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'I'd normally enjoy cutting an elf down to size,' the Dwarf said. 'But, I have more important things to do...'
'And what would that be, Dwarf?' Legolas asked, as he lowered his axe.
'My name is Gimli, Gloin's son,' he growled, pushing past him and striding over to the door, the wood splintering under a blow from his axe.
'Wait...' Legolas said, as Gimli kicked the remains of the door open and stormed through.
Dwarves...
From inside, there was a clash of steel, followed by a dwarvish battlecry.
Well, at least he's causing a distraction...
Stepping over the ruined door, Legolas slipped down the stone stairs and past the body of a man lying at the bottom into a dingy room. Inside, several more men, wearing the same rough clothes as the hunter they had found in Mirkwood lay dead around Gimli, the air thick with the tang of blood. As Legolas watched, he felled another with a heavy double-handed strike, shoulder-charging a second man to the ground and kicking him into unconsciousness. Behind him, a man lunged at him with a short sword and Legolas knocked an arrow, letting it fly to strike him in the chest with a dull thud. Another hunter charged him with a crude axe in one hand and Legolas ducked the blow, grabbing his wrist and twisting, bone breaking with a crack that could still be heard over his scream. His bow sang again and two more hunters fell as Gimli dispatched another with a blow that took his head off. Even before the body had hit the floor, Gimli stormed over to the door at the other side of the room and kicked it open. Knocking another arrow, Legolas followed him through into a larger room, the walls of which were lined with crude metal cages. However, the doors were all open and the cells empty.
'Too late,' Gimli snarled, turning towards the door, just as Legolas held up a hand.
'Wait!' He said. 'I can hear water...'
Kneeling down, he pulled aside a rug to reveal a trapdoor. He glanced up at Gimli, reaching for the metal ring and the dwarf nodded. Getting a grip on the ring, he opened the trapdoor to reveal a set of stone steps that disappeared into the darkness. With a grunt, Gimli pushed past him, axe held ready as he started down the stairs. Shaking his head, Legolas followed him into the gloom. Soon, it became so dark that he needed to keep one hand on the wall just to stop himself stumbling. However, Gimli seemed unperturbed, reaching the bottom of the steps and pushing open a door that led out onto a crude stone jetty where a black-sailed ship was casting off. Standing on the bridge was a heavily-muscled and scarred hunter, his arms folded across his chest. As they watched, the boat sails away from the jetty, unfurling it's second sail and picking up speed as the wind caught it.
With a snarl, Gimli turned back towards the stairs and shoving the door open.
'Where are you going?' Legolas asked and Gimli glanced over his shoulder.
'Where do you think, Elf? To find that boat...'
'Do you know where they're going...?'
'And I suppose you have a better idea...?'
'Yes...'
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'Here you are,' the innkeeper said, placing two tankards on the table.
'Thank you,' Legolas said, as Gimli grabbed one and took a huge swig.
'I like ale as much as any Dwarf,' he said, wiping the back of his mouth with his hand. 'But how is this going to find that boat...?'
'Simple,' Legolas said, turning to the innkeeper and pulling out two silvers. 'Would you know anything about a boat with black sails, captained by a scarred man...?'
'No, my Lord,' the innkeeper said. 'But, I know who might. There is a Ranger by the name of Elegost who frequently travels the hills to the east. If anyone may know about it, it will be him..,'
'Thank you...'
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'Move,' one of the hunters said, giving Tauriel a shove that sent her stumbling into the cell. Recovering her balance, she spun around just as the heavy door slammed shut. As her eyes adjusted to the gloom, she saw that her cell was formed of crude metal bars that had been hammered together and that she was not alone. There were at least four cells on either side of her, occupied by several humans and a dwarf in the cell adjacent to her. Unlike most dwarves, he had a short, neatly trimmed beard and black hair. Seeing her staring, he fixed her with a black look for a second, before turning away with his arms folded across his chest.
#################
'Why are you looking for the hunters?' Legolas asked, as they left Laketown.
'They...took my cousin prisoner,' Gimli said. 'As we were coming back from a trading journey. Why? What concern is this for an elf princeling...'
'They have taken my companion captive,' Legolas said. 'Do you know what they would want with her...?'
'They will force her to fight to the death...'
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'This is a waste of time,' Gimli growled, sitting down on a rock with a scowl. 'We've been here for two hours and we've seen no sign of this Ranger...'
'He's one of the Dunedain,' Legolas retorted. 'They can avoid being seen, if they wish...'
'Correct,' a gravelly voice said and Legolas' head whipped round to see a rough, weather-beaten man with a scruffy beard aiming a short bow at them. Gimli rose, reaching for his axe and the Ranger tightened his bow string.
'I know of no quarrel with you, but I will put an arrow through your heart...'
