Reviewer responses for Chapter Six:

Deana: LOL, glad you like the way I had Estel torture Legolas. That seems to have gone over well in all cases and I must admit I don't know WHERE it came from!! Thanks for the happy birthday, I did have a good time...a whole kids class at my Tae Kwon Do school sung to me.

Mornflower: I rendered you speechless?! Wow, I am honesty honored by that! jumps up and down happily

Someone Reading: Thanks for complimenting the torture...I did work hard on it. This chapter will hopefully live up to the standard I set in that one...we shall see...thanks for the birthday wishes!

October Sky: WOW...I didn't even finish this one yet and you are looking for the next!? Well, I just might do other stories, I love to write them, but I am starting a full-time reporter's job at a daily newspaper...I might not have much time. Anyway, enjoy this chappie.

Lyn: You're welcome...thanks for the birthday wish! Enjoy...

Snowball: So you like torture? Glad you enjoyed my way of doing it...and also glad to hear it was original...hope you enjoy the rest of this...all these reviews that like my torture, perhaps I need to do another story sometime with more of it.

(To someone who left no name....): Me? Evil, Wicked? AHHHHHHHHH...LOL. Glad you liked it though. Thanks for the happy b-day, I did have a good day...and I have never been to that particular site for Elvish before. I did use the Grey Company site, but have since learned it might not be the best...I also have used Council of Elrond.

Kelsey: Yes, Orcs are evil...I didn't think of Estel torturing Legolas in the same light you did (it being the opposite of the promise...) but that is a great thought!!! Poison hmm....good idea...read on...and as for Thranduil and Rodwen...call it a premonition or whatever. They didn't talk in words, nor was Thranduil positive about what the horse meant, but he had a good idea. Thanks for the birthday wish too.

Star Wars Forever: Yep, evil torture. Glad you liked...here's your update.

Rmc: Again...glad you enjoyed the torture (yeah I guess you can enjoy it, long as you're not in THEIR shoes...) and yes you do have input.

Gozilla: Yeh, POOR them...and they aren't through yet...perhaps not the same kind of torture, but I have plans for them yet. Sorry the update took so long...long for ME anyhow. Ffiction wouldn't lemme on!!!

A/N: I just got a full-time job as a reporter at a daily newspaper so I might not have as much fanfiction time as I would like. But I hope to finish this story before I start working on the 16th. It will likely effect my future story posts however....just a warning.


Chapter Seven: Escape Attempt

Estel was the first to wake and when he did; he wished he hadn't. Beside him, still bleeding from the wounds Estel had inflicted, was Legolas. His eyes were closed, which worried the man, and he was curled up in the fetal position, seemingly trying to remain warm.

Elves don't get cold, Estel thought to himself, reaching over to his friend and laying a hand on the Elf's forehead. He's burning up! Estel gasped, his eyes flitting around in hopes that none of their captors had heard the sound.

None had. As a matter of fact, they were all asleep. Odd, why would they leave us unguarded? Estel thought. Then he realized the reason. They think we are too injured to escape. Now might be our only chance.

Turning back toward Legolas, the man gently shook his friend's shoulder. Seeing the Prince begin to stir and open his mouth to comment, Estel quickly clapped his hand over Legolas' face. He whispered quickly. "Do not speak. They are asleep."

Realization dawned in the Elf's eyes and he nodded lightly, closing his mouth and glancing around the cavern. Indeed, every Orc was asleep, though many of them were twitching and tossing.

"They do not sleep heavily," Legolas commented quietly, forcing himself into a sitting position and trying hard not to make a sound when the pain hit. Estel did not answer. He was watching Legolas with concerned eyes. "Estel," the Elf chided, seeing the look. "I am all right. We must take this chance; it may be our last hope of escape."

Nodding, Estel searched the cave for any sign of their weapons. He had been carrying Legolas' when he was captured and knew that the Orcs would not suffer holding Elvish weapons long. Hopefully they hadn't destroyed them.

Seeing an ornate bow, that was unmistakably Legolas', against the far wall, Estel smiled. It couldn't have been put farther from where the Orcs lay around the dwindling fire. That was a good thing, he thought, as he gestured to them. "I will retrieve our weapons. Wait here."

Normally Legolas would argue, but he was feeling a bit weakened and his wounds were paining him. So instead, he simply nodded in agreement.

