Authors Note: For the record, this story follows the basic plot (ie Ring, Sauron, Ringbearer, Fellowship etc.) very closely. I have, in places taken dialogue from the books. Characters aint mine neither is the plot or anything else in Middle Earth except for Nephryn, (but my birthday is comin up soon and I'n right keen on a certain pointy-eared archer) Apologies if the references aint entirely accurate (though I was armed with the Tolkien Bestiary, Trilogy, Unfinished Tales, Silmarillon and the Hobbit) Please r/r. If yer nice, I'll post the next part up, which is all ready underway.
By the way, since I'm shiny and new to dis business, I have no idea what a "May-Sue" is so I dunno whether to stick my story in this category or not... but judging from the stormy reviews on such stories, I kinda hope mine aint. Could someone enlighten me??
Thanks...
Part I
The tranquil silence was broken by the thunderous pulse of horse's unshod hooves against the forest carpet of twig, leaf and moss. They paced themselves at gallop, despite the warren of branch's, ditches and banks that threatened to snap their necks at first falter. They were proficient horsemen. They knew the trail well.
Four great mares, standing tall at nineteen hands travelled in pairs. A sleek grey stallion brought up the rear. The horses were sure-footed under the adept hands of their masters.
The riders themselves sat tall in the saddle. All wore tunics and breeches of varying sylvan shades: moss greens, taupe, beech-bark grey. They used no saddles. They had no need. Such was their skill, and their oneness with their steed. The four on white mounts carried each two long swords, strapped across their backs. They also carried small mithril daggers, one at the hip and one on the ankle. The rider at the rear in addition a long bow. It was formed from the palest sandalwood and tipped with filigreed which glinted brightly in the smattering of sunlight that pierced the forest canopy above them. All had long flowing flaxen hair, braided away from their faces. Their pointed ear lobes, tall stature and fair faces marked them as elves. They moved through the forest with such sinewy speed with the custom shared by all of their race.
They rode with purpose and some sense of urgency. Suddenly, without any warning the elf on the grey steed pulled up short. His mount responded instantly, and his companions followed suite without instruction, almost as soon as the first had stopped.
"My lord?" One of the riders proceeded to the elf on the grey stallion.
Legolas, Prince of Mirkwood, held up his hand in response to the unasked question, signalling for there to be silence. And so there was. There was an empty, strange silence. It was quite perplexing, almost outlandish. The forest seemed abruptly devoid of life. Almost as though something had terrified it into submission. Legolas's keen elven hearing strained for any sound amidst the eerie calm.
Nothing. And his equally keen sight told him that there was nothing amiss. His instincts told him otherwise.
"My lord!" One of his two aides had deemed it sensible to break into the prince's thoughts. Legolas looked to the elf.
"Time presses us to move ahead. Rivendell is still half a day's journey. Your father instructed us that this is a matter or some urgency."
His aide, Calyn was seemingly embarrassed at having to steer his lord on.
"Does something trouble you, Legolas?" The Council member, Eirithryn smiled faintly from behind his own aide Yateesh.
"Nothing. I feared something was amiss in our wake. But alas I fear our long journey has eroded on my senses."
Legolas was about to wave them on, when something crashed over a ridge behind them. No one was in any doubt now that this was not nothing.
Best he could guess, Legolas thought it to be an elf. He was moving too quickly, on foot, to be man or dwarf. And it moved with the same fluidness and grace, despite the fact that he was obviously on the run from something.
It became instantly clear what it was that had spurred the elf into such a run. Not far behind, three massive black mounts burst through the thicket.
Ridden by equally imposing beings who they carried swords of steel, black maces and blackened blades. They were clad in hauberks of mail and silver helms. And they were immediately distinct to Legolas and his companions by their glowing red eyes, peering out from under deep hoods.
"Úlairi!" Yateesh shouted above the din of the pounding of the Ringwraiths. Legolas muttered a curse as his spurred his horse after the fleeing elf. Ringwraiths in the vicinity so near to Rivendell did not bode well. His companions followed in his wake without question. It was the Elven way to give aid to any of their kindred. Elbereth knew there were to few of their kind left, for them not to give aid.
It wasn't long before the Black Riders closed the gap on Legolas's group. Without instruction, Calyn broke off the pursuit to divert slow the Úlairi's progress. He whipped out the long gilded sword and lashed out at the first horse, burying in deep into its breast, causing the creature to rise up in pain.
Legolas urged his horse on faster. The unknown elf was swift and surefooted, cutting the straightest line through the thickest of foliage, thus slowing hunters' progress.
An anguished cry snapped Legolas's attention back. He glanced back to see Calyn hunched deeply on his horse, clutching at some unknown wound. Quickly Legolas realised that they would by bested by the deadly Ringwraiths.
"Yateesh!"
He called over his shoulder and the aide to the council-member rode up beside him.
