Thanks to all who have reviewed, and I do believe that I've replied to each and every single one of you. (If I haven't, email me like crazy and I will... :)

Oh, and sorry about the wait. I didn't know where I should go with this fic for awhile, but I've found my way, and I think it'll only be 5 chapters long. Anyway, enjoy!

Chapter 3

I hissed again as the sunlight streamed down in cursed lines through the dungeon bars, burning hot lines across my skin. Snarling, I tried once more to break free of the tight chains on my wrists and ankles, but the elvish iron kept me where I was.

Closing my eyes, I could still see the reddish glow through my eyelids as the afternoon sun streamed through the eaves of the forest and into the small cell. My head swam, leaving my mind nearly blank, erasing all thoughts.

Then, darkness descended again.

"What does Dol Guldur want?" the elf asked for what seemed like the tenth time. He had closed the peephole over the dungeon windows, letting blissful darkness settle in.

My tongue was heavy in my mouth and I swallowed twice to let the saliva flow again. "I have already told you!" I cried, frustrated. "I know nothing of this! Set me free!" There was not a chance of that. Once captured, an Orc like me had no chance whatsoever in an elven city.

Death was inevitable.

It was possibly what I deserved.

You are worthless now. You belong to me. You are ugly, stupid, and disgusting. The world hates you. I hate you. You can never redeem your place unless you fight for me. Fight for me well, slaves.

Nothing comes without a price.

And then the pain and torture…

Sunlight again flashed across my eyes, sending my thoughts scattering.

The dungeon door slammed, telling me another had entered. Low voices spoke quickly in the cursed Elven Tongue, and I was once more thrown into darkness. I dared to open my eyes to see the commotion.

Another of the blond creatures stood in front of me, a princely bearing around him. It was the king again. Silently, I laughed bitterly.

He has come down to kill me himself? I curled a lip dryly. What had I done to deserve that honor?

"It has refused to answer?" he asked.

His voice was cold, unfeeling, and yet, it seemed as if I had heard it somewhere before, though it must have been impossible.

Thranduil…

I still could not understand why I had decided to take the Orc as prisoner. It was true that it was important to know what the Darkness in the south was doing, but there were better ways than to question an unreliable and cowardly Orc. However, once tortured for long enough, they were willing to spill anything to save their own skin.

But there was something else…

I felt tightness across my chest, and my mind turned to my son. He was all I had left to call family. If he did not survive the night…

It would take more than the life of this Orc to pay for it.

Looking into the revolting face of the enemy, I found hatred, as I expected, and turned away with disgust. "It has refused to answer?" I asked needlessly to the guard. He nodded, and still not understanding why I did not kill the damned creature right now, I answered, "Put it on the torture wheel for a few hours. See if it does not talk then."

The guard's eyes widened, but he obeyed wordlessly.

I could comprehend why. The instrument had not been used in centuries, as we were not cruel to prisoners, but with Orcs, we were merciless. Before, I had never permitted one to enter my domain, but now that I had broken that unwritten law, it was time to tread over past lines and do what I had to.

I had to learn what I was facing. Legolas's life was hanging by a thread.

His mother's was long gone.

I owed them both that much.

I came out of the water, gasping. The elves had slung me to a wheel half dipped in salt water and as it spun, every part of my body that was wounded seemed to gape open with ragged pain.

To add to the torture, whips of metal were threatened.

Again, salt water.

Fire across my body.

Screaming, I felt shameless, answering their questions, unable to do anything else. I needed the pain to stop!

However, the spinning of the wheel did not stop.

My head was underwater again. I could not breathe. I had stopped trying to hold my breath a long time ago. I no longer had the strength. Death would be welcome.

Closing my eyes, I let water flow through my nostrils and down my windpipe…

TBC...

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