Disclaimer: I don't own Tolkien, but the plot and original characters belong to me!!

((((((((((((((Chapter 14)))))))))))))))))

Eressa's breath hitched in her throat painfully. The air in this terrible place was putrid and vile in her lungs. It had only gotten worse over the past few hours. She had tried very hard not to cry ever since the faceless creature left her with those cruel words, but it was no use. She sobbed until no more tears could squeeze out of her eyes.

Eressa hugged her knees against the firm lump that was her stomach. She placed her forehead on one of them and tipped her head to the side, looking into a dark, cracked wall. What if the creature was just lying? What if he was just trying to scare her?

That couldn't be true…she decided. It was too good to be true.

She closed her eyes tightly and hastily stirred up happier memories—of she and Legolas in Rivendell, and of their wedding. But even they were shoved aside by the darker and more frightening images of what was happening now.

Wasn't Legolas coming for her? Eressa didn't know where she was or how she got here, so how could Legolas? Every question that slashed through Eressa's mind left an angry red gash in her heart.

Eressa opened her eyes and saw nothing but darkness. She blinked a few times, wondering if perhaps she had gone blind, but then realized she was in the tall and ominous shadow of the faceless thing that had kidnapped her. She started, and opened her lips to scream, but the black, stinking fog that seemed to radiate off the creature choked her, and she coughed violently instead.

The creature was not concerned. It reached down with it's armored, silvered hand and grasped her arm tightly, pulling her up. "It is time." It hissed to her. The sound slithered like a snake into Eressa's ears. She tried to pull away.

The black thing tightened it's grip unmercilessly, crushing her flesh into her bones. This time Eressa couldn't help to do anything but scream. The creature answered her with it's own and then flung her to the ground.

"Obey foolish human!" It commanded angrily. "And it may be less painful for you!"

Eressa looked up fearfully at the creature. Two words managed to escape her parted lips. "Less painful?"

Again Eressa felt the unmistakable dreadful feeling of the creatures smile on her skin. "Less painful." It repeated, it's voice lowered.

The girl's green eyes went wide. Eressa flipped herself over on her back and grasped a clod of dirt in her hand. With more courage than she knew she even had, Eressa flung the dirt at the creatures nonexistent face, shouting.

"Leave me alone!" She screamed, and then proceeded to grab another handful of soil.

A slimy, rough hand stopped her. Eressa turned her head and looked into the yellow eyes of one of the orcs that had been tormenting her earlier. She screamed again and whipped her hand away, but the creature simply grabbed her around her torso and lifted her.

Eressa kicked and screamed, but other orcs appeared and held her still. The faceless thing watched with satisfaction.

"Careful with her!" He scolded when one orc threatened to strike Eressa. "The Master's host body cannot come alive from a dead woman."

The orc grunted and worked with the others to tie and gag Eressa fully. Meanwhile, frantic thoughts were shaking Eressa's mind.

They want me alive…no, they want the baby…O Gods…help me, Legolas!

"Carry her out." The black creature ordered. With a silent sweep it stepped out of the small cell, with the orcs shuffling the bound Eressa following.

Fight them. Fight them. Fight for your life, for your child's life. Eressa told herself. That is what Legolas would do.

She tried. She screamed and wriggled and tried her best to be set free, even if it meant that they would have to drop her. But the orcs growled at her and breathed foul orders into her face, not letting her hopes come true. The stink made Eressa begin to cough again and her eyes to tear. She realized once it started she could not get the tears to stop.

"NO!" She shrieked at the top of her voice. "LEGOLAS!"

"Your prince will come soon enough, woman." The black thing replied calmly. "But you should be praying that he not come…for I will show him…" The thing inhaled and then hissed. "…no mercy."

Eressa did not become more frightened at the creature's threat, but instead angry. "He will protect me!" She said loudly. She thrashed some more, but to no avail.

If I hurt myself I might hurt the baby…

Suddenly Eressa felt stone beneath her. The orcs placed her down on flat slab of black rock and the backed away. Instantly, she tried to get up and find someway out of here. But the black creature extended it's hand towards her and suddenly Eressa felt very sick and weak.

"Stay." It commanded roughly.

Eressa felt invisible binds wrap round her wrists. It was black magic, she realized. She blinked her eyes and saw that she was inside a tall, dark tower. Only the tiniest windows that spiraled out of the huge spike gave her a clue. The light that shone through the small windows shifted, and hung like a orange mist above her. It was sunset.

The light was suddenly blocked out by the figure of the faceless thing hovering above her. Instinctively, Eressa tried to cover her face with her hands, forgetting that they were bound by magic. The creature watched in amusement as she struggled.

"A stirring little thing…" It pondered aloud. The tone of it's voice made Eressa shiver, though she was not cold. "I can see why that heathen elvenprince liked you."

This time Eressa's anger did not make her brave. She gulped. "He is not heathen."

The thing laughed, another horrible sound. Then it raised it's hand, the yellow light from above glinting off the metal as it it was molten with fire. Eressa held her breath and then watched in horror—as the creature settled it's spiked fingers on her swollen belly. Eressa did not want that…that thing touching her or her baby. She noticed something…her hands were bound but her feet were not. She still had some mobility. Eressa swung her body away from the black thing's touch.

The creature's hands were around her throat in an instant, choking off what little air Eressa held in her lungs. She sputtered as the creature seethed at her.

"Stay still." It rasped angerly.

Eressa found the courage to speak somewhere deep in her heart. "Or what?" She asked sweetly. "Or you'll kill me? You can't."

The creature's grip loosened, but it's anger only grew stronger. "Or when your precious prince arrives, I will bring him here and tack him to the wall like a pretty little picture!" It's voice grew deeper. "And after the child is born, I will do the same for you, and you will bleed together."

Eressa wanted to spit at the creature, but she resisted and closed her eyes, trying to push her fear back. Her ploy failed when she felt the creature's hands on her belly again. She opened her eyes just in time to hear the thing whisper one more spell…and then she felt a small prick of pain, from deep inside her.

Eressa gasped and lifted her head up. She saw the creature step away from her, and she was thankful for that, but she was horrified when she felt another, more painful stab.

What…what is happening? Eressa thought. Suddenly she felt the baby inside her move, and yet another cramp. Cramp…uh…contraction!

Gods help me…Eressa realized. I'm having the baby.

(((((((((((((((Personal thing))))))))))))))

I'm so sorry that it took so long for me to update and that the chapter has been so short, oh, and with no Legolas either...but with musical and football games and a whole bunch of other crap…too busy. I promise to update as soon as I can, and don't worry, I'll never give up on this story! I swear on the precious!