a darker shade to the clouds that drenched down rain, only orcs would light a fire and keep it going with that much heat in this kind of weather. But, just what was the fire for?
Both of the elves knew it was probably only watch fires and were more or less harmless, but with orcs you were never quite sure. The storm was worsening by the minute and lightning was becoming quite frequent. It struck a tree nearby, sending down an shower of red and orange sparks. A charred odor filled the air and a thin trail of smoke drifted past the two elves. They had to get out of the storm, perhaps if there was a cave nearby they could hide in it, no, not hide, just take temporary shelter.
It was probably hopeless as all else seemed to be at the time, but that was the only other choice they had, other than becoming a smoking pile of ashes from a lightning bolt.
Elladan suddenly stiffened. A cry had rose in the air, a cry of despair and pain. The elf knew the voice well, really well. It was his twin brother's. What were they doing to him? The scream he had heard throbbed over and over again in his head/"Estel!...Estel!...What have you done to him! Oh Elbereth! Oh Eru!...Estel!...Estel!"/ Glorfindel had tensed as well and had heard the cry too. He watched Elladan. The dark-haired elf's face had blanched and his eyes were large, his mouth hung open in dropped jawed surprise. To the Balrog-Slayer it looked as though the younger elf was about to do something totally rash and foolish. "Elladan..." warned the Gondolin elf in a firm voice. He was not sure how he was going to stop the other elf, but he was at least going to warn him. "Stop and think Elladan, you don't want to do something you will regret later," cautioned the older elf, carefully choosing his words and their arrangement.
Elladan turned on him with fury the Balrog-Slayer did not know he had possessed. "I am not a child anymore! You don't need to dog my every step with your cautions and scolding!"
"Elladan, all I am saying is be careful. Your father would kill me if anything happened to you while you were with me," protested the golden- haired elf lord tensely. His face plead for understanding. Elladan gave him none. "Just listen..."
"No! You listen to me!" snapped the twin angrily. Glorfindel threw his hands up in the air with exasperation.
"Look, all I want to do is help you! I only treat people like children if they deserve it! Elladan Perenhil you are acting like a child!" growled the elder elf in exasperation. He was getting fed up with the whole situation they were in and this rash acting elf was not helping things any.
Elladan scowled at his friend. He was not going to take this from anybody, not even from an elf lord. However, this was not the Son of Elrond's normal mood. He was ordinarily calm and thoughtful. Hearing his brother's pain had thrown off his train of thought.
He was angry at Aragorn, even though he knew perfectly well this was not his fault, he needed to blame the anger on something tangible and not so distant. If the ranger had not been captured, Elrohir would not have broken his leg, they would have never gone on this foolhardy mission to begin with. If Aragorn had not been captured, he could have seen his brother home. But, whom was he kidding? He should have escorted his twin home anyway. Glorfindel was grown and could take care of himself far better than Elladan could both of them. He had chosen the path he now was fearful and angered to tread.
This only served to enhance his inward anger strongly directed to himself. He hated the choice he had made, yet he had to live with it, it was too late to turn back. Perhaps all of this was meant to be. Elladan began to wonder what Elrohir would think.
Elrohir would have him not blame himself. His twin would have said, "what's finished is finished. Now it is your choice to decide what part you will play for better or for worse."
The 'younger' Noldo had told Aragorn this very thing when the young ranger had broken his arm falling from a tree and come down hard on Elrohir, nearly causing the 'younger' twin to break his neck. Aragorn had beat himself up over the incident and Elrohir could not take it. Elrohir preferred to believe in fate, he was more like his mother that way.
Elladan was more like his father, serious and more willing to believe in ones ability to change the future than having it planed ahead of time for them. This was why he beat him self up over everything, because he believed he could have made a better choice and sparred everyone the trouble that had supposedly been his fault. He had built up this defense, or maybe it was his weakness, when they had rescued his mother. He felt that if he and his brother had been able to escort her, then her death would have not happened. Now, he had failed again.
Right now, Elladan was feeling helpless and guilt was eating away at his soul, guilt that deep inside, he knew he need not bear. The cry of his brother echoed through his head.
Glorfindel knew all of this, and regretted what he had said. The elder elf was hurting himself right now. The twins were almost like sons to him, he had seen them grow up and hearing Elrohir's cry was wearing away at his soul. Again the thought of the ocean and the Undying Lands on the other side swept through his mind in a dream like vision. He longed for them, he heard the white gulls and the roar of the tide. The fair-haired elf felt the wind of the sea on his face and the smell of salt. But that was not where he was destined to be, not yet. Later, he knew it would come later.
