Disclaimer: See all the other chapters and you'll understand. They are not mine.

Review Responses:

Larien: No, Atavus would not be herself if she begged. Even though it would probably be a good idea to save their necks. Yes Veri is changing a lot along with Van. But that's what life is. Change.

Lintered: You know I'm beginning to think that when you guys think of me torture is the first thing that comes to mind. Good. Cool.

Slayer3: I just had an image in me mind of what you said. Okay now that I've picked myself up off the floor, and stopped crying from laughing so hard I'll continue the story.

Manveri mirkiel: Oh, oh I want to see that movie, along with about a dozen others. I saw the trailer for it when I went and saw Star Wars a couple of weeks ago. I love it when they start having a nice pleasant conversation as they are trying to kill each other.

Okay I have to ask are you bribing me to update faster or slower. I forget. Oops. You are so much like me it's really scary. Okay if you are so much like me I want to see something else written by you. Something Lotr would be nice, but not completely necessary, with lots of torture, and blood. (Oh sorry that's my stories. Okay Mel come back to reality. Had a nice little flashback of torture from Blood.)

Chapter 6: Anyway about the confusion. I'm going to try to clear that up in the next couple of chapters. I know my theory on the whole thing, but it's just getting it down on paper. My next update might come a little slower, so I can get it down right. And I do need to clear something up. Van was touching Veri when he healed her. He had a hold of both of her hands. Maybe I need to look at that again and see if I messed it up. And yes his specialty is broken bones. And don't worry Veri gets a very special honor because of her ability. It's coming in the next chapter. You'll like it.

Chapter 7: Yes you were right. Bravo. Yes the tension between the humans and orcs is increasing greatly. And I personally don't care if they kill each other, but no that would bring this story to and end to quickly.

Yes Atavus is in very familiar territory, and she would be even more used to it, if it weren't for those confusing visions. But poor thing I had to throw her a curve ball. And yes they were attacked by a warg. And yes it was good that they found that bone. Now there is that word 'safely' again. Debatable it is. But read on.

Author's Note – Please Read: Well this is a short one, but at least things end up on a better note at the end. (Sort of.) I must warn my faithful reviewers. Updates might come a little slower. I have been hit over the head by a muse, and have started another story that is not Lotr based. (Hears shocked gasps from all in attendance.) I know its blasphemy. But my husband just bought me the 2004 version of Phantom of the Opera. Which has lit a fire of creativity in my mind. I used to love that story so much and the new version has ignited my passion for it again. So I will be posting the first chapter of a Phantom story shortly after I post this. I hope that any of you who enjoy the Phantom will read my new story also. So I will attempt to go back and forth posting from each every other day or so. I promise I will not abandon my Lotr stories. My original characters are like my children and I will not abandon them. So on to the story.

Sindarin Translations:

gwador- nin : sworn brother not of blood

Torture of Body and Mind

The orcs had drove spikes into the cave floor and tied Atavus to them laying her on her stomach. Her arms and legs were stretched as far as they would tied to the stakes. Lagush kneeled over her and used a sharp dagger to cut the back of her shirt and tunic down the middle, revealing he bare back. "Bring me water." He ordered. Once he had the water he splashed it over her blood caked back. The blood washed off revealing clean unblemished skin. "Oh boys we got a real treat here. She's one of the ones that heal real fast." Lagush crooned in delight.

Kellet looked at the woman's back, which he knew should be covered in lash marks from the day before. "Well all be." He was more determined than ever to win the girl back. She would be worth her weight in gold on the market. "Boys. You are in for some pain." He said smiling evilly at the elves that his men had manacled to the cave wall. "Men do what ever you have to. I want to win this competition."

"Yes sir." One of his men said driving an elbow into Elladan's stomach.

Atavus watched as the men started beating the twins. She didn't want to see them in pain, but her own pride would not allow her to do what they wanted of her. She was almost relieved when the orcs started her own torture. She hoped it would distract her from what the men were doing to her friends. "Let them punch and kick all they want. That's not how you cause real pain." The orc leader whispered into her ear. He let his knife rest on her back just above the shoulder blade. "Shocking brutal pain like they deal out lasts for only so long, and then the body becomes numb. But the thin blade slowly slicing through tender skin over and over only intensifies the pain. You don't become numb." He said sliding the razor sharp knife into her skin and running it down the length of her back drawing a line of blood as he went. She winced at the stinging burning pain, but did not make a sound. She wouldn't look at the orc whose face was so close to hers. She looked instead to her friends.

