Chapter 9

I Would Risk All

They traveled almost non-stop as before, back to home. Elladan and Aragorn pushed their horses as much as they dared, but at the close of the seventh day after they had left Rivendell they could push them no father. Picking a clearing surrounded by thick trees, they readied for a few hours of rest. With only a few more hours left to home, they figured they would be safe, though staying made Elladan in particular increasingly uneasy as time went on.

During the fast ride back, Aragorn had kept Kathalion in front of him, and told the eagle of Legolas, and how he had been inflicted. He answered the eagle's questions about Valkenor and Moran, for he had not seen them in a long time since he had moved to the island. When Kathalion would ask of Legolas, he soon discovered the devotion Aragorn put in the friendship he and the elf prince shared. He would risk anything for him. Anything . . .

Darkness wrapped around the world and the hour grew late. As they settled around a fire, Aragorn noticed how Elladan kept looking behind them with worry etched on his face. When Aragorn asked him, Elladan only shook his head.

"I don't know," Elladan continued, looking vaguely back the way they had come. "but something out there is making me very uneasy."

"What do you think it could be?" Aragorn began to gently stroke Kathalion's feathers.

"No idea. But I can guarantee it's something we'd rather not have around again."

Kathalion nodded with the statement. "It's true. There's something out there. I'll try to keep a watch out for danger, since I have a debt to replay."

Elladan leaned forward and placed his hand on the eagle's head. "Thank you for trying to help us."

Aragorn turned his attention to his older brother. "How long do you think it's going to take us to get back home?"

Elladan opened his mouth to respond, but never got the chance. Kathalion let out a small screech and leapt to his feet. Both Aragorn and Elladan jumped at the sudden movement, and watched confused as the eagle spread his wings and took off into the air, disappearing over the trees in seconds.

Aragorn slowly turned to Elladan. "What wa-" he didn't get the chance to finish. Kathalion burst through a tree, sending leaves everywhere, and quickly flew back to them, speaking before he even hit the ground.

"They're coming! Quick, we need to get out of here, they'll be here in a few minutes, go ge-"

"WHO'S coming!" Both Aragorn and Elladan shouted at him, stopping the eagle in his wild haste. He landed and began again, but didn't talk any slower.

"The orcs! The orcs we got away from! But they've got something with them, a terrible dark shadow follows them quickly, we must leave!"

"What terrible dark shadow!" Elladan asked, watching as the eagle moved toward open packs and began to fill them again.

"Ah, one not living mortal or immortal would ever wish to see! He is hunting for us, and he can fill one's heart with cold fear. A demon!" Kathalion franticly began to pull one bag toward the horses, who were snorting and pawing the ground. "He's a demon!"

It was as if someone had zapped them both stupid. Both Aragorn and Elladan seemed to be rooted to the ground, staring at Kathalion struggling with his burden. The eagle glanced at them a moment later, dropped the bag, and screeched loudly at them, breaking the trance they were in.

"Are you going to just stand there and stare at me!" he shouted at them, making them both jump. "Hurry!"

Aragorn and Elladan ran to the eagle and helped gather the remainder of their possessions and binding them to their horses' backs. At first, both animals protested, telling their riders in the only way they could that they were well worn and scared. But faint shrill screams of orcs could be heard, frightening them into a still silence. One look from Aragorn and Elladan told them the seriousness of the situation. The trust the elven horses had in their riders went very deep, and both animals allowed themselves to be burdened again, listening to the shrieks grow slowly but steadily louder.

Just as Elladan tied off the last bag, he felt a fresh icy chill wash over him like a wave. For a moment he didn't even move, trying to fight the shadow in his mind that was growing larger. He griped the soft mane tightly, then moved forward and buried his face in Hísië's neck. After a few moments, he stood straight again and looked over at Aragorn. The ranger stood next to Arien, and the two brothers made eye contact.

"We're never going to get away from them now – they're almost here." Aragorn looked worriedly at where the voices of the orcs were now in full throttle, barely a moment away.

"Let's release the horses and fight them. We can't have them following us. At least the horses and Kathalion can survive if we don't." Elladan leaned over again and spoke softly in elvish, and he told the horse to run to Rivendell quickly.