Elladan had softened and his face looked strangely calm and yet expressionless as ever it could. It was as though he knew it was all going to be okay, even if they had to go through what seemed like Hell at the time. On the other side there would be a light to welcome them. The lightning flashed again and it showed a dangerously calm light burning in the twin's eyes. Glorfindel shuddered inwardly. He pitied any orc that got between the angry Noldo and his brothers.
Ere long the two had come to the edge of the orc camp. They had not even bothered to make a camp or their own, for their friends and brothers were out in the elements and were suffering far worse.
Elladan felt weak as they neared the camp. The pain he felt that was his brother's was growing. The closer they got, the more his heart ached and he felt ill. Glorfindel noted how pale the raven-haired elf's face had become. It was white as a sheet.
Elladan was shaking. He staggered wearily and leaned heavily on a tree. Glorfindel came and rested a hand on the younger elf's shoulder as a reassuring, 'we will free them, let not your heart be troubled, you need rest.' Elladan looked at the other elf with tears lingering in his eyes. He had failed both of his brothers. He would not find rest until the were safe or he had died trying to save them. Which was not unlikely, considering the amount of orcs, compared to the amount of able-bodied elves.
Now Elladan regretted ever bringing Glorfindel into the whole mess. He did not want the great elf lord to die. Glorfindel seemed to read his thoughts and sighed. Elladan was getting a weary heart.
Suddenly a scream rose up from camp. Elladan swung his bow off his shoulder in one fluent, notching an arrow. That had been his brother's cry of agony. Elrohir usually took things in silence, if they were dragging screams from his lips, it must be bad indeed.
/Dirty beasts! I will shot every last one of you filthy, dim-witted, ugly.../ The Son of Elrond began to stagger towards the camp with his bowstring drawn back against his cheek, ready for quick action.
Elladan suddenly felt as though he would faint and his right leg nearly buckled in an odd pain that was not his. He knew it was Elrohir's pain he felt and that it came from his broken leg. The orcs were cruelly using it against the twin.
Elladan pushed aside all his pain, and his brother's pain that coursed through him. He was about to leap into the midst of the orc camp with sword drawn, but Glorfindel caught his arm and whispered so quietly hardly anyone else that had not elf ears would be able to make it out, "wait Son of Elrond, for a better chance. We need to find out the lay out of the camp before we storm it." Elladan knew he was right and sank to the ground, shaking like a leaf.
He laid his head back against a tree and let the rain fall down onto his face, running into his hood. This was ridiculously horrible. He was on the border of the camp and ready to attack and save his family and friends when he found himself on the verge of a complete break down. The raven-haired elf was on his last nerve. If he and Glorfindel did not do something soon, Elladan knew he would go mad.
Elrohir found himself lying on his stomach in the wet grass. Blood ran from his nose anew and his head was reeling. With every breath he drew, his body shook and his chest hurt. "Elladan?" he mumbled deliriously. The raven-haired elf then realized he was far from home and sopping wet. The worst pain by far was in his fractured leg. The orcs had played with it and twisted it unmercifully and now Elrohir was beginning to wonder if it would heal properly.
He recalled little of what they had done to him, ere they first began to twist his broken limb. The pain had been great enough that the elf had simply passed out before they had really begun on him yet. Elrohir began to wish he was still lost in the peaceful 'sleep' he had been in.
Brushing a strand of black hair from his face, the Son of Elrond searched his eyes around. The rain was beginning to with draw. Pushing himself into a sitting position with his hands, Elrohir realized he was no longer bound. Then, he also knew his leg was enough of a drag to keep escape from being much of an option. The orcs seemed to be all missing.
The fires were still burning and a few orcs were leaning on trees here or there. Elrohir shivered. He actually felt cold . Elves usually were immune to the weather as far as temperature went. Now, with his immune system weakening, the elf was getting a chill that was beginning to frighten him.
Then, as he rubbed his throbbing temples, the captive began to wonder about where Legolas and Aragorn were. Elrohir was about to try and make a feeble crawl in search of his brother and friend when an orc came out of nowhere. The creature slammed his knee into Elrohir's spine, causing stars to dance before the elf's eyes. "Going somewhere elf? A bit lost?" sneered the evil being.
