It was then that the first Orc appeared in the clearing.
Legolas heard the creatures, but did not turn. He quickly moved Arwen up a strong branch, whispering gently to the tree in Elvish at the same time- asking for its protection for one of his kin.
"Legolas!" he heard his brother call in an apprehensive tone. He hardly knew what that meant until the first blow from an Orc axe came- hard towards his head. But quick instinct and reflexes saved his life- as it would for most elves- as Legolas ducked and stepped back rapidly.
The axe glanced by hitting the wind with tremendous force, leaving him staring horrifically at an ugly Orc. Its face was full of foulness and evil surrounded its every move.
However, in that one decisive frozen moment he stood, the Orc had already decided out of blind anger to swing again; barely did Legolas escape a second time. Silently he cursed himself for his supposed "gift" with the forest, one that he had almost killed him while he was supposed to be preparing a defense or attack with his brother. The thought that this gift had helped him save his cousin never occurred to him.
But Legolas was not given time to think about that as the Orc in front of him dropped dead on its feet, an arrow piercing its heart. The elf gasped for breath as the body flung on top of him before he could move; and in that one instant, he caught sight of his brother. Nimthôn was rapidly fighting his way towards him, his movements a blur with skill. Orcs fell left and right. But even as Legolas all but flung the dead Orc away from him, he knew that the older prince would not survive within a matter of time if the attack continued like this. Even though his brother was an excellent fighter, even considered among his own people, the waves of Orcs coming against a single elf should be simply too much. His suspicions were confirmed when he saw Nimthôn falter for a second, but regain footing soon after that.
As inexperienced as he was, he knew that he would have to act quickly. Drawing out his knives, Legolas ran forward- a few of the Orcs sensed him, and started heading his way. The elf drew back his blade to strike the nearest one.
But suddenly the young prince stopped, his blade mere inches from striking the rough skin of the enemy. Despair took root.
_________________
Legolas thoughts sank deep within his soul, and in those few precious moments of time, he thought fervently of all that he, the youngest prince of Mirkwood, stood for. The Orcs were his enemies- they would always be. But during his childhood and early youth, the elf had often watched and listened to the trees speak. For they were wise; they had lived since the dawn of time when Middle-Earth was created. And in those songs he had heard stories of peace, of pleasures before evil took its root among the world. And he wondered if there was a time when Orcs and Elves lived together in peace- for the origin of Orcs was not talked about and unknown to the prince at the time. Legolas could not bring himself to strike blade against flesh of his enemy, a living creature after all. He could not bring himself to kill his enemy- even in this time of war. The young elf did not want to kill. So instead, he retreated backwards and drew out his bow.
__________________
An arrow sang true as it struck the arm of one attacking Orc. But a few seconds later, his arrow wounded another. The ground wasn't long before it became covered with Orc blood.
Firing rapidly and injuring many, Legolas soon became the other victim (besides his brother) that the Orcs were focusing their attacks on. He didn't know it, but by that time other defenders of Mirkwood had arrived. However, it was then when help arrived that he needed it the most- as he began firing his 12th arrow, Legolas found that there was no room for him to fire anymore. The Orc in front of him knew it also; it laughed maliciously at the elf, its thin lips curled up in a cruel smile, showing off its foul yellow teeth.
Then it lifted up its weapon to deal the final blow.
(A/N- Did you REALLY think I was going to make this a cliffhanger? Well, yes.)
Legolas knew it was going to be his end if he didn't act quickly. But then a thought reached him with ferocious speed: This is my first skirmish. Other elves have survived thousands of battles- and I am a prince! I must not- I WILL NOT disappoint my people and my family!!! So the elf did the last thing he wanted to do. He found his blade, and struck first with blind quickness and anger, hitting the Orc's armor and partly into his side. The Orc fell as Legolas became saddened immediately by its misfortune. But his enemy was not done yet. It heaved a final blow (or as Legolas thought) towards him, while the prince leapt back a moment too late. The iron weapon hit his head hard… his vision swam around him and he staggered. The last thing he saw before he fell unconscious was a tree- a Weeping Willow among the beautiful bed of greens in his forest. And the Orc that Legolas thought he had killed stood dizzily back up. Only wounded in the slightest because of its protective armor. It dragged Legolas near some bushes- a safe hiding spot for a captive of Orcs- and went back to the battle.
