Fan Fiction ❯ Bonds through Time and Space ❯ Prologue

A/N: Hello people of the Lord of the Rings Fandom! We have worked very hard to complete this for you.

Kathrine: Our story took all week and is way longer than pretty much any first chapter we've ever done, especially when it's just a Prologue.

JC: We were afraid at first to post something here, because all the other stories here are great while ours probably sucks shit.

Kathrine: We hope you will allow us the chance to make that change. This is also the only story so far where THREE of us work together. Before it was only one of us or two.

JC: We did more research for this story than we've ever done for anything else! Gods, we study less for school!

Kathrine: Anyway, we usually work on Anime fanfics, but this is our first jump over to books or anything else.

JC: We hope you like it. It's very dark though in the beginning. And to fix this off, we've heard that an Elf's majority is 144 years. We decided to go with that and another thing we heard about them aging the same and Man-children for their first three years.

Kathrine: So just work with us on that. And we couldn't find a correct date so we made one up.

We used some Elven speech, both Quenya and Sindarin I think. So we'll put the wordlist for this chapter at the bottom.

JC: Now read on and enjoy! We hope…

Disclaimer: This story is not linked with anything affiliated or in connection to Tolkien Estate, Tolkien Enterprises, New Line Cinema, or Disney. Did we mention that this was a crossover?

Warnings: Crossover - LotR/PotC, Slash, dark themes, angst, abuse of children, death, blood.

Bonds through Time and Space

By Kathrine and JC and Jennifer

Prologue

Middle Earth, Greenwood the Great - TA 950

" Run 'Marin!" he pulled at the hand of his older brother, trying to hurry faster through the palace. They were fleeing swiftly through passages of the caves that had been made as the palace of the Greenwood. It was not too far behind them that they heard their pursuers getting near, closing the distance between them.

" Legolas just let go," the dark oak-haired brunette told him in a tired voice. " You have to get away." He still favored the wound in his side. It wasn't that deep, but they both had heard of the poisons that Orc weapons were often bathed in. The pain was slowly spreading through him, quite near numbing the left side of his body right then.

The blonde ignored him, turning a corner and quickly pulling him down it. He looked about quickly and noticed that they were in the maternity ward of the palace. He pulled him along even farther until he pushed open a door and shoved his older sibling inside. He shut the door more silently so hopefully as to not arouse suspicion before locking the nearly rusted from lack of use latch. Then he began to push things in front of it, using all of the heavy furniture he could manage to budge. A pain-filled moan caught his attention and he turned to see his brother lying on the ground, sweat pouring from his brow and his eyes masked in distress.

" Falmarin!" he cried out, rushing to kneel at his brother's side. " What's wrong? Is it where they cut you?"

Eyes a dark amber brown clenched tightly. " It hurts 'Lass," he hissed through gasping breath. " It hurts so much."

" What do I do?" he wondered out loud. " How do I help?" He'd never had to put the little survival knowledge he did know to work before and his memory was failing him due to his fear and stressed emotions.

" It's okay," the other told him. " Naneth told us not to worry."

" Oh Nana…" tears fell from sky blue eyes. " We left Naneth. She wouldn't get up and then we left her behind."

Falmarin held his side, trying to hold back the pain. He couldn't bear to see his brother so distraught. " I…I'm sorry I couldn't stop them from hurting her," tears started coming form his own eyes. " I'm supposed to protect you…I'm older."

" You're only a few minutes older than me," the blonde replied. " I shouldn't have acted so frightened." He watched another wave of pain overcome his brother, his twin. It was too much for him to see his other half so weak and in agony. He wanted to help, to make all of the pain leave, but he was not so optimistic as to believe his wishes would be answered.

They hadn't expected it. The attack on their woodland palace was nearly as unexpected as snow falling in the summer. The Orcs had been gone for so long pushed back decades ago in the Greenwood's last battle they'd fought. The people had only started to let their guards down and believe that all would be well once more in their beloved forest. But their beliefs were far too preset it seemed.

It had been with unseen explosions that the assault had begun. Stone was erupting around them, trapping Elves beneath its girth or causing intense chaos in its wake. They had no idea how the fell creatures they had battled against for so long had managed to acquire such weapons of destruction, unable to deny the terror they were reeking. But they had thought they could hold them back, could still manage to protect their inner sanctum from the barrage of their foes.

They had not expected the mass amounts of their enemy waiting within the forest outside of their home. They had not expected the great quantity of which they had the fire-stones that they used for their main weapon of assault. Suddenly the ground rumbled as if Arda herself had taken offense and then an immense sound bellowed through the woods as the from defensive gate of the palace was blown away, taking by the explosion of black smoke. And then the massive waves of Orcs with their vicious Warg beasts followed.

Their father and elder brothers had left to protect their home, to protect the people of Eryn Lasgalen. They wanted to go, to help fight and protect their people, but Adar had forbidden them seeing as they had not yet even begun their training in the art of weaponry and combat. Their three brothers were well over a few hundred years their seniors and their single sister, Goldhînen, was not even in the wood at the time. She had thankfully departed two weeks before to visit the Realm of Lothlorien of which the Elf she courted, Rumil of the Galadhrim, resided.