Elrohir gritted his teeth and snarled, "I was, but now that you are here I can ask for directions." The orc chuckled coldly.
"Favoring a hot tongue are we?" The beast removed his knee from Elrohir's back and grabbed the back of the elf's tunic, lifting the fair being from the waist up off he ground. "You can go ahead and join your little friends, for what good it may do you, Son of Elrond," the orc spat bitterly as though the very taste of the name was vile.
Elrohir jumped inside. The orc knew who he was. But how did the creature have any idea? Elrohir could swear under pain of death he had told them nothing. He must have plainly showed he was completely bewildered, because the goblin proceeding to drag him away laughed. "We know who you are, and we know where your brother and his little golden-haired friend are. Raksi is going to fetch them now. We wouldn't want them to be left out in the cold, now would we?"
/Elladan and Glorfindel./ But nobody could capture the Balrog- Slayer, could they? After all, he had slain a Balrog and faced down the Nazgul. A mindless rabble of orcs should be a mere nothing to the elf lord. Elrohir hoped so. He hated to think what could result otherwise.
Elrohir jerked in the orcs grip. "No! Let them alone please! You can kill me, torture me, and do what you will if only you will let the others go and accept me alone. I will not even resist you."
The orc glared down at the elf, "I am glad I have your permission now," his voice was sarcastic and sinister. Elrohir tried to trip the orc with his hands and the result was a kick in the face that broke his lip open. Hot blood filled Elrohir's mouth and trickled down his throat. "Do you want to see your friends or not?" growled the creature menacingly.
Elrohir snapped his mouth shut and his jaded eyes met the orc's. The beast stared at him ,"well don't look at me like it's my fault elf," he rumbled. "You had better behave or I will report you to the captain and then he will plan something uncomfortable for you. No more stunts like the one you just tried to pull, got it?"
Elrohir looked away and if he would have been standing and well, it is most likely he would have crossed his arms defiantly. As the captive had a broken leg and was being dragged across the camp by the orcs, he could do nothing but ignore and defy his captors' will.
Legolas looked up when he saw the orcs coming his way. When he heard them say to the figure they were dragging, "well here's your little friends elf," Legolas snapped his blue eyes open all the way to observe the situation more closely. They were bringing Elrohir back to them. Legolas sighed with relief inside. Even though it was not much of a comfort, it was a comfort still. He wanted so much to talk to somebody. Aragorn was breathing, but he had fallen asleep and the prince had no mind to wake the ill human that was leaning on his shoulder.
The ranger had awoken about an hour ago with a pounding headache and a raging fever. He often slipped back and forth between consciousness and unconsciousness. Legolas could feel the heat coming from the ranger and it made him nauseous. Gently, the elf eased the ranger down as carefully as possible with bound hands. Aragorn moaned, but then fell into deep, coma like sleep once more. Legolas stroked the hair away from the ranger's hot and sweaty brow gently. / It will be okay mellon nin. Just stay with us./ pleaded the prince in his head to the ranger. Then, reluctantly, the Silvan elf turned all his attention on his wounded, raven-haired friend that the orcs were hauling none too gently over to join them.
The orcs thrust Elrohir to the ground by Legolas and said, "now don't cause no trouble and just stay there, otherwise I will have to reward your insolence in a way you won't like." Elrohir just turned his head towards Legolas and mouthed the word, 'idiot' to the prince then shifted his eyes indicatingly in the orc's direction. Legolas nodded with agreement.
There were guards posted to watch over the elves and human, but they were not eve paying attention to their captives. The most attentive one was resting with its back against a tree and chugging down a vile orc drink from a canteen that the elves guessed had the same effect on orcs as ale did on them and humans. If they were lucky, they may be forgotten about totally, but that was highly unlikely. They had best take advantage of the orcs drunkenness, be it their curse or blessing, as best as they could.
Elrohir looked at Legolas and Legolas turned his gaze away and down to the ranger. Elrohir shifted forward to get a closer look at his ill and slumbering brother. Legolas put out a halting hand. "He sleeps now as he has not for a long time."
Elrohir reached out a hand, then drew it back. He looked at Legolas, "why did they not just take me instead?" asked the horror struck Noldo. Legolas saw tears flickering in his friend's eyes. He had never seen Elrohir this close to tears and the prince felt his heart burn with anger.
