Thank you to all those who reviewed this chapter: Lord Elrond of Hogwarts, final-fantasy-20, Brittany, Warrior Elf, Lady Jaina, ann, Gwyn, bant, Legolas-Aragorn-r- hot, Tweety Mortenson, Gabby-the-elf, and Elf-princess Jaymee Greenleaf.
Chapter 2: Captivity
"No!" Legolas cried, wildly thrashing.
The orc stopped the movement of the dagger just as it touched Estel's back. He turned to the elf.
"Why of course," he sneered. "Why kill him now when we can have so much fun torturing?"
He slowly pressed the dagger into the boy's back until crimson could be seen staining the tunic and the boy was trembling.
"No! Please stop!" Legolas pleaded. And finally the orc did.
"Let's get moving!" it growled.
Legolas could do nothing as orcs tied his hands tightly. He felt a blade against his back.
"Walk." An orc ordered and Legolas reluctantly obeyed. He watched as the same thing was done to a frightened, shaking Estel. Then they walked.
The forest was dense but Legolas could still tell when morning came, though it was still very dark, so they kept walking. More of a jog actually, and Estel seemed more like he was being dragged. They continued for hours until it was once again nightfall. The boy stumbled and fell countless times and was breathing harshly. Legolas didn't think it looked like he could continue much longer. But he did. For another whole day they walked.
Estel staggered aimlessly about until finally his legs gave way and he collapsed. The large orc that had already given him so much pain stepped up to him and he struggled to stand up.
"If you're not going to walk you had better at least have a good reason, human." He said gruffly. He kneeled over the boy. "Hold him." he commanded to the orc that had been leading him.
The orc did as he was told. The large orc grabbed one of the frantic boy's legs.
"NO!" Legolas cried but was once again restrained from doing anything.
In one swift movement the orc bent the boy's leg backward and a sickening crunch could be heard.
The orc stopped the movement of the dagger just as it touched Estel's back. He turned to the elf.
"Why of course," he sneered. "Why kill him now when we can have so much fun torturing?"
He slowly pressed the dagger into the boy's back until crimson could be seen staining the tunic and the boy was trembling.
"No! Please stop!" Legolas pleaded. And finally the orc did.
"Let's get moving!" it growled.
Legolas could do nothing as orcs tied his hands tightly. He felt a blade against his back.
"Walk." An orc ordered and Legolas reluctantly obeyed. He watched as the same thing was done to a frightened, shaking Estel. Then they walked.
The forest was dense but Legolas could still tell when morning came, though it was still very dark, so they kept walking. More of a jog actually, and Estel seemed more like he was being dragged. They continued for hours until it was once again nightfall. The boy stumbled and fell countless times and was breathing harshly. Legolas didn't think it looked like he could continue much longer. But he did. For another whole day they walked.
Estel staggered aimlessly about until finally his legs gave way and he collapsed. The large orc that had already given him so much pain stepped up to him and he struggled to stand up.
"If you're not going to walk you had better at least have a good reason, human." He said gruffly. He kneeled over the boy. "Hold him." he commanded to the orc that had been leading him.
The orc did as he was told. The large orc grabbed one of the frantic boy's legs.
"NO!" Legolas cried but was once again restrained from doing anything.
In one swift movement the orc bent the boy's leg backward and a sickening crunch could be heard.
Estel tightened his jaw and clenched his fists. He bit back a cry of pain as his leg was broken and tears burned in his eyes. He'd never felt anything like it. It was horrible. It felt like his body was breaking. His mind screamed and his limbs shook. He wished that the pain would go away.
But he would not cry, he would not shout. He would not give the orcs the pleasure. He may die but he would not succumb to the horrible creatures. He knew it was what they wanted.
Another searing pain.
But he would not cry, he would not shout. He would not give the orcs the pleasure. He may die but he would not succumb to the horrible creatures. He knew it was what they wanted.
Another searing pain.
Legolas watched in horror as both of the Estel's legs were broken. Then the horrible beast tied the child's hands together and draped the ropes over its shoulder, pulling it taught until Estel was on his knees. Then they proceeded to drag him along, roughly jarring his legs, as the orc hoard continued northward.
