Thanks reviewers, action coming, Riley--NOW!! Lots of hacking and slashing in this part--Yuck!!
Chapter 24--Attackers In The Night
Jaisia and Legolas set up camp that night and ate supper. Jaisia insisted on taking the first watch. She waited for awhile then moved to Legolas' side. She peered into his sleep-glazed eyes. She had always been fascinated by the way Legolas slept. She gently brushed a lock of gold hair away from his face, tucking it behind one delicate pointed ear. "Sleep well, soul-brother," she whispered then returned to her watch.
After four hours Legolas took over the watch while Jaisia got some sleep. Legolas had been on guard about an hour when he spotted ten men on horseback coming straight at them. "Jaisia, wake up!!" he shouted. No sooner then he shouted the riders charged them. Legolas took his bow, notched and fired an arrow at the lead rider.
The arrow should have pierced the rider's heart, but to Legolas' shock it ricocheted like it had hit a solid wall and went harmlessly to the left. "Jaisia!! Hurry!!" he shouted over his shoulder.
Jaisia was at his side an instant later, sword in hand. "What are you waiting for? Shoot!!" she asked.
"It isn't working," Legolas said. He notched and shot again, aiming at another rider, only to have the same thing happen. "They're protected somehow!!"
Jaisia cursed. "Then it's all blade work!" she said.
Legolas slung his bow over hi shoulder and drew his daggers as the men reached them.
Jaisia lunged at the nearest attacker and stuck. Her blade slashed across one's face, taking both his eyes. He screamed once before Jaisia second stroke gutted him like a trout. He fell in a shower of blood.
The men formed a ring around them and slowly tightened it. They were surrounded and trapped in the midst of their enemies.
Legolas hissed in pain as a sword sliced his arm. He slashed at the man with his dagger, but he wasn't close enough. He threw himself forward into a roll to avoid a blow that would have cleaved his skull. He came to his feet fast and slashed a deep cut into his attacker's thigh.
The man paid no heed to the wound and turned his horse to come after Legolas. He was laughing as he did so. He slashed at Legolas' stomach viciously.
Legolas leaped back out of range then, though he hated to do it, threw one of his daggers. It sank into the man's throat up to the hilt. The man gagged and clawed at his throat as blood sprayed from between his fingers. He fell to the ground with a heavy thud. Legolas tore his dagger free. Four other men charged at him and the other four charged Jaisia. "Surrender, elf and it will not be so painful," one said. "Fighting us will make it worse."
"Nay, I will not," Legolas snapped defiantly. Another man went down with one of Legolas' daggers in his eye.
Jaisia cursed as she separated an attacker's head from his shoulders, blood sprayed everywhere and the severed head bounced across the grass like a ball as the corpse fell. Another fell, gutted like a deer.
Legolas was slowly beginning hemmed in and overwhelmed by the attackers. He was trading feints and thrust with one man when he was seized from behind. A man had dismounted behind him while he was distracted and grabbed him. He started to struggle, but froze when a dagger was pressed against his throat, drawing blood.
"Stop, centaur or I'll cut his throat here and now!" the man warned.
Heh, heh-- R/R please!!! Or the Elf gets it!!!! Am I serious?----Maybe so, maybe not….