Summary: Legolas and Aragorn ride ahead to Mirkwood to celebrate an
occasion but never make it.
Disclaimer: I don't own them for their own good.
A/N: Written for a challenge issued on Mellon Chronicles
Chapter 3 ( Forgive me)
The darkness of night was fast approaching and the Easterlings had made no move to leave the edge of the forest. "Do you not fear the spiders? One thought to ask.
"I fear nothing," Bortian spoke. "The elves of this world do not fear them so why should we?"
Legolas snorted, even though he knew it was not wise. "You are all fools! The spiders do not care what race you are, they come and take you whether you are elf or man. Their poison is not selective."
Bortian stared at both Legolas and Aragorn. "It seems that you are recovering well from your injuries."
"That would be no thanks to you."
Bortian laughed aloud then. "True elf. My men grow restless, and it is my job to satisfy their lust for blood. Often we kill at random, but many times we capture and torture our prisoners for days just to amuse us. Tonight you shall return the favor to your friend."
Legolas sat in confusion for only the merest of seconds before he knew exactly what Bortian wanted. "I shall not take up a weapon against my friend!"
The leader of the Easterlings pushed his way through the crowd then. "Did I hear you speak against us?"
"I shall not take up the whip against my friend. I would rather die a thousand deaths."
The leader shook his head at Legolas, and motioned for his men to grab Aragorn from where he sat. "Never let it be said that I forced you to do anything."
Legolas watched as Aragorn was led to the very tree he was tied the day before. His hands were bound around it, his tunic ripped off him, leaving him in nothing but his leggings and boots.
The leader of the Easterlings walked over to Aragorn grabbing him by the back of his hair. "Such a pity your father chose this fate for you." His head then motioned towards Bortian, and the cruel smile on his face spoke volumes.
The whip was raised, and the sound of it whistling through the air sent shivers up Legolas' back, making him flinch in memory. It wasn't until the whip made contact with the bare skin on Aragorn's back that he snapped from his trance.
The blood was instantneous, both from Aragorn's back, and from his lip that he bit to keep from screaming in pain. The next two lashes cut deeply into Aragorn's back, making the blood flow freely down, soaking the waistband of his leggings.
Legolas stared deep into the silver eyes of his friend. This was the friend who had battled a warg with nothing but a dagger to save his life. This is the man who had been ridiculed his first time in Mirkwood and yet had helped Legolas save the guard who had gone missing. Taking a deep breath Legolas approached Bortian. "I will do it," he whispered.
The men surrounding Legolas did not hear the words that escaped his lips, but Aragorn did, straining his neck he turned just as the whip was raised, and the words tenin mi fell from Legolas' lips.
Legolas cringed with each lash, praying that Aragorn would just scream and statisfy their sick lust for torture, but he did not. Over and over Legolas raised his arm, at times the sight before him blurry through the torrent of tears that fell from his eyes.
It was now late in the night and Aragorn wanted nothing more than to close his eyes into oblivion. Something however inside him fought to stay awake, fought to keep his head held high despite them. He had suffered many times growing up different from all the others. It was when he felt the whip strike muscle that his head lolled to the side, and he could feel himself slipping into the blackness. He knew should he allow himself to fall into it that Legolas' torture would still go on. The men would not be happy unless they heard him scream.
Aragorn gathered all his remaining strength and screamed. It was a scream of release, a scream of anger, and one of pain too. It echoed through the trees, sending any small creature running in fear, and then Aragorn let the black of the dark take him.
"Stop, he seems to have had enough." the leader called. He released Aragorn's hands from their bonds, and watched as his body slumped to the ground. Next, he pushed Legolas towards him. "Go take your friend to the tent, and make sure he lives till morning. Should he not you will follow him in his fate."
Legolas gathered Aragorn up in his arms, ignoring his own injuries and took him inside the tent. He laid him down carefully, before he too fell. "Ada?" Aragorn whispered, delirious from pain.
"Hush Estel. I am here, and we shall make it." Legolas turned him over and the horrid gashed on Aragorn's back made him gasp. True, he had seen wounds before on his friend, but none this deep, none this cruel, and he had caused them. Unlike Aragorn he had no tunic to tear into strips to bandage them with. The same waterskin sat inside the tent, filled again with water and he washed the wounds as best he could.
"Tenin mi Estel," he said again, hoping Aragorn could hear him. Aragorn opened his pain filled eyes and stared at Legolas.
"There is nothing to forgive Legolas. You had no choice, as I did not."
"I wish ... I wish to kill these men for what they have done."
"My father and brothers will find us Legolas do not worry," Aragorn said before laying back down, his head dizzy.
Legolas cradled his head in his lap. "But will we be alive when they do?" He knew it was a horrible thought to have, but right now Aragorn was suffering and so was he. Their injuries were bad, but he knew that dawn only promised something worse. Succumbing to grief Legolas thought to himself. "If only they would kill me, then I would not have to torture you."
Aragorn stirred, and hoisted himself up on his elbows. "Do not think such thoughts Legolas."
Legolas stared at Aragorn, knowing he had not spoken aloud. "I know your thoughts mellon nin, as much as I would know my own brothers'. We shall fight for as long as we can, and only when we can no longer fight shall we give our lives to the Halls of Mandos."
Legolas wiped the tears with the back of his hand. "Aye, Estel, we shall fight."
Inside the tent the two of them tried to sleep, laying upon their stomachs for their backs were nothing more than shreds of flesh. Outside though the leader of the men, sat by the fire, enjoying his cup of coffee.
"My Lord!" someone called as they approached. The leader stood, waiting as the man ran to him.
"Bow before me!" he yelled. The haggard man did bow before him, then standing on trembling legs, he spoke.
"The men you sent on errand have been slain. The Lord of Imladris and King have taken their lives."
The leader smiled then, a wicked smile. "Then all is going according to plan."
"My Lord? Did you not mean for them to deliver some kind of message?" the man dared to ask.
"The men were to been seen by the elves. That was their only task, to let the elves know that I was still alive. Whether they died or not is of no matter. The elves have been alerted."
"My Lord, Elrond is headed this way. Will he not ruin your plans?"
"My plan has always been for him to find me. He will ride across this area, his sword held high, and find his son's body, nothing more than a feast for the creatures of the forest. Then I shall take his life, as he took my brother's life."
The man stepped back in awe. "You sent them to their death. You knew the elves would kill them upon sight, and yet you sent them anyway. All you wanted was to have the elves searching for you!" the man screamed, angry his brother had died for no reason. "You plan failed though as King Thranduil did not come looking for his son."
The leader walked till he stood mere inches from the haggard man. "Do not think Thranduil will stil quietly for long. He too will hunt for his son. Just as your brother served his purpose you have now served yours."
The dagger came from behind his back, and twisted inside the man's heart. He looked shocked for a second, and then his eyes glazed over as death took him. The leader flung his body to the ground, wiping his dagger on his leggings. "Take his body to the forest and leave it. Tomorrow we have special plans for these two, and I would like a good nights rest."
Legolas saw his actions from the small opening in the flap, and pulled Aragorn's body closer to him. He wanted to shield him, but it was useless. Tomorrow there would be pain, tomorrow he would again wish for death if only to release him from the grim fate of having to hurt Aragorn. Closing his eyes Legolas' own pain surged in his back. It promised to be a long restless night again.
tenin mi - forgive me