Disclaimer: Unfortunately, none of this is mine!! *sob*
Title: Strike of the Serpent
Rating: R (For character torture! ;))
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Note:: Sorry about the lateness of this everyone! *ducks flying rotten cottage cheese* Wait!! Let me explain!!! As many of you know I have had the accursed writers block and have been trying desperately to get out more chapters on my other story, so this one had to take a backseat. But I had a lovely three hour drive during the week that gave me inspiration for this one, so here it is, fresh off the writing pad! Enjoy and sorry again!! :) Hugs to all, .:Tithen Min:.
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Chapter 4
Legolas was wrenched from his involuntary state of rest when a fall of ice-cold water hit him square in the face. He awoke, gasping and coughing, trying to sit up, but the pounding behind his eyes intensified and forced him back to the ground.
'I really have to stop getting hit over the head.' He thought groggily as his surroundings swam sickeningly in and out of focus. A part of his mind screamed at him that orcs were close, but he could not seem to move his arms… He groaned as he remembered why he could not move his arms and why there were orcs close by.
He glanced up as footsteps came closer and he found himself looking up into Grima's face. 'I am getting really sick of seeing him every time I wake up…' He thought, but felt much satisfaction upon seeing the bruises that shadowed both the man's eyes from the blow Legolas had dealt him. His nose was also clearly broken. The thought that Grima's head may be pounding as badly as his own today brought a smile to the Elf's face.
Grima scowled. "So you finally decided to awaken, little Elf?"
Legolas did not answer; glowering darkly at the man-an impressive facial expression he had learned from his father-and Grima lowered his eyes.
"You would do well to remember who is in charge here, Elf. That stunt you pulled earlier will not go unpunished." He turned to two large Uruk Hai and nodded. "Tie him over there."
The Uruks leered at Legolas, grabbing him by his bound arms and hauling him to his feet. They dragged him over in the direction of a thick pole of wood that had been driven into the ground. Halfway there, Legolas froze, his eyes widening in disbelief.
Lying several feet away, bound as tightly as Legolas, was Aragorn. A black-fletched arrow protruded from his shoulder and he was unconscious.
"Strider!" Legolas cried, using Aragorn's alias, knowing the wizard could not find out who he held, "Strider, wake up!"
His bruised throat protested, but he kept trying to rouse his friend, until one of the Uruks drove its fist into his already damaged ribs, driving the air from him. The other beast kicked his legs from under him and dragged him to the pole. They tied him facing the pole, his arms wrapped around it and bound tightly.
"You need to learn that I will not tolerate such behaviour from my personal slave," Grima hissed from behind him, tearing the cloak from his shoulders.
The Elf tensed as he heard the crack of a lash just before it tore into his back, leaving a line of fire in its wake. The Uruk's twisted rage fell full on him as Grima ordered them to punish him. Clubs, whips and iron boots struck him over and over, but he grit his teeth and refused to cry out.
A heavy boot struck him hard in the ribs, making him gasp for air as the lash came down across the base of his neck and Legolas could feel the blood from the welts running down his back and staining his tunic. His ribs were struck again, this time by a club and he let out a grunt as he felt more of them crack.
After what seemed like hours, Grima ordered them off. "That is enough for now. We want to leave some of him for the White Wizard."
The Uruks stepped back and let Legolas be. He spat blood from his torn and swollen lips, feeling pain flare in his ribs, telling him that at least one more of them was broken. Grima cackled at his pain, opening his mouth to speak further when a groan of pain from behind him caught his attention and he turned to where Aragorn was beginning to stir.
Aragorn's eyes opened blearily, but suddenly snapped into focus when they landed on Grima.
"You snake," Aragorn growled, his voice laced with pain.
"You are in a very bad position to be insulting your captors, Ranger." Grima shot back, "Unfortunately, you seem to be just like your friend here." He continued, stepping out of Aragorn's line of vision and the Ranger's gaze fell on the beaten form of his friend, who had been given back his cloak and was now tied facing him, and was still trying to catch his breath.
"Legolas!" He cried, struggling to rise, but the pain in his shoulder stopped him, leaving him gasping.
