Mystkyten Yes. I think I would enjoy the beating. Ha! Ha!
BitterLee Have a nice lunch, mate! And don't forget to finish it!
Astalder27 Sorry. No water is allowed in this 'cinema'. Like Usher sang, "Let it burn, let it burn, let it burn…"
Jedi Gollum : Please, don't Mary-Sue me. That is the thing that I'm scared of most. Please don't!
Baby Blaize Yes, it indeed happen before. But, don't worry. You didn't miss it. I haven't posted it yet. It is still in my head, waiting to be written. Next year, maybe?
Delano Have you received 'Triple Jeopardy' that I sent you?
Teddybear888 Sue me for anything you want. I'm willing to pay.
AbbiCat14 You have lawyers, eh? Graduated from Minus Morgul University? Not impressive enough. My lawyers graduated from Valinor Law School. Hah! Beat that!
Nessa Thranduiliel Oh, but I can't stop. It's a sickness, you see. Totally incurable.
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It was not hard for Keldarion and the sons of Elrond to trace the group of men that had taken Legolas. The footprints by the creek had led them into a clearing nearby where they found markings of horses' hooves in the dirt. As the followed the track on horseback, the elves were unsurprised to find themselves returning to Oak Byre.
As they guided their mounts through the town, Keldarion immediately knew they were about to confront an atrocity. The streets were almost vacant but a loud commotion was heard coming from the town square. There was also the sound of someone screaming.
A deep chill instantly ran down Keldarion's spine because he knew the voice that screamed again and again in intolerable pain.
"Legolas!"
The prince kicked his mount and bolted down the street, the twins following not far behind. At the square, they pushed through the crowd, yelling at the people to let them through. The crowd obeyed without question, quickly making way lest they got trampled by the horses.
None of the elves were prepared for what they were about to see. Ever a strong-willed person himself, Keldarion nearly fainted when he caught sight of his brother tied to the burning stake. It was a sight that would haunt him for a very long time, a sight that caused great sorrow in him as guilt stabbed through his heart, tearing him asunder.
"Ai Elbereth…"
For one horrible moment, none of the elves could move as they stared open mouthed at their beloved companion. But then, Keldarion finally broke out of his stupor. With a harsh cry, he leapt off his mount and ran headlong into the flames, kicking at the burning woods and kindling out of his way. He stoically brushed the pyre off his brother with his own bare hands, telling Legolas over and over that he would be set free.
Completely delirious with agony and terror, Legolas seemed not to hear. He didn't even realize that his brother was working to release him. His leggings on fire, Legolas kept howling and trashing frantically as his flesh baked and scorched. The flames were snaking up his torso now and the pain was incredible. His vision had darkened, his mind gone numb. He didn't know if he was still alive or already dead, but he kept praying for oblivion so he could no longer live such torment.
Shakmi the medicine man was livid. He had thought the three elves had been killed in the woods as he had planned. With a snarl, he ordered his hired men to get rid of Keldarion and the twins. As Keldarion dived into the fire, Elrohir and Elladan quickly unslung their bows. In second, Shakmi had two arrows pointed straight at him.
"Nobody move!" Elrohir barked as the six men advanced towards them. "If anyone takes another step forward you'll know how it feels to have an arrow sticking through your gut!"
The men froze. Shakmi bristled. He could only watch angrily as one of the identical twins suddenly lowered his bow and rushed towards the stake to help the first elf.
His face reddening, Keldarion was using his sword to whack at the chain that confined his brother to the pole. Because of the heat, his vision was staring to blur so that he couldn't quite see properly. The pain was starting to get to him too, but he knew he must not give up for Legolas' life depended on him. Then Elladan was beside him, lending strength with his own sword.
After one last thrust, the chain broke, and Legolas slumped forward. Before he could fall face down into the fire, Keldarion and Elladan hastily caught him around the waist. Gathering Legolas into their arms, they hurried away from the stake. Stopping next to Elrohir who was still aiming the bow at Shakmi, Keldarion lowered his brother onto the ground, running frantic eyes all over Legolas' badly scorched flesh.
Legolas had stopped screaming, and was still conscious. So great his agony was he couldn't even speak. He just stared with glazed eyes at his elder brother, sobbing and whimpering pitifully. His entire body trembled and his burnt legs twitched spasmodically, while his hands were shaking so terribly he couldn't get a firm grip on his brother's tunic.
Cradling Legolas in one arm, Keldarion accepted a cloak from Elladan and gently draped it around his brother who was practically naked. What was left of Legolas' leggings now hung in tatters around his waist. Bits of fabric were sticking to his scalded skin. The elder prince was afraid of the great discomfort his brother would endure when they pulled those sticking bits away, not to mention the agonizing process of treating those frightful burns.
Ignoring the blisters on his own hands, Keldarion lovingly stroked his brother's head. He whispered consoling words repeatedly as he planted kisses on Legolas' brows and temple. He didn't realize it but his cheeks were damp with tears. His throat felt as if he was choking on a big lump. Over and over, Keldarion gently rocked his brother, saying he was sorry he was late and that he promised to make Legolas well again.
At the poignant sight, the entire crowd went silent. Eerily silent. Most of the women had tears in their eyes. Even some of them were openly crying. The men looked on stupidly, not knowing how to react.
However Shakmi chose that moment to speak. "Curse you and your interference!" the medicine man shouted, holding up his staff, trying his best to look domineering and intimidating. "The Power Above shall look upon this intrusion as an insult! The powers are very angry that you have disrupted this holy sacrifice! You should have let the witch burn to his death! You help free the demon that will take our soul and…Erk!"
