AUTHOR: Conlai
RATING: NC-17
GENRE: Erotica/Drama
PAIRING: Aragorn, Halbarad, Legolas/var. Orcs, Aragorn/Sauron
Summary: While working as scouts near the Black Gate, Aragorn, Legolas, and Halbarad are caught. Sauron takes a special interest in Isildur�s heir.
CHAPTERS: 1/?
WARNING: Rape/torture (non-con)
DISCLAIMER: It�s all John�s. Ahmir is my baby, and I made up a few Orcs while I was at it.
***
Ivanneth, 2959 T.A.
Aragorn woke with a start, unable to breath. He nearly lost all control and panicked when he encountered the gag about his face and found that his hands and feet were bound. When he had finally come to his senses, he tried desperately to calm himself, taking deep breaths through his nose, trying not to choke on the dirty cloth that had been stuffed into his mouth. He was staring into dimness and could not discern if it was his own eyes or if there was truly no light where he lay, but he could make out dark shadows moving against unsteady firelight cast on dark cloth, and they seemed clear enough. The raucous shouts and growls of the Orcs reached his ears, speaking in some fowl language he didn�t understand.
Gradually, he began to remember the fight that must have brought him to where he was. It had been his watch, at a late hour of the night. He had seen the band of Orcs approaching, and immediately roused Legolas and Halbarad. Silently, they had hidden themselves, but as the Orcs drew closer, they caught what they perceived to be the vile scent of an Elf. Having been discovered, they three drew weapons against the band. Legolas opened fire, hitting each target on the mark without fail though it was the dead of a moonless night. Halbarad and Aragorn had charged fiercely as cornered animals, blades singing in the air before clashing with steel. It was a battle they could not have won. Though the battalion had been small, it contained no less than a hundred Orcs, making there way toward the Black Gate. Within minutes, the three had been overpowered, and the Orcs had captured three spies to bring to their masters.
Aragorn knew he had to find Legolas and Halbarad, but he did not want to risk alerting the Orcs to his wakefulness. Gently, he eased himself over onto his back, biting the cloth in his mouth as his scored back hit the ground. He turned his head to search the party around the fire. As one Orc stepped aside, he noticed Legolas and Halbarad, prone on the rocky ground, the firelight illuminating their faces. Their limp forms had been dropped near one another. As Aragorn surveyed them, trying to determine if either were very badly wounded, he saw Legolas�s eyes open very slowly, and the Elf passed him a slow wink. Relieved to know that his friend was well, Aragorn returned the gesture. The sounds of heavy footsteps drew close, and the two quickly returned to their feigned states of unconsciousness. However, the Orc had already seen him. Aragorn cringed inwardly as he heard a knife being drawn, but thankfully, the only purpose it served was to cut the bonds about his ankles. He tried to remain still and silent as he was pulled off the ground by his hair, and then roughly set on his feet, which throbbed and ached from deprivation of blood. The Orc gripped him cruelly by the back of his neck, bracing him. The back of the Orc�s free hand made a painful connexion with the side of Aragorn�s face. Aragorn did not move, but instead let the blow move his body as if he were nothing but a rag-doll. He tried to ignore the blood seeping from his lip.
"Ai, G�rhkod! You�re wasting those smacks. The boy�s out, he is!" came the shout of one Orc.
"Nar, this one�s awake. I seen him," G�rhkod growled. Aragorn felt the tip of the knife against his throat. "Open up you eyes, you filthy spy. Open them, or I�ll cut your pretty Elf�s neck, and the other�s!"
Aragorn did open his eyes, and he set his feet on the ground, wishing they were not so stiff. With his hands still tied, it was hard to keep his balance. A bright light of defiance had settled in his gaze, but G�rhkod only sneered at it. Aragorn tried to jerk away, but G�rhkod only tightened his hold. "Take your hand off of me," Aragorn said, his voice low with hatred.
The Orc turned to his companions and threw Aragorn bodily into their midst. "We�ve got a right unruly boy here, lads!"
