He bowed, still out of breath. "My apologies, your majesty. Legolas and Tauriel are in danger! They lead a small group of men towards the north wall to sweep for spiders when they were overrun. Erophin and some men went after them and now the spiders have them as prey! What do we do?" he panted.
Thranduil turned to her and said, "Stay here, meleth nin. I will be right back." And with that, he turned and followed the guard as they headed down the hall and descended the stairs to the soldier's quarters. Elanesse' turned and grabbed her silver armor and strapped it over her blue tunic. She quickly strapped her arm guards on and put one her boots. She placed her two magical elven blades in her dual back scabbard. She quickly braided her hair and proceeded down the other direction to the stables for a horse. She quickly descended the stairs and saw a soldier.
"Maethor (soldier)! Which direction did Legolas and Tauriel go? Tell me!" she yelled.
The elf was startled, "Hîril vuin (my lady), what are you doing here?"
"I am here to find out where my father, Legolas and Tauriel went. It has been relayed to the king that they have overtaken by spiders. I aim to assist in their rescue. Erophin is my father and Legolas and Tauriel are my friends. Speak now, Maethor." She glared at him, as she strode over to saddle her beloved white horse, Ildur.
"They went about 100 yards outside of the northwest border, that way." He pointed.
"Thank you, Maethor." Elanesse swiftly strapped her horse's saddle down and she climbed into the saddle. She grabbed the reigns and made a clicking sound and proceeded to spur Ildur on. Atop her horse, she galloped to the gates and yelled to the guards, "Edro! (Open!)" as she approached the guards quickly opened the gates and she swiftly turned her horse and rode towards the forest's edge in the northwest.
As soon as the gates closed, Thranduil and a company of soldiers came down the steps and he glanced to the right as he heard the gate shut. "Why was the gate open? I didn't order them to be opened. Who left?"
The soldier standing there and looked at the Elvenking, "Why Elanesse', sire. She was dressed in battle armor with her swords. She took off on Ildur heading northwest to where her father and Legolas and Tauriel were last seen. She refused to listen and insisted on aiding in their rescue. I tried to stop her."
"Obviously, not hard enough." He glared. He turned and starting shouting commands at the soldiers. The soldiers quickly gathered their weapons and shields and bows and mounted their steeds. Thranduil went over to where his royal armor was kept. He slipped into the beautiful silver armor with his royal blue cape flowing behind him. He grabbed his sword and strapped it about his waist. A soldier had returned with a horse. He needed a faster animal rather than the elk to catch her. He mounted the black horse and marched to the front and yelled at the soldiers. They fell into line as they marched down the path in pairs behind their King. "Edro!" he yelled as the gate keepers opened the heavy gates. Thranduil moved aside as his soldiers heading toward the northwest edge of the forest where his son and company were last seen. As the very last soldier started up the mountain, Thranduil quickly spurred his steed on. Faster than lightening he rode beside his men. The soldiers cried, Gurth ani chyth vîn! (Death to our enemies!) He rode with desperation to save Legolas and the others, but also his beloved Elanesse. The fact she had defied him and took off to battle angered him and also brought forth horrible memories that he had lost his wife, Legolas' mother, in the same manner. He vowed he would not lose any more of his people in any battle and most of all a women he had come to love. She was a beautiful soul that finally brought him some sort of hope and peace for the world; a peace that had escaped him for centuries. He was not about to lose it again.
When Elanesse arrived at the edge of the northwest forest, she quickly quieted Ildur. She jumped off his back and started walking around. The crooked trees, made the approaching night seem so sinister. She listened as she could hear muffled sounds coming from above. Quickly climbing a tree, she jumped from branch to branch, calling out her father's name, then Legolas and Tauriel's names. She looked around and saw some soldiers' bodies wrapped up in thick spider web. She quickly took a dagger from her thigh strap, and sliced through the cocoon. They had been injected with venom that paralyzed them, allowing them to be feasted upon by the spiders without a fight. The first soldier woke, but she quickly silenced him by placing her finger on his lips. She whispered, "Where is my father, Legolas and Tauriel?" The soldier pointed up. "Go down quietly, we must not disturb them. Ego (go)." Elanesse continued to climb the trees and free each soldier, one at a time. She made it to a nest where there were three cocoons and several spiders. Quietly, she took a stone and tossed it the other direction and they went off quickly scrambling to find the sound. She crawled up a large tree and slowly made her way to the spot where the three elves were being held in the cocoons that hung down and she whispered, "Tauriel, Legolas, Ada?"
She heard Legolas. "Elanesse, what are you doing here?"
"Odulen an edraith angina (I'm here to save you) and Tauriel and Ada, now hold still. I'm going to cut you down." She crouched on the branch. She withdrew her swords and made a tear in the webbed cocoon holding Legolas and Tauriel. She then chopped both down. Swiftly, she jumped and freed her father the same way. It kept them safe, as they tumbled down. She did not see the large spider behind, but her blades started to glow. She turned fiercely and sliced it into pieces. In seconds, there were more spiders moving in the shadows of the trees. Her blades glowed with a soft, blue light. It stunned the spiders enough, for her to twirl in a cyclone and make quick work of the spiders. She then, jumped down each branch quickly to the ground, where she eventually found Legolas, Tauriel and her father.
"Next time Elan, a warning would be nice." Said Legolas as he was rubbing his arm. When she had cut them down, he landed on his arm.
"Thank you would suffice, mellon'. She was helping them to get up, when more spiders descended upon them. The trio had their weapons, but Elanesse drew her swords and stood crouched at the ready. The four heard a distant sound of horns, in the distance. Erophin knew it was the king's soldiers coming to their aid, but he was still paralyzed from the poison.
