10. chapter: A Burst of White Light
Men was running through the camp, getting armor and weapons ready, Balak was standing in the middle of this controlled chaos, yelling orders with the full force of his lungs. A group of ten men armed with spears ran past him to the edge of the camp, getting into a protective formation. All around the camp, men were getting into protective formations, mostly spears, and behind them, bowmen.
The elves were getting ready too, they had just been joined with Legolas, Rozarko and Anglond, there were getting ready in record time. Legolas was still strapping his bow and quiver to his back when he ran through the camp to the middle where Balak was, still barking orders. The second he saw Legolas, he waved him closer, looking relieved.
"We have been tracking the men for days now" Balak told, when Legolas was sighing relieved, Balak shot him a questioning glare.
"I was afraid the men were coming because of us" Legolas told.
"I do not think so" Balak told, "we have been tracking these men for a long time, knowing they would be coming sooner or later".
"We are ready to help in any way we can" Legolas said, "where do you want us?".
"Can you ride out with us?" Balak asked, "We are assembling at the northern edge of the camp, we ride out in fifteen minutes".
Legolas nodded and ran back to his team, who were all ready by now.
"Gather the horses" Legolas told them, "we are riding out in fifteen".
At the northern edge of the camp, the elves met with thirty of Balak's men. All armed and ready for battle. Legolas guided his white steed around the others and towards Balak, who was sitting on a brown horse. Balak immediately spotted Legolas.
"How many bowmen are in your company?" he asked.
"All of them" Legolas answered.
"Great" Balak replied, "can you make for the threes? Defend us from there?".
"Sure" was Legolas replied before he turned when a young man stormed towards them on a red horse.
"Balak!" he yelled, "there are another patrol of soldiers walking towards us from the south. And the army to the north has divided into two and are approaching from the west. They are surrounding us!".
Balak looked alarmed.
"What about the east?" Legolas asked.
"Rocks and clefts, only a small path leads through that" Balak answered, and then looking like he had a plan. "But that is the way we are heading. We know that path. The women and children are going in first with a few guards, and the rest of us are protecting them from behind. The army will not suspect us going that way".
"And we will protect from the trees as long as we can" Legolas said as he guided his team back.
Balak made the order for the rest to go east. Legolas and his team dismounted and headed for the trees, trying to spread out around the men, guarding them from north, west and south.
Legolas had Rozarko right behind him, guarding the men from the north. They were squatting on a thick branch, covered behind a layer of green leaves. They were of higher grounds, and therefore had a good view over the forest beneath them. Legolas silently laid his hand of Rozarko's arm, and pointed to a spot not far away, behind some rocks and bushes. A scout was kneeling at the ground, hiding behind a rock. Rozarko scanned the land around them.
"He is alone" he whispered.
"Sure?" Legolas asked, looking around to see if he could spot anyone else hiding in the bushes. He could see none.
"Yes" Rozarko replied, looking shortly at Legolas before turning his head back to the spot where the scout was hiding.
"Then let's go" Legolas said as he moved around the trunk, and unto another branch. Rozarko was right behind him.
They moved silently through the trees, and when they were right over the scout, Legolas drew a knife, and with a nod from Rozarko, they both jumped down. Rozarko landed right behind the man and in one swift move he grabbed the man and held a knife to his neck. Legolas landed in front of the man and held his knife up as well.
"If you make any sound, he will cut your throat" Legolas said in a dangerous low voice.
The man had huge eyes and looked scared at the elf before him. Rozarko held the man in a firm grip, making sure he did not pull any tricks on them.
"Now tell me" Legolas continued, "how many are in the army?".
The man shook his head, only to be held even firmer by Rozarko, who pressed his knife just a little closer to the man's throat.
"Two hundred" the man said.
"Two hundred?! Where are they located?" Legolas asked, stunned, that was twice as many as they thought.
When the man refused to answer, Rozarko pressed the knife slowly into his flesh, drawing small drops of red blood.
"All around you" the man said.
"What? How?" Legolas asked.
"We know of the small path through the small mountains to the east, a party of hundred is awaiting on the other side, and the rest are approaching from this side. The runaway slaves will be surrounded and slaughtered!".
