They had been gone for 2 full weeks now. Thranduil had become cold once again. He showed no emotion. He was now the battle hardened ellon Feren had known so long ago. Everything was business. He never spoke of either of them. Though Feren suspected at night when he was alone he took the time to feel.
Now camp was being set up. The scouts had returned with word of a large army that was approaching from the east. This would be the first major battle of their campaign. Feren stood beside his King as all of the leaders gathered. Before them a rough map of the area. Placed on it were small different colored figures to represent the armies.
Feren began, "Reports are clear. There is an army numbering at least 10,000 located here in this valley moving towards us. They are less than a day away."
"What kind of army are we facing?" Elessar asked.
"Orc, Troll manning catapults and chimera. They did not see any winged ones thankfully but there were at least 3 rather large ones. The problem is because these creatures seem to vary in what they are made from we will not know what we are facing until we are in battle."
"Only 10,000? They are testing us again." Eothain of Rohan says.
"Or picking us off slowly so we are weak by the time we get to the main battle." Eomer tells his Captain.
Thranduil was quiet as everyone began to discuss strategy. It was Elrohir that was aware of Thranduil's silence, perhaps the most. The Kings state of mind began to worry him.
"Without the Golden Warrior and The Giantess with us. It should be us that take on the troll and destroy the war machines." Yarth said and everyone looked to him. "Give us horses so we can flank them. Come from behind and hit the war machines. "
"How many of you?" Elrohir asked.
Yarth grinned then crossed his mighty arms over his chest. "All of us. Then we will meet you in the middle. We will leave tonight and be ready by the time the battle begins."
Eothain scowled he had distrust for the orc with reason. "You would take our horses and leave us as infantry. Leaving most of my men fighting in a way they are not used to. Then..."
"ENOUGH!" Eomer silenced his captain with one sharply spoken word.
"How many horses do you need Yarth?" Eomer asked, Eothain looked to his king with wide eyes.
"Give me 50. We do have horses of our own to use as well. Give me 50 more and I will make sure not one catapult fires one shot." Yarth spoke firmly.
"Then 50 of our strongest war horses you shall have General Yarth." Eomer said and smiled.
"We will place the 50 horseless riders in with the pike men, You speak as if we are helpless children without a horse." Eomer eyed Eothain. "Are we helpless without horses?"
"No My King. We are not." Eothain spoke with a tremble to his voice.
Elrohir smiled a bit to himself before he spoke up. "Why don't we use the same strategy we used near Bree. With General Yarth taking out the trolls and catapults why not have the Rohirrim flank from the sides. There are more Rohirrim this time. They could flank from both sides. We can back them up with archers. Here and here. " He points on the map.
Salim, the leader of the men of the east looked at the map and grinned. "Take out the middle body of the army? I like how you think." I have archers that can do this from at least one side."
Elrohir nodded. "If you can take the left flank the elven archers can take the right."
"Wont this put our own in the line of fire?" Feren asked.
"No, This is how it works." Elrohir began to explain. "The archers fire several volley's right before the charge. Elven bows have a long range Maybe longer than your bows Salim but we can adjust for that. Then as the charge begins 3 maybe 4 more volleys before the riders come into range. Are your archers sword trained as well Salim?"
"Of course." He answered.
"Well then the archers retreat. They may have some close contact battle to deal with as orc try to push through to take out the archers. Other wise they pick off individual targets or those that would seek the run. These short volleys will do more damage than you think. The orc will not be expecting arrows from the side. They will be expecting them from the front. We will give them that. At the same time." Elrohir looked to Yarth and Eomer.
"What do we do if they try to flank us as well?" Celeborn asked.
"We have scouts scattered watching them. If they plan to flank we will know. I am sure they are watching us too. We have already killed several of their scouts. Also we have the perfect spies. " Feren said with a grin. "We will know every move they make."
