Breaking the Barriers

Legolas came around slowly, his mind groggy from whatever had been forced down his throat. He focused his mind on Estel—his warm gray eyes, the feel of his rough hands, his beard, his smell, how easily he gave his love, and how secure Legolas felt lying in his arms. These things helped calm the Elf and helped maintain their bond.

Someone came into the room. Legolas opened an eye a slit and saw that it was the same one who had come before.

“I know you’re awake; I can feel your mind.” The creature smirked over the beauty of the Elf and what he planned to do to him. “I am the Witch King of Angmar. And I have something special planned for you, Prince of Mirkwood.”

Legolas had heard of him. He had heard stories of him as a child, of how the creature would capture elves and turn them into orcs. Now the Witch King moved before Legolas and placed a light kiss on his lips. Legolas felt himself retch, but still feigned unconsciousness.

"We will come back to this later." The Witch King walked out of the room.

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Estel got up and made his way to the central fire. He had spent a restless night worrying about Legolas. Halbarad noticed Estel and waved him close.

“From the looks of you, you slept uneasy last night, my friend.” Halbarad noticed the dark circles under his eyes. “You need to get some rest or you will have no energy when you need it.”

“I know,” Estel said. “I cannot sleep without him near.” He looked into the fire and did his best to fight back tears.

“We will find him,” Halbarad promised again.

Estel looked at the Dúnedan and nodded, seeing the truth in his eyes.

“Thank you. I believe you.” Estel suddenly felt more hopeful. “I will do my best to be strong for him, and for you all who are risking so much to get him back.”

Estel took Halbarad’s head and placed a kiss on his forehead. It was a gesture of faith.

“Thank you, Estel. I will not forget this.” Halbarad said silently. This little motion gave him a warm feeling of brotherhood.

“I think I will go lie down for a bit. I’m getting a little sleepy.” With that said, Estel went and curled into the arms of his teacher. Glorfindel took him back into his arms and kissed his forehead.

Sometime during that sleep, Estel heard someone call his name. He wasn’t sure if it was a dream or not so he brushed it aside for now. Then it came again.

//Mellon nin, are you there?//

//Yes, I’m here.// Estel heard. It was his love.

//Call my name. The name you gave me. I need to know it’s you.//

Estel didn’t know what he meant. Then from some memory back in Rivendell only one name came to mind.

//Mallos, is that you?//

//Yes but what about you? How do I know it's you?//

Estel knew what he was talking about. //Not many people knwo who I really am. Who am I?//

//You are Aragorn, son of Arathorn, next King of Gondor.//

//Yes// Estel knew it was him.

//Yes my love. You need to tell the Dúnedain that the Witch-king of Angmar is behind all this. He means to do something to me. Hurry!//

Glorfindel felt his companion rise up from their bed and sat up with him.

“What’s wrong, Estel?” Glorfindel asked watching the blank stare that Estel had on his face.

“I have just been in contact with…” Somehow Estel couldn’t say his name because not having him in his arms ached to much.

“Legolas, is that who it was?” Glofindel asked seeing the scared look in his bedmate's eyes.

“Yes. He said to tell you all that the Witch-king of Angmar has him hostage and plans on doing something with him soon. Who is this man?”

“We need to tell Halbarad of this. Let's go!” Glorfindel noticed the change in his student's energy after the mind bonding.

They made their way to the fire where some of the men were already up and eating.

“Men, Estel has been in contact with Legolas,” Glorfindel said, taking a seat next to Estel and looking around at the gathered group. “He has confirmed what Halbarad and I have suspected, that it is the Witch King of Angmar who has captured him.”

He heard the gasps of the men as if a shadow passed over them.

“He means to do something to the Prince. We have to get him back before this happens. We need to make a plan.”

Halbarad sat next to Glorfindel as he addressed the Dúnedain.

“Did you know it was Legolas that was speaking to you? We have heard stories that the Witch-king can put spells on someone and use them.” Halbarad asked Estel.

“Yes, it was him. He wanted to know if it was me he was talking to. He needed confirmation and I told him something that only him and I know.” Estel was making sure that what he heard in his dream was real. Then he realized that his energy was back. The mind bonding must have been enough to strengthen his fëa.

“That is good,” Halbarad said. “I also have news. Last night one of the men spotted tracks leading into the hills and to a cave. That must be where the Witch King is. We will break into two groups. Estel, you will go with the first group. Glorfindel and I and six others will join that group. Haldir will lead another group, along with my second.” Halbarad stood and went to speak with the latter.

“Estel, I will now tell you about the Witch-king. You will need to know this if you are going with the first group.” Glorfindel proceeded to tell him the story about how a king of men was turned into the Witch-king of Angmar.

Estel listened closely to the telling of this vile creature. He had never heard of great power that could consume the enemy. When he had finished, Estel’s eyes were as big as Ithil. He could not believe that the Witch-king had done all those things from turning elves into orcs to the destruction of Minas Ithil. Then he looked at Glorfindel with hate in his eyes!

“I can’t let him do that to my love. I would rather die than to see him like that.” Estel couldn’t believe what he had just said. He turned his eyes to the ground and picked up a twig to snap in half. Tears started flowing from his eyes.

