Disclaimer: If I had 10 billion dollars do you think they'd sell me Aragorn and Legolas? Doubt it. Anyway they're not mine. Too bad.

Author Note: To manveri mirkiel you have me blushing. I'll send you a truckload of tissue, bless your wonderful soul. Well this is only the second time I've written anything with torture in it, but I'm finding that I enjoy it. (That did not sound right. I mean writing it. I don't like torture itself.)

And thanks for pointing out that I wasn't accepting anon reviews. I didn't even realize it. So for anyone reading this you can submit anonymous reviews now. And if anyone wants to Flame me go ahead. I don't really care, but I would prefer constructive criticism. I'm trying to improve my writing, not just get a big ego. Just don't Flame my other reviewers. (That makes me as angry as an orc.)

And as far as Uglúk goes, I'm trying to develop his character for a surprise later on, but am having problems with how to write what I want. So we'll see how that shapes up.

And as far as updating slower, I don't know. I've thought about it, but when I'm writing it just flows out so fast, and the next thing I know I've got a chapter done, and I feel that it would be mean to hold it back just so I can get more reviews. It seems mean to the readers to me. Maybe I'll try making the chapters longer so it takes me more time to write it. I really could with the stuff that's coming ahead.

And as far as Atavus' mantra, ever since I read Dune for the first time the mantra thing has been just a cool concept to me.

Karone Evertree: I'm not sure if you really want the torture to be over or not, but unfortunately for our favorite characters it's far from over. But don't we love them more when we hurt them? (Maybe I should duck now)

I do have a question for my reviewers though. Does anyone feel like I'm rushing the scenes a little? Maybe not adding enough descriptive material, such as not enough descriptions of scenery and such. Maybe I'm being paranoid, but I feel as if I'm missing something. Any ideas?

Okay my Author's note is almost a whole page long. I think that's more than enough. Anyway on to our show, (oops I mean the next chapter.)

Dol Guldur

Atavus was unconscious most of the night. Her friends did not sleep much. None of them wanted to see the horrendous acts committed on her repeated in their dreams. Legolas' arm had not been retied, and he had tried in vain to free himself. He spent most of the night holding Atavus close willing her to make it through her torture with her heart and soul still intact. He had seen the cold look she had adopted the night before. He knew it was what she had to do to remain sane, but he was afraid that even if they survived to escape their captors she might never be the carefree, fun-loving person she had been before.

It was still very early and all of the orcs except for a sentry were still asleep. The sentry was watching them, but he was too far away to hear them. Aragorn could see the look of despair on his friend's face. "Legolas she has withstood worse than this before we ever met her. She became the person we came to care for after that. When we get out of this mess she'll be the same as before."

"How can you be so sure of that? What if it becomes too much for her?" Legolas asked still remembering her eyes as she was beaten the night before.

"Because he has faith in me." She whispered opening her eyes.

"How do you always know when we are talking about you?" Legolas asked shaking his head in astonishment.

She just shrugged, which sent a spasm of pain through the shoulder that had been stabbed the night before. She realized that she was half laying on Legolas who had one arm cradled around her shoulders. She knew that if they had been that way all night that his legs and arm must be asleep, by now. She attempted to sit up slowly, but his grip on her shoulders tightened. "Let me sit up Legolas." She whispered again.

"No you're too weak." He disagreed.

"I'll be okay, but you won't be able to walk if you can't feel your legs." The look on his face was so dark and serious. She smiled at him reaching up and touching his cheek. "I'm still me Legolas." She could see unshed tears in his eyes. She hated that they were for her. "Please don't cry for me. Smile instead. Your smile can heal any pain in my heart mellon-nin. You and Estel are the reason I stopped being that cold and uncaring thing that you found in Ithilien. I spent many years in the dark, but you two introduced me to the sunlight. I will not forsake what you have given me. Though I may seem at times to be cold and uncaring, it is just what I have to do to keep both my sanity, and my dignity. Don't fear for me."

