Disclaimer: See chapter 1.

Review Responses:

invisigoth3: I'm trying my hardest to imagine Ugluk as happy go lucky. Not. The evil grin gets in the way.

Karone Evertree: I have to admit there is much more to the new characters than anyone might imagine.

Slayer3: And you shall have more.

manveri mirkiel: You just think too much like me. I guess that's why I made your character a throwback like Atavus. Oh but there is much more to Manveri than anyone knows yet. No I'm not telling. As far as Atavus' age I'm thinking of her at about 1800. I'm not sure why but that seems like a good age. Not ancient for an elf, but not young either. I see Atavus to be about 24 in human years, which is slightly younger than where I would put Legolas. Manveri has just reached adulthood, say around 18, and Van I would put at about 8. I have found very little concerning how elves age, so I am just doing this on a wing and a prayer. In other words guessing.

As far as Manveri turning into an orc, I don't think so. If you remember one condition that was present when Atavus started to change, was major blood loss. So hope I don't wound you too bad before you strike. Mrhahaha.

Yes I had to throw in some Legolas Gimli interaction. It's so much fun to watch.

Larien: I hate to admit it but I like this better than Healer too. What's bad is when I started writing Atavus' story Healer is what was in my head. But I got distracted and ended up with Blood and Journey first, both of which I enjoyed greatly. Now I'm back to writing typical Atavus with Brother, and I'm happy again. I think having a specific enemy like Ugluk is what makes these three more interesting than Healer. Anyway yes I have more planned for the throwbacks so it's back to writing again.

Lintered: I never tried the diversion tactic. I always managed to find a legit reason to skip. Came in handy when you got caught.

mindless drone: My own words from chapter 6 of Blood For the Taking

I think I should make a statement before I go any further. I know I am picturing the three friends as becoming very close, but this is not a romance. I am writing friendship only. Now let's see if we can find out how our friend Aragorn is fairing.

Does that answer your question? And I do not want to offend you, but can you please refrain from using the word shagging when speaking about my characters. I don't believe this is an Austin Powers fanfic. I really think that the friendship between the three is much more important than romance, or sex. Sorry if I disappoint you.

Sneaking

As Aragorn and Legolas entered the drainage tunnel running under Minas Morgul Legolas could not help the coughing gesture the smell caused. "Aragorn you do take me to the best of places mellon."

"It is just smell. It will go away eventually." Aragorn defended.

Legolas looked down at the brackish water they were wading through. "Eventually."

"Would you like me to tell Atavus that you changed your mind about rescuing her because the smell offended you?" Aragorn suggested.

"If offensive smells determined who I spent time with you and I would have never have become friends. Shall we move on?" Legolas suggested after the veiled insult.

Aragorn knew his friends worry was behind the need for friendly bantering. He understood that. What else could explain the conversations he had overheard between the elf and dwarf during times of great distress? And since the dwarf had been left behind the bantering had been passed on to him to continue, which he gratefully obliged. "Prissy elf." He whispered just loud enough.

"Smelly human." He heard from behind him. He just chuckled. Then raised his hand for quiet. They had come to a grate in the ceiling that had light shining down upon them. Small amounts of water and what looked like blood dripped from the grate. They could hear speaking.

"Is that meat finished yet? They are getting rather loud out there." A woman's voice was heard.

"If you can call it meat yes." A voice answered the first.

"Hey if they like, and I don't have to eat it why should I care?" The first voice came back.

"True." A soft chuckle left the second woman.

At that point the two left and Aragorn pushed up on the grate. It took all his strength to move the rusted metal. After climbing through the hole and replacing the grate they looked around the room they were in. It was a kitchen. Dank, dark and dirty, but a kitchen nonetheless. There were two doors heading out of the room. One was in the direction that the women had left the room the other the opposite way. They decided to go away from where the women had went, but Aragorn paused for a moment as he noticed something familiar in a bowl on one counter.

"Ai, not even orcs can be that disgusting." He swore.

"What?" Legolas asked looking at the green look on his friends face.

Aragorn swallowed holding out the bowl so Legolas could see. The color drained from the elf's face. "Food must be in short supply." Legolas suggested turning away from the bowl of leeches.

