Legolas couldn't believe that he had allowed himself to be captured by Jakov once again. Why hadn't he just left when he'd had the chance?

He had managed to stay awake that night and had quietly disappeared from the camp, leaving no trace of where he had gone.

As he was making his way west he found Jakov and his men heading straight for the Dunedain's camp.

Instead of leaving the Rangers to solve the problem themselves Legolas had decided to go back and warn them.

He hadn't expected Estel or the others to have gotten captured by Jakov's men, and after seeing Forlin get shot by an arrow Legolas had become filled with anger.

Looking back on the situation Legolas figured that it probably would have been better if he had gone back to the camp and gathered a few Rangers to aid their companions instead of going in alone.

Everyone is always telling you that you must stop rushing blindly into battle without thinking.

Legolas cursed under his breath as he tripped over a tree root and almost fell.

"This should be good enough for now boys."
Jakov announced bringing them to a stop.
"We'll rest here for the night and continue at dawn."

One of the men shoved Legolas forward towards a tree and forced him to sit down.

If his arms hadn't been tied to his sides he would have been able to put up more of a fight.

Legolas noticed that they had seperated him from the others, actually they had taken Halbarad and Estel and tied them together back to back.

Legolas inwardly groaned as he realized what that meant for him.

"Don't think I'm enjoying this
elf."
Brion hissed.
"The feeling is mutual."
Legolas snapped.

Of all the things Jakov could have done to him he just had to tie him to the man who despised him as much as Legolas did.

Legolas sighed and tried to shift himself into a more comfortable position, which caused Brion to elbow him in the back.

"Stop squirming elf! You're making it worse."
Legolas responded by knocking the back of his head into Brion's.

The man bit on his toungue to keep himself from shouting in pain while Legolas grinned to himself.

Once his moment of triumph passed Legolas began thinking of ways for them to escape.

Jakov believed that the elf was weaponless but he still had one dagger, the one Estel had given him, hidden in his right boot

Jakov didn't know much about elves, if he did he would know that they could fight left handed, and would have made sure to search him for weapons more thoroughly.

The dagger was how he had escaped last time. He wondered if Estel had been able to put two and two together and figure out that he had probably hidden a weapon.

Things will go much better if he hasn't considered that possibilty.

One problem he faced was that he couldn't reach the dagger. If he wasn't tied to Brion he could probably manage it easily and cut himself free.

Another problem was that he wasn't just trying to save himself; he had to get Estel, Halbarad, and Brion out with him.

Although I would not mind leaving Brion behind.

Legolas thought to himself. Unfortunately in order to escape he would need the man's help.

He waited until none of Jakov's men were near before quietly informing Brion that he had a weapon.

"I have a dagger hidden in my right boot."
Legolas whispered.
"What good will that do us?"
Brion scoffed.

"If one of us can reach it we can free ourselves and-"
"We cannot escape now."
Brion interupted.
"For one thing neither of us can reach the dagger, and second it is far too soon to make an escape attempt."

Both of them quieted as a man walked past them. Once he was gone Brion continued, "Jakov is expecting us to try and escape as soon as possible. We must wait and make him think we have given up."

Legolas knew that Brion was right, except for the fact that Jakov knew that Legolas would never give up trying to escape.

"When should we try to escape then?"
"I will let you know when the time is right. Until then keep that dagger of yours hidden."

Legolas narrowed his eyes. He didn't trust Brion, and he knew that Brion didn't trust him.

But if they were going to get themselves, Estel, and Halbarad out of this mess they were going to have to work together.

Whether we like it or not.

»»»»

As they traveled the next day Legolas had pleanty of time to reflect on his first encounter with Brion.

It had been at least five years since he'd run from Rivendell and Legolas had become aware of the comings and goings of slave traders in the north.

Legolas had found himself witnessing an attempted kidnapping and had quickly intervened to save the young man from being captured.

Little had he known that the very man he had saved was Jakov.
Jakov had been impressed with Legolas' skill in combat, though he hadn't known that he was an elf.

He had asked Legolas to work for him but he refused. Legolas had continued to hunt down any slave traders he came across until one day he ran into a familiar face; Jakov.

