CHAPTER 2: Of foes and choices
The forest of Greenwood the Great had been the realm and the home of the Silvan Elves for many a generation, as to the reckoning of years by men. It was by great struggles and continual effort that these elves had managed to combat the ongrowing power of Dol Guldur, and with the help of the Istari, the Eldar finally expelled the Necromancer from their lands. However, and in spite of their efforts, their beautiful home had been scarred by the stirrings of evil, and a black shadow had fallen over the mighty forest, making it thus impossible to remain Greenwood. So was born the history of Mirkwood, the elven kingdom of the Silvan; the dark shadow a memory and a reminder that evil would not leave the world unharmed in its passing. Yet, the hearts of the Silvan rested in the woods, and they lived in joy under the protection of the ancient trees, wandering in the great forests that grow tall.
The years had gone by, swift for some and slow for others, but one thing remained certain: the world was changing. The forces of evil had reappeared, and some had even dared to venture into their realms; orcs, wargs, spiders, and a vast number of the servants of Mordor had been seen close to elven lands. The Eldar felt this, and something needed to be done; the foul creatures had to be driven away and back to whence they had come.
A few rays of sunshine made their way through the thick treetops and allowed a view of the world inside the Black Forest. The light played with the branches of the trees, and it lingered among the leaves and bushes. The dark of the night was fleeing from the day's soft rays, and the shadows hid inside the crevices of the old tree trunks and rocks, creating a cascade of light that whirled around the woods. The gloom of the night was forgotten in the morning's welcoming appearance. The air seemed now to be renewed, fresher, purer, after the coming of dawn. The continual song of the birds was missing, but the spectacle created by the bouncing rays seemed to enliven the forest.
Legolas was the last of the company to leave the glade that had served as a night camp. In front of him, he beheld his partners moving across the woods with swift strides. They were attempting a deep push to cover the distance of two full days' journey in one day and one night, in order to reach Lonnath at least by dawn the next morning. As he eyed his companions, he wandered whether their thoughts were the same as his own.
Thalion and Maegron were at the front of the line. Both of them had served together for a long time, even before Legolas could remember; that alone was saying much. They had a deep knowledge about each other and the Mirkwood Forest. From time to time, Legolas was able to see their straying eyes that scanned the forests with eagerness, and at some other times, he could see them gazing to each other. When he was younger, Legolas was convinced they could read each other's mind with just one of those looks. A gleam of good humor graced the prince's countenance as he thought of his own ingenuity, and he smiled at the recollection; yet, all too soon, his face became sober again. 'The times that run now are not such as to allow any distraction' he thought, as his eyes focused again on the line of elven warriors making their way through the forest.
Linnathon walked very close to him. The sturdy elf watched the movements of the party with peering eyes, sometimes permitting his gaze to wander along to the sides where the trees flanked their path like hills do a valley. Linnathon turned to grin at him, and signaled with his arm to direct his eyes toward the party, where Meren was already complaining about the sore muscles of his legs. Both warriors showed amused expressions when Faelon threw a branch at him to stop the whining. This gesture was followed by a snort from Meren and repressed giggles from both Ninniach and Medlin. Edregol turned back to look at Legolas, and winked. Thalion and Maegron also turned back, but said nothing; only glanced at each other, showing broad smiles.
-"Meren will never change." -Linnathon turned and said to him, as he struggled to prevent from bursting into laughter.-"It might be better that way. Not everything should be gloomy and ill-humored." Legolas studied his friend's countenance as he said this; the twinkle of the eyes had vanished, and his face was changed into an expression of grave alertness. Legolas nodded, and both of them started their way again.
As they advanced further into the woods, the light that had surrounded them grew fainter as the trees and plants grew taller. Oaks and cedars abounded in the forests of Mirkwood, and they reached such heights it was no wonder the sun rays could barely touch the areas closer to the ground. Legolas' eyes had to adjust to this change in the illumination of the place, but after a while he began to distinguish again the different shades of green and brown in the trees and the surrounding woods. His ears were able to pick the sound of light footsteps from his companions who marched ahead, but other than that the forest seemed undisturbed. He knew that great caution should be exercised in all their proceedings, yet he could not help wonder why Thalion was so intent in having scouts go ahead and behind the party. Only this was a sign to him that something was amiss, and stretching his senses to their full capacity he went along the trail, his eyes never resting in their search for signs or warnings of danger. And sooner than he could have thought, they found one.
Gazing into the shrubs that railed the path, his eyes were forced to stop at a corner where bent twigs and branches were scattered carelessly over the trodden ground. Linnathon heard Legolas stop, and leaped to his side, where he kneeled beside him.
-"This is not right," -was all Linnathon said, but lifted his head to look upwards.
-"Whatever it is," -Legolas said as he examined the broken branches, -"It is a creature of some intelligence." -The branches had been ripped from the trees, and the shrubs were bent in a way that made them think something had been dragged along that trail.
-"Well, what do you figure?" -asked Linnathon, who lifted one of the twigs to reveal an even cut. He passed his fingers along the surface of this shoot, as he eyed Legolas.
-"Knives?" -asked Legolas, who now stood and moved his head around, searching intently for some other signs of the mysterious creatures. Narrowing his eyes, he sneered, as if he dreaded to utter the words, -"Yrch?"
-"I cannot think of something else. This has been done with full knowledge. I wonder how they have managed to come this far without us taking notice of it," -Linnathon said, with an air of chagrin.
-"They must have been coming from the west. We have been following the trail that leads us to the north. That way we could not have crossed their path."
-"But this looks like some sort of trap," -Linnathon said as he lifted some of the branches, -"Why would they have bent these branches in this fashion? They probably wanted to make us think a beast of the forest had stirred this shrubs. Fool creatures!" -and he tossed the branches in a surge of anger.
-"Do you think they are trying to distract us?" -Legolas asked, -"Even that would be too much for a band of Orcs. They are not that smart."
Linnathon turned to him with a puzzled look; it was obvious a new idea was entering his head, and he listened attentively to Legolas.
-"They are blunt and loud. If they were close, we would have heard them sooner. I dread to think these Orcs are getting that cunning as to device such a strategy!" -Legolas said, and kneeled again, taking one of the twigs in his hand, -"Or, if they have, this proves their folly yet again. There are no creatures in this forest. Nothing else could have stirred these bushes."
-"It would be impossible to tell when did they cross this path, but it has not been long ago. Look!" -and he handed to Legolas a branch that still showed traces of sap on its surface.
-"We should not stray from the group," -he finally said as he rose, -"But we need to determine the strength of this threat."
-"Legolas, we must alert the others. Let us follow, and be attentive to any further disturbances. The road ahead does not show signs of their passing," -Linnathon said as he pointed in the direction the others had traveled where the ground showed no prints. -"Thalion must be made aware of this."
Linnathon started to walk again in search of the captain who now was a long way ahead of them. His stride appeared confident, but Legolas noticed he had carefully grabbed the handle of his knife and was now in position to attack if it was needed. Legolas mimicked his attitude, and searched for his bow.
They moved swiftly across the forest. 'We were detained long' Legolas thought, as he realized they had to walk a regular way before reaching the rest of the group. It did not take them too long, but the distance seemed even greater in view of the news they had to speak. However, both him and Linnathon were startled instead when they found their companions standing at the edge of a clearing, some kneeling and some scattered around in a searching manner.
-"What is this?" -Linnathon asked in haste, but the traces of a fire and the trodden ground showed in plainness the cause of the sudden halt.
-"A camp?" -Legolas asked, and ran toward the center of the clearing, where the remains of a fire could be seen. He lifted the wood, and it was dry and burnt. A piece of it crumbled in his hand. Thalion, Edregol and Linnathon soon gathered around him.
-"This is not recent. The fire does not burn now," -Legolas observed.
-"Yes, they did not sleep during the late night. But they could have camped during the early hours of the evening. Being thus, there was plenty of time for this fire to die out," -Thalion said as he lifted another burnt branch.
