THE SPACE BETWEEN

Author's note : Delayed again, I am sorry! I'm not sure how many chapters we have left with this story but there aren't very many left I would deem. We are coming to a close. Thank you so much for you patience. I mean it's been almost a year. That has to be the worst. I am truly sorry. But fear not we're almost done!

I'm in my last year of university and it requires so much of my time! It's insanely hard this year and I'm not doing very well. :( Anyways the semester is almost over and Chapter 19 is doing pretty well. I've started chapter 20 as well, so we're on a role. It's just a question of waiting for the smoke to clear so I can work in peace.

Thanks again and I hope you can forgive me! Please! Oh and I hope you like (or at least, don't hate) this chapter. As always I am open to criticism, opinions and ideas. Please feel free to let me know what you think. This chapter is not as edited as I would like, but I figured you've waited long enough.

Thanks and enjoy!

Chapter Eighteen

Dwelling Inevitability

Roughly the Elf was dragged to the Dark Lord's tower. It had taken the Orcs twice as long to cover the distance to Barad-dûr, for they subjected the prisoner to their harsh treatment and twisted amusement. The fact that Legolas refused to submit to their cruel hands did nothing to help in speeding up their travel. Nonetheless they arrived far too soon for the Elf's liking. The simple fact of being in Mordor repulsed him to his very core, the touch of the ground burned his feet and the feel of the air in his lungs suffocated him. The dust in his eyes stung and the maltreatment of the Orcs did nothing to ease his discomfort.

The Orcs pulled the prince up a winding stair leading to a cold dark chamber where he was chained in a kneeling position. After receiving more brutality from the Orcs, Legolas was left alone with his thoughts. For what seemed to be an eternity the Elf waited in silent darkness until he heard the snap of a bolt and a large door creaked open. The room was subsequently flooded with a dim glow of torchlight, but to Legolas it was blinding and prevented him from identifying the being entering the room.

As Makowyl entered the interrogation chamber, he nearly laughed aloud upon viewing the sight of the bedraggled, dishevelled Elf chained on the stone floor. With a cruel smirk, he came forth before the Elf and revealed himself.

"This is quite a sight to behold! Thranduil's high and mighty whelp of a prince duly humbled grovelling at my feet. Quite a reversal of fortune, is it not, O little princeling of filth?"

Legolas could not resist the urge to throttle the Elf before him, but his metal restraints hardly have way as they rattled angrily.

"Makowyl you vile monster! You are a traitor and hardly an Elf!"

The dark Elf's smirk widened as he shook his head reprovingly. "Such high words coming from one so low, a filthy little tree-rat," he raised his hand as if to strike the prince, but he held back, chuckling at the Elf who had not even flinched.

"Do not worry, the time will come when I shall take your words and ram them down your throat. I must admit I did not think I would find myself in such a pleasurable situation," Makowyl continued smugly, circling the prince as he gloated. "Not that I believed you to be strong enough not to be caught, I must admit I underestimated you lack of intellect. Our Orcs do not know their left from right, unless we show them. I never would have believed them clever enough to capture an Elf Prince such as yourself," he laughed. "Look at yourself! Trying to appear fearless and invincible, such self righteousness! To think a filthy little tree-rat such as you believes he cam come here, to Lord Sauron's stronghold to rescue his little love!"

Legolas' eyes widened in hot anger. "What have you done to her?"

Makowyl shook his head sadly. "Very little I am afraid. Unfortunately there was very little to be done. The transformation was rather easy, you see. Your lady Elf is even more cruel and twisted that I could ever have imagined! Her wickedness was maintained very well, I even considered sparing her life and taking her as a bride."

"You despicable abomination!" shouted Legolas furiously, pulling at his unrelenting bonds.

"Makowyl, stop taunting the prisoner. There will be plenty of time for this later."

Instantly the dark elf stilled and ceased speak. Legolas looked around, his confused and frightened eyes searching for the owner of that icy voice. A deep and frightening chill settled in his heart for he knew who had spoken even though he had never heard that voice before, nor seen its master.

