Part Five

"Come to have your way with me again, my lord?" Saelbeth asked bitterly as the curtain fluttered and the Lord of Lórien entered the bedroom where the elf of Mirkwood had been tethered without clothing since their arrival. His eyes widened as he saw Legolas behind Celeborn and hope soared within him. Was he about to be rescued at last? "My prince!"

"Do not pretend you did not enjoy it, my pretty prize." Celeborn chuckled and looked at Saelbeth with a heated eye. Saelbeth felt bitter and disgusted, both with Celeborn and himself.

Yes, he had enjoyed it. Celeborn was one of the most beautiful elves that Saelbeth had ever laid eyes upon. He nearly outshone Thranduil and Legolas – but he was a tyrant, a bastard. He had given Saelbeth no choice in the matter. Saelbeth had not even been allowed to plead his case before Lady Galadriel. He had hoped for a time that Glorfindel, who professed to love him and to whom Saelbeth had been starting to find himself attracted in return, would come for him, but no one had. He had seen no one but Celeborn in three days until now.

Celeborn had been both cruel and tender. Clearly he had expected Saelbeth to fall prey to his charms immediately. Saelbeth had been offered the finest of food and wine, but he refused to touch it. He had been chained to the bed only by a thin line of Elvish rope which had a fur cuff at the end, much nicer than Thranduil's restraints, which were all hard, cold metal. Saelbeth had room to get up from the bed and even walk to the window of the private, elegant talan where the Lord of Lórien took sanctuary.

Celeborn had taken him a number of times – Saelbeth had already lost count. He was careful never to hurt Saelbeth physically, and in fact had carefully brought him to an unwanted pleasure almost every time. Celeborn seemed to love to touch him, his large hands, so terribly soft, leaving no inch of Saelbeth's flesh unexplored and untasted. He never raised his voice to Saelbeth or struck him, nor even truly threatened him. He simply took what he wanted of the young elf who had no way of fighting against the ancient lord.

"Saelbeth!" Legolas cried, dashing past Celeborn to grab Saelbeth's hand. "My dear friend, are you hurt?"

"Feel free to examine him, Legolas," Celeborn said, smirking slightly. "I think you will find he is in perfect health, if a bit starved. He refuses to eat."

"Set me free," Saelbeth demanded of Celeborn, but he did not take his eyes from Legolas. The concern and worry in the prince's face nearly moved Saelbeth to tears. He did care. He did. No one else cared, no one else came for him, but Legolas had!

"No," said Celeborn casually. "We have already had this conversation. More than once."

"Will you not?" Legolas asked. He let go of Saelbeth's hand and turned towards Celeborn. "You are not known for being a cruel elf, Lord Celeborn. Why do you keep my friend as your prisoner?"

"Payment, for what you and your father did to Glorfindel and Elladan."

Legolas glared at him. "What about what they did to us?"

"It was nothing that could not have been overlooked."

"You did not see Legolas chained and blindfolded in the dungeon. You did not see how frightened he was!" Saelbeth snapped.

"What about Haldir, your own kinsman?" Legolas added. "He was poisoned, as I was!"

"Poison is no threat to an elf. You know that, Legolas. Your father knows that. He overreacted. Now, I will not discuss this with you any longer," Celeborn kept an even, pleasant tone despite the cold finality of his words. "I will allow you an hour for this visit, and I will have more food and wine sent up. Perhaps you will convince him, for his own sake, to eat it."

Celeborn turned and left the room. Legolas immediately took Saelbeth's hand in his and examined the cuff. He pulled out a knife and tried to cut the bond.

"I cannot sever this," he said with frustration.

"Only Lord Celeborn can free me, and he will not."

"I am sorry, Saelbeth," Legolas said, looking into his eyes. His brow furrowed, his beautiful bow shaped mouth pouting slightly, his large azure eyes filled with worry. "It is my fault that you are here."

"Do not say that," Saelbeth said firmly. "The only one I blame for my incarceration is Lord Celeborn."

"Has he treated you cruelly?"

"He has forced me to do as he wished, though he has not harmed me physically. Still, I do not wish to lie with him, Legolas. He brings me pleasure and I despise myself for feeling it," Saelbeth admitted. He felt his cheeks and the tips of his ears turn red.

"I wonder if this is how Silindë felt for all the years that he was the consort of my father," Legolas said miserably. "Why do those in power abuse their position? I would never conceive of forcing someone to--" But Legolas cut himself off, looking horrified. "But I did. I forced Elladan."

"That was not the same, and had you offered Elladan to lie with you, he would have said yes," Saelbeth reassured him. "As for your father, Thranduil is a good king and a good elf. He knew not that Silindë did not desire his post. Silindë was too afraid to tell him."

"Hello!" Rúmil's voice called out from the sitting room. "Prince Legolas?"

"Do not let him see me," Saelbeth whispered. "I do not wish news of my humiliation to spread."

Legolas nodded and turned around to go into the sitting room, but before he could, Haldir's brother pushed the curtain aside and strode into the bedroom. He was carrying the promised tray of food and wine. Saelbeth's stomach grumbled angrily. He sighed as the young Galadhrim's sky colored eyes went round and wide at the sight of Saelbeth's helplessness.

"I will take that. Thank you, Rúmil," Legolas said, taking the food. "Please, do not speak of this to anyone."

"Lord Celeborn—" Rúmil stammered.

"Yes, this is his doing. I will see it rectified," Legolas said imperially. His tone betrayed his royal lineage, and how he did in many ways take after Thranduil.

"I am sorry," Rúmil said with sincerity. "By the by, Haldir says that he will see you at dinner tonight."

Legolas smiled faintly, the message from his lover clearly bringing him pleasure. Saelbeth could no longer begrudge them their happiness. He did want Legolas to be happy. Yes, above all, this was what he cared about.

"Thank you," Legolas replied.

Rúmil nodded, then added, "Elladan says the same."

The young Galadhrim turned and slipped out of the room before Legolas could reply. The prince blushed furiously, his cheeks and ears as red as cherries as he turned back to Saelbeth.

"Elladan must take after his grand-sire," Saelbeth said bitterly.

"I have nothing to fear from him," Legolas said gently. "Sit down, Saelbeth. Will you not have some food, and some wine?"

"I do not wish to partake of Lord Celeborn's hospitality."

"But you are hungry. Please, Saelbeth, do not starve yourself on his behalf. Look, there are some lovely greens, sugared peaches, and fresh bread—not lembas! The wine is better than what we have at home. For me, keep your strength up. I give you my word as Prince of Mirkwood that I will see you freed this night."

Saelbeth did not dare hope Legolas could do this, but he sat and ate to please the prince. They spent the next hour talking softly of the events which had passed lately, and when Lord Celeborn at last arrived to interrupt the respite, Saelbeth felt much better. At last he dared hope that Legolas could get him set free, and in fact the prince immediately demanded this of Celeborn, again, when the Lord of Lórien entered.

"Legolas, Legolas," Celeborn sighed. "Sometimes I wonder if you listen. Very well, as you are so adamant, I will do this for you under one circumstance."

"And what is it?" Legolas demanded.

"You take his place."

Legolas hesitated for only a second. "Done."