Now the conversation moved on to the pike men and how to deal with the orc line and other things. Legolas quietly slipped out of the tent. He moved quickly through the camp and to the tent housing Ryu. When he entered she looked up to him with her dark eyes. They were filled with worry and reflected the light of the brazers with their wetness as she threatened to burst into tears.
He moved to her quickly and wrapped his arms around her. Lifting her from her seat and carried her towards the bed. "I am aware of the moon and did not forget." He whispered to her before laying her gently upon the bed.
"It is both good and bad that this is happening right now." Ryu said softly. "With the moon nearing full my ability to communicate with Shadow and Shade is stronger yet, well my need of you is stronger as well."
Legolas sat on the edge of the bed and pulled away his boots. "I do not see that as a bad thing at all." He said as he placed his boots on the ground. His hands working the leather armor he was wearing loose by its laces and pulling it away. He turned and pressed his knees to the bed and rested himself over her with his hands pressed down beside her. The light color of his gaze looking deeply into those dark pools. Her small soft hands began to pull his tunic up and slipped under it to feel his warm flesh under her finger tips.
"Then show me how much of a good thing it is." She spoke in a whisper and pulled herself up to press a kiss against his lips. A kiss he would not allow to be just one as his arms wrapped around her and he pulled her tighter against him as he sat back.
"With pleasure." The words escaped his lips as then brushed across her cheek to kind her small pointed ear making her tremble against him.
Thranduil left the meeting in stoic silence. He passed the glow of warm fires, the light reflected and dancing off his armor. He paused before entering his tent and looked up at the moon, then set his jaw tightly before entering his own tent. Finding the emptiness within nearly unbearable.
He moved with fluid grace across the fine rugs and around his fine furnishings towards the table that held his wine. He poured himself a goblet full and stood there drinking it quickly before pouring himself another. The guard at the entrance poked his head in "Lord Elrohir wishes an audience my King." Thranduil did not turn but spoke with his back to the guard. "Send him in."
Elrohir entered and for a few moments said nothing. He looked on the armored back of the King of the Woodland Realm. His long silver hair flowing like silk along the mythril.
"What is it Elrohir." Thranduil spoke once more without looking then felt the presence of Elrohir rather close.
"Let me help you with your armor." He spoke softly and Thranduil nodded before taking another drink.
"Would you like some wine?" The King asked as Elrohir began to unlatch the leg plates and remove them.
"That would be lovely." Elrohir said as he carried the plates to place them on the stand. When he returned he began to unlatch the arm plates and remove them and Thranduil poured another goblet full of the strong wine for Elrohir.
The plates of armor placed on the stand Elrohir was unlatching the breast and back plates now. "I am sure you did not come to just help me with my armor. I do have attendants for that." Thranduil spoke as he lifted the goblet and Elrohir turned to place the the last of the plates on the stand.
"I know you do." Elrohir said and turned to find the goblet being offered out to him. He took he and drank deeply. "I also know what the moon does to you. Even if she is not here."
Those icy azures of Thranduil's eyes shifted just a bit to look Elrohir right into his deep brown gaze. Elrohir's penchant to choose lovers from either sex was known to Thranduil and his brows lifted a bit in question.
"I also know you would not seek out anyone to ease your pain on these nights. However, that does not mean your pain should not be eased."
"Are you offering yourself to me Elrohir?" Thranduil was rather shocked by this. It was the last thing he had been expecting tonight. Thranduil had never considered this, not ever and he began to look at this ellon in a different light. He was a mixture of his father and his mother. While they were twins Elladan looked a bit more like Elrond with his sharp masculine features and dark eyes but Elrohir's features were slightly softer and his eyes not as dark but flecked with green.
Elrohir stepped a bit closer and took another drink of the wine. "I suppose I am Thranduil. If you find this proposition tasteless then send me away."
