Back to the present…I'm sure it does little good to dwell too much in the
past. Now the action is beginning to hot up…finally…
* * * * *
The long sunny afternoon continued, dappled sunlight falling on the faces of the two elves as they walked on through the forest. Both had archery equipment with them, for, as usual, they were planning to practise their skill, but that was second most in their minds. For now they relished the time spent together.
'You have been back in North Mirkwood for a couple of years now, Legolas, and I'm starting to think you'll be leaving soon,' Lóriel murmured. 'How much longer are you going to stay?'
'Well…' Legolas hesitated. Then as fear sprang onto Lóriel's face, he quickly continued. 'I have left the South Mirkwood guard, and returned here. They have little need of me there, peace reigns throughout Middle- earth. So I have come back here to live.'
'Really truly?' Lóriel asked, hardly daring to believe what she was hearing.
'Really truly!' He smiled at her. 'How long have we known each other, Lóriel? Years upon years upon years. And yet we've spent little time together since we were but children. But now we have all the rest of time before us!'
Lóriel said nothing, wishing she had the courage to speak what her heart felt. Finally she said 'But if something should come between us…'
Legolas caught her hand. 'Nothing will, Lóriel, even though people should tear us apart, my thoughts will always be with you.'
'And mine with you,' she whispered. Her heart lifted. Nothing could come between them. Even if she had only his friendship, that was enough.
Legolas glanced at her. 'Are you feeling alright?'
'Pardon? Oh, of course, just thinking about the future … nothing really…' Her voice tailed off, and she tightened her grip on Legolas' hand. He turned her to face him.
'Lóriel, you know if there's anything you have bottled up inside you, you can tell me…' He wanted to tell her that he would listen because he loved her, but his fear of her rejection would not let him speak further. Her dark eyes looked up at him, pleading, but she did not speak.
'Lóriel…' Legolas began, then a sound made him start, loosening his grasp. The pair twisted around, searching for the origin of the noise
Another faint cry floated towards them on the breeze. They turned in its direction, straining their ears. Then they heard a tumult of cries, the unmistakable crackle of fire and then, drifting towards them on the same wind that brought the cries of terror, black smoke. Both elves seized their bows and notched an arrow on the string. Then, with a silent nod to each other, they began making their way towards the sounds.
Fires lit up the surrounding forest as the small elven dwelling burned. Lóriel, first on the scene, ducked behind a bush, motioning her friend behind her. They stared in horror at what they saw. A troop of men, armed with burning brands and long swords, were causing devastation to the village. The elves were massively outnumbered, but they fought on bravely. The men aimed at the male elves, slaughtering them ruthlessly, then turned to the women and children they were attempting to protect. Trussing them up, they set a guard on them, the gleaming swords a dread warning as they lay across the throat of a child.
Legolas shook himself out of the stupor of horror. Nudging Lóriel, he whispered 'We must get the children and women out somehow. You keep yourself hidden and fire at them, causing as much distraction. Meanwhile, I will slip around and free the women and children. Keep hidden at all costs. If you think you are about to be captured, run, as hard and as fast as you can. Yes, you must,' for Lóriel was shaking her hear, denying his last words. 'You must run to Sorendeth, and tell them of this and bring back reinforcements.'
He notched another arrow on his bowstring and crept off into the forest. Her heart pounding, Lóriel gave him twenty seconds to get away, then loosed an arrow. It struck it target, straight through the throat. Red lifeblood gushed out, and for an instant Lóriel froze. Her mind screamed at her, You've killed a living person! But then she saw clearly the destruction the men were wreaking on her people, and her heart hardened. She set another arrow to the string and sent it singing into the mob.
* * * * *
The long sunny afternoon continued, dappled sunlight falling on the faces of the two elves as they walked on through the forest. Both had archery equipment with them, for, as usual, they were planning to practise their skill, but that was second most in their minds. For now they relished the time spent together.
'You have been back in North Mirkwood for a couple of years now, Legolas, and I'm starting to think you'll be leaving soon,' Lóriel murmured. 'How much longer are you going to stay?'
'Well…' Legolas hesitated. Then as fear sprang onto Lóriel's face, he quickly continued. 'I have left the South Mirkwood guard, and returned here. They have little need of me there, peace reigns throughout Middle- earth. So I have come back here to live.'
'Really truly?' Lóriel asked, hardly daring to believe what she was hearing.
'Really truly!' He smiled at her. 'How long have we known each other, Lóriel? Years upon years upon years. And yet we've spent little time together since we were but children. But now we have all the rest of time before us!'
Lóriel said nothing, wishing she had the courage to speak what her heart felt. Finally she said 'But if something should come between us…'
Legolas caught her hand. 'Nothing will, Lóriel, even though people should tear us apart, my thoughts will always be with you.'
'And mine with you,' she whispered. Her heart lifted. Nothing could come between them. Even if she had only his friendship, that was enough.
Legolas glanced at her. 'Are you feeling alright?'
'Pardon? Oh, of course, just thinking about the future … nothing really…' Her voice tailed off, and she tightened her grip on Legolas' hand. He turned her to face him.
'Lóriel, you know if there's anything you have bottled up inside you, you can tell me…' He wanted to tell her that he would listen because he loved her, but his fear of her rejection would not let him speak further. Her dark eyes looked up at him, pleading, but she did not speak.
'Lóriel…' Legolas began, then a sound made him start, loosening his grasp. The pair twisted around, searching for the origin of the noise
Another faint cry floated towards them on the breeze. They turned in its direction, straining their ears. Then they heard a tumult of cries, the unmistakable crackle of fire and then, drifting towards them on the same wind that brought the cries of terror, black smoke. Both elves seized their bows and notched an arrow on the string. Then, with a silent nod to each other, they began making their way towards the sounds.
Fires lit up the surrounding forest as the small elven dwelling burned. Lóriel, first on the scene, ducked behind a bush, motioning her friend behind her. They stared in horror at what they saw. A troop of men, armed with burning brands and long swords, were causing devastation to the village. The elves were massively outnumbered, but they fought on bravely. The men aimed at the male elves, slaughtering them ruthlessly, then turned to the women and children they were attempting to protect. Trussing them up, they set a guard on them, the gleaming swords a dread warning as they lay across the throat of a child.
Legolas shook himself out of the stupor of horror. Nudging Lóriel, he whispered 'We must get the children and women out somehow. You keep yourself hidden and fire at them, causing as much distraction. Meanwhile, I will slip around and free the women and children. Keep hidden at all costs. If you think you are about to be captured, run, as hard and as fast as you can. Yes, you must,' for Lóriel was shaking her hear, denying his last words. 'You must run to Sorendeth, and tell them of this and bring back reinforcements.'
He notched another arrow on his bowstring and crept off into the forest. Her heart pounding, Lóriel gave him twenty seconds to get away, then loosed an arrow. It struck it target, straight through the throat. Red lifeblood gushed out, and for an instant Lóriel froze. Her mind screamed at her, You've killed a living person! But then she saw clearly the destruction the men were wreaking on her people, and her heart hardened. She set another arrow to the string and sent it singing into the mob.