Well I'm back. Hey, at least it didn't take me four weeks this time, right/listens to crickets chirping/ drat. Anyway, I left the last chapter at a point where it looked as though Aragorn was about to go through something fairly unpleasant, so lets' see what happens, kay?

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"Legolas, can you hear me?"

Yes. Yes, he could hear the soft, deep voice that penetrated the layers of blackness. But he did not wish to respond. For one, there was the nagging worry in the back of his mind that the moment he became conscious, he would be in considerable pain. It always happened that way. For another, he was fairly sure he recognized the voice that was calling his name.

"Legolas, it is time to wake up."

The prince sighed mentally. Yes, he knew that voice very well. He had heard it many times before, in these exact same circumstances. A bright searing pain spread across his rib cage, forcing a groan between his lips. Well, perhaps with different injuries, but similar circumstances anyway. He also knew that the voice would not cease to call him until he opened his eyes and aknowledged its' presence.

His lashes fluttered slightly. It was all he felt he could manage. Who was the prankster who had seen fit to attach heavy lead weights to each eyelid? Probably the twins…

A stab of pain that had nothing to do with his substantial injuries smote Legolas' heart. It could not be the twins…they had gone after Aragorn…Aragorn had been taken by humans.

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"Strider!" The word was a gasp as Legolas' blue eyes flew open.

Elrond breathed a sigh of relief. He had been worried for the young prince ever since the scouts had brought him back to Imladris. The dark haired elf lord bent over his patient, delicate braids swinging over his shoulder as he peered into the fair elf's face.

"Welcome back, Legolas." Elrond's lips compressed tightly as he noted the purple bruises that adorned Legolas' skin. The prince had endured a vicious beating. It made him furious to see the young one hurt so callously. A deeper emotion ran through him as he wondered what state his sons would be in when they returned…

If they returned.

Elrond's slenders fingers clenched into a fist, his grey eyes burning. They would return. Or others would feel the brunt of his considerable wrath.

Blue eyes turned toward the elf lord in confusion. "How did I get here?"

Elrond brought his mind back to his patient. "Our warriors brought you. Do you not remember?" A smile quirked the corners of his lips. "You certainly were not happy to be seperated from my sons. Or perhaps you do not recall the insults you brought down on Areste?"

Legolas winced. He did not remember. He could only imagine what his tongue might have said without his brain's permission. The fair prince shifted, as though he would raise himself into a sitting position. Elrond's strong, slender fingers clamped down on his shoulder, letting him know that this was not a good idea.

"I just spent hours making sure your ribs would not be puncturing your lungs," the dark haired elf lord said mildly. "It would not be very grateful of you to undo all my work with unneccesary movement."

Legolas relaxed under Elrond's hand. But the elf lord could tell it was not what the young prince wished to do. If he had to hazard a guess, Elrond would have said Legolas wished for nothing more than to be up and running after his sons. Worry stabbed the dark haired elf's heart with an excruciatingly sharp blade. What had happened? His warriors had not been able to tell him anything. Only that they had encountered Elrohir and the badly wounded Legolas. The moment Legolas was in their care, Elrohir had raced after his twin…

…and Estel.

"Legolas," Elrond seated himself beside the fair prince's bed and laced his fingers together, propping his chin on them. "Do you remember anything that has happened since you met my sons?" With a head wound like the one he had sustained, it was entirely possible that the silvan elf would not recall anything from the past few days or even weeks. Elrond braced himself to be disappointed, but at the same time he felt his pulse quicken. What had happened to his children?

Legolas saw the worry in the gray eyes that watched him so carefully. He cringed inwardly. How could he tell Lord Elrond that he had failed Estel? How could he tell him he had been unable to stop the men from hurting his friend? "I…" He didn't want to say anything. "I remember, hir nin."

Grey eyes pierced blue. Elrond leaned forward. "Tell me."

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Daeion entered behind Halith, his eyes gleaming with dark anticipation. Aragorn's silver eyes followed the slight man's form warily. For some reason, he felt a stab of panic as he gazed into his foe's face.