A dark mist passed through the ajar door, foretelling the arrival of the Dark Lord, the Great Deceiver, the One feared and loathed by all righteous folk. He stepped in, veiled in darkness and shadow, his red eyes burning holes in the elf's fair face.

As he stared with wide eyes, Legolas had involuntarily held his breath so frightened he was. None could withstand the presence of the Dark One and remain unscathed, he remembered with vivid detail, of the stories his brother Eldaran told him of his father's captivity in Mordor years before any of Thranduil's children were born. The stories had given the young Legolas nightmares for months; Eldaran was required to sleep with the tiny princeling. However being here now, kneeling before the formidable Dark Lord, it was thousands times worse than his brother's stories. He was incapable of describing the fear in his heart, nor could he comprehend it.

"This is the spawn of Thranduil. Long have I desired to look upon thee, to see the face of the runt of my nemesis. Keeping your father alive was a mistake, I see. So much grief would have been avoided otherwise."

"My father is a good king, He fights hard to keep your vileness at bay."

Sauron laughed, it was a cruel twisted sound which hurt the Elf's tender ears and reverberated into his soul. "You speak brave words little elf, but can you live up to them? I can see your month is braver than your heart," he paused, "or rather, it is not bravery but foolishness that prompts you to speak to be so, haughty elf! I should give you to my orcs so they may teach you a lesson about respect and holding your tongue before your betters. Disrespect from naughty little elflings does not sit well with me."

Legolas set his jaw, but did not reply. He lowered his eyes defeat.

"That is better, perhaps we ca use him still," the Dark One said to Makowyl.

The Elf was about to reply when Sauron bid him to remain silent. His sharp senses picked up a nearby presence. His gaze shifted from his lieutenant to the bound prince. He smirked as he glanced away from Legolas and towards the very door from whence he came.

"Ah, you may come in, Aryon. We have been expecting you. Your presence has been greatly desired, I see."

Upon seeing the cold and frail being enter, Legolas' blood froze. He barely recognized the Elf entering the interrogation chamber. In such a short time since he had seen her last, so much had changed with her pale eyes and her dark heart, she was a far cry from the sweet innocent Elf, he loved so dearly. She was no longer his dearest Willow.

Legolas did not speak , he could not say a word so constricted his throat had become. He simply stared up with wide confused and hurt eyes at the one he came to give his life for if it would save her. Aryon only stared at the kneeling elf with cold disinterest, her icy glare burning holes into his soul. The sorrow in the prince's eyes spoke volumes of the pain and anguish in his heart.

All this exchange lasted but a moment before Legolas turned his anguish into bitter anger. "Monster," he breathed venomously, his voice menacing. "You have twisted and ruined a pure and innocent soul to satisfy you foul whims."

"Do not think yourself so righteous, Princeling. It took many trials and many dead elves, but I succeeded in creating a perfect being capable of serving my needs. Aryon always was and always will be a creature of Darkness and a part of me. We are one, since I am the force behind the pestilence that plagued the Elves of the Second Age in Eriador. It was remarkable, how I was able to be rid of a large number of the Eldar and cause ravage upon them all the while perfecting my ultimate ally. Thus, my dear little princeling, it is you, in your self proclaimed inherent goodness that attempted to twist her into something she is not."

"That is where you are wrong," responded Legolas attracting the wrath of Makowyl who sharply back handed the Elf.

"I should have you flogged until you bleed to dearth and beg for mercy!"

"Enough of this foolishness," the Dark Lord snapped impatiently at the two bickering elves.

Realizing he was overstepping his borders, again, Makowyl backed away from Legolas and lowered his eyes. "I must apologize my Lord."

"Clearly this princeling must learn to keep his tongue. Keep yours in line Makowyl lest you share his fate." Sauron turned his dark gaze away from his lieutenant and towards Willow. "What say you, Aryon! What must be done of this Elfling? Tell me! The decision is yours, but decide wisely."

Slowly Willow turned her eyes from Legolas to the Dark Lord. "Give him to the Orcs," the shadowed elf suggested. "Let them show him his rightful place bellow your feet my Lord. Let them teach him of pain and suffering. Then, let him drown in his own blood."

