CHAPTER FIVE
Somebody Who Cares
One of the men, the one the prince recognized as the marshal that had placed him in this foul place to begin with, stepped forward and with the aid of the turnkey, undid the lock to walk into he Elves' cold cell. Legolas and Roth just watched the men unflinchingly. The man shut the door behind himself and then he said with a sneer, "I hope you didn't think that we would let such filthy, cold blooded murders and thieves stay together in each other's comfort?"
Legolas said, "I guess that was too much to hope for. I thought the men of this town were just, I guess the tales I had heard when I was young were greatly exaggerated." He let his blue eyes fall upon the human with a bitter azure glare.
The man chuckled coldly, "aye, they were. We love Elves not." He reached down and grasped the prince's handcuffs with a shocking strength for a man of his size, then he began to haul Legolas to his feet. The Elf did not struggle, it was pointless and he felt no need to waste his energy and gather this man's ire in the process. The fair-haired Elf just staggered when the man began to tug him out and had the Elf so close to him that they clashed. He tuned on Legolas, "and I guess the tales of Elves being agile were greatly exaggerated as well," he scoffed curtly. Legolas turned deaf ears to the slur meant to bite him. He was not here to argue with the men as far as whether he was agile or not.
Roth watched in consternation as the men lead his best friend out and then filed along behind the golden-haired Wood Elf, leaving him alone in the dim light. He was horribly frightened. He also was angry. Where were they taking his prince and why in all Valar was Legolas going willingly? The Elf had softened since he had known him; he had softened since he had met Aragorn. Rothinzil was more than aware of the fact that if Legolas had never befriended a human such as the ranger he would be making a great fuss right about then.
Rothinzil went to the far corner, not caring if he got wet from the slime on the wall; he just wanted to hide. He hated the dark and he hated being alone. He had trusted men all his life, but this was a side he had never seen before, a side he had hoped never existed. The dark-haired Elf curled up into a ball and hid his face in his arms.
He could hear the precession going own the halls, further into the jail that the immortal's had been dragged to against their will.
Legolas' eyes widened to let in as much light as he could find in this place that was utterly scarce of it. The men dragged him and shoved him along, but the small hallway was cramped and he was shoved into them and he tripped over them. They cursed and said, "clumsy Elf!" Legolas rolled his eyes. As if it was his fault! He shook his head in the dim light. Humans.
There was another cell in the back that was about the same size as the one Roth had been left in. Legolas sighed as he was shoved inside. He guessed he was going to be left alone in there to sulk. But alarm began to grow inside when the marshal went behind him and walked in as well, shutting the door with a frightening clang. Legolas felt his blood growing chill. Why was the man in here with him?
The human gave a cold chuckle and said, "I suppose you think you are doing whether well, don't you?" He walked up to the blonde Elf and put his face by the prince's, forcing Legolas to take a step back. But the man was not satisfied and shoved Legolas back so his shoulder's touched the wall and Legolas felt ill. But his eyes burned with a fire as he was determined no to show the sickness he felt.
"Don't touch me," he snapped coldly and tried to squirm over and out of the way. The man put his arms on either side of the prince, with his palms bracing against the wall for support. Legolas just said, "back off!"
The man did not budge. Instead the mortal spat at the prince's face and said, "you just don't seem to regret the crime you committed Elf, but that will change." Legolas wondered if Roth was getting the same treatment.
Legolas turned his face away from the marshal's and said stiffly, "what crime?" Then his tone changed to one of anger at his treatment, "I came to those men for aid! The storm came and we needed help. We don't know why the man is dead, but his son and friends tried to kill us! You can't think-" Legolas felt his face burn as the human back handed him.
"But I do. You stole those horses and left those men in the valley to die and wander in pain. You were cruel. Now the turn is ours and we will match what you did, you can bet on that." The dark-haired man glanced sharply at Legolas and asked, "and why was it Elves needed help of men? You lie!"
Legolas said, "we are not as strong as you think! We honestly sought help. " How could he prove this to them? He would have to show his wound to them, that was the only way. But it would show them his weakness, his vulnerability. He sighed and said, "I was wounded!"
The man scowled and said incredulously, "a mighty Elf, wounded?" He rolled his eyes. "I am not stupid!"
Legolas knew he would have to show it to the man, but that meant lifting up his tunic. Sighing, the blonde Elf began to lift his tunic up and the man backed off, wondering what this strange being with pointed ears was doing. Legolas revealed his lean waist and on the right side a large fast healing scar that would soon be gone, yet his muscle was still healing.
The man grabbed Legolas' tunic and pulled it down swiftly. "Don't go flaunting your injuries at me Elf, expecting pity! Who ever gave you that wound I am only sorry that they didn't it a bit higher and he flicked his finger against Legolas' neck.
The prince jerked back and he knew he should not have done what he did. He knew it was pointless. These men would never listen and he was only making himself look weaker. He suddenly saw the marshal's green eyes staring at his arm, his bleeding arm. It was the arm that Roth had accidentally caused to get nicked by one of his twin knives. Legolas tried to pull his arm away, but it was cuffed to the other and utterly impossible.
The human grasped Legolas' arm and applied enough pressure to cause the prince to have to stifle a moan. He gave a cruel look and watched as sweat beaded on the prince's brow with the effort to hold back twisted cries of pain. "What a pretty little wound we have here. " he scoffed in the prince's face.
Legolas snapped abruptly from the pain he was feeling, " When we are attacked by those we trust we are caught off guard, we can get hurt. I don't understand men, you think we are strong, and so what are you gaining by hurting those you think stronger than yourselves? You feel stronger inside." He tried to twist free of the harsh grip on his pained arm, but it was futile.
The man's face turned stormy and Legolas could have sworn he saw lightening flash in the human's eyes. "So you Elves are in the business of betraying one another as well as men who never did any wrong?" The man's voice was fell and Legolas immediately regretted saying anything at all. He should have known that they would twist his words and turn them into falsehoods.
