Reviewer responses:
Okay, first off, my beta is going to SO kill me for this. You see, this chapter has NOT really been BETA'D! SO...you all are getting the real me. The writing that has not been checked over...in other words, your pleas for an update have been heard and heeded, without going to the proper authorities. Okay okay, English...I'm updating without consulting my beta. And that is something I have tried hard not to do, but I can't get a hold of her. Be nice all you wielders of mightier LotR knowledge!
Deana: Lol...yeah, remember ages ago when I last updated...I DID torture the crap out of Legolas! And I'm sorry to make you wait so long...we are nearing the bit you left off on.
Mornflower: Lovely skit as usual. I'm sorry for the wait...
Lisa, Moonyasha: Oie, can you find it in your hearts to forgive me for not updating? I'm sooo busy. Read below for the reason I took so long!!! Well, one of them anyway...
Alatariel Narmolanya: I like suspense. But I'm sorry for leaving you in suspense so LONG.
Solo23: Thanks for the review...you left...ages ago!! I hope I did send you those chapters you requested, I don't remember. And yes, I admit to a problem with "than" and "then". I even do that in my news stories!!! Yikes! I'm working on it!
Karone Evertree: Hehe...glad you liked the chapter. And that it fostered such thoughts from you! (By now you prolly forgot what it was about!!!) Anyway...here's an update...
Dragonfire1214, the-Burglar: You apologize for not reviewing in a while and bad me goes and doesn't UPDATE. Ugh...I'm the greater of the two evils! Thanks for the review...glad you liked the torture scene. I like to torture people...not for REAL mind you.... And to answer your question....Orlando.
Kelsey: Ah yes...you have caught a mistake. I do recall that part. And yes, it's hard to whip the tunic to shreds if it isn't on Legolas! Alas, a mistake got through. But...hopefully you still liked the chapter!!! YOU WANT GRAELATH when I'm done!? ! He's that real?! I was hoping he was believable! I don't know that they'll be much left....but uh...if there is...sure you can have him. And I'm SOOO sorry for the long wait. I updated without my beta looking at this because you aren't the only one who wanted one! And loved the Shakespeare...
Isiliel: Wow...I'm the first person you reviewed for?! Yes, you did it right. And I'm so sorry to update so LATE. I'm glad you like my stories! Smiles happily over here!!
WhiteTigeress326: Alas, don't cry! He will live!!! Glad to see you review. Sorry to reward said review with LATE UPDATE....
Zammy: So so so so so so sorry for this late update. I am updating because you and a few others begged me. Thanks for sticking with me!!!!
OKAY all...the news...what kept me from updating...I GOT ENGAGED!!! AHHHH yes, Gwenneth is engaged! If you want details, e-mail
Aragorn's Company...
If we walked any slower, we'd be moving backwards! Aragorn thought to himself in exasperation. They seemed to him to be moving at a snail's pace. Not only was he certain that Legolas had gotten himself into loads of trouble by now, he had a bad feeling that Arwen was in danger as well, more than she had been earlier. How he knew that, he couldn't say, it was just a feeling.
Celeborn appeared at the king's elbow. "Aragorn? It might be best if I were to take my warriors and approach from the west. We could draw the enemy away from the entrance so that you and the others may enter easier."
Breaking from his reverie, Aragorn looked at the tall, blonde Elf beside him. "Oh, yes, that is a good idea, Lord Celeborn." He frowned, knowing he sounded caught off guard. And when Celeborn eyed him appraisingly, the king knew that the Elf Lord was aware of his state of mind.
"I don't want to sound harsh, mellon nin, but get it together before you go in there otherwise you will be a danger to yourself and the others." That said; Celeborn hurried away calling to his warriors before Aragorn could retort.
Of course he is right, Aragorn thought. I go in there like this and Legolas' vision is likely to come true despite all his efforts to prevent it. Pushing aside the thoughts, Aragorn took a deep breath and collected himself, straightening perceptibly.
Elrond and Galadriel exchanged knowing smiles. "He will be all right, now," the Elf Lord muttered. Elladan and Elrohir had been relatively quiet as they all neared the tower, both lost in thoughts of their dear sister. Lowgala had been respecting their feelings and not speaking, but now he was just about to burst.
"What am I to do when we get there?" he blurted, suddenly feeling stupid when all eyes fell on him. Blushing he looked to the twins in embarrassment.
For a moment, Elladan and Elrohir were speechless. Then, all of a sudden and at the exact same time, they broke out into peels of laughter. "Lowgala!" Elrohir choked through tears of mirth, "You waited all this time to ask us that?"
