I know it's moving a bit fast, and I'm updating like a tornado, but trust me. Just go with it, and I know it seems like all my others so far, but remember, chapter 6!!! And I'm updating so often because I know that pretty soon I won't be able to update at all. So enjoy while it lasts!

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Although Legolas had lost track of the days that passed, but he knew that it had been over a week since he had been captured. He had counted to ten days before all grasp of time slipped from his mind. He had not seen another living being since then, nor had he been given any food.

He started as the wooden door opened, and a woman walked in, setting something down on the table. She strode to the cell, but stayed outside. She looked down on the lithe form of the elf, who sat against the back wall, hugging his knees to his chest.

"I am so pleased that you are here, Legolas. Well, have you learned your lesson?"

Legolas shot daggers with his eyes, but did not move or speak. She only nodded.

"That's an improvement. Not witty comeback for me, Legolas?"

Still the elf did not speak. The woman shrugged, and sat down at the table. Legolas looked over out of curiosity. She was dipping bread into a steaming sort of stew, and eating it slowly. After a few minutes of this, the human finally looked at Legolas. "Oh I'm sorry. Are you hungry?"

The elf prince looked away, trying desperately to not smell the food. As if deserting him, his stomach growled loudly.

"I think you are. You could ask me for some."

Legolas again looked at her, raising an eyebrow but remaining silent. He was not going to beg for food. Even his angry stomach could not make him stoop so low. She got the point. "Suit yourself."

Legolas watched angrily as she continued to eat, until she was finished. Finally, she stood. "I'll be back sooner or later."

Legolas looked away in disdain as she purposely dropped a piece of bread outside the cell, but just within the elf's grasp. "Shame. I guess it's yours now."

The wooden door clanged shut again. The elf would not even look at the food so near to him. He would not take food off the ground, table scraps that would normally be given to a dog. Perhaps centuries of being royalty had not done him many favors, but he would not drop his pride for a piece of bread. The woman could just come back in and throw it away herself.

He finally glanced towards it. He was hungry, and there was food sitting just next to him.

Shaking his head, Legolas stood and walked to the other side of the cell. He was not a dog!

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Elladan sat in a tree branch far above the forest floor, and just inside the borders. He could barely see the city from this far away, though he did see every person on the road leading to it. Aragorn still had not returned.

It had taken longer than the elf thought it should have to reach the city, and longer still for Aragorn to complete his mission. He had to admit, he wasn't very sure that Legolas was even still alive. The men had captured him to find out where Mithfalas was hiding, or so Aragorn had said. Legolas would never tell, and had probably died from beatings for it by now. He wondered how to deal with Estel if it turned out that way, or Elrohir for that matter.

He tried not to be so pessimistic, but he hadn't heard anything in days.

Elrohir, back in Mirkwood, was feeling the same way. He was staying in the king's gust quarters, mostly to ensure that Thranduil didn't start a search party, but he expected to hear news by now. He wished everyday for a messenger just to say that his two brothers had left for Gondor. More days passed and still no message came.

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Aragorn was sitting in the corner of a bar that he had become quite familiar with. He was listening carefully to people's conversations, but trying also to remain unnoticed. He had a very strong feeling that Legolas was in the city, but he had picked up no leads. No one had ever even heard of Mar, or they were doing a great job protecting him. Either way, Aragorn was growing frustrated. He worried for his friend, though he was positive that Legolas was still alive. He would know if the elf has been killed.

"You know Jeralin's old gang, they're like that."

Aragorn's head snapped up at the words of a man passing by him towards the door. Slyly, he stood and followed them at a respectful distance.

"Most of 'em disbanded after they killed Jeralin, didn't they? Merithol fled. He says he was going to search for that dratted elf, but he fled. Everyone knows it. Berin left too, with a group of his 'slaves.' Jeralin's death stopped any of their attempts at destroying Mithfalas, didn't it?"

The second one finally spoke. "Except that young one. What was his name, Mar?"

Chills went down Aragorn's spine. This was it, he was getting somewhere.

"Oh, I forgot about him. Didn't the Boss hire him? I think she did. She wants Mithfalas' brother dead as much as we want Mithfalas dead. I heard he died a few years ago up North on one of his missions. Who knows who the boss has brought in now." They stopped walking, and Aragorn felt odd. He slowed his pace, but the two men turned to him.

"Can we help you?" The second one asked.

"No, thank you, I'm just passing through."

The first on snorted. "Following us is more like it. What business have you, ranger?"

"Well, to be honest, I am looking for the boss that you speak of."

"Why?"

"I have heard that she is the only one still interested in finding Mithfalas, and I thought I could be of service to her."

The two natives looked at each other. "And how would you be of service to the Lady?"

"Because I know where Mithfalas hides."

