Ok, peeps, here's the next post. I warn you, it's heavy duty stuff. I think I'm going to up this chapter to R to be safe. Keep in mind, there is nothing explicit sexually wise, AT ALL, but the violence…well, it's more than usual for me. *shrugs*
Oh, and for all who keep asking, NO LEGOLAS SLASH! Ok? LOL. Just thought I'd make that clear. Sorry if I busted anyone's bubble, but I'm not much of a slashy person, and I don't write it. *shrugs* I figure, to each his own. Anyway, that's the lowdown, basically. No slash in this fic. Thank you.
Ready for a post?
*****
*****
Legolas awoke to rough hands cutting the bonds on his ankles, restoring his circulation, and yanking him to his feet, tearing him away from Luminal, who he had been holding ever since she had complained of being cold. He glared at them darkly, but the men seemed not to notice.
Legolas immediately spotted Revenhal and zeroed in on him. He gave him the best glare he had in him, his normally bright blue eyes turning three shades darker in his anger and shining out from beneath his golden hair, which had come free and fallen in front of his face.
Though he tried not to show it, Legolas could tell the glare had unnerved the man. Revenhal quickly shook it off, though, and smiled lethally. "Well, elf, are you ready to answer a few questions for me?"
Legolas made no reply, but inside, questions whirled. What kind of questions? What would they need to ask of him? Revenhal nodded to his men, and they started off. Children stared with innocent curiosity at him, and stepped closer trying to get a better look, until their mothers saw them and, with horror, pulled them back, scolding them harshly and ushering them inside their homes. Legolas did his best to ignore them. Finally, they came to a clearing in the middle of the Tur town they were in.
In the center, there was a large pole, about as thick as a full man, and reaching taller than any homes around them. The men holding Legolas unceremoniously hauled him to it, and his hands were briefly loosed only to be bound on the other side of the pole.
Revenhal watched silently, then walked up till their faces were almost touching. "Now you will tell me everything I need to know." He sneered, and Legolas felt the hot breath on his face, and something else.
"Ae thee gwesta al an puia ned nin nif ad, nin beleg." *If you swear not to spit in my face again, I might." He replied, unable to resist. Legolas knew that probably wasn't the smartest thing he could have done, and was glad that they couldn't speak elvish.
Revenhal frowned and slapped him, hard. "Do not speak your foul tongue here!" He ordered angrily. Legolas' head flew with the blow, but he gave no reaction, bringing his gaze back to Revenhal, glowering at him through dark eyelashes.
Revenhal gave a frustrated sigh, running his fingers through his hair and searching for his composure. Why did this elf get under his skin so easily? Finally, he continued. "Who sent you, and why?" He demanded.
Confusion was evident in Legolas' eyes. What could Revenhal mean by that? Sent him? He frowned slightly. Could he be serious? The man seemed to be, as he was waiting for an answer. At least this was something he was free to answer, as there was nothing to admit! "I do not know of what you speak." Legolas replied evenly.
Revenhal's dark eyes grew angry at that answer. "You lie!" He said, and punched Legolas brutally in the midsection, causing the elf to lose his breath. When Legolas doubled over slightly, he pulled him up by the hair. "Who sent you?" He asked again.
Legolas fought for breath. "I told you, I know not what you mean!" He said, and when Revenhal lifted his fist to strike again, he hurriedly continued. "No one sent me!" He insisted, and Revenhal glared at him.
"If no one sent you, then why are you here?" He questioned, and struck again, this time to the side of Legolas' skull, making the elf dizzy.
Legolas tried to shake the feeling off. "I was traveling to Rivendell and took a shortcut through your lands." He finally said.
Revenhal studied him a moment, then motioned to the men standing behind Legolas. "Mirel, Finlash." He said softly, then looked back to Legolas. "I do not believe you. Elves do not travel lightly through Tur land." He stated, and Legolas saw the two men approaching, one wielding a heavy club, another a many-tongued whip, with barbs on the tips. Legolas' felt his breath quicken at the sight of them, but quickly pushed that feeling down.
"My sister was bit by a warg, and was loosing a lot of blood. I had to hurry her to Rivendell for healing, and going through your territory was the quickest way." Legolas said.
Revenhal's face darkened. "So you are the one who slew the town's protectors!!" He hissed.
Legolas swallowed. That did not seem to have been the correct answer. "I did not know whom they belonged to, by they attacked us." He said softly.
"Of course they did, you were about to trespass on our land!" Revenhal cried, and backhanded Legolas viciously, splitting his lip.
