Disclaimer: Not mine so don't sue!
A/N: Hey guys! This update actually came a little sooner than I expected, but yeah. So... there is A LOT of Legolas angst. Please DO NOT flame me if he is totally out of character. He's like having a mental breakdown, but don't worry: he'll be A LOT more defiant in the chapters to come.
I'm going on vacation for a couple of months, so don't expect an update. I'm not sure if they'll have computers where I'm going so if I get one up, good, but if I don't, you can't say I didn't warn you!!
I also have no beta for this chapter. Like I said I'm going on a vacation, but I didn't want to pressure her into doing the chapter when she doesn't have the time. But I'd like to thank her anyway! A big round of applause for Sirith!!
Oh, before I forget, whatever is in between these ... is SLASH!!! WATCH OUT!!
12 reviews or no chapter!!
On to the story...
Damean stood and suggested his subjects stand with him so he may bid them farewell. The feast was finally over. Legolas had breathed a sigh of relief and edged over to his father as soon as Damean was preoccupied enough with seeing off his guests to not notice his Elf.
"Are you all right?" the two Elves asked at the same time. Thranduil smiled and stroked Legolas' cheek in a loving, fatherly way.
"I saw those filthy human nobles touching you," Legolas said hurriedly. "I hope they didn't do anything to offend you." Thranduil shook his head and smiled at his youngest son. Oh, how he looked like his mother at times like these!
"I saw that monster strike you," Thranduil stated in a worried tone. "Did he hurt you terribly?"
Legolas reached up and touched his split lip. It didn't hurt him now. "It does not pain me, Ada," Legolas said. "It was a bad mistake on Damean's part and I will forgive him."
"What?!" the Elven-king whispered angrily. "How can you even stand to be in his presence for as long as you have? I would have gone mad by now!"
"Ah, but that is the thing, Ada. You never did have patience for human error," Legolas said with a grin. "I have known Aragorn for far too long not to be able to forgive Damean. It is just too hard. Plus, it's for yours and my people's sake."
"What do you mean, ion nin [my son]?" asked Thranduil, his brow furrowed concern and confusion.
Legolas mentally kicked himself for letting that bit of information slip from his lips. He sighed and answered, "Damean will punish everyone but me if I make a mistake. I could never live with myself if he killed you, or Falacas, or Lumlier or anyone else I know and love. I would surely fade from the grief."
"Legolas..." Thranduil began but trailed off as he saw Damean approaching. He pulled his son into a brief hug and whispered, "Le melon." [I love you. A/N: That is correct, but if you guys want it broken down it's: Im meleth le.]
"Legolas!" Damean barked. "Come here!"
The Elf-prince looked at his father with longing-filled eyes but moved reluctantly to his master's side. Damean's arm snaked around the elf's waist, ensuring his hold on him.
"Well, what are you elves staring at?" Damean demanded. "Clean up this mess!"
Legolas moved forward to help his kin, but the King held him back. "What are you doing?" he cried. "I want to help my people!"
"Legolas, did I say you could speak?" Damean asked, his voice sticky sweet.
"No," whispered Legolas. Damean slapped the elf and brought his face so close their noses almost touched.
"Are you forgetting our most recent lesson?" he inquired, his eyes narrowing. Legolas turned his head away from his overlord's putrid smelling breath. He had had way too much to drink. "No what?"
"No, master," Legolas murmured.
"Good boy. Now run along to my rooms. I'll be there momentarily," ordered the human. Legolas dropped his eyes and shuffled from the dining hall. Damean followed after a few moments of surveying his new slaves at work.
Thranduil watched as the door finally closed, leaving the elves alone. He sagged into a nearby chair and buried his face in his hands. Mandolin watched as his King's bare shoulders shook, and knew he must have great sorrow: it took a lot to make the seemingly unemotional elf cry.
Lumlier knelt and took his Lord's hand. "My liege, maybe we could ask the human for occasional visits with my Prince."
"No," Thranduil replied softly. "Legolas was right. Why didn't I listen to him?!"
"Majesty, calm down. What did Legolas say?" Lumlier asked in a coaxing voice.
"He said I have sent my people to their certain death and I have damned him to an eternal hell." Thranduil looked at his friend with tears in his eyes. "I'm a horrible ruler and well as a father, aren't I?"
Legolas stood inside the room uncertain of what to do. Damean stoked the burning fire and completely ignored him. The new King slowly took his coronation clothes off and slipped into a sleeping robe.
