The Return

Underground

     {}«Legolas' POV»{}

I am moving, but not on my own. Something has a hold of me. My head pounds as I slowly regain my senses. What happened? Where am I? My feet drag across the rough ground. Glancing up I see two Orcs. Each of them holding one of my arms.

I wait to move until we go around a dark corner and jump up. I kick the legs out from under one of them, he falls and I and strike the other with my fist. It releases my hand and I snap its neck. It falls dead as the first one regains its footing. We began to circle, the Orc twirls his sword and licks the blade. I reached for my knife only to find it missing. Of course they took them away immediately.

To try to reach for the dead Orc's blade could be perilous. But with no other choice, I dive for it and grab it in time to block the blade that comes down on me. The force pins me to the ground. I hold it at bay for a moment and then roll out of the way. The Orc to stumbles forward and I run the blade into its back and through its chest.

But before I can pull the blade from the corps, pain shoots across the back of my shoulder and I release the hilt. I start to turn around only to be met with a blade at my neck.

"Found somethin' boys!" An Orc shouts, and more of them appear. My heart races. They begin to circle. I have no weapons.

"An elf? What is an elf doing so far under the earth?"

"Who cares!?" One shouts. "I say we have some fun with it!" The others shout in agreement and they jerk my arms behind me, tying them with what feels like wire. The movement shots pain through my shoulder.

"Bind his legs too!" Another bellows, "This one ain't gettin' away on my watch!"

Arms and legs bound, I'm dragged through the hallway and thrown down stairs. My ribs shift unnaturally followed by searing pain. They continue to drag me for a few minutes before I'm again thrown to the ground. I land on my stomach, ribs screaming in protest. The beating starts. Blow after blow comes. I am utterly defenseless. Then one of them picks up a knife. "I know how to make this one beg for mercy."

They pull me up and pin me against the wall. He starts to play with it while others held me up. I struggle to fight back, but to no avail. Ripping my sleeve off, he traces the blade over my skin, slowly applying more pressure. It digs into my arm. Blood runs down and spills onto the floor. A fiery sensation starts to burn in as I feel the hot blood trickle down my skin. I refuse to echo a sound. I will not give these beings that satisfaction.

A bright orange light appears and the Orc rips the knife from my flesh.

"Well maybe this will remind you how to speak!" He said. Another Orc hands him the blazing torch and he waves the light in front of me. Slowly, he brings it closer to my face. I wouldn't let myself move. I will take this like the warrior I have been trained to be. One that could withstand high levels of agony. But as the fire begins to scorch my skin, I scream, reflexes taking over as I fight away from it.

The Orc pulls the flaming stick away. "So, the elf can speak." He said, and punches the burned skin. Laughter erupts. My vision starts to blur. I wait to blackout. Wait for oblivion to take away this pain for a while. Black specks form in my vision. A shout goes up and the Orcs release their grip. I crumple to the floor with a groan as my world goes dark.

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My head pounds and I shiver as a chill comes over me. I collide with the cold stone floor as the Orc releases it's hold. The door slams shut. Several minutes pass before I realize I'm not the only one here.