Disclaimer: I don't own anything of the Lord of the Rings.
Note: Thank you so much for the reviews. Let's begin.
"My lord, I assure you, there has been a misunderstanding." Aragorn held up his hands to show that they were empty at the leader of the small human settlement at the edge of the great forest. The guards who stood on either side of them.
Aragorn glanced towards Legolas. The elf's face was a mask. The man looked back at the burly looking man in front of him. He wondered how he had managed to stumble into this predicament. The big man in front of them was the leader of the small village that they had been dragged into so unceremoniously this morning.
Aragorn's mind was still reeling from what had happened. They had not even set a foot close towards the village or out of the woods yet when suddenly guards descended upon them and forced them to their knees, binding them swiftly.
They had been brought here within moments, long moments in which Aragorn and Legolas both had questioned what was happening. They had voiced their protests loudly but their captors refused to listen and when one actually pulled a knife and threatened Legolas to stop using his elven tricks and to shut up.
It was in that moment that Aragorn feared that his stubborn friend would become offended and would cost them both their lives but Legolas kept his calm. The only sign of the rising fury in the elf's eyes was the darkening of the sky blue eyes and the tightening of the jaw but Aragorn was too preoccupied at the moment to worry about what Legolas might do.
"I do not think that there is any problem here! Do you deny the claims my people have made that you and your elf have stolen our cattle? We saw you take it ourselves!" The deep voice washed over Aragorn and then Legolas burst out.
"Stole? We never steal! We have never set foot in this village before! Why would we steal what belongs to the Woodland elves? You have no business being here!" Legolas' voice cracked with his fury and Aragorn rolled his eyes up towards the ceiling.
"You dare! You have been caught at being a thief! We should hack of your hands so that you will know never to do it again and so that everybody can see your shame no matter where you may go…" The leader exploded, rising to his feet in a flurry of muscles and fur.
The leader stalked forward and pulled Legolas' head back by grabbing the long blond hair. Legolas hissed sharply as his head was forced up. "I think that a night in the cell will help you to collect your thoughts. Watch your mouth, pretty elf…"
The man leered. Aragorn got a bad feeling in his stomach the moment they were hauled away. They had not even had a moment to explain themselves. He didn't think it would be likely that the elves would steal anything, especially an elf that was teamed up with a human.
The woodland elves had always kept to themselves so Aragorn could not think of any reason, unless somebody had impersonated an elf. If these people didn't have any dealings with the woodland elves it would not be hard to trick them.
Aragorn didn't struggle and he shot a warning glance towards his elven companion. His muscles protested against the sudden movement but he tried not to show it how much it pained him. It was barely a moment later that they were dragged into a small cell.
Aragorn was dropped ceremoniously on his knees, hissing sharply. The door was banged shut and Aragorn tried to push himself to his feet but he overbalanced and dropped onto his side. He lay there panting for a moment as Legolas rose to his feet effortlessly.
The elf glanced around the room, his lips curling in disdain. Aragorn glanced up at the booted feet close to his head before Legolas dropped down to his knees besides the man and asked. "Are you alright?"
"The moment I can get up and see about where we are and perhaps explain our situation to our captors I'll feel a lot better, I'm sure about that." Aragorn grumbled. A quick hand on his shoulder helped him up and quick hands untied him.
"How did you manage to untie yourself?" The man asked, stunned.
"They did not tie the knot very well. It seems that they hardly had any dealings with elves before and do not realize that they are stronger than men. I thought it best if I did not show this skill when we were in the room with all those armed guards. I have some preservation skills, even if my father does not agree with me."
Aragorn rubbed at his wrists to encourage the bleeding to return to his hands and fingers. He glanced around the cell. It was a small room with one window that had been barred and a pile of sheets on the floor that was supposed to serve as the bed. The bucket in one of the corners was the privy and Aragorn rose to his feet.
"Now what are we going to do to get out of this predicament? I doubt that we can trick these men into releasing us."
"Well, somebody has been stealing their cattle and they mistook them for us. Our only hope at the moment is, except for explaining ourselves, if the culprits strike again." Legolas settled down against the wall gracefully.
Aragorn eyed the dirty sheets and then chose one that was less dirty and tossed it towards Legolas. The elf caught it easily before disposing it neatly into a pile next to him. Aragorn sat down, folding the sheet across his shoulders for extra shelter as he crossed his long legs over each other. They had taken all their weapons and their packs, though not all.
Legolas had decided to hide some of their more important packs in the trees until they had scouted the village. Though they had not gotten very far until they had been caught by the large crowd and dragged before the leader. The only packs they had on them at the moment were the ones with the food supplies.
Their journey from the palace had been uneventful and they had made good timing. If they kept the pace up, they would arrive in Laketown in less than three days. There was plenty of time to arrive before the council was due to begin in two weeks.
"Who would do such a thing? Why would an elf see it fit to steal cattle?" Aragorn looked up at this friend. He had never heard, even with all his years in living with the elves, about thieving elves. Sure, there were elves that were bad or even evil but elves that thieved on men, well it was almost unheard of.
"I doubt that it is a real elf. If these people really do not have had many dealings with the elves of Mirkwood then it would be very surprising if they would recognize one at a distance. These woods are dark and their eyes are unaccustomed to it. I think that somebody may have tricked them."
"But how can we proof that?"
"Except for breaking out and catching them ourselves, like I said, hope that they will strike again. Though they probably will find a way to blame us for it. But we should wait till morning. At least we have a warm place to sleep and a dry place."
"I'm used to sleeping in the wild."
"I'm sure you are but you haven't fully recovered yet and sleeping outside when it rains isn't beneficial for your health."
"You sound my like father or my brothers." Aragorn murmured. He glanced towards the elf in the gloom that penetrated the cell. His eyesight was keen but he knew that Legolas could see him without a doubt.
"Well, it is obvious that somebody needs to look out for you." Legolas' smile was friendly but grim as the elf glanced around the cell.
"I bet you that if I had not been seen with you then I would not be in this predicament. Perhaps I should shout out that I've caught the elf who has been stealing."
"In case you have forgotten there was a human with that elf as well. And besides, I'm your friend. You would not do such a thing." Legolas' tone was amused but Aragorn knew that it was just a way for them to pass the time. It meant that they did not have to think of the horrible situation they were in and how they were going to get out of this.
Aragorn curled up further in on himself. He would never have thought that he would end up in a situation like this. Sure, in some parts of the country the rangers were mistrusted and hunted but he had never expected this.
"Perhaps my father was right and we should have brought guards with us."
"I doubt that they could have protected us. We would have most likely drawn far too much attention to ourselves instead of simply sneaking in."
"Yes, because that went so very well."
"Hush you both or you will be brought back to the leader again and he won't be pleased with ya!" Aragorn glanced at Legolas and the elf shook his head. They both fell silent. Aragorn crossed his feet again to try and find a comfortable position.
Somebody whistled outside of the window and Aragorn glanced up. He had spent far too much time in the wild not to recognize the human tone to the whistling. Legolas rose to his feet and approached the window as he said. "Who is there?"
"I know who did it."
"Then tell us!"
"I can't, but if you wait till nightfall I can show you, unless you do not wish to break free."
But as Aragorn looked at Legolas, he couldn't help but think it was perhaps not such a good idea to trust this man on his word because somehow, he had a feeling he was going to walk in a trap.
So the next chapter features them breaking out. I hope you liked it. Review please.