Part Six
Crossed Paths and True friends

Present...

Elrond strode through the Hall of Fire seemingly as calm as ever. Yet, a heavy feeling had fallen with dread upon his heart. He knew his sons were in trouble. He had seen it. The world seemed unreal and though he could physically hear, he took in nothing around him.

Suddenly, he saw that everything was fading into black. Elves about the fireplaces were becoming dark, blurred shapes before his eyes. Their joyest singing was turning onto harsh voices, not of orcs, but of men and orcs together, cruel men, corsairs. Everything was dark before him, he could not see. Strange sounds lingered in the air, wails and screams.

The elf lord must have looked ill, for one of the other elves, a friend of his sons, came forward. "Lord Elrond?" asked Ancú with concern tainting his voice. Elrond did not even hear the other elf, he could not see the other elf. All he heard was the cries of elves, his sons.

Suddenly, as son as the hallucination had come, it vanished. The dark world began to pass away towards light again and the harsh voices faded, dwindling into nothingness. He found himself staring at Ancú who was looking uncomfortably around the room and at his lord.

"Ancú ?" questioned Elrond softly, as though out of a deep dream or still lingering in one.

Ancú went and stood before Elrond. "What did you see?" he asked quietly. The younger elf furrowed his brow and watched the elder elf.

"I don't know. Ancú , I believe my sons are in grave danger," responded Elrond at length. The thought was very unsettling and chewed at his soul.

"Glorfindel went with them. They should be fine," answered Ancú hopefully. He looked into Elrond's eyes.

"Unless something ill befell him." Elrond looked about the room. "Come, let us talk else where." The raven-haired elf lord began to walk towards the door, Ancú trotted to keep up.

Once outside the arch of the door, Elrond turned on the younger elf. "I think they went towards Mirkwood." His piercing gaze perforated Ancú 's and he said, "I want you to go and search for them."

Ancú looked at the ground as he thought it through, "I will do my best Lord Elrond." Elrond nodded.

"I cannot ask for more."

Elrond shook his head. He and Ancú had had this conversation a day ago. He had heard no news from younger elf and was worried. He did not know where his sons were and prayed daily to the Valar that they were well and just delayed.

Ancú looked at the ground before him. It was torn and plants were smashed left and right. Elven blood was no where to be found, orc blood was splashed on everything. A battle had taken place here. Dead wargs lay strewn on the ground, elven arrows or a calculated jab with a sword had felled them.

Suddenly Ancú spotted something that glittered on the ground. It was half covered by leaves. The elf stepped nimbly over to pick up the 'fallen star'. He gently bushed the leaves lightly aside with a swift stroke of his hand. What he saw sent a wave of fear through him. It was an elven blade. He recognized it as one of the twin blades made for Elladan and Elrohir. Had one or both of them fallen here? It seemed so.

Picking up the sword, his hands shook as they had not for a long time. Hot tears tormented his eyes. Ancú was not as free as most elves with his emotions. He had had a harder life than most and had learned young to control them. Since he had come to Rivendell and met Elrond's sons, he had become freer. Now he wanted to weep.

Suddenly a voice from above in Sindarin said, "who are you and whom do you serve?"

Ancú looked up with his bow already notched and bent. "You show yourself first and state whether you are friend or foe," he commanded.

He was surprised to see another dark-haired elf, such as himself, leap from the tree above him with such skill that stated he was a wood-elf. "I believe I am a friend for my part, but I cannot fully answer the question until I know who you are."

Ancú rolled his eyes. Wood-elves. "I am Ancú , of the house of Elrond, friend of Legolas Greenleaf, prince of Mirkwood."

"Prince Legolas is known to me. For he is my prince. I am Rothinzil, son of Elcuivië. If you seek Legolas then we come here for the same purpose."

"I do not seek the dead," responded Ancú gravely.

Rothinzil notched his bow and bent it at Ancú . "What do you mean?" His voice as lethal. What was this strange elf speaking of death to Legols for? Roth did not know, but he meant to find out.

"I mean Legolas is dead, or so we say in Rivendell," said the other elf bitterly. He looked up and said, "you would use that kind of bow? It is too short for an accurate shot my friend."

"It is plenty accurate elf of Imladris," snarled the wood elf angrily. On top of speaking death to his prince, the Rivendell elf had insulted his bow!

Unexpectedly, a weary voice, yet fair, and deep from ages of life, said, "oh must you too quarrel? I was nearly unconscious."

Both of the elves jumped at the voice. Then, Ancú smiled wryly. "That is the voice of Glorfindel, or I am a fool." The other elf looked at Ancú and raised a brow, as if to say, 'who?' He had never heard of the Gondolin elf before.

The voice came again, "you have found him Ancú . I could have known your loud and obnoxious voice anywhere."

