Warning: The following is kinda rough. Proceed with caution.

Legolas was dragged roughly down the halls despite his constant struggles. A guard, fed up with the fighting, hit the slave atop the head with the hilt of his sword. Legolas' world grew blurry and he fought to process everything through his blurry vision. Suddenly, he was airborne. Flying through the air only to land on the floor of a cell painfully on his side as he was unable to catch his fall with his bound hands. The dungeon smelled like death. It was so cold in there Legolas could see his breath, and the floor was filled with puddles. The rain from last night had obviously pooled down here.

One of the elves stepped forward and sliced the rope holding Legolas' hands together. He yanked Legolas to his feet and locked his arms high above his head in the shackled dangling from the top of the cell. The chain was so short Legolas was forced to balance on his tiptoes, less he wanted to hang there by just his arms. Without a word, the guards stripped him from waist up and left. There was the sound of a key locking the heavy door, then nothing.

Legolas' mind worked frantically with the beginnings of panic. He had to escape! Aragorn needed him! His friend could be dying right now! He fought desperately against his fastenings, looking for any weak spots in the harsh metal. The jingling of keys broke Legolas from his panic. The reprieve didn't last long though as the door opened, revealing the one person he did not wish to ever see again. Lord Katar smiled devilishly, sauntering closer to the bound elf.

"Well. Would you look at this? A pathetic little salve all trussed up, awaiting his overdue punishment. You have no idea what you have done wrong, do you? Let me clear your mind for you. 'Oh, Lord Katar was beaten by a mere slave. I heard he nearly died.' Their taunts were relentless! It would have brought less shame had I been beaten by an elf maiden! You will pay for making me look like a fool!" The elf jumped forward suddenly, swinging his arm back and viciously delivering a punch to Legolas' nose. There was a loud cracking sound and blood erupted from the broken nose. Lord Katar smiled at the sight.

"You do not seem much like a warrior now. The Great Once-Prince from Mirkwood bleeds as a commoner does." He examined the blood on his hand fondly. "I plan to make you scream before I end your miserable existence. Then my plan will be complete. It was all so easy, you see. Your father was a sniveling mess after the death of your wretched mother. It was mere child's-play to control his mind. A little poison in his tea every morning and he was mine to control. He even sold his only son to slavery because I decreed it. Now, all that is left to do, is have him appoint me as his successor and then I will make him kill himself. And I will implement that plan, after I kill you. I can't have you destroying everything I have worked hard for, can I?" Legolas screamed against the gag in his mouth. The councilman ripped it out impatiently. "What!"

"I did not see you in Mirkwood! I would have recognized your ugly hide should you have been there!" That comment earned him a slap, snapping his face to the side.

"I would not risk the plan's compromise by doing something as foolish as letting myself be seen. No. I stayed well hidden and swept through your castle right under your very nose. The plan has progressed flawlessly. Feel free to scream. No one will hear you." Legolas was shaking in rage. He was so stupid! How could he not realize his father would not have done that to him if he was in his right mind? He kicked at Lord Katar, catching his foot right under his chin and sending him falling onto his backside.

"It seems you have a little too much freedom slave!" He grabbed Legolas and spun him around. The chains pulled taut and tugged at his arms. He was spun tighter and the pressure grew unbearably. Legolas groaned, trying valiantly to suppress a scream. With one last sharp tug, a loud snap sounded through the air. Legolas bit his lip and cut off the half formed scream. Agony rippled through his arm, sending the message that his shoulder was dislocated and broken. Lord Katar let go of him, letting him spin around so that the chains hang flat again. The movement was almost unbearable. Every spin jostled and pulled at his arm.

"Now, before we get started…" He trailed off as he held up a knife. He tangled his hands in the slave's hair and sliced the golden locks off. He didn't stop until he had shorn the hair to Legolas' scalp. The symbol of the elves dignity and honor laid on the dirty ground. The braids he had painstakingly spent much time on making perfect were now nothing more than dirt littering the ground.

Lord Katar spun around and rumbled through the bag he had brought with him. He sneered as he brought out a wicked looking whip. Legolas stared in horror. He had never seen such a vile looking weapon. The elves certainly did not possess such an instrument of torture as this. The elf circled him slowly, letting the metal end of the whip scrape against the ground. The eerie sound struck fear deep inside Legolas, but he refused to show it to the evil elf.

"Do you know what this is? It is a torture device that is commonly used by the Orcs. The metal on the ends are intended to rip the flesh right off the bones of its victim. I have yet to get a chance to see it for myself, so today, Valar seems to be smiling upon me. I will have you scream for me!" There was a high pitched whizzing sound a split second before agony exploded from Legolas' back. Unprepared he was for the sheer amount of pain the whip brought. He almost screamed but only barely managed to suppress the sound.

Lord Katar brought the whip down again. This time, Legolas could not hold back any longer. He screamed loudly, jerking in his bonds. The lashes started raining down on his unprotected back. Legolas screamed with each one, but the pain never lessened. It felt as if the whip was set on fire and each slash set his skin aflame. The seconds crawled by like hours, ensuring he felt every moment of his punishment.

The elf stopped, his arm too tired to fall another blow. He was breathing hard but grinning as he admired his handiwork. Legolas slumped forward limply, desperately trying to suck in air. He could feel blood rushing down his back and puddling underneath him. The chains around his lacerated wrists were removed and Legolas, unable to hold his own weight anymore, crashed ungracefully to the ground. The sudden movement jarred his injuries and pulled a sob from him. Everything was growing dark as Lord Katar spit on him and left, laughing. He managed to curl up into a ball, shaking violently, before falling apart and crying. The elf had done it. He had managed to break the Great Prince.

o-o-o-o-o

Sorry. It took longer than I thought to get this story out because I had written it and hated it so I deleted the whole thing and wrote it again. R&R