Legolas made no sound, knowing the man would listen to no reply he made. Revenhal snarled at him, wrapping his fingers in the golden hair and yanking it back hard. Legolas felt his scalp crying out at the harsh treatment, but did his best to ignore it.
Revenhal nodded to the men, and Miral and Finlash came closer. Finlash was the first to reach the elf, and he idly caressed Legolas' chest with the whip. Legolas did not move, nor even look at him, but kept his gaze on Reenhal.
Revenhal nodded to Finlash, and the man immediately tore into the elf, beating him hard. Legolas tensed his muscles against the beating, never moving his gaze. Revenhal was unnerved by Legolas' unnatural aloofness to his beating, and the hard glare that never blinked, never ceased.
The whip had torn through Legolas' tunic now, and was quickly bringing red welts to the surface. Finlash did not show any signs of tiring, and continued the beating like a mad man, desperate to get some sort of response from Legolas. Finally, when the whip's barbs began to tear into the elf flesh and bring blood to the surface, Legolas began flinching slightly, but no sound, not even a grunt, escaped his lips. Revenhal gestured for Finlash to stop, and he obeyed, slowly backing up, his breath harsh from the straining.
Legolas stood silently, though his chest felt as if it were on fire as it dripped blood. Revenhal's gaze went over the man's work, and he smiled slightly. "Now. The truth, elf. We have been seeing elves along our borders for months now, sneaking around, spying on us. They think we don't see, but we do. We always do. I know you know what they are up to, and you are going to tell me."
Legolas looked at him for a long moment, controlling his breathing until he could speak without showing any signs of pain. "I am telling you the truth when I say I know nothing about that which you speak." He said simply.
Revenhal glared at him again, and raised his hand to his men. Legolas readied himself for more pain, but was not expecting what he got. Miral came over and, wielding his club, drove it hard into the elf's chest. Legolas could feel his ribs strain, and he gasped slightly, doubling over to protect the abused flesh.
"The truth!" He heard dimly. He shook his head, fighting to breathe, and he was yanked up by the hair again, and the club found his chest. He gasped for air.
Revenhal was red in the face now, and near screaming. "Tell me the truth!" He ordered.
Legolas finally was able to breathe again, and gasped out. "I do not know what you want. I am a Mirkwood elf, I do not live anywhere near you or your people!"
Revenhal struck him hard in the face with his balled fist, making Legolas' head contact with the tree harshly and his nose to bleed. Miral struck him again, with all his human strength this time, and Legolas felt a rib snap. He could not help the surprised cry of pain, as his head had been swimming and he hadn't known the blow was coming.
He could feel hands at his wrists, untying him, and he struggled to stand, his strength fast leaving him. "It would be so much easier for you if you would just tell me the truth, elf." Revenhal said.
Legolas dropped his gaze. "I did." He insisted. "I swear to you, that's the truth."
Revenhal sighed. "Continue." He instructed the other human man who stood next to Legolas.
Legolas' eyes went wide, and a protest formed on his lips, but he never got a chance to say anything. The man drove the club into the elf's midsection brutally, and Legolas gasped in pain, but was allowed no reprieve as the man struck him in the back the moment he leaned forward, knocking the elf off his feet. Legolas landed roughly on the ground, his head striking a rock. Blood welled up and dripped down into his eyes. "Please…" Legolas started, but gasped as the man struck him again, feeling his ribs strain against the beating.
"The truth, elf!!" Revenhal screamed, and Legolas flinched.
"I told you." Legolas insisted. "I told you the truth, you must believe me!!" He looked up, his eyes pleading for mercy, but he received none.
*****
Present
*****
"I never found out what they were talking about. The elves on the border, I mean." Legolas whispered to the silent Elrond.
Elrond frowned. "I do." He said softly. "One of our own disappeared on the borders of Tur land, an elfling really, and we were searching for her. We finally found her, dead, just inside their borders. She had been beaten, and…it looked like used in other ways." He finished, looking away.
Legolas just nodded numbly. "I didn't know that at the time. All I knew was that I could not answer their questions, not to save myself, or….anyone else."
*****
Flashback
*****
The club struck him again and again, until he could think of nothing but the pain. He curled in one himself desperately, trying to protect his broken rib. Finally, the beating stopped, and Legolas lay for a long time, unwilling to move should the pain begin again. After awhile, though, he lifted his head.
"Tell me now, or I shall give your sister the same treatment you receive." Revenhal sneered, knowing he had found a weak spot.
Terror filled Legolas' heart. "Please, don't!" He pleaded, not caring for pride anymore. "She's badly wounded and sick already, please don't hurt her!"
