Chapter 5: Worried Twins

Disclaimer: I do not own the Lord of the Rings.

Author's Notes: I forgot to say this at the beginning, but this story is AU, and everything about Duirellon, Salion and Nebegon will be expalined in time. And thank you for all of your reviews, I really appreciate them!

The footsteps just kept becoming louder and louder, and Legolas wondered if he was in for another whipping. He closed his eyes, trying to fake that he was unconscious, maybe that way they would leave him alone.

Salion and Nebegon opened the door. Legolas's stomach gave a lurching noise, he had not had any food since he arrived here, and he could smell bread. He thought that bread would be fine, as long as he ate anything. He smelled it, but he didn't want to open his eyes to risk out being whipped again.

Salion untied one of the shackles holding the Prince, while Nebegon untied the other, and Legolas fell to the floor. Slowly, cautiously, Salion approached him as though he was scared that Legolas might do something to him.

But unluckily for Legolas, he was too weak to attempt to do anything. Salion gave him some bread, and Nebegon brought him some water. Legolas wasn't sure if he was to it or not.

On one hand, he was really hungry, in fact, he was starving. On the other, he thought that maybe the food could be poisoned, as it was apparent that Duirellon needed the twins, not him. He thought safely not to try it.

"Look, Salion, he isn't eating" Nebegon whispered, and he thought that Legolas hadn't heard him, but he had with his Elven hearing.

"I know, but he still looks dangerous" Salion responded.

Legolas opened his eyes and glanced at them, apparently they were waiting for him to start eating, but what if the food was really poisoned?

"Elf, the food is not poisoned" Nebegon said. If Legolas died, then their master would surely kill them.

Flashback

A battlefield lay in front of him. The little human settlement was black, all burnt, and still heavy smoke rose to the sky in different places. All was destroyed, and there were carcasses sprawled all over the floor, from both human and orc.

Two brothers were there. They looked very much alike. Both were tall and a little muscular, but one had dark brown hair and dark green eyes. This was Salion. His brother Nebegon had a little lighter hair, and dark blue eyes.

Salion was hurt, and Nebegon was tending to his wound, which happened to bea slash in his arm. However, it was not so deep, so he just stopped the bleeding and bandage it with remnants form his tattered cloak.

The orcs had come and raided their small camp, and while a lot of people had ran as soon as the warning came, others fit enough to fight had decided to stay.

The orcs were finished, but not before leaving the humans really wounded. Salion already had his arm tended to, and Nebegon was fine. Just now a party of elves was arriving, and hopefully they would help them rebuilt their homes again and take care of the wounded.

The captain, an Elf named Duirellon, gracefully dismounted from his big stallion. He eyed the situation critically, before giving out commands of what was to be done. He had come grudgingly, as he no longer desired to be a warrior, not after what had happened to his brother.

His brother had been killed, and he blamed Elrond for it. He could do nothing more about it, so here he was, looking how he could help this edain.

All his warriors were working on putting out the fires, while the healers tended to the wounded. He then started questioning people as to what had happened, if any orcs have escaped, and that sort of things to try and find what caused the orcs to come this way.

Then he spotted the two brothers, and make his way towards them. They were looking really grim and he asked them why. Of course, he expect a little reply, being that they were in fact humans, but they answered that they had left their parents' village to train as warriors in the one where they were, and the orcs had come to them after the village where their parents lived was totally destroyed.

They didn't know if their parents had made it alive or not, and Duirellon took his time to ponder this. They were young, they were blinded by grief after the news of their parents, and they would be easy to handle.

He ordered his warriors to go ahead and warn Elrond of what had happened; telling them that he will return later after all this was fine again. He never returned to Rivendell, and Salion and Nebegon were also gone.

End Flashback

Now roughly three years had passed, and Salion and Nebegon accepted to help Duirellon. It had been so painful, seeing their village burnt like that, and knowing that their parents had carried on by a worst fate, but they were happy to at least be together as brothers.

Of course, Duirellon was never kind to them. At first he beat them occasionally whenever something went wrong, no matter whose fault it was. Later on the beatings came to a halt, but they were still afraid of Duirellon. They only remained with him because they had no place to go, and Duirellon gave them food and paid them for every job done.

