Hello! Well here is chapter six! Tin and I just wanted to say this is a very difficult story to write and if you haven't reviewed it and told us what you thought we would appreciate it because at the moment we can't tell if it is getting the full effect that was desired or not. Reviews, constructive criticisms and any opinions mean a lot to us and we would be honored if you would take a few minutes to let us know what you think!

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Ripples

CHAPTER SIX

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Sixth Sense

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Holding his breath in actual terror for Aragorn's life, Legolas cursed mentally as his knees, which already felt loads less than reliable, began to shake like saplings in a gale. He couldn't tell if it was weakness or fear that caused their instability but he guessed it was a good portion of both. Feeling faint from his blood loss, Legolas unconsciously leaned back against his uncle, trying not to fall, breathe or make any noise, however minute.

But no matter how much he wished and begged the Valar for his friend to leave, he could still feel Aragorn's presence by his side in the dark. The ranger's breathing was more than audible and Legolas could feel his exhales against his face.

In a way the Elf half-wished Aragorn would stay, stay and be the comforting friend that he was. However, as it was, Legolas decided that he would rather be alone and frightened than see Aragorn's life be stolen and the man fall at his feet dead. His blood mingling with what already had been spilled this might.

'Just leave,' voices plead earnestly inside his head. 'Please!'

Had an entire century passed? Or maybe even two? Legolas didn't know but to his relief he could hear Aragorn backing out of the room with reluctance. Legolas felt his stomach turn aggressively and clench in a convulsion as a small voice in his head reminded him that Aragorn was a ranger and seemed to have a sixth sense.

It was entirely possible that Aragorn knew something was wrong, terribly wrong.

Another grueling century seemed to drudge by before Legolas knew Aragorn had totally exited the room and he could hear his hurried footfalls rhythmically treading down the hall.

His racing heart slowed down a little and his blood stopped roaring in his ears. Legolas came to the realization that what had seemed like three entire centuries were in fact, three entire minutes. He also came to the understanding that he was being asked to walk by way of a rough shove forward towards the door and the dark hallway where his friend had just disappeared.

But to his shame and total frustration his feet faltered and he was nearly brought to his knees by the trip. They must have taken more blood than he had thought, which only served to make him even angrier. His uncle stopped his fall with his fingers hooked under his shirt collar, pulling him upright as he choked him. Legolas gagged for a moment as Lostiâ and Rána conversed.

"Rána," Lostiâ called for his friend in the blackness. "Leave a message they won't forget. Write it in my dear nephew's blood!" He scoffed as his long fingers twined themselves in Legolas' golden locks, giving his head a vicious jerk. Pulling his captive's face so it was near his own, inches away in fact, Lostiâ set his chin on Legolas' shoulder as he whispered tauntingly, "and you are coming with me Legolas, may the Valar be with you if you don't cooperate."

Legolas' face turned cloudy and his eyes burned as Rána re-lit the glow-globe and began his gruesome work. Legolas had never exactly been one to take kindly to a threat, depending on the severity how he reacted to it initially. But when the threat came from a bloody-handed traitor it made Legolas even angrier, if that were possible to begin with. Immediately, Legolas decided emphatically that he wasn't going to let himself be an easy victim. He didn't have his weapons but he had a working pair of eyes and a reasonable amount of intelligence.

Lostiâ steered him towards the door, pinching the skin of his arms as his fingers clenched inescapably tight. Legolas had to work his jaw and will to keep from trying to wriggle free of the merciless grip in order to try and escape the uncomfortable pain that was just enough to drive him to the brink of distraction. He could stand mild pain and he could stand extreme pain, for the most part, but pain that was in between was incredibly difficult to bear. He supposed that was one of the great mysteries of the world.

Legolas could feel his uncle breathing down his neck and a shiver that he was nearly not able to suppress threatened to raise the hair on the back of his head. If this capture had been uncomfortable it was now becoming annoying.

A large clap of thunder fairly shook the palace and lightning revealed the full message inscribed on the wall in Legolas' blood. Finally, shuddering in disgust, Legolas came to the conclusion he might as well try to resist since he obviously did have much to lose.

Unexpectedly, Legolas discontinued walking and jerked backwards, bucking as much as he was able in his bonds and with his blood loss. If one took into account his shredded palm then they would have realized that in his desperation he was doing remarkably well. One of his kicking feet managed to catch Lostiâ in the shin, causing him to retreat back instantly, giving Legolas a brief sense of satisfaction.

However, his uncle was quick to have retribution and grabbing Legolas by the back of his neck, the elder Elf drove the captive prince's head ruthlessly forward before Legolas could do anything about it.

With a cry, Legolas had the 'honor' of meeting the doorpost up close and personal with a brilliant show of blinding stars that came exploding out of nowhere. He didn't hear the crack until what seemed minutes later but was in fact, only a few seconds.

