Disclaimer: I do not own LotR. I do own Aelin and Ellun, though! XD
Sorry 'bout grammar and/or spelling mistakes! I'm only human!
Told ya updates would be coming a lot sooner than the other one. I still only have seven chapters written out, but I am working on the eighth one. I just kinda got distracted by writing a Gundam Wing fic since I kinda came to a block with this fic, but worry not, I passed it. n.n And this one will always come first. n.n Usually I actually have two fics goin' and I prob'ly will some time during this fic, but I dunno. We shall see.
I hope you guys enjoy this chapter. Things are really starting to get thick now. I dunno how much you guys will like me for this, but… ..:shrugs:.. Just let me know what ya think, alright? n.n
Thanks for all the reviews, and enjoy this chapter. n.n
Bound
Chapter Five: Run
Suddenly the footsteps started to quicken and come towards him. He knew he had no time to think. The only thing that came to mind was what Aelin had told him. The one word kept swirling around in his head, making him unable to think of anything else.
Repeating 'run, run, run,' over and over again.
Taking a quick glance around the room, he found nothing of use.
He sprang from his frozen position in front of the door, bow in hand, and leapt towards the drape-drawn window.
Flinging the drapes aside, he fiddled with the latch until it came loose. Once he opened it he pulled himself through.
He hated to flee like this but something deep in him told him he'd be in grave danger if he were caught. By the sound of Aelin's plea to tell him to run he knew he had stood no other chance. It also seemed as though the couple wouldn't be in any danger, for the humans hadn't feared for their own lives, but his. He prayed not, at least. He would definitely check back on them when it was safer.
As he ran he could hear a male's voice shouting. It was the voice of the intruder yelling.
The elf had no idea who he was or what was being said; frankly, he did not care nor wish to know. He could not be captured again, especially not after just enduring the orcs' cruel tortures.
No, he would not be captured.
The voice was still loud in his ears. Ellun's had now joined, however, he was too far to hear exactly what was being said. Besides, he was too focused on getting out of there, his breath thick, legs being pushed to their limit given their prior condition, heart pounding quicker with every step.
Legolas had no idea where to go; no idea where he was. He had only been outside on occasion, and whenever he had been it was always around the same area. Sure, he had noted some of the main points and locations, like there was one big house to the far right when stepping out the door, and that the villagers seemed to stay away from it without being too obvious, but he didn't have enough information to get to a single destination, especially under the circumstances and the amount of time he had to think.
Therefore, he let his feet do the thinking, hoping they would not lead him astray.
Glancing back at the cabin, he saw a giant of a man standing near the window he had just escaped out of.
His legs pushed him harder.
The man turned to his left and right, looking for the black garbed elf, fit to be as visible as the wind as he shot into the forested part he knew well as of late.
………..
Aelin winced and held back a scream for Legolas when the man busted down the door to the elf's current room. He could not know they were keeping him secret. Then they would be in trouble. If they said nothing and were not found out then they would be fine. However, they were a lot more concerned with Legolas' life than their own, especially now.
She inwardly sighed in relief when she caught a peak inside the room and saw no elf. Glancing over at Ellun, it was obvious he was feeling the same.
The big man hastened to the window, thinking he saw a figure pass by. The drapes were pulled back, revealing the trees and other houses outside.
Sticking his head out, he looked closely for anyone he didn't recognize.
Not seeing anyone, he turned back to the couple. "Where is he?" he asked in a gruff voice.
"Who?" Ellun acted as though he had no idea what he was talking about.
"Do not get smart with me," the man warned. "Now, where is he?" he repeated.
"We know not of what you speak of. We have seen no one all night," Aelin tried her luck, easily lying to the man.
"We know someone has been here, someone that is not from around here," the brown-haired intruder stated, moving closer to the two to try and intimidate it out of them.
However, that tactic had long since been overused on these two. Also, they figured rumors had been going around about them hosting a stranger. Indeed, they had actually overheard it. Both had just ignored it, though. The others must have looked into it more… unfortunately.
"There has been no one," Ellun answered sternly, trying to convince the intruder.
In return, the man just raised his eyebrows in doubt. "Then why is the window open in the middle of autumn?" he asked, the chilly breeze reminding them all of the season.
"We needed some fresh air. This is the least used room," Aelin lamely said on the spot, hoping it was believable.
It wasn't. The man didn't believe it for a second, however, there was no sign of anyone in the cabin, no one but the ones who lived there. He could do nothing until he had proof. In truth, he wasn't too thrilled with his job, but it gave him status and opportunities no one else in the village had.
"You can lie all you want. There are more looking for him on orders and we shall find him," he promised, strutting past them to get his own orders.
When Ellun and Aelin were sure that he was gone they let out their sighs of relief, surprised they had gotten away with it.
What could they do now, though? They hoped that Legolas was able to escape.
Going to the window, Ellun looked out, wondering if he could see the elf.
Legolas was a friend to them, but stranger to everyone else there. Being a friend they didn't want any harm to befall him. They had realized that, by him being a stranger to the village, it would make it near impossible for the blonde to find his way out, especially since he hadn't gone anywhere else besides around the same forested area, which wouldn't help him get away.
"We have to go find him," the brunette told his wife.