Legolas did smile then as he pulled her into a fierce hug. He no longer feared for her soul, but until this was over he would continue to fear for her life. He helped her sit up then. She flexed her aching limbs and checked over the cuts and bruises she had received. They were all healing nicely. When she inspected the long cut running down from her shoulder and over her collarbone she noticed his face go even paler than normal. She could see his hand was trembling. "Don't blame yourself for this Legolas." She looked at the others who were all looking somewhere else but at her. "None of you hold the blame for what that monster did to me. Look at me." Her voice went a little louder but not loud enough to wake the orcs. They did one by one look at her. "Whether any of you were here or not last night, the outcome for me would have been the same. He is using me to inflict emotional pain on all of you. I know that. But if any of you let yourselves feel guilt over what happened he has accomplished exactly what he set out to do. That means he wins. The only way any of you could let me down, or disappoint me is if you let that vile creature win. I won't let him win."

That night when they stopped Atavus was surprised that she was left alone after the orcs meal. She wasn't sure what it meant for her. Uglúk saw her staring at him. "Don't worry Throwback. I haven't forgot you. We reach Dol Guldur tomorrow morning. It would not do to bring the Master a damaged present. Tonight you get a reprieve, but after the master is through with you, you'll wish it was me playing with you instead." Her happiness at not being tortured that night was replaced by the dread she felt at the thought of being in the presence of the Witch King again. She remembered the icy feeling his presence had sent through her soul. She had always been cold while in Mordor and even after in Ithilien. She had found that the time she had spent in Rivendell had diminished that feeling, and for the first time in her life she felt warm. She made a mental note to expect the coldness to return the next day.


The captives stood outside the gates of Dol Guldur. As they approached Atavus began to shiver. She knew it was because the Witch King was so near. Legolas was walking behind her, and could see the slight tremble in her shoulders. "Atavus?" He whispered her name not wanting to draw attention to them.

She glanced over her shoulder and could see the worried look. "Cold." She whispered back to him. While she was living in Rivendell they had discussed the unnatural cold feeling she had always felt while near Mordor. He had told her that he had felt the same way the first time he had met her. That feeling had gone away though the further they had got from Mordor, for both of them. But now Atavus could feel it sneaking back into her soul. "It's the Witch King's presence." He just nodded once. He too was beginning to feel chilled.

The band of rowdy orcs led them into the fortress. As they did so many other orcs pressed forward to see the group of captives, which started several shoving matches, between the returning orcs and the ones who were already there. The orcs that had brought the master such a fine gift, were sure to be rewarded. The other orcs being jealous of this bands good look were not happy. One commanding voice was heard over the melee as a full out brawl was becoming inevitable. "Back you maggots. Back. We captured this scum for the master. The first of you to touch them will lose your heads." It was Uglúk. The other orcs were afraid of the high-ranking captain, and stood back letting him and the others pass.

The captives were lead to a cell in one of the lower levels, where they were all manacled to the wall. They still had not had the opportunity to try an escape. There were hundreds of orcs in the fortress, making the odds of escape almost impossible.

"Atavus do you have any idea what the Witch King will want from us? I thought he just wanted to destroy the elves." Elladan broke the silence that had fallen over all of them.

"I have an idea, but I am sure that the walls here have ears, so I will keep my ideas to myself." She said out loud, but then mouthed the word "home" silently. Elladan nodded understanding her meaning. It made sense. With two Noldor elves in their midst, it would not be hard for the Leader of the Nazgul to figure out where they had come from. After a few more moments of silence the cell door flew open and several orcs pushed their way in and crossed over to where Atavus was. One unlocked her manacles and jerked her up roughly.

"Leave her alone. Haven't you had enough fun with her yet? Try one of us instead." It was Elrohir.

"Wait your turn maggot." One of the creatures said spitting at the elf. "The Master wants to see her first."

Atavus knew she couldn't get free of the orcs. There were just too many of them, but it did not stop her from kicking, and scratching the entire time they drug her through the halls towards the Master's chambers. She was pushed through a large metal door and then shoved down to the ground in front of a figure she had wished never to see again in her life. She looked up at the wraith, which was completely covered from head to toe in black. She could not see inside the hood that covered it's face, but no one ever did. She tried to imagine what the creatures true form was, but the thought just sent shivers down her back

"Why you are right." It hissed to the orc captain standing beside it. "It is her. I thought we were rid of her many years ago. But now I am so glad to see her again." The voice seemed to come from everywhere, as if the wraith was projecting its own voice throughout the room.

"Well girl are you not glad to see me again?" The voice seemed as if it was inside her own mind.

