"Legolas!" Sarnor exclaimed, the sound was luckily muffled because Legolas still had his hand in front of his mouth.
"Shh!" Legolas hissed and then stopped talking to listen if the orcs showed any signs of having heard them. He heard nothing out of usual and sighed in relief before removing his hand from Sarnor's mouth. He strongly believed that Sarnor would have realized the need for silence by now.
Sarnor turned his head around and looked at Legolas. He had the hood up on his cloak and it was carefully covering his bright hair and shadowing his face.
Legolas reached out and lifted Sarnor's hood so it was covering his hair as well. Sarnor blushed slightly and raised his hand to touch the hood, probably embarrassed that he hadn't thought of that himself. "How did the fighting go?" Legolas asked quietly.
"We won." Sarnor answered after swallowing. Every time he was with Legolas he felt so young and inexperienced. "There were no casualties, but some were wounded badly."
Legolas nodded and whispered, "Come on." He turned around and grabbed hold of the lowest branch on the tree behind them and heaved himself up. Sarnor followed him and they quietly climbed form tree to tree until the orcs entered their line of vision. It was a small group consisting of ten orcs. They appeared to be arguing over something, but Sarnor didn't now their language so he couldn't say what.
Legolas looked inquiringly at him and when Sarnor nodded in agreement he took his bow from his back and notched an arrow. Sarnor didn't have his bow so he found his sword and moved to another branch in the tree ready to jump down. Legolas aimed and soon let the first arrow flew from its string and kills one of the orcs in the outer circle. Only one orc noticed the death, but before it could voice any warnings an arrow struck it in the throat as well. This time it was noticed and the orcs frantically started finding their weapons. Legolas killed three more before the first arrow from the orcs forced him to drop out of the tree.
Sarnor jumped to the ground as well and ran toward the nearest orc while Legolas fired another arrow.
As Sarnor engaged with another orc he felt a presence behind him and he heard Legolas' warning shout, but couldn't do anything because the orc he was currently fighting wouldn't allow for him to move out of the way. He then heard first a subtle curse from Legolas' direction and then the whoosh of an arrow and the thump of a body hitting the ground behind him. Another one rang out immediately and burrowed itself in the chest of the persistent orc Sarnor was fighting.
Sarnor looked around for more enemies but he realized that the rest was already dead. The only being still standing was Legolas who was currently moving towards him.
"Are you all right?" He asked calmly, "Are you injured?"
Sarnor shook his head, "I am not injured my Prince. Are you sure there are no more orcs in this area?" He looked about him nervously.
There are no more. The tree beside Sarnor said causing him to jump in surprise. Legolas chuckled and thanked the tree for the information as well as asking it if it would send a message to the halls that they were heading back now. The tree agreed and soon Legolas could hear the message disappearing in the distance.
Legolas looked at Sarnor and saw that his eyes were locked at a point. He followed the direction and ended at the cut in his arm.
"You're wounded my Prince." Sarnor finally said and neared Legolas.
Legolas huffed, "It's barely bleeding and there are no signs of poison I wouldn't call it a wound."
"What would you call it them?" Sarnor asked and tore the bottom rim of his tunic off and wrapped it around Legolas arm before tying it.
"A scratch." Legolas responded and returned his bow to his back.
"I only heard you curse once during this entire fight…" Sarnor said thoughtfully and looked up at Legolas, "And that was when you saved my life. Did you get this wound by doing this?"
"It is all small wound to pay for someone else's life." Legolas said as he started walking back in the direction of the horses. "At the time I saw what was happening at your end I was fighting an orc. There would be no way for you to evade the sword and there was no way I was going to get over you in time, so I knew I had to grab my bow from my back. As I reached up the orc I was fighting took advantage of my vulnerability and made to cut off my head. I managed to evade it and the blade only cut slightly into my arm. Thereafter I knocked my bow into the side of its head and was free to take the shot that saved you."
"You should never put yourself at risk to save me my Prince!" Sarnor exclaimed, "I'm supposed to be the one keeping you alive!"
