THANK YOU, READERS, FOR ALL YOUR LOVE AND SUPPORT! I GREATLY APPRECIATE ALL OF THE COMMENTS AND PMS YOU HAVE SENT ME REGARDING THE LAST CHAPTER, YOU ALL ARE THE BEST! THANKS AGAIN FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART 3

-Ally Layne

Do Not Go Gentle

Chapter 23: I Make A Few Questionable Decisions

"Are you sure this is a good idea?"

I glared at Gerda, who was wringing her hands in front of me as I prepared to go out for the orc hunt. I was fed up with people not thinking I should go, and a part of me was willing to ride out purely because I wanted to show them what I was capable of.

I'm not so weak that I have to stay behind for some silly orc hunt.

Besides, it's not like I'm going to be the only warrior there. Their lives won't be entirely dependent on me… but at the same time, I'm not about to let anyone die, either.

"Why is everyone trying to convince me this is not a good idea?" I asked aloud, grunting as I shoved some chainmail over my tunic. "Why doesn't this fit?"

Gerda cautiously walked toward me, taking the chainmail from my hands. "Perhaps it is because you are trying to but your head through the armhole, Persie."

I sighed. "That would do it."

She helped me put it on and snapped the clasps in the places I couldn't reach. Gerda wore a solemn expression, which threw me off. It was like she was a wife sending her husband off to war, or something.

Dude, this is just a hunt. It's not like we're going to war or anything.

"I know you do not wish for me to say anything, but I am going to say it anyway," Gerda said, and I looked at her expectantly. "You do know that no one expects you to be this invincible person, right? You do not have to prove anything to us."

I groaned. "Why does everyone keep saying that?"

Gerda blinked. "Well, is that not what you are thinking? That you need to show the others what you are capable of?"

"No."

Yes.

"Then you must be going on this hunt for the right reasons, yes?"

"Why are you assuming I'm not?" I probed, turning to look at my friend curiously after I had been properly dressed for the excursion. "Gerds, this isn't the first hunt I've ever been on, it will all be fine. I have to learn more about the monsters of Arda somehow."

The frown on her face never disappeared. "I will meet you after your hunt. You will be coming back, Persie."

I raised a brow. "I will see you soon, mellon nin."

My use of Sindarin was the first thing that made her smile so far today. "I am counting on it."

We left the room and she led me down to the stables where the others were preparing themselves to leave for the hunt. I gave Gerda a hug before she left, which is something I had a feeling she needed to feel comfortable leaving me in the first place.

I immediately noticed Elrohir and Elrond standing alongside Glorfindel while prepping their horses, even though Geren was trying to help them they kept insisting they would do it themselves.

I snorted when Goldilocks shot the stablehand a look that could melt an iceberg, and Geren quickly got the hint and hurried away to help some of the other soldiers.

I saw that one of the other stablehands was getting Bud ready for the trip, and quickly made my way over there to make sure he was okay. Not the horse, but the poor stablehand. Bud could seriously be a handful.

Milady, it is about time you showed up!

I laughed and rubbed his muzzle happily. "It's nice to see you too, Bud."

"You are the one who can speak to horses?" the stablehand asked, and I turned to see his dark eyes grow wide in shock. "I didn't believe the others when they told me-"

"Calm down, Berher," Geren spoke, coming over after witnessing the other stablehand become starstruck. "Lady Persephone is not here to satisfy your beliefs. She is busy, so let her get ready to leave."

The stablehand, Berher, looked back to me bashfully. "My apologies, Lady Persephone. I didn't mean to keep you from your duties."

I bit the side of my cheek to hide the smile that was slowly edging on my face. "Don't worry, you didn't keep me from anything."

He nodded, thanked me for my generosity, and hurried off while leaving Geren and me in the dust. "He certainly seems like a handful," I commented, patting Bud again on the neck as I walked and made sure the harnesses and saddle were all connected properly.

Geren let out a small chuckle. "Berher has his mind in the right place."

I let out a laugh. "I was talking about the horse."

He paused. "Well-"

I am not a handful, Milady, Bud admonished. I was not the one who got here late, after all.

I snorted. "Shut up, Bud. I wasn't talking to you."

Geren looked between us with amazement in his eyes. "It has certainly not gotten old to witness you speaking to horses, my Lady."

See! He calls you my Lady too, Milady!

I pushed Bud's head away from my side with a low snort. Oh gods, was I starting to speak horse, too? This wasn't something that came in the demigod instruction manual…

"I must go assist the other soldiers who are not quite used to preparing their horses," Geren spoke, even though the twinkle in his eyes told me he wanted to stay and watch Bud and I secretly talk to each other. "I hope you have a safe hunt, Lady Persephone."

I smiled and patted his shoulder in thanks before he headed off.

