So last chapter we found out that Halith is the bad guy/waits for gasps of shock/ what, you're telling me you all saw that coming? Man…:) anyway, I left the ranger and Legolas in a rather sticky situation, (and was late to post AGAIN, I'm sorry!) so let's see how they deal with this new knowledge.
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Legolas hands were already darting for his knives, but Halith lunged forward, pressing the blade of a dagger against Aragorn's throat. The young ranger froze, feeling the cold steel scrape lightly against his jugular vein. Legolas also froze. Fury blazed brightly in the elf's blue eyes, but he knew he could do nothing while his foe had such an upper hand.
The prince allowed his long fingers to slide away from the white hilts of his knives.
Halith nodded in approval. With a jerk of his head, he motioned to his men to take hold of Legolas.
"What are you doing?" Aragorn hissed, shocked at this sudden turn of events. He could feel men also coming behind him, pulling his arms back and binding them tightly. Halith smiled tightly at the younger man. With a flourish, he pulled his dagger away and tucked it in his belt. Aragorn could do nothing but glare at him in helpless rage.
Seeing his friend out of danger, Legolas began to struggle, but his hands were already bound, and at least three men held him tightly.
"It's quite simple, Strider." Halith was still smiling, but Aragorn could see the cruelty shining in his dark eyes. "I am part of a large…organization. We have been moving into this area little by little, collecting…donations from the locals."
The young ranger felt as though his world was tipping out of control. Was this the same man he had traveled with for weeks? Anger and guilt stirred within him. Why had he not listened to his family? He had proved them right. How foolish he had been! Silver eyes darted towards the blond prince. And now, perhaps he would not be the only one to reap the whirlwind he had sowed. Turning his face back towards Halith, he felt his anger rise. "You're a thief," he spat coldly. "Nothing but a common thief."
Halith only grinned. "Hardly," he replied. "A common thief is caught and brought to 'justice.'" A mocking grin cracked the man's weather beaten face. "No, I am really more of a lord to these villages of sheep. We've been extending our operation for quite some time now, taking one town at a time. Unfortunately, there have been some setbacks recently."
Aragorn knew without question what those setbacks were. "You couldn't push into lands protected by the elves."
"Exactly." Halith looked thrilled that Aragorn had caught on so fast. "Which is where you, Strider, come in." The dark eyes took on a very serious look. "You know the elves' land. You have lived with them. Their ways are known to you, and therefore, their secrets." Halith leaned close, his voice barely more than an excited whisper. "What I am about to offer to you," he said quietly, "is a chance to prosper." Seeing the confused look that spread across Aragorn's face, he elaborated. "Join with us. We need your knowledge of the elves to proceed. You could be rich, and rule over this land like a king…"
Silver eyes flew wide with horror as Aragorn realised what was being presented to him. Betray his father? His brothers? Never! Not in a thousand lifetimes! A hot gush of rage flowed through him at the very thought. How dare this man!
With a snarl, the young ranger lashed out with a booted foot. It caught Halith squarely in the stomach. The man instantly doubled over, air leaving his body with an oof. Aragorn had little time to gloat. One of Halith's men instantly stepped forward and plunged his own fist into the young man's gut. Now it was the ranger's turn to double up. Concentrating on breathing, Aragorn did not see the follow up punch. It landed firmly on his jaw, knocking his head back.
Dark hair fell over his eyes as he hung limply between the men that held him. He was gasping and stars floated through his vision. Someone was yelling, but he could not make out any words. Another blow to the face. He could taste blood on his tongue. Warm liquid was flowing from his nose. It dripped, spattering the ground at his feet. Red. Bright red. Dazed, he struggled to draw his head up. He would not be weak in front of these men!
Through a haze, he could see his tormentor drawing back for yet another swing, but someone grabbed hold of his wrist. Halith.
The older man pushed his subordinate away impatiently. "That was unnecesary and foolish, Strider," he said sharply. Aragorn tried hard to concentrate on the man's face, but it was fading in and out. He could still hear someone yelling, and suddenly recognized the voice as belonging to Legolas. A sliver of fear rose swiftly within him. He knew Legolas well. The prince would try to distract the human's attention from Aragorn…bringing it to rest squarely on his own shoulders.
"Legolas…" Aragorn's groan was barely more tha a whisper. He doubted even elven hearing could have picked it up. "Legolas," he tried again attempting to push some strength into his weakened voice. "Legolas, be silent!"
If the Mirwood prince heard Aragorn's plea he did not take any notice. Rather he clear tones became louder. The young ranger shook his head dizzily trying to clear out the fog that had settled there. He still could not make out what the elf was saying, but with a growing feeling of despair, he heard Legolas' tone become mocking.
