The elves had to seek refuge from heavy rains in the mountains. One of the horses injured its leg trying to trot up a slippery slope. Elrond healed the poor creature, but they'd lost an ugly sum of necessary supplies that had dropped over the cliff when the horse fell. Elrond suggested to Thranduil that they retreat from down the mountain and take an alternate route by flat land if circumstances turned too dire.
"How long will you stay, Legolas, after we've returned home?" Alasse asked curiously.
"I was thinking of remaining for a week before returning to Minas Tirith." Legolas answered.
"I cannot wait to return there either! But I have much ahead of me to do before that time comes."
"Mmm-hmm. Like pine over poor, lonesome Estel, right?" Legolas gave her an evil look.
"Oh, hush." Alasse rolled her eyes and swatted his arm. "I should like to see Dale again, and pay a visit to an old and very dear friend. His days are numbered, and I fear that he hasn't many left, Legolas." Alasse said sadly.
"Ai." Legolas agreed. "It's been a very long time." Suddenly, Alasse's breath hitched and she winced. "What's wrong?" Legolas asked, touching her arm. "Are you alright, muinthel?"
Alasse blinked and breathed hard. Legolas noticed that her hand went to her stomach. Her gut was burning inside and she moaned painfully. "Alasse, are you in pain?" He asked worriedly.
"I...y-ye...I don't know why..." Alasse panted.
"I'll fetch Lord Elrond!" Legolas exclaimed, panic smacking him in the face.
"Legolas! No, w-wait!" Alasse told him, clutching his arm. Legolas knelt in front of her, clasping her arms. He barked in Elvish at two guardsto get Elrond quickly.
"Alasse, I'm here. Just try to breathe, alright?" Legolas tried to speak calmly. Alasse looked up at her brother with frightened eyes.
"Legolas, we are in danger! Something evil is about to descend on us...quickly!" She told him frightfully.
"What are you talking about?" Legolas swallowed.
"I...I can feel it." Alasse replied, holding her drilling middle even tighter. "It's drawing closer!"
"What has happened?" Elrond asked firmly as he appeared, Thranduil right behind him.
"She's hurting, my lord! I think it's her wound." Legolas answered, looking up anxiously at the healer. Elrond knelt next to her and placed his hand on her shoulder and rubbed her wrist, checking her pulse rate.
"Alasse?" Thranduil gulped. Alasse looked up at him. His piercing blue eyes were wide with panic and deep fear.
"Ada, we..." She tried to speak.
"Hir nin! Hir nin Thranduil!" Several guards called out frantically as they came running up to their king. "My lord, something is out there, drawing near! And it is not of a cordial intent, I fear." One of the guards explained. Legolas gaped at him then to his sister. She met his eyes in alarm. Legolas instantly rose to his feet and marched to the guard.
"What did you see?" He asked.
"Dangerous creatures, my lord. They are lurking in the shadows. I fear they sense our presence. They are swift. I am afraid we cannot outrun them." The guard answered. Legolas brushed passed the troop to see for himself. He strode to the trail, on a ledge, overlooking a river below. He listened hard and peered around to the countryside.
Alasse's breathing was rapid, and the pain was excruciating. Elrond had shifted her to sit back against the rocky wall where he monitored her vitals. Thranduil stood there watching, scared stiff. "How did this start, Alasse?" Elrond asked as he carefully ran his gentle hand over her abdomen, searching for anything amiss.
"I..it just..." Alasse said shakily.
"Ada!" Legolas called urgently as he came running back to them. "Ada, we are under attack! Wolves are almost upon us. We will not be able to outrun them!"
"Wolves?" Alasse froze.
"Release the horses!" Thranduil ordered. "Find a safe place of stealth, arms at the ready! Be prepared to defend yourselves!" He unsheathed his great sword. Legolas hurried off to help his men set the horses free. Thranduil looked down at his daughter. "Get her under the rock, Elrond. Keep her safe!" Thranduil pleaded.
"But, Ada..." Alasse protested.
"Come, child. Move!" Elrond declared, pulling her to her feet and shoving her behind himself as they backed away under a ledge that provided a small shelter. Elrond drew his sword and Alasse drew her rod and her dagger. "Stay behind me, Alasse." Elrond urged her, looking back at her with his infamous warning glare. Alasse bit her lip with fright and clutched her weapons.