Legolas led them out the door cautiously checking for any sign of movement in the hall. It was deserted.

"Why does it seem so quiet here?" Aragorn asked. He remembered the time they had spent in Dol Guldur. That fortress had been swarming with slaves and orcs. But Minas Morgul seemed almost deserted. "There were many orcs on patrol outside."

"It seems maybe they stay outside for the most part." Legolas suggested.

"Maybe. But why?"

Atavus sat next to the wall waiting for her strength to come back to her. Manveri and Van had left what seemed like hours before. She was completely alone. As her strength began to return she stood and made her way around the room she had been left in. She felt along the wall. There were chains with manacles placed every few feet on one wall. The next wall held the metal spikes she had been hung from earlier. She could smell old blood which she was sure was crusted to the wall. The other two walls were completely bare. She moved into the center of the room and found two tables. They were identical in height and build. They were made of stone and she could feel the leather straps attached to them. An eerie thought started to penetrate her mind. She was in the torture pit below Minas Morgul. Her first thought was that she was in a cell on the upper level, but no this was one of the pits, themselves. But where were the screams? Where was the sound of lash on skin? Where were those sounds she had learned to tune out when it came her turn to visit the pit? There were no sounds.

Except one, she thought turning towards the door as it opened. "Ah I see you are up and moving about." The orc voice resonated through the room. He could see that her hand still rested on the leather strap. "And you have found an old friend. Do you remember what it was like to be on that table? You have been here often in the past."

"I remember, but something is different now." She said moving her head around still wondering at the lack of sound.

"I can't imagine what." The orc said slamming the door behind him.

"Where are your other prisoners?" She asked the curiosity getting the best of her.

"You are the only one." He answered.

She could never imagine Minas Morgul without prisoners. She put her hand to her nose catching a whiff or something. Dust. The tables were covered with it. She said nothing wanting to think through what was in her mind, and speak to Manveri before she wondered aloud about the differences of this place.

"Now are you ready to tell me what I want to know?" He asked in an almost pleasant voice.

"Why do you want to know about me? The last I thought you wanted me dead. You've got me here. I'm at a distinct disadvantage due to my eyes. You could kill me and I wouldn't even see it coming." She was baiting him again. She couldn't let him know that she knew what he wanted.

"You keep managing to avoid my question freak. You talk around what I want to know. Never quite touching the true subject. I may be an orc, but I'm not an imbecile." He called her bluff.

"So you think orcs are imbecile's. What would your followers think of that?" She tried turning the conversation another way.

"They know what I think. They still obey. Things have changed. With no almighty master to rule they follow who ever is the strongest, and smartest. That would be me." She actually believed he was bragging to her. That was fine. She had an idea that would change his bragging tone.

"Have you ever wondered dear brother why you are so smart compared to the others? Why you are not content to follow, why you want to be the one in charge. You're not like them. Hell if you didn't look like one of them you'd be just like me. A throwback." She could hear the low growling sound emanating from him, but continued on. "Just think about it; your parents had two of us. You're the odd man out, so to speak. So who's really the freak?" She taunted.

She knew what her taunts would lead to, but they were the only way she could lead his attention away from the real reason he was questioning her.

She felt his hand grab her wrist and twist it. He had been quicker than she had thought was possible for an orc. She tried to pull free kicking out to defend herself, but he blocked the kick with a strong leg. She felt his other hand grab her neck slamming her sideways into the stone table. When her stomach impacted the table she began to see stars in her mind. Maybe she wasn't quite healed enough to take him on just yet she thought to herself. But his rage was still present and he wasn't done with her yet. With his hand still on the back of her neck he slammed her face into the stone. He let go of her then as her body slumped to the floor beside the table.

He could see that her eyes had closed. He hadn't wanted to knock her unconscious. She could not talk that way. He reached out feeling her chest. She was still breathing. At least he hadn't killed her. He cursed his own temper then, and he cursed her knowing then that he had done just what she wanted him to do. As he left the room he bellowed a name. "Manveri." He knew he wouldn't have to say anything else. The throwback woman sometimes knew what he wanted before he asked.