"Peace, Strider. I am well," Legolas insisted softly.
Aragorn curled in on himself, trying to deal with the pain. Legolas turned to face Grima.
"Release me," He begged, "Allow me to treat his wound or it will fester and he will…slow you down." He scowled at himself, before adding; "Please, he cannot be moved and I will not attempt to escape without him.
Grima seemed to consider this before nodding slowly. "Very well, Elf. But even attempt anything, put one foot wrong and he is dead, understand? I do not need you both."
Legolas bit his tongue to keep from saying anything he would regret, simply nodding silently. His bonds were severed and he stood carefully, his abused body screaming at him with every step.
Aragorn watched the Elf as he made his way towards him, knowing from the way that he held himself that Legolas was in more than a small amount of pain. The archer knelt beside him, putting a hand on his uninjured shoulder.
"Strider, what herbs do I need to treat you?" At Aragorn's quizzical look, he sighed, "I am not a trained healer like you, my friend, I am a warrior. Please, help me to heal you."
Aragorn's concern grew when he picked up the faint desperation in his friend's eyes, unaware of his apparent expendability.
"Sefferon and gammel leaf," The Ranger supplied softly.
Legolas nodded and rose, but was immediately grabbed by one of the Uruk Hai and pulled around roughly to face Grima.
"Where do you think you are going? You have not even touched the arrow!"
Legolas looked stoically back at him. "I need herbs and water to cleanse the wound." Grima slapped him sharply, causing Aragorn to cry out in protest at his friend's mistreatment.
"Do not take that tone with me, Elf!" The man grabbed his hair and pulled his head down, tying a rough length of rope tightly around Legolas' neck, handing the loose end to one of the beasts. "Gather what you need, but attempt anything and he dies."
Legolas' anxious gaze flickered to Aragorn. "You have my word."
Grima nodded to the Uruk and turned away as Legolas headed towards a growth of sefferon nearby.
Legolas knelt and pulled up the thorny plant with his bare hands, as his captors had taken his blades. The stinging barbs tore his skin, but he pulled it up, roots and all. The Uruk wrenched the rope and Legolas rose to his feet, gripping the plant tightly.
The gammel was slightly harder to find, but it was not long before they returned to camp, where Grima handed Legolas a water skin.
"This is your water ration for today, Elf. Use it wisely."
Legolas wordlessly took it and strode over to his friend, kneeling beside him and laying the herbs out on the ground.
"Here, chew this. It will ease the pain," he said hoarsely, handing Aragorn some limris root. Aragorn chewed on the bitter root and watched as Legolas poured some water into a hollowed gourd and began crushing and adding the leaves of the herbs he had gathered.
Legolas felt the Ranger's gaze on him and looked up. He held out the water skin and raised his eyebrows, "Drink,"
Aragorn took it from him, feeling how light it was. "But what about you? There is hardly any left, Legolas."
"Oh for the love of Eru, just drink it Strider. I will be fine," Legolas said, his own pain causing him to be abnormally sharp with his friend.
Aragorn sighed, drinking a little of the skin's contents. Legolas did not look up from his work, but gestured at him. "All of it,"
Aragorn inwardly cursed his friend's stubbornness as he tipped the water horn to his mouth and drained its contents.
"Happy?"
The Elf did not answer, instead holding out more limris root. "You will need it." He said softly. "I am sorry, Strider, but I must remove the arrow. It will hurt."
The Ranger nodded, chuckling slightly at Legolas' statement of the obvious. "I know."
"Chew the root and try to relax, my friend." Legolas said, while taking hold of the arrow's shaft, "I shall be as quick as I can."
Aragorn put the root in his mouth and chewed on it, feeling its pain numbing properties begin to work. Legolas saw he was distracted by the strange feeling and quickly pulled the arrow out. Aragorn groaned as the pain flared, but it was nowhere near as bad as it would have been without the herb. It was manageable.
"Edhored nín, Estel," [Forgive me,] Legolas murmured, "Are you alright?"
Aragorn nodded, with more conviction than he felt. "Aye,"
Legolas tore a strip from his cloak, dipped it in the treated water and began to gently clean the wound.