When he was done, Damean gently ordered the Elf-prince to stand before him. The human drunk in the beauty of his consort bathed in the flickering firelight. Legolas' hair shimmered and his eyes deepened into a dark blue. "You are so beautiful," Damean breathed.
Legolas decided it was best not to say anything if he didn't want to be punished. Damean gently ran his smooth fingers along the elf's face, memorizing every inch with touch. Legolas' skin burned like fire where the human touched. Damean continued to just slide his fingers across his face until Legolas couldn't take the silence any longer. "Why am I here?" the prince asked.
"I did not like your display of resistance tonight," the King said quietly. "I have to punish you now. Get onto the bed, the middle of it, and lie there, eyes closed."
The prince did as he was told albeit reluctantly. The mattress dipped under the human's weight when he climbed on. Damean straddled the Elf and warned him to keep his eyes shut no matter what happened.
He quickly grabbed the elf's wrists and clamped irons around them. He attached the other end of the chains to each bedpost above their heads. "Open your eyes, slave," the human said, his voice dangerously low.
Unwanted tears filled Legolas' eyes. "You said you wouldn't force me. You promised!" he hysterically exclaimed.
"And I hold to that promise," Damean hissed in the pointed ear. "But our deal said nothing about a little nighttime terrorization to a certain Elf Prince." The King of Harad nuzzled Legolas' ear before biting down hard on the pointed tip. Legolas bit down on his lower lip to keep himself from screaming in pain: Elven ears are positively the most sensitive part of the body.
Damean laughed cruelly and continued to the next ear.
Legolas moved around restlessly. He had been chained to Damean's bed for the past five days, not including the night Damean was crowned King. His hair had turned a muddy brown color from not washing it; his coronation clothes hung limply around his thin frame. Damean had been purposely ignoring his need to be clean and continued to ravish his sensitive ears at night, each time getting worst than the last. However, the human held to his promise and had not forced him into anything, yet.
Legolas' stomach growled loudly and he stared at the half naked man in front of him. Damean pulled a red shirt from his bureau, laced it up, and tucked it into his black breeches. Over that, he put on a black tunic and a matching cape.
He surveyed himself in the long mirror before turning to his consort. "What do you think, Legolas? Do I look presentable?"
"Black really isn't you color, Damean," replied Legolas icily. Right now the only thing the golden prince wanted to do was eat his first real meal in five days, and he could care less if he was punished.
Damean chuckled. "You don't know went to shut up, do you Legolas? Why are you so grumpy this morning? I rather enjoyed last night, didn't you?"
"No," the elf retorted. "I'm hungry, I smell like a dead animal, and I have blood all over me. Why don't you tell me how I can't be grumpy!"
At this little speech, Damean laughed outright. "Point taken. I will send someone up to clean you off."
"But what about food?" Legolas whined childishly. "I'm hungry."
Damean ran a brush through his hair one last time and turned to the elf. "This is one reason why I never wanted children. They whine to much." He leaned over and gave Legolas a quick peck on the cheek. "Oh and before I forget..." Damean pulled a long, thick cloth from the bedside table, shoved it between the prince's teeth, and tied it tightly behind the elf's head, effectively gagging him.
Legolas settled back in the bed angrily. He could nothing but wait for the promised food to show up.
"Thranduil!" snapped the King of Harad. "Get up, you lazy fool!" A palace guard unlocked the door to the iron and stone cage the King of Mirkwood was sleeping in. His pale blue eyes lost its dreamy haze and focused sharply at the human who had rudely awakened him.
"Take these," Damean said, shoving some clothes into his hands. The elf stood bewildered and uncertain of what he should be doing. The human king rolled his eyes and grabbed Thranduil's upper arm and dragged him to the stairway in front of Aragorn's cell. To the Elf's surprise, the traitorous son of Arathorn was being handled in the same way, only he was handed a platter of fresh food instead of clothes.
Damean drew a chain with a key on it from his neck and handed it to one of his guards. "Only you are authorized to touch this key besides myself. Understood? These slaves are not allowed to even think about taking it. Guard it with your life."
The guard, obviously knowing what the key was for, saluted the King and said, "Yes, your Majesty!"
Damean nodded, pleased, and turned to the kings in captivity. "Follow him," he instructed. "You put one toe out of line and I'll have your entire families murdered."
Thranduil and Aragorn bowed their heads muttered, "Yes, master."
"Good," he said simply and strode from the dungeons.
"If you'll follow me? I think you might be pleased," the guard said with a hidden smile.
Legolas shifted again and sighed, exasperated. When was the food going to come?! He was so hungry he could've eaten like a Hobbit, and still claim to be starving.
