No Way Out

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CH VII

Haldir pushed three men out of the way, but in doing so caught the attention of many more. Before he had a chance to get anywhere near Legolas, at least eight men jumped upon him. Four he easily threw off, two he was able punch and push away, however, he was tiring quickly, the lack of vitamins and minerals depleting his vitality almost instantly. True, the same could be said for the men, however they were greater in number and kept coming.

Pain blossomed on his cheek as someone snuck in a punch, and a foot landed on his stomach soon after, knocking the wind from him. Gasping for breath while doubled over, Haldir felt fists pounding upon his back, but they thankfully had very little effect. Yet the well-aimed kick to the back of his knee had him upon the ground in seconds.

"HALDIR!"

The Sindarin Elf heard Legolas’ frantic cry and it sent chills down his spine. Realising the unfortunate position he was in, Haldir struck out with all his might, deciding if he was to save the Prince he had to act now.

An arm wrapped around his throat, cutting off his air supply, however, in this instant Haldir had the advantage. Using the man’s weight, already bent over to reach the warrior’s neck, the Marchwarden easily grabbed the prisoner’s upper arms and flipped him over his shoulder.

Manoeuvring into a susof, Haldir kicked two men as he flipped from his knees to his feet on one hand, the other free to punch the moment he was righted. He punched, pushed, dodged, kicked, threw and ducked his way back to the circle where Legolas was still being held. Throwing himself into the crowd, he tried to force his way to the Prince’s side. For a split second he felt he had succeeded. However, seeing the Silvan Elf on his hands and knees, a man in front and behind him, lining up their hard cocks while many others held the struggling Prince still, shocked the Marchwarden and he faltered in his movements for a second. Recovering quickly he swung into action, the seriousness of the situation not allowing time for comprehension.

Striking out with his feet, Haldir caught the back of someone’s leg, forcing them to their knees. With easier leverage upon the man’s shoulders, Haldir was able to scramble up and over the rest of the men, leaving them fighting amongst themselves as they grabbed for his fleeing? limbs. Dropping into the centre of the hubbub, Haldir quickly lashed out at the men about to rape Legolas, hitting one in the face, kicking the other in the balls. They quickly fell to the floor in pain, one crying out louder than the other.

The men who had been holding Legolas down scrambled up to fight Haldir, but he soon pushed them back down. Men whom were watching soon got over their surprise and reached for the Marchwarden, but he skittered out of their grasp, jumping all over the place and never staying still for long. They were so many that when they attempted to engage him, they all surged at once and fell over each other.

Thinking he was safe for the time being, Haldir contemplated the best way to get Legolas away from the fray. It was not easy though, as the men who had been holding him were now piled on top of the Prince. Realising there was nothing for it, Haldir plunged his hands into the pile of humans and searched for the smoother form of Legolas. Yet before he got anywhere near the bottom of the pile, the men on the inner ring grabbed him from behind and yanked him away from their prize. Haldir cried out in frustration and swung his arms around wildly.

The doors ricocheted off the walls as they were flung open. The commotion from within had alerted the guards and many came pouring in, spears held threateningly as they surrounded the men attacking the Elves. Haldir was released at the first sign of the soldiers and he quickly moved to push the men away from Legolas, then knelt down and over the Prince’s form protectively, not sure what was to come now.

At first, Legolas was scarcely aware of the soldiers leading the inmates from the bathing chamber, his mind too frantic to concentrate on the waking world. What had just happened? His body trembled, his breath escaping in short, shallow pants, and his hands were dreadfully cold. Those men had nearly had their way with him, had come so close to taking his unwilling innocence, and with it, his life.

So many emotions clouded his mind at once. He was afraid- no, terrified, in that one instance when he was so certain he could do nothing to stop the men. Yet also, there was disappointment in himself. How could he have allowed this to happen? To allow those mortals to overcome him so easily? He was a warrior, a son to a great Lord who had fought in the greatest of wars ever seen. And yet in his terror, when utter hopelessness ensnared him, he had cried out in fear, cried out to be protected by his friend instead of mustering up the strength to fight his enemies. Thranduil, had he been present, would have looked down upon him with despondency… He was ashamed.