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Legolas did not even respond as the door was pushed open again two days later. Whoever it was would only torture him again, and throw more food on the ground for him to beg. He would not do it.

The man who entered noted the now stone hard bread on the floor, and took in the much too skinny elf. He walked into the cell, reaching out towards the elf, but he pulled away.

"Legolas."

The prince turned his attention fully on the man near him. "Estel!"

"Sh, I go by Cemendur here." He smiled at Legolas. "I couldn't think of anything else, sorry. I brought food."

Legolas looked up, and stole the plate from him. He began eating greedily, not even noticing what it tasted like.

Aragorn was slightly shocked. "How long has it been since you've eaten?"

Legolas shrugged. "Two weeks, maybe. I'm not really sure." The first words he had said in two weeks.

"By your choice, I see."

Legolas looked at the bread still outside his cell, then up at Aragorn. The human nodded. "I wouldn't have taken it either."

"How did you find me?"

"It wasn't easy," Aragorn said distractedly. He was looking Legolas over for any visible wounds, but he saw nothing. He wasn't sure if that should worry him. "I just listened to people talk. This town hides people very well. That woman hired me to work for her."

Legolas paused in his eating. "She doesn't recognize you?"

"I aged, Legolas. You, unfortunately, had no such luck. She doesn't recognize me."

Legolas shook his head. "She's not stupid, Cemendur."

The ranger rolled his eyes just as the man who had captured Legolas walked in. Legolas shoved his plate away.

With the ever-present smile, he walked towards the cell. "I see you've met Cemendur, dear Prince. He tells me he knows where your brother hides himself."

Aragorn winced imperceptibly. The elf shot a glance at his friend, and couldn't help feeling betrayed.

"However, he says he does not know the way, and I've never heard of the town. That's where you come in."

"I will not take you there."

In a flash, the man had Legolas pinned to the wall, his hand wrapped around the slender throat of the elf. Aragorn stepped forward to help, but stopped himself. He couldn't give away his cover, not this early.

"Sherock, if you injure him he will not show us the way." He was slightly worried by how little the elf fought back.

Legolas nodded, remembering the name, and fully recognizing the man. He knew Sherock was a guard of the Lady's, but now, Legolas remembered that he was one of her main guards, the one that tortured him so brutally the last time he had seen Her.

"I will not greatly injure him, just give him what he deserves. You need to leave, Cemendur."

Legolas tried not to panic, and he tried not to feel even more betrayed when Aragorn obeyed. The ranger gave him an apologetic look, but closed the door behind him. Aragorn had left him to this man. He had left Legolas.

Sherock put his thumb on the prince's chin, redirecting his attention. "I warned you last time, Elf. I would turn you over to my guard, if not for the fear that you would be traumatized into not speaking. I need to find Mithfalas, and you are the only one who knows how to get there. You will take me, or I will let the word spread that you will die, and he'll show up for you. Either way, he will die and you will live on with the guilt of it. I'd finish what food is left. It is the last you will receive until I am ready to leave. But before I go, I owe you a little humiliation."

He punched Legolas in the stomach, causing the elf to bend forward. From there, he pushed the elf to the ground, and had his hands tied behind his back before Legolas could react. The elf, weakened from the lack of nutrition in his system, had very little energy to fight back. Within a few minutes, Legolas was shoved into sunlight in a small courtyard that resembled his own in Mirkwood. There were two poles erected in the middle of the area, and at least fifty people around.

Sherock leaned forward and whispered in Legolas' ear. "You humiliated me in front of Cemendur, and so I shall return the favor." He pointed at someone in the crowd, and Legolas followed his finger.

Aragorn.

He tried to deny it before, but now he knew.

His best friend had betrayed him.

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Reviewers: Ah, I love you guys!

Deana: Aw, even more poor Leggy's here, I'm sure. Lol, glad you liked! About the other story: Thanks! I guess we'll have to see if they reconcile, huh? (Funny, I think I mention that in this story. . .)

Lindahoyland: If anything's confusing, just ask. I'm glad to explain anything and everything! Thanks for the review!

Arayelle Lynn: Lol, Thranduil has to be going insane by now. No Mithfalas, but check out my latest story. . . it's a vignette with tons of him!

Faerlain: There's more of that relationship to come, I promise! I want to send you a good picture, but I'm waiting to get the artist's permission. Is there a website for it or something, lol? I don't know these things, no one has ever made a fanclub out of one of my characters before. And yes, he is buff and fit!

Sky: Thank you, I try!

Smurffy: YES! GUESS WHAT? ::throws confetti:: You are the 100th "Poor Legolas!!!!!" I am so glad you like! Thank you for that review!

Jazi: Wow, I think I updated just so that I could get episode two! Ah, man, I was laughing so hard!