Disclaimer: Same as always.

A/N: Here is the next chapter. It is in Legolas' POV. Enjoy. Now as promised, a response to my reviewers.

Lady of Rivendel78: Aragorn will get back to Legolas soon, don't worry. Here's a Legolas chapter for you with more Legolas angst. Thanks for all your reviews. I'm glad you think my story is one of the best of the Legolas slave stories and I'm flattered that you think I am a good writer. Thanks so much.

Blue Autumn Sky: Yes, I left a cliffe on the last chapter. It was fun. Here is a Legolas chapter for you. Oh and to answer your question. I explained in chapter 3 that Karps are animals I created. They are similar to wargs, but they are very smart and agile. Just wanted to create my own beast. So, thanks for reading and for your reviews. I appreciate it.

Alia G. L: Here the next chapter for you. I'm glad you are liking it. Can't wait till you get back here. I've been missing you. I know you're having a great time though, so enjoy and thanks for reading my story.

SaphireCat: I'm glad you think I am doing great on this story. I'm having a lot of fun writing it. Thanks so much for reading and telling me your thoughts. I believe you were the very first one to review for this story and you have reviewed for every chapter since. Thanks so much. I really appreciate it.

Lindahoyland: I'm glad you are looking forward to more. Here is the next chapter for you. Yeah, usually rangers wouldn't have slaves, but I sort planned that Gerchen allowed two of his slaves to go with the rangers. I never put that in though. Anyway, thanks so much for reviewing.

Azla: Yes, I don't like cliffhangers too much either, but they are so fun to write. Thanks for your reviews. I appreciate your comments. Legolas and Aragorn will meet again soon, but at the moment Legolas is too preoccupied to do anything for his friend. Read to see what I mean.

Dreaminoflorien: First, I must say thank you for betaing every chapter for me and for encouraging me to post this story. Everybody who has reviewed saying they like my story, owes you a big thank you. You are awesome! Oh, and don't worry too much about Aragorn. I won't hurt him too bad. There is someone else that I have in my mind to hurt though. I wonder if you can guess who. laughs evilly So, thanks for reading and always reviewing.

Astievia: Yes, poor Strider. I'm glad you like my story. To answer your question, karps are my own creations. Basically they are like wargs only smarter and smaller. For a better description, refer to chapter 3. Thanks for you reviews.

Vicki Turner: I'm glad you liked. Here's another chapter for you. Thanks so much for your reviews.

Aldawen Eldartari: I'm glad you liked. Thanks for coming to read my story. Here is the next chapter for you and some more Dr. Pepper. hands you another Dr. Pepper Here you go and enjoy.

allison(): Thanks for your review. I'm glad you think my story is getting better and that you are enjoying. Here is the next chapter. Thanks so much and please continue to tell me your thoughts.

Sielge: I'm glad you have started reading my fic. Thanks for your review. Here's the next chapter. Hope you like.

Wow! That's a lot of reviews. Thanks so much to all of you. I can't believe all the responses. You have all made me a happy author. Okay, without further delay, the next chapter.

Chapter 8

Hallucinations

'Bid my blood to run,

Before I come undone.

Save me from the nothing I've become.'

"Legolas?"

The voice was sweet and musical. I tried to turn toward the sound. Then I saw her. She was sitting on the grass by a flowing stream. Her long blonde hair flowed in the gentle breeze. Her blue eyes sparkled with happiness.

"Mother," I cried as I embraced her.

"I've missed you since you've been gone." She said in her sweet voice.

I smiled. I had just returned from a trip to Rivendell. I was overjoyed to find my mother sitting in the grass. Everything seemed so perfect.

Suddenly things erupted into chaos. I sensed danger only a moment before it arrived. Orcs emerged from the woods. I drew my bow and began to fight them off. I had to protect my mother. I could not let the orcs hurt her. More and more of them kept coming though. Before I knew it, I was separated from her. No orcs seemed to be near her, so I wasn't terribly worried. When I looked back however, she was gone. There was no trace of her. I searched desperately for her, calling her name, but nothing.

