Song of the River
Chapter Ten
I'm not quite certain what led to the moments now at hand; it all seemed to be a blur within my mind as I found myself in the midst of sheer chaos. I could not recall my own steps or how they had brought me so far from my original position next to Haldir and the Lothlorien warriors. I was lost within the mayhem, a single soul surrounded by creatures that nightmares were made of. Their growls, their blood thirsty calls blended with the rolling thunder of the storm overhead only adding to the feeling of panic swelling within me since the very moment I realized I was no longer amongst familiar faces.
The uruks came at me in waves. Waves that engulfed me, suffocated me and yet I continued to fight my way through. My blade had become so heavy in my clenched hands; blood of my enemies and even my own was caked upon my knuckles. The locks of my falling hair were plastered to my features from the unrelenting rain. My every step seemed to slide with ease, I was unable to steady my position as the wet stones provided nothing firm to plant myself upon. I was being tossed about wildly. Some uruks did not even bother to engage me in battle, I suppose I did not appear to pose much threat; but those that did confront me were wielding strength that was becoming difficult to match as the hours continued to pass.
I had been lucky thus far; I tried to keep my mind on that positive thought. I may not be as imposing of an opponent in the eyes of the enemy but they fell by my own hand. My struggles had been ending in victory and I had remained unscathed for the most part. I had caught the blunt edge of an uruk blade upon my hand causing some swelling and pain, a few cuts here and there but nothing I could not manage. I may be alone, but I was holding my own. Haldir would be proud. If I could only find him.
I took advantage of the opening before me and I spun around, desperately searching the crowds for someone…anyone I could recognize. I had traveled so far along the fortress wall, you should have positioned yourself better Aearonel! That's all I could hear in my mind in Haldir's own voice. I guess he was an effective mentor if I was hearing his words even without his presence before me.
Without warning, as I turned my head back around I watched a jagged blade glimmer from the burst of lightning that lit up the night coming directly towards me. The speed of the motion was too quick for me to dodge completely, I felt the edge slide across my cheek as I forced my body out of reach at the edge of the wall. I felt blood trickling down my cheek but I had no time to dwell upon the sudden injury. I brought my blade up to the deranged looking uruk who inflicting the injury.
"So sweet…so fair." He grumbled as he brought his blade up to his mouth. I watched his tongue glide across its surface. His toothy grin was enough to make my stomach churn.
"I will savor your blood." He added. That was all I wanted to hear come out of such a filthy mouth. I charged the uruk, I swung my blade with all of my might hoping to silence him for all of eternity but his blade quickly met my own.
I quickly drove my foot towards his gut but he grabbed it with ease.
"You lose." He chuckled before he slammed the hilt of his blade upon the top of leg, barely missing my knee. I fell instantly to the ground; the pain was like nothing I had ever felt before. I fought back screams for help as that feeling of panic on intensified. I couldn't allow myself into a helpless state, but it was hard not to allow tears to fall as I forced myself to my feet to confront him once again. My leg could hardly bear my own weight without buckling from the throbbing pain.
I stumbled about trying to find a suitable stance but the pain was making it hard to focus.
"What's wrong she-elf? Did I hurt you?" He scoffed. He was enjoying his taunts until he surprised me with the haste of his movements. He lunged at me, shoving my body hard against the stone. My sword fell to the ground; the very sound caused my heart to sink. His blade came towards my throat but I did the only thing I could think to do, I brought my arms up to defend the opening he had hoped to find. My forearm armor was elegantly engraved steel but it was thin, I could feel the pressure of the enormous blade driving further into its surface. The uruk kept shoving me back with all of his weight until I felt my feet being lifted up off the ground. I made the mistake of looking down to see thousands of uruks below me, still so eager to find their way inside the fortress.
I could feel the warmth of the beast's horrid breath falling upon me as his grin widened.
"Looks like someone is about to take a little tumble off the wall." He laughed. I felt my teeth grinding against themselves as I tried with all of my might to bring my body back to the ground, but every movement was only furthering aiding him in his attempt to push me from the wall.
What would Haldir do? What would he do? Think! THINK!
Suddenly it dawned on me, I had no room to throw a decent kick, but he had his face inching his way towards me…savoring my scent…my fear, but that was the opening I needed. I swallowed hard before I threw my head forward with everything I had. I felt my forehead crash upon his nose, it had to have shattered from the force but just as I felt him pull away and my feet beginning to return to the ground his blade swung instinctively across, gliding so swiftly across my stomach.
It was not deep but it was enough to cause blood to begin its trail down my tunic as I struggled to capture my breath. I turned my attention to my only remaining defense I could provide, once spotted I scrambled for my sword. But my movements were interrupted as I felt a strong hand place itself upon me, gently moving me aside.
