Worried was not the word for it! Legolas was beyond worried. Not only did he have to get the people to Rohan safely, and then proceed to Gondor, now he had another heavy burden on his mind. He couldn't stop thinking about what he'd witnessed last night, and he shuddered as it vividly remained in his brain.
Alasse's 'relapse' had been positively disturbing. And what's more, Elrond had said that he could not take away the scar. Legolas didn't understand any of it, and now he was greatly worried for his sister. What caused these episodes? Were there any warning signs? How often did they happen? How long did they last? What if...what if Alasse had one, in the middle of a battle or dangerous crossing they might run into on the journey? Legolas didn't want to imagine if that happened! "Focus, you need to focus!" He told himself.
When he'd started out on this mission, Legolas's goal had been to get aid to find his friend Aragorn, who as far as he knew, was most likely in deep trouble, and…maybe even dead! Now, not only did Legolas have to protect the refugees, the prisoners, his own people, Gondor's soldiers, and his friends, but now he was also wrought with concern for Alasse. He'd promised Thranduil he'd keep her safe. Well, now he had to keep that promise in more ways than one, ways he had not seen coming!
"How are you feeling this morning, child?" Elrond asked Alasse when she'd waken up.
"I'm alright." Alasse shrugged. "I suppose. Thank you."
"Alasse, what exactly did you see last night, in your mind?" Elrond lowered his voice and Alasse hung her head.
"Aragorn was chained up, to a wall. It was so dark in there!" Alasse cringed and shivered. "He was in a dreary, dank place. He was...being beaten, with a bow staff." Elrond listened sadly, his heart clenching when she told him about his human son. His beloved Estel! Alasse continued. "Then I saw faces, the faces of his people, friends, allies...they...they...were up in arms, and filled with contempt for Aragorn. They thought he'd abandoned them! They were fending for themselves." Tears filled her eyes. "Families separated, taken as slaves, treated like animals, nobody knew who they could trust, cities destroyed...utter oppression!"
Elrond could only stand there sullenly. This vision, or premonition, had it already occurred or was it on the brink of being enforced? They already had a band of slavery victims, and that was only from one city! What was the world coming to? And just what fiend was bringing this about? Sauron was gone for eternity, this time, so who was stirring up this new evil?
"Well, are you still in pain, my dear?" He asked, trying to change the subject.
"A little. But it is bearable." Alasse mumbled, still not meeting his penetrating gaze.
"Well, I still want you to take something for the pain. I am not sure if it will prevent anything, but we don't want another reminder like last night!" Elrond spoke gravely.
"No." Alasse agreed. Elrond gave her some herbs for pain relief as everyone else was stirring.
Tatsu was coming to speak with Legolas when two young children grabbed her hands and remained at her side. They'd been taken from their parents in Rohan, and they refused to let the dark-haired elleth out of their sight! Her Elvish lullabies had given them such peace during this frightening time, they guessed her to be a real angel from heaven and were not about to let her escape unnoticed!
"I think you've made some new friends." Legolas chuckled at her.
"Ai, my lord." Tatsu smiled. "Their parents are in Rohan. They were taken from them!"
"I like Tatsu, Mr. Elf!" The little girl, Daisy exclaimed. "She's kind to us, and she sings us sweet songs."
"Like Momma." The boy Clarence added. Legolas smiled warmly. Well, his sister's old nursemaid was certainly winning the hearts of the new people around her, from places she'd never even been before!
"Well, I am glad if it cheers you up." Legolas crossed his arms. "Have no fear, little ones. We shall reach Rohan by tomorrow afternoon, if nothing gets in our way. You'll soon be in the safety of your parents' arms."
"I can't wait! I miss Momma and Papa." Daisy sniffled.
"You'll all be together soon, love." Tatsu promised, kissing the children on their heads.
"Ai!" Gimli spoke up. "No foul creatures would dare cross our paths, not while I've got my ax to grind 'em to sawdust!"
"But, Mr. Gimli, you're so small." Clarence pointed out. Tatsu and Legolas had to bite their tongues to keep from busting out laughing. Gimli's face turned nearly as red as his beard! "What if we run into giants?"