Elladan and Elrohir where watching in horror as the orc began to cut Atavus. They could see the blood slowly oozing from the long gash along her back. Elrohir had just received a fist to his stomach and was having difficulty breathing. Elladan felt as if his arm was being ripped from the socket. The day before he had thought it to be dislocated after the struggle to get them into the cave, but had since realized that it was just severely wrenched, but in the position they were hanging in, it was being stretched even further. And it didn't help that the men had landed several sound blows to the shoulder also.

The orc slid his knife back up her back drawing another line of blood. "Do you feel the pain like the rest of us? I think you do." He whispered yet again into her ear. "Do you feel your skin parting? Do you feel the blood sliding down your back and pooling around your body? Of course you do." He chuckled.

Atavus closed her eyes trying to block out the words, and pain. But as she did she saw a woman in her mind. She was the most beautiful elf Atavus had ever seen. She had golden hair, and the bluest sapphire eyes. Those eyes looked towards her almost as if they could see her. "Why do you linger here child?" The apparition of her mind asked.

The question took her off guard. She did not know why she was having these visions. She only knew that they threatened her very sanity. "I don't know." She answered honestly.

"The souls of the others fight to possess you. They wish to leave this place, and think that you can take them with you if you go." The Elvin woman said motioning to the apparitions that floated all around her.

That information gave her pause for a moment. She had to think through the confusing thoughts the elf's word installed in her. But one question thrust itself to the forefront of her mind. "Why are you not trying to possess me like them? Or are you?"

The Elvin apparition smiled at her words. "I am not like them. They are the forgotten and lost souls of those that have been tortured or killed in this cave. Their true forms have either died or been taken elsewhere, leaving a small part of their soul behind. My true form escaped their fate and is resting on the shores of Valinor. It was able to heal in the Undying Lands. It is whole, and I am but a shadow of what was left behind many years ago, only a mere thought of unimportance."

"Why are you trying to help me?" Atavus asked the apparition.

"You are beloved by those that are most dear to me." The apparition spoke again, and then disappeared.

Atavus opened her eyes gasping at the pain she could feel in her back. She wasn't sure how long she had been in the vision. The orc was no longer crouched over her. He was standing face to face with the man Kellet. "No. You did not win. He only gave in to spare her." The orc was screaming.

"He begged for mercy. That was the only stipulation." Kellet said smugly. "She is mine again."

Atavus looked to the twins in confusion. She could see that Elrohir was staring at his brother with a look of pity on his face. Elladan hung from the manacles with his head hanging down. His hair covered his face so she could not see his expression. "El." She said. He did not answer. "What did you do El?" She whispered for his ears alone.

"He did what he had to." Elrohir answered for his brother. "You could not protect yourself so he did." Was the whispered answer that only those with elvin hearing could understand.

"I'm sorry gwador- nin. My foolish pride has cost you too much." She said realizing that even though she was allowed to keep her pride, it was at the cost of his. She felt ashamed that she had been unwilling to see that. He had done what was best for them. She had thought of only herself. "I promise you that my pride will not stand in the way of our safety again."

He looked up to her, and she could see the haunted look return to his eyes that she had seen when they first entered the cave. She knew whom he was thinking of, and now she was positive that she could put a name to the apparition in her mind. She opened her mouth wishing to tell them of her vision, but she heard a warning in her head. "Not yet." She heeded the warning.

As the two travelers entered the woods of Lorien Veri was more than thankful that their journey was nearly complete. It was but a few moments before they were surrounded by elves with drawn bows.

"We do not know you. Who are you, and why are you in these woods?" The captain of the March Warden of Lorien asked.

"I see the rudeness of Lorien elves still stands, as it was told by Gimli elf-friend." Veri said indignantly.

"Who are you?" Orophin repeated his question.

"I am Manveri. This is Van. We were expected by your Lady." She finally answered.

"You were to be accompanied by two elves and a woman. Where are they?" He asked looking around expecting one of the twins' pranks at any moment.

"Please sir. We must see the Lady. They have been captured." Van said tugging on the elves tunic. Orophin looked down at Van and for the first time saw the bruises and scratched that covered them.

"Come." He said picking Van up and sprinting further into the woods. Veri followed as best she could, but was no match for the elves at running.

When she finally reached the clearing that the elves had stopped in she could see Van speaking to a beautiful Elvin woman, which could only be the Lady of the Woods.

The woman was kneeling in front of Van. "I am worried for them." Van was just finishing the story.

Veri walked up and stood beside him. "My Lady, Atavus said that you should be able to see them in your mirror. Can you help them?" Veri asked.

"That all depends on my mirror child." Galadriel said turning and leading them away from the clearing.