Foul Deeds

He was lying on the forest floor limbs sprawled. He woke suddenly hearing a noise from somewhere nearby. He looked around as he pushed himself to his knees. This place felt familiar. He heard a chittering sound from behind and turned, notching an arrow in one continuous motion. The spider reared upward clacking its mandibles in hate. He fired, sending seven arrows in swift precision into its soft underbelly.

The animal shuddered letting out a horrifying unending screech of pain that made him cringe. His dropped his bow and covered his sensitive ears as the animal's wail reached an earsplitting pitch. He knew he screamed but he could not hear himself.

He watched with disbelieving eyes as the spider began to melt and change. Its legs shrank and rotted falling to the ground in stinking globs, its body twisted and bubbled growing smaller as pieces of its flesh fell off. Legolas felt his stomach heave as the urge to empty it caught hold. A sickening yellow green pus began to ooze from the decaying form and leak onto the ground. He fell to his knees as he lost his battle with his stomach. The keening of the spider made his head feel like it was on fire.

Then quite suddenly there was silence.

He got to his feet looking at the rotting mess in horror, for long arms with clawed hands were pushing their way through the mire. Thin legs stuck out from the congealing mass and abruptly a red eyed evil being with slavering jaws stood tall in the middle of the muck. As the thing held out its hand toward him Legolas' eyes flew open. He tried to scream but a huge hand was clamped over his mouth.

A dark face with large brown eyes peered down at him. The face's mouth began to talk. "Time to go my sweet." The dark person pulled him to his feet. It was nighttime and it was cold and there were huge shadowed trees all around them. Legolas shuddered remembering the horrible spider. He drew closer to the dark skinned man suddenly afraid. The orc stepped back in surprise. "What ails you elf?" he asked peering at his pale face suspiciously.

"Spider." Was all that Legolas could say.

"Spider eh? No spiders round here."

"Spider." Legolas repeated and edged closer to the orc.

It was then Garuk realized that the elf was actually trying to gain comfort from him. He awkwardly patted his arms. "No spiders here." He repeated "I will protect you." The elf stood quietly then but still looked around fearfully. Garuk took his bound hands attached a short rope to it and began to walk. The elf followed him obediently like a well trained pup. In the darkness Garuk smiled. He patted his vial. Well, well, he thought everything just got a whole lot better.

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As the sun rode past its zenith and started to sink in the sky Elladan called a halt and dismounted. They were in the stony knolls north of the great Ridge.

"This makes no sense," he said, "orcs do not travel by day, they cannot. We have come too far for naught."

Elrohir said nothing for a moment. He looked around at the pockmarked landscape. The wind blew from the south ruffling the few grasses that grew here and there among the bare boulders.

"Wargs do not travel alone in the wild Elladan, yet this one has done so. There must be someone leading it."

"Or maybe the one who led it wanted us to think so."

Elladan and Elrohir stared at each other as the thought grew in their minds.

"He would have needed shelter."

"Like the dead trees in the old wood."

Elladan snarled as he spun around and glared back the way they had come.

"When the sun sets he will be on the move again. Alas Elrohir what shall we do?'

"We cannot go back now; our steeds though noble and strong will not cover such a distance without rest."

Elladan knew that he was right yet his anger was not lessened by it. Elrohir placed a palm on his shoulder in an effort to calm his fiery tempered twin, but Elladan shrugged it off and turned to his brother in mild irritation. It was then that he saw the weariness that covered Elrohir like a blanket. He noticed for the first time the tiny cuts and bruises that stood out on his pale face. How could he have been so selfish? Elrohir had ridden straight from battle to find them and he had pushed him long and hard without rest, without food or water for more than a day. He must be exhausted. Even now Elladan could see that only sheer willpower kept him on his feet.

"Oh L'ir, forgive me." He held him in a tight embrace.

"I cannot breathe Lada." Came the muffled reply.

Elladan sprang back in alarm, only to see a mischievous grin on his twin's face.

"I am not dying, I just need some sleep."

"Then let us make camp. I must also find fresh water."

They left the horses to graze on what few grasses they could find. Elrohir curled up on the bare ground between two impressive rocks with his rolled cloak under his head. He fell asleep in an instant. Elladan took his empty water sack and went in search of the precious liquid. He climbed up on the highest rock and from there made his way past the large stones that littered the mountain side. Finally he heard the trickle of a hidden spring. He drank his fill and filled the sack to the top. He made his way back carefully to where his sleeping twin lay.

