The day after Legolas and Tauriel's competition, The tutor came. Legolas was slightly disappointed, but the session went by quickly. Soon after, he had more free time. He ate a small lunch and then went to check on Ithildae, his rabbit.

"Hey, little buddy!" Legolas entered his room and picked up his bunny. Ithildae twitched his nose and squirmed in Legolas' arms. "What should we do together today? Hmm...why don't we take a walk in the forest and get some fresh air?"

Legolas put down Ithildae and walked over to the door, "I'll be right back, okay? I am gonna go ask my ada if I can go outside with you for a walk." He turned to the door and walked out into the hallway.

When he found his ada, he ran up to him. "Ada! Ada!"

Thranduil turned to Legolas, "Hello, my little leaf! What do you need?"

"I was wondering if I could take Ithildae on a walk. Is that okay?"

"Sure. Just be careful and don't go to far away from the palace."

"Okay! Thank you!" Thranduil smiled at his excited elfling. Legolas dashed away through the halls to retrieve his bunny. After that, he rushed out to the entrance of the palace.

"Excuse me, may I please go outside? My ada said I could." Legolas reached up and tugged on one of the guard's arms.

The guard looked down and smiled, "Of course, my prince! As long as the king permits it. Have fun!" The guard signaled for the gates to be open, and Legolas bounced outside with Ithildae in his arms. He skipped along through the woods near the palace.

"Run and play, Ithildae! Go have fun but be careful and stay close by me!" Legolas said while pretending that he was Ithildae's ada. He put Ithildae down and instantly, the bunny hopped away. For a while, it stayed nearby as Legolas played. He ran back and forth with his bow, pretending to kill orcs and wage war all over the forest.

Finally, Ithildae became bored of the area and started hopping away. Legolas noticed and started walking after him. "Ithildae! Come back! Ithildae! You'll get lost! You need to come back!" Ithildae didn't listen and continued to run deeper into the woods. Legolas hurried to keep up with him.

At last, Ithildae went out of Legolas' sight and disappeared. Disheartened, Legolas sat down on the forest floor. "Ithildae, why did you have to run off? I need you!" He started crying. Little tears began to seep out the corners of his eyes. They rolled down his face making streams and small rivers until they landed on the soft ground.

As the light began to fade, Legolas realized it was time to go back inside. He had been gone too long. His ada would be worried by now. Legolas jumped up quickly and looked around. He turned around and around as he tried to remember which way was the palace. He had wandered very deep into the woods because of Ithildae and now he was lost. Trying to contain his panic, he began walking. Legolas desperately tried to discern his surroundings, but with each step he became more confused, lost, and afraid. In little over an hour, Legolas new that it would be dark. He also new that when it was dark, bad things came outside. He shivered and rubbed his arms. Carefully, he picked his way through the forest.

Meanwhile, up above the tree line, Legolas was unknowingly going in the opposite direction to his home. With each step he walked farther and farther away from the palace, the guards, and his ada.

Eventually, Legolas gave up walking and sat down against a tree to rest. He buried his face between is knees and closed his eyes. His small shivering form showed how frightened he was. He began to realize the magnitude of his situation. He was lost without any food, water, or provisions. All he had was his small bow and three arrows. Finally, Legolas drifted off to sleep.

After an unknown amount of time, Legolas was awoken abruptly. Startled, he opened his eyes. Instantly, he realized what was wrong. He could see! There were several torches near him, but that is not what scared him the most. What was the most frightening for Legolas was what was holding the torches. They were orcs! The must have just found him because he was still alive and unharmed. They glared and snickered at him.

Finally, one of the orcs stepped forward. "What is this? A small elf rat out alone? What happened? Are you lost?" he asked with mock concern. Legolas said nothing as he tried to put on a brave face. "Hmm...what should we do with him, boys?"

"Kill him!"

"Let's eat him!" Many of the orcs started giving their opinions.

