A/N: This is the non-slash version. It has been subtly different from the original posted on FF.net till now, when a big departure in the storyline comes into play this chapter.

*

"So what do we have here?"

Legolas's lips tightened, and he fought hard to bring his emotions under control as he felt Elrohir's pleading eyes boring into him.

"Will you not give me what I want?" Hkaradil said, taking another step towards Elrohir, curled up on the ground.

Esendri laid a hand on Legolas in warning as he heard his breathing quicken.

"I must say you have surprised me with your resourcefulness. You have gone far, but I fear it is time to surrender the gem to me."

Elrohir let out a laugh. "You think me so weak-minded?"

"No?"

A spark flew out from the Dyrian's outstretched hand and struck Elrohir, throwing him back against the wall. He let out a cry, and he curled his hands into such tight fists that his nails drew blood, but refused to lower his gaze.

"Pathetic fool," Elrohir said, struggling to his feet. "I will never yield to you."

"But you already have. I can feel it. You have gone too far down the path to turn back."

Elrohir continued to smile, trying his best to hide the pain. "The only steps I take are towards your destruction."

"That is a lie!" for the first time, anger crept into the Dyrian's voice. "I can feel your power dying to be unleashed, you poor fool. What have you been told? Are you not aware of your dark potential? Are you going to turn your back to such great power?"

"I will destroy it, and you know that."

"So brave, so foolish. I can feel your anger, I can feel your hatred. It is exactly as it has been foretold. Feel the blood of the Dyrian running through your pores, my Dark Prince!"

Elrohir's laughter this time was real. "The blood of the Dyrian? I am not one of you!"

"Silly boy. How else do you think I have been speaking to you all this while? It was my voice that you heard; my voice that you welcomed."

A loud clang drew his attention to Legolas, who had dropped his drawn dagger, and was staring at him with a wild-eyed look and a bloodless face.

"What clumsy servants you have!" the Dyrian said. He laughed, turning back to Elrohir. "Did he think he could have attacked me with that dagger? One might think your father would have given you better servants. Of course, you wouldn't have need for them once you give in! Nothing would be able to harm you! But I suppose there is not any harm in your keeping such a pretty little creature around you!"

All remaining colour drained from Elrohir's face as he fought to stop himself from responding. He had battled so hard to ensure that no harm would come to Legolas, and he had to make sure that it stayed that way.

His heart turned cold as the Dyrian took a step towards Legolas, continuing to examine him.

"So pretty," the Dyrian said, taking another step.

Elrohir's breath caught in his throat as the Dyrian picked up Legolas's dagger. He was about to shout to regain his attention when Hkaradil slashed outwards. Elrohir bit his lip to keep himself from shouting as a thin line of red appeared across Legolas's cheek.

"You won't be pretty when I'm done with you," Hkaradil spat, before he turned back to Elrohir.

"So, what will it be?"

"You will not use me!"

"My patience has limits, Prince!"

"Where are they?"

Elrohir let out a laugh as the Dyrian struck him on the face.

"I want to see what you have got in you --"

"Stop --" Legolas shouted, but Esendri grasped his arm.

"No, Legolas," he whispered, pulling him back.

Hkaradil let out a laugh. "I am no fool, Prince! You are strong; I have felt your strength, but I have felt your weakness too! How else would your mother have died? She was a weak-minded fool who gave her life for you."

A sudden pain shot through the Dyrian, and he fell to his knees, gasping for air.

Elrohir looked up to see that Legolas was staring at the Dyrian, face contorted into a mask of fury and hatred.

No Lass, Elrohir said, reaching out to Legolas with his mind, trying to calm his soul. He is not worth your anger. Whatever you are doing is not worth it.

Hkaradil broke out into laughter once Legolas tore his gaze away.

"Let your hatred flow! Feed it, let it flow, nurture it! You are the new darkness arising, you will do as the prophecy foretold. You cannot run."

"Never," Elrohir said, spitting on his face.

Hkaradil gave a cry of fury and grabbed Elrohir's neck.

"Then prepare to cry. Prepare to see the one you love more than anything in the world suffer the most unbearable fate and humiliation at my hands!"

"No!" Elrohir screamed, trying to attack him.

