Hello everyone! I am dedicating this chapter to SilverSapphire34523 for a lovely review! So thank you very much! I hope you enjoy the next chapter! As always - I do not own any of Tolkien's ideas or themes, just my own!
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Chapter 9: Little Miss Runaway.
We took the orc back to Thranduil.
When I reached him, he took my hand and checked me for any signs of damage.
"I'm fine!" I protested, though I knew his concern came from his love for me.
Thranduil circled the orc menacingly, as Legolas held his glistening blade to it's throat. Tauriel and I stood in front of the beast, watching the events quietly.
I found it impossible to take my eyes from the wretched creature's face. It was scared and mauled; hideous. I wondered angrily how many innocents this abomination had harmed, killed even. Tauriel, Legolas, the dwarves, even me, could have been added to the undoubtedly long list, had we been unlucky.
As my mind wandered, I realised Thranduil had been talking for some time. Hoping I hadn't missed anything particularly important I turned my attention back to him.
"…in the vast ignorance of the world it festers and spreads. A shadow that grows in the dark. A sleepless malice as black as the oncoming wall of night. So it ever was, so it will always be. In time all foul things come forth…"
I listened intently to the wise King's words. Fear and sickness twisted in my stomach and goose bumps raised on my flesh.
Legolas, always quick to lose his patience, wasted no time on small talk with the orc.
"You were tracking a company of 13 dwarves, why?" He demanded with hate in his usually calm voice.
"And one little brave hobbit…" I thought
The foul creature cackled horrifically.
"Not 13. Not anymore! The young one, the black haired archer, we stuck him with a morgul shaft. The poison's in his blood. He'll be chocking on it soon!" He grinned sickeningly, aiming his words directly at Tauriel. He too had noticed she cared for the dwarf.
Tauriel's face fell and her eyes grew frightened. Her thoughts seemed to be elsewhere, with the dwarf no doubt.
I now turned to the orc.
"Answer the question, filth!" authority rang in my voice.
"I do not answer to dogs, she-elf!" it spat at me.
I growled angrily and drew my daggers, spinning them between my fingers menacingly.
"I would not antagonise her." Legolas mocked
I heard Tauriel move behind me and I glance over my shoulder at her. Pain was etched across her face.
"You like killing thigs orc?" she stammered "You like death? Then let me give it to you!"
She lunged forwards with her knives drawn. I threw myself in her path, and restrained her. I was pleased that I was the stronger of us two she-elves.
"DARO! Tauriel, Ego!" (STOP! Tauriel go!) Thranduil thundered
She nodded sheepishly and I gave her a light push towards the door. She left quietly.
"I do not care about one dead dwarf. Answer the question." Thranduil said, turning his attention back to the foul orc. "You have nothing to fear, tell us what you know and I will set you free."
"You had orders to kill them, why?" Legolas pushed again "What is Thorin Oakenshield to you?"
It growled in response "The dwarf runt will never be King!"
Legolas look at the orc with confusion. "King? There is not King under the mountain. Non would dare enter Erebor while the dragon lives."
"You know nothing. Your world will BURN! Our time has come again. My master serves the one! Do you understand now elfling?"
My stomach rolled. The one… surely it could not be…
The orc continued to snarl and grunt "Death is upon you. The flames of war are upon you!"
Thranduil, tired of the orc, struck with the speed of a snake. A deadly swing of his sharpened sword, relieved this orc of his head. Its ugly head was still grasped in Legolas' hands, whilst is body lay twitching and oozing blood on the stone floor.
I almost retched. The words the orc had spoken sickened me.
"Why did you do that? You promised to set him free!" I gasped, feeling rather ill.
"And I did." Thranduil told me "I freed his wretched head from his miserable shoulders. There was nothing more it could tell me."
He stepped harshly on the orc to stop its moving. He watched as life left the orc and then walked away. Both Legolas and I followed, leaving the orc in the place it had fell.
"What did it mean by the flames of war?" Legolas questioned his father.
I feared I already knew what Thranduil was about to say.
"It means they intend to unleash a weapon so great it will destroy all before it." He stated, far too calmly for my liking.
He then turned to the guards who were littered around the room. "I want the watch doubled at our boarders. All roads, all rivers. No one enters this kingdom and… no one leaves it!"
"NO!" I screamed, but Thranduil did not stay to listen. He'd left the room with a sweep of his cloak.
I could not, would not stay trapped now. I fled to my chambers, worry and stress heavy on my shoulders.
When I arrive at my rooms, I paced the floor over and over. Panic began to set in and I lost my composure.
"I'm caged! Imprisoned!" I thought
"I need air!" I gasped aloud.
I burst through the balcony doors and out into the warm air of the afternoon. My balcony overlooked the front of the palace. From here I could see the braidge leading to the main doors of the palace. Anyone who entered or left the palace had to use this door. I saw everything, including the guards who constantly stood watch.
I closed my eyes and breathed deeply. In and out, in and out. I must remain calm.
My sensitive hearing picked up a conversation down by the main gate. My curiosity was piqued and I listened in quietly.
"Close the gate." Legolas was calling "Keep it sealed by order of the King."
"And what of Tauriel? She left some time ago, with her bow. She has not returned My Lord." The guard replied
I saw that Legolas had emerged out onto the bridge. He was looking off into the distance, the direction that Tauriel must have taken.
"Seal the gate." He commanded again, over his shoulder. Then He took off running.
"He's going after her!" I growled. I was angry, FURIOUS! And… a little jealous.
"I cannot stay here now." I said quietly.
I walked over to my writing desk and took out a delicate piece of paper and a quill. In my elegant script I wrote a short, simple message.
Papa, Goheno min.
xxx
(Forgive me)