"THEN TELL ME!" Revenhal screamed right into his face. Legolas flinched.
"I can't." He admitted. "I do not know anything to tell you." He knew he was crying gently, unable to do anything for his sister.
"So be it." Revenhal hissed, and turned.
Luminal was dragged in, being alternately slapped, or caressed by mocking men. "Gwador!!!! " *Brother!!!!* She screamed, terrified out of her mind. The fever was high, making her delusional, and men were hurting her for reason she knew not, and her brother was badly hurt, laying on the ground.
Legolas weakly lifted his head, and when he saw the jeering men with his sister, he began crying in earnest, reaching out a hand towards her but knowing he would be unable to do anything. "Díhena nin, mell er!! Dihena nin an al berio thou!!!" *Forgive me, dear one!! Forgive me for not protecting you!* He cried in elvish, hoping she could hear him over the yells of the men.
He was pulled to his feet and forced to watch as they beat her with feet and fists until she had not the strength to cry anymore. When they began to act as though they would torment her in other ways, running their hands over her young body and laughing loudly, Legolas began screaming in pure rage, and tore out at his captors, everything going red. Men fell back as they were suddenly wounded by bare elvish hands. Legolas flew at the men holding his sister, twisting one's neck until he heard a crack, and then kicking another in the groin. He fell on his knees next to Luminal, who was unconscious, everything cleared back to reality, and he wept bitterly, unable to stop. She should not have to suffer this.
Hesitant hands pulled him to his feet, but Legolas was too worn out to do anything about it. Revenhal was in his face again. "It seems you need to be better taught your place here." He said. Legolas could barely focus on the Tur anymore. "Take him to the chamber, and return this worthless elf girl to her place. No one touch her until her brother is able to see, once he is too weak to do anything." Legolas was dragged away as his sister was picked up by uncaring, ungentle hands. The hot tears were slowing as Legolas could find not even the strength to cry anymore, and as his body ran out of moisture to supply to his eyes. "Luminal…" He said brokenly, but she could not hear him.
******
Phew! That's was kinda long! I hope it was long! YAY! *happy grin* Well, in just a little while, I'll have more time, and then we'll throw a party! Tuesday! Yay and double yay! *Jumps in the air…and comes crashing down on her computer desk. Raises weak hand* Carry on…I'll be…fine… *Dies*
LOL.
Oh, and for all who keep asking, NO LEGOLAS SLASH! Ok? LOL. Just thought I'd make that clear. Sorry if I busted anyone's bubble, but I'm not much of a slashy person, and I don't write it. *shrugs* I figure, to each his own. Anyway, that's the lowdown, basically. No slash in this fic. Thank you.
Ready for a post?
*****
*****
Legolas awoke to rough hands cutting the bonds on his ankles, restoring his circulation, and yanking him to his feet, tearing him away from Luminal, who he had been holding ever since she had complained of being cold. He glared at them darkly, but the men seemed not to notice.
Legolas immediately spotted Revenhal and zeroed in on him. He gave him the best glare he had in him, his normally bright blue eyes turning three shades darker in his anger and shining out from beneath his golden hair, which had come free and fallen in front of his face.
Though he tried not to show it, Legolas could tell the glare had unnerved the man. Revenhal quickly shook it off, though, and smiled lethally. "Well, elf, are you ready to answer a few questions for me?"
Legolas made no reply, but inside, questions whirled. What kind of questions? What would they need to ask of him? Revenhal nodded to his men, and they started off. Children stared with innocent curiosity at him, and stepped closer trying to get a better look, until their mothers saw them and, with horror, pulled them back, scolding them harshly and ushering them inside their homes. Legolas did his best to ignore them. Finally, they came to a clearing in the middle of the Tur town they were in.
In the center, there was a large pole, about as thick as a full man, and reaching taller than any homes around them. The men holding Legolas unceremoniously hauled him to it, and his hands were briefly loosed only to be bound on the other side of the pole.
Revenhal watched silently, then walked up till their faces were almost touching. "Now you will tell me everything I need to know." He sneered, and Legolas felt the hot breath on his face, and something else.
"Ae thee gwesta al an puia ned nin nif ad, nin beleg." *If you swear not to spit in my face again, I might." He replied, unable to resist. Legolas knew that probably wasn't the smartest thing he could have done, and was glad that they couldn't speak elvish.
Revenhal frowned and slapped him, hard. "Do not speak your foul tongue here!" He ordered angrily. Legolas' head flew with the blow, but he gave no reaction, bringing his gaze back to Revenhal, glowering at him through dark eyelashes.