The man had decided that there was a profit to be found in selling slaves in the southern parts of Middle Earth and had gathered his own band of loyal followers to aid him in capturing people.

When Jakov saw Legolas again he offered Legolas a good amount of money if he helped him with his new "business" as he called it.

Legolas had agreed only because he had discovered that Jakov was responsible for more kidnappings than anyone else in that land.

He pretended to be Jakov's most loyal follower, only to secretly free every prisoner he captured.

Jakov had never suspected him for a moment, until he had set up a clever ploy to find out who the traitor was.

He had captured a farmer and his son and threatened to kill the son before his father's eyes, Legolas could not just stand by and do nothing.

He attacked Jakov and freed the father and son, but had gotten himself captured in the process.

While he had been fighting against Jakov's men one of them had pulled off his hood revealing that he was an elf.

Legolas had been startled when his identity had been revealed and hadn't been paying attention when one of them struck him on the head.

When he had awakened his hands were tied behind his back and his weapons were gone.

Jakov had done whatever he had thought necessary to get information out of him.

The man's torturing methods were painful, but not ver effective on an elf.

All Jakov had gotten out of him was his name, and that would prove to have more devastating consequences than he had thought.

Jakov had figured that Legolas was responsible for the deaths of many slave traders and had paraded the elf throughout the land, showing him to other slave traders.

And to those whose leaders had been killed by him were allowed to get their revenge on him.

Word had reached Jakov's ears that men in Harad would pay nearly a king's ransom for a single elf and he had decided that he was done having the elf on his hands.

As they journeyed to Harad Legolas had bided his time for a chance to escape, his opportunity came one night when Jakov's men were getting into an argument over the quickest way to Harad.

No one had been paying attention to him and he had reached for his dagger hidden in his boot.

It had been difficult to position himself to where his bound hands could reach his right boot and retrieve the dagger, after cutting his hands free Legolas had ran.

He'd heard the angry shouts of the men behind him, especially Jakov's oath to never stop hunting him.

That had been Legolas' world for the last ten years, running from Jakov's men, as well as all others who had heard of his name.

Legolas had become the prey to hundreds of hunters, all who wanted to claim him as their prize.

He hated being hunted as if he were an animal. Men had used all kinds of means to capture him. But Jakov was the only one to know Legolas' one weakness; watching an innocent be killed or harmed.

That was what had drawn Legolas out of hiding. News that Jakov was taking his prisoners and torturing and killing them had been too much for Legolas to ignore.

And that was how he had run into Estel, though he had known it was him at the time.

Despite the fact that he had befriended him as a boy Legolas had no desire to rekindle that friendship.

He stood alone, he didn't need anybody else.
Legolas hung his head, he knew that wasn't true.

He wanted his mother and brother back, he wanted Tauriel and to be with his father again.

But they were gone, Legolas had gotten Thalion and Tauriel killed, and even though he didn't know how she died Legolas figured that it was probably his fault too.

Everyone who became close to him, anyone he considered to be friends and family, died.

Fornil had been killed, even though he'd only known him for less than a day Legolas had grown fond of the young man, who had been like a child in his eyes.

He had been too young to die. He should have been able to live for many more years before death took him.

Legolas kept telling himself that Fornil's death hadn't been his fault, but he couldn't help but think that it was.

Why must I bring death with me wherever I go? Why must others suffer for my mistakes?

Legolas' thoughts were interrupted by Jakov's booming voice announcing that they were once again stopping for the night.

Just like before Estel and Halbarad were tied together back to back while Legolas waited for the men to do the same to him and Brion.

Except that didn't happen. Brion was left alone on the ground while Legolas was marched over to Jakov.

I was wondering when this would start.

Legolas thought dryly.
Jakov smirked mockingly at Legolas, the elf's face held no emotion as he stared at the man.

"How have you been faring Legolas? It has been so long since we last talked to one another."

"I have no desire to speak with you."
Legolas said calmly.
Jakov chuckled.
"Stubborn as ever. Tell me, how many other slave traders were searching for you? I promised a lot of them a rich reward if they brought you to me alive."

Legolas trembled in anger. He had been hunted by men, orcs, wargs, even Elrond and Gandalf had sent elves out to find him.

Why can I not just be left alone? What more do I have to give to find peace?