I quickly attached the back I brought full of food and water and hopped on Bud gracefully. Unfortunately, my graceful mounts look like wobbly versions of the perfect mounts these elves do on their own horses.

"Neneth!"

I immediately led Bud over to where I saw Elrohir smiling atop his horse. "Elrohir!"

His answering smile made my fight with Goldilocks worth it. I knew he wasn't happy to be without his brother on this hunt, and the least I could do was give him some support. I know when I was at camp and going on different quests it was always hard to have to leave someone you cared about behind.

"It is good to see you this morning," he said, before grinning down at my horse. "Well, it looks like you have yourself a very noble steed. I heard from Geren that he hasn't allowed any others to ride him."

I grinned down at Bud and patted his neck. "He knows that I get jealous easily, that's all."

Elrohir laughed. "You admit you are jealous?"

I shrugged. "Just of Bud. And he's a jealous horse- he wouldn't let me saddle another horse, would ya, boy?"

You have that right, Milady.

The young Lord laughed again, and this time seemed to sober quickly at the sound of Glorfindel's call to order. "Do you have your sword?"

I nodded, patting my chest where Riptide was strapped to with pride. "Of course I do, who do you think I am?"

"I am pretty sure you have done worse than leave your sword behind on a hunt, mellon nin."

I barked out a laugh, thinking back to when I've taken on gods without any plans or weapons what-so-ever. "How did you know?"

He shrugged. "You seem like the type."

I paused, but before I could retort, he had started to make his way to where his father and Glorfindel were mounted on their horses. "Wait- Elrohir- what did you mean?"

I saw his shoulders move, but he didn't respond. That asshole.

"Shall we venture off, Lady Persephone?" a masculine voice came up from behind me while I was busy trying to melt Elrohir's form with my eyes.

"What's up, Aldarian?"

The blonde looked up, squinting when his eyes met the sun. "I am pretty sure that is the sky, Persephone."

"Dude, I meant how are you, not actually what is above us."

He narrowed his eyes at me. "How exactly am I supposed to know that? You asked me what was up, and I told you what was up? Why do you ask so much of me, mellon?"

I couldn't contain my laughter as we led our horses forward to follow the others who started to head out of the gates of Imladris. "You are just as dramatic as Alma has been telling me."

"You have just discovered this, now?"

"Geoffry!" I exclaimed. "It looks like the gang is back together!"

Geoffry rode up to us on his massive warhorse that didn't really feel like talking to me or Bud for that matter. However, Aldarian's horse was chirping away, much like his rider.

"We are missing Elladan, Persie," Aldarian scolded. "Don't forget him, lovely."

I rolled my eyes. "Of course, how could I be so stupid?" I said dryly.

"We all make mistakes," he told me, and if we weren't riding I swear he would have patted my back sympathetically.

"It's amazing how you and Alma are siblings and so different from each other," I commented, turning to look forward at Elrond, Elrohir, and Goldilocks halting once we reached the borders.

"What do you mean?" Geoffry asked at my other side, quirking his eyebrow up slightly.

"Alma is so… calm and polite and soothing," I started. "Whereas Aldarian is-"

My explanation was cut off quickly by Glorfindel taking the role of leading the troop. "Halt, fellow warriors!" He called out, bringing everyone to a stiff halt all around me. I suddenly felt very out of the loop. These elves must have been fighting with each other for centuries…

"A few of our scouts traveled to the village last night and informed us that there has been an attack the past few nights as stated in the missive from the local townspeople," he told us, his voice strong and loud as it carried over the valley. "We have reasons to believe today they will strike again. There are nearly thirty of us, and we will be off in two groups- one with Lord Elrond and Lord Aldarian, and one with myself and Lord Elrohir."

I looked at Aldarian in confusion. However, the blonde kept his head forward and listened to his Captain with rapt attention. He hadn't told me he was going to be leading this excursion. What a nincompoop.

"We will each take a side into the village and make our way through to draw them out, and then take them out one by one." He paused, his eyes raking those in his ranks swiftly. "This is not meant to be a battle, instead we are merely acting quietly. We need to get in and get out, leaving no surviving orcs."

"Those living in the village have been directed to stay indoors and lock themselves into the safest part of their homes," Lord Elrond spoke, immediately taking everyone's full attention. "There will be no casualties on either of our fronts."

"No prisoners, either," Elrohir spoke. "We used one of their own to gain this intel. We need no more from them." Gone was his easy-going attitude, and in place was the stature of a well-seasoned warrior.

"Split up," Glorfindel finished. "It is time to ride, and may Eru guide us well."

It seemed as though the others already knew what groups they were in, which sucked because yet again, I was the odd one out. Goldilocks ended up riding into the pack, and the crowd split like the red sea and all of a sudden I was left alone like an idiot.

Once his blue eyes locked in on me, I knew there was no turning back.

