Ithilien (Two Years Ago)

After several weeks the three had arrived in Ithilien. They'd found the rangers who were led by Boromir's younger brother, Faramir. Aragorn had delivered the news of Boromir's death, all the men grieved at the news. Then Aragorn had done the unthinkable; he showed them the ring.

Legolas and Gimli had watched, dumbstruck, as Aragorn told the men that their war against Sauron was nearing its end. There had been cheering and celebration that night, only two avoided the crowd. That was when Aragorn approached them, wearing the Ring around his neck.

"What are you doing out here my friends?" Aragorn looked from Legolas to Gimli, he looked almost hurt at finding them here.

"Aragorn, what are you doing?" Legolas asked. "This was never the plan, we were supposed to destroy the Ring not use it against Sauron! This is exactly what you warned against doing yet here you are now! Ready to deliver the Ring to Gondor."

Aragorn blinked once. His eyes moving between Legolas and Gimli. Finally, he turned to Gimli and asked, "Do you trust me?"

The question took both of them aback. Gimli glanced nervously at Legolas who was at a loss for words. Aragorn stood in silence, his eyes never leaving Gimli, waiting for his answer.

Gimli nodded his head uncertainly. "Aye, of course I trust you."

A faint smile appeared on Aragorn's lips. Then he turned to Legolas and again asked, "Do you trust me?"

Legolas searched Aragorn's gaze, trying to discern his thoughts, but for once he could not tell what the ranger was thinking. Sighing Legolas gave his reply, "You know I do."

Smiling, Aragorn reached out and clasped both of them on their shoulders.

"I'm doing this for all of us. You'll see, I'm going to keep you both safe, I promise."

----

Minas Tirith (Present Day)

Safe.

That was what he'd always told them he was doing, keeping them safe. Every night whilst traveling to Minas Tirith, Aragorn had taken himself and Gimli aside to tell them that, only after they assured him that he had their trust.

A chill ran down Legolas' spine as he thought of the night just before they arrived in Minas Tirith. Aragorn had taken them aside just as he'd always done, only this time separately. After speaking with Gimli he'd led Legolas away from the camp, and again he asked him "Do you trust me?"

Instead of answering him right away, Legolas turned his head away from him. Aragorn's hand suddenly shot out, grabbed his face and forced him to look at him. Legolas' eyes widened at the fury that had entered Aragorn's eyes, his fingers dug into Legolas' skin.

"Why do turn away from me?" Aragorn snapped. "I was speaking to you."

"Since when am I unfree to look where I wish?" Legolas replied pulling himself out of Aragorn's grasp. The ranger stood livid, his hands curled into fists.

"You should show more respect towards the one who saved your life elf."

"From what? You always speak of having saved me, yet I have not found myself to be in any danger." Legolas narrowed his eyes. Suddenly Aragorn's fist flew forward, striking Legolas in the stomach. The elf doubled over, struggling to breathe.

"Learn your place Legolas," Aragorn warned, "I don't want to remind you again."

It seems as though you will have to...

Legolas thought as he pulled at the ropes that bound him. He had no idea where he'd been taken to. The guards had brought him here, tied him to a chair, then left. He was still blindfolded with his hands tied to the arms of the chair. His legs were tied in a similar way and his arms were pinned to his sides, tied around the chair and keeping him immobile.

What Legolas wanted to know was why he had been bound in such a fashion, surely Aragorn did not fear him that much? He'd been kept weaponless since their flight from Amon Hen, the absence of his bow and knives made him feel vulnerable.

Footsteps could be heard approaching. He heard a door unlock then creak open, whoever entered closed the door behind him before locking it again. The footsteps approached him and Legolas felt his body tense. He knew who was standing there, he did not need his eyes to tell him that.

"Are you afraid?" Aragorn asked. Legolas made no reply, keeping his head forward.

He heard Aragorn walk behind him, followed by fingers brushing against his head as he untied the blindfold and removed it from Legolas' eyes. The elf blinked several times to adjust his eyes. The first thing he saw were two torches hanging on the wall, in between them was the door they had entered. Looking around he saw that there were no windows in this dimly lit room; only four torches, a table, himself, and Aragorn.

Legolas watched as Aragorn came to stand in front of him again. He looked into the eyes of who had once been his closest friend, his sworn brother. Now he was hardly recognizable.

"Are you afraid?" Aragorn asked again, folding his arms across his chest. Legolas kept his eyes locked on his former friend.
"Yes, I am afraid. Although not for myself."
"Oh?" Aragorn raised an eyebrow skeptically, "Then who is it you fear for?"
Without hesitating, Legolas said, "You."

Surprise and confusion crossed Aragorn's face, but he quickly hid it behind a laugh.

"If you are are trying to stop me from doing this Legolas, then you are failing." Aragorn walked away from him towards the table. Keeping his eyes trained on the door Legolas asked, "Are you going to kill me?"

