Elladan pulled out lembas bread for the three of them and they discussed which pass to take to reach one of the mines. They had been traveling along Cirith Forn en Andrath but soon it would split into a lower pass and a higher pass. Elladan and Elrohir decided that they should take the higher pass because it was safer and less likely to be occupied by orcs. Elrohir still slightly embarrassed, walked on one side of Elladan while Nóruiestel walked on the other. Nóruiestel, however, was not sure they were taking the right path.
"The enemy will be looking for travelers, and the higher pass would be more the predictable route we should take the lower. The closer you are to danger, the farther you are from harm."
"Nór, the higher pass is almost always open and unblocked while the lower is almost always blocked. To take the lower is a risk we cannot afford."
Nóruiestel walked on, keeping an eye on the horizon.
They reached the start of the higher pass an hour later. Elrohir and Elladan were quietly joking together, but Nóruiestel was wary; she swore she could feel dark eyes on her. She called to the twins.
"Elladan what do you hear?"
"Nothing Nór."
"Exactly- it is too quiet' no birds, no noise of any kind. The air is filled with filth and malice."
Elrohir just scoffed at her concern.
"Calm down Nór! There is nothing to be worried about."
The sun beat down upon the bare rock of the pass. The twins teased Nóruiestel for her worries. A breeze whispered by, not refreshing but rancid. Elladan stopped and ran to the cliff-side of the pass, and saw that below lay the festering corpses of a caravan of travelers. It was clear that they had been killed in some sort of skirmish and dumped off the cliff. Nóruiestel walked a little ways from the twins and noticed a black arrow imbedded in a tree. Pulling it out of the tree, she called to Elrohir.
"Saew yrch pilin!"
"Come over here! I can smell them!"
Nóruiestel walked toward the twins, but before she took three steps a massive group of orcs poured into the pass from both sides. She pulled out her bow and fired at the oncoming beasts, but they were too swift. Drawing her sword, she screamed and charged at the orcs. Soon it became clear that there was a new beast fighting with the orcs; They were larger, more muscular creatures that looked like both man and orc were amongst the crowd. They had stronger armor and bore a white hand. Sweat poured off of Nóruiestel as she fought one of the beasts. A Morgul orc stood behind her and slowly raised his sword, but she quickly thrust her blade into its stomach and turned back to her other opponent. She struck at his neck and he fell down dead. Noruiestel turned, raising her sword, and cleaved through the helmet of a smaller orc, but as she brought down her sword she felt the bite of steel in her side and turned. She pressed a hand against the wound and fought on. It was only when she removed her hand that she noticed the black inky substance laced in with her blood. Poison. She fought frantically moving like a rabid animal till the blackness closed in. The last thing heard was the harsh voice of one of the new beasts.
"Keep the girl alive, she will make for great fun."
Elladan and Elrohir fought back to back, their two blades working as one. Elrohir, nervously, searched the mob for Nóruiestel, his brother noticed and tried to comfort him as they fought.
"Do not worry, brother, if you cannot see her, she is shorter than most of these orcs. Nóruiestel can hold her own."
They fought against the orcs for what seemed like hours until at last, the remaining orcs retreated. Elrohir panicked, Nóruiestel was nowhere to be found. Elladan climbed up a small peak and looked around. Nothing. Then he saw them, a small group of retreating orcs running. One larger of bore what appeared to be a large bundle, but he soon realized that it was Nór. Elrohir was up beside him a saw the beasts.
"Gohino nin, Nóruiestel," Elrohir whispered into the wind.
"Brother, there is nothing you could have done."
"There was much I could have done; I could have listened to her and took the lower pass, I could have stayed near her, I could have protected her!" Elrohir's voice filled with desperate emotion.
"If that were the case, we would both be at fault, but no matter what, Nóruiestel needs us to stay strong; that is the only way we will be able to save her."
They ran harder than they had ever run before. Last time Nóruiestel had been captive, she had almost faded, but their mother had been with her to help her through it. Now, she was alone, and already weak; if they did not save her soon she might succumb to Grief and fade. In his heart, Elladan knew that if Nóruiestel died or faded it would be the end of his brother. They ran until they could run no more, but by then they could tell where the orcs were headed. Gundabad, the orc stronghold of the mountains. Another wave of fear swept over the twins and Elrohir fell to his knees and screamed. Elladan embraced his brother, and Elrohir cried. They ran again, knowing, that it was what they had to do. If the orcs made it to Gundabad, there could be no telling what horrendous torture Nóruiestel would go through.
Cirith Forn en Andrath-also called the High Pass or Pass of Imladris
Saew yrch pilin-poison orc arrow-
Gohino nin Nóruiestel- Forgive me Noruiestel
Thank you for reading :)
Kaycee-x John Cenaholic- Glad you like it so far :)
Define-X-Thank you so much for beta-ing for me!
-MellethDaegyl