"So you decided to go against my advice and come with us," he spoke, his voice not calm and soothing as it had been at the beginning yesterday, instead it was as brooding as it was when I left.

I pursed my lips. "I told you I was, didn't I?"

He nodded stiffly, and I noticed his golden hair was bound behind him in a man bun and wrapped together by a thin leather strap. "Indeed." He turned and nodded to Geoffry and Aldarian, who had already started to go to their groups.

"Let me guess," I started before he could again start to ramble on. "I'm in your group, aren't I?"

The left side of his mouth lifted in a crooked grin. "Of course you are. How else could I make sure you don't get yourself killed?"

I bit my tongue, knowing better than to start arguing with a superior while on the field. I could taste the iron in the blood I had quickly drawn from my lack of restraint. "Yes, of course, Goldilocks."

He looked down at me imperiously. "Is that how you refer to your Captain, Lady Persephone?"

I grit my teeth, deep down knowing he was trying to rile me up. I didn't need to give him a reason to kick me out of the group. "Oh, my mistake, Captian. I meant to say, Lord Goldilocks."

Awe shit. That didn't even get a smile. Nope. The imperiousness by the golden imp continued to remain.

"You will stay by my side," he told me, leaving no room for anything else. "If you cannot find me, you will stay by either Elrohir or Geoffry's side, do you understand?"

I nodded stiffly. "Understood."

He tilted his head, and it was as if his Captain-face had slipped off and back was the easy-going elf I had gotten to know. "Stay safe, Persephone. I know you are capable of many things, but please do not go looking for trouble this time."

I grinned. "I don't know what you're talking about. I never go looking for trouble."

"I am pretty sure that is a lie, but I will agree to disagree, Lady Persephone."

He nodded to me kindly before heading off and gesturing for me to follow him to the front of his troop. Elrohir greeted me happily as I took my place between the two elves as we made our way to this village that had been ransacked by orcs for the past few days.

It was time to have some fun.

We made it there relatively quickly on our horses, which all seemed to be extremely versatile and had the ability to ride for long stretches of time without needing proper rest. I continually made sure Bud was okay with the pace Glorfindel had set, but apparently he was really enjoying it so I decided to not make a fuss.

The final stretch led us into a forest which forced our company to fold into a single-file line as the path Glorfindel took was extremely narrow at many points. I almost felt bad at making Bud jump over some fallen trees, but as I said before- he was enjoying it.

"Wheee! Did you see that Milady? Did you see that?"

"Yes, I saw that," I acknowledged dryly. "Just like I saw the last one, and the one before that, and the one before that…"

"Don't be a buzz-kill. No one likes a party-pooper."

I was starting to regret teaching the horse those words. Yep. I definitely made a mistake.

As we slowed down to a stop, the forest started to thin out and Glorfindel held up a fist which brought the rest of the troop into a stiff formation. I had no idea what the Hades was going on, so I just decided to go with it.

The village that lies below us in the middle of a valley looked like it certainly had been ransacked- and then some. There was evidence of fires that had been hastily put out, and throughout the main road that led through the heart of town, there were piles of wood and other materials that had been burnt to charcoal and debris.

As Elrond had told us before, there were no civilians walking around which meant everyone had holed themselves up in their homes.

"We ride as soon as Lord Elrond flashes us the signal across the valley," Glorfindel spoke, his voice lowering slightly. "We stay behind the brush so that any orcs moving in will not notice the cavalry."

And so... we waited.

And waited.

And then waited.

It seemed like elves had this innate ability to wait patiently, which was most certainly something I did not possess. Maybe it was a mortal thing, but watching the empty village sit in lonely silence ahead was not my idea of fun.

So, I did what anyone else would do. I grit my teeth, and in my head started to sing.

99 elves and I waiting in the woods, 99 elves and I waiting in the woods…

Shove one off their horse, disrupt their course, 98 elves and I waiting in the woods.

I made it down to 32 when the movement was seen down below. A small dark mass started to move down through the valley, and I immediately stopped my mental song and shoved it aside for later.

Goldilocks immediately spotted the orcs as well, and his eyes directed to the other side of the valley where we knew the other band of elves was waiting.

He held his hand up, and immediately everyone who might have relaxed slightly in their saddles suddenly sat at attention.

My hands gripped the reigns below, and I patted Bud on the neck. I didn't know if he had been in battle before the last orc pack we met on accident, but this time I was bringing him into the fray knowingly.

He was calm underneath my hand.

All of a sudden, a flickering light started to wave at us from the other side of the valley, and I knew that was the signal. Glorfindel took his shield from where it was placed on his back and used the back to give them a signal in return.

"In thirty seconds, we will ride," his voice echoed around us.

No one dared move a muscle.

I became calm.

My heartbeat wasn't speeding up, instead, I felt it start to slow down.

A cold wind of air rippled through the valley.

"Charge!"

We charged down into the village below.