As he got near to the hidden camp he sensed all was not as it should be. He stood poised and tense behind the shoulder of a rock that lay on the edge of their camp and peeked out. A dark shadow was crouched over Elrohir's sleeping form.

"Ai!" He exclaimed and strung his bow; he silently moved forward notching an arrow. He pulled the bow taunt and let loose silent death. The arrow sped on swift wings seeking the heart of the dark form. Elladan hissed in disbelief as the figure jumped aside at the last minute. It was cloaked all in black and hooded. It turned and looked at him; he could feel the weight of its stare.

"Is that how you greet all your friends tithen pen or just me?"

"Lord Veren! Oh Valar I thought you were… I am so sorry." Elladan said in a rush as he recognized the voice. He was filled with relief and shame at the same time.

"T'is no matter. Is he injured?" asked the green eyed elf flipping back his hood. Elrohir had not even twitched throughout the entire exchange; he was still fast asleep arms draped over his head.

"No just tired… and hungry."

"Then it is fortunate that I brought along extras." Veren knelt and opened a large bag that had lain unnoticed by Elladan until now. From it he produced wrapped slices of bread. Elladan felt his stomach growl in response. Veren's eyes twinkled as the young elf eagerly sat and began munching happily. As he ate the elven warrior told him all that had happened since he had seen him last.

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Aragorn struggled to reach Legolas as he fell. He heard himself shouting as though from a long way off. He saw the grinning leering face of the orc. He wanted to wipe that smile off his face forever. He drew his sword, but it seemed to take a life time. Then a great hand slammed into his chest. Time froze as he fell further and further. 'Legolas' his mind screamed, he must save Legolas. He came back to himself with a weak shout. Instantly Elrond was at his side. Aragorn eyes were wide open and unfocused. Elrond grasped his hands. "I am here Estel. I am here ion nin."

Aragorn frowned, turning his head weakly. His unruly hair fell over his face as he struggled to rise, but he could not. His lips moved. Elrond leaned over him gently pushing his wayward hair out of his face. "Legolas." He said his voice barely above a whisper.

"Iston ion nin, iston."

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Garuk alternately walked and ran through the night so that by dawn the two of them had reached the rocky plains just south of the foothills of the mountains. Behind him the elf was panting in exhaustion. He had given him brief whiffs of awrl to keep him obedient and quiet, but it also made him tired, jumpy and sleepy. Nightmare visions swam before his waking eyes and just then the elf had no sense of day or night, truth or falsehood. He only knew that his feet must keep to the road, and he must stay close to his protector.

When they stopped Legolas dropped to his knees trembling, sweat covered his lithe body. His lovely golden hair was soaked with it. With a growl Garuk cut his bonds and swung him into his arms. He knew these mountain trails better than any one alive and soon they were hidden in one of the numerous caverns that dotted the landscape. From his pack he pulled a skin of fresh water. The elf drank greedily from it. Garuk smoothed his hair back from his wan face and fed him broken bits of old bread and dried flesh. As Legolas ate Garuk undid the twists of his braids and soon his unbound hair fell like a golden river around him. He removed his elven cloak by undoing the clasp at his neck. Legolas stared at him with large docile eyes as he did these things.

"Do you know me elf?" he asked with a voice like tumbling gravel.

Legolas shook his head.

"I am called Garuk. You are Gildak." On a whim Garuk decided to give the elf a name. It meant gold one in his tongue. Legolas frowned as he tried to remember. Somehow it sounded all wrong.

"Yesss." The orc insisted seeing Legolas shake his head. He grabbed his long slender hands and squeezed them hard grating the bones together. Legolas let out a whimper of pain.

"Listen to me Gildak. They are hunting us. They wish to kill us both."

Panic surged through the elf as the image of his nightmare swam before his mind's eye.

"Th …th… the evil one." He whispered in fear.

Garuk nodded solemnly," Yes," he agreed "the evil ones. They want to turn you into one of them." He stopped and lifted a length of the elf's hair. "They hate your golden hair and your grace and your light. They will turn you into a mindless slave to do their bidding."

Legolas' eyes filled with crystal tears and Garuk watched heartlessly as they spilled down his pale, lean cheeks. The elf bowed his head soft sobs escaping his lips. Garuk tilted his face back up with a coarse finger. "Look at me elf." He commanded sternly. "What do you see?"

Legolas saw a dark twisted creature. Garuk's skin was of the darkest grey, his face was scarred with claw marks. Across his nose and one pointed ear was mutilated. His hair was long, dirty, black, thick and matted. It fell like heavy ropes about him. His lips were black and his teeth were yellowed, pointed fangs. The worse were his eyes. They were like muddy brown pools, stagnant and fathomless.