"The welcome has not exactly been a warm one, so what do you think?" She knew she should keep her mouth shut, but the thought that the creature actually believed anyone would want to be in its presence was just too much.

"My, my, she still has that biting tongue, doesn't she Uglúk?" The creature just laughed evilly.

"Maybe you would like me to remove it?" The orc answered drawing his dagger.

"No, no, no, I want to have a conversation with this one." It said seriously, taking a seat in an ornately decorated chair. "You traveled here with three elves and a human. Who are they?"

"I don't know. I met them not too long before the orcs captured us." She lied easily.

The Nazgul looked to the orc who shook his head. "Let's try this again. Two of them are Noldor elves. They are from Rivendell. So you must have been there with them. How do I get into Rivendell?" The voice was becoming louder in her head. She clasped her hands over her ears, but it did not block the voice out.

"I don't know." She whispered.

"This is no use. I can take the information I want from your mind. Unfortunately for you there won't be anything left of your mind when I'm done." The creature stood quickly, going towards her. She tried to retreat across the floor, but was blocked by the orcs that had brought her into the room. The wraith grasped each side of her head in its gloved hands pulling her face to within inches of it's own. She stared into the hood and was sure that if hell existed its own fires were in the two haunting eyes she could finally see.

She knew she had to get control of herself. She felt a searing pain in her temples, and knew that the creature was penetrating the first layers of her conscious mind. She pushed one thought to the forefront of her mind. The creature could see the picture in her mind of her killing the orc captain. When it tried to push passed the image it found a blank wall. No matter what way the creature turned inside her mind it came against that blank wall. The only conscious thought she had was of killing the orc, and she was completely blocking her subconscious mind from him. He threw her to the ground shaking with rage. "How can you do that? You have no training. Your mind should be an open book."

She did not know how she was able to do it. She had known she could when she had allowed lord Elrond to read her thoughts, but she had never considered the fact that she shouldn't be able to. At that moment though she did not care about the 'how or why'. She just wanted to be away from the creature whose voice echoed in her mind.

The orc came up beside his Master and whispered something to the wraith. He calmed immediately and nodded to the orc, who left quickly. "You may be able to block your thoughts from me, but when I'm through, you will be begging me to listen to the information you hold." The wraith said, and she could hear the smile in his voice.

When the door next opened Atavus' heart sunk. Another group of orcs were dragging a struggling elf in. It took a moment for Atavus to determine that it was Elladan, the older of the two twins. She didn't realize she was shaking her head. The Nazgul directed the elf to be chained to the wall facing them. His tunic and under-shirt were removed.

"I know my captain here has had some fun with you over the past few days, but that is over now." She could see the disappointed look on Uglúk's face. "You and I both know that no amount of pain and torture I could inflict upon you will make you talk. But can you stand to see those you care for suffer?" The Nazgul remembered what it was like to torture her. She never made a sound.

Those were the words she dreaded the most. For a moment she was back in Minas Morgul listening to the screams of her dwarf friend, as the orcs tortured him. She had broke then, would she break again? She kept silent not trusting the strength of her own voice.

"Let's start with something simple." He nodded to the orc captain who retrieved a leather whip from a table to the side of the room. He struck the elf's ribs first.

She quickly tried to stand wanting to stop what was happening, but two orcs pushed her back to the floor. She was forced to her stomach and her hands were bound behind her back. One of the orcs placed a knee on her shoulders, while another sat on her legs. She had no way of getting up. Her face was turned to the side so she could see what the orc captain was doing. She watched in horror as Uglúk struck Elladan over and over again. The red welts started to bleed after several lashes. She could see the look on Elladan's face. He wore the same blank look she had worn as the orc tortured her. She wanted to scream out to the Nazgul to torture her instead, but she was afraid of what would cross her lips if she opened them. Would she betray Rivendell?

"You can stop this. Just tell me how to get into Rivendell. He will suffer no more." The Nazgul's voice was soft now, not abrasive, but she knew it for a lie. Even if he did not torture Elladan anymore it would hurt him more if she betrayed his people. A small whimper left her mouth as she closed her eyes, but they snapped back open with the next strike of the lash on the elf's chest. He looked at her, and slightly shook his head. She recognized the look. It was the same one she had given him when she hadn't wanted him to say anything. She made no noise but mouthed the words 'I'm sorry' as the orc continued to lash him.