Ancú pelted in the direction of the voice, and did not have to go far. He saw the Gondolin elf lying on the ground. His skin was scratched from the twigs that had broken during the fall. Ancú hissed as he saw the blood draining from the golden-haired immortal's shoulder and arm. What evil had happened here? "Glorfindel! Valar! What happened here? Elladan and Elrohir- "

"Wargs and riders attacked both Elladan and I. I was wounded. Elladan..." Here his voice trailed off. Suddenly, all of the elven ears picked up the sound of swift hoof beats. They were light and delicate.

A white horse strode amongst the surprised elves. It reached its velvety nose down and snorted in Glorfindel's face. The Gondolin elf smiled wryly, and reached a bloodied hand up to touch the animal's nose. "Ah, Asfaloth, my friend."

"What of Elladan?" asked Ancú tensely. He was not sure if he wanted to know the answer. His eyes glittered with worry. "I found his blade, his or Elrohir's."

Glorfindel's face went gray and he furrowed his brow. "That is Dan's blade. He did not die, but was rather captured. That is not the half of it, I fear he is blind. Elrohir is with Aragorn and Legolas, for the prince lives, we found as much when we went tracking. However they are all captured with Elladan and Elrohir has a broken leg." The Gondolin elf began to get up, but Ancú went down beside him and placed a hand on him.

Raising a brow, he said, "I know you will hate me for his, but you must trust me to treat your wounds." He could not keep a smirk from his face.

Glorfindel said, "no, I will be fine."

Ancú frowned and said, "you know you are hurt, pretending to be better and getting worse never gave anyone miraculous healing Lord Glorfindel."

Glorfindel scowled and said reluctantly, "true enough Ancú , but wishing you were teller never added an inch to your height and worrying overly much over something never helped anyone either ." Ancú gave Glorfindel a lethal look and the elf lord sighed.

The dark-haired elf crouched by the elf lord smiled, "well then?" Glorfindel sighed and laid back down on the ground, as if to say, 'fine, you won't leave me alone until I let you 'heal' me, so go ahead and get started.' Really he had not doubt about the abilities of the elf and what he said was only a tease that he poked at the other elf. He could not help it.

Ancú carefully drew back the tunic about Glorfindel's shoulder. The arrow protruded from it still. Ancú felt color leave his face, but he put a hand about the arrow and another braced against Glorfindel's shoulder. Glorfindel did nothing, but closed his eyes wearily. His breath stayed firmly the same. That was no surprise, he had been through much worse and this was nothing. However the wound still hurt with a fire. Glorfindel flinched slightly when he felt Ancú begin to twist the arrow and pull it from the wound. Blood from the golden-haired elf spilled and fanned out over the younger elf's hand, staining it crimson.

Ancú felt a creak in the bone as the arrow was removed from the flesh. He knew with a pang that the bone was broken. He looked at Glorfindel and said with a sigh, "you know, it is broken, do you not?"

Glorfindel sounded eerily serene. "I knew. It is numb." Ancú nodded and looked with disdain at the blood on his hands. Carefully, he took and tore a strip from the elf lord's cloak, starting it from a tear that had happened in battle.

After he had created a sling for the arm, he looked to the other one. It had a rather small wound that was bleeding a lot. The orc's knife had stabbed into the flesh and had been cruelly twisted free. Tearing another bandage from the cloak, he bound the wound tightly. Rothinzil had little experience in healing and looked on or kept watch.

Glorfindel rose up to his feet and sighed heavily. All of them were pondering how the were going to save their friends. The whole situation seemed rather hopeless, but hey had to try and perhaps die in the process.

Legolas's head hung limply over the side of the shoulder of the man bearing him. His loose blonde hair had cascaded into his marred face and hid the wounds. He was in a deep sleep and his breath was slow and shallow, so potent was the drug. His eyes were open still, but the blue orbs were rolled back into his head in near unconsciousness. The man had the prince slung over his shoulder like a pack or sack.

Elladan and Aragorn were being born in the same fashion.

Aragorn's head lulled to the side and he was obviously benumbed to the world about him. His head hurt, he could feel the pain throbbing in his skull with every jolt that the men took with their awkward bundle.

Elladan came slowly to waking and realized his head hurt terribly. He also discovered waking to be as dark as slumber. The Son of Elrond recalled the event prior to his capture and knew with a pang of panic that he was blind. How could he ever survive? A blind elf is of no use, for their sight is half of their gifts that surpass men. Too scared to move, the immortal closed his eyes and pressed his forehead against the neck of the human carrying him, trying to rub out his headache. He felt the man's neck shift as he glanced back at the slave he bore. Elladan knew he had made a mistake, but it was too late, the man knew he was conscious. The elf began to feel sick and croaked softly, "I am going to throw up, put me down, I am going to vomit, please," he appealed to the pirate. The bump on the head had made him ill.