No, the two youngest children of Thranduil, King of the Great Greenwood, would not fight, but instead remain hidden with their mother. No one had expected that the Orcs would be able to breach the palace and enter into its halls. They had been hiding in their parent's chambers, knowing that it was in the deep recesses of the cavern castle and had the most security placed on it at all times. There had been at most fifteen guards with them with few outside the room to make it seem less conspicuous.

But the Orcs seemed to have planned this. They checked each and every room they encountered for any hidden victims to their cause. There had been twenty of them or more and they'd been prepared for the guards within the room and without. The cries that had been able to reach the queen on her children were ones of warning and pain. They had headed for the other exit, herded out by about eight of the guards as the others prepared to delay the Orcs. None of them voiced the question of how they knew where their queen and her youngest born would be hiding.

The secret passage they followed was one that was hidden behind the wall of which the master bed resided. It led away from the room, built by Thranduil's father, the Great Oropher, by his own wife's insistence of motherly concern. But the passages had never been completed fully throughout the entire palace. They ran from the royal wing to the kitchen chambers (a secret the royal children happily discovered), the bathes, and to the infirmary wing which the maternity ward was a part of.

They had thought they could escape through the hall of the infirmary that took them to the far end of the palace, to the secret exit into the great forest that surrounded them. But just as they exited the secret hall within the walls of the palace, they came face to face with another mass not unlike the Orcs they'd just outrun. A miniature battle commenced instantly. Their guards fighting for the lives of their precious queen and her beloved young ones. But the queen herself had been a noble warrior she-elf before love, marriage, and family had come her way. When one of the elves fell, she drew up his sword using it to protect herself and her children.

The two twins were young. Being into their fiftieth year they were only close to the body size and structure of a Man-child going into his eighth summer. They were physically unable to do much in this battle to begin with. Falmarin and Legolas were forced to hide instead, tucked behind the thick dark curtains that covered the window ledge. The seat wasn't small, but not very large either. It was just the right size to fit two romancing Elves in a close cozy manner, making it quite sizable for the two Elflings. But even as they waited they knew not how everything would turn out. It wasn't until all sound ceased that they thought that something could be wrong.

*****Flashback*****

They couldn't hear anything. Everything was completely silent around them. Legolas lifted his head from where he hid it against his twin's chest, both ellyn wearing looks of complete fear. His sky blue eyes met dark oak and neither knew what to do. They each could tell that the other wanted to see what had happened, if their Naneth was all right, but they had agreed to remain hidden where their mother had put them. She knew that none of the Orcs had seen her shove her children behind the drapes and wanted them to remain out of harm's way.

Legolas' eyes implored his brother; he had to know what had happened. Falmarin was hesitant to let him do such a thing. While they were indeed twins, the two had very different personalities. Falmarin was more into fighting and being a warrior, even in the making of the beautiful weapons that he wielded in battle. Legolas went into hysterics at the sight of death. He was extremely protective and wanted also to battle like his brother and Adar, but found it barbaric to kill another living creature. He wanted to help protect and preserve it, not destroy. Even at young ages it seemed that their paths in life were already determined. Falmarin the warrior and Legolas the healer. They had always thought they could work together, going across Arda and righting all wrongs, mending all wounds, both still very naïve.

" We need to see, to check on Nana," Legolas whispered in a tone so silent that only the hearing of an Elf could have picked up his words.

Falmarin shook his head and replied in a voice just as quiet, " She would have called to us, she said so."

" But I'm worried…" he pleaded. " What if the Yrch are dead, but she's hurt? She might be in need of us, Falmarin…"

The possibility left a sick disturbed feeling in his gut. Now he too had to know. What would he do if he'd remained hidden while his Naneth lay out a few paces away hurt and in need of aid? He gave a nod to his brother and the other gave him a grateful smile. He moved away from slowly reaching out to the dark drape that shielded them. Just as the blonde's fingers touched the thick material it was wrenched away from them by a dirty, slimy, clawed hand. Dark eyes stared at them, smirking at the treasure they'd discovered.

Legolas' eyes went wide with fear, his entire body frozen. He could smell blood so clearly now, both Elf and Orc, and knew that many had been hurt or even killed. But he still couldn't take his eyes away from the figure before him, even as the deadly weapon it grasped came slicing towards him.

" Legolas!" Falmarin cried out, instantly shoving his brother off of the window-seat and onto the floor, out of the way of the oncoming blade. But he was unable to protect himself and cried out in pain and the head of the sword cut into his side. The sword was pulled back, ready to come at him again.

Legolas finally regained usage of his body and screamed out. " No!" he jumped up, and rushed the surprised Orc, pushing it back. A grimy hand came out and connected forcefully with his cheek, two nails cutting into the skin beneath his eye. He gave a yelp as he was flung across the hall, colliding painfully with the stone wall on the other side. The Orc laughed at him before turning his attention back to the wounded Elfling before him.