The orc that seemed to be in charge laughed. "Wait, we shouldn't kill him until we know who he is. Most likely he is of no importance, but perhaps he could be of some use. Even if it was just for entertainment. Now, what is your name elfling? Who is your father?" Legolas stared defiantly at the orc but remained silent. "I see. You think that you have honor. You think you are brave, eh? Well then boys, make him squeal!" All the orcs cheered and started advancing on Legolas. Quickly, he pulled out his bow and tried to shoot them. Expertly, he managed to actually kill one of the orcs, but he was too late. They grabbed him and slammed him against the tree he had been sleeping under. His bow was knocked from his hands as they roughly searched him for other weapons.

One of the orcs holding him grinned, "All you have to do is tell us your name and then we won't hurt you." Legolas kept his mouth shut but began shaking. The orc seemed pleased that he could hurt Legolas as he pulled out a knife. "Where should we cut first?" He slowly traced the blade down Legolas' arm. "How about here?" Suddenly, he lifted up the knife and stabbed it into Legolas' arm! Legolas instantly cried out in pain. Tears began flowing freely down his face as the orc painfully pulled the blade back out. "Are you ready to talk now?" Amazingly, Legolas did not utter a single word. His face was covered in tears as he desperately tried to keep silent. "I see. Still trying to be brave? That's fine with us!"

"Let me have a turn!" One of the orcs grunted. He walked up to Legolas and grabbed the knife from the orc that was holding it. "I want to have a turn at making him bleed, too!" He laughed as Legolas shivered.

"This would all go away if you tell us what we want to know." the orc in charge reminded him.

The orc holding the now bloody knife raised it to Legolas' face. "Let's carve that pretty face of your, shall we?" Legolas' closed his eyes. He tried to shy away from the orc, but his captors were holding him tightly. Slowly, the orc with the blade cut down his left cheek. Legolas used all that was in him to keep quiet.

The orc began cutting his other cheek, when finally, Legolas screamed, "Stop! Please! I'll tell you anything! Please just stop!" he begged. Right away, the leader orc lifted up his hand and the knife was removed.

"Finally. Now, I want to know your name, and your father's name."

Legolas sobbed. In between gasping breathes, he managed to say, "I am Legolas. My father's name is Thranduil."

"Thranduil? Hmm, I recognize that name. Who is your father? Of what importance is he?" Legolas didn't answer. "Common now. Do you want to feel more pain? I thought you had had enough. You agreed to tell me anything. Who is your father?"

"The king of Mirkwood." Legolas mumbled.

"The king?!? Ah! Now I realize why I recognized that name! He's the Mirkwood scums' leader!" All the orcs began to laugh. "This is perfect! He is the king, and you are his child. Now we have leverage over him! Wonderful! My master will be pleased!" The orc in charge turned to an orc standing beside him. "Bind his hands and carry him." he commanded while pointing to Legolas.

The orc obeyed and soon, Legolas hung off the back of the orc while his hands were tied around its thick neck. The orcs began trotting through the forest again as the night went on.

"Hurry! We must get back to Dol Guldor! I am sure that the king is searching for his son. We mustn't let them find him!"

The orcs hurried on until they reached the old fortress. They entered swiftly and then stopped to rest. As they were panting and catching their breathes, the leader walked off. The orc that was carrying him, roughly lifted him off and dumped him on the ground. Legolas curled up into a ball and silently moaned from his wounds. After a moment of dizziness, he lost consciousness.

Later, as the orcs sat around a fire eating, Legolas woke up. He was laying down just outside the reach of the heat from the fire. He shivered and tried to crawl away. Suddenly, something stopped him. His small hands were chained to a metal bar in the wall. He had been able to move slightly because there was slack. He sighed and relaxed.

Unfortunately, soon after on of the orcs spotted him. Grinning, the orc stood up and walked over to Legolas. Legolas quickly backed away until his chains stopped him. Drawing everyone's attention, the orc squatted down in front of Legolas. "Are you hungry, little elf? I am sure you must be hungry for it was a long journey here." He smiled mockingly. Legolas just looked away. "How about this? We play a little game together? Does that sound like fun?" All the other orcs had already gathered around to watch. "Let me think. How about we play where I throw you some food and you have to catch it in your mouth. If you catch it, you get to eat it. If you don't, then you get whipped. How about that?" All the orcs cheered and yelled for the games to begin. Legolas said nothing but was extremely scared. "All right. Let's start." The orc tore off a piece of meat and threw it into the air. Everyone watched as it landed beside Legolas. He had not moved.