Suddenly I opened my eyes and saw I was in a small cell. My hands were chained above my head. My body ached from abuse and my head throbbed. Suddenly an ear-piercing scream filled my ears. I knew who the voice belonged to. I knew the sound of that voice and it broke my heart.

"Leave her alone." I screamed as loud as I could. "Let her go." The orcs paid no heed to me. They were busy with another victim. They were busy with her.

My eyes suddenly flew open. I was breathing heavy and perspiration spilled down my forehead. My vision was blurry and I had to blink a couple times to clear it. My hands were chained up above my head, tightly. I could barely move. My body ached and my legs seemed barely able to hold my weight. I blinked again and tried to remember where I was.

Was I back as a prisoner of the orcs? Was my mother still a prisoner as well? Suddenly memory flooded back to me. I was a slave of Gerchen. I had been having a nightmare; a nightmare that was all too real. I had had it before. Many years ago the same dream had haunted my sleep. It was almost four centuries ago since I had seen that dream. More than four centuries ago, it had been reality. I had been there with my mother.

I closed my eyes as I remembered our capture. It had been horrific. For two weeks, we were kept deep inside a cave. For those two weeks, we were tortured relentlessly. My mother; however, suffered the worst. The orcs not only physically hurt her, but also mentally and emotionally they tormented her. She did not deserve their cruel treatment. Her once free spirit was broken. She never recovered from their cruelty, even months after we were rescued.

For a long time after we were rescued, I had blamed myself for all that happened. It seemed like my fault we were captured, my fault that my mother was hurt, and my fault that we didn't escape sooner. It was even my fault that she had to sail into the West. I had not been able to save her.

I sighed. It had been a long time, since I had had those thoughts. I remembered my mother everyday, but I no longer blamed myself. The filthy orcs were the ones to blame. Still, it was hard to deal with the pain and grief. The orcs had caused my mother to sail into the West sooner. She was too afraid to stay here any longer. I had almost followed her, but she bid me to stay longer. She told me I still had a lot to do in Middle Earth.

With a sigh, I opened my eyes and stared at the wall. Suddenly a figure appeared in front of me. She had long blonde hair and caring blue eyes. "Mother?" I breathed. How was it that she was standing in front of me?

She smiled. It was a beautiful smile; a smile I had not seen in over four hundred years. Suddenly the smile disappeared however. I saw her pain stricken face. I saw the fear in her eyes. I saw the bloody cut that went down her left cheek. Tight chains bound her wrists together. Her legs seemed barely able to hold her. Her skinny form looked half starved. Her beautiful blonde hair was now dirty and matted. Her beautiful red lips were now chapped and bleeding. Her once fair face was no longer smooth and soft. Her hands were callused and bleeding.

I knew it had to be a hallucination. It had been a long time since I had seen my mother and I didn't want her to go, even if it was just a hallucination.

Seeing her pain again though brought tears to my eyes. "Mother?" I barely whispered.

The figure began to disappear. She faded out like she was fading into the wall.

"Mother, wait! Don't go!" I cried. "Please Mother! Don't leave me here alone."

It was no use. She was gone. I closed my eyes, but when I opened them, she was back. Her hands were bound and she seemed weak. I couldn't believe it. I didn't want to see her this way; it hurt me too much. I had wanted her back, but I didn't want her like that. I wanted the illusion to end.

I blinked my eyes, thinking it would disappear, but it didn't. I closed my eyes tightly. I was hallucinating. Everything had been a hallucination. My mother was no longer on Middle Earth. She wasn't captured. She was safe. Yet, when I opened my eyes, she was still there.

I couldn't seem to shake this illusion. Only once before had I hallucinated and it worried me that my body was that weak. Hallucinations were not a common occurrence to elves. Usually however, it would only last a second before it would disappear. This one didn't. I opened my eyes wider and my mother looked up. Her blue eyes met mine. There weren't full of as much pain and heartbreak as the ones before, but they still held fear. Something seemed different though. The picture didn't seem as foggy as before. It seemed too real.

I sighed deeply and closed my eyes. It couldn't be real. It wasn't possible... Or was it?