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Mastermind
by Aranel Laerien
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Chapter IV – Destruction
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"It was by sheer fortune that I was spared," Curuvir was speaking to Legolas and Hendur in the healing wing. "The dúnedain left none alive and did not distinguish between friend and foe."
Legolas listened sceptically. How could the Rangers have attacked the orcs dragging Curuvir as well as Curuvir himself? He would have to ask Strider about this. Besides, Curuvir had said that they were far North, between the Palace and Erebor. Why were they there at all?
"Prince Legolas," the Elf turned to him, "I have seen another orc cave slightly south of the Road."
"And where is this?" Legolas asked concernedly. "Why have we not seen it?"
Curuvir shook his head. "I do not know. The compound lies towards the East of our previous patrol route. If you were to lead a party and approach from the East, there is a mound that would provide good cover…"
Legolas listened intently as Curuvir offered more directions and estimates of the orcs' strength. That night, he spoke with his father concerning this. Thranduil gave him leave to lead the elites, more willingly when Legolas had revealed that Curuvir provided the information and strategy.
"Curuvir has been most kind in this," Thranduil said. "If you are able to remove this threat, you would win the trust of those who are discontent with your earlier trip."
Legolas agreed most readily.
They set off two days later, and the first signs of trouble soon made themselves felt.
"Spiders," Legolas muttered almost wryly to himself, "Curuvir failed to mention them."
"Did you say something?" Hendur asked casually.
"Nothing much," Legolas smiled reassuringly, "but these traces of the Spiders do not bode well."
Nestagond spoke, "We should remain on guard. This remains hostile territory."
"I am sure you simply do not wish to use any of your bandages!" one of the Elves teased him. The company laughed at Nestagond defensive reaction. Legolas stopped abruptly.
"Something is wrong!" he whispered urgently. His senses were screaming at him by now.
The Elves did not have any chance to strategise. The Spiders came from all directions, large and monstrous, their thick crusts shielding them from most light cuts. Legolas managed to shoot one of them in the eye and stab another through with an arrow. His blades flew out in that same second and he thrust it at one ready to poison Hendur while the Elf was facing yet another spider.
The rest of the time blurred in a vague rhythm of slashing legs, thrusting at unprotected parts, looking out for the Elves under his charge. He heard Nestagond groan as he tried to free himself from those threads the Spiders had spun around him. Legolas rushed over, but his way was blocked by spiders rearing to spit their hideous venom. Without thinking, he focussed onto one at the side, hacking through it and quickly moving on, all the while keeping the spider he faced as a buffer against the others.
By the time he fought his way through, someone had freed Nestagond, but the Elf was fighting sluggishly, most likely poisoned. Legolas watched in horror as Nestagond blinked rapidly to focus, blades swinging wildly as the other Elves struggled to reach him.
The Spiders seemed inexhaustible, Legolas was trying not to give into despair even as he felt his muscles weakening. As he spun around to stab another foe, he saw Hendur, staggering, his earlier wound reopened and dripping, fresh red mingling with the black of the Spiders.
Hendur turned towards him as he finished off another creature. The young Elf was panting heavily, but nodded towards him in encouragement before devoting himself back to battle. The Elves were still doing well; the Spiders were now beginning to be more wary. If they could sustain this, the Spiders may well retreat.
But Legolas knew he was wearing out, as were the other Elves. Half of them had managed to band together around the unconscious Nestagond. Most of them were cut in some way, and all of them were slowing down. Hendur was holding up against two of them, and a third was creeping up on him.
"Hendur!" Legolas shouted and instinctively flung a blade at the beast behind his friend. He half-noted that it was the blade that symbolised his authority.
At that same moment, a spider threw itself at Legolas. He held out his remaining blade, managing to stab it through and sidestepped as it fell. Its legs jerked out in its death-throes, one of them drawing a gash across his cheek. Legolas grit his teeth in rage.
Then he felt something sticky from behind him. He moved his blade quickly, only able to cut off two of the legs as the beast ducked and staggered. And in a move that surprised him, another spider threw its weight against him.
He managed to twist his blade into it, stumbled, and tried urgently to free his only blade before the spider fell. But its inertia was too great. Even as he pulled the knife out, it hit the earth, crushing down on his wrist. He moaned as the impact shot up his arm, and again as he pulled it free from under the beast. His fingers felt numb. Another mob of spiders came. His blade flew out of his hand as soon as it hit a spider.
Legolas bent over unhesitatingly, picked up a few stones from the ground, and threw them with his other arm, aiming desperately for any vulnerable spots.
And something struck him.
Within seconds, he felt as though he was losing control of his limbs. His arm jerked uncontrollably, then his knee buckled. He saw Hendur open his mouth in a gasp. He willed himself to concentrate. He reached his blade, retrieved it and cut through a spider in the same stroke. His arm seemed to have a mind of its own now. He tried to force it towards where his blurring vision told him an enemy was. Hendur was shouting his name by now. His mind was too paralysed to think of a reply. Then he fell, his legs unable to support his weight. He was barely able to throw his last stone at an approaching Spider. Then everything went black.