Rivendell . . . even the name sounded like a dream. A place of refuge, a forest of peace, a house of healing. How desperately the two riders wished to follow their steeds, but it was not to be so. It was an unspoken rule that pertained whenever one went out on a journey of danger bring nothing back that could destroy what Rivendell had become. They were on the front lines of fear, and going home was no longer an option. They had to rid themselves of the fear that threatened first.

The two riders released their horses, shouting after them, "Noro! Noro lim! Noro lim!"

(Hurry! Run! Run!)

Kathalion began to speak again. "You can't fight him! Go and hid quickly! They will not be so kind as to let you go free or kill you without torturing you first. Get out of here!" he again spread his wings and flew after the horses. "I'm going to get help, if I can. They're coming!"

Aragorn froze for barely half an instant at the eagle's words. Go get help? What about Legolas? If they didn't get the cure to him by that night . . . Aragorn shuddered at the thought. But soon he could give his heart no heed.

Dark flashes of the orcs could be seen now, running toward them with horrible speed. Around them the darkness grew, not only from lack of light outside but the horrifying cold they both felt within. Both Aragorn and Elladan put themselves in the ready position, weapons out the one thing they hadn't sent home and prepared for the fight.

Elladan aimed and fired the first arrow, catching one orc in the neck. It caused a chain reaction – the orcs fired back with almost dead accuracy, nearly getting Aragorn in the face and Elladan in the stomach if they had not moved in time. Moments later the two groups collided, and the fight was on. It was so close that Elladan had to drop his bow and draw his sword. Many long, grueling minutes passed as both Aragorn and Elladan dodged, parried, and slaughtered the large orc party. It seemed that the old group that had been following them had found some new orc soldiers to help them.

At one point, not long later, as Aragorn slashed one orc in the chest and shoved him away, a heavy rope appeared from somewhere behind him, landing about his neck. Left with no time to react, the ranger could do nothing as the owner of the rope pulled it tighter than a noose, making Aragorn fall flat on his back gasping for breath. That was all the orcs needed, and they held him flat on the ground. Several more had to come to keep the struggling human down. A ragged cry burst from Aragorn's throat as he twisted and kicked, trying to loosen the terrifying grips of the orcs. It was useless. There were just too many.

Elladan tried to stay close to the man, but soon after the fight had begun they had been swept apart. Now, unable to find him, panic allowed his eyes to see a small but growing crowd of orcs. In the midst of them he could see Aragorn trapped in their midst. He ran to help, but in his moment of hesitation he forgot what he was doing. One large and stocky orc about ten feet away saw this and began to run towards him. He slammed into the elf's side, knocking him off balance and making him fall to his knees. The moment he hit the ground he knew they had lost.

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The orcs stripped them of their weapons, bound their hands, and surrounded them, jabbering loudly, while they knelt on the ground before them.

The captain smiled. He knew they wouldn't be able to avoid them for long. As he glanced around his orc soldiers, his hidden anger was raised, for the two warriors had killed nearly all of his soldiers, there was only a handful of them left. Though the new orcs that had be recruited were loyal, he didn't trust them. He preferred the orcs that he had trained himself, though the beings were still miserable to deal with. That was the way it always went. He and the few that remained were done with being killed so easily and brushed aside. That was why they made their deal an exchange for one of the old power of the Valar for their freedom from bondage. The orc captain grinned widely as his soldiers began to speak loudly, causing the two beings to tremble at the talk. With any luck, the pain they had endured would be taken out on these two. The play would loosen their hate well.

"Ha ha!" one laughed loudly, making the captives shudder at the sound of his hideous voice. "Look at him! It's been long since we've played with an elf! He's very fair, this one." The orc reached out and gently stroked Elladan's cheek with one long claw. Elladan flinched slightly at his touch, but shrunk a bit closer to Aragorn, protecting him.

"This one is quite young. He's no elf." Another added, tugging at Aragorn's dark hair, making the human shrink farther to Elladan. "He's a human!." Catching on to the obvious closeness the brothers shared, the orcs began to annoy them both – poking, jabbing, and pulling at them, making them both flinch and cower together.

