Disclaimer: Full disclaimer on first page.
Special thanks to Alida Fruit for her editing!
Chapter Four
Chapter Four
Legolas stood and leapt back with his inherent elven speed, managing to avoid the first swing of the dwarf's axe. The second came closer, and the third closer still. The elf was tired and weakened from his wound, and could not keep this up.
Ori drew back to swing once again, but halted the move as something leapt directly into his path, roaring and snarling.
Legolas blinked in shock as the black wolf positioned himself in between the elf and dwarf. Teeth bared and eyes glaring, its fur bristled up threateningly, making it seem larger than it was. It fully passed the dwarf in height, being one head taller.
The dwarves backed off in shock, before Ori rushed in again. Shouting, he swung his weapon at the wolf. The creature jerked back, growling.
"Hold! Do not raise your blade again, dwarf, or you die," a cold voice said from their left.
Turning in the direction of the voice, the elf and dwarves saw a dark haired elf maiden with fathomless black eyes holding her twin swords lightly and easily. The wolf growled low in its throat and moved to stand near her side.
"What are you doing in our camp?" she asked, taking in the dwarves and the wounded Legolas.
"'What are we doing?' I think 'what are you doing?' should be the question! We have come this way many times to reach Moria, where our Lord Balin dwells! You are not the one to claim our campsite of old!" Ori snarled, hefting his axe.
"We shall move then. We have no need of battle," Sirithiliel said softly, though her eyes were narrowed dangerously. She gestured curtly to Legolas, eyeing him in warning.
Legolas debated which way to go. He is caught between a dwarf with an axe and an elf with a bow. Legolas paused, his gaze shifting from Ori, to the elf and the wolf. His shoulder throbbed and he felt torn about where his best chances of survival lay. Yet, if he were to be prisoner of any, he would take his chances with his fellow elf. He would not give the dwarves the satisfaction of being at their mercy.
He nodded; knowing his best chance at surviving unharmed would be with her. He walked carefully over to her, while the dwarves glared. Raising her blades, she approached the dwarves.
"You do know you travel with the Prince of Mirkwood, do you not?" the dwarf asked, trying to stall for time and figure out a way to get both elves out of the way with out harm coming to him or any of his dwarves.
"Aye," Sirithiliel answered. She did not know that fact about the elf's rank, but she masked her surprise well.
Sheathing her blades, she turned and left, with Legolas and Tamulis following, leaving the dwarves stunned at their abrupt departure. When they were well enough away from the dwarves, she turned to Legolas.
"Now that I have finally caught up to you, Prince, I suggest we discuss the matters that are most pressing," she said, watching him carefully.
Legolas was confused by why she had hunted him, and now she wanted to talk. With a nod, he waited for her to continue.
"You are not from Rivendell, I realize that now. But you have visited it, and I was ordered to question you about the Mornelithe. Have you heard of it?" she said, resolute in her decision to question, then release the elf.
Legolas's confusion was sincere. He had never heard of it, whatever it was. Shaking his head, he thought to everything he had heard about from Rivendell.
"No, I have not heard anything about this 'Mornelithe'." He looked up in sudden trepidation, realizing she might kill him for having no answers.
With a frustrated sigh, she scanned the mountain slope, absently stroking Tamulis.
"Very well then, I have no choice. I was ordered to kill you, but I won't. You will come with me to my camp; it would not bode well for you if you were discovered alone, for you are injured. Now, a word of warning, there is great tension in the band lately, a splitting of loyalties. Some might look for any reason to spite my oldest brother, who has angered many of them. He has claimed leadership of the band, and many resent that. Do not anger any there or you'll be slain, by their hand or someone else's. They look for a reason to fight with each other. If you follow my orders, you shall live to reach Rivendell." Saying it the way she did, Legolas knew he had no choice.
~*~*~*
Aragorn stared in shock, surprised by how easily the elves had maneuvered him into this clever trap. He had no way of getting out. He probably would have been taken then and there had not an arrow suddenly whipped by one of the elf's head, causing them to snap around to face a large orc.