And suddenly he was angry, angry at himself for being so weak, angry for letting Haldir witness his weakness, and angry towards the heartless monsters who had dared to rip away his self-confidence and make a mockery of what he was. None had the right to use him in such a way. He was no one’s toy, and he would not be perceived as such.

He suddenly felt arms upon him, and he quickly flinched away as he glared up at his companion. “Do not touch me!”

“It is only I, Haldir,” the Marchwarden said calmly, fearing Legolas mistook him for his attackers. “Come, the guards are ushering us out,” Haldir spoke, pulling the Prince’s arm to get him to stand while a soldier looked at them down a spear, threatening harm should they not comply.

The Prince immediately recoiled, shrugging off the offered help as he shakily gained his footing. His chest still heaving from his ebbing panic, he looked around frantically, making certain there was enough distance between him and everyone else. At the moment he perceived everyone as an enemy, both his fear and humiliation too much to bear. Eyeing his friend quickly one last time, Legolas turned and followed the other prisoners, too distraught from the attack to notice the look of hurt on the other Elf’s face.

Clean garments had been issued whilst they were in the bathing chamber, and the young Silvan hurriedly snatched his new leggings from one of the guards and pulled them on with trembling hands along with the boots he had been wearing earlier as they stood in the hall.

Haldir kept a close eye on Legolas but respectively held his distance. Taking the clothes issued to him outside the room, he hastily put them on, not wishing to part the Prince's company whilst he was obviously in post-traumatic shock. They then followed the prisoners back to the cell. So concerned was he with Legolas’ condition that he forgot to look for any exits, for if he had, he would have seen a sliver of sunlight coming from the far end of the room from whence the guards had brought their clothes.

Unable to keep silent, Haldir tried reaching out to the Prince.

“Legolas, none of this was your fault,” he said quietly, placing a light hand on a lithe shoulder.

Without intending to, Legolas automatically shrank away from the gentle touch, his shoulders tensing. Turning his head to gaze levelly at the Marchwarden, first fear, then realization slowly setting in, he sighed dejectedly.

“Please..” The young Elf shook his head, “do not try to console me, Haldir, I do not wish to be comforted!” His voice ended in more of a shout than intended, and he ashamedly looked down at the dark floor and his well-worn boots. Sweet Eru, what is the matter with me?

“This was not your fault,” Haldir hissed, hoping to make the strong-minded Prince see sense. “Do not let your pride blind you to that truth. There was nothing more either of us could do. You should be grateful the incident went no further than it did, rather than moping like an immature brat!”

He knew he was being harsh, and that the Prince did not deserve his words. Yet he had seen too many Elves come to grief and despair over situations out of their control and refused to allow Legolas go down that same path. Even if it resulted in incurring the Silvan’s wrath.

Legolas faltered in his next step, barely catching himself before hitting the floor. The words stung, and he was deeply wounded by them. This time he whirled around on the other Elf, his eyes taking on a deep rage, scarcely aware of the dampness that gathered in them.

“You know nothing of how I feel! Do not even imply that you do! I am behaving like a child, you say? But if these people were to do the same to you, would you react any differently? I was nearly raped! Nearly lost what is rightfully mine to give away by my own free will,” Legolas cried. He was beyond caring what would happen to him at this point, it could not be any worse than what he had nearly endured in that chamber.

The guards approached, the shouting of the blond Elf attracting their attention. Legolas did not care.

“Surely you know what happens to our kind if taken against our will, Haldir? Or do you not care? So great is our grief that we fade. We cannot live with the humiliation we were forced to endure; our memories of the event will be as fresh in our minds a thousand years from now!