Keldarion had quietly placed Legolas in Elladan's care before he stood and strode swiftly towards Shakmi. With one angry move, the elf prince seized Shakmi's throat in one hand and squeezed with all his might.
"The witch or demon or whatever you call him is my brother," Keldarion growled through gritted teeth as Shakmi's eyes grew wide with terror, gasping for breath. No one dared to come forward to help the medicine man because the bright glow of Keldarion's fury was deeply terrifying.
His handsome face forbidding and hard, Keldarion lifted his arm until Shakmi's feet barely touched the ground. "But you are the dirtiest, slimiest, most malicious lying spiteful son of a whore I've ever met! You are the demon. So to the Power Above you may go!"
At that, Keldarion spun and shoved the medicine man against the still burning pyre. Shakmi shrieked as his cloak immediately caught fire. He tried to rise up but Keldarion firmly planted his boot on the man's chest, giving no access for Shakmi to get free. The man struggled and screamed, pleading for mercy and cursing like mad alternately.
As the people gawked at the spectacle, Keldarion never took his eyes away from the burning man. He watched with grim satisfaction as the fire licked happily at Shakmi's flesh and hair. He finally stepped away when-not long after-the man stopped struggling, totally consumed by the flames.
Ignoring the gaping crowd, Keldarion walked back to Legolas, gathered his limp brother into his arms, leapt onto his mount and rode away without another backward glance.
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Elladan and Elrohir managed to catch up with Keldarion on the outskirts of town. The Mirkwood prince had dashed from the square as if chased by a tornado. He finally came to a halt when he heard the two brothers call out his name frantically.
"Kel, we need to stop," Elladan said when they reined in their mounts next to him.
Keldarion shook his head in total disagreement. "No! We must get Legolas back to Mirkwood without delay!"
"But we must tend to him first. His injuries…"
"He is best treated at home!" Keldarion yelled. "I won't spend another minute in this bloody place!"
"Blast it! Listen to me!" Elladan shouted back, quickly grabbing the prince's arm when his friend made a move to kick his mount and resume his wild gallop. "Legolas' burns are severe. We must treat them fast before they get infected. If that happens, he might never use both his legs again, do you hear me? I'm not kidding, Kel. We need to stop."
Keldarion was blinking back tears as he stared at the twins, his mind going numb. Panicked and frightened, he didn't actually know what to do. "But, he…he is fading and…and…"
"He will pull through this but you must do as I say," Elladan said, more kindly this time. "Look at him, Kel. He is in great pain. I don't think he can stand the arduous ride back to Mirkwood tonight. Not in this condition."
Keldarion looked down at his younger brother. Legolas' eyes were closed, but he was feebly whimpering as he twisted one fist in his brother's cloak. He was barely conscious, in too much agony to fade into desired oblivion.
The twins had already dismounted. They now stood by Keldarion's mount, waiting patiently as the prince contemplated with himself.
"I don't want him to lose the use of his legs," Keldarion finally muttered, looking a bit dazed as if he had just woken up from a dream.
"Neither do we. So please, Kel, give him to us," Elrohir pleaded, already reaching for Legolas. "We will be gentle with him, we promise."
"Yes. Of course." Keldarion nodded stupidly and let the twins take his younger brother from his arms. As if on autopilot, he dismounted and trailed along behind as the twins walked to a very big tree and placed Legolas onto the ground. Keldarion didn't know what kind of tree it was because he didn't bother looking up to find out. He had his eyes only on his brother, his heart breaking at Legolas' every grunt and moan of pain.
"Kel, we need you to hold his head," Elladan suddenly spoke, motioning Keldarion to come closer.
The elder prince nodded again, this time without a word. The huge lump in his throat had not gone away. It was still there, making speech unbearably difficult. Moving forward, he sat down at the base of the tree. Then, as gently as possible, Keldarion gathered his brother's head onto his lap. He held Legolas' hand as the twins began their effort to treat the burns.
Elladan was carefully peeling away the cloak that covered Legolas' legs. Legolas jerked with a yelp, and buried his face against his brother's warm side to muffle his cry of anguish. The cloak was sticking to some parts of the wound, making the procedure even more difficult.
"Ro, the water skin, please," Elladan commanded, his face grim. Legolas' legs were now fully exposed, looking so ugly and frightening, the raw skin almost white to the bone. The heavy stench of burnt flesh still permeated the air, making their noses wrinkle in slight queasiness.
Elrohir had grabbed two water skins from their mounts. He gave one to his brother and quickly uncorked the other one. The twins exchanged glances before they turned to Keldarion.
"Kel, you need to hold him really steady," said Elrohir. "This is going to hurt."
Praying that the twins knew what they were doing—which obviously they did for they had been trained in the art of medicine by none other than Lord Elrond himself—Keldarion tightened his arms around his brother. He looked down and saw that Legolas' eyes were wide open, staring numbly back at him.
Legolas smiled, albeit unsteadily. "I'll be…fine. No…big deal."
Shaking his head, Keldarion stroked Legolas' cheek. "I'm sorry, little brother. This is all my fault."
"No. Not your fault. Me. Stupid."
Keldarion chuckled through his tears. "Yes. That is also definitely true."
Biting his lips, Legolas slowly turned to look at the twins. "I'm ready."
Elladan smiled reassuringly. "Hang on, kid. This won't take long."
Then, on muted signal, the two Rivendell brothers tilted the water skins and poured the water all over the burns on Legolas' legs.
And, for the second time that night, Legolas screamed.
TBC…