Thranduil was spinning his two swords, ready to slay the four-legged devils that were daring to harm his people, his family! "The horses have fled, Ada." Legolas told him.
"Good. Get somewhere safe!" Thranduil urged him. They could hear the wolves' bounding paws and panting breaths as they drew closer. Thranduil swiftly, majestically whirled around and it was a good thing he did! Not two seconds later, a menacing-looking wolf leaped from the rocks above the king's head and was aiming for his throat. Thranduil glowered and with one swipe, he slit the animal's neck, sending its lifeless carcass down into the abyss.
The whistle of trained arrows hissed through the air as wolves bore down on them like a pack of warg riders. The elves easily shot the predators down, but then some of the wild canines chose a smarter tactic and preyed on the elves from behind. One of the guards was preoccupied, shooting one above his head that he did not hear the monster approach until it bit down hard on his wrist. He screamed in agony and tumbled to the ground, trying to fend off the hateful beast. Legolas shot the wolf and noticed to his dismay that more wolves were coming from all directions.
Two wolves crept into the hole, cornering Alasse and Elrond. Elrond charged at them and easily struck both of them down dead. Alasse scurried closer back to the outside. Drawing her bow, she squeaked with fear and fired quickly, just hitting a wolf that nearly jumped her father from behind! Elrond was whirling around, wielding his Noldor sword, killing off any wolves in his path.
Thranduil stood tall and formidable, even in the midst of such peril, using his weapons to slash the foul creatures. Not only a few times, Alasse gasped when she thought he was done for, with him only to whirl in the nick of time and save himself.
"They're drawing nearer." Elrond muttered. "Stay here!" He told Alasse as he raced out of the small cave and ran in the opposite direction, leading the wolves away from the princess. Alasse crept closer to the mouth of the cave, shooting arrows. She shuddered as she could hear painful screams of the other elves as they were attacked. How many were already wounded? Was Legolas one of them?
"I have to help more!" She exclaimed and slightly revealed herself out into the open. Only a little, but it was enough! A wolf from above the ledge was shot down and fell against her as its body tumbled, making her stumble. Then another wolf lept at her, startling her so that this time she fell. She backed away from it and shakily tried to reach for her dagger from her belt, but the wolf was gleaming right at her and nearly standing over her, his vicious teeth snarling with malice. Alasse froze. She was an elf, a warrior. She wasn't supposed to freeze! She was supposed to fight! But something seemed to be holding her back, to the point that she couldn't pull out her weapon to defend herself. Then her stomach began hurting again, excruciatingly. She shrieked and backed away from the animal. The wolf prepared to pounce.
Then it howled and dropped dead on the rocks. Legolas stood above it, spinning his dagger. He gaped down at his sister with worry. She just stared at him, looking very much like a scared little elfling. He pulled her to her feet. "Get back in!" He barked. Alasse snatched her fallen bow and staggered back inside, holding her middle. It was still burning inside. Alasse began to cry. She felt so stupid, and childish, and worst of all...useless.
In no time, the wolves were disposed of. Thranduil quickly scanned the area for the fallen. To his relief, Legolas was still very much alive. He had a few cuts but at least he was standing! "Alasse..." Thranduil gulped.
"She's safe, Ada. I do not know if she is hurt, but she's safe." Legolas panted. Then he turned on his heel to oversee the wounded. Elrond stepped up to Thranduil.
"I looked out over across the valley and the mountains. As far as I can see, there are no more wolves." Elrond said.
"Well met." Thranduil's shoulders sagged in relief. "We cannot stay here. We must move on."
"Let me check the wounded first. Some of them might be too weak to carry themselves." Elrond said. Thranduil nodded his approval then went to find his daughter.
He found her sitting back against the wall, staring blankly straight ahead. Thranduil quickly scanned her over with his eyes. She appeared petrified, but as far as he could tell, no grievous wounds, thank Eru! "Are you hurt, my love?" He asked.
"No." Alasse said in a little voice. She hung her head. "How many, Ada?"
"I do not know yet. Legolas is looking them over. But I wanted to check on you first, and make sure you were alright." Thranduil said solemnly.