"Then they'll get a taste of a dwarfish steel foot massage, my boy, that's what!" Gimli announced. Tatsu frowned disapprovingly of his dark humor in front of the children.
"H-have you ever killed a giant, Mr. Gimli?" Daisy asked nervously.
"Ai! That I have, lassie." Gimli boasted. "Several, in fact."
"Several? Oh boy!" Clarence beamed with excitement while Daisy shivered at the idea.
"So, you can keep us safe, Mr. Gimli? Till we're back with Momma and Papa?" Daisy asked with a trembling lip.
"Come here, dear one." Tatsu murmured, picking up the little girl and holding her closely. She absolutely loved children, be they human, rabbit, elfling, stag or even dwarfling! It had been ages since she'd held a child on her hips and just now she realized how much she'd missed it.
"What? My word's not good enough for ye?" Gimli huffed. Then his face softened. "Ai, little lassie. Don't you were worry your pretty little head about no Orcs, or giants. Old Gimli will look after ye!" Daisy merely nodded, hiding her face in Tatsu's shoulder. Legolas smirked at Gimli's outspoken bravado and Tatsu's endless mothering. He was grateful to have his two good friends on this journey.
The trek that day was mostly uneventful. Elrond was pleased that even in a few short days, the victims were already regaining their strength. However, that night was a different story. They'd made camp, but were yet to light a fire when a piercing roar broke the peace. The guards were all on alert, and Bellethiel hurried to the ridge to check. She grimaced when she reported back to Legolas. "A mountain lion. And it's close!"
"Quickly, get the women and children inside the wagons!" Elrond shouted. But several of the men screamed when a huge figure on all fours raced into the perimeter!
"Get that devil!" Legolas bellowed. The soldiers readied their spears and bows as they pursued and waited for a good aim on the large cat. Everyone was petrified. Legolas and the archers shot at the cat but it was so fast. The men from Gondor managed to stall it with their spears embedded in its shoulder, but the lion still raced around the caravan.
A terrified scream, a child's scream, sent horror down the spines of everyone present. The lion had attacked a small girl who'd gotten lost from her parents in the rushing crowd, slashing her across the stomach with his sharp claws. Legolas shot him in the chest, and Bellethiel, fizzed with pure adrenaline and hate, sliced the beast's throat and grabbed the child, running her to safety. The soldiers gathered around the animal. It was dead. "Lord Elrond! We need you over here!" Bellethiel screeched urgently.
Elrond rushed to her side and sat down on the ground as he took the whimpering child in his arms and held her down in his lap. Legolas couldn't believe his eyes as he saw blood all over the little girl's torso. His veins boiled with rage. "Can you hear me, sweet?" Elrond asked the little girl. She nodded, gushing tears. "I'm going to take care of you, little one." He assured her.
"Momma!" The girl cried helplessly. "I want my Momma!"
"I'm here, Ruby! I'm here!" The distraught mother and father came running to her. Elrond passed Ruby to her mother's arms but told her to hold the girl flat on her lap. "Oh, my darling!" Ruby's mother sobbed, cradling her. "My poor child!" Ruby's father was so shocked with horror he couldn't move. At least, not until Elrond returned with a healing pack and Ruby clung to her mother, begging her not to let the healer touch her.
"Shh. Shh. It's all right, Ruby. Daddy's here. I'm here." He said soothingly, trying to hide the quivers in his voice.
"Da, don't let him hurt me!" Ruby begged.
"Sweetheart, Lord Elrond is here to make you feel better."
"It hurts, Momma! It hurts!" Ruby wailed.
"I know, my child. I know." Ruby's mother wept.
"Ruby, is that your name?" Elrond smiled. The little girl hid her face from him. "I'm Lord Elrond. I'm a healer. I really need to treat your hurts so you can feel better. It's very important."
"We're here, Ruby. We've got you." Her father assured her. He nodded to Elrond to shift closer.
"You saved her! Thank you!" Ruby's mother cried joyfully as she looked up at Bellethiel. Bellethiel nodded but said nothing, her face pale from fear.
"Will she be alright?" Pippin asked, shuddering.