Tears welled up in Legolas'eyes as his beloved condemned him to a miserable end of pain and suffering. Makowyl smirked, his cruel mind twisted a plan to cause the prince much grief. Sauron seemed pleased with his Aryon's initiative.

"Very well. See to it that it is done, Makowyl."

"Of course, my Lord." The lieutenant seemed all too pleased with his latest task, this is one he would accomplish nice and slow. Legolas allowed himself to be dragged out away miserably, his eyes always on Willow, who still refused to acknowledge his existence.

"You have failed," his mind kept telling him, swelling up the despairing rage in his already broken heart.

Proudly Makowyl led his prized trophy towards the lower bowels of Barad-dûr where the Ringbearer had been brought and was still held captive.

"You do realize that not only did you not succeed, but your pathetic little heroic Quest failed as well," the dark elf said casually.

"You lie," Legolas responded sharply. "And you are the one who shall not live to see another day. This I swear it! Until there is no life left in me, I shall not rest until you are destroyed."

Makowyl chuckled. "We shall see." He opened the door to a dank cell where a host of blood thirsty Orcs awaited impatiently. The other goblins accompanying Makowyl, shoved the elf into the cell. The Orc captain gave the lieutenant a lascivious but questioning glare.

"What is this you bring us, Elfrat?"

"A gift, Oksnag, a gift," he replied with a dark malicious gaze. "It is yours. Do as you please, but do not kill it just yet. We may still have a use for it."

Makowyl made to walk out but suddenly turned back to the Orc Captain. "Do not kill it, but make certain whatever you subject it to, make certain it is received with much pain. Flog him if you will."

Ohksnag smiled a terrifying lustful grin mixed with cold cruelty and anticipation. "With pleasure, my Lord."

Long and hard the Elf was scourged.

Break

"With pleasure, my liege. I go to fetch a swift and absolute victory."

"Go, and do return the heir of Isildur' head. Long have I desired to put an end to the Hope of Men and their little nuisance." The Dark Lord of Mordor commanded his head lieutenant.

The Mouth of Sauron bowed low before his lord and exited the throne room with the precious items in his keep, given to him by Aryon O Huine.

"I shall return to bring you triumph."

Sauron turned his heavy gaze to his heir standing on his left. "I must admit, Aryon, I still held many doubts about your loyalties. You are not easy to read, even for me. I feared you were still unfaithful but you have proven yourself well when you sentenced your only love to a long and painful death. It was beautiful, and I knew then, you are true to us."

Aryon, or Willow, now stared at the Dark Lord with her usual cold disinterred face. "I do what is necessary to prove my allegiance."

"And you have proven it well. I do reward those who are faithful to me and serve me well." At that point Makowyl entered the chamber. "Ah Makowyl, how fares our guest?"

"I fear he may not live long enough to see the new Order come to rise."

"Pity," the Dark Lord replied sarcastically as a servant handed him a glass of dark red substance which resembled wine, but it was uncertain what it was. "Has the Mouth been dispatched?"

"Yes, he should arrive at the gate shortly." Makowyl answered, also accepting the dark beverage.

"Excellent," Sauron replied casually taking a sip of his proffered drink. "Rally the troops. Prepare for an attack. I am certain that our terms shall not accepted, though I do believe them to be entirely reasonable. Clear out all the contingents," he paused for a while, his expression thoughtful. "Come Aryon. I have a fitting end for our miserable Mirkwood friend. I believe you may find it a pleasing end."

Break

Only one hour after he had been handed over to the Orcs, Legolas found himself alone once again. Fortunately the Orcs had not the opportunity to inflict as much excessive irreversible damage as they would have desired. However the inflamed welts on his back as well as a fistful of bruises, scratches and burns spread about his body, were testimony of the Orcs' cruel amusement. He hung limply, his arms manacled high above his head with harsh rope burning into his soft flesh. He was left alone with only his grief, pain and hard laboured breathing for company until the door was opened and light again spilled into the chamber. Attempting to control his panting, Legolas straightened himself the best he could, effectively schooling his features into a impassive mask of stoic indifference.

