Disclaimer: See chapter 1.

Author's Note: Okay two warnings on this chapter. Violence, and a cliffhanger. (Hmm those words seem to go together. I'm ducking now.)

Dangerous Shortcut

"When will you be leaving?" Lord Elrond asked at the evening meal, after being told that his youngest son would accompany the Prince of Mirkwood home soon.

"In a couple of days Ada." Was Aragorn's answer.

"Lord Elrond." Atavus spoke then.

"Yes Atavus." He said looking at the woman knowing what she would say. He had seen this night coming for a few months.

"I wish to accompany Legolas and Estel to Mirkwood this time, that is if you do not have any pressing tests you need to run in the near future." She had been very cooperative when it came to the many tests he had run on her blood, and healing powers.

Lord Elrond seemed to be thinking for a moment, before answering. "I have nothing that I need you to be here for, but are you sure you are ready to visit one of the other elven realms?"

"Yes I would very much like to do so. You aren't concerned about me being trouble are you?" Even though Lord Elrond had shown great faith in her while she lived there, and never questioned her motives for staying, she still wondered how much he really trusted her.

"No, I don't believe that you would be any trouble to King Thranduil. I honestly believe that you might be a breath of fresh air in his kingdom, but I worry about your own unresolved feelings about yourself." He tried to assure her.

"I thank you for your concern Lord Elrond, but I believe that I am at a good place when it comes to my own thoughts about myself. I have accepted the fact that I am different than everyone else, but I am much more than what I was born, and only I can determine what my own future holds, and what I may accomplish, or become." It had taken much time, and a lot of support from her friends to get to that point, but it felt so right to be there.

"You don't know how your words encourage me." At that moment Elladan and Elrohir entered the dining hall not hearing Atavus' words. "Ah just the two elves I wanted to speak to. Your brother and Atavus will be accompanying Legolas home to Mirkwood in a few days. Do you think you would mind going along?"

Atavus had not expected him to ask the twins to go along. She didn't understand why he would do such a thing. He knew they didn't like her. Maybe he wanted them to keep an eye on her after all.

"Ada, normally we would love to, but the cellars are in need of stocking, so I don't think we should leave right now." Elladan made an excuse not to go. He did not want to spend weeks traveling with her either.

"Actually I wanted a letter to be delivered to King Thranduil, that I should receive a reply to. I thought maybe you could go with them, stay a few days to rest and then come back. I know Estel and Atavus will probably stay a few months. I think the cellars could wait a few weeks, and there are other hunters in Rivendell." Lord Elrond wanted them to go desperately. He knew the polite silence that hung between his twin sons and Atavus was the real reason she could not stand to stay in his home any longer. He hoped that if they spent more time with her maybe they would see what Legolas, Estel, and even he was able to see, and if he had to he would force them together to do so.

Elrohir nudged his brother's side when he realized that Elladan was going to make another excuse. "Of course we'll go for you Ada."


They started over the high pass through the Misty Mountains, on foot, a few days later. Atavus felt uncomfortable at first traveling with the twins. She kept silent for the most part, but Estel and Legolas soon drew her into the conversation. They told her more tales of their misadventures, some of which included the twins. She was soon bent over in laughter more than she stood upright.

"Estel you can't be only twenty-two years old. You have done too much, and gotten into enough trouble to equal that of a full grown elf." She finally commented after a particularly funny story.

"I assure you he has done everything we have spoken of today in the last twenty-two years, and it has been the longest twenty-two years of our lives." Elrohir said smiling at her for the first time.

She had almost missed the barb at the end of his statement, because she was taken back by the smile he had bestowed on her. For a while there she was sure neither twin knew how to smile. "I guess time has slowed to a crawl since your family adopted Estel then?"

"Yes it has." Both twins answered in unison.

"You know the person you are speaking of is here with you." Aragorn said feigning hurt feelings. "I liked it better when you two weren't talking to her." He didn't mean the comment, but unfortunately it served to remind the twins that they didn't like Atavus. He could have kicked himself when he saw the dark looks return to his brother's faces.


"Well there are two ways we could go now." Legolas said to Atavus as they entered the woods at the edge of Mirkwood. "We can take the Old Forest Rode across Mirkwood then head north up the River Running and cut back to my father's realm. It is the long way around but the safest route."

"What's the other way, and why is it more dangerous?" Of course she had to ask.

"Well we can leave the road here and head north-east until we cross the Forest River, then follow it straight home, but there are so many dangers in Mirkwood, even in the parts closest to my home, that I am always cautious about taking newcomers that way." Legolas explained.

"Legolas I lived in Southern Ithilien for twenty years. I am used to dangerous woods." Atavus reminded him.

"All right. What do the rest of you think?" They had all been the way Legolas spoke of before, and no one disagreed. It was a much faster route. "Okay. Through the woods we go."

They had traveled for half the day killing Mirkwood's giant spiders as they went, when suddenly Legolas stopped. "What is it." Aragorn asked.