Putting a condoling hand on the raven-haired elf's shoulder, Legolas said, "they are cruel and unpredictable. We could have never stopped this."
Elrohir looked at the prince like he had just said to go and tell an orc that he was in love with it. "It doesn't make it any more bearable Legolas." The prince nodded solemnly, he understood. Elrohir reached a hand out and touched his brother's forehead in a gentle caress. He felt the dire heat and said softly, "he's sick, he may be dying and it's all my fault."
Legolas said slowly, "and how is it your fault El? You have a broken leg and were securely bound. I think that there was naught that you could do."
Elrohir let a sob come loose and whispered, "because I could have submitted myself totally to them in the beginning and then they may not have done this to him to break me." The answer nearly broke Legolas's heart, and he knew Elrohir's heart was shattered.
The Noldo crawled closer to his sick human brother and tenderly lifted the ranger's head up to set it upon his lap, cradling his human brother close. He ran his shaking fingers through the man's wavy hair. Aragorn stirred and nestled closer to the warmth that radiated off the elf. Elrohir touched the mortal's hand. It was like ice. The human had a chill on top of a fever and wounds.
Elrohir was a healer, well trained by his father, Lord Elrond. He knew the signs of a great illness and certain death when he saw it (or sensed it). To him it was unmistakable. As much as he wanted to heal, he could not, though it was not from lack of ability. The elf had not access to the proper herbs and other things to bring the fever down. The high elf had it in his blood that he could use his elven power to help heal, but he had only done it once before on Elladan and his twin's own elvish blood had helped. The raven-haired twin was not sure he could do it on a fast fading human. "I am so sorry Estel. It s my fault if you do not live through this, my fault you may never become what you could be. But I will hinder your death if I may, even if it means my own in return." The ranger just wriggled closer against his brother's stomach.
Legolas looked at both of them. He sighed and then his gaze fell upon the fractured leg of Elrohir. "Let me see it Elrohir. It is not going to heal right if it isn't splinted." Legolas was not as trained in healing, but he could do some.
Elrohir looked at the prince and raised a dark brow. "Legolas, I will be fine."
"Elrohir untie my wrists and I will splint it for you," whispered Legolas. Elrohir grinned slightly, but it was cold enough to freeze the sun and hollow enough to hold water like a cup.
"You don't give up do you?" He reached forward and grasped the prince's hands gently, for he knew they must be chaffed from the red that outlined the rough hemp encircling the slender wrists of the Silvan elf. Elrohir scrutinized the wrists and then said hesitantly to Legolas, "this is going to hurt my friend." Legolas had guessed that from the way the ropes had dug themselves into his flesh and were rubbing it raw.
Legolas nodded. "I know El. Thank you."
Elrohir added grimly, "I mean a lot."
Legolas said, "well then it is best we get through it quicker." The woodland elf gritted his teeth as he felt Elrohir fumble with the knots. The knots were tight and each tug applied painful pressure to the fresh skin that had been exposed. Elrohir knew this and tried to be careful, but it was near impossible not to cause some pain, even with the skill of the elves on his side. Legolas hissed as the first piece fell from his wrists. Blood that had been held back from the surface by the heavy twine now seeped forth. Tenderly, Elrohir peeled back the cords and freed the prince's hands. Blood rushed back into the Silvan elf's hands and caused them to tingle and sting like needles pricking his skin in a million different places.
Elrohir could not help but hiss himself as he saw the raw circles that surrounded the blonde elf's wrists like bracelets Legolas looked up at Elrohir. "I will be fine, 'tis not bad. Just a bit raw, but you have far worse." Legolas longed to rub his wrists to encourage the blood flow back into his hands, but that would be too painful to endure if he did not have to. Elrohir shook his head, and his black hair slid free of one of the catches that held a braid, falling into his eyes. He pushed it swiftly aside with a light brush of his hand. Legolas gazed worriedly on, Elrohir needed his leg to be set or else the chances of it healing properly were slim to everything. "Elrohir you are going to have to set Estel down and let him sleep while I work on you and that dratted leg."
Elrohir motioned his concurrence with the prince. The raven-haired elf put his hands gently beneath his younger brother's head and eased it up. Then, just as tenderly, he set it back on the ground. Aragorn stirred and looked up, opening his gray eyes that were bleary and to Elrohir had a glassy look to them. "Elrohir?" questioned the ranger quietly in a delirious voice.
Elrohir nodded vigorously, "yes Estel, it is I." His brother was speaking!