"If I can treat her before it's too late." Elrond answered.
The men burned the cat's body as they set up camp as Elrond tended little Ruby. The poor thing was hurting so badly and was so scared about Elrond touching her that he had to chant a sleeping spell over her to calm her. She was bleeding a lot and he needed to stop it quickly! She was quickly sleeping and he set to work. Ruby's mother nearly fainted when she saw the extent of her baby's wounds. Her husband nearly vomited at the sight too, but he supported his wife through the process. Alasse assisted Elrond, putting to use the things she'd been learning back home, under Maerwen's tutelage.
Legolas found Bellethiel at the edge of the camp, keeping a sharp watch on any other potential dangers that dared to harm the ones she cared about. But even through her faithful vigil, her eyes were flooded with tears. "Elrond says she has a good chance at survival, thanks to your quick actions." Legolas told her proudly.
"I wasn't quick enough!" Bellethiel snapped. "She should never have been mauled an inch by that devil!"
"No indeed." Legolas agreed. "But you saved her life. That is nothing to be ashamed of, Bellethiel."
"I'm not ashamed of that!" The captain vented. "I'm ashamed because I couldn't do the same for my sister, and her love!" Legolas frowned sympathetically.
"Shh. It's not your fault. Come here." He murmured, and against her will and protesting arms, Legolas engulfed her in a friendly, warm hug. Bellethiel fought against him at first then she just slumped in her prince's arms and cried hard.
Hardly anyone slept that night, and the guard was doubled. Elrond stayed beside Ruby and her parents all night long, watching over the little girl. His heart ached seeing one so little and vibrant so cruelly hurt. And his soul went out to the parents who were mortified at what had happened to their daughter! He could only imagine the profuse anxiety they were going through, and the nightmares that were to follow in the days to come!
The next day, they moved out quickly. They wanted to reach Rohan as soon as possible. Elrond stayed in one of the wagons with Ruby's family. She'd survived the night but was still in a lot of pain. Bellethiel had stopped by the wagon and peeked in to check on the family. Ruby gave a small smile and waved to her. "You're the one who saved me." She said gently as her mother caressed her hair. "You're my hero." Ruby beamed. Bellethiel nodded with tears in her eyes.
"I'm...glad I was there." She whispered.
"We're eternally grateful to you, Captain." Ruby's father said. "And Lord Elrond. How can we ever repay you?"
"Your daughter is alive. That's all the thanks I need." Bellethiel said quietly, turning away. Elrond nodded but he watched with concern as the captain walked off, as if she'd been laid with a heavy burden instead of relieved from it. He'd have to try to speak to her later.
It was nearing lunchtime when Bellethiel's scouting party came racing back in alarm. The people had heard what sounded to be heavy marching over the horizon! "Prince Legolas! ORCS!" Bellethiel cried out. "An army of them! And in greater numbers than we have!"
Legolas paled, especially when he saw the black army of monsters perch on the horizon. He didn't have enough manpower to protect all these people! Most of the slave victims were still wounded, sick, or weak, incapable of defending themselves. "Get the women and children inside the wagons! NOW! Release the prisoners! Give them weapons!" Everyone scrambled in a panic, except the soldiers. Tatsu was guiding the mothers and children into the safety of the carts, with Pippin helping children that kept tripping.
Alasse and Gimli ran to Legolas's side as they gazed with dread on the horrid, malicious army approaching them. "Legolas..." Alasse bit her lip. He firmly gripped her arm, gulping as he did so.
"We do what we can." He said flatly.
"We could use some eagles right about now." Gimli muttered. "A whole flock of them."
Just then, a familiar horn blew in the distance behind them. An Elvish horn! They briefly turned to see who the other visitors were. Alasse and Legolas were gobsmacked. There was an enormous Elvish army of Woodland soldiers standing at the ready, and in front of them rode a tall, majestic, formidable elf with light hair and silver armor that sparkled in the sunlight.
Alasse and Legolas couldn't believe it! "Is...is that..." Alasse was speechless. Legolas sputtered.
"Ada?"
Just so you know, most of the clues to this mystery won't fall into place until they reach Gondor.