The man stopped and called out to the others, "halt!" Elladan knew he was in trouble, but he was beyond caring. The raven-haired immortal felt himself being hefted from the man's broad shoulders and slammed towards the ground. Elladan knew even though he could not see, that he was plunging towards the ground and in moments he would feel the painful jolt of striking hard soil.

Even though the elf had known that he was going to hit the ground in seconds, the impact was no easier to bear. He felt pain score his sick body. His stomach lurched and he could not help but answer the call to empty its contents upon the earth. The ebony-haired elf then rolled over, so as to land clear of his vomit. He could not see what was going on, but he felt tension growing about him. The Son of Elrond could feel his breath coming in gasps. A boot nudged his ribs and the elf kept his eyes closed. "Hey, elf, I ain't gonna carry you the whole way. You're awake, you can walk." Elladan felt even sicker, not so much from the blow, but from the fear of what they would do if the slavers found out he was blind.

The raven-haired elf raised him self up and was about to struggle to his feet and some how walk, when a boot kicked his ribs harshly. He was totally unprepared for the blow and it startled him, he fell to the ground once again. The man gave a cold smile when he heard the elf emit a cry of surprise. He grabbed the Elladan by a length of black hair and pulled his head up. Elladan could hear his own breath coming fast and he hated himself for showing his fear. A man nearby growled, "there's only one way to deal with a rebellious slave, move out of the way."

Elladan heard a scuffle close by him and guessed the man that had spoken up was shoving the other away. He heard a strange swoosh and felt a streak of fire cross the flesh on his back, biting through the tunic. The immortal set his teeth and took it in silence. Another stroke fell across the raven-haired being. Elladan's elvish pride began to kick into full power and he utterly refused to let the slave drivers have the pleasure of hearing him cry out. Instead, he began to think about other things.

The question he wondered about most of all was how he had been captured by orcs and was now in the hands of men. He had heard them refer to him as a slave and could only guess that he had been sold, perhaps with Glorfindel, into slavery of one of the evil races of men. He could not imagine that the golden-haired elf had allowed himself to be captured.

Glorfindel, where are you? The thought tugged at the back of his mind.

Another streak of fire struck him and then heard a voice say, "you aren't going to get anywhere doing that. Elves will only harden, they don't break that way, that easy."

"And what do you propose I do Lord Cracire?" snarled the man stooped over Elladan, trying to knock some sense into the seemingly stupid elf.

"We paid much for him, Frinican, I don't want him to die, he's sick." Elladan guessed the human had seen the puke on the ground near him. "When we reach camp, I will let you have your way with him for a time, and the blond one. Until then, I catch you looking at him in the wrong way and your execution is inevitable, got it?" Then, the leader shouted to everyone else, "move out!"

Glorfindel? Did they really capture the Gondolin elf? Elladan was not sure, seemingly, it was so. The raven-haired elf guessed that the man, called Frinican, who had been beating him moments before was now smiling like an elfling during a summer solstice celebration. It made him want to shudder, but he held it back. He was Elrond's Son and his pride ran deep enough to hold him to silence. He would be darned if he would scream for them or shudder for them. They could still his blood first.

Frinican stooped down after Lord Cracire had left. Grabbing a lock of ebony hair, he pulled Elladan's head near his own. "You wait until we get to camp, you damned elf."

Elladan growled back, "I can hardly wait." Frinican just grinned coldly.

"Me either, elfy." Pulling a rope from his belt, he wrapped it tightly about the elf's wrists and pulled it until Elladan felt his hands go numb. Then, he grasped the immortal by his tunic and pulled Elrond's son to his feet. Elladan felt his heart rate speeding up with fear. Was this human going to try and make him walk? The visionless elf stumbled as he stepped on an uneven piece of ground, coming dangerously close to twisting his ankle. Frinican shoved Elladan forward, the elf faltered, but caught himself. Frinican gave the immortal an odd look. "Are you stupid or just plain blind! Get walking."

Elladan placed a foot in front and carefully set it to the ground. He could not let them know he was in fact totally blind. The elf knew it would happen soon, but he wanted to hold off that moment as long as possible. He knew that once this Frinican found out, his life would be the most miserable on earth.

He began to walk slowly, using all his senses to 'see' ahead, so as not to lose his footing if it could be avoided. The raven-haired elf shuffled along, he could hear other men by him, and their breath came in puffs from the humid heat of the late day. The elf nearly flinched as he felt Frinican's hand place itself on his shoulder and push him to go faster. The twin could not go faster though, he would fall and his secret would be revealed to his death.

He could take the suffering of being blind-somewhat. But, feeling the hand of the evil human upon him, to feel him shiver or sense his pain, was more than he could bear. "Get your hand off of me!" spat the immortal gruffly.

