They drew their weapons and faced the oncoming Easterlings, there were at least twenty of them on horses.

Legolas and Haldir had their bows out and shot down several of the Easterlings' horses, but it didn't stop them from coming.

The Easterlings shot their own arrows at them.
Aragorn and Gimli dodged the flying arrows while Amarth deflected some with his swords.

"There are too many of them!"
Haldir shouted.
The Easterlings began to surround them.
They cut off any means of escape and had all of their bows aimed at them.

"Lower your weapons!"
The leader ordered.
Aragorn lowered Anduril onto the ground, as well as Legolas' knives and sword.

The others grudgingly did the same, as Amarth set his swords down he quietly whispered to Aragorn, "Let me do the talking."

That was the last thing Aragorn wanted to do.
The leader ordered two of his men to take their weapons, and search them for more.

They found several daggers on them, but that was it.
"Who are you? What is your business here?"
The leader asked.

"We are outlaws."
Amarth replied calmly.
Aragorn glanced at Legolas.
They had no idea what Amarth was planning.

"Do you expect me to believe that three elves, a man, and a dwarf are all outlaws?"
The leader narrowed his eyes.
"What are your names?"

"What is yours?"
Amarth asked.
"Rilath."
He replied.

"Well Rilath, I am Amroth, and these are my companions."

He gestured to Legolas, "This is Beleg."
Turning to Haldir he said, "And this is Cuthalion ."

Haldir exchanged  a glance with Aragorn.
"This is Strider, and the dwarf is Mim."

Gimli glared at the elf but Rilath didn't notice.
"And what makes you outlaws?"
He asked.
"We're murderers."
Amarth said calmly.
"And we have been exiled from our home lands."

"And how did you all come together?"
Rilath asked.
Aragorn worried that he wasn't buying it.
"We all happened to be traveling the same way. We decided to travel together."

"How do you expect me to believe that five murderes travel together as companions?"

Amarth laughed.
"Companions? I would not call us that. Just last night my two friends here got into an argument."

Amarth gestured over to Legolas and Haldir.
They could see that Haldir was injured.
"You can probably guess who won the argument."

Rilath narrowed his eyes at him.
"We should just kill them Rilath."
An Easterling said.
"They're no use to us!"

"Or we could torture them first."
Another one suggested.
"Then kill them."

"They would make a good price in the city."
Another said.
"We could sell them as slaves."

"Silence!"
Rilath shouted.
The others shrank back.
"What we do with them will be my choice and mine alone."

He turned back to Amarth.
"Why are you traveling this far east?"
"Because if we step foot in our lands we will be killed."

"But why come here?"
"Are you not outlaws like ourselves?"
Rilath paused before answering the question.
"Yes."

"Why is that?"
"We attempted to assasinate King Khaten."
Amarth smiled.
"See? We are not that different from each other."

Rilath narrowed his eyes.
"Perhaps you would be useful to us."
He turned to his men and shouted, "Bind them!"
Before they could react they were grabbed and had their hands tied behind their backs.

Then they prepared to blindfold them.

"I thought that you would take care of this?"
Aragorn whispered angerly at Amarth.
"I did."

"How?"
Amarth smiled.
"We are not dead."

()()()

They were brought back to Rilath's camp.
They tied them all to wooden poles and removed their blindfolds, then went about their own business.

"Great plan Amarth."
Gimli snapped.
"Let's get captured by the cruelest men in Middle Earth!"

"First of all, I stopped them from killing us. Second, they are not the cruelest men in
Middle Earth."

"What do you mean?"
Aragorn asked.
Amarth turned to him.
"There is so much that you do not know."

Aragorn sighed. He would have to get used to Amarth's ramblings.
He looked around the camp.
There were tents scattered around the area, the biggest one probably belonged to Rilath.

Easterlings were everywhere.
Aragorn guessed that there was at least fifty in total.
They sitting with their backs up against the wooden poles, their hands tied together behind their backs.

They were in the center of the camp, which meant that everyone could see them, and make sure that they didn't try to escape.

Aragorn sighed.
How were they supposed to get out of this?
He glanced at Legolas.
They had been in worse situations.

It wasn't until dusk that Rilath ordered them to be brought to his tent.

The Easterlings untied them from the poles.
They kept long spears pointed at them.
"If you try anything, we will kill you."

One of them said.
They said nothing as they were led to Rilath.
He was a tall and muscular man.
He had dark hair and cruel brown eyes.

He was not one to be messed with.
"Leave us."
He ordered the guards.
"Are you sure that is a good idea?"
Amarth asked.

"You are all weaponless. I could kill all of you easily, and my guards will be right outside.
I have nothing to fear."

Amarth smiled.
"I wouldn't be too sure about that."
Rilath narrowed his eyes.
"Tell me, are you all skilled fighters?"