“I lost control! I could not defend myself and as a result I… I was nearly bound to a lustful, heartless man through a vicious act of dominance and cruelty which is supposed to be a thing of beauty and innocence with one whom I would freely give my heart to…” the last words were spoken in a broken whisper, and the tears that Legolas so desperately tried to hold back spilt down his pale cheeks as he turned away.

Losing their patience quickly, the guards separated the Elves by slipping a spear between the two bodies. Herding the prisoners onward to their cell, they pulled out the ropes and rebound the captives’ hands behind their backs before shoving them on their way once more.

Haldir reluctantly complied with the guards, but his eyes never left Legolas’ form.

“I do not know what you are feeling! Though I do know it didn’t happen. True this has been a frightful incident for you, but take comfort that you do not have to endure the same fate as many others before you!” He shouted over many heads to where Legolas was running along the corridors, his arms now scratched several times in warning by the guards’ spears. “Be thankful you shall not fade! Else next time I may not help you if this is how you treat a second chance!” He snarled. The guards grew tired of the Elf disregarding their cautioning and one harshly whacked Haldir over the head to keep him in line yet not enough to knock him out.

Those last words from the Marchwarden’s mouth felt worse than a kick in the gut to Legolas. He felt almost betrayed to think that, were he in danger of similar events partaking in the future, Haldir would not be there to defend him.

“Fine,” the Prince managed to whisper against the sudden swelling in his throat, “I need no one to protect me against such occurrences, in any case… now that I know the one whom I would have obviously has no great affection for me.”

When the guards finally forced the captives to a halt before the cell door, Legolas found himself biting down hard on his lower lip as he tolerated the guard’s close proximity to untie his bonds. The door was quickly opened and the prisoners were ushered inside, but when Haldir headed to their straw bed, the Prince did not follow him. Instead he silently walked over to a corner near the cell bars and sank to the cold stone floor, his knees protectively pressed against his chest, arms firmly wrapped around them.

He would hardly say he was safe in this cell, what with the same people who had nearly stolen his innocence in the same room with him. But at least from here the guards could hear what was happening, and they obviously cared about his survival, even if it was simply out of fear of their leader’s wrath should one of his prized fighters be killed.

His thoughts and emotions were so scattered at this point, and he could not remember being this morose since his childhood, when he had lost his mother to the giant spiders that infested the once beautiful Greenwood.

He had been so terrified when those Edain had overpowered him, had pawed him in places that he’d never allowed a soul to touch. A shudder passed down his spine at the memory of the hands on him, and his scrotum tightened up against him at the remembered fear. He had truly believed he was done for. But then Haldir saved him, and Legolas burned with the shame of appearing so weak and vulnerable before him, like a child unable to fight for his own life. The pity in the silver-haired Elf’s eyes had angered him, but when Haldir did not think to hold him in his arms, tell him everything would be alright, murmur words of comfort as he sobbed, he had been hurt.

The Prince was to blame, of course. He had refused even the slightest of touches from the older Elf. He did not want the Marchwarden’s pity. But what did he want, then? His affection, perhaps? His love? Ridiculous. That was far too much to ask of the other Elf. They barely knew each other. Besides, he doubted the Lorien soldier wanted much more to do with him after their spat. He had nearly gotten them both killed with his weakness

Haldir’s words seemed to resound inside his mind. ‘Be thankful you shall not fade! Else next time I may not help you if this is how you treat a second chance!’

“How do you know I shall not fade, Haldir?” he sighed to himself. “After all we have suffered, is it not possible that we could die in this dreadful place? Too long has the absence of the trees been for me... I am not certain how much longer I will last... especially now."

Now more than ever, Legolas wished he were an Elfling again, wrapped up in his Ada’s powerful arms as he would be soothed from a nightmare, or a scraped knee as he sobbed into a broad chest.

Perhaps he was being immature, but could he truly be blamed after what he had endured? Burying his face into his knees, Legolas closed his eyes tightly and inhaled a shaky breath. He knew not what to do anymore. He would survive this place, if only for the sake of his family back home. If his innocence was to be taken, so be it. His father would not be able to handle another death. He would survive for him.