"What, why?" she responded thinking that something horrible was happening… well, besides the obvious.
"He does not know the way," he answered anxiously. He closed the window, but did not lock it, just in case, and then he closed the drapes.
Aelin's eyes widened at the thought. Their efforts could end up being in vain because of their over-cautious behavior. She was beginning to regret the way they had taken Legolas outside. He knew practically nothing of their village, which was good and bad.
"Aye, let us go quick," the woman agreed, pulling the hood of her dark cloak over her head.
Ellun gave a short nod and pulled his hood over as well.
Casting one last look at the window he turned and made his way out the door, Aelin by his side.
Legolas was slumped forward, elbows on his legs, hands on his forehead, as he sat on a rock, trying to figure out what he could do. Thus far he had drawn blank.
He hadn't heard any sound of his pursuer and he was grateful for it. He didn't know how much time he had, though. All he knew was that it wasn't much. The intruder would eventually stumble across him; by then he had to be long gone. At this rate, however, it did not seem likely.
Sighing deeply and, rubbing his temples against the headache that had grown, he continued to think.
Placing his hand on a tree next to him in hopes of a suggestion, he was struck by a sudden panic. The tree urged him to run and quickly, without wasting any time.
Already? his mind exclaimed in disbelief.
The elf had long since learned to trust the trees. He knew he had to run; far away from this area. He could no longer afford the time to think of where to go. He probably never should have stopped in the first place, possibly never even hesitated to think of which direction to run off when he had jumped out of the window.
Well, all that was far too late to think about.
He wondered if he'd ever have time to find out which direction he should go. The fact that he still needed to find Estel never left the front of his mind. He had had to put it off and it frustrated him to no end.
Legolas had immediately shot up – quickly scooping up his bow – once the warning and feeling had consumed him and he had sprinted forward. He no longer cared where he was going. He just knew he could not be captured again. He couldn't. He wouldn't. Just that alone would be torture. He could not endure it again, not so soon.
The elf suddenly felt a sharp pain in his head and knew of nothing more, but the blackness. He crumpled to the forest's floor nearly hitting a tree, his bow falling from his limp hand.
The one who had hit him came out from behind a thick tree and looked down at Legolas with a grin of satisfaction.
"Thought you could escape, huh?" the man said teasingly.
He dropped the thick branch used as a weapon and knelt down next to the elf. He inspected Legolas to make sure he was really unconscious and then he picked him up, surprised at how light he was.
The man just walked on with the blonde without caring if anyone saw him. They couldn't do anything about it, after all; they knew what happened.
……….
"I fear we may be too late," Ellun stated, looking at the ground.
The couple had just arrived at the forested area they always took Legolas to and did not find their charge.
Both prayed he had escaped from the ones who wished to capture him and that he had found a way to get far away from their village forever. That was the only way he'd ever be safe.
"You think he got away?" Aelin asked in a hopeful tone.
"I know not," the man answered shortly, looking for any signs of a struggle, anything that would tell them what they needed to know. He would not leave until he had searched every last inch of the area surrounding them.
Noticing the distracted sound of her husband's voice, she said nothing more and, instead, started to search alongside him.
After about a half hour search Ellun finally stumbled upon something that put their fears into reality.
The leaves on the ground had recently been disturbed and there was Legolas' bow on the ground. Also, there was a thick branch that was not in the right spot it should have been if it had fallen form the tree it was lying under.
"Do you think they got him?" Aelin asked terrified, though she knew the truth. If they had captured Legolas then they had failed and could do nothing more. They could try but would accomplish nothing under these unfortunate circumstances. This was precisely why they had wished the blonde to recover quickly and stay out of sight.
As much as Ellun wanted to reassure his wife, he just couldn't lie to her. Everything in him said that their friend had been captured and that there was little hope.
His silence was answer enough and she could barely contain the grief that now gripped her heart tightly, knowing that they had failed.
Quiet sobs escaped her as tears trickled down her cheeks. She knew what they would do to the elf and she couldn't stand the thought, especially since they had befriended the kind elf.
Ellun pulled his wife into a tight, caring hug, trying to soothe her pain while pushing aside his own. He felt the same way towards Legolas; they could not give up on him. For once they would fight back, even if it caused great harm to themselves. They needed this to stop. The whole village needed it to.
Stealing the courage, he took a deep breath and held Aelin at arm's length. He wiped the tears away with a thumb while saying, "Worry not, we shall save him. We shall put an end to this." He was determined to do so and the red-head could tell. She knew he was absolutely serious.
Aelin sniffed back tears, as the same determined look that was in her husband's eyes entered her own. She had decided to do everything she could do help Ellun and Legolas.
They had had enough.
Are you guys mad at me now? I'm sorry! I couldn't help it, it had to be done. Poor Legolas. ..:shakes head:.. The things we make him go through… XD Don't worry, the next chapter will be up before ya know it! …I hope. Just need to get time to type it up. n.n
And don't forget about this: http/ www . geocities . com / indeath666 / rr . html, for review responses. n.n Thanks for all the wonderful reviews, btw. They're really encouraging. I'm glad you guys are enjoying this. Please keep them coming. n.n Btw, I don't know if you usually look at the site or not, but if Lyn could look at what I wrote there, I would really appreciate it. Thank you. n.n
Ja ne