First I wanted to say thank you all for the many encouraging review I received last week! It really gave me many reasons to smile throughout the week and for that I am forever grateful :) But I am also so so sorry for all of my cliffhangers! My wonderful beta elvenmaia would be sure to tell you that the cliffies, unfortunately, will not come to an end anytime soon...
For earthdragon: Thank you for the review! Yes I will admit it did take quite a long time to get them back together! But I guess you could say that I am just a sucker for the dramatic!
For Dream Plane: Glad that you liked the chapter! It was very fun to write I must say! I am so so happy that you thought the reunion was good!
For silverarrow: You draw? Man I wish I could do that! I am honored that you took the time to sketch things for my story! I am positive they are wonderful! I really appreciate all of the time that you put into your review and how diligent they are! I am so grateful as I read over them many times to get the motivation to write the next chapter :D You are a true gem of a reader and reviewer and if I could change the date to make every day a Saturday I totally would!
For Nymiriel: And your reviews make me very happy as well! I really am thankful that you have not given up on me just yet ;) And yes at this point I think that my whole story it just 100% pure drama and cliffhangers! Vielen Dank und bleib gesund!
And with that... enjoy chapter 62
Out of Mirkwood
Scribbles-on-Parchment
October 10, 2020
Chapter 62 – The Elven King
Êmand blocked a sword swipe from a charging orch before pulling back and delivering a stabbing strike to the creature's chest. He nodded once in grim satisfaction as the creature fell then turned his attention back towards where he had seen Legolas. To his great disappointment the golden-haired elfling was no longer there. Had it all, in fact, just been some kind of twisted dream or delusion on his part?
The eldar lashed out at another orch. It was all in his head - it was just his tired mind playing tricks on him. It had to be, for the young prince, who he had loved as a son, was dead. His soul now resided in the Halls of Mandos with his naneth. Another pang of sorrow struck at Êmand's heart. What kind of evil magic did these creatures bring with them that allowed them to summon such illusions of the dead?
The Silvan ducked gracefully under an orch's sword that was aimed at his head. He ground his teeth in annoyance and cut at the creature's exposed legs. He wanted nothing more than to see these beasts burn for all of the pain and sorrow they had caused him over his long life.
As his assailant went down with a horrid screech, something caught Êmand's eye. By his feet and saw the green and gold fletched arrow buried in the head of an orch. The arrow was unique, crafted only for use by the youngest prince of the Greenwood. Could this truly still be an illusion or was it real after all?
The Silvan's head shot up as a cry of pain pierced the air. He would know that elven cry anywhere for it had haunted his nightmares for many days now. It had to be the young ellon; it had to be Legolas. It could be no other.
Instantly an angered look began to gather like storm clouds on the ellon's normally gentle brown eyes. His elfling, the one he had been sworn to protect, was in pain. Someone was hurting him.
Êmand's sword flashed as he began to viciously attack anything that got in his way as he tried to go towards the sound of Legolas's cry. Only one thought filled his mind now, he had to get to the princeling. The Silvan plowed through the grotesque bodies not caring as several of the yrch managed to deliver glancing blows to his arms. They were just scratches and would heal quickly.
A second later Êmand cut through the last line of creatures and found himself in a small opening in the midst of the battle. Many of his fellow elven soldiers had taken up positions around it, holding off any orch that tried to break through. Yet it was what they were protecting in the center of the small clearing that made the eldar freeze.
The king was kneeling on the ground enveloping a young ellon in his arms. The elfling's gold hair was falling out of several messy braids and an elegant quiver was strapped to his back. Êmand knew immediately that this had to be Legolas.
He hurried over to the two ellyn, stumbling in his rush to get to his ward. As soon as he caught sight of the elfling's face, his heart broke for the second time that day. A silver tear ran down Legolas's pale cheek, his dark lashes hiding the brilliant azure eyes from his view. The prince was shaking slightly, and it was obvious to Êmand that the eldar was trying desperately to hold back the flood of emotions that threatened to overwhelm him.
However, it was then that the Silvan spotted something that made his brow furrow in worry. The elfling's shoulder was soaked with blood. Already several large drops had fallen to the ground by the young Sinda's boots. Legolas was wounded.
The battle suddenly forgotten, Êmand crouched down beside father and son so he could look at the injury closer. It was a nasty stab wound and was no doubt very painful, but from what he could see it was not life threatening. Êmand breathed a quick sigh of relief.
"Legolas?"
The Silvan placed a gentle hand on the princeling's head, his voice barely above a whisper. He could still not believe that this was real and for a second, he almost feared his hand would not land on the soft golden locks, but it did.
At the sound of his name, the young elf raised his head, eyes blinking open. Legolas caught sight of his mentor and gave a smile that expressed so much hurt and longing that Êmand's throat grew tight.
"You should pay more attention next time."
Legolas's voice was soft, but it sounded glorious to the ellon's ears.
"Do not go using my own saying against me penneth."
Tamír choked out as he felt tears begin to run down his face. He could hold them back no longer.
Estel had lost sight of Maer as soon as the fighting had begun. When the elfling's sharp cry of pain had reached his ears, he had felt his heart drop. Had they truly just failed in their mission to protect the prince?