"The woods are disturbed. Something is wrong here." Suddenly several of the large beasts dropped from above, one landing on Elladan's back. They all took aim killing as many of the monsters as possible, but it seemed that they had wondered too close to a nest. "Run." Legolas yelled as he realized their numbers were to great to defend against safely.

They all ran firing arrows as they went. Aragorn's sword swung through the air slicing spider legs, and body parts as fast as he could. They were too occupied with the threat behind them to realize that they were running into another even deadlier trap though.

Elrohir was the first to stumble into the clearing. He stopped immediately realizing how much trouble they were truly in. His moment of shocked indecision was all that was needed for the orcs to get the upper hand. When his friends and brothers entered the clearing a moment later they were shocked to see Elrohir kneeling on the ground being held upright by his hair in the hand of a disgusting orc who held a knife to his throat. They could see a dark bruise forming on the side of his face where he had been struck to keep him quite.

Atavus counted at least thirty orcs in clearing. They could never take that many, especially with Elrohir in the position he was in. More orcs came up behind them closing off any escape they might have had.

"Drop your weapons, or this one dies." The orc holding Elrohir spat at them.

They wanted them alive. The thought sent a sick feeling through Atavus. If she had been alone she would have fought to the death, never willing to be their captive again, but with her friends to think about how could she not do what she was told? She threw her bow, sword, and dagger into the pile of weapons that the others had made on the floor of the clearing.

"What are you going to do with us. I didn't think orcs in these parts took captives." Elladan asked as an orc stepped up and bound his hands behind him.

"Things change. The master wants to talk with elves. So we bring him elves." The one who had held Elrohir said pulling him up and binding his hands also.

Legolas couldn't believe he had made such a mistake in leading them this way. If they had taken the longer route this wouldn't have happened. He put up a struggle and it took four of them to bind his hands.

Estel likewise had struggled and ended up with a bloody gash on his forehead for his effort, along with bound hands.

The orcs grabbed Atavus last thinking she would not struggle. She couldn't let them take her without one though. She dropped to the forest floor kicking her leg out tripping the orc that held the rope. "Don't touch me." She hissed. Two more orcs rushed her. She dodged the first kicking him in the gut, but the second landed a sound blow to the side of her face. This fazed her for a moment, which was long enough for the one she had tripped to gain his footing, and strike her in the mouth, busting her lip, which immediately began to bleed. Finally the three orcs managed to bind her hands.

The one who had busted her lip grabbed her chin digging his fingers in harshly. He had an evil grin on his face that did not bode well for her. He suddenly leaned in and licked the blood off her lip. She immediately tried to push him back and spat in his face at the same time. A strange look passed over his face.

"Captain. You need to see this." A particularly hideous creature turned at the orc's words. Atavus froze at the site of him. How could it be? She hadn't seen him since Mordor. Uglúk was its name. It had been one of her main tormenters from Minas Morgul.

"What is it, you idiot? Can't you do something as simple a binding the hands of one elf woman by yourself?" The orc captain said moving over next to them.

"There's something wrong with this one." The orc said. "Taste her blood."

"There is to be no tasting. The master's orders." The captain answered hitting his subordinate.

"Sir, just taste it. It's not elf blood." The other orc cowered now.

Uglúk touched his finger to Atavus' bleeding lip then tasted the blood. Then to everyone's surprise he started to laugh. It was an evil laugh that sent chills down her spine. "Well what do we have here? I know that blood. I've tasted it many a time. How is it that you still live Throwback?"

The word was like a slap in the face. The fear in Atavus' eyes was replaced by pure rage. "I don't know. Lucky I guess. How's that cut on your hand I gave you Uglúk?" She taunted him.

He then used that very same hand to strike her in face again. "It healed just fine. Just as well as you always healed after we beat you." He then turned to his subordinates. "We have a rare treat here boys. This here is a freak. It was born by orcs, but you see it looks like an elf. And best yet, no matter how much damage it takes, it heals within a day. Back in Mordor we had lots of fun playing with it. Now it looks like I got my favorite plaything back again."

Legolas and Aragorn had been standing back watching the exchange, but now they both fought to get free. Their struggle just bought them more bruises, but they could not watch as there friend was tormented so. "Leave her alone. I thought your master wanted us in good condition." Legolas tried the ploy to protect her.

"Ah but you see we have at least a four day walk to Dol Guldur. I can play a lot between now and then and she will still be in good condition when we reach the Master. You remember the Master don't you Throwback? He's the one who gave you your name. He'll be pleased to see you again." The orc captain taunted then ordered his troop to move them out.

They were bound together in one line with Elladan first, then Elrohir, then Atavus, followed by Legolas, and Aragorn. Elrohir looked back towards Atavus. "Who is their master?" He could see the haunted look in her eyes.

"The Lord of the Nazgûl, the Witch-king of Angmar." She whispered.


Aurthor's Note: Yeah, two chapters in one night.I'll see if I can get another one up tommorow night. I will give one warning though. The following chapters will contain alot of pain and torture, and some scenes might become quite graphic. So if you got a week stomach, you might want to stop here. Idon't actually believe this will deter any one from reading on, butno one can say I didn't warn ya.