The creature crossed his arms across his chest and mustered the fiercest frown he could. "Well, yes. You were both preoccupied the whole time, we're almost there and I thought I'd ask!"
Elrond came to his sons' rescue. "Lowgala you will stick close to Gandalf and I, we will protect you. It is too dangerous to leave you with the warriors and Lord Celeborn. Just don't do anything stupid or rash."
Lowgala nodded in understanding, glaring at the still chuckling twins. "Sorry, Lowgala, I have no idea why that was so hilarious, but it DOES feel good to laugh," Elladan said quietly, putting a hand on the small being's shoulder.
A smile broke into Lowgala's frown. "It's all right; it is good to see you laugh, yes?"
"Yes." The twins sobered now, seeing Aragorn approaching, a look of barely restrained impatience on his face.
"When you are quite done laughing your heads off, we will advance to the tower..." he lifted his eyebrows, giving away his jest.
Elladan smiled. "We are more then ready, gwador nin." My brother)
Nodding, Aragorn motioned for them to follow him. Then the king, twins, the Ringbearers, the hobbits, Gimli, Thranduil and Erestor hurried toward the entrance of the tower, now within twenty yards of their current position.
They heard the orcs and Celeborn's warriors engaged in a fierce battle and knew that now was their best chance to enter the fortress undetected. Elladan and Elrohir went first, followed closely by Aragorn. The twins were quick to dispatch any orcs they caught sight of in the entranceway.
Once they had penetrated the fortress, they had to figure out where Graelath and the prisoners were. They didn't have to do much searching, a loud, painful cry sounded from above and they looked at one another, recognizing the voice.
Legolas! Aragorn raced in the direction of the cry, not bothering to confer with the others. Luckily, Elrond was able to grab his arm and pull him to a stop. "Adar? Why did you stop me? That is Legolas, he needs our help!"
Elrond put a finger to his lips. He didn't have to explain why. A company of orcs, apparently responding to the battle outside, rounded the corner Aragorn had just been about to run around. The king looked at his father in shame before drawing Anduril and slashing out at the nearest orc.
Thranduil, unbeknownst to the others, was still reeling from the shock of hearing his son's pained cry. While he was slashing away at Orcs, his mind was flooded with unbidden images of Legolas, writhing in pain.
His attention firmly held elsewhere, he missed the Orc swipe at his back. Feeling the bite of the cold scimitar, he cringed and arched away from the pain. Spinning on his heel, he relieved the Orc of its head and looked around.
Cries of the dying and the clashing of metal filled the dimly-lit corridor and soon the Orcs were all slain. Aragorn re-sheathed his sword and motioned for the others to follow him now. He wished he knew if Legolas was all right, but he had heard nothing since the initial cry. In a way that is good, perhaps he is not being hurt anymore. Or...he didn't want to think what that 'or' might be.
Thranduil hid his injury and hurried after Aragorn and the others.
Meantime...in the torture chamber...
Legolas knew he would lose consciousness if Graelath didn't let him down. The Elf was weak beyond his normal capacity. He desperately needed time to recuperate. He was worried about Arwen, hoping against hope she was not badly hurt from Graelath's magic.
"Well, looks like you have taken about all you can handle, Elf," the wizard said, putting down the spiked contraption he had been holding. Gesturing to Moroch and the other Orc, Graelath motioned for them to take the Elf down. "Bring him back to the Queen's chambers; let them nurse each other's wounds."
Legolas slumped to his knees as soon as the chains were undone. He was harshly pulled to his feet, the ruthless jerk sending spasms of pain through his injured shoulder. He cried out loudly, not caring if anyone heard him anymore.
The wizard laughed as Legolas was dragged out of the room. He was barely able to remain upright as the Orcs took him back to the tower room. They shoved him through the door and he fell to the floor with a soft thud.
Hearing the door shut and bolted behind him, he tried to raise himself up but found he didn't even have the strength to do that.
"Legolas!"
Arwen fell to the ground beside him, gently easing him to a hunched over sitting position. His eyes traveled over her, coming to rest on the burnt dress and the nasty burn on her stomach. "Are...you...ok?" he managed to ask through his pain.
She nodded, avoiding his gaze. "Fine," she muttered. "But you need to rest. You are bleeding all over! That wizard will pay dearly for this!"
The prince didn't answer. He knew that Aragorn and the others should be here soon and he would need his strength back to make it out alive. There was still Graelath to take care of; Legolas wouldn't leave until the wizard was dead or captured.
"Is there any water?" he asked, shaking his head to stave off unconsciousness. Now was not the time to pass out as much as he might want to.
Arwen nodded, stood and hurried to get the water that the wizard had left her earlier.
