Disclaimer: Do you think that me going to Japan made me suddenly own Lord of the Rings and all it's characters? I think not.
A/N: Well, I'm back, but not for long. As promised though, I have another chapter for all of you. Thanks for your reviews. I will update again when I get back from visiting my family. After that I will finish this story pretty quickly. Enjoy and please continue to review. Oh and I was reading the Hobbit again and I realized that it explains a lot more of Mirkwood than I had remembered. So I added some things in this chapter and played around a bit with my imaginiation, while trying to keep as close as I could to the book. I hope everything turned out okay and sounds good. Let me know what you think.
Chapter 32
No Escape
Into the fire I run
Someone out there, help me to escape
I hear voices from hell so loud and clear
Laughing at me
I'm back
I'm back from hell again
But hell is everywhere
Back
I'm back from hell again
But hell is everywhere
If there's a god in heaven
Have mercy on my fallen soul
My demons are haunting me
They never seem to leave me alone
Insomnia, delusions, I'm dreaming awake
Afraid to fall asleep
Bad memories are haunting me
If you see me come and rescue me
-Narnia - Back from Hell
Elladan and Elrohir quietly entered the meeting room, taking the seats that the elven guard ushered them to. Thranduil looked at them with narrowed eyes at their tardiness. Legolas, however, had to turn his head to keep everyone from seeing his smile. Elladan looked as if he had just woken up not two minutes before.
"Sorry we are late, your majesty." Elrohir spoke up. "Elladan…um… we lost track of time, Sire."
Thranduil nodded. "Understandable." He nodded to Haliem to get them up to speed on what they were discussing.
The elven advisor nodded and quickly explained. "You didn't miss much. I assume you all ready know that the Nazgul seem to be planning something and that's why there have been no major attacks for the past two weeks." The twins nodded, so the advisor continued. "Many are beginning to think that the Wraiths are rallying an army for an upfront attack on the palace."
"Would our defenses hold against such an attack?" Elladan asked.
"For many long years we have protected our borders with magic that was learned long ago." Haliem answered. "We have hidden ourselves well since then and since the coming of men into Middle Earth we have drawn back even further. Some have doubted we even exist. This valley and the fortress we have built here has provided us a save haven for many years. But now that this great evil has loomed over us for so long, we really don't know where it will be safe anymore. Our magic seems worthless against the power of those under the control of the Necromancer. We would like to think our defenses and magic will continue to hold, but in reality, we aren't so sure anymore."
"If they are planning an attack on the palace, then we may need to consider finding a safe haven to retreat to if need be." Legolas said.
"And it might be best that you, my king, stay at this safe haven for protection." Haliem said, agreeing with Legolas.
Thranduil looked at him. "I won't abandon my people. I will stay until I am forced to leave."
"With all due respect, Sire, by the time you are forced to leave, it may be too late." Haliem said.
Thranduil gave a frustrated glare that clearly said he would not leave his people. Legolas, however, spoke up before he could berate the advisor.
"I think he's right, Ada. You can still command your army and protect your people, but if we can find some place that may be safer, it may be for the best."
Thranduil looked at his son and nodded with a sigh. "Perhaps you are right. Do we know of a safe location?"
"There is a cave about a day and a half's journey from here." Salien spoke up. Legolas and I found it years ago on a camping trip with Haliem. The entrance is well protected and covered by underbrush making it very difficult to find."
Legolas sighed as he remembered. Haliem use to take him, Linriel and their friends out on camping trips long ago. They had been mere elflings at the time and there was no threat of spiders or orcs. He remembered hating that cave and the darkness that filled it.
"Do you think the cave will make for a good safe haven to stay at for possibly a few weeks if needed?" Thranduil asked.
Legolas spoke up before Salien could. "It is nothing like the cave that you built here for you palace, Ada. It does not have all the passages and wide halls that go down deep into the earth, nor does it have the access to the light of the sun and moon that provides some light in our palace. This can't even really be called much of a cave anymore except that the stone protects it and that there are passages that run underground. One might not even realize he was underground in our cave here. But this cave is different, Ada. This is a small cave that perhaps once belonged to goblins or other creatures. It is a dark dreary place."