Aragorn struggled up onto his knees, clenching his teeth. It felt as if several of his wounds had reopened. The Orcs surrounding him jeered at him, prompted by their leader�s remark. Again G�rhkod approached, and again Aragorn was lifted up by his hair. This time, his feet left the ground, and he could not stop himself from screaming in pain as he was shaken forcefully.
"You all know what�s to be done with boys who don�t behave!" This brought much laughter from the other Orcs. "Ai, Urfang, let�s see the lad�s skin!" Another Orc, nearly as large as G�rhkod, pushed out of the crowd and drew his knife. Aragorn was only spared a moment�s relief from the pain as his feet were returned to the hard-packed earth and the strain of his weight was taken off his hair. Then, Urfang�s foul breath filled his nostrils, and the ties to his leggings were cut. Aragorn�s stomach seized up in fear as the Orc shoved his leggings down to the tops of his boots, denuding his lower half. Remembering that Legolas was awake was no relief, and he might have wept with humiliation had he not denied himself the privilege, but he could not keep his face from burning. Urfang turned and buried his blade in the fire�s embers, making sure that Aragorn saw.
Aragorn became numb as the Orc�s intent became apparent. He tried again to free himself from G�rhkod�s rough grasp, but his captor had expected it. He gave Aragorn a rough push forward as the man pulled away, and the momentum sent Aragorn into Urfang�s arms, on the edge of the fire. The creature enveloped both of Aragorn�s bound hands in on of his own, and pulled them painfully up towards his shoulders, forcing Aragorn to bend over. G�rhkod kicked one of Aragorn�s feet out from under him, but allowed his captive to steady himself, as it left his legs conveniently spread. Urfang and another smaller Orc stood upon Aragorn�s feet, trapping him beneath the iron-cleats. Aragorn involuntarily opened his mouth to scream, but he caught himself and refused to make any sound. The smaller Orc had seen this.
"You�ll shriek plenty in a moment, lad," he sneered, bearing down harder upon Aragorn�s foot. "Aye, an� keep those legs straight," ordered Urfang with a rough kick to one of Aragorn�s knees. "Or I�ll break the both of them!"
Though Aragorn could not see behind himself at the moment, he knew Legolas and Halbarad were there, and he found himself praying that they had fallen unconscious again. He couldn�t have them see this. And Halbarad was but fifteen years of age. Halbarad shouldn�t even be here. Aragorn could not understand why Elrond had allowed him to come.
A huge din broke out amongst the Orcs, a great excitement. G�rhkod had pulled the red-hot knife from the fire, and now brandished it at Aragorn. "You�ll get what�s coming to you, yet, boy!" he laughed, and with one grimy, clawed hand he spread Aragorn�s buttocks, drawing the blade upward.
Aragorn�s eyes were shut, and he had removed himself from the happenings around him. He imagined his could feel someone holding him, very gently, and protecting him from the great darkness that waited for him in consciousness. Just as he felt G�rhkod begin to stab downward with the knife, the Orc let out a surprised yelp and fell forward. The smaller of the Orc�s that restrained him leapt aside. The knife buried itself in Aragorn�s thigh, and the cut was deep. The metal hissed as it hit skin and blood. Aragorn screamed out in agony and his knees gave beneath him, and he fell to the ground, stunned.
It was G�rhkod�s roar of anger that pulled Aragorn back to his senses. He looked to Legolas, but his friend did not acknowledge him. In fact, the Elf was standing up, straight and tall and noble as any ancient king, and the cord that had bound his legs lay near him. He stared boldly at G�rhkod, offering a silent challenge.
"You, Elf!" the Orc spat the name as if it was a vulgar curse. "That was you what kicked me!"
"Yes, I am sorry about that," Legolas smiled at his own sarcasm, looking somewhat pleased with himself.
G�rhkod tore the knife out of Aragorn�s leg, making the man cry out yet again, though softly and weakly this time. Aragorn could only clench his teeth and dig his nails into the hard-packed dirt beneath him, but he continued to watch, becoming worried for Legolas, who he felt was most definitely pushing his luck with the Orcs.
G�rhkod advanced upon Legolas, waving the blade before him, ignoring the dark blood that flew from its tip. "I�ll kill you!" He grabbed the collar of Legolas�s tunic, pulling him forward until their faces were nearly touching.