"No!" He stated in exasperation. "That is not what we do at all! We do not like to kill and we never kill innocent people or any beings for that matter!" Legolas was getting very frustrated with this man berating him with his hatred and anger. Legolas would never have hurt any of those men! But he did not expect these fearful humans to understand anymore. Why had he in the first place? Because he had met a man named Aragorn and begun to trust men again.
"You are a liar Elf!" The man was so fast Legolas never saw the move coming and he twisted the fair-haired Elf's arm brutally and flung the Elf to his knees. Legolas instinctively knew a kick was coming next and rolled clear of the marshal's punishing boot. "You think you are wise and cunning Elf, but a malevolent tongue will get you no where here. It will be your death. If you know what is good for you, you will be silent."
Legolas growled acutely, "I am not the one calling an innocent person a liar! If any one had a barbed tongue to begin with it was you!"
He watched as the man sneered and said mockingly, "'if anyone had a barbed tongue to begin with it was you!'" Then he spat at the Elf and said, "stow it Goldy Locks!"
Legolas looked in unconditional detestation at the shot of saliva that landed on his chest. He then staggered up and stared at the man with darkened eyes. He had had enough, but he knew the human was not finished. Legolas knew that they had only begun.
The two faced each other in silence. Their wills striving with one another. The man's face was dark with anger and hatred, out and out loathing for the Elf he longed to make pay for his crimes right there and then. Legolas' face was dim with pain, mistrust, sorrow and anger at his treatment.
The blonde Elf watched as the man's eyes seemed to glow with anger and hatred that was mind-boggling. The Elf was not sure what to do and he watched as the human looked at him for a moment. Suddenly the mortal drew back his fist and slammed it into the right side of Legolas' jaw. The prince's head rocketed back from the blow and he gave a surprised cry. The man just frowned and then he grabbed Legolas' chin and squeezed it tightly as he forced the immortal to look at his face. "Elf, what have you got against men to make you do the cruel thing you did? What kind of a cold being are you that you do not care about the lives of others?" The man glared daggers at the Elf and snarled; "did you not care about the children who will be fatherless? Those horses could have saved the lives of the men in the valley and gotten them all out before the orcs attacked and slaughtered them like sheep!" He slammed the fair-haired being's head back against the wall roughly and stars danced before Legolas' eyes.
The Elf whispered in a near croak, "I didn't do it! What do you hold against Elves that you blame them for crimes they never committed?" He answered a question for a question. This man was mad, the whole town was mad!
The marshal put a hand on the prince's throat and pressed, cutting off the blonde Elf' airway. "So now you are calling me a liar, Elf?" He constricted the throat tighter and Legolas continued to meet the man's gaze evenly, but the immortal did not know how long he could hold it. He was beginning to starve for air, beautiful air, fresh and clean air...simple air!
Legolas managed to squeak out an answer but it was filled with anger that he felt at his handling, "Master human I am not calling you a liar I am just saying that we did not do what you have wrongfully accused us of and you are mistaken."
The mortal just rolled his eyes. These Elves were just fools. They could not lie to him and expect him to believe it. "You really have no feelings, do you? You cold hearted monster!" he cried with much anger and his voice was tight.
If one would have seen the pair facing off, each staring ice picks at one another, they would have never hoped to see both Elf and man come out alive.
Roth was still curled up into a ball at the farthest corner of his cell. He was frightened, being alone. He did not know what they were doing to Legolas, but he sensed it was nothing that would help either of them.
Just then he heard the noise of foot steps on the cobblestone flooring down the hall Legolas had been taken into and he got up, walking cautiously over to he bars of his prison to see if they wee bringing back his prince.
To his dismay, he only saw men, but he missed counting one. The marshal that had leaded their arrest was gone. He had to be still back with Legolas. What was happening to his prince that he could not be there by his side? Roth yelled, "Where is Legolas? What have you done with him?"
One of the men came up to the bars and reaching through, grasped the raven-haired Elf by the front of his tunic. Roth struggled to be released of the tight grip, but was pulled against the bars and the man snarled, "unless you want the fun and games to begin right now Elf you had best shut up yer yap!" With this lethal warning he gave Roth a rough shove backwards. Roth, with his horrible sense of balance for an Elf, tripped backwards and had hardly time to catch himself before nearly striking the hard ground.
Roth felt his face flush scarlet as he heard the laughs of the men, scornful and yet fearful.
Not knowing what else to do, Roth decided that perhaps he would just try and see through the small window that provided a little light. Looking up at it, he mustered his strength and jumped so that his fingers grasped the edge and then he pulled himself up with his feet dangling beneath him.
The world outside was bleak, bleak as his heart was. It was gray and an icy wind burned his features with malice. Snow blew into his eyes and stuck his eyelashes and brows. Roth sighed and watched as the wheels of carts and peoples feet jostled by quickly in the busy streets.
He knew none of them cared to try and prove him or his liege innocent. He knew that because they did not understand they would see him dead, hanging by his neck. He did not understand how these people could be so cold.
A group of children came by and one of them peered his little round face down to stare at Roth and he said in a small voice that was the first kind voice other than Legolas' that Roth had heard, "hello, what is your name?"
Roth gave a wry smile and said quietly, "Rothinzil, but my friends call me Roth." The child looked so sweet and fresh innocence glittered in the small and alert eyes. The child did not care about the prejudices of his parents and he did not try to control and understand the universe. He did not fear but came in innocent kindness to see the thing that he felt people fearing so.
The little boy just grinned a small grin marked with missing teeth that made Roth actually grin back. "Master Roth, why are your ears pointy?"
Roth winced at the child even marking the difference even though the question was asked in sheer purity of heart and curiosity. But he was not going to try and hide the fact he was what he was and he answered softly and with a sigh, " I was born that way. I am...I am an Elf," he finished quietly and with a hint of shame that he did not understand.
Why did he feel ashamed because he was not like others when it was the differences that made the world work? How boring would it be if he was the same as everybody else? The child nodded and reached a tiny, pudgy hand through the grate to touch the graceful tips in a gentle caress that stated he meant no harm.