-"They come from the West," -Legolas said, his eyes turning to the direction the Orcs had supposedly traveled.
-"Yes, and now they are between us and Mirkwood. This is not right."
-"If we will encounter them, it will happen soon. We have traveled much today; that would explain the reason we have not heard them before nor seen any sign of them. We were far, but now we have caught up," -Maegron said, looking back to the direction Legolas had pointed.
-"We saw bent twigs and branches at the edge of the road a few yards back," -Linnathon proceeded,-"From the west, as Legolas observed. We think they have been following the route from the west."
-"But, whence do you suppose they are coming?," -Edregol asked,-"The Misty Mountains?" -his eyes opened wide as he considered the weight of his words, yet he saw his thoughts reflected in the grave faces of his companions.
-"That would be only one of the many guesses," -Thalion said, as he searched the woods around them. -"There is no use in lingering here. We must keep going. Once we reach Lonnath, the Old Road will be ours, and then we will be in safer territory," -he uttered this words with forceful tones, but a half grimace betrayed a glint of discomfort.
By this time, the rest of the party had gathered around the fire, and were now gazing intently at the captain, awaiting for his orders.
-"We need to come up with a plan," -said Ninniach, who was standing at the back of Faelon.-"We might not encounter them so soon," -she continued, alluding to the fact that no sounds betrayed their closeness,-"But it does not mean we can give way. Whether they travel from the Misty Mountains, or from Dol Guldur, it is plain they are headed to Mirkwood. They must be stopped."
-"If this is so," -Edregol interrupted, -"then they stand in our way to Mirkwood. Ninniach is right. We cannot afford to give way. A plan must be contrived. We cannot let them reach the city."
Legolas had been silent during this interval, but Ninniach's words arose a sense of his own duty to his home. With his head lifted and a decided attitude, he stood and addressed Thalion.
-"I am certain they are not aware of our presence. These creatures are foolish and hasty. Had they known we were here, they would have already attacked us." -He finished the sentence, but retreated as he saw the amazed expressions of his companions. They were startled by the fiery tone of his voice and the rashness of his remarks. Thalion looked at him, and nodded. Legolas understood this to be a sign for him to continue.
-"They might be half a day ahead of us, or maybe a little over, if they are now traveling the same way we are. If that is the case, we will surely meet them." -Here he paused, and his eyes wandered to the nearby trees,-"They might be so stupid as to think they are the masters of this forest and need not conceal their trail!" -he said bluntly as he tossed the piece of burnt wood he still held in his hands. Now he was startled to hear his own words; they were wrathful and harsh.
-"Legolas is right," -this time Toronath spoke.-"I believe they are close to us, and have been so for quite a while. That would explain the unusual stillness of the woods as we traveled. Those creatures breath venom!"
-"Every time they venture to come deeper into the forest!" -Cirion, who had been searching around the area, turned toward the group,- "They need be stopped now. We cannot allow darkness to approach our homes."
-"We need to device a strategy, a plan," -said Faelon, who now sprung closer to Legolas and Thalion, -"They will be startled by any organized attack we carry out. Orcs are strong, but have little brains."
-"Then we are faced with two choices, as I see it," -Maegron said, looking briefly at the group, and finally fixing his gaze in front of Thalion, who in turn looked at him,-"We decide to continue our path as we had planned," -he stopped,-"Or we pursue the trail that leads to the Orcs. Either way, we need to decide now, for time is scarce and very valuable."
A murmur arose from the rest of the party, each one whispering to his companion and voicing their own opinions.
-"Indeed," -was all Thalion said, but all eyes turned to him for answers. He remained silent for a moment, and lifted his hand to his chin, an unmistakable sign of deep thought.
-"If we could know more about them, perhaps the decision would be easier!," -Medlin sighed,-"If they are headed to Mirkwood, no questions asked, we must stop them. But, if there is a large number of them, we need to travel fast and reach the border soon. The troops in the city must be alerted."
Legolas turned to face his friend. 'She is right. We stand little chance in front of an army of Orcs.' -He dreaded the thought, but his time as a warrior had taught him that he should consider carefully his options and choose what was in the best interest of his homeland. This feeling was enhanced by his sense of responsability toward his people. As much as they wanted those Orcs dead, they had to do what was best for Mirkwood. 'If we fall upon them, and are beaten, there would be no one left to take a message to the city.'
-"She is right! There is not much we know about them, and at this moment we are certain they do not know a thing about us as well. Let us think this through," -he said with eager tones. So much anxiety did not go unnoticed by Thalion, nor Edregol, who were very familiar with the prince's usually quiet temper. All eyes turned from the captain to Legolas, as he sprung and explained his thoughts in detail and haste,-"We can still work on yet another option. What if we continue the march to Lonnath? If the Orcs are headed to Mirkwood, they will no doubt have to make it to the Old Road. So, if we travel in that direction, we will surely come upon them," -he eyed his companions in turn, and then proceeded,-"Now, let us device a plan. Some, some strategy in case we encounter a chance of surprising them. If the opportunity does not present itself, then we would have gained time since we continued on our way to the city. On the other hand, if we do reach them there, as we fear, then we will have them trapped between us and the warriors stationed in Mirkwood. Either way, our chances of getting out of this and stopping their approach to the city increase by far."
-"I agree with Legolas," -Meren said as he walked forward, his bow in hand.-"Should we stray in pursuit of the Orcs, we would be driving voluntarily into danger. Let us follow our original plan, instead. Then, if they come to find us, or we find them, we will be close to help and they will be trapped!"
Thalion looked at his warriors. Their faces showed their open acceptance of this scheme. Their eager eyes shone with determination. His look, however, lingered on Legolas. 'He is much more ready to assume his roles than I gave him credit for,' and he grinned, his hand lowering from his chin and reaching for the bow that hung on his back, his eyes still fixed on Legolas, no longer in surprise but in pleasure. 'My dear friend, you do not yet realize the power of your own strength.' -Maegron and Linnathon turned to Thalion who nodded his agreement.
-"Then it is settled!" -Linnathon said.-"We go on to Lonnath!" -He also drew his bow from where it hung on his back, and tested the string. -"Let us hope the way is smooth."
-"May the Valar hear your wish, Linnathon," -Ninniach said, as she gazed at him with hopeful eyes, grasping the meaning of his words, -"May the Valar hear your wish."
The company resumed their journey, traveling as they had hitherto done, or so it seemed to the casual eye. Yet, their strides lengthened and their movements became even more cautious. Their attitude was that of aprehension, their ears lifted and their arms a little too tense to be normal: they were ready in case an attack should befall them, their weapons at their reach. Plans had been made before leaving the Orc's camp site. If it was a small group, they would have to toil, but they could overthrow them. However if it was one of the larger bands, they concluded their only refuge would be the concealment of the trees; so, in order to stop their surrounding, they would climb upon Thalion's signal, and spread a little. The attack would then rest upon the precision of their arrows. The warriors of Mirkwood did not fear this for they were highly skilled on the use of the bow. They relied now on their swiftness to react to the alert.
Legolas walked a few paces behind Linnathon. Once again, they were the last of the company as they watched for signs of approaching danger. His senses drifted around the woods as he allowed his mind to search the trees, and rocks, and skies, and become one with them. The forest could speak to the heart of an elf like a man could speak to another, and elves felt what the forest had to say. Legolas spread his senses to grasp the murmurs of nature, yet the effort was sometimes painful; nature was so still, so quiet. It was a deep silence to which he was not accustomed.
From time to time, he fancied he felt an unusual stirring in the woods, and his hand instinctively wandered to his belt in search of the carved handle of his battle knife, and only relinquished the grasp of it after making sure it was, indeed, the fancies of his mind. Some other times, he would look to his companion to find him doing the same thing. 'Nature plays tricks on us' he thought.