A sharp and growing pain on his forehead provided the entire tale of his abrupt collision with the frame of the door. It also told him he would have a welt to remember for three days at least. Blinking, the prince shook his head to try and reduce the confusing effects of the harsh impact but without much success. By the time be got a bleary grip on what exactly was going on around him Lostiâ has his fingers securely snarled in his fair hair and positioned his face less than half an inch from the door post. "Do I have to treat you to another hit or will you comply? This isn't your full punishment for an escape attempt. Trust me."

The serious and perfectly calm tone in his uncle's voice made his stomach sick and Legolas felt himself breathing hard. He would have liked to have resisted more or even better yet, break free completely, but it was impossible and one more hit would render him unconscious, destroying the small chance he still had. Not that having the knowledge his captors were forced to drag around his limp body wouldn't be satisfying, on the contrary, he would find it laughable. But the expense of that satisfaction was a risk that was wholly dangerous and one Legolas wasn't sure he was willing to take.

But there was the small chance that if they had to drag him it would slow them down enough that someone, Aragorn maybe, could find him and liberate him. Almost immediately, Legolas decided that idea sounded appealing and trusting that Aragorn would find him before they reached their destination, or at least before he was killed, he jerked backwards, feigning an escape attempt.

The recompense was exactly as his uncle had promised and Legolas heard the sounds of the storm fading out as his consciousness slipped away.

Lostiâ realized all too late what his nephew had been trying to do. An angry and sadistic smile crossed his face as he was forced to accept that Legolas was not as foolish as he thought and definitely resourceful. Rána, finished leaving their accursed message, stood by Lostiâ's side anxiously.

"We should have killed that human," the dark-haired Elf ground out, frustrated. "If he did sense something was wrong then he will go and raise the alarm be sure of that-"

Rána was silenced as Lostiâ raised a hand and shook his head. He was deeply concerned and frustrated with the situation too but in his opinion it was far worth their while to try and compensate for their error than complain about it. He was never one to listen to needless and rather ridiculous whining.

"It's too late for that now! We will just have to work even faster to make up for the mistake!"

Thunder rumbled and made all of them jolt as though they had been struck by invisible lightning. Rain whipped in, frigid, from the window whose curtains were flapping as though in a state of hysteria.

The drops splattered on the floor, mingling with what blood was in their range, causing it to become runny and form pinkish puddles.

Looking at Rána quickly before he stooped to collect Legolas, crumpled at his feet, Lostiâ asked sharply aggravation, "And where is Arandur and his merry ones?"

"They could be delayed…possibly…" trailed off uncomfortably and shifted the glow-globe in his sweaty hands, though it wasn't unbearably hot yet.

With Legolas folded in his arms, Lostiâ was able to deliver a cutting glance at his fellow conspirator and friend. "Why are they possibly delayed?" If his glare hadn't killed Rána, then his voice sure would have except that Rána had been his friend long enough to have the antidote. It was uncertain if this was a fortunate or unfortunate thing, if not sad.

Swallowing, Rána retreated back a step before he quickly answered. "There was something that needed taken care of…" The dark-haired Elf extinguished the glow-globe as he spoke, allowing the darkness to come between them.

The cold look Lostiâ shot at Rána might have frozen boiling water without a second glance; only it had no effect on Rána. The darkness hid all facial expressions quite well and the lightning had become less frequent though the rain had picked up along with the thunder. "I am not even going to ask!" snapped Lostiâ angrily, oddly enough causing Rána's anxiety to decline ever so slightly. "But they had better be out there with those horses or I will skin you Rána! I promise!"

Rána only nodded stiffly in the blackness before he growled back an irritated reply. "They will be there."

As if on cue a clap of thunder that made up for its short length in loudness made the air throb, increasing tensions, if that were possible. Shuddering, Rána felt fresh blood surfacing on his wound, seeping into the bandage. He cast a dark look at Legolas' limp form as Lostiâ hurried out of the room, bearing the unconscious prince.

Blood should be rendered for blood, he told himself in his head. But then that brought into question why he was still breathing and his heart still pumped life through his veins.

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Leaving Legolas' room with consternation building in his heart, Aragorn cursed himself for losing the Elf. After all that his father had told him Aragorn had a sinking feeling pulling him to the center of the earth with its ballast, that his friend's life was in dire danger and that he should have never let him go.

The candle he held caused the bizarre shadows to play on the wall and ceiling, as it's minute glow pushed the darkness away enough to light a path for feet to tread. This candle he had taken from Legolas' room, knowing where everything was quite well and being about one hundred percent certain that Legolas could care less.

Stopping as he felt the sensation of being watched, Aragorn turned and gave a start as a set of silver eyes gazed with wide orbs back into his own. However, he wasn't overly concerned as he continued to stare into the mirror. But he was wary, not sure if he knew this person as well as he had once thought. Initially one wouldn't think that they would ever hurt themselves, but he had given himself a wound. Having left Legolas to go alone and thus left this friend at the mercy of a blood-thirsty lunatic and his equally insane helpers, Aragorn had not only betrayed Legolas but his own morals and values. As he continued to gaze into those expressive silver eyes that were his own he felt like he was gazing into the eyes of a traitor.

