Hello again. I am back to work on this at last. All my plot bunnies keep trying to mutiny every time I sit down to write.

Chapter 23--Time to Recover

They rode as fast as their horses would carry them for a good three hours then Elladan felt Legolas slump bonelessly against him. "Aragorn, we need to stop, Legolas has fainted!" he called.

Aragorn and Elrohir immediately stopped and dismounted. Aragorn went to the side of Elladan's mount and Elladan handed Legolas down before dismounting.

Aragorn carried Legolas over to the shade of a tree and gently laid him down. Elladan and Elrohir followed.

"Aragorn! His eyes are closed!" Elrohir gasped.

Aragorn looked Legolas over carefully, but he found no serious wounds. "I believe he is just exhausted. I think we can rest for a while and let him sleep. We just need to keep a sharp eye out in case those other two Elves free themselves sooner then expected and come after us," he said.

Elrohir nodded. "We will not allow them to take Legolas again," he said fiercely.

Meanwhile

Elrond and Thranduil talked for hours before Elrond had a servant show the woodland King to the guest chamber he would be using. A soft tap sounded on his door minutes after Thranduil had been led out. "Come in!" Elrond called.

Glorfindel entered the room and sat down. The two of them were close friends and never stood on ceremony when they were alone together. "Do you think the rift between father and son might be possible to bridge?" Glorfindel asked.

"Perhaps, Thranduil seems very eager to speak to Legolas and is very concerned about his safety. I consider that a good sign. All we have to do is wait for my sons to return with Legolas then we will see what transpires from there," Elrond said. He rose and poured two goblets full of wine and handed one to Glorfindel. "A toast, to a happy ending," he said.

"Yes, and a happy future," Glorfindel agreed and they drank to it.

Back In Mirkwood

Only a few torches, lending the aura of a nightmare, lighted the room. An Elven maiden fair of face and form laid on the table, bound, gagged and stripped nude. Her eyes were glared and she might have been thought to be in reverie if not for the terror in her leaf green eyes. Blood poured from a deep cut on her wrist. It flowed into a stone bowl set close to the edge of the table.

Zion stood at the head of the table, chanting softly. When the bowl was filled he picked it up and raised it towards the sky as he chanted. As he finished the chant red mist streamed from the bowl and the blood was gone. Zion closed his eyes and waited in excitement and fear for the reaction from the Dark One who he had given his soul too. Finally he relaxed and smiled. The sacrifice had been accepted and his power had been increased. "Now to dispose of you, my pretty," he said. A single touch healed the cut. He freed the maiden from her bonds. He then rebound her feet and hands, pausing to study her beautiful body lustfully. He could not touch her though. Her soul had to be pure when she died. Her body would belong to the Dark One and she would be his for eternity. He picked up the woman and carried her into a carefully hidden tunnel that would end deep in the forest. A barred metal gate sealed the far end. A single word of power opened the door and he emerged from the tunnel. He calmly carried his burden to a clearing where spider webs clung to every tree. He put her down and waited. After a few minutes a fat, giant spider emerged from the trees and scuttled towards them.

Zion wasn't afraid. They sensed his power and would not dare attack him. He watched as it clambered up to stand over the helpless woman who struggled futilely against her restraints and screamed helplessly through the gag.

The spider hissed in pleasure as it sank its fangs into her throat, injecting her with its paralyzing poison. Soon the maiden laid deathly still, no longer able to move or make a sound.

Zion removed the gag and ropes then walked callously away as the spider wrapped its meal in its sticky webs and dragged it into the trees. He had much to do and no time to waste.

Wow, where did this come from? I gotta stop watching horror movies before I write, ugh. This gave me shivers. Did it do that to you guys? R/R please!