Disclaimer: I do not own LOTR or any of it's characters...if I did, why would Legolas be on that Quest? He'd be here, with me, doing lots of chores...shirtless...*EPIC GRIN*
This Chapter: Gimli won't shut up & Believes all Horses are Conspiring against him! Eomer can't make him shut up! Aragorn swears in Dwarvish! Hunting! Betrayal! O.O Action-packed Chapter!^^ Gimli gets all possessive! XD
Sneak Peek:" "ARRRRH! Get your filthy hands off my BLOODY ELVES!" he roared, ignoring how strange it sounded, for the menacing growl itself drove back many from the Twins, lying too still on the ground."
Enjoy!^^
Chapter 20: The Wild Hunt
Birds wheeled and cried in the clear, blue sky.
Sun shining down gently upon their backs, wind whipping hair about ecstatic faces as they rode, all simply enjoying the feeling of being alive, on a day such as this, with companions as good as these.
Swiftly, did they come upon the forest at Gondor's edge, abandoning the horses by a nearby stream, the small band took to the hunt on foot.
Elrohir and Elladan disappeared into the trees to either side in perfect synchronisity, Aragorn and Legolas walked side by side, eyes and ears open to the numerous sounds of the forest, trying to sense any worthy creature to grace the King's table.
Gimli grumbled along behind the others, occasionally trading quiet grievances about the elves, the general situation, or his mount to the Horse-Lord at his side.
"Bloody creature tried to knock me off, deliberately! It was if the beastie was conspiring against me!" he stated, incredulous; whilst Eomer hid a grin in the palm of his hand -feigning a cough.
A hand came up, swiftly clenching into a fist, the generally accepted signal for, "Halt" or in this most particular case, "Shut it and stand Still...Especially Gimli"...the Dwarf refused to heed the signal and continued griping about the horse, when Eomer's hand covered his mouth.
Even gagged as such, the Dwarf STILL had the audacity to mutter ungraciously into the Rohirric Monarch's hand!
"Estel," Came the voice to his left, as Elladan dropped from the trees, coming to stand beside him. "Something draws-"
"-Near to us!" finished the excited voice of Elrohir, who stood within the shadow of trees to his right. Aragorn laughed, their voices blended so well, one would never guess two had spoken!
Legolas looked thoroughly amused, perhaps it had been a considerable time since he had last seen them act as this, though his friend had never commented on the strange behaviour of the Twins before...
On occasion, even he, Estel -their brother, for Valar's Sake!- had trouble telling them apart, and yet, this had never seemed to trouble the Prince...he just had to know how Legolas did it!
"It is-" Elrohir trilled, pausing only for breath before delivering his exciting news...which Elladan finished for him"-a large Stag!"
As informative as this information was, it still earned the Twin an irritated glare from his other half...
Legolas laughed, "Come now! It seems the hunt is on...we cannot have you two trying to kill one another! I mean, if your general appearances are enough to frighten creatures away...imagine what your bickering voices will do!"
Then he was gone, safely ensconced within the boughs of a tree many miles from here...if he knew what was good for him...
A deep-throated voice announced it's amusement from the back of the group, Aragorn turned to stare at the Horse-Lord and Dwarf, both were shaking with mirth, -at the Elves' expense, of course...
The objects of their mirth absolutely glared back...
Aragorn sighed, things were getting out of control and deteriorating rapidly, an arrow flashed past, cutting off his immediate thoughts. It thudded up to the green fletchings, into the side of a large stag, felling it instantly for the barb had pierced it's heart...
"You could have left some sport for us...?" he inquired to the tree immediately behind him, from whence the Elven-Prince alighted, smiling widely. He tilted his head to the side, both pleased with felling the beast swiftly with little pain, and slight confusion.
Elves did not understand the human need to chase and terrorise a creature where one arrow would do, when there is no need to instil terror or agony, it must be avoided, or so they held to believe...although, the same did not seem to apply to Orcs...
Aragorn conceded the silent point, nodding his understanding and spoke again, "Ah well, it seems that our dinner is caught, let us make it ready for transport. Fear not, we may yet meet Orcs on the way back to Minas Tirith..."
"Only if we're lucky," grumbled a distinctly dwarven voice...
Slipping inside the once-magnificent beast, Eomer dressed the carcass suitably, carefully removing the pelt and impressive antlers of the beast, which he believed could be made into something of great use. A new knife handle? Cutlery? Ah, in some places they were almost thick enough to make a small cup from them!
All in all, it 'twas quite a kill.
"Are you done yet, ya horse-loving idiot?" inquired the Dwarf, who whittled a vaguely-formed piece of wood by his side, perched on a convenient rock and smoking. Eomer was aware that, although it was a habit to which the Dwarf took like a duck to water...at the moment, the only reason he took to pipeweed was to keep the Elves at bay...they seemed to take great dislike for it for some unfathomable reason?
"Nearly, oh Rock-Skulled One!" He threw back, casually, over his shoulder; Gimli nearly choked on his pipeweed...and unfortunately, several persons he would rather have preferred not witness such an incident...did. Soft, elvish laughter wound it's way down from the trees surrounding them; Gimli snarled up at the oak to his right, as a voice called from it's branches, "Ah, see, brother? All it seems we needed to do to halt that disgusting habit, was to insult him!"
