Sorry, it has taken me so long to update. I had a bit of writer's block and also have been extremely busy the last few months. Thanks for being patient. Please review, if you like the story.
Chapter 6 Cirith Forn en Andrath
"Haden, I do not want to enter the mountains in the dark." Audra involuntarily shivered as she looked up at the towering spires blanketed in darkness.
"We must Audra. I feel sure that we are being tracked. We need to find a place to hide and perhaps defend if it comes to that. I would prefer a place of refuge before morning"
"The way is narrow and dangerous. It should not be attempted at night," Audra pleaded.
Haden growled loudly, "What would you have me do woman?" Lowering his voice he murmured, "I can't travel much farther without resting"
"My lady, I know of a cave that is close by and well hidden" a gentle voice entered the conversation.
Haden's head whipped around to look at the two riders on the horse. Audra stiffened and her eyes grew large as she realized that the elf tied to her back was now awake and speaking to them.
"Forgive me friends. I did not mean to startle you," Elrohir smiled. The smile did not quite travel to his eyes. He had noticed the man had instinctively reached for his knife. Elrohir felt very confused. He was aware that he was wounded and in a lot of pain, but had no memory of how that occurred. He was riding Seren, but did not remember who his companions were. Thick ropes bound him to the back of the woman seated in front of him. Gazing around, he could see his bow and arrows tied to Seren's side. There was also a blanketed bundle that was perhaps his sword, but he couldn't be sure.
The man just stood looking at him with his mouth hanging open.
"Um, that...would...be very helpful," Audra stammered.
"Forgive me, my name is Elrohir." the elf said as he introduced himself.
"I am called Audra and this is my brother Haden," Audra responded.
"Well met Lady Audra and Haden," Elrohir answered. "You mentioned that we are being followed. Who is it that pursues us?" Elrohir questioned the man.
"Orcs!" Haden said forcefully as he looked away from the elf.
"Ah, that would explain my wound. I don't seem to recall being injured. Was the arrow poisoned?" Elrohir softly asked.
"No, I pulled it out and it was not," Audra said as she discreetly tried to brush a tear away that had escaped. The memory was still too fresh in her mind. She had feared for his life.
Elrohir noticed and was touched by the lady's gentle nature. "Than, I have been fortunate. Neither of you have been injured?" Elrohir asked.
"We are fine." Haden roughly answered as he trudged up the path ahead of them.
"I'm sorry, my brother has a lot on his mind and is very weary." Audra whispered to the elf.
"It is understandable , Lady Audra. I fear that I was of no help when he battled the orcs. I can't remember... How did we escape?" Elrohir asked.
"I think we only managed to scare them off, we did not openly fight them, " Audra answered. She was very afraid that he would catch them in their lies.
"I was alone when attacked?" Elrohir asked himself as much as Audra. Somehow it didn't seem right that he would be traveling solo. "Were there no others with me?" he questioned.
"There was no one else," she responded truthfully.
"Where is this cave that you spoke of?" Haden interrupted.
"It is just around the bend and up there," Elrohir pointed.
"Why, you would have to be a mountain goat to climb up there!" Audra exclaimed.
Elrohir started to laugh, but winced in pain instead. "It is possible, I promise. If you will untie me, I will lead Seren up. She will not let you fall. Haden, I will show you where to find handholds." Elrohir grimaced as he tried to twist around to look back down the trail.
Audra untied Elrohir and he used her shoulder to brace himself as he eased down from his horse. Seren turned her head and playfully nudged his hand. Elrohir grinned and shook his head. "Seren, do you ever think of anything besides apples?"
Elrohir felt as if dwarves were mining inside of his head. He could feel their ceaseless pounding over and over again. His chest wound had been reopened by the steep climb and was seeping through the bandages. "Just a little farther," he said out loud. He wasn't sure if he was speaking to his edain friends or to himself. He felt hot and more than a little bit dizzy. He looked out over the deep valley below. Dawn was rapidly approaching. They should hurry. He was in no condition to fight orcs or anything else that might come along. When they reached the cave, he could rest he promised himself.
"Almost there," Elrohir gasped. Had he already said that, he couldn't remember. Haden was above him and had done well in using the footholds and crevices that Elrohir had pointed out.
Haden glanced down at the elf. He noticed that Elrohir had beads of sweat on his forehead. Somehow the elf wasn't near as graceful as Haden thought that he would be. The elf had stopped giving climbing directions minutes ago, but Haden would never ask for help, especially from an elf. He continued climbing.
Audra looked down at Elrohir. She knew that he shouldn't be climbing. She had seen his left hand go to his wound and there had been drops of blood on the rocks that they had passed. She was about to call to Haden for help when it happened.
Haden had placed his right foot on a rock and was beginning to pull himself up when the rock under his foot gave way. He frantically tried to regain his footing , but didn't succeed. He came crashing towards them. Elrohir reached out to grab him and they both tumbled past Audra.
Audra brought her fist to her mouth in an attempt to silence the scream she felt welling up inside of her. Small rocks and gravel rained down the mountainside as the man and the elf skidded and rolled rapidly down.
Haden's fall had been slowed when the elf had grabbed him. Now , they were gaining momentum, but the elf had not released him. Elrohir was heading towards a ledge and Haden could feel the elf loosening his grip so as to not pull him over too. Trying not to panic, Haden looked around for anything to stop their fall. He grabbed a thorn bush growing on the ledge. "Elf, don't let go," he yelled. Elrohir's eyes met his for a moment and than he also saw the bush. He instantly tightened his grip on the man's wrist. Elrohir was yanked to a rough stop which did nothing to help the pounding in his head or the pain in his chest.
Audra had not screamed, to do so might have alerted an enemy. She felt the metallic, salty taste of blood in her mouth. Looking down at her fist, she was surprised at what her silence had cost her. She had bitten deeply into her index finger as she had pressed her fist into her mouth.
As Elrohir and Haden climbed slowly back up to her, she realized that it had been worth it. She had almost lost her brother and would not knowingly ever do anything to endanger him.
Haden saw how much the fall had cost the elf. He was visibly trembling and weaving as he tried to climb back up the mountainside. Haden reached down and pulled him up the last few yards to the mouth of the cave. Audra had gone ahead and waited for them. She guided Elrohir into the cave as Haden gathered nearby brush to block the entrance. He took one last look outside and entered the cave feeling confident that they were hidden well.
As the sun came up over the horizon, a lone figure gazed up at the side of the mountain. His attention had been attracted by a dustcloud and a small avalanche of rocks falling down the side. His curiousity aroused, he decided to have a closer look at the cause of the disturbance.
Translations: Cirith pass forn north andrath long climb Cirith Forn en Andrath high-climbing pass of the north (also known as the Pass of Imladris).