Revenhal gave a frustrated sigh, running his fingers through his hair and searching for his composure. Why did this elf get under his skin so easily? Finally, he continued. "Who sent you, and why?" He demanded.
Confusion was evident in Legolas' eyes. What could Revenhal mean by that? Sent him? He frowned slightly. Could he be serious? The man seemed to be, as he was waiting for an answer. At least this was something he was free to answer, as there was nothing to admit! "I do not know of what you speak." Legolas replied evenly.
Revenhal's dark eyes grew angry at that answer. "You lie!" He said, and punched Legolas brutally in the midsection, causing the elf to lose his breath. When Legolas doubled over slightly, he pulled him up by the hair. "Who sent you?" He asked again.
Legolas fought for breath. "I told you, I know not what you mean!" He said, and when Revenhal lifted his fist to strike again, he hurriedly continued. "No one sent me!" He insisted, and Revenhal glared at him.
"If no one sent you, then why are you here?" He questioned, and struck again, this time to the side of Legolas' skull, making the elf dizzy.
Legolas tried to shake the feeling off. "I was traveling to Rivendell and took a shortcut through your lands." He finally said.
Revenhal studied him a moment, then motioned to the men standing behind Legolas. "Mirel, Finlash." He said softly, then looked back to Legolas. "I do not believe you. Elves do not travel lightly through Tur land." He stated, and Legolas saw the two men approaching, one wielding a heavy club, another a many-tongued whip, with barbs on the tips. Legolas' felt his breath quicken at the sight of them, but quickly pushed that feeling down.
"My sister was bit by a warg, and was loosing a lot of blood. I had to hurry her to Rivendell for healing, and going through your territory was the quickest way." Legolas said.
Revenhal's face darkened. "So you are the one who slew the town's protectors!!" He hissed.
Legolas swallowed. That did not seem to have been the correct answer. "I did not know whom they belonged to, by they attacked us." He said softly.
"Of course they did, you were about to trespass on our land!" Revenhal cried, and backhanded Legolas viciously, splitting his lip.
Legolas made no sound, knowing the man would listen to no reply he made. Revenhal snarled at him, wrapping his fingers in the golden hair and yanking it back hard. Legolas felt his scalp crying out at the harsh treatment, but did his best to ignore it.
Revenhal nodded to the men, and Miral and Finlash came closer. Finlash was the first to reach the elf, and he idly caressed Legolas' chest with the whip. Legolas did not move, nor even look at him, but kept his gaze on Reenhal.
Revenhal nodded to Finlash, and the man immediately tore into the elf, beating him hard. Legolas tensed his muscles against the beating, never moving his gaze. Revenhal was unnerved by Legolas' unnatural aloofness to his beating, and the hard glare that never blinked, never ceased.
The whip had torn through Legolas' tunic now, and was quickly bringing red welts to the surface. Finlash did not show any signs of tiring, and continued the beating like a mad man, desperate to get some sort of response from Legolas. Finally, when the whip's barbs began to tear into the elf flesh and bring blood to the surface, Legolas began flinching slightly, but no sound, not even a grunt, escaped his lips. Revenhal gestured for Finlash to stop, and he obeyed, slowly backing up, his breath harsh from the straining.
Legolas stood silently, though his chest felt as if it were on fire as it dripped blood. Revenhal's gaze went over the man's work, and he smiled slightly. "Now. The truth, elf. We have been seeing elves along our borders for months now, sneaking around, spying on us. They think we don't see, but we do. We always do. I know you know what they are up to, and you are going to tell me."
Legolas looked at him for a long moment, controlling his breathing until he could speak without showing any signs of pain. "I am telling you the truth when I say I know nothing about that which you speak." He said simply.
Revenhal glared at him again, and raised his hand to his men. Legolas readied himself for more pain, but was not expecting what he got. Miral came over and, wielding his club, drove it hard into the elf's chest. Legolas could feel his ribs strain, and he gasped slightly, doubling over to protect the abused flesh.
"The truth!" He heard dimly. He shook his head, fighting to breathe, and he was yanked up by the hair again, and the club found his chest. He gasped for air.
Revenhal was red in the face now, and near screaming. "Tell me the truth!" He ordered.
Legolas finally was able to breathe again, and gasped out. "I do not know what you want. I am a Mirkwood elf, I do not live anywhere near you or your people!"
