Black Eyes
Chapter Ten: Low Rider
by Capella
A/N: I'm starting to feel like I'm writing a middle-earth version of Jerry Springer. But hey, it's fun and hopefully spine-tinglingly awesome. The gratutitous kissing is due to the fact that the Yanks are in the World Series. Enjoy.
Hope you guys don't get annoyed by this, but I like connecting with my loyal friends/fans.
Hiten Mitsurugi Kitsune -- 'course it didn't offend me. I'm getting used to the whole "angry reviews/leave death threats" deal. Hmmm...a happy ending? Perhaps. Perhaps not.
Legolas19 -- well, a'thank you.
Phayze -- you're one of about ten whom i've had tell me the crossover thing. thanks!
Stammpants -- you can't fool me, I know you're april, and you know that I know that I'm not gonna tell you jack squat. Power trip!
Kitta Baby -- weeeellll, it wasn't a joke, but it probably was cruel. Sorry. And I don't do the whole tragedy ending thing.
Duckie -- you work wonders for feeding my bloated ego. *grins*
mango -- awesome. and noooo, s'not a joke....but Harry is quite the little liar, so remember that.
twilight -- Guilty on all charges. And you shall find out what happened to the rest of the party this chapter. Hehehe.
Eaiva le Fay -- no harm done, dearie. I sound like a grandmother. Aaand...well, I guess you'll have to find out soon, won't you?
Holy-Demon -- *grins* I love rabid reviews. They make like, my entire week. Like the theories, but you'll have to wait and see. And thanks for the defense against the ignorant, my knight in shining armor. :)
Jen -- Love the description of Legolas. How true, true.
ME!!!!!!!!! -- Superbulous! That is so cool!
twilight -- alright, my perceptive reviewer. *grins* Sent you an e-mail, so everything should be (relatively) cleared up.
lil_blondie -- yeah, Legolas ain't having such a hot time since the whole blind thing. And don't expect a reprieve anytime soon.
laura/all the australian gals, of whom I am immensely proud to have as part of my international readership -- don't stop reading it! Hope this was fast enough, and I'm really glad you like it!
Oh, and with the whole time thing -- yeah, I made it up. Have no idea how long it would take for a rider to catch up with someone who's not moving. Who cares, doesn't detract from the story. Just sorta -- ignore it. Yes. Ignore it.
Well! That's it, so here's chapter ten: Low Rider. And no, I don't know why I used Low Rider. But it's one of my favorite songs, and somehow, it really, really fit. Yes, I know it's about a truck. Harry the truck. That makes me laugh.
_________________________
"All my friends know the Low Rider
The Low Rider is a little higher."
-- War, "Low Rider"
_________________________
"You've been quiet, Legolas."
Legolas barely flinched at the whip-crack contempt in Harry's voice. Harry turned his head back for a moment from where he sat astride Arod in front of Legolas, dark green eyes and darker ebony hair catching the sun and making him look almost wickedly beautiful.
"Have I finally broken you, love?" He sounded amused.
"Yes, my lord," Legolas answered dully, staring blankly at a tiny lock of black hair that curled at the nape of Harry's neck. Harry laughed at his tone, turning his attention back to their surroundings, and Legolas let his eyes drift to the knife dangling carelessly at Harry's waist. He could almost believe that Harry didn't know that Legolas had worked the knot out of the bonds holding his wrists together. The rope was looped loosely around his wrists now, but only for show. It had taken him a half a day -- since they'd set out from where Haldir had been killed -- to unknot it.
Let Harry believe him defeated. He was a fighter, and he would find a way to fight whatever evil spirit possessed Harry -- it could not be that it had been Harry who'd killed Haldir. It just could not be -- but despite his determination, inside Legolas's mind, a tiny seed of doubt was planted.
_________________________
Damn elvish horses -- was this the fastest they could go! --
Draco heeled the brown mare sharply in her sides and she whickered up at him in annoyance, never breaking her smooth gallop. Grudgingly, he supposed that she had increased her speed, but only by a hair. God, Haldir was already more than a day ahead and he was supposed to catch up on an old horse named Brego? He hissed in irritation, leaning down on the horse until he was almost touching her mane. He had considered riding a horse pretty much the same as riding a broomstick until that morning.
"I'm never going to ride anything alive again the rest of my life," he muttered. Brego gave a snort of approval.
He'd been riding for a good long while, past half a day, perhaps, and he was beginning to feel faint stirrings of worry despite himself.
Earlier, Brego had insisted upon stopping near a small clump of trees, and he'd gotten off the horse and seen blood, and two pieces of rope tied around the trunks of two trees, covered in blood as well. He grudgingly accepted that it could have been Legolas's, but a part of his mind refused to accept that Harry could do something that -- that horrific to anyone.
It was with that thought in mind, that Harry could be suffering at the hands of someone, that he heeled Brego in the sides harder, the searing wind coaxing tiny tears out of his eyes that streamed down his cheeks.
Suddenly, Brego came to a complete stop.
"Goddamn it, you --" he muttered, digging his feet into the horse's flanks. She snorted and refused to move. He did it again, harder, and Draco felt her muscles tense just before she bucked, sending him flying to the ground.
"What the fuck --" His choked, indignant cry as he stood and began to walk after Brego was cut off short when he saw what lay on the ground -- in pieces -- before him. He swayed, pressed a hand to his mouth, and fell to his knees, his stomach cramping violently. "Oh, my God --" he whispered.
