Wow, sorry it's been so long since I've last updated. It's a little longer than usual, so I guess that's good. Well, I hope you enjoy this chapter! Oh, and remember that italicized words are thoughts.

Disclaimer: I own none of the characters... except for Kirag and Gorlag. Well, I don't really own them because orcs were Tolkien's idea. I just own their names.

Chapter 6 - Searching

Estel eased out of bed, trying not to aggravate his injured shoulder too much. The young man walked out onto the balcony and looked down to the ground; it was at least a twenty foot drop.

Estel turned and went back inside. His gray eyes scanned the healing room for a rope of some kind. Not finding anything of the sort, he walked to a storage closet and began another search. The closest thing Estel could find that resembled a rope was some extra bedsheets and blankets that were reserved for patients. But from his past experiences with said items and a certain friend named Legolas, Estel knew he could not escape over the balcony without someone discovering him.

If only I could get to my room! Thought Estel. But if I were able to make it to my room and get rope without being seen, I may as well walk right through the front gates to go save Legolas.

Estel looked around the room once more in hopes of seeing something that would help him escape. His eyes stopped on one of his Elven tunics his father had brought for him to wear the next day. The color of the material was dark blue, almost black. Of course... The idea struck Estel like a slap to the face.

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Legolas awoke with many aches and pains, although not knowing the source. His memory was still a little foggy from the poison. The elf sat up rather wobbly, only to find that he was bound hand and foot. Legolas noticed that there was dried blood on the lower half of his right leg, and he was somewhat lightheaded, but he still could not remember what had happened to him before he lost consciousness.

Where am I? He looked several yards away from where he was seated at some orcs that were quarreling amongst themselves. He recognized the tree that he was leaning against; it was the same tree he was tied to the day he escaped. Blood, dizziness, orcs- it was all coming back. The poisoned arrow, Legolas thought as he looked at his leg once more. My poisoned arrow.

Legolas gave an inward groan when an orc noticed that he was conscious. Are they going to have their "fun" with me now?

"Look boys!" yelled one orc. "The elf's awake!" The other orcs gathered around in excitement, eager to have some entertainment with the wounded elf.

"Yer gonna regret the day you was born, elf!" said one orc. He walked closer to Legolas, taking one of his warrior braids and fingering it playfully. "From yer golden hair to yer swift feet, you'll be sorry ya took the place of yer friend!"

The orc yanked Legolas' braid before letting it go and facing the circle of orcs that had gathered around. "Maybe 'is friend, the King of Gondor, will come with a great big army and save 'im!" The orcs jeered and laughed at this.

Legolas blinked. How does he know Estel is to be King? Who told him? Then it dawned on the elf. Oh yes, I told them so I could escape. Legolas sighed. A lot of good that did me; I am now back where I started.

"I won't be stupid enough to let you, or anyone else escape after we're through with ya!" said the orc. He bent down, coming face to face with Legolas.

The elf nearly gagged at the smell of the orc's breath so close to his face. "Ya know what we do with elves? We play games with them... torture games." The orc suddenly drew a knife from his belt, pointing it at Legolas' face. "Yer gonna die a slow, painful death, elf!"

Legolas sat up as straight as he could, ignoring whatever pain it caused him. "And who are you to tell me of my fate?"

"I'm Kirag, leader of this 'ere band of orcs!" Kirag said. "I took over after you killed Inak... and I think I'll make a pretty good leader. At least better than Inak; they showed no respect for 'im like they do me." Kirag added, fingering his blade.

"They follow you out of fear, not out of respect," Legolas said calmly.

"Little elfling, ye know nothing of the ways of orcs! Good leaders earn respect in different ways than elves do. For example: a good leader asks 'is friends what games they want to play," said Kirag, turning to one orc in the crowd with many piercings. "Gorlag, what game should we play with the elf first?"

Gorlag's eyes filled hatred towards the elf. He didn't really know why, but he strongly disliked the fair beings. He was about to blurt out his idea of torture, but Kirag stopped him before he could.

"Shh, no Gorlag! Don't let 'im 'ear! We wanna take 'im by surprise! Come, say it in my ear." As soon as the words left Gorlag's mouth, Kirag smiled evilly. "That's perfect for our first game!"

For knowing he was about to be tortured in some way, Legolas hid his fears well. Although he could not prevent his heart from beating wildly in his chest, he looked Kirag square in the eye. Both pride and determination were written all over Legolas' face. But no matter how prepared Legolas was, he could not prevent what was about to come.

Kirag grabbed his blade and moved closer to Legolas' head. "Let's see what ya look like with human ears rather than elf ears!"

Legolas knew what Kirag intended to do, and he would not hear of such a thing. Despite the fact that his legs were still bound, he kicked Kirag with as much force as he could in the gut. Kirag doubled over, dropping the knife. The surrounding orcs growled and moved in on the elf to secure him.

Kirag stood back up, grabbing the knife once more. Anger burned from his yellow eyes. "Hold 'im still boys! I wanna see the pain in 'is eyes, and 'ear the anguish in 'is screams!"

The orcs placed their filthy hands on Legolas in an attempt to keep him from moving. Kirag moved closer again, knife in hand.

"No!" yelled Legolas in horror, squirming beneath the grips of the orcs. Legolas twisted and kicked trying to get away, but it was all done in vain. Kirag's knife was now mere inches away from Legolas' pointed ear.

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Elrond lay in his elven bed having a peaceful sleep. It was in the wee hours of the night when he was awakened by the sound of light footsteps in the hallway.

