The moment that the orcs left them Estel immediately called out to Legolas, who was tied to a tree about six feet away.

"Legolas, are you alright?"
Estel guessed that the orcs would be listening so he spoke in elvish.
"I smell like an orc and have never been more disgusted in my life. Other than that I am well."
Came the elf's response.

Estel narrowed his eyes at his friend.
"Tell me the truth Legolas. Did they hurt you? Are you wounded?"

Legolas looked down at his feet while Estel waited patiently for an answer.

"What about you Estel? You are clearly more hurt than I am."
"Do not try to make this about me Legolas. I know I am not alright and I'm willing to admit it. Now tell me the truth."

Legolas sighed in defeat as he finally conceded.
"They did not harm me severly. Their leader would not allow it. I was left bound and gagged until they brought me out to you."
Estel knew that there was something Legolas was not telling him.

He opened his mouth to ask but was interupted by Legolas.
"Were you being honest Estel? Is their no heir of Isildur? And if there is than how do you know him?"

Estel shifted uncomfortably. He'd never told Legolas about his true identity. Elrond had said that Legolas had a right to know the truth, but it was up to him to decide when to tell his friend.

"There is an heir Legolas. He is living in exile, hiding from the dark lord."
"Do you mean Sauron?"

Estel nodded grimly.
"Why does Sauron hunt him?"
"Because he is a threat to him, and the hope for mankind."

Estel wondered if Legolas had got the hint he was giving him but his friend still seemed confused.

"Do you know where he is?"
Estel nodded.
"You will not tell the orcs where he is."
It wasn't a question.

Estel searched his friend's gaze but Legolas had once again hidden his emotions.

Why must he do that?

"I cannot tell them where he is Legolas, but I promise you that I will not let the orcs take your life."

"How can you promise that Estel? You will not tell the orcs what they want to know, and whether you told them or not wouldn't matter. Either way I am as good as dead."

Estel flinched at his friend's harsh tone, while Legolas had been speaking the elf had let his guard down and Estel could see the fear that consumed Legolas' eyes.

He was scared.
Legolas, the brave elven warrior, the prince of Mirkwood, was scared.

And why shouldn't he be? Both of them knew what the orcs had planned for him and what they wanted from him.

The leader's threat had rang loud and clear for Estel and Legolas. He would kill Legolas but as slowly and painfully as possible.

Yet it was not the suffering of the elf that the orc's desired; it was his blood.

They had seen it clearly in the eyes of the orcs. The monsters had trembled in anticipation when they had seen Legolas' blood on the dagger, and nothing would keep them from getting what they wanted.

Estel knew that even if he told them what they wanted to know Legolas would not be able to escape from them.

Legolas had realized it the moment he had been captured. Time was running out for both of them, but Legolas' was running out faster.

Estel was at a loss. He'd never seen Legolas be so fearful before. What made the situation even more unbearable was the fact that Estel was choosing to save his own life instead of Legolas', after he'd just promised to protect him.

"Legolas, there is something you need to know."
Estel waited until the elf's attention was completely focused on him.
"The reason why I cannot tell the orcs where Isildur's heir is; is because I am his heir. My father's name was Arathorn and my true name is Aragorn. I am the one whom Sauron seeks."

»»»»

Aragorn waited for the look of shock, surprise, or even confusion at his revelation. But the only emotion displayed on the elf's face was sorrow.

'It is as I thought then."
Legolas said quietly.
Instead of Legolas being surprised Aragorn was. Legolas had known?

"You knew?"
Aragorn asked in disbelief.
"How?"
Legolas closed his eyes and sighed before he explaining.

"One summer after we arrived in Rivendell after another "incident" I was waiting for you to recover from your injuries. I went to Elrond's library and I began reading about the decendents of Isildur."

"It left off saying that Arathorn had been slain by orcs and that the line was dead. I did not believe this so I asked Elladan and Elrohir about it but all they would tell me was that it did not
matter."

"Then I decided to question Elrond about the matter hoping that he would have some answers for me. When I asked him about it he told me that the line was not dead; but that a descendant of Isildur still lived and was in exile. He also told me that this "heir" would be the "hope" for men."

Legolas offered Aragorn a small smile as he tilted his head to the side.
"It did not take me long to fit the pieces together mellon nin."

Aragorn couldn't believe it. All this time Legolas had known the truth about him.

"Why didn't you ever say anything to me about it?"
Legolas shrugged.
"You never asked and I did not feel the need to inform you that I knew."

Legolas studied his friend curiously as Aragorn's mind struggled to comprehend what he was hearing.

"Listen to me, we do not have long until dawn is upon us. We must make up some kind of escape plan before the orcs come back."

"I will try and think of something Legolas. You should rest and regain some of your strength."

"You are in a far worse condition than I am."

"I mean it Legolas. Let me take care of this, please. You have risked your life for me more times than I can count and after all, it is your life that is on the line."

"Since you are the one they are looking for I would say that you are in just as much danger as I am. As for me risking my life you I do it because-"

"Of who I am? Because I am too important to die?"
Aragorn snapped. He didn't need anyone risking their lives for him just because of his "title."

Legolas however didn't even blink as he calmly stated,
"I did it because you are my friend; and because you are like a brother to me."

Legolas hung his head and Aragorn could just hear him mumble, "You remind me of Thalion."

