A/N: Welcome back, minna! Thank you to haljordan123 and Taigon Shikkin for your lovely reviews. It was really great to know that my work hasn't been for nothing. Hope I get lots of other reviews just as encouraging as theirs!

It's a little discouraging that nobody seems to want to give me reviews for my chapter updates. I just hope that I get more than just 1 – 2 reviews when I post this one. Writing this crossover involving Naruto characters and Lord of the Rings characters is surprisingly hard.

What to expect today: We learn what happened to Sasuke when he first arrived in Middle Earth.

Same rules apply: please review thoughtfully and respectfully.

AN AVENGER'S LAMENT

"Oh yes, the past can hurt.
But the way I see it, you can either run from it or learn from it."
– Rafiki (The Lion King [1994])

**FLASHBACK (2 weeks ago)**

Sasuke...

The disembodied voice echoed hauntingly all around him. He was cold, he was in a lot more pain than he first assessed, and he did not enjoy the uncomfortable atmosphere he felt himself submerged in.

Wake up, dear boy…

Who the hell was that? Sasuke tried to open his eyes, but found the simple task monumentally impossible to achieve without inflicting excruciating pain upon himself. It was clear that he had used his sharingan too much and for too long. He flinched when something cold and wet brushed over his forehead and hissed in pain when the wounds on his face were disturbed by a stiff, but surprisingly pleasant breeze. Sasuke brushed away the cold thing in irritation as he tried once again to open his eyes. He didn't like feeling vulnerable.

"Where am I?" He mumbled.

"You're in my father's house." Sasuke froze. This female's voice was entirely different to the disembodied, musical one he heard only moments before. Instinctively he went to put distance between him and his unknown assailant, but only succeeded to aggravate his wounds. Soft hands gently pressed him back down on the comfortable bed he was reclining on. "Please lie still. Your wounds are serious and I fear infected." The woman insisted firmly.

"I've had worse." Sasuke stubbornly retorted and again moved to get up, but once again was restrained. "Don't touch me, unless you value your life." Sasuke spat hatefully. The woman snorted, unimpressed with the boy's horrible cold attitude and just as stubbornly did not remove her hands from Sasuke's broad, scarred and bloodied shoulders.

"I can assure you, your threats mean little to me. I've heard worse. Now please lie still."

Sasuke paused unwillingly impressed that this woman had the balls to stand up to him and risk certain death. The cold thing that Sasuke realised was a cloth that was being used to wipe away blood, dirt and other foreign paraphernalia, was once again placed over his eyes causing Sasuke to flinch for a split second before relaxing when he realised how soothing the temperature was on his sore overused eyes. This time when he tried to open his eyes, he was much more successful but it was no less uncomfortable. The sight that greeted him were a pair of electric blue doe eyes – that reminded him of a certain dobe – upon a porcelain white face. They were frowning down at him with concern and the barest hint of caution. Sasuke also caught a glimpse of high intelligence reflected within those eyes that told him this woman was no fool and wasn't likely to suffer fools lightly. She smiled down at him kindly.

"Hello, there. My name is Arwen." She introduced herself as she continued to wipe away all the dirt, blood and gore that was crusted around his face. Sasuke studied her suspiciously.

"Sasuke Uchiha."

He began to appraise her as Arwen turned away to rinse and wring out the cloth in a large silver basin filled with water. She was beautiful; Sasuke would have to be an idiot not to notice this: Arwen had a flawless oval shaped face with the previously mentioned electric blue eyes, rose-hued lips and a delicate looking nose. Her long waist length raven hair had been pinned back away from her face, emphasising her beauty and obviously well-groomed and maintained. This young woman held a regal air about her, made obvious by the velvet midnight blue gown she was wearing with plaited gold embroidery around the square neckline and the hemming on her large oversized sleeves.

"Is something the matter?" Arwen asked when she saw Sasuke frowning as he studied her intently trying to decide if she was friend or foe, and if he should be concerned that he was being held prisoner against his will.