______________________________
Legolas's heart was pounding so loud in his ears that it almost seemed impossible that Harry did not hear it. His hands were shaking, his breathing was harsh despite his attempts to calm himself down. He flexed his hands, staring at the knife hanging at Harry's waist.
Harry had begun to nod off only a few hours after the last time they had spoken, and now his head was tipped onto his chest, his breathing slow and steady. Arod plodded along, unconcerned, needing no guidance for the moment. It was the perfect opportunity and yet -- yet Legolas could not forget the last time he'd tried to overpower Harry and get free, back when they had only just left Minas Tirith. How easy it had seemed, just as easy as what he planned to do now.
He felt a faint stirring of apprehension in the pit of his stomach and mourned for the times when he had faced armies of Orcs without a moment of fear. How he had been changed.
Legolas pushed aside his fears with grim determination and carefully slid his hands free of the rope that had been binding his hands before he'd unknotted it, keeping as cautious a watch on Harry as he could for signs of stirring. There were none.
He stretched his hand slowly for the knife, focusing so completely on the task at hand that he never noticed the tiny movements of Harry's body.
"Did you need something, Legolas?" Harry asked darkly without turning.
It was the suddenness of the words and the rush of fear that accompanied them that drove Legolas to stretch his hand the last few inches and grab the hilt of the knife just as Harry began to turn. He slammed his elbow into Harry's throat, driving him to the ground to land on his back. Legolas jumped off the horse and took advantage of Harry's momentary weakness to climb on top of him, managing to pin two slim wrists with one of his hands. Harry hissed and fought wildly. He kneed Legolas in the stomach before Legolas managed to pin Harry's legs down with his own.
It was only when Legolas brought the knife to Harry's throat did Harry finally go deathly still, staring up at Legolas with fury in his eyes.
"You think you can do this to me?" he hissed angrily, twisting his wrists sharply and snarling when the grip of Legolas's hand didn't give. "Pitiful, weak fool -- it didn't work the first time. Put the knife down, and perhaps I shall spare your life." He looked deadly serious. Legolas couldn't find it in himself to care. Every fiber of his being cried out for closure.
When Legolas didn't speak, Harry tried again, sounding remarkably calm. "Why have you done this?"
"I am going to save you, Harry."
Almost Harry laughed -- Legolas could see it in his face, the sudden amusement that overcame his rage. "Save me," he laughed, raising a sardonic eyebrow, and Legolas felt tense muscles relax under him as Harry shifted. "From what? I had thought it was you who needed to be saved, Legolas."
"From whatever is possessing you."
This time Harry did laugh. He threw his head back and laughed, ignoring as the knife scraped against his skin. "Possessing me!" he gasped. "Oh, but I am glad that I decided not to kill you, Legolas. You are far too entertaining." His laughter died down into tiny little chuckles. He twisted his legs a bit under Legolas's own. "And how are you planning to do this?"
Legolas began to feel doubtful. He hadn't thought farther than simply getting the knife and getting Harry off the horse -- he'd taken the opportunity, but he was starting to regret it.
"Why must you keep insisting that you are doing this all of your own free will?" he snapped, beginning to feel annoyed. "I know that it is not you who killed Haldir. I am not fooled."
Harry managed to shrug guilelessly. "What can I do to convince you?" he mused thoughtfully, searching Legolas's eyes with his own green ones. Suddenly he smiled, tilting his head back and baring the smooth pale skin of his throat, and despite himself the knife shook in Legolas's hand and nicked Harry's skin. "I know," he said, stretching his neck back farther. "Cut my throat, as it happened before, and see if there is truly a spirit inhabiting me. Do it."
"I will not," Legolas snapped, and Harry sighed as if disappointed, but a light of satisfaction was in his eyes.
There was a moment of tense silence and then Harry grinned, staring up at Legolas, and he craned his head, ignoring the knife cutting a thin line into his throat as he did so. Legolas fought the urge to lean back. "It's such a shame, Legolas," he whispered, the green of his eyes intense upon Legolas's own, "that I will have to kill you once this is over. You were such a sweet diversion." Harry's gaze finally left Legolas's eyes, traveling up and down his body until Legolas almost had to shift, uncomfortable. Harry grinned. "Rather like Haldir, just before he died."
Legolas's breath caught roughly in his throat with a slight choking sound. "You -- you cannot mean that you --" He was cut off by sharp laughter.
"Oh, yes, I most certainly did, Legolas," Harry said. "He was almost as sweet as you were." His smile showed entirely too many teeth.
Legolas's gaze began to go red in fury. "You said that you did not --"
Harry blinked. "Did I?" he asked innocently, pretending to think. "Yes, I remember what I said now. But I did not take him entirely by force. No, Legolas, it took only a bit of -- persuading -- before Haldir became rather less unwilling than you believe."
Legolas growled under his breath and held Harry's hands together tighter, his hand not pinning Harry's wrists holding the knife closer against Harry's throat. "How dare you even suggest it," he nearly hissed. Harry somehow managed to shrug, even pinned as he was.
"I don't know what else you want me to tell you but the truth, Legolas. Haldir was quite the wanton." His gaze turned cold, calculating. "But I'm sure you know that better than I, don't you?"
The knife at Harry's throat shook violently.
"So you were lovers."
