A/N There are many things I could say, but I won't because I am sure that you all want to get onto the story. :) I will say, thanks, however!

Disclaimer: not mine.

Chapter Five

Aragorn and Legolas were awaken cruelly not an hour later as an orc yanked Legolas harshly away from Aragorn's protective grip, causing the elf to cry out in pain.

"No!" the man yelled, scrambling to get a grip on his friend before he was even fully awake. Legolas eyes' flashed open, and the human could tell the instant panic entered his dark blue orbs and felt his own heart twist. He lunged forward, but the cold feel of steel against his throat quickly stilled his movement.

"Legolas!" he cried again, almost at the exact same time that the prince called out the human's name. The orc dragging Legolas stopped a few feet away and dropped the elf with a look of revulsion on its flat face. The elf spat out a curse with just as much disdain and the orc back handed the prince.

"Stop!" Aragorn tried again, his fingers digging in his skin he reflexively curled his hands into fist to resist the urge to leap forward.

"Quiet!" Uglk roared. Instantly silence fell on the clearing. The orcs surrounding their leader looked up at him with fear and admiration, and Legolas and Aragorn exchanged quick looks of hatred. "Tie the elf back up, there is no need to be gentle, but leave the human free. It is time for him to prove his use."

"No!" both Legolas and Aragorn screamed at the same time, but for different reasons.

"Don't you dare touch him, you coward," Legolas snarled, lurching forward and trying to get into the orc's path. He didn't care what happened to him, but if they took Aragorn, then he knew he would split into a thousand pieces.

"Gag 'im," Uglk called out in annoyance, watching with sick amusement as the orc in charge of Legolas clubbed him hard. The elf cried out again, droping to the ground.

"Leave him alone," Aragorn ordered with a quiet power, but it didn't do any good. Uglk stepped in front of the man and blocked his view.

"I'd be more worried about you," he stated, grabbing the human by the hair and dragging him up. The man grunted as his eyes began to water, but as the orc began to drag him along, he twisting, catching one last glimpse of Legolas.

The elf had been tousled up and a filthy rag shoved in his mouth, but as his eyes meets Aragorn's, his struggling renewed as he strove with all his might to reach the human.

"Legolas!" Aragorn called desperately, his voice breaking as he reached out, but then an orc stepped in front of the kneeling prince and the elf was lost from sight. "LEGOLAS!" Aragorn yelled again. The orc laughed, and Aragorn turned hate filled eyes on him as his chest heaved with emotion. "One day you will all die," he swore.

"Not if you all die first," the orc replied with a toothy grin.

The human was dragged forward towards the rocky hillside and he felt his stomach drop.

"Where are you taking me?" he demanded, but the orc didn't answer. They reached the top of the hill and the orc jerked Aragorn upright. The man straightened his shoulders proudly, a unquenchable fire burning in his eyes as he stared the orcs down. Uglk stepped forward, and Aragorn met his gaze unflinchingly. They remained that way for several seconds, the firey grey eyes meeting the icy yellow ones.

"Take his shirt," Uglk finally called out called out thoughtfully, jerking his gaze away. Aragorn blinked. He had been expected something much worse and raised his gaurd, waiitng for the sadstic part. His tunic and shirt where ripped from his chest and handed off to another orc, who scurried off. Aragorn frowned after it, but didn't ask its purpose. He doubted he would have gotten an answer if he had tried.

The orcs began to chatter excitedly in the black tongue, and Aragorn searched their dark faces, trying to detect what was happening. Their commander uttered a few more commands, and then Aragorn was once again grabbed roughly. Digging his heels into the ground, the man grunted with effort.

"Why don't you tell me – " he ground out, before he was abruptly sent flying down the opposite side of the hill as the orc shoved him off.

He hit the dirt hard and rolled down several feet before he managed to slide to a stop half-way down. Gazing around in bewilderment, Aragorn only needed a second to realize that he was free. With his heart pounding against his chest, he jumped up stiffly and began to run as fast his legs would carry him. He had to get back to Legolas…He only made a few steps before he was tackled from behind and brought crashing to the earth once more, his body taking the blunt weight of him and the orc.