Then all at once they stopped as one orc proclaimed, "I wonder what we'll be allowed to do to them. Give 'em a good beating I hope."

Loud calls of agreement followed, and others began calling out other suggestions for torture. They had been chasing these two long enough they wanted their revenge, and no doubt they would get it.

"Let's use that new poison that Master came up with!" another yelled out, earning himself lots of excited cheers from his fellows.

"I know! We could use thebraided whip!" This was met with almost complete silence, as each orc let loose a malicious grin while thinking about it. The evil smiles did nothing to ease the fear in either of their captives. Neither of them understood why they were waiting anyway. Aragorn's head was right near Elladan's shoulder, and he could feel his brother shudder, and them suddenly gasp in horror.

The air around them was so cold, but somehow Aragorn knew it was something else. Slowly, the laughing orcs began to part as something drew closer from the shadows of the trees.

An immense shadow had come forward and joined the edge of the orc party. All the orcs became silent and backed away respectively, revealing what they had caught. When they had parted, both Aragorn and Elladan received a good look at their capturer.

He was hooded and cloaked entirely in black. They could not see any part of him other than his hands, thin sallow skin stretched over long fingers, and yet looked anything but brittle. And his eyes seen very well through his hood, glowing slightly as red as blood. When Aragorn saw this, he looked over at Elladan in recognition and fear. The dream he had seen this . . . demon in his dream.

Suddenly, he got the feeling that he was being thrown backwards, even though he wasn't moving. It was as if he could feel someone prying through him, searching out and reading his thoughts and memories. He was almost incoherent with anguish and intense cold, but next to him Elladan was in agony. He had leaned forward and shut his eyes, almost wheezing as he tried to get back under control. His bound hands were shaking hard. Aragorn leaned forward, grasped one hand and squeezed. He quietly held still as Elladan began to discontinue his normal blood flow.

The demon watched them quietly, trying to figure out who they were. But it was like something was protecting them, but what, he did not know. They both had a special light about them, and the demon despised it greatly. He wanted answers, and no doubt he could and would get them.

"Who are you?" he asked in a hauntingly low, dark hiss. Both the figures on the ground convulsed at the sound of his voice. Neither one at first moved to respond, but then Aragorn sat up slightly and answered in a low whisper, not looking at the demon.

"We are hunters from Rivendell. I am called Strider, and this is …" Aragorn cut himself off as Elladan snapped up his head and stared at him pleadingly, and Aragorn suddenly knew why. He had to keep both their true names a secret – his for obvious reasons, and Elladan's because neither one of them wanted to know what a demon and a party of orcs would do if they found out they had one of the sons of Elrond.

"Er… this is Sadron." Relief flooded through Elladan's face as he relaxed ever so slightly. That was way to close for comfort. Aragorn had simply given Elladan the first name that had popped into his head, giving him some cover. It wasn't like any of their capturers cared about their names, though. The demon watched the exchange, but didn't pay much attention to it, instead thinking about where Aragorn said they were from.

Rivendell, he thought. So that is why they are surrounded in light. They're from the house of Elrond. As hesmiled coldlyto himself, if one could have ever seen his face they would have trembled where they stood. This could get interesting. With any luck the orcs will be able to have a little fun with them. They may need the convincing.

The demon turned to them again, still speaking in the same low voice. "I have been sent to search for that which I know what you both possess, since you were seen with it. I will only ask you once, and give you a chance to leave us unharmed. But I will warn you now. I will know if you lie about this.

"Where is the eagle?"

Both of them froze in heart-stopping alarm. Aragorn looked at Elladan closely, not knowing what to say. They had both promised to get the cure to Legolas if they could, and not bring any danger back to Rivendell. They couldn't tell him, for they truly didn't know themselves. It was not going to be an answer without some painful consequence. And yet Elladan gave him a look of determination, and mind made up, Aragorn looked up at the demon with an intensifying, yet worried expression. He would gladly accept death for his family, the one thing they both held most dear.

"We don't know. When you came he flew away from us. He only said he was going to get help. We don't know more than that." Aragorn's voice sounded small and weak to the demon.