For a while, both elves continued their march uninterrupted. The area seemed to be as deserted as before, and they advanced, giving precedence to velocity over concealment. Then, all of a sudden, they were forced to return to their alert state by the sound of screeching twigs that arose to their left. The murmur was faint, yet they felt it growing as a gust of wind shook the leaves of the trees, thus producing a rustling noise. Legolas looked to Linnathon in silence, then both turned their heads toward the approaching sounds. Legolas' face tensed and he frowned, as his hand strayed to his back reaching for his bow. The other hand moved slowly up his back as he drew an arrow from his quiver; his fingers felt the arrow-head, trying to determine the sharpness of it, and they moved along the thin and smooth surface of the polished wood until they touched the center. Linnathon had grasped his own bow, and now turned to Legolas.
-"They must have heard. Should we approach the others?"
-"How far do you think they still are? -Legolas asked, listening intently to see if he could determine for himself the answer to his inquiry.
-"Out of hearing distance," -Linnathon said,-"Such noise would prevent them from hearing even an army of dwarves coming upon them."
This answer was not enough to set his mind at ease. They started to move along in search for the rest of the party, who were now much ahead of them. Every second pressed upon them an ongrowing threat, and they needed to warn their companions, or at least make known to them that they were close. Legolas felt this keenly, and as he advanced, his attention was also focused into devicing a way to send an alert. Linnathon observed this.
-"Legolas, watch your path. Do not linger"
Legolas realized his friend was right. A delay in this situation could prove fatal, not only to his own life, but to that of his companions. The roaring sounds were drawing closer, and they could be distinguished now as footsteps; the distinct sound of many footsteps that caused tremors on the ground below their feet. 'How many of them.... how many of them...' Legolas exerted his mental faculties as he tried to determine the number of enemies by the vibrations he felt in the earth.
The sounds were still far, but the tremors increased the feeling of closeness. 'No less than forty... five and forty?' he thought as he measured the noise in the air. The demand was pressing; the rest of the company had to stand in alert, they had to know both him and Linnathon were behind, but coming soon. How would he tell them? He glanced at Linnathon; a frown streaked his face, yet he did not pause on his path, but kept moving onward with increasing speed. How would he tell them? Whistling or signaling would be pointless. The continual murmur of nature was not their ally today, and had he tried this means, their foes would have noticed the change in the woods. Any noise or signal they were used to employ would be easily seized by the Orcs, unavoidably giving them away.
He searched the woods, trying to figure a way...
He shot a quick glance at Linnathon, who watched him stirring, only to see him disappear a moment later as he dangled his way up through the branches of an oak. Linnathon's hold of the bow stiffened, but he soon recovered his former pace as he allowed a last look at the blonde elf who soon was lost among the folliage. 'He knows what he is doing.' He half grinned, and walked on.
Taking hold of a branch that strayed over the road, Legolas pulled himself up and leaned to the main trunk. 'It is still too low' he thought. Springing higher into the tree, he managed to reach one of the most elevated points, thus commanding a fair view of the surrounding area. As he gazed to the oncoming host his looks froze and his hands grasped the limbs of the tree with such strength they nearly broke. 'As I figured... A little over five and forty...' He then turned his gaze northward, where he saw his companions gathered around Thalion, waiting the dreaded approach.
Dropping lower, Legolas grabbed hold of another branch, and then another. He moved through the limbs and branches with great ease and speed, advancing in the direction of the party. The roaring of footsteps was ever close; he still needed to make their presence known to the rest. Linnathon was still behind them all, and he needed to reach a safer spot. 'What to do?... What to do?.'
He turned abruptly to the right, where he had seen a wide branch which grew strong and extended far from the main trunk. 'This will hold' he thought, and not wasting another second, he stretched his arms and jumped, thus securing himself to the branch. He was still a considerable distance away from his companions, but he could see them clearly. Looking back, he saw Linnathon approaching.
'It is now or never.' With accurate swiftness, Legolas lifted his hand above his head and seized the edge of his Mirkwood bow. He tightened the hold of it, and placing the sharp arrow in front of him, he pulled the string and aimed...
A faint shriek arose from the mouth of Medlin as a swift moving object rent the air in front of her, flying in a straight line until it was nailed at the trunk of an oak, right in the middle of Thalion and Maegron, at eye level.
The looks of all turned to the direction this arrow had come, and hidden between the leaves and limbs they beheld Legolas who sat upon a branch, leaning to them with his bow still raised.
-"They are here!" -Edregol exclaimed, lifting his hand with his palm opened, as a signal to his friend that all was well.
Legolas then lifted his hand in a like manner, and lowered himself down a little so he would be able to turn to Linnathon. The elf was now close to him. Linnathon grabbed Legolas' hand and jumped up.
Making their way through branches and limbs, they were soon close to the place where their companions were stationed. The party had halted on a small clearing in the middle of the forest that had an easy access to the surrounding trees. Both elves saw the wisdom in this, they would be drawing the Orcs to think they were awaiting them, and at the signal, they would all jump to the trees, leaving the small-witted Orcs baffled. The sounds were coming upon them, and they understood the encounter would soon take place. Legolas hastened to the side of Thalion, and pausing a moment, he addressed his companions.
-"They come close. They come our way from the west, as we had suspected," -he said, as he pointed toward the direction of which he spoke.-"There are a little over five and forty of them, and they are about forty feet from us. Should be issuing from that path," -and he pointed again to a spot southeast from whence they stood.
Thalion looked at Legolas, then looked back to the direction he had indicated. The hardened features of his face were stiffened and his arms tightened their hold of his weapon so strongly that it caused them to shake from the tension he exercised.
-"As bad as it is," -Legolas continued, looking straight into Thalion's eyes,-"They are not that many. They must be one of their scouting parties, just as we are."
-"Then we must not fail, or else they will warn their fellows." -Edregol spoke without adressing his remarks to anyone in particular. He counted the arrows in his quiver, and drew one out, placing it steadily in front of him, testing the string of his bow.
-"They come. Upon my signal..."
-"This forest is cursed!"
-"Yes! It is cursed. There is no game around this place. You probably mistook the way long ago, Magrash!" -a black beast said, at the same moment he drew a hand and passed it over his drooling mouth.
-"This forest is cursed, yes. But it is cursed by your presence! You, brainless beasts!" -growled from the front another creature of the same kind; yet this one seemed to be better built. His dark skin was rough and dry, and his eyes issued red beams that seemed to pierce the objects that met their glare.
-"Do not trouble yourselves and waste your energies on such foolish quarrels." -another of the creatures said.-"As we go closer to their so called realm, there will be plenty of food to fill our stomachs."
-"We have not taken a bite since yesterday! Since then we have strayed from the road once, and now upon coming back have already wasted precious time!"
-"Shut your foul mouth! We are now entering the clearing. Another word from you and I shall see that you never leave it!"
-"GRRRRR!" -a growl arose from one of the fighters behind the big warrior, and all eyes turned as one to the left, where they beheld a sight that may have caused them apprehension, but under the circumstances, it caused them extreme joy. Their mouths opened in anticipation, as the general cry arose.
-"Elves!"
The Orcs heard a sharp whistle. The sound made by the singing of a forest creature rent the air causing their expectant eyes to wander to the source of it. One of the orcs, spoke again, his arm raised high above the head, wielding the scimitar in the air in a frenzy of wrath.
-"They are gone!" -he growled.
The Orcs had frozen to the sight of the now empty clearing, and looked intently to discover the cause of the disappearance of their enemies. Some of them remained fixed to their spot, fearing perhaps, that the vanishment of the elves was the result of some sorcery from the unknown world, and afraid that it might sweep them away as well.
Recovering from the initial shock, the strongest of their warriors ran to the clearing. The hissing sound of the unsheathing of their blades echoed from tree to tree. The gleams of the metal swords mingled with the fierce glow of the eyes of these creatures as they scanned the edges of the glade in search of their foes. They had not yet stopped in the center of the clearing, when they heard howls and screams issue from their back, and upon turning they saw some of their soldiers already falling to the ground, followed by malignant yells from their companions.