Frinican growled, "shut yer mouth waif, unless you want tonight to be more fun than I had planned." He cuffed Elladan's ear and back of head. "Now move!"

"Your leader said not to touch me!" snapped Elladan as his fear showed through in anger. The elf jerked free of the man's hand roughly.

Frinican laughed a cold laugh, "but he isn't here, is he?" Elladan had not known that, but he knew it was not a good thing. Frinican reached over and patted Elladan's head, which did nothing to improve his throbbing headache, "I can't wait until we get to have our little one on one talk tonight elf. You and Blondie are my two new projects, along with another one of your little friends." Elrond's Son pulled away enough to get out of reach of the annoying hand that was grating on his nerves something awful.

The elf said nothing to this statement and just continued to keep on moving. His head hurt him terribly and his stomach still felt horribly sick. In his opinion this man, Frinican, was a lunatic. He always knew men were just a little demented, but this man topped ones he had seen before. Even though, he thought with a smirk, his brother, Estel, pulled in a easy second. How he missed that vexing brother of his.

The elf had a bad feeling that night would be test everything he had and he also knew that he would not die. The elf was unsure about whether this was a comforting or disquieting fact. Elladan had a sinking feeling it was not anything that was beneficent and favorable. He wondered where his brother was. He hoped that neither Aragorn, Elrohir, Legolas or Glorfindel had met the same fate as he and were in this miserable place. The way the men all seemed to refer to him as a piece of property; made him believe he was a slave, anyway, one had already stated it. Frinican had, and Elladan knew that if he did not watch himself, Frinican would have no qualms about reminding him of his place in their world in ways that would be less than humorous.

Legolas opened his eyes. They felt swollen and his head was reeling. His mouth felt numb and his body was weak. He could move, or so he guessed. The prince had yet to actually try, he was not sure what kind of response it would garn. Until he knew whether the retort would be beneficial or not, he was not willing to try anything. Everything was blurred before his eyes and he saw double when he moved his eyes too fast. Closing them, the blonde haired immortal tried to clear his vision.

It was to no avail. Legolas blew upward to relive his forehead of a loose strand of bloodied blonde hair that had fallen into his face. He felt nauseous. The potion must have been more effective than he had first thought. How long had he been out? The elf could feel himself being carried and wondered who was carrying him.. The immortal opened his eyes and looked about him. These were men, not orcs.

How in all the Valar...? They had been captured by orcs!

Then memory flooded back. The Corsairs of Umbar had bought him as a slave. Legolas looked up and saw dark clouds moving in and knew another storm was coming.

Legolas nearly smiled as he thought how he had recalled the venom the men had given him and not how he had gotten amongst them. It was nearly laughable, had it not been for the dire situation they were in.

Then the prince began to wonder where Aragorn was. The men had bought him too and Elladan. Where was Elladan? Legolas was afraid something awful had happened to them. But, then he recalled that the men had paid lots of gold for all of them and would not just kill them off. The prince feared that something else had happened. There were many things worse than death, compared to some, death was a mercy. Legolas could not help but shudder as he thought about what he and his friends were most likely in for later.

The man holding Legolas must have felt the elf stir. He twisted his head around and was met with the glazed and irritated blue eyes of the prince. He stopped and smiled. "Awake? Good, I'm tired of carrying you all over elf."

In a twist, the human had the Silvan prince off his back and sprawling on the ground. Legolas was not about to let the man kick him or bind him. However, he was still a bit slow from the drug and his body moved a bit more awkward than before. Legolas tried to roll out of the way, but felt the toe brush against one of his sore ribs.

The man grabbed the prince's leg and pulled Legolas back. He then reached to his belt to pull out a length of rope. Legolas took this time to land a kick to the man's gut, doubling him over. Legolas then tried to get up and run. The man, through gasps of pain, yelled, "damn elf! Somebody catch that damn elf!"

Legolas was on his feet, but he did not get far. His movements were slower than normal and he still felt sick. The man's yell had alarmed men all around and they had their spears readied and were closing in on the elf. Legolas tried to burst through he ring of men that was fast surrounding him, but he ended up flat on his back with a spear point to his vulnerable throat. Legolas's lethal eyes followed the staff of the spear up and fixed them upon the face of the man holding the weapon to his neck. The human growled, "a fine stunt elf, but you failed. We have no time to repay your little hoax now, but you can rest assured we will later tonight."

Legolas quirked an eyebrow and said, "oh, well thank you. I will sleep better now."

