Hi guys! I'm so sorry about the (very) long wait for this chapter, I hope you know I won't give up on this story, however long it might take me to update. Please bear with me: I have some GCSEs and heaps of homework so I'll try and squeeze in some Wattpad! Thanks if you've stuck with this story through thick and thin (but mostly thick).

Legolas rested his head back against the tree he was bound to. Another day of pain and suffering for all four prisoners had passed, and the elfling was nearing the limits of what he could endure. He did not want to shut himself away from the world as he had done before, to fall back into his old ways of dealing with the pain, because that would mean accepting that it was never going to end, accepting it the way he had before, and as much as he was being dragged downwards into that pit of despair, he refused to fall. Not yet.

He told himself that that was the only reason why he didn't shut himself away. But the truth was that he was terrified that if he did, he would never be able to return.

He glanced over at the human and his brothers and thought for the millionth time that this was all his fault. It was his fault that these people had been captured, abused and mistreated the way they had. The guilt filled up the hollow space inside him when the pain wasn't there, and although he knew that the others had made the choice to look for him, if he hadn't run away, none of this would have happened. If he had stayed, he may have been at the mercy of the Elven Lord who was Aragorn's father, but he was beginning to believe that that may have been better than this. Perhaps they would have just killed him. That was what he wanted now. Death.

But he couldn't have what he wanted when there were three people here because of him. He couldn't let himself leave when they had come all this way to find him. Because that would mean that all their suffering was pointless.

The elfling glanced around him. He tried to keep as still as possible, because even the slightest of movements sent rivers of pain all over his body. A small twitch pushed his back against the tree trunk, and all the fresh wounds would ignite once more in pain.

Clenching his teeth, he looked around again, this time managing to actually see through the haze of pain. It made him feel better, somehow, that he could still do that one normal action, after everything. It was a strange thing to hold onto, but it was all he had.

The camp was practically deserted, with a few sleepy elves standing guard. Thranduil was inside a tent somewhere nearby. Most of his army slept soundly on the floor, with their eyes open and constantly alert, even in sleep.

Or at least that was how it seemed.

But Legolas had been watching all evening, and it was clear that they had been drinking considerable amounts of alcohol from their shouts and cheers. The large amount of food had also shown that they were celebrating something, and the elfling could only assume that it was the capture of the three new prisoners.

The drinks were taking their toll now. Each elf, who should be vigilant at all times, was deep in a relaxed slumber, with was clearly the result of too much food and drink, and not enough to do. They would be grumpy and violent in the morning, and Legolas knew all too well where their anger would be directed. He shivered at the thought.

He knew from experience that he could cope with whatever they did, but he wasn't sure if the human and the two older elves could.

If they die because they came here for me...

And suddenly the young elf knew what he had to do. He had no idea how he was going to do it, or whether it would work, but he had to be brave. He had to get out.

Tonight.

Twisting in his bonds, the elfling squirmed for what seemed like forever until, eventually, the strong elvish rope began to loosen. He had last eaten a small mouthful days ago, before he was captured, and it was sometime before Aragorn was injured that he had properly eaten. He was so thin he looked like a skeleton, but for once that was a good thing, and a slight loosening in the ropes was all he needed. Slipping silently out of the restraints, he stood up for the first time in days.

Immediately, he clutched at the tree for support as he felt his knees buckle and his head swim. Pausing until some of the nausea passed and his vision cleared slightly, he took a tentative step forward, glancing around to ensure that nobody was awake. That nobody was watching.

Satisfied, he took another step. He crept as silently, and yet as quickly as he could, towards the edge of the clearing where the guard was the most relaxed, and tiptoed past the sleeping warrior and into the forest beyond.

He was free.

But just as he was about to run, he paused. There was a strange feeling inside of him, one he couldn't describe, but it drew him back to the camp. He glanced back behind him. The three figures hanging corpse-like from the tree across the camp caught his sharp eye, and he felt drawn to them. He barely knew the two elves, but the human... Aragorn had rescued him. It was because of Aragorn that he had this chance now to escape.

The human had saved him without knowing who he was. He had risked everything to help a stranger.

How could Legolas live with himself if he couldn't risk everything to help the only person who had ever shown him any kindness?

He bit his lip. If he was caught now, he wasn't sure if he could live with what they would do to him. But if he wasn't...

Turning resolutely away, he faced the forest again. It seemed empty all of a sudden. He had to go back.

Creeping silently back across the still camp, he froze when a warrior at his feet stirred. His eyes became temporarily more alert as his sleep lightened and Legolas froze, knowing that the smallest movement could cause his discovery. The young elf swallowed nervously.

Thankfully, the warrior's eyes dimmed once more and the elfling moved on. He had to do this.

Reaching the tree the prisoners were tied to was a huge relief. He leaned heavily against the bark as the world span again. Sinking to the base of the trunk, he almost cried out in defeat when he realised that he had nothing to cut the thick ropes with.

Thinking as quickly as his tired and pain-filled mind allowed, he drew some strength from the tree his hand was pressed against. The tree seemed to pass energy into him, and he managed to stand again and prepare to continue.

He knew what he had to do now. Creeping to the closest, and sleepiest-looking, warrior, he found himself standing above Agardir, the captain of the wood elves who had almost killed Aragorn with the shot that had nearly destroyed all his hopes of a real life.

Legolas' hands shook with apprehension as he bent down and began to slowly, cautiously pry the dagger from the elf's belt. But when the Captain shifted slightly in his sleep, the blade caught on the elfling's finger and he hissed in pain.

It was strange, really, that that was what made him make a sound, when nothing else had been able to. That small amount of pain was the one thing that made him lose control for a moment.

And that was a moment to many.

Agardir's eyes flew open and he was instantly alert. When he saw the elfling standing over him with the dagger half pulled from his belt and the hilt in the young elf's hand, he reacted quickly.

But a lifetime of reacting quickly, dodging and getting out of the way, was on Legolas' side. Pulling the dagger from the sheath, he dodged the kick that was sent at him and slashed at the ropes which bound the human and his brothers. He waited until the former prisoners were more alert before he pressed the knife into Aragorn's hand and ran.

Immediately, elves surged after him. He couldn't outrun them for long, he knew that. He was tired, wounded and incredibly hungry and thirsty, whereas they were at full strength. But he had to lead them away to give the sons of Elrond the best chance they could have of escaping.

Legolas sprinted as fast as he could for the trees. There, he had a slightly larger advantage, as he could dodge between the trees and hide among the foliage.

Suddenly, an idea flew into his head and he swung himself into the trees with the last of his strength. But strength seemed to pour from the trees into him and he continued to run, using the highest branches and taking the most unchartable course he could. Then he dropped back to the forest floor and lay among the undergrowth, silent and cautious.

He lay there long after the elves had passed above his head. He had no strength left. Nothing. He closed his eyes and for the first time in what seemed like forever, he let his eyes close and the world go blissfully black.

I'm really sorry that it took so long. I was going to give up on this story, but I miss people commenting and voting on my work, so I've decided to try and start again. The updates will  probably be quite slow. Thank you all if you've decided to carry on reading.

Oh, don't forget to vote :P