Aragorn was relieved and shocked. He did not know there were orcs in this cave. There were none when he and Legolas had come through, and it was a relatively small tunnel through the mountain. Taking advantage of the situation, Aragorn fled.
~*~*~*
Teysrol did not know what happened. One moment, they had the ranger cornered, and then they were fighting fiercely with orcs, while the human slipped away.
Turning swiftly, he beheaded one orc, and used the back swing to disembowel another. A sword flashed at his right, and he twisted to counter the blade, trapping it between his two swords and thrusting up, causing the orc to stagger back. Teysrol flipped his blade over his hand in a blink of an eye, and sent his blade in high. Flipping it again, he sent it the same way, then suddenly he reversed it, and the only reason he missed his mark was because the orc's head was already flying.
"Well done!" his brother called from across the room. Savarre was fighting with the same techniques. Their father, who had learned much when he lived in Lothlorien many years ago, had taught Rilian, Savarre, Teysrol, and Sirithiliel how to fight and survive. Their father was now dead, but his teachings had transformed his offspring into formidable warriors.
A low swipe with an axe brought Savarre's attentions down, and he would have missed it had not two blades intervened and crossed over each other, trapping the enemy's weapon. Looking up into the determined face of Sirithiliel, Savarre had to admit he was glad to see her. A flash of blonde to his right revealed the ranger's companion, the one he had shot. He felt a bit guilty at the sight of the elf as he twirled, weakened on his left but making up for it with his right. Turning, Savarre plunged back into the fray.
~*~*~*
Sirithiliel led the elf prince towards the camp, and it would be a good three days travel to reach it, and they had been passing the cave the ranger and her brothers had gone into, when Tamulis perked up and paused for a moment in front of it. Legolas, who had been eyeing the cave with longing, had to stop suddenly to avoid hitting the wolf. Watching it curiously, Legolas and Sirithiliel were surprised when the wolf bounded into the cave with a snarl.
Quickly following, they heard the unmistakable sounds of battle echoing through the cave and used it to guide them. Sprinting through the dark halls, they were able to cover more ground faster than Teysrol, Savarre, or Aragorn did, since the two elves had been walking carefully.
Seeing the mass of orcs against the two elves and their wolves, Sirithiliel leaped in without hesitation. Swinging her blades low, she caught an axe that was aimed for Savarre's legs between her blades, and she kicked up between the hilts to have her foot connect squarely with the orc's face. It stumbled back, howling. Straightening, she slid one blade into the creature's chest, using the other to block a blow from her right, and as the first orc doubled over she put her foot on its bowed shoulder and pushed. The shove dislodged the sword, and she turned to attack another.
Her swords flashed out, weaving a protective barrier around her, defeating every attack. Sirithiliel turned in a full circle, her swords flowing around her, every turn bringing her blades cutting at a different height and angle.
Legolas wished many times he could use his bow, but with his wounded shoulder he could not. He whirled around, using every move he knew to dispatch the orcs with his two long knives.
Ducking under a high spear thrust, he sent one knife in to separate the spear handle from the metal tip, rendering the weapon harmless. Spinning, he used the momentum to whip around and pierce another.
"Were these filthy orcs here when you passed through?" Sirithiliel shouted to Legolas as she fought. If they had been, there was no way the elf prince and his ranger friend could have gotten through.
"No! They were not any where around here when my friend Estel and I came through!" Legolas shouted back, cutting his blades across at neck height to cause another orc to back off.
With a curse, Sirithiliel moved out of the way of an orc who had been thrown by Savarre.
Teysrol shouted to Savarre to join in a double barrier. Legolas had no clue what they were speaking of, but Savarre and Sirithiliel evidently did, for Savarre dashed over to Teysrol and Sirithiliel motioned for Legolas to move.
"Get out the way! They're going to plow through, and clear the way for the exit!" she shouted at him. Legolas nodded and got out of their way quickly.