Roth resisted the urge to shiver as he marked the cold of the child. The hands felt as though they were made of ice. But their touch was gentle, yet Roth still felt like he was being petted like a dog. But this was an untainted child and he would gladly tolerate it. The little boy gave a tiny laugh that made Roth smile and the youngster said, "they are pretty!" The boy giggled some more and Roth just smiled as he felt the tiny fingers still playing and toying with his ears. He didn't really mind.
The little one pulled too hard and Roth winced and he said with a snort and a snicker, "gentle, gentle!"
The child laughed some more and said, "you are weird, but I like you." He withdrew his tiny hand and Roth watched as the child crouched lower asked, "want to come out and play?"
The Elf withdrew his smile and said nothing at first. His face darkened and his heart returned to its bleakness. The boy saw how hesitant his new friend was and asked another question that was utterly confusing him, "what is wrong Roth?"
"I can't. I am sorry." He said not more and felt his muscles straining as he felt the need to drop.
The boy frowned and said, "oh." He rocked back on his heels and put his chilled hands in his pockets. Then he asked a question that made Roth laugh at the sudden switch of subject, reminding him how quickly children forget and forgive. "Have you ever had maple sugar?"
Roth gave a chuckle and said as he caught his breath, "yes, many times."
The kid smiled and drew a hand across his runny nose. "Bet you haven't had noth'n like my mother's." He smiled at the memory and Roth shook his head.
"I bet I haven't." He sighed. Suddenly he heard quick steps running through the slush in the streets' gutters. He saw the child look up and smile as someone ran up.
Roth stared into the face of an elder boy of around twelve. This child's face was dark with anger and mistrust. He gripped the other's hand and said, "come on Kip. Mother wants you home!" He saw Roth and snapped at Kip, "you stay away from it, it might bite you or something." He kicked slush onto Roth's face and the Elf shuddered as he felt it run down his neck and shirt.
The raven-haired Elf wrinkled his nose in disgust and found out quickly it was the wrong move. The older boy jerked his kid brother back and said, "watch out! He's gonna bite!" He kicked more slush onto Roth's face and he raven-haired Elf winced as a chunk of ice hit his eye. The elder youth yelled, "get back snake!" He grabbed his brother and beat a hasty retreat towards home.
Kip kicked at his elder brother and screamed, "put me down! Arien let me go!" Roth watched as the younger struggled against his older sibling. Roth should have known better than to hope to find friends in this town and to even try. These people would try and twist it around.
Arien must have threatened Kip. The child quit screaming and bawling. He just allowed himself to be taken away. Roth felt a fire burning with slow and sickening flames in the essence of his stomach.
The little boy, Kip, just waved good bye to the Elf he considered his friend. Roth was about to sink into his cell again when he heard the elder boy yell, "that Elf tried to hurt my kid brother through the bars of his cell! He was trying to pull him in!" Roth sighed, he had not, but it was pointless to argue.
He slid to the floor and wiped slush from his freezing face with a wipe of his sleeve. He was miserable again and he knew the men would come here and knock the snot out of him for nothing but the boy's cry against him. It was unfair and cruel, but this was what it was all about...insane cruelty.
He was right and moments later two marshal's came and they began to unlock his cell. Rothinzil felt fear welling up inside and he shut his eyes. But then, unwilling to let them see his fright, the Elf shot them open again with a mask of intense resistance.
The men shut the door behind them and one of them grabbed Roth by his irons and jerked him up, "threatening innocent children now Elf? Well we will see you remember that is not to be tolerated in this town."
Roth snapped, "I did nothing. I merely was talking to the small child!" The man was deaf to his plea. The Elf grimaced and decided that he was not going to waste his breath arguing.
"You spin quite a remarkable tale...too bad it is not based on a true story!" sneered one of the men as he placed a rope about Rothinzil's neck like a leash and gripped the iron chain between his cuffs roughly. Rothinzil noticed with growing alarm that the man's knuckles were white, white with the strength that he was placing behind his grip, the strength that came from sheer anger.
Rothinzil implored, "but you have to understand. I did no wrong. Please listen to me!" He felt his heart jumping wildly in his chest as he imagined what was about to transpire. He tugged at his bonds and he was answered with a sharp jerk to make him stumble forward as shackles were placed on his feet to hamper his movement.
They were heavy, they were noisy, and they made him feel trapped and slave-like. The feeling of suffocation frightened him beyond comprehension and he stiffened as he took his first unsteady step forward. Clink, the chains followed and he felt a hand shove him from behind and a thick voice say, "walk Elf, or it will only be worse, you will see."
Rothinzil tried to walk faster, but it was hard for one who should be free to find himself in chains and being forced to walk to his own punishment that would be anything but fair...anything but merciful.
He felt a rope come down hard across the his back and lunge him forward as he bit his lower lip to keep back a cry of fear and spontaneous pain.
As Rothinzil was lead out of the prison, he saw the town standing about, all expecting him to be lynched after a severe scourging. There faces still gave a stone statue a good run but they also had a grim and hateful look. Women held their children back with their hands and the younger children hid behind their mother's skirts, eyeing the Elf with great suspicion and wonder.
Rothinzil met their gazes as best as he could and tried to put on a brave and fearless face, but it was so difficult. He wished Legolas was by his side, telling him that it was all going to alright in the end. He used to think the prince was crazy and now he was more than certain of it. However, he still wished to hear it.
He found himself being driven and lead to a large poll placed in the front of the prison and clasps were there, to secure a prisoner's cuffs to the dreaded mast of wood.
The raven-haired immortal resisted the urge to wince and stop to stare as he was shoved up alongside it. He shivered from more than cold as he saw the men coming closer and one came carrying a large and cruel looking whip that looked to be worse than anything he had ever experienced in his entire life.
One marshal came and he jerked back on Rothinzil's cloak, snapping the clasp in half and nearly choking the Elf in the process. Rothinzil coughed tersely and he glared at the men as they tossed his cloak to the ground roughly before gripping his upper arms to hold him in place as another man slid a knife under the buttons on his tunic and proceeded to remove it from the dark-haired archer's back, leaving the Elf to shiver in the icy wind that was growing more cold by the minute.
They then grabbed his wrists and connected the iron manacles to the clasps swinging from the wooden post and then they forced Rothinzil to his knees by pressing on his shoulders. Rothinzil looked up at the men and followed them with a pair of icy eyes that were still cloyed with a dispassion for these people that were taking pleasure from his pain.