The elf's keen hearing picked up the heavy footsteps of a palace guard, and the lighter ones — almost elf-like— of Aragorn. The sounds stopped in front of the door to the outer room, and a hushed tone floated through to Legolas' ears. He couldn't make out the words, but it sounded like someone was being reprimanded.
The main door swung open and a guard stepped through, letting in two more persons. Legolas craned his neck to see if it was just a few maids to straighten up, or his food. The guard lightly pushed the two figures toward the King's bedroom.
"Ada! Estel!" cried Legolas overjoyed even though he knew they couldn't understand him.
Aragorn's smile lit up room as his gaze settled on his best friend. Thranduil looked both extremely happy and sad to see his son. Happy because Legolas was alive, sad because Thranduil had a very good guess of why the prince was chained to a bed and gagged.
The guard unlocked the manacles and allowed the elf to pull the gag from his mouth and throw it to the ground. A wide grin adorned his face as saw his loved ones and...
"Food!!" Legolas leapt from the bed and raced for the platter Aragorn was holding. The ex-King of Gondor squeaked and hid behind Thranduil.
"Your son is a menace, Thranduil!" Aragorn joked. The King of Mirkwood growled and grabbed his son. Legolas immediately sobered up and met his father's stare for stare.
The guard cleared his throat and announced, "There is a bath waiting for you, Elf, if you want to clean up. You only get a half an hour so hurry up."
Legolas eyes lit up and he scampered for the bathing room. When the elf and the man entered the room, Legolas had already settled himself in the bath and looked quite content to just soak.
"Nostach be Orch gaer [you smell like an orc]," Thranduil said, amused.
"Hantale [thanks]," Legolas replied without opening his eyes. Aragorn busted up laughing and it wasn't long before the room was bubbling with excitement and mirth.
"Has he been treating you well, Legolas?" Thranduil asked as he washed the soapsuds from his son's shining golden hair.
"As well as can be expected, Ada. He is a human after all." Legolas opened one eye and glanced at the son of Arathorn who feigned being hurt. "No offence, Estel, but honestly, human men are disgusting. He leaves his clothes wherever they drop and he hardly use mint when washing his mouth. That, I think, is one of his best virtues. That man is utterly vile!"
Thranduil frowned. What have I gotten you into, my son? he thought.
"Okay, I'm done. Turn around so I may dress," ordered Legolas. Smiling, the elf and man turned, honoring the prince's request.
They heard the rustling of the pants being unfolding and slid on. Legolas groaned. "What is it, ion nin?" Thranduil asked without turning around.
"These breeches are a size too small!" he whined. "This is just lovely! I'm going to have to walk in public with these bloody things sticking to me..." Legolas walked out of the washing room.
Aragorn and Thranduil burst out laughing and followed. Legolas was right. Breeches were made to hug the skin, but these definitely were too small. Aragorn couldn't help but notice they did flatter his backside and shapely legs. He realized that was Damean's entire purpose.
"For Valar's sake, Legolas, walking around half naked will only make your situation worse," snapped Thranduil. He held out a deep blue shirt that matched Legolas' eyes. The Elf prince glared, but took it and pulled it over his head.
Legolas snatched a grape from the platter and devoured it in record time. "This tastes so good!" he exclaimed and grabbed two more.
"You act like you haven't eaten in a week!" Aragorn jested.
"Well, if you don't count that roll I ate on the night of the coronation, I haven't, Estel," replied Legolas now grabbing a piece of fresh-baked bread.
Thranduil's eyes narrowed. "You mean he's been starving you!?" he roared.
"Ada, daro i[stop it]!" Legolas warned. "I am fine! It's not like I had to do something that required strength. For the past five days I've done nothing but lay here, chained to a bed. It's been rather annoying and boring. I'm so glad he sent you!" Legolas hugged his father fiercely. He turned to Aragorn and gave the human the same ministration.
Suddenly, Legolas' head shot up and he hissed, "Sedho! Lasto! [Quiet! Listen!]" Legolas pointed to the door. "He is coming! Quick, hide under the bed!"
A moment later Damean banged the door open and strode through his rooms. Legolas stood immobile as Damean walked past him to lay something carefully on the bed. "Where are the slaves I sent?"
"They left sometime ago," Legolas said meekly.
Damean snorted and bit into a piece of white meat from the platter. "You are a fickle Elf, Legolas. This morning all you could do was whine and beg me for food, and now you have barely touched it."
"I am not hungry," replied Legolas. At that moment, his stomach decided to growl loudly and protest against the words spoken. Legolas turned beet red and clutched his stomach, mentally telling it to hush.