Legolas turned around and looked intently into Sarnor's eyes causing the elf to stop and jerk. It was clear that Sarnor had been trapped in Legolas' eyes without even being able to read what emotions were running through them. He felt as though Legolas' presence was towering over him.
"On a battlefield everyone try to ensure that their comrades are not lost and as my position as Prince I am used to doing everything I can to help my people, this is what drove me to what I did today. I saw no reason for you to die when I could avoid it with so few consequences." Legolas said calmly, "If you're going to be by my side from now on Sarnor this is something you must know."
Sarnor swallowed thickly and nodded. Immediately the hold Legolas seemed to have over him and the power he had felt all disappeared making him wonder if there had been anything in the first place. Legolas dipped his head slightly before turning around and they started walking once more. When they were within hearing distance of where the horses were Legolas whistled harmoniously and soon after they heard two horses galloping towards them.
Móre was the first to come and he immediately rode up to Legolas and brought his muzzle to his cheek. Legolas smiled and stroked Móre's muzzle at the same time as Sarnor's horse came. His horse showed his happiness too much Sarnor groaned when his horse started galloping endlessly in a circle around him. Sarnor cursed and tried to grab his reigns, but every time he got close the horse would jump away with a neigh that sounded suspiciously like laughter to Sarnor's ears.
Legolas watched with a grin on his lips until Sarnor gave him a long-suffering look and he took pity on the elf. With a chuckle he started murmuring calming words in elvish and neared the horse. As he came closer the horse's speed decreased and he was able to take hold of its bridle and gently stroked its flank while continuing his mumbling.
"Thank you my Prince." Sarnor said sheepishly as Legolas handed him the horse. Legolas smiled and then they were off. It took them just about an hour to reach the palace, by that time rain was starting to fall from the sky once more as if showing its sorrow over the bloodshed in the kingdom of Mirkwood.
O
Ecphen looked over towards the king and sighed before turning away again. Thranduil was stubbornly refusing to sleep after Tharbadon's report.
Ecphen looked up when he heard noise come from the courtyard. The team was back. He considered for a moment waking Thranduil to tell him but concluded that he would wake up anyway when Legolas came into the room. It wasn't long before footsteps started nearing the room they were in, but when someone knocked on the door Ecphen frowned, Legolas wouldn't have knocked; he would've just walked straight inside. Thranduil woke up from the noise and was the only to eventually allow the elf to enter.
The door opened and Tharbadon stepped inside looking grave. "My King." He greeted and bowed lowly before walking further in and shutting the door behind him.
"Tharbadon." Thranduil responded as he sat up slowly, "You were with the team that rode out with Legolas. Why are you here while he is not?" His tone was probably meant to sound calm, but both Ecphen and Tharbadon heard the fear under his voice.
Tharbadon took a deep breath before starting to report. "The orcs have been defeated my King and so far there have been no deaths that I know of. We found to orcs easily enough, but they had been warned of out presence and were ready for us. Everything was in frenzy after the fighting began and none of us really had any overview over the situation, but when we were done we realized that we hadn't seen Prince Legolas since the attack began. The tracks suggest that he was pushed back into the forest by the orcs."
Thranduil had rapidly paled during the narrative and by the time Tharbadon had reached the part where he said that he hadn't seen Legolas he had positively lost all the blood in his face.
Tharbadon saw this and briefly exchanged a look of concern with Ecphen before ending his report. "Sarnor and five other elves stayed to search for him while I rode back here with the rest and the injured."
After that the slightly dazed Thranduil had thanked and dismissed the elf. He had also ordered him to tell him as soon as there was any news of Legolas. When Tharbadon had taken his leave Thranduil had immediately made to get out of the bed. He would've too, if Ecphen hadn't grabbed him and pushed him back onto it. Thranduil was still weak from the fever and blood loss so he could do nothing about it.
"I have to go out there!" Thranduil said, "He's my son, I have to find him!"
