Disclaimer: Don't own 'em. Just borrowin'!!
A/N: Alright, I'm really sorry for not writing but I had NO ideas for the next chapter. I want to thank everyone who answered my plea for help. And I am telling you right now that I will be using Cheysuli's idea. Is that ok with everyone?? Oh yeah in the last chapter, I said Legolas was a thousand years old when he met a young Aragorn, and the dude is still alive after almost 2000 years, yeah, that will be explained later. Hehehe, I'm surprised nobody caught that!! =)
On with the story
Chapter 6
"Show, eh?" Aragorn nodded.
"Shall I have a servant clean him before he is delivered to your services?" Legolas winced when Aragorn nodded again. "Delivered" and "services" did not sound very good to him. "Very well! Lillian!" the Prince barked. A young, pretty maid revealed her hiding spot with a pained look on her face: one of pity and of fear. "See to it that our little guest here is cleaned up and brought safely to King Aragorn's chambers! Understand?!"
"Yes milord," said the maid, sinking into a curtsy when he swept past her; Aragorn followed closely.
The men holding the Silvan Elf let go of his arms unexpectedly. Legolas fell lightly to the ground but quickly picked himself up and leaned heavily against the wall. Lillian cautiously walked toward the Elf. "If you'll follow me please? It will be over before you know it," she said sweetly. Legolas looked into her bright violet eyes and saw concern etched in them.
He knew she thought he'd hurt her the moment they were alone, but Legolas vowed to make sure that any innocent lives that he might encounter during his stay there would remain unharmed unless necessary. He silently started to follow her but was held back by a rough hand.
"Stay righ' there, Elf. I need to secure ye wi' these," a low voice growled. Legolas turned around to find Master Shedlock holding thick chains. More humans appeared and held his arms tightly while Shedlock wrapped the chains around Legolas' slim wrists. The iron snaked around his ankles and with a loud snap, the Master locked the two pieces of chain together.
He handed the key to Lillian and said, "There, ye go, Lillian me sweet! Keep an I on this one 'ere. Oh and, make sure ye make a round at my quarters before ye retire." The hateful man swept down and claimed the maid's small mouth roughly. When he let her go, Lillian stepped back white and shaking and walked as quickly as possible out the door. Legolas followed her but not before a growl sounded low in his throat, signaling his deep hatred.
Lillian led him through a maze of hallways before finally stopping in a small room completely decked in marble. "Sit," she commanded gently. Legolas sat on a stone bench to the left of a large tub full of steaming hot water. Lillian quickly undid the warrior braids in Legolas' hair before taking out the key and slowly unlocked the chains.
"Undress and bathe yourself quickly for it is almost sunset. Here is a towel and washing oil for your hair. I will wait for you in the hall with your clothes. Don't try to escape because there are guards next door." The maid left and Legolas heard her sigh wearily before she closed the door.
The Elven Prince took of his soiled leggings and slipped into the water. This feels really good, he thought, not remembering the last time he had had a warm bath. He scrubbed the dirt and dried blood from his lithe frame before washing his almost brown hair. After soaking for ten minutes in the now dirty water, Legolas climbed out and dried himself off.
"Come in!" Legolas called softly after wrapping the white towel around his waist to hide his nakedness. Lillian bustled in carrying a robe the color of a deep, rich purple.
"Here. Put this on. I'll re-braid your hair after." She turned around respectfully and waited for him to dress. Legolas slipped the silky garment over his head and looked at himself in the mirror. The robe was much too big for him; he reached for his leggings and began to tear a piece of cloth off the right leg to tie around his waist.
"Wait! Stop! I have this for you!" cried the female. The Elf straightened up and looked at the object she was holding: a thin, but strong silver chain. She walked forward and wrapped it around his waist. Obviously, the chain was made for a person larger than Legolas, but Lillian just drew the lock tighter.
By now Legolas' locks had dried enough for it to return back to its golden state with a ring of light around his head coming from the soft glow of the candles. She smiled softly before picking up a wooden brush and asked him to sit again. Legolas refused politely. He took the brush and swiftly dragged it through his fine hair. His nimble fingers worked fast in putting his braids back in their place.
"Now you're ready. King Aragorn will be pleased." She picked up the chains and led him to the door. But instead of putting them on him, Lillian simply gestured from him to follow her.
"You're not going to put the chains back on?" Legolas asked, hoping that the answer would be no.
"No, but I'm sure King Aragorn will have a way ofrestraining you. Come on. We are going to be late."