Valar. Eru. Legolas was insulting them. He was restrained, outnumbered and in a dreadful position and he was insulting them! Was he insane! "Legolas!"
There was a dull sounding 'thud,' and Legolas' voice cut off abruptly with a gasp.
Aragorn thought he would be ill.
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Dark grey eyes flitted unceasingly over the human crowd. Elrohir hissed softly in frustration. Where was Elladan! Perhaps he had already learned of Estel's 'hanging' and returned to the meeting place…a wry grin quirked one corner of Elrohir's mouth. If Elladan had heard anything about his little brother's near death experience, he would be currently throwing a very loud fit. Which would make it easier to find him.
"Gwanor," Elrohir whispered, straining to see over the heads of those around him. "Mas le?"
Horses and carriages moved quickly through the cobbled streets making Elrohir wonder how on arda they avoided trampling the many humans on foot. More than once he saw someone dive to the side of the road at the last instant, barely avoiding being crushed.
"Legolas!"
Elrohir gasped, his eyes darting back and forth for the source of the voice, but even as he looked, somehow he knew that what he was hearing was not there…
"Legolas!"
Without warning, Elrohir was engulfed by a black vision from his nightmares.
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Estel struggled in the arms of two men holding him, his face white and anguished. He was bleeding, but did not seem to notice his wounds…
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Elrohir stumbled forward blindly, his grey eyes seeing nothing that was before him. "Estel!"
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"Leave him alone!" Estel was crying out at humans. Humans that held Legolas. Not heeding the young ranger, they were beating the prince viciously. Elrohir could see blood on the prince's fair face…
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Caught within the vision, Elrohir staggered on, unheeding of the humans that flowed around him.
"Watch where you're going!"
"Hey, mind who you're pushing!"
Someone shoved him hard from behind. The young elf lord nearly fell forward. He felt his hood slip backwards. Dark braids fell across his face.
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Dark strands were falling over silver eyes. Estel was thrashing violently, trying to wrest himself free.
Legolas gasped as a fist connected with his abdomen. The lithe prince went limp in his captors' arms. They let him fall to the ground. A kick landed on the fair elf's ribs and Elrohir heard something crack. "No…"
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"No!" The raven haired elf flapped his hand wildly, as if he could wipe away the images. Voices were raised around him, shouting, screaming…
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Elladan scowled into the mass of humanity. He had been trying to talk to someone, anyone, all day! No luck. The elf warrior sighed in frustration. The storm cloud of his emotion seemed to precede him, scaring away anyone who might have been useful talking to.
The elder twin's dark eyes roved over the crowd. Something was happening on the opposite side of the street. Dark brows drew down in a frown. What on Arda..?
A tall hooded figure stumbled and staggered, almost like a drunken man. Shouts of protest rose behind him from the people he collided with. Elladan felt a flicker of unease. Wasn't that Elrohir's cloak?
A man pushed the figure from behind. The hood fell backwards, revealing dark hair, fair features, and pointed ears. Elrohir's were wide and haunted. He did not seem to see what he was doing…
"Elrohir!" Elladan leapt forward. He didn't know what was wrong, but obviously his twin needed assistance. Elrond's first born pushed through the crowd as best as he could, trying not to draw undue attention.
The younger twin's features twisted, as if he witnessed some horror no one else could see. "No!" he cried, his slender hands moving to wipe away a terrible vision.
A clatter rose from the end of the street. A carriage was coming…and Elrohir was directly in its' path! "Ro! Ro, move!" Elladan abandoned any attempt to remain subtle and charged forward. "Move!"
But Elrohir did not seem to hear. He stood, rooted to the spot. Eyes wide and staring. Others were yelling at him, trying to warn him, but he did not respond.
The carriage driver was not paying attention…
"RO!" At the last instant, Elladan leapt into a spectacular flying tackle, hitting his brother squarely and sending them both rolling out of harm's way. The carriage passed within inches of them, the wind from it stirring Elladan's hair. His hood had fallen off as he leapt, revealing pointed ears poking through his tousled braids.
Aware that they were being stared at, Elladan quickly got to his feet and hauled his brother up as well.
"Dan…" Elrohir looked pale and drawn, but his eyes were focused. Without a word, Elladan seized his twin's arm and quickly marched him away. He was seething. Elrohir could have been killed! What did he think he was doing!
The younger twin seemed dazed, and hardly aware of where he was being led. "Dan…we have to get back to the meeting place."
"We will," Elladan snapped, reaching out and jerking Elrohir's hood back over his dark hair. "Once we have found Estel." He quickly replaced his own hood as well. "What were you doing!" he hissed angrily. "You were almost hit! Why didn't you get out of the way!" The questions came out sharply as worry for his brother made him angry.
