See prologue for disclaimer
A/N Hi again, thanks for the reviews as usual. And onto the chapter.
Chapter 4
After three days of travelling the train of horses rode into a small camp, many women and children ran up to the travellers, embracing them, Legolas looked around at his surroundings, a large circle of tents had been set up, in the centre was a burning fire-spitting embers into the night sky, before them stood two tall poles, for what purpose they were intended the elf could not decipher.
"We wait here for a week and then Sannyn and I are delivering it to the lady." He heard Talider say
"I am an 'it' now am I?" Legolas muttered under his breath, unfortunately, Sannyn spotted him.
"What was that?" he snapped marching over to Legolas and seizing a handful of the elf's golden hair he wrenched the young Prince to his feet "I was merely asking if I was indeed an 'it'" Legolas replied calmly, Sannyn's spiteful face twisted into one of anger and he threw the elf to the ground "Father-the elf is getting to insolent for his own good"
"Insolent?" Legolas replied incredulously, disbelief plain on his face "I am only trying to escape those who chain me up and flog me without remorse."
"Silence insolent elfling!" Sannyn snapped kicking Legolas in the ribs, the elf hissed in pain, aware of the crowd of people who were watching
"I am no mere elfling!" he replied glaring up at the men who surrounded him
"So that is an elf!" exclaimed one of the men of the camp "I have never seen anything so beautiful, I wonder what their females are like?" the woman standing next to him tapped his shoulder and gave him an infuriated look "Except of course-why would I want an elf when I have you Nydaylian "
"Mama, is he dangerous?" Legolas heard a child ask.
"They can be if they aren't properly restrained" he heard a man say, the prince recognized him as one of the ones from the group who had captured him-though he could not recall his name
"What ever are you going with that, Talider?" said a voice, Legolas almost flinched at the way he she spat out the word 'that' which was obviously referring to him, all turned and bowed as a young woman walked towards the group-she walked up to Talider who took her in his arms and kissed her, his hands moving down her this slender body, she broke away "Wait for tonight" she chided, before turning to Sannyn, "My son, he hasn't given you trouble has he?" she said motioning to Talider. Legolas could only stare in shock the woman could be barely older than Sannyn – ten years at the most, he watched as she smiled at the girl on her son's arm "Come, let us prepare a feast for our brave warriors"
"Brave" scoffed Legolas "They are cowardly, they would not even fight me face to face"
"Like I said, Talider" the woman-Helarwen continued "what are you going to do with that?" she glared at the elf
"Teach him a lesson" Talider replied glaring down at Legolas, he turned to his son "keep him alive" Sannyn smiled evilly
"Tándil-I think I will allow you to do the honours" he said. Tándil smirked pulling his long leather whip from his belt.
"With Pleasure" he bent down and pulled the elven-prince to his feet, dragging him over to the tall poles Legolas suddenly realised what they were for and he once more struggled trying to pull the chain from the mortal's hand. On reaching the poles the guards tied Legolas arms tot them, following with his legs so the elf was stood spread eagled between the two poles. It was then that Tándil removed the Prince's upper garments, letting them fall at the Princes feet, Legolas stared into the fire, as the man walked behind him,
"Wait" commanded a voice, and Helarwen stepped forward "the fire dances in your eyes" she said stroking the side of his face. Legolas jerked away glaring at the female, "Soon that fire shall be but ash" she continued spitting out the words with some venom then she moved away silently, swaying her hips like a snake it's head when preparing for the kill. Without warning the man raised the whip, it whistled through the air and hit Legolas' back with a loud crack yet the elf made no sound or gave no reaction save to stiffen; the whip was brought down again and again, causing large ugly welts to appear across the prince's back. Legolas knew that the men were getting frustrated with his silence.
"Scream! Cry out in pain!" Sannyn hissed finally appearing in front of the elf.
"No" Legolas replied, his voice strong and cold even as the whip fell on his already abused back. Sannyn hissed in displeasure and moving round the Prince snatched the whip from Tándil, he struck Legolas' body several times, each time making sure that the leather connected with a new place on Legolas' torso;
"That is enough!" he heard Talider say and the elf felt a sudden wave of relief pass over him. "Tie him to one single post; he is to receive no water, no food and no chance of escape. He is to remain on the ground-he is not to escape! I trust you understand". Two men stepped forward seizing Legolas arms and trying to force him down to the ground, but Legolas swiftly kicked out causing one man to fall backwards, three more men leapt forward at the elf-eventually managing to force him down so his back was pressed up against the pole, Legolas grit his teeth as they wrenched his arms behind his back tying them tightly behind the pole, when he was secure Talider bent down in front of him. The elven prince looked into his eyes.
"I trusted you Talider" he said "I thought I had found a friend in you, yet you betrayed me. Why? I still do not understand"
"That is not my problem. You were simply too trusting" Talider smirked, standing he gave one more triumphant look at the elf "not long now elf-then your fate shall be decided" with that he walked off, leaving Legolas sitting there, unable to do anything but wait. Wait for freedom, wait for death. Wait for a rescue he doubted would ever come. With these thoughts he drifted off to the elven world of sleep.
He awoke hours later on hearing footsteps close by, his eyes focused upon a small figure, standing in front of him, the figure had red hair which fell to its back, its small stature made Legolas realise that this was merely a small girl.
