Title: "Revenge"
Author: LegolasLover2003 aka Ashley
Category: Book - "Lord of the Rings"
Genre: Angst/Adventure
Rating: M
Disclaimer: I do not own any rights to "The Lord of the Rings". I just adore it to pieces! Legede and Tileng are characters of my own invention. You may use them, but please ask permission to do so first.
NOTE: This story takes place after "Savior & Destroyer". You MUST read that story first for this one to make sense and it would help if you also read "The Breaking Point" before this story as well.


REVENGE


Chapter III:
Bigger Fish in the Sea


He could not see... and perhaps that worried the Elf most of all. Through winding passages his body was dragged, one of Tileng's men thinking it easy to just close the archer's eyes and let the paralyzing poison from the tip of the dart keep them closed... for now any way.
Legolas tried to count the footfalls of the men, his body feeling the turns and committing them to memory. Ten steps here then a turn... another twenty here... three... Farther and farther into the depths of the cavern they went until the prince was almost dizzy with trying to remember the way in.
Then there was sound... a creaking crack as if wood were moving on stone. The clink of chains assaulted the Elf's ears just before he felt himself flung from the grasp of his captors. Hitting the rock wall hard, Legolas' immobile body collapsed face down in the dirt. The rough cavern floor biting and breaking his nose in the process. Blood flowed freely in little rivers down his face, but of course the archer could not see it... though that hardly meant he did not feel the pain.
"What have you done?!"
That voice! He knew that voice! It was Estel! The sound of the chains rattling drew Legolas' attention once more and he could see within his mind's eye that his friend was struggling to get to his side.
But the warm hand... that touch of concern... never came.
"Let me go to him!"
"Not a chance." Tileng spoke, standing in the cell's doorway, arms crossed over his chest. "The Elf's fine. Bit worse for wear but I'll fix that shortly. You on the other hand..."
Legolas could hear the smirk in the man's voice... could pinpoint exactly where Handiri was standing... if only...
One of the prince's fingers twitched, and in reality it had taken everything the Elf could muster to manage that.
Tileng whistled, "Bring me some chains, boys. Looks like the poison doesn't work too long on Elves. We may need to fix that."
A boot suddenly found it's way into the archer's ribs, kicking Legolas over onto his back. There was a pained rush of air that left the prince's lungs. He felt something ice cold clamp around his neck then... and he could hear the rattle of chains and the laughter of men. Taking the sounds in, the archer knew where Aragorn was... knew where Tileng and the door were... but he couldn't move! Couldn't even open his eyes!
"Do let us know when the Elf wakes up." Handiri joked before slamming the door to the cell shut and locking it.