"Do not disgrace his memory so," Legolas whispered, but it was more a plea than a demand now, despite himself. And Valar help him, but even as Harry taunted him, he could not seem to ignore the bunching of Harry's muscles beneath his own and the silky feel of Harry's wrists in his hand. It took the strongest of will to keep his eyes from drifting down to where the white of the tunic met the smooth tan of Harry's chest.
Harry saw his eyes lower and he smiled, letting his head fall back onto the ground with a laugh and looking up at Legolas heatedly through long, long lashes. He twisted his wrists in Legolas's grip and made the action somehow lascivious. "You should have seen him," Harry murmured, a tiny half-smile curling the corner of his lip. "He was beautiful -- perhaps not so beautiful as you, but I made a promise not to take you against your will, didn't I?" The half-smile grew into a smirk. "Do you want to know whose name he screamed when he came, right before I put the knife into his throat?"
"Shut up."
It came out shaky and hoarse, pleading, but with a note of steel underneath it that Legolas hadn't even known he'd had. Legolas's breath was coming in a short staccato now, his heart pounding hard against his chest. He had to fight the urge to drive the knife -- the one that Harry had most likely killed Haldir with -- right into Harry's grinning face.
"I'll give you a hint," Harry whispered. "It was yours."
"Shut up," Legolas snarled, removing the knife from Harry's throat and slashing him across the cheek with it instead, even as his hand trembled with the need to cut Harry's throat instead. He felt a rush of dark satisfaction that caught him by surprise; the lust for violence and vengeance almost made him do it again, and he had to concentrate on reversing the hilt in his grip to keep from using the blade.
Blood blossomed on Harry's skin from the cut and ran down his face onto the ground, and Harry looked up at Legolas with huge, betrayed eyes that made Legolas's breath catch in his throat, an apology on his lips; made the exhilaration of violence disappear from Legolas's mind so abruptly it felt like he'd been punched in the stomach.
And then Harry laughed.
"Pathetic, Legolas." Harry rolled his eyes and then rolled his hips, wringing an involuntary gasp from Legolas's lips. He clenched his teeth together, determined not to make another sound. "I would have gone through with it."
"Do you wish me to?" Legolas hissed through his teeth, bringing the knife to Harry's temple. "Let me assure you that I would be more than willing." The lie came easy off his lips -- perhaps because it contained a bit more truth than he would have liked. Harry looked up at him with eyes gone large and dark.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Legolas. Didn't meant to make you upset." Harry paused, looking thoughtful for a moment, licking the bit of blood that had trickled onto his lower lip off with the tip of his tongue. "Wait, no. I did mean it."
Legolas bared his teeth and clutched the handle of the knife so hard that his knuckles began to ache. There was wetness on Legolas's cheeks and he hated it, refusing to give up either his hold on Harry's wrists or the knife at Harry's temple to wipe the tears away. Harry grinned, a strange look on his face. There was conflict in his eyes of a sort -- they were somehow both trapped and exultant, fearful and sanguine. It was -- unnerving.
Even with Legolas's knife at his temple, Harry managed to lean up and press soft lips to Legolas's own. His tongue slipped into Legolas's mouth; Legolas let out a tiny moan despite his efforts, forgetting about the look in Harry's eyes, and felt Harry smile into the kiss. The knife dropped from suddenly nerveless fingers as Harry ground his hips up into Legolas's and deepened the kiss, and without thinking Legolas brought his other hand off of Harry's wrists and into Harry's hair.
They both froze as Legolas realized what he had done. Harry smiled slowly, glancing over at the knife lying on the ground next to his throat, looking back at Legolas slyly. Legolas grit his teeth when Harry reached over and took the knife in one hand, expecting any minute to feel the sharp blade against his neck.
Instead, Harry let out a throaty laugh, and one hand came up to cup his cheek while the other wrapped around his back, pulling him tighter until they were flush up against each other. The hilt of the knife handle dug into Legolas's shoulderblade.
"It was a good try," Harry murmured silkily against Legolas's lips. The hand on Legolas's cheek traced down to gently half-encircle Legolas's throat instead, pressing inwards just a bit so that Legolas's racing pulse was steady on his palm. Harry laughed when Legolas shut his eyes and trembled. He had never in his life felt so young and frightened. He couldn't seem to get the feeling of the torture the night before Haldir had died out of his mind, his back tingling with the remembrance of old wounds, the sound of his own cries and Harry's laughter seeming to ring loud in his ears. He didn't resist when Harry rolled Legolas on his back and stood, gazing down at Legolas with a mix of contempt and amusement. Legolas made no move to stand. He was shaking so badly that he wasn't sure he could, had he tried.
"I had to try," Legolas said quietly, voice surprisingly steady. It took effort to keep it that way, took effort not to flinch when Harry laughed.
"Did you?" Harry asked. "You already knew the answers. You wasted a good ten minutes of my life with your nonsense." He paused, inspecting his fingernails, glancing towards the horizon and looking as if he had not a care in the world. Legolas carefully got to a sitting position, watching Harry all the while. He glanced at the horse. Perhaps...
Harry saw where his attention was and grinned. "Try it," he mocked. "I always enjoy a good chase."
"What do you want from me?" he asked, and he honestly did not know the answer -- other than his pain and humiliation and death.
