Chapter 14
Well, I have struggled a bit with this chapter because I got a bit of a nasty review, accusing me of writing a Mary Sue. I'm trying to put it behind me, but stuff like that really messes with your head as a writer, and makes it hard to believe in what you're doing. I hope this isn't a Mary Sue. I mean, yes she's beautiful – but then all elves are. Same with being good at fighting and stuff.
But the rest of you guys are the best – your reviews really help me to keep going.
One other thing before we get to the story proper: I mentioned in the summary that the rating might change. What do you guys think? Keep it at T, or up it to M? I don't want to offend anyone.
Eruanne's POV.
Eruanne stood to one side of Legolas and Gimli. She held her breath as the fearsome rider on the black horse approached. Aragorn and the wizard, Mithrandir, rode forward to parlay. Eruanne listened in confusion as the dark cloaked figure taunted them: something about spies who had been captured. She heard a sharp intake of breath from the elf, and caught a fleeting expression, one which would have been missed by mortals, one which spoke of the loss of the last grains of hope. What was so momentous about these spies? What had their mission been? How had so much come to hang on it, if Legolas' reaction was anything to go by?
The parlay was short and angry, culminating in the wizard snatching a bundle from the dark rider, proclaiming, "These we will keep in memory of our friends."
From there it seemed as though the world moved at frantic speed. The rider and his entourage made their way back to the gates. Battle lines were drawn up, then, with hardly any warning, the huge gates swung open to their full extent and horde upon horde of orcs, trolls, all the foul creatures of Mordor spewed forth.
With a great yell, the hosts of the West advanced, holding their line, tight discipline prevailing. But Eruanne could feel their fear. Morgoth's teeth! She could smell their fear – mortals radiated a pungent scent like a startled polecat. It didn't help that her stomach was churning too. The odds were simply overwhelming.
But then the two advancing armies met, and all room for fear was gone, swept away in the moment, as Eruanne unsheathed her blades and started the deadly business of kill or be killed. Once more, she found herself fighting back-to-back with the tall blond Sindar, their knives flashing as they danced their dance of death. Thrust, parry, slice – with ruthless efficiency they cut a swathe through the oncoming orcs. Some part of Eruanne's mind registered the way they seemed to anticipate each other's moves almost as if they could read each other's minds – never before had she felt this connection to anyone other than Naurwen.
Another hideous body pitching at her feet, its black life-blood gushing onto the mud, she risked a sideways glance at the elf. His vivid sapphire eyes met her emerald ones, and his lips curled back from sparkling white teeth in a feral smile. He felt it too, felt the connection, the sense of fighting as one. And he too revelled in it. Valar, he was magnificent. She felt a strange rush of heat in her blood as she looked at his perfectly balanced form, broad shoulders, narrow hips, well muscled legs. And he knew that she watched him, like a cat about to pounce on its prey. He raised one perfectly shaped eyebrow in unspoken challenge, his pupils widening with an answering desire. So this was why they called it 'blood lust.'
Then... "Look out." His cry was harsh, and she ducked the incoming blow just in time. One of his daggers flew past her cheek, embedding itself in the chest of the orc who had been about to slice her head off. With a gurgle of blood the corpse crumpled to the ground.
Focus, focus... Eruanne pulled herself together, and concentrated on the task in hand. The battle swirled around them, and slowly, inexorably, they were driven apart. Then, just as she skewered another of the foul host, a wave of movement in the distance caught her eye. From one of the high hillsides, a second wave of the enemy came bearing down. Flying low and fast just ahead of the advancing line came one of the fell beasts with its rider, a narrow band of gold glinting on an invisible brow.
With a clench of her guts, elvish eyes taking in the details no mere mortal could have made out, Eruanne recognised the twisted serpent design on the band of gold. Khamûl! The Black Easterling himself. Now that his king lay dead upon the Pelennor, the leader of the remaining Nazgûl.
