A/N: It's been a long time and I am desperately sorry for that, hope you haven't yet chosen to despise me. On with the chapter...

Chapter 10

Legolas woke to an eerie sound, a tired creaking as a building fought to keep itself up. A stale stench assaulted his senses and the sound of dripping water rang in his ears. He attempted to move, and was unsurprised to find he was bound, but loosely, only one manacle tying him to the greyish stone. He could move adequately and began to test his weary joints. Miraculously, the pain in his shoulder and arm had vanished completely; he ached with rough usage, but little more than that. Finally settled he began to assess his location. The stone was dull with a darkness Legolas had never before seen, even amongst Mirkwood's deepest caverns. It was near black and clammy to the touch, a malignant slime oozed unrepentantly to the floor. The floor itself was wet and cold, treacherous to traverse. Being an elf, the golden figure searched for a source of light in the dank room. A tiny slit of a window offered some hope. Heavy footsteps and the distinctive clattering of an accompanying staff halted the investigation.

The robed figure of Saruman appeared from a small corridor on the right side, more youthful than he had ever been seen. Only his wretched face conveyed his long years. He attempted a smile, but it was truly an insult to the notion. The robes he wore were fresh and clean, hanging on him well.

"Ah Legolas, an honour to finally have you grace the halls of Orthanc."

Legolas worst suspicions now confirmed, the elf dropped his head.

"Have heart, you are a important guest, perhaps you will learn to like it here."

Still Legolas remained silent and refused to look the Maia in the eye. He would not give him the satisfaction of seeing the confusion in his features and the flash of fear that coursed through them.

"I see you are determined to make this difficult ... I would advise you, that was the decision of your unfortunate kinsman."

With that, the wizard raised his staff, pointing it to a far corner. The orb held within the top of the wooden length pulsed with a vivid, white light, illuminating the dark recesses of the room. Now for the first time the snarled body of what must have been an elf became apparent.

Legolas gazed open mouthed; the figure was barely recognisable, only the remains of a long, golden mane, torched and singed, suggested the creature had been elven. The poor thing had twisted and contorted, obviously writhing in great pain. A hand raised feebly in way of protection or denial to a near melted face, itself a montage of horror and agony. The Mirkwood Prince himself dropped swiftly to his knees, both from shock and to pay his respects to the unfortunate dead.

"He made it hard on himself, you needn't go that way. I would very much like to keep you, but you have something I need. Something Grima would not understand."

Legolas looked on, bewildered, yet at the same moment, a grim reality suffused his mind.

"The idea of the double, the plot against Aragorn, is little more than a distraction. You were always the ultimate accolade. At this very moment, you are more crucial than the ring itself."

Saruman paced the room, delighted by the newly found power of revelation, once more he closed in his prey.

"I will admit to it being a very pleasant distraction indeed."

With a prideful flourish the wizard pulled a glowing orb from his robes. Legolas knew what it was instantly and watched intently as an image appeared.

-----

A rebuilt Fellowship battled hard against the driving winds upon the plains. But this was not the only reason Haldir proceeded with a bowed head. He had never felt so ashamed of his actions. He had known deep down in his heart that Legolas would never hurt his brother so, but he had not heeded his own warning. Haldir had jumped forward to protect his own, while for the same reason, Aragorn had not.

The man himself had resolved to ponder over his lowliness no more. They had all been duped, falling right into the hands of those who fought to destroy them.

It was that thought that was crossing his mind as Aragorn was jolted back to reality by an anguished cry. He jerked violently and whirled to where Gimli stooped over a disheartening discovery. Having just emerged from a small group of trees, the wanderers could easily have missed such a trinket in the sodden ground. They would have, if it weren't so out of place. There, half buried in the mud was a dented, misshapen vambrace.

-----

Legolas closed his weary eyes as he watched his friends crowd around the cursed object. He remembered well now removing it as it served to pain his arm further. The added weight pulling cruelly on his shoulder. It was ridiculous to be even wearing it, being completely unarmed. Mere habit in the end, an overhang from too much archery practice.

Reluctantly, realisation was starting to piece together in his mind, the full impact of Saruman's scheme hitting him at last.

The Maia revealed how events had unfolded far greater that he could ever have predicted. To drabble so maliciously in affairs of the hearts across Lothlorien had been a delicious delight. The double, a parallel figure to Legolas, had caused uproar and dissention. Aragorn's strong and dangerous leadership was rattled to the core.

But there was something else; the tall robed figure was still hiding something. It was clear in the way he moved. Though still appearing well, he moved poorly, struggling to lean himself against the stone.

"But you are something outside this petty charade and not the plaything that you surmise. You have something elf, that I require desperately. As did your ill-fated kinsman. Only he was reluctant to give it to me." A grim smile stretched across the cracked and ancient lips. Legolas thought he saw pain flash quickly through the dark, slightly mournful eyes.

The wizard added mysteriously, "One does not shift to the side of evil and darkness without paying a terrible price..."

A/N: For anyone wondering what a vambrace is it is a hardy cuff/sleeve that archers wear to stop the bowstring bruising and eventually scarring their arms. I will update as soon as I can. Before Christmas guaranteed!