Left alone, Legolas looked up, and saw that Esendri was halfway down the structure, watching the events silently. Climbing up to help his friend down, Legolas rested him against a wall and glowered at him.

"Wherefore your actions, good Esendri?"

Through gritted teeth, Esendri said, "I swore my services to protect you --"

"Stop this, Esendri!" Legolas cried. "You are my dearest friend, and do I need to tell you once again that you are not in any way in my service?"

Esendri muttered and looked away.

"Can you move your hand?"

"No."

Legolas's face sank when he took another look at the cold metal limb.

"I will find a way to rid you of this, Sen."

"No good will come of it. My arm has died, and I would not have it any other way. You are of royal Sindarin blood and a prince of the realm, Legolas. Your prowess on the battlefield is far greater than mine, and there was no other way that we could have obtained the stone save through this sacrifice. It required an exchange of flesh for metal, and that I have done. Besides, the pain is now bearable, and I do think it makes some convenience, being able to go into battle with one less gauntlet to strap on!"

Legolas's eyes clouded at the gentle optimism exuded by Esendri. While he knew Esendri well enough to know not to expect otherwise, the staunch way with which his friend accepted his fate and the love he held for Legolas was greatly moving.

"Thank you, Esendri. Now we have all the stones that are required, what next?"

"How do we do we destroy the gem?"

Pausing as he helped Esendri to the door, Legolas said, "I know not. I always thought another would tell us what to do, but instead we stand alone now."

The door flew open just as they reached it, and a tall figure stepped through, causing a jolt to run through Legolas. It was not possible!

"Lithroleah!" Esendri cried, face shining with joy.

"Legolas! Esendri!" Lithroleah said, rushing forward and embracing them.

"Elbereth, Lithroleah, it is so good to see you again!" Legolas cried, refusing to let go of him. "I knew not if you survived, whether you had escaped the fire! There is so much to tell you, Lithroleah! Are you alone? Where are Glorfindel and Elladan?"

"Slow down, ernil -- prince --!" Lithroleah said, laughing. "I can only answer a question at a time!"

"How did you get here?" Esendri said.

"I followed the track the humans and Orcs left behind --"

"Where is the Dyrian? Where are the Orcs?" Esendri cried in sudden alarm.

Surprise came over Lithroleah's face.

"Did they not leave?"

"We never saw them," Legolas said, still staring at his friend and trying not to pinch himself in disbelief. Just so recently had he thought the situation hopeless, that he would never see any of his loved ones again. Now, it was as if fate had thrust hope back at him, a rope which he intended to cling on o for his entire existence depended on it."

"When did you arrive?" Legolas said, as Lithroleah started exclaiming at Esendri's arm encased in metal.

"Just."

"Did you see signs of any other outside?"

Esendri looked up sharply at Legolas, but thought better of saying anything yet.

Seeing Lithroleah's expression of wariness brought more trepidation to Legolas. Why was Lithroleah avoiding his gaze?

"I could not say for sure, but there were signs of a fight and blood spilt. A body lay amongst the swords, but as I was eager to enter the tower and it was dark-haired --"

Legolas sank to the floor, no longer taking in Lithroleah's words. His mind was numb, coldness was everywhere.

"Legolas? What is it?" Lithroleah said, approaching him.

He turned and saw Esendri looking at Legolas with compassion and shared pain.

"Legolas?"

Esendri walked over and knelt by Legolas, grasping his hand. A sudden thought came to him, and he said, "Lithroleah, how did you find your way to us?"

He did not hear the silence, not at first, for Legolas had started to shake. When he next glanced up to look at Lithroleah, Esendri gave a loud cry as a hideous grinning mask obscured his entire view.

"On your feet, chum," the Orc hissed.

Turning to Legolas, Esendri saw that another Orc was standing before him, hissing to him, but that Legolas was failing to respond.

"Get up!" the Orc this side snarled, and Esendri obeyed.