The Orcs were falling to elven arrows that rained upon them with such speed, and from so many directions at the same time that escape was rendered nearly impossible. Without heeding their fallen comrades any more, the rest of the Orcs ran to find shelter behind the trunks of the largest trees, and some others drew out arrows in an attempt to subdue this unexpected attack. They felt swift gusts of wind above their heads as arrows, or elves, raced nimbly above them.
Upon the agreed signal, the sharp sound of a songbird, the company of elves had sprung up to the trees as one, leaving their adversaries in a state of confussion that did not entirely subside. Legolas and Edregol had stationed themselves upon one of the higher branches of a cedar that was a few feet away from the entrance to the clearing, thus gaining an ample range and access to either side of the Orc band. Arrows had began to fall upon the beasts before the sturdy black chief even noticed.
Legolas took aim and fired at one of the orcs who had raised his arm in sign that he had spotted them. As soon as he gestured, he fell to the sharp arrow of Legolas. Brief moments passed, in which the startled Orcs had little to do but run and hide. Legolas knew they would come with renewed strength, kindled by their disappointment in finding themselves off guard. There was now little time to think, and they had to act. Still making use of the concealment the trees provided, Legolas regarded the Orc band that was scattered among the trees below them.
-"Let us stay up as long as we can. Then," -he said, addressing Edregol, and his voice lingered, his eyes meeting one of the warriors who was now lifting an object and aiming,-"Then, my friend, I fear we will be compelled to step down. Look!" -he said, at the moment an arrow came gliding in front of them, forcing them to lean to the opposite side as the sharp arrowhead grazed Legolas shoulder.
-"Better aimed than I thought!" -said Edregol while he retrieved his hand to the quiver in search of another arrow. -"If they start using their bows, we might have to find other means of attacking. The trees will no longer protect us from their fire."
Legolas turned to him, and then jumped back as he tried to escape from another orc arrow. The amount of shots fired by both sides was now equal, and soon the elves realized they had no longer the advantage.
Thalion was the first to step down, lowering from branch to branch with swift and precise jumps, until he was able to fall upon one of the black chiefs, and drawing his knife out, he slashed his gut. The creature had not yet tumbled to the ground, when another fierce orc was springing to his side, a sharp blade in his hand. Legolas caught sight of this, and fired. The arrow had been swift and pierced the chest of the warrior, yet the direction of the shot had betrayed his hiding place, and in what seemed to be a second, two more warriors aimed their shots at him, thus forcing him to step down as well.
In a few moments, all elves were engaged in close combat with one or two of the Orcs. Thalion could see his warriors struggling as the arrows hissed behind them and the blades wielded in front of them. Toronath, Faelon and Ninniach had been surrounded by a group of five orcs, to the right of the place where he was standing. The three elves looked desperately around, in search of an opening to escape. Thalion was detained by another of the Orc chiefs, who threatened him with a scimeter. In an attempt to draw attention from at least one of his party, Thalion whistled again, and a few heads were turned to his direction, taking glances of the three surrounded elves. With a swift jump, Meren reached the top of the tree above them and fired an arrow to one of the Orcs, thus allowing time for his three companions to engage in an easier task, each of them facing one enemy at a time.
Legolas, Linnathon, and Edregol were fighting at the other side of Thalion. A dark Orc had drawn his blade in a swift motion and came now running behind Legolas, who was engaged in close combat with a fierce Orc who had managed to get hold of his hands.
-"Watch your back, Legolas!"
He heard Edregol's voice, and through the corner of his eye caught sight of the dark shadow moving stealthily toward him. In a desperate effort, he succeeded in escaping the grasp of the Orc who had seized him, and with a decided strike of his knife, he slashed his throat. The other enemy was already upon him, and clinched his arm with one of his hands, and with the other he lifted the blade that would deliver the fatal blow.
Legolas searched intently for a means of escape, but no solutions seemed to be available. He then did what common sense and his warrior reflexes allowed: he stopped the advance of the armed hand with his own, struggling with all his might to keep the blade away from his throat. They were engaged in this close combat for a few minutes, and he felt his strength was beginning to give way before the determined attacks of the Orc. Then, suddenly, he tumbled to the ground, the black beast falling on top of him. The ceasing of the force that resisted the Orc's fury had caused him to fall, and Legolas seized this chance of disentangling his arm from the other's grasp, and with his knife, he pierced the back of the warrior. A long and piercing howl rent the grove as this chief fell; he rolled his eyes and died.
Legolas was overcome by horror for a second, as he encountered the fixed gaze of this creature, his fanged mouth wide open and the red tongue still dribbling. He was shook of this numbness by a shriek from his left, and he rose, only to find Linnathon yielding to the strength of a giant Orc. He sprung to his side, and grabbed the back of the Orc, yet another one came, prepared to shoot at him. Legolas dodged, but he only saw the creature fall. Edregol was behind him, his bow raised; the arrow had killed the menacing beast. Legolas turned back and thrust his knife on the back of the Orc that still held Linnathon, making him relinquish his hold on his friend, who in turn pierced the chest with his elven blade. The Orc fell motionless to the ground.
The battle had been fierce, and the resistance very tight on both sides. Legolas turned around in anticipation, fearing that some other enemy might gain hold of them. His eyes, however, only encountered a mass of bodies crumpling on the ground. He breathed heavily as his eyes drifted from one end of the clearing to the other, where he could distinguish the fallen forms of the black orcs, and his companions bending on top of them, some stained with blood, some still drawing their knives out of the bodies of their foes. Trying to focus his mind, he searched wearily across the woods, counting silently the number of his companions.
'Nine, ten... eleven! We are all here!' Uncertain of what to do first, he looked for the countenance of Thalion, who stood only a few feet away from where he was, his knife stained with black blood. He then woke at the sound of Medlin, who was lying on the ground close to where he stood, and rushed to her side.
-"Thank you, friend. But go to Toronath. His leg was badly hurt." -Legolas glanced to his friend, who rested on the roots of a large tree, pressing his hand against the cut on his leg. Legolas helped Medlin get up, and left her with Edregol who had now come to them, and walked toward Toronath, who managed to grin through his pain.
-"We gave battle, did we not?" -he chuckled, but then clenched his teeth as a frown formed in his face.
-"By your countenance, I would not know whether our victory gives you pleasure or pain," -Legolas said, managing a smile, but hurt to see the expression in the face of his friend.
-"Hush!" -Toronath answered, half looking at him.
-"Legolas!" -Thalion called, -"Bring him here. Edregol! Bring Medlin and Cirion as well. We need to tend to their wounds."
Thalion's commands put order in the messed state that had followed after the attack, and soon enough, the warriors had reassembled in the center of the clearing.
-"Linnathon, let me take a look at your neck," -Ninniach ordered, as she brought some bandages and a sort of cream made out of healing herbs to clean Linnathon's wound.
Meren was also intent on taking a look at Edregol's arm, which seemed to bleed now.
-"Legolas, le us see what we have here," -Maegron said, as he pointed at his shoulder. Legolas had not felt anything, but upon looking, he saw the blood-stained fabric of his tunic, and realized he was probably injured.
Thalion approached them from the behind, and patted Maegron and Legolas' backs.
-"Well met, my friends." -He allowed his face to show his open pleasure at the sight of his companions. Although there were some severely injured, and they were tired and dirty from battle, they were all alive. He grinned, -"Well met."
-"Thank the Valar this arrows were not poisoned," -Ninniach pointed out, as she cleaned a wound on Meren's side. Meren grimaced in pain, and complained. However, Ninniach only chuckled; she knew her young friend was only teasing her with his whining.
-"Indeed, Ninniach," -Thalion replied,-"which is very strange. They must have been traveling very far from their stronghold, and for a long time too, thus running out of poison for their weaponry."
Legolas regarded his captain's pondering face, and then frowned as Maegron cleaned the wound on his shoulder. 'It does hurt more than I expected' he thought, as he grimaced at the burning sensation.