A marshal came before him and said, "Elf, you have just earned yourself fifteen lashes across your bareback." He drew a cold smile and held up the whip that Rothinzil had seen earlier and it had many tails. Some with serrated edges that looked horrible and evil, "fifteen lashes with this."
Rothinzil felt his throat constrict and then he swallowed his fear and answered back thickly and with great difficulty, "do your worst, you will pay for it later."
The man shrugged, "not in your lifetime Elf." And he walked behind the Elf that was on his knees with his head lowered between his arms and his forehead pressed against the wood so that he was sure the rough designs would be imprinted on his skin.
The Wood-Elf felt his breath stolen away and his back felt on fire as the tails of leather slammed into his back, creating a ripple of pain that lurched the Elf forward and to his everlasting regret, he gave sharp cry at the surprising agony. His breathing increased and his body trembled. He no longer felt cold, he felt hot and sweat broke out onto his features. He felt some blood on his back and he knew he had been cut. His smooth back was now striped with a single laceration that stung like wildfire and bees. As a matter of fact, those might have been more pleasant.
He bit his lower lip until he drew blood as two more consecutive blows fell onto his flesh and cut more bleeding welts. Only twelve more, only twelve more... he told himself mentally
He opened his eyes; hardly realizing he had shut them. He certainly had not done it because he had wanted to and he did not recall doing it so intent had he been on not screaming for their perverse pleasure.
As he opened them, he saw the small child he had chanced upon meeting watching him with a tear streaked face. Their eyes met and Rothinzil gave a weak smile as he felt another blow strike him, pitching him forward again. The boy ran over to Rothinzil and crouched by his flushed face that was half covered by his dark hair that fell over his shoulders. The child brushed away some strands of hair but just as it looked like he was about to speak, his mother came and grasped his wrist, snapping him away from the captive Elf.
Glaring at Rothinzil up and down, she kicked snow and slush into his face and snapped, "you dirty Elf. I hope you enjoyed threatening my boy, because you will never do it again."
Roth resisted the urge to shudder and wince as another lash struck him. He could not have helped it or stopped it if he had even dared to try. The men had their minds made up and they were set with them. Another blow struck him and it was brought down on his defenseless back with such force that the Elf sagged against his shackles and tried to draw in a shivering breath as his throat constricted even tighter.
Help Strider please come rescue me. And find Legolas. Valar knows what they are doing to him. Make it stop! Make it stop!
Aragorn was nearing the edge of the city and was grateful that the snow was getting shallower and made for easier traveling. He was also a bit lighter of heart because he had not found his friend's corpses in the snow, blue and frozen.
As he walked swiftly into the town he noticed how mournful everyone was and he knew it was for the dead men. He would have to guard his tongue well or wind up with Legolas and Roth. Sighing, he stared at the dismal world about him and he felt the cold slush seeping into his boots.
If Legolas or Roth were alive here, they had to be a world of confusion and hurt. The ranger knew well that the men would place the blame on the Elves that they loathed.
As he walked to the far edge of town where he knew the jail would be he asked some men outside of it that looked as though they had just come in from the wild. "Have you seen any Elves, my good man?"
The human laughed and said, "they be in prison. The one is getting the life knocked out of him as we speak. He assaulted a child."
Aragorn grimaced and wondered which one it was. But neither would ever harm anyone, let alone a little youth. He gave a curt nod and said, "thank you."
Aragorn broke into a run and seeing the jail open he burst through the door and ran down the corridor. The man desperately hoped he was not too late.
His feet hit the stone of the cobble floor hard and he ran on and then skidded to a halt before the first cell. To his horror he saw Rothinzil hanging limply from shackles that had cut into his wrists. The human winced as he saw the constables severing the rope to let the Elf drop to the floor. Roth cried out softly and they gave small smiles that vanished when they saw the cold look in the young ranger's eyes.
"You looking for something mister?" they asked in a growl. Aragorn eyed the whip they held and looked at Roth's still form. He had been too late...too late for Roth, but perhaps not for Legolas. Guilt built up inside and he did not try to shove it down.
Roth was such a gentle Elf, more so than Legolas or any he had ever known. Rothinzil would never hurt anyone at all unless it is the servants of the enemy or he was forced to for the greater good. He knew that the Mirkwood archer would readily kill himself first.
What they had done to him was so horribly wrong and the dark-haired ranger felt fire in his heart, struggling to burst forth with his guilt. He wondered of Roth would ever be the same, he knew that the Woodland Elf had recently (as Elf years go) learned to trust again. If Roth came out of this bent and broken he would never forgive himself. But perhaps he was not too late to guide the defenseless Elf back into the real world and out of the darkness that he knew from personal experience was trying to eat the immortal alive.
"I came to see the Elves. I wish to speak with this one." He watched as the two constables exchanged looks and then shrugged. They did not care about Roth's pain, other than they felt it was justified and the stupid Elf, as they saw him, asked for it with open arms.
"If you wish, but he probably won't be able to talk for some time. He tried to get away after his first punishment and we tried to place him back into the cell, so we had to double it and complete it here," they finished in explanation. They then brushed past Aragorn and shoved him aside against the walls muttering, "what man cares for Elves?" Then they called in angry voices, "you let them go you will join them!"
Aragorn paid them no heed. He was already kneeling by Roth's limp form. When he touched Roth's hand the Elf winced and then begged quietly, "no more. Please. Valar, what did I do to reap this?" Aragorn withdrew his hand, afraid of doing more harm than good. Roth's sickly pale face and his trembling chin and lower lip made the ranger's heart nearly stop; it made it shudder.
"Roth, it is I. Strider, "he whispered to the shivering immortal. Roth rolled over with much difficulty and looked into Aragorn's gray eyes. Blood came from a swollen lower lip and trickled from the Elf's nose. Aragorn could tell that they had gone beyond the limits of Rothinzil's "punishment".
