Reviewer responses for Chapter Four:

Deana: Yep, poor Legolas. And it'll only get worse…

Mornflower: Ah, you know people seem to like to be around when I write these chapters and it is highly…annoying…to say the least. I don't think you can rescue and nurse Legolas just yet…I'm not done hurting him yet! 

Star Wars Forever: Thanks for the review! Sadistic? Hmm…I dunno if I'd go THAT far, but oh well! More to come…

Lyn: Thanks! I hope you like this too.

Nestea: Hey…thanks for reading and reviewing. Sorry I couldn't post the next chapter "now" like you asked, but the day after early morning is CLOSE…

Kelsey: You know…I've been told the same thing about the Grey Company website and you are right in assuming I used them for the insults. I keep forgetting to change the page in my favorites! (I have one labeled Elven Phrases…) ARGH…well at least I don't use their versions of common phrases. Sometimes a phrase just LOOKS wrong on that site and I shy away from it, but thanks for the heads up. AND…thanks for reading and reviewing again!

Rmc: Thanks…and I just might take that hint of yours to heart…

October Sky: I had thought about humans kidnapping Legolas, but I didn't do it. Not sure why exactly, but perhaps I will write another story some day that goes in that direction.

Aranna Undomiel: Thanks for reviewing and I'm glad you reviewed both chapters! Yeh, I was trying to think up good quotes for both Thranduil and Estel…guess that is a residual effect from my journalism training…quotes are very important, but only if highly interesting. As for the Elvish mistake, I was unaware there was a difference between saying "mellon nin" to a female and to a male. Interesting…thanks for pointing it out. Where'd you read it, if you don't mind me asking?

Chapter Five: Choices

Light was flickering off a distant tunnel wall and Estel could hear the jeering cries of Orcs. He had no idea what they were saying and he didn't hear his friend. Please don't be dead…the man thought as he crept along the corridor. No cries meant Legolas was either unconscious or dead.

As he neared the chamber where the light was coming from, he heard heavy foot falls from behind him. Breathing deeply, Estel flattened himself against the tunnel wall, pressing his body as far into the shadow as he could. An Orc stomped through the tunnel toward the chamber, muttering to himself in the Black Speech.

Holding his breath, Estel could only hope he wasn't detected. Unfortunately, the young human didn't take into account the Orc's sense of smell. Stopping just past the man, the creature turned his head around, peering into the darkness.

"I smell man-flesh," he muttered in the Common Tongue, hoping to scare his prey from its hiding spot. Instead of scaring the man, it spurred him into action.

Ripping a dagger from his belt, Estel launched himself at the Orc, deftly slitting the black creature's throat before it could utter another sound. He supported the sudden dead weight, lowering it quietly to the ground without allowing any of the metal armor to clang to the ground.

Taking a step forward toward the tunnel, he was completely unprepared for what happened next. A knife that had been tucked in the Orc's armor, suddenly slipped loose and the resulting impact of the metal on rock was devastating.

In the tunnel, the small sound reverberated, carried immediately toward the Orcs in the chamber, echoing loudly. Estel cringed and muttered darkly, dwarvish curses falling from his lips in a long string.

"Someone's out there!" Came a cry from the chamber and before Estel had a chance to react, he was crossing blades with the first of the Orcs to leave the chamber. Their sheer number and the narrow tunnel made it virtually impossible for the man to defend himself and hold his ground.

He had two choices. Give ground, be driven from the tunnel and then the cave and try to make for the trees, leaving Legolas to almost certain death. Or, give himself up and hope he and his friend could conceive an escape together. Either choice, Estel feared the consequences.

But he couldn't leave his friend and he knew he wouldn't win this fight to save him. So he allowed the Orcs to grab hold of him and he dropped his weapon.

"So you realized we were superior Human?" A large Orc chided, stepping to the forefront. "Surrendered to spare your life then!"

Estel's eyes darkened. "I'm no fool; I know when I am outnumbered. But no, I do not think you superior to me." He knew the words would garner only anger, but he couldn't let them sting his pride.

The orc struck out, hitting the man in the face, leaving a thin scratch that quickly welled up with blood. Estel shook his head to clear it, than glared at the Orc again, saying nothing more.

"You can keep our Elf toy company," the leader said. "Though I doubt he will be much company to you, not after what we did to him earlier."

At those words, Estel's anger rose to the breaking point. "If you harmed a hair on his head I'll kill you!" He shouted.

The Orc's laughed. "We didn't harm his hair, just the rest of him!" The leader laughed, shoving Estel toward the entrance to the chamber.

"Dolle naa lost!" Estel cried, tugging at his captors. Your head is empty!

The leader stopped for a moment. "Your Elf friend said that, look what it got him…" He was pointing to the far wall.

