Chapter Sixteen

While Legolas was sleeping, Elladan sat wide-awake staring at the stars. He was puzzling himself with the way he was reacting to Daralis' disappearance. He felt dry- as if he was constantly in need of satiation, but couldn't find it.

He also felt furious. He knew what orcs could do, and he knew what Daralis was wearing. He recognized the silk he had found from the gown she was wearing the night they had had their first kiss. It drove him mad to know that she as somewhere all alone, afraid, and without protection. He yearned to be there for her, to be her protection.

Elladan's thoughts strayed to the argument that he and Legolas had had nights before.

'I would take care of her, Legolas.' A lot of good he had done there.

By Elbereth! He was consumed by rage, both at the fiends who had taken his princess, and at himself.

He paused suddenly, reviewing his thoughts to himself. He was slightly startled to hear again in his mind the words that claimed Daralis as his. He slowly began to realize why he was so bothered by the situation. He had fallen in love with Daralis, and had yet to tell her.

And if she came back ruined like his mother had, she would never truly hear the words once he said them.

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Daralis was by herself, with her hands bound behind her back. It was cold, dark and she was terrified. She hadn't eaten anything her captors had given her, mostly because of its smell, and the little water they had given her left her with an upset stomach.

She kept replaying in her mind the dream that had come to her the night she was taken. The fact that her mother had been right gave her a reassuring feeling- Rhiannon was watching over her now, and probably had been for some time.

Physically, she hurt. Her wrists were chafed from the rough rope binding them, and her shoulders hurt from their prolonged position. Her arms were bruised from where she had been snatched, as were the inside of her thighs from the fierce gallop away from Imladris.

She heard a female voice coming closer, and perked up. Perhaps she was finally being rescued.

They entered her cave chamber, and spoke in Elvish.

"Ah, Princess Daralis." Daralis immediately knew that she was not being saved; the malice in the voice was too potent.

"At last we meet."

"Who are you?"

"Who are you, is the more important question. And the fact is that you are a key element to my plan. My name is Ontare."

"Why do you want me?"

"Because you are your father's daughter, of course."

"But what do you need me for?"

"I am not unintelligent, Princess. You wish for me to reveal my plan? I tell not even the Orcs who obey my commands."

"Why do they obey you if you're an Elf?"

"Because Orcs are asinine. They despise cruel beauty, unresponsive beauty, yes, but if beauty approaches them with what they think is desire and kindness, they are forever slaves. Can you not see?"

"I'm not from here. I don't understand."

"Orcs were once Elves, stupid girl! They were tortured out of their beauty. They hate those who retain what they have lost. And I do not blame them."

"But you take advantage." She received a harsh slap to the face that snapped her head to the side.

"Do not question me, brat. You know nothing of the world you live in, and there fore should not pass judgement. We are sending a messenger shortly with the ransom note."

"The sentinels in Mirkwood and Imladris will be heightened. Any messenger of yours would be killed."

"You are not clever enough to challenge my plans. You have no idea who I hold under my grasp. The messenger we have is not Orcish. She is an Elf."

"From where?" Daralis asked, incredulous.

"Mirkwood. I believe you know her."

"Who is it?"

"A certain Lady Imsiriel."

"WHAT?!" Daralis stood, with some difficulty. "How dare you rip her from her land?! My grandfather will think she has something to do with this, and he'll have her executed!"

She was slapped again.

"Don't ever raise your voice to me, brat. But you are right. Thranduil likely will think that she has something to do with this. And he certainly will have her executed once your father receives your cadaver." With that, Ontare turned and left, leaving Daralis to sink back down to the floor again, sobbing.

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A/N:

pipinheart: Actually, there aren't guards. Imladris is surrounded by a natural guard- when an enemy steps into the river at its border, they are swept away. For example. If Liv Tyler hadn't taken the role of an awesome Elf in the movie (Glorfindel), we would have all seen that what happened, even though you think it's her, was not because of her, and was a result of the force behind Imladris.

(If you couldn't tell, I'm not angry at you, I'm pissed that they both took away an awesome role and gave Liv Tyler way too much fucking credit. Sorry for the language. I get a bit too worked up. :) I'm okay now.)

Jennifer Bloom : You're super-cute and funny. :)