To his surprise, Elrohir came to a halt and jerked his hood off once more. The elf's grey eyes were blazing and his features were twisted with horror. "You do not understand, Elladan! I have been looking for you for hours. Legolas found Estel earlier this afternoon…"
"Why did you not tell me!"
"I am telling you! But Dan…" Elrohir seized his twin's arm as Elladan started to walk again. "Something is very wrong. I saw Estel and Legolas. They were being hurt."
"Now?" Elladan felt his anger leave in rush. He knew that Elrohir had always been more sensitive to foresight than himself, though nowhere near their father's level. "That is what happened just now? You saw Estel and Legolas?" He felt his heart drop even as Elrohir nodded. Estel was being hurt… "Let's go."
With winged feet, the two elf lords flew through the village, hoping to reach their brother and friend before it was too late.
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"Enough!" Halith roughly pushed his way through the cluster of men that surrounded Legolas' prone form. "We do not have time for this. The elf said they were meeting others here. It would be highly advantageous for us to be gone before they arrived."
Aragorn tried to pull away from the men holding him, his booted feet gouging the ground as he fought to make it to his friend's side. He could not see how bad the elf had been injured…but Legolas was not moving even as his tormentors drifted apart.
"You," Halith pointed at Aragorn, his voice steely. "You will be useful to me, one way or another. If you will not join us, I'm sure that the elves would love to have you back in one piece, so you will make a very good hostage."
Aragorn felt his heart clench. "You cannot be serious," he ground out between his teeth. "I am only a human. Why would the elves care what happens…"
"Strider," Halith cut him off, his tone gently chiding. "Do not think I am dense. I was there in Rivendell, remember? I saw you with the elves. It was your home. You were welcomed among them." A cruel smile twisted the older man's lips. "Almost as if you were one of their own. Trust me. They will do anything for you. And even if they won't," the smile broadened maliciously, "I'm sure that you can give us enough information to make this worth our while."
Guilt seared the young ranger. What had he done?
"Bring him," Halith told the two men holding Aragorn's arms. "Bind him tightly, and make sure he doesn't get away." The dark, cold eyes swept the trees. "Let's get out of here before the others show up."
"Wait!" Aragorn dug in his heels even as his captors started to pull him forward. "Wait! You cannot leave Legolas! He is hurt!"
"I have no interest in the elf," Halith said coldly. "He will be left as a warning for the others."
The calm, casual dismissal of Legolas' life pierced the young man like a spear. "NO!" He fought furiously, his only thought to break free and reach the fair elf's prone form. "NO!" Writhing, kicking and fighting, he almost tore his arms loose…
A third man landed a heavy blow to the back of his head. Dazed, Aragorn still fought on, but a second blow brought him to the ground.
As the world faded, the young ranger wept inside with bitter rage, helplessness, and guilt. It was all his fault! All his fault…Legolas…
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"Legolas!" Elrohir hissed as a branch scratched a red line across his fair face. "Estel! Where are you?"
Nearby, he could hear Elladan calling out to their friend and brother, but the elder twin was apparantly having no more luck than he.
Having reached the meeting place and not finding either the Mirkwood prince or their errant younger sibling, the young elf lords had spread out through the woods, searching. Elrohir felt driven, the dark image he had endured seared into his mind. What if they were too late? "Legolas!" Every time he called and received no answer, he felt another pang of anxiety. Where could they be?
"Elrohir!" Elladan's voice pierced the distance, and the younger twin could hear the urgency that colored his brother's tone. "Elrohir, come quickly!"
Immediately changing direction, Elrohir raced towards Elladan's voice. Bursting through the undergrowth, he almost tripped over the elder twin's crouched form.
Elladan was on his knees, his face drawn into an expression of mixed grief and fury. "Legolas," he whispered, bending over the still figure of Mirkwood's prince. "Oh, Legolas…"
Elrohir could only stare for a moment in stunned horror. Then slowly he tore his gaze from the crumpled form of his friend, and scanned the clearing, his sharp grey eyes finally coming to rest on the trampled ground across from him, and the tracks that led away into the woods. Of his little brother, there was no sign, nothing but the feeling that this time, no matter what they did from here, it wouldn't matter.
"Too late." Whispered a voice in his head. "You were too late. He is gone, and you'll never see him again."
With a soft cry the younger twin knelt beside his brother and friend, dropped his head into his hands and wept.
They had failed.
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Gwanor, mas le?-Brother, where are you?
