RATING: PG-13
DISCLAIMER: The characters from Lord of the Rings and their wonderful world are borrowed from J.R.R. Tolkien. The plotline and all other characters are copyright 2002 Emily (emi_kins@yahoo.com)
51.
Elenath watched in horror as the worst possible of all scenarios unfolded before her. Mirkwood's armies came upon the orcs at the same moment the dragon attacked from above, spewing hot flame from its mouth.
Gandalf quickly cast an anti-burning spell on the Elves and their armies, but the heat from the blast was intense to the point that Elenath feared that her human friends might pass out. In desperation she nocked an arrow and aimed it heavenward, firing two rapid shots at the horrible beast. They bounced harmlessly off of the dragon's scales and Legolas shouted over the din of the battlefield, "Do not waste your arrows! They will not pierce dragon flesh."
"Where is Galadriel and her magic arrows?" asked the princess as a wave of orcs attacked from all sides.
The answer was lost in the mêlée that followed. She prayed fervently for her young honor guard, that God would guide their swords and arrows, and looked heavenward, waiting for the dragon's next attack. An orc battled its way through her honor guard's protective circle and Elenath drew her sword with a slicing motion that took the horrible creature's head off.
The moment her hand touched the sword, it spoke to her with the voice of rushing waters. "You do well to place your trust in God instead of solely in your weapons. "
She shouted to her Heavenly Father as another orc broke through her guard, "In you I place my trust, O God! Do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me (Psalm 22:5)!"
The sword continued to speak even as she slew the second orc. "When you are afraid, trust in God. In God whose word you praise, in God you must trust. You should not be afraid. What can your enemies do to you?"
"I will trust and not be afraid," she answered, surprised to hear most of her honor guard shouting with her. "The Lord, The Lord is my strength and my song; He will be my salvation (Isaiah 12:2)!"
Elenath tried to take in the big picture while staying focused on her mission: to slay the dragon. She somehow needed to get close enough to the beast to use the only weapon she possessed that could harm it, and that was her sword. Taking a quick look around, she saw that Elrond and Thranduil were contemplating the same thing and that Gandalf seemed to be in the middle of a particularly difficult spell. Where was Galadriel? Perhaps she was having trouble breaking though the lines to meet them.
"The prayers of the righteous are powerful and effective," said the sword as a sudden volley of arrows flew at them. Raising their shields, they deflected all, but were certainly not out of trouble. It seemed that every orc within range of them had suddenly realized Elenath's whereabouts, and all were attacking her group.
"Death to Elenath!" they cried, "Kill the princess! Revenge will be ours!"
"Jesus help us!" entreated Susan, nocking arrow after arrow and letting fly as quickly as she could. Each one hit its target.
"God save us!" shouted Marcus, and Elenath cried out in a similar manner. Though they fought bravely it appeared that they would soon be overcome. Soon Elenath's entire honor guard was asking God for His help, even Legolas, and that was when a miracle happened.
The dragon appeared once again, swooping low for another pass and breathing a steady stream of fire as it did so. The heat was unbearable. In fact, Elenath truly expected to find herself mortally burned by the attack, but when she checked herself, she was not. Gandalf's magic did seem to be wearing off, however. She and her guard had to put out a few small fires on their clothing after the dragon had passed.
When they all looked up, their hearts were cheered, for it appeared that the fire had taken out about one third of the orkish army and confused the remaining creatures enough that King Thranduil's army was able to force them away from the dragon slayers.
The feeling of elation did not last long, however. In the brief moment of silence that followed, Elenath watched in dismay as Legolas slid from his horse, landing on the forest floor in a pool of his own blood, an arrow protruding from his side.
"Oh, Jesus," she breathed, her body going completely numb as she dismounted and rushed to his side. She could hear one of the lower-ranking Elves galloping over to them. "Oh, Melamin…" She took Legolas in her arms and kissed his forehead, relieved that he was still conscious, though barely so. "Legolas… don't you dare leave me." Her tears splashed onto his face.
"Amin hiraetha (I'm sorry)," he whispered, "Amin mela lle (I love you), Elenath. Fear not. Fear not for me and fight well, My Love."
His face looked peaceful and without pain, though she knew that he must be in agony. It almost shamed her to know that she wore her own pain and worry plainly on her face. "I will not let you down, My Prince," she replied and kissed him gently, determination creasing her brow. As she said a quick prayer, the Elf who had ridden to their aid lifted Legolas across his saddle and galloped away toward the palace at break-neck speed.