Rothinzil breathed, "they hurt me. I did nothing to them." He struggled to sit up and Aragorn let him but watched to make sure the Elf would not pass out. In truth he was afraid to touch his hurting friend for fear the damage would be more extensive. The raven-haired archer took and placed a hand tenderly against his ribs and then drew it back with a sharp hiss. The hand came back sanguineous with blood.
The ranger hissed in sympathy and he saw Roth's tattered skin. Blood tangled Roth's midnight hair in matted clumps and sweat coated the fair skin in clammy patches. Roth had never been beaten in his life and he was utterly horrified. It then occurred to him just how strong Legolas was.
Aragorn stiffened and asked, "where is Legolas?" Roth did not answer and Aragorn cupped the being's chin gently and although firmly, forcing Roth to look at him. Roth shuddered and the man said softly in the Gray Tongue, "I will not hurt you like they did. They are not men, they are animals." He released the ebony-haired Elf's chin and Roth just nodded and Aragorn asked again, "where is Legolas? What have they done to him?"
Roth drew a deep breath slowly as it hit and pressured his throbbing ribs. "They took him to the back chamber. Three went with him, only two came back out." Roth fell against Aragorn and the man put an arm carefully about the trembling Elf's shoulders then withdrew them as he recalled the lashes. Roth did not cry, but he shivered over and over.
Aragorn frowned, "I am so sorry Roth. I have to go and get Legolas now, alright? Here." The young man took his cloak off and wrapped it around Roth's shaking figure. Aragorn sighed and said like a mother talking to a scared child, "we will get this straightened out, I promise."
Roth smiled and said, "I knew you would come. But I am not broken yet, just a bit shaken." He willed himself to stand with the cloak about his thin upper frame. But his knees were not of the same mind. They shook like a pair of leaves and Roth dared them to stand, putting his will into it.
Aragorn shook his head, dark hair bounced around his face and chided, "worse than Legolas."
Roth rolled his eyes and said, "what is that supposed to mean?" He fixed Aragorn with a suspicious glare that caused the ranger to laugh.
"It means you can be dying from Valar knows what and call it a scrape or bleeding to death and it's a paper cut!" teased the man good-natured humor.
Roth said, "does it now?" He looked at the ranger and then gave an dubious smile, "you are one to talk." Then he gave a small laugh and went to the corner of his cell, leaning his spinning head against the wall. It felt good and cool.
Aragorn sighed and said, "nevertheless that is how you two act!" He shot the immortal a grave expression said, "I will go and see where your trouble bound prince is." Roth just smiled and the ranger knew the Elf had heard. He watched as Roth closed his eyes in weariness then he left.
The man felt his blood pressure rise to another notch as he watched Roth recovering from his scourging. Nobody should ever have to endure what Roth had simply because of their race. It was completely unfair and cruel. Aragorn was going to make sure that they did not do the same thing to Legolas.
His walk turned into a trot like jog and his jog into a run. He felt adrenaline rushing through his system, and his eyes growing wide as he thought about what he might find.
It was not far down the hall, though to the ranger it seemed like ages. He knew he should have gone with Legolas to his home and risked the heavy snows. They had caught them anyway and travel had been delayed, why could they not have spent it in Mirkwood's halls?
The door to the cell Legolas was held in only had a small window guarded by bars so he could not see but he heard a voice say, "you damn Elf! You will pay for that!"
Aragorn was not going to wait to hear more and he grabbed the door handle and putting his rage behind it, swung it open. It banged loudly against the wall, causing everyone to jump in surprise.
The scene he saw was Legolas crouched in a corner, but with a dangerous gleam in his eyes. Straw and dirt was caught up in his hair, evidence of an obvious struggle. Blood trickled from the Elf's nose and the man was stooped over him with his fist drawn back, ready to strike.
Aragorn did not wait to see the fist connect with his best friend's stomach or eye but lunged at the man. He wrapped his arms about the elder mortal's neck and Legolas looked up in surprise crying, "Estel!"
The Elf jumped up as his friend was thrown over the marshal's shoulders and he hit the ground on his back with a cracking noise. The other man then went and was about to pick Aragorn up by his tunic and punch him in the jaw, But Legolas put an end to that.
He shoulder checked the man with such force that the green-eyed mortal was sent sprawling into the stone wall. Aragorn jumped up and put himself between Legolas and the angered marshal. Legolas, Aragorn noticed with much regret, was favoring his left leg greatly, but his face did not speak of much pain. The limb could not be broken, could it? No- Legolas' eyes would speak of that if it were so.
The marshal snarled, "what are you doing boy? You are letting the Elf get away!" snapped the man abruptly.
Aragorn stood his ground and said, "I will not move and let you harm him further. What has he done that he deserves this?" The man's steel gray eyes flashed a bright silver as his anger rose to a dangerously unhealthy level that taunted the others to try and challenge him. How could he make the constable understand? He couldn't and he didn't expect to, but they were not going to touch the Elves again. Aragorn snarled, "He is different and you hate him for it."
"Estel," said Legolas in Elven. "You should not be here. Your father will be angry." Legolas knew that Lord Elrond would be far from pleased about the storm and he was not too happy about it himself. He also knew that Elrond was not going to like another little mis-adventure in which Aragorn got hurt. The golden-haired Wood Elf also knew that Aragorn's broken arm had to be weak enough to be easily broken anew.
Aragorn said back over his shoulder in the tongue of the Elves, "I will not leave you to be tormented and die Legolas, no matter how much you insist on it." He then set his steely eyes on the man before him who had been obviously trying to pick a fight with Legolas and already delivered a few blows. "I suggest you leave him alone. Under the law you cannot continue to harass him. He is not going anywhere and I expect he is cold and hungry. While I tend to the wounds you wrongfully inflicted, you can bring that other Elf back here and get them both something edible."
Legolas stared in awe. Aragorn was going over his head about this. Legolas knew it, the ranger knew it, and so did the marshal. "Who says you are going to make me?" he snarled, "Elf lover."
Aragorn snapped at the attempted slur that he took as a rough compliment, "because if you don't I will charge you with prisoner abuse. If you help to heal the wounds inflicted I may be quicker to forgive and forget!" His eyes took up and eerie glow of anger and utter truth. If Legolas and Roth were not treated better he would demand retribution for them.