"Oh, come now." Salien said, trying to belittle Legolas' dreary description of the cave. "It is large enough to protect maybe fifty or sixty elves and it is protected and hard to find. There is the entrance that I talked about and there is another back entrance by a small river. It too is hidden by underbrush. All we need to do is mount some torches along the walls and it will do fine to accommodate us for the time being."
Thranduil sighed, but said nothing for a few minutes. He did not like the idea of a dark cave, but was willing to go if it was safer. He also did not like the idea of being in hiding while everyone else was out fighting in the war. If the Nazgul were planning an attack on the palace, then the homes of the Mirkwood elves would be in danger as well. The lives of the women would be at risk. Salien said it could hold up to sixty elves if need be, but what about food and supplies. Another place would have to be found, but for now, the cave would have to do.
If the Nazgul did attack the palace, he knew his elves would never willingly surrender the place to the creature. And if they did fail, his hiding in the caves would only delay the inevitable. But prolonging their safety is what he had been doing for a while now. If they could continue to do so, even for a few more days, Thranduil would take it. He kept hoping that somehow a few more days would be enough to save them.
Finally, Thranduil nodded slowly. "We will have to make due then. We will bring as many women as we can into the cave for protection and we shall use it as a safe house for now. We will have to travel in small groups so as to not arouse any suspicion. I want to begin setting up supplies immediately so we can get these people moved. I also want a few scouts to be on the lookout for other safe areas. The underground hill that we use as a storehouse perhaps, or find a way to seal of the underground tunnels of the palace and hide people there. Whatever we can do to protect as many as possible."
Everyone nodded and began discussing plans to fulfill Thranduil's command.
"Sir, if I may?" Salien spoke up.
Thranduil nodded for him to continue.
"I think we are all in agreement that we need to get you to safety. I would like to advise that you and perhaps even your son head out tomorrow to the cave for protection."
Thranduil looked at him with a sigh, but did not dissuade the elf. "Perhaps you are right. Legolas and I will leave tomorrow with minimal guards."
"Ada, if I may, I would like to stay here at the palace. I need to be out where the battle is."
"I know you do, ion nin. But for the time being, perhaps it would be better if you stayed back for a while. The choice is yours, of course, but I would advise you to come with, at least for a few days." Thranduil told him.
Legolas sighed, but did not respond.
"What about you two?" Thranduil asked as he looked at the twins. "Do you have any plans?"
Elladan nodded. "We were hoping to do some scouting around the area and search an area near the water bank. Elrohir and I both think that there might be a few good cover areas around there for a surprise attack."
"We were also thinking of finding our father. We have a feeling he may need us." Elrohir added.
Thranduil nodded. "Let me know what you find and if you want any assistance."
The twins bowed their heads slightly in agreement. The meeting continued for about another hour, until things were finally settled and plans laid out. Once the meeting finished, Legolas spent a few more minutes talking with Salien. The twins came to stand behind him and he smiled at them.
"So, what made you late this morning?" He asked with a grin.
Elrohir rolled his eyes. "Elladan!"
Legolas laughed. "He needs his beauty sleep, eh?"
Elladan glared at Legolas. "Funny. Very funny."
Legolas grinned. "I wish I could stay and torment you longer, but I need to go talk to Estel and let him know I'm leaving, and then I have to get everything ready."
The twins nodded. "I think we shall go see him as well. We may be leaving when night falls and may not have another chance to say good bye." Elladan said.
Legolas nodded and together they headed towards the dungeon. They found Aragorn eating his lunch while he was talking with the guard, Netelth. Legolas smiled at them both, and then looked at the guard.
"If you will excuse us, we need to talk with the human alone."
"Of course, my prince."
When he was gone, Elladan and Elrohir informed their brother that they would be leaving later that evening.
"We think the Nazgul might be planning an attack on the palace, so Elrohir and I are going to scout out some safe locations as well as find and warn our father." Elladan told him.
Aragorn nodded with a sigh. "Be safe, gwadors nin."
"I wish we could stay longer, but we will be leaving soon." Elrohir told him as he embraced his brother. "Don't get in any more trouble while we are gone."
Aragorn laughed. "I could say the same for you."
