Chapter 7: Prisoners

Aragorn had started riding his own horse again, a day after Arwen had been turned, but he was not yet at full strength, and he was still quite weak. Legolas himself was worried about what state they would find Arwen in; would they even be able to break the spell of that accursed necklace? "Aragorn?" Legolas asked trying to get the ranger's attention.

Aragorn didn't answer, but Legolas hadn't expected to get an answer. Though his body may have been healing his mind was ravaged by the fact that Arwen had basically abandoned him for the darkness. Aragorn had barely said anything in the three days since his mind and body had been attacked by Arwen's darkness. Aragorn may not have said much but Legolas could see in his eyes the despair of losing Arwen to the darkness.

"Aragorn, we are nearing Lake Evendim, please speak to me, or at least acknowledge that we are at the right spot," the pleaded hoping the man would come out of his reverie.

"Hm, we are in the right spot, just over the next hill," Aragorn whispered, and silence descended upon the man and the elf once again.

Legolas, was surprised the man had answered at all, Aragorn had only seemed to have spoken in the last twos days when muttering incoherently to himself about his wife.

"Estel, look at me," Legolas deftly maneuvered his horse over to Aragorn's, and cupped his chin in his hands forcing Aragorn to look at him. Aragorn's eyes were clouded and pained; Legolas almost flinched at the sight. "Estel, stop despairing over one who is not lost, have you lost all sense?"

Aragorn struggled away from Legolas' firm grip, "No, No I have not lost all sense its, just that, that I do not think we will be able to bring Arwen back from the shadow. I can feel her in my heart and I can tell she does not want to be helped…. But I guess, I guess I should not give up so easily."

Legolas sighed –He must start paying attention to what we are do or he will get himself killed, why does he have to worry about Arwen when she yet lives?--. Legolas banashied that thought as he crested the hill top below them was a vast orc encampment, there seemed to be two tents set up at the center of the camp. He heard a soft gasp beside him; it seemed that Aragorn had been paying attention. Legolas scanned the terrain below and realized none of the orcs were even looking there way, especially since they were not known to be in the area. Legolas was not one to take fool chances though, slowly he backed his horse away from the top of the hill, Aragorn followed. "Legolas how are to free Arwen from the encampment?" Aragon almost sounded almost frightened.

"I do not think that the orcs intend to harm, for I saw her down in the encampment, talking with the orcs, it was an odd sight to behold," Legolas reassured his friend.

"I think we will have to creep into the encampment when night falls, and hopefully not get caught. But I fear that that shall be hard, for I think one of the tents at the center of the camp is where Arwen, beds at night." Aragorn had already devised his plan.

"I agree with you that would most likely be the best course of action. I also think it would be best if you let me scout the camp first, than I will know where to lead you, a clumsy adan through the camp," with that Legolas climbed a nearby tree, to wait out the few hours to nightfall and Aragorn gave a small chuckle as he wearily leaned against a tree and dozed off. He had recovered much strength in the two days on horse back he was still not up to full stamina. It was surprising how much damage one small attack of darkness could bring.

Elmoroth knew Aragorn was close now, she could sense him but she would send no orcs after him until he came to her. She would let him have his fun trying to sneak up on her and catch her. Oh how it would be fun to break his spirit, to make him weep over what was lost. Elmoroth let out a cackle. She would order, the orcs not to touch him and ignore him, so her 'Oh so beloved' husband could get a glimpse of her. She laughed again, than she would capture him and break him. With one last laugh she strode out of her tent to arrange it all.

Legolas nudged his friend, "Aragorn, night has fallen, wake yourself. I have already scouted the camp," Aragorn let out a small moan, "Oh come on you lazy human get up, we need to hurry."

Aragorn opened his eyes, "Ok, ok I am getting up, you do not have much patience for an elf."

Legolas held out a hand for his friend, and pulled Aragorn up. Silently they descended the hill making their way to the edge of the orcish camp. "Every five minutes a guard passes here, so we must hurry," Legolas whispered to his friend, and Aragorn nodded. Legolas led them a winding path through the sleeping orcs. Aragorn stumbled over an orc, he held his breath, but luckily it did not wake. Finally they made it near enough to the tents to see Arwen's silhouette. Aragorn let out a sigh of relief, seeing that she was still alive and breathing. Quietly they stalked over to the tent; Legolas pushed aside the entrance flap and stepped in. There was a soft twang, and a bolt from a cross bow flew across the tent embedding itself in Legolas shoulder; he had no time to react. His body jerked slightly as the bolt hit him but it did not matter the bolt had been lanced with a heavy sleep inducing drug and before he took two steps he was out cold. Aragorn had heard the soft twang, he ran in to see what the sound had come from. He had only a second to gaze at the scene before him, Legolas lay on the floor unconscious and Arwen stood across from him, a crossbow hefted on her shoulder. She smiled wickedly at him "Good night husband," she released the bolt.