The man said, "oh you stupid elf, you will be in too much pain to sleep ere we reach the camp. You just wait until Frinican gets a hold of you. " He pressured the point of the spear into the Silvan elf's throat just enough to prick it and show they would kill him if the need arouse. Legolas felt a sickening feeling come over him and his senses fogged. Everything blurred. Legolas closed his eyes and swallowed hard, resisting the urge to throw up. The prince felt cord being bound about his wrists, headless of the raw flesh that had just barely begun to scab over.

Legolas's blue orbs shot open against his will as pain burned his wrists and then his hands went numb and then tingled. The men pulled the cord even tighter and pulled Legolas up to his feet. The Silvan prince felt too tired to move, much less fight off all of these men. The cord had been needlessly tightened, for Legolas was too weak to escape and the bonds had been far from inefficient before, on top of all that, twisting his bonds around hurt his hands, so why would he do that? He wouldn't and the men had known it. They had done that strictly to be diabolical to the elf they had within their clutches. Legolas knew he should have known this was how it would be, considering their stone-cold hearts that hated elves with a passion.

The man that held the immortal by his wrists noticed the points on the elf's graceful ears and sneered. Grabbing one of the points, the mortal twisted it painfully. "What's this, eh?" he teased. The man then flicked the point, causing Legolas jerked his head away roughly in annoyance. The man jeered, "well elf, what is it?" He gave it a cruel twist again and Legolas jabbed an elbow into the man's stomach.

The human doubled over and grunted, "cursed elf." Legolas felt the hands that gripped him constrict so their fingers pinched his soft flesh and he winced.

A cry went up unexpectedly, "Draciar is here! Captain Draciar is here!" The men were momentarily distracted and Legolas had enough time to kick the feet out from under one of the humans that was close enough to receive the blow. He fell with a grunt, cursing the 'bloody elf' and saying what he would do if it were not for orders. Legolas passed the thoughts off as futile and feints that would never come true. However, the fact that the men were given orders not to harm the elves was not thrilling in and of itself. It meant that they were being saved for a purpose. Legolas suspected it had something other than to do with slavery. The thought was rather discouraging and Legolas pushed it out of his mind, although it was always hanging in the back of his thought.

A man came through the crowd that surrounded the elf. He was taller than most men and seemed a bit fairer. Legolas was strangely reminded of Aragorn and he watched the strange mortal that approached him attentively. Draciar came and stood before the prince. He looked the elf over and rocked back on his heals leisurely. Legolas narrowed his eyes and furrowed his brow. "What do you want edain?" he spat at the man.

"A little more respect from you elf, for you are our slave, are you not?" asked Draciar in an annoyingly calm voice that rasped on the princes nerves.

Legolas growled back defiantly and without a quiver in his voice, "I am nobody's slave." The man seemed to grin and was presumably amused by Legolas's spirit. Legolas flinched as he was struck over the head in an open-handed smack without warning. The captured elf felt his head throb and yet he refused to show any sign of weakness if it could be avoided.

"Sorry sir, Frinican plans to larn him better tonight," apologized the men with glares at the captive prince, who rolled his eyes as if to say, 'so you think'.

Draciar put a finger under Legolas's chin and tilted the elf's head to look at him. "Elf, you are in way over your head. Submission will serve you far greater than defiance. It would be terrible indeed to see an elf with such a spirit is broken because of his stupidity to not put down his pride in exchange for safety. " Legolas twitched his head angrily aside and his glare deepened into an all out scowl of animosity, he was not stupid. The man let him go. "Elf, I warned you."

Legolas said slowly back, "against nothing I did not already know. I am not stupid but there are things you do not submit to, such as the folly of men and evil creatures." The man holding the elf raised his hand to strike the rebellious slave again, but Draciar shot his hand out and caught the other man's hand in his grasp, strangely protecting the elf. The fact the man was showing him mercy grated on the prince's nerves for no reason other than he was fed up with being around all these men who either were stupid enough to pity him, not realizing their own miserable lives that they led, or were just down right cruel.

The prince's blue eyes sparked cobalt fire. The new comer then looked at Legolas's wrists. He saw they were chaffed and had to be hurting the elf something awful. Draciar looked into the elf's eyes and Legolas saw something different about this man, but before he could be sure, orders called the man away. "Captain Draciar! Lord Cracire wants to see you immediately! There was a change in plans!" Legolas watched the strange man go and strangely felt he knew him and yet he was not sure. Legolas's glare softened and his bright blue orbs went wide as he watched the outlander go.

The captain looked the Silvan elf over with a sharp glance abruptly turned and walked quickly off through the crowd. Legolas grunted as a fist slammed into his abdomen, knocking the wind out of him. Legolas sank to the ground as far as his captors would allow. He could not help but blanch when he heard the call, "make camp!"

"The fun begins now elf," crooned the men with grins spreading across their face from ear to ear.