"Why did you come after me, Estel?" the archer spoke softly in Elvish, so their captors could not follow their conversation, "It was foolish. Do you know of the danger you have placed yourself in? If the wizard finds out who you are…if Sauron learns of your existence— "
"He will not find out." Aragorn said firmly, wincing slightly as Legolas pressed harder than was comfortable on his wound.
He looked down, noticing for the first time Legolas' wrists and hands, torn and bloodied from days bound in rough rope and his encounter with the sefferon plant. The man caught the Elf's hands gently in his own, stilling their movements.
"Oh Legolas…" He whispered.
Legolas gently disengaged his hands from Aragorn's hold, picking up the cloth and continuing to clean the man's shoulder. "Tis nothing. It will heal quickly."
He finished cleaning the wound and tore more strips from his cloak, wrapping it securely.
"Hannon lle, Legolas." [Thank you] Aragorn murmured. Legolas smiled and nodded, removing the remains of his cloak and covering his friend with it.
"Finished?" A voice sneered from behind them as Grima yanked sharply on the rope still around Legolas' neck. The Elf stumbled, but did not fall, regaining his feet quickly and glaring down at the smaller man.
Aragorn's eyes grew wide when he saw the blood that soaked the back of Legolas' green tunic from the beating he had sustained, which had previously been hidden by his cloak. He had not known that the Elf was seriously injured beyond his bruises and cracked ribs. He sighed, trust an Elf to put another before himself. He brought his attention back to the two when he realised Grima was speaking.
"You may be strong now, but eventually, you will yield. If not to me, then to Saruman. And once he is finished with you…you are mine, my pretty Elf."
Aragorn gasped, horrified by the prospect of his friend's fate, but Legolas held his head high, showing none of the fear he was feeling, only the anger. Grima ran a hand down the Elf's bloody back, smirking when Legolas tensed beneath him at the pain it caused.
"Tie him up," He snapped, all patience with his captive gone when Legolas did not react to his taunts.
The hybrids dragged the unresisting Elf over to the pole, kicking his legs out from under him, dropping him to his knees and slamming his wounded back against the pole, pulling his arms around and tying them with the same coarse rope as before. A filthy rag was forced between his teeth and tied tightly around his head, preventing him from speaking.
Aragorn's hopes plummeted when he saw Legolas stop struggling almost immediately. He could not believe he had not seen how much pain the archer was in. he had clearly been brutally beaten and flogged repeatedly, probably as a punishment for his thwarted escape attempt when they had tried to rescue him.
Aragorn looked over and caught his friend's eyes, trying to convey his regret and remorse that Legolas had been punished because of them.
Legolas shook his head fiercely, his message clear. Aragorn could almost hear him saying; 'It was not your fault. Now stop worrying and rest!'
Aragorn smiled tiredly at his friend and lay down, falling quickly into an exhausted sleep.
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Gimli's ears rang as consciousness returned to him. He blinked groggily and looked around him.
"Aragorn? Gandalf?" He muttered, trying to sit up so he could locate his companions. Hands on his shoulders held him down and the Dwarf struggled against them.
"Peace, Gimli. You took quite a knock, you should not move just yet." Gandalf's stern but gentle voice cut through the ringing in his ears.
"Gandalf?" he mumbled gruffly, "What happened? Where are Legolas and Aragorn? Did the slug escape?"
Gandalf frowned, "He did not only escape. He took Legolas and Aragorn with him. There was nothing I could do. I was rather occupied myself at the time."
"Blast it all, wizard!" The Dwarf burst out, "Why did you not go after them?"
"And leave you to those creatures?" The Istar reasoned.
Gimli sputtered indignantly. "I can take a few goblins!"
Gandalf seemed to find that absurdly funny. "While you were unconscious?" He chuckled, "Oh no, my dear Dwarf. I think not even I could manage that."
Gimli growled, his annoyance clear, but Gandalf cut off his complaints. "Come, Master Dwarf, you must rest. We shall have to move on soon if we are to catch them and you cannot travel like this."
"Gandalf we must leave now!"
Gandalf gave him his best disgruntled wizard scowl. "Do not make me cast a sleeping spell!"
