Arwen kept her head down as she passed by those lingering in the hallways. She had been summoned by Aragorn for reasons she still did not know of, and she was afraid to find out. She entered the throne room and saw Aragorn standing with Gimli. Seeing the dwarf offered her some small comfort, she didn't feel as alone.

Gimli nodded in her direction as she approached, Aragorn smiled and took her hand.

It made her cringe.

"I'm glad you could join us, I have something to show the two of you." As if on cue two guards walked into the room supporting something between. Arwen's face paled when she realized it was a person.

The guards threw him onto the floor and she gasped in horror. The man was bare-chested and marked all over with burns. His chest, back, and even his arms were covered in them. His dirty hair was cut to his ears, which had been mutilated, but what scared her the most were his eyes.

They were empty, lifeless.

He stared straight ahead as he laid on the floor, not even trying to stand.

"What have you done to him?!" Gimli shouted turning on Aragorn. "How could you do this to one of your own people?!"
"Oh! You think he is a man? Look closer Gimli, do you not recognize him?" Turning to the prone figure on the floor Aragorn commanded, "Get up!"

Immediately he stood, no emotion displayed on his face. That was when Arwen recognized him. His dull eyes locked onto hers and she couldn't stop herself from crying out, "Legolas!"
She wanted to run to him but her feet wouldn't move. He showed no signs of having heard or noticed her. He was completely detached from the world.

That was when she noticed a band of silver around his neck, what was that for?
"What have you done to him?!" Gimli roared. Arwen's face paled, she felt as if the room was spinning out of control.
"You of all people should know how difficult Legolas was," Aragorn said, "I simply made him more compliant. Would you like a closer look?" Without waiting for an answer Aragorn faced the still elf. "Come here!"

Legolas walked forward, his movements almost mechanical. He stopped in front of Aragorn his eyes clouded, could he even see them?
"Why is that on him?" Gimli demanded, pointing at the silver around his neck.
"It's a collar Master Dwarf," Aragorn replied as if no further explanation was necessary. Gimli was seething in anger but Aragorn ignored him. Arwen couldn't take her eyes off of Legolas; only three days ago he had been standing between herself and Aragorn, strong with blue fire burning in his eyes.

Now here he was, a ghost of his former self, an empty shell.

Broken, defeated.

She looked at the burns covering his chest and arms, that was when she noticed that there was something unusual about the burns. Her eyes widened horror when she realized they formed a pattern, the same pattern over and over again.

"Do you know what they say?" Aragorn asked her.
She turned to him, startled. "They are words?"
"Just three words, written over and over again," he replied, "Broken, Dead, Slave." He paused for a moment and added, "Written in the Black Speech."

Arwen stumbled, nearly collapsing onto the floor. The Black Speech was like poison to an elf! How could he do this to his own friend!? To Legolas of all people!?

She couldn't take this any longer. Spinning on her heal she fled out of the room with tears running down her face. She ran and didn't stop until she reached her chambers, slamming the door behind her.

She wouldn't take this anymore! She couldn't stay here with that tyrant!

She collapsed on her bed, burying her face into the blankets.
Why?! Why did this happen?!
Her mind screamed for an answer, but none came.

She was alone.

----

Three weeks had passed since that day. Gimli was waiting outside in the dark, his hood pulled over his head. Aragorn had left the city on an errand to Osgiliath, he'd taken Legolas with him. The elf was never far from Aragorn's side, he blindly followed him everywhere.

The dwarf soon realized the purpose for the silver collar around Legolas' neck, it was to serve to mock him. Legolas followed Aragorn around like a dog on a leash, except there was no leash needed to lead him. He was tied to Aragorn, and he would never be free.

His heart broke for his friend, he still remembered the last time he saw Legolas, the real Legolas. He'd smiled at him, the elf had actually smiled at him! Why hadn't he tried harder to protect him?! He should have fought harder!

Soft footsteps approached and Gimli stiffened as a cloaked figure appeared.

"Peace Gimli, it is me."
He sighed in relief at hearing Arwen's voice.
"Did anyone see you?" He asked glancing behind her.
"Anyone who did thought I was a servant." She murmured.
"Then we should go now before we lose our chance."

Nodding Arwen allowed him to lead the way. The entire city was dark save for the occasional glow of a torch. The sound of their footsteps was swallowed by the darkness, the wind made Gimli shiver and he drew his cloak tighter around himself.

Whenever a guard came near they quickly hid behind whatever building they could, each holding their breath until they passed. Finally, they reached their destination, and saw who they hoped was the man they'd been expecting to see.

"Lady Arwen? Is that you?" The man asked, his own hood covering his face.

"It is, thank you for doing this Faramir." She stepped forward but did not remove her hood. "Will you not come with us?"