"You will not help him like this." Ecphen reasoned, "The only thing you'll achieve is breaking your stiches and give the fever more reason to set within you. As my patient I strongly suggest you stay here, in fact there is no chance that I am going to let you leave. Stay here and wait for news, Sarnor will find Legolas and bring him back to you. Besides if there is anyone suited to survive in that forest it is your son.
It was clear that Thranduil would only relax once more when Legolas was back even though they had heard reports from the five elves that had returned with Legolas' message and afterwards when the trees had delivered one as well, both saying that he was fine.
Suddenly both Ecphen and Thranduil heard cheers and greetings from the entrance hall. They looked at each other and a smile broke out on both their faces. Legolas was back. Thranduil sat up and swung his legs over the side of the bed so he was sitting facing the door.
The warriors had moved from the courtyard and into the halls when it had started raining.
Legolas seemed to be talking to various elves on the way there because it felt like hours went by before he first entered the healing ward and then the room Thranduil was occupying.
Legolas was drenched all over and chuckled over his own state as he entered the room. His wet silvery-white tresses hung limply around his face pushed back behind his ear on one side.
"Ada." Legolas greeted softly with a bow as he walked further into the room.
"You do not have to bow before me my son." Thranduil said.
Something flickered in Legolas' eyes and he smiled sadly, "Old habits die hard." He then looked over at the other person in the room, "Hello Ecphen."
"Nice of you to join us Legolas." Ecphen smiled. "The next time you decide to disappear without a trace please don't do it while your father is injured and I have to force him to stay in bed."
"I apologize." Legolas said as he walked towards the fireplace. He rested his forearm on the mantelpiece and stared into the flames. "It was not my intent."
"You should change clothes." Ecphen said, "If you still have problems heating up, then the water isn't going to help you."
"I know." Legolas said, "But I have to go out there an organize a new way for us to communicate with the scouts when I am done here so it isn't really worth it. The trees stopped delivering messages after the rain came." He looked around at the floor and added, "I'll try not to make too much of a mess."
"It doesn't matter." Ecphen said and stepped closer to Legolas, "Are you wounded?"
"Not really."
"Not really?" Ecphen arched an eyebrow and looked Legolas over. He soon noticed the piece of clothing wrapped around his arm and reached out to unbind it. The cloth was wet with both rain and blood.
Legolas glanced at his arm. "One of their swords nicked my arm, but I do not think it needs any excessive treatment, perhaps a few stitches."
Ecphen uncovered the wound, "It certainly needs to be cleaned. You should have tried to protect it from the rain."
"With what?" Legolas smiled, "It's pouring out there."
Ecphen clicked his tongue obviously not satisfied, but still seeing Legolas' point. "I'll take care of it and see if I can pack it into so many bandages that the rain will have no chance to reach it." He walked towards his herb table, "You can tell us what happened while I take care of it."
Legolas nodded and stared into the flames before starting to tell what had happened since he had left Mirkwood.
Sighing in frustration Legolas parried another sword, not noticing as a shadow crept up behind him.
As soon as Legolas drove his knives through the orc in front of him he felt a presence behind him that had previously been hidden by the other orc's. There was time for him to evade though as the next second he felt arms lock around his torso and pull him backwards. He was forced to let go of the blades that were still imbedded within the other orc as they toppled back and onto the ground. Immediately he started struggling against the grip slamming his head back satisfied to hear grunts of pain.
He got out of the grip, but before he had risen completely he was grabbed again and pulled backwards. This time they rolled each struggling not to let the other one get on top. Legolas could vaguely see as the other orcs were starting to get closer to them and he knew that he had to end it soon or he wouldn't be able to get to his weapons before the next attack.
His slight inattention allowed for the orc to get to upper hand and restrain Legolas. Legolas cursed inwardly when it got a grip of his hands and pressed them against the ground.
Legolas grinned at the orc and watched as its expression changed from hate to confusion. "I never imagined myself being in this position with a male, much less an orc." He said it in common tongue figuring that there was more likelihood of the orc understanding him. The orcs eyes widened and Legolas used its obvious shock to force it upwards slightly so he would bend his legs under him and kick it in the chest. The orc stumbled backwards and Legolas followed, quickly reaching the orc's neck and twisting it.