-"Do you believe we will be able to follow our journey undisturbed now?" -Linnathon asked, glancing ahead of them at the path they were supposed to travel.
-"I think nothing could be ascertained," -Thalion said, turning to meet Linnathon's gaze.
-"We get closer to Mirkwood, yet the creatures of darkness do not tire, nor sleep. I would hope the road goes on smoothly as we reach Lonnath, but do not venture to rely on that. I would much rather pursh forth toward the city, as soon as possible."
-"Do you think we will be detained here long?" -Legolas asked, as he glanced at his injured companions. -"This mishap has already slowed our march. It might be another half day before we reach Lonnath, perhaps at noon tomorrow." -He worried at the increasing threat that weighed upon their realm, and was aware that any delay would only add to the danger of their present state. They were still far from the city, but the enemy was getting stronger. They needed to return and report their findings, so effective measures could be taken.
Thalion also cast his eyes around, wandering to each of his warriors. Yet, he read in their faces their willingness to do what needed be done.
-"Maybe half a day, but no longer. Let us seize this chance to rest ourselves; our march has been hasty and hard. We will be much recovered by nightfall, and ready to meet the challenge."
As soon as the wounded were tended to, the warriors began to recover their lost weapons. The quivers were refilled with the arrows they had lost, and one by one the elves began to make ready their traveling gear. The dusky shadows that announced evening fell upon the glade, leaving the travelers again in a world of penumbra. From above, they could distinguish the round and fair figure of Ithil in the sky: night had begun.
Reassembling the line of warriors, Thalion ordered a new scheme to be followed.
-"As the peril still lingers, we will have to be ever more vigilant than before. We will travel in three groups of two in the center, and two ahead and three behind. Linnathon, Medlin, go to the left. Legolas and Edregol to the right, with Meren and Toronath at the center. Ninniach and I will travel in the front. Maegron, Cirion and Faelon at the rear."
Alerted by their recent encounter, the elves complied to the orders in great haste, each one very conscious of their responsability toward the other.
Ithil shone its mild rays upon them. The bright beams that strayed from the moon fell over the obscure forest, producing a faint light that reflected in the leaves. A gray halo surrounded the travelers, and through the darkness that melted into evening, the journey to Lonnath began.
Author's notes: Well, here is chapter 2. What do you think? It was loong, but I worked compulsively until it was finished. I hope it turned out as exciting as you wished for, and hopefully it gives you more information about the warriors in Legolas' party. Please, review with any comments and ideas you might have on how to make this work better; I really appreciate your input and thoughts. Hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it, and please, please, review! ;)
The forest of Greenwood the Great had been the realm and the home of the Silvan Elves for many a generation, as to the reckoning of years by men. It was by great struggles and continual effort that these elves had managed to combat the ongrowing power of Dol Guldur, and with the help of the Istari, the Eldar finally expelled the Necromancer from their lands. However, and in spite of their efforts, their beautiful home had been scarred by the stirrings of evil, and a black shadow had fallen over the mighty forest, making it thus impossible to remain Greenwood. So was born the history of Mirkwood, the elven kingdom of the Silvan; the dark shadow a memory and a reminder that evil would not leave the world unharmed in its passing. Yet, the hearts of the Silvan rested in the woods, and they lived in joy under the protection of the ancient trees, wandering in the great forests that grow tall.
The years had gone by, swift for some and slow for others, but one thing remained certain: the world was changing. The forces of evil had reappeared, and some had even dared to venture into their realms; orcs, wargs, spiders, and a vast number of the servants of Mordor had been seen close to elven lands. The Eldar felt this, and something needed to be done; the foul creatures had to be driven away and back to whence they had come.
A few rays of sunshine made their way through the thick treetops and allowed a view of the world inside the Black Forest. The light played with the branches of the trees, and it lingered among the leaves and bushes. The dark of the night was fleeing from the day's soft rays, and the shadows hid inside the crevices of the old tree trunks and rocks, creating a cascade of light that whirled around the woods. The gloom of the night was forgotten in the morning's welcoming appearance. The air seemed now to be renewed, fresher, purer, after the coming of dawn. The continual song of the birds was missing, but the spectacle created by the bouncing rays seemed to enliven the forest.
Legolas was the last of the company to leave the glade that had served as a night camp. In front of him, he beheld his partners moving across the woods with swift strides. They were attempting a deep push to cover the distance of two full days' journey in one day and one night, in order to reach Lonnath at least by dawn the next morning. As he eyed his companions, he wandered whether their thoughts were the same as his own.
Thalion and Maegron were at the front of the line. Both of them had served together for a long time, even before Legolas could remember; that alone was saying much. They had a deep knowledge about each other and the Mirkwood Forest. From time to time, Legolas was able to see their straying eyes that scanned the forests with eagerness, and at some other times, he could see them gazing to each other. When he was younger, Legolas was convinced they could read each other's mind with just one of those looks. A gleam of good humor graced the prince's countenance as he thought of his own ingenuity, and he smiled at the recollection; yet, all too soon, his face became sober again. 'The times that run now are not such as to allow any distraction' he thought, as his eyes focused again on the line of elven warriors making their way through the forest.
Linnathon walked very close to him. The sturdy elf watched the movements of the party with peering eyes, sometimes permitting his gaze to wander along to the sides where the trees flanked their path like hills do a valley. Linnathon turned to grin at him, and signaled with his arm to direct his eyes toward the party, where Meren was already complaining about the sore muscles of his legs. Both warriors showed amused expressions when Faelon threw a branch at him to stop the whining. This gesture was followed by a snort from Meren and repressed giggles from both Ninniach and Medlin. Edregol turned back to look at Legolas, and winked. Thalion and Maegron also turned back, but said nothing; only glanced at each other, showing broad smiles.
-"Meren will never change." -Linnathon turned and said to him, as he struggled to prevent from bursting into laughter.-"It might be better that way. Not everything should be gloomy and ill-humored." Legolas studied his friend's countenance as he said this; the twinkle of the eyes had vanished, and his face was changed into an expression of grave alertness. Legolas nodded, and both of them started their way again.
As they advanced further into the woods, the light that had surrounded them grew fainter as the trees and plants grew taller. Oaks and cedars abounded in the forests of Mirkwood, and they reached such heights it was no wonder the sun rays could barely touch the areas closer to the ground. Legolas' eyes had to adjust to this change in the illumination of the place, but after a while he began to distinguish again the different shades of green and brown in the trees and the surrounding woods. His ears were able to pick the sound of light footsteps from his companions who marched ahead, but other than that the forest seemed undisturbed. He knew that great caution should be exercised in all their proceedings, yet he could not help wonder why Thalion was so intent in having scouts go ahead and behind the party. Only this was a sign to him that something was amiss, and stretching his senses to their full capacity he went along the trail, his eyes never resting in their search for signs or warnings of danger. And sooner than he could have thought, they found one.
Gazing into the shrubs that railed the path, his eyes were forced to stop at a corner where bent twigs and branches were scattered carelessly over the trodden ground. Linnathon heard Legolas stop, and leaped to his side, where he kneeled beside him.
-"This is not right," -was all Linnathon said, but lifted his head to look upwards.
-"Whatever it is," -Legolas said as he examined the broken branches, -"It is a creature of some intelligence." -The branches had been ripped from the trees, and the shrubs were bent in a way that made them think something had been dragged along that trail.
-"Well, what do you figure?" -asked Linnathon, who lifted one of the twigs to reveal an even cut. He passed his fingers along the surface of this shoot, as he eyed Legolas.
-"Knives?" -asked Legolas, who now stood and moved his head around, searching intently for some other signs of the mysterious creatures. Narrowing his eyes, he sneered, as if he dreaded to utter the words, -"Yrch?"
-"I cannot think of something else. This has been done with full knowledge. I wonder how they have managed to come this far without us taking notice of it," -Linnathon said, with an air of chagrin.
