DISCLAIMER: I do not own anything belonging to Lord of the Rings. They are all the works of the fabulous J.R.R Tolkien :) I do own Orel (who appears in later chapters) and the story line is mine but pretty much everything else it his.
Yay! Third Chapter! Oh my gosh! It took me sooooo long to get this up! This is my first post of this year :O I was supposed to be all "regularly updated" and stuff but somehow, it didn't work out like that :/ So sorry. :(
But anyway, thanks SO SO SO much for all my reads/favouritedness/alerts and most of all REVIEWS! Because reviews = updates (Mean, I know)
Thank you especially to The Lauderdale, who stuck up for the orcs and made me feel guilty for calling them stupid :(
Thank you also for all the tips that people left; I will do my best to improve! XD
I'm only 14 (and I know that my age shouldn't be an excuse for bad writing) and I have my heart set on being an author when I'm older so any tips or constructive criticism is much appreciated
Now! On with the story! ENJOY! :D
Aragorn's breath caught in his throat at the sound of the unknown voice. He turned and looked in the direction of the voice. It had come from the back of the cage, which was shrouded in darkness.
"Hello?" he called.
There was no reply but Aragorn saw something shift in the blackness. His heart beat quickened. The thought of being trapped with an unknown being was unnerving. Behind him, Legolas got carefully to his feet, crouching in a defensive position. As the being shifted again, Legolas hissed.
"Just come out and face us!" called Aragorn. "We're all prisoners! What difference does it make?"
Like the previous time, there was no response. But then, very carefully, a figure started to show, creeping out from the shadows. What Aragorn saw was nothing like what he had imagined.
An elfin girl, pale with thick, wild black hair. Her green eyes were narrowed into slits as she scrutinized her fellow cage mates. Her skin was coated in small cuts and bruises and a splats of dirt and mud. Her black trousers were ripped at the knee and ragged at the hem. On her feet, she wore a pair of dark leather boots, layered in mud and her olive green topped had a sleeve torn off.
Aragorn blinked in surprise and Legolas relaxed a little. The girl's eyes flickered over the two of them, scanning them with interest.
Aragorn held up his hands in attempt to reassure her. "We're not threat," he told her.
The girl moved closer to them, her motions hesitant.
"Who are you?" she asked eventually.
Aragorn hesitated. "My name is Aragorn," he said at last.
"I am Legolas,"
The girl nodded, brushing hair from her face. "My name is Orel," she told them.
Aragorn smiled at her, pleased that when she relaxed a little. She returned it, but rather cautiously.
Aragorn felt a little awkward so he gestured to the food.
"You didn't want us to eat it?" he asked, hoping she would elaborate.
Orel nodded. "It's laced with sleeping drugs," she told them. "Believe me; they knock you out for six,"
"Personal experience?" asked Aragorn.
Orel chuckled. "You could say that," she replied. "So." She settled crossed-legged in front of the pair, visibly more comfortable now they no longer posed a threat to her. "How did you come to be here?"
"We were abducted from our campsite. We were both asleep," said Aragorn, and as he spoke, his words reminded him of something. "Legolas. I feel asleep. I'm sorry, I…"
Legolas waved a dismissive hand. "It does not matter, mellon-nin. I forgive you,"
Aragorn nodded but he still felt guilty inside.
Legolas turned his attention back to Orel
"What about you? How did you get here?" he asked.
Orel shrugged. "It's a long story," she said. "But the short of it is that I was running from the orcs and crashed into a tree and knocked myself out. See?" Orel pushed some of her fringe from her forehead and pointed to a cut to the left of her head.
"Ouch," commented Aragorn.
"I've never heard of an elf that knocked themselves out," Legolas said, smiling playfully.
Orel narrowed her eyes. "Watch it," she hissed.
Aragorn raised his eyebrows at Legolas. "You heard her," he said with a smile. Then he turned back to Orel.
"How long have you been here?" he asked.
She shrugged. "About a week," she replied.
Her response made Legolas frown. "A week? And you still have that cut?"
At first Aragorn didn't understand why this was important. And then he got what Legolas was getting at. One of the many talents that elves possessed was elven healing; they healed a lot more quickly and efficiently than other beings. And, that being so, meant Orel's cut shouldn't even have been visible anymore.
Orel reached up and rubbed the cut, frowning. "I agree, it is a bit strange. But it's not causing me any bother so I decided to just try and ignore it,"
Legolas didn't look convinced. If anything, he looked suspicious.
Orel opened her mouth to speak again, presumably to reassure Legolas, but then suddenly, her eyes widened.
'What?" asked Aragorn, frowning. "What is it?"
The girl didn't move or reply but simply stared. It took Aragorn a few moments to realize that she wasn't staring at him. Rather, something behind him. Fearing slightly what he would see, he turned around. An orc was standing at the cage entrance, a gleeful grin on his face. In one hand, he was clutching a club that was coated in layers of blood and dirt.
"Finished off our introductions have we?" he said, leering at them. "Have you met our latest prizes yet, Orel?"
Orel's lip curled in disgust and she hissed viciously at the creature.
The orc simply laughed. "Feisty one, aren't you? Still sour after losing our little fight?"
Orel snarled and made the orc laugh even harder. It was a horrible, raspy laugh.