Damean smirked. "Yet your stomach says otherwise." The King picked up a cherry and stalked closer to the elf standing next to the bed. A sudden push sent the elf tumbling back onto it. Thanks to elvish grace, he recovered quickly and scooted away from the King.
Damean straddled the elf's hips and pressed the cherry against his lips. Legolas turned his head away. The human grabbed his chin and forced the elf to look at him. A crack resounded throughout the room.
Thranduil winced; his son had just been slapped. The King of Mirkwood wanted to do nothing more than strangle the Haradrim for touching Legolas. A restraining hand on his shoulder told him not to do anything rash for it would only hurt the prince. Damean's voice brought them back to awareness.
"Maybe I should use a different approach...." A small plop could be heard, like someone had sucked something small through their mouth.
It was Aragorn's turn to be disgusted and want to kill the man. His best friend shouldn't have to go through this because of him. Arathorn's son could only blame himself and his weakness for the position Legolas was now in.
Legolas sent a plea to the Valar to end his life and slowly took the cherry between his teeth from the King's lips. Damean suddenly jammed his entire fist down Legolas' throat, choking him. Beneath the bed, Thranduil heard a hand weakly beating against a chest and gurgling noises.
Damean withdrew his hand and wiped the spit off on Legolas' shirt. He bent down and fervently sucked on the elf's luscious red lips. The need for air grew, and the kisses turned more passionate and noisy.
A sudden knock on the door startled them all and Damean quickly sat up. "Who dare disturbs me?!" he roared.
"I'm really sorry, sir!" squeaked a maid on the outside. "The Steward of Gondor has arrived. He is waiting in the gardens."
Damean sighed. "Tell him, I will be with him shortly." Turning back to Legolas he added, "We will continue this later, slave."
Legolas sat up and lowered his thick lashes in a sign of respect. Damean grinned maliciously. "I have a present for you. Since you are my slave, I thought it would be rather appropriate to mark you as such. Kneel and close your eyes."
Aragorn and Thranduil saw Legolas dropped to his knees. Damean picked up the parcel he had carried before and unwrapped it. The object inside was circular shape and had Tengwar words inscribe around it. It was a slave collar.
Damean put it around the elf's neck and snapped it shut. Legolas hands quickly rose to his throat and clawed at the offending thing. "A very nice Dwarf, I believe by the name of Gimli, crafted this. And dear Gandalf was nice enough to put a little spell that makes the collar stay on forever unless the right word is spoken. I'm afraid only I know that word."
"No, Damean, please! Please don't do this! Please!" Legolas wailed; this was exactly what he had been afraid of. Now that it had come true, Legolas nearly lost the will to live. The human hauled the elf to his feet and slapped him soundly on the cheek. Legolas whimpered and clutched his neck, desperately trying to pull off the collar. Tears fell like streams from his big blue eyes. "Please take it off! Please!"
Something inside the human's heart moved and he felt sudden pity for the creature he had been torturing. The King left before he showed his vulnerable soft side, leaving his consort broken and crying.
But before he shut the door, Damean said softly, "We leave for Mirkwood on the morrow. Be a sweetheart and pack tonight." Then he was gone.
Legolas slid down the wall and curled into a ball on the floor. When Thranduil was sure the monster was gone, he rushed to Legolas' side and held him, murmuring sweet nothings in his ear.
Aragorn looked on, unsure of what to do. The only other time Legolas had ever cried was when his mother had died. Seeing his best friend like this broke his heart into a million pieces.
"Why'd he have to do this? He's already humiliated me in front of all his people, now he has to do it in front of mine! Now, everybody will know I'm his bed slave!" Legolas sobbed against his father's bare chest. "I just wish I was dead," the young elf whispered almost inaudibly.
Thranduil grabbed his son's shoulders and gave them a soft but firm shake. "Never, ever, say that or even think that. The Valar have a reason for everything. Just except it."
"Maybe the reason I'm here is to die," the prince said dejectedly.
"No, Legolas, listen to me," Thranduil began.
"No, you listen to me!" Legolas interrupted. "It was my friendship with Estel that brought me here in the first place. I do not blame Estel; he is my best friend and I could never blame him for my mistake. It was my weakness that caused you to choose me over Mirkwood. My weakness shall be the death of us all. And it will be my fault when we ride from the forests of Mirkwood as they burn to the ground. Your reign shall fail because of me, and only me."
"Legolas, no..." Thranduil breathed. He held out a hand for the younger elf to take hold of, but the prince just brushed it aside.