Silence followed his question, save for Aragorn's footsteps returning to Legolas' side.

"Now why would I kill you Legolas?" Aragorn asked innocently. "You are far too valuable to be killed."

At this Legolas turned his head to face him, his brow furrowed slightly.

"Only a fool would kill an elven prince." Aragorn continued, smiling he lightly tapped the point of Legolas' ear with his finger. "Especially when he is the only son of a powerful elven king."

Legolas shuddered as Aragorn's finger moved down to the side of his face, tracing his jawline before going down his neck.

"Think about it Legolas. With you in my grasp I may as well have an entire army of elves. Once your father hears that I have you, he'll do anything I say in return for your safety."

A sick feeling entered Legolas' stomach, he felt as if a weight had been put on his chest.

"You are keeping me hostage," Legolas said quietly, "so my father will provide you with an army."

"Ah! I knew you had some brains in that golden head of yours," Aragorn ruffled his hair, "your father has the largest force of elves in Middle Earth! And to think that you'll willingly help me obtain it."

Legolas glared at the man, his blue eyes cold.
"I would never help you blackmail my father."
"Not even to protect Arwen? Or Gimli? They are within my walls Legolas, and as long as they're here I can do whatever I wish to them."

Fear flashed in Legolas' eyes. Aragorn continued to smile.
"Now which will it be Legolas? Make your choice and quickly."
Lowering his head, Legolas nodded.
"That's a good elf." Aragorn bent down and began to untie Legolas' legs from the chair. "Now remember, no tricks. Or else they both will pay for your disobedience."

Legolas remained still as Aragorn finished untying him. Once he was free he stood and followed Aragorn over to the table.

"You are going to write a letter to your father Legolas," Aragorn slid a piece of parchment in front of him, "and you will only write what I tell you to." Sighing Legolas did as he was told, Aragorn telling him word for word what to write.

Legolas could feel hot tears of frustration welling up in his eyes. He'd wanted to write to his father for months, Aragorn had kept him from doing so before. Now he was writing to him, but informing his father of his imprisonment, and what was required of him to prevent any harm from befalling his son.

After he finished Aragorn inspected the letter, making sure nothing else had been added. Satisfied he sealed the letter and ordered Legolas to return to his "seat."

Reluctantly Legolas sat down in the chair where Aragorn began tying him back to the chair. However, he did not tie his right arm down.

"Now that you've written your letter Legolas, I think it would only be appropriate to send a gift along with it. Wouldn't you agree?" Aragorn pulled out a knife, holding it up for Legolas to see. Reaching his hand out Aragorn grabbed one of Legolas' braids, fingering it with a smile on his face.

Without a word he took the knife and cut through the braid, separating it from Legolas' head.
"Hold out your hand." He ordered.
Legolas stretched out his hand, opening it with the palm facing up. In one quick slice, a line of scarlet appeared on Legolas' skin. Inside Aragorn was annoyed that the elf hadn't even flinched after being cut.

Taking Legolas' bleeding hand, he pressed the braid into his hand and forced him to make a fist. Then he opened his hand and removed the blood-soaked hair. Moving back to the table Aragorn wrapped the braid in a cloth and set it beside the letter.

"I think Thranduil will appreciate hearing from you after so long," Aragorn said walking back over to Legolas. He tied his right arm back to the chair, not caring that the elf's hand was still bleeding. Straightening himself the two stared back at each other.

Legolas wished that he would just leave now that he had what he wanted, but Aragorn wasn't finished with him yet. He watched as Aragorn approached him, crouching down he carefully began undoing Legolas' other braid.

What is he doing?

Once he finished Legolas' hair was hanging loosely over his shoulders, some of it covering his face. Aragorn then moved back to where he was before, standing right in front of him. Their eyes locked only this time, there was something unsettling about Aragorn's eyes. The dim light made them appear almost black, and there was an emotion in them that Legolas could not quite name, but it scared him.

"I want to see you afraid Legolas," he took a step forward, "I want to hear you scream and beg for mercy." He grasped both of Legolas' arms and leaned forward, Aragorn's face only inches away from his own. "I want you to get on your knees, and I want you to cry. Not for someone else, but for yourself."

Legolas bit his tongue to keep himself from wincing as Aragorn tightened his grip on his arms. The man leaned forward and whispered his last words into Legolas' ear. "I want to control you Legolas, and I swear that I will. Soon, very soon, you will belong to no one but me. I will be your master and you will bow to no one else."

He moved back slightly and Legolas finally turned away, closing his eyes and trying to slow his pounding heart. He didn't relax until he felt Aragorn release him. Then Aragorn was behind him, blindfolding his eyes once again.

"I will see you tomorrow Legolas, get some rest while you can." Aragorn's footsteps moved away from him, he heard the door unlock, creak open, then close. After he heard the door lock from the outside Legolas slumped in his chair, his head bowed and body shaking.

Whatever was going to happen to him tomorrow, Legolas feared that it would be worse than death.