-"They must have been coming from the west. We have been following the trail that leads us to the north. That way we could not have crossed their path."
-"But this looks like some sort of trap," -Linnathon said as he lifted some of the branches, -"Why would they have bent these branches in this fashion? They probably wanted to make us think a beast of the forest had stirred this shrubs. Fool creatures!" -and he tossed the branches in a surge of anger.
-"Do you think they are trying to distract us?" -Legolas asked, -"Even that would be too much for a band of Orcs. They are not that smart."
Linnathon turned to him with a puzzled look; it was obvious a new idea was entering his head, and he listened attentively to Legolas.
-"They are blunt and loud. If they were close, we would have heard them sooner. I dread to think these Orcs are getting that cunning as to device such a strategy!" -Legolas said, and kneeled again, taking one of the twigs in his hand, -"Or, if they have, this proves their folly yet again. There are no creatures in this forest. Nothing else could have stirred these bushes."
-"It would be impossible to tell when did they cross this path, but it has not been long ago. Look!" -and he handed to Legolas a branch that still showed traces of sap on its surface.
-"We should not stray from the group," -he finally said as he rose, -"But we need to determine the strength of this threat."
-"Legolas, we must alert the others. Let us follow, and be attentive to any further disturbances. The road ahead does not show signs of their passing," -Linnathon said as he pointed in the direction the others had traveled where the ground showed no prints. -"Thalion must be made aware of this."
Linnathon started to walk again in search of the captain who now was a long way ahead of them. His stride appeared confident, but Legolas noticed he had carefully grabbed the handle of his knife and was now in position to attack if it was needed. Legolas mimicked his attitude, and searched for his bow.
They moved swiftly across the forest. 'We were detained long' Legolas thought, as he realized they had to walk a regular way before reaching the rest of the group. It did not take them too long, but the distance seemed even greater in view of the news they had to speak. However, both him and Linnathon were startled instead when they found their companions standing at the edge of a clearing, some kneeling and some scattered around in a searching manner.
-"What is this?" -Linnathon asked in haste, but the traces of a fire and the trodden ground showed in plainness the cause of the sudden halt.
-"A camp?" -Legolas asked, and ran toward the center of the clearing, where the remains of a fire could be seen. He lifted the wood, and it was dry and burnt. A piece of it crumbled in his hand. Thalion, Edregol and Linnathon soon gathered around him.
-"This is not recent. The fire does not burn now," -Legolas observed.
-"Yes, they did not sleep during the late night. But they could have camped during the early hours of the evening. Being thus, there was plenty of time for this fire to die out," -Thalion said as he lifted another burnt branch.
-"They come from the West," -Legolas said, his eyes turning to the direction the Orcs had supposedly traveled.
-"Yes, and now they are between us and Mirkwood. This is not right."
-"If we will encounter them, it will happen soon. We have traveled much today; that would explain the reason we have not heard them before nor seen any sign of them. We were far, but now we have caught up," -Maegron said, looking back to the direction Legolas had pointed.
-"We saw bent twigs and branches at the edge of the road a few yards back," -Linnathon proceeded,-"From the west, as Legolas observed. We think they have been following the route from the west."
-"But, whence do you suppose they are coming?," -Edregol asked,-"The Misty Mountains?" -his eyes opened wide as he considered the weight of his words, yet he saw his thoughts reflected in the grave faces of his companions.
-"That would be only one of the many guesses," -Thalion said, as he searched the woods around them. -"There is no use in lingering here. We must keep going. Once we reach Lonnath, the Old Road will be ours, and then we will be in safer territory," -he uttered this words with forceful tones, but a half grimace betrayed a glint of discomfort.
By this time, the rest of the party had gathered around the fire, and were now gazing intently at the captain, awaiting for his orders.
-"We need to come up with a plan," -said Ninniach, who was standing at the back of Faelon.-"We might not encounter them so soon," -she continued, alluding to the fact that no sounds betrayed their closeness,-"But it does not mean we can give way. Whether they travel from the Misty Mountains, or from Dol Guldur, it is plain they are headed to Mirkwood. They must be stopped."
-"If this is so," -Edregol interrupted, -"then they stand in our way to Mirkwood. Ninniach is right. We cannot afford to give way. A plan must be contrived. We cannot let them reach the city."
Legolas had been silent during this interval, but Ninniach's words arose a sense of his own duty to his home. With his head lifted and a decided attitude, he stood and addressed Thalion.
-"I am certain they are not aware of our presence. These creatures are foolish and hasty. Had they known we were here, they would have already attacked us." -He finished the sentence, but retreated as he saw the amazed expressions of his companions. They were startled by the fiery tone of his voice and the rashness of his remarks. Thalion looked at him, and nodded. Legolas understood this to be a sign for him to continue.
-"They might be half a day ahead of us, or maybe a little over, if they are now traveling the same way we are. If that is the case, we will surely meet them." -Here he paused, and his eyes wandered to the nearby trees,-"They might be so stupid as to think they are the masters of this forest and need not conceal their trail!" -he said bluntly as he tossed the piece of burnt wood he still held in his hands. Now he was startled to hear his own words; they were wrathful and harsh.
-"Legolas is right," -this time Toronath spoke.-"I believe they are close to us, and have been so for quite a while. That would explain the unusual stillness of the woods as we traveled. Those creatures breath venom!"
-"Every time they venture to come deeper into the forest!" -Cirion, who had been searching around the area, turned toward the group,- "They need be stopped now. We cannot allow darkness to approach our homes."
-"We need to device a strategy, a plan," -said Faelon, who now sprung closer to Legolas and Thalion, -"They will be startled by any organized attack we carry out. Orcs are strong, but have little brains."
-"Then we are faced with two choices, as I see it," -Maegron said, looking briefly at the group, and finally fixing his gaze in front of Thalion, who in turn looked at him,-"We decide to continue our path as we had planned," -he stopped,-"Or we pursue the trail that leads to the Orcs. Either way, we need to decide now, for time is scarce and very valuable."
A murmur arose from the rest of the party, each one whispering to his companion and voicing their own opinions.
-"Indeed," -was all Thalion said, but all eyes turned to him for answers. He remained silent for a moment, and lifted his hand to his chin, an unmistakable sign of deep thought.
-"If we could know more about them, perhaps the decision would be easier!," -Medlin sighed,-"If they are headed to Mirkwood, no questions asked, we must stop them. But, if there is a large number of them, we need to travel fast and reach the border soon. The troops in the city must be alerted."
Legolas turned to face his friend. 'She is right. We stand little chance in front of an army of Orcs.' -He dreaded the thought, but his time as a warrior had taught him that he should consider carefully his options and choose what was in the best interest of his homeland. This feeling was enhanced by his sense of responsability toward his people. As much as they wanted those Orcs dead, they had to do what was best for Mirkwood. 'If we fall upon them, and are beaten, there would be no one left to take a message to the city.'
-"She is right! There is not much we know about them, and at this moment we are certain they do not know a thing about us as well. Let us think this through," -he said with eager tones. So much anxiety did not go unnoticed by Thalion, nor Edregol, who were very familiar with the prince's usually quiet temper. All eyes turned from the captain to Legolas, as he sprung and explained his thoughts in detail and haste,-"We can still work on yet another option. What if we continue the march to Lonnath? If the Orcs are headed to Mirkwood, they will no doubt have to make it to the Old Road. So, if we travel in that direction, we will surely come upon them," -he eyed his companions in turn, and then proceeded,-"Now, let us device a plan. Some, some strategy in case we encounter a chance of surprising them. If the opportunity does not present itself, then we would have gained time since we continued on our way to the city. On the other hand, if we do reach them there, as we fear, then we will have them trapped between us and the warriors stationed in Mirkwood. Either way, our chances of getting out of this and stopping their approach to the city increase by far."