"That's not everything though, is it? I can tell you are holding something back. Now. Tell me!" the demon moved closer to the two brothers, making the air around them feel old, stale, and incurably cold.

Aragorn did not respond, not knowing what to say. He may not recognize the truth, but he would surely recognize a lie. What are we going to do? He already thinks I'm not telling the whole truth. But I truly don't know more than that! He looked down at the ground and gave Elladan a tightening squeeze as he stared at the forest floor. What could he do anyway?

They would die first before giving in.

There was no way Aragorn was going to surrender his friend's only hope to the works of darkness, even if he knew where Kathalion had gone, but judging by the joyful looks of the orcs and the infuriated hissing from the demon because of his silence, they were going to pay dearly for it.

Two orcs ran to Aragorn, seized him roughly, and dragged him to his feet in front of the demon. Two more did the same with Elladan, and they both were forced to look into the deadly fire in the demon's eyes.

His heart was hammering so hard Aragorn was sure the demon could hear it, but the cloaked horror barely paid attention to him as he barked out orders to his orcs.

"Do what you must, but do not kill them."

Triumphant yells sounded as both Aragorn and Elladan were roughly dragged into the midst of the orcs. The ropes on their wrists were left alone, and their ankles were bound so they couldn't get up. Then dividing into two small groups, the orcs fell on their captives like ravening wolves.

Immediately as the vicious attack began, Aragorn recalled one time when he and Legolas had gone through a human town not long ago. As they prepared to leave, they had passed by a small bar, from which loud yelling could be heard. Suddenly the door of the bar had swung open and a large group of men came running out, carrying in the midst of them one lone and unlucky young man. Before either of them could do anything, the men had surrounded the young man and began to brutally beat him. And as quickly as it had begun it ended, leaving the poor man lying in the street . . . Aragorn remembered this as he was now in a very similar situation, as the orcs surrounded him on all sides. Instead of then being the onlooker, he was now at the mercy of his captures . . . if they had any.

Aragorn tried to shield his face to ward off serious blows with his arms as the orcs around him began to try to tear him apart. Weaponless, helpless, flat on his back surrounded by these filthy monsters that were after his blood was beyond terrifying. Yet with all his might he concentrated on not admitting to any physical pain by crying out. Many orcs had picked up large chunks of wood off the ground and used them to their advantage, turning the ranger slowly and painfully black and blue.

One orc, noticing how protective he was of his face, poked a companion and roughly moved his arms aside. The other could get full shot of him, and using a smoldering torch like a club, he harshly beat Aragorn upside the head with it. He not only began breaking and bruising the skin, but also burned the flesh with the hot coals. Another orc took his torch of which had just gone out and walked behind Aragorn. He moved the man onto his side and buried the burning chunk of wood into his back. Finally responding to the pain that lanced through him, Aragorn let out a heart-piercing cry.

Overjoyed at finally breaking though his silence, the orcs continued to make sure he would never be able to fight back or even crawl away from them once they were done. Amidst the kicks and punches he was receiving, he felt white hot pain shoot through him again as one orc buried his rough knife into his leg, tearing into it as if to remove the muscle. He didn't even have time to react as a steel-toed boot contacted with the back of his head, mercifully turning his world and his senses black.

Elladan too had tried to shield his face and had curled in on himself, preventing his face, chest, and stomach from gaining any injuries. But he had to leave the rest of himself unprotected, and now all were in serious pain. One orc was currently using his club on Elladan's arm in the same place, bruising it far into the bone, and if for much longer, breaking it critically.

Suddenly among the horrible orcs he could smell something ashy and hot coming closer to him, and he hesitated to look and see what it was. When he finally did, he had no warning as the orcs around him stopped their beatings, grabbed his arms and legs, uncurled him, and trapped him eagle-spread to the ground. He struggled helplessly, but he was unable to move. There were just too many. Then he saw what the orcs were planning on doing to him. One orc held in his hands a lit torch and was moving closer to him, the flames dancing off the orc's evil grin.