Still, Legolas did not flinch. Instead, he laughed coolly. "You�re not going to kill me," he said.
This only served to infuriate G�rhkod further. "The hell I ain�t!" he raged, and raised the knife. The blow never fell. A look of surprise pasted itself onto his face as he realised his hand restrained. He dropped the knife.
"That will be quite enough," said a cold, quiet voice behind him.
G�rhkod spun around, and Legolas smiled at Aragorn over the tall Orc�s shoulder as he found himself staring down at a young Southron captain who, despite his slender build, seemed to hold great power. G�rhkod obviously recognised the young man, and also obviously feared him. Aragorn smiled back, glad of his friend�s excellent timing.
"I�ve spoken with your Master," the captain informed G�rhkod, his voice a haughty drawl. "He wants these captives brought to the Tower...immediately." He turned on his heel and began to walk off, leaving G�rhkod to stare after him in annoyance. He stopped suddenly, seeing Aragorn, and scowled in disgust at his condition. He looked back over his shoulder at G�rhkod, who immediately straightened his face. "Oh, by the way," he said mockingly, raising one eyebrow. "See that they are not harmed again. Our Master has his own plans for them, and you are expected to not interfere." Then, much to the surprise of all those who were watching, he bent down and helped Aragorn to stand. He let the injured man lean on his shoulder, and even went so far as to pull Aragorn�s legging back over him. Once Aragorn was covered again, he looked back up at the Southron, as confused as anyone else.
The man motioned smartly to an Orc who stood nearby, holding a large bundle of filthy canvas. Hesitantly, the Orc handed him the bundle, which the captain quickly opened. Inside were all the weapons that Aragorn, Legolas, and Halbarad had carried. He unsheathed Aragorn�s blade and surveyed it critically. "This is quite a plain blade, is it not?" he said, shoving it back into its leather encasement. Aragorn did not answer, but instead watched with growing anxiety as the Southron�s hand strayed to the other sheath on his belt. He unwound the braided thong that bound the cross hilt to the sheath, and he drew out N�rsil. The keen blade flashed in the firelight as he held it up. He smiled slowly. "Ah...so, you�re the one He�s after," he said softly. "Pity," he shrugged. "I was hoping to have you in my own chambers for some time." He glanced at Aragorn over the blade�s shining edge, a glint of lust evident in his black eyes. "But I�m sure He�ll want to keep you to Himself."
Something in the way the Southron said this made Aragorn shiver with cold fear. After the captain�s reaction to N�rsil, he could easily guess why he would be of interest to the Dark Lord. He could see why he would be considered a threat. It felt as if someone had suddenly grabbed hold of his inside�s and twisted them violently. There was much more to his problems than being dealt with as a spy.
"You, Elf...come here," said the captain quietly, knowing that Legolas would here him. "Help your companion walk." He looked out into the band of Orcs, who stood dumbly nearby. "One of you carry the other. He is still unconscious."
Legolas lifted Aragorn from the man�s dark-skinned arms and gently into his own. He kept his eyes on the Southron, as if he was waiting for the man�s civil demeanour to change. "Why are you doing this?" he asked suspiciously.
The captain returned his stare, with strange, dark eyes that seemed they could pierce though steel at a whim. "Only because it is my job. I deliver goods as I am ordered, and you are nothing more than goods to me. I do not have a heart."
"I should have known," Legolas retorted. "If you ever do find it though, I should like to thank the goodness of it."
The Southron did not seem to hear. He was replacing the ties on the bundle of weapons. He tossed the parcel back to its previous keeper.
"You could�ve fooled me," said Aragorn hoarsely, his leg throbbing incessantly.
The captain looked at him suddenly, as if puzzled, if not entirely bewildered. For a moment, his hard, emotionless eyes softened, and the person beneath them bordered on becoming visible again. Soon, however, he was able to shake off the effect of Aragorn�s comment, and his voice was stern when he spoke. "You would do well not to speak out of turn. You are in no place to do so," he spat. With that, he turned and stalked off, vanishing quickly into the deep shadows of flickering torchlight.