by Blanton Cirith~
Chapter 8
Disclaimer: See chapter 1
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Legolas thought he heard orc voices further ahead, but was not certain. He was extremely weary, and at times it seemed like his senses had betrayed him. He had not slept the past two nights; instead, pursuing the orcs' trail. He couldn't sleep, since the orcs were traveling much faster than he. Legolas needed to catch up to them.
Following the sound, he discovered he had heard correctly. There were two orcs by a group of large boulders. They were obviously arguing about something.
'When don't orcs argue?' he thought, trying to keep his sense of humor somewhat intact, even though he felt like collapsing.
Slowly, so as not to make a sound, he strung his bow and aimed. Letting go, the arrow flew toward the first orc. With a low groan, the orc fell to the ground, and before the second one could call for help, Legolas had strung his bow once more. The two orcs lay dead on the ground, their black blood oozing from their wounds.
'Now...where is the rest of their group?' he thought to himself.
Suddenly there was a loud scream from beyond the trees. It was Winters' voice.
Legolas reached for another arrow, and crept quickly in the direction of her voice.
Moldurg finally put Winters down by a dead tree stump, and stepped back.
"We rest here, and continue on in an hour. If you want to sleep, now is the time," Moldurg said in his usual scratchy voice.
"I could never sleep with you animals making noise all the time," she retorted.
He snarled, and took his blade in hand. Another orc, who Winters learned was named Rilken, saw Moldurg, and ran toward him.
"No, you stupid fool! We need her alive!" Rilken insisted, as he took the blade from him.
"I can't stand her attitude. Rilk, Let me just hurt her a bit. I won't kill her," Moldurg pleaded, grabbing his blade from him.
Rilken rolled his eyes, and threw up his arms. "Fine, fine. But be quick about it." He muttered a few curses under his breath, and walked away.
"Aye, this will only hurt a little," Moldurg said with a grin, as he began to force the blade through her shoulder. She let out a piercing scream, and then couldn't stay conscious anymore.
Legolas came to a large rock, and crouched behind it. Looking from the side, he saw about ten orcs crowded around each other in discussion.
'The goblins must have gone ahead already,' he thought.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw an orc hovered over a small female figure. It was removing a blade from her shoulder, and was ready to strike again when Legolas shot an arrow straight into his side. The creature fell to the ground with a yelp, and Legolas crept over to a patch of thick trees. He stood behind one of them, and heard a harsh voice speaking to the others saying "Search the area!"
Making sure it was clear, Legolas made his way to where Winters lay. He picked her up, and began to turn to leave silently, but Rilken was blocking the way.
"You're not going anywhere," Rilken stated.
Legolas reached for his dagger, and took a few steps back. One by one, other orcs came and made a circle around him. Holding Winters up with one arm, and the dagger in his other hand, he turned around to see that they had surrounded him. Frantically Legolas looked for a gap between them, but they kept coming in closer. Escape seemed completely dim at that moment, and he almost gave up hope.
Just then, the neigh of a horse could be heard, and the sound of hooves came closer and closer. A hooded rider came into view, sword in hand. The man was clad in a long green cloak, and a brown cape. He rode toward the circle of orcs, and severed the heads of two of them. The rider came to the center of the circle next to Legolas. The horse jumped to its hind legs out of fear, and the rider slew three others of the enemy. Legolas didn't know what to do.
"Get her up!" he said from under the hood.
Legolas didn't hesitate. He lifted Winters and let her rest behind the rider. Legolas jumped up behind, and held her to make sure she didn't fall. The mysterious ally had slain two more orcs, and was fighting a third with his sword. The orc's blade went for the rider's arm, and cut a long slash through his hand. A sharp intake of breath could be heard from under his hood, and he withdrew his hand in pain. Switching his sword to the other hand, he slew the orc's neck.
They could hear shrill wails of more goblins running toward them from the woods behind, and the rider kicked his horse. They rode as fast as lightning, and the enemy slowly drifted out of view.
"Who are you?" Legolas asked when the goblins could no longer be heard.
"A friend," he answered.
They rode onward, and Legolas fell asleep before long, entirely exhausted. His head rested on the back of Winters' neck, and he still had his hands around her waist so she wouldn't fall. After sunset, they stopped. The man dismounted, and slightly shook Legolas to wake him. He lifted his head and looked at him. The rider threw back his hood to reveal the face of a fair, middle-aged man with dark hair. He reminded Legolas so much of Aragorn, and he wondered why this man had helped him.
"I ask again...who are you?" Legolas said.
"My name is Halbarad," he answered.
"Why have you helped us?" he asked, dismounting from the horse.
"I am a Ranger from the North. I was sent by my lord and friend, Aragorn."
"Aragorn sent you?" Legolas asked with a sudden burst of enthusiasm. "He is alive and well, then?"
Halbarad nodded. "As is the dwarf fellow he traveled with."
"Gimli!"
"Yes, that was his name. I could not remember. How is she?"
"Not well at all," Legolas said, getting Winters down from the steed and laying her gently on the cool grass. "Her shoulder's been severely wounded." Legolas tore a piece of his cloak, and pressed it to her wound, trying to stop the excessive bleeding.
"Have you any experience with healing?" Legolas asked.
