Fluffy snapped viciously into one of the Orc's ankles, making the creature stumbled, then the wolf went for his neck.
"ADA!" Alasse screamed. The Orc standing above her took a swipe at her and hit her little nose with the edge of his jerkin. Alasse squeaked like a trapped rabbit, tears filling her eyes. The blow made her little head spin and she felt something wet dripping from her nose. She looked down and saw blood spilling onto her bodice!
"Alasse!" Arwen wailed. Fluffy was charging from behind the Orc that gleamed creepily down at them.
Then...an arrow whizzed through his throat and he fell to the ground. Alasse and Arwen heard horse hooves! Looking up, they saw Legolas! And Feren, and Lord Elrond! And Voronwe, with his soldiers! And, Thranduil!
On the other side of the wood, they saw Rivendell's captain slaying the Orcs that Fluffy hadn't demolished yet. Within moments, the rest of the Orcs were all dead.
The elflings were huddled on the ground together, sobbing and shaking. Thranduil and Elrond frantically ran to their daughters. Thranduil was furious and horrified to see blood slipping from Alasse's nose. He quickly scooped her up in his arms and she clung to his neck, crying. He firmly clasped his arms around her tiny, trembling frame. Elrond knelt down next to Arwen, studying her face and checking her for injuries. His poor baby! Her fair little face was marred by an ugly dark, purple circle on her bright eye. "Arwen?" He spoke quietly.
"Ada..." Arwen reached for him with her good arm. He brought her to a sitting position and held her closely against his chest.
"Shh." Elrond whispered, kissing her head. "Ohh, Arwen..."
"It's alright, Alasse. Ada's here." Thranduil crooned to his daughter.
"I was so scared!" Alasse wept, digging her fingernails into his neck.
"I know, my love. I know!" Thranduil nodded, tears filling his eyes. "Thank Eru. It's okay. Are you hurt badly, love?"
Legolas and Glorfindel ran up to them. "Ada, how are they?" Legolas asked worriedly. He saw the blood and tears on his sister's face and felt the rage burn through him all over again. He reached up and tenderly wiped a tear from her eye.
"They're alive." Thranduil exhaled heavily.
"Arwen is hurt!" Elrond announced. He'd wrapped Arwen up in his cloak and was holding her bridal-style in his arms.
"So is Alasse." Thranduil said back to him. "Legolas, how are you, my son?"
"Don't worry about me." Legolas shook his head. "Not a scratch."
"We must get them both back to the palace quickly and treat their injuries." Elrond reminded them.
"Glorfindel, my friend, thank you." Thranduil said.
"Thranduil, Tatsu is ill. They shot her with a dart. I cannot rouse her!" Glorfindel exclaimed. Thranduil froze and Alasse wailed.
"Ohh, Tatsu! Please get her home, Ada! I don't want her to die!" Alasse pleaded.
"We tried to hide her!" Arwen added.
"Oh, and there is also an injured man out in the clearing. He looks dead. He's battered up badly." Glorfindel said.
"What man?" Legolas frowned.
"Legolas, it was Mr. Bard!" Alasse cried. "He tried to protect us!"
"Are you sure, penneth?" Legolas asked.
"Yes! It is him! He's hurt!"
"My lord Legolas! Bard the bargeman is out in the clearing. He is severely injured." Feren announced as he and the other elves returned.
"Bring him and Tatsu back to the palace. Take them straight to the healing halls." Thranduil commanded. Feren and the others bowed then set about carrying out their orders.
"Ada, you can manage Alasse?" Legolas asked.
"Yes, Legolas. But hurry back." Thranduil nodded.
"It'll be alright, Alasse." Legolas smiled, stroking her hair. He quickly kissed her face then whirled around to help his friends.
"Fluffy!" Alasse called. Fluffy came bounding to Thranduil's side. He had no marks on him, thankfully.
"Come, Elrond. Let's get our daughters where they'll be safe!" Thranduil told his friend. Together they rode with their offspring back to the castle.