The bolt hit its target in the right shoulder; Aragorn stumbled back gasping "Oh Arwen I am so sorry." But he could say no more the drug already had a grip on his mind and he dropped to the ground, in a deep state of unconscious. Arwen smiled, she had captured them and soon she would have her fun.

Aragorn awoke groggily, he felt as if he had drank too much the last night, which he thought was odd since he knew he had not drank anything. Slowly his memories came back to him of the night before and he cracked his eyes open a sliver. Opening his eye's seemed to be no easy task, but sliver by sliver he forced his eyelids up. Finally looking around he found himself on a small patch of grass by the lake. He saw Legolas on the ground beside him, he seemed to be a mass of purple bruises, he had taken a gruesome beating. Aragorn tried to get up but he found himself lashed to a pole, so he could not move to aid his suffering friend. At least his friend was not awake to endure the pains of his beating. A soft laugh alerted him to another presence in the clearing, but the presence was behind him so he could not maneuver himself to look at it. Arwen stepped into his sight "Arwen," he whispered longingly.

"My name is not Arwen, you filth it is Elmoroth," she snapped, "And if you call me Arwen ever again I shall personally teach you a lesson!' She was almost quivering with rage. –How dare that man address by that horrid name—

"El-Elmoroth," Aragorn tentatively continued, "I wish, I wish that you had not forsook all that you love…loved, I wish that I could look into your love filled eyes one time more." He sighed brokenly.

Elmoroth brutally kicked him in the side, he was trying to sway her, with his…his 'loving' words. She would not be swayed so easily, Elmoroth cackled "You weak man you shall take those words back and wish you had never come here by the time my little orcs are finished with you… and do not think I do not know what would cause you the most pain," she cackled once again, "After all I was your wife."

"I know you're better than this Arwen, I can not believe you let that filthy necklace tarnish your once shinning heart!" Aragorn said disgustedly trying to hide his pain; Arwen had said he had been her husband. That sliced deeper than any weapon ever could have.

"Do what you wish to them, but keep them alive you orcish scum!" Elmoroth walked away.

An orc stepped out from the woods, he was followed by others, he smiled wicked, "W'ill 'ave some fun wit you 'uman, and your elf friend too."

Aragorn was untied and viscously slammed to the ground. He anxiously watched Legolas from the corner of his eye, the elf had awoken but he looked as though he was in grave pain. The orcs pushed Legolas to the ground and the elf started to cough up blood, Aragorn knew that was a bad sign. "No stop do not hurt the elf, I-I will take his punishment for what he has done if he has done anything wrong at all."

The orcs laughed cruelly "Well since you think that way 'bout it your little elf friend, 'e will get double the beating 'n you'll get teh watch." Aragorn was shoved closer to his friend just as the blows rained down upon Legolas' already beaten body. A booted foot between the man's shoulder blades kept him on the ground. The elf did not flinch but his eyes showed the pain that he was in. His mouth was compressed to a thin line holding back wails of pain. Legolas weakly reached out to his friend Aragorn grasped his hand tightly and the orcs laughed, but Aragorn gave weak smiled to Legolas as a silent tear leaked from his eye, leaving a path in the dirt that covered his face. The orcs laughed harder and Legolas lost consciousness.

"Ah the little elvish boy is already out, that wasn't any fun, I think we should go the work on that human boy," grunted an orc.

A metal tipped boot impacted Aragorn's side, viciously forcing the human to release his friend's hand as he curled in around his side to protect himself. The blows continued to fall on the man's body, not once did he wince or moan in pain. Aragorn never looked away from his friend until his tenuous grip on consiousness eluded him and fell in to a painless oblivion.

Elmoroth sat in her tent contemplating what to do with Aragorn. She knew he could not be broken by physical pain, she knew she would have to hurt him mentally and she knew just the way to do it. She ordered an orc to bring Ralan to her tent.

"Yes my Lady," Ralan said mockingly as he entered the tent, he did not enjoy being ordered around by a woman, even if he did love her.

"You, you!' She slammed her fist on to the sturdy mapping table, then adujested her skirts and seemed to be in control of her emotions once more. "You, Ralan shall be my key to breaking my husband," Elmoroth stated with a vicious grin and started to explain her plan.

To Be Continued...

Ahahahahaha and I thought I woudl never update again.