Legolas stood from the ground without assistance and wiped his eyes. He ran slim fingers through his ruffled hair and straightened his tunic. He reached a hand forward to open the wardrobe closet when the door suddenly burst open and the King walked in.
A shocked expression crossed his face before it exploded into anger. "What are they doing in here, Legolas!?" Damean bellowed.
Legolas stepped protectively between his father and best friend, and the King of Harad. He schooled his face to be that of a calm, well-controlled Elf as he had done so many in his father's court. "I called them back here so they might fetch me some clothes for our journey tomorrow. I have naught except what I am wearing, and I would rather have multiple pairs of clothes."
Damean stared hard into the eyes of his slave trying to detect a hint of deceit, but found none. Legolas kept his gaze cool and calm, and his face innocent.
"Couldn't you have fetched them yourself, slave?" Damean remarked.
Legolas dropped his head and answered, "I — I was afraid of your — of your guards. I didn't want them to take advantage of me when I was most vulnerable."
The human chuckled. "Why would my men want you?
"Do not pretend you don't see their looks of lust! Every time they came in here to give you a message, or to report something, it was me they were really looking at!" Legolas eyes welled up again before Damean realized they were already red and puffy.
"Have you been crying the whole afternoon?" he asked incredulously. Legolas nodded in shame. "But why?"
"It is this slave collar, Damean, I mean master," he corrected quickly, his eyes flashing with grief and fury. "One, it is horribly tight and itchy. Two, now everyone in all of Middle-Earth will know that Prince Legolas of Mirkwood is a mere possession of King Damean of Harad. I am slave, but I there is no need to flaunt it around."
"Come here, Legolas," Damean ordered softly. Legolas stood before him with his head bowed, his hair making a curtain around his face. He wrapped his arms around the young elf and rested his chin on the bowed head of the prince.
"Thranduil, get him a fortnight's worth of clothes, and a pair of boots, will you? Aragorn, go to the kitchens and fetch a bowl of hot soup," Damean commanded.
"Yes, master," they said in unison and left to carry out their tasks.
"Lay down on the bed, Legolas, and sleep. I will try nothing tonight. I promise," whispered Damean.
Legolas sighed as he shifted into a comfortable position for sleeping. His eyes glazed over and he was lost in the world of obliviousness.
A/N: Not too much slash, I hope. Please don't hate me! I'll shift it to non-slash as much as possible, ok?! Review.
Responses to Reviews:
Little ME: Well, for the time being I think Legolas does hate Damean, but you never know. He may wake up crazy one day... hehe.
Elessar—Lover: I am really sorry!! I guess I didn't realize it was that graphic. I'll try to tone it down a bit. I give you full rights to completely yell at me if I get carried away, ok?
Kenobisaqt: I'm glad you liked it. You know, a handful of people has asked me if Damean and Legolas are going to fall in love. I should make a poll out of it, huh? Well, all I'm gonna say is, you decide whether they are or aren't.
Toby Keith Fanatic: I really don't know if he's going to turn gay or not. I mean, he does have a female lover in Mirkwood, but under the current circumstances, you never know!
Elven-Star-of-Gold: Lol, you can have Damean all to your self, as soon as this fic is over, I promise!! And I will happily supply the chains! You can't kill Elladan!! I love him!!!
Kawaiishinichan: Really long name!! Legolas will get more torture, I promise!! But it will really depend on my mood if it's physical or mental!
AllThatJaZZ1: Lol, the plot shall thicken even more! I hope this one wasn't too rushed. For the last one, I just wanted to get it posted as quickly as possible and move the story line along really fast because I'm going to be ending it soon. Thank you for reviewing!!
LegolasGreenleafGil-Estel: I love your name!! I promise Legolas will defy Damean a lot more, but you know, that will only get him punished!!
Katie: I think everybody feels more sorry for Thranduil. They are in a tighter spot. I'm not sure if I want them to escape.... I really am mean!! Lol!
Adarnell: I glad you love it!! Thanks for the review!! Oh, and don't worry, plenty of people review to meet my demands! I don't think I'll be quitting this story!
Celebdil-Galad and Tinlaure: I would never make Legolas fall in love with Damean. That would be too gross! And what Damean has for Legolas is lust, not love, so you have nothing to worry about! And, yes, Legolas is a straight Elf. I'm pretty sure it will not go beyond kissing. Plus I put the little warning symbols around the slashy part. But I'm really thinking about Legolas escaping and everything ending happy. Shh! Don't tell anyone I told you that!
Elenillor: Lol, I gots the good stuff!! Thanks for the review!