"I was once like you Gildak."

"No!" Legolas' denial was quick. He pulled away from the orc.

"Yessssssssss." Hissed Garuk crawling after him. "I was once as beautiful as you are, lovely as the morning star…until they did this to me."

"No." Legolas was less sure as he stared up at the creature in front of him.

"This is what you will become." He took one of the elf's hands and held it against his face. "This is what they will do to you."

Legolas felt the roughened scaly skin under his palm and silver tears once again trickled down his face. Garuk then pulled him to his chest in a rough embrace.

"Do not fret my little Gildak, I will protect you. I will not let them take you to the evil one." He rocked the elf to soothe him, laughter bubbling in his throat. Soon his body shook as he desperately tried to control the cruel mirth within him.

Soon the elf's tears were spent and he pulled away a little from his protector.

"What will we do Garuk?' his melodic voice uttered the orc's name like a caress. Garuk closed his eyes for a brief moment as he allowed himself a thrill of pleasure.

"I cannot travel by day, they have seen to that, but the minions of the evil one can. We will wait till night and make for the tunnels under the mountains. Only there will we be safe."

Garuk held the elf until he fell asleep. It was then that he held the vial under his nose. He made sure Legolas inhaled deeply of the giddy fumes before he put it away.

He tucked the elven cloak under his golden head and lay on his side next to the elf. Soon enough he could see the madness take hold. He waited until Legolas was twitching and whimpering before he began to speak. He told him of giant spiders and evil elves with long dark hair and deadly swords. He whispered tales of unnatural things and whips made of fire. He spoke of naked bodies, thrusting organs and unbearable pain, As he spoke his words formed the substance of the elf's awful dreams. Soon Legolas was rigid with terror.

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Only a few hours passed before Elrohir awoke. Refreshed and sated the three rode out. They rode for the remainder of the night only halting when they entered the wood. It was Veren who picked up the orc's trial. Even in the starlit night it was easy to follow. Elladan noticed the lighter scuff marks left by Legolas' booted feet. "He is pushing him hard. He can hardly keep to his feet." He said, looking up at his brother and Veren.

"Then let us make haste." Said Veren.

It was late evening when the three reached the rocky plains that lay before the foothills of the Misty Mountains. They has eaten on the move and refreshed themselves in the manner of elves. Now they dismounted for the tracks had disappeared among the bare rock.

"These slopes are riddled with caverns and dark holes. Be on your guard. He will be on the move as sun sets." Veren warned them. He carried his longbow in one hand and held an arrow ready in the next. Elrohir did the same. Elladan drew his sword, for he was a much better swordsman than archer. Veren ran lightly atop the rocks leaping from boulder to boulder. He came to rest on a humped dome shaped rock. He tapped the end of his bow on the stone feeling it vibrate with a hollow ring. He was most likely on top of a network of caves. It was intuition as much as experience that made him stop there. The twins were perched similarly within sight of him. Elrohir was to his left, Elladan to his right. From their watches they would see any movement for leagues.

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Garuk took the razor sharp dagger and cut from ribcage to navel. The skin and muscle parted like so much parchment and life giving blood poured out. He stuck his hand into the wound dismayed briefly by the slick feel of it. His claws touched wood and he pulled the arrow head with a sucking noise from deep within him. With shaking hands he threw it from him and it rebounded off the wall. He dropped three precious drops of awrl into the wound and then stitched it together with gut thread and bone. He drew a long shaky breath.

Orcs suffered no disease or sickness, in fact nothing short of beheading could kill most. But they did feel. Hunger, thirst, pain and rage were common. Just then Garuk felt all of these. He glanced at the unconscious elf and wished he could take some of the pain he felt out on him, but he could not. His pursuers were near. He had heard them scrabbling around on the rocks above. He had to use all his stealth to outwit them tonight.

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Elrohir started briefly when he heard a small sound from somewhere below him. At once he pressed his ear to the rocks but the sound did not occur again, nevertheless it made him feel uneasy. He started walking around looking for openings in the rock face. He found one. It was cleverly hidden among several boulders. To enter the cavern he would have to descend into a dark gaping hole. He shuddered. He hated caves. Leaving an arrow to mark the entrance he made his way to where his twin kept watch. He told him of his find.

"And the noise was not repeated?" asked Elladan. Elrohir shook his head.

"Then leave it, there are not enough of us to launch a search underground, we will have to wait until daylight."

