Disclaimer: I don't think I need this.

A/N: I know this has taken forever for me to post. I'm sorry. I don't know how fast updates are going to come. I have had so many papers and stuff to write lately that I have not had much time to write for this story. I'm losing a lot of interest for this story too, but if you all still like it, I'll keep writing. Thanks so much for the reviews. Oh, and I don't really like the song that I used at the beginning of this chapter, so if anyone could give me a better one, that the lyrics fit well with this chapter, I would be really happy. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks. Okay here is the next chapter and the beginning of trouble.

Chapter 13

Trapped

'We soldier on

Through hell's high water

This war's a losing fight


The past is gone

The future further

Retreating out of sight


And after the fire has died

Will the light still remain in your eyes?


And after the darkness has swallowed every sign

Will you still be there undefined?'


-Undefined - Mad at Gravity

Aragorn sighed heavily as he looked ahead of him. Legolas and him had been traveling for many days now. They had made it safely over the Caradhras mountains and now they were almost in the woods of Mirkwood. The journey had been mostly uneventful, though Aragorn was weary of the fast pace the elf had kept. He did not complain, however, and he kept going, denying that he was tired. He looked to his right and smiled. Legolas seemed to be enjoying the fresh forest air. He looked very happy that he was finally near his home.

Legolas was indeed quite happy. It seemed like an eternity since he had been here. Suddenly, he clutched harder to his horse, Amthar's, mane and bit his lip as memory flooded to him. It was right around this area that Legolas had first been captured. He remembered the men's harsh treatment and the cruel ideas they thought of to 'train' him.

Flashback

"Pick it up!"

Legolas glared at the man who stood in front of him. He knew the man as Zergan and he was quickly learning to despise him. Since Legolas had been captured, all the man did was demand that Legolas serve him as a slave. He treated Legolas no better than the dirt that was on the ground. In turn, Legolas refused to obey anything he commanded. Zergan's men might have captured him, but he would not submit to their commands.

A harsh slap fell across Legolas' fair cheek, leaving a red mark.

"How many times must I tell you to keep your eyes down?" Zergan hissed.

Defiantly, Legolas brought his gaze back up towards the man. "How many times do I have to tell you that I won't listen?" His response earned him another slap across the face.

"Teach him another lesson." Zergan spat to his men.

Legolas knew what that would mean. He could still feel the effects of his last teaching. Legolas, however, was strong. It would take more than a few beatings to break him. These men would never be able to break his defiant spirit. He was sure of it.

"Wait, I have a new idea." Zergan said suddenly. He turned back around to look at Legolas. "Pick up that bag and tie it to my horse or you will regret it."

Legolas glared at him. The man's threats did not scare him. He folded his hands defiantly in front of him.

Zergan smirked. "Fine." He nodded to his men and they quickly restrained Legolas. One of the men forced Legolas' arm out to his side and held it there. Legolas tried to resist, but he was overpowered by the strength of the three men holding him.

"You only need one good hand to pick up my bag." Zergan was saying from behind him.

By the sound of his voice, Legolas feared what was to come. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Zergan approaching him, holding something in his hand. Zergan came around so Legolas could see him. He held up the instrument he held in his hand. It was a metal tong and the end was red-hot. Fear leapt into Legolas' heart, but he refused to let it show on his face.

The men held Legolas firmly so his palm was upturned. Legolas looked away as he felt heat nearing the palm of his hand. He prepared himself, but he did not expect the pain that surged through his body. He clenched his teeth together tightly, and yet still, a scream escaped his lips.

Finally, the men released him. Legolas quickly clutched his left hand, holding it near to his body.

"Now, pick up my bag." Zergan hissed.

Legolas raised his eyes, glaring at the man. He closed his eyes tightly, regretting what he was about to do. When he opened them, he kept his defiant glare, yet he reached down and picked up the bag. His eyes never left Zergan as he walked to the horse and tied the bag securely.

Zergan smiled triumphantly and Legolas' heart sank. That had been the first command that he had obeyed as a slave. After that, things only got worse.

End Flashback

Legolas was drawn from his thoughts as he heard a bird chirping in the trees. He drew in a deep breath, savoring the clean forest smell. He was happy now and he was free. That feeling was the greatest feeling in the world to him. He smiled knowing that soon he would be home and able to see his father again. The very thought made him want to travel faster, but he resisted the urge. The pace they were traveling was already fast enough and Legolas could tell that it was taking a toll on Aragorn.

He looked behind him and saw that Aragorn was watching the trees and his surroundings. He seemed to be enjoying the forest air and the bird calls from the trees. Legolas smiled and slowed Amthar's pace to a gentle trot. He rode beside Aragorn, smiling at him.

"You have never been to Mirkwood, have you, mellon nin?"

Aragorn shook his head. "No I haven't."