Legolas took one look at Rozarko, and with a small nod from Legolas, Rozarko slid the man's throat. Both elves took no time and bolted up and ran as fast as they could, jumping up to the nearest tree, and ran through the trees to the east. After a short distance, Legolas stopped and made a series of bird calls, making the other members of his team know that they had to get back now. He was responded right away, and they continued through the trees until they came to the place where they had left their horses.
It took them half an hour to make it to the beginning of the path, and then they had to slow down. The path was filled with small rocks and stones, making it hard for the horses to find footing. It was constantly twisting around rocks and clefts. They rounded a corner and a cleft was forming to their right, and to their left a small mountain was raising, the path was very narrow. Rozarko was riding behind Legolas, and just as they had rounded the corner, Rozarko's horse lost footing and the right hindleg fell down. Legolas heard the commotion and rocks falling down behind him and felt a heart jump when he saw that Rozarko's horse was almost sitting on the path, struggling to get up, and Rozarko was fighting to hold on and stay on his horse.
Without a thought, Legolas jumped off his horse and ran back to grip the rains of Rozarko's gray steed and pulled all that he could. After what felt like several minutes, but only was about a half, Legolas pulled Rozarko's horse up. Rozarko was breathing heavily and breathed a shaky thanks.
"That was too close" Legolas breathed as he moved back to his horse, Rozarko could only nod as he slowly nudged his horse forth.
Another half hour had passed, when they heard hooves behind them. Both stopped and listened for a few moment, the hooves were too heavy to be elven horses.
"We need to speed up" Legolas said, even though he knew it would be difficult.
They pushed the horses to a slow trot, trusting them to keep their footing. When they reached a place where rock as raising to both sides of the path, they pushed the horses into a fast galop. After ten minutes, they started to hear was sounded as a battle in front of them. They dreaded what was going to meet them.
They rounded another corner, and the sight that met them was making their hearts race even faster. A large lake was forming before them a half kilometer away, a forest forming around the lake. To the south the enemy army was blocking the way, to the north Balak and his men already had their hands full keeping the army at bay. The women and children were being taken by soldiers, some even trying to flee into the lake. Balak and his men was fighting like crazy to keep the army and soldiers back, but they were too few. Legolas and Rozarko took no time to bolt right into the battle, trying to keep the men from taking the women and children away. There were already many dead men lying around on the ground, both soldiers and former slaves.
They had not been fighting for long when the rest of Legolas' team showed up. Anglond was riding up next to Legolas, that just had cut a man down who had taken a ten-year-old boy.
"The army is approaching from behind" he announced, looking stunned at the scene around him. Shooting an arrow at a man who was dragging a screaming woman, he dropped dead on the place.
The elves did all they could to keep the men from taking the women and children, but all of their efforts seemed fruitless, more and more soldiers just kept coming. Balak was doing an amazing job keeping a huge part of the army from the east, but all too soon, the army the west was approaching through the path.
Legolas turned his horse around, seeing Galdor, Anglond and Kaleth near the path.
"Galdor, Anglond, Kaleth, we need to close the path" Legolas yelled over the noise of the battle.
"We are on it" Anglond yelled back and turned towards the path.
Legolas trusted them to find a way to close the path and turned back to the battle.
o0o
A huge crash was sounding, Legolas turned around and saw that the path had been shut with huge rocks. The army from the west would have a hard time coming through that. Legolas allowed himself to breathe relieved for a second before he sliced the throat of a man who tried to cut him of his horse. Then he heard the men yell over the noise of the battle.
"Vascal!" he heard them yell, "that's is Vascal, get him!".
And before Legolas could react, men stormed at him and his horse. Legolas managed to slay the first wave of men storming at him, his horse balked, and as Legolas turned it he managed to slay a few more men. A rope was being thrown at him, but ran past him. He blocked a strike from an axe, as two men grabbed the rains of his horse, who tried to balk and throw the men off, but more men grabbed the rains, and two grabbed Legolas and pulled him down. He landed hard on his back, all air leaving his lungs, and he had to breathe hard to take in air again. He hit something hard with the back of his head, a rock maybe. The world around him faded for a few moments, and all sounds seemed to come from far, far away. He felt multiple hands grab him, his arms and legs were pinned to the ground, and he felt like someone was sitting on him.