Legolas desperately wanted to get to Estel, to help him. He couldn't believe that such a young, innocent boy was being caused so much pain. But no matter how much he struggled, he couldn't get to the child.
Finally, after what seemed like days of endless walking, the orcs stopped.
"Get a fire going!" an orc yelled.
Legolas was roughly tied to a tree while Estel was merely thrown to the ground yards in front of him. The boy had been dragged on his broken legs for the whole time, being punched in his ribs at any given time, and had no food. He lay there limply on the forest floor.
"Estel!" Legolas whispered urgently. The boy raised his head feebly and looked up at the elf with half open, pain filled eyes. Legolas felt his heart go cold. How could the orcs be so cruel? He was a child. He did not deserve to be treated this way. "Oh, Estel I am so sorry."
"Not....your fault." The boy mumbled shakily, laying his head back on the leaves, wrapping his sore arms around himself with a weak whimper. He was not chained but there was no way of him moving with his legs in the condition they were.
But many minutes later, to Legolas' surprise, he watched as the boy slowly pushed himself up by his arms and proceeded to crawl towards Legolas, closing his eyes tightly in anguish. Legolas knew the boy would never leave without him, however much he wished he would. Neither Legolas nor Estel saw the large orc coming up behind the boy until it grabbed his collar and yanked him into a standing position.
"Trying to leave, eh?" he growled. He dragged the pathetically struggling boy out of Legolas' sight but the prince knew what was happening.
Legolas desperately wanted to get to Estel, to help him. He couldn't believe that such a young, innocent boy was being caused so much pain. But no matter how much he struggled, he couldn't get to the child.
Finally, after what seemed like days of endless walking, the orcs stopped.
"Get a fire going!" an orc yelled.
Legolas was roughly tied to a tree while Estel was merely thrown to the ground yards in front of him. The boy had been dragged on his broken legs for the whole time, being punched in his ribs at any given time, and had no food. He lay there limply on the forest floor.
"Estel!" Legolas whispered urgently. The boy raised his head feebly and looked up at the elf with half open, pain filled eyes. Legolas felt his heart go cold. How could the orcs be so cruel? He was a child. He did not deserve to be treated this way. "Oh, Estel I am so sorry."
"Not....your fault." The boy mumbled shakily, laying his head back on the leaves, wrapping his sore arms around himself with a weak whimper. He was not chained but there was no way of him moving with his legs in the condition they were.
But many minutes later, to Legolas' surprise, he watched as the boy slowly pushed himself up by his arms and proceeded to crawl towards Legolas, closing his eyes tightly in anguish. Legolas knew the boy would never leave without him, however much he wished he would. Neither Legolas nor Estel saw the large orc coming up behind the boy until it grabbed his collar and yanked him into a standing position.
"Trying to leave, eh?" he growled. He dragged the pathetically struggling boy out of Legolas' sight but the prince knew what was happening.
Estel closed his eyes as he felt the cold metal against his back and then the hot pain and the blood. He could feel the searing of whips hitting him and could hear the cruel taunts of the orc. It felt like his skin was being torn off, which it actually was. His breath came in quick, weak gasps but he made no sound. Not a single whimper, not one tear. He would not give the orcs the pleasure.
After horrid anticipation Legolas finally saw the orc come back, dragging Estel behind him. He gasped in terror. The boy was bloody and beaten, unmoving.
The orc stopped near a fire the orcs had abandoned. He grabbed Estel's right arm and, stretching it out, shoved it into the flames, letting the child go with a laugh. The boy quickly recoiled with a barely contained yelp, pulling his arm back and holding it against chest as he curled in on himself on the ground. With a satisfied grunt the orc kicked him and began to walk away.
"Dispose of him next to the elf. He's next." He growled to another.
A nearby orc grabbed Estel's burned arm and dragged him near Legolas. He pulled the boy to his legs which immediately gave way as he fell to his knees. In a swift motion the orc swiped Estel's chest with a dagger and then plunged it into his shoulder.
Estel's body shook with agony as he was stabbed and he fell to the ground. The orc kicked him hard but he didn't move. The orc smiled. He looked up at the horror-stricken face of Legolas.
"No need to be jealous, elf," he sneered. "You're next."
Then he left the bound Mirkwood Prince and the fading boy.