He was in terrible pain. His chest, ribs, and stomach were on fire. Each lash hurt more than the last. He wanted to scream, but Estel had told him of how Atavus' dwarf friend had been tortured, and the screams still haunted her. He wasn't sure if she could bear to hear him scream. For her and for Rivendell he had to force himself to painful silence.

The Nazgul soon became frustrated with the fact that neither of them made a sound. After the elf lost consciousness he ordered him to be returned to the captive's cell, but he had Atavus taken to his own private dungeon, which was not far from his chambers. The room was a four-foot by four-foot hole that when the door was sealed was locked in complete darkness and silence. Atavus curled into a ball on the floor, and for the first time since this ordeal started, she let herself cry.


Elladan was thrown on the floor of the captive's cell. The others in the cell were horrified to see the state he was in. One of the orcs looked to them and asked, "Are any of you a healer?"

"I am." Aragorn said immediately.

The orc removed his manacles. "The Master wants him healed. A slave will bring supplies." Then the orcs left slamming and locking the wooden cell door.

Aragorn immediately took his brother in his arms. Elladan's eyes opened. "Estel."

"Shhh. Save your strength." He said looking at the many bleeding welts covering his torso.

Elladan ignored his words looking around. "Atavus?"

"She's not here. They just brought you back." Legolas answered.

"What did they do to her?" Elrohir asked. Seeing his brother in such a state made him wonder what they could be doing with her. She had been gone so much longer than Elladan.

Elladan shook his head. "They didn't hurt her."

Legolas and Elrohir were astonished at his words, but Aragorn knew what that meant. "They made her watch, didn't they?"

Elladan nodded. "They wanted her to tell them how to get into Rivendell. She didn't. I don't know where they've taken her."


Meanwhile in the slaves kitchen a young human approached a dwarf whose hair and beard had turned gray prematurely from the hard life living as a slave of Mordor. "Garin."

"What do you want boy?" The dwarf said gruffly. He liked the young man, but he was busy. He was in charge of the slaves who created the blood ale that the orcs loved so much. He knew that the demand would be higher now that another band of orcs had returned from the northern patrols, and they were behind on production.

"Don't bite my head off. I just learned something I thought you might want to know." The young man said feigning hurt feeling.

"Spit it out, Laston. I haven't got all day." The dwarf said scowling at the youth.

"Well I saw that new band of orcs come in. They locked four elves and a human in one of the cells." That was nothing new as far as the dwarf was concerned, but he waited for the young man to continue. "Well I just thought you might want to know that one of the elves was a woman, with red hair." The dwarf stood from his seat immediately. There weren't very many elves with red hair. He knew it to be true, and he had never given up hope that someday he would find the friend he thought he might have lost. After the orcs had tortured him they had took him to an orc camp far from Minas Morgul. They had told him that she was dead, but he never believed them.

"I need to get in that cell." The dwarf said heading towards the door.

"She's not there. They moved her to the Master's private cell. I'm sorry Garin I tried to get down here as soon as I could, but I couldn't leave the cell block early." He was assigned to take care of the prisoners, but he had many other duties too. "The only reason I could get away now was because I am to get healing supplies for one of the elves. They tortured him."

The dwarf rubbed his forehead in agitation, trying to figure out what to do next. "Laston, you must do something for me. When you take the supplies back talk to the prisoners. Find out what her name is."

Laston entered the prisoner's cell with the healing supplies. He walked quickly to where Aragorn was kneeling by Elladan. "I'm sorry. This is all we have." He placed the items on the floor next to the elf. "Can I help you?" Aragorn was suspicious of the offer, but took it just the same.

As the young man helped him he introduced himself. "I'm Laston. I'm assigned to take care of the needs of all prisoners."

"Laston can you tell me where they took the woman who was with us?" Aragorn asked.

"She's in the Master's personal cell. It is near his chambers, and no slave is allowed near it." He answered.

Aragorn nodded. "Thank you for telling us."

"Can I ask you what her name is?" The slave asked.

Aragorn immediately became suspicious. "Why do you want to know?"

"I friend of mine wants to know." The slave answered.

"Then I suggest your friend ask me himself." Was Aragorn's reply.


Author's Note: There had to be a dwarf. Dwarfs and Elves go together so well don't they? Honestly I liked the character of Garin so much that I couldn't leave him dead. Next chapter will be up in a few days.