Aragorn, for the most part, was just counting himself lucky that he had not been ripped to shreds by Tileng's men. In fact, they hadn't even tortured him... which was a surprise all it's own. Left in the dark of his cell, a collar around his neck that kept him fastened close to the wall, the Ranger had been simply trying to figure a way out of this predicament BEFORE help came.
It wasn't as if he doubted that Legolas would show up... he just didn't want the prince caught in this web again. Not after the last time.
Days and nights knew no meaning deep down here so the Ranger spent his time in silent preparation for the escape that he was soon to execute.
Until that door opened and a seemingly lifeless lithe body tossed into the space with him. Aragorn's first reaction was that the Elf was dead... but upon closer inspection he could see the prince's chest moving slightly... Those closed eyes however sent a flash of warning through the man's mind and he stood from his seat against the wall, moving as close to the fair being as his chains would allow.
"What have you done?!" the Ranger shouted, rage in his grey eyes at the mistreatment of his friend.
Of course he knew that Tileng would never just let Legolas go... their grudge with the madman went too deep... but he could hope that they would keep them both alive until help could arrive.
"Let me go to him!" Aragorn tried once more but Tileng just sneered at the Ranger, told him 'not a chance', threatened him then departed.
For a time, the young man refused to even say anything... wanting to make absolutely sure that Handiri was gone for good and not simply listening at the door. Grey eyes took in Legolas' face... which would have seemed peaceful if it were not covered in the prince's own blood.
"Legolas!" Aragorn spoke in an urgent but hushed tone.
Nothing... well no that was far from the truth for he saw, at the corner of his eye, the Elf's fingers twitch. At least that was something... but it hardly explained how his friend had gotten here OR how the archer had been caught. Surely he wasn't alone...
Right?
From where he sat, the human could do nothing to aid the prince... and so he kept a careful watch...
Until some time passed and blue eyes opened.
It was so slow... everything was blurry at first but soon Legolas' eyes adjusted, the soft glow that radiated from his skin in the dark helping him to realize he was in a cave... still
"Just try to move slowly, Legolas." came Aragorn's voice, for the man had noticed more movement from his friend.
Time ticked slowly by as the Elf moved his fingers... then arms... he tried to push himself up but found his head dizzy and the pain of his broken nose was starting to give him a headache to boot. Dried blood caked his face, and as quickly as possible the archer wiped as much of it off with his cloak as he could.
Blue eyes focused over on the man who, like he himself, was chained at the neck to the wall. "A fine pair we make, Estel... Once more you have gotten into trouble and I have found myself caught trying to get you out of it."
The Ranger smirked slightly, "Yes well I didn't exactly expect to find trouble on your roads."
"But it found you nevertheless." Legolas replied with a soft sigh.
Lithe fingers reached up... and with a rather disturbing 'crack' the Elf popped his nose back into proper alignment. "Do not worry. Legede and his garrison will come. I simply left ahead of them."
"Foolish to run headfirst into danger."
The prince's gaze focused in on Aragorn once more. "Foolish perhaps... but when your ring turned up, I feared the worst. Especially considering our adversary."
"He wants you, Legolas. Not me." the Ranger sighed, glancing toward the closed door. "I'm actually surprised I haven't been tortured yet."
At this, Legolas tilted his head to the side. "As am I... Surely breaking you will be what Tileng thinks will break me... Should he not have already started?"
"But I have started." came Handiri's voice as he opened their cell door, a torch held in his hand.
The human looked at his prisoners for a moment before quirking one eyebrow at the Elf. "Do you not think it strange that your scouts have not turned up to aid you, Finnelmathen? Oh... excuse me... I mean Legolas... son of Thranduil." Tileng spoke with a haughty smirk that only served to create more winkles on his weathered skin. "See... I've been planning this for some time..." he walked farther into the room, motioning for another to enter behind him.
The other man brought a knife with him, ordering Aragorn to stand. For now, the Ranger knew he should play along... mainly because they might live longer at that rate. So he stood and let the other man press a knife beneath his throat.
All the while Tileng walked forward until he stood in front of Legolas. The prince, not about to be outdone or intimidated, stood in response and glared back at his captor.
"There are the eyes I remember... defiant... proud... self sacrificing..." Handiri spit to the side, as if the very notion sickened him. "There are foul things that walk this world that would see your kingdom fall, princeling. It's easy to make an alliance... when it gets me what I want..." reaching out, Tileng grasped the Elf about the throat, his hand just above the metal collar and chain. On instinct, Legolas' hands reached up to grab Handiri's arm... but he did not struggle further, for he saw Aragorn on the other end of the cell... and he knew what would happen to his friend if he did.
"I'm going to enjoy breaking you again... but before I do that... I've a bargain to fulfill. You've just become the bait, Elf. For there are far bigger fish in the sea..."
Blue eyes widened ever so slightly, "What are you planning?" Legolas asked, already fearing the answer.
Tileng laughed as he watched recognition begin to dawn on the prince's face. "What better way to empty the Elvenking's halls... then to steal it's prince? What better way to catch a father... then to ensnare the son first?"
"You can't be serious!" Aragorn spoke up from across the room. "The Elves will slaughter you all!"
Handiri tilted his head to the side just slightly to address the Ranger, but his gaze never left that of the Elf before him. "They ride out to rescue a mere man... what they will meet with is a horde of Orcs and Goblins, Wargs and Spiders..." his attention focused back in on the prince now. "...and then I will take Thranduil for my own, to tear down bit by bit... just to make you watch... And the Mordor wretches can have Mirkwood. I get to see you suffer... I get to see you lose everything... and then... I get to see you die, Finnelmathen."
Legolas said nothing. The horror in his eyes was all too telling. He did not fear Tileng... but the thought of his father paying for his own foolish notions... the very thought that his rash decision might bring about disaster to his entire people...
"You should never have left without escort, Elf. Then again... we killed the scouts sent ahead of you already. I suppose an escort wouldn't have made much of a difference, hmm?" Handiri teased, shoving the prince back and releasing him. "Bring the Ranger. We'll have a spot of fun before the Elves get here."
As the other man unhooked the chain and pulled Aragorn by knife point out of the cell, Estel could only glance behind him to see the Elf standing there in complete shock.
"LEGOLAS!" the Ranger shouted, trying to break through the haze that he knew had descended upon his friend's spirit and mind. "LEGOLAS!"
Hearing that voice, the archer looked up and moved forward, reaching toward Aragorn. But it was no use... the cell door creaked closed once more and locked, sending the room into an inky blackness penetrated only by the Elf's own light.
Legolas collapsed against the wall, sliding down to sit there as the weight of everything came crashing back down upon him.
"What have I done?"