Legolas watched as Estel did not stir. He began to think that he should have said something to the orcs to try to stop them. It would have been useless, and he was afraid they would only hurt the boy more if he yelled at them. But he still couldn't believe that this had happened...he had not been able to save the boy.
"Estel?" he whispered frantically but the boy did not stir. After anxious minutes he slumped over, kept up only by the rope. The boy still did not move. "Estel, please answer. Don't fade, little one, please," his voice shook.
Suddenly he noticed a small movement in the boy's prone figure. Estel pushed himself upright with his arms, then, grimacing in pain, stood up.
The orc stopped near a fire the orcs had abandoned. He grabbed Estel's right arm and, stretching it out, shoved it into the flames, letting the child go with a laugh. The boy quickly recoiled with a barely contained yelp, pulling his arm back and holding it against chest as he curled in on himself on the ground. With a satisfied grunt the orc kicked him and began to walk away.
"Dispose of him next to the elf. He's next." He growled to another.
A nearby orc grabbed Estel's burned arm and dragged him near Legolas. He pulled the boy to his legs which immediately gave way as he fell to his knees. In a swift motion the orc swiped Estel's chest with a dagger and then plunged it into his shoulder.
Estel's body shook with agony as he was stabbed and he fell to the ground. The orc kicked him hard but he didn't move. The orc smiled. He looked up at the horror-stricken face of Legolas.
"No need to be jealous, elf," he sneered. "You're next."
Then he left the bound Mirkwood Prince and the fading boy.
Legolas watched as Estel did not stir. He began to think that he should have said something to the orcs to try to stop them. It would have been useless, and he was afraid they would only hurt the boy more if he yelled at them. But he still couldn't believe that this had happened...he had not been able to save the boy.
"Estel?" he whispered frantically but the boy did not stir. After anxious minutes he slumped over, kept up only by the rope. The boy still did not move. "Estel, please answer. Don't fade, little one, please," his voice shook.
Suddenly he noticed a small movement in the boy's prone figure. Estel pushed himself upright with his arms, then, grimacing in pain, stood up.
The pain was unbearable. His legs screamed and shook. But he ignored it. He had to walk. He had to free Legolas if they were ever to escape.
Tears began to roll down his face. He could hold them in no longer.
Tears began to roll down his face. He could hold them in no longer.
The boy staggered over to Legolas, his head bowed and his left arm clutching the other.
"Estel?" Legolas asked in wonder but did not get a response.
The boy walked slowly to the side of the tree and to the elf's sheer astonishment, pulled the dagger out of his shoulder. Estel quaked as his body weakened and blood freely stained his shoulder, but he continued to saw away at the bindings.
Finally the ropes snapped and fell, but so did the boy, completely lifelessly, the dagger falling from his limp fingers.
Legolas immediately dropped to his side, but there was no time to check on him. The orcs would soon see what was happening. He scooped up the limp child and ran.
He ran like he had never run before. His legs were sore and his body was weak but he ran. He could not stop. He ran for minutes which seemed to turn into hours until finally he could run no more. He fell to the ground, breathing hard, clutching the unresponsive child close.
Then he heard a rustle in the bushes nearby. The prince held Estel tighter and struggled to stand, ready to do anything to defend the child.
Then he saw who it was.
Two identical figures stepped out of the woods, having heard someone approach, and then stopped, staring in disbelief.
"Legolas?" Elladan asked in astonishment, not seeing the battered body in his friend's arms.
The twins rushed forward.....then they saw their little brother.
"Estel!" Elrohir cried in horror. Legolas slid the boy into the twin's arms as his legs gave way. He felt Elladan's arms hold him up, but the older twin obviously was more worried about the child at the moment.
"Legolas, what happened?" he asked, his voice clearly frightened as his eyes locked onto his twin who was gently cradling Estel's body and wrapping his cloak around him to stop the bleeding.
"Orcs," Legolas breathed.
The twins' eyes widened and Elrohir whistled, a horse quickly bounding out of the trees. "One of our horses hurt itself shortly into the trip so we sent it home and we've both been riding this one." He explained quickly. "Legolas, take Estel to Imladris, I fear he won't hold on much longer."
"No," Legolas whispered weakly, struggling to remain conscious. "I will not be able to control the horse, I have not the strength. One of you go, and I'll meet you there."