Without waiting Legolas got up from the ground and threw himself towards his weapons grabbing them just as he rolled out of the fall and coming up to face the enemies that had whirled around when he had jumped.
"Let's finish this!" Legolas shouted at them and fought and fought and fought.
Vaguely he knew that he was getting further and further away from the starting point but he concluded that more than his share of orcs had followed him this way either aware of who he was or not. The best service he could give to the elves in his team was to defeat them.
At last it seemed as though the amount of orcs shrunk and soon there was only one left. Legolas quickly felled the orc and looked around the clearing breathing heavily. He really shouldn't be doing this… He thought as he sat down for a moment on the ground and regained his bearings.
Even though he hadn't called, Móre soon trotted out of the forest and up to him. He gently moved his head down to Legolas' and puffed his cheek. Legolas chuckled and stroked his muzzle while murmuring to him soothingly.
'There are orcs an hour away from here.' One of the trees suddenly said. 'A group of ten, independent of the others.'
Legolas looked up at the tree and nodded slowly. He considered it for a moment, vary to leave his team behind without knowing the outcome of the fight, but also knowing that it would be safest if those orcs were destroyed immediately for they could have seen or heard of the fight.
Making a decision Legolas picked up a large green leaf beside him and wiped his finger over his knife to stain it with black orc blood. He carefully drew four shapes into the leaf and imbedded his knife in it and the ground. Then he rode off.
"We made it here after an hour of riding, half of it in rain." Legolas finished. He watched as Ecphen tied endless strips of bandages around his arm, true to his word of trying to shield it from the rain. Legolas looked over to his father and shook off his own miserable feelings of coldness, wetness and tiredness as he looked into the exhausted eyes of Thranduil.
When Ecphen finished the last knot Legolas walked over to his father and placed his palms of either side of Thranduil's face. A flinch speed through Thranduil's eyes and Legolas removed his hands once more cursing silently for not thinking about how cold his hands probably were. Before he hands were all the way down Thranduil took them in his own holding them between his hands and occasionally blowing warm air on them to warm them up.
Legolas smiled, "I remember you doing that when I was an elfling." He gently pulled his hands away from Thranduil's and looked at him, "I need to go now. Rest some more Ada."
After seeing his father's nod Legolas turned around and exited the room. He walked through the halls heading for the entrance while bringing his hood up hoping that it could ward off at least some of the rain.
At the entrance Sarnor who had been sitting with three friends at the entrance when he had come joined him. He had asked about what Legolas was doing and when gaining he answer had insisted that he would help thereby leaving his friends behind and once more travelling out into the rain.
Legolas was met with an odd feeling when he stepped out of the doors. The storm was still raging around them and the trees were completely silent like they had delved into themselves to escape from the water. The storm had grown since he had last been out here and Legolas knew that neither the extra bandage nor his cloak would keep any part of him from being completely and utterly soaked.
"I don't think it's possible getting any messages sent from the scouts in this weather!" Legolas half shouted to Sarnor, "Moreover it's dangerous for them to be out there! We need to pull them back!"
"How?" Sarnor shouted back. "You just said yourself that there was no way of getting messages to them! Have the last group of orcs already passed the four-hour line?"
"I don't know!" Legolas answered, "We haven't heard anything from them for some time and before that it was messages from the outer trees that came to us, not those of the scouts themselves! We can hope that the rain will stop them as well, if not then we'll have to do this battle closer to home!"
"That still doesn't answer how we get them back!"
"I can't ride out after them it would take too much time!" Legolas responded, "The scouts that have already been there know their positions, they would be able to find them quickly! We also need to set a new perimeter, closer to home so it's easier to get messages through!"
"I will gather the scouts and send them out!" Sarnor shouted as he brought his hand up to shield him face as the wind blew the rain roughly at them.
Legolas nodded, "Tell them to be careful! I'll go to the stables and see if everything is as it should be with this blasted weather!"
They parted, Sarnor quickly running back towards the halls and Legolas hurrying towards the stable also wanting to be out of the rain as soon as possible.