A/N: Please note that English is not my first language, feel free to point out any mistakes so I can improve.

Thank you Morwen80 for the beta-version, you rock girl :)

Enjoy!

Merry and Pippin were left behind and looked at each other with a worried look on their faces. Elrond seemed to be in bad shape, he looked far worse than he had after healing Frodo and they had thought that Elrond was almost dead back then.

Although they were worried and Elrond was indeed in bad shape, they had to think a way out of their own mess right now.

They had to escape the Uruks now or never, as they were so close to Isengard already, if they were to get any closer to Saruman, they might actually be caught by the Orc-patrols and that would be their certain capture and death.

Then suddenly in the night, riders attacked and Merry and Pippin took this opportunity to escape into the large forest.

Elrond did not know how long they were running until finally the effects of the drug wore off and he was utterly exhausted -again.

In the small breaks they had made, he was supposed to rest; but how was he supposed to rest in an Orc camp with his life on the line? Due to that, he was running without any rest, he had never been so exhausted before in his life. He was not sure if he would be able to fight against Saruman should he have to.

When the tower of Orthanc was in view he was a bit relieved but also dreaded what was to come.

It was clear that Saruman, the betrayer, had nothing good in mind for him and that was even more obvious when the white wizard stood in front of him. His eyes were haunted and wild.

Elrond was sure that he didn't look any better; he had just travelled across half of Middle Earth without rest.

"Now you finally see me for whom I really am, Peredhel. How does it feel to be at the knees of your master? You finally look the part as well, the haggardness looks good on you, and I particularly like the blood and bruises on your face."

Elrond looked at Saruman defiantly, whatever the mad man wanted from him, he would not get it from him.

"Have you lost your quick tongue already? I must admit I did not expect you to give in so easily, honestly I'm a bit disappointed."

Elrond was getting annoyed, Saruman had truly become insane.

"What do you want from me?" Elrond asked, his voice raspy and hoarse but audible.

"Ahh I thought you'd never ask. You are to tell me everything about Imladris defenses, judging by the failure of the Nazgul there is a lot more to it than which I am aware of.

Now, if you won't tell me your secrets I intend to make you suffer, make you wish that you were never born, nor had ever lived your mongrel life. There is a choice here, Peredhel: betrayal or ultimate pain. Choose wisely.

I will have you brought to your room; I never had you here as my guest so I hope you will be more than impressed by my hospitality."

Elrond was lead -more dragged to the dungeons, into an old ugly cell. It was dark, neither sunlight nor moon- and starlight shone in it, it was lit by only a torch in the corner of the entrance.

Aragorn let out a desperate scream, he had failed, the hobbits were dead and they could never go back to their beloved shire. Why did the innocent always have to die first?

As he sank to the ground, he saw marks, drag marks but also foot prints a bit further away. They led away from the battle!

They followed the prints and finally found Gandalf, who told them that the Hobbits were safe and alive and that they had to go to Rohan.

After the battle of Helms Deep they followed the trees, which had helped them to win the battle, to Isengard.

Elrond did not how much more of this he could take. After he had refused to give Saruman the information regarding the protection of the elven kingdoms, Saruman had decided that he would utterly destroy Elrond.

The torture Elrond had to endure wasn't about getting information anymore, Saruman just wanted to see him suffer. There was so much malice and hatred in the old wizard's eyes, that Elrond could barely recognize him.

He was brought back to the present by a harsh, stinging pain in his cheek; Saruman had started carving his torso and then his face into ribbons. At least it felt like he was.

In spite of all the pain he had felt the last couple of days, or hours, he had lost all sense of time; Elrond hadn't screamed. Even when his back was whipped bloody and he finally passed out from the pain, he hadn't made a sound.

But now, as Saruman lifted him up and bound his hands to the ceiling, so he was hanging and his whole body was stretched, Elrond convulsed at the touch of the knife and when the wizard stabbed his hand, Elrond screamed.

But Elrond knew that this wasn't the end, this was the beginning of even more pain. Saruman had promised him ultimate pain and now that Elrond had shown that he was indeed in a lot of pain, Saruman was going to give his best to inflict even more.

After hours Elrond's voice was raw and his body unrecognizable, he was beaten, bleeding from several cuts and the whip lashes on his back. He was going to pass out soon and at this point Elrond longed for the sweet darkness of oblivion. But that wish wasn't going to be fulfilled by Saruman.

"You know, Peredhel, most would have asked you questions and offered you a way out of the pain, but I know that you would never take that option. Luckily for me I won't have to convince you that betraying your friends and family is your best option, because I have this!"

He lifted a jar full of a dark liquid and held it in front of Elrond's eyes.

"It is a truth serum", he continued, "Once it has entered your system, you will only be able to tell me the truth, no matter how hard you want to lie. You are probably asking yourself: 'But Saruman why did you have to hurt me when you have everything to make me talk'; well dear Peredhel, because it is fun.

Sauron isn't expecting the information until tomorrow, so I had a bit of time to kill with nothing to do but to hurt you. It is something I have always wanted to do, since you voted for dear Mithrandir to be the head of the white council. My compliments, you truly know how to make enemies."

TBC

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