Chapter 30

With a pained look at his brothers Elrohir pulled a length of rope from his pack then moved over to where the wood elf lay, once more unconscious, on the ground. Elladan had finally stopped gasping for air and Aragorn stood staring down at the small rock in his right hand as if wondering how it had got there. With a sigh he reluctantly began to bind his friend's wrists and ankles, just finishing off as the elf moaned and his eyes fluttered open. Deep brown eyes found themselves held by fierce blue and he shuddered at the intense hatred they projected. Tensing himself for an attempted attack the half elf was surprised when it didn't come, instead, Legolas broke eye contact, turning his head away disdainfully and lay, limp within his bonds.

"Aie Legolas," Elladan rasped out as he stumbled over to the captive. "What has happened to y…?" coughing, he broke off and stared down at the young elf, his face a picture of puzzled hurt.

The wood elf did not move.

"We must continue." Elrohir said curtly and turned away to pick up his pack. "Estel. The fire."

Aragorn looked up at his name, still appearing somewhat dazed, then gave a small nod before walking slowly to the small fire to stamp it out and kick soil and leaves over its embers, effectively hiding the fact it had ever existed.

"Are you well 'Dan?"

Turning to his twin upon his softly spoken question Elladan smiled, he could feel the concern radiating from his brother and rushed to reassure him.

"I'm fine, 'Roh." Instead of his usual lyrical baritone his voice sounded harsh and cracked and he rubbed at his throat absently. "A little sore only, it will swiftly pass."

"I will help 'Roh carry him for a while."

Aragorn moved to join them and the three brothers stood and looked down at the wood elf who remained quiet and motionless at their feet, face now a blank mask, eyes open but guarded.

"Good idea." Elrohir spoke quickly, nodding to the young man in agreement before his twin could complain. "You take his legs Estel."

He bent to take hold of Legolas' shoulders and between them they picked him up, carried him over to the litter he had so lately risen from and placed him back down, spreading the blanket once more over his flaccid body. The wood elf stayed limp and unresisting throughout.

"It may be best if we all stay close for a while." Elladan said thoughtfully, staring at the young elf. "Just in case..."

The sentence remained unfinished but they all knew what he had meant. Picking up the litter once more the trio set off between the trees, a sense of urgency in their movement, unspoken prayers for swift passage on their lips. The sooner they got their friend back home the better.

~o~

Urging his huge war horse on through the trees the witch king found his mind dwelling upon soft, pale skin and golden hair, he could not remember the last time he had been so distracted by someone. Shaking his head he brought his mind back to the forest, the elf had left no physical trace of his passing, as was to be expected, but the witch king could taste him on the air. He inhaled deeply, then nudged his horse to change direction slightly, following the scent trail through the forest, occasionally stopping to sniff the air as they went.

~o~

Estel, Estel, he chased the name through the corners of his mind over and over in an effort to catch the elusive memory he knew was there. It seemed though, as if the harder he tried to capture it, the more it blurred into indistinction. It was almost as if a man shaped hole had been burned into his memories, as if someone, or something had deliberately erased this Estel person from his mind. But why? The elf lay, contemplating the anomaly as he was carried along, darting an occasional glance down at the man carrying the foot end of the litter. A man. What would a man have done to make it necessary for him to forget?

He played the scenes of both his debasement at Imladris and subsequent banishment from the Greenwood over and over again without finding a single clue. The twins were there, of course. Central to the whole degradation and instigators of his downfall, as was their supercilious father Elrond, the half breed had always considered himself a cut above the wood elves of his father's realm, but no man. It was a puzzle that would drive him mad if he allowed it. With a mental shake of the head he decided to leave it alone for the moment. After all, it was only a human and humans were no match for an elf. He had more pressing needs to attend to.

Aragorn eyed the slender figure on the litter before him, his mind dwelling with sorrow upon the myriad fading scars and wounds now hidden beneath the old blanket but which had been only too visible as he had crept up to overcome the elf such a short time ago. He had almost gasped aloud when he had first set his eyes on his friends back and the telltale scoring which marked the abundance of whippings the elf had obviously sustained and he could only wonder at what other horrors he had had to submit too whilst held in the dark tower. Was it any wonder that the young prince did not appear to be able to tell the difference between friend and foe. He smiled as he noticed the pair of blue eyes appraising him then frowned as they turned away, seemingly without recognition. His friend had been badly hurt he knew but he was certain that with love and care from those he held closest he would be back to his usual, happy self before too long.

Three. It would appear that his captors were only three in number and as one of those was a man, escaping their clutches should be rather simple, the elf allowed himself a small smile. The dark twins had always held themselves in high esteem and often travelled far and wide with no other company than their own, feeling themselves to be nigh on invincible. Well, they would realise their mistake before the end. Tensing and relaxing his muscles beneath the blanket he worked, careful to keep his movements hidden, at loosening bonds, which had for some inexplicable reason not been too tight to begin with, whilst his mind raced over various avenues of escape. His smile widened briefly with self-satisfaction before he regained control as the perfect course of action finally leapt to mind and he shot a glance at the young man who appeared to be lost within his own thoughts. Good. Humans were never very perceptive and this one was obviously no different. He relaxed then, deciding to make the most of this period of physical rest whilst in his mind he wove the threads of his plan together binding them tightly with pleasurable anticipation.