Haldir walked to their previous sitting place and immediately took out the water bag for Legolas to drink from. However, a few moments passed before he realised the Prince would not be joining him. Groaning inwardly, the Marchwarden took a few sips in a vain effort to stop his head from spinning. Saving the rest of the precious water, Haldir stood and looked around for Legolas. It was not hard to spot him. He was the only other creature of light in this dismal place.

Moving over to the Prince in a few strides, Haldir crouched in front of him, making sure the younger Elf could not escape him again.

"Here, you must be parched," he presented the water skin to Legolas. When the blonde made no move to take the offering, he placed it on the floor beside them and gently grasped the Silvan Elf’s cheeks between his large hands, forcing the other to face him. "I realise you must hate me now, but what I say is for your own good. Legolas, you are too strong to die of grief knowing what these men intended to do to you. Fact of the matter is they didn’t. You are still here and untouched… relatively.

"As much as it pains me to tell you this, you must toughen up in a place like this. There is more than one way to take One’s innocence. Forcing One into this pit of despair is just one of many, as is rape. More than that, we need to stick together. If these men smell dissent between us they will know we are vulnerable and may try again next time I am out fighting.

"I do not wish for any harm to befall you, but to think I can stop all evil from touching you is not true, however much I wish it were. Therefore you too must learn to adapt and accept you are not home anymore. If you wish to see your home again, you must learn to play by their rules and survive at all costs." Haldir said, his eyes pleadingly gazing into Legolas.

For the moment Haldir’s words did nothing to comfort the Prince. Legolas was still deeply hurt from his earlier comment, but realizing he was only trying to help, the younger Elf slowly reached for the flask, taking two gulps before re-corking it and handing it back to the Sinda. He did not speak or make any other movement except to cast his gaze down at his feet.

“You cannot ignore me forever. In here, I am your only friend,” Haldir spoke quietly. Waiting for the Prince to respond, the Marchwarden sighed when nothing was said. Shuffling around so he sat next to Legolas and against the wall, he tentatively reached an arm over and laid it across the stiff shoulders beside him, hoping the distraught Elf would allow him to give this small semblance of comfort.

Despite the emotional turmoil that racked his brain, Legolas forced himself to relax against the touch. Haldir was right, of course, they had no choice but to cooperate in this place. He no longer had the will to fight, the day’s events taking a toll on him. Haldir’s words had wounded him deeply, yes, but his silent company seemed like a peace offering to him. Realizing this would be the only comfort he would gain after such a horrific incident, Legolas instinctively leaned into the Marchwarden before he became conscious of the slight shift in his own movement. For a moment he was fearful of how the other might react, but when Haldir did not pull away, instead encouraging him with a light squeeze on his shoulder, he relaxed.

With an unsteady sigh, the Prince willed away the sudden tears that threatened to leak from his eyes. He had been forgiven for his earlier foolishness, Haldir was no longer angry with him. Even if they did not share an affection as lovers, they were still friends, and Legolas found himself just a little more heartened.

Haldir felt the Prince shift closer to him and was thankful for Legolas’ trust once more, giving the shoulder a light squeeze in silent thanks and comfort. A small, adoring smile graced his face as Legolas shifted his head to Haldir’s shoulder and the Marchwarden in turn leant his head down onto Legolas’.

They stayed like that for many hours. Neither speaking nor moving. An unfamiliar warmth filled them both and they took solace from it, despite neither understanding what it meant.

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REVIEWS:

Ertia: We just did :P But we'll give you more sexy naked Haldir IF you behave :P

Iamme: we can, we did, and we'll do it again :P

Yanic: Well, don't worry :P Haldir got out his red cape and saved the day, as you read above :P

Lioncourt: How can we do that? Easy! With a little imagination and two perverted minds put together! *hands Lioncourt a bucket* here you go :)

Holly: Glad you're lovin it, hun! Thanks for your review!

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