A burst of rage swelled through Esendri as the Orc hit Legolas on his head with the glance of a blade. Yet, Legolas continued to stare at the ground, unresponsive to the outside world.

The Orc howled with rage, and raised his blade for another blow.

"Alive, he said," the one watching Esendri hissed. "No good to him dead!"

"A few good beatings never did 'em no harm!"

There was a cry of rage as one Orc attacked the other, and Esendri was over by Legolas, dragging him to his feet.

Legolas allowed Esendri to drag him to the door. Nothing, neither the squabbling Orcs nor his stinging head mattered. Elrohir was dead. He was dead!

Stopping short when they walked through the door onto the platform which had earlier brought them up amongst the complicated machinery, Esendri drew a large breath when he saw the number of Orcs which swamped around the bottom of the unmoving wheels and cogs.

Esendri drew his sword with difficulty, cursing that his left hand would never draw a bow again. Yet when he looked at Legolas, he was startled to see his friend did not even seem to take in the horde of Orcs as he stared unseeingly through the metal beams.

"Come on, Legolas! We fight for freedom!" Esendri whispered.

Esendri was about to swing himself downwards when a booming voice filled the air.

"Drop your weapons!"

About to ignore it, Esendri renewed his energy and lifted his sword --

"One more move and your master dies!"

The Orcs parted reluctantly and one of them walked forward. Behind him walked another two Orcs, pushing along a bound and gagged figure --

"Elrohir!"

Esendri had to throw himself at Legolas as he made a sudden movement to jump off the platform.

"Drop them now, or he dies!"

Still pressing Legolas back, Esendri suddenly smiled. "He would not die because you need him."

"Sen!" Legolas cried, panicking.

"Well spotted, Elf. But we do not need him healthy. Surrender, or we will rip you from limb to limb, and then work on him!"

"Put it down, Sen," Legolas whispered, finally gaining control of the situation after the double shock. Elrohir was alive, pleading with them with his eyes, for them to fight their way out, to flee, for they still stood a chance against the assembled Orcs, especially with the height advantage.

But Legolas had already given Elrohir up for dead once, and he would do anything to ensure that Elrohir stayed alive, even surrender.

"Please. Elrohir is in their hands," he said.

Reluctantly, Esendri dropped his sword as Legolas threw down his own weapons.

"Very well," the Orc commander laughed. "Go inside and wait for us there."

Exchanging glances, Legolas and Esendri backed into the room, where they saw that the two Orcs had slain each other in their rage. Still, they did not speak as they heard the whirling of the machinery outside start up.

The platform descended, then was raised again, and the three Orcs entered the room, still holding their captive close. The commander studied the Elves for a while, then spat on the ground.

"I hope you suffer much, Elves," he said, before the Orcs threw Elrohir at them and they fled, slamming the door behind.

Legolas flew forward as Elrohir fell to the floor and undid the ropes which bound him, shaking tremendously.

"I am Legolas before their eyes," Elrohir said, taking in Legolas's fraught state. What had occurred to render him shaking so uncontrollably?

"Lithroleah told us you were dead," Esendri said, watching them with a solemn gaze.

'Lithroleah? How? Valar, I am quite unharmed!" The last he said was in response to Legolas suddenly enveloping him in a big hug.

He continued to smile at Legolas with gentle regard as the younger Elf slowly backed away, embarrassed.

"What happened?" Legolas whispered. "We saw you fighting with the swords."

"What swords?" Elrohir said, puzzled.

"Did you not --"

"It was a trick!" Esendri said, suddenly understanding. "A trick to lure us in."

"But how did they know?" Legolas cried.

"Know what? Esendri, what happened to your arm?"

"We should not speak of it here," Esendri whispered. "We must find a way to escape."

A loud clang filled the air, and the trio turned to see the tall figure of the Dyrian framed in the doorway before them.

"There will be no escape for you, my little Elves."