He must be in much pain to not offer resistance, Estel thought with a frown. He will never live this down, I will see to that. Creeping across the cavern floor, careful not to make any sound, Estel made a mental note to use this as an opportunity to tease his friend relentlessly when they were safe.

Watching Estel's progress across the cavern floor, Legolas couldn't help but admire his human friend. Estel made no sound despite his numerous hurts. Just as if he were an Elf, Legolas thought, smiling lightly.

Soon, Estel had gathered the weapons and had begun the return trip to Legolas' side. Just as he passed the last Orc, his foot hit a small rock and it went skittering across the cavern floor.

The man and Elf both froze, each locking eyes with the other and waiting with baited breath to see if any of the Orcs would waken. Urghartz shifted noisily, turning over. Fearing the worst, Estel quickly covered the rest of the distance and dropped soundlessly beside Legolas, laying on the weapons and pulling his friend down beside him.

Legolas bit back a cry at the rough treatment, but knew what Estel was doing and cooperated.

Urghartz opened his eyes and immediately looked to the prisoners. Seeing them laying stiffly side-by-side, asleep, he turned back over and fell back asleep.

Estel let out a sigh of relief and waited a few moments before sitting back up. Legolas was slower to move, his body sore and aching from the torture of the day before. He waved off Estel's concerned look.

"We should be going," he muttered, examining his bow, quiver and knives. They seemed to be in fine condition, though Legolas hated to imagine filthy Orc hands on them.

Estel stood, reaching his hand down to Legolas. The Elf somewhat reluctantly accepted it and was pulled slowly to his feet. Wobbling unsteadily for a moment, Legolas waited until the momentary dizziness wore off before nodding to Estel.

Slowly, they picked their way through the sleeping Orcs toward the cavern entrance. If they could gain the mouth of the cave before being caught they might have a chance of losing their adversaries in the trees.

They had almost done this when they heard a great, tumultuous uproar from deep in the cave. "FIND THEM AND KILL THEM," cried Urghartz, his voice echoing through to the two escapees.

Legolas and Estel exchanged glances then broke into an unstable run. Both were feeling their wounds now and were panting for breath. Legolas was surprised to find himself break out in a cold sweat.

Something isn't right, he thought to himself. I feel as though I have a fever.

Tossing aside the thought when he and Estel burst from the cave into the blinding midday sun, Legolas rejoiced at the sight of the trees. They were nearly there when the arrows began to rain on them from behind.


Thranduil shifted from foot to foot as he waited for Celronen to rise. The warrior was examining the ground in the forest, carefully inspecting something that had struck him as odd.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity to the Elvenking, Celronen stood and looked to his liege. "It is as we feared, hir nin," the Elf stated, gesturing to the ground. "Orcs intercepted the Prince day before yesterday and it looks as though they carried him off." Before Thranduil could speak, Celronen continued. "Estel seems to have found this same thing...his tracks and that of the horses continue."

Nodding, his question answered, Thranduil motioned for the group of warriors to continue. He fell into line just behind Celronen, who was by far the best of the trackers in the group.

As they rode, the Elves noticed the trees thinning out. Then, sounds of battle reached their ears. Urging their horses to hurry, the Elves broke into a gallop, heading toward the sounds, knowing inwardly that those battling had to be Estel and Legolas.

They were assured of that fact soon enough.

"NO!"


Legolas felt, rather then saw, the arrow zip past his head and he ducked instinctively. We're in trouble now, he thought ruefully, as he reached over his shoulder to grab an arrow from his quiver. The movement was difficult, to say the least, but he soon had the arrow notched and flying back toward their pursuers.

Fortune wasn't with them though and Legolas heard a cry of pain. Spinning on his heel, he saw Estel go down, an arrow protruding from his upper back. The man hit the ground hard and did not move.

Fear pounded in Legolas' chest as he let loose another arrow, backtracking and stooping by his friend despite the rain of projectiles. The man was alive, but unconscious. Legolas stood protectively over his friend, targeting the Orc archers and hoping that some miracle would avail them.

As the Orcs drew near, he feared this would be their end. I will not go down easily, he grumbled to himself as the first wave of Orcs reached him and he laid into them with his knives, every so often making sure Estel was not touched.

Urghartz, however, was cunning and knew the Elf's weakness. "Halt; or he dies."