Veren joined them and after being apprised of the situation agreed with Elladan.

The rest of the night passed slowly. The only movement were occasional short legged scaly night crawlers that meandered through the rocks slowly flicking their forked tongues out tasting the air. Elladan grimaced as one of the creatures touched his bare skin with a cold tongue, so still had he been. He shooed the little creature away with a flick of his fingers. It scurried off astonished as the 'rock' came to life.

Dawn broke and with it came Elrohir to his side.

"What's for morning meal?" he enquired stretching like a great cat. Elladan snorted at the single mindedness of his brother sometimes.

The three elves ate atop the rocks. Veren's eyes continuously scanned the expanse of the rocky plain. "Show us this cavern of yours." He said to Elrohir who was busy licking his sticky fingers. But he did not respond until nudged by Elladan. "Eh?" He spluttered.

"The cave L'ir where is it?" Elladan asked exasperated.

"Oh, I'll show you." Elrohir leapt up and began retracing his steps. As the other two rose to follow him Veren asked a question he had been wanting to for years. "Tell me Elladan, why do you and Elrohir call each other such names?" for it was unheard of in elven custom to shorten ones given name. Elladan laughed. "It is because of Estel. When he was a very little boy he called us by these names for he could not yet speak properly. I guess we just got used to them."

"Ah! I see." Said Veren with a smile.

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Elladan dropped into the hole first. He carried a lighted torch made from bundles of dried grasses tied onto a dried stick. He held it aloft and walked a short way into the cave entrance. It was empty. He whistled for the others. They dropped silently beside him. The cavern opened out into a good sized cave, big enough for four horses standing side by side. They saw nothing of interest until Elrohir, who had gone a little ahead stumbled over something on the ground. He kicked his feet and the thing flew off to land in the middle of the cavern floor. Veren knelt to inspect it. It was a cloak. Elladan brought the light closer. "An elven cloak." He and Veren said together.

Elrohir picked up something off the ground and brought it to them wordlessly. Legolas' brooch lay in his palm. "They were here. If only…" he began.

"No Elrohir, do not say it. It would have put him in mortal danger had we come ill prepared last night. Let us follow them. It we can catch up to them while day lasts it will be to our advantage."

They had not gone far when Elladan stopped. He knelt and touched something on the ground.

"Orc blood." He said sniffing the vile substance. A stained arrow head was his next find. "So he suffers still." Elladan said with a grim smile.

"Let us hurry." said Elrohir. He took lead in the tunnel that twisted and turned at almost every other step.

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He was running in the gloomy forest. His arm hurt from the spider's bite. His back burned from the fire of the whip lashes. How he had escaped he did not know but he knew he could not stop running. They had done things to him, terrible things. Then the dark elves had taunted him, beating him with sticks, until the evil one appeared. It had bitten him, its dripping fangs pumping poison deep inside him. Legolas had screamed as pain lanced through his body. Now they hunted him.

He ran alone and naked through a forest of dark leering trees. Their wooden faces laughed down at him as their branches slapped his burning skin. He tripped on one of their great roots and down he fell. Immediately sharp clawed hands sank into his back. Legolas screamed, writhing on the ends of the curved claws as he was lifted into the air. The creature turned him around and slammed his body to the earth. His breath whooshed out of his lungs. A long tongue left a trail of hot liquid on his lips. The tongue pushed its way inside his mouth. He tried to scream but it was swallowed by that cavernous mouth. He was suffocating.

He felt hands everywhere, in his hair, on his legs, his abdomen, his buttocks, his maleness. The hands were digging into his skin. They pushed his legs apart. A primal sound of hopelessness vibrated in his throat as pain ripped through his lower body. Arching against the intrusion he screamed, his cry echoed through a suddenly silent forest.

He was again alone and in pain. He was covered in fallen leaves of yellow and red. He could hear soft steps of someone approaching. He rolled onto his stomach to face this new menace.

A man was walking slowly toward him a smile on his face. His hair was long and brown and fell in waves about his shoulders. His face was chiselled and handsome. Clothed all in black he walked strong and proudly toward the fallen elf. Legolas slowly pushed himself to his elbows. He momentarily forgot his pain. He knew this man. The man with a gentle smile held out his hand. "Come Legolas. It is time to go home." Legolas reached for him, but as he did the ground heaved and he was thrown back. With a mighty roar the earth split asunder. A crack appeared in the ground between the man and himself. The earth groaned and grated and the crack widened into a chasm.