And there, at the front of the Armies of the West, facing down the Nazgûl, was a small, sturdy figure – the dwarf Gimli. She watched as the fell beast and its rider bore down upon him. Alone, he was no match. She glanced behind her: Thranduillion had been carried away in the crowds, nigh on to the other side of the battlefield. Turning back to the dwarf, she broke into a run. Sensing her mistress's need, Naurwen paused, tearing her teeth from the throat of the Southron between her great paws. With a snarl, she leapt and twisted, weaving her way through the foes to guard her mistress.
Legolas' POV
The orc arrows came thick and fast, and Legolas worked tirelessly to pick off their archers. They might be loosing arrows by the hundred, but every single one of his hit its mark with a deadly accuracy. Suddenly, his concentration was disrupted by a cry from Elladan.
"Ware, Legolas. Look to your dwarf." Legolas turned and saw the scene unfolding at the other side of the rocky amphitheatre. The Nazgûl was almost upon his friend, wielding a mighty sword of black metal. Gimli stood fore square, axe aloft. For a moment, Legolas thought he was alone. But then he saw a familiar lithe, graceful figure sprinting across the rubble towards the dwarf, and cutting in from the other side, the spotted cat-like beast he had caught glimpses of so many times. Then he too broke into a run, seeking to come to his dearest friend's aid.
With a sweep of the fearsome blade, Khamûl struck out at Gimli. Metal met metal – dark enchanted black steel met steel forged by the finest dwarven craft. Gimli was forced onto the back foot. Another stroke! This time, black steel met the dwarf's helm. Reeling from the blow, Gimli stumbled, tumbling to the ground. The Nazgûl raised the cruel blade, ready to drive the point downwards into the dwarf's throat.
But before he could do so, his mount lurched beneath him as the leopard brought her fangs into the hide of its neck. At that instant, Eruanne threw herself onto one of its wings, then springing to her feet, leapt for the nape of its neck, bringing her knife down into Khamul's arm. The Nazgul gave an unearthly shriek and brought its sword round to bear on Eruanne. She parried the stroke, but only just. With a wrenching movement, she managed to thrust her knife beneath the Black Easterling's guard, feeling its point connect with invisible flesh. The Easterling shrieked once more, then with two flaps of its powerful wings, it dove into the air, claws rending the leopard from its neck and catapulting it across the rubble. Eruanne, stunned by the wave of freezing cold pain which shot up her arm the instant her knife connected with the Nazgul, gave a low scream and tumbled to the ground, landing in a crumpled heap beside Gimli.
Legolas bounded over the fallen body of a cave troll and landed in a crouching position beside the dwarf. With a groan, Gimli tried to sit up, clutching a hand to his brow.
"The lassie," he said, voice cracking with the effort of speaking. "She saved me..." He reached out his sturdy, calloused hand and swept red hair back from her brow. Her long lashes lay unflinching across her alabaster cheek. "Is she... is she dead?" His voice now was only a whisper.
Legolas dropped to his knees beside the fallen elleth, taking her hand tenderly in his. Suddenly there was a clatter of stones as the half elven twins skidded to a halt amidst the rubble. Legolas looked up, his blue eyes dark with passion, locking his gaze with Elladan's steel-grey eyes.
"Do you still think she's a spy?"
Thanks for the nice reviews (we'll ignore the nasty one...)
Windsongsrpingheart – great that you're finding it interesting. Hope this chapter leaves you wanting to find out more!
Kykyxstandler – thanks for the kind words. Yes, it is fun writing what Legolas thinks of Eruanne! More of this soon.
SisterofBattle – I don't know much about anime, but glad you're enjoying it.
Bereth – yes, I think Elves can be really blood thirsty if they think they have reason to be.
Overlordred - yeah, I was inspired by the films, so I started to read the books – and in the books they're really quite scary, riding out and killing orcs because orcs killed their mother, or drove her into exile or something.
Bad Ass Female Fighter – so glad you're still following this story. Hope you enjoy this update too.
And thanks to all the new follows and favourites: Mimi42511, windsongspringheart, kanka 1201, the-first-beast, Lady Hitomi Albatou, Sherlockenkopf, StopEatRead, FictionPanther and ZeroE0703.