Chapter Four
Inziladun stole down the stairs into the prison. This was the day. The month was up today.
Aragorn quietly unlocked the door to Legolas' cell as Inziladun arrived. He handed the keys to Elrohir's door and chains to the boy, then entered Legolas' cell and freed the prince. Once they were all back in the hallway, they heard the heavy tramp of approaching feet.
"Run!" Aragorn whispered as the men with their torches came into view. "Inziladun," he cried, no longer able to hide his involvement. "Get them to safety! I'll join you when I can." Strider turned as his friends ran and drew his sword. He would die before he let them be found.
The captain gave a cry and ordered his men to catch Inziladun and the elves only to realize that Strider stood in the way with his sword drawn. The soldiers all attacked Estel at the same time. He skilfully dodged or blocked each blow, even managing to give a few deadly strokes himself.
Strider glanced behind him as his sword locked with that of the captain and saw, to his relief, that his friends were out of sight, leaving no sign of which way they had gone. That was good. If he got away, Aragorn would meet them at the alley. He had no need to track them.
That moment's distraction was a critical error. Something hit Estel on the forehead. Stars exploded in his vision and he knew no more.
Inziladun led Elrohir and Legolas through the alley into the courtyard. He sat and examined the supplies Aragorn had provided for them. Legolas and Elrohir sat near him, brooding darkly on Strider's sacrifice.
Legolas broke the silence first. "He shouldn't have done that," he murmured brokenly.
"What, Legolas?" Elrohir asked.
"Strider should not have stayed behind," the prince cried. "He should have left me! Now they've surely taken him, and it's all my fault!" Tears streamed down his face.
"He couldn't have done that, sir," Inziladun replied softly. "He promised your father that he'd bring you home alive."
"But you don't know what they'll do to him!" Legolas countered.
Inziladun gave him a pained look. "I do know," the boy whispered. "I know what they did to my father. They will do even worse to my master."