The young man shook his head. "I cannot abandon my people, I will stay and look after those who cannot protect themselves. But you two must flee now while you have the chance."

Quickly and quietly, Faramir opened a small door hidden in the walls of the city. Motioning for them to follow he led them inside. It was a secret exit known only to few of Gondor's men, Faramir had told Gimli about it when the dwarf first approached him about escaping.

The young man had been eager to help them, he said it's what Boromir would have wanted. Outside the city a horse awaited them, stamping its hoof impatiently and tossing its head.

"Here are some provisions," Faramir handed a small bag to Gimli, "I'm sorry that I could not give you more."
"You've given us more than enough." Arwen wrapped her arms around him, pulling him into a hug. "Thank you."
Faramir returned her embrace. "Just promise me you will never come back to this place. And do not stop riding until you are safe! The moment Aragorn returns and finds you gone he will be after you."

"I'll look after her," Gimli said stepping forward.
It's the only thing Legolas ever asked me to do. I will not fail him.

Faramir helped Gimli mount the horse. Though he hated horses he knew they would travel faster if they rode instead of walked. Arwen mounted behind him and looked down once more at Faramir.
"Please be careful." She said.
"I will."

Without a word, she kicked the horse into a run. It took off and fled into the night, Faramir watching until the sounds of the horse's hooves faded into the darkness.

----

They rode without rest for three days, fearful and desperate to put as much distance between themselves and Aragorn. Gimli still felt awful about leaving Legolas behind with that monster, part of him wanted to turn around go back for his friend.

But deep down he knew, there was nothing left of Legolas to save.

They came to a stop near a river to allow their horse a chance to rest. The white stallion drank greedily from the stream while Gimli and Arwen refilled their waterskins. Neither had to rest for very long, and they could go for days without food, which made fleeing Gondor much easier.

Gimli looked up at Arwen and frowned. She hadn't removed her hood since they'd left. He could understand why. They were still within Gondor's borders. If Arwen were spotted she'd be recognized immediately and that was a risk they couldn't afford to take.

Once the horse had quenched his thirst they mounted and rode off again, not stopping until they left Gondor. It was the first night they'd actually set up camp. Gimli lit a small fire and the two ate some of the meat Faramir had packed for them. After the meal, Gimli encouraged Arwen to rest while he kept watch.

The next morning they set off again, heading straight for Mirkwood. Gimli had considered going to Lothlorien since Arwen's grandparents were there, but then he realized that once Aragorn found that they were gone that would be the first place he went to search for them.

He wouldn't suspect Mirkwood until it was too late. Another week passed and they found themselves nearing the great forest. They stopped to rest for the night and quietly went about setting up the camp. Words were hardly exchanged between them, what was there to say?

Gimli was warming up some of the cold meat while Arwen tended to their horse. When she turned around the horse grabbed her hood in its mouth and tugged it playfully, the action causing the hood to fall from her head. Gimli's eyes widened in shock when he saw her.

Her hair had been cut, just to below her ears.

"Arwen! What happened? Who did this to you?!" Gimli jumped to his feet, enraged that someone would have the gall to cut off Arwen's hair. She held up her hand, asking him silently to calm himself before replying: "I did."

The dwarf stared at her; shocked.

Why would she do this to herself? It made no sense!
"Why?" he asked. Arwen said nothing, her eyes filling with tears as she hung her head. "I did it for him."
Gimli froze as Arwen continued, "Aragorn humiliated Legolas by cutting his hair, it is a punishment given to only those elves who have evil in their hearts. By cutting Legolas' while he was innocent, he shamed him. I cut my own hair so he would not have to suffer this alone, and because I am more deserving of it than he."

"Don't say that lass," Gimli said taking her hand, "what happened to Legolas wasn't your fault, we both know this."
Arwen shook her head, bitter tears falling from her eyes. "Legolas suffered for my sake. All the pain Aragorn caused him was my fault! Because he tried to protect me and I, in turn, failed to protect him! I could not bring myself to move or speak in his defense, I hid behind him as a coward would hide! I should have taken his place, he does not deserve what Aragorn has done to him!"

Gimli was at a loss for words, how was he supposed to comfort her when he felt the same way? Ever since the day Aragorn took the Ring for himself Legolas had watched over him. In Minas Tirith he was never far from Gimli's side, Legolas was a protector, it's what drove him on in life.

And it had cost him dearly.

"Don't worry Arwen," he said taking her hand, "we'll be in Mirkwood soon and we'll find Thranduil. He won't stop until he has his son out of Aragorn's hands. Then we can bring him somewhere safe where he'll be able to heal, it will just take some time."

To his dismay, Arwen shook her head. "It is too late Gimli, Aragorn has broken his spirit. Not even the most skilled healers could save him now, there is nothing we can do, he is gone."

