Slow and painful was the journey to the Misty Mountains.
Estel's wound was constantly burning and despite it being properly treated three days ago, Estel could feel fever creeping in.

Brion couldn't hide his pleasure of having not only the Chief of the Dunedain captive, but also an elf.

Legolas was barely given a moments rest from the taunts and blows that came from Brion and his men.

As if that wasn't enough Brion forced the elf to carry most of their supplies on his back, yet Legolas' only reaction to Brion's treatment of him was silence.

Estel oftened wondered if Legolas was planning an escape, of course Brion was keeping an extra close eye on his prisoners.

True to his word they didn't stop until they reached the beginning of the Misty Mountains. Brion ordered for his men to camp down for the night.

Some men took the packs that Legolas had been carrying and took them to the far side of their camp. Others led the two prisoners over to a small pile of boulders and forced them to sit down.

Legolas' hands were once again bound behind his back, his ankles were tied together as well.

Estel noticed that Legolas was carefully studying how the man tied the rope around his ankles. The man in question was casting uneasy glances at the elf, who was feeling uncomfortable under Legolas' uncanny stare.

Once he saw that the prisoners were firmly secure he left to join the others by the fire. Estel watched silently as some men set out to hunt for some supper.

When was the last time I've had meat?

Estel shook his head.
Now was not the time to be thinking about food; although he was hungry.

He knew that Brion would give them food and water soon, they were worth nothing to him dead after all.

As if on cue Brion tossed a small pack over to one of the men and ordered, "Go feed the prisoners. And make sure that they don't escape or you'll pay for it by taking their place."

The man grumbled under his breath as he carried the pack over to Estel and Legolas.

He threw the pack down at their feet and then proceeded to untie their hands.

"Don't try anything stupid."
He warned them.
"If you as much lift a finger to try and escape you'll regret it."

Estel remained silent as the man struggled to untie his hands.
He cursed under his breath then called over his shoulder,
"Hey Aros! Come over here and untie your stupid knots!"

The man who had bound them earlier, Aros, groaned as he got up from where he was sitting by the fire and stomped over.

"What's wrong? Can't untie a simple knot?" He jeered.
"Simple?!"
Aros ignored him as he untied Estel's hands almost effortlessly.

He then moved on to Legolas and did the same, only he seemed to be nervous untying the elf's hands.

But all Legolas did was sit quietly as he massaged his wrists.
"Don't waste your time with that elf."
Aros grabbed Legolas' wrists and bound them together once again in front of him.

"Aren't you going to do the same thing to him?"
The other man asked nodding his head towards Estel.
"He's injured what's he going to do?"

Aros walked away leaving him with the prisoners. The man continued to grumble as he handed some stale bread and some water to each of the prisoners.

Estel ate his bread slowly, relishing every minute of his hands being free from the cruel biting of Aros' ropes.

He seems to have a certain way of tying knots.

Estel thought taking another small bite of his bread.

If we could figure out how he did it perhaps we can escape.

Legolas had been watching intently as Aros had tied his hands and ankles together, Estel could only hope that he had figured something out.

He had faith that Halbarad had reached the other Rangers by now and was probably leading a rescue party right now.

Estel sighed dejectedly. Even if he was it would take several days for them to catch up with them. And once they entered the mountains it would be next to impossible for anyone to find their trail.

It seems as though are only hope is to find a way to escape on our own.

But could they? Could they really escape on their own?
They were outnumbered, injured, and bound. Even if they did escape where would they go?

Estel sighed once again as he finished off his bread. As he drank the water he had been given their "guard" called for Aros to come and retie his hands.

Estel couldn't see how Aros bound his hands behind his arms, and could only hope to catch a glance of him tying Legolas' hands behind his back in order to see what he did.

But to his surprise Aros left the elf as he was. Both men rejoined the rest of their companions by the fire while Estel and Legolas sat down in the cold.