"I want you to --" Harry began, and then stopped, closing his eyes for a moment and pressing a hand to his temple. His lips were pressed together tightly, and when he opened his eyes again, he looked annoyed. "Was there anything else you wanted, so that we can avoid something like this again?"
Legolas paused, and suddenly a thought came to him. "Were there -- I mean, what did you do with the guards that traveled with Haldir? He could not have started out from Minas Tirith alone." He saw the smile that Harry was fighting to keep back, and a nasty knot of horror grew in his middle. "You could not have --"
Harry raised an eyebrow. "Would you really like to know what I did with them?"
_________________________
Never in his life had he seen so much blood. God, what had Legolas done to them?
Draco stared down at the bodies lying on the ground before him, pools of blood spreading around the six dead men almost to Draco's boots, if men they could still be called, dismembered as they were. Draco saw what was piled on top of one of the men's head and shuddered. There were parts lying around that Draco had never wanted to see. The thought that Harry was in the hands of someone capable of doing something as horrific as this -- what if he came upon them too late, and all that would be left of Harry would be what Legolas had done to these six men --
He wasn't sure how long he stood, staring down at the bodies in something of a trance, before a soft muzzle nudged his arm. He jumped, turning to find Brego standing before him. "What?" he whispered, suddenly exhausted. Brego snorted and turned, cantering off, and Draco tiredly followed him, feet feeling filled with lead.
Draco heard a faint sound and stopped. It was a sound that should have never been heard from anyone -- quiet crying; but not desperate, just as if all hope had been lost.
"Hello?" he called out cautiously and the sobbing stopped abruptly. "Is anyone there?" he asked, feeling foolish, beginning to think it had only been his imagination when he heard it again.
"Please --"
"Haldir!" Draco whispered, and then louder: "Haldir!" He ran towards the sound of the faint crying that had began again, and finally saw a mass of shining blonde hair at the base of a tree. He skidded to a stop and took in a sharp breath, feeling sick.
Haldir twisted his hands in the ropes that held his hands together behind his back and looked up at Draco through dirty strands of hair. One of his eyes was swollen shut and an ugly bruise marked the other side of his face. Patches of skin showed all over his body from where the clothing was ripped and torn off, and in those places, cuts and bruises stood out on the pale skin. He looked -- bruised. Bruised and demoralized. It was clear in his eyes that he had not been treated well. His bottom lip was swollen and oozing blood. Draco reached a hand for it and Haldir flinched from his touch, and Draco froze.
"I am sorry --" Haldir said, voice hoarse, and coughed.
"It's okay," Draco said gently and reached around Haldir to untie the knots in the rope. Haldir flexed his hands when they were free, and Draco saw a faint trembling that traveled up his arms. Haldir noticed a second too late, clenching his fists to still them. "What happened?"
Haldir let out a short little bark of laughter and curled his knees up to his chest. "Valar, I don't know," he whispered. "He was furious -- I cannot figure out why. He just kept telling me that I almost killed Legolas --"
"Wait!" Draco felt suddenly dizzy and had to reach out a hand on the tree trunk to steady himself. "Who did this to you?"
Haldir looked up at him as if he were daft. "Harry," he said cautiously, and blinked when Draco slammed his hand against the tree.
Harry had done it. Harry had killed the guards, had hurt Haldir, had kidnapped Legolas. Harry, the one who had always gotten mad at Draco when he'd bully the first-years. Draco He shuddered. How could Harry have done it?
"Draco?" Haldir whispered, sounding weak, and Draco was suddenly reminded of the blood covering Haldir's body and the way he held himself that hinted of broken ribs.
"What did he do to you?" Draco murmured, eyes fixed on Haldir's bruised face, trying to imagine Harry doing such a thing -- and failed. "Did he --" Draco could not finish the sentence.
"No," Haldir said quickly. "He did nothing like that. He seemed like he would -- but he did not." He fell silent, gazing down at the ground fixedly, his hair a tangled mass covering his face.
"We have to get you back to Minas Tirith," Draco said.
Haldir suddenly looked up, a fierce look on his face, clenching his fists. "No," he ground out. "You do not know what Harry has done to Legolas -- what he will do. We must go after them."
"You're dying, you idiot," Draco snapped. "We can't just ride off into the sunset. You have to go back and see a healer."
"I will not."
"I'll make you."
At that Haldir seemed to deflate, falling in upon himself and sighing. "Fine," he said quietly. "But you have to promise that we will stay no more than two days. No more than two days," he said, and didn't seem to realize that he'd repeated himself. His split lip was beginning to bleed in earnest from his exertion, and his voice was getting more and more hoarse.
"No more," Draco agreed quietly and reached out a hand. Haldir stared at it for a moment before lifting his own arm and grasping Draco's hand cautiously and letting Draco pull him to his feet. He swayed for a moment before Draco slid a careful arm around his waist to keep him steady. Draco felt Haldir tense. "Relax," he murmured, staring at Haldir's profile without quite realizing why. "I'm not going to hurt you."
"I know," Haldir said, but he sounded doubtful. Draco helped him walk slowly back to where Brego stood patiently, but his mind was on other things -- that somehow, the fact that Harry being hurt was somehow better than Harry hurting Legolas.
God -- how had it all gone so wrong?
_________________________
A/N: I can't believe you thought I'd kill off Haldir. *grins* I must have been convincing! Wonderful! *is pleased*
Hope you liked it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Make sure you leave a review for me, okay? I love reading them.