With a growl, Gimli lowered his axe and the Ranger turned to Legolas.
'It is rare to see an Elf and a Dwarf travelling together. I assume that you being here is no chance meeting...'
'No,' Legolas said. 'I am Legolas, Prince of the Woodland Real. We are looking for a ship with black sails that left Laketown a few hours ago...'
'Why should I help you...?' Elegost asked.
'Because I am a friend to the Dunadan,' Legolas said and Elegost lowered his bow.
'Very well. I have seen the ship that you seek. It has travelled along the shores of Laketown several times over the last few days.
'Do you know where it makes berth?' Gimli growled and Elegost turned towards him.
'There is an abandoned watch tower to the east. It may be that you will find it there. However, I urge you to be cautious. It is a dark place that even the birds and beasts avoid...'
'Thank you,' Legolas said. 'However, we must take the risk...'
'I see that I will not dissuade you. Good fortune to you...'
He turned and walked away, Legolas glancing at Gimli, who hefted his axe.
'Well? What are we waiting for...?'
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'Come on, Gimli,' Legolas said, as he reached the summit of the hill, turning back to see the Dwarf stomping up behind him.
'The watchtower,' Gimli said, pointing towards the crude, stone building on the edge of the lake. 'And there's the ship...'
'Obviously,' Legolas said. 'There are three men on patrol around the perimeter and two more on the ramparts...'
'How can you tell that?' Gimli asked, but Legolas ignored him.
'Come on,' he said. 'We can reach it in a few hours if we hurry...'
'It will be dark, soon,' Gimli said. 'Whether our eyes are Elf or Dwarf, we will do no good blundering around in the night. We need to make camp...'
'...very well...'
#################
Tauriel watched as the hunters carried crates of spider's eggs up from the hold, under the gaze of the scarred hunter.
'Those eggs are dangerous,' she said and the hunter turned towards her with a mocking smile.
'Of course they're dangerous,' he said. 'I would hardly go to the risk of taking them otherwise.'
'What are you going to do with them?' She asked, but he sneered, climbing the steps up onto the deck and Tauriel looked round to see the Dwarf staring at her.
'You shouldn't ask questions,' he said. 'It'll only bring you trouble...'
'More trouble than being abducted and locked in a cell?' she asked and he grinned.
'I didn't imagine that Elves had a sense of humour,' he said. 'My name's Kili...'
'Tauriel,' she said. 'Do you know why they've taken us...?'
'No,' Kili said. 'But, I don't think that it's for anything good...'
#################
'This will do,' Gimli said, pushing open the rotten wooden door of the ruined stone tower.
'If you say so,' Legolas said, stepping through the door after him and looking around.
'You Elves are hard to please...' Gimli said, kneeling down and lifting some debris off a battered chest. Prising open the lid, he pulled out a handful of gold coins and slipped them into his money pouch.
'Is this really the time for that?' Legolas asked and Gimli shrugged.
'Whoever left the here won't be back for them...'
'...fine,' Legolas said. 'I'll take the first watch. See if you can get a fire going...'
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'Move,' one of the hunters grunted, shoving Tauriel down the gang plank onto the wooden jetty outside the crumbling stone tower. She caught Kili's eye through the crowd and they shared a grim glance. With a rumble, the portcullis that blocked the entrance to the watchtower rose and they were herded through into the tower, the doors and windows having been sealed by crude metal bars driven into the stone. The portcullis ground shut behind them as the scarred hunter forced his way through the assembled hunters.
'I suggest that you all get some rest,' he sneered. 'You will need it...'
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Legolas stood by the window of the ruined tower, looking out into the gathering gloom as he unwrapped a leather pouch to reveal a pale, white bread. Breaking off a corner, he re-wrapped the rest, slipping it back into his best pouch before taking a bite.
'Is that all you brought to eat?' Gimli asked, through a mouthful of salted pork.
'This is Lembas,' Legolas said, finishing the last bite. 'It is more filling than any food made by men or Dwarves...'
'Just what I'd expect from a high-handed Elf,' Gimli muttered and Legolas' eyes narrowed.
'Perhaps you would care to explain that, Dwarf...'
'You Elves do nothing but hide inside your woods,' Gimli retorted. 'You have always lorded it over the rest of the Free Peoples. How many barrels of wine does Laketown provide so that you can feast and drink every night...?'
'My Father has to protect his people,' Legolas said. 'Without us, the darkness from Mirkwood would grow in power, threatening all the lands behind our borders. And you have no right to speak of hiding. What else do Dwarves do except shut themselves in their mountains seeking riches...?'
'Those mountains are our homes,' Gimli snapped. 'And we are constantly beset by Goblins that comes from the depths. We need to look after our own kin, first...'
'That is obvious...'
Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed it. Any comments, reviews or constructive criticism very welcome.