Aragorn's face fell. Legolas had only mentioned his brother's name once, but he had heard pleanty about him.

Aragorn knew how much Legolas had loved his older brother, and how much he missed him. To be told that he reminded Legolas of the brother he lost nearly brought the man to tears.

"Legolas-"
"Aragorn."
The man was startled at hearing his true name spoken by his friend for the first time. It sounded so natural, as if that was what he had been calling him ever since they'd met.

"Aragorn, of there is a chance for you to escape I want you to take it. Even if it means leaving me behind."

"No Legolas! I will not leave you to face these orcs on your own."
"And I will not let my closest friend be killed. The world needs you more than it needs me Aragorn. You have to live."

"You have just as much right as I do to live! If you get the chance to escape then-"
"No Aragorn. I will not leave you alone."
"Neither will I."
"But you have to escape!"

"I promised to protect you Legolas!"
"And I cannot let anyone else die because of me!"
Legolas shouted.
Breathing heavily he lowered his voiced and said,
"I cannot lose my brother, not again."

Both man and elf fell silent. Each looked desperately at one another, pleading for the other to understand.

Aragorn sighed. He knew that this would get them nowhere. His mind finally came up with a solution, he could only hope that Legolas would agree.

"Listen to me Legolas, if an opportunity comes for both of us to escape together we will do it. But if only one of us is able to run then we will do it as well. Even if it means leaving the other
behind."

Aragorn awaited Legolas' answer. He knew that the elf wouldn't accept his plan, but at the moment he really had no choice.

"Alright."
Legolas said.
"Promise me that you will not do anything reckless? And that if you do get a chance to run you will and not come back for me?"
Aragorn asked.

"I will only promise it if you do the same."
"Very well then, I promise that if I am able to escape I will. Even if that means leaving you behind."
"I promise the same."

Both friends fell sient once again. Aragorn turned his head towards the east, it would be dawn soon.

"Try and get some rest Legolas. I will figure out some kind of plan."
"You should rest too Aragorn."
"I will not be able to sleep
tonight."

Legolas let out a half-hearted chuckle.
"Neither will I."

»»»»

Legolas came out of the light sleep he had been in just as the sun began to appear in the sky, revealing grey mist that surrounded the trees.

Legolas looked over at Aragorn and saw that he was asleep.
That is good, he needed to rest.

His ears picked up the heavy footfalls of orcs as they made their way towards them. Of course they would be eager to see what Aragorn's choice would be.

A shiver went down Legolas' spine as the leader appeared. He had never feared an orc as much as he did this one.

This orc was a monster, a heartless, bloodthirsty, killer.
The leader ordered two of his orcs to wake up Aragorn while he stalked over to Legolas.

The elf his his fear from the orc who stood over him, grinning in that disgusting way again.

"How are you feeling today elf? Did you manage to talk some sense into your friend?"

Legolas said nothing. He had learned long ago that sometimes silence was the best defence.

The leader didn't seem bothered by it as he reached out one of his claws and gently traced the scar he had made yesterday on Legolas' face.

"Don't forget what will happen to you if the human decides not to cooperate."

Legolas suppressed a shudder and a sigh of relief until the leader turned away from him.
Aragorn was awake now and was glaring furiously at the leader, who had just licked his lips mockingly after he'd turned away from Legolas.

"Time for you to give me your answer human. Are you going to give me what I want?"

Legolas watched his friend closely. There was a deep sadness in Aragorn's eyes as he nodded his head.

"I will take you to where I saw him last. I can track him from there and find him."

Legolas knew that this had to be part of a plan Aragorn had formed last night. He would have to trust his friend, something he had been doing for years.

"I'm glad you decided to come to your senses human."
Addressing the orcs on either side of Aragorn he shouted,
"Cut him loose."

As soon as the ropes were cut Aragorn fell onto the ground, his legs had given out after not being in use for a long time.

Legolas suddenly felt himself falling as well. Before he could catch himself he landed hard on the ground.

His hands were instantly tied together behind his back and he was forced to stand on his trembling legs by the leader.

Legolas noticed with confusion that the orcs hadn't bothered to bind Aragorn.

Why haven't they?

Aragorn would have been as confused as Legolas had he not been so angry at the orcs, the leader especially.

"You said that if I did as you said you would let him go."
Aragorn faced the leader with a look that could have melted the flesh off bones if they had that ability.

The leader was not fazed by the man's look at all and only laughed as he grabbed Legolas by the arm and pulled him forward.

Legolas almost fell over but was thankfully able to regain his balance.

"Once I have the heir of Isildur in my grasp then I will set him free. Besides, I need a way to ensure that you won't try to escape."

So that is why he did not bother binding him.
It was a cruel yet clever trick on the leader's part.
Aragorn could easily run away with his hands and feet unbound, yet he wouldn't as long as he held the elf's life in his hands.

Legolas remembered the promise that he and Aragorn had made to each other last night and hoped that the man would keep it.

There was no way that Aragorn could escape now, but if the opportunity presented itself to Argorn, Legolas prayed that he would take it.

"Let's get moving boys!"
The leader shouted dragging Legolas behind him and shoving Aragorn in front of him.
"I want to cover as much ground as we can before sundown!"

Turning to Aragorn he added,
"And if you try anything funny I can assure you that I will kill the elf, and he will suffer before he dies. Remember, whether he lives or dies is up to you."