Gimli lay down again, muttering to himself and was soon asleep. Gandalf looked to the horizon anxiously, his brow furrowed. "Hold on, my friends."
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Aragorn awoke sometime in the night. The camp was silent, apart from the crackling of the fire and the sleeping creatures' loud snores. He glanced around cautiously, wondering what had roused him when his gaze fell on Legolas.
The Elf's eyes were closed while he rested, which worried the Ranger by itself, but then he noticed a thin sheen of sweat covering Legolas' face and neck and the restless state of his sleep. His small whimpers must have been what had disturbed Aragorn's rest.
"Legolas!" He hissed, as loudly as he dared, "Legolas, wake up!"
The Elf's sharp hearing should have picked up the whisper easily, even in sleep, but the prince did not stir. Aragorn's heart burned when he saw how the gag was digging into the corners of Legolas' mouth and how the rough ropes were burning his skin.
The Ranger struggled uselessly with his own ropes, trying to break free and get to Legolas. The creature on guard stormed over and spat something at him in its own guttural tongue. When Aragorn stopped struggling, it seemed satisfied and returned to its post, casting suspicious looks at the Human every now and again.
Aragorn nearly screamed in frustration. He had to get Legolas out of here…before it was too late.
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Review replies::
Cheysuli: Aw yeah poor Legolas! But it wouldn't be much fun without the occasional Legolas bashing… That sounds so cruel! ;) I actually think broken is a very good title for that fic! It suits it very well! I hope you're still writing cos I want MORE!! Hehehe! :)
MoroTheWolfGod: Ah you were the first to review this time! Grr, I hate it when people have cool stuff that you'd love and they don't use it…Oh well, I trust you're putting your books to good use! ;)
Ivory Novelist: Aw another favourite? You're so sweet! Ah no, now I couldn't make things that simple, could I? *snigger* I seem to have a taste for torturing Legolas…the poor little thing… ;) No, Legolas was just pissed off cos they weren't doing anything constructive to aid the quest, like Frodo was and he felt kinda confined indoors, cos he's not used to being indoors…you know how Elves are! Sorry about the suspense and I hope you enjoyed this chapter! =)
Alice: Ah that's ok, at least you do review and that's the main thing! Saruman's hair in pigtails huh?? That is a very interesting-if not slightly scary-image! 7am?? Ouch!! But I'm sure you didn't mind too much! It's Harry Potter!! About the swearing, it was supposed to be Udûn instead of the space between the letters but FF's formatting messed it up! Tis fixed now! And as for how it's pronounced, remember when Gandalf is facing off w/the balrog in Moria and he says 'Dark fire shall not avail you, flame of Udû n!'? That's how it's pronounced!! ;) Hope that helped!
DXPrincess: Aw I'm sorry!! I keep doing that, don't I? I am evil sometimes! Aw I hope this chapter was worth the wait too! I am painfully aware of just how long a wait it was and I'm really sorry!! Grima creeps me out as well! He's so evil…Not my Grima, cos I don't do him justice, but the one in the film is great! Ooh you're posting a fic?? Goody!! What's it called? I'll look out for it! Good luck with it! =)
Lefty: Oh yes he is!! That's part of what made me pick him for the villain in this story. But I don't write him very well. Oh the creepyness…what's the name of the actor who plays him anyway? He's brilliant for that part! Hope this chapter didn't make you jump to conclusions! I always do that as well and then I'm like 'That wasn't how I thought it would go…' Hehehe! Hope this lives up to your expectations of Angst/Drama! ;)
Shandrial: He wasn't twiddling, he was fighting, but I just forgot to write him in! And if I did write him in, I was afraid I'd start laughing with the image of him twirling like Legolas and his hair, beard and robes swirling around him, in which case he would have looked just like my old choir director…If I got that image, I never would have stopped laughing and the chapter would never have been posted!! You understand my reasoning?? ;) You need to lay off the Coca Cola, but I forgive you, cos I do it too!! Hope ya liked!! :)