"Ah!" Came a familiar elven voice, "But I have tried that already, perhaps it is simply the insult is more potent coming from a supposed human ally, than a hated elf!"
Gimli spluttered, "Now see here, you...you-...you- Argh! BLOODY ELVES!"
The laughter faded away as the Eldar left the trees, though one paused just long enough to hear the Dwarf mutter, "I don't hate them, more like...loathing...How can the Valar call that perfection, when they're all dumb as bloody posts?"
A smile graced the elven face before he, too, make for the nearby clearing within which they, and all the retrieved horses now rested.
Gimli had chosen, wisely, to forsake his steed so that the carcass could be swiftly carried back to Gondor's capital without further delay, or inconveniencing any of the other riders, or so he said. Much to a certain Elf's amusement of course, for he knew that the Dwarf merely disliked having to ride by himself, for he was not naturally attuned with horses and tended to stop, shout at the poor creature and promptly fall off...
So it came to pass that Gimli was once again seated behind the Elven Prince, grumbling loudly about the whole 'fiasco' as if he hadn't planned it to be that way...Legolas took it with good grace...and a slight smirk on his lips...
Riding out upon the plains, it was then, those who had been under cover of leaves for the past several hours noticed, the sky had darkened. Both with night, and heavy clouds, dark upon the evening sky...ominous even.
Winds of strange intensity picked up, whipping their hair, and -in the humans and dwarf's case- heavy cloaks about their persons; a low rumble echoed in the heavens before they opened and poured their wrath on the six hunters.
'Could things get any worse?' Wondered Aragorn, who by now, was completely drenched, hungry and miserable...the sound of thundering hoof beats rose against the thunder, from somewhere nearby
'I just had to think it, didn't I?' Thought the miserable King, all thoughts of optimism fled as he saw the large contingent of riders bearing down upon them with great haste, though he could not discern their loyalty through the near-blinding rain...
Although, apparently Legolas could, for his fair face whipped towards Eomer, eyes wide in alarm, distress and...betrayal?
Wheeling about in a manner he had only ever seen once before, on the Plains of Rohan, not-so-long ago, the Rohirrm encircled the riders. Eomer had the grace to looked surprised, even a tad alarmed, although he dropped all pretences when he realised he fooled none in the grouping.
Spears protruded from the walls of man and horse-flesh, the company twice, nay, tripled in size and number since last they met, all focussed on their Lord and King, awaiting some -as yet ungiven- silent command.
"But...why?" The question, though irrelevant in this instance, still forced itself from his lips, unbidden. The Horse-Lord turned and laughed at him, almost cruelly so, eyes ablaze with some strange malady or madness...a look echoed by the other men who surrounded them.
It was cold.
"Why? Though I admit a part of me feels for you, and your Elven brethren, what concerns me more is the protection of my people..." Eomer stated, opening his mouth to say more when Elladan interrupted him, "...and the Reward? Is that not correct? Gold. Greed. Is that all you care for?"
The Prince-consort blazed with fury, it seemed to pass to his twin, for Elrohir also looked as if he could easily tear the head off the edan before him...with his teeth...
Whereas Legolas, to his right, sat silently, radiating a sorrowful calm, the betrayal evident only in his eyes...
Gimli was not likewise effected, he opened his mouth and some of the foulest curses in Westron, Dwarfish and a few choice Sindarin curses (the twins suddenly looked very innocent...and yet, not so much as a certain Elvan Prince...) spilled forth...
As if struck, Eomer looked towards the Dwarf with interest renewed, smiling in that demented -though detached- kind of way, "Ah Master Dwarf, it seems my tutelage in the ways of the Rohirrm has failed to teach you any words worthy of this situation, may I suggest, 'Fhurn-ahk Rhollurn Hamdhas'?"
Several in the Rohirrm sucked in a breath reflexively, whatever he said must have been quite offensive, however Gimli just laughed and, peering around Legolas at Eomer, he called back, "No, I think that's the best way to describe your mother, not the good lady who bore me!"
Eomer's eyes flared in surprise, then narrowed in shrewd appraisal, before moving back to the situation at hand. "Take them, leave them alive if possible...but it is not necessary."
He waved a distracted hand in the air and rode out of the circle, the others advanced slightly, spear-tips beginning to encroach on personal space at an alarming rate.
Calmly, Legolas sat up straight and announced, "Halleth das, mellon-nin, Saes?"
The reaction was instantaneous, every horse within the Rohirrm took two steps backwards and reared, unsuspecting riders fell from their mounts and struck the ground hard enough to wind. Horses whinnied, turned and raced away a short distance, stopping to graze as the Elven Prince whispered a soft, "Hannon le!" after their retreating forms.
No amount of cursing, cajoling or coaxing could endear the riders to their reluctant mounts, so they merely turned and attempted to take the 'enemy' from ground level. Without the horses, their long spears, once effective against all foes, became useless without the distinct height advantage that being mounted brought.