"What are you?" He demanded. If Arwen was taken aback by Sasuke's blunt question and the tone in which he had delivered his question, she didn't show it. Instead she merely continued dabbing carefully at a particularly nasty gash on Sasuke's collarbone.

"I am an elf."

"I don't believe you. Elves are a myth."

A small strand of Arwen's hair came free, forcing her to brush it around her ear as she turned back to Sasuke to finish cleaning away the worst of the injuries he had sustained. Sasuke's eyes widened in surprise when the woman had revealed that she had pointed ears. Arwen didn't respond as she folded up the soiled, bloody cloth and placed it on the tray beside the silver basin.

"You must rest now. Try not to move around too much or you'll aggravate your injuries further." Arwen instructed, the kind but still cautious smile remained on her face as she got up to leave the room and give Sasuke the privacy to sleep. But Sasuke stubbornly ignored the request.

"How did I get here?" Arwen paused and turned back.

"Some of the scouts on the boundaries found you lying unconscious in the forest. They picked you up and brought you here." She replied politely, then her smile melted away revealing a grave expression that made Sasuke tense up, sensing an uncomfortable confession was about to be revealed. "My father was summoned to attend to your wounds. You were so badly wounded, it was feared that you were beyond help."

"And yet here I am." Sasuke concluded, smugly. Arwen smirked.

"So it would appear." She agreed, but then frowned sternly at Sasuke who was trying to stand. "Nevertheless. You are still not strong enough to move. My father will return in the morning to see you. We have questions for you that you must answer."

Sasuke's smug smirk turned into a hateful glare at her words. Nobody would be asking him any such questions if he could help it. He just wanted to get the hell outta dodge so he could regroup and plan how he would going to take down that son-of-a-bitch Madara for ordering the massacre of his clan. Sasuke pretended to agree with Arwen's strict orders and reclined once against the surprisingly comfortable bed he was lying on, waiting for the elf to leave him in peace.

**PRESENT**

Naruto and Sakura exchanged knowing looks with each other which caught the eye of both Gandalf and Elrond.

"Are we to assume by those looks, this wasn't the first time Sasuke has plotted to escape?" asked Elrond. Naruto scoffed and Sakura giggled uncomfortably, which both earned themselves a glare from a resentful and embarrassed Sasuke.

"Hardly." Naruto replied.

"Sasuke-kun was forever trying to avoid being located by us or be assassinated by hunter-nins back in our world." Sakura explained. Both wizard and elf raised their eyebrows at this admission.

"It's not my fault you both couldn't take a hint." Sasuke retorted, and crossed his arms across his chest. "Besides I didn't get very far did I?"

**FLASHBACK (2 WEEKS AGO)**

Arwen was not fooled.

She knew the very second when this strange, young boy immediately became obedient that he was planning on some elaborate ill-conceived escape attempt. Neither she nor the other elves had come down in the last shower. She would freely admit that she once pulled the same plan back in her youth, but her father's soldiers were too well-trained and shrewd to fall for it.

"Pleasant dreams, Sasuke."

Arwen turned and disappeared from the room. She flagged down the nearest servant and passed the silver basin to them with her thanks before retreating to her room and preparing for bed. She hadn't been asleep for very long before she instantly sensed an unfamiliar presence lingering beyond the door to her chambers. Cautiously, Arwen rose to her feet and produced a small, but very sharp dagger which she hid on her person before perusing the entity. Poking her head out the door, she was amused and annoyed to see Sasuke had disobeyed her strict orders to remain in bed and was now searching Rivendell for a potential escape route.

You will not get far… Arwen promised as she silently followed after the boy. The Elven Princess followed Sasuke barefoot through the dimly, candle lit corridors, keeping to the shadows to avoid detection.

How did you manage to avoid detection from the guards? Sasuke darted quickly across the courtyard and over the narrow stone bridge that lead to Rivendell's entrance. She saw Sasuke pause when he saw two of her father's night watch men standing guard near the entrance. A small gasp fell from her lips when she witnessed Sasuke attach himself impossibly to the stone walls of the entrance and crawl across them as though it were another stretch of ground. She was stunned when the two guards reacted upon sensing Sasuke's presence, just as she had back outside her room. But instead they appeared to just pass out the moment Sasuke simply looked them in the eyes.