"Leave us. Fetch help. Rivendell is not far and there are bound to be patrols nearby. Hurry now."
Loath as he was to leave his masters, Yateesh knew, just as Legolas did, that this was the best of a bad lot of options.
He veered away from Legolas and Eirithryn, into less dense forest and raced away in a gallop.
Legolas glanced behind him once more to see that the Black Riders had abandoned their assault on brave Calyn, and had resumed their pursuit with even greater. He slowed his pace and Eirithryn followed suit. Legolas's bow was drawn and a slim, feathered arrow set before he had fully halted.
He turned to face their enemies. Eirithryn had drawn his sword and the Ringwraiths slowed their approach.
Legolas felled the first before it had time to draw its sword. Eirithryn, unwilling to wait, moved forward to engage another.
Retrieving another arrow from his quiver, he fired off a shot at the horse of the third Nazgûl.
"Legolas!" Eirithryn called to him.
"Fetch the elf. I will keep them at bay."
Legolas nodded, breathless, as he fired one last shot and fled again into the thicket. He caught up quickly but even as he sped along, he was amazed at the speed and agility of this mysterious character.
Up ahead, his keen eyes spotted a tall crest, one, which would surely slow the other elf's progress.
It did not. Instead of slowing, he raced even harder, and at the last minute, launched himself upwards, grasping a large overhead branch and swing over the crest.
Muttering, he compelled his steed on and over the crest.
Their mystery was nowhere to be seen. It was as though he had vanished. There was no trace that he had even been beyond the crest.
Legolas was about to leave when his keen ears caught the faintest of breaths. Slowly, so as not to startle, he turned. There, sitting under the crest, squeezed behind a chunk of protruding root, crouched their mystery elf.
He could not see his eyes, but Legolas the yielding in his posture as he stood out from his cover. As he stood, Legolas could see that the elf was smaller than he'd first thought, narrower shoulders and a slim waist. Almost-
He pulled back his cape and Legolas realised that the hunted elf was in fact an elf-maiden. She shook as she stood, exertion played on her face. There was a soft sheen on her face, as though she had run very far but remained very cold. She was of Elven descent, of that there was no question. Her tiny pointed ears nudged out from under a curtain of raven hair that fell pooling into her hood. Her eyes sparkled green from under long lustrous eyelashes. Her lips were stained with blood from a small cut on her upper lip. She laid her hands out for Legolas to see that she held not weapons.
A shout from behind the crest told him instantly that Eirithryn had not contained the other Ringwraith. The panic on his face must have told the elf maiden of their plight because as soon as he held out his handed, she accepted without falter. He hauled her easily up on front of him and she clung weakly to his waist, narrow arms barely able to circle his waist.
**********
The Ringwraith crashed over the crest, and Legolas loosed another arrow from his quiver. As he aimed though, he saw that the Nazgûl had his crossbow drawn and aimed on the elf maid before it had even landed. Legolas released the arrow to late, and felt the elf maids grip slacken.
He grasped tiny frame more firmly, feeling the slickness of blood under his fingers and spurred his horse away. The Black Rider pursued and Legolas felt sure that he would be caught. He had the means, but no free hand with which to defend himself.
As suddenly as it had appeared, however, the Ringwraith disappeared. Legolas slowed and turned to see Yateesh and two strangers behind him.
He sighed in relief and allowed himself a small smile as he trotted back toward them. He had thought he had made the wrong decision in dispatching Yateesh. Now he knew that not to be the case.
Behind Yateesh, Eirithryn approached with Calyn's steed. His eyes were orbs of sorrow as he shook his head at Legolas's silent question. Calyn was dead. He sighed deeply.
"Good sir!" One of the strangers approached him.
"I am Elladan, son of Elrond Half-Elven." He nodded to Legolas.
"This is Elrohir, son of Elrond Half-Elven, and my brother."
Legolas nodded his thanks. They were indeed fortunate that the famed sons of the Lord of Rivendell were able to aid them. He bowed slightly, breathing deeply.
"I am Legolas, son of Thranduil, Lord of the Woodland elves of Northern Mirkwood."
Elladan smiled at this. Lord Elrond was expecting this band, but not until tomorrow. The brothers knew of well of the infamous archer-son of Thranduil, but they had never met.
"What burden do you bear?" He nodded to the small bundle in that Legolas held.
Legolas looked down and using one hand, removed the hood, revealing the stricken elf maid.
"She was being hunted by the Úlairi, for reason's that are not known to me. She is unarmed and she is injured. By your leave, I will proceed ahead to Rivendell to seek a healer." Elladan needed only to nod once and Legolas was gone.
There was no need for diplomacy. Eirithryn would handle that, and they could take the time to retrieve Calyn's body. His heart was aggrieved to think of the loss of such a fine friend and aid.
He could not think of that now. Speed was of the essence. The ever-paling maiden in his arms spurred him onward.
**********
