My Immortal
Driven

=======

Unseen, moving as silently as shadows, both Elladan and his twin made it over the High Pass without having any encounters with the black beasts of Sauron. This disappointed both, who had grown more restless as the days had passed. Not a sound had marked their passage, not a whisper of either nature or darkness. It was entirely too quiet, in fact, which made their quest even slower for the caution they used.

Now coming down from the cold and wet pass, both of them entered into the warmth below quietly, eyes and ears scanning their surroundings for anything unusual. Indeed, the silence was just that. No birds sang in the trees, no furry foragers could be seen gathering acorns. Elrohir looked to Elladan and nodded his brother off the main path and into the forest. "Do you feel it, Muindor?" he whispered, motioning around them.

Elladan nodded gravely. "Anger and fear. The trees whisper of recent woe." He urged his brother deeper along the base of the Misty Mountains.

"Indeed," Elrohir agreed, scanning the trees. "Nature here has been corrupted. I dread to…" He stopped and froze, listening intently, having heard a noise. Then, before he could prepare himself for anything, he watched a hand cover his brother's mouth. In an instant his bow was drawn and an arrow notched and aimed over Elladan's shoulder. His ears told him their assailant was no more than one. "Leave my brother, you fell…Rumil?" He lowered his bow, glowering at the smirking Lórien Elf.

Elladan pulled himself from Rumil's arms and whipped around with a frown. "Would you care to explain yourself?"

Coming into the open, the Lórien Elf shrugged. "What is to explain? I chanced stealth with you and won, Prince of Rivendell." There was a good-natured smile upon his face, but also a certain gravity hidden within those shining blue eyes. "I was sent here by my Lord and Lady to find their daughter, your mother. Haldir went to scout the forests of Mirkwood, but alas I think the trail ends here and his help is sorely missed. You come at a fortunate time."

The twins exchanged glances, then Elladan spoke up. "The trees beyond the pass speak nothing of our mother. What has my grandparents said of this?"

"They have seen nothing," the silvery-haired Elf replied gently. "My Lady fears this is an unalterable event, for their sight of their daughter is blocked."

"As is our father's."

Rumil looked off into the trees, words on his tongue held back yet displayed by his expression. He had something on his mind and the twins urged him to speak it. With a sigh, the Lothlórien Elf relented. "I confess this quest did yield one find apart from tracks. Haldir and I found Lady Celebrían's attendants. They were slaughtered and left in the open."

"Our mother?" Elladan demanded, eyes wide. Both brothers visibly paled at the prospect.

The Marchwarden shook his head. The answer was an uncertain one, perhaps a blessing for the missing Lady, perhaps a curse. "She was not there. We found nothing but a shoe, which is in my brother's possession. This is the handiwork of orcs." Stretching forth a hand, he pointed south of the pass. "There is a den in the Misty Mountains. I found the opening and slipped away with the intent of hiding up in the pass until my brother came, knowing I could not go alone in there. It is my thought that she is there."

The eldest twin took a breath, his gray eyes fixed in the direction Rumil had pointed out. In a tone of deadly purpose and unchangeable resolve he said only one thing. "Let's go."

=======

He awoke to screaming which transported the Prince of Mirkwood back a few thousand years. His chest constricted holding the dank, musty air he had been struggling to breathe in for the past few days. In his mind he saw his mother being tormented, screaming her pain until she could scream no more. But this was not his past. This was not his pain. Aware of the present, Legolas pushed himself up from the hard, chilly floor and raced to his feet. A quick sweep of the cell proved to him what his heart had not wanted to believe. It was Lady Celebrían who cried out.

At the cell door he peered out the barred window though he knew what he would see then would grieve him. Beneath the illumination of one torch there were two dark beasts above the prone form of the Lady of Imladris. She was held against one, her arms gripped by strong hands that knew no mercy. Beside her sat the other, his head cocked in curiosity. Her skirt was high on her thighs and the monster's hand was invisible beneath the folds. She tried to move away and he drew a dagger, waving it in warning before her face. Outraged, feeling helpless, Legolas slammed his hands against the cell door and shouted, "Leave her alone!"

Rasping deep in his throat a hungry sound, the one with the blade hissed, "Come out here and force me, Elfling!"

The orc holding Celebrían jerked her back against him, digging his fingers into her arms. "Ignore him. I want another turn with her."

Grunting, the blade wielder took his dagger, brushing her skirt further up her legs. With an evil light in his eyes, he jerked the sharp edge down her thigh and a stream of red followed. Celebrían squirmed and whimpered at the sharp sting. "Daro!" she cried, weakly kicking out at her assailant. A blow to the face rewarded her attempt at retribution.

