See chapter 1 for disclaimer

A/N: Thank you once again for the lovely reviews.

Deana: Yeah he was nearly free, poor elf. Of course, He's not getting away so easily…

This chapter does contain a bit of violence…a bit worse than the other chapters. Only a bit though.

Chapter 5

"Well they definitely came this way" Elrohir remarked, looking in disgust at the trodden ground "some men can be so destructive"
"Yes, lets hope Legolas is still with them" Elladan added, turning to Estel who stood some way away looking at the ground, suddenly he stooped,
"What is it" Elladan asked
"They must have only been here yesterday-these tracks are fresh" the mortal looked up "we are gaining on them" he looked up, a smile on his face, but his smile was not returned by the twins "Do you think Legolas still lives?" he asked concernedly
"How should I know?" Elladan said. Estel flinched at the tone of his brother's voice. But it did not bother him, when nervous about something Elladan usually was the one to loose his temper, he was the twin who was more likely to charge into something before thinking of the consequences, whereas Elrohir was the one who tended to be calm in hard situations-now was one of these situations.
"Elladan, Estel, I'm sure Legolas is fine." Elrohir said "however we do not know the real reason for his capture. It could range from a hatred of elves to the fact they know who he is and want a ransom. I am confident he still lives"

Sannyn was in a foul mood. His father had just instructed him that he was to stay behind when his Father delivered the elf to the Lady the following day. Last night one of the Lady's minions had come to the clan's leader, telling him the Lady wanted the Prince and the sword the very next day. His mind drifted back to earlier that day

FLASHBACK

"The Lady sent one of her minions to me last night" Talider said as his son stepped into the tent
"She did?"
"Yes, she wants the elf tomorrow"
"Very well, I shall pack for the journey."
"No, I do not wish for you to come. Lead the people to our fort in the grey mountains…"
"No Father, I am accompanying you" Sannyn snapped
"You are not and that is the end of it" Talider said slamming his fist down on the table
"As you wish" the younger man snapped storming out of the tent.

"This is not the end" Sannyn said to himself "I will destroy you"
"Ah so now we finally get what is ours" a voice behind him said
"Ours?" he said turning to face his accomplice
"Yours" Tándil replied hurriedly
"Yes, soon all shall be mine"
"So how can we get rid of your father?"
Sannyn smiled "I have a plan…"

FLASHBACK ENDS

An hour or so later Talider and Sannyn rode out of the camp and into the forest. Once they were far away from the camp Sannyn stopped "what was that?" he hissed looking around.
"I did not hear anything" Talider said
"Stay here. I shall go investigate" slipping off his horse he disappeared into the trees. Walking away he then climbed into the trees and headed back to where his father waited, and then pulling out an arrow from his quiver he fitted it to his bow. However it was not one of his arrows, it was one he had taken from Legolas' quiver before they had left the weapons behind. Fitting it to his bow he released it. Watching in triumph as the arrow struck his Father in the breast, and watching as the man fell from his horse. Sannyn then leapt from the tree, before taking out his knife and slashing himself across the chest. Then he climbed back onto his horse and headed back to the camp, leaving his Father's body behind, he would send someone to collect it later.

Legolas looked up in surprise as Sannyn rode into the clearing, he was bleeding severely, he had been slashed across the chest in exactly the same way Talider had been the day Legolas had found him, the Prince watched as men and women hurried worriedly up to him,
"My Father…he's…he's dead" Sannyn stammered, "He was shot-by an elf-a golden haired one, the same elf who did this to me." He looked to be in great pain-but Legolas knew the man would survive-as his Father had done, the women began to fawn over Sannyn, pulling him towards the infirmary-so it was that no one saw the look that passed between Sannyn and Tándil-no one-save Legolas. The elf watched as the man was led into one of the tents while other men went into the surrounding trees, most likely to find Talider's body. Sighing he waited for the man to emerge and wondered what story he would tell his men.

