Estel grimaced as the arrow in his leg was jostled by the men who forced him forward.

He could see Jakov standing in front of the fire, arms crossed and a look of pure anger on his face.

The moment Estel was in front of him Jakov slammed his fist into his face. Estel gasped and collapsed on the ground.

"I should kill you now."
Jakov growled.
Estel raised his hand to his face, feeling the blood that was flowing from his face.

"After you're dead I'll go back and kill the rest of your friends. I'm sure that their deaths won't bother you much, considering that they left you behind."

Estel ignored his words. He had told Halbarad to run and find the others. If they could get to the Rangers in time they could still save him.

But if Jakov was going to kill him then the chances of that happening were impossible.

So this is how it ends. Murdered at the hands of a mad man.

Before Jakov could do anything a voice alerted him of someone's approach. Estel rolled onto his side in order to see who was coming and was shocked to see Legolas and Brion.

Upon closer inspection Estel realized with a jolt that Brion was holding a knife to Legolas' neck.

Brion and his prisoner stopped walking a few feet away from Jakov and his men, Legolas' expression was as calm and unreadable as usual.

Perhaps this is a trick so that they can get to me.

Estel held onto that idea, hoping that it was true. He knew that Brion didn't like or trust Legolas, but surely he wouldn't hand him over to Jakov to save him.

"What do you want?"
Jakov shouted.
"And why do you have the elf prisoner?"
Brion tightened his grip on Legolas who remained silent.
"I've come to offer you a trade. The elf for my companion."

Jakov stared at him skeptically.
"Do you honestly expect me to believe this? This is obviously a trick to rescue your friend."

"I can assure you that this elf is no friend of mine and I would gladly kill him right now."

Brion grinned smugly as he noticed the fear that flickered past Jakov's eyes.

"But that wouldn't serve you well at all would it?"
Brion pressed the blade tighter against Legolas' neck.
"You need him alive, and to see him die now, after you got this close to capturing him, well..."

Jakov glared at Brion, then Legolas, and finally Estel. Everyone held their breath as they waited for Jakov to give his answer.

"Give me the elf and I'll give you your friend."
Brion shook his head.
"Bring him to me and then I'll give you the elf once he is safe and out of your hands."

Jakov scowled and Brion caused a small cut to appear on Legolas' neck, drawing blood.

"Time's running out Jakov. Give into my terms or the elf dies."
Sighing in frustration Jakov grabbed Estel by the shoulder and dragged him over.

Estel couldn't believe what was happening. He met Legolas' eyes and searched them for any sign that this was all a trick but he found nothing.

"I brought him to you."
Jakov threw Estel down at Brion's feet.
"Now give me the elf."

Brion smiled apologetically.
"Sorry, but I have other plans."
Brion struck Legolas on the head with the handle of his knife, rendering him unconcious, then he threw the knife into Jakov's stomach.

The man stumbled backwards in shock, clutching at his stomach in pain and surprise. Minutes later he fell onto his knees and then collapsed onto his face, dead.

Estel couldn't comprehend what had just happened, and before he even had a chance to something struck him on the head as well.

Sending him into peaceful oblivion.

»»»»

When Estel came to himself he was once again bound, and the pain in his leg had intensified.

Black clouded the edge of his vision as he tried to move his head, he saw someone stalking towards him.

Brion....

"I was beginning to think that you'd never awake."
Brion grinned mockingly.
"Why- are you- doing this?"
Estel gasped.

Brion chuckled.
"From what I've heard selling slaves in Harad and Rhun brings in a lot of money."
Brion's face turned angry as he glared down at Estel.

"I'm tired of living like a vagabond in the wilderness. It's time that I started making my own decisions."

Brion moved away from Estel and disappeared for a moment, when he returned he was dragging Legolas with him.

"Make yourself useful and tend to his injuries elf."
Brion shoved him roughly onto the ground.
"And remember, you are being watched. If you try to escape my men will shoot and kill you."

Brion stomped away and both Estel and Legolas glared at him as he went.

"Let me see your wound."
Legolas said calmly.
Estel shifted onto his back, allowing Legolas to closely inspect the injury.

"Do you have any experience in healing?"
Estel asked.
"I was a warrior in my home, not a healer."
Came the reply Estel hadn't been hoping for.

"I can treat minor injuries but curing sickness and serious wounds are beyond me."
Legolas continued as he watched Brion approach with a pack of healing supplies.

He threw the pack down beside the elf and stalked off again. Legolas ignored him as he shifted through the pack.

"Are you telling me that you have never treated an arrow wound before?"
"I have removed arrows before if that is the answer you are looking for."
"Actually, it's not."

Legolas said nothing as he grabbed several items and placed them on the ground beside him. Estel couldn't tell if he was being serious or not.

Being raised by elves Estel had come to find that most of them had an odd sense of humor, Elladan and Elrohir especially.

With Elrohir it was easy to tell when he was joking or not, the poor elf couldn't keep a straight face when jesting even his life depended on it.

With Elladan it was nearly impossible to tell when he was joking or being completely serious.

Elladan could tell someone that they were ugly and smelled funny in a way that made it sound like he was about to stab them.

Over time Estel had been able to figure out when an elf was being serious or not, but with Legolas it was difficult to tell what was going on in that elf's head.

Of course I haven't known him that long.

Estel's thoughts were interrupted as Legolas placed a hand firmly on his shoulder.

"The arrow is not in deep, I can pull it out but it is going to hurt. Are you ready?"

Estel nodded, set his jaw, and closed his eyes.
"One... Two..."
Estel yelled in pain as the arrow was suddenly yanked out.

"WHY DID YOU DO THAT?"
Estel shouted unable to contain his anger.
"If I had done it on "three" it would have hurt more."
Legolas replied calmly.

HOW COULD THAT HAVE POSSIBLY HURT MORE?

"I need to know what I need to clean the wound."
Legolas held out the various herbs he had been given in front of Estel's face.

Estel squinted as he tried to focus on the leaves in the dim light; at least dawn was not far off.

Estel pointed out which ones Legolas needed to use and how much.

Legolas worked quietly, doind exactly as he was told by Estel. Once the wound had been cleaned Legolas wrapped his leg with a bandage and helped Estel into a sitting position.

Estel winced as his leg was moved but was glad to see that it had been properly binded.

"Are you certain that you've never done this before?"
Estel asked in amazement, but it quickly turned to confusion as he noticed the elf's eyes become clouded.

"Legolas?"
The elf jumped and shook his head.
"Someone taught me once."
Was all he said.

Estel was about to ask him what was wrong when Brion returned.
"Is he well enough to walk?"
He snapped.
"If he does not rest then his wound will not heal properly."
Legolas replied, not bothering to hide the annoyance in his voice.

"He either walks or he dies."
Turning to Estel he added,
"It's your choice."
Estel narrowed his eyes at him.
"I can walk."

Estel struggled to stand, forgetting for a moment that his hands were bound. Legolas helped him stand and straightened him when he stumbled.

Estel nodded his thanks but Legolas was grabbed from behind by two men who tied his hands together behind his back.

Brion smirked at them.
"Here's something unheard of. A man and an elf; injured and captive with no hope of escape."

Neither Estel or Legolas said nothing as they were shoved forward. Estel hissed as he put weight on his wounded leg.

"We're not stopping until we reach the Misty Mountains."
Brion announced.
"Once we are beyond them it will be impossible for anyone to come and rescue these two."

Brion grinned maniacally as he turned on his heel and led his new band of followers, and their prisoners, further south and away from rescue.