Getting back to back, Teysrol had his right foot against Savarre's left, and his right elbow beside Savarre's left. Being that way prevented many attacks, and was a good defense. They began to spin in slow circles, moving towards the exit that led away from Rivendell. An orc would see Teysrol's unprotected back, and dash forwards, only to meet Savarre's swords. Using this routine, they managed to get a clear path to the exit. Orcs were still massing behind them, so the elves with their wolves dashed down it.
~*~*~*
Aragorn had crept around the orcs as they engaged the two elves in battle, trying to get through them so that he could continue down towards Rivendell. He needed his father's help, and he needed to find Legolas. He was not able to escape easily, for three orcs blocked his path and he had to fight through them. Two he managed to cut down, but the third surprised him with a double maneuver and Aragorn felt a deep burning in his chest. The orc had managed to get a blade through his defenses and was coming on fast. Whiling under the first swing, Aragorn used his opponent's speed to whip around and dispatch him. He managed to squeeze past two oblivious orcs and sprinted down the dark corridor, seeing the glimmer of light in the distance that meant the exit was near.
Bec: I'm glad you like it, and I hope you stay hooked! (
Queen Elizabeth: You had reviewed my first story, hadn't you? I don't think I will let them get rid of their troubles easily.
Lackeyluver: They'll get out of it, but you'll have to wait to find out how.
Darkwind: Yes, the dwarves are from Moria.
Leggyluver03: There is a little bit of Aragorn suffering for you, more will be up in the next chapter. Don't worry, none of it is too series!
Niori: I would not have a dwarf kill Legolas! Don't be silly.( Glad you like.
Dawbfire: Thank you for your review, I bet it would be unexpected. Interesting name.
Amber: You're the second one to wish that, I might have to do something similar. (
Palantir: Good! I was trying for suspenseful, thank you!
Firesong: I do? I thought I was pretty descriptive. I work on that. Thanks!
Gwuenehavar: I would be surprised if I saw them again too!
Special thanks to Alida Fruit for her editing!
Chapter Four
Chapter Four
Legolas stood and leapt back with his inherent elven speed, managing to avoid the first swing of the dwarf's axe. The second came closer, and the third closer still. The elf was tired and weakened from his wound, and could not keep this up.
Ori drew back to swing once again, but halted the move as something leapt directly into his path, roaring and snarling.
Legolas blinked in shock as the black wolf positioned himself in between the elf and dwarf. Teeth bared and eyes glaring, its fur bristled up threateningly, making it seem larger than it was. It fully passed the dwarf in height, being one head taller.
The dwarves backed off in shock, before Ori rushed in again. Shouting, he swung his weapon at the wolf. The creature jerked back, growling.
"Hold! Do not raise your blade again, dwarf, or you die," a cold voice said from their left.
Turning in the direction of the voice, the elf and dwarves saw a dark haired elf maiden with fathomless black eyes holding her twin swords lightly and easily. The wolf growled low in its throat and moved to stand near her side.
"What are you doing in our camp?" she asked, taking in the dwarves and the wounded Legolas.
"'What are we doing?' I think 'what are you doing?' should be the question! We have come this way many times to reach Moria, where our Lord Balin dwells! You are not the one to claim our campsite of old!" Ori snarled, hefting his axe.
"We shall move then. We have no need of battle," Sirithiliel said softly, though her eyes were narrowed dangerously. She gestured curtly to Legolas, eyeing him in warning.
Legolas debated which way to go. He is caught between a dwarf with an axe and an elf with a bow. Legolas paused, his gaze shifting from Ori, to the elf and the wolf. His shoulder throbbed and he felt torn about where his best chances of survival lay. Yet, if he were to be prisoner of any, he would take his chances with his fellow elf. He would not give the dwarves the satisfaction of being at their mercy.
He nodded; knowing his best chance at surviving unharmed would be with her. He walked carefully over to her, while the dwarves glared. Raising her blades, she approached the dwarves.
