Chapter Fifteen: Captured

A steady, stubborn misting rain soaked Mirkwood that long day, and it turned to a downpour forcing Legolas to find a dry nest of bracken amongst the giant roots of ancient oak tree, the thick canopy of leaves hanging from the upper branches sheltering the elf from the rain. He knew that he was not far from the halls of the king, but how to get there was another matter. The hardest part to contemplate was what to say to the king... his father...

He had been planning to take the trip one step at a time, but he had not been able to keep himself from pondering and perturbing over future events, but still when he had made up his mind there was no questioning his resolve, Rondiath, Celebdur and Rochwen could ensure anyone of that. He began to wonder about his comrades back at camp, he dourly wondered if Rondiath had burst a blood vessel in his neck or if Celebdur had broke out the searching parties, and or, lynch mob yet. Or would that be the other way around?

Thunder sounded overhead and gloomy grey clouds that looked like a blurry cold blanket blocked the sun out. The trees were stained a dismal brownish-green, and their limbs and foliage hung low with weight of the rain on them and they almost looked like they were crying as water droplets fell from the leaf tips. No birds or other wildlife sounded in the underbrush, they had retreated to their dwellings to wait out the deluge.

Legolas was nearly dozing when his sensitive hearing picked up a strange sound. He scrambled up the oaks limbs and took shelter under a thick veil of damp leaves. For the Shadow People observing approaching noises unnoticed was first impulse, but this was different. The sound he heard did not belong in a woodland realm, much less an elven one. Legolas stretched out full length on his stomach keeping close to the branch and covering of leaves, but was able to observe the clearing that he had just retreated from.

Orcs.

A throng of the beasts came to stand under the tree until they were rendezvoused by another troop. What were these things doing so far from the south of the forest from Dol Guldur? The sound of the Black Speech mixed with the Common Tongue stung his ears, but the elf managed to make out enough to find out what they were planning to do. They had heard of the clash with Shadow People and were going to try and attack the Elf King's gates hoping that the confusion of the last days would give them the wining edge. One of them stopped talking abruptly and began to sniff hard; Legolas's hand went to the bow on his back and readied it with one fluid motion that didn't disturb one raindrop on his perch.

"What do you smell?" One of the beasts asked.

"Elf flesh." Was the answer, and the other began to look up, searching the tree limbs above them, Legolas knocked an arrow to the bowstring.

Legolas hugged his bleeding arm to his side, and glared up at the orc that held him on his knees.

"What have we here?" The vile thing asked.

Legolas saw his mother's bloodied face, and he thrashed at his opponents again. Another orc twisted his left arm, ripping a few more of the stitches, fortunately for the elf they were the smaller ones that Tolbeth had made years earlier and the older ones that held back the more serious bleeding were still intact.

"Must be a scout!" One of the vile creatures offered, "Kill him!" this one must be a lesser commander because the rest of the pack was ready to obey him.

"I give the orders around here!" The large one in front of Legolas snarled backing away from him a little to smack the other that had contradicted him. "Besides he's no scout he came in these woods with those outcasts remember?" The creature then seemed to try to think, if that was possible with these creatures.

"And I know your face..." The leader mumbled, he suddenly he grabbed a fistful of Legolas' hair looking into his eyes, "You're in league with the wood elves, aren't you?!" He growled, "How many are behind you?"

Legolas shot out his hind to try and get the leader back, but the orc caught his hand and was read to twist his arm again and break open all the stitches completely, when he noticed the silver band oh his finger.

"What is this?" The orc captain asked as he pulled it off, then it all made sense to him. "Well it looks like we have the prince of Mirkwood here! Don't tell me you've forgotten, Gurut " He announced hold up the ring for all to see, and shouting the last phrase at the second-in-command.

How did he of people know who he was? The question hammered in Legolas' mind, but it was soon answered.

"I wonder if it takes any longer to him scream then it did when he was little?" The lesser captain, Gurut, hinted.

When he and his mother had been captured the woods had been scoured and when they were found the company of warriors had slaughtered the band that had taken the two members of the royal house. All had been killed but two of the captains had been killed, and that orc had captured him again.

"He's more useful alive." The head captain said, "Do you not think that the elf king will lay down arms in exchange for his brat's life?" The disappointment on the faces of the other orcs did not last long as he added, "Though, it might hasten the elf king's decision if he's not in one piece when we show him." And he dug his back nail into Legolas' face, and drawing line of blood down his face and let the other's approach.

Why didn't I write the fight sequence? It's about 3 AM and I'm tired, I know we love elf angst, but just calm down, there may be torture ahead!