-"I agree with Legolas," -Meren said as he walked forward, his bow in hand.-"Should we stray in pursuit of the Orcs, we would be driving voluntarily into danger. Let us follow our original plan, instead. Then, if they come to find us, or we find them, we will be close to help and they will be trapped!"
Thalion looked at his warriors. Their faces showed their open acceptance of this scheme. Their eager eyes shone with determination. His look, however, lingered on Legolas. 'He is much more ready to assume his roles than I gave him credit for,' and he grinned, his hand lowering from his chin and reaching for the bow that hung on his back, his eyes still fixed on Legolas, no longer in surprise but in pleasure. 'My dear friend, you do not yet realize the power of your own strength.' -Maegron and Linnathon turned to Thalion who nodded his agreement.
-"Then it is settled!" -Linnathon said.-"We go on to Lonnath!" -He also drew his bow from where it hung on his back, and tested the string. -"Let us hope the way is smooth."
-"May the Valar hear your wish, Linnathon," -Ninniach said, as she gazed at him with hopeful eyes, grasping the meaning of his words, -"May the Valar hear your wish."
The company resumed their journey, traveling as they had hitherto done, or so it seemed to the casual eye. Yet, their strides lengthened and their movements became even more cautious. Their attitude was that of aprehension, their ears lifted and their arms a little too tense to be normal: they were ready in case an attack should befall them, their weapons at their reach. Plans had been made before leaving the Orc's camp site. If it was a small group, they would have to toil, but they could overthrow them. However if it was one of the larger bands, they concluded their only refuge would be the concealment of the trees; so, in order to stop their surrounding, they would climb upon Thalion's signal, and spread a little. The attack would then rest upon the precision of their arrows. The warriors of Mirkwood did not fear this for they were highly skilled on the use of the bow. They relied now on their swiftness to react to the alert.
Legolas walked a few paces behind Linnathon. Once again, they were the last of the company as they watched for signs of approaching danger. His senses drifted around the woods as he allowed his mind to search the trees, and rocks, and skies, and become one with them. The forest could speak to the heart of an elf like a man could speak to another, and elves felt what the forest had to say. Legolas spread his senses to grasp the murmurs of nature, yet the effort was sometimes painful; nature was so still, so quiet. It was a deep silence to which he was not accustomed.
From time to time, he fancied he felt an unusual stirring in the woods, and his hand instinctively wandered to his belt in search of the carved handle of his battle knife, and only relinquished the grasp of it after making sure it was, indeed, the fancies of his mind. Some other times, he would look to his companion to find him doing the same thing. 'Nature plays tricks on us' he thought.
For a while, both elves continued their march uninterrupted. The area seemed to be as deserted as before, and they advanced, giving precedence to velocity over concealment. Then, all of a sudden, they were forced to return to their alert state by the sound of screeching twigs that arose to their left. The murmur was faint, yet they felt it growing as a gust of wind shook the leaves of the trees, thus producing a rustling noise. Legolas looked to Linnathon in silence, then both turned their heads toward the approaching sounds. Legolas' face tensed and he frowned, as his hand strayed to his back reaching for his bow. The other hand moved slowly up his back as he drew an arrow from his quiver; his fingers felt the arrow-head, trying to determine the sharpness of it, and they moved along the thin and smooth surface of the polished wood until they touched the center. Linnathon had grasped his own bow, and now turned to Legolas.
-"They must have heard. Should we approach the others?"
-"How far do you think they still are? -Legolas asked, listening intently to see if he could determine for himself the answer to his inquiry.
-"Out of hearing distance," -Linnathon said,-"Such noise would prevent them from hearing even an army of dwarves coming upon them."
This answer was not enough to set his mind at ease. They started to move along in search for the rest of the party, who were now much ahead of them. Every second pressed upon them an ongrowing threat, and they needed to warn their companions, or at least make known to them that they were close. Legolas felt this keenly, and as he advanced, his attention was also focused into devicing a way to send an alert. Linnathon observed this.
-"Legolas, watch your path. Do not linger"
Legolas realized his friend was right. A delay in this situation could prove fatal, not only to his own life, but to that of his companions. The roaring sounds were drawing closer, and they could be distinguished now as footsteps; the distinct sound of many footsteps that caused tremors on the ground below their feet. 'How many of them.... how many of them...' Legolas exerted his mental faculties as he tried to determine the number of enemies by the vibrations he felt in the earth.
The sounds were still far, but the tremors increased the feeling of closeness. 'No less than forty... five and forty?' he thought as he measured the noise in the air. The demand was pressing; the rest of the company had to stand in alert, they had to know both him and Linnathon were behind, but coming soon. How would he tell them? He glanced at Linnathon; a frown streaked his face, yet he did not pause on his path, but kept moving onward with increasing speed. How would he tell them? Whistling or signaling would be pointless. The continual murmur of nature was not their ally today, and had he tried this means, their foes would have noticed the change in the woods. Any noise or signal they were used to employ would be easily seized by the Orcs, unavoidably giving them away.
He searched the woods, trying to figure a way...
He shot a quick glance at Linnathon, who watched him stirring, only to see him disappear a moment later as he dangled his way up through the branches of an oak. Linnathon's hold of the bow stiffened, but he soon recovered his former pace as he allowed a last look at the blonde elf who soon was lost among the folliage. 'He knows what he is doing.' He half grinned, and walked on.
Taking hold of a branch that strayed over the road, Legolas pulled himself up and leaned to the main trunk. 'It is still too low' he thought. Springing higher into the tree, he managed to reach one of the most elevated points, thus commanding a fair view of the surrounding area. As he gazed to the oncoming host his looks froze and his hands grasped the limbs of the tree with such strength they nearly broke. 'As I figured... A little over five and forty...' He then turned his gaze northward, where he saw his companions gathered around Thalion, waiting the dreaded approach.
Dropping lower, Legolas grabbed hold of another branch, and then another. He moved through the limbs and branches with great ease and speed, advancing in the direction of the party. The roaring of footsteps was ever close; he still needed to make their presence known to the rest. Linnathon was still behind them all, and he needed to reach a safer spot. 'What to do?... What to do?.'
He turned abruptly to the right, where he had seen a wide branch which grew strong and extended far from the main trunk. 'This will hold' he thought, and not wasting another second, he stretched his arms and jumped, thus securing himself to the branch. He was still a considerable distance away from his companions, but he could see them clearly. Looking back, he saw Linnathon approaching.
'It is now or never.' With accurate swiftness, Legolas lifted his hand above his head and seized the edge of his Mirkwood bow. He tightened the hold of it, and placing the sharp arrow in front of him, he pulled the string and aimed...
A faint shriek arose from the mouth of Medlin as a swift moving object rent the air in front of her, flying in a straight line until it was nailed at the trunk of an oak, right in the middle of Thalion and Maegron, at eye level.
The looks of all turned to the direction this arrow had come, and hidden between the leaves and limbs they beheld Legolas who sat upon a branch, leaning to them with his bow still raised.
-"They are here!" -Edregol exclaimed, lifting his hand with his palm opened, as a signal to his friend that all was well.
Legolas then lifted his hand in a like manner, and lowered himself down a little so he would be able to turn to Linnathon. The elf was now close to him. Linnathon grabbed Legolas' hand and jumped up.
Making their way through branches and limbs, they were soon close to the place where their companions were stationed. The party had halted on a small clearing in the middle of the forest that had an easy access to the surrounding trees. Both elves saw the wisdom in this, they would be drawing the Orcs to think they were awaiting them, and at the signal, they would all jump to the trees, leaving the small-witted Orcs baffled. The sounds were coming upon them, and they understood the encounter would soon take place. Legolas hastened to the side of Thalion, and pausing a moment, he addressed his companions.
-"They come close. They come our way from the west, as we had suspected," -he said, as he pointed toward the direction of which he spoke.-"There are a little over five and forty of them, and they are about forty feet from us. Should be issuing from that path," -and he pointed again to a spot southeast from whence they stood.
