Prisoners with a New Perspective

Thanks to Lukey for beta reading

Estel found himself being pulled along by an orc, wondering how the orcs had sneaked up on him. His mind was in a frenzied panic, only vaguely aware of the brambles cutting his skin. The once luscious forest was marred by Orcs; even the limbs of the trees seemed to droop dejectedly.

He was in a rather akward position, since he was half-running and half-being dragged, but after a few fumbling efforts he managed to pull a small knife out of his boot and drive it through the orc’s neck. Another Orc’s sword swung towards his feet, and Estel jumped over it and then blocked another blow on his right. Finally, he was struck by the flat side of a sword, and with his last conscious thoughts he wondered why they wanted him alive.

Elladan and Elrohir fared much the same. Both gave a violent struggle, but they were too far outnumbered. Elladan received a glancing blow across his forehead, while Elrohir’s orcs simply broke his ankles so he could not get away. Defeated, they could only wait to see what would happen.

*****

Elrohir was in excruciating pain. Only his elvish hardiness kept it from being completely unbearable. He willed his tears to stop and breathed deeply, concentrating on the connection between his fea and hroa.*

With the pain thus lessened to a more bearable level, he glanced hopelessly around the cave he was in. He could not explore extensively because of his injuries and bonds. He and his brothers had been roughly thrown into a a small crevice off of a larger portion. The whole area reeked of orcs. The little light coming from torches in the main area revealed a camp of about seventy-five orcs. He could barely make out Estel limply propped up against the stone wall. Elladan sat between the two, wearing a distant, thoughtful look.

Just then Estel began to stir. Elladan reached over to him, gentle despite the previous arguments.

"Elladan? Is Elrohir here, too?" Estel asked.

"Yes, I’m here. How are you feeling?" Elrohir replied.

"I’ll have a bruise for a while, but for the most part I am well. I am not feeling queasy at all."

"I wish there was a bit more light so I could examine you properly," sighed Elladan. "Although it would still be difficult with my hands bound."

Estel slouched wearily. "I want to tell both of you that I’m sorry for overreacting earlier."

"I’m sorry too," Elladan said and Elrohir agreed, "I should have taken your feelings into account."

"I suppose we had better try to think our way out of this, but I don’t know how with all our injuries and so many orcs," lamented Elrohir.

****

After the others were captured, Legolas discreetly followed the orcs all the way to the cave they were held captive in. Although he hated to admit it to himself, he could not rescue them from that many orcs single-handedly. Instead, he took careful note of the cave’s location and headed back to Rivendell, hoping the orcs would not change locations before he could return. Alone and unhindered, he should be able to make it to Imladris in ten hours or so. He was thankful they had not had time to go far. Once in Rivendell, they could return on horses, so it would take very little time at all.

In truth, he felt somewhat guilty for not fighting the orcs when they attacked, or even successfully warnig the three brothers. Intellectually he knew that to try to fight the orcs would have only resulted in being captured along with the brothers, thus eliminating any chance of going for help. However, that did not make it much easier to bear; he felt like a coward and a traitor. Pushing his guilt aside, he quickened his pace. He did not wish to arrive with help too late to aid his friends.

*body and spirit. The connection is stronger in elves, which is part of what makes them so resilient.