Chapter Ten: Low Rider
by Capella
A/N: I'm starting to feel like I'm writing a middle-earth version of Jerry Springer. But hey, it's fun and hopefully spine-tinglingly awesome. The gratutitous kissing is due to the fact that the Yanks are in the World Series. Enjoy.
Hope you guys don't get annoyed by this, but I like connecting with my loyal friends/fans.
Hiten Mitsurugi Kitsune -- 'course it didn't offend me. I'm getting used to the whole "angry reviews/leave death threats" deal. Hmmm...a happy ending? Perhaps. Perhaps not.
Legolas19 -- well, a'thank you.
Phayze -- you're one of about ten whom i've had tell me the crossover thing. thanks!
Stammpants -- you can't fool me, I know you're april, and you know that I know that I'm not gonna tell you jack squat. Power trip!
Kitta Baby -- weeeellll, it wasn't a joke, but it probably was cruel. Sorry. And I don't do the whole tragedy ending thing.
Duckie -- you work wonders for feeding my bloated ego. *grins*
mango -- awesome. and noooo, s'not a joke....but Harry is quite the little liar, so remember that.
twilight -- Guilty on all charges. And you shall find out what happened to the rest of the party this chapter. Hehehe.
Eaiva le Fay -- no harm done, dearie. I sound like a grandmother. Aaand...well, I guess you'll have to find out soon, won't you?
Holy-Demon -- *grins* I love rabid reviews. They make like, my entire week. Like the theories, but you'll have to wait and see. And thanks for the defense against the ignorant, my knight in shining armor. :)
Jen -- Love the description of Legolas. How true, true.
ME!!!!!!!!! -- Superbulous! That is so cool!
twilight -- alright, my perceptive reviewer. *grins* Sent you an e-mail, so everything should be (relatively) cleared up.
lil_blondie -- yeah, Legolas ain't having such a hot time since the whole blind thing. And don't expect a reprieve anytime soon.
laura/all the australian gals, of whom I am immensely proud to have as part of my international readership -- don't stop reading it! Hope this was fast enough, and I'm really glad you like it!
Oh, and with the whole time thing -- yeah, I made it up. Have no idea how long it would take for a rider to catch up with someone who's not moving. Who cares, doesn't detract from the story. Just sorta -- ignore it. Yes. Ignore it.
Well! That's it, so here's chapter ten: Low Rider. And no, I don't know why I used Low Rider. But it's one of my favorite songs, and somehow, it really, really fit. Yes, I know it's about a truck. Harry the truck. That makes me laugh.
_________________________
"All my friends know the Low Rider
The Low Rider is a little higher."
-- War, "Low Rider"
_________________________
"You've been quiet, Legolas."
Legolas barely flinched at the whip-crack contempt in Harry's voice. Harry turned his head back for a moment from where he sat astride Arod in front of Legolas, dark green eyes and darker ebony hair catching the sun and making him look almost wickedly beautiful.
"Have I finally broken you, love?" He sounded amused.
"Yes, my lord," Legolas answered dully, staring blankly at a tiny lock of black hair that curled at the nape of Harry's neck. Harry laughed at his tone, turning his attention back to their surroundings, and Legolas let his eyes drift to the knife dangling carelessly at Harry's waist. He could almost believe that Harry didn't know that Legolas had worked the knot out of the bonds holding his wrists together. The rope was looped loosely around his wrists now, but only for show. It had taken him a half a day -- since they'd set out from where Haldir had been killed -- to unknot it.
Let Harry believe him defeated. He was a fighter, and he would find a way to fight whatever evil spirit possessed Harry -- it could not be that it had been Harry who'd killed Haldir. It just could not be -- but despite his determination, inside Legolas's mind, a tiny seed of doubt was planted.
_________________________
Damn elvish horses -- was this the fastest they could go! --
Draco heeled the brown mare sharply in her sides and she whickered up at him in annoyance, never breaking her smooth gallop. Grudgingly, he supposed that she had increased her speed, but only by a hair. God, Haldir was already more than a day ahead and he was supposed to catch up on an old horse named Brego? He hissed in irritation, leaning down on the horse until he was almost touching her mane. He had considered riding a horse pretty much the same as riding a broomstick until that morning.
"I'm never going to ride anything alive again the rest of my life," he muttered. Brego gave a snort of approval.
He'd been riding for a good long while, past half a day, perhaps, and he was beginning to feel faint stirrings of worry despite himself.
Earlier, Brego had insisted upon stopping near a small clump of trees, and he'd gotten off the horse and seen blood, and two pieces of rope tied around the trunks of two trees, covered in blood as well. He grudgingly accepted that it could have been Legolas's, but a part of his mind refused to accept that Harry could do something that -- that horrific to anyone.
It was with that thought in mind, that Harry could be suffering at the hands of someone, that he heeled Brego in the sides harder, the searing wind coaxing tiny tears out of his eyes that streamed down his cheeks.
Suddenly, Brego came to a complete stop.
"Goddamn it, you --" he muttered, digging his feet into the horse's flanks. She snorted and refused to move. He did it again, harder, and Draco felt her muscles tense just before she bucked, sending him flying to the ground.
"What the fuck --" His choked, indignant cry as he stood and began to walk after Brego was cut off short when he saw what lay on the ground -- in pieces -- before him. He swayed, pressed a hand to his mouth, and fell to his knees, his stomach cramping violently. "Oh, my God --" he whispered.