How the prince had hoped never to hear those words like those coming from the mouths of men directed at him again. It brought forth old fears that he had thought once to have escaped. They merged with the new and the pain became too real and was like weight holding him down, even though the elf knew half of it was the past. But, the prince could not separate it from the present.

The Silvan prince saw Elladan at a distance. The only one he did not see, was Aragorn. Where was the ranger? A bolt of dread shot through Legolas's sensitive elven heart and only served to increase his fears and troubles. He feared what the men had done to his ill friend. Legolas said so low that nobody could hear him, "I am sorry I have failed you mellon nin."

Thunder began to rumble again and lightning lit up the sky. This was why the men had stopped so early and made camp.

Past...

The prince had allowed himself to be led along like a dog. Aragorn was gaining strength, but he tired easily. They were nearing the southern part of Gondor and still had no word from Rasa, the man that as for as Legolas had gathered, was supposed to meet them half way with oliphaunts. The headmen were getting irritated easily.

They often lashed out in anger and frustration at their blonde captive.

That was not most of the prince's troubles though. Surprisingly, most came from fellow slaves, men who were evil as well, but captured in battles with the Haradrim. They hated the elf and resented him to their uttermost core. Legolas was kept bound with them at night. They gave him mean looks and teased him unmercifully about his pointy ears. Legolas did his best to ignore them, but it was a hard task.

If the other slaves were caught teasing or hurting the elf in any way they were beaten, and they resented Legolas even more for it. One of the enslaved men, Lanotin, looked at Legolas as he sat bound with his head resting against the tree in near sleep and growled, "Haradrim's little pet. High and mighty elf." Legolas opened his eyes, which he had taken to sleeping with closed as of late. They were touched with a frost of irritation that Legolas thought it was only fair he let them know he was annoyed. The men turned away and went silent as Legolas scrutinized them with a critical and suspicious eye.

Aragorn was nearly asleep beside the prince, bound in the same fashion. He leaned into Legolas's ear and whispered. "Don't let them get to you Legolas," he spoke in the gray tongue so the men would not understand. "They won't hurt you while I am here. Go ahead and get some sleep my friend."

Legolas drew a deep breath and said with much anxiety. "I can't rest Aragorn. I keep thinking of my father, and if he knows I will never see him again. It is tearing me up inside. I wish to Valar I could see him again, one last time just to say I love him and I am no longer afraid. I want to tell him I will wait for him in Mandos's halls if it is permitted, for him so he may see me again and I him."

The men looked at Legolas and said scoffingly, "you wait until you reach Mordor little pet, then you won't be treated thus. They will rip you from limb to limb and the Great Eye will pierce your soul and see through you. Elf, you will wish you had never been born." They spat in his direction and Legolas just turned his gaze away to look at Aragorn.

"Legolas, all will be well. I promise, now get some sleep," said the ranger comfortingly. The prince drew another deep breath. Aragorn sighed. "Legolas, I will not let them hurt you but you have to trust me and get some sleep. You are getting too weak and the trip alone will kill you." Aragorn thought he caught a faint smile on the prince's lips, then it flickered away. Some strange solace was touching Legolas. Then the ranger understood, Legolas was counting on dying before he reached Mordor. That was why he was no longer afraid. Wide eyed, the human looked at his immortal friend. "Legolas, no. You can't die like that. I won't allow it."

"It is better that way Aragorn. Trust me," responded Legolas in a eerily peaceful tone. "I will not be used for the Dark Tower. I will spill the blood from my own veins first and commit my spirit to the Valar." The prince seemed so adamant about what he was saying that the ranger found it hard to argue with him as much as he wanted to.

"Legolas, we will get out of here, but you have to believe, or else the volition you have will break," answered Aragorn determinedly. Legolas knew the ranger was right, but the elf was really scared inside.

Lanotin looked over at Legolas sand said tauntingly, "I can't wait to hear your screams little brat. If elves voices are as musical as the tales say, it will make my own pain seem like such a pleasant dream."

Aragorn could hear the elf's quick, timorous breaths as the elf tried to keep desperate control over his composure. The ranger lashed out at the man who had frightened his best friend when he had been close to getting the elf to sleep. "You leave him alone!" he growled at the other man, Lanotin.

"What are you gonna do about it ranger ?" they all sneered. "And what kind of man keeps company with elves, eh?"

Aragorn went silent and thought of a really sharp remark to say back when one of the men muttered, "a fool or nobody."

Unable to hold it any longer, the ranger snapped, "and it seems that the world is full of a bunch of 'wise' men who could only save them selves if the solution was beneath their noses, because they only look down them and are too stubborn to see easier solutions that are higher up because it may make them feel small."

Lanotin pulled at the bounds, which were the only things that kept the human from strangling the ranger with his bare hands. He hated that man and his elf friend more than he hated Sauron and everything else in the world. "One of these days ranger, these bonds will not be enough to hold me back and I will kill you and your elf friend if it is the last thing I ever do!"