Estel shivered as an icy wind blew from the mountains. Legolas was not bothered by it one bit as he studied his bound hands.

"Can you get free?"
Estel whispered, knowing that he wouldn't have to speak loud in order for Legolas to hear him.

Without looking Estel's way he answered, "I may be able to. I watched how he tied the ropes and I could probably untie myself, but I would have to work on them for awhile."

The news lifted Estel's spirits, but the sight of Brion approaching made them fall back down once again.

"Are you two comfortable? Is there anything I could get you? Water, blankets, maybe a small fire to warm yourselves with?"

Estel ignored his mocking tone and focused his gaze on the mountains that towered above them.

"Tomorow we begin our journey through the Misty Mountains."
Brion grinned smugly as he searched their faces for any sign of emotion.

Unfortunately for him he found none. All he recieved from both man and elf were hard stares.

"It's a shame that Halbarad couldn't reach the Rangers fast enough."
Brion shook his head with his hands clasped behind his back.
"Perhaps they could have saved you from your fate."

"You could still end this Brion."
Estel said quietly yet boldly.
"Let us go and end this madness."

Brion laughed in a way that assured Estel that the man was in fact mad.

"It's too late for that. I have what I want and I'm not letting it get away that easily."

Brion turned away from Estel and approached Legolas, who was sitting quietly and didn't seem to be paying anything any mind at all.

"I don't like elves."
Brion narrowed his eyes at Legolas.
"They're too strange and secretive. For all we know you're all in league with the enemy."

Legolas still said nothing which only added to Brion's anger.
"You think that you're above me don't you elf? Well I'm not the one bound and at the mercy of a man who has none."

Legolas' only reponse was a single blink of his eyes.
Brion growled and Estel prepared himself for what was coming.

The man slammed his fist into Legolas' face. Brion's triumphant grin vanished in an instant as Legolas merely shook his head used the back of his bound hands to wipe some of the blood off of his face.

Brion swung his fist at him again, knocking the elf onto his side. Legolas grunted but he still didn't do anything to show that he was in pain.

But that was what Brion wanted. he wanted to make the elf scream, cry, and beg him for mercy.

He kicked the elf hard in the ribs but received the same reaction as before. Brion clearly didn't know how stubborn and resiliant elves could be.

Estel hoped that the man would give up and leave Legolas alone but Brion was far from giving up.

He took out a knife and rolled Legolas onto his back. He pinned him down by placing his knee firmly on Legolas' chest.

He held his bound hands out of the way as he raised his knife inches from Legolas' right eye.

"If you don't beg me for mercy I'll take one of your pretty eyes out. Then I'll cut off your pointy ears and take your other eye
out."

Brion clutched his knife tighter and waited for Legolas to start begging, he searched for any sign of fear in the elf's eyes but still found none.

Estel could only watch in helplessly from where he sat a few feet away. There had to be something he could do!

Then it hit him, his legs were not bound together like Legolas' were. It would put a lot of strain on his injured leg but it was the only way he could reach the elf.

Mustering all the strength and courage that he could, Estel pushed himself onto his feet and ran as fast as he could towards Brion.

The man had barely anytime to react as Estel barreled into him, knocking him off of Legolas and onto the ground.

Brion shouted in anger as he threw Estel off of him. The Ranger gasped as his injured leg hit the ground.

Brion stood over him and dealt a hard kick to his ribs. Estel bit his tongue to keep from crying out as Brion kicked him again.

"I can kill you, I don't need you like I need the elf."
Brion kicked him again, only this time on the back of his head.
Stars exploded in Estel's head as the end of Brion's boot connected with the back of his head for a second time.

Please just let me pass out....

Brion prepared himself to deal the killing blow. Estel braced himself but was surprised that the kick never came.

What happened?

He risked looking up at Brion, only to find that the man was staring in bewilderment as a pool of blood began to form on his chest.

Legolas was standing behind him, still clutching the handle of the knife in his hand.