Gratefully, Legolas drank the water as Arwen held it up for him. His hands were shaking and he was still breathing too fast for comfort, but the water soothed his parched throat. Turning his head to the side, he gasped a little and said quietly, "I am going to need your help, Arwen. I won't be able to get out of here in this condition."
Without hesitation, Arwen began to strip the tattered tunic from the prince's back. She cringed, seeing the devastation that the whip had caused. Then she uncovered the bleeding shoulder wound and a small gasp escaped her. "Oh, Legolas!"
He gently grasped her hand and pulled her around in front of him. "Don't you dare blame yourself for what happened to me," he said strongly. "It was my choice to come here; you might even say my destiny." His thoughts flickered to his sister, but he quickly shut them down, not wanting to become distracted by memory.
To her credit, Arwen smiled. "All right, mellon nin, I will not blame myself. But you will let me help you." She reached down to the hem of her dress and proceeded to tear the bright blue fabric into strips that would serve as bandages.
Looking over the Elf in front of her, Arwen decided to tackle the wounds in order of the most serious to the least serious. Her eyes fell on the stomach wound and she sighed. "I wish I had some herbs to use. I will clean these as best I can with only water, then I will bandage them and we will hope that you recover quickly."
Legolas did his best to remain silent and steady while Arwen cleaned and wrapped his wounds. Soon, the water was red tinted and there was a pile of soiled dress strips. But Legolas was no longer bleeding profusely and he felt a little less light-headed.
Glancing at Arwen he smiled. "Hannon le, mellon nin." Thank you, my friend.
Arwen nodded lightly. "Can you heal yourself?" She hated to prompt Legolas to drain his energy anymore, but she knew that Aragorn was nearing and that the prince would need to be able to function.
A small grimace crossed Legolas' face. "I don't think so, not without help." He was about to change the subject when he felt a breeze. There were no windows; no where for the breeze to have come from.
Gweluthand. Can you help me heal myself? I do not have the strength to do it alone.
For a moment it didn't seem like he would get an answer, but suddenly he felt stronger. Arwen gasped and took an involuntary step backwards. "What is happening?" she asked, looking at her friend with wide eyes.
Legolas' brow furrowed. "Gweluthand is lending me the strength to heal myself a little."
The look on Arwen's face turned from uncertainty to curiosity. "Oh, so that is why you are suddenly glowing. There is a beautiful pale blue light to you. I thought something was wrong for a minute."
The prince didn't answer. He lightly placed his hand on his dagger wound and let the words flow, closing his eyes as he felt the power surge through his body. Soon, he moved on to the shoulder wound. He would heal these two and deal with the whip wounds on his own.
Arwen looked on in silence, a small smile on her face. She knew they would be all right. They had to be because Legolas was going to make a wonderful uncle. Her hands traveled down to her stomach and she cringed a little when they came in contact with the burn.
While Legolas was busy, she stole a look at the wound. It wasn't that bad, the burn, but the impact had been intense. Pain suddenly ripped through her and she gasped lightly, looking up at Legolas to see if he had noticed.
When she saw he had not, she frowned. I shouldn't feel sudden pain like that. I hope there is nothing wrong with the child.
"Arwen?" His voice broke her from her thoughts and she looked up sheepishly. "Are you all right? You seemed lost in thought."
For a moment, she didn't answer. The hesitation worried Legolas. Pushing himself to his feet, he hurried over to where Arwen was now perched on the bed. "Arwen?" he looked at her wound and sighed. "Anírach i dulu nín?" Do you want my help?
The Queen focused weary eyes on Legolas. "You are not strong enough, Legolas. I will be fine, it just stings a little; that's all."
Frowning, the elf prince shook his head. "At least let me clean and dress it Arwen. In your haste to help me you have not done either."
She acquiesced and Legolas set about his task, being as gentle as he could. As he was cleaning the area, he noticed a darkening bruise and his eyes drifted up to Arwen's face. She wasn't looking at him, instead staring off into nothing. He chose not to worry her.
The bruises did worry him, however. Bruising usually means some sort of internal trauma. If she wasn't pregnant, I wouldn't be so worried. I hope the child is not harmed; I will have to watch her.
When he was finished, the two sat side by side on the small bed and waited, neither one able to go to sleep, yet neither able to try to escape either.
Aragorn, please hurry. I can not take another session like that, Legolas thought to himself as he shivered in the dark room.
A/N: Seeing as I am likely to get in trouble for updating at all...I couldn't in my right mind put up any more. I hope you all enjoy this bit and I hope me and Phoenixqueen can get a hold of one another to work on other updates....
-Gwenneth