Falmarin stared up at him through his pain, how frightened his truly was quite obvious. His side hurt so much and he had no way of protecting himself against the vicious beast that sought to harm him even further. The Orc seemed to actually enjoy his weak movements as he pushed himself as far back as he could against the thick vines that sealed the open window to keep people from accidentally plummeting from it.

Legolas was frantic. He had to help his brother! He looked about, praying that help would come, but no one else graced the halls to come to their rescue. His eyes then fell to the floor beside him, his sight immediately catching the dark gleam of what he knew instantly to be a long Yrch dagger. Without even thinking, he grasped the soiled hilt of the blade and lifted it up. His eyes turned to glare at the creature that was about to strike at Falmarin, a cry of anger echoing form his lips.

The Orc's sword came down, but it was halted when the scream reached him. It spun around, only to register the shock as the sharp, poisoned tip of a blade from one of his own kind was embedded deep into his gut then twisting cruelly in hate. His gaze was on the dirtied hilt that protruded from his abdomen but turned up to meet the enraged blue eyes of the small blonde elf. The elfling sneered at it in a way that no child should know how before pulling the dagger back. A gasp came to its lips before falling over, sword clattering to the ground.

When the Orc finally stopped moving, Legolas came back to his senses. His eyes went wide in disbelief and fear, hid body beginning to shake uncontrollably. He had killed it, he had lost himself in his anger and fear, driving the foul weapon into the hideous creature's body and wrenched it even deeper out of pure want to cause it pain. How could I have done such a thing? he asked himself. How could I kill it? What have I done?

" 'Lass," Falmarin's pained voice brought him back to himself. He turned to his brother who was staring farther off. His sight followed that of his twin's and his eyes grew wider than he'd even believed possible.

" Naneth…"

There on the ground not far away was their mother. Her dress was torn crudely, exposing his thing undergarments that were no longer the pristine white, but horrid red and pink. He body was covered in blood and cuts, many superficial, but others severe. It was like all of his worst nightmares were coming true in one foul dream that seemed never-ending in its terror.

" Legolas, saes help me," Falmarin called out to him again. He hurried to his brother's side and saw that the wound he carried was bleeding, it didn't look as deep as it one would believe, but still blood ran from it steadily.

" We have to get help," the blonde said shakily. " We need Ada." He took his brothers other arm and helped him to his feet, allowing him to lean on his so as to not cause himself anymore pain than necessary. Then together they journeyed over to where their mother lay. They kneeled there, as close as they dared for the fear in their hearts was great. Falmarin reached out hesitantly his hand touching his naneth's cheek. It was very cold. He pulled his hand back instantly, his eyes filling with tears.

Legolas gave him a confused look before turning back to their mother. "Naneth," he spoke to her. " Nana, please get up. Please, the Orcs are gone, we're safe now. We need to get to Ada, Thôredhel, Lagorwest, or Glosshen. They'll protect us."

" 'Lass…" the oak-haired twin started, tears rising in his eyes. But just as his words were halted in despair they heard the sound of boot steps echoing in the deathly silent hall. Wide eyes spun to face the sounds, confused as to who they could belong. Prayers of their father and brother's faces were lost in their hearts at the sight that greeted them.

" Fresh meat…" One of the four Orcs growled in delight. " Delicious fresh meat…"

Falmarin's body went cold at those words. He knew that his twin was in no different a situation. What can we do? He wondered. Where's Ada? Ada please hurry…

Legolas forced himself to not be overcome by his fear. The day had been horrifying and then he had defied is own beliefs and killed another living creature, no matter the fact that it was a filthy disgusting, murderous Orc. He was now no better than the Yrch for he too had killed. But they can't have Falmarin! he thought. I have to protect him! The Orcs neared them and the blonde put himself in front of his brother, futilely hoping to keep him safe even if only for a short time. His brother was hurt because he had protected him and now he would do the same in return.

" How preciousss," another Orc with two long knives smirked at them. " They'll be so fun to play with."

" Get away!" Legolas shouted. He held up the bloodied blade he still held in a tight grasp, using it as a possible deterrent. He didn't know if he could use it again, but for Elbereth's sake he would try! The seemed to find his actions quite amusing. " Stay back!" he warned again.

" And what would you do with that thing?" the first one that had spoken inquired. "You can do us no harm, hapless child."

Legolas felt quite angry at that insult, even in the face of such danger. He guessed it was the influence of his father's harsh temper. " I have already slain one of you beasts," he declared. " And…I-I shall do it again if I have to!"

All of the Orcs laughed at that. They cared not for any of their 'brethren'. They truly cared only for themselves and following their master, the latter merely being due t fear of their master's wrath. " You have spirit," the 'leader' stated. " It makes the meat taste all the better. Or maybe we won't kill you… Master would love fresh new Orclings."

" No!" Falmarin shouted reaching out and grasping his brother's shoulder, while the other still held his side.