"Enough to save her, I gather. The wound is large, but luckily not deep," he replied, examining her shoulder. "Whoever did this did not intend for it to kill her."
Halbarad got to his feet, and took his water canteen from where it laid on the back of the horse, and came back beside them. Kneeling on the ground, he slowly poured some of the water on her wound. Winters hissed at the water's contact, but didn't move. Her body ached too much to move.
Halbarad handed the canteen to Legolas after he had finished applying it to Winters' shoulder. Legolas gladly received it, for he had not eaten or drank for two days; but he drank it sparingly, leaving plenty for Winters.
"Legolas, I believe I have bandage material by Gilar's saddle. Quickly!" Halbarad told him, keeping the piece of Legolas' cloth pressed on her wound.
Legolas stood, and started looking around, seeming very confused.
"Gilar?" he asked.
"The horse!" Halbarad exclaimed.
"Oh!"
Legolas stumbled over to Gilar, and cut the strings that held a small pouch on the saddle with his dagger. He tossed the small, green pouch to Halbarad, and with Halbarad's free hand he caught it. His left hand still pressing the cloth on Winters' wound, Halbarad ripped the pouch open with his teeth, and turned to Legolas.
"Pull it out,' the Ranger said.
Legolas reached in and pulled out a small, white bandage, and placed it on Winter's bare shoulder. Pulling her cloak back over her shoulder, Halbarad stood.
"That's all we can do for now. I do not know of special herbs used for healing. If Aragorn were here, he would do better than I," Halbarad said.
"Should we make a fire? It would keep her warm," Legolas insisted.
Halbarad hesitated for a moment, and for the first time realized how cold it was. The air was like a frozen mist that chilled them inside as well; like the coldness traveled straight to their soul. Halbarad shivered, and looked back at Gilar to see if he had a blanket for Winters, but there was none. He glanced back at Legolas and nodded.
"Very well; but a small one. The enemy must not know our location if we are to remain safe for now. Make sure she stays close to the flame."
After Legolas had built the fire, he sat solemnly by Winters. Looking over to her, he brushed the hair away from her face. Suddenly, she opened her eyes and smiled.
"It is appeasing," she said softly.
"What is?" he asked, stroking her hair.
"You being the very first thing I see waking up from a nightmare," she replied, sitting up.
"How do you feel?" Legolas asked.
"Like I've just had some of Sam's cooking," she replied, gripping her shoulder in pain.
"You feel that badly?" He said with a laugh.
Winters smiled as she looked at him, and for a moment all her pain disappeared in his gaze. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw something glint, and she looked down at his neck. She gasped, and moved closer. Reaching toward his necklace she said "My ring; you found it!"
"Yes. The chain was broken, so I had to carry it on this," he said, removing his necklace, and slipping Winters' ring off the twine. She grabbed it, and put it on her finger. Legolas lifted an eyebrow.
"What is so important about that ring?" he asked curiously.
She seemed nervous, and turned away. "Legolas...I haven't exactly been entirely truthful about some things."
"Oh?" he asked, moving closer.
She was silent for a moment, and then leaned forward to whisper in his ear.
"Three rings for the Elven kings under the sky..." she whispered slowly.
His eyes widened, and he looked back down at the ring on her finger.
"One of the three?" he said.
"Yes," she replied. "I said before the Great River that Galadriel had kept me secret and why, but there is more."
She sat adjacent to Legolas so they were face to face. She reached for his hand, and held it gently. Speaking softly, Winters continued.
"The three rings; Elrond has one, Galadriel has one, and Celebrìan used to have one. When I discovered you were on this perilous quest of the One Ring and your Company needed a guide, I offered. I wanted to see you again, and to make sure you and your companions got safely past the River. Galadriel thought it best that all three Elven rings should not be in the same place. Elrond was in Rivendell with one of the rings, but Galadriel and Celebrìan were both in Lorien. Since I was going with the Fellowship away from Lorien, my mother entrusted me with the ring of Celebrìan. Since I am Galadriel's daughter as well, I am of noble blood and can bear it. If the two major Elven cities, Rivendell and Lorien, were besieged, Sauron would not have all three Elven rings in his grasp. One would still be out of his knowledge....that would be me."
They both spoke no word. Finally, Winters broke the silence.
"If my memory serves...this is the third time you have saved my life. Why?"
He hesitated for a moment, and then spoke. "Because I could not, in right heart, call myself descent if I allowed another to be killed when I could prevent it."
"Why, Legolas?" She asked again.
"Because I felt that it was the right thing to do," he replied with a look of distress.
"The real reason,"she said grasping his hand tighter.
"Because..." he placed his hand on her cheek, and leaned toward her. "Because when I look in your eyes, I know that I love you," he said, and moved forward to kiss her.
After a moment, their lips parted and they remained motionless in each other's grasp. Halbarad appeared from beyond the trees. He was out of breath, and running toward his horse, Gilar.
"The goblins found our trail, and they're following us at a high speed. We must leave now if we are to survive. Thank the Valor you Elves are light, or else Gilar could not carry all three of us. Come, let us leave immediately. We haven't much time."
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Yay! Chapter 8 is complete. Well, I'm going to huddle up by my computer with a bowl of Corn Flakes and start on Chapter 9 :)