Summary: see chapter one
Disclaimer: see chapter one
A/N: Still an AU fic Any reviews will be welcome.
Now to the reviewers! You are all great, and I would like to thank you all!
Aranna Undomiel: Lanthian is one dense elf I will have to agree.
Catmint: YAY! good stuff! and here is your update!
Hiei-Rulez: LMAO!! Good for you! I cheered them all on myself!
Elven Kitten: guesses are always good.
Beling: You came back! I love your reviews! thanks!
Riva van Dyk: a slap, punch, kick to the head etc snicker
HarryEstel: Yes, Finally he learns but is it too late?
Trinitytheshedevil: thanks for the review wench!
Thanks again for the reviews! I enjoyed them all! Now to the fic!
Chapter 11
Estel felt the cold stone floor gouging him in his back, and rolled over. This served only to further his pain, as his arm was now pinned under him. A moan escaped his lips and tears pricked at his eyes. Biting down on his tongue, he silenced himself before he woke Legolas. His friend had suffered enough because of him, as was true in most cases.
Legolas heard the gasps and grunts of Estel, but his body refused to let him acknowledge him. Being inside he longed for the comfort of the trees, and the whisper of the wind on his face. Mordor's blackness was starting to creep inside him and shadow all his memories of the light. As he tried to fight the weariness to waken the door was opened, and in walked Sauron, followed by many orcs.
"Again I ask you who you are human, and why you are found with the Prince of Mirkwood. Thranduil does not readily accept humans, and his son should be no different.
Estel raised his head, but did not meet the face of Sauron. That face brought fear deep into his heart, and he feared him. Licking his dry lips, he tried to respond, but two days with no water rendered him silent.
"Ahh it seems he needs a drink of something" Sauron cackled. He pointed to an orc and Estel was brought something foul and dark to drink. He shook his head in refusal, but it was tilted back, and the black ooze trickled in
Estel sputtered and coughed as the concoction reached his throat. It was thick and it choked him. "I will not answer your questions, so you may do to me what you will. My father taught me honor above all else, and I shall not reveal anything to you."
"Who is your father! I demand you tell me"
The sound of Sauron's voice echoed off the walls in the room, and sent Estel to his knees. Legolas who had seen this ran to comfort his fallen friend, but was harshly kicked away by Sauron. "As much as I despise elves, I despise humans more. One long ago thought he could destroy me, and took what was rightfully mine. He died as was his fate, and you both shall die as well. Know this now though, before the day is over I will know your name."
Estel shook with fear as he saw the orcs approach him and Legolas. Both were dragged to posts in the room and chained about the middle to them. Quickly the were stripped of their tunics, and then they saw the mad gleam in Sauron's eyes. It was not long before he approached Legolas and Estel both again.
"Let us see just how long you can endure my wrath. I wish not to kill you before I have my answers, but you may beg for me to kill you before it is all said and done. Sitting back down in the chair which was brought for him Sauron watched the torture begin.
The orcs did not brandish whips as Legolas had thought they would, but instead they had taken Estel's own belt from him. With a whistle it sailed through the air and made contact with Estel's stomach. The leather elvish symbols on it were now blazoned on him as if he had been branded. Over and over they beat him, until his legs no longer wish to hold him. Everytime he slumped over water was thrown into his face, to waken him for one more lash.
Legolas screamed out for it to stop, but his cries went unheeded. It seemed to fuel their rage even further. He was silenced by the orc who wrapped his whip around his neck and held his head up high. He now could not look away.
With a flick of the wrist Sauron ordered his punishment to commence, and within mere seconds he was stripped of his pride when the first lash rained down on his stomach. He had cried out from it and now wished to hang his head in shame. He soon grew silent as the pain had overtaken all of his senses. He only felt the longing to die. His eyes filled with tears, and they fell in a torrent down his face, as he watched Estel try to crumble to the floor only to be held up by the waist, which was tied to the pole.
Sauron laughed menacingly as his minions destroyed all of their so called honor. His laugh rang out through the room, and any nearby would have cowered in fear from it. He stood from his chair and walked over to Estel and Legolas. "Are you now ready to tell me of your name human?"
Estel looked up from where his head was hanging to meet his gaze. Fear gripped his heart, but he spoke nonetheless. "My Ada says that a man with no honor, and no values is a man who is already dead. You will not break me, and I will take my name to the Halls of Mandos. You are nothing more than an overgrown bully who has other people do his bidding for him. You have taken elves, and made them into these grotesque beasts of burden, whose only goal in life now is to kill at your whim."
Sauron was livid. How could this man still refuse him. Had he not beaten him, taken his strength, his will to live?" He turned to Legolas and with a smile upon his face he walked over to him.
"Legolas, son of Thranduil surely you do not wish to die for this human. Join me and together I promise you that your realm shall once again be free of the darkness."
Legolas looked at him with eyes glazed over in pain. "Your promises mean nothing to me. You have shown that you are nothing, but some despicable creature who long ago should have been dead. The human as you call him is my friend, and I will not dishonor him by revealing anything to you."
"Your father has not the same views as you on this. Why would you defy him in such a way?"
"You should crawl out of your hole more often. My father welcomes him into our home graciously. He has become my gwador ."
This brought rage to Sauron, and he showed it by striking Legolas across the face. "Well, since he is your brother, it is only fitting you should watch as I break him. As for you, I think you will make a fine orc when this is done."
Legolas' was grabbed from behind and a cord was wrapped around his neck and tied into place. Now he could not look away from Estel, and every time he tried to shut his eyes from the horror, the rope was pulled and he was choked. His eyes watered as he saw Sauron approach Estel, and Estel tremble with fear. He saw Sauron pull from his belt the dagger and then he saw him plunge it into Estel's foot. Estel screamed out and Sauron only laughed.
"Leave him be! We have done nothing to you, and yet you find you must torture us to no end. What purpose does it serve?"
"I am not used to anyone refusing my requests, and therefore you shall both suffer until I get what I want. Then I will ease your passing and make you death swift."
Estel tried to lift his head, but he could not the pain was too much. He wanted to tell Sauron to end his suffering, but he knew his Ada had instilled in him valor and courage, and he would not dishonor him by taking the cowards way out now. He knew if Lanthian had not left him, that he and Legolas would not be in this predicament, and he loathed the elf for his ignorance.
"Do you wish to tell me now human or shall we begin again with the torture?"
"I shall tell you nothing. You will have to kill me, but I shall not reveal to you who I am."
"As you wish" Sauron said as he pointed to the orcs. They moved in on the pair, and circled them like vultures, before finally launching their attack. Estel and Legolas screamed out as blow after blow was inflicted upon them. Blood seeped from their wounds and puddled at their feet. None of this mattered to Sauron. He would have his way or he would kill them both. Reaching into his pocket he withdrew Legolas' elvish dagger and plunged it into the unsuspecting elf. Legolas screamed and at last fell into the blissfulness of unconsciousness. Estel called out to him, but his words fell on deaf ears.
"Do not worry young one. You can join him in the darkness" Sauron sneered before plunging the dagger into Estel's side. Estel screamed only once before his face fell forward. Even the choking hold of the rope did not bother him as he slipped into the blackness with Legolas.
Their bodies were crumbling fast, and their minds were now trapped in unconsciousness, but somewhere on a path a mighty elven lord fell from his horse to the ground, blood seeping from his mouth.