Halith ran a finger down the ropes wrapped around Aragorn's chest. "You're probably wondering what happened while you were out," he said conversationally. "I would imagine your back's hurting a bit by now." He hooked a rough finger under one of the rope loops and jerked lightly.

Aragorn bit down hard on his lip, forcing himself to remain silent. Even that small amount of pressure caused his back to explode in pain. It faded, eventually. But it was far too slow for the young ranger's taste. Sweat stood out on his forehead with the effort of keeping quiet. "I thought," he finally managed to grit between his teeth. "that you hated bloodshed." The question was not directed at Halith, but Daeion.

The older man's face creased into a malicious smile. "I do. But I see no blood, and actually, I enjoy pain quite a bit.

"See these?" He held up one of the curious objects Aragorn had seen him holding before. "These are very special. I designed them myself."

Lovely. This was just the extra special treat he needed to make his day. A monologue from an obviously deranged and sadistic person. The silver eyes flattened with disdain.

Daeion continued on, oblivious. "They really are quite simple. All you need is a cut," the smile twisted slightly. "like the ones Halith made down your back." He laid the wand on the table and snapped his fingers almost lazily. Halith immediately drew his dagger, twirling it deftly in his fingers. Aragorn could see blood on the blade.

His blood.

"Not very deep cuts," the man said quietly. "An inch at the most. When you have the cut, you take one of these," he picked up the thin wand again, "and you place it in the cut. The spines cause pain something fearful. And the ropes?" His smile tipped a little bit more. "They're there to make sure that these stay in place. After a time, a short time usually, the body really does heal quickly, especially when you're young and fit, but after a time, your skin will close over them. They'll still hurt. They'll always hurt. But sooner or later, the only way to remove them will be to cut them out."

Aragorn felt ill.

Without warning, Halith hooked his hand under a rope loop and yanked savagely.

Pain exploded across Aragorn's back in bright waves, eating at his flesh like a devouring flame. Stars flickered in his vision and he gasped for air. It was too much…he could not take it…his head drooped between his arms.

Several minutes later, the pain only began to recede. Aragorn's eyes glared through the curtain of dark hair covering his face. Hatred for the man in front of him burned hot.

Daeion seemed unimpressed by the look. "Did I mention that the spines are tipped with a potion that creates pain? It won't bother you very much right now, but in a few days a little jerk like that will be unbearable."

Aragorn could not help it. For a split second, he blanched.

Daeion's cruel eyes darked with satisfaction. He had seen the momentary fear race through those silver eyes. "Now…what do you say we talk about your friends the elves?"

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Halith kept his worn face impassive. He was not like Daeion. He did not enjoy pain. To use it as an means to an end…all well and good. But he could not help but think that this was futile. He had seen a core of steel underneath the young man's rash need to prove himself. Though foolish, Strider was not stupid. An intelligent, strong willed enemy was best dealt with in one way. Halith felt his fingers tighten slightly around his dagger's handle almost involuntarily. He had stayed alive through years in cutthroat company by knowing whom to kill, and acting on his knowledge.

"You're insane," Strider said flatly. His eyes were cold. "I will never tell you anything."

Daeion merely laughed. "Everyone says that…Strider. But in a few days, when the potion starts to work…" he laughed again.

Halith snorted in disgust. Though he served Daeion, respect was something else entirely. The older man was shrewd. Serving his current master would make him very rich. He did, however, find the sadistic traits in his master disturbing at times. Of course, he was also inclined to agree with Daeion. No one had ever withstood the torture of those wands. Everyone always ended up telling everything.

But there was something different about Strider. He didn't know exactly what it was, and he wasn't comfortable with it at all. Halith's eyebrows drew together in a V as he looked at the young man before him.

He was in pain, that was easy to see. Yet he kept his mouth tightly closed, never allowing so much as a whimper to slip through his lips. Sweat beaded across his forehead with the effort, and the look he was shooting at Daeion could have fried a mumak.

Without warning, the silver eyes swung around and fixed themselves on Halith's worn face. There was a deep strength in that fiery gaze. Halith was so startled he nearly took a step back. Shocked, he found that he could not hold Strider's gaze. His own dark eyes dropped and drifted to another part of the cell. He was shaken. What he had seen in those eyes only confirmed the vague suspicion that had until this moment been only nebulous speculation.