Aragorn smiled wearily and closed his eyes. "It is well my brother."
Elrohir smiled wryly, "yes, it is well." Aragorn's breathing evened out once more and he fell back into deep feverish sleep. The midnight-haired elf sighed, the words he had said held no real meaning to him, at least literally. "Get some sleep gwador nin."
Legolas looked at Elrohir, "Elrohir, let me see your leg, time is passing swiftly by."
Elrohir laughed nervously and said, "Legolas, I really think it will be fine." The prince raised a questioning brow in a delicate arch. "Alright, I give." Elrohir was irritated.
He was a healer and knew how to look after himself.
Legolas...that little persistent, bull headed, maddening...
Elrohir winced as Legolas took his leg as gently as he may. Legolas looked up at him as if to say, 'I'm sorry, I know it hurts.' Elrohir closed his eyes. Legolas carefully undid the boot and slid it free of the twin's foot. To his dismay, Legolas found that the stick that had been placed in it as a splint had snapped. /Good grief! What in Elbereth had they done to you/ wondered the prince in his head.
Elrohir's leg was no longer swelling, but the swelling of the beginning had not gone down either. Sweat pooled on the twin's brow and he bit his lip as the Silvan elf gently set the leg again. Since they were in the woods, sticks were in abundance and it was not hard to find one close at hand that would serve as a replacement splint.
Legolas did the same thing Glorfindel did, and put the boot back on, lacing it up tightly. Elrohir's face turned white and his skin went cold and clammy. His hands trembled. Legolas looked up, for the agonizing process was soon over and Elrohir's breath was hitching. Legolas asked softly, "Elrohir?"
"I...will...be...fine," breathed the Noldorian elf between painful intakes of air. Legolas sighed heavily. He looked at the ardently sleeping ranger. Elrohir followed his gaze then he said, "we aren't going to make it out of here."
Legolas looked at him and his brow furrowed. "Do you know something I don't?" he asked with a hint of dread in his voice.
"The orcs are setting up an ambush for Elladan and Glorfindel." He looked at Legolas. "And Legolas, they know my name and all of my identity. I do not know how, and it worries me."
Legolas's mouth fell open and he said, "are you sure Elrohir?" The prince drew his eyes into a squint of concern.
"They want to capture Elladan, the goblins have yet to forget what we did to them after we..." here Elrohir trailed off and choked up.
"After you rescued your mother," finished Legolas for him at length. Elrohir nodded and he laid down onto the ground. Legolas looked at him. "Are you feeling any better? Is something more the matter?" he asked, dreading the answer.
Elrohir smiled slightly. "No, no. It is much better. Thank you Legolas, I am sorry I was so short with you my friend. I was wrong. "
Legolas smiled back, "it is alright El. I understand. But what is this of an ambush?"
Elrohir looked up into the cobalt eyes of his friend. "Legolas why do you think that the orcs are all cleared out of the camp and you can no longer hear the wargs prowling? The one who brought me here told me anyway. He said, ' Raksi is going to fetch them now. We wouldn't want them to be left out in the cold, now would we?' What do you think that means?"
Legolas flinched inside. Where would their rescue come from now? "Are you certain? This is ill news indeed."
"Really? I would have never guessed," said Elrohir in a sarcastic growl. He looked over at Aragorn, who's breath was shallow. "And he doesn't have much time." Reaching out his white, trembling hand, Elrohir felt his brother's sweat slicked brow. It was still hot. The midnight-haired elf swept some more of the ranger's dark hair that stuck to the sweat of his burning face away. "he needs water, but we have none."
Legolas looked up at the clouds that still hovered overhead. "I know, oh Elbereth what more can we do? Here we have all this rain, yet not a drop were we able to ensnare to drink." Elrohir nodded and his breathing began to even out as he drifted into sleep like the ranger.
Legolas could not sleep, so he sat in silence. He could feel himself shaking, for it was all so real, so very real. Memories from the past were taking over, and the prince shuddered.
The clouds were darkening again and it seemed as though another storm would break. Thunder rumbled in the distance.
Past...
Legolas looked up and was torn between trying to get up over the cave troll, and staying here, with his sick best friend. The cave troll snorted and Legolas felt the beast's gaze turn onto him and Aragorn. It gave an odd sort of lop sided grin. Legolas still did not move. The cave troll then aimed a back breaking slap at the helpless pair. Legolas ducked and rolled to avoid being slammed into the stone wall.