"Round One! He lost!" an orc shouted. He grabbed a whip and brought it over. Then, he struck Legolas once. Legolas cried out in pain.

"I think you should try harder next time to win." the orc tore off another piece of meat and threw it. This time, Legolas tried to get it. He leaned back just enough as it landed in his mouth. Everyone cheered as he tried to swallow the raw, bloody meat.

Finally, after several rounds of the game, and several whips for Legolas, the orcs became bored and left him alone. He curled up in a ball once again and fell asleep. Wonderfully, he was granted a peaceful dream. He dreamed about his mother and father dancing. They were in the garden with Legolas laughing, talking, and singing together.

Legolas opened his eyes from a strange sound. He looked around. All the orcs were asleep accept for one. The orc keeping watch eyed him evilly. Legolas looked down as he hoped the orc would leave him alone. Suddenly, several loud shouts echoed from the entrance. Legolas turned and to his surprise and joy, rushed in elves! They had come to rescue him! They entered the courtyard and began fighting the orcs. All of the orcs had woken up, and were now drawing their swords and charging also. Legolas watched the battle around him until he spotted his ada! Thranduil was fighting orcs with pure anger radiating into his body. Any orc that challenged him died.

Abruptly, an elf ran up to Legolas. It was Melhonin! Legolas' old friend! Legolas smiled painfully and tried to sit up. "Prince Legolas! I am going to get those chains off you now! Don't worry!" Before he could do anything, an orc charged Melhonin. He lifted up his sword and sliced off the orc's head easily. Quickly, Melhonin then preceded to removed the chains from Legolas' hands.

Finally, the chains were off and Melhonin gently picked up Legolas. The fighting was done for now, so many of the elves began to leave. Melhonin began walking to the entrance when Thranduil rushed up to his son.

"Legolas, ion nin! Are you all right? I am so sorry! This is all my fault! You never would have even gotten captured if it wasn't for me." Thranduil lovingly took Legolas from Melhonin's arms. He embraced his son tightly yet gently as Legolas hugged him back.

"Thanks for rescuing me." he said weakly. "I'm sorry that I wandered off, ada. I won't do it again."

"You do not need to apologize, ion nin. I am just glad you are safe."

Swiftly, Thranduil carried Legolas back to Mirkwood. When they arrived, Thranduil rushed to the healing room. He carefully laid Legolas down on the bed as a healer came over.

"My son needs treatment for his wounds."

"Yes, my lord." the elf quickly gathered some supplies from a nearby cabinet, and brought them to the bedside. Expertly, she began cleaning Legolas' wounds.

"Just hang in there, Legolas. You are safe now. Nothing can hurt you. I promise." Thranduil soothed. Slowly, Legolas' eyes drooped closed. Finally, he fell unconscious.

Thranduil looked at his son. Legolas had a deep stab wound on his arm, cuts all over his face, and whip marks on his back. He had been through so much and had survived. Thranduil sobbed silently. His son was braver than he had ever imagined.

PLEASE READ--->
It's done! Finally! This was probably one of the hardest stories to write. EVER. It was super painful for me (and Legolas) to write things like this. I hope you enjoyed it, and for those of you that have been waiting and hoping for Melhonin to make another appearance, I hope you were satisfied! HINT HINT----> I might be bringing him back into my stories regularly now! Yay! I also want to say a special thank you to @02beach02 and a special friend of mine for this great idea! Because of them, I was able to put together this story! I hope it wasn't too depressing! Also, I am starting a new fanfiction soon, and I was wondering if you guys had any ideas! I would be open to any suggestions on things from LOTR and the Hobbit! Please let me know what you guys would like me to write about!
Thanks, guys!
Ithildaeforever