Legolas had not thought that Aragorn would go that far and he was horrible afraid that his friend would be murdered rather, but the other man just nodded and said, "aye, you have me. But if you let them out and free them then you will get hung as an accomplice."
Aragorn snarled, "I will look after myself. You get what I asked for!" He took a defensive stance as the man before he and Legolas moved and the mortal lifted his hands and said,
"I will get them some food. I will also drag that other one over here. But if they start to cause trouble together then out he goes!" The man smirked and said, "its not like they have long anyway. I didn't think that such cold blooded killers had feelings!"
Aragorn glared and said, "that will be enough! Now go!" This slander filled talk about his two closest friends, and applied to all Elf kind, made him sick with anger. He hated how when his race found one that was different, they feared them and had to bully them into submission or make their lives miserable simply because they were alive.
The fierce look that made it seem as though the ranger would follow him to death and beyond made the man go out of the cell at a run and he tripped over a loose cobble stone, falling onto his face. But he picked himself up and kept running.
As soon as the man left Legolas asked, "how did you get here? Where is Roth? Is he alright?" Legolas hoped they had not hurt Rothinzil too badly. He knew that the damage would run deeper than anyone, even the ranger knew of. Rothinzil was such a gentle creature and if these men destroyed that sweet innocence he would not be responsible for his actions. Roth was like his younger brother and he loved him as such...Roth was like a dog that was still a puppy at heart and would be young forever.
Aragorn sighed and said with a grunt, "they already thrashed Roth nearly senseless. I thought if I moved him in here with you he might calm down." The human sighed and said, "I know you are like a father or a brother to him Legolas...Legolas...he is hurting."
Legolas nodded and brushed a strand of golden hair away from his face. "If they destroyed his innocence I can't say I won't seek retribution on them. He was just learning to trust and love someone like family again. He doesn't show it, but it is true. You know how it takes Elves years to even relatively forget; yet they forgive easily. "
Aragorn nodded, "I know my friend." He saw Legolas' stooped shoulders and uncomfortable stance. He saw the pained look in his friend's eyes that he had seen before. He had seen that same look when Legolas had felt that he had failed him in past conflicts that they had endured together. "Legolas, it was not you fault. You could not have stopped it and neither could Roth. You have to learn that not everything that goes wrong is your fault and that you can't be everything at once. You are only one person in the wide world and there are things that are out of your control! Just because it is out of your control doesn't mean that it is your fault! Legolas, you are going to make your self sick."
Legolas just frowned and said, "Estel..." The ranger looked at him and watched with shock as Legolas finished quietly, as though deep in thought, "you remind me of an Elf-lord at times." Here the prince gave a small laugh and said, "I should not be surprised at this considering whom you were raised by."
Aragorn did not know what to say and he just stood there with a gaping mouth until Legolas said, "Well don't be so surprised my friend, you are of the line of Isildur and that counts for more than you think." Legolas faltered as he stood and sighed as he felt his leg give just a little.
Aragorn looked at his friend in alarm and asked, "Legolas what did you do to your ankle?" It wasn't like the prince to twist an ankle. That was more Roth's style.
Legolas just said, "it was that stupid human's fault." Aragorn winced at the way the Elf said the word human. He said it with a true bitter scornfulness that he was sure Legolas did not know he had let slip out.
Aragorn frowned and said, "Legolas, you do not have to call them humans, you hate it when they call you an Elf. Don't do like wise to them. It doesn't help situations at all."
Legolas snapped angrily, "it is what they are!" But then he regained control if his rage at the unnecessary abuse and said, "I am sorry, I said that. I suppose I was wrong. But most of my people scorn men and even some in Rivendell do, as you know well. It is hard not to let them rub off onto you even by accident."
Aragorn said quietly, "I know Legolas. I hold it not against you. Now what did they do to you?"
Legolas was silent and Aragorn was sure that what they had done had scared the Elf more emotionally than physically. But the Woodland Elf spoke just in time before the ranger was going to ask if Legolas had been abused sexually. The ranger regretted how his race could also be such pigs and give into lust.
"Aragorn he was angry with me. He thinks Roth and I murdered an elderly man we were with and stole horses which lead to the death of many at the hand of orcs." The Elf's voice squeezed off as he fought back tears. He would have never done that and he thought of Roth..."We didn't of course, but he would not see it that way. What he wanted to see was burned into his mind and he would no let it go. He punched me twice and slapped me quite often but I did not fight back. I was not going to add things against me that they could use."
Aragorn looked at Legolas' fearful eyes that indeed were one of the only signs he felt any fear at all. Legolas did not like cells, and who would? But he feared men, though he did not hate them because he feared them, but if it was not for Aragorn he certainly would not be as civil with them. Aragorn's voice quavered with pain and fears that came from sympathy, "I am so sorry I was not here. But I won't let them hurt you or Roth again, Legolas, I won't. But you have to trust me."
Legolas let his piercing blue gaze fall across the human and yet there was a cold and cryptic side to it. He could not expect the ranger to understand what hatred for a race could do. The man had not lived long enough and Legolas blamed him not for it. He diverted his gaze to wander past the bars where his heart lied. To the open air. He whispered softly, almost to himself, "I do trust you, but men are weak and in their folly they hate what they cannot understand or do not wish to. Even if I am ruled innocent I will be hunted until I get home by those who do not care for the ruling, and then what trouble will I bring with me? What trouble will Roth and I cause my father? This is the end mellon nin."
Just then a noise down the hall alerted the two to the return of the marshal and he was shoving before him a more than obviously weakened being. At first glance Aragorn knew it was Roth, but it took Legolas a moment. He had never seen his friend this distraught. If he had passed the other Elf in the street he would have never known it was he.
Roth saw Legolas ahead, in the other cell and his heart lightened a little. The man came and shoved Rothinzil in roughly, causing the midnight haired Elf to stumble into Legolas, who caught him quickly before his friend and near brother could fall. The green-eyed man then said, "I am going to shut the door so they can't escape. Are you going to stay the night with them or do you want out?" He asked as though it was only out of habit and he honestly did not expect the answer the human gave.