DISCLAIMER: The characters from Lord of the Rings and their wonderful world are borrowed from J.R.R. Tolkien. The plotline and all other characters are copyright 2002 Emily (emi_kins@yahoo.com)
51.
Elenath watched in horror as the worst possible of all scenarios unfolded before her. Mirkwood's armies came upon the orcs at the same moment the dragon attacked from above, spewing hot flame from its mouth.
Gandalf quickly cast an anti-burning spell on the Elves and their armies, but the heat from the blast was intense to the point that Elenath feared that her human friends might pass out. In desperation she nocked an arrow and aimed it heavenward, firing two rapid shots at the horrible beast. They bounced harmlessly off of the dragon's scales and Legolas shouted over the din of the battlefield, "Do not waste your arrows! They will not pierce dragon flesh."
"Where is Galadriel and her magic arrows?" asked the princess as a wave of orcs attacked from all sides.
The answer was lost in the mêlée that followed. She prayed fervently for her young honor guard, that God would guide their swords and arrows, and looked heavenward, waiting for the dragon's next attack. An orc battled its way through her honor guard's protective circle and Elenath drew her sword with a slicing motion that took the horrible creature's head off.
The moment her hand touched the sword, it spoke to her with the voice of rushing waters. "You do well to place your trust in God instead of solely in your weapons. "
She shouted to her Heavenly Father as another orc broke through her guard, "In you I place my trust, O God! Do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me (Psalm 22:5)!"
The sword continued to speak even as she slew the second orc. "When you are afraid, trust in God. In God whose word you praise, in God you must trust. You should not be afraid. What can your enemies do to you?"
"I will trust and not be afraid," she answered, surprised to hear most of her honor guard shouting with her. "The Lord, The Lord is my strength and my song; He will be my salvation (Isaiah 12:2)!"
Elenath tried to take in the big picture while staying focused on her mission: to slay the dragon. She somehow needed to get close enough to the beast to use the only weapon she possessed that could harm it, and that was her sword. Taking a quick look around, she saw that Elrond and Thranduil were contemplating the same thing and that Gandalf seemed to be in the middle of a particularly difficult spell. Where was Galadriel? Perhaps she was having trouble breaking though the lines to meet them.
"The prayers of the righteous are powerful and effective," said the sword as a sudden volley of arrows flew at them. Raising their shields, they deflected all, but were certainly not out of trouble. It seemed that every orc within range of them had suddenly realized Elenath's whereabouts, and all were attacking her group.
"Death to Elenath!" they cried, "Kill the princess! Revenge will be ours!"
"Jesus help us!" entreated Susan, nocking arrow after arrow and letting fly as quickly as she could. Each one hit its target.
"God save us!" shouted Marcus, and Elenath cried out in a similar manner. Though they fought bravely it appeared that they would soon be overcome. Soon Elenath's entire honor guard was asking God for His help, even Legolas, and that was when a miracle happened.
The dragon appeared once again, swooping low for another pass and breathing a steady stream of fire as it did so. The heat was unbearable. In fact, Elenath truly expected to find herself mortally burned by the attack, but when she checked herself, she was not. Gandalf's magic did seem to be wearing off, however. She and her guard had to put out a few small fires on their clothing after the dragon had passed.
When they all looked up, their hearts were cheered, for it appeared that the fire had taken out about one third of the orkish army and confused the remaining creatures enough that King Thranduil's army was able to force them away from the dragon slayers.
The feeling of elation did not last long, however. In the brief moment of silence that followed, Elenath watched in dismay as Legolas slid from his horse, landing on the forest floor in a pool of his own blood, an arrow protruding from his side.
"Oh, Jesus," she breathed, her body going completely numb as she dismounted and rushed to his side. She could hear one of the lower-ranking Elves galloping over to them. "Oh, Melamin…" She took Legolas in her arms and kissed his forehead, relieved that he was still conscious, though barely so. "Legolas… don't you dare leave me." Her tears splashed onto his face.
"Amin hiraetha (I'm sorry)," he whispered, "Amin mela lle (I love you), Elenath. Fear not. Fear not for me and fight well, My Love."
His face looked peaceful and without pain, though she knew that he must be in agony. It almost shamed her to know that she wore her own pain and worry plainly on her face. "I will not let you down, My Prince," she replied and kissed him gently, determination creasing her brow. As she said a quick prayer, the Elf who had ridden to their aid lifted Legolas across his saddle and galloped away toward the palace at break-neck speed.