She rushed through the halls past him with her eyes down, heading in the direction he had come from. When she entered the pit she saw the unconscious woman on the floor. "Why do you try his temper so much?" She asked the unconscious woman as she pulled her body closer to the wall where a torch was burning.

"Because I can." The not so unconscious woman answered.

Manveri dropped her head startled and heard the thunk it made as it hit the floor.

"Ouch. I thought you wanted to help me not hurt me." She said reaching up rubbing her head.

"I thought you were unconscious. You scared me." Manveri said helping her sit up.

"I was, but for some reason I always know when someone's talking about me. My friends find it quite disturbing." She explained.

"I can understand. I'm assuming you don't want him to know that though." She asked.

"No that's something I think we should keep to ourselves. I think I'm safer when he thinks I'm completely out." Atavus agreed.

"Okay. Stay there. I need some water. You've got blood all over your face." Manveri said standing and heading to the door. The door wasn't locked and she thought maybe a warning should be given. "The doors on this level are never locked, but the door leading to the upper levels is, so don't go wandering okay. There's not much down here to see."

"Manveri there is no use you telling me that. I grew up here. I know how it goes. And what would I see anyway?" She said smiling slightly at the joke she made at her own expense.

"Nothing I guess." Manveri answered leaving the room.

Atavus reached up feeling her face. Her forehead was sliced where she had impacted the table. Head wounds always bled profusely she knew. She could feel the blood cascading down and into her useless eyes. She tried to rub the blood away, but ended up just making it worse. He eyes began to sting. She held the lids closed waiting for Manveri to return with water. She heard the door open again. "It looks bad this time Veri." She heard the boy say.

"It's not that bad Van. Clean the blood away and do some stitching and she'll be as good as new."

Manveri saw that she was holding her eyes shut tightly. "What's wrong?" She asked kneeling in front of Atavus.

"Got blood in my eyes. It stings is all." Atavus answered. "Stitch me up first otherwise the blood will just keep flowing." She suggested.

"Alright." Manveri answered wiping as much of the blood and dust away from the cut. "I don't have anything for pain." She said knowing it would hurt.

"Just stitch. Let me worry about it." Atavus said taking a deep breath clearing her mind.

"Okay." She answered pulling out a needle and thread from a small bag she carried. She went as fast as she could knowing that Atavus just wanted it over with. Ten stitches were all it took and she was confident that the wound would heal without a scar. "Now lets wash this blood away." She said taking a cloth out and dipping it in the cool water. She could see that Atavus' eyes were watering.

"Let me do this." Atavus suggested. She knew the cloth would only do so much towards removing the blood. She got to her knees and held her hair back as she dunked her face into the large pale of water.

"Well that's one way to do it." She heard Van giggle.

She opened her eyes under the water and used a hand to rub at them making sure to remove the blood. The stinging wasn't completely gone, but most of it was. She pulled her head out and sat down next to the wall again. Manveri handed her a cloth to dry her face with. As she pulled the cloth away she opened her eyes. And was startled to see light above her.

Manveri saw the movement of her eyes upwards. "Do you see something?"

"Everything was dark, but now I see the light." She answered looking around her to see if she could see anything else. Everything was blurry but yes she could see outlines of the two people with her, and the tables in the middle of the room. "By the Valar. How can this be?" She whispered.

Manveri paused thinking for a moment. "Those of us that heal can use their own blood to heal others. I've seen it. Maybe when your blood got in your eyes it did something to them. You said they were stinging."

"But there's blood all around your eyes, and in them. Why wouldn't they heal from the inside?" Atavus asked.

Van spoke up then with words that were simple, but made more sense than anything she could imagine. "Maybe the part that was damaged was on the outside."

"Maybe." She whispered. She just knew that with every passing second her eyesight became better. She gave silent thanks to Estë for the gift. But then she thought of something. "Please don't tell Ugluk. Maybe if he thinks I'm still blind it will work to my advantage." She begged silently to agree.

"Don't worry about us. We have no reason to tell him anything." Manveri answered.

"Thank you."

Author's Note: I think I just made alot of people very happy. Maybe.