"You should see yourself, truly, you should. This is a wondrous sight to behold," Makowyl snared sarcastically. "I am a firm believer that you were let off too easily."

He circled around the prince, a scenario developed far too often in the last few hours. "You must face the truth Legolas, everything is lost," as he spoke, Makowyl occasionally raked his nails over Legolas' reddened skin and twisted his fingers in one of his wounds. "The Ringbearer is in our hands and it will not be long until the Ring is found. Sauron has dispatched his armies to the Gate, his victory is imminent. It is inevitable, Legolas, the heir of Isildur shall fall, as will the rest of the Race of Men and soon after the other Races shall follow. Hmm, will it not be a lovely sight to bear witness of you writhing under the weight of your impending doom and the destruction of all you fought to save. It is over. Your silly futile attempts have lead to naught, but the sealing of your doom. Take your rest while you still can elfling. We shall meet again."

With a twirl of his black cloak, Makowyl left. The despair in Legolas' heart welled up, yet he still could not bring himself to believe this apparent inevitability. Subsequently after Makowyl's departure, Legolas could hear the irritating and distinct sound of Orc boots clanking noisily on the stone ground. Two pairs of Orcs came into the chamber to untie the course ropes linking the Elf's bonds to the ceiling and dragged him mercilessly into yet again another dark room. However this room was adorned with two tables, both of them covered with a cloth to conceal the dreadful instruments Legolas could not see. The Elf could only guess to it's purpose as his arms were pinned up and retied to the sharp edged wall. To assure that the prisoner was secure, the Orcs pushed him into the wall, completely ignored his inflamed and lacerated back. After a few more minutes of mistreatment, the foul creatures left the Prince and pulled back to reveal another, more sinister presence in this dark room.

"Hmm, I am disappointed in their work. Usually they can inflict more damage, even in such a short period. Not even one broken bone,"Sauron raised his hand towards the four Orcs who had brought the Elf in. They stood frozen before the Dark Lord, they eyes pulsed until they dropped to the floor, dead. Casting them a disinterested glance, he turned his attention to the bound Prince. "Quite useless and ineffective they are at times. Often they are little more than training devices for beings of greater purpose, such as your precious Laiellah. Many did she kill and even more did she enjoy it.

"I did not believe we would meet so soon, princeling, but as you must have been told by my lieutenant, there has been a change of plan. Perhaps you wonder still, why you were brought here. You see, you are of no meaning to me. You are nothing and you no longer serve any purpose. Long have I desired to see your father's demise. And now, with you to thank, I shall see that moment arrive. You will help me. By your will or not,"the Dark Lord countered as he saw Legolas was about to protest. "I shall send him a gift, a token of our affection," Sauron leaned in to whisper in the Elf's ear. "Your heart." Legolas recoiled as his lungs retracted preventing him from breathing. He did not know if it was from what Sauron said, or most likely because of his close proximity.

The Dark Lord laughed sinisterly. "Do not worry, I am not the one who do this. Your beloved will. I assure you, for me it will be a pleasure to watch.

It was then Legolas felt another presence in the room, cloaked and hooded in the darkness of the room. Willow stepped forward as she removed her hood and unveiled the dull, rusting looking instruments on the tables. Taking her time, she let her icy fingers run over each and every tool, enjoying the rattling sound of her nails raking over them. All this time Legolas bled inwardly to think that it had come to this, that it would end this way. He did not mind dying, he knew somehow that his journey would lead him into Mordor, but not out, like Frodo, only Legolas' quest was of a different nature. He believed that at least if he were able to stop Laiellah, he would not only be able to save her, but save all of Middle-earth at the same time. He knew she was dangerous and he knew what she was capable of. At least, his being here prevented her from going out to destroy Aragorn which was one of her primary targets, he discovered. No, he bled not for himself, he bled for his brother and father who would await for him but find the cruel evidence of his fate. He bled knowing they, and the whole of Mirkwood would suffer through the loss of another crown prince. He bled for Willow, whom he knew was lost and now beyond recovery and would now be the one to take his life. This was the worst of all, that he would die at the hands of the one he tried so hard to save. Somehow, Legolas knew that despite the fact of this forthcoming demise, he knew it would not come swiftly. It would be slow and painful.