“Estel, I want you to be strong for me. I can’t have you going in there and rescuing Legolas in this state. I need you to have a clear mind. We must be silent.” Glorfindel was trying to reassure the man before him that everything was going to be ok and gathered him into his arms. “Use this fear for Legolas as your strength. Turn it into courage if you can. You have to be strong.” Glorfindel was rubbing Estel’s back trying to relax him.

“Yes. With that little mind bonding we had has strengthened me a bit,” Estel said and took a deep breath. His nerves calmed a bit and he closed his eyes. He was trying to remember his Adar’s teachings on relaxing. He needed strength from the Valar to go and get his one true love back. Why is it that I can’t say his name? he thought to himself. He tried many times but couldn’t do it. He opened his eyes and looked at Glorfindel.

“How are you feeling now, Estel?” Glorfindel asked seeing the calming effect.

“I am better. I am ready to face whatever danger we meet so that I may save him from being turned into anything . . . unnatural.” Estel went to find Halbarad.

They were with the other group and listened to what Halbarad was saying. When he finished, they all headed out. They would follow the tracks that led into the hills and to the cave. The second group led by Haldir would stay outside to make sure that no one escaped.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Legolas had stirred from his slumber. He noticed that someone was in the room again. He raised his head and noticed someone testing the ropes on the table.

This orc noticed that the elf was awake. “Now we will see what you are made of, elf.” With that said, he came over to the elf and took his arms out of the shackles.

Legolas noticed that his arms were limp from being up for so long. It would be some time before the circulation in them would return. Then he felt himself being hoisted up over the shoulder of the orc and placed down on the table facing up. His hands were retied beside his body and his ankles were put into shackles. This position put his legs dangling over the edge of the table. But when he moved his legs he realized that the chains were longer than he thought. Then he heard a tearing of fabric. His leggings were being torn from his body! This put him naked on the table.

The orc came up to the elf and wiped his face with a wet cloth. He was cleaning him up to make him presentable. Going to another table, he grabbed a bottle. The orc came back to him and told the elf to drink.

Legolas tried to turn his head but was unsuccessful. The orc held his head and told him to drink. Knowing that he had no strength left, Legolas looked at him and opened his mouth. He knew that he would be punished if he refused. He drank the liquid and it made him feel groggy again. After the orc had finished, he took the vial with him and left the room.

Legolas didn’t know how much time had passed until he felt someone enter the room. His vision was blurred so he didn’t see who stood next to him at the table. From the smell of his visitor he had known that it was the Witch-King.

The Witch-king entered the room and stood next to the table. He wanted to touch the elf but thought better of it. If he was going to change him, then he shouldn’t touch him.

“I know it’s you, Witch-king. I can smell you.”

“Good. That will make the process much better that you know your surroundings. I am actually going to tell you what I plan on doing with you. I am going to turn you into an orc and during that time I am going to have you. I hear that the body of an elf is a pleasure to have. I will make you my second in command when I’m finished with you. What do you think of that?” The Witch-king knew that the elf would make a great second because of his warrior training he got when he lived in Mirkwood. Whether the elf will be strong is another matter.

“I will fight you with every fiber of my being before you do that to me. I have friends that are on their way as we speak.” He started to thrash on the table but noticed he didn't have the strength. He noticed that the shackles on his ankles were loose. The chains must be long.

“I know about the Dúnedain and your lover.”

Legolas was shocked when he spoke of his lover. How did he know? Did he probe my mind when I was weak from the first potion?

“How do you know about them? I haven’t told you anything. What makes you think that you can turn me before they get here?” Legolas spoke boldly to drive out his fear.

“Because I have seen them from afar and this process will only take a day to complete. Between Sauron and me, we have come up with a quicker process to turn the elves of this world. Haven’t you noticed that there are fewer elves in Middle Earth than before?” The Witch-king was walking around the table taking in every angle of the elf. In the dim light he was admiring the beauty of his skin.

Legolas was trying to shut down his mind. He was attempting to detach himself before the creature could take hold of it. But for some unforeseen reason, he couldn’t. The liquid that was fed to him was probably preventing him from doing this.

The Witch-king stood at the head of the table and placed both his hands very close to the elf’s head. He leaned on his elbows and closed his eyes. He concentrated on his abilities to turn the elf.

Legolas felt the energy flow into his mind. The pain was excruciating. It made him yell like all the sounds of Middle Earth were put into his throat. Then he made no more noise. The one scream had made his throat sore. He tried to move his head but for some unknown reason it felt like it was nailed to the table. Only his eyes moved but when the pain came again, he squeezed his eyes shut and moaned.

The Witch-king had preformed this ritual many times before but he was having a hard time trying to possess this elf. He was pouring all of his energy into the elf except there was resistance. He let go of the hostage before him, not knowing how much of the process had taken hold.

“I will return to finish the ritual later.” The Witch-king took one more look at the elf on the table before he left. He would have to figure out if the process will be concluded later. Right now the Witch-king needed rest. The elf’s resistance had used up most of his energy.

*****

tbc