Disclaimer- Don't own LOTR or any of the characters.
A/N- My mouth hurts… I had four novocaine shots today… and one of them was injected into my muscle… but enough about me! Here's the second chapter!!:D
Chapter 2- Talk is Cheap, Freedom isn't
The leader stopped and spoke. "Let's make camp here." He walked over to Legolas and kicked him. "Wake up, worthless rat!"
Legolas groaned, but he didn't open his eyes.
"Tie it to that tree." The leader motioned to a tree, about thirty yards away. "I don't want to see its face anymore. I'm sick of it."
The man that held Legolas' chain dragged him to the tree. He tied the chain around the trunk and took Legolas' weapons. He then walked back to the center of camp.
Legolas opened his eyes. Everything was blurry, but slowly, it cleared up. He felt the tree behind him and he saw vague shapes of men in the camp.
"Look, Hesid, it woke up." A man, roughly shorter than Legolas, walked up to him and prodded him with a stick. "Think we should feed it?"
"Let it starve." Hesid, the leader, spoke coldly, "It'll be easier to tame."
The man held out some bread in front of Legolas' face, just beyond his reach. Legolas turned his head, pretending he wasn't interested.
"Hungry?" The man teasingly moved the bread back in front of Legolas' face. Legolas shot him a vicious glare.
"You can't eat anyway! Boss' orders!" The man took a bite out of the bread and chewed it with relish, feigning it was the best piece of food.
"Dernid, stop teasing it!" Hesid ordered.
Dernid reluctantly walked away from Legolas and sat down next to the fire.
Legolas surveyed his situation: a ring of men, heavily armed, sitting around a fire, he was tied to a tree, he hadn't eaten anything since morning, an annoying gag was in his mouth, and above all, he was now weaponless. Great… how am I going to get free now?
Hesid approached Legolas and drew his knife. He placed the knife on Legolas' throat and pushed until blood trickled down his neck. "You'll do everything I say, and won't talk back." He withdrew his knife and held Legolas' chin firmly in his hand. "Got it?"
Legolas didn't reply. Do everything he demands? Not a chance…
"Stupid creature…" The man's voice trailed off into cussing while he walked back to the fire.
Legolas' thoughts drifted back to Mirkwood and his ada. A silent tear slid down his cheek and stained the soft earth. I may never see my ada again… More tears spilt on the ground.
"Look at me! I'm an Elf!" Hesid mockingly pranced around the fire. The men laughed and hooted.
"Ai! You need to be more primly than that!" Dernid slapped his thigh. "They act like this!" He started to walk around with his chin held high and his shoulder blades touching. The men laughed even harder. Some were choking for breath; they'd been laughing so hard.
I don't walk like that! Legolas snorted angrily.
"Aww! Look, we've gone and made it angry!" Hesid continued to mock the Elf.
Best not to pay any attention… it won't do any good… Legolas drew his knees to his chest and rested his chin on them. I should try and sleep. Something tells me that I'll have a lot of walking to do tomorrow.
The men continued to mock the Elf deep into the night. "The Elves think that they're so high and mighty!" Hesid swung a bottle of beer in his hand. "But who's high and mighty now? Who puts those stupid creatures in their place? Who? Who?"
"The men!" The company cried in delight.
Legolas wasn't able to fall asleep until later into the night. The men sickened him.
The night's hours slowly ticked by and Legolas awoke. He'd fallen asleep when all the men fell over drunk. The sun's rays warmed the heart of Legolas.
The men awoke and most of them looked groggy and spent.
"On yer feet, men!" Hesid ordered. "We still have many leagues ahead." He walked over to Legolas and untied him from the tree. Legolas was brutally dragged to his feet by the chain. "You'll walk or be dragged." Hesid warned. He led Legolas to the center of camp and ordered Dernid to guard him. The company breakfasted, and Legolas wasn't even given the smallest bite of food. Legolas took his mind off food, knowing that he wasn't going to get any. This gag has got to come out! Legolas tried to spit the gag out, but it was too big. Stupid thing…
Hesid and the company finished eating and they wanted to start again. Legolas ran after Dernid, whose turn it was to pull Legolas along. He knew the consequences for lagging; run or be dragged. He wasn't in the mood for either.
The company halted for the afternoon.
"We should reach home by nightfall." Hesid announced.
I need to escape. Legolas was exhausted. When they're resting, I'll try to sneak away. Legolas was led to a tree, like a horse, and tied to it, like a dog. Forget that idea… Legolas slumped down and drew his knees up to his chest. I'm treated like an animal. Legolas rested his chin on his knee. Actually… I think an animal gets treated better than me… Legolas' attention was now on his empty stomach. It's been a day since I last ate anything… Legolas again attempted to spit the gag out. He was getting annoyed and frustrated with it. I can't get it out!
"Here." Hesid threw some bread on the ground by Legolas. "If you can get that gag out, then you can eat it." He turned on his heel and left.
If only I could get this gag out… Legolas was getting desperate. He scraped his mouth against the tree bark. After awhile, the gag was lying on the ground and Legolas was debating on whether he should eat the bread or not. He decided it was for the best if he did. He soon found himself picking the bread up with his mouth. Disgusted, he ate the bread, but moments later, he wished he hadn't. He was feeling lightheaded and drowsy.
"Fell for it, didn't ya?" Hesid walked up to the drugged Elf and laughed. "Stupid creature." He chortled before untying Legolas from the tree. "On yer feet!" He pulled Legolas to a standing position, but Legolas fell down again. "Now!" He yanked the chain up and Legolas gasped for breath. He was roughly shoved to stand up. "Walk!" The man shoved Legolas forward. Legolas stumbled with each step and sometimes he tripped on the chain.
"Run, men, we'll be there tonight!" Hesid yelled.
Legolas was lagging behind. The bread's affect was slowing his body. He stumbled and fell forward.
"Ai! We'll never get home with it laggin' behind!" Dernid complained.
Hesid harshly kicked Legolas' side. Legolas moaned and was pulled to his feet by the chain.
"Get movin'." Hesid ordered.
Legolas' head spun. He needed to rest, or at least get a drink of water. He ungracefully ran with the rest of the company.
Tbc…
A/N- ada is the Elvish word for dad.
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