"I have felt your love, the noble emotion your people keep talking about. It is this love that would cause her such suffering, suffering that makes her wish that she will die, as I ravish her again and again. And it will be you who has betrayed her; you and your love."

Legolas's hand reached for the gem, but Esendri pulled it away.

"No, not now," Esendri whispered, as Elrohir started to scream in confused pain.

"Betray her," the Dyrian said. "Tell me her name."

Elrohir's screams increased, and he fought against the digging probes that threatened to split his head open, to go right on through his heart --

"Caeriel!" Elrohir screamed, and collapsed in a quivering pile on the floor. Valar, he felt so -- filthy.

Legolas stopped fighting Esendri and stared at Elrohir, incredulity written all over his face.

"Lass, I am so sorry. Elbereth, what have I done?" Elrohir's voice was muffled, and spasms of pain continued to rock through his body as Hkaradil watched on in satisfaction.

"There, that was not so hard. Now that we have a name, maybe you are more inclined to believe that I always get my way. Do you want to tell me where this love of yours is?"

"No, please, do not make me --" Elrohir said, scrambling against the wall that suddenly seemed to press down on him.

"Scared, then, are we? We thought you were braver, tougher, but look how weak love makes us all!"

Legolas watched on in horror as Elrohir crumbled, all his courage and will to fight washed away by his tears at his betrayal.

"Oh, look at you," Hkaradil said. "Now give me a location!"

Elrohir let out a petrified cry as the cold fingers closed in on his cheek.

"No, please, not her, please, don't --"

"Give it to me --"

Hysterical laughter rang through the cell. The Dyrian turned to see that Legolas was pointing at him and laughing so hard that he was having difficulty staying upright, while Esendri had shrunk away and was eyeing him with fear and apprehension.

"You!" Hkaradil said, surprised.

Legolas continued to laugh, but tried to steady himself.

Legolas gasped for air as he tried to gain control. "What a stupid fool you are!"

Hkaradil stood up, his red eyes glinting furiously.

Choking back his chortles, Legolas continued smiling.

"Are you tired of living? Trust me, there are quite a few things I would like to do to you, so shut up and wait while --"

"His right shoulder," Legolas said.

"What?"

"I never knew the Dyrian to be such fools."

"You --"

"You are chasing the hair off your back, never able to find it."

"I will deal with you later."

"Fine, waste more time then. I have truly overestimated you."

Hkaradil bent down, tearing open Elrohir's tunic. He let out a cry of anger when he saw that the shoulder was unmarked.

"No --" Esendri said, finally understanding, but Legolas shoved him aside.

Hkaradil felt a wave of rage sweep through him, and he picked Elrohir up, pinning him against the wall.

"Who are you? What is your name?" he snarled at Elrohir.

Looking up at the Dyrian, Elrohir's brain reeled. Something was happening outside his confused world of shame and pain, something bad. But he had not the strength to figure it out. All that mattered was that the Dyrian continued to believe that he was Legolas --

"My name is Legolas, and I am a Prince of Eryn Galen --"

"I will kill you! How dare you lie to me?"

"I never knew you were so stupid," Legolas said, interrupting.

Hkaradil's face contorted in anger, and he prepared to clamp his hand around Elrohir's throat.

"Kill him if you wish. Some consolation it will be for your lacking the wits and power to command anything as powerful as this," Legolas said.

Hkaradil turned to see that Legolas was perusing with idle interest a flame that burned from his palm.

Elrohir was forgotten in an instant.

"Finally," Legolas said, wrapping his fingers around the fire and extinguishing it. "My name is Legolas. Mae Govannen -- well met --."

"No --" Elrohir croaked.

"Enough! Your game is up. You were pathetic. Now, Inath Sirieus, or mayhap I should call you the Dyrian Lord? What business is it that you wanted with me? Something about a gem?"

Hkaradil stared at Legolas, the hatred in his eyes unveiled.

"So, you know about the power."

"I might do."

"Use it to help your friends, then!"

Legolas laughed again. "My friends? These are my servants! Servants weak enough to open their hearts to love. How brave, how noble. I was once like that, but you changed me. You and your poison. Now, you no longer have any weapons to yield over me. It is because of you that I no longer have a heart. You have no leverage over me."

