Ch 6- Plan B
Ok peoples I am sorry about the ending on that last chappie. Forgive me? I also hope you re-read the chapter that I re-posted because it has some details that just *might* be helpful to better understand this chapter, otherwise some of this might not make sense. So anyway, here is a new chapter for you. I would like to devote this chapter to my most excellent friend Marisol. Happy Birthday Mari!
Quote for the chapter: "Legolas hadn't felt this weak since he came home and there were no cookies on the table." (That was for my good friend, Mari!)
Ch 6- Plan B
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"Adar?" he mumbled.
Thranduil could barely control a gasp as he looked at his youngest son. He had whip marks all over his front and back, that looked purple and black from the whippings and beatings he had received. His tunic was covered in dried blood. His mouth was shining with fresh blood, as was his forehead. His hair was matted with blood. His face, as well as the rest of his body, looked as though it had been burned and covered in ashes. He saw a long stripe on his arm that looked like something hot was put there. His eyes were strangely unfocused, as though he wasn't sure if this was a dream or if this was really happening. Thranduil nearly lost all his composure as he looked at his son. The overwhelming feeling of grief at his sons' obvious torture was sickening him beyond belief.
Legolas shook his head and grimaced trying to focus. His face gave way to understanding because he looked at Thranduil with realization that his father really was standing there. He stood up and faced the ground, ashamed at the state he was in. With his head down he uttered "Im triw." It had taken a large amount of his strength to say just that. Unfortunately, (or rather fortunately for him) Thranduil and Elrond knew better than to believe Legolas, as they had heard him say "I'm fine" one too many times in the past to believe.
"Legolas, mani marte?"
Legolas did not answer. He merely looked at the ground meekly.
"Legolas?" he prodded him again gently.
Legolas turned his head slightly to look at Elrond. When he saw the look of pity on his face he immediately looked down again. Elrond was surprised at the amount of times Legolas had kept his eyes lowered rather then looking them in the eye. Normally, he would gaze at everyone in the eye like the royalty he was, rather then look down as though he wasn't good enough. What had happened to him while he was captive here, Elrond wondered? He knew Thranduil was filling up with fury at Saruman or with sadness for his son. He could not blame him. He had grown to love Legolas like a son over the years he had known the Elfling. He also felt both emotions welling up in him.
"Saruman! What do you need him for? You have had your fun, now let him go! He is of no use to you anymore!" Thranduil bellowed at the Istar.
At these words Legolas flinched, as if anticipating a blow to his face before remembering Elrond was looking at him. Because of his weakness he was tiring from standing there, and that was unusual for an Elf. But the poison was, as he suspected earlier, slowly flooding through him causing him a slow painful death.
"Temper, temper," Saruman said silkily. He came over and took Legolas by the hair dragging him away from the other Elves. "You see, because I still have this Elf, I can do whatever I want to him." He caressed Legolas' cheek and said, "Can't I, Elf?" Legolas closed his eyes and tried not to think about him. When Saruman didn't get the reaction he wanted he simply just threw Legolas to the ground. Legolas made no attempt to move after that, fearing he might receive another beating.
Saruman said, "Take it or leave itm Thranduil, you know my demands. All you have to do is give me Ithil."
Suddenly Legolas tensed and he yelled "No!" with a surprising amount of strength that even he did not know he had.
Saruman also looked surprised and he looked at the figure on the ground with narrowed eyes. He kicked him between the shoulder blades and Legolas fell silent. "Choose swiftly Thranduil! I don't have time for this. I have places I need to be other than here!"
"Adar don't!" Legolas cried out again. He received an even harder kick across his forehead where he already had a open wound. At this, he fell into unconsciousness.
Thranduil stared at the wizard icily for continuing to beat his son, but wondered what choice he had. He knew he could not trade his sons. Legolas had just taken all those beatings for protecting his brother and telling his father not to give Ithil up. Thranduil's face hardened and he said "Just give him back, Saruman!" Then before Elrond had a chance to react, the Elven King had twisted out of his hold and had lunged for his son. Just when he was about to touch Legolas' arm, his son suddenly was behind Saruman, who held his staff raised.
"You coward!" Thranduil yelled at Saruman in frustration and anger.
"Etiquette," Saruman said. "You really should learn to be more diplomatic Thranduil. It is no wonder the Dwarves don't enjoy doing business with you" Then Saruman turned to the Orcs and said "kill him"
Thranduil pulled out his weapons, as well as the other Elves, and they began killing each of their attackers. Unfortunately for them, there were far too many Orcs to kill by themselves. Soon, they too, were surrounded, just as Legolas was so many weeks before.
