Disclaimer- Refer to chapter 1.
A/N- Alright, the men in this story speak a different language than our two little elves. Also, they do not understand Elvish or English. I just typed this all in English so that both you (and I ;) ) can understand what's going on.
Chapter 4- Captives
The two elves traveled for a couple of hours before halting abruptly. Tirnen's horse had tripped on a rock, breaking her foreleg.
"Hush…" Tirnen put his hand to her neck and stroked her fur gently. "Hush…" The mare cried in pain as she lifted her right foreleg.
"Can you mend the break?" Legolas asked, worried for the injured steed.
Tirnen shook his head sadly, "I am afraid that the break is too serious. I also do not have the correct supplies…" He slowly grasped the hilt of his dagger and pulled it out of its silvery sheath. "She will just have to be released of her suffering." Taking a shaky breath, he put the razor sharp tip to the mare's throat. He quickly made the fatal slit and sheathed the fine blade again.
"You did the right thing," Legolas said slowly, "Come, we cannot linger."
Tirnen nodded his dark head and mounted behind Legolas. He wrapped his arms around Legolas' taut abdomen, holding onto him gently, but firmly.
They rode on again through the dense forest. Perpetual darkness engulfed them for no light was allowed to penetrate the thick canopy.
After a long, tiring ride, the three forms emerged from the dark woods. "We are not going to make it much further without rest." Tirnen said, noticing the horse's drooping head and slow walk.
Legolas nodded his blond head and dismounted quickly. Tirnen did the same, mimicking his beloved friend. The horse stood in his tracks and breathed heavily.
The blond elf took a few faggots of wood from his pack and setting them on the ground, he was able to start a small fire.
Both of the elves sat next to the fire, warming their cold bodies. Even the horse took a few heavy steps toward the crackling flames. Nickering softly, he swiftly succumb to the heavy sleep that weighed down on him.
Legolas and Tirnen both followed the horse's example and also lay down. They soon fell swiftly asleep.
They were both heavily asleep when a group of sturdy built men surrounded them.
"Quietly now, boys." A stout man whispered in his native tongue, "We do not want to wake them."
"Why don't we drug them?" Another, taller man whispered. He carried two potent green leaves in his large hands. "They will be more easily transported."
All the men in the group silently agreed to this by nodding their heads.
The tall man gently took Legolas' jaw in his massively strong hand and opened his mouth. Legolas stirred slightly and began to wake. The man quickly shoved the leaf into the elf's mouth, forcing him to swallow it with some water. Legolas fought back weakly, still drowsy from his slumber. He finally calmed down and his body went limp with sleep.
Tirnen was next. Two men crowded around him, being careful not to wake the peacefully sleeping form. One man knelt down next to the elf's head and opened his mouth. He put a leaf in his mouth, causing the young elf to wake with a start. Tirnen spit the leaf out and started to struggle violently.
"Hold him!" The stout man shouted, grasping onto Tirnen's flailing legs.
Men filled in around the struggling elf and held him down. The tall man came up to Tirnen and held his mouth open with his strong hand. Shoving the leaf into his mouth, the man was able to force him to swallow with some water and some gentle coaxing of his throat.
Almost in the same instant as when he was given the potent herb, Tirnen fell swiftly back to sleep. The men sighed in relief once the elf finally calmed down.
"We seem to have a fighter on our hands, here." The stout man said in his native language, "Well, let's take these two prisoners to the city."
The men in the group nodded and gently picked up the fair creatures, not wanting to cause harm to their seemingly delicate bodies.
They carefully placed them on separate horses and a man mounted behind both of them. The men held the elves' limp bodies upright while the horses galloped off.
The horses rode briskly to the gates of the men's city. The heavy iron gates swung open, permitting the riders and steeds to enter.
"Take these two to the dungeons. Keep them well accommodated. I will see to them later." The stout man said, leaving the men with the two drugged elves.
A tall man carrying Legolas went down to the dark dungeons first. He picked out the cleanest, largest cell available and lay the peaceful form down on the stone.
Tirnen's body lay limply in the strong arms that carried him. The man was about to put him in another cell, but the tall man who carried Legolas spoke up.
"Put him in with the blond one. I am sure that they would enjoy some company."
The strapping man who carried Tirnen carefully placed the dark-haired elf down next to Legolas. "… They look so peaceful…"
"They are such fair, ravishing creatures. It is a shame that we have to lock them up just because of a foolish war."
The hale man nodded, "Yes, foolish indeed. And now because of this war, we are ordered to lock up all elves outside of their realms."
Nodding, the tall man agreed. He and the stalwart man continued their conversation as they left, locking the cell door behind them.
The first to awake from his induced sleep was Legolas. He gently tried to shake the other sleeping elf awake, but to no avail. Tirnen was too lost in his dreams. "Wake up, Tirnen…" He shook him again, a little harder this time.
Finally after some gentle persuasions, the young elf awoke from his slumber. "What? Where… where are we?"
"We were… caught in the forest… and we ended up here."
"Oh no… not again!" Tirnen panicked, "Our baby! What will become of our precious baby?"
"Calm yourself. I am sure that no harm will come to our child."
Tirnen sadly nodded and hugged Legolas tightly. Legolas returned the embrace with a kiss on his lover's cheek.
The stout man returned to check on his captives. He smiled a little, "I see that you are finally awake." He said in his native tongue.
"What did he say?" Legolas held a bemused expression on his face.
"I do not know…"
The stout fat man opened the cell door and walked in. Another man accompanied him this time. "We just need to check you over to make sure you're healthy." He advanced up to Tirnen, who backed away, misunderstanding the man's intentions. "Do not fear me. I mean you no harm."
"Legolas… help…" Tirnen whined, still backing away from the menacing foe.
The heavy man outstretched his hand towards Tirnen. He took another step, forcing Tirnen to take a step back.
Legolas jumped protectively between the elf and man. "Leave him." He growled, staring straight into the man's mahogany eyes.
Looking intimidated, the stout man stepped back in his tracks. "Do you understand him?" He queried the other man who was with him. The other man only shrugged.
Now having more sense, the short man added gestures to his words. "I…" He began, pointing to himself, "mean you no…" He shook his head from side to side, "harm." He finished, making a cutting gesture across his throat with his thumb.
Misinterpreting the given information, Tirnen became even more scared. He backed into the corner and shook with fear.
"No…" The man said gently, "No fear me." He shook his head to emphasize his point. But it was still no use. Tirnen still sat in the corner, petrified with fear.
Seeing that Legolas was not as fear-filled, the man decided to start with him. He walked to him and gently lay his hand on the elf's stout shoulder. Legolas flinched slightly, but other than that, he stood still. The man tried to gently cajole Legolas to lay down, but the elf was inflexible.
Sighing, the man gave up. "I am sure that they are both healthy. I see no wounds and elves are impervious to illness." He turned and left with the other man.
Once sure that both the men were gone, Tirnen came out of his little corner and walked up to Legolas. "What language do they speak?"
"I am not sure. But whatever it may be, it is not one that I have heard ever before."
"At least they do not know of your pregnancy yet. I fret to know what they will do when they find out…"
"It is only a matter of time…"
"… I know…" Tirnen dropped his gaze to the floor, "You will not stay thin forever…"
Tbc…