The twins laughed and after Elladan embraced Aragorn, they headed to their rooms to pack. After they were gone, it was Legolas' turn to speak to Aragorn. He knelt down by the human and with slight disappointment in his voice, he informed Aragorn of his plans.
"I am leaving tomorrow morning."
"Where to this time?" Aragorn asked with a hint of sadness.
"In our meeting today, we all decided that since the Nazgul may attack, it might be safer if my father and I travel to a safe location. Then we are hoping to get the women to safer locations as well."
Aragorn nodded his head, though fear and horror crossed his face. "Where will you go?"
"My friend, Salien, suggested a cave that we found a long time ago. I don't like the idea, but I really have no other choice." Legolas admitted.
Aragorn's eyes narrowed and he felt an uneasy feeling grow in the pit of his stomach. "Are you sure you can trust Salien?"
Legolas looked at him questioningly. "Of course I can. We've been friends ever since we were elflings."
Aragorn sighed. "I have a bad feeling about it, Legolas. Call it gut feeling, but something seems wrong."
Legolas' eyes narrowed. "It will be safe. Do not worry."
Aragorn persisted, however, shaking his head. "Legolas, please, reconsider your actions. Something doesn't seem right about Salien. I don't understand it, but I don't trust him."
"You don't even know him, Estel. He's been my best friend for years. I trust this elf with my life."
"You might be doing just that." Aragorn muttered.
"What has gotten into you?" Legolas asked, becoming frustrated.
"I don't know, Legolas, but it's something about that elf. Something bothers me every time I see him."
Legolas rolled his eyes. "Like I said, I trust him. He won't let me down."
"Are you positive you can trust him; that he is still loyal?"
Though it was meant as only a question, Legolas took offense.
"Of course he is loyal. How dare you question his loyalty."
"I didn't mean to offend…"
"You are human, Estel. You know nothing of the loyalty and kinsmanship of elves. You don't understand and you have no right to question my friends." Legolas yelled.
"I am sorry." Aragorn said putting his hands up, but Legolas would not listen.
"Perhaps I was wrong. Perhaps you still are under the control of the Nazgul." Aragorn looked shocked as Legolas continued fuming. "That's why you don't want me to follow Salien. The Nazgul is trying to use you to keep me here at the palace. Well, it won't work. So you tell your master that he is over with and that Mirkwood is going to have the victory."
Aragorn's face fell. Legolas' words burned deep in his heart, but he knew he couldn't let his friend leave like this. "Legolas, wait."
"This discussion is over." Legolas turned to leave.
"Be careful, mellon nin. No bell." (Be strong.)
If Legolas even heard Aragorn's words, he made no response to them. He just kept walking up the steps, ready to ride out with Salien.
Later that night
A dark figure stood in the shadows of the cold night. He breathed deeply with a contented smile on his darkened face. He growled low and deep. It was time! His corrupted would now serve him and complete the mission he had planned. Thranduil would be captured and killed. The palace and homes of Mirkwood would be destroyed. The war was about to end and Mirkwood would fall.
Khamul closed his eyes tightly and focused his mind. He called out to his slaves, pressing deep into their mind. He used his power to call them, drawing them to him. They couldn't resist. No one was strong enough to resist his power. He was Khamul, second in command of the Ringwraiths. No one would be able to resist his power or would ever dare defy him! He growled. His slaves were now ready. The time had come!
Aragorn tossed and turned in his sleep, flailing with his chained arms. He screamed out in pain, finally waking himself with his cry. He stared straight ahead for a moment, his breath ragged and short, his forehead dripping with cold sweat. He tried to calm himself by pushing away the images of the cursed creature that haunted his mind. But the pain in his head increased and Aragorn cringed and gritted his teeth. He pressed his fingers to his forehead in an attempt to stop the painful throb.
With repressed moans of pain, Aragorn closed his eyes tightly, trying to force the power of the Nazgul away from him. He could feel it all around him, hear its menacing voice ring in his head. It was calling him, drawing him. Aragorn's body trembled and he had to fight to keep his body under control. Forcing himself to take a few deep breaths, he finally opened his eyes. His mind felt clearer now and he knew what he had to do. He knew his job.