As there seemed to be no way of escape, Legolas was slowly gaining consciousness. Everyone was aware of Legolas except Saruman. He was too occupied to realize this. Legolas pulled all his strength to get up and walk silently over to the Wizard. When he got there he grabbed the staff and attempted to pull it out of Saruman's grip. Distracted for a moment, everyone, including all the Orcs stared at the Elf and the Wizard struggling. It was obvious the Elf didn't have much strength by the amount of energy he was able to exert.
Legolas looked directly at his father and then eyed the unguarded door. Thranduil knew what he meant. The group of Elves started for the door. Just as they got there Saruman threw Legolas to the floor and Legolas, once again, slipped into unconsciousness.
Now Saruman noticed that his other prey was getting away. Unfortunately for him, his 'prey' was already out the door. "Sound the alarm! Set up the patrols, catch the Elves before they escape!" One of the Orcs grabbed a horn and sounded it loud. The sound reverberated through the whole hideout alerting all the Orcs.
Thranduil and the other Elves were getting away as fast as they could when a large group of Orcs came at them. They defeated the Orcs in a rather bloody battle and continued on. When they were finally near the end of the tunnel, another larger group of Orcs came at them swinging their scimitars with looks of blood lust in their eyes.. The first one took one of the Elves by surprise and if it wasn't for their quick reflexes he would have died. They took that one down with a swift stroke of their daggers. Then more came; about thirty of them. Thranduil and the others started shooting arrows. Elrond waited, as he did have a bow with him. They took down about fifteen Orcs by the time the Orcs reached them. They quickly took out the rest of the Orcs with their daggers.
Finally they arrived outside in the sunlight, which was growing dimmer as the day was fading away. They were all injured during the battle to escape, but fortunately, no one was mortally wounded. They continued traveling until they could no longer see the cave. They sat down at a group of rocks to rest and plan out their next move. Thranduil put his face in his hands and shook, weeping quietly. Elrond in the meantime, was tending to the wounded. Finally, Thranduil stopped shaking and put his face up, looking at the lowering sun.
"What is a father to do?" Thranduil wondered aloud to Elrond, defeat across his face.
They just sat in silence for a while, each Elf trying to think of something to do.
"Thranduil!" Elrond suddenly cried out. "Saruman has already given us the answer! He said he had to leave. Why don't we wait in hiding for Saruman to leave. Then we can sneak in and rescue Legolas.
Thranduil looked up with new hope and said "Elrond, by Valar, that just might work! I am willing to try anything that might save my son from further torment."
___________
Im triw: I'm fine
mani marte: what happened
Ok peoples I am sorry about the ending on that last chappie. Forgive me? I also hope you re-read the chapter that I re-posted because it has some details that just *might* be helpful to better understand this chapter, otherwise some of this might not make sense. So anyway, here is a new chapter for you. I would like to devote this chapter to my most excellent friend Marisol. Happy Birthday Mari!
Quote for the chapter: "Legolas hadn't felt this weak since he came home and there were no cookies on the table." (That was for my good friend, Mari!)
Ch 6- Plan B
___________
"Adar?" he mumbled.
Thranduil could barely control a gasp as he looked at his youngest son. He had whip marks all over his front and back, that looked purple and black from the whippings and beatings he had received. His tunic was covered in dried blood. His mouth was shining with fresh blood, as was his forehead. His hair was matted with blood. His face, as well as the rest of his body, looked as though it had been burned and covered in ashes. He saw a long stripe on his arm that looked like something hot was put there. His eyes were strangely unfocused, as though he wasn't sure if this was a dream or if this was really happening. Thranduil nearly lost all his composure as he looked at his son. The overwhelming feeling of grief at his sons' obvious torture was sickening him beyond belief.
Legolas shook his head and grimaced trying to focus. His face gave way to understanding because he looked at Thranduil with realization that his father really was standing there. He stood up and faced the ground, ashamed at the state he was in. With his head down he uttered "Im triw." It had taken a large amount of his strength to say just that. Unfortunately, (or rather fortunately for him) Thranduil and Elrond knew better than to believe Legolas, as they had heard him say "I'm fine" one too many times in the past to believe.
"Legolas, mani marte?"
Legolas did not answer. He merely looked at the ground meekly.
"Legolas?" he prodded him again gently.
Legolas turned his head slightly to look at Elrond. When he saw the look of pity on his face he immediately looked down again. Elrond was surprised at the amount of times Legolas had kept his eyes lowered rather then looking them in the eye. Normally, he would gaze at everyone in the eye like the royalty he was, rather then look down as though he wasn't good enough. What had happened to him while he was captive here, Elrond wondered? He knew Thranduil was filling up with fury at Saruman or with sadness for his son. He could not blame him. He had grown to love Legolas like a son over the years he had known the Elfling. He also felt both emotions welling up in him.
"Saruman! What do you need him for? You have had your fun, now let him go! He is of no use to you anymore!" Thranduil bellowed at the Istar.