"Boromir?" I panted. I watched as he then pulled his sword from the gut of the uruk that was so intent on ending my life. The man of Gondor then spun around and expected my injuries; he quickly ripped shards of his cloak off and wrapped it around my stomach before using a remaining piece to tend to my cheek.
"I'm taking you out of here." He said sternly. His brow adorned with sweat droplets as he frowned slightly.
"No, no I'm fine really."
"You should not be in war; you are far too fair to suffer an end such as the one you so nearly experienced. If you were a woman of Gondor you would not even be out here in harms way! And to think I thought elves were a-" I quickly brought my hand up to his mouth and allowed my ears to take notice of the shouting nearby.
"BRING HIM DOWN!" I heard Elessar yelling with such intensity, I then saw him in the distance, further upon the wall ahead. He was yelling to the Mirkwood Prince who had an arrow aiming, preparing to fire. I allowed my eyes to follow the prince's eyeline until I saw what it was he was being directed to bring down. An uruk charging towards the sewer drain of the fortress, a lighted torch in hand; what was he doing?
Suddenly I began to hear words dancing around us, "they're trying to bring down the wall", "going to explode" were all things being spoken around us as men and uruks alike began moving away from our spot upon the wall.
"Boromir, I think we need to go. Now." I whispered as I realized what could take place right beneath us.
"LEGOLAS! BRING HIM DOWN!" I heard yet again, the prince's arrows were doing nothing to slow the charge of the determined beast.
"GO! GO! NOW!" I shrieked as I beat upon the chest of the man still tending to my wounds. I forced my body to stand and pushed myself through the pain as I gave Boromir a strong nudge forward. We had to gain some distance…and fast.
It happened in the blink of an eye. The fortress wall, the so called impenetrable division between our enemy and us had burst open with a massive explosion. I had been hurled into the air before colliding with the ground. I remained motionless upon the surface as I felt debris and stone falling upon my body. I could barely breathe; I think my mind and body both were still trying to comprehend what had happened. How far had I fallen? Was I hurt?
My body ached, I felt as if I was upon the edge of slipping into unconsciousness yet my mind simply would not allow it. I felt the chill of the damp stone upon my cheek where I lay, I tried to conjure strength to move but my body was exhausted. The fall had taken everything I had left within me.
"B-boromir?" I strained to call out. Many sets of boots were scrambling around me, passing by me or collapsing nearby. Nothing but confusion and chaos surrounded me and yet I hoped my voice would find its way through the roaring voices.
"Someone…h-help." I knew how pathetic my shaking voice must have appeared but it was beginning to alarm me that I could not find the energy to stand from the stone beneath me.
As I lay there, pouring over all the racing thoughts and emotions, one thought struck me out of nowhere. Haldir. It was his voice that I heard in the silence of my mind and it was his face that appeared to me as I remained here wondering if this was the feeling of death reaching out to me. I believe it was more than simple disbelief that engulfed me when he revealed to me his feelings; it was fear and perhaps even inadequacy. How could such a creature find themselves feeling for one such as me? I was so far from what ellons are instructed to search for in a mate. All I had to show for in life was my title and even that was something I had not given effort to uphold. Then there was him; one who defended his people with such pride and ease…he was strong, kind…and so quick to ensure my well being. He fought to be close to me; every obstacle and every cold front I had placed in front of him he fought through.
I felt my blood crusted lips curl into a smile; of course he would bring a smile to my face even now. I hated him, he was everything I could never be and yet I was drawn to him in ways I'd never be able to understand…and perhaps I may never even get the chance.
"Come on now, this is no place for you to be laying around." I heard a voice speaking as I felt myself being lifted to my feet with ease. My thoughts, my very worries of my own demise had been interrupted by an individual I did not expect to see.
"Are you with me? Can you walk?" The rugged man asked. His face was showing exhaustion, his eyes wandering to all that was going on around us and yet he still found a moment to shed a glance of concern for my sake.
"Hey now, answer me would you?" He ordered while I felt his strong grip still holding me up by the arms. He steadied my wavering stance as I tried to snap out of it, my vision was still slightly blurry, but I could still make out the glisten of worry within his blue eyes.
"You have eyes of an elf…no wonder she loves you." I knew my thoughts had escaped my lips but those eyes were speaking to me. They had such wisdom, such stories behind them. There was a depth about them that revealed the sort of soul that I could see Arwen falling for even here and now. His brow wrinkled slightly, I'm sure my words had caught him off guard if not making him wonder if I was truly there with him as he had asked.