"Ah, not as fast, little human," the orc's hissed into his ear, its fowl breath making him want to gag. "We haven't got to say good-bye yet." Aragorn elbowed it harshly in the stomach and cursed the orc loudly as he flipped it over onto his back. Gathering his feet beneath him, he again tried to run, only to have to the orc grab his boot and yank hard, sending him back to the ground with an audible thud. His unruly hair went flying over his face and he snarled as he rose.

Spitting dirt, the human kicked back and felt his foot connect with flesh, but the orc wouldn't let go, laughing manically as Aragorn tried to shake him free.

"I told you, we didn't have a chance to say good-by!" it wheezed, and Aragorn kicked all the harder, dragging himself forward desperately with his finger warmth of the sun on his back was abruptly replaced with darkness as a shadow fell over him, and Aragorn looked up. A second orc stood over him, its arms crossed and a sneer on its face.

"Leaving so soon?" it drawled, before stooping and grabbing the human by the arm. Pulling him up, he walked him down the rest of the hill like an angry mother would a disobedient child. "Try to run again, it he shoots," It growled in a not so friendly voice, jerking the man up as he tripped. An orc lopped after them, a bow in its hand.

"Why would I run from such pleasant company?" Aragorn asked snidely, scrambling to gain his own feet. "And I can walk on my own, thanks," He threw out in spite, yanking his arm free.

"One. wrong. move," the orc reminded needlessly. Another orc joined the other three, and they formed a box around him, forcing him to walk or be trampled.

They started out at a swift pace and Aragorn turned, giving one last glance at the hill behind him and a silent prayer for Legolas.

They traveled on through the orc encampment and to Aragorn's great astonishment, they soon left it behind. The orc in front turned towards the dark forest and they headed under its bows and it was if a lid had been shut over them. The faint light was gone, and the abrupt silence was defending.

The orc turned back to face Aragorn, a nasty grin splitting its face in half.

"Now, boys, we run!" it elected, its harsh voice loud in the silence.

And run they did. They ran past trees, splashed through streams, and sluged through mud until Aragorn could do no more and clasped in a heap on the earth. Day had long ago passed into night, and a few stars could be seen, far, far, away.

"Get up!" the orc snarled with impatience, turning around to see why the other's had stopped.

"I can't, can't run, anymore." Aragorn gasped out, almost gagging on his labored intake of air. He rolled over one his back, sucking in large gulps of the stale air and coughing heavily. His legs were trembling violently, and dirt stuck to his sweat soaked chest and in his hair.

"Then you'll be dragged." The orc replied, staking forward and reaching form the man.

"Where…are we …going anyway?" Aragorn asked between breathes, hoping to by himself some more time to recover, as he didn't fancy being dragged the whole way. He didn't expect the orc to answer, and was slightly shocked when the orc did so.

"We are going to the elf's hall," It growled, stopping over Aragorn and staring down at him. "You are going to deliver a message to their king." Aragorn frowned.

"What message?" he asked hesitantly, almost positive that he didn't want to hear the answer. "Why can't you deliever it yourself?"

The orc sneered down at him, its lip curling up. The light of the almost full moon shone down on him, illuminating his face and making him look even more evil, if that was at all possible.

"Do we look stupid? The elves would start raining down arrows on us if we went within a mile of them. No, that is your job." It suddenly grinned with evil delight and Aragorn felt his stomach do an uncomfrotable flip-fop that he was sure had nothing to do with how he physicaly was feeling. "As for the message, you are to tell their king that he has till the full moon before the scum elf we got back at camp loses its head. It is going to be an example to all your other crawling elf-friends of what is meant to happen to them if they keep opposing us."

TBC...

Well, that doesn't sound good. And now Legolas and Aragorn are apart... I wonder what is happening down on Leoglas end... just kiding, I know exactly what is going on with Legolas. :)

Review Replies:

Guest: Now that, would be a battle to behold! Blood will be shed. (Personally, I am a Legolas fangirl all the way, though Loki has his moments as well. ) Yes, that poor elf certinaly got the short end of the stick this time round. (when does he not?) :) Thanks a lot!

Nameless: Dude! I didn't know that was you! (Or that it was your sister!) That is super cool. Always fun to meet an old reviewer that I didn't know was an old reviewer! haha, that is hilarious that she bought you chew toys. If it works, though, and you don't end up desotrying pillows. :) Thanks so much!