The human had then fought furiously to get to the elfling, but it had all been in vain. Tamír's cry to Legolas had sent him into even more of a frenzy. What was going on with the Sinda that he could not see?
Estel side stepped an orch swipe and cut the creature down before daring to look around. He had been separated from many of the elves of the escort and his brothers were now nowhere to be seen. Several green and brown clad Mirkwood elves darted past the human, not giving him a second glance, and flung themselves into a large gathering of the foul creatures as if trying to get to someone. They should never have run in here after Maer. They had needed a better strategy beforehand. This was all chaos and there seemed to be no plan just eldar against orch. Elven and yrch bodies were beginning to cover the ground around him making the young human slightly sick at the sight. He had been in battle before, but never one like this. This was more a never-ending skirmish than a war.
It was then that the man caught sight of Tamír. The Silvan was trading bows with a particularly large orch at the edge of the group of bodies. Estel cursed.
"Tamír!"
The Silvan whirled around at the sound of Estel's voice and glared at the human, "Where in the Valar have you been?"
The young human narrowed his eyes slightly at this question,
"Fighting yrch. Is there somewhere else I needed to have been?"
"With the prince."
Worry suddenly flooded the human's face as the cry of pain he had heard came once again to the forefront of his mind,
"Is he alright? Where is he? I heard him cry out."
"He is fine, I think. He is with his adar now."
Estel turned to where Tamír had inclined his head toward and frowned. A ring of Mirkwood soldiers surrounded several elves that were kneeling in the center. Estel caught a glimpse of golden-blond hair.
Maer.
The human brushed past Tamír and walked over to the circle of ellyn. The Silvan soldiers were doing their part to keep the yrch from getting to their king and prince and any creature that got close found themselves on the receiving end of a jab from a razor-sharp sword. They were not taking their job lightly.
Estel heard Tamír come up behind him as he approached a Mirkwood soldier. The ellon's face was splattered with black blood and he was bleeding heavily from a cut on his side, yet the eldar still narrowed his eyes and leveled his weapon at the man's chest, growling in accented Westron,
"Stop. If you come any closer do not think I will hesitate for a second to kill both of you."
Elladan could feel the tension in the air. It was so thick he felt as if he could cut it with a knife. He had led his ellyn into the fight after Legolas had suddenly charged because he had made a promise to stick alongside the Sinda and fight. As he and his twin had cut their way through the yrch, Elladan was dismayed to see the number of Silvan elves that lay slain. Had they arrived but twenty minutes before many of these lives might have been saved.
The Noldo drew his bow and shot an advancing orch through the heart even as it bore down upon the unprotected back of a Greenwood soldier. They had brought the fighting power that Thranduil's ellyn had needed to push back the yrch.
The two brothers continued to fight side by side as they cleared a great number of the foul creatures from their path. Gradually the yrch that charged at them grew less and less and it soon became clear that this part of the battle was about to be won. A loud cry from an orch echoed across the small clearing and it was not long before the remaining yrch headed the call and fled into the dark shadows and dense undergrowth of the forest.
It was then that Elladan was at last able to look around and see the true scale of the destruction and death that had occurred. Yrch bodies lay beside those of the eldar who had fallen. The leaves and small plants that covered the ground were splattered with blood, both black and red.
Slowly the ellyn from his escort gathered around him, clothing covered in the grim of war. The oldest twin was then left staring at a tight ring of Silvan soldiers. To one side of the circle he could see Tamír and Estel standing in front of one of eldar, clearly engaged in an argument.
Elladan sighed and glanced at his brother before leading his group over to the Mirkwood elves. As they drew near the ellyn that formed a tight circle crowded closer together and tightened their grips on their weapons. Several even drew bows and took aim at the other group.
"Peace mellyn," Elladan held his hands out in a sign of friendship and walked forward steadily until he was standing by Estel's side, "We are not here to harm you. We are fighting a common enemy."
The Silvan elves' faces were impassive. Behind the ring of ellyn the twin was able to catch a glimpse of a silver haired ellon striding towards them and a second later a commanding voice boomed,
"What is it that you want?"
The Silvan immediately parted allowing the Noldor to see an intimidating looking Sinda glaring furiously at him. Elladan saw the resemblance to Legolas immediately and knew that this had to be the king.
The Noldo quickly bowed his head and placed his hand over his heart in a sign of deep respect before responding,
"We have only come to return your son. We have been sent by Elron…"
"Dîn!" the Sinda's cold blue eyes bore into Elladan, "I do not wish to hear that name, for it has brought this forest only death and destruction."
"Hîr nín?" Tamír's voice came before the Noldo had to think of a response.
Thranduil let his piercing gaze land on the ellon who had moved to stand in front of Estel. The Silvan's face was pale as he gazed at the elven king.
"Tamír," there was a flicker of something deep in the king's eyes as he acknowledged the elf, but Elladan could not tell what it was, "I had not thought I would ever see you again."
"Mellon, I…" the Silvan began to speak but Thranduil cut him off.
"But now I am greatly disappointed that I have to set eyes upon you. It would have been better if you had never come back. Your presence will bring nothing but anger and heartbreak. You are no longer welcome here."
Elvish Translations:
orch – orc
naneth - mother
yrch – orcs
penneth – young one
maer – golden
mellyn – friends
dîn – silence
hîr nín – my lord
mellon – friend