Struggle as he might Elladan could not free himself of the filthy hands that held him down. The orc walked up to him and stood over him. He then turned his torch upside down, and aimed it right over Elladan's sternum, and in a move filled with force, pushed down. About a second before impact Elladan froze, shut his eyes, grit his teeth, and tried to prepare his body for the unavoidable. But there was no way he was prepared for the pain that shot through him when the searing torch made contact. Screaming a cry of absolute pain the torch burned him for several moments before the orcs released their hold, and in disgusting humor watched Elladan curl in on himself again, pressing his hands against the large wound. As he did so he screamed again, as his hands were also burned as they held together the ragged, torn pieces of flesh.

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At a slight call from the demon the harsh beatings ceased. The orcs kicked the two fallen figures on the ground together and backed away. Aragorn was still unconscious. He was about five feet away from Elladan, his body slumped over and his face in the ground. Elladan moaned from the combined forces of pain that covered his body, mostly now from the burns on his lower chest and hands. Among that and the dark, painful bruises and gashes that covered him, he had a badly bruised arm, and one leg that had been cut open badly. He wasn't breathing very well, and it was hard to move. For a moment he listened to the orcs jabber and brag about the injuries they had delivered to themselves and the demon, then turned his attention to the human a few feet away.

Aragorn wasn't moving, still knocked out from the kick to the head. Elladan slowly dragged himself closer, intensifying the headache he had received from his injuries, and made it to Aragorn's still form. Not wanting to increase any pain in either of them, Elladan quickly tore two pieces of his tunic away and quickly bound up his burned hands, and as gently as he could, lifted Aragorn halfway off the ground and into his arms. He moved aside the tangled, sweaty dark hair and had to bite back a cry of shock.

Ugly, deep, split open and bleeding gashes and burns marred his brother's face. Dark purple-black bruises covered his exposed skin, and Elladan was almost afraid to find out what his clothing hid. He quickly inspected his brother with his hands and eyes. Aragorn had received a minor concussion from the kick in the head, three broken ribs, deadly burns on his face and back, and on his left leg it looked as though one orc had tried to remove his calf muscle, rendering the leg useless and almost unbearably painful. The ranger was almost unrecognizable. He was breathing badly like Elladan, gasping as the elf lifted him off the ground. Elladan turned Aragorn inward and held him tightly. It hurt him deeply to see the young human and himself like this, but worse was not being able to do anything about it.

Wincing inwardly from the pain in his hands and lower chest, he glanced up and glared daggers at the demon and his orcs. He gently shook the human in his arms, trying to wake him up. Aragorn groaned and stirred, weakly clutching at the tattered remains of Elladan's tunic. Elladan quieted him quickly, not wanting to draw attention to themselves.

"Shh, tithen muindor. Tampa, dina esta, na nefach. Na nefach."

Shh, little brother. Stop, stay silent, I am here. I am here"

"El, … I-I … can't feel m-my leg … I can-can't bre-breathe … very well …" Aragorn started to gasp more heavily, wrapping his arms around his mid-section. As he did so he hissed sharply – he had touched one broken rib. Elladan moved his arms away and gripped his hands tightly.

"It's going to be okay. I'm not going to let them hurt you again, not if I have anything to do with it. Stay with me Estel, stay with me …"

"It hu-hurts…" Aragorn murmured, and tightened his hold on Elladan's torn tunic

"Iston renaeg. Garor…"

I know it hurts. Hold on…

"Hey, the young one's awake!" a rough voice entered the conversation. An orc got very close to them and poked Aragorn in the side. Aragorn moaned in pain and Elladan glared at the orc fiercely.

"Get away from us!" he whispered to the orc, but spoke with such power that the orc backed away a few steps in fear.

"Good, good…" said the demon darkly. "It's about time. I'm glad he is." Elladan could tell he was telling the truth, but also knew the demon's reasons would be far different than his own. He cradled Aragorn's head against his chest, pain forgotten, silently fearing what the demon was going to do next.

"Please," he begged the demon in a soft voice. "Please listen to us. We don't know where the eagle is. Let him go at least, please!"

"Ha!" cried the demon. "You do know where he is, don't you, elf? Do you really think I would waste my time if I were not sure?"

"He was at first, but right before you came he flew away. We know no more than that. Please, just let him go!"