What is this? Arwen managed to duck out of sight when Sasuke's head snapped towards where she had been standing only minutes before. She could've sworn that she saw an angry red glint in the boy's normally dark eyes. Arwen counted to ten slowly in her head before deeming it safe to continue the pursuit. Only she wasn't expecting to nearly walk straight into Sasuke who was wearing an unfriendly smirk on his face, clearly enjoying the surprise on Arwen's face.

"It's not very polite to stalk somebody." Sasuke sneered. As though sensing the danger, Arwen immediately shut her eyes momentarily catching him off guard.

His defence is in his eyes… Arwen surmised. Unpleasant shivers shot down her spine as Sasuke chuckled almost inhumanly.

What's happened to you? Arwen sensed that Sasuke was not as he appeared. There was a dormant evil within him, but she could also sense a tiny amount of his humanity fighting to the surface desperately trying to take control.

"Very clever. You are smarter than you appear." His footsteps approached her with slow calculated steps. "But that won't save you." He whispered in her ear.

Malicious intent dripped in his words. However, Arwen was fully capable of taking care of herself and managed to narrowly side-step him, brandishing the hidden dagger defensively. Arwen knew that she couldn't open her eyes, knowing that the moment she did she would fall victim to whatever he had done to the others. She had to use her other senses to defend herself, but at the same time prevent further harm to this obviously troubled boy who was –unknowingly or not – crying out for help, enough to make this desperate bid for freedom.

"I don't want to inflict anymore pain upon you—" Sasuke snorted. "But I will if I have to." Arwen explained trying to reason with him.

Sasuke hesitated, debating whether or not he should deal with Arwen or take advantage of her obvious vulnerability to make a hasty exit. But his hesitation cost him precious seconds, and the weakened Uchiha was suddenly rendered unconscious by another elf who had sensed Arwen's panic.

**PRESENT**

"Yes," began Elrond who fixed Sasuke with a curious glance. "My daughter did mention to me a mysterious red glint in your eyes that night when she stopped you from leaving Rivendell." Sasuke's face remained blank, as Elrond continued to interrogate him. The avenger knew that it was about time he was confronted for this since that night, but he was surprised it had taken them this long to finally make note of it.

Why? He silently questioned. He caught both Naruto and Sakura looking stricken at the mere thought that Sasuke could potentially be forced to reveal his family's bloodline to a complete stranger; despite the fact that Gandalf appeared to trust him and the fact that he had just saved Naruto from the point of no return.

"I seem to recall coming across some interesting facts during my research into the shinobi way of life." Naruto, Sakura and Sasuke all looked at Gandalf, waiting for him to elaborate. "It seems that there were three families who each possess a specific technique related to the eyes. I believe it is called – and please forgive my mispronunciation – a doujutsu?" All three nodded. Gandalf smiled.

"Am I correct to assume that your family is one of the three?" the wizard inquired politely to Sasuke who scowled.

"My family are the keepers of the Sharingan Eye." Sasuke explained. "It allows the user the 'Eye of Insight' and the 'Eye of Hypnotism' against their enemies depending on how they use it."

"Whoa. I didn't know that…" muttered Naruto, who then yelped when Sakura jabbed him sharply in the ribs to shut him up. Sasuke ignored them.

"Arwen must have seen me hypnotise those guards that night with one of my genjutsu techniques." Sasuke added dismissively. Naruto and Sakura rolled their eyes at Sasuke's attitude. While their friend had made an obvious and drastic change from what used to be the last time they had seen him, his attitude remained the same.

"What does it look like, and how did you attain it?" asked Elrond. Sasuke didn't immediately respond. There was something that both Gandalf and Elrond were leaving out of this discussion.

"With all due respect, sirs." Sakura interrupted, "What relevance does the Sharingan have with how Sasuke got here and how we are going to get home?" Gandalf took a puff from his pipe as he regarded Sakura.

