Chapter 2: Getting Out

For three days they travelled on through the Pass without any incident. The weather was growing colder, and through the Elves themselves could not feel it, the freezing wind affected their horses. They had to stop more often to give them food and drink to keep their energy up, and whenever they began shivering, they had to stop and make camp.

The winter was going to be a harsh one this year. They could see it from the darkening sky and feel it in the wind's bite. It started to rain on the fourth day, and the Elves pulled their cloaks tighter about their bodies, urging their horses on faster to find shelter before night settled in and darkness claimed the mountains.

After half an hour of galloping through the pouring rain, they spotted a small grove of trees off to the left of the main path. They headed that way and picketed their steeds underneath the branches to shelter them a little bit. Glînvara, Brethiliaur and Tatharion offered to take the first watch. Thandiel went to check over the horses with Cullas, and the remaining four Elves lit a fire and prepared some food. Lothriel sat in between her brother and Balamrûn. The young Princess had her cloak wrapped tightly around her slender body, trying to ignore the wind that was whipping her hair about her face. Legolas and Cellin were deep in conversation about something, and Balamrûn was tending to the fire and boiling some water. She sighed and looked up at the starless sky.

It was cloudy and she could see neither the moon nor the stars. The mountains around them loomed like high shadows, jagged teeth against the ink black blanket of sky. This was a horrible place, and she was glad they were near the end. She had overheard Legolas telling Cellin that they were only a few days, maybe even less from the end.

Thandiel saw the Princess looking lonely, and went over. "Come help me with Síladroch," she told her. "Brethiliaur said she stumbled at one point, and it looks as if she may have sprained her ankle." She held her hand out and Lothriel took it, glad to have something to do.

"I won't be long Legs," she told him.

"Ok Loth."

Lothriel held the mare's hoof delicately whilst Thandiel checked it over. She stroked the strong flank of the horse, smiling when she neighed at her.

"You like horses?" Thandiel asked.

Lothriel nodded. "I always have done. I love riding and taking care of horses. They mean a lot to me."

"I can fully understand that. People are always saying that it is not good to get too close to mortal beings but sometimes, you just can't help yourself. Especially with beautiful creatures such as horses. Everything must pass away someday, and we just have to accept that. It isn't so hard once you're used to it."

Lothriel smiled. "I know what you mean. I prefer mares though. Much more dainty and gentle than the stallions."

Thandiel gave a tinkling laugh. "Your brothers always have stallions. Legolas once told me that they're better for charging through Mirkwood undergrowth if you're trying to get away from something."

Lothriel joined in her laughter. "That's a typical Legolas comment. And he gallops like a maniac."

"He sure does."

"I can hear everything you're saying!"

They laughed again at Legolas' scowl. They tied Síladroch back to her peg and went and sat beside their friend and brother. Lothriel poked him in the side. "Don't be so moody."

Legolas pulled her into his lap. "I could never be moody with you. Unfortunately."

She slapped him playfully and they all laughed again. Even though it was windy, raining and cold, the Elves managed to find joy in the simplest of things.

Legolas noticed that Thandiel and Balamrûn were sitting rather close together. He raised an eyebrow and whispered something to his sister, grinning as he did so. She giggled and saw what he meant. Thandiel looked at her. "What?"

Lothriel just shook her head. "Nothing mellonnen." But she was still grinning.

Thandiel turned to Legolas. "Legolas, what did you say to her to make her giggle?"

"Nothing." He put on the most innocent expression he could muster.

"Legolas Greenleaf, if you don't tell me what you were talking about this instant, I shall have to resort to force."

He just kept on grinning, and Thandiel lunged at him from across the other side of the fire. He laughed and stood, Lothriel jumping out of the way just in time. Thandiel was quick on her feet however, and soon had him pinned against a tree. "Well?" she growled.

"Well…you and Balamrûn seem to be getting a little…er…friendly recently…friendlier I mean."

She narrowed her eyes. "And?"

"And…we just noticed and thought…that you go well together."

"Legolas, Balamrûn and I are just friends…"

"But you would like more."

"Legolas!"

He grinned sarcastically. "Admit it Thandiel." He lowered his voice. "You 'really like' him." He winked.

She punched his shoulder. "Not funny."

"But he likes you too!" he protested.

She paused. "How do you know that?"

"Well, it is rather obvious. He rides next to you constantly, he's sitting next to you right now, he talks to you all the time, helps you out whenever he can…he adores you Thandiel. Open your eyes dear."

She blinked and removed her vice like grip on the Prince. He stood there, rubbing his arms and waiting for a reply. "Well, I…I…"

He smiled and pulled her into a tight hug. "Go for it," he whispered. "What have you got to lose?"