The prince ended up rolling and spilling his best friend, sprawling the ranger onto the ground in a heap. Legolas was about to crawl back to the aid of his friend, when he felt himself being dragged backwards. The cave troll had him by the long chains on his ankles and was towing the elf towards him. Legolas kicked his feet. /Let me go! You dull-minded beast/
The cave troll yanked him up by his feet, suspending him in the air. As the Silvan elf hung upside down, he swung himself upwards and gripped the creature's massive, warty hand as best he could. Legolas could not move his feet, the troll had them in an iron grip that felt as though it was going to crush his bones into powder.
A surge of panic shot through the elf's system and he bucked like a mad thing in the harsh grip. Legolas beat the creature with his fists and tried to scratch it with the edge of his iron manacles that hampered his hand movement.
Aragorn looked up and saw the dim, shadowy figure of Legolas swinging down from the huge fist of the monster and he felt dizzy. "Legolas..." He hissed wearily.
Legolas picked up the faint whisper of his ill companion and twisted himself around so he could see Aragorn.
The human had struggled to his feet and though he was shaking more than Legolas thought was possible for one to do and stand at once, Aragorn began to stagger towards the captive elf. In the darkness, it was hard to see a clear target to make for. Aragorn was not daunted, however, and he was not going to allow his best friend, who had been through much already, to become flour for a cave troll 's bread or what ever they ate.
Legolas could feel his heart trying to break free of his chest it was beating so fast. The prince's breath came in short gasps of pain as his wounds were stretched and exerted much in the precarious position he had been placed in.
Blood rushed to his head and he felt like his brain was about to explode from pressure. He began to feel dizzy and though he felt unconsciousness tugging at the back of his mind, it would not come because of the blood rushing to his brain.
Aragorn staggered forward, only topple over side ways. Unfortunately for the ranger, he had caught the attention of the troll nearest him. The creature stared dumbly at the human wriggling in the straw of its den, trying to stand in the soft material.
What frail things men and elves were compared to the trolls, like paper dolls were to children. The creature knew it somewhere in its small twisted brain and he smiled, if it is possible for cave trolls to smile. He watched and the man got lamely onto his feet. Sweeping back his hand, he brought it in a strong swing forward and slammed it into the ranger's stomach. Aragorn's eyes went wide as he felt the hard impact and all the air left his body in a rush. His chest felt like it was broken into a zillion pieces. Breathing was not even a thought.
The ranger's body slammed into the stone wall and he slid down it with a strangled cry of pain. Shutting his eyes tight against the growing ringing in his ears that made his head throb, he waited for the beast to deliver the fatal blow. Stars were dancing before his eyes and a thrill of pain shot up his spine and back down again, as a nerve that had got pinched let loose its delayed reaction. /Legolas... Legolas... get away...run mellon nin...run. / Thought the human as he lay stunned against the wall, forgetting for a moment that his friend was hanging upside down in the inescapable grip of a troll.
Flashes went through the ranger's mind. He saw Elladan and Elrohir smiling down at him when he was a little child, handing him a small bow.
Another thought flickered by and he saw Elrond, his adoptive father standing proudly by the day he nearly beat Elladan in an archery competition they had held together just a few years back. He saw Elladan doing his best to scowl, but failing miserably and at a smack from Elrohir bursting into laugher that only elves are capable of.
With a pang, the ranger wondered whether he would ever see his family again. He wanted to watch the twins tease each other over winnings or losings in archery, he wanted to see his father smile warmly at him when he went to bed at night. As childish as he felt it was, it was what he wanted more than anything in the world to play one last prank on his brothers and watch their faces one last time.
A new sudden though flickered through his aching mind. He saw Legolas. It was the prince's birthday and he laughing merrily. His face was clear and his eyes glittered. Aragorn felt a joy in his heart when he saw the Silvan elf happy and almost carefree.
Suddenly the ranger was forced back into reality and found himself sailing through the air. He landed against a wall again and felt like he had been smashed. Blood ran from his nose and he looked, panting, to Legolas.
The prince was hanging from the cave troll and was scowling, plainly he was not as scared as he was irritated. Aragorn smiled inwardly. He could not wait to tease the elf about this if they lived it down. Legolas's golden hair fell in a shimmering golden cascade, waving in a breeze below him. He rolled his eyes and glared.