A different Orc licked his lips. " Blood, death, pain," he whispered. " Such precious blood." He continued to sniff the air and lick his lips and he inched closer to the two, his eyes trained on the elder between them. Legolas kept his eyes on the 'leader' and almost didn't catch the creature movement in time. Swiftly, he let the dagger breeze through the air, catching the Orc in the arm and cutting partially through his forearm guard.

It hissed it pain and displeasure, jumping back towards the other three. Legolas almost dropped the long knife then, but still gripped it tightly. I have to kill them, he told himself. I have to for Falmarin. Killing isn't bad if you're protecting someone, is it?

" You have a lot of spirit," the 'leader' of the Orc group spoke in a commending tone. " I like that. Because of that I'll give you a chance to save yourselves. We can make a game out of it."

Legolas was confused by his words. " Game?" he didn't understand.

" Yes, game," the second one nodded in agreement.

" Game," the other two whispered in unison.

" We will give you 'til the count of twenty to run and try to hide, seek help, anything that might save your lives," the first one explained. " And when the time is ready, we will come find you. If we catch you, we will do whatever we want with you, but if we don't you can live."

" I-I don't b-believe you," Legolas told them in a somewhat shaky tone.

" We speak on no falsehoods," it replied. " We merely wish to have some fun with you before we kill you. Now you better starting running, 20…19…18…"

The blonde realized then that they intended to do this no matter what he or Falmarin said. We have to get out of here! His mind cried out. He still held the dagger and he scrambled to his feet. He turned around and helped Falmarin to stand as well. The brunette was indeed in pain, but they both knew it would be far worse of they didn't at least try to run. So with that they ran, Legolas pulling his injured twin as fast as they could manage to go. The Orcs were laughing behind them at their futile attempts.

" 10…9…8…7…6…5…4…3…2…1& #8230;time's up," the leader let loose a malicious smirk. " Find them. Sniff out the blood."

*****End Flashback*****

And they had run, rushing through the halls with whatever speed they could find in themselves. The dagger he had wielded now beside him on the ground. " This is my fault," he spoke in despair. " I pushed you too hard 'Marin and now you're really hurt."

"Not…your fault," Falmarin disagreed. " We had…to run."

The younger twin realized then that he had to put a halt to the bleeding of his brother's wound. He slowly lifted up the bloodied bottom of his brother's tunic to get a good glance at the injury itself. His eyes widened and the blunt-edged gash he found. It wasn't deep, but wide instead and definitely in need of suturing. But he knew that he had to at least cover it so that the bleeding would slow down.

He looked around the room, praying for something that he could use, something that might help his brother. His eyes came to the cabinet desk beside the bed. He crawled over to it and opened on of the doors. His eyes lightened up at the sight of the white linen and wrappings he found there. He knew they were meant for changing the bedclothes and for wrapping a baby in (the latter being only because Goldhînen had told him one day). He pulled out the baby wrappings and stretched it out checking to see if it was the right size, luck was finally with him in that respect.

He removed three more linen cloths from the cabinet before shutting it and crawling back to his brother. Falmarin was looking increasingly pale, due to both pain and blood loss. Legolas knew he needed to hurry. " It's okay Falmarin," he told him. " Everything is going to be okay. I'm going to take care of you, just like you always take care of me."

He lifted his brother's shirt up all the way, fighting it to keep the wound visible. He had to be able to see if anything was wrong. That was what he had been told by Lathanon, one of their head healers, when he inquired about his rising interest. The wound needed the aid of a professional not a complete novice, but he would have to do. He folded one of the baby wrappings and placed it against the wound gently. Falmarin hissed in pain.

" I'm sorry," he apologized. " But we don't have any water to clean the wound. Ada says you always need to stop the bleeding so that's what we're going to have to do."

" Just do it, saes," the brunette winced again. " It's hurts so bad."

Legolas took a deep breath, steeling himself so that he would lose control of himself while he tended to his twin. Blood and death were not very pleasing areas to him, and yet he had already killed an Orc, cut open another, and now would have to create a makeshift bandage for his brother's bleeding injury. He couldn't go into hysterics now, his Ada wouldn't. His Ada would stay strong just like his Nana did. I can't wait to tell them, he thought. Maybe Ada will let me help make Naneth all better.

He slightly pressured the wound, holding the cloth in place as gently as he could. Falmarin whimpered, biting into his lips as tears swelled in his eyes. He wouldn't cry, not when he was going to become a warrior when he became of age. Warriors didn't cry over a little wound. Sure it hurt, but he could deal with it. He was going to be a defender of all innocents and a warrior for the good cause. He couldn't cry even though he wanted to, even though the pain felt like he was being cut into all over again. He wouldn't cry.

The blonde could easily tell that his brother was in pain, but he didn't know how to stop it. He took the larger bed linen and folded it as well, placing the cloth over the baby wrapping that already covered the wound. It would do to hold the blood in for a short while. Maybe by then Falmarin's Elven healing abilities would begin closing the wound and his Ada would come and get them.

