When Two Worlds Divide (On Hold)

Chapter 12 - A Risk In The Dark

Sorry the updating has been SO incredibly slow! Anyway here's part 12, it runs straight on from the last chapter. It begins with Aragorn's perspective, but most of it will be from Legolas'. Please comment and VOTE if you enjoy. Well, here we go.
Enjoy...

All Aragorn felt was his head spin and his stomach lurch as the elf lifted him off the ground. Unconsciously, he groaned: the pain that the sudden, ungentle movement had caused him was so bad he nearly passed out. However, to his dismay, consciousness remained with him. At least it didn't hurt in the nothing that swallowed him regularly.

It was always dark: what difference did it make if he was awake to experience the horrors that the Nazgûl put him through? What was the point of living when nothing and nobody mattered anymore? Darkness loomed in every corner of Aragorn's mind, extinguishing his hope as a candle is snuffed out by a sudden gust of wind. It had become a constant companion, the darkness. It whispered hidden truths in his ears, murmured how he was a murderer, it was pointless, to just give up and die. Aragorn wished he could. The darkness weighed heavily on his soul, crushing him. And the Witch-King only confirmed his darkest fears: he had torn his own family apart, he was a murderer, this was all his fault. The being would ask him to give in. Would ask him to submit. And every time, Aragorn nearly did. But every time, he didn't.

Something inside of him refused to give up. It refused to give in to a servant of Sauron, his enemy. Aragorn didn't know why he kept fighting, kept causing himself more pain and terror. But he did. And now the elf was getting him out. That was what he'd said, anyway. The words had, for one tiny moment, sparked something inside Aragorn. But now it was gone again, lost in the empty blackness that had become in his existence. Lost in the void of misery that had swallowed everything else he had thought good and light. Lost.

Jerked rather roughy and painfully back to reality by the elf's voice, he opened his eyes to show he was listening. When the elf did not speak again, he began to shut them again.

His semi-peace was soon disturbed once more, however, when Legolas' harsh voice cut through his consciousness.

"No, do not sleep again yet. Wake up, ranger. I'm getting you out of here."

———

Legolas ran as fast as the weight of the human in his arms would allow. In all honesty, his Elven strength combined with the unnatural lightness of the human in his arms meant that he could run at almost full pelt down the stone corridor. Stupid humans. He thought frustratedly. But then he thought of what the man had told him. Pity softened his features momentarily before he refocused on the task ahead.

How in Arda was he supposed to get out of here? He didn't even know how he got in, let alone where he was supposed to find an exit. And all the corridors looked the same: dark stone walls and cracked stone floor. Cold. Dreary. Dark.

Legolas felt so cut off from nature here. So lost without his Elven connection to the outside world. The thick stone walls stopped all communications with the trees and the birds. The stars. They may as well be a million miles apart for all Legolas could tell. He was beginning to feel the effect of it weighing heavily on him. Despair was looming, but Legolas fought back with every ounce of strength. He was going to get out of here.

The Prince cursed as he turned a corner, only to find himself back where he started. He couldn't be sure it was the same dungeon corridor, of course, they all looked the same, but he certainly wasn't any closer to getting out of here. This was going to be a lot more difficult then he had originally anticipated, and he doubted very much that the Witch-King had signs reading "Attention all escaping prisoners. The entrance is this way. Please follow the red arrows to the front door".

He sighed. It had been a long day, or night, or whatever. Reaching the end of the corridor, he paused and listened. Momentarily cutting off thoughts from his current position, he allowed his senses to roam around, scanning for anything remotely like a signpost. To him, anyway.

Eventually, he heard footsteps coming to his right. It sounded like an orc, and, if he wasn't mistaken, it was either ascending it descending stairs. He headed straight for the sound.

Sure enough, he soon came to a long, low staircase of stone, ascending into the dark. And just disappearing around a bend was as orc, climbing away from where Legolas was stood. Gently but firmly lowering the human in his arms to the ground, clutched a sharp rock he had picked up earlier. Soundlessly, he aimed and threw the stone hard. It hit the orc square in the back and the creature collapsed with a soft grunt of surprise and pain, and rolled backwards. The elf cursed as the heavy body felt noisily down the stairs, landing with a thud at his feet. Even in death these things are clumsy. He thought in disgust. Quickly ridding the orc of its weapons, he hefted the man into his arms once more, and began to run up the stairs.

Don't worry Ada. He thought. I'm coming.

I know this was quite a short chapter at just over 1000 words, but it was a good place to leave it and I've been REALLY busy recently! Also I've been trying to update my newer story, A Dying Star, so that caused a delay as well! Please check it out if you haven't already! Also please comment and VOTE if you enjoyed! I appreciate every single vote and comment I get!

Thanks so much, and until next time!