Twisting his face away from his own reflection with disgust, Aragorn began to put all his concentration into finding a way to discover Legolas' whereabouts. His frustration and anger, directed mostly in part to himself, intensified as he realized that his best friend, who was like his brother, had been going through so much emotional pain and he had never noticed. For the past four years Legolas had been suffering and he had never been able to read the telltale signs.

But the more these thoughts were turned over and over in his mind his anger and frustration were gradually redirected towards Legolas. The awful thought that Legolas had taken him for granted, even after all the hardships they had been through together, or didn't consider him close enough to tell him of his most painful memory burned Aragorn's heart like a hot brand was applied to its delicate center. They had crossed so many other barriers, race being the main one, which he was honored by Legolas' friendship but this still hurt.

But as quickly as his anger had turned on Legolas it returned and attacked him again. If Legolas hadn't told him it had to be for a reason other than a lack of trust or oversight. It had to be because Legolas must have thought he had simply known or had put all the pieces together over the years. He had let his friend down where he was needed most for support.

But it was Legolas' fault to some degree wasn't it?

The Elf should have known better than to lean on a human, especially one with his past and lineage. He never understood why people thought he was so strong. He was surprised that after the horrific incidents in Farlost the Elf was still speaking to him and not hiding. Legolas was the strong one, wasn't he?

Aragorn took a few more random and indecisive steps that collectively covered a distance of four feet at the most. Stopping abruptly, Aragorn chewed his lower lip and then shook his head in bewilderment, having no more than a faint idea of what to do next.

He wished he had asked his father where it was Legolas' mother and aunt had been murdered by the orcs. Simple and sadistic logic saying that if the vengeful Elves wished to reap the sweetest flavored revenge they would kill Legolas in the same place his mother had died. Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on how you looked at it, they probably wouldn't want to murder Legolas as soon as possible and wouldn't let him go quickly when they decided to either. That provided more time for Aragorn, but could only serve to make Legolas' immediate situation even worse.

Of course Aragorn knew he could go and ask his father, a fountain of knowledge and wisdom, for advice or information. However, he was far too much afraid that it would take too much time and he would lose Legolas permanently. Going to Thranduil wouldn't be a horrible idea but a high risk ran with it, one the ranger wasn't sure he felt comfortable enough to take, not that this situation was anyway secure to begin with.

Thranduil would most likely lead a contingent of Elves to try and find his son, disregarding whether Aragorn told him anything now or not, because when Legolas didn't show up late for breakfast he would figure everything out. But the later that contingent was sent out the safer Aragorn was sure everything would be. He didn't trust Legolas to live long if the circumstances intensified any more and there were other complications that were a threat to Lostiâ.

The whole truth was that it was very difficult to discern which Elves were corrupted against Legolas and which were not. Much of Lostiâ's battalion, he knew had mingled and mixed with the other Elves as soon as they had returned. Take Arandur for example. He had inner-twined himself with the other Elves soon enough and not a one of them suspected his treason save those who knew it well. However, those who knew it full well were all in on it themselves, most likely having sworn an oath or two as well.

His only other choice for seeking information wasn't going to be, unfortunately, of much use either. Voronwë was in the hands of Arandur and his Elves now and from the exchanges of looks between them it wouldn't surprise him overly much if Voronwë were dead. There had been oh-so-much love between them all.

This left him with one last option to use in an attempt to save Legolas.

Tracking was nothing Aragorn hadn't done quite often and as a matter of fact, under conventional circumstances it was fairly enjoyable. However, with the situation being so dire and so much having to rest on his abilities Aragorn didn't feel even distantly comfortable with it. However, he had no better ideas and came to the conclusion he didn't have time to play with them anymore anyway. All the planning in the world wouldn't rescue the Elf unless someone acted on it and since there was no one else around that someone had to be him.

If Legolas had been supposed to meet him in the Healing Ward that might not be an overly bad spot to start looking for 'clues' as to his friend's disturbing disappearance. However the trail, which Aragorn already suspected would be growing cold, needed to be found within the next ten minutes at the latest to analyze it properly and with optimal success.

Having reached the Healing Ward within the next three minutes, saving the candle's miniature flame only by cupping his other hand precariously around it, Aragorn slowed outside the door. Breathing hard in anxiousness more than physical exertion, the human did his best to confine a swelling (and rising) lump to the lower regions of his throat. However, his heartbeat quickened, sending the blood rushing to his ears with thuds that droned out all other sound, and the lump rose while taking on new dimensions.

He didn't know if he could gather up the nerve to go into the black room where he knew from his prior feelings that some atrocity had taken place.

Filling his lungs with a deep breath, Aragorn bit his lower lip and bodily stepped into the room, clearing the threshold by three feet in only two steps. But suddenly he came to an abrupt halt and a sick weight gathered in his stomach's center.

TBC….Yes, well, not so much of a cliffy here, but there are worse ones to come, trust us! Please review! As we mentioned at the start of this chapter we appreciate your thoughts, criticisms and any opinions on things and would be totally honored if you would drop in a quick review! For all those who reviewed chapter five, we love you all! Thanks a lot:) Words cannot express our gratitude! The responses will be mailed before the end of the day Wednesday.