----

They entered Mirkwood with caution, neither were familiar with the land but had heard plenty of tales of the dangers that lurked within the southern part of the forest. Every tree looked menacing as if they harbored some evil within their branches.

How could the wood-elves live so close to such evil? Arwen had pulled her hood up again, hiding her features. Gimli sat stiffly in front of her on their horse, he was not enjoying being in this forest any more than she was. But it was the only way to get to Thranduil, that had been Legolas' last wish, for her to reach the safety of his father's realm.

The horse came to an abrupt stop, planting his hooves on the ground, his ears folded back against his head.

"What's wrong with him?" Gimli asked in a hushed tone. Before Arwen could respond several tall, lithe figures dropped from the trees and surrounded them. Their horse reared on his hind legs, its hooves pawing at the air in fear.

Arwen reached out for something to keep her from falling, but her hands only grasped empty air. She fell from the horse and onto her back, Gimli landing just inches away from her. She lay still for a moment, stunned at the sudden impact and breathless. A figure appeared over her and extended a hand, she sighed in relief when she recognized the being as an elf.

Tentatively she accepted his hand and allowed herself to be helped to her feet. Gimli was pushed towards her and the two stood surrounded by a dozen wood-elves, each one with a bow trained on them.

"Who are you? What are you doing in our lands?" A cold, sharp voice demanded, emerging from the trees with even more armed elves at his back. One look at his golden hair and piercing blue eyes told Arwen exactly who it was standing before them.

"Aran-nin Thranduil." She bowed before him and motioned for Gimli to do the same. "We have traveled far in search for shelter in your lands, and we bring grave news with us."

Thranduil narrowed his eyes, "Why does an elf maiden travel with a dwarf? Why come to my realm for shelter and what is this "grave news" of yours?" Arwen tried not to squirm under the elvenking's piercing gaze; wondering just how much truth lied in the stories she had heard of Thranduil Oropherion's wrath.

"Show yourself!" He commanded. "Remove your hood and tell me of your business here."

Hesitating, Arwen reached her shaking hands up towards her hood and pulled it back. She was met with startled gasps and stares as the wood-elves saw her short hair, Gimli glared at any elf who dared gape at her.

Thranduil was the only one who did not seem fazed. Taking a deep breath she announced, "I am Arwen Undómiel, daughter of Elrond Lord of Imladris. My friend is Gimli, son of Gloin," turning to Thranduil she concluded in a shaking voice, "we bring word of the happenings in Gondor, and of your son Legolas."

Arwen was shocked at the look of horror that suddenly flashed in Thranduil's eyes, he stumbled backwards as if he'd been struck. The elves were all speaking in hushed, frantic whispers. None of them believing that the elleth who stood before them was the Evenstar, one whom they'd only heard tales about.

"Arwen! Arwen is that really you?" A dark-haired elf pushed his way forward, his deep blue eyes widening in shock when he laid eyes on Arwen, and tears began to fill hers.

"Elladan!" She ran into his arms and he embraced her, crushing his sister against his chest.

"Oh Arwen, my dear sister you are alive!" Elladan held her close, tears running down his fair face. "I feared the worst after you and father did not return from Gondor, I have prayed every day to the Valar that would you be returned to me."

She pulled away from him slightly, confusion in her eyes. "What do you mean? Is father not with you? I thought he returned home after..."

The pain in her older brother's eyes silenced her. She looked down at the ground as Elladan murmured, "When he did not return Elrohir and I set out for Gondor, when we arrived we saw a body lying on the ground..."

Elladan shuddered as a sob racked his body, Arwen pulled him into her arms, her eyes unfocused and dazed.

Not him, not her ada...

"Elladan, what about Elrohir? Where is he?"

He shook his head, struggling to speak in between sobs, "It happened so fast, we didn't have time to react. Men arrived on horseback, firing arrows as they went, Elrohir-"

Arwen cried out and collapsed in her brother's arms, she did not need to hear it, she would not bear to hear it. The only remaining children of Elrond fell to their knees, wrapped in each other's arms, the other elves looking on in sorrow and grief.

Her father and her brother, both dead.

Because of Aragorn...

The man she had fallen in love with, the one she had given her heart to, had murdered her family.

Thranduil stepped forward, sorrow in his eyes. "I am sorry for your losses, this evil should not have befallen Elrond and Elrohir. Yet please, I must ask you Lady Arwen, what news do you bring of my son?"

Arwen's grief was briefly replaced by surprise at the fear and desperation that had entered Thranduil's voice, and the grief returned when she thought of Legolas, how they left him behind. She raised her head to meet the elvenking's gaze, her heart twisting inside her chest. "My Lord, your son Legolas is a prisoner... of Aragorn son of Arathorn. He has betrayed us all."