A/N: Thank you, everyone for reviewing and waiting patiently. I've been incredibly busy with school. I would like to give a special thank you to Faerlain for being my beta and following me every chapter since I first posted this. Thank you, Faerlain, you're awesome!

Thanks to my reviewers (in order of reviews): Gemini969, Deana, Empath89, MadCellist, Aly K, Lindahoyland, Happyface 72, Tamelia, Faerlain, Mistopurr, Blue Moon, Doo pee doo, Maethril Aranel, Lost-Elf, and goldenfire. I don't have time to do review replies now, but thank you to each and every one of you! You all are awesome!

Disclaimer: Don't own anything but the lyrics below. The lyrics are mine, so ffnet can't accuse me of stealing someone's lyrics.

We thought we could survive
Anything life threw our way
Now we struggle to survive
For just another day

The blood and tears you shed
Are my blood and tears, too
Believe me, my brother, when
I say I would die for you

I'm lost now in despair
Please come and take my hand
Show me there is still hope…
You are my last life-strand

Chapter 15: Blood and Betrayal

"NOW!" shouted Aragorn, being uncharacteristically sharp with the elf that stood guard outside Legolas' room. The elf, not familiar with the Quenya elvish that Aragorn first spoke to him in, now nodded his head in salute before running to find Lady Galadriel. His steps were graceful, and was gone within a moment, adroitly climbing down a tree. Aragorn turned to grasp the doorknob when he heard something thump inside the room. His pulse racing, Aragorn ran inside, praying that he would not find his elven friend dead.

When he first ran in, Aragorn did not see Legolas, then, when seeing blood upon the sharp end of the bedpost, he hurried to the other side of the bed. Legolas lay, mumbling softly in his unconsciousness. The prince's face was face and beads of sweat had formed on his brow. Occasionally he would cry out and Aragorn would try to soothe him. He heard the door open behind him, but all he could concentrate on was his dear immortal brother, lying near death on the floor. For fear of making his convulsions worse, Aragorn dared not move him. He grabbed the nearest cloth and put it to the blood coming from a wound on Legolas' forehead.

Abruptly, Legolas screamed and Aragorn turned away, flinching at the sound. With a great gasp, Legolas jerked up and began tearing at him.

Legolas stumbled back against the wall. He flinched as visions of Aragorn dying flashed before his eyes, visions of Ithil being murdered, his father, Elladan, Elrohir, Arwen, Elrond… then Saruman's face loomed before him, laughing, and Legolas knew then that Saruman had been the cause. He shook his head, tears threatening to fall.

"Legolas, there is something that needs to make itself known. Something happened, Legolas… something happened to your naneth… something went wrong… and the healers… Legolas… your naneth… dead… she is dead… …"

"Legolas, I do not want you to associate with the human. Someday, he will die and you will continue living…"

The sound of dead leaves being crushed under a heavy footfall resounded through the empty forest. Empty… empty… he was alone now…

The voices spoke in soft whispers around him, combining in a reverberant echo. Whispers that spoke to him of death, loneliness and grief. No, though Legolas. I will not go back to them… I do not want to remember the grief, or the loneliness, or think of the death that awaits my mortal brother…

"Someday he will die… the human will die and you will continue living…"

Perhaps not, thought Legolas wryly, surprising himself with his grim humor. Abruptly, a paroxysm of pain overcame his mind, and he fell against the side of the bed, jarring his head against the post.

The ancient door opened slowly, the penetrating darkness from within swallowing him in it's black void. He stepped forward, cautiously, and glanced around. It was pitch black, and not even his keen sight could see through the thick blanket of darkness. His hands went to his weapons; but found they were not there.

"Are you missing something, highness?"

The silky voice sliced through the darkness and Legolas whipped his head towards the sound. A sudden flame appeared and Legolas realized that it was in Saruman's hand; the flame illuminated the Istar's face. His staff was nowhere to be seen, but in his other hand was Legolas' white knife. The evil wizard smiled, his eyes glinting, and twirled the curved knife in his hand as he slowly advanced on Legolas.

"Perhaps… these?"

The wizard smiled cruelly again, the flame flickered and went out. Legolas turned around and around, but could not see the wizard, could not sense him. He began to panic… it was so dark… whenever it was dark, he got hurt. Footsteps… Legolas whipped his head around, trying to find the source of them. A knife slashed through the air somewhere near him, but he still could not see where. Now an arrow flew past his ear.

Legolas felt utterly helpless. Suddenly he heard the distinct sound of a whip crack, and slashing through the air. He closed his eyes and concentrated utterly on the sound, dodging at the last possible second. He heard the sound of a whip hitting the ground beside him. However, Legolas had no time to be jubilant about his minor victory; another whip was already whistling through the air at him. Again he waited, and again he was victor. Soon, however, he grew tired, and felt the pain of the whip crash into his mind.

The pain of the whip was lessened to Legolas as he had told the story before; now, however, he remembered exactly what it had felt like. And it hurt. With the vengeance of Mordor. His mind was numb for a moment, but the moment's hesitation was all that was needed. Another whip snaked across his back. Soon, there was an onslaught of them, an onslaught of pain. He could not think of anything but the pain. Then, abruptly, it stopped, and Legolas lay breathing hard upon the cold ground. He slowly attempted to push himself up, but found himself stopped. Saruman's staff was ice against his face and ear. The Istar's voice was barely a breath as he whispered into Legolas' ear.

"You know why I do this, Prince? I made a promise… that I would get revenge, and that I would get you back. Revenge has only begun, highness, I've yet to get you back."

The tip of his staff lit and Legolas felt pain as he had never before felt in his life. He did the only thing he could: scream.

Legolas jerked up from the ground, feeling hands pushing him back down. Desperately, he sought to be free of them, twisting this way and that, feeling his back burning and he saw blood drip down from his brow. The sight of his own blood own made him more desperate; he did not seem to realize that he was still in Lothlorien. Suddenly a soft voice broke through his thoughts; a familiar voice.

"Sidh, mellon-nín. Sidh…"

Slowly, Legolas stopped his struggle, his eyes focusing on the room around him. Aragorn stood before him and Galadriel behind Aragorn. Aragorn gently tried to lift Legolas onto the bed, but Legolas cried out. His back… Valar, why did it hurt so much? Suddenly he remembered his dream… his nightmare. Aragorn's voice cut into his thoughts.

"Legolas, I need to move you. You have to let me do this."

Legolas pushed his hands away. He could not allow himself to be weak. If he did so, Saruman would be able to enter him again and force him to hurt someone.

"I need… I need to do this myself," muttered Legolas.

"Legolas, I don't think that's a good idea," began Aragorn, even as Legolas began to push himself up. Ai, Valar, why did it hurt so much? He put a hand to his back and brought it back, covered in blood. Aragorn stared at him, confused, wondering why Legolas was staring at his hand. He saw nothing, it appeared.

Legolas made it to the bed and promptly began to pass out. Blood… Ai, Elbereth, why was there so much blood? Could no one else see it?

"Blood," he whispered, and Aragorn stared at him strangely. Could the ranger not see that his hand was covered in blood? "Can you not see it?"

Aragorn stared at him sympathetically. "Legolas, you have lost a lot of blood in the past few days, I'm sure these hallucinations are only a symptom of lack of blood."

As Legolas turned to Aragorn, and saw that his brother did not believe him, he felt utter betrayal burn through his heart. He could still hear Saruman's laugh in his mind and the last word he spoke before falling onto the bed surprised everyone in the room.

"Saruman."