Who could be awake at this hour of the night? The elf-lord thought to himself. Even the guards would not be walking through the halls this late.

Elrond eased out of bed and made his way to the door. He grabbed a small blade, just in case the person may have been an intruder. The elf slightly opened the door, only to find the retreating back of his advisor, Erestor. Erestor's hood was atop his head, casting a dark shadow on his face; he seemed troubled.

Elrond opened his door completely, walking out into the hall. "Erestor," he whispered. Apparently Erestor did not hear him, because the advisor kept walking. "Erestor!"

The elf stopped in his tracks. "Yes my lord?" he answered. His voice sounded a little hoarse.

"Erestor, are you well?" asked Elrond, coming up behind his friend. "Are you not aware that the hour is of late?"

Erestor did not answer, at least, not right away. Elrond put a hand on his advisor's shoulder. "Erestor?"

Erestor lowered his head, letting some of his dark locks of hair fall out from underneath the hood of his cloak. His hair was very disheveled; normally it was perfectly straight, being elven and all. "I must admit, my lord, that I am not feeling as well as I should," Erestor replied, not turning around.

Elrond was about to speak, but Erestor continued.

"I do not know what has come over me, but I am sure I will feel better by dawn. Worry not about me, Lord Elrond." And with that, Erestor walked away, leaving a dumbfounded Elrond standing at the entrance to his sleeping quarters.

"Let me know if you need anything," called Elrond. How strange. We elves do not get sick, and Erestor was acting rather peculiar. Elrond shut the door to his room and put his blade away. He settled back into his large bed. I will see to him in the morning. Perhaps Erestor is right, and he will feel better by tomorrow.

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Elladan and Elrohir had been traveling for what seemed like hours. The heavy rains from the day before had washed the tracks away, making it harder for the twins to track down their friend.

The sound of leaves crunching was heard several hundred feet away by the twins.

"Elrohir, did you hear that?" Elladan whispered to his brother.

Elrohir nodded his head. "Aye, it came from the north."

Elladan drew his sword while Elrohir readied an arrow. The twins crept towards the source of the sound. The trees grew close together, making it hard to see anything some distance away. Elladan and Elrohir were not wood-elves as Legolas was, but from what little the trees were telling them, they spoke of no danger.

Suddenly, there was a nicker. The twins came upon a horse.

"Gílroch!" Elrohir cried, running up to Estel's black mare. He put his arrow back into the quiver. "Legolas may be near!"

"Perhaps," replied Elladan, placing his sword back in its sheath. "Come, let us continue our search." Elladan and Elrohir made their way back to their horses, taking Gílroch with them. Little did they know that the orc camp had moved on over night and was now many miles away.

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Once Erestor had turned the corner and made it out of sight from Lord Elrond, he took off in a mad dash down the halls. His hood fell back, letting his dark locks of hair flow behind him. The advisor slowed to a stop, opening the door to his room.

He took his cloak off and placed it on his bed; underneath, he still had his night clothes on. He pulled off his night tunic, dropping it on the floor. Erestor looked at the top right corner of the shirt; there was blood on it.

Erestor looked at his right shoulder, seeing that the wound his father had stitched was slightly opened and bleeding. He shrugged, pulling a new tunic over his head. The man put on his boots, then grabbed his sword and knife that were placed in the corner of his room.

"I can't believe you fell for that, Ada," Estel murmured to himself with a mischievous grin on his face. The young man walked out of his room to the end of the hall, heading for the stables.

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The next morning, Elrond awoke and got dressed. He remembered the events of last night, but before he could check on Erestor, he had to see to Estel.

Lord Elrond walked to the healing wing and entered into the room Estel was staying in. Elrond was surprised to find that Estel was not still in bed sleeping. In fact, Estel was no where in the room. Perhaps he went to go have breakfast, Elrond told himself. But even that possibility seemed strange to Elrond, for Estel, being a human, usually stayed in bed and slept the morning away.

Elrond went to the kitchen, asking the cooks if they had seen Estel. They told him that they had not seen Estel since the day before. Elrond was getting worried. He began looking everywhere for his foster son.

Maybe Erestor has seen him. Elrond thought as he made his was to the advisor's chambers. Once he reached said elf's door, he knocked eagerly. "Enter," said a voice.

Elrond opened the door and found the advisor at his desk. "Yes my friend? What can I do for you?"

Elrond looked at Erestor from head to toe. "I know you are sick, so I will not bother you long, but I cannot find Estel. Have you seen him?"

Erestor blinked. "I am not sick," he replied. "What has made you believe that I am ill?"

Elrond's eyebrows shot up. "What do you mean, my friend? You were walking about the halls last night, do you not remember?"

Erestor frowned. "I remember no such thing. What happened?"

"You mean... you were not..." Elrond stuttered. Could it be?

"My friend, I was not walking about in the halls last night, and I am not sick! What is going on?"

"Come with me," said Elrond as he turned to leave. Erestor stood up and was soon close behind him. The two went to the stables, finding that one of the horses were missing. Elrond gasped.

"Estel has left to search for Legolas; he is injured and may be in danger."

"Did not both Elladan and Elrohir leave yesterday evening in search of Legolas? Perhaps they will find Estel as well," said Erestor.

Elrond stood, looking out towards the surrounding woods. "If none of them return by tomorrow, I will go search for them."

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Well, what did you think? Do you like it better when the chapter is longer or shorter? Please review!

Oh, and thank you StarLight9 for helping me choose Kirag's name.