Thranduil turned up his goblet and finished off the wine within as did Elrohir with his. Thranduil took the goblet from Elrohir's fingers and placed both goblets on the table. His constant connection with her was influencing him on this. He felt her and every emotioned and nuance of her being. "I do not think Elrond would approve of this."
Elrohir smiled softly and reached out with one hand . His fingers curled into the front of Thranduil's tunic . " Last time I checked I am well past my majority and am perfectly capable of making my own choices." With that he pulled Thranduil close and lifted his lips to press to the Kings.
That was all it took for Thranduil to make his own choice. His hand slid up Elrohir's back and up to the base of his head where his fingers found purchase in Elrohir's hair . He stepped forward his body nudging Elrohirs back. Soon them were walking in unison with their lips locked to each others. Elrohir felt the hard frame of the bed against the backs of his knees and lowered down to sit upon it . Thranduil moved right along with him in tandem.
Elrohir slides himself further back on the bed and Thranduil finally broke the kiss. With a single sweep of his arms he removed his tunic leaving his bare chest to be roamed by Elrohir's eyes. The young prince began to disrobe in a flurry before Thranduil was back against him his tongue forcing past his lips and he found himself pinned between the bed and the King.
Ryu was held snuggly in Legolas' arms. A smile on her lips as her fingers lightly caressed against his arm. He felt those caresses turn into a tight grip. He lifts his head to look on her. "They are coming. A small party, 50 or so. Shade is coming to lead you to them." She said before the look in her eyes was not so far away and she looked into his eyes. "Hurry." She said and Legolas was out of the bed and getting dressed quickly.
As he was getting his leather armor on he called out from the flap of the tent to a guard. "Get Elladan and Elrohir." The guard nodded and took off. Ryu pulled on a warm robe and helped him with his armor. He turned and cupped her cheeks in his hands and kissed her. "I will be back, do not worry."
He left the tent as Elladan was approaching. He was buckling the last of his armor on. "Ok what is it?" Elladan asked.
"Raiders maybe scouts? Ryu said there were about 50 of them." Legolas spoke as he turned towards his fathers tent. Once they reached it the guard stopped them. "He is with an audience." The guard said and bother Elladan and Legolas looked to each other.
"Audience? Who is he with?"Elladan asked.
"Lord Elrohir."
Elladan pursed his lips together for a moment and swallowed hard. "And how long have they been together?"
"Over an hour my Lord."
Elladan choked and coughed. Legolas looked at the guard with a wide eyed expression.
"Well I uh think you and I should handle this." Elladan said and turned from the tent and tugged a stunned Legolas along with him. "Not a word on this Legolas."
"I have none anyway." Legolas said as they neared the soldiers and he pushed his shock to the back of his mind.
"We need 20 of you. It seems we have raiders coming." Elladan spoke to a gathering of ellyn and within seconds they had 20 ready to go.
Shade appeared next to Legolas. "50 of them? Are you sure?" Legolas asked.
"Maybe a few more or less but yes my Lord." Shade hissed. "Shadow is watching them. They are not far now. Perhaps 2 miles."
They go on foot, choosing stealth over speed. Shade leading them through the sparse trees and over some rock terrain. The elves seem to glide over such things. They stop on a rocky out crop and lay upon it. Elladan and Legolas peering over the edge to see the mass of orc coming their way. They can here the clatter of their armor and soon smell them.
Elladan did not speak instead he motioned with his hand. Telling Legolas he would take 10 of the soldiers and split to come up behind. Legolas gave him a nod and they both backed from the edge lowly.
As the orc near Legolas and his team rise with bows in hand and begin to fire down on the orc. Their arrows true, they find their marks. Orc begin to fall and are for a moment confused the next volley does the same more orc fall, then they realize where the attack is coming from and they send soldiers up the small cliff towards the elves. They get one more volley off before the out crop is breeched and now they fight hand to hand.