"My dignity, my friendship with him, my…"

"Shut up Thandiel and just do something. You are both driving us nuts with your wistful glances and whispered conversations."

"I…"

But suddenly, the sounds of fighting erupted from the perimeters of their camp. The Elves grabbed their weapons and leapt up onto their horses. "Stay here," Legolas told his sister.

"No fear," she answered, mounting her own mare. "I can fight Legolas."

He went to reply, but then thought better of it. "Ok, but please be careful. Stay near me if you can."

She nodded and followed him out.

The storm was still raging overhead, thunder rolling through the sky and echoing off the mountainside. Lightning flashed all around them, reflecting in each other's eyes and on their blades. The darkness was near-on impenetrable, and they had to follow the sounds of the Elves fighting the attacking Orcs to actually find them.

This they soon did. Glînvara, Brethiliaur and Tatharion had their knives out, and were dancing through the Orcs, blades flashing in the lightning. The Orcs carried torches, and growled at the sight of more Elves.

They were in a clearing, and the Elves knew they had to gain an advantage somehow. They circled around the outside, trying to trap the Orcs within. But the Orcs were cunning, and leapt at the horses, twisting them off balance.

Howls ripped through the trees, and the Elves shuddered. Wargs were approaching, and more than just a few by the sounds of it. Lothriel obediently stayed beside her brother, her knife unsheathed and gripped tightly in her right hand. Cullas and Thandiel leapt up into nearby trees, firing arrows down onto the Orcs below.

But they too had archers, stationed around the outside of the clearing. Dipping the arrowheads into the flames of their torches, they fired at the Elves, aiming for either horse or rider.

Legolas was shouting orders out, trying to keep his small group alive and in control. There were arrows flying everywhere, and laughter and howling ricocheted off the trees and mountains. It was chaos.

Suddenly his horse reared up in terror, and he looked down to see an arrow protruding from his left front leg. He cursed and slipped down from his back, hushing him and pulling him into the cover of the trees. He quickly pulled the arrow out and covered the wound with a piece of his over-tunic. Reassuring his steed that he would return, he rushed back into the foray, realising too late that he had left his sister.

The Wargs had arrived by now, and were leaping at the terrified horses. The Elves fought back as best they could, but they were greatly outnumbered. The rain impaired everyone's vision, and the noise was so great that no one could hear their Captain's commands, be they Elf or Orc.

Legolas swung his twin blades around him, slicing through neck after neck. He could see his sister a small way off, and plunging her own knife down into the Orcs swarming around her horse. He pushed through the crowd towards her, screaming her name. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a Wag turn and fix his gaze upon Lothriel's mare. The Warg had no rider, and was completely out of control, the smell of blood and flesh clouding his vision.

Legolas grabbed a branch and swung up into the tree. He jumped from tree to tree, eventually coming to a stop above his sister. "Lothirel move!" he yelled to her.

She looked up and nodded, wheeling her horse around to head back out of the clearing. But the Warg had spotted his prize and was not going to let it get away. He charged through the Orcs and Elves around him, biting anyone who got in his way. He prepared to pounce…

Legolas saw his chance and leapt down, landing not to neatly on the Warg's back. Grabbing a handful of matted fur, he steadied himself as the Warg reared up, trying to throw him off. He grabbed a knife and plunged it deep into the Warg's neck. It swayed, tottered, and finally fell over onto its side, gurgling as it did so.

Legolas slid down and looked up at Lothriel. She was staring at him with something attuned to wonder. "Go," he urged her. "We're getting out of here."

She galloped off and he searched around for the others. Thandiel and Cullas were still in the tress, though fast running out of arrows. Cellin and Tatharion were occupied with a circle of Wargs, and Brethiliaur and Balamrûn were trying to get within the circle. Glînvara stumbled over to Legolas' side, blood running down his left arm. "We've got to get out of here," he gasped. "It'll be a slaughter."

Legolas nodded and started yelling for the Elves to retreat. He and Glînvara rushed over to help the two stuck with the Wargs, and with Brethiliaur and Balamrûn's help, managed to get them out and running. Thandiel and Cullas disappeared into the trees, and the remaining six go out of the clearing as fast as possible. Legolas leapt up behind Balamrûn, and whistled for his horse to follow as they galloped back towards camp.

Lothriel, Thandiel and Cullas had packed up everything and were waiting with the extra horses. Legolas changed to Lothriel's mare, and led them out of there, his horse following as fast as he could. They could hear Wargs and Orcs following them, their shouting giving them away, but they kept on running. They needed to reach Rivendell as fast as possible. The Pass was not safe.


The action has started! Right, I shall update as soon as I can, I PROMISE! Very guilty look. Thanks again for all the reviews and see you soon.

Faerlain