"I am staying. After you get through locking us in, I believe I asked for them to be fed. I myself am not hungry." Aragorn gave the other man a stern look.
The constable threw his hands up in the air and said, "what do you think this is, a half way house?" But he did not wish to see this strange wild like man that was unknown as he had again. He thought that this strange mortal acted like some sort of Elf-lord when he was angry and a fell light came into the ranger's eyes and spilled across its victim like ice. The very recall of the burning eyes he had seen sent chills down his spine.
Aragorn turned and looked at Roth. The Elf allowed half of a pale and nearly lifeless smile to play on his lips before quickly fading. His back and ribs were burning and he felt so very tired. Legolas just put his arms around his elven friend and guided him to sit on the pile of straw in the back of the cell. Roth was so eager to sit and relax that the younger Elf flopped into the straw.
Legolas looked at Roth and asked, "are you going to be well Rothinzil?"
Roth shivered and said, "I am now. When they came back to get me, I was so worried they were going to do it again." He closed his eyes and lay back against the wall. Legolas helped to guide his friend back as best as he could with shackled hands, for fear Roth would bang his head on the stone in his haste to let his neck muscles and aching headrest.
Legolas looked at Rothinzil's trembling frame and knew exactly what had happened. Well, that was not totally true...he wanted to know more. Aragorn and Legolas' eyes connected and the ranger saw the anger that glittered behind the seemingly bright and shatter resistant gaze of his blonde haired friend. Roth was going through more than he could imagine and fathom, even if he knew all of the raven-haired Elf's history.
As Legolas examine further he saw the blood on his friend's wrist and the gashes inflicted from Roth's weight being thrown against the metal edges of the iron shackles that had been cruelly tight to start with. Legolas felt his blood pressure shoot up another five notches and he feared that he might explode. Nobody should have that happen to them. His own cuffs hurt, but he could bear them. However, the prince was sure that Roth's were a torment.
He began to work them, trying to loosen them, but they were not like rope and it only made them rub against the lacerated skin even more. Roth hissed against the pain and he said, "leave it Legolas, please by the Valar leave it."
Legolas looked at Roth and said, "what all did they do to you? How long did this last?" His eyes narrowed and he said, "tell me."
Roth went a shade paler and he shuddered violently before saying. "They flogged me Legolas. They gave me thirty lashes... because they wanted too and I can still see their cruel eyes and the fear behind them that must have drove them on." Legolas could feel himself quake with compassion for his friend and the pain he was in. The prince knew well what hateful eyes looked like as you were being tortured.
Through clenched teeth, the blonde Elf said, "why did they even do it? They had to have some sort of reason to get away with it legally..."
Aragorn had been listening and shouted bitterly as though the words left a metallic taste, like blood in his mouth, "they caught him talking to a child and took it as an attack on the boy because they wished to rip Roth apart anyway! Then they accused him of attempted escape to give him fifteen more! Thirty merciless lashes all together! THIRTY!" The ranger was beyond controlling his anger.
Legolas sat by his friend and he said, "well that isn't going to happen again. So don't worry about it. When the man comes back we will ask for water so I can tend to your wounds." Legolas actually thought it would be better if Aragorn did it. He had his hands free and Rothinzil trusted the ranger with his life.
Rothinzil leaned back against the wall gingerly and said, "I wish to rest Legolas." After the beating he had taken he felt like strength was drained and everything hurt. His lungs too, burned from holding his breath. He also was ashamed because though he had not cried he had screamed towards the end. He was not able to take the pain anymore and he had screamed to the men's utter pleasure. It hurt and he wanted to cry his eyes out. But he wanted Legolas to think he was strong. What Roth did not realize was that his prince would understand.
Legolas sighed. If Roth went to sleep before he ate he would never eat and he would get sick from emotional trauma. Legolas knew he had to stay awake and he said, "I am sorry Roth, but you have to stay with us until you eat something and Strider has seen to your wounds."
Roth said softly and with a yawn, "I can't keep my eyes open. They want to close and are so heavy." He wanted only to retreat to the refuge of thoughtless sleep.
Legolas knew that Roth would nightmares if he went to sleep right away. He had to keep Rothinzil awake. Then he recalled the story he had wanted to tell him and he gave a swift smile. "Remember the story I was going to tell you Roth?" he asked his weary friend quickly.
Roth opened a single eye to meet his prince's. "Sure. Are you going to tell me it now?" he asked quickly, unable to keep the excitement out of his voice.
Legolas laughed and said, "I know how much you love stories, so perhaps it will keep you awake." It was odd how he as going to use it to try and get the other to sleep earlier.
Aragorn listened to the prince embarking on the tales of Beleg and Túrin of Turambar. The ranger knew them well, so he did not listen. As much as he too loved stories he was too unhappy and emotionally weary to listen and enjoy it. Beleg had died trying to free his friend, by the hand of his friend. It was a sad tale and Aragorn did not care to hear it now. He wanted to concentrate on trying to find a way to prove Legolas' innocence and Roth's as well.
Where was that dratted constable! Aragorn was more than ready to spit nails with frustration.
As he looked out the small grate of the tiny window and into the darkness he sighed with fear. He knew deep inside his heart that it was Legolas's turn to have the worst, but he did not know when or where. But something told him it would not be in an expected way.
Not that that would surprise him, Legolas always managed to find trouble in odd ways.
"Glorfindel!" seethed Elladan bitterly and with anger chilling his voice. "Why in all of Arda would you do that?" Elladan could not believe that Glorfindel would have let Estel go without so much as word o him. As though it was not like he had enough to worry about already. Elrohir was still not in the best of shape.
"He is growing up Elladan, and you know it! You can't prevent him from making his own choices!" Glorfindel growled back over the howling wind that was laced with flawless snow. He should have known that this would happen because of Elladan's over protectiveness. As he looked at Elrohir he could see the younger and more intellectual of the twins was torn between the two choices.
Elrohir had known that his younger brother would grow up, and yet he was hoping it would take longer. Yet he had to face the fact that Aragorn was not an Elf and grew up faster. How much it felt like only two years or so ago that they had brought the young edain home with them to be their brother. Why did it have to end so soon? Being Elves, the brothers did not weary of things very quickly, they just were not as hasty as men were.