Aragorn watched as one of the Haradrim, who was called, Unario, came with a bucket of Elbereth knew what to pass out to the slaves as though they were animals. It was some kind of meat, from his own experience as a hunter, Aragorn guessed it was deer.

However, it turned his stomach, for it was raw and fresh. Legolas looked at the meat in disdain. He felt his stomach do a flip. His face must have blanched, for Lanotin said in a voice coated with scorn, "what's wrong wittle elf? Not cooked? Can't suffer some raw meat to your perfect diet?"

Legolas did not want the man to know, but that was exactly how he felt. Not because of his pride, but because it looked disgusting and repulsed him to his very essence. The man laughed coldly and held up the meat before the prince. Legolas wished he had turned away quicker, for the human tore into the raw meat and ate it in front of the prince, purposefully making the elf ill.

Unario smiled coldly and moved on, as a man went before the him, unbinding the captives so they could feed. When Legolas felt his bonds slide from his wrists and blood flow into his fingertips, the elf sighed as the dull pain went away temporarily. Next was Aragorn's turn. The ranger moved his hands before him and rubbed his bruised and chaffed wrists. However, escape was still not possible, because of the fetters on their legs and ankles that were only removed for the traveling part of the day.

Each of the friends was handed a piece of the nauseating meat. Legolas took it gingerly. Aragorn was not as choosy. However, neither of the friends was sure about forcing the revolting food. They needed the energy, yes, but not from this. With a glance at the ranger, the blonde immortal said quickly, "Strider, I will not eat this, and no one can ask me to."

Aragorn shook his head, "mellon nin, you have to eat it. You aren't still-"

Legolas answered abruptly, "no, I am not starving myself, but this is... is...not safe to eat. It will do more harm than good," said the prince with twinge of fear in his voice.

Aragorn nearly laughed at the elf, no, not at him, more at his face and tone. "Legolas, you are acting like they were told to poison you. Sauron want's you, why would they go against the Dark Lord?"

"Strider, no, all I am saying is whether it is intentional or unintentional, it will happen," argued the elf stiffly. His blue eyes were eyeing the meat with a look that stated clearly he wanted to retch. Aragorn shrugged his shoulders.

"Fine, don't eat it." The ranger looked at the meat, then closed his eyes. He was not going to eat it either. If Legolas said it was not safe, then it wasn't. The man took Legolas's meat from him and put it with his own. Then, he carefully dug a shallow pit and buried the meat in it, packing the soil over it hard. Unario came and stood before the prince. Legolas shifted uncomfortably under the mortal's cruel gaze. He was feeling fear beckoning to him in his mind again and the elf looked at Aragorn, who was glaring defiantly at the slave driver.

The man said, "Elf, you are getting weaker. You are dying." Legolas looked away and the man frowned.

Aragorn watched. He had a horrible feeling about where this conversation was going to go. The Haradrim knew the prince was not eating and were going to try and force him. Legolas knew it as well and scooted closer to the ranger in fear. He was not an animal to be fed like one, especially by these cruel men who would choke him by accident if he refused to swallow.

The Haradrim man smiled and said, "you have quit eating, we knew you would." He pulled out a length or rope and swung it from one hand to the other leisurely. "You know what we do to prisoners that refuse to eat?" he asked, toying with Legolas's mind. The prince glared up him. "We force them to and it is no fun task. Believe me when I say we would prefer that you eat on your own." Legolas felt his eyes grow large as the threatening mortal stepped perilously closer.

Aragorn came to his friend's defense. "I will get him to eat, but you have no understanding of elves. They are stubborn and will not eat like animals nor eat things raw."

The Haradrim said angrily, "he will eat what he is given. You stay out of this ranger!" He turned on Legolas.

Aragorn put a consoling hand on Legolas's arm. "Please, let me convince him to eat." Legolas gave the man a look that clearly stated for him to be quiet. The elf knew what the human was in for and would not have it. Besides, he was no longer a child and needed no convincing on how and when to eat.

The slaver said, "its too late for that. Now he must know what it is like to do things the hard way." Legolas could hear and see Lanotin laughing and pointing in his direction along with all the other men who resented the elf. It was his turn to get punished now. The stupid elf was in for it. They could hardly wait to hear his begs for mercy.

Legolas knew that and was utterly determined to deny them the pleasure. He would die first and that was a fact. The slave driver jumped at Legolas and gripped his wrists with strength that the prince had scarce thought a human could possess. Aragorn reached his feet out and kicked the cruel man's ankles, toppling him over upon the elf, which twisted halfway out from under the fallen man. The human grunted as he landed on the elf and Legolas hissed as his barely healed rib suffered the brunt of the weight. His blue eyes squeezed tightly shut to block out the stars that danced before his eyes.