Hkaradil grinned for the first time since his shock. "Really? We'll see about that!"

Elrohir had to stumble over to Esendri to hold him back as Legolas was attacked by tendrils of magic.

"No, Esendri," he whispered amidst his own churning emotions.

"Legolas!" Esendri screamed. "What are you doing?"

"You will make it more difficult," Elrohir whispered.

Legolas held a proud smile on his face, refusing to give in as the Dyrian sought to tear him apart with his magic.

Furious, the Dyrian threw a backhand at his face.

"What did I tell you? There is nothing. You will find nothing, and neither will you find my magic, nor any gem. And it is your own doing. What strange way fates move!" Legolas grinned, revealing blood-stained teeth.

"Give it to me!" Hkaradil snarled.

"No."

A huge wave swept over Elrohir and Esendri, and the world turned black.

*

When Elrohir awoke, he found his head being cradled by Esendri.

"Hush," Esendri said, when Elrohir jumped.

"Lass?" Elrohir said through his pain.

"Rest please, Master Elrohir."

"Where is he?"

"They had gone when I woke."

Elrohir struggled to sit up, but his limbs felt like lead.

"There is naught we can do, Elrohir, please do not hurt yourself further."

"I failed him --"

Esendri tightened his grip as images of Legolas being tortured sprang to his mind.

"Nay, do not say that. The Dyrian was powerful --"

"I -- failed -- him!" Elrohir screamed. "I betrayed him!"

"How?"

Elrohir closed his eyes, trying to stop his tears from flowing.

"You did everything a friend could -- and more."

"A friend?" Elrohir cried. "A friend does not lust --"

"Stop!"

"I saw his face! I saw the disgust!"

"You think he hates you?"

"I betrayed our friendship!"

There was a loud clang as the door swung open, and a scuffle as a figure was tossed in.

"Legolas!" Esendri cried, abandoning Elrohir and running over.

He picked Legolas up, brushing his hair out of his face.

"Sen, there is much fight in me yet. Please, do not cry," Legolas said, struggling to stand up.

"Valar, what happened?"

"Roh? Where is he? Is he hurt?"

Esendri looked across at Elrohir, who stayed in the corner, refusing to emerge from the shadows.

"No. He is there."

"Roh?" Legolas called, louder this time.

Elrohir shifted, but did not approach.

"I am sorry. I could not bear to watch him torturing you. I am sorry I did not keep my word! I tried, Roh, but I could not --"

"Legolas, do not exert yourself overly," Esendri said, interrupting.

"Roh, please. I wish to speak to you."

At the sound of his plea, Elrohir took slow, hesitant steps towards him, while Esendri took the chance to retreat.

"I am sorry," Elrohir said.

Legolas fought to sit up and leant against the wall for support. He reached out and cupped Elrohir's chin, lifting it such that their eyes met.

"It was her you talked about all this time?" Legolas said, his voice so soft that Elrohir could barely hear him.

Elrohir took a few deep breaths as he fought to keep calm.

"You were never meant to know."

"Answer me, Roh!"

"Yes."

Elrohir's eyes dropped, defeated.

Legolas let go of Elrohir and fell back against the wall.

"Why?" he whispered.

"Legolas, I am so sorry --"

Legolas snapped out of his thoughts, fixing Elrohir with a sharp look.

"Why do you see it as shameful? Why did you seek to keep it from me?"

"What?" Elrohir said, shocked. He had expected Legolas to be filled with disgust, to spit on him.

"Love is always a gift," Legolas said, a thin smile breaking on his face.

"What do you mean?"

"I never thought it --"

"Did you really not know?"

"Why does it matter? Please, do not feel ashamed of it. I am weary," Legolas said, looking away, and Elrohir knew he was hiding something. Yet, as was often the case of late, Elrohir found his ability to read Legolas's thoughts lacking again.

"Legolas? What is it?"

"Why do the Valar have to play such tricks on us? But it matters not. I am still your little Leaf, and you my Elf-knight. We will fight this to the end. All I ask is that you allow me to do what I feel is right. Will you do that for me, Elrohir?"

Elrohir cupped both palms around his face.

"It is the least I can do."

Legolas's smile turned sad, and his words were laced with irony known only to himself. "I am blessed indeed."