Legolas looked up, blocking a last shot, than locking his eyes on Urghartz. The Orc had pulled the man to his knees, though Estel was still unconscious, and was holding a dagger to his throat.

"Drop your weapons, Elf."

Seeing he had no choice, the Elf reluctantly did as he was told. Inwardly, he knew that the Orcs would likely kill them both now; they had caused them too much trouble as it was.

Funny, the Elf thought. I didn't think Orcs could travel in the daylight. Yet, these are...stalling for time, he voiced the question. "How do you travel under the sun?"

Seeing an opportunity to brag, it seemed, the Orc loosened his grip on Estel. "We are not typical Orcs, Elf scum. We are creations of a wizard, superior to the Orcs of old. Too bad you won't live long enough to tell anyone."

Urghartz barely nodded, but Legolas knew something was about to happen. He moved to turn around, but never had the chance. An Orc behind him suddenly thrust a blade into his back, driving it through the Elf. Not again! I can't do this again! He cried to himself as he fell to his knees.

"NO!"

Cries erupted from the nearby trees as the Prince fell, but Legolas didn't really hear them. His eyes were locked on Urghartz and Estel. The Orc smiled wickedly and began to draw the knife along the man's throat, blood spilling down Estel's shirt front.

Then, a blond head appeared behind the Orc and Urghartz fell dead to the forest floor. Thranduil ripped his sword from the Orc and caught Estel as the human fell forward. The rest of the Orcs had already been dispatched by the Elves and Celronen fairly flew to his Prince's side.

"Legolas? Please, look at me, hir nin."

Casting weary eyes upward, Legolas smiled lightly. "Here we go again, Cel."

The warrior let out a sigh of immense relief. If Legolas was jesting with him, he would be all right. Now to remove that blade... "You know the drill, Legolas. We've done this before."

Before Celronen was able to begin, however, Thranduil set Estel down beside them. The man had awoken and was now staunching his own neck wound. Luckily, Urghartz had not been able to finish his deed before the King had killed him.

"Legolas?" the man whispered; his eyes full of worry. "I'm sorry, this is all my fault."

Thranduil, surprisingly, was the one who laid a hand on the man's shoulder and smiled lightly. "No, it wasn't. No one is to blame here but myself; my stubbornness is the reason you two were out here in the first place."

Legolas looked ready to argue, but thought better of it as he felt Celronen grabbing hold of the blade. Looking to Estel, he let out a shaky breath. Without so much as a glance to Thranduil, Estel reached forward and held onto his friend, effectively holding him in place so that Celronen could do his job.

Thranduil was momentarily surprised, but he did not argue. He could only now see the depth of the friendship his son shared with the edan. Too bad I didn't realize it before, this could have been avoided.

He clamped his eyes shut when Legolas loud out a shout of pain as Celronen pulled the short blade from the Elf. It wasn't nearly as bad as the last time they had been in this situation for the blade was thinner and shorter. But Legolas was already weak and it didn't help matters.

Estel was momentarily surprised when Legolas didn't let him go when the blade had been removed. Then he understood, feeling the King behind him. He had forgotten the Orc arrow. It quickly reminded him of its presence when the King pulled it out.

Estel jerked and cried out, burying his head in Legolas' shoulder. Both held each other for a few moments while the King and Celronen staunched the bleeding wounds and wrapped them for the journey back to the palace.

Two Elven warriors helped lift Estel up with Celronen and Legolas up with Thranduil before setting out for home. Both former captives were very weary and the jarring of the horses was not pleasant.

Legolas let his head loll back onto his father's shoulder. He found he wasn't angry at the Elf Lord for the moment, he had seen him save Estel's life. But he would still need to have words with his father when he was well. The King had much to learn about his views on Humans; especially the one riding beside them with Cel.

Stealing a glance at Estel, Legolas was shocked to see how pale the man was. "Adar? Estel doesn't look good."

Thranduil sighed. "He was poisoned. I could smell it on the arrow, Legolas. We will get him to the healers, do not fret, ion nin."

But fret he did. As they journeyed he could feel his own body shutting down and he wondered if he too had been poisoned.

Thranduil and Celronen looked to each other and wordlessly came to the same conclusion. Both Legolas and Estel were poisoned and did not have much time before their battered bodies would succumb to their injuries.

With this in mind, they urged the horses onward, hoping to reach the palace in time.

PLEASE R/R THIS!!!!