Lifting the dagger the one that cut her ran his tongue down the blade, and then spat the blood onto her dress. "Never did enjoy Elf meat. Too delicate. I say you should die soon, Elf witch!"

"Such a test of strength you think you display!" Legolas sneered, pulling at the door fruitlessly. He stopped and glared through the bars. "But I say you only show your weakness in attacking one who is unable to fight!"

With a flicker of bloodthirsty delight the orc put his filthy hand to Celebrían's side, diggings his claws into her dress until he broke through to flesh and caused her to cry out. Legolas tensed, watching as he yanked his hand down, ripping a gash into her side. She tensed, then fell unconscious. It could have been the pain, it could have been blood loss, he did not know. It certainly covered the both of them enough. He watched a new river spill from her fresh wound. The vision filled him with despair and loathing. He searched himself for answers that would not come. What could he do? How could he stop this?

With an aggravated growl, the beast with the dagger tossed Celebrían off his partner to the floor. She fell in a heap, not making a sound or moving when her body hit the floor. A chill spread through him as he watched her for any small move to betray she was all right. None came.

The orcs stood, both bearing fell grins and both heading towards the cell. "You wanted some fun, boy?" the more outspoken of the two growled darkly, pulling a dark metal key from his belt. "Well, now you're gonna get your chance!"

They were hungry for his pain, just as they had hungered for hers. It never seemed to stop. He could see no end to the treachery they suffered, for every time he fought he was struck back down, each time harder than the last. He had escaped many perils and had thought he would escape this one, but even now he could feel it beginning, just as it had for Celebrían. Acceptance. Defeat. He considered himself usually optimistic, but this was beating him down and he knew not how to stop it.

So when they came for him he was prepared to fight until the end. Rage and indignity pulsed through his veins, giving him a fire to ignite his force. Hunkering down, his face a mask of concentration and resignation, he hissed, "Come then and fight me!"

"Oh, we shall!" The door swung open, then was slammed back against the wall with such a force he heard the wood crack. Snarling darkly one entered, then the other. Both wielded weapons this time.

Legolas raised his chin, not backing down. "So you come at me with weapons while I remain unarmed?"

The outspoken orc pointed his blade at him, waving it. His glinting eyes smoldered in fury. "I've had about enough of your attitude, Elf! You think you're so strong, so smart, hmm? Why you still in this hole?" He barked a sharp laugh. "Ain't you Elves afraid of caves?"

The Prince of Mirkwood smirked at that, but said nothing. He would not be goaded into revealing anything to these monsters. When one of the blades struck for him, he dodged it and grabbed for the orc's wrist. Catching it, he yanked hard, but the monster's hide was tough. It flew forward, using the Elf's pull to gather momentum and hurl Legolas back into the hard wall. Too angry to care about pain anymore, he forced himself to react instantly and kicked his foe in the stomach, sending him back into his partner. Both tumbled to the floor, growling their surprise.

Again Legolas did not wait for them to recover. He launched himself forward with a battle cry in Elvish, diving for a dagger. Catching the fist of one of his assailants, he gave his arm a hard twist and won his prize this time because of the beast's floundering state. It howled in pain, letting it drop into the Elf's hand. Legolas, in turn, plunged the blade down, aiming for the throat. Once it won past flesh he turned it and the flailing orc took a few gurgling breaths, then stopped moving.

His partner gave a furious yell, pushing Legolas off of him and tackling him to the floor. "You'll pay for that, Elf!" he growled, pinning the prince down by the shoulders. His weight was heavy and immovable, giving no way for Legolas to escape. The beast drew back his fist and sent it down into the prince's jaw. His head snapped back and he groaned, but couldn't give up. Pushing on the beast above him with reckless abandon, Legolas fought back like a caged wolf, clawing and shoving, doing anything in his power to win this battle.

The fist came down again, landing against his cheek, then again and he saw stars. The battle was lost. His shoves began losing momentum until finally he orc stopped, glaring down in satisfaction. "Now, Elf, you die."

=======

Author: Ruse – jedinineofninehotmail.com

Disclaimer: Lord of the Rings isn't mine and nor is Elrond, unfortunately, nor Legolas or Aragorn. No infringement intended.

A/N: Thanks again for the reviews!! hands out Elf Lords lotrfreak, sorry about that sudden transition...I had tilde's there and forgot to change them to the equal's sign between those two parts. :P Silly fanfiction.net and its petty prejudices. ;)

Mmm...yes, Deana, Rondy is a veeeery lovable Elf. ;D drools and hands self Elrond Yeee!