"All will be revealed in due course. Rest assured we have a very good reason why we are getting you to reveal this to us." He reassured the three highly suspicious shinobi. Not altogether convinced, but realising their hands were tied until they could return to their world; the three decided to play along. Sasuke closed his eyes and drew in three slow deep breaths before opening his eyes revealing the Mangekyō Sharingan.

"There's something you don't see every day." Gandalf quipped, as Elrond sat forward slightly and examined Sasuke's blood-red-pin wheeled eyes.

"It's called the Mangekyō Sharingan. I got this after I suffered a great loss." Sasuke explained vaguely but didn't elaborate. The topic on how Sasuke received it was still a sore one.

"There's one thing that doesn't add up." Sakura suddenly blurted out, "When we last saw you, Sasuke, you were about ready to barbeque us with that Chidori of yours. What gives?" She demanded.

"Yeah, did you get a lobotomy or somethin'?" Naruto added. Sasuke raised an eyebrow at his lover and Sakura turned and stared at Naruto in outrage at his less than tactful words. The Uchiha was about to open his mouth and reveal his ignorance on that topic when Elrond stepped in.

"I believe that I have the answer that you seek."

**TWO WEEKS AGO**

From the moment Elrond first walked into the room where Sasuke was being sheltered, he sensed a faint, almost dormant evil radiating from him. That was before the attempted escape. Now the Elven Lord was convinced that there was more to this child than first revealed. For starters, the evil he could practically taste upon his tongue did not belong to the boy at all. It was as though a thick cloak had been draped upon him of which Sasuke had been fighting tooth and nail to be free from. From the state of the boy, it looked like he was just barely holding on to sanity.

"What evil has been inflicted upon this boy?" He mused out loud. He felt his daughter's presence before he saw her, and he could sense the genuine concern.

"Do you know what ails him, father?" Arwen asked, smoothing back the hair from Sasuke's forehead as he feverishly tossed and turned on the bed. Elrond's face was grave as he examined him.

"It's hard to say. I've never seen an evil of this magnitude before."

Arwen continued stroking Sasuke's hair trying to soothe him from his debilitating nightmares, when her finger accidentally grazed something on the boy's neck. The resulting flinch from Sasuke was what drew Elrond's attention to a very unusual tattoo. One that had never been seen in Middle Earth before. Elrond reached out a hand to touch the tattoo, but almost immediately withdrew his fingers as though he had been shocked.

"I do believe I have found the source of the problem." Elrond declared to a surprised Arwen.

With some assistance, Elrond props Sasuke up revealing his 'tattoo'. It was certainly nothing that Elrond had ever seen before and he had been on this earth for a very, very long time. The tattoo was three inverted black commas surrounded by a jaggered sun made up of tiny 'runes'. There was immense power oozing like a poison from it and the boy shuddered every time it was touched.

"What is that father?" asked Arwen.

"A very sophisticated curse."

"Can it be removed?"

Elrond smiled, "Of course. But it could take some time. By the state of this boy, he must have been suffering with this strange mark for many years."

"Who would be so cruel as to inflict so much pain and suffering upon a child?" Arwen asked as she helped her father lay Sasuke back down upon the bed and smoothed back his hair from his face. This action relaxed Sasuke slightly, as he fell back into a very uneasy slumber.

**PRESENT**

Sasuke's eyes widened in shock and he clapped a hand on his left shoulder where Orochimaru's curse mark should be. He had expected to flinch like he did every time it was touched, but there was nothing.

"What did you do?!" demanded Sasuke, panicking.

"That's your reaction!?" screeched Sakura, "How about 'how did you do it?'"

Naruto and Sakura couldn't decide whether to be relieved or worried that the mark was finally gone. They decided to settle on worried – nobody had ever been able to figure out how to remove the curse mark without Orochimaru – and both darted forward to examine this for themselves. Sure enough, there was no sign or trace of the Snake Sannin's mark anywhere on Sasuke's pale shoulder. Naruto frowned at his boyfriend's reaction.

"Geez, teme. I would've thought you'd be grateful that you managed to get rid of that thing." Then his face fell, "Don't tell me you're still on a power trip. I mean, you've gotten your revenge … haven't you?" Naruto asked tentatively. He barely managed to stop himself from flinching back when Sasuke glared at him.