TO BE CONTINUED...


Elvish Words to Know:

Finnelmathen = Golden braided hair (the alias Legolas used in "Savior & Destroyer")


Author's Notes:

-Yes, Legolas' broken nose was inspired by the nosebleed in "Desolation of Smaug".
-And yes, "What have I done" was also inspired by "Desolation of Smaug" (though it was "What have we done" there).
-Oddly enough, this wasn't the direction I was going to take this story... but then I realized it'd be REALLY short if I just tormented them for a couple chapters and then had them rescued. Sooooo I devised a new plan... with the help of a dream (of all things).


Muse Moments:

Legolas is standing in the doorway, glaring daggers at Nil. "WHY?!"
The woman laughed, "Because I could."
"Not what I meant!" the prince replied, obviously enraged at something. "You know how much weakness disgusts me! How could you..."
Nil smirked, falling backward onto the bed to stare at the ceiling, arms behind her head. "Your nose bled on screen. I figured breaking said nose would work just as well for my little writer's mind."
"You are the most infuriating..."
"Uh huh... compliment me more, caun nin."
Throwing his hands up in the air, Legolas stalked away.
From his own spot where he sat at the foot of the bed, Paris glanced to Nil. "He's really mad now."
"Oh he'll get over it. He's just been sore ever since the Bolg-giving-him-a-bloody-nose incident in 'Desolation of Smaug'. Nothing new. He'll sulk and pout and stalk the shadows until he realizes that he's quite lucky that a broken nose is all he got today." Nil replied with a pleasant smile.
"Are you so sure he will not sic his father on you?"
At this, Nil began to laugh, "Thranduil? He's just as scared of me right now. He hasn't even so much as chastised me for calling him 'Fernando' today. Thus, the Elvenking wouldn't dare show his face. Let alone..."
Suddenly Nileregwen finds herself in the air. "PUT ME DOWN!"
Paris smirked, "There's someone you forgot about..." he said, pointing to the figure carrying Nil over to the window.
Aragorn.
"Crap... NO!"
The Ranger promptly tosses Nil out the window and then closes and locks it.


Muse Moments Notes:

"Fernando" is a reference to Lee Pace's character in the movie "Lincoln". Since Lee is Thranduil now... I decided like an hour ago to call Thranduil "Fernando" randomly.