Chapter 3: Perilous
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Legolas cautiously opened his eyes and peered around; only one Orc was to be seen, but he was dozing, leaning against a tree. Legolas slowly sat up, his limbs stiff from immobility. His arms were bound behind his back, but the Orcs had not bothered to further secure him, whereas he found Aragorn lying next to him, his outstretched arms and legs bound to four short poles in the ground. Blood crusted on his left temple and cheek, and he seemed unconscious. Guiltily, Legolas bend over him: "Aragorn", he whispered. "Can you hear me?... Aragorn!"
The ranger moaned softly, and after the elf had adressed him repeatedly, opened his eyes. He looked confused, but when he recognized his friend, relief spread on his face. "Legolas", he said, very low, "how are you?" Legolas felt even more guilty at the clearly audible concern in Aragorn´s voice.
"I am alright", he said softly. "How do you feel? Did they hurt you badly?"
"No, they did not.", Aragorn said, although he could very well feel the tension of the skin where undoubtedly bruises would begin to spread.
Legolas hesitated before he continued: "I do not know how to tell you this... I just pretended to be unconscious." He sighed at Aragorn´s look: "I wanted to avoid further beating and questioning, so when I awoke from unconsciousness the last time, I just did not show that I had come round but let them believe I was still out of it."
Aragorn stared at him incredulously before he broke into silent laughter. "You fooled even me", he said. "I was so worried..."
Legolas looked at him apologetically: "I know", he said, downcast, "and I am very sorry for it, even more so as you are in danger now because of me. And now look at you", he added, sorrowful. "I very nearly had given up my disguise, had I not known how hardy you are. Still it grieved me greatly to hear them beating you."
Aragorn sighed and tucked at his bonds, but to no avail. "It does not seem like I have made new friends", he said, not wanting to show how his entire body ached due to the beating and the bonds.
"It is alright, Legolas", he added quietly, when he saw how downtrodden his friend looked. "You should better lie down again, in case they see you."
Legolas could not leave it at that: "I wish I could at least release you from that awful position", he said, and remained sitting.
"It is bearable", Aragorn said, something else now occupying his mind: "Did you hear what I told them?", he asked.
"Yes, and I think you deceived them very well", Legolas said.
"Do you know why they are so interested in your father´s palace?"
"I have not the last inkling of an idea", Legolas admitted. "For Mirkwood has already fallen under a shadow, as you know, and they would gain nothing from destroying my father´s dwellings. "
Aragorn considered this: "Maybe they think it would be a suitable means to drive the Wood-elves out of the forest", he said.
Legolas snored: "As if!"
They fell silent.
"Legolas", Aragorn said after a while, "please! You should keep up your pretence by all means."
He could see his friend frown and quickly continued to speak: "That way, they cannot use me against you, and you will be able to save your strength."
"But they might take it out on you", Legolas objected, feeling that Aragorn should not be punished for his own sake.
"Better they take it out on me than on both of us", Aragorn replied firmly. "If there will ever be a chance of escape, at least one of us should be able to. So it might be reasonable to keep their focus on me."
"I would never try to escape without you", Legolas gasped.
Aragorn closed his eyes, all of a sudden feeling very tired. He should have known Legolas would say so.
"I know. But if you had to, I would not hold it against you", he finally said. "The point is, you should under no circumstances give up the only protection from them that you have, and if there is a way out of here, do not hesitate, because they will not either."
Legolas fell silent, knowing full well that Aragorn was right. So he lowered himself back onto the grass, but felt like he had let down his friend.
"Do not worry", Aragorn said softly, having guessed the elf´s thoughts, "it will be alright..."
--
The Orcs rose at dawn; three of them came over to their prisoners to release Aragorn and see if Legolas had woken up.
They cut the bonds at Aragorn´s ankles first, then two of them grabbed his arms while the third cut the bonds at his wrists.
Pain shot through him when they pulled him to his feet, and his legs would not support him at first. His hands were bound in front of him, then one of the orcs gave him a waterskin: "Drink", he commanded, and Aragorn was glad, even though the water had a slightly stale taste.
"The elf needs water as well", he said, so the Orc, after a moment´s consideration, knelt down next to Legolas and made him swallow the liquid rather roughly by clamping one of his hands over the elf´s nose. Aragorn knew how disgusted his friend must be at this, but at least he got something to drink.
He felt the life returning to his limbs, a prickling sensation which mercilessly reminded him that he was chilled to the bone, as it was becoming autumn and the night had been cold. Lying motionlessly without anything to keep off the chill coming from the ground had not been very helpful.
A rope was tied to his bonds, and when the Orcs started marching again, he was pulled along, while Legolas was being carried by one of the stronger Orcs again.
The Ranger felt stiff and sore and still thirsty, but he was glad to move, as it would at least warm him up.
--
They marched all day; at first, Aragorn had no problems to keep up, but in the afternoon the Orcs seemed to have become bored, so they started to poke him and tuck at the rope in order to make him stumble. He ground his teeth and said nothing, concentrating hard on his balance. He felt weary and dried out, and the lack of sleep finally caught up with him.
He wondered how Legolas fared. Dangling upside down all the time and pretending to be unconscious could not be very pleasant either.
--
When the Orcs finally stopped walking, Aragorn felt like simply dropping down and close his eyes, come what may. But of course he could not do so.
The leading Orc advanced him: "You will make sure the elf will eat something!", he ordered, "but I warn you: do not try anything that might prove to be unhealthy for you!"
He thrust a bit of dry, grey bread and another waterskin in Aragorn´s hands. The man sat down next to the elf, settled his friend´s head on his lap and helped him eat. Legolas ever so slightly wrinkled his nose, but swallowed it nevertheless, as he was starved.
When they were done, Aragorn lightly rested his bound hands on Legolas´chest. They did not have the opportunity to speak to each other, as too many Orcs were close, watching them, but this way he could at least give Legolas some consolation and warmth. He would have liked to ask him how the Orcs had gotten hold of him in the first place, but it would have to wait. He looked down at the elf, studying the fair, pale face which was so familiar to him, then looked at his own bloodied wrists and subdued a sigh. He could not but worry for them both.
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TBC