______________________________
Legolas's heart was pounding so loud in his ears that it almost seemed impossible that Harry did not hear it. His hands were shaking, his breathing was harsh despite his attempts to calm himself down. He flexed his hands, staring at the knife hanging at Harry's waist.
Harry had begun to nod off only a few hours after the last time they had spoken, and now his head was tipped onto his chest, his breathing slow and steady. Arod plodded along, unconcerned, needing no guidance for the moment. It was the perfect opportunity and yet -- yet Legolas could not forget the last time he'd tried to overpower Harry and get free, back when they had only just left Minas Tirith. How easy it had seemed, just as easy as what he planned to do now.
He felt a faint stirring of apprehension in the pit of his stomach and mourned for the times when he had faced armies of Orcs without a moment of fear. How he had been changed.
Legolas pushed aside his fears with grim determination and carefully slid his hands free of the rope that had been binding his hands before he'd unknotted it, keeping as cautious a watch on Harry as he could for signs of stirring. There were none.
He stretched his hand slowly for the knife, focusing so completely on the task at hand that he never noticed the tiny movements of Harry's body.
"Did you need something, Legolas?" Harry asked darkly without turning.
It was the suddenness of the words and the rush of fear that accompanied them that drove Legolas to stretch his hand the last few inches and grab the hilt of the knife just as Harry began to turn. He slammed his elbow into Harry's throat, driving him to the ground to land on his back. Legolas jumped off the horse and took advantage of Harry's momentary weakness to climb on top of him, managing to pin two slim wrists with one of his hands. Harry hissed and fought wildly. He kneed Legolas in the stomach before Legolas managed to pin Harry's legs down with his own.
It was only when Legolas brought the knife to Harry's throat did Harry finally go deathly still, staring up at Legolas with fury in his eyes.
"You think you can do this to me?" he hissed angrily, twisting his wrists sharply and snarling when the grip of Legolas's hand didn't give. "Pitiful, weak fool -- it didn't work the first time. Put the knife down, and perhaps I shall spare your life." He looked deadly serious. Legolas couldn't find it in himself to care. Every fiber of his being cried out for closure.
When Legolas didn't speak, Harry tried again, sounding remarkably calm. "Why have you done this?"
"I am going to save you, Harry."
Almost Harry laughed -- Legolas could see it in his face, the sudden amusement that overcame his rage. "Save me," he laughed, raising a sardonic eyebrow, and Legolas felt tense muscles relax under him as Harry shifted. "From what? I had thought it was you who needed to be saved, Legolas."
"From whatever is possessing you."
This time Harry did laugh. He threw his head back and laughed, ignoring as the knife scraped against his skin. "Possessing me!" he gasped. "Oh, but I am glad that I decided not to kill you, Legolas. You are far too entertaining." His laughter died down into tiny little chuckles. He twisted his legs a bit under Legolas's own. "And how are you planning to do this?"
Legolas began to feel doubtful. He hadn't thought farther than simply getting the knife and getting Harry off the horse -- he'd taken the opportunity, but he was starting to regret it.
"Why must you keep insisting that you are doing this all of your own free will?" he snapped, beginning to feel annoyed. "I know that it is not you who killed Haldir. I am not fooled."
Harry managed to shrug guilelessly. "What can I do to convince you?" he mused thoughtfully, searching Legolas's eyes with his own green ones. Suddenly he smiled, tilting his head back and baring the smooth pale skin of his throat, and despite himself the knife shook in Legolas's hand and nicked Harry's skin. "I know," he said, stretching his neck back farther. "Cut my throat, as it happened before, and see if there is truly a spirit inhabiting me. Do it."
"I will not," Legolas snapped, and Harry sighed as if disappointed, but a light of satisfaction was in his eyes.
There was a moment of tense silence and then Harry grinned, staring up at Legolas, and he craned his head, ignoring the knife cutting a thin line into his throat as he did so. Legolas fought the urge to lean back. "It's such a shame, Legolas," he whispered, the green of his eyes intense upon Legolas's own, "that I will have to kill you once this is over. You were such a sweet diversion." Harry's gaze finally left Legolas's eyes, traveling up and down his body until Legolas almost had to shift, uncomfortable. Harry grinned. "Rather like Haldir, just before he died."
Legolas's breath caught roughly in his throat with a slight choking sound. "You -- you cannot mean that you --" He was cut off by sharp laughter.
"Oh, yes, I most certainly did, Legolas," Harry said. "He was almost as sweet as you were." His smile showed entirely too many teeth.
Legolas's gaze began to go red in fury. "You said that you did not --"
Harry blinked. "Did I?" he asked innocently, pretending to think. "Yes, I remember what I said now. But I did not take him entirely by force. No, Legolas, it took only a bit of -- persuading -- before Haldir became rather less unwilling than you believe."
Legolas growled under his breath and held Harry's hands together tighter, his hand not pinning Harry's wrists holding the knife closer against Harry's throat. "How dare you even suggest it," he nearly hissed. Harry somehow managed to shrug, even pinned as he was.
"I don't know what else you want me to tell you but the truth, Legolas. Haldir was quite the wanton." His gaze turned cold, calculating. "But I'm sure you know that better than I, don't you?"
The knife at Harry's throat shook violently.
"So you were lovers."