»»»»

"I never liked you either Brion."
Legolas said quietly.
"Although I would not have killed you if you had just let me go."

Legolas pulled the knife out of the man's chest and watched as he crumbled onto the ground.

The other men had watched the entire scene play out in stunned silence with mouths hanging opened.

None of them were upset about the loss of their leader, but were more afraid of what the elf would do to them.

But for his part Legolas ignored the men. Instead he crouched down and cut Estel's hands free from their binds.

Legolas could tell that there was something seriously wrong with the man, his skin was warm despite the cold, his eyes were closed, and his body was trembling.

Legolas looked up at the men in front of him and he could tell that they were thinking the same thing.

He was theirs for the taking, he was injured and outnumbered. They would leave Estel here to die and take him to Harad themselves.

Unless you left him.

Legolas glanced down at Estel. Why shouldn't he leave him? He was dying anyway and he had himself to think about.

What is wrong with you?! When will you realize that your life isn't the only one that matters? He is a part of this world just as you are.

Legolas looked down at the unconcious form below him. Despite his misgivings and reluctance he couldn't leave him here to die.

Time was running out, the men were growing restless, they were about to pounce.

Legolas couldn't hold the knife and carry Estel at the same time. He would have to leave the weapon behind.

Taking in a deep breath Legolas threw the knife with all of his strength into the nearest man's stomach.

Without waiting to see how to men would respond Legolas placed one hand behind Estel's back and the other under his legs.

He spun around and ran as fast as he could while holding tightly onto Estel. The enraged shouts of men followed behind him, on his own he would have been able to outrun them easily.

But his burden made the simple task of running even more difficult.

An arrow flew past his head and landed a few feet ahead of him but he didn't stop running.

The men's shouts became fainter and fainter as he continued running, they didn't have the energy or endurance to keep going.

But one man wasn't about to give up yet. It happened so fast and sudden that Legolas almost didn't feel the pain as an arrow became embedded in his shoulder.

He stumbled and nearly dropped Estel. He managed to regain his footing and keep running, much to the dismay of the men.

Legolas paid their angered shouts no heed as he continued to run, he had escaped, he was free.

»»»»

Legolas knew where he was going, but he wasn't sure whether it was the best idea.

Estel needed help, he was fading fast and Legolas could do nothing to treat him.

But he knew that Elrond could, and he knew that they were near Imladris.

If he brought Estel near Elrond's home he could leave him there and run. He wouldn't have to face the Elf Lord again, or Gandalf if he was still there.

He could disappear again, vanish like a ghost into the night.
Yet the closer he got to Rivendell the more reluctant he became of leaving Estel alone.

What if he wasn't found in time? What if he died?
It would be his fault for leaving him when he could have brought him safely to Elrond.

Legolas had almost forgotten that he himself was wounded, his face was no longer bleeding but was in bad shape.

He still had an arrow stuck in his shoulder though, and he was losing a lot of blood.

If you left you would die. Alone and cold in the wilderness. Is that what you want?

Or will you finally stop running and allow someone to help you?

Legolas stumbled and nearly stopped walking as The Last Homely House came into view.

Could he do it? Could he truly walk in there willingly?

You do not have to be afraid Legolas. They only want to help, you must let them.

Legolas blindly stumbled forward as snow began to fall from the clouds.

He made up his mind.
No more running.
No more hiding.
He was done being alone.
He was done with being hunted.

He would let them help him, he wouldn't fight this battle on his own anymore.

Legolas' legs began to tremble, his entire body screamed in protest as he continued to push on.

He would not lay down and give up, not now.
Not when he was so close to safety, so close to healing.

As he approached the gates he was unaware of elves running towards him.

He didn't feel their arms around him as they steadied him and kept him from falling.

He didn't feel them take Estel from his arms and carry him away.

He didn't feel himself being lifted intonthe air as he slipped into darkness.