"Liar! You do know where he is, or at least where he's going. You're hiding something from me, I can feel it. And if I don't find out very soon, you will regret it! Tell me where the eagle went! NOW!"

Elladan's voice broke slightly as his cracked sobs began to surface. "We cannot tell you what we do not know!"

"My patience is gone." said the demon, glowering at Aragorn and Elladan in a voice mixed with annoyance and delight. "Seize the young one!"

Three orcs gleefully answered the call, running over to Elladan and trying to get to Aragorn. Even in his weakened state Elladan managed to protect Aragorn for a few moments. More orcs came to help, and bodily forced Elladan to release his hold by nearly knocking him out with a blow to the head. Aragorn was in no state to fight back, and cried out to Elladan as they dragged him away.

"Maethach. Hantach. Uuyech er, idra muindor nin! Eail gosta anim!"

You tried. Thank you. You are not alone, my dear brother! Do not fear for me!

"Ú-awartha i arad, an i tinnu, egor pada i guruthos nîf-ned anannch lîn!" Elladan called back at the human. "Bellch le! Bellch le!"

Do not forsake the day for twilight, nor tread the shadows before your time! You are strong! You are strong!

The orcs brought Aragorn to the demon. After glaring at the weakened human for a moment, the demon barked out orders in the black language. The orcs dragged Aragorn to a large tree and tied him securely to it, pressed up against the trunk with his hands over his head, rendering him even weaker than he already was. The demon reached into the black folds of his cloak, searching for something. Once Aragorn was in place, the orcs roughly tore off the tattered remains of his tunic and cloak, baring him to the waist. Dark purple-black bleeding bruises were revealed, decorating his back in horrifying patterns. Aragorn groaned loudly at the rough treatment.

"NO!" Elladan yelled as he recognized what they were about to do. "Please, leave him alone! Take me instead, but leave him alone!" he got away from the orcs guarding him and made it about five feet before being caught again. The demon, finding what he was looking for, walked in front of Elladan and revealed it for what it was a thick multi-thonged whip. The demon shook the heavy leather in front of Elladan, allowing him a closer look. Entwined in and sticking out of the leather thongs were bits of sharp rocks and blades. This whip would not only lacerate flesh – it would destroy it.

"NO, please! He's too weak – he'll never survive a beating like that! Please, take me, kill me, but do it to ME! Leave him alone! You'll kill him! You'll kill him!" Elladan struggled against the orcs that held him, tears streaming down his face. The demon turned to him, watching him sob and struggle.

"Don't you know the greatest way to destroy someone's will is to attack his heart? The only way I can break you is by making you suffer, making you wish that it was only a dream. And only to find that waking is so much worse worse than you even dared dream. You have made this quite easy for me since I know you hold this human in some value, but for the life of me, I could not begin to guess why. And," the demon looked at him carefully as Elladan gave him a terrified look. "Just for you, I'm going to finish him nice and slow. Then maybe you'll talk, and tell me the truth." The demon's voice had no pity, only a cool silence and hate that bit through Elladan like a knife. Through his tears Elladan gave him a look of such hatred that some of the orcs in front of him backed away like whipped dogs. Elladan ceased to struggle, and had to watch as the demon positioned himself behind Aragorn.

Estel . . . Elladan visibly flinched as the demon put the whip into motion.

The first sight would forever haunt him. It was thrown with almost no effort, but it didn't make it un-painful. Left behind was the expected harsh whip burns and gashes, only it was worse much worse. As the sharp leather snapped, Elladan fell to his knees and stared at the ground, wrapping his arms in front of him, and let the tears fall. One orc guard next to him didn't like him not watching, and so he grabbed a fistful of Elladan's long hair and jerked his head back, forcing him to watch. Every move now was his to cherish forever, watching Aragorn groan under his breath, gripping the rope that bound him so hard his knuckles turned white, watching the strikes become harder and faster each time. Then as the beating intensified, Aragorn could no longer bear it in silence, and let loose a gut-wrenching cry.

Elladan felt as though someone had torn his heart in two. He watched each strike fall, watched his brother's back turn even more red, raw, and bloody from the abuse, listened to each of Aragorn's cries, and with each small silver tear, let Aragorn know how much he cared.