"Do not disgrace his memory so," Legolas whispered, but it was more a plea than a demand now, despite himself. And Valar help him, but even as Harry taunted him, he could not seem to ignore the bunching of Harry's muscles beneath his own and the silky feel of Harry's wrists in his hand. It took the strongest of will to keep his eyes from drifting down to where the white of the tunic met the smooth tan of Harry's chest.
Harry saw his eyes lower and he smiled, letting his head fall back onto the ground with a laugh and looking up at Legolas heatedly through long, long lashes. He twisted his wrists in Legolas's grip and made the action somehow lascivious. "You should have seen him," Harry murmured, a tiny half-smile curling the corner of his lip. "He was beautiful -- perhaps not so beautiful as you, but I made a promise not to take you against your will, didn't I?" The half-smile grew into a smirk. "Do you want to know whose name he screamed when he came, right before I put the knife into his throat?"
"Shut up."
It came out shaky and hoarse, pleading, but with a note of steel underneath it that Legolas hadn't even known he'd had. Legolas's breath was coming in a short staccato now, his heart pounding hard against his chest. He had to fight the urge to drive the knife -- the one that Harry had most likely killed Haldir with -- right into Harry's grinning face.
"I'll give you a hint," Harry whispered. "It was yours."
"Shut up," Legolas snarled, removing the knife from Harry's throat and slashing him across the cheek with it instead, even as his hand trembled with the need to cut Harry's throat instead. He felt a rush of dark satisfaction that caught him by surprise; the lust for violence and vengeance almost made him do it again, and he had to concentrate on reversing the hilt in his grip to keep from using the blade.
Blood blossomed on Harry's skin from the cut and ran down his face onto the ground, and Harry looked up at Legolas with huge, betrayed eyes that made Legolas's breath catch in his throat, an apology on his lips; made the exhilaration of violence disappear from Legolas's mind so abruptly it felt like he'd been punched in the stomach.
And then Harry laughed.
"Pathetic, Legolas." Harry rolled his eyes and then rolled his hips, wringing an involuntary gasp from Legolas's lips. He clenched his teeth together, determined not to make another sound. "I would have gone through with it."
"Do you wish me to?" Legolas hissed through his teeth, bringing the knife to Harry's temple. "Let me assure you that I would be more than willing." The lie came easy off his lips -- perhaps because it contained a bit more truth than he would have liked. Harry looked up at him with eyes gone large and dark.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Legolas. Didn't meant to make you upset." Harry paused, looking thoughtful for a moment, licking the bit of blood that had trickled onto his lower lip off with the tip of his tongue. "Wait, no. I did mean it."
Legolas bared his teeth and clutched the handle of the knife so hard that his knuckles began to ache. There was wetness on Legolas's cheeks and he hated it, refusing to give up either his hold on Harry's wrists or the knife at Harry's temple to wipe the tears away. Harry grinned, a strange look on his face. There was conflict in his eyes of a sort -- they were somehow both trapped and exultant, fearful and sanguine. It was -- unnerving.
Even with Legolas's knife at his temple, Harry managed to lean up and press soft lips to Legolas's own. His tongue slipped into Legolas's mouth; Legolas let out a tiny moan despite his efforts, forgetting about the look in Harry's eyes, and felt Harry smile into the kiss. The knife dropped from suddenly nerveless fingers as Harry ground his hips up into Legolas's and deepened the kiss, and without thinking Legolas brought his other hand off of Harry's wrists and into Harry's hair.
They both froze as Legolas realized what he had done. Harry smiled slowly, glancing over at the knife lying on the ground next to his throat, looking back at Legolas slyly. Legolas grit his teeth when Harry reached over and took the knife in one hand, expecting any minute to feel the sharp blade against his neck.
Instead, Harry let out a throaty laugh, and one hand came up to cup his cheek while the other wrapped around his back, pulling him tighter until they were flush up against each other. The hilt of the knife handle dug into Legolas's shoulderblade.
"It was a good try," Harry murmured silkily against Legolas's lips. The hand on Legolas's cheek traced down to gently half-encircle Legolas's throat instead, pressing inwards just a bit so that Legolas's racing pulse was steady on his palm. Harry laughed when Legolas shut his eyes and trembled. He had never in his life felt so young and frightened. He couldn't seem to get the feeling of the torture the night before Haldir had died out of his mind, his back tingling with the remembrance of old wounds, the sound of his own cries and Harry's laughter seeming to ring loud in his ears. He didn't resist when Harry rolled Legolas on his back and stood, gazing down at Legolas with a mix of contempt and amusement. Legolas made no move to stand. He was shaking so badly that he wasn't sure he could, had he tried.
"I had to try," Legolas said quietly, voice surprisingly steady. It took effort to keep it that way, took effort not to flinch when Harry laughed.
"Did you?" Harry asked. "You already knew the answers. You wasted a good ten minutes of my life with your nonsense." He paused, inspecting his fingernails, glancing towards the horizon and looking as if he had not a care in the world. Legolas carefully got to a sitting position, watching Harry all the while. He glanced at the horse. Perhaps...
Harry saw where his attention was and grinned. "Try it," he mocked. "I always enjoy a good chase."
"What do you want from me?" he asked, and he honestly did not know the answer -- other than his pain and humiliation and death.