Legolas shot him a look that plainly said, 'shut up Strider!' The troll suddenly spun around, whirling the prince around with him. Legolas felt like he was about to vomit. The pit of his stomach swirled violently.
Legolas suddenly heard the reason the cave troll had spun around. Orcs were coming down the corridor. Legolas could hear their snarls and the stomping of their heavy feet. The prince shut his eyes and swallowed hard.
Upon reopening them, he could see the flare of their torches reflecting off of the damp walls of the belly of the mountain. Aragorn saw the lights as well and knew what Legolas was thinking. His time had come.
The orcs poured through a small door in the back an light flooded the small den or room. The Haradrim men were in the front. They looked at Legolas and for a second, the ranger thought he saw a flicker of short lived pity light their eyes.
The orcs leaped forward and pointed at the trolls. "Drop 'em now! Drop 'em I say!" The cave troll looked at its swinging captive and grinned. Legolas felt the troll's grip loosen and the stony ground loomed before him.
The elf had just enough time to twist so he would not bear the brunt of the fall with the crown of his head. Instead, he landed on his feet, bending his knees to absorb the impact like a cat. His golden hair fell into his face, hiding the pain that burned in his eyes. The men looked at each other. What were they dealing with? Even the chains did not seem to hamper the elf much. The orcs circled the elf and aimed their cross bows at him to subdue the fair being.
Others circled behind the elf to recapture the ill ranger that lay against the wall, breathing heavily. Sweat was pooling on his brow. The poison was doing its slow work in his veins. Legolas watched and heedless of the arrows that were aimed at his head but not yet released, he bolted through the ring with a surprising, but hardly agile, sped. The elf went to stand before his defenseless friend.
His flashing cobalt eyes challenged the orcs to try and retake his companion once more. He braced himself for a fight. He had nothing but his fists, but that would have to do, he decided. If they chose to fight, it would be a fight to he death. The men looked at the elf in astonishment. It was little wonder Sauron wanted one of these, for if they were turned to his will, they could be a great weapon of war.
The elf was already damaged enough, they wanted him alive and even fighting, but very much alive. They had to keep him from getting hurt or killing himself at all costs. They called out to the Silvan prince, "elf, is the human really worth your immortal life?"
Legolas eyed then warily then flickered his gaze back upon the orcs. "Undoubtedly worth it and several times over," snarled Legolas in return to their bitter question. Legolas was not sure what the men were driving at, but he knew he would have to be careful in choosing his words.
The men studied the situation. The orcs were getting anxious. The Haradrim feared the cruel creatures would try and slay the elf out of hand or injure him further. One of the larger goblins drew his scimitar and pointed it at the blonde elf, which didn't even flinch, but stared with jaded eyes at the weapon.
Aragorn looked up at his friend that stood between him and certain death. "Run Legolas, escape now, please," begged the ranger of the elf. Legolas did not even look back, but kept his eyes intently on his enemies.
"Shut up Strider!" he snapped, for he was beginning to get very frightened.
The orc growled, "stand aside elf, now!" They pushed closer, but the prince was not about to move and stood his ground. A pummel of a sword slammed into his stomach with a sickening thud. Legolas's brows knitted in pain and gasped as agony and nausea coursed through his body. Another blow landed against his side and the weakening elf was down on his knees. The orcs beared in even closer still and were about to kick the elf into utter submission once more. They could not understand what was wrong. The firstborn had been so submissive earlier and now he was seemingly unafraid and unbreakable.
They did not know that Legolas had found himself. He was no longer afraid because he knew who he was. He was Legolas Greenleaf Thranduillion, son of King Thranduil of the Green Wood. The elf also was no longer alone in the dark world he had a reason to live, for his friend was here as well and to survive this trauma, they both had to make it out alive, no two ways about it.
Legolas watched in trepidation as the goblins moved in on his friend. They were going to recapture the ranger. Legolas was tired and felt so sick, however, he was not going to let them recapture the human while he drew breath. Spinning on the ground, he caught two of the orcs off guard and they fell. One landed hard on the elf and Legolas held back a cry as crunching weight bore down on him. The orc realized he had the elf pinned and smiled a smile that could have frozen the sun. Legolas wriggled and twisted under the orcs that were piling on him.
Grabbing the knife from the sheath of on of the hideous beasts, the elf stabbed swiftly, driving the blade deep into the flesh of an orc's neck. The creature died with a strangled cry and his blood ran over Legolas's hand. The elf looked at the black blood in disgust.