At these words Legolas flinched, as if anticipating a blow to his face before remembering Elrond was looking at him. Because of his weakness he was tiring from standing there, and that was unusual for an Elf. But the poison was, as he suspected earlier, slowly flooding through him causing him a slow painful death.
"Temper, temper," Saruman said silkily. He came over and took Legolas by the hair dragging him away from the other Elves. "You see, because I still have this Elf, I can do whatever I want to him." He caressed Legolas' cheek and said, "Can't I, Elf?" Legolas closed his eyes and tried not to think about him. When Saruman didn't get the reaction he wanted he simply just threw Legolas to the ground. Legolas made no attempt to move after that, fearing he might receive another beating.
Saruman said, "Take it or leave itm Thranduil, you know my demands. All you have to do is give me Ithil."
Suddenly Legolas tensed and he yelled "No!" with a surprising amount of strength that even he did not know he had.
Saruman also looked surprised and he looked at the figure on the ground with narrowed eyes. He kicked him between the shoulder blades and Legolas fell silent. "Choose swiftly Thranduil! I don't have time for this. I have places I need to be other than here!"
"Adar don't!" Legolas cried out again. He received an even harder kick across his forehead where he already had a open wound. At this, he fell into unconsciousness.
Thranduil stared at the wizard icily for continuing to beat his son, but wondered what choice he had. He knew he could not trade his sons. Legolas had just taken all those beatings for protecting his brother and telling his father not to give Ithil up. Thranduil's face hardened and he said "Just give him back, Saruman!" Then before Elrond had a chance to react, the Elven King had twisted out of his hold and had lunged for his son. Just when he was about to touch Legolas' arm, his son suddenly was behind Saruman, who held his staff raised.
"You coward!" Thranduil yelled at Saruman in frustration and anger.
"Etiquette," Saruman said. "You really should learn to be more diplomatic Thranduil. It is no wonder the Dwarves don't enjoy doing business with you" Then Saruman turned to the Orcs and said "kill him"
Thranduil pulled out his weapons, as well as the other Elves, and they began killing each of their attackers. Unfortunately for them, there were far too many Orcs to kill by themselves. Soon, they too, were surrounded, just as Legolas was so many weeks before.
As there seemed to be no way of escape, Legolas was slowly gaining consciousness. Everyone was aware of Legolas except Saruman. He was too occupied to realize this. Legolas pulled all his strength to get up and walk silently over to the Wizard. When he got there he grabbed the staff and attempted to pull it out of Saruman's grip. Distracted for a moment, everyone, including all the Orcs stared at the Elf and the Wizard struggling. It was obvious the Elf didn't have much strength by the amount of energy he was able to exert.
Legolas looked directly at his father and then eyed the unguarded door. Thranduil knew what he meant. The group of Elves started for the door. Just as they got there Saruman threw Legolas to the floor and Legolas, once again, slipped into unconsciousness.
Now Saruman noticed that his other prey was getting away. Unfortunately for him, his 'prey' was already out the door. "Sound the alarm! Set up the patrols, catch the Elves before they escape!" One of the Orcs grabbed a horn and sounded it loud. The sound reverberated through the whole hideout alerting all the Orcs.
Thranduil and the other Elves were getting away as fast as they could when a large group of Orcs came at them. They defeated the Orcs in a rather bloody battle and continued on. When they were finally near the end of the tunnel, another larger group of Orcs came at them swinging their scimitars with looks of blood lust in their eyes.. The first one took one of the Elves by surprise and if it wasn't for their quick reflexes he would have died. They took that one down with a swift stroke of their daggers. Then more came; about thirty of them. Thranduil and the others started shooting arrows. Elrond waited, as he did have a bow with him. They took down about fifteen Orcs by the time the Orcs reached them. They quickly took out the rest of the Orcs with their daggers.
Finally they arrived outside in the sunlight, which was growing dimmer as the day was fading away. They were all injured during the battle to escape, but fortunately, no one was mortally wounded. They continued traveling until they could no longer see the cave. They sat down at a group of rocks to rest and plan out their next move. Thranduil put his face in his hands and shook, weeping quietly. Elrond in the meantime, was tending to the wounded. Finally, Thranduil stopped shaking and put his face up, looking at the lowering sun.
"What is a father to do?" Thranduil wondered aloud to Elrond, defeat across his face.
They just sat in silence for a while, each Elf trying to think of something to do.
"Thranduil!" Elrond suddenly cried out. "Saruman has already given us the answer! He said he had to leave. Why don't we wait in hiding for Saruman to leave. Then we can sneak in and rescue Legolas.
Thranduil looked up with new hope and said "Elrond, by Valar, that just might work! I am willing to try anything that might save my son from further torment."
___________
Im triw: I'm fine
mani marte: what happened