Elladan charges with his team from behind. Killing several before they turn to engage. The whole battle was over in mere minutes. There was silence then a pain fueled cry came from behind Legolas. Shadow stood over a dead orc who was 10 feet from Legolas. The orcs heart in shadows hand. The wraith nodded to Legolas as it dropped the black dripping flesh on the orc with a sickening plop. Then Shadow was gone.
Elladan's boot pressed to the neck of one orc who was still alive. His sword glowing blue as the deadly tip pointed at the beast. Legolas and the others leap down among the carnage below and approach Elladan.
"Should we keep this one alive? Take it back to be questioned?" He asked Legolas who stared down at the growling and defeated beast.
Legolas crouched down and looked the beast in the eye. The full moon's light reflecting in the dark orb. Before he could speak the orc did.
"If you want me to beg I wont. If you think I will speak I wont." It hissed. "It is best I die here than go against my Master. If you let me live I will kill as many of you as I can. I will take your women to my Master to use as breeding stock. I will eat your children alive, I will..."
It's words were cut off by Legolas' blade as he pushed it with great force into the orc's ear. "Fine then, your desire to die here has been fulfilled."
Elladan removed his boot from its neck and wiped the black blood from his sword on its clothing. "Well that answered my question." The glow of his blade faded.
Shade and Shadow appear before Legolas. He looked to them and smiled. "You both have done very good. Are there any other raiders?"
"No not right now. We will keep watch. We will help protect the scouts. You protect our Lady." Shade spoke and Shadow agreed, then they seemed to simply vanish into the shadows of the sparse forest with no sound.
The elves make their way back to the camp. Splattered with the black blood of orc they move into the glowing warm orange light of the fires. They garner many looks from those around them and then words of congratulations and thanks for what they had done. Kree and Ryu who had been waiting for their return come running from opposite directions towards the returning elves.
Ryu stops a few feet away to look on her blood splattered mate. His blue eyes meet hers and she reaches out for him. "Come now lets get you cleaned up and with luck get you a little rest."
Legolas steps forward and slides one hand into hers and lets her tug him away. Elladan and Kree watch them move away. Kree looked confused as she looked at the demure woman . Elladan catching to look in her eyes rises up and wraps his arms around her. "She is a fae too Kree. "
"For something that is not supposed to exist I have now see two." She sniffed and curled her nose. "Ugh you stink." She ducked down and slipped from his embrace. "Lets get you cleaned up too."
Elrohir slipped from Thranduil's tent well before the time to awaken and prepare. He was surprised to see Elladan and Legolas up and ready. They sitting together by a warm fire and eating warm buttered bread and drinking tea. As he came into the light he too lowered down to sit and they both just watched him in silence.
"Alright gwanunig (twin) what has happened?" He said as he reached for warm bread from the plate and poured himself some tea.
"There was an attempted raid last night. We went to speak with Thranduil but he was other wise occupied with you." Elladan said lowly. "So Legolas and I took care of it."
Elrohir choked a bit on his tea and coughed to clear his throat. He looked to his twin then to Legolas who was looking at him as if he were a stranger. Elrohir inhaled deeply and as he exhaled his shoulders sank a bit.
"Were either of you aware of the moon last night? Did either of you consider the effect it would have on him?"
Legolas' brows raised then creased as he lowered his eyes in thought. Elladan sat in silence and stared at his brother.
"He did not say a word at the meeting last night. It was as if he was bound up tightly. They are connected in a way we can not understand. He told me he feels her even with the distance between them. He feels what she feels. He was not going to seek to ease his own suffering. That is not his way and you both know that. How would that have left him today, in battle? So reserve your judgement for another."
He finished and went to eating his morning meal and drinking his tea. Legolas and Elladan looked to each other. Their expressions changed as the words he conveyed sank in. "Sorry." Legolas spoke for them both and began to feel a bit of shame from his thoughts.
More and more troops began to arrive for their meal and to prepare. The three ellyn who had been sitting by the fire rose to get ready. Today they would face their enemy.