Revenhal struck him hard in the face with his balled fist, making Legolas' head contact with the tree harshly and his nose to bleed. Miral struck him again, with all his human strength this time, and Legolas felt a rib snap. He could not help the surprised cry of pain, as his head had been swimming and he hadn't known the blow was coming.
He could feel hands at his wrists, untying him, and he struggled to stand, his strength fast leaving him. "It would be so much easier for you if you would just tell me the truth, elf." Revenhal said.
Legolas dropped his gaze. "I did." He insisted. "I swear to you, that's the truth."
Revenhal sighed. "Continue." He instructed the other human man who stood next to Legolas.
Legolas' eyes went wide, and a protest formed on his lips, but he never got a chance to say anything. The man drove the club into the elf's midsection brutally, and Legolas gasped in pain, but was allowed no reprieve as the man struck him in the back the moment he leaned forward, knocking the elf off his feet. Legolas landed roughly on the ground, his head striking a rock. Blood welled up and dripped down into his eyes. "Please…" Legolas started, but gasped as the man struck him again, feeling his ribs strain against the beating.
"The truth, elf!!" Revenhal screamed, and Legolas flinched.
"I told you." Legolas insisted. "I told you the truth, you must believe me!!" He looked up, his eyes pleading for mercy, but he received none.
*****
Present
*****
"I never found out what they were talking about. The elves on the border, I mean." Legolas whispered to the silent Elrond.
Elrond frowned. "I do." He said softly. "One of our own disappeared on the borders of Tur land, an elfling really, and we were searching for her. We finally found her, dead, just inside their borders. She had been beaten, and…it looked like used in other ways." He finished, looking away.
Legolas just nodded numbly. "I didn't know that at the time. All I knew was that I could not answer their questions, not to save myself, or….anyone else."
*****
Flashback
*****
The club struck him again and again, until he could think of nothing but the pain. He curled in one himself desperately, trying to protect his broken rib. Finally, the beating stopped, and Legolas lay for a long time, unwilling to move should the pain begin again. After awhile, though, he lifted his head.
"Tell me now, or I shall give your sister the same treatment you receive." Revenhal sneered, knowing he had found a weak spot.
Terror filled Legolas' heart. "Please, don't!" He pleaded, not caring for pride anymore. "She's badly wounded and sick already, please don't hurt her!"
"THEN TELL ME!" Revenhal screamed right into his face. Legolas flinched.
"I can't." He admitted. "I do not know anything to tell you." He knew he was crying gently, unable to do anything for his sister.
"So be it." Revenhal hissed, and turned.
Luminal was dragged in, being alternately slapped, or caressed by mocking men. "Gwador!!!! " *Brother!!!!* She screamed, terrified out of her mind. The fever was high, making her delusional, and men were hurting her for reason she knew not, and her brother was badly hurt, laying on the ground.
Legolas weakly lifted his head, and when he saw the jeering men with his sister, he began crying in earnest, reaching out a hand towards her but knowing he would be unable to do anything. "Díhena nin, mell er!! Dihena nin an al berio thou!!!" *Forgive me, dear one!! Forgive me for not protecting you!* He cried in elvish, hoping she could hear him over the yells of the men.
He was pulled to his feet and forced to watch as they beat her with feet and fists until she had not the strength to cry anymore. When they began to act as though they would torment her in other ways, running their hands over her young body and laughing loudly, Legolas began screaming in pure rage, and tore out at his captors, everything going red. Men fell back as they were suddenly wounded by bare elvish hands. Legolas flew at the men holding his sister, twisting one's neck until he heard a crack, and then kicking another in the groin. He fell on his knees next to Luminal, who was unconscious, everything cleared back to reality, and he wept bitterly, unable to stop. She should not have to suffer this.
Hesitant hands pulled him to his feet, but Legolas was too worn out to do anything about it. Revenhal was in his face again. "It seems you need to be better taught your place here." He said. Legolas could barely focus on the Tur anymore. "Take him to the chamber, and return this worthless elf girl to her place. No one touch her until her brother is able to see, once he is too weak to do anything." Legolas was dragged away as his sister was picked up by uncaring, ungentle hands. The hot tears were slowing as Legolas could find not even the strength to cry anymore, and as his body ran out of moisture to supply to his eyes. "Luminal…" He said brokenly, but she could not hear him.
******
Phew! That's was kinda long! I hope it was long! YAY! *happy grin* Well, in just a little while, I'll have more time, and then we'll throw a party! Tuesday! Yay and double yay! *Jumps in the air…and comes crashing down on her computer desk. Raises weak hand* Carry on…I'll be…fine… *Dies*
LOL.