"I'm fine. Better off than most of them most likely!" Alasse snapped. Thranduil knelt beside her, and wrapping his arm around her shoulder, pulled her to himself and kissed her head.
"I'm just glad you're safe." Thranduil crooned. Alasse felt disgusted with herself.
"I want to help them, Ada. I have to!" She blurted out.
"No. I want you to stay in here. You've had a rough time, darling. You should rest." Thranduil said firmly.
"I am not hurt, Father." Alasse looked up at him angrily. "My people fought to keep me safe, and who knows how many of them are dead, or close to it? I have to take care of them." She stood up and stiffly walked out. Her father couldn't help but notice that she was still trembling.
"Legolas, how many?" Alasse asked sadly.
"Nine injured, four of them serious." Legolas answered. "We are preparing the litters that we dropped from the horses when we let them go. The sooner we move out of here the better. Though I cannot say if some of them will be able to be transported." Alasse's face fell and tears filled her eyes. Legolas touched her shoulder. "How are you, muinthel?" He asked carefully.
"I'm uninjured, muindor." Alasse mumbled. "I...have to...help Lord Elrond." She brushed passed him.
"I'm going to scout the path ahead. Make sure there are no more unforeseen dangers." Legolas told his father.
"Not alone, you're not!" Thranduil protested.
"I will be fine, Adar. We can't afford to risk the lives of anymore of our troops."
"Then I'm going with you!" Thranduil demanded. He ordered six uninjured guards to stand by.
"My lord, let me help." Alasse said pleadingly. Elrond looked up at her in surprise.
"Are you up to it, penneth?" He asked seriously. Alasse nodded. She still looked very shaken but she stood her ground. "Alright. I would appreciate it. Can you find any extra healing packs? I'm afraid one won't be enough."
"Yes, Sir." Alasse said quickly. A few minutes later, she'd returned with two healing packs.
"Thank you, Alasse." Elrond said gratefully. He was kneeling beside an ellon with brown hair. The elf was prostrate on his back. His hip was bleeding profusely and he was shaking and moaning in great pain.
"What do you want me to do?" Alasse asked.
"Try to calm him and keep him still while I treat his injured side." Elrond said. Alasse noticed the other elves who could stand that were doing their best to look after the other hurt ones till Elrond could tend them. Alasse's fondness for her people grew. She was proud of the way they banded together in times of trouble.
Alasse leaned down and stroked the stricken elf's sweating face. "Shh. Lie still, Voronwe (faithful)." She crooned. "It's alright." The male elf opened his pained eyes and stared at her in disbelief.
"My lady..." He panted anxiously.
"Shh. Stay still. Lord Elrond needs you to remain still, so he can help you." Alasse said quietly.
"I should be looking after you! Not...the other...way around..." Voronwe said guiltily.
"You already have. Now try to rest, my friend. We're going to look after you." Alasse smiled warmly. Voronwe smiled wearily.
Elrond was having a difficult time stopping the bleeding. He added extra pressure to Voronwe's open wound with the cloth bandages under his fingers and began chanting in Elvish, pouring his energy into the wounded warrior. Voronwe fidgeted in pain as he felt the extra pressure on his side and he gritted his teeth bitterly. Alasse held his hand and let him squeeze as he needed to. Soon he became calmer and drifted into a peaceful sleep. Elrond managed to stop the bleeding, stitched the wound, then tightly bound it with bandages. Alasse called two of her guards to keep watch over Voronwe as she and Elrond moved on to the next elf.
"How is she?" Elrond asked as he knelt down next to a pale, crying elleth.
"Not good, my lord." Bellethiel, (strong one) one of the guards said gravely. "She's lost a lot of blood. The gash goes down clear to the bone. I do not know if we can save her arm! And she took another nasty bite to the calf."
"Let me take a look." Elrond said, gently taking the young elleth's right arm which was swaddled in now red-stained bandages. He frowned deeply when he saw the wolf bite. It was indeed very serious. Then he examined her bleeding thigh. The wound was also deep and bleeding badly.
"Am I going to die, my lord?" The elleth asked in a weak whisper. Elrond looked down at her.
"There is still hope, little one." He said encouragingly, but he was not about to tell her how fragile that hope really was. She was running out of time. She'd already lost considerable blood and she was still bleeding. He asked two more elves to come assist them. Alasse crouched toward the elleth's head.