Right now his main targets were the sons from Elrond, as he had left Rivendell several years ago, and he hoped that at least he was forgotten by everyone. Still, his warriors missed him, as he had been a good captain.

He wanted revenge on Elrond, and Elrond alone, as he was the one who directed the attack at the orcs who were coming into Rivendell several years back. Still, he held the grudge against Elrond, for although his brother died as any warrior would have wanted, defending his city, being the captain ofhis patrol, he couldn't bring himself to the fact that his brother left him on Elrond's account.

So when Duirellon ordered them to bring Legolas some food, they assured Legolas that it was not poisoned.

After Legolas was finished, he still was too weak from the previous beatings, and lucky for him Duirellon had ordered Nebegon and Salion to chain the elf on the floor. So again, they put his hands in the shackles, but this time, the tied the chain to the column in the middle of the room.

Legolas was torn. He didn't knowif someone would come looking for him, as his horse was still in that place. In the previous nights, in the time that he was awake, he had heard Rochmith neighing, and apparently, trying to get out of the rope that hold him.

Being an Elven horse, he didn't liked being tied up as a common horse. But he was quite intelligent also, he didn't let the humans get near him to groom him, he would only let near him Elves that he trusted, not humans.

Legolas passed the rest of the morning alone, without further visits. He was quite happy about this, and he fell back to sleep. Again with his eyes closed, after all, he was really exhausted.

In the afternoon, Salion and Nebegon were sent to take care of the horses, and after Duirellon had looked at Rochmith, he was quite sure that it was really a fine horse. He would keep him, but first, he needed to make sure that the horse wouldn't throw him up.

That was the reason why he sent Nebegon and Salion to look after the horses that were tied at the back of the hut. Legolas didn't notice them, as they exited trough the back door.

What really woke up Legolas were the shouts full of rage that followed.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN?" was all Legolas heard, and was quite scared, thinking that they would beat him up again. This had been said with such rage, that Legolas thought he didn't want to be in the receiving end of it.

Then the conversation went on again.

"Th…That the … elvish horse… has run away…" Salion explained in a quiet voice, and Legolas had to strain to hear it.

"You let that excellent horse escape?" Duirellon said in a quiet, yet louder voice than Salion's, in a dangerous manner, as if threatening them.

"Well… you saw it was tied up … there was no way it could escape… the rope was cut… we didn't noticed…" Nebegon said.

"FOOLS! I WANT THAT HORSE BACK"

Legolas where he was radiant with happiness. Those were such good news. Rochmith was well known to be an excellent horse, and also it was really intelligent. He knew Rochmith would get help. He would get to Rivendell, and his friends would worry upon seeing Rochmith and not him.

He also couldn't help the snigger that threatened to escape his lips, Rochmith had escaped from Duirellon's hands, and if someone came to his aide, it would be Duirellon's fault for letting Rochmith escape.

Meanwhile, in the forest, a beautiful horse was running at top speed towards the Last Homely House, the House of Elrond.

His master was in trouble, and those men meant not good for him or his master inany way, so he had to get help. And who could help him better that his master's friends?

Although his hind leg hurt from the exertion he had to put on it, being wounded by the arrow, he didn't care; he had to hurry to help his master.

The house was now visible, and he dashed in through the main gate before anyone could stop him. Rochmith was almost there, when some elves came and tried to stop him.

He neighed in desperation, his master was hurt and those elves didn't understand!

At last, he saw someone go inside the house, calling for Lord Elrond.

Elrond, the twins and Estel were halfway through their breakfast when a young warrior entered the Dinning Hall. He then bowed hastily, before proceeding "My Lord, a horse has arrived to Rivendell. He bore no master, and he appears to be an Elvish horse. We could not calm it down, as it apparently is in great distress"

"Does it happens to be a gray stallion," Elrond asked, knowing that Rochmith was Legolas horse, big, fine stallion, and he knew that he was really attached to Legolas, and he would not let near any stray elf.

"Yes, and apparently, he is injured". Elrond and his three needed no warning, as they instantly ran outside, fearing what could possible had happened to Legolas.

TBC…

Translations:

Edain:humans

Author's notes: I won't answer to your reviews this time, so I just wanted to let you know that I really appreciate your reviews. Thanks for your reviews, and please tell me what you think of this chapter.

And don't worry, more is coming soon!