Aragorn rose before the sun kissed the horizon. He sat up in his bed and stretched his stiff muscles. Padding barefoot to the bathroom, he threw a glance at his slave. He was right where he left him. After he had passed out of the floor, Aragorn had carried him to the blanket he had set on the floor beside his bed. It was to be where the former prince would sleep from now on. Once he had the healers check Legolas over, he let himself curl up under his thick blankets and drift to sleep. After relieving himself and washing his face, he made his way over to his new slave. Standing over the sleeping body ominously, he pushed at him with his foot.

"Awaken slave." Legolas only turned onto his other side, wearing a slight frown from the noise interrupting his beauty sleep. A sharp kick snapped him into the land of the living. He spun to face Aragorn, a glare fixed upon his face.

"I know it is your first day so I am being lenient with you. You should always rise before me and have a bath drawn and ready by the time I get up. I suggest you learn how to wake up long before the sun for I start my day very early. For now, just go fetch my breakfast. And tell them to fix you a plate as well. I'm sure you haven't eaten for a few days and I need you to be in working condition. Much needs to be done today. Now off." Aragorn spun on his heel and went back to the bathroom to take the bath he had to draw for himself.

Legolas stared at the man in shock. Finally deciding it was best to do as he was told, he got up with a huff and exited the room. A few wrong turns and a series of confusing directions later, he ended up in the kitchens. He watched a few moments as the cooking staff bustled about in preparation for the day.

"Prince Aragorn and I request breakfast. Make it quick." The room went silent as they all stopped in their chores to stare at Legolas. Finally an elf maiden huffed and threw together a plate. It was heaped with fruit and meat. She grabbed another plate and put a single strawberry on it, handing them both to him. Legolas eyed the plates in exasperation.

"This can't possibly be my breakfast. A strawberry? Are you daft? I said that I too require a breakfast. A hearty one. Get me another plate and I shall forgive you." The girl sent him a glare that could freeze an Oliphant. She grabbed back the plate with the slab of fruit and turned away.

"Then you shall receive nothing slave." Legolas sputtered. Did such a commoner just call him a slave? He was bustled outside and the door was slammed in his face. His stomach took that moment to make its disapproval known. He laid a hand on it to try and quell the painful stabs of hunger. Legolas walked back to the Prince's chambers. He entered and set the tray on the side table. A few minutes later, Aragorn emerged, fully dressed in the royal Rivendell colors.

"My bed should have been made, and yours should be out of sight. The curtains should have been drawn, my clothes should have been left out for me when I finished my bath, and the dirty clothes should have been put away. I expect all of those things to be done promptly by the time I come back." He swept out of the door, leaving Legolas watching his retreating back.

It took a few tried, but Legolas finally managed to do all that the Prince asked of him. He had never before in his life had to do any of those things. The door banged open and the son of Lord Elrond strode in. His eyes met his, deadly serious.

"Listen closely slave. My Father has just informed me that he has invited the councilmen and their wives to a dinner tonight. You will be there to serve me drink and fetch me my food. You will not speak unless spoken to, you will not defy me, and you will do everything I say or there will be dire consequences."

The words rang through Legolas' mind as he stood in the large dining room. It was filled with people laughing and carrying on with each other. His feet ached already from standing while the others drank greedily from Elrond's wine supply, and dinner had yet to be served. Running around and refilling Aragorn's glass was a daunting task. It seemed every time he set down the pitcher, he was having to refill it again. The guests had become quite rowdy since the beginning of the feast. Many had stared at Legolas openly, making rude comments about his heritage and blood line.

One in particular was grating on the former Princes' last nerve. He was rotund for an elf and had drank enough to personally put a dent in the wine reserves. He smirked at Legolas as he tipped his glass over, pouring the contents into the floor.

"Clean it up, slave," He sneered. Legolas grit his teeth and got on his knees to mop up the puddle with a rag. A well-aimed kick sent him flying face first into the mess. He sprang up, face red with rage. He grabbed the nasty elf by the neck and squeezed as hard as he could. He could tell people were screaming but everything was drowned out by the sound of blood pumping through his ears. Hands grabbed his own and yanked him away. The wall of red disappeared, leaving a very angry Aragorn in its place.

His master said nothing, just grabbed Legolas by the front of his tunic and stormed out as Lord Elrond apologized to the man profusely. Aragorn tossed the slave into a room, slamming the door shut behind him.

"What in the name of Valar was that! That was treason!"

"He spilt his own drink on purpose and then kicked me into it!" Legolas was still steaming in anger, hands twitching to strangle the elf again.

"That is no excuse!" He roared. "I have allowed your impudent behavior to go on long enough! It is high time you realize that I am the master here and that you are nothing but a mere slave!" He pushed Legolas into the wall and chained his hands, lifting them above his head and securing them there. His shirt was ripped away quickly. Legolas began to breathe hard, fear winding around his heart at what his master would do to him. Aragorn did not want to punish the elf, but he openly disobeyed him. He had to be taught from day one that disobedience was not tolerated in any fashion.

There was a high pitched whizzing sound before fire exploded from his back. The pain was so intense and so unexpected that he cried out. He twisted around to see Aragorn holding a wicked looking whip. He brought it up again and snapped it down on the slave's back. Legolas bit his lip to muffle the sounds of his pain. Blow after blow landed, leaving the elf delirious with pain. He didn't know how long the pain had been raining down on him. It could have been days. Suddenly, his knees gave out and a loud scream tore from his lungs.

"No more…Saes no more…" He gasped out. The whip paused before coming down again.

"What is my name slave?"

"Aragorn." Another hit rained down, bringing the answer to his mind. "Master! Master saes stop! I can't take any more. I won't do it again. Saes…master…no more…" The whip halted in its movements. Aragorn lowered his aching arm and stared at his slave. Blood was rushing down his back, soaking his jeans, and adding to the already formed puddle on the ground from deep gashes. Welts stood up in sharp contrast to the thin body of the elf.

"You are to go to Lord Katar tomorrow and apologize for your behavior." With that said, Aragorn swept out of the room, leaving Legolas dangling by the chains in the dark, half conscious.

o-o-o-o-o

A big shout out to Vicky the Charmed Fan who notified me that this chapter when I reposted it to get out all the kinks was chapter two from my first story. Major confusion. So here's the real chapter two.