Chapter Eleven submitted 7-26-07.

I'm going on vacation next week, so I won't be updating then. Instead, I am going to give you a double update this week and resume my normal schedule when I return from Seattle, Washington. So here's chapter eleven, and stay tuned for chapter twelve!

Summary: When disaster strikes, Legolas is saved by an ancient warrior who is supposed to be long dead. Rated PG-13 for violence, blood, and action.

Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings, the Silmarillion, or any related characters or works. They belong to Mister J.R.R. Tolkien.

PILLAR OF STRENGTH.
Book One in the IAUR MIN Series.
By GundamWingFanatic90.

CHAPTER 11.

The morning dawned late, as it was wont to do in the dead of winter. It found Legolas blinking himself from his dreams to discover Halrana tending to the twins.

"Ai!" the prince exclaimed upon realizing that the sun was coming up. "You did not wake me!" Halrana did not even spare the prince a glance.

"Help me give Elrohir his tea, penneth," the older elf ordered. His brow was creased. "Do not ask questions! Just do it!" He had obviously sensed that Legolas was going to protest. And so the Mirkwood prince settled for an indignant snort before administering the tea to his friend with the utmost care. When they had finished, Halrana swiftly changed the twins' bandages.

"We must leave immediately to reach your father's halls in time," the raven-haired elf said. "Will you please pack up camp whilst I finish with these two?" Legolas simply set to work. In a matter of moments, there was no trace of where their camp had been, and Halrana was handing the unconscious Elladan up to Legolas, mounted on his horse.

"Ride hard, Legolas," said Halrana grimly, dropping all pretenses of formality as he gazed solemnly at the eldest son of Elrond. Legolas was startled to see a small hint of fear in the raven-haired elf's grey eyes. "They need a true Healer's touch, something that I cannot give. If they do not reach Thranduil's halls by tonight, they may fall beyond aid." It was a disturbing statement of fact, but true. Halrana seemed to shake himself, and shortly he was mounted upon his own stallion, Elrohir sitting securely in front of him. Then, with a short word to the horses, the four elves were carried swiftly away into the woods among the first rays of the dawn.

Now, as of this time and age, Mirkwood was still not so shadowed as it became in the latter days of the Dark Lord. However, it still had areas that were so evil that most elves avoided them unless involved in raiding parties. Unfortunately, Halrana was not as familiar with the forest as he had once been. He was leading when they accidentally stumbled upon the nest.

The elder elf was slightly startled when the voices of the trees suddenly shouted at him to stop, turn, and flee. He looked around frantically as his stallion reared beneath him. Then he cursed fluently and foully as black bodies began to descend from the canopy; suspended by silky rope, they hissed and clicked at him, venom dripping from furiously working mandibles.

Halrana worked quickly to settle his horse, only to hear a frightened whinny from behind him. Snarling, he dismounted and drew a bow and quiver from his sling bags. He commanded the horse to carry Elrohir to safety, and then he turned to Legolas.

"Legolas, go with Elladan and Elrohir to safety!" the elder elf shouted. He swiftly shot a spider that was trying to drop on him. "Take them to the halls of your father!" He shot down another spider. "DO NOT QUESTION ME OR HESITATE! GO, NOW!"

Furious, Legolas wheeled his mount around and dashed away from the battle site, Halrana's stallion following on the mare's heels, careful not to let the unconscious and feverish Elrohir fall. Then they were gone, and Halrana was alone, shooting madly into the spiders' heads as they dropped.

Then, after ten spiders had been killed, the apprentice healer, a warrior once more, reached back for another arrow only to discover that his quiver was empty. He snarled, tossing away his bow, and drew the twin swords at his hips with a sharp hiss of metal on leather. And, an elven battle cry issuing from his lips, he charged forth toward the largest of the spiders, directly into the center of the mass of them.

Ai, a cliffhanger! I am so evil! But here's the vocab.

Ai – an all-purpose exclamation, the equivalent of 'Ah!' or 'Oh!', usually used in surprise, exasperation, lament, or frustration
Penneth – young one

As I said up above, and in case you did not care to read the author's note, I will be departing for Seattle on Tuesday, and thus will not be capable of updating next week. Thus I shall deliver two chapters today for your reading enjoyment.

Thanks to everyone who reviewed the last chapter of Pillar of Strength. These people include: Maid of Imladris, Anoriel of Gondor, and Nessa Ar-Feiniel. Also, a thank you to Vanafindiel, who reviewed chapter four. I appreciate all of you very much!

As always, your feedback is much appreciated. I am posting the next chapter now!

-Fanatic