Lady Lenna: Aha you shall find out in later chapters!! How do you think I keep people reading? ;) Oh I know, he's really creepy isn't he? *shudder* Oh well, no better bad guy for a fanfic I guess…Sorry about more suspense!! Hope you liked and sorry bout the wait! :)
tamara: Glad you liked it! I really have to lay off poor Legolas, don't I? Poor Elfling…Sorry for the wait, it was unforgivably long! *cringe* Hope you liked!! =)
Andmetwen: **blush** You think I'm a genius?? What?? Thank you! Hmm…we'll have to see whether Grima gets him or not…I haven't decided! *Evil snigger* ;) Hehehe! Permanently ruled in huh?? I like it!! Sorry to keep you waiting so long! Forgive me? *peeks out from under sofa* Please? Hope you enjoyed! :)
wispykitty: Ooh you did that evil smilie thing again!! Indeed I will offer you Legolas! He is all yours as soon as I finish this! Poor Leggy, we never give him a break do we?? *sigh* Poor both of them now!! Poor Elf and Ranger! Hope this one was ok and sorry it took so long!! Don't let it out of its cage yet, ok?? *looks around* Promise!! ;)
Goddess of Death: Exactly! Maybe that should be a chapter title or something… ;) Ah you'll see what he wants in time, don't worry!! Hehehe! I'm sorry about the cliffie and the unforgivable interlude between updates! I am an evil evil person!! BAD WRITER!! BAD!!!! *looks around for something to hit self over head with* Oh I can't be bothered to get up… Hope you liked and sorry about another cliff!! *gulp* :)
Listless: Harsh in a good way or a bad way?? *gulp* :) Maybe both… Hehehe! Hope you liked!! ;)
Angel of Death: Oh no!! Don't get Saruman, I need him for my evil character!! PUT THE WIZARD DOWN!!!! (if you say it in a Gandalf voice it's actually quite scary…) ;) Clowns huh?? Clowns freak me out! Have you ever seen It? You know by Stephen King?? Creepy clown!!! I haven't been able to look at one since!! Hehehehe!! I loved your review! You're mad, just like me!! It made me laugh so much! Still wanna send clowns after him?? If you do, don't send them to me please!! :)
fireball: Hehehe! Aren't we all like that? We crave Elf torture!! Mwa ha ha ha! And poor Legolas has to suffer for it! Is he hurt enough now or do you need more?? ;) Sorry I took so long to update!! I am a horrible person!! I'm glad you like it so far and hope you still do after I kept you waiting so long! =)
Crinkle: Hi!! **blush** Do you really think so?? Thank you!! I hope this chapter didn't get a little choppy, I was trying to get it out in kinda a hurry! I'm not great for the attention span either, I'm pretty sure I'm as bad as you, so don't worry!! I'm really glad you're enjoying it so much and sorry again for the delay!! Hope you're still with me! :)
Ravenwing: He does doesn't he?? *sigh* But I can't think of any other way to knock him out!!! I'm sure there's more, but I guess I'm not very imaginative!! Hehehe! I'm sorry this took such a long time! That was really nasty of me!! But I'm glad I got your attention and hope I still have it!! =)
Jadey: Really?? Awh thank you! Legolas torture is great isn't it?? I love Parallels by the way! Brilliance! There is possible slash in here, but I'm not entirely that I would be good at writing slash, so we'll see what happens!! Thanks for your lovely compliments and sorry this took so long!! I am as horrible a person to my readers as I am to my characters!! *sigh* Hope ya liked!! :)
Estel Baggins: Did my email get to you ok again?? Hope so! And sorry this took so long!! It was mean of me! I'm glad you're still enjoying it, I love hearing that people like it!! I sent the details of how to post by email. Hope you got them ok!! :)
Amelie: No he doesn't, but he knew by the tone that it was an insult and also Legolas' spat at him, so he was an evil snake and slapped poor defenceless Legolas! *sigh* Did that help?? ;)
Legolas's Fanatical Fangirl: Hello! Where did I learn it? I just took an English swear and translated it! Feel free to use it though! I do… Hehehe!!! Sorry this took so long and I hope to have more out in the not too distant future! Hope you liked!! =)
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21 reviews for one chapter??!!!! That's more than I've ever got for one chapter!! My mind is reeling! Thanks everyone!! More soon!
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