Next he folded the two in a long ways fashion, stretching them out a little as he did so. They had to be long enough to wrap around his brother's abdomen and cover the linens on the wound as well. To his short relief they were of the perfect length to do so and even tie off so they wouldn't become loose.

" I'm going to have to lift you Falmarin," Legolas told him. " If it hurts you can scream if you want. Lathanon said it helps to keep your mind cleared from the pain if you express it."

" I won't cry," the brunette grunted out. " I'm not going to cry. Warriors don't cry."

His younger half said nothing at that. Slowly, he slid his arms around Falmarin's body, wrapping them around his chest area and hoping not to jar his wound. His one hand was slightly touching the makeshift bandage on the wound, holding it in place. His brother's weight was heavy against him, the brunette not being able to move easily on his own. He gritted his teeth and continued to lift him up, using his own side for him to lean on. When he'd finally gotten him into a maneuverable position, he allowed him the respite of remaining that way.

He took the linen wrapping he'd folded and gently slid it through the gap between his brother abdomen and the floor. This left it opposite of the wound. All he had to do now was to bandage the wound by wrapping the cloth around his waistline and then tie it off as best he could without causing too much harm to the brunette. I don't know if I can do this, he thought distressfully to himself. What if I'm only making it worse for him instead of better? What if I'm doing it wrong?

Falmarin knew by the silence and hesitation that his twin was doubting himself. " It's…okay…'Lass," he forced out. " Y-You're doing…good. Lathanon would…be…proud of…you."

" Y-You think so?" Legolas voice was wary and yet hopeful. Lathanon was his mentor in the arts of healing, his idol in many aspects. All he wanted was to be good enough to save people and animals like Lathanon, or the great Lord Elrond of Imladris.

" Yeah, it doesn't even hurt as much anymore," he reassured him, hoping to calm his fears. " I don't think it was poison-tipped."

" Th-That's good," the blonde nodded absently. " Hopefully, Ada will show up soon so you that Lathanon can make sure you get all better." He was silent for a minute his mind silently praying that help would come. He knew that Falmarin was injured badly, his wound still bled even though it was bandaged and the brunette was very pale. Usually it was the younger twin who had the pale complexion that wasn't too common among their people while the older had tanned skin as if he'd been out in the sun for hours on end. But now Falmarin was even paler than Legolas.

" We're going to be okay," Legolas spoke, repeating the words as much for his benefit and for his brother's. " We're going to be okay."

That's when something slammed against the door startling them both. They jumped back slightly, Falmarin whimpering from jarring his side. The slamming continued and the blonde knew their time was up, the Orcs had found them.

" We know you're in there, Elfling!" the leader shouted through the door. " We can smell the blood!" Then the pounded increased. It was obvious that they had found something to use as a battering ram and the door would eventually fall to it.

Falmarin looked about searching for a place for them to hide. They don't really know Legolas is in here, he thought. It's me they can smell. If he hides they will only think it's me. Oh Ada what should I do? Ada, are you ever going to come? He let his eyes fall on the bed and the space between it and the wall. They might be able to hide there if he could force himself to get up. But his side hurt so much, he didn't know if he could. Ada wouldn't stay down, he would get up. I'm a warrior. I can't stay down.

" Legolas, under the window," he lifted his hand up to point. " We can hide there." The window itself wasn't like many of the ones that were on the palace. Because of its vicinity towards the back of the castle compound, it didn't have the vines and was somewhat larger than the others. Their naneth enjoyed them being that way. She said that it allowed mothers who gave birth allow their children to greet their first morn with Arien without hindrance when they were unable to go outside to do so. But they were the youngest elflings born, the next youngest being at least a hundred years older than they were.

" Okay," he agreed. The pounding seemed to be getting louder and they heard the echoing sound of the hinges creaking beneath the pressure. It wouldn't last much longer. They needed to move quickly. He roped one of his arms beneath his brother's arm and steadily got to his feet. He lifted the brunette with him, allowing him to lean on him as much as required. He didn't complain about the extra weight, too worried was he about his brother and their situation.

The door creaked even louder, they attempted to quicken their steps. The bed was so close and yet seemed so far away at the same time. He reached the edge of its mattress and used it as a brace. They pushed themselves harder. Falmarin was shocked by a fiery burn that flooded his sensations and left him half-limp. His thoughts were clouded and his body weakening. He felt so tired, the pain leaving him fatigued. He wanted to just lay down and rest.

No…can't sleep…he thought hazily. Lego…lass…help…maethor…Ada help… His eyes rolled in the back of his head and his lids fell closed as his body and mind finally gave out on him.

Legolas felt his brother go limp, dragging him down to the floor with him. " Falmarin?" he called to him, shaking his shoulder. " Falmarin don't do this now, please wake up!" It was no use, his brother was hurt too badly. His body had finally taken revenge for being pushed so far in such condition. " 'Marin…"

The door finally gave way to the assault. The grunting was heard and the Orcs continued to push, forcing back the furniture the blonde had put in the way. He watched as their last defense was shoved to the side with fearful eyes. What could he do? Falmarin wouldn't wake up and he couldn't take on all four of the beasts. They were trapped.