He did not want Estel to leave so abruptly. After all, neither of the brothers may ever see him again.
Elladan snapped at Glorfindel as he crouched by his pale brother, "do you know what trouble he could get into in this weather alone? He could die Glorfindel!" To say Elladan was angry enough to strangle the Gondolin lord and enjoy every minute was a severe understatement.
Glorfindel was not oblivious tot he fact and was careful in what he said. "I know Elladan, but you have to understand Elladan. He is getting old enough to leave the nest and preventing it will only serve to weaken him. Sometimes the best thing to do is let go!"
Elladan sighed and rumbled something totally inaudible as he began to try and iron out the facts or rather try to understand what he did not wish to and what was already obvious. To him, an immortal Elf, it seemed that this was the first time, time had seemed to fly by and actually touch him. He felt his age and it unnerved him. Estel was still a small boy chasing him around with a wooden sword, right? He still needed protection from the world, right? Of course. After all Estel was only twenty-two. It was then Elladan remembered: Estel was mortal and was not going to stay the same forever. That fact made him sick. He did not want to say good bye after such a short time together.
"Glorfindel, I know you did what you thought best but if he dies, I swear, you will regret it." He had never seriously threatened the Gondolin Elf before, but this was different. Elrohir looked at his elder brother with a frown and his eyes spoke his thoughts. Elladan was mad, Elladan needed to pause and count to ten.
The snow continued to blow around them and the pass was nearly blocked. Dark clouds threatened more snow and ice. Elrohir looked at his twin and said, "Elladan I cannot believe that you just did that! What would father say?" Elrohir was more gentle in nature and he was not the type to threaten his elders unless it was in jest or he was furious beyond reason.
Elladan just frowned, "the thought of Estel out there, in that freezing snow makes me sick with fear for him Elrohir. Do you not care?" Elladan did not realize he had just set a spark in some dry and frail straw.
Elrohir was not about to be accused of loving his brother less and lashed out at Elladan with a vengeance, "Elladan what are you implying! That I love him less? How dare you even think that!"
Glorfindel scowled and shouted to them both, "he is out there! That is a fact that nothing is going to change. Now either we get home and then go and look for him after we get more supplies, or we go on from here, garner your father's wrath more than we already have and starve!"
The twins looked at each other and then they both glared at Glorfindel. The golden-haired Elf just frowned and said with a sigh of frustration, "don't tell me you both are out for my blood now?" He was really getting tired of this. Why didn't he just refuse to go and stay home warm, dry and safe? Did he really like being in danger, or was he just slowly going mad from knowing the twins so long? Inwardly shaking his head, he said, "we are going back and taking action from there."
Elladan just sighed and then his scowl deepened to a dark and dangerous look. Thickly he said, "fine." Elrohir looked at Elladan as his brother began to walk away towards home. He guided his near frozen horse behind him, knowing the creature's feet had to be sore and the hooves ready to split.
"Elladan?" asked Elrohir in a small voice as he had once when he had twisted his ankle when they had engaged in a fight and Elladan had left him behind. He did not want Elladan angry with him, anyway, what had he done to garner this anger?
"Elrohir come on!" snapped Elladan harshly and for a moment only forgetting his twin's wound in his anxiousness for his human brother. As soon as he remembered he ran back and Elrohir gave a thin smile. "I am so sorry Elrohir! I forgot!"
Elrohir shook his head and chided gently, "you are taking on the weight of the world again Elladan."
Glorfindel came up and said, "I will help him Elladan, if you wish to be alone and think, we will understand." Glorfindel gave Elrohir a hand up and Elrohir stumbled to his feet, ready to continue. None of them were using their horses, for fear the animal's hooves would be split from the cold. Though they had shoes, it was cold and perhaps they should have had newer ones on, but they didn't.
Elladan hesitated and Elrohir smiled, "I will be fine. By all means, be like Legolas, find a tree and talk to it!" he teased. "Is that not what he does when he is angry or frustrated?" He knew that Elladan thought that talking to trees was the most stupid thing in the world besides finding enjoyment in it. He was not a Woodland Elf and tree talking, in his opinion, was a waste of time. Anyway, even if he had wanted to, this was the rocky portion of the mountains and there were not trees save a few old and twisted pines that he had heard from Legolas were more than hostile.
"Elrohir I don't talk to trees! And anyway when you see a tree worth talking to you can show me how!" He apparently was not in the mood for a joke and Elrohir just sighed.
TBC...Well, now of course we are going to ask the notorious question...what do you think of it so far? Worse than you thought it would be or better? Drop a review in for us, please? We love them so much and they really do help and encourage. -both grin We know the summary doesn't fit the story yet, but just wait!
And a special thanks to all those who have us on their author alert lists or favorites. :) -giggles- it is so awesome!
-Review Responses- :)
Deana: Hehehehe. But of course!
Snow Glory: You felt sorry for him this past chapter...We bet the new one was really depressing (for him). Roth...manage to get out? Hehehehe. He wishes, but right now he is in a room under lock and key surrounded by lasers and more or less unable to move. "Nope", --pats poor Elf that is attempting to struggle- "Sorry. Your turn to get the snot knocked out of you after and perhaps before your best friends." Aren't we cruel? LOL Yeah, he can be tough when he has to and being alone he can handle...some, but...well...-mad laughter- Now if we told you what they were going to do to our Elf how can we leave evil cliffies? Nice try (again) but we aren't telling. We applaud your effort. :) And yes, the poor ranger. Wait until later in the story. What is going on now will seem like a picnic in the park! LOL
Marie Delcore: Hello mellon nin! LOL I think everyone would vomit! –g- I will talk to you more at lunch!
Astievia: Yes! They are great lyrics, huh? Love their stuff! No, our ranger can't freeze, but we can try and make him! LOL. And you thought it was bad for Rothinzil in the last chapter. –pair of authoresses shiver-
Thanks for all the reviews and please give us more! We love them so much and it means a lot to us! Thanks a million you guys:)