Chapter Four submitted 11-1-07.

Battle scene approaching!! Here's chapter four in make-up for the week-long gap!

Summary: A shadow stirs in Greenwood. When someone close to Legolas is direly wounded, Lord Elrond's help seems to be the only thing that offers salvation. Will they make it to Rivendell in time to save a life? Rated PG-13 for violence, blood, and language.

Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings, the Silmarillion, or any related characters or works. They belong to Mister J.R.R. Tolkien.

THE RED HUNTERS.
Book Two in the IAUR MIN Series.
By GundamWingFanatic90.

CHAPTER 4.

Five days passed before the company reached the High Pass, having circumvented the borders of Mirkwood after passing out of it. Andiach the queen was doing well considering her condition; Andiach the elf was suffering terribly. To the eyes of the Fëanorions and the rest of the escort, she managed to appear as a slightly weakened, but still strong, queen. But to Legolas, Thranduil, and Amandil, she was so greatly diminished from her usual self that it caused them physical pain to see her so. By night she sweated and gasped, clutching her husband's hand and keeping her eyes on his to ground herself in the real world. The wound in her shoulder continued to ooze blood and black ichor despite Amandil's best efforts to heal her. All in all, she was doing fairly poorly, and the guilt of being the one responsible for her current condition fell on Legolas' shoulders like a crushing boulder. But the real trouble began when, on the second day into the High Pass, they were ambushed.

The sun had just begun to set, and the long shadows of the mountains stretched between them to cause night to come early. Suddenly screeches rang out all around them. Thranduil whirled about, eyes seeking for the source of the abhorred noise.

"Form up!" Legolas was shouting. "Protect Andiach and Thranduil!" But Thranduil had other plans, as did the orcs, it seemed. The king leapt from the wagon, blade drawn, leaving Andiach staring worriedly after him, guarded by the nervous Amandil.

"Thranduil!" she cried, wide-eyed from shock. He ignored her, slashing horizontally at the first orc that challenged him. The creature was gutted easily, but the next two that charged him were not so simple. Thranduil blocked a horizontal attack and split that orc's head in two as he dodged a vertical slice from the second orc. Then, as the orc was recovering its balance, the king spun around and beheaded it in one fluid motion. His muscles flexed in anticipation of the next strike as he heard another charge him. Sidestepping that one, Thranduil quickly severed its spine above its waist. He parried a sword that was coming towards his head, taking that orc's balance, and then he ran it through on his own elven blade, which was glowing blue in the dimming light.

"Adar!" came a shout, and Thranduil spun to find Legolas coming towards him, drawing and nocking an arrow as he moved. A searing pain ripped through the king's shoulder as he was distracted, and spread across his back, ripping open the stitches that had been holding closed his older wound and continuing on to leave his flesh just above his right hip. A hissing and a screeching gurgle told Thranduil that Legolas had just shot down the orc that had wounded him, but he kept fighting, making his way to his son's side as they both went to cover the wagon more effectively.

"How are you holding up, ion-nin?" asked Thranduil once Legolas was fighting by his side once more. Legolas grunted as he fired off another arrow.

"Well enough," he replied. "And yourself? Aside from the fact that your stitches have been hewn open again, that is." Thranduil managed a small grin.

"I am well," he answered. "I cannot feel the wound anymore, at the moment." Legolas cast his father a worried glance, knowing this to be a bad thing, but said nothing, nocking and releasing his last arrows. He had just drawn his knives when a shriek from the cart met his ears. He spun in time to see Amandil kick the beheaded body of an orc off of the wagon, his chest heaving and his blue eyes wide in shock of what he had just done. His sword, grasped in his trembling hands, was shaking and stained with black blood.

"Amandil!" shouted Legolas. Amandil whirled to look at his prince, who grinned at the healer. "Hannon le!" Amandil blinked, and then a faint blush came to his cheeks at the praise.

By this time, the party had killed most of the orcs, and the rest were fleeing back to wherever they had come from. As the adrenaline rush faded from his system, Thranduil found himself swaying for the second time in several weeks. Legolas managed to steady him, looking with concern into his father's eyes.

"Aran-nin?" asked the younger. Thranduil's forest-green gaze locked onto his son's own, darkened to a shade of royal blue from the danger that they had been in. Legolas' brow creased faintly when he saw that his father's pupils were slightly dilated. "Aran-nin, let us get you into the wagon again." Thranduil nodded hazily, and with Legolas' help clambered into the wagon once more.

Legolas went around, taking stock of injuries and losses. Altogether, they had had no deaths, though Thranduil had been wounded and Amras had taken a stab to the shoulder, both of which were fixable.

"We must continue on," the prince said. "Carandol, come and have your shoulder bound. Then we shall move again." Amras did as he was told and, when he was all bandaged up, Legolas took point position and waved his arm forward.

"Come! Let us make for Rivendell this night!" he exclaimed. The horses neighed, and then with a few commands they were off again, picking their way gingerly through the dangerous mountain pass.

Not so much vocab this time around.

Ion-nin – Literally 'my son'.
Adar – Father. Affectionate term, but bestowing more respect.
Hannon le – 'Thank you'.
Aran-nin – 'My king'.

So many thanks again to everyone who reviewed chapter two!

I revamped chapter two and reposted, if anyone cares to take a look at it. Again from chapter three, I must reiterate:

Master Thranduil Oropherion Redux brought up a couple of good points in his review: that the Mirkwood Elves had by this time been fighting the Shadow for almost two thousand years, and that they would know how to treat a poisoned wound. Please note that Mirkwood is east of the Misty Mountains, and that at this time, in 2310 S.A., the Shadow is not so prominent. Also, there is the added complication of the baby that Andiach carries. They wish to be sure that the queen gets the best of care. This IS the queen of Mirkwood, after all. They have the chief healer with them, as well, and, if pressed for time enough, they could likely make it within a week and a half. They are Elves, after all, and their endurance and overall strength is greater than that of Men. If there are any more questions or contestations, then I would be happy to discuss them. As it is, this is also needed for the advancement of the plot, so please bear with me despite the unorthodox methods.

Thanks again, and I will never use Grelvish again!

Next chapter will be posted 11-8-07.

-Fanatic