_________________________
(A/N- One of the Orcs will play a very important role in this story. Also, Legolas' "gift" is simply his way of understanding his forest better than most elves. Thanks to all of you who reviewed! Please Review! ; )
Legolas heard the creatures, but did not turn. He quickly moved Arwen up a strong branch, whispering gently to the tree in Elvish at the same time- asking for its protection for one of his kin.
"Legolas!" he heard his brother call in an apprehensive tone. He hardly knew what that meant until the first blow from an Orc axe came- hard towards his head. But quick instinct and reflexes saved his life- as it would for most elves- as Legolas ducked and stepped back rapidly.
The axe glanced by hitting the wind with tremendous force, leaving him staring horrifically at an ugly Orc. Its face was full of foulness and evil surrounded its every move.
However, in that one decisive frozen moment he stood, the Orc had already decided out of blind anger to swing again; barely did Legolas escape a second time. Silently he cursed himself for his supposed "gift" with the forest, one that he had almost killed him while he was supposed to be preparing a defense or attack with his brother. The thought that this gift had helped him save his cousin never occurred to him.
But Legolas was not given time to think about that as the Orc in front of him dropped dead on its feet, an arrow piercing its heart. The elf gasped for breath as the body flung on top of him before he could move; and in that one instant, he caught sight of his brother. Nimthôn was rapidly fighting his way towards him, his movements a blur with skill. Orcs fell left and right. But even as Legolas all but flung the dead Orc away from him, he knew that the older prince would not survive within a matter of time if the attack continued like this. Even though his brother was an excellent fighter, even considered among his own people, the waves of Orcs coming against a single elf should be simply too much. His suspicions were confirmed when he saw Nimthôn falter for a second, but regain footing soon after that.
As inexperienced as he was, he knew that he would have to act quickly. Drawing out his knives, Legolas ran forward- a few of the Orcs sensed him, and started heading his way. The elf drew back his blade to strike the nearest one.
But suddenly the young prince stopped, his blade mere inches from striking the rough skin of the enemy. Despair took root.
_________________
Legolas thoughts sank deep within his soul, and in those few precious moments of time, he thought fervently of all that he, the youngest prince of Mirkwood, stood for. The Orcs were his enemies- they would always be. But during his childhood and early youth, the elf had often watched and listened to the trees speak. For they were wise; they had lived since the dawn of time when Middle-Earth was created. And in those songs he had heard stories of peace, of pleasures before evil took its root among the world. And he wondered if there was a time when Orcs and Elves lived together in peace- for the origin of Orcs was not talked about and unknown to the prince at the time. Legolas could not bring himself to strike blade against flesh of his enemy, a living creature after all. He could not bring himself to kill his enemy- even in this time of war. The young elf did not want to kill. So instead, he retreated backwards and drew out his bow.
__________________
An arrow sang true as it struck the arm of one attacking Orc. But a few seconds later, his arrow wounded another. The ground wasn't long before it became covered with Orc blood.
Firing rapidly and injuring many, Legolas soon became the other victim (besides his brother) that the Orcs were focusing their attacks on. He didn't know it, but by that time other defenders of Mirkwood had arrived. However, it was then when help arrived that he needed it the most- as he began firing his 12th arrow, Legolas found that there was no room for him to fire anymore. The Orc in front of him knew it also; it laughed maliciously at the elf, its thin lips curled up in a cruel smile, showing off its foul yellow teeth.
Then it lifted up its weapon to deal the final blow.
(A/N- Did you REALLY think I was going to make this a cliffhanger? Well, yes.)
Legolas knew it was going to be his end if he didn't act quickly. But then a thought reached him with ferocious speed: This is my first skirmish. Other elves have survived thousands of battles- and I am a prince! I must not- I WILL NOT disappoint my people and my family!!! So the elf did the last thing he wanted to do. He found his blade, and struck first with blind quickness and anger, hitting the Orc's armor and partly into his side. The Orc fell as Legolas became saddened immediately by its misfortune. But his enemy was not done yet. It heaved a final blow (or as Legolas thought) towards him, while the prince leapt back a moment too late. The iron weapon hit his head hard… his vision swam around him and he staggered. The last thing he saw before he fell unconscious was a tree- a Weeping Willow among the beautiful bed of greens in his forest. And the Orc that Legolas thought he had killed stood dizzily back up. Only wounded in the slightest because of its protective armor. It dragged Legolas near some bushes- a safe hiding spot for a captive of Orcs- and went back to the battle.
_________________________
(A/N- One of the Orcs will play a very important role in this story. Also, Legolas' "gift" is simply his way of understanding his forest better than most elves. Thanks to all of you who reviewed! Please Review! ; )