"No!" shouted Legolas scrambling toward the edge, but the chasm grew until he could no longer see the man. He clutched at his hair in despair and began to scream once more.

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Aragorn jack knifed awake before anyone could stop him. "Legolas!"

"Estel, you are safe. You are home." Reassured Elrond holding onto his shaking son.

"No father. I see him, he needs me. I must go to him."

"That is out of the question Estel. You have not yet begun to heal."

"You do not understand ada. If I do not go to him he will die."

"If you do , you will die."

Aragorn slumped back at his father's harsh words, but the determination in his steely grey green eyes did not falter. Elrond knew that look.

"Aragorn, listen to me. Your brothers and Lord Veren our most skilled tracker are out there looking for him as we speak. They will find him and bring him home.

"No." said Aragorn weakly as his burst of energy quickly burned low. "They will not find him in time ada." Tears slipped down his lean cheeks as frustration at his weakness overwhelmed him. Elrond leaned over and kissed his forehead as his son's eyes closed in sleep despite his protests.

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Garuk carefully lay Legolas on the floor of the tunnel as he finally stopped. It had been so easy to evade the elves in the darkness. He had lobbed a pebble to distract the elf that sat so close to their escape route. As expected the elf had gone to investigate and they had slipped past him unnoticed in the darkness. From there it had been a breathless run through the maze of boulders and up the slope to the tunnel mouth.

True, the black haired elf had almost spied them as they ran but again the dark gods had taken care of their own, He had been distracted by the other two. Garuk did a little jig of glee and swooped down to kiss the elf's closed eyes. It was only then that he frowned. The elf. As soon as the elf had awakened last night Garuk had put him back to sleep with the awrl. Though it had been necessary, he wondered if he had used to much too soon. The elf was twitching continuously and his breathing was shallow and rapid. Garuk hoped he would wake soon.

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Elrohir burst out of the tunnel and found himself back in the same cavern they had started out in.

"A trick!" Elrohir shouted, whipping around in dismay. Veren began to examine the walls not believing that the orc had simply disappeared. Elladan dropped to the floor thoroughly disheartened.

"Elladan, Elrohir, I have found it." Called Veren. He stood next to a hidden crack in the cave wall, fresh air blew in through the space.

The three elves slipped into the dark crevice. Their makeshift torch had long burnt out but the walls of the tunnels were close together, it was impossible to go astray. Soon Veren emerged into the open air. As the twins came out Elrohir said. "This is not far from where I kept watch last night." Indeed the exit was almost within touching distance.

"Orc blood." Said Elladan spying a miniscule drop pf black on the powdered earth. They followed the almost invisible trail. It led them on a tortuous journey squeezing past rocks scrambling under pitted boulders and crawling through dark holes. At the end of it they emerged at the base of a gaping maw. The cave entrance led into the belly of the Misty Mountains.

"Valar." Whispered Elladan "Another cave."

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When Legolas came out of his awrl induced sleep Garuk knew he had used the mixture once too often. The elf was a shaking ball of misery and sweat. He cowered on the cave floor with eyes shut and knees hugged tightly to his chest. He rocked back and forth incessantly, causing his unbound hair to shimmer like a waterfall.

Garuk called him by name over and over, but the elf only whispered to himself in his own language, fighting demons the orc could not see. Growing irritated Garuk grabbed his arms to shake him, but pulled back with a surprised hiss at the heat radiating off the elf's skin. He cupped his face in both hands and fever bright blue eyes opened, staring into a world gone awry.

"Seas, seas, berio nin." Whispered Legolas his pink mouth releasing hot breath in the orc's face. Garuk remained motionless on his haunches for a moment. Then he reached forward with long deformed fingers and pulled the elf to his knees. He unbuttoned his stained green tunic one button at a time. He pulled it off and reached for the smooth silken undershirt. He drew that slowly over the elf's head and Legolas swayed forward compliantly. His pale skin was glowing with heat and Garuk ran his palm down his naked back entangling his coarse fingers in the long silken tresses. The elf's skin was like a newborn babe.

He unlaced his soft leather boots and let them fall where they would. He hooked his fingers into the waist of the elf leggings and felt him shudder. He pulled the elf into his arms and stared down at his lithe naked fevered body. His eyes were like those of a predator about to devour his prey. He slowly brushed the tip of one finger along the elf's trembling lips. "I will not let you die Gildak. I will not let you die."

Notes

Seas, seas, berio nin Please please help me.

Iston ion nin, iston I know my son I know

tithen pen young one

To:

Lady Janelly thanks a bunch

Eyes like silk. Hope you liked this one.