Legolas stepped into the hall and was immediately grabbed by two armed soldiers. He struggled slightly but hung his head in defeat when one kicked his legs out from beneath him. The Elf was allowed to regain his footing and he let himself be led away from comfortable bathing room. Lillian followed closely behind, flirting with the taller of the two men.
They stopped by a large oak door a little while later. Lillian knocked lightly on the door and called out Aragorn's name. The King opened the door and stepped aside to let the soldiers and Lillian escort Legolas to a thick wooden post in the corner of the luxurious room.
"One of you will collect Prince Legolas when I am through with him. Dismissed!" The guards scurried out of the room as fast as they could. Lillian set the chains on a nearby chair and handed the silver key to Aragorn. "Just in case you need it," she said in a low voice.
Aragorn smiled slightly. "Of course. If you would so kind as to inform Prince Damean that I will have his guest here all night and well into the next day." Lillian bowed and left to deliver her message.
Meanwhile, Legolas stood next the post, not sure of what to do. Aragorn closed the space between them much faster than any normal man would've been able to, and smacked Legolas soundly across the face.
Taken by surprise, the Prince of Mirkwood staggered back in the wall. Aragorn forced the Elf to kneel with his back against the rough post. He tied Legolas' hands behind it with a type of rope with metal in it. "Don't fight it," warned Aragorn. "You'll only hurt yourself more." He ran a hand through his slightly damp hair and his face twisted with disgust.
"I'm going to bathe. Remember what I said and you'll be fine." The human stalked into a smaller adjoining room and slammed the door shut.
Legolas sighed. What did I ever do? he thought. Why? Where is Ada? Someone must've told him by now! Ai, Elbereth!
A young maid came in about ten minutes later to deliver clean clothes and towels. She dropped them in a heap and practically ran over to Legolas. "What happened?" she exclaimed. Legolas lifted his head slowly. Pain, confusion, and sadness filled the blue depths. "Tua amin!" he replied in barely more than a whisper. {Help me}
The maid cocked her head to the side. "I'm sorry. I don't understand Elvish." Legolas shrugged. She knelt behind the Sindarin Elf and began to untie the intricate knot.
She had just managed to release Legolas from the pole when Aragorn stepped out of the room, washed and fully clothed. His eyes widened when he saw the Elf free. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" he roared.
Legolas saw his opportunity and sprinted to the door and down the next hall. Aragorn ordered the terrified maid to stay in the room while he tried to catch Legolas. Meanwhile the Elf was fighting off three unprepared guards. Aragorn quickly followed the sound of combat and tackled the troublemaker. Legolas fell to the floor with a grunt. The Gondorian straddled the Elf and bound his slim wrists behind him with a silk sash. "I told you not to fight. Did you listen to my wise words? Damean won't be happy with his soon-to-be consort, now will he?"
Legolas froze at those words. Consort?! I can't be his consort!! I have my whole life ahead of me!
"What is the meaning of this?!" shouted a voice behind the four humans and the Elf. Aragorn glanced behind his shoulder and saw Damean jogging up the corridor.
"He escaped, Damean. My only means were to catch him," explained Aragorn. The Haradrim looked unconvinced.
"I think I should take him tonight, seeing as you can't control him." The Prince reached for the arm of the blonde Elf but was stopped by Aragorn's hand.
"I can handle this situation myself, but thank you for your offer Damean. Although, I must ask, what are you doing in the West Wing? Your living quarters are on the North Tower, quite a ways from here."
"I actually came looking for you. My father wants us both in his private study now. It took a while to track you down since nobody knew where you went accept, of course, Arwen, which I had trouble with to. So"
Legolas drowned out the deep voice and wondered what the Undomial was doing here in Harad. He wondered if she knew he was here also and if she knew something was seriously wrong with her husband. (A/N: Although, with Aragorn, it is hard to tell. He was born with mental complications =)
"him back in your room and come with me. I'm sure the Queen can look after him. Hurry!"
Legolas was brought back to the dreary bedroom and tied once again to the wooden pole. Aragorn let a flicker of pity and remembrance pass through his heart when he saw Legolas hang his head low, shielding his face, but he quickly squashed it. Come now, Aragorn. Don't get all sentimental over a single prince. Even if he was at a time your best friend Aragorn mentally kicked himself and walked away.
A/N: A crappy way to end the chapter, eh? Yeah, but I gotta post something before I lose my reviewers, now don't I? Anyway, I'm too lazy to answer the reviews I promise I will next time though, ok? Good.