"You do know you travel with the Prince of Mirkwood, do you not?" the dwarf asked, trying to stall for time and figure out a way to get both elves out of the way with out harm coming to him or any of his dwarves.
"Aye," Sirithiliel answered. She did not know that fact about the elf's rank, but she masked her surprise well.
Sheathing her blades, she turned and left, with Legolas and Tamulis following, leaving the dwarves stunned at their abrupt departure. When they were well enough away from the dwarves, she turned to Legolas.
"Now that I have finally caught up to you, Prince, I suggest we discuss the matters that are most pressing," she said, watching him carefully.
Legolas was confused by why she had hunted him, and now she wanted to talk. With a nod, he waited for her to continue.
"You are not from Rivendell, I realize that now. But you have visited it, and I was ordered to question you about the Mornelithe. Have you heard of it?" she said, resolute in her decision to question, then release the elf.
Legolas's confusion was sincere. He had never heard of it, whatever it was. Shaking his head, he thought to everything he had heard about from Rivendell.
"No, I have not heard anything about this 'Mornelithe'." He looked up in sudden trepidation, realizing she might kill him for having no answers.
With a frustrated sigh, she scanned the mountain slope, absently stroking Tamulis.
"Very well then, I have no choice. I was ordered to kill you, but I won't. You will come with me to my camp; it would not bode well for you if you were discovered alone, for you are injured. Now, a word of warning, there is great tension in the band lately, a splitting of loyalties. Some might look for any reason to spite my oldest brother, who has angered many of them. He has claimed leadership of the band, and many resent that. Do not anger any there or you'll be slain, by their hand or someone else's. They look for a reason to fight with each other. If you follow my orders, you shall live to reach Rivendell." Saying it the way she did, Legolas knew he had no choice.
~*~*~*
Aragorn stared in shock, surprised by how easily the elves had maneuvered him into this clever trap. He had no way of getting out. He probably would have been taken then and there had not an arrow suddenly whipped by one of the elf's head, causing them to snap around to face a large orc.
Aragorn was relieved and shocked. He did not know there were orcs in this cave. There were none when he and Legolas had come through, and it was a relatively small tunnel through the mountain. Taking advantage of the situation, Aragorn fled.
~*~*~*
Teysrol did not know what happened. One moment, they had the ranger cornered, and then they were fighting fiercely with orcs, while the human slipped away.
Turning swiftly, he beheaded one orc, and used the back swing to disembowel another. A sword flashed at his right, and he twisted to counter the blade, trapping it between his two swords and thrusting up, causing the orc to stagger back. Teysrol flipped his blade over his hand in a blink of an eye, and sent his blade in high. Flipping it again, he sent it the same way, then suddenly he reversed it, and the only reason he missed his mark was because the orc's head was already flying.
"Well done!" his brother called from across the room. Savarre was fighting with the same techniques. Their father, who had learned much when he lived in Lothlorien many years ago, had taught Rilian, Savarre, Teysrol, and Sirithiliel how to fight and survive. Their father was now dead, but his teachings had transformed his offspring into formidable warriors.
A low swipe with an axe brought Savarre's attentions down, and he would have missed it had not two blades intervened and crossed over each other, trapping the enemy's weapon. Looking up into the determined face of Sirithiliel, Savarre had to admit he was glad to see her. A flash of blonde to his right revealed the ranger's companion, the one he had shot. He felt a bit guilty at the sight of the elf as he twirled, weakened on his left but making up for it with his right. Turning, Savarre plunged back into the fray.
~*~*~*
Sirithiliel led the elf prince towards the camp, and it would be a good three days travel to reach it, and they had been passing the cave the ranger and her brothers had gone into, when Tamulis perked up and paused for a moment in front of it. Legolas, who had been eyeing the cave with longing, had to stop suddenly to avoid hitting the wolf. Watching it curiously, Legolas and Sirithiliel were surprised when the wolf bounded into the cave with a snarl.