A hideous face stuck itself through the gap in the doorway and smiled vicious at the sight of the two children. It removed itself and the Orcs put more power into forcing the door to a reasonable opening. Legolas knew they were done for. He scooted back slightly, but couldn't move far with Falmarin in his arms. He held onto his brother tightly. He still had to protect him.

His hand ran over the pendant that he wore, the own that was a made of pure mithril. It was of a lake, the water rippling elegantly with a small circle indent in the center. The indent was the notch where he connected his own pendant of a leaf, also made out of mithril. Due to how the smith had created the set, only the opposite of the lake could be inserted into the notch due to its peculiar shape. It was their spiritual bond solidified. They had been forged under the request of the Ada and Naneth even before they had been born, or so they had been told. They had also been told that they were made by a Dwarf.

Oh Valar please protect us, protect Falmarin, he prayed silently. Don't let anything bad happen to him. Let him be okay, please let him be okay.

" Gotcha." His attention flew towards the door where the four Orcs stood, smirks on their faces. " I knew we would find you, Elfling."

I need my sword, his mind thought instantly. But then he realized that he had left the blade on the floor only a short ways away from the 'leader' of the Orcs feet. I'm so daft! How can I protect us now?

" The game was fun, but you knew you couldn't get away from us for long," the Orc smirked. " And now we get to do whatever we want with you."

" Good, blood, precioussss blood," the same Orc he had cut looked ready to eat anything he could grasp. His eyes were clouded with lust for the red wine he so obviously craved.

" Yes, the dark one bleeds steadily," the leader agreed, his smirk widening. " Eat him."

" NO!" Legolas shook his head, pulling his brother even closer to his than before. " Sa-saes, please don't hurt him. Please just leave him alone. I'll do anything, just saes don't hurt him!"

" There's not much you can do little one," the second Orc from the corridor grinned. " We'll just eat you both."

" No, one must live," the final one disagreed. " One must live as a bartering tool for that wretched King Thranduil."

It was apparent than that they knew the young ellyn were the children of Thranduil King. How they would know this he wasn't sure because they weren't allowed to talk to people outside of their own Realm, let alone anyone who might relay the massage to a stinking Orc. But this news also meant that they were in for worse than they had originally believed.

" My Ada is going to get you," he told them, trying to appear brave. " He's going to make you regret ever coming here. You'll wish you were never b-" The leader moved swiftly catching the boy by the face and squeezing his cheeks together painfully.

" That's enough from you," he whispered into the blonde's ear. " Silence if you want him to live." Legolas gave a weak nod to show he understood. The leader ripped away the child's hold on his twin and moved his hand from the boy's face to his neck and grasped. " Take this one." One of the Orcs came from and willingly grabbed the blonde by the hair, pulling him dragging him back as the leader lifted Falmarin into his arms.

The young elfling felt as if his hair was about to become disconnected with his head and not by choice. Tears stung his eyes, but he held them in, not wanting to cry in front of his tormentors. His attention stayed focused on his brother instead, laying in the arms of the head Orc, oblivious in his unconsciousness. He only hoped he was remain that way and not find out was type of situation he was in.

" Saes…" a hand slapped him across the face.

" Stay silent!" the Orc hissed.

Legolas didn't listen. " Saes, don't hurt him," he begged. " He's hurt really bad already. You can hit me all you want, just don't hurt him."

" How about we just cut out your tongue and eat it instead?" The third Orc, the one who craved blood, asked. He seemed to like that option greatly.

He quieted immediately. He wanted to protect Falmarin, but it was natural to discern the prospect of losing his tongue. His eyes begged, pleaded with their leader to spare his brother. The leader seemed to enjoy the way he was supplicating him by sacrificing himself.

In actuality, he was. He loved having the son of Thranduil, grandchild of Oropher, on his knees, begging him for the life of his brother. The child looked so young, which he was, and seemed so innocent and fearful at the same time. The power he held over both children's fates was intoxicating. He only had to find the right way to use it. But then the idea came to him, one that would be most enjoyable in many ways. They had been sent to give a message to Thranduil King of Greenwood and what better way than with the loss of one of his youngest sons and the debasement of the other?

He stared hard at the dark-haired child in his arms. This one provided no use if it died before even reaching his father. " He probably doesn't even have enough blood to be worth a goblet," he commented out loud. Then he turned to Legolas. " All right little prince, if we do no harm to him shall you agree to do whatever we command of you?"

"Of course! Just don't hurt him!" he agreed hastily.

" Good," he smirked. His eyes traveled the area for a moment before setting on the perfect thing…the window. He walked around the edge of the bed to the window frame, looking out of it momentarily. The land was dark, clouds covering the sky. He looked down and could see the battle going on or the Orc and Spiders versus the Woodland Elves. It was obvious that the Elves were now winning the battle, only the surprise and unexpected nature of the assault allowing their forces the first upper hand.