"It is a very beautiful forest full of many wonders. Unfortunately, darkness has spread through this forest and has taken away the beauty that there once was. Now spiders roam free around the forest, hunting each traveler with their watchful gaze."

Aragorn shivered as a chill ran up his spine. "You mean spiders are watching us right now?" He had heard tales of huge spiders in Mirkwood and how they would watch from the trees. They would pounce on unsuspecting travelers, biting and poisoning them so they couldn't move. Then, they would have their way with their victim. Aragorn groaned as he remembered the tales his brothers use to tell him when he was little to try to scare him.

Legolas chuckled. "There are no spiders watching us, yet, mellon nin. Do not worry. They should leave us alone as long as we do not provoke them. I know the areas that are spider infested and we will not travel that way."

Aragorn nodded, but he could still feel his skin crawl. With a slight smile, he decided to remember to kill his brothers for the stories they put into his mind. He was still contemplating these thoughts, when he noticed Legolas dismount.

"Let's rest for a while." Legolas said.

Aragorn nodded. He quickly began to prepare them a meal. By the time they finished, night had fallen on them.

"Take some rest, Estel. I do not wish to travel in these woods at night." Legolas said.

Aragorn nodded and set his bedroll out near the fire. "Wake me in a few hours so you can rest as well, mellon nin."

Legolas smiled. "I will."

For a moment, the elf watched the young human. Then silently, he sat down against a tree and pulled out one of his daggers. Slowly, he began to sharpen the edge. After almost an hour, Legolas began to feel tired. He laid his head against the tree, knowing he could sleep safely for a few hours. If there were danger, the trees of his home would alert him.

Suddenly, Legolas became wide-awake. The trees were urgently warning him. Somehow he had fallen into a deep sleep and had slept longer than he had planned. He stood to his feet, looking around quickly. He could immediately sense the danger that was near. It was as if some unseen force had kept him asleep, keeping him blind to the danger that was near. Rushing to Aragorn's side, he quickly shook the human awake.

"Estel! Get up!"

Aragorn moaned as he opened his eyes. "Morning already?" He mumbled.

"Estel, we are in danger. Get up!" Legolas said impatiently.

At hearing these words, Aragorn became fully awake. He jumped to his feet and began to gather their supplies.

"I believe orcs are near. We must hurry, Estel." Legolas said as he tied his bag securely to his horse.

Aragorn nodded. Within a matter of minutes, they mounted their horses and raced off.

Legolas looked up into the trees. He saw nothing, but something did not feel right. He hoped the orcs had not noticed them and that they could merely outrun them, but he felt uneasy. Suddenly, his head jerked to the left. He saw nothing in the darkness, but he was sure he had heard the sound of something skittering in the trees. Legolas' heart began to panic. This was definitely not right. Spiders should not be this close to the edge of the woods.

Legolas looked back ahead of him. It was still dark out, but the moon created a nice glow, even through the trees. Suddenly, something ahead caught his eyes. The light was reflecting off something in the trees directly in front of them. With a gasp, Legolas realized what it was.

"Estel stop!" He yelled quickly, pulling his own horse to an immediate halt.

Aragorn stopped his horse and turned to look at Legolas. "What is it?"

Legolas was staring at the trees in front of him. "Spider webs." He answered simply.

Aragorn looked at him confused, but followed Legolas' gaze. At first, he saw nothing, but then suddenly he noticed that the moon was reflecting off tiny strands of silk connected to the trees. The trees ahead of them were filled with webs.

"Can we make our way around them?" Aragorn asked, fear quickly rising in his heart.

Legolas shook his head. "They seem to have made a wall ahead of us with their webs." He looked around the area, taking in his surroundings. "Let's go east. It will be safest."

Aragorn nodded and followed behind the elf prince. They stayed at a gentle trot, looking closely for any more webs.

"Legolas." Aragorn said suddenly, pointing ahead of them.

"I see it, Estel." Legolas said. He looked around quickly weighing their options.

"Can't we just cut our way through?" Aragorn asked.

Legolas shook his head. "It would take way too long. Their webbing is thick and sticky. We would never make it through. They've trapped us."

Aragorn looked shocked. "You mean they set this up."

Legolas nodded. He was still looking through the trees, hoping to find a path they could travel through. He could see nothing.

"Hurry, Estel. Let's head west. Perhaps we can make it through there."

Aragorn nodded, but suddenly he heard a screech in the woods.

Legolas looked towards the sound. "Orcs!" He announced. "And now, we have no way around them."

"We'll have to fight through them." Aragorn said.

Before Legolas could even nod, something jumped down from the trees. Aragorn gasped. Only a few feet in front of him stood the biggest spider he had ever seen.

Legolas saw it and cursed in his tongue. Spiders began to descend around them. The odds did not look good. And with the orcs coming from ahead and the webs around them, there was no where to run. They were outnumbered and trapped!