Disclaimer: If you still have doubts, see chapter 1.
A/N: I've been really busy this weak. I didn't even see my beta reader except earlier last week. So I didn't get her the chapter. So forgive any mistakes in this chapter. Also this chapter is short. Sorry for that, but I hope you like it anyway. It is in Legolas Point of view. Please review.
Chapter 6
Never Give up
'Bring me to life'
I bit my lip hard and pressed myself harder against the stone wall. I pulled my knees closer to my chest and rested my weary head on them. It had been four long days since Aragorn left. Never before had I felt so alone. He had brought with him friendship, comfort, and hope. Desperately I tried to hold on to that hope. Desperately I wanted to believe that I could escape, but that hope was beginning to diminish once again. I no longer had anyone to talk to, anyone that cared about who I was.
I thought I had become accustomed to the loneliness, but after having Aragorn here, even for such a short time, showed me what I been missing. Now more than ever, I missed my old life. I missed the woods of Mirkwood. I missed my family and my friends. I missed the laughter and the joy that I would share with them. It had been so long since I had seen my family. In elvish years, it truly had not been that long, but for me it felt like an eternity. My family almost seemed as a distant memory; something that existed long ago. It seemed impossible that it had only been four years.
Four long years had passed since I looked upon my father's face. Two of those years, I had spent fighting the evil spiders in Mirkwood. Then I had decided to travel out farther and explore the realms farther south.
Two of my companions stayed with me. However, after traveling for only a short time, we were attacked. A group of men had attacked us. We fought bravely, but we were highly outnumbered, even for our skill as elves. One of my companions was killed; the other was gravely wounded. They left him for dead in the woods and took me captive. I could only hope that my injured comrade, Nimrodel had made it to safety. He had been hurt bad and I feared would not survive the journey home.
After that, they led me here. At first, I would not submit to them. They forced me to walk and punished me when I did not. Everyday, I would receive some kind of beating until slowly most of my pride and defiance was driven away. I had no choice, but to submit to their treatment and my captivity.
Soon, I became a slave at my 'master's' house. Of course, he would never be a master to me. I would never submit that fully to him. I would rather die. No matter how many times he told me to call him that, no matter how many times he beat me for not calling him master, I would not. I would not give him that satisfaction. I was forced; however, to work as a slave. I worked long hard hours, often without food or rest. The guards treated me cruelly, punishing me often. I soon learned my place in the life of slavery and that place was not pleasing. I was the lowest of all the slaves.
I always ate last, worked the longest, and the often the hardest. I was given the harder jobs; the ones the other slaves hated. Everyone was above me. No one acknowledge me as anything more than a worthless slave. I endured this cruel treatment for two long years. My once fiery spirit was weak. I hardly had the strength left to push on. I hardly had any hope left. I was numb to everything else around me.
Nothing in life seemed to matter any longer. The things that once brought me joy and comfort brought me no relief. The stars no longer called to me and blessed me with their beauty. The wind no longer caressed my face with its gentle breeze. The sun did not warm my face and spirit. The birds did not even sing their songs of beauty for me. I felt alone and forgotten by all.
Still, with hardly any hope, I pressed on. I would hold tight to my dignity for as long as could. I would hold on until even that was beaten from me. Day by day, the small hope I had left faded until at last, I had no hope at all. There was no chance of escape, no hope of being rescued. No one cared whether I lived or died any longer.
Then when all hope had seemed to fade, Aragorn showed up. He brought me new hope and new life. He brought my spirit back to life and gave me a reason to live. I would forever be indebted to him for the friendship and hope he gave me. I did not deserve his kindness, but he offered it to me freely. Perhaps the Valar had not fully forgotten about me. Even here in the midst of the life of slavery, the Valar had brought me a friend when I needed him the most.
I sighed and shifted slightly. I wondered when he would return. It had only been four days, but it seemed like an eternity. The two days with Aragorn seemed like a distant memory, a past long forgotten. It seemed like a dream, almost like it had never happened. But I knew it had and held tightly to that.
Silently I looked up as I heard two guards approaching. It was morning, yet again. My life would continue as a slave. My short time of rest was over. I drew in a deep breath. Aragorn had promised to return. He promised that he would help me escape from here. I had to hold on to that. I had to endure for a little longer.
I stood and drew in another deep breath as the door opened. Zergan stepped inside with an evil smile on his face. His smile scared me, but I pushed that thought away. I would be strong. I would not let these men break my spirit.