Estel turned in that direction and his knees nearly buckled. Legolas was still hanging from the manacles, his blonde hair falling in front of his face. He was unconscious, bleeding profusely through the taters of his tunic. The entire left leg of his trousers was drenched in blood and a small pool had begun to gather under his foot.

He looked dead.

"Legolas!" Estel cried. "Mellon nin!" He gasped when the Orcs holding him jerked his arms viciously behind his back, binding them tightly. In a moment, he was thrust to the ground near Legolas, his legs quickly shackled to a ring in the ground.

As soon as he was safely secured, the leader grunted. "Take down the Elf. Can't have him dying on us too soon, ruins all the fun."

Rough hands grabbed the Prince and released him from his manacles, throwing him none-to-gently to the ground beside Estel. The man glared at the Orcs, but they only jeered back at him in response, kicking his friend in the back.

Legolas groaned; consciousness nearly within his grasp. He was soon tied in the same fashion as Estel and propped up against the wall. His breathing came in short, labored spurts and he was ashen in color.

"Legolas?" Estel whispered when they were left alone. "Can you hear me, mellon nin? Please, wake!"

The Elf stirred, groaning and shifting against his restraints. Estel waited with baited breath for the Prince to regain consciousness, sighing inwardly when he considered the pain his friend would be in.

"Estel?"

His head snapped up and he looked at Legolas' face, locking eyes with the Elf's bright blue ones. Legolas' head then fell and for a moment, Estel thought he had lost consciousness again.

Then the Prince looked up, his eyes full of anguish and sorrow. "Goheno nin, mellon nin," he whispered, not looking into the man's eyes. Forgive me, my friend

Estel was confused. "Forgive you? Whatever for, Legolas?"

"You are now a captive as well and will pay dearly for it," Legolas answered. "I am sorry I got you into this predicament. I should have controlled my anger better." He hung his head even more, chastising himself for his foolishness.

Estel clucked in disapproval, drawing the Elf's attention. "Don't…you are not to blame. You were deeply disturbed and not in a right mind. I do not blame you for this. I only wish to see us safely away from these Orcs." He paused now. "How badly are you hurt?"

Legolas sighed lightly, regretting the action when it sent tendrils of pain up and down his chest and stomach. "They took me down with an arrow in the leg, it has not been seen to at all of course. I fear it will become infected." He hesitated, but quickly concluded it was useless to hide anything from Estel. "The whip that Urghartz used had metal prongs on the ends and has done some magnificent damage, I must admit."

Estel nodded in understanding, but said nothing. He wished he could tend to the Elf's wounds before they grew more dangerous. But he doubted the Orcs cared one bit for the Prince's welfare.

As if reading the man's thoughts, Legolas smiled lightly. "Worry not, mellon nin, I will be all right. I have recovered from far worse then this." But the smile did not reach his eyes. The Prince was hiding something.

"Are you well, Legolas? Something is troubling you…"

Looking up again, Legolas shook his head lightly. "I fear this, Estel," he whispered, his eyes full of anguish and an emotion Estel rarely saw, trepidation…fear. "All my life, ever since the war party, I have feared this very occasion, being in the hands of the Orcs."

He had to go on, or he would never speak of it. "I have heard all the stories of how the Orcs first came to be, tortured and mutilated Elves. Estel, I would rather die then become one of them."

He looked to the human now, pleading in his eyes. "Promise me if I am beyond help, you will not leave me to them. You will kill me first. Promise me please."

Estel was speechless. He couldn't believe his own ears. His best friend, who he always saw as untouchable and fearless, was pleading with him to promise to end his life. "Legolas, you are not going to die here…they will not have a chance to do such a thing to you."

But the Elf shook his head vehemently. "We do not have control over everything, Estel. If I am so far gone that I will either die or become one of them, I ask you to please kill me. Do it as a friend, as mercy."

I can't, I couldn't, I would never be able to! Estel thought to himself, shaking his head in denial. How could he ask it of me? He is my best friend, I love him like a brother, I could never kill him.

But a part of Estel understood the sentiment and the fear the Elf held. Legolas was proud and young, he was good and pure. To be changed so drastically to a being likened to their captors was the worst fate imaginable for the Elf. Estel knew and understood this, and that is what drove him to respond.

"I promise, Legolas. If it comes to that, I promise to do as you ask."

Legolas smiled now, leaning sideways to lay his head on his friend's shoulder. "Hannon le, Estel. You are a good friend." Thank you, Estel

Then the Elf drifted into a fitful sleep. Estel stayed awake, pondering his friend's plea and dreading the thought of it coming to that. He knew if he slept, his dreams would be plagued with the pain-filled eyes of Legolas as the Elf begged for Estel to end his life.

He would not sleep this night.