Whipping the knife out, the prince drove it into the heart of another beast. He managed the wriggle out from under his captors and stood a ways off, braced once again for a fight to the death. The ranger was being dragged up by several orcs and they were beginning to carry him away.
Legolas screamed, "no! Strider! Let him go!" He lunged forward at them, only to trip because of the fetters on his ankles. An orc nearby tried to lay hands on him, but the Silvan elf rolled away before he could be pinned to the ground again and was on his feet faster than sight.
The Haradrim decide this had gone too far, it was time to intervene. They went and laid hands on Legolas's shoulders to try and hold him back, hoping the elf would take a clue. The prince backed away until he was up against the wall and was cornered. Legolas had to get Aragorn free.
The Haradrim followed the prince's desperate gaze to the ranger. Then they knew what the elf wanted. The evil men knew that elves' pride and loyalty ran deeper than mortals could fathom, they had been told this by men who had had encounters with the fair folk. Elves would also kill themselves rather than be used against their friends and would bargain their lives for those of others. Perhaps that was how they would be able to capture this elf without much damage done.
Turning on the orcs, the men said in the black speech, "lower your weapons now! Release the man the elf calls Strider." The orcs looked at the Haradrim like they each had sprouted a second head.
"And why should we do that?" they rumbled in the black speech. "Do we take orders from human scum, or The Great Eye?"
The men answered back and though Legolas did not know the black speech, he could tell from the tenacity radiating between the two dark forces that there was a disagreement or other. "We are sent here by The Great Eye you mindless slugs, so if you value your foul hide, you will do as we say or we will report you to Him!" Legolas knew the Harad slavers must have said something to frighten the orcs and win the argument, for the creatures lowered their weapons and the ranger slid from their grasp.
Legolas moved to go to Aragorn, but the man nearest him placed his spear above the prince's heart as a warning. Legolas looked at the spear and its sharp tip that wavered above his heart. He looked up at the man with jaded blue ice in his eyes. Th elf tried to press forward, but the point dug into his chest. Legolas edged back and the man smiled. "I thought as much," he said simply. Legolas glared on.
"Let him go, please," begged the elf to the man he was pitted against.
"We may, but lets talk," offered the human with a shrug of his shoulders.
Legolas shifted uncomfortably, "about what?" He fixed a cold glare on the human before him.
"You of course, elf. Do you have a name?" he asked casually.
"Not for your knowledge," responded Legolas bitterly; he was not voluntarily going to tell anything to these people. The slave driver frowned. This was not going to be easy.
"Elf, this doesn't have to be difficult. You are going to Mordor and that's a fact my friend, so you can go the easy way or the hard way," the Haradrim man explained. The other mortal was keeping a sharp eye on the orcs.
Legolas frowned and said angrily, "I am not your friend." The prince turned his face away from the man's and hissed as his damaged rib screamed. To his shame, the prince knew he had showed his weakness. The man had seen his pain and knew he was hurting greatly. The Haradrim grabbed the prince's chin and turned Legolas's head to face him. Legolas jerked his chin free of the grip and twisted his gaze away. He was not going to reveal his weakness again. His breath was beginning to hitch and he tried to steady it.
The man rolled his eyes with exasperation. There had to be some way to win this elf over, without his cooperation, they could never get him to Mordor. Even in fetters, elves could be a handful, and this elf was no exception.
Legolas's gaze fell back to Aragorn. The ranger was standing now, but Legolas could tell by the dullness of his eyes and the pale touch to his skin that the man was desperately ill. The prince whispered, "let me go to him, please. He is dying."
The Haradrim looked at one another. This was a weak point they could use against the elf. If they could get the elf to promise to come willingly, they would have him, for elves never broke a promise, or so the men had been told. "If we let you go to him and allow you to tend to him," they gestured their head distinctly at Aragorn, "then do we have your word that you will come willingly to Mordor?" The man raised a dark brow and stared at the elf impatiently.
Legolas looked at the human and swallowed. "You have my word." The prince could not help but shudder with the horror of the promise he had just made. The man grinned and nodded to his companion. They had the elf.
TBC...the cat is back! But, this cliffie is not too bad, huh? It could be worse. No review responses this time folks! If you had a Q we will answer it next time, because we are in a hurry! We NEVER tire from hearing your opinions. Please review and tell us what you think!