Quickly following, they heard the unmistakable sounds of battle echoing through the cave and used it to guide them. Sprinting through the dark halls, they were able to cover more ground faster than Teysrol, Savarre, or Aragorn did, since the two elves had been walking carefully.
Seeing the mass of orcs against the two elves and their wolves, Sirithiliel leaped in without hesitation. Swinging her blades low, she caught an axe that was aimed for Savarre's legs between her blades, and she kicked up between the hilts to have her foot connect squarely with the orc's face. It stumbled back, howling. Straightening, she slid one blade into the creature's chest, using the other to block a blow from her right, and as the first orc doubled over she put her foot on its bowed shoulder and pushed. The shove dislodged the sword, and she turned to attack another.
Her swords flashed out, weaving a protective barrier around her, defeating every attack. Sirithiliel turned in a full circle, her swords flowing around her, every turn bringing her blades cutting at a different height and angle.
Legolas wished many times he could use his bow, but with his wounded shoulder he could not. He whirled around, using every move he knew to dispatch the orcs with his two long knives.
Ducking under a high spear thrust, he sent one knife in to separate the spear handle from the metal tip, rendering the weapon harmless. Spinning, he used the momentum to whip around and pierce another.
"Were these filthy orcs here when you passed through?" Sirithiliel shouted to Legolas as she fought. If they had been, there was no way the elf prince and his ranger friend could have gotten through.
"No! They were not any where around here when my friend Estel and I came through!" Legolas shouted back, cutting his blades across at neck height to cause another orc to back off.
With a curse, Sirithiliel moved out of the way of an orc who had been thrown by Savarre.
Teysrol shouted to Savarre to join in a double barrier. Legolas had no clue what they were speaking of, but Savarre and Sirithiliel evidently did, for Savarre dashed over to Teysrol and Sirithiliel motioned for Legolas to move.
"Get out the way! They're going to plow through, and clear the way for the exit!" she shouted at him. Legolas nodded and got out of their way quickly.
Getting back to back, Teysrol had his right foot against Savarre's left, and his right elbow beside Savarre's left. Being that way prevented many attacks, and was a good defense. They began to spin in slow circles, moving towards the exit that led away from Rivendell. An orc would see Teysrol's unprotected back, and dash forwards, only to meet Savarre's swords. Using this routine, they managed to get a clear path to the exit. Orcs were still massing behind them, so the elves with their wolves dashed down it.
~*~*~*
Aragorn had crept around the orcs as they engaged the two elves in battle, trying to get through them so that he could continue down towards Rivendell. He needed his father's help, and he needed to find Legolas. He was not able to escape easily, for three orcs blocked his path and he had to fight through them. Two he managed to cut down, but the third surprised him with a double maneuver and Aragorn felt a deep burning in his chest. The orc had managed to get a blade through his defenses and was coming on fast. Whiling under the first swing, Aragorn used his opponent's speed to whip around and dispatch him. He managed to squeeze past two oblivious orcs and sprinted down the dark corridor, seeing the glimmer of light in the distance that meant the exit was near.
Bec: I'm glad you like it, and I hope you stay hooked! (
Queen Elizabeth: You had reviewed my first story, hadn't you? I don't think I will let them get rid of their troubles easily.
Lackeyluver: They'll get out of it, but you'll have to wait to find out how.
Darkwind: Yes, the dwarves are from Moria.
Leggyluver03: There is a little bit of Aragorn suffering for you, more will be up in the next chapter. Don't worry, none of it is too series!
Niori: I would not have a dwarf kill Legolas! Don't be silly.( Glad you like.
Dawbfire: Thank you for your review, I bet it would be unexpected. Interesting name.
Amber: You're the second one to wish that, I might have to do something similar. (
Palantir: Good! I was trying for suspenseful, thank you!
Firesong: I do? I thought I was pretty descriptive. I work on that. Thanks!
Gwuenehavar: I would be surprised if I saw them again too!