"Sasuke?"

Sakura waded in cautiously to stop any conflict. However, Sasuke raised a hand and stopped her from saying anymore around Elrond and Gandalf who were still in the room. This was not the time nor the place to discuss their private matters among strangers. Sasuke then turned towards the Elf and Wizard who were watching them with sober, calculating expressions. The moment both of them heard the word 'revenge', they knew something bad had happened between the three young shinobi. Gandalf decided to confront the young avenger privately at a later date.

"Sakura did bring up a very valid point. How did you remove my curse mark?" Sasuke questioned.

Elrond smiled at the obvious change of subject.

"Curses always have a direct origin. Yours contained a small trace of venom from an unidentified source."

"Orochimaru." Sasuke whispered.

"So I did the only solution that I could think of; considering that this was unfamiliar to me. I purged the venom from your veins like siphoning poison from a wound." Elrond explained. "It took nearly three days, since the venom fought back. But the moment the last dregs of venom were removed, that strange mark disappeared."

Sasuke was silent throughout the explanation. He had felt better than he had in years, and he was no longer hearing Orochimaru's cruel, cold voice whispering in his ear to 'never give in', 'never forget his purpose', 'power is everything', 'don't waste your time with those who will slow you down and weaken you' and 'revenge was the only solution to his problems'. But he still couldn't help but wonder if the removal of Orochimaru's influence had weakened him drastically. After all, he still had one more part of his revenge left to accomplish before he could truly be able to move on and accomplish his other life goals … hopefully with Naruto by his side.

"Don't even go there."

Sasuke turned and raised an eyebrow at Naruto who had suddenly gone stony faced.

"I know what you are think and you are dead wrong." Naruto warned him.

Sasuke couldn't help but sneer at him. He loved the hyperactive blonde, but sometimes he really just didn't get it.

"And what pray tell am I thinking, dobe? Please enlighten us."

"You're thinking that you're weaker now that you're without Orochimaru's influence." Sasuke blinked.

Wow… the dobe is smarter than I thought.

"You've always been strong, Sasuke. That what's Sakura, Kakashi and I have been trying to tell you all these years." Naruto continued.

"He's right, Sasuke." Sakura added quietly, hoping that Sasuke wasn't still hell bent on continuing down his path of destruction. Sasuke immediately shut down.

"We've gone through this already. I'm not about to start talking about this again."

He immediately got up from Naruto's bed and stormed out of the room.

"Damn it!" Naruto cursed as tears welled up in Sakura's eyes.

"We're losing him again." Sakura whimpered. Naruto immediately cupped her face and made her look him in the eyes.

"No. Not this time. I'm not gonna let that happen." He vowed, "I promise you that by the time we leave this place, Sasuke will be coming home with us!" Sakura shook her head.

"Don't make promises you can't keep, Naruto."

"This time is different. I can feel it." Naruto was ever the optimist, and Sakura gave a watery chuckle as Naruto kissed her large forehead and leaned his against it trying to cheer her up.

"Hate to break up this rather tender moment, but we need to discuss why you are here in Middle Earth." Gandalf interrupted.

"Yes. I was hoping to do this with Sasuke here as well, but judging by his abrupt exit I don't think he would be willing to talk at present." Elrond got up and started to pace. "Gandalf and I believe that your arrival here in Middle Earth was no coincidence, and that the three of you with your unique skills are supposed to help us."

"Help you with what exactly?" asked Sakura, frowning.

"That is to be discussed later on today." Elrond answered, "I am inviting the three of you and Frodo to be our honoured guests and come before the Council of Elrond to discuss our current predicaments."

A/N: Welcome back and thanks for your patience! I've had a bit of writer's block and couldn't for the life of me figure out how to describe Sasuke's first glimpse of Middle Earth. Obviously, I persevered and this is the end result. Hope it meets expectations :D

Looking forward to seeing reviews for this chapter. And I'm getting started on the next one straight away while watching 'Octopussy'. Till then xx