"Oof! I hit a sore spot there, didn't I?" The orc appeared to be enjoying himself, something that made Aragorn's temper rise. He clenched his fists, hoping to prevent himself from saying something he might regret later.
The orc, however, seemed to notice him as he tensed. "Oh yes…our new additions,"
He studied Aragorn and Legolas thoughtfully. His eyes flickered from Aragorn's messy hair to Legolas's sleek blonde. Then he raised an eyebrow.
"Well, what do we have here? Another elf, if I'm not mistaken,"
Legolas didn't move, only stared at the orc with a challenging glare.
"Elves aren't welcome here," said the orc, his voice suddenly cold. "Just ask Orel. She'll tell you what we do to filthy vermin like you,"
Legolas was about to make a move towards the orc, when Aragorn put a restraining hand on his shoulder.
"Don't," he warned softly.
The orc didn't notice their exchange; his focus was now on Orel. "Come on Orel. Be a good girl and tell him. Or… are you ashamed?"
Orel's face hardened. "I would never be ashamed, not in the presence of you and your vile kind. Even I were you, I would be ashamed to breathe,"
There was a moment's pause as everyone took in this unexpected retort.
Then the orc sneered. "Oh yeah? Well, you know what, just for that, I'm going to use a metal club for your friend," He nodded at Legolas.
Then the orc turned and barked orders at the other orcs surrounding him. "Tie Orel and that man up. Then prepare the elf for his battle,"
He turned to Legolas. "You think you're superior, elf? We'll see if you won't change your mind after our little fight,"
Aragorn struggled against the bonds on his wrists but it was useless. They were tied securely and there was little hope on getting them otherwise. Beside him sat Orel, not even attempting to make an escape. Her face was emotionless but her eyes were fearful.
The two of them were sitting, legs and hands tied up, at the feet of two of the biggest orcs Aragorn had ever seen. They were part of a large circle of orcs that created a large grassy space at the centre of the village. Legolas stood in the middle, hands also tied, waiting. Around the circle, large torches had been lit, illuminating the evening.
The orcs were chattering and there was a sense of excitement amongst them. Then, as footsteps sounded, everyone fell quiet.
The crowd parted slightly opposite Aragorn and they orc who had been at the cage earlier stepped through.
He was holding a sword and a metal club, just as he'd promised. He threw the sword down at Legolas's feet.
Aragorn smirked. Was the orc mad? Had he no idea what Legolas could do with a sword?
He suddenly felt a little more optimistic.
The orc turned to face the crowd. "I, Krad, leader of this orc group, challenge the filthy blonde elf to a fight. The fight will last until the rope burns out,"
Here, the orc, Krad, indicated to a piece of rope hanging from a nearby tree branch. An orc holding a torch stood beneath it.
"There are no rules," continued Krad. "Except for no person can kill another and the time limit must be stuck to. If the elf wins…"
Krad swung round to face Legolas. "I shall let him and his friends go. If I win. Well, he'll just have to stay here and suffer,"
Krad stepped forward and untied Legolas's bounds. As the ropes fell from his wrists, Krad shouted "LET IT BEGIN!"
The crowd cheered and the rope was lit by the orc with the torch.
Legolas snatched up the sword from his feet and neatly dodged Krad's first blow. Krad was grinning wickedly.
"You're a fool," Legolas told him. "To think you could beat me,"
Krad looked amused. "Oh yeah?"
Suddenly, he span, swinging the club at amazing speed. Legolas ducked to the side but the club caught his left shoulder. The pain that shot through him was immense but Legolas gritted his teeth and stood upright. He swung his sword at Krad, aiming for his uncovered right side.
Krad saw the sword coming towards him but it was too late for him to move out of the way. Or so Legolas thought. Krad's head flicked round and he caught the blade expertly between his fingers.
A gasp caught in Legolas's throat and he pulled his sword away. Krad smiled.
"Nice try," he said softly.
He drew back his arm again, preparing to strike but Legolas was ready this time. He leapt to the right as the club came towards him, ignoring the protests of his shoulder.
Krad saw that his club would miss and unexpectedly changed the direction of his swing. The club came down, striking Legolas's left leg. Legolas screamed aloud as he felt his leg break and tumbled to the floor.
Aragorn felt his stomach clench as he heard his friend's scream. He craned his neck, trying to see past Krad. Legolas was on the floor, panting and clutching his leg.
"He's hurt!" he whispered harshly, fear knotting inside him.
"I think he broke his leg…" replied Orel, his eyes watching intently.
Aragorn glanced at the rope. Only a few minutes left.
He turned back towards the fight and watched as Krad threw his club away. Aragorn's hopes lifted. Perhaps Krad thought it best not to injure Legolas any further? He was stupid to have even considered that. Krad had no such intentions.
Aragorn averted his eyes as Krad started beating his friend.
TRANSLATIONS
Mellon-nin = Friend
Third chapter IS DONE! WOO HOO! XD I had fun writing this scene, although I did get writers block a few times. :P But I got it sorted my listening to music (thank you Scouting For Girls!)
Do you guys think Orel is a Mary-Sue? Because I'm not sure... Please give me your thoughts :)
Also, I am no medical expert so I had to stick with simplish injuries. Sorry if the fight scene doesn't sound very realistic. :/
I hope you enjoyed! STAY TUNED!
Lamplight Detective out!