He tried to fight the men off as his sight started to return. He felt this legs boing bound together, and soon he was tilted to his side and his hands was bound on his back. He heard someone calling his name, he heard more calling it. He glimpsed Anglond trying to fight his way to him, he jumped, twisted and swirled around in a deadly dance to get to his captain. Legolas had rarely seen him fight so fiercely before.
But Anglond was greatly outnumbered, and Legolas saw as the men turned their attention toward him. Anglond really did hos best to get to Legolas, and Legolas could feel his heart skip a beat as a man yanked his sword over Anglond's back. As Anglond fell to his knees, their eyes locked, and Anglond placed his right fist over his heart as a token of loyalty. Legolas did not see more as the men surrounded Anglond, and he heard his second in command scream in pain.
"No!" Legolas managed to yell out in pure anger, "Anglond!".
He felt the anger rise to a level he could barely control, and as he turned his attention to that feeling, he heard and felt the energy the trees from the forest was sending. Legolas almost feed on that energy and used it to build up enough strength. And then the white light burst forth, knocking the men to ground, flowing in waves of glittering stars over the battlefield. The light was strong and powerful, so even the elves and allies had to stand their ground so they would not be thrown to it.
Rozarko was almost knocked off his horse, looking to where the light was coming from. He had seen Legolas being surrounded by men, and had tried to get to him, and seen Anglond try the same from the other side.
The light started to swirl around like wild winds was throwing it around. Rozarko jumped of his horse and ran to where he had seen Legolas fall. He could not see him, the light was too bright where he was, and completely hid him. When he was close he could see Legolas lying bound on the ground, blood covered the back of his head, and was still running. Legolas had his eyes shut tightly in concentration. Rozarko knelled in front of him, and slowly placed a hand on his shoulder.
Legolas bolted as he suddenly felt someone touch him. But breathed relieved when he saw Rozarko.
"Ease your light, my friend" Rozarko said gently.
Legolas took a deep breath, and relaxed as the light around them faded, to soon be all gone. Then Legolas suddenly looked up.
"Anglond" he breathed and tried to get up, obliviously forgetting he was bound on hands and feet.
"Wait" Rozarko said as he pulled a small knife and cut the bonds.
Legolas tried to get up on his legs, but dizziness overcame him like lightning, and he stumbled to the ground again. With massive support from Rozarko, Legolas was able to walk the short distance to where Anglond lay on the ground. He was bleeding from several wound over his body, and a small pool of blood was forming under him. Rozarko was next to Legolas, as he saw his prince placed his hands on either side of Anglond's face and place his forehead against his second in command. Around them the rest of the team was assembling, and behind them, Balak and a few men was approaching.
A small light started to flow from Legolas to Anglond, who started to breathed a little stronger. Rozarko was stunned to see that Legolas still had strength to give some of his lifeforce to Anglond, after relieving that amount of power.
Balak felt a lump in his throat at the scene playing out before him. Al elves gathered around their fallen friend, he did not know whether he was still alive or not. The elves all knelled down, Orak, or Rozarko as he knew him of now, knelled closes to Legolas, and placed his hand on his shoulder, then Girion placed his as well, and then another placed his on Girion until they all was connected. Then Balak saw a faint white light flow from the elves and down to the elf lying on the ground. He did not know what happened, but it was beautiful and strange.
After a short while, Legolas had no more strength to give, even with the help from his team, and had to brake the connection. As he broke it, the world around him blackened, and all sounds disappeared, for a short while. The next he knew was his head resting on Rozarko's shoulder, and Rozarko holding him.
"We need to get him home" Legolas said with a low voice, "or he won't survive".
"How" Girion asked, looking worried down at Anglond.
"Some of you have to take him" Legolas responded, trying to get up and sit on his own, he still felt dizzy and now exhausted as well, but with a little help from Rozarko, managed to sit on his own.
"And what about you?" Mirthral asked, using his healer eyes to examine Legolas on a distance.
"I will stay here" Legolas said, "but first we have to get away, I don't know how long the men will be out".
Girion rose and went to talk to Balak, who still stood a short distance away, telling him they had to move out and find a save place. Balak quickly took action and gathered his people. In no time, they were ready.
o0o
Legolas was riding in front of Rozarko, who had a firm hold around him. Legolas was still dizzy, and the hard ride south around the lake was doing no good to him. As the time passed, he was getting more and more nauseous. He was shifting uncomfortable in the seat in front of Rozarko, who tightened his hold around Legolas.