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Someone Reading- Hey, nice to see you again, even if you only stepped out of lurker mode for a moment. :) Thank you as always for your wonderful review! You really know how to heap on the praise! I'm glad you are enjoying the story, and hope you like the other cliffies…I mean 'chapters' as they come out. :)
QueenofFlarmphqal- /waves as queen is dragged away/ well, I'm certainly glad you enjoyed the last chapter so much, and I hope they let you have internet access in the mental institute. Everyone seemed to love Legolas being all protective. That makes me very happy, as I loved him all protective. The ranger whomping is coming up /checks storyline/ very shortly! Woohoo!…wow, that doesn't sound right. Oh well.:)
Viggomaniac-Okay, so this week I didn't hit EITHER of my deadlines, but I'm trying! Really, I swear! Anyhoo, glad you liked Legolas all protective and angry. Everybody just seemed to love him like that! I promise, there will be ranger whomping very soon here and it will be bad. For Aragorn. All the rest of us angst/torture/bloodthirsty lot will just love it. By the way, I read the story Shades of Fear. Very interesting.
Stoneage Woman- Don't worry, I don't INTEND to get any more graphic than Quietly Into the Night. The stuff with Legolas wasn't very bad, but Aragorn is going to get seriously whomped later on. :) When I said Legolas was 'hissing evilly' I meant it more to show just how angry he was, rather than to imply that he was actually being evil. Actually, I do make it a point to review every story that I like. Sometimes, that means that I don't read anything cause I know that I don't have time to review properly! But knowing how much I enjoy hearing how much people like my stories, I am eager to do the same for other authors.
Saerwen-I'm updating! I'm updating! See? Here's the chapter! Evil bad guys do tend to follow a pattern don't they? Try to kill them, but they always pop out when they are not wanted. (except, of course, by angst loving fanfiction readers.) /watches Saerwen break free from her chains/ oh dear. Well, it looks like the wardwraiths are about to have a lot to deal with…so I'm gonna run for my life. :) See you next post!
Ainu Laire- Um…sorry/grins evilly/ Well, not really, but I can pretend I'm sorry. :) What can I say? My muse lives off of cliffies. She's addicted to them.
Evergreene- Sorry about you being passed out…/shame faced grin/ Wow! Everybody just LOVED Legolas being all protective and angry! Thanks for saying you liked him snarling. I actually really liked that bit myself. :) Why sure I can explain what Halith is up to. You see, he's trying to /claps hand over own mouth/ mmmm mmm mmm /removes hand/ Good thing you're not holding your breath this week, as I am late AGAIN. Hopefully you enjoy it anyway though. :)
Singingharp- Ah, mellon nin! Glad to hear you enjoyed the last chapter and STAY AWAY FROM THAT CELL! Come on, how is my muse supposed to torture a ranger with hickies! It just doesn't have nearly the same dramatic effect. /sees singingharp's puppy dog eyes/ oh all right. But don't mark him up too bad. /watches as Singingharp squeals with glee and dives for the cell, yells from heros emerge shortly/ don't want to know, don't want to know don't want to know /peeks in/ I didn't know humans could bend like that…:) Anyhoo, thanks for reviewing. I'm glad you are enjoying the story. Your ranger whomping will be around shortly.
SilentBanshee- Hmmm. Shirtless, really angry Legolas…yummy. I mean…actually I DO mean yummy. :) You're right though. It's not QUITE as good as a P.O'd Thranduil. :) Next story. :):):)
Nietta- So glad to hear you love it! But you have exams! Yuck! Good luck! My sympathies. I went through my own not that long ago.
Andromida-1971- Hopefully you have not gone mad. :) Thank you for the positive feedback though, and here is your update!
Iccle Fairy- Yeah, Halith certainly did a quick change up. Kind of like Jack Sparrow, except he ended up on the wrong side. Not to worry about the lengthy absence, I'm just glad to see you again! It makes me so happy to have people coming back to read more of my odd little stories. :) I like Legolas all angry and protective, but you're right. I don't see him like that nearly enough.
Alexandra- I'm updating! I'm updating! Granted, not as soon as I could have been…but I'm trying! Thanks for the positive feedback!
Deep Sorrow- No, I do not want a comprehensive list, and if I did want one, I would go to Shelly, not you. Anyway, thank you for the wonderful beta job, I love the paragraph you added. It gave the chapter a very angsty touch. Next chapter…Ranger whomping! A little bit anyway. Maybe only a few punches or so, but somewhere along those lines. See you then!
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Okay, I can tell you that the next chapter is going to be out by Monday, but you all know me by now. So see you next Wednesday! (probably) Thank you all for your wonderful reviews! They really do encourage me to write faster, contrary to all appearances. :)