"I have to know Legolas, how did you escape last time? I've pondered many times over how you could have done it but I've never been able to figure it out on my own."

Legolas felt dread seep into his heart, he had an idea of what Jakov was implying.

"There's only one way you could have escaped. You must have had another weapon with you. I bet you have one now."

Nodding towards the men holding him they cut the ropes that held Legolas' arms and began searching him for other weapons.

Legolas knew it was only a matter of time before they found the dagger. As if on cue Jakov knelt down and grabbed Legolas' right boot and pulled it off.

Legolas' hopes of escape were dashed as Jakov found the dagger. He inspected the small weapon smugly in his hand.

"Thought that you could use the same trick twice elf? Well it seems that you were wrong."

Legolas narrowed his eyes at the man as he pulled off his other boot.

"From now on you'll be traveling barefoot. We'll see how well you fare when we travel through the Misty Mountains with bare feet."

"You underestimate elves Jakov."
Legolas said calmly.
"You underestimate me."
He added.

Jakov swung his fist at Legolas' face, only to be kicked back as Legolas leaned back and delivered to well aimed kicks to Jakov's stomach.

Before the men could restrain Legolas he had pushed himself back onto his feet with his legs.

He kicked one of the men in the knee and didn't hesitate to land a blow on his head as he went down.

The other man flew at Legolas with a knife. Legolas quickly spun around so that his bound hands were raised slightly as the man brought his knife.

The man's look of shock was temporary as Legolas grabbed the man's head and slammed his forehead against his knee.

By now the other men had noticed what was going on and had retrieved their weapons but Legolas had already secured the man's knife and was running towards the others.

He freed Estel and Halbarad first urging them to run once they were up and on their feet.

"What about Brion?"
Estel asked.
"We cannot leave him here."

Legolas sighed and looked over at the still tied up man.
"I will free him, just run."
Estel and Halbarad glanced at each other uncertainly then ran.

Legolas raced towards Brion while using his knife to fend off the oncoming men.

Once he reached Brion he quickly sliced the knife down, freeing the man's hands.

Covering him while he scrambled to his feet the elf and man ran as fast as they could towards the trees.

Arrowd flew past them but thankfully missed everytime. Once they reached the forest they were surprised to find that the men's pursuit had stopped.

"Where are Estel and Halbarad?"
Brion asked, gasping as he fought to catch his breath.

"I do not know."
Legolas answered.
"We will have to look for them."
"Are you not going to run away again? Or are you actually going to stick around this time?"

Legolas ignored him as he focused all of his senses on locating the two men.

The sound of footsteps approaching caught Legolas' attention. He moved forward cautiously with Brion right behind him.

Legolas sighed in relief as he recognized Halbarad but something was wrong.

"Where is Estel?"
Legolas asked trying to hide the worry in his voice.
"He was shot by an arrow and I was forced to leave him. Jakov's men have him, we need to go back!"

Legolas thought about the situation carefully this time. Two men and an elf against twenty-something men who had their companion hostage was not a good mix.

"Go back to your people Halbarad. Bring them here as swiftly as you can. I will go back for Estel."

"I will go to."
Brion added.
Halbarad nodded his agreement and ran.

Normally the idea of running back to camp of foot would be absurd, but since Halbarad knew that the Rangers would be looking for them he was bound to come across them sooner than later.

Meanwhile Brion and Legolas carefully made their way back to Jakov's camp.

»»»»

Legolas studied the men surrounding Estel. The mab had been shot in the leg and the arrow had not been removed.

An image of Forlin flashed in his mind but he quickly shook it away. He wouldn't let Estel die the same way Fornil had, this time he would actually save someone instead of get them killed.

Legolas was about to tell Brion what he was able to see when suddenly cold steel was pressed against his neck.

Legolas' body went rigid as he felt the knife against his neck, but what filled him with fear was the fact that it was Brion who held the knife there.

"Think you're the only one who can hide a knife elf?"
Brion asked taking the knife that Legolas held and throwing it aside.

"What are you doing Brion?"
Legolas asked keeping his voice calm, which nerved Brion.
"What needs to be done."

Without another word Brion forced Legolas forward, back towards the clutches of Jakov.