But they were only messengers, following their Master's orders. He'd told them where the queen and her youngest children would be and as the others played decoys, they would attack them. If was by sheer luck that the other group had found them after they'd fled through the secret tunnels in the castle. The queen was dead, her dark-haired son close in leaving as well. Only the blonde elfling remained and he had plans for that child. The dark one was disposable.

He looked down and smiled. Beneath the window directly was a large pond that was part of the palace gardens, the waters shimmered a crystal clear hue and were bright even in the midst of the chaos. In the center of the waters was a large beech tree, seemingly untouched by the death and battle within the palace grounds. The pond was quite the size actually, probably deep as well, while the tree seemed large that any other beech he'd seen. He shifted the brunette child, holding him by the back of his tunic instead. He turned and smiled into bright scared eyes. " You have our words on our Master that we shall do this weakling no harm." And then he felt stirring the small form his held.

*****

Falmarin continued to try and awaken. He knew that Legolas needed him and his side didn't hurt as much as before, even though the pain was still hardly bearable for a child his age. But he felt off balance, as if his body wasn't touching the floor. He hoped that by opening his eyes his equilibrium would be restored. He fought resiliently, his eyes lids that usually never closed like so reluctant to actually open, as if they knew something about the outside world that he did not.

His finally began to win the battle against his fatigue and could hear things around. He heard laughter and breathing not to far away from him. He hoped the breathing was his twin, but it seemed too harsh and deep to be so. Slowly his eyelids fluttered, allowing his brown orbs to reveal themselves. His vision was hazy for a moment, but then he realized he was staring straight into the black eyes of a hideous creature, an Orc.

He gasped and tried to move backwards, but he couldn't. He feet truly were off the floor. He heard someone yelling, calling to him. " Falmarin!" He head turned slightly and met the frightened eyes of his restrained twin. " Falmarin!"

The leader Orc who held him by the scruff of his tunic laughed at the blonde's attempts to free himself and reach his gwanunig. He shook his head. " We had a deal, little prince," he reminded him.

Deal? The brunette Elfling didn't understand. He looked at Legolas; his eyes asking the question his lips couldn't seem to form. The blonde wouldn't stare back at him. His head was facing away from him and his golden tresses shielding his face in shame.

" No harm shall come to you by our hands, whelp," the leader explained. " And we shall get our message across in return." He smirked at the brunette, a gleam in his dark eyes that chilled Falmarin to his very bones. " Seeing as we can do nothing to you, you're useless to us. Goodbye."

The older twin didn't understand what was being said until he felt himself being tossed backwards. His body went flying, his limbs too weak to catch onto anything. It was too late when he realized that his was no longer in the room and open air greeted him. He had been thrown through the window. His eyes sought out that of Legolas immediately. His younger brother's eyes were wide in disbelief. Suddenly he felt himself falling, losing altitude as his body plummeted downward.

*****

Legolas' eyes widened in disbelief. The leader Orc had just thrown his brother out the window, letting the Elfling rapidly descend to the ground below. Instinctively, his kicked backwards, hitting the knee of the Orc that held him right on the mark. The creature shouted out in surprise and pain as he pulled away from him, running towards the window. He looked out of it, watching as his brother fell towards the gardens, towards the pond there. " FALMARIN!!!!"

The leader Orc pulled him back, wrapping sharp nails around his neck. " You should be more worried about yourself," he told him.

" B-But…But…y-you…s-said…" he couldn't convince his words to come out any steadier and rightfully he didn't care how he sounded at that moment. His had just lost his brother. NO, Elves don't die, he told himself. Elves can't die. He's not dead!

" I said that we would not harm him," the Orc reasoned. " We didn't, but the water and that tree might." Then he shoved the blonde to the floor on his stomach, pressing his knee into the child's back. " And like I said, you should be more worried about yourself."

Legolas closed his eyes as tears fell continuously. He didn't want to cry. He wanted Falmarin. He wanted his Naneth, his Ada, his muindyr, his muinthel. He wanted his gwanunig! He needed Falmarin. Sharp nails dug into his neck as the other ripped at the shirt he was wearing. Falmarin wouldn't cry, he told himself. Falmarin would be strong. I can't cry. I have to be strong. Falmarin wouldn't cry. He didn't even realize that his tears had stopped even as the pain inflicted on his by the Orcs continued.

*****

A cry escaped him as he flipped over, his face towards the ground of which he neared ever so quickly. Falmarin realized then that he was falling towards the pond in the gardens, HIS sacred waters, that none were meant to touch save him and his brother. The waters in it had been blessed by Lady Galadriel herself as a present for their begetting day. The tree in the center had been her gift to Legolas, a beech blessed like those trees in the Golden Wood of Lothlorien. It was his guess that he would miss the tree and land directly into the pond.

" FALMARIN!!!!"

He heard the cry echo through the air as he continued to fall. He knew it was his brother. Legolas! He mind screamed. I don't want to die. I don't want to die. Ada help me please. Somebody please! Legolas!