The twins looked at each other hesitantly but knew he was right. Without a strong rider the horse would never get to Rivendell fast enough to save Estel.
"I'll stay here." Elladan offered. Elrohir nodded and began to sit the boy in the saddle, careful of the broken legs. It tore his heart to see the child so abused; he'd never expected anything like this to happen. He desperately wanted to splint the limbs so they'd cause less pain, but there was no time. "Estel..." he whispered sadly.
"Legolas," a soft voice cried suddenly. Elrohir froze in mid-step onto the saddle. He hadn't even known the boy was awake.
Legolas ran forward.
"Yes, Estel?" Legolas said softly to the child.
"Ula laase ni," Don't leave me
"Ni uva govannen ly mi Imladris, ni vesta Estel." I will meet you in Rivendell, I promise, Estel
"Ire?" When?
"Canta auresn, nnaps," Four days, at the most
"Vesta." Promise Estel whispered before collapsing against his brother's chest. Elrohir wrapped his arms around him protectively and glanced at Legolas before kicking his mount's sides.
"Noro lim muindor." Elladan whispered as his twin rode off. Ride hard brother
"Estel?" Legolas asked in wonder but did not get a response.
The boy walked slowly to the side of the tree and to the elf's sheer astonishment, pulled the dagger out of his shoulder. Estel quaked as his body weakened and blood freely stained his shoulder, but he continued to saw away at the bindings.
Finally the ropes snapped and fell, but so did the boy, completely lifelessly, the dagger falling from his limp fingers.
Legolas immediately dropped to his side, but there was no time to check on him. The orcs would soon see what was happening. He scooped up the limp child and ran.
He ran like he had never run before. His legs were sore and his body was weak but he ran. He could not stop. He ran for minutes which seemed to turn into hours until finally he could run no more. He fell to the ground, breathing hard, clutching the unresponsive child close.
Then he heard a rustle in the bushes nearby. The prince held Estel tighter and struggled to stand, ready to do anything to defend the child.
Then he saw who it was.
Two identical figures stepped out of the woods, having heard someone approach, and then stopped, staring in disbelief.
"Legolas?" Elladan asked in astonishment, not seeing the battered body in his friend's arms.
The twins rushed forward.....then they saw their little brother.
"Estel!" Elrohir cried in horror. Legolas slid the boy into the twin's arms as his legs gave way. He felt Elladan's arms hold him up, but the older twin obviously was more worried about the child at the moment.
"Legolas, what happened?" he asked, his voice clearly frightened as his eyes locked onto his twin who was gently cradling Estel's body and wrapping his cloak around him to stop the bleeding.
"Orcs," Legolas breathed.
The twins' eyes widened and Elrohir whistled, a horse quickly bounding out of the trees. "One of our horses hurt itself shortly into the trip so we sent it home and we've both been riding this one." He explained quickly. "Legolas, take Estel to Imladris, I fear he won't hold on much longer."
"No," Legolas whispered weakly, struggling to remain conscious. "I will not be able to control the horse, I have not the strength. One of you go, and I'll meet you there."
The twins looked at each other hesitantly but knew he was right. Without a strong rider the horse would never get to Rivendell fast enough to save Estel.
"I'll stay here." Elladan offered. Elrohir nodded and began to sit the boy in the saddle, careful of the broken legs. It tore his heart to see the child so abused; he'd never expected anything like this to happen. He desperately wanted to splint the limbs so they'd cause less pain, but there was no time. "Estel..." he whispered sadly.
"Legolas," a soft voice cried suddenly. Elrohir froze in mid-step onto the saddle. He hadn't even known the boy was awake.
Legolas ran forward.
"Yes, Estel?" Legolas said softly to the child.
"Ula laase ni," Don't leave me
"Ni uva govannen ly mi Imladris, ni vesta Estel." I will meet you in Rivendell, I promise, Estel
"Ire?" When?
"Canta auresn, nnaps," Four days, at the most
"Vesta." Promise Estel whispered before collapsing against his brother's chest. Elrohir wrapped his arms around him protectively and glanced at Legolas before kicking his mount's sides.
"Noro lim muindor." Elladan whispered as his twin rode off. Ride hard brother
TBC!