They came with sword and shield, with a crazed servitude and quiet menace that made even the battle-trained and hardened horses the company rode upon, shy away.
Yet the company had no ideals or intentions of severely harming the men of Rohan, nor killing them, it seemed, as Aragorn struck out with the hilt of his sword, and his fists; catching many a man, and dropping them into a dazed stupor. Whilst the Twins, Elladan and Elrohir, took to the assailants with their fists alone, it was left to Legolas to hold back the axe-swinging Dwarf.
As...passionate...as Gimli could be in battle...they really had no intention of harming these men, many of their faces familiar from the battlefields of the War of the Ring. There had to be another reason for their actions...
There! Around the Horse-Lord's neck hung a medallion, of the like that the Prince had only seen once before...but that would mean...No!
'Thalion..." The Prince hissed, loud enough to cause Aragorn to pause, Elladan and Elrohir stiffened in response to the name, turning questioning, and slightly apprehensive, glances at the Blond Archer. Blue eyes were wide in ill-comprehension and...fear.
In that split-second all changed, Aragorn was struck from behind by a broadly-grinning Eomer, slumping upon the pommel of his saddle; slowly, he slid from Hasufel and onto the ground, where he was promptly ignored as several others grasped the flailing fists of two Elven-lords and pulled them to the ground.
Many men were required to subdue the struggling twins, some bright spark deciding the best kind of Elf was the unconscious kind, striking both Elladan and Elrohir about the temples...they fell limp instantly.
Behind him, the firm grip on his arm grew lax as Legolas gave a soft cry and clutched his head with a hand, a deathly pallor suffused his features...Gimli took the opportunity to break free and start handing their behinds back to them!
"ARRRRH! Get your filthy hands off my BLOODY ELVES!" he roared, ignoring how strange it sounded, for the menacing growl itself drove back many from the Twins, lying too still on the ground. An arrow thudded into someone to his left, a man fell shrieking to the dirt, from his periphery vision, he saw the original 'Bloody Elf' string another and take aim, only to cry out in shock and pain as Eomer plunged a wickedly gleaming dagger deep within an Elven shoulder...
Slamming into the ground with significant force, the Elven-Prince failed to register the danger he was in or the pain, as he strove to find himself upright again, pushing himself up on his elbows...
Eomer laughed at the Elf's 'antics' and slammed his boot down between the Prince's shoulder-blades, forcing him to the ground again; in a swift movement, the Horse-Lord swiped down with his dagger, the hilt connecting with the side of a blond head and rending the elf harmless.
A certain dwarf, however, was having none of it, and valiantly tried to shove his axe somewhere no object should ever find itself on -or indeed, in, as the case may be- the Rohirric King...before the men of the Rohirrim could react.
Still, the Dwarf was on-coming, like an enraged Cave-Troll, he bowled over men left, right and centre to gain access to Eomer, the King turned to the others and cried, "Take them, take them now! Ride!"
"Which one, my Lord? They are so similar..." cried a confused, and desperate-sounding man from beside Elrohir, "Take them both!" Eomer ordered, "We will work it out later!"
As the Rohirrm began to move away, swiftly mounting the horses that followed their masters, in staggered groupings, Elladan and Elrohir were bound and bourne away...
Eomer, victory glinting in his maddened eyes, turned to face the Dwarf alone...wanting to savour the victory and claim the prize of the beautiful Elven Prince at his feet...
Therefore cementing his people's alliance with the Powerful kingdom of Mirkwood, forever...
And yet, as he raised his sword, the smug expression fixed in the Dwarf's face never fell, briefly he wondered what...? Before a heavy force painfully connected with the back of his skull and he hit the ground, rather ungracefully...
Aragorn panted, dropping the abandoned Rohirric helmet in the dust, gazing at Eomer with contempt before saying, "...and for your information, YOUR Mother Fhurn-ahk Rhollurn Hamdhas! So there!"
Before collapsing in the dust...
PLEASE REVIEW!
*Halleth Das, mellon-nin, Saes? Help Us, my friends, please?
[I made up Halleth Das, but if anyone knows how to say, "Help Us" in Elvish, please let me know!^^]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*****Cliff-Hanger! Hope you Liked it!^^*****~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Next Chapter: "Chapter 21: Their Fearful Symmetry" - A new Saviour, the Twins are Captured! Aragorn is hurting Legolas out of Mercy! Gimli really sucks at riding horses! Atheriel is in Danger! O.O!
Elvish Used:
~Mellon-nin: My Friend
~Ada/Adar: Dad, Daddy, Father, etc.
~Tithen Pen/Tithen Penne: Little One/Little Ones
~Nanneth: Mum, Mother, Mummy, etc.
~Gwador: Brother
~Muindor: Sister
~Ernil: Prince [Tithen Ernil: Princeling!^^]
~Melleth: Love/Beloved [Melleth-nin: My Love/Beloved]
~Ellon: Male Elf
~Ellith: Female Elf
~Edain/Edan: Man/Humans
~Perrien: Hobbits
~Perion: Half-son
~Ion: Son
~Saes: Please
~Hannon le: Thank you
~Havo Dad: Kill Him/Stop Him
~Mae Govannon: Greeting...