Amarth nodded.
"We are the best in our lands."
"What are your weapons of choice?"
Rilath asked.
"I prefer my swords."
Amarth replied.

He was about to answer for the others but Rilath held up a hand.
"I want to hear from them. They can speak can't they?"
Amarth nodded.
"Of course they can."

Rilath turned to Aragorn.
"I use my sword. But I am also skilled in archery."
Rilath's face showed no emotion.
He turned to Gimli.

"Axe."
He said.
"Is that all?"
"I don't need anything else."

Rilath turned his attention on Haldir and Legolas.
"We are both master archers."
Haldir said.
"I am also a skilled swordsman, and I fight with knives, daggers, spears, or I can manage just fine without a weapon."

Legolas glared at Rilath, who now looked impressed.
"What was your name again?"
"Beleg."
He replied, remembering the names Amarth had given them.

"How did you get that scar?"
Rilath asked.
Legolas glanced at Amarth.
"He has not told us."
Amarth said.

Rilath looked at him curiously.
"Why?"
"We do not know for certain, but Beleg here has mentioned that he once served Him."

Rilath widened his eyes.
Legolas looked at Amarth in disbelief.
"He served Sauron?"
Rilath asked dumbfounded.

"It is only a rumor, but I would not doubt it."
Amarth looked over at Legolas.
"He kills without mercy. It is only because Strider and I intervened that Cuthalion was not killed."

Rilath turned to Legolas.
"Did you really serve Sauron?"
Legolas narrowed his eyes.
"If I have not told them, what makes you think that I would tell you?"

"Fair enough. You do not trust me, and I do not trust you."
Rilath closed his eyes and sighed.
"The reason I have not killed you is because I am need of some new men. Some who would follow my orders without question, and who are skilled fighters."

"Why are you gathering all these men?"
Aragorn asked.
"I am the rightful ruler of the Easterlings. After Sauron's fall, Khaten stole the throne. He tried to have me killed, so I took some men who were faithful, and we plan on reclaiming my throne."

"How do we know that you are the rightful ruler?"
Gimli asked.
"How do I know that you are really outlaws?"
Rilath countered.
"You could be spies."

"Fair enough."
Amarth said coolly.
"But as much as we would love to help you reclaim your throne, we have matters of our own. So I apologize, but we cannot join you."

Rilath narrowed his eyes.
"What are you so busy with?"
"Saving this pathetic earth."
Amarth replied.
"So if you even want a throne to reclaim I suggest that you set us free."

Amarth's voice became dangerous, he drilled Rilath with a cold stare.

Rilath held his gaze.
"As much as I would love to set you free, I can't. At least, not all of you, and not unscathed."

Haldir glanced at Aragorn.
Aragorn looked at Amarth.
The elf's face was cold.

"Now would be a good time to use that knife Beleg."

Before Rilath could react Legolas took out the knife he had hidden in his boot and threw it Rilath.

The man barely dodged the knife.
Rilath shouted a warning and the guards that had been waiting outside rushed into the tent.

Aragorn, Amarth, Haldir, and Gimli held them off while Legolas retrieved his knife and cornered Rilath.

He held the blade up to his his neck.
"Release us."
Legolas pushed the knife in deeper.
"Now!"

Rilath laughed.
"Do you honestly believe that you can escape me?"
"Drop your knife!"
One of the Easterlings shouted.

Legolas turned to them.
One of them had a sword placed at Aragorn's neck.
"We will kill him."

Legolas narrowed his eyes and turned back to Rilath.
The blade went in deeper.
"Legolas!"
Gimli shouted, and then quickly realized his mistake.

Legolas looked at him in fear, and Rilath took his chance.
He knocked the knife out of Legolas' hand, Easterlings raced over and grabbed him.

Pinning his arms behind his back.
Rilath walked over to him and smiled.
"Legolas Greenleaf. Son of King Thranduil of Mirkwood, and the sole heir to the throne."

Legolas glared at him.
"How do you know who I am?"
Rilath had retrieved Legolas' knife and was inspecting it in his hand.

"Someone came by a few days ago and told us to keep an eye out for a certain elf, an elf named Legolas, who was the only son of the last elvenking in Middle Earth.

"Who?"
Legolas demanded.
Rilath shrugged.
"He did not say."

He placed Legolas' knife under his chin, forcing his head up.
"I wonder how much Thranduil would be willing to give for you being returned alive?"

"And unharmed?"
As he said this he cut Legolas with the knife.
A thin line of scarlet appeared on his neck.

Legolas winced but showed no other sign of pain.
Rilath turned to the Easterlings who held the others.

"Release them."
He grinned menacingly.
"But only after they are beaten."

()()()

Cliffie! But don't worry more is to come!

Shout out to
Mossfire946
Who has been with me on this LOTR adventure since the first book!
She has two amazing LOTR stories and is an awesome friend to me, and everyone else she meets!