"I want you to --" Harry began, and then stopped, closing his eyes for a moment and pressing a hand to his temple. His lips were pressed together tightly, and when he opened his eyes again, he looked annoyed. "Was there anything else you wanted, so that we can avoid something like this again?"
Legolas paused, and suddenly a thought came to him. "Were there -- I mean, what did you do with the guards that traveled with Haldir? He could not have started out from Minas Tirith alone." He saw the smile that Harry was fighting to keep back, and a nasty knot of horror grew in his middle. "You could not have --"
Harry raised an eyebrow. "Would you really like to know what I did with them?"
_________________________
Never in his life had he seen so much blood. God, what had Legolas done to them?
Draco stared down at the bodies lying on the ground before him, pools of blood spreading around the six dead men almost to Draco's boots, if men they could still be called, dismembered as they were. Draco saw what was piled on top of one of the men's head and shuddered. There were parts lying around that Draco had never wanted to see. The thought that Harry was in the hands of someone capable of doing something as horrific as this -- what if he came upon them too late, and all that would be left of Harry would be what Legolas had done to these six men --
He wasn't sure how long he stood, staring down at the bodies in something of a trance, before a soft muzzle nudged his arm. He jumped, turning to find Brego standing before him. "What?" he whispered, suddenly exhausted. Brego snorted and turned, cantering off, and Draco tiredly followed him, feet feeling filled with lead.
Draco heard a faint sound and stopped. It was a sound that should have never been heard from anyone -- quiet crying; but not desperate, just as if all hope had been lost.
"Hello?" he called out cautiously and the sobbing stopped abruptly. "Is anyone there?" he asked, feeling foolish, beginning to think it had only been his imagination when he heard it again.
"Please --"
"Haldir!" Draco whispered, and then louder: "Haldir!" He ran towards the sound of the faint crying that had began again, and finally saw a mass of shining blonde hair at the base of a tree. He skidded to a stop and took in a sharp breath, feeling sick.
Haldir twisted his hands in the ropes that held his hands together behind his back and looked up at Draco through dirty strands of hair. One of his eyes was swollen shut and an ugly bruise marked the other side of his face. Patches of skin showed all over his body from where the clothing was ripped and torn off, and in those places, cuts and bruises stood out on the pale skin. He looked -- bruised. Bruised and demoralized. It was clear in his eyes that he had not been treated well. His bottom lip was swollen and oozing blood. Draco reached a hand for it and Haldir flinched from his touch, and Draco froze.
"I am sorry --" Haldir said, voice hoarse, and coughed.
"It's okay," Draco said gently and reached around Haldir to untie the knots in the rope. Haldir flexed his hands when they were free, and Draco saw a faint trembling that traveled up his arms. Haldir noticed a second too late, clenching his fists to still them. "What happened?"
Haldir let out a short little bark of laughter and curled his knees up to his chest. "Valar, I don't know," he whispered. "He was furious -- I cannot figure out why. He just kept telling me that I almost killed Legolas --"
"Wait!" Draco felt suddenly dizzy and had to reach out a hand on the tree trunk to steady himself. "Who did this to you?"
Haldir looked up at him as if he were daft. "Harry," he said cautiously, and blinked when Draco slammed his hand against the tree.
Harry had done it. Harry had killed the guards, had hurt Haldir, had kidnapped Legolas. Harry, the one who had always gotten mad at Draco when he'd bully the first-years. Draco He shuddered. How could Harry have done it?
"Draco?" Haldir whispered, sounding weak, and Draco was suddenly reminded of the blood covering Haldir's body and the way he held himself that hinted of broken ribs.
"What did he do to you?" Draco murmured, eyes fixed on Haldir's bruised face, trying to imagine Harry doing such a thing -- and failed. "Did he --" Draco could not finish the sentence.
"No," Haldir said quickly. "He did nothing like that. He seemed like he would -- but he did not." He fell silent, gazing down at the ground fixedly, his hair a tangled mass covering his face.
"We have to get you back to Minas Tirith," Draco said.
Haldir suddenly looked up, a fierce look on his face, clenching his fists. "No," he ground out. "You do not know what Harry has done to Legolas -- what he will do. We must go after them."
"You're dying, you idiot," Draco snapped. "We can't just ride off into the sunset. You have to go back and see a healer."
"I will not."
"I'll make you."
At that Haldir seemed to deflate, falling in upon himself and sighing. "Fine," he said quietly. "But you have to promise that we will stay no more than two days. No more than two days," he said, and didn't seem to realize that he'd repeated himself. His split lip was beginning to bleed in earnest from his exertion, and his voice was getting more and more hoarse.
"No more," Draco agreed quietly and reached out a hand. Haldir stared at it for a moment before lifting his own arm and grasping Draco's hand cautiously and letting Draco pull him to his feet. He swayed for a moment before Draco slid a careful arm around his waist to keep him steady. Draco felt Haldir tense. "Relax," he murmured, staring at Haldir's profile without quite realizing why. "I'm not going to hurt you."
"I know," Haldir said, but he sounded doubtful. Draco helped him walk slowly back to where Brego stood patiently, but his mind was on other things -- that somehow, the fact that Harry being hurt was somehow better than Harry hurting Legolas.
God -- how had it all gone so wrong?
_________________________
A/N: I can't believe you thought I'd kill off Haldir. *grins* I must have been convincing! Wonderful! *is pleased*
Hope you liked it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Make sure you leave a review for me, okay? I love reading them.