Halith watched Daeion step forward and tap Strider's back. This was useless. The young ranger would never tell them anything. And the steel in his silver eyes had unnerved Halith. They should kill him. Kill him now and be done with it. The older man bit his lip. He had kept his eyes open when they had entered Rivendell. He believed that he had observed enough to attempt an attack. They might lose men, true. But he believed that keeping this ranger alive would ultimately be more damaging in the long run.

Strider gasped as Daeion's hand fell across his back.

Halith's hand shot out, catching Daeion's wrist. The older man's fingers easily wrapped around Daeion's slender arm, halting him without any apparent effort. "I need to speak with you," he said roughly, in response to the shocked, and slightly angered expression on the slight man's face. Without another word, he turned and strode from the cell. He didn't look back. He knew that Daeion would follow him.

"What's wrong?" Daeion asked sharply, closing the heavy wooden door behind him.

"I don't like this." Halith stood with back to the door and his master, his shoulders tense. "This isn't a good idea. We should kill him now. He'll only bring trouble down on us if we keep him alive."

Slender fingers gripped Halith's shoulder, turning him around. Daeion met his second in command's eye steadily. "I know that you do not approve of the way I handle some things," he said in a quiet voice. "But we need this information. How would it be if I sent the better portion of my men into a potentially dangerous situation with absolutely no knowledge of what they were facing?"

"I've been there…" Halith started heatedly.

"But you have not lived there. And I doubt that the elves, as good of hosts as they were, decided to show you all the strengths and weaknesses of their defenses." Daeion cast a look back towards the cell. "No. We need to know if there is anything else. At the very least, I need to hear him confirm that there was nothing." Without another word, Daeion released Halith's shoulder, turned, and entered the cell once more.

The door swung shut behind him, leaving Halith seething in the hall.

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Elladan was uneasy. There was something in the air that he did not like. Something waiting at the very edges of his senses. His horse seemed to feel it too. Perhaps the beast was simply reacting to his rider's tension, but the steed was uneasy. It pranced lightly in place, tossing its' head nervously as Elladan gently tugged on the mane, urging him to stop.

To human eyes, it would appear that the trail had suddenly ceased.

Neither twin was fooled. They could see the badly hidden tracks. They could tell that the humans they had been following were now hidden in the undergrowth around them. They could easily see that they were completely surrounded by a good score of men.

Elrohir met his brother's eyes and allowed his mouth to curl in an almost feral smile. Well, if these human's wanted to attempt an ambush, it would certainly give him a chance to vent some of the rage and frustration that had been building in his slender frame since the moment Estel left home. His long fingers slowly curled around the hilt of his sword.

Elladan gracefully slid from the back of his mount, feigning nonchalance. The humans were unaware that their trap was already sensed. And a trap was only a trap as long as the prey walked in unaware. The elder twin pretended to crouch and examine the tracks carefully, as though bewildered. His keen, pointed ears detected the crunch of clumsy human feet in the undergrowth.

Elrohir also dismounted and casually moved to stand by his brother. He touched Elladan's shoulder lightly. The humans were preparing to strike. Their movements were becoming restless.

Slowly, Elladan rose from his bent position, moving so that as though by accident, he stood back to back with his twin. His slender hands were already moving, concealed by the flowing cloak he wore, grasping for the hilt of his sword and dagger. He did not often fight with two blades, but in a battle where they were outnumbered by at least ten to one, it was best to have more than one weapon.

Gray eyes darted back and forth, detecting the movement of several branches. "Here they come," Elrohir said softly, his voice barely reaching even Elladan's acute hearing.

"I see them."

A shout rose from the surrounding trees. Roaring, screaming, immensely proud of their apparently succesful trap, the humans rose from hiding en masse and

charged forward.