At last Willow chose her blade, a crude old and rusted dagger with a broken edge. Legolas swallowed, as sweet as she once was, Willow certainly knew how to choose a weapon to cause the most amount of damage. Sauron acquiesced to the Aryon's choice. As she came closer, Legolas attempted to meet her gaze, but as always it was empty, lifeless and far out of reach.

"Willow, Willow,"he tried to get her to listen to him. Even though she did not pay any heed to him, Legolas continued to speak to her, hoping that somehow at least her heart would listen and the Laiellah he loved so dearly would return. "I want you to know," he tried again, "that what you are doing," slowly, so very slowly she lifted her gaze to meet his, it was the first time they had locked eyes since last seeing each other in Edoras. "All that has happened, I do not blame you. I forgive you for what you are about to do I still love you, I always have and I always will no matter what shall come to pass. I want you to know this."

For the briefest moment, Legolas felt a spark light up in Willow's eyes and for a slime instant he believed his beloved had returned. Naturally, it was not so, since the dark veil returned to cover Willow's and she resumed her actions. Sauron laughed.

"You try to gain more by time by holding on to something that does not exist! You are a coward and as a coward you shall die! There is nothing like the bitterness of betrayal and the feeling of deceit."

Willow raised her had to run the blade across the Elf's chest, none too gently tearing away his jerkin, his tunic all the way down to his undershirt, causing small droplets of blood to spill off the blade. More than once she passed the blade over hi skin methodically, marring it with careless malice. Ritualistically she watched the knife rake across soft flesh, watched the blood trickle, feeling his body quiver under her tortuous ministrations.

After a while she grew weary of this activity and stopped. Taking a step back, she stared at the Elf to fully appreciate her handiwork. She was not the only one for Sauron also closed in to admire it himself.

"Well done," he congratulated, "I see that despite the small number of wounds, you found inflicted them in a eminently painful manner for our friend."

Taking Legolas' chin in his hand, Sauron roughly lifted his head to meet his gaze. "Do you still have forgiveness in you, little elf? Is your heart still filled with ill-fated love?"

Schooling his pained features the best he could, Legolas replied fervently. "Always. Never would I be rid of the true feelings of my soul."

Backhanding the Elf sharply, he scoffed to Willow. "Finish it! And spare him no pain!"

Willow slowly dipped her head in acquiescence. Pulling out her blade from the sheath at her side, she advanced towards the helpless bound Elf. Legolas' eyes widened dramatically when he saw the blade destined to end his life. It was a sharp lustrous blade that was obviously never or rarely used. Its handle was of gold and encrusted with jewels taken from the Mirkwood King's own personal collection. Legolas' heart froze. It was his own blade that Willow would use to take his life away. It was given to him by his late brother, Eldaran. Later on much after his cherished brother's death, Legolas gave the knife to another who held his heart so dearly, Laiellah. He had given it to her many many years ago once they had proclaimed their love for one another in the peaceful and lush gardens of Imladris. It was an ironic end, he thought, to die at the hands of the one he tried to save, using a cherished gift that symbolized their love. She could have might as well use her own hands, the pain would not have been lessened.

Yet the Elf still found the courage to mask his saddened features and broken heart, by staring impassively into her cold face. Legolas sighed before whispering to her, "I forgive you."

The dark elf showed no sign that she heeded the Prince's words. Raising her knife she aimed for his chest.

"I love you, I always have." Legolas closed his eyes as Willow's dagger was raised. She was prepared to strike and end Legolas' life.

TBC...

I can actually garantee at 1000 that you won't wait nearly half as long for the next chapter. I'm guessing early december. At least once my semester is done, just before exams start. It's a top priority! I mean I want this story to end as much as you do! Thank you so very very very much for your endearing patience! You can't know how appreciated it is!