The three brothers walked on in unusual silence, each wrapped in their own thoughts, covering the distance as quickly as they were able until Aragorn's legs began to feel like lead and the already gloomy forest began to darken with the onset of night. Elladan had long since relieved him of the wood elf's litter but he could still feel the burn of over stretched muscles. As they came upon another small clearing within a ring of oak trees the eldest twin finally called a halt much to the young man's relief and as his brothers lowered the litter to the ground he shrugged off his pack with a small sigh. This was one of those rare moments when he almost hated his brothers for their elven endurance although he would never have told them so. He watched as Elladan unhooked his water skin and knelt, offering it to Legolas then grimaced as the wood elf pointedly turned his head away in refusal and the elder twin shook his own head sadly, murmuring something so softly he could not hear the words.

"Leave him 'Dan." Elrohir spoke curtly as he sat down beside his own pack a few paces from the litter where Aragorn shortly joined him. "Maybe a little thirst will bring him back to his senses."

"'Roh!"

Elladan stiffened then slowly rose to his feet and moved to join his brothers, sorrowful resignation etched into both posture and face.

Seated in silence broken only by the occasional rustle of a small animal making its way through the leaves that carpeted the ground, the trio shared a little lembas and sipped from their water skins as the dark began to deepen. Reluctant to stop for too long they had decided against a fire and although Aragorn had agreed with the decision it didn't stop him secretly yearning for the light and warmth one would have granted. Resting back he leaned his head against his pack and as tired eyes grew heavy he let them close for a while knowing that his brothers would keep lookout and allow him a little much needed sleep.

Lying on the litter upon the hard ground the wood elf steadily regarded his captors with cool detachment. The ropes around his wrists were now very much looser but he had ceased all efforts to escape the bonds once the plan had entered his mind. It would need care and thought to carry out but he was certain it was the only way to achieve his goal and please his master. Closing his eyes he conjured up an image of a hooded figure, tall and dark with a whip trailing from one leather clad hand and felt his body tremble in remembrance and need then pushed it aside. The pleasure would be so much sweeter for the wait.

It felt like his eyes had barely closed before Elladan was gently shaking his shoulders to bring him back to wakefulness but Aragorn suppressed a groan and pushed himself upright. Rubbing at sleep laden eyes he gratefully took the proffered water skin and took a deep draught, allowing the cool water to sluice around a mouth dried from deep, even breaths before swallowing it down.

"We must move, muindor." Elladan whispered gently. "There is a fell feeling in the air."

"Orcs?"

All thoughts of sleep fell away at his brothers words and the young man rose swiftly, peering around the forest, immediately awake and aware his right hand resting upon the hilt of his sword.

"Nay," his brother quickly replied keeping his voice low. "At least, it does not smell like orcs." He clasped Aragorn's shoulder briefly. "Come, we will get underway but keep your eyes and ears open for anything Estel." The half elf walked over to where his twin stood at the head of the litter. "Ready?"

"Aye, ready." Elrohir replied and the pair hoisted the litter between them once more, then with Aragorn beside them set off into the forest, senses primed and alert for the slightest sign of danger.

It was full dark with only the light of the moon and stars which filtered, weakly down through the canopy to show the way as the small band made their way along between the trees. Aragorn could feel the hairs standing on the back of his neck but there was neither sight, sound nor smell of danger so far. The tension that hung over them was thick and cloying and he began to wish that whatever, or whoever was out there would just attack and get it over with. He walked close to the side of the litter now and could just make out Legolas' pallid face but not well enough to read his expression and he wondered if the elf knew what it was they would face. More worrying though, was the thought that he may indeed know and was in league with whatever it was. He shook his head. No, whatever had happened to the prince he could not, nay, would not believe that he was the willing accomplice of any dark creature. He leaned in slightly in order to try and make out the elf's features more clearly but all he could see was the glitter of a pair of half hooded eyes looking back in an unnerving, unblinking stare.

A faint clicking sound alerted the wood elf to the danger moments before the attack. He had felt the oppression in the air, heard the silence descend upon the forest and knew exactly what was coming for them. After a lifetime spent in the forest, hunting and being hunted he knew this foe well. Regardless of his previous plan he had begun to twist and work his wrists inside the ropes again, in order to stand any chance of survival he needed to be free and he knew that he was running out of time.

His hands had wriggled free just as his ears picked up the initial sounds made by the approaching creatures and before the twins had time to notice he had reached down for the knife strapped to his left ankle, sliced through the remaining bonds and somersaulted from the litter, a single word exploding from his lips.

"Spiders!"

A/N

As ever many thanks for reading. I hope it is still keeping you entertained. How's about letting me know what you think?

Special mentions to bettsam0731, NirCele and Osidianglasses as ever for taking the time to review. I really do appreciate it guys :)