Disclaimer: see chapter 1

Chapter 2: Broken

The air was thick, dense, and still, as if waiting for something to happen. The trees seemed tense as if waiting for something to happen, nature was still. Yet to a mortal all seemed peaceful till a pain filled scream broke the thick silence of evening. Arwen Undomiel could no longer take the pain, she had been beaten and tossed aside like an old rag doll. She had fought hard against her captors, but she could not fight her weariness, there were many more of them and only one of her. Ralan their leader had told his minions the orcs to put a necklace on her and if she resisted beat her.

The necklace was no ordinary necklace, it was a necklace of darkness. It was as if darkness radiated from it, the necklace almost seemed to suck in the light around it. Arwen being of the eldar sensed this and it frightened her, never before had she seen an item that seemed this dark except for the One Ring itself; but that had been destroyed during the war of the ring. As soon as the necklace was placed on her the pale skin it seemed to burn her. Arwens whole body seemed to burn with pure agony, which slowly seemed to increase. A black haze passed over her vision. All Arwen could think of was that she was going to die and leave behind her beloved husband. Just when that thought went through her mind, Ralan walked over to her and the pain stopped and the haze was gone.

"I see, my little trinket, has been doing its job," the man paused for a second as if thinking, "You should be proud to wear such a beautiful piece of jewelry. It was forged long ago in the first age; it was forged by a dark elf. I must admit I never before thought that an elf could create something so dark."

Arwen cringed at the thought of a dark elf, and at that moment she so badly wanted to strike out at the man that had forced such a dark object upon her. Suddenly the sky clouded over and a thunder bolt streaked out of the sky and hit the ground of the clearing only a few feet away from where the man was standing and as quick as the storm had come it was gone. Arwen gasped.

"Ahh... I see my trinket has done its job," he emphasized has.

Arwen started at him blankly. "You see this necklace that you have on amplifies ones natural abilities," he paused and Arwen looked up at him curiously. "as well as ones natural darkness, and as you know everyone has at least a little darkness for who has not been tempted by riches or glory. This necklace will slowly turn you to darkness like it has down to others. You shall become powerful too for your natural abilities as an elf are already strong. You will be able to control the trees around you, bend their wills to your, make flowers bloom in spring and many other things and there will be nothing to fight against your awesome power, Nothing will stand in your way!"

Arwen spat at him "I will not use these 'natural abilities' as you call them, and never would I dream of forcing the will of what the Valar created to my own. I would as soon kill my husband as control and contort what has been free since the beginning of time. And I will fight the darkness of this necklace to my last breath!"

Ralan smirked, "You will see darling, darkness will take over your life there is no use fighting it, just embrace it will make it much faster ad less painful for the both of us. I wish I could help you but I must take my leave now, I will leave you unbound is this forest unable to leave, until your husband finds you."

Arwen's bonds were cut but she only stood there as Ralan mounted his horse and rode deeper into the old forest.

Hours later Legolas awoke to find him self lying on the forest floor. For a moment he was confused, till his memory hit him. Legolas was surprised that the orcs had not taken him with them, but then again, they were not normal orcs. Legolas looked down at his hand and saw that he was holding a note. He quickly figured that this was the note that he was to deliver to Aragorn. Strangely enough his horse Aglir was still in the clearing. Legolas quickly mounted his horse and in a cloud of dust rode off.

Only three days later Legolas was at the gates of Minas Tirith. Legolas was still awed by its beauty every time he looked at the great walls; it was quite beautiful for a human city. At the seventh gate Legolas got off his horse and put Aglir in the stables, no one questioned him for everyone knew that he was a good friend of the king.

"Esta eithel mellon nin," he whispered to his horse. The horse neighed happily in response. Once inside Legolas rushed off to his friend's chambers, no one stopped because most thought that he might be the only one to be able to the king out of his depression.

Arwen had now been missing for over a week and the king had not left his chambers, everyone was worried for him. Aragorn had barely slept or eaten since the Lothlorien elf had brought the message that Arwen was missing. He was too wrapped up in his worry to notice that someone had entered his room. Legolas tapped his friend on the shoulder "Estel are you growing soft lazing around in this palace all day?"

Aragorn looked up to his friend with tired silver orbs and gave Legolas a weak smile, "Maybe I am Legolas, but it is good to see you again mellon nin."

Legolas could tell that his friend had not slept or eaten in the last few days, but he did not get a really good look at his friend for Aragorn had hung his head and his hair veiled his face.

"Aragorn I have brought you a letter from Arwen's captors," Legolas stated quickly and handed over the letter.

Elessar,

I have your wife, do not worry I shall not harm her in fact I am letting her go with a little gift, a necklace actually. I hope you find her before any of the wild things do, but I do not think they would pose a threat to her and her new found powers. Well don't let that worry you, I think it would be best that you go find her. Oh you might like to know that I have left her at Parth Galen.

-Ralan

The look of grieve left Aragorn's eyes and was replaced of one of raw hatred, he passed the letter to Legolas. "We must leave at once Legolas, this... this... man who has taken my wife, he must be punished...." Aragorn trailed off.

"Aragorn the man who took Arwen was no ordinary man he spoke elvish and I sensed a great evil around him, and you my dear friend are not going to fight anyone or anything when you look like you have not slept in a week, you must rest before we leave," Legolas pointed out.

Aragorn seeing no way out of this argument conceded "I see..." with that Aragorn lay down albeit some what reluctantly, and slowly fell into deep sleep.

Legolas was finally able to get a good look at Aragorn once he had fallen asleep.

He looks as though he has done nothing except sit and done nothing but lay around grieving for someone who is not yet gone, I am quite surprised he has not left yet to go save her. Maybe he was just waiting for me to come, maybe...

Legolas pulled out of thoughts when someone tapped on his shoulder, he turned around to find Aragorn dressed in his ranger garb. Legolas gave him a questioning look.

"I just woke up a few minutes ago, and got changed; I did not disturb you for you looked deep in thought." Aragorn answered the unasked question.

"I did not realize what time it was, I guess I was just worried for Arwen,"
and you Legolas added mentally, "I guess we should be leaving now than."

"Yes, I packed my bags earlier, before you came. I packed a few herbs and bandages, but I pray that we shall not need them." Aragorn said as he pointed to a few saddle bags in the corner.

A few minutes later in the stables, Aragorn had saddled his faithful horse Roheryn and Legolas had already mounted his horse Aglir. It was early in the morn yet the city gates were open and they quickly rode out of the city unaware of the danger that awaited them.

To Be Continued