"Tauriel, take Legolas and my father back to Mirkwood, Now! Ego! The Woodland army is nearly here, I will be fine. She said. "Go now!" Elanesse continued to fight the spiders. In swift movements and jumps, the lady warrior with glowing blades in hand, cut down spider by spider to allow her friends to escape. As they were running away, the trio came up on Thranduil and the Woodland army. He jumped down and rushed to Legolas, and Erophin, who was being aided by Tauriel.
"Lonneg! Are you hurt? Thranduil scanned his eyes over his son.
"Ada, I am fine. Elanesse is still back there. She rescued us." Legolas panted.
"Where is she?" Thranduil demanded.
"Back that way about 300 yards." He pointed. Thranduil quickly drew his sword and rushed after her, followed by a couple of soldiers.
Erophin, still dazed and partially paralyzed asks, "Where is he going?"
Legolas turned to him and said, "To rescue your daughter. If she had not braved the forests to rescue us, we would be dead by now." Tauriel watched as Thranduil rushed toward the area where they had left her. Tauriel asked, "Why does he rush after her so?"
Legolas looks at her, "He loves her. It was in a battle worse than this, that mother gave her life to save me. She died in battle saving the wounded and my father never forgave himself. Then Elanesse came along, and she has changed him. He does not wish to lose another love again."
Thranduil and the guards came up to the area where she was fighting the spiders. He watched as her dual blades glowed a radiant blue. Swipe after stab, in a whirlwind of light, she made quick work of the spiders.
"Elanesse!" he called. She turned to see him and started to walk towards him, her blades dripping with blood. "Meleth nin, I knew you would come. I'm sorry, I could not let them die." In a blink of an eye, Thranduil watched, just as she spoke those words, a full nest of spiders descended upon her. One grabbed her and pulled her toward the swarm. She screamed a bloody cry as the largest spider proceeded to throw her in the middle, surrounded by the creatures. She stood up, surrounded by spiders, but as Thranduil ran with heated anger and fear, blades drawn towards the swarm, they attacked her and she fought back, but more kept coming. The last thing her heard was she scream his name.
The shrill rang in his ears and Thranduil attacked the spiders fiercely, but as quick as he was to dispatch them, more came. He was so desperate to find her, his heart was breaking because he feared her dead. When he came within a small distance of the spot, he saw a faint white glow, emanating from the ground. With each second it grew brighter, like starlight. He could hear a faint Lorien' chant and the nest of spiders, flew back and vanished when he saw Elanesse standing up with her arms out; surrounded by starlight's glow and a large burst of blue light; "Begone, evil creatures! You are not welcome here." The large swarm was instantly dispatched. When the last word fell out of her mouth, Thranduil was running towards her and saw her look at him. She spoke,"Meleth nin, Goheno nin, Gi Melin. (My love, forgive me,I love you)" then she fell to the ground.
Thranduil ran to her, cradling her in his arms, sobbing. He picked her up and whistled for a horse. He was crying and whispering, "Baw, meleth nin. Gi melin ( No, my beloved, I love you.) Do not leave me. I need you." Ildur galloped over and he picked her up and swiftly mounted the steed and rode to where the trio was.
Legolas cried, "Ada, what is wrong?" as his eyes widened in horror at Elanesse lying in his father's arms.
"Boe nestad Elanesse (Elanesse needs to be healed) Thranduil said.
"What was that bright light that flashed moments ago?" asked Legolas.
"It was her."
"What? You can't be serious."
Thranduil looked at his son, "It was. When I saw her the first time she came here, I knew she was special. I didn't realize until I saw her with her blue sentient blades and the summoning of the light. It banished away the dark creatures that attacked you and her. She is weak, she needs healing. I must go." And with that, he spurred Ildur on.
The steed sped towards the gates of the Woodland Realm. He was gone in a blur. Legolas turned to the other soldiers, Erophin and Tauriel and said, "Tolo (Come) Let's make haste to the palace. She needs us." They all rode back to the palace of the Woodland Realm with great speed with Legolas leading the way. Erophir was behind him with Tauriel at the side. She noticed tears in his eyes. "What is the matter?"
"I'm afraid that my only daughter gave her life to save us and I am powerless to help. Her mother's heart will be broken."
"Do not worry, the King has her. She will be fine. Our healers are the best in the lands."
All the while Thranduil never let her falter while in his arms. She was still alive, but weak. He was desperate and spurred the horse faster. She needed to be healed. He glanced down at her as he rode, she was still breathing, as if in a deep sleep. In a blur, he arrived at the gates, they were already open. He jumped off of the horse and swiftly carried her body to the healers. "Boe nestad Elanesse" The healers went about in a frenzy, grabbing potions and herbs-they knew for the king to be there, this was important. Thranduil placed her body on the golden alter and watched as the healers stripped her of the armor, swords and boots. Her reddish blonde hair splayed out around her head, her breathing was steady, but shallow.
She had just enough energy to glance over at him, "Thranduil, Gi Melin." And her green eyes closed. At that moment, he fell to his knees and caressed her face and kissed her hand. She smiled at him.
"Gi Melin Elanesse."
"I am weak." She whispered. "Are they alright?"
"Yes, they are fine. Your father, Tauriel and Legolas are fine. You saved them." He said
With hazing eyes, she looked at him, "Thranduil…I…."
"It is alright, I am here now." as he stroked her face.
"I need rest, meleth nin."and she closed her eyes. He leaned over and kissed her lips and a tear ran down his cheek and dropped on her face.