Sooner and sooner his descent came to an end he was positive that he would not hit the tree. His prediction proved truthful as he fell past the branches a few scraping lightly against him as he plummeted. He wanted to scream, but the first thought he had was to not breathe. He took a deep breath and held it just as the water finally caught up with him.

It hurt terribly, the icy needles and knives that stabbed into him. As usual, the water wasn't cold. It was warm, but that did nothing to stop the pain from the collision. His side felt as if someone had just placed a bag of boiled water on it. He wanted to cry out, to call for help, but he couldn't. I have to get out of here!

But he hurt so badly, his mind not complying with the rest of his body. He tried to swim, forcing his agonized legs to kick feebly. He couldn't give up, he had to get back to Legolas. He had to get Ada so he could help. But his body betrayed him. His fatigue finally took control, weighing him down so that he couldn't move. He watched as the surface of the water clouded over, and his vision darkened on all sides. The last thing he could remember was his mouth opening and the water rushing in…

Legolas…

*****

He jumped up from his nightmare-filled slumber, his eyes wide and terrified. His body was covered in sweat and his breaths were ragging from the continuous screaming he'd done. " Legolas!" the voice beside him was trying reach his conscious. Warm arms enfolded him, holding him tightly and rocking him back and forth.

" He was trying to get to me," he whispered in a hoarse voice. " He was trying to come back to me. But he couldn't, he couldn't…"

" It's all right," his lover soothed him. " That's all in the past. It was only a nightmare."

The blonde shook his head and he buried his head into the chest of the one who comforted him. " I let him fall," he persisted. " I didn't save him. Ai, Falmarin…"

Hands callused by use of a sword still continued with their ministrations. " It wasn't your fault," he reasoned. " You tried to protect him. He would understand."

" How could he understand when I myself do not?" he frowned. " I failed him, my own twin! And now I must live with this aching loss inside my heart." A hand sifted under his chin, lifting his face to align his weary blue with compassionate gray.

" From what you and your family have told me, you brother loved you very much," his lover stated. " From all of things I have heard, I do not believe for one moment that he would think ill of you for anything. He loved you just as much as you him and he knows that nothing that happened was your fault."

Legolas' hand wrapped itself around the mithril leaf pendant that he still wore. He would never remove the necklace from his body. It was all he had left of his dear gwanunig. " One hundred-twenty-five years and I still cannot let go," he sighed sadly.

" 'Tis not so easy to let go of something you hold so dear," his lover replied. " Especially when that something is the other half of your soul."

" And yet you have stood by me, helped me to see love and filled some of the emptiness inside of me," the blonde pointed out. " I do not know what I would do without you."

" Find some other man to run off with?" he suggested. " I know there are plenty that would have you and I believe you would indeed have some sport with them."

" Aragorn," the other frowned before smacking his beloved in the face with one of their feather pillows. " You speak so lowly of me, perhaps I should have agreed to be betrothed to Haldir instead, oh might captain of Gondor! Your father would be quite pleased with that!"

" But what would my father say to know you had left me broken-hearted by your rejection?" the dark-haired man inquired. " I would be so devastated that I would never choose to seek a wife to bear my heirs and there would be no hope whatsoever of Gondor's next king."

" You're so dramatic," the blonde frowned. " Keep up that façade and you will feel the sting of my arrows on your rear by the morrow's end."

" Is that a promise?" the prince and captain of Gondor smirked.

The Elf sighed. " I'm too tired for this." He then gave a smile and kissed his lover's lips gently. " Thank you for bringing out of my clouded depression. Amin mela lle."

" And I you," the man ran his hand down the other's cheek. " Now allow me to hold you so I may keep away your night terrors."

" As you may," Legolas agreed. He allowed the man to pull him to his chest, his head over Aragorn's heart. This was the way he always unless his lover came to bed after him. He needed to hear the beating of the man's heart, to know that he was still there and with him.

Ai, Falmarin, he thought sadly. If only you could be here to see how happy I finally am, to know that slowly I am finding my peace. He drifted off to sleep, still holding the silver leaf in his grasp.

Falmarin - sea-spirit

Naneth- mother, Nana- mom, mommy, momma

Adar- father, Ada- dad, daddy, poppa

Arda- Earth

Goldhînen- wise silence

Ellyn- male Elves

Yrch- Orcs

Thôredhel- eagle-elf, Lagorwest- swift breeze, Glosshen- snow-child

Arien- Sun

Maethor- warrior

Gwanunig- twin brother

Muindyr- brothers, Muinthel-sister

A/N: Prologue finished. It's very long.

JC: Now we have to work on some of our other stories.

Kathrine: Unfortunately, on FFNet we won't be putting this is both the PotC section and the LotR. We're only putting it in one. We might only do that for AFF.Net too seeing as the story takes place mostly on ME.

JC: We hope you like. It took us a VERY long time to do.

Kathrine: Hope it was worth it. Hope it was too much like any other story you've read. We really wanted to be original.

JC: Now please review and tell us what you think!