"We're not going to lose you, Lindethiel (melody)." Alasse smiled at her, stroking her pale face. "You've fought valiantly tonight. Rest now and let us fight for you!"
Lindethiel smiled up at her mistress. "Thank you, brennil vuin (beloved lady)." She said softly. "I'm glad you are safe!"
"Look at me, Lindethiel...melleth nin." Talathardon (grassy plain), the male guard kneeling close to her murmured. Lindethiel gazed up at him lovingly. He took her hand in his and kissed it. "Gi melin (I love you)."
When Thranduil and Legolas returned to report on the safety of the roads ahead, they were dismayed to arrive to the gut-wrenching cries of mourning. The two of them hurried back to the camp, and there found Alasse and Bellethiel weeping together. Elrond was dutifully tending the other serious patients. Alasse and Bellethiel were kneeling at the side of a familiar elleth. And a distraught Talathardon cradled Lindethiel in his arms, rocking her beautiful but now lifeless form back and forth as he sobbed over her body.
6 Hours Later
The elves finally stopped to rest and Elrond checked over the wounded, making sure the trek to safer land hadn't perjured their fragile states. Everyone was in a dismal mood. Talathardon had been so shattered by Lindethiel's death, that as soon as they'd pulled him away from her, he'd thrown himself over the cliff. There was nothing anyone could do for him. The elves all wept for losing two of their beloved friends. But gradually, they'd had to pull up stakes and move on.
"As soon as we find a path, we are getting off of these mountains and heading for flatter ground!" Thranduil declared to Elrond. "This qualifies as alternative."
"I think that is wise, my friend." Elrond agreed. He rubbed his face sorrowfully.
"Are you alright, mellon?" Thranduil asked. Elrond glared at the landscape in front of him.
"I tried to give her hope." Elrond berated himself. "I tried to save the child."
"You did your best, my friend." Thranduil assured him.
"I know. I only wish I could've done more! Then maybe we wouldn't have lost two wonderful young people tonight."
Bellethiel had cried ever since they'd left the spot where the wolves attacked them. She'd been very close to Lindethiel, thinking of her as an adoptive little sister. She'd been inconsolable. Elrond had finally taken her hands and sang an Elvish sleeping spell over her, then Thranduil had carried the broken female warrior over the rough terrain while Legolas and Alasse helped with the other injured elves.
Legolas found Alasse sitting with Bellethiel on the ground under a silver fir tree, cradling the servant's head in her lap and caressing her face. "There are still tears in her eyes." Alasse said mournfully. It had been two hours since Elrond had put Bellethiel to sleep.
Legolas sat down next to his sister, his knees drawn up to his chest. "She counted herself Lindethiel's older sister. They loved each other as such." Legolas whispered. Alasse winced.
"It's not fair!" She cried.
"No. It's not!" Legolas agreed.
"This is my fault." Alasse whimpered. Legolas gaped at her and scooted closer.
"That's not true, dear muinthel." He said softly.
"I told Lindethiel it would be alright! I told her...she'd be with us. I lied to her! I gave her false hope!" Alasse wailed.
"No." Legolas shook his head tearfully, and wrapped his arm around her. She dropped her head on his chest.
"While she was out here getting herself killed to protect us...to protect me, I was hiding! Hiding in the shadows, wallowing in my fear, like a spineless squirrel."
"Don't do this to yourself, darling." Legolas begged, brushing hair out of her face.
"You trained me to be a warrior, Legolas. And warriors do not cower! When that wolf came after me, I...I froze! A warrior keeps fighting. But I just lay there, frozen with fear! I'm a coward!" Alasse sobbed.
"Alasse..." Legolas tried to speak but was cut off by her violent sobbing. He kissed her head and silently wept himself over the loss of their friends.
I won't let my people die for me when I cannot fight my own battles! Not again! Alasse thought. I will fight for them. When I get back to the Wood, I am going to learn to fight fiercer and stronger, until I am as skilled as Ada. Forgive me, Lindethiel and Talathardon. Oh, please forgive me, my friends!
Oh, Nana! I do not know if I can fulfill this destiny you told me that I am put here for!