It seemed like hours later when Sannyn finally re-emerged, walking quickly to the centre of the clearing he leapt up on an abandoned cart
"My people, my Father is dead. Perhaps this shall sound harsh, but this may be his own fault-for he did not heed my words of warning on the subject of elves-I told him elves could be dangerous-but he knew not how much so they could be-and it is because of the elves that this tragedy has occurred-and they shall not go unpunished" with his last words he fixed his gaze upon Legolas, and such a gaze it was that any lesser being would have trembled with fear-but not so Legolas-he returned Sannyn's gaze with one of equal venom and hatred-for in Legolas' mind it was plain what had occurred-no elf in Mirkwood would be searching for him yet-it would be on of the Noldor of Rivendell-and in that case more likely the Twin sons of Elrond-and as neither was fair haired Legolas knew that Talider's death had been due to his son- and this was an evil crime-for to the elf one who could dispose of one whom they supposedly loved was capable of anything. As this thought came to Legolas' mind he allowed panic to pass through his mind for the first time since his capture-for if Sannyn was to rule over the clan Legolas would certainly be treated harsher than with Talider in charge-sure enough-it was about to start. Legolas watched as Sannyn marched over to Legolas a long leather whip in his hand. Beckoning to three of his men he told them to stand Legolas between the two poles. Then he turned and left the men to their task. They walked over and pulled the gag from Legolas' mouth before beginning to untie him. As expected Legolas struggled with the men, trying to escape their harsh grip, at one stage he managed to break free but he was promptly seized again by the guards-who now wasted no time in tying one of Legolas wrists to the pole, once they had succeeded in this it didn't take them long to fully restrain him- when this had occurred however none of the men where injury free- one man sported a split lip, while one of the others had earned a black eye, the third however had gained the worst wound-a punch from Legolas had broken his jaw. The men were furious and the one who had received a broken jaw balled his fist and hit him in the stomach, Legolas gasped for breath, his head falling forward, golden hair covering his face like a curtain. When he looked up he was face to face with Sannyn, the man still held the whip in his hand Sannyn smiled "Well Prince Legolas, your highness" he said his voice cruel and mocking "It seems you are in for a punishment"
"Kill me-I care not. I only pity you when my Father finds my body" Legolas retorted. This-he soon realised-was the wrong thing to do for Sannyn grabbed his chin and forcing the prince to look into his eyes spat
"I am not going to kill you Prince Legolas-I'm going to make you cry for your Ada-cry as you have never done before" then stepping back he raised the whip and brought it flying through the air onto Legolas' chest, it curled around his chest leaving yet another thin red line on the elven body. However as the whip moved Legolas realised that it was not only the pain of the lash that assailed him-the wounds continued to sting more than ever and Legolas soon realised that the whip had been soaked in salt water especially for this-his torment continued-yet still though the pain was unbearable he found it in him not to cry out. Sannyn always managed to find an unspoilt piece of flesh for the whip to strike and Legolas soon felt that the torment would never end-but it did-his rescue came at the sound of running feet and a voice yelling
"Lord Sannyn!" the voice yelled repeatedly causing the man to turn around
"Can't you see I'm busy?"
"My Lord I'm sorry-It is just-We can't find the Lord Talider's body anywhere!"
"What!" Sannyn snapped he was furious with himself for not checking that his Father truly was dead, noticing his people watching him he straightened up "He might not be dead! If the elves have him I swear I will…"
"Kill them?" Legolas' voice was quiet yet heard by Sannyn "Like you killed your Father?" he meant his words to be heard only by Sannyn and so they were. The man turned to face the elf
"Shut your mouth elf!" he roared balling his fist and smacking into the elf's face, Legolas' head snapped backwards "Say that again and I swear I shall make your life hell!"
"You do that anyway" Legolas replied with a smile looking up, blood falling from his lip
"Get me the bucket in my tent," Sannyn said watching as one of the guards ran to do his bidding "You are going to wish you had never been born elf!" he said turning as the man exited the tent carrying a bucket of water handing it to Sannyn, who threw it over the elf.

Legolas cried out as thousands of droplets of salt water fell over his abused body-it drenched him head to foot getting into every wound-every welt-playing havoc on his wounds. In his agony he did not notice the man walk up behind him and deal him a heavy blow to the back of the head causing the elf to fall into blissful darkness