"He need to stop" Legolas said in a strained voice.
"What?" Rozarko asked, not hearing what Legolas said.
"Stop!" Legolas repeated a bit more alarmed.
Rozarko held one fist in the air, signaling to team to stop. Legolas only just managed to lean a bit over the side of the horse before he threw up. Rozarko supported him, wiping Legolas' hair away. When he was done, he leaned his head back against Rozarko's shoulder, exhausted and breathed rapidly.
"Easy" Rozarko whispered as he took hold around him again, "ready?" he asked, and with a small nod from Legolas, they continued.
o0o
After riding late into the evening, they found a place in the forest to make camp for the night. Balak and his men made fires and raise the small tents. The elves kept for themselves, gathering at edge of the camp around a small fire. Rozarko examined the wound on the back of Legolas head, already knowing he had a bad concussion. Mirthral was looking over Anglond with the help of Tristan, Gilthron and Cyan.
"Who will you send with Anglond home?" Rozarko asked as he wedded a cloth and pressed at the wound.
Legolas winched before answering: "Mirthral, Rogon, Logon, Gilthron, Tristan and Cyan".
Rozarko nodded, "good choices" he said.
"It was not an easy one to make" Legolas said as he looked to where Anglond was lying, pale and sweaty. His breathing was steady though, the lifeforce he had been giving from the team had given him a chance to make the journey home.
"I can imagine" Rozarko said, as he lay the cloth down, and instead handing Legolas a cup of herbal tea, "there are painkilling herb in, a good amount" he added with a knowing glint in his eyes, telling Legolas he knew just how much headache he had.
Legolas just accepted the cup, taking a small sip. As he sat staring down at the cup, he noticed his wrists, they were both crimson from where the rope had cut into his skin. He had forgotten how the men had bound him, going straight after him the moment they knew who he was. he breathed deeply, taking another sip. This was going to be hard, the mission in Horandor was water compared to this. He looked over to where Balak was sitting a short distance away at another fire, he was glad they had found allies and help.
"By the way" Rozarko added after a while, "you have to stay awake tonight".
"I guessed" Legolas said with a sigh, he was feeling exhausted and tired, but when he saw Mirthral raise from Anglond side, he followed him with his eyes as he walked around the fire and knelled in front of Legolas.
"He is in a very bad shape" Mirthral said gravely, "but I think the lifeforce you were able to give him will give him a chance to make it home".
Legolas nodded, but soon regretted it as a wave of dizziness overcame him.
"Who will go with him?" Mirthral asked, "and when?".
"When is he ready to move?" Legolas asked.
"Now" Mirthral said, "the road will be hard on him, but the sooner he gets home and gets prober healing, and not field medicine, the better".
"All right" Legolas said, "you, Rogon, Logon, Gilthron, Tristan and Cyan will escort him home".
"Shall we leave immediately?" Mirthral asked.
"If you are all ready, then yes".
Mirthral nodded as he rose and bade his friends to get ready. In the meantime, Legolas tried to stand up, only to find Rozarko quickly by his side, supporting him over to Anglond.
As he sat down by his second in command, he took his cold hand, and placed another hand on his forehead, it was cold and sweaty. But he felt the lifeforce in Anglond was strong, and that soothed him some.
Mirthral approached.
"We are ready" he announced.
Legolas moved away and watched as Mirthral helped Anglond up in front of Gilthron.
"Make haste" Legolas said to them when they were ready to ride, "and stay save".
"We will" Mirthral said as he placed his right fist on his heart, bowing his head in respect, before pushing his horse forth and leaving the camp.
Legolas long sat and stared into the forest in the direction Mirthral and the team had gone. He did not know for how long he had sat like this, but it felt like hours when Rozarko came and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"We need to brake camp" he said, "the second army may have broken through the barrier and are approaching".
Legolas breathed deeply before he accepted the hand of Rozarko and let him pull him up. A small wave of dizziness overcame him, but not as bad as it had been, but still Rozarko insisted Legolas rode together with him.
Soon they were all on their horses, and made haste through the forest again, in the distance the elves could hear the soldiers march through the forest in their direction.