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Stonage Woman- /grins craftily/ so you have me all figured out, eh? Well…maybe you are correct, maybe not. It remains to be seen.:)

Ainu Laire- Oh yes, Aragorn is indeed in for one heck of a time before the twins finally correct their error and return to save the day! If that happens. The twins might very well get beaten up themselves and not be in any fit condition to ride to anyone's aid.:)

QueenofFlarmphqal- Thanks for calling off the wargs, I really appreciate it. After all, it's so hard to write with a monstrous beast leaping at your throat. Of course, it might have pushed me into a sufficiently angsty mood so I could write up some ranger whomping though. Now, it only seems as though the clues have gone unnoticed AS OF YET. The twins might still find them, especially after they realize that they've been tricked down a false path. Of course, the twins might also end up being captured tortured and maimed as well.:) It's a distinct possibility.

Evergreene- No, Legolas is not completely out of the picture yet, but he is getting a small break to rest and recuperate a trifle, seeing as he was near death.:) Yes, the Prince of Mirkwood will have at least one more very angsty scene before the end of this tale. Thank you for not killing me. I truly am sorry that this story is taking so long to crank out, but real life has a way of coming around and kicking me right in the…well, you get the picture.:)

Greeneyedelf001-I'm updating! I'm updating! See? Here's the next chapter. Maybe not very soon…but I'm trying, honest! Thanks for the positive feedback.

Fluffy Bunny-Thank you. I try very hard to portray a friendship and connection between the four of our heros, and it's always great to know that I'm doing a good job.

Coolio02- Um…three weeks after the las post is soon, right? Aragorn is definitley is some very deep trouble, but at least it's the kind that's really hard to get out of too, right? Thanks for the feedback:)

Helluin-trip- Hey, I finally get to respond to your reviews! Awesome. Anyway, yes there is definitely some more ranger whompage in this chapter, and there is more to come as well. I know how happy that makes everyone. I think I sense a little…um…sarcasm, when you mentioned the 'wonderful wait' between chapters. I'm sorry! Really! I swear! I don't know what it is about this story but it's just taking forever for my muse and I to crank out. Hmmm. Maybe I SHOULD give in to her demands for better pay. Well, hopefully you enjoy this chapter as much as the rest of the story, and a VERY big thank you for going and reviewing all the chapter for my other stories too! I enjoyed reading your feedback immensely.

Aranna Undomiel- Hey, at least this chapter took less than four weeks to get out, right? Poor ranger, all beated up and alone…and unaware that his clues have been missed. Angst! Woohoo! Ahem. Sorry, got a little excited there.:) But you are correct. Aragorn will not die. Yet. /evil grin/ hey, I can't go giving away to much of the story or my cliffies wouldn't work and everyone would get so bored with the long waits between chapters that they wouldn't bother to read and review anymore! Of course, I suppose I could always post earlier…

Viggomaniac- /blushes/ wow! Compliment upon compliment! Thank you so much! I'm extremely happy to hear that you think my stories are several notches above just torture fics. I enjoy torture as much as the next person, but I do think it's important that there be a reason for the torture. You know, other than the all important reason 'because I enjoy it more than I should'.:) Seriously though, I thrilled that you think my stories are so good. And I really appreciate the positive feedback. Thanks for mentioning the other stories. Actually, I am reading a story by Legolass Q at the moment. It's really good. Aragorn most definitley is NOT having the best of times here, and it will get worse.(as much as I stress the need for a plot, torture is fun…for me, not for Aragorn.:))

Dragon Shadows- Thank you very much for the feedback. I hope you enjoy the rest of the story.

Deep Sorrow- ha ha ha…NOT FUNNY. So I'm a little late posting… big deal. /pulls shade to hid the angry mob of reviewers outside her door/ But this chapter does have the desired ranger whomping, villain angst, and a little cliffie too! Hey, the next chapter will have even more pain and suffering for everybody's favorite ranger. I know that make YOU happy.:)

Singingharp- How funny…you ask, and on the day that you review, I am all set to post! Cool, huh? Hope you enjoyed the torture and angst, and I know that you'll look forward to more in the next chapter too. That is, if you have time to read it! Hopefully you will. I know that you'll be busy with your new job, (I hope you love it, by the way) but I always enjoy hearing from you.:)

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I will see you all next time! Hopefully not as long as this, because I already have a little of the next chapter written out, and most of it should be action and such so it should be written fairly quickly.