The man stood up and growled back at the ranger who was watching with huge eyes as he realized he had caused his friend more pain than he had prevented. In his heart, the ranger knew it was probably foolish to try and stop what would come no mater what, but he felt obligated to.

Legolas knew all of this and held nothing against his closest friend.It was not the overly protective human's fault, although Legolas wished he would think more.

The Haradrim pulled Legolas to his feet and began to drag the elf away. Legolas did not aid them. If they were going to torture him, why should he just go and walk there like it was all fine with him? And yet struggling did no good, so he just let them drag him across the uneven ground.

They bound Legolas with his hands behind him to a tree nearby. The prince could feel his breath racing in and out of his lungs as fear scored him. The elf swallowed down his alarm and fixed the men coming up to him with an icy look. They pulled out a piece of meat and put it before Legolas's face. The prince wrinkled his nose and turned his head away. He did not have anything against meat, but he preferred it cooked if and when he did choose to eat it. This was raw and cold.

The men rolled their eyes as though even though they could be enjoying this, it was just another chore for them to go through. They grabbed the prince's chin and twisted his head back around to face them. Legolas tried to wriggle his head free of their grasp, but it was to no avail. The men took their knives and cut the raw flesh into strips to feed the elf with. Legolas snapped his mouth shut and refused to open it.

He felt a sickening thud in his stomach and knew he had just been punched in the gut. 'Oh yes,' he thought,' I am just feeling so much better about eating now. Just make me more sick, I am sure it will help.' He had to open his mouth however, as he gasped in pain. One of the men, Unario, shoved in a small strip of the meat. Legolas felt the urge to vomit rising in the back of his throat. He could not reopen his mouth however, because the men had pressed up under his chin, holding his jaw firmly in place. They were very nearly choking the Silvan elf. Legolas still refused to swallow, so the men pinched his nose shut. He was going to swallow, one way or another.

Legolas decided to show them how stubborn elves could really be. He held his breath. He had not gotten in a good breath in before hand, however, so he could not hold it long. Aragorn saw his lips turning an odd blue color and knew exactly what was going on. Legolas was going to suffocate rather than eat the meat he did not trust and revolted him to the core. "You are making it worse! " yelled Aragorn with horror as he watched Legolas 's eyes glaze even as they locked into his own gray ones.

TBC...Muahhaha! Please review! We are both dying to know what you think! g we tell you this all the time, but what the heck?

RUN KITTY RUN! (cat licks self and rolls over on floor unconcernedly) WE SAID RUN HUCKY! (stupid, mean cat)

Review responses

Shadowed Flames -- Yup! Now everybody is caught except for poor beat up Glorfy. Comforting? Perhaps. Muahahaha!

Elerrina Amanya -- No. you shouldn't be surprised. LOL Breaking and bleeding elves are our favorite! Ur...the cats, that's right, the cat's favs! Glorfindel free, but bashed up! Hehehe. Hopeful? Hmmm... Yes, poor little Legolas, his second capture and sale. That was hard to write, let me tell you! Writing angst is hard for us, because, well, it just is. It made both of us want to cry. Nail biting? Know just what you mean. I, Celeb, bit my nails on both hands down while watching all four of the movies and when I was deep in thought for this story. Hehehehe. And one feline can be full to brimming with sadism, at least this one is. Wanted to knock some joy into the meany, but it is hopeless, he won't have it, not even w/ a cherry on top. Little menace. But he is still my baby kitty. However, the cat is lazy to the bone, so he will most likely go on strike soon. LOL

Strider's Girl -- Evil? Us? g That's harsh! LOL I hate exams. Grrrr... They are mean mean mean mean! Orcs and men might bet, not too sure, but we thought, 'it is fan fiction, so why not?' hands cat to reviewer knock yourself out!

Someone Reading -- You want the cat? Okay! Try and catch him first. I think I am going to make kitty/warg/elf and ranger killer plush toys for people to beat up after the story. Yes. I will do that. LOL hehehe. The cat is not an orc spawn, he's just 'The Cat' LOL Legolas: "Sure, that s what you say!" Aragorn: "Yeah! He's mean to us! Elf and ranger killer indeed!" both elf and ranger glare sinisterly at grinning kitty Yes, apparently, the elf and ranger agree with you and I can't blame them. LOL He was having a bad day, evil days he attacks people! (like me)

Beling -- Yay! New reviewer! Baited breath? We will try and keep you going, but school exams are fast approaching.

Deana -- Hehehehe. The poor wittle elf. Drugs are just so evilly fun to work with. How he feels? Like the bottom of your shoe! We are going to read your newest chappies, but one won't pull up! Grrr..

Don't forget to review people! Thanks!