"Estel! Admit it you are tired! You are almost falling over!" Elladan said turning to their younger brother
"I am not" Estel replied trying to stifle a yawn "We can't stop anyway"
"Ai Elbereth! What are we going to do?" Elrohir said sinking to the floor "We need to find Legolas!"
"Yes but where is he! He should have stayed in Mirkwood or at least let us know he was coming!" Elladan snapped. He was frustrated at himself-though that was one of the main differences between the twins-if worried or frustrated, Elladan would blame those around him-whereas Elrohir would blame himself.
"You can't expect him to tell us where he's going all the time. We are his friends-we should be there to help him out" Elrohir said in an attempt to calm his brother who had turned away
"But it seems like we have to help him every month" Elladan snapped back
"Is that really his fault? We are the ones who fail to stop it happening!" Elrohir said
"No! He should be more careful and…" a cry of pain stopped Elladan he turned to his twin. "Legolas!" he said snatching up his weapons and turning to Estel-noticing the man had fallen asleep at the base of a tree he reached to wake him.
"Let him sleep-If he wakes he'll follow us" Elrohir said their previous argument forgotten as they took off into the trees.

The twins crouched in the branches watching the camp, they could see a figure slumped forward between the poles, golden hair hiding his face-but it was obviously Legolas
"What have they done to him? We have to get him out of there" Elladan said starting forward-but he was stopped when his brother grabbed the back of his tunic
"We wait till darkness" he said "It will be safer-but we stay here in case they make any move to kill him" Elrohir replied
"What about Estel? Shouldn't we get him?" Elladan asked
"Maybe we should-if you get him. I'll stay here. Make sure they don't do anything to Legolas-and before you ask-I'm not leaving you here where you can try any ridiculous rescue attempts."
"Ridiculous rescue attempts? Me? Where did you get that idea" the older twin laughed, before his face grew serious "Just be careful"
"Careful-I'm always careful" Elrohir laughed "But the same goes for you" his twin nodded before disappearing through the foliage. Shaking his head he watched the camp. He noticed a man-tall and dark haired stagger in from the other side of the camp and collapse-people gasped and went to help him-carrying him into a tent that Elrohir guessed had to be an infirmary. Then his eyes caught sight of another man who did not look ecstatic at his arrival. But it was not this that caught the elf's attention
"It cannot be" he whispered "Edhel-Naur!" he watched as the man walked over to Legolas-prodding the unconscious elf, when Legolas did not stir the man took out his water flask and threw it's contents over the elf.

Legolas awoke when the cold water splashed over him and at once his head snapped towards Sannyn, silver eyes met dark ones as the two glared at each other.
"My Father has returned-I don't know how you know what you do but if you say anything to him I will repay you. How about if you say anything I'll burn your beloved Mirkwood-elves and all to ashes" he smirked and turned "Oh and its best if you don't mention me having the sword either. You see I want the glory this time" Balling his fist he hit the Prince in the stomach before turning and striding off into the forest. Legolas glared after him, watching him run away
"Can't have you knowing where we are going, elf" spat a second voice and Legolas turned his head slightly to see Tándil standing behind him. Then his world went black once more.

Elrohir hissed in annoyance at his friend's mistreatment, he hated being sat here having to watch all the proceedings-yet he knew that if he risked freeing Legolas now he would either be captured himself-or killed. "And besides-I'm meant to be the one who thinks things through-if I went in there Elladan would never let me live it down-especially after the lectures I've given him" he whispered to himself.
"Now Elrohir-Are you sure your well? Because last time I asked Adar, talking to oneself wasn't normal. Have things changed?" Elrohir turned coming face to face with his twin.
"Elladan!" he scolded "Do you really want me to throw you out of this tree"
"But then-I guess that talking to me must make you do that a lot! I mean we do look the same!" Elladan continued turning as Estel joined them.
"We hid the packs and…is that Legolas? Is he…" he started
"He's alive-though he's unconscious," Elladan replied turning to his adoptive brother "Estel-I know you may be curious about him-but he has had a number of…well-bad incidents with men in the past-and after we get him out, don't be offended if he doesn't take to you immediately. Give him some time and I assure you. You and he will be friends."

The moon was full in the sky when the two elves stole through the camping ground, Estel hung back ready to yell out a warning lest anyone came near. Elladan was the first to reach the unconscious form of Legolas; taking out a small dagger he cut the ropes around Legolas' wrists, denied the support of the ropes Legolas fell backwards into Elrohir's arms. The younger elf held the Prince while his brother cut the ropes round the Prince's ankles then lifting the Prince they carried him out of the camp.

TBC…

A/N: Good old Elladan and Elrohir. But now Legolas has to meet Estel. Things are going to get very bad…

Please review and I will return with another chapter tomorrow

Aranel