"Hello Mister Elf" she said with a smile "I'm Lissandé." She knelt down before him "My Mama says your bad, but you don't look bad. Are you bad Mister Elf?" Legolas smiled gently
"No, I am not bad. My name is Legolas." He said with a smile,
"Where do you live Mister Legolas?" Lissandé asked moving cautiously closer to the prince
"Far away" Legolas replied not hiding the wistful look that crossed his face "I intend to return there someday"
"Do you not like it here Mister Legolas?" he heard the girl ask
"Please, call me simply Legolas-I m sure your home is wonderful. It is just…" he paused at loss for words
"Do you miss your Mama and Papa?" Lissandé asked
"My Mother has been dead many years now; I miss her still-everyday. But yes, I miss my Father too."
"My Papa died-he was slain. Many years ago," Lissandé replied moving forward. As she walked towards him the moon passed from behind the clouds and the elven Prince saw the moonlight reflect of the blade of a knife. It had fallen there during his attack on the guards earlier. An idea began to form in his mind.
"Lissandé," he said "Do you see that knife there by that tent?" he pointed over to where it lay. The girl glanced over and she too saw the glinting blade, she nodded. "Please would you bring it here?" He watched as she walked over to the tent and picked the blade up. "Is it yours?" she asked
"No" Legolas said "One last thing," he said "Could you cut the ropes around my wrists" smiling the girl knelt behind the Prince and placing the knife on the thick ropes cut the Prince free, he got to his feet, standing tall and imposing in front of the girl, noticing her shrink back-a little afraid of this tall powerful figure-he bent on one knee. "Thank you," he said, a smile on his fair face "I am forever in your debt" He stood and move off slowly into the shadows.
"Lissandé!" the elf heard someone yell, then a high-pitched scream was heard; the noise was enough to make men hurry from their tents, Talider amongst them "the elf! He's gone!" the woman shrieked. Legolas froze. He would be caught for sure. Shrinking to the side of a tent he held his breath praying to the valar that he would escape this camp,
"Elbereth, I pray to you; help me get out of here tonight. Please." He whispered, before stepping out of the shadows and shot across the encampment.
Keeping his eyes fixed on the trees ahead of him he ran. Golden hair streaming behind him, he ran, feet beating on the hard earth. Not heeding the cries of "Bring him down! Get him!" he ran, he didn't care any more-he would escape this place. He would reach Rivendell and then he would return here to claim Edhel-Naur.
The trees were closer now, another few meters and he would be hidden from view; but it was not to be so. In his desperation to reach to reach the trees Legolas did not notice the man swinging the chain, not until it hit him in the back of the legs. Sprawling forward he fell to knees, immediately men rushed forward to seize him, attempting to grab his arms and pull him back but the Prince fought back with such anger that soon even the men began to fear him. Legolas hissed in annoyance as they began to back him into the centre of the camp almost warily. 'In this', Legolas thought, 'the men are wise, they clearly think me to be little better than a wild beast, and all know that wild beasts cornered are not safe to approach-but the that could be said for any creature', the Prince leapt up as two men rushed at him, but he did not notice the third, he ran into Legolas, forcing him once more to the ground then they took chains in their hands and forcing his arms once more behind the post the placed manacles on his wrists, chaining his arms together. Talider stepped forward and slapped the Prince across the face, snapping his head to one side.
"Try that again elf and I swear your punishment shall be most severe" he hissed "But then I know how your heart aches for your home every time you are away from it. A home you may never see again"
"You are wrong, I will see it again" Legolas hissed, angered at the way the man had twisted his own words against him.
"I don't know how you managed to charm your way free but it won't happen again. I will make sure of that" he looked around and taking a long strip of cloth from one of the men, "open your mouth" he snapped hitting Legolas three times in the stomach-this was rather too much for the elven Prince –his mouth flew open as he gasped for air. Talider seized the Prince's jaw holding it open while the man roughly pushed a cloth into it-tying it tightly behind the Prince's head. Stepping back the mortal watched the elven prince glare at him before gracefully sitting on the ground.
Thranduil rode through the gates of Rivendell, and came to a halt in front of Lord Elrond.
"I heard you were close mellon-nin" the elf lord said as Thranduil swung down off his horse and handed the reins to a stable hand.
"Is there any news of my son?" Thranduil asked his face lined with worry
"I am sorry Thranduil…he has not yet returned" Elrond replied "But then nor have my sons, But we are at a loss, we did not know he was on his way here."
"He came to ask the help of your son's in the search for Edhel-Naur." Thranduil replied "It was stolen" Thranduil turned away "Legolas was determined to find it. He knew how much it meant to me. I think he blamed himself because he trusted the man who stole it; I think that he may think I too blame him."
"And do you blame him?" Elrond asked gently
"Of course not!" Thranduil snapped "How can you even think that?"
"I did not think that to be the case, however did you give him any cause to believe that?" Elrond continued
"No. I merely blamed the man who did this."
"Maybe Legolas took something you said the wrong way" Elrond said, watching as Thranduil leant against the stair railing. "And maybe that was why he went to retrieve it"
"I would give anything to have him here now; I don't care about the sword. I care only for him" Thranduil whispered
"But you do care about the sword. I know how much it means to you Thranduil, I saw you with him before he died. I saw how distraught you were about his death. That sword means a lot to you, Thranduil, it was your Father's" Elrond said placing his hand on the Elven King's shoulder.
"You are right. But I would rather have my son here beside me than the sword in Mirkwood"
"I know-and you will get both back soon" Elrond continued "they will all return" Thranduil turned his head to face his friend, doubt in his eyes
"How can you be so certain?"
TBC…
A/N: Ah…poor Thranduil, and Poor Legolas too. Anyway, that's all for today and I'll see you all tomorrow!
Namaarie!
Aranel