I quickly shook my head and drew in a deep breath before slumping slightly; the pain of my leg was finally rearing itself once again.
"Boromir!" I finally blurted out as the man of Gondor struck my thoughts.
"He is well; he is continuing the fight only after arguing with me to ensure of your safety. You have indeed made quite an impression upon him. Perhaps we have judged you too quickly; perhaps I…have judged you too quickly and for that, you have my sincerest apologies. I can tell you have fought valiantly to protect these people…these strangers. Not many individuals would risk their life for those they have not met." I smiled at his words; this was the voice of a king. I had my doubts before, but he stood before me as a leader rather than a mere ranger. I bowed my head slightly; such words were an honor to hear.
I watched as the man's eyes quickly lifted beyond my gaze upon the horizon.
"HALDIR! GET YOUR MEN OUT OF THERE!" He quickly called out. My eyes widened at the sound of his name. There was no time for words as I quickly pulled free of the stability of Elessar's reach and I ran.
"Wait! Do not-" I heard the man objecting my actions, I was running to the very place I knew was being overrun. The uruks' numbers were increasing with every step I took; they were spilling through the space with numbers I could not fathom. I had but a knife within my hand to defend myself, my sword had escaped my sight and with fatigue taking hold of me, I could not even wield it properly at this point.
I ran, pain causing tears to escape my eyes and blend in with the very rain continuously falling from the darkened sky. My eyes danced about the faces of all sorts of creatures. I began seeing the armor of Lothlorien in the crowd which made me giddy with the thought that Haldir would surely be close. I cut down a few uruks in my path, one nearly pulled me down to the ground with the momentum of his fall but I kept my pace until I saw him. Like a beacon of light that his very realm conjured, his features appeared to me but a few hundred feet away.
That sight, that welcomed sight was enough to put the thoughts of pain aside long enough for me to take off running with a newfound motivation.
"HALDIR!" I couldn't contain myself, I screamed out his name hoping he would revel in the thought that I too was alive and I was close and as far as I was concerned…I would never leave his side again.
"Aear-" I heard his voice start to call out until it was cut short by yelp of pain. I then saw through the moving bodies before my path Haldir glancing down at his side…his hand was lifted to his gaze to reveal it was covered in…blood. His blood.
"NO!" I shrieked. I began pushing my way through the bodies, I did not care who or what crossed my path, I shoved them aside with all the strength I could find. I was being overwhelmed with such panic and fear of the thought of losing the only person I had in this new path I had taken…I felt myself losing my ability to breathe. My heart was racing, I was screaming…crying and pushing through everything and everyone that stood before my path to the man…I finally realized…I loved.
Author's Note: I know I know, such a terrible thing to do to leave you on a cliffhanger! But I promise I won't be so late with my next update! What a battle huh? It was actually harder for me to write because this is the second story I've written that has gone through this battle sequence. I was trying really hard not to write it too similarly to my other story, I hope I managed to pull out a decent battle sequence and made it stand out on its own! Well thank you for all those who just began reading and following along, I hope you will continue to do so! Thanks!
Animexchick: Ah, my friend so wonderful to hear from you as always! I'm so ecstatic to read that you think it's impossible to write a chapter you don't like, yay! That is what I needed to hear, you are the best! And isn't it cute to think of Haldir being jealous? So adorable and so unlike him but so like him at the same time right? But you were right, I think you can tell that her feelings have cemented already with everything that has happened so far, all she needed was a little nudge haha! And I can't give away too much about a kiss or anything but hold onto that thought indeed and I think you picked up on the thought that the others in the fellowship will be less hostile of her soon enough, we saw Aragorn start in this update, more to come there for sure! Well I hope you enjoyed the update! Hope you are well!
Horvath70: Thanks for reviewing! I am so sorry to leave you on a cliffhanger and I can't give away too much but I think you will be happy with the ending results of the battle for sure! Let me know what you thought of the battle I know you were excited for it!
Moonlight Starlove: Hello again my friend, it's okay I do that a lot too! I'm very lazy at times haha! But I'm glad you are enjoying the updates, I'm glad I made those two work it out before the battle, I'd feel bad if I hadn't haha! Hope you are well, thanks!
Alyana Black: Thank you so much for taking the time to review, it means a lot! And I am so glad you are enjoying the story! Thank you for such kind words, I too love Haldir and I can't give away what happens but you'll like what happens I'm sure! I too hated that Haldir died in the movies, I would have done anything to save him! In my other story I wrote, he died just like in the movies and man was it super hard to write. But stay tuned, I hope you enjoyed the update! And no worries, I understand you perfectly! You're from France? How amazing! Nice to meet you!