Thalion looked at Legolas, then looked back to the direction he had indicated. The hardened features of his face were stiffened and his arms tightened their hold of his weapon so strongly that it caused them to shake from the tension he exercised.
-"As bad as it is," -Legolas continued, looking straight into Thalion's eyes,-"They are not that many. They must be one of their scouting parties, just as we are."
-"Then we must not fail, or else they will warn their fellows." -Edregol spoke without adressing his remarks to anyone in particular. He counted the arrows in his quiver, and drew one out, placing it steadily in front of him, testing the string of his bow.
-"They come. Upon my signal..."
-"This forest is cursed!"
-"Yes! It is cursed. There is no game around this place. You probably mistook the way long ago, Magrash!" -a black beast said, at the same moment he drew a hand and passed it over his drooling mouth.
-"This forest is cursed, yes. But it is cursed by your presence! You, brainless beasts!" -growled from the front another creature of the same kind; yet this one seemed to be better built. His dark skin was rough and dry, and his eyes issued red beams that seemed to pierce the objects that met their glare.
-"Do not trouble yourselves and waste your energies on such foolish quarrels." -another of the creatures said.-"As we go closer to their so called realm, there will be plenty of food to fill our stomachs."
-"We have not taken a bite since yesterday! Since then we have strayed from the road once, and now upon coming back have already wasted precious time!"
-"Shut your foul mouth! We are now entering the clearing. Another word from you and I shall see that you never leave it!"
-"GRRRRR!" -a growl arose from one of the fighters behind the big warrior, and all eyes turned as one to the left, where they beheld a sight that may have caused them apprehension, but under the circumstances, it caused them extreme joy. Their mouths opened in anticipation, as the general cry arose.
-"Elves!"
The Orcs heard a sharp whistle. The sound made by the singing of a forest creature rent the air causing their expectant eyes to wander to the source of it. One of the orcs, spoke again, his arm raised high above the head, wielding the scimitar in the air in a frenzy of wrath.
-"They are gone!" -he growled.
The Orcs had frozen to the sight of the now empty clearing, and looked intently to discover the cause of the disappearance of their enemies. Some of them remained fixed to their spot, fearing perhaps, that the vanishment of the elves was the result of some sorcery from the unknown world, and afraid that it might sweep them away as well.
Recovering from the initial shock, the strongest of their warriors ran to the clearing. The hissing sound of the unsheathing of their blades echoed from tree to tree. The gleams of the metal swords mingled with the fierce glow of the eyes of these creatures as they scanned the edges of the glade in search of their foes. They had not yet stopped in the center of the clearing, when they heard howls and screams issue from their back, and upon turning they saw some of their soldiers already falling to the ground, followed by malignant yells from their companions.
The Orcs were falling to elven arrows that rained upon them with such speed, and from so many directions at the same time that escape was rendered nearly impossible. Without heeding their fallen comrades any more, the rest of the Orcs ran to find shelter behind the trunks of the largest trees, and some others drew out arrows in an attempt to subdue this unexpected attack. They felt swift gusts of wind above their heads as arrows, or elves, raced nimbly above them.
Upon the agreed signal, the sharp sound of a songbird, the company of elves had sprung up to the trees as one, leaving their adversaries in a state of confussion that did not entirely subside. Legolas and Edregol had stationed themselves upon one of the higher branches of a cedar that was a few feet away from the entrance to the clearing, thus gaining an ample range and access to either side of the Orc band. Arrows had began to fall upon the beasts before the sturdy black chief even noticed.
Legolas took aim and fired at one of the orcs who had raised his arm in sign that he had spotted them. As soon as he gestured, he fell to the sharp arrow of Legolas. Brief moments passed, in which the startled Orcs had little to do but run and hide. Legolas knew they would come with renewed strength, kindled by their disappointment in finding themselves off guard. There was now little time to think, and they had to act. Still making use of the concealment the trees provided, Legolas regarded the Orc band that was scattered among the trees below them.
-"Let us stay up as long as we can. Then," -he said, addressing Edregol, and his voice lingered, his eyes meeting one of the warriors who was now lifting an object and aiming,-"Then, my friend, I fear we will be compelled to step down. Look!" -he said, at the moment an arrow came gliding in front of them, forcing them to lean to the opposite side as the sharp arrowhead grazed Legolas shoulder.
-"Better aimed than I thought!" -said Edregol while he retrieved his hand to the quiver in search of another arrow. -"If they start using their bows, we might have to find other means of attacking. The trees will no longer protect us from their fire."
Legolas turned to him, and then jumped back as he tried to escape from another orc arrow. The amount of shots fired by both sides was now equal, and soon the elves realized they had no longer the advantage.
Thalion was the first to step down, lowering from branch to branch with swift and precise jumps, until he was able to fall upon one of the black chiefs, and drawing his knife out, he slashed his gut. The creature had not yet tumbled to the ground, when another fierce orc was springing to his side, a sharp blade in his hand. Legolas caught sight of this, and fired. The arrow had been swift and pierced the chest of the warrior, yet the direction of the shot had betrayed his hiding place, and in what seemed to be a second, two more warriors aimed their shots at him, thus forcing him to step down as well.
In a few moments, all elves were engaged in close combat with one or two of the Orcs. Thalion could see his warriors struggling as the arrows hissed behind them and the blades wielded in front of them. Toronath, Faelon and Ninniach had been surrounded by a group of five orcs, to the right of the place where he was standing. The three elves looked desperately around, in search of an opening to escape. Thalion was detained by another of the Orc chiefs, who threatened him with a scimeter. In an attempt to draw attention from at least one of his party, Thalion whistled again, and a few heads were turned to his direction, taking glances of the three surrounded elves. With a swift jump, Meren reached the top of the tree above them and fired an arrow to one of the Orcs, thus allowing time for his three companions to engage in an easier task, each of them facing one enemy at a time.
Legolas, Linnathon, and Edregol were fighting at the other side of Thalion. A dark Orc had drawn his blade in a swift motion and came now running behind Legolas, who was engaged in close combat with a fierce Orc who had managed to get hold of his hands.
-"Watch your back, Legolas!"
He heard Edregol's voice, and through the corner of his eye caught sight of the dark shadow moving stealthily toward him. In a desperate effort, he succeeded in escaping the grasp of the Orc who had seized him, and with a decided strike of his knife, he slashed his throat. The other enemy was already upon him, and clinched his arm with one of his hands, and with the other he lifted the blade that would deliver the fatal blow.
Legolas searched intently for a means of escape, but no solutions seemed to be available. He then did what common sense and his warrior reflexes allowed: he stopped the advance of the armed hand with his own, struggling with all his might to keep the blade away from his throat. They were engaged in this close combat for a few minutes, and he felt his strength was beginning to give way before the determined attacks of the Orc. Then, suddenly, he tumbled to the ground, the black beast falling on top of him. The ceasing of the force that resisted the Orc's fury had caused him to fall, and Legolas seized this chance of disentangling his arm from the other's grasp, and with his knife, he pierced the back of the warrior. A long and piercing howl rent the grove as this chief fell; he rolled his eyes and died.
Legolas was overcome by horror for a second, as he encountered the fixed gaze of this creature, his fanged mouth wide open and the red tongue still dribbling. He was shook of this numbness by a shriek from his left, and he rose, only to find Linnathon yielding to the strength of a giant Orc. He sprung to his side, and grabbed the back of the Orc, yet another one came, prepared to shoot at him. Legolas dodged, but he only saw the creature fall. Edregol was behind him, his bow raised; the arrow had killed the menacing beast. Legolas turned back and thrust his knife on the back of the Orc that still held Linnathon, making him relinquish his hold on his friend, who in turn pierced the chest with his elven blade. The Orc fell motionless to the ground.
The battle had been fierce, and the resistance very tight on both sides. Legolas turned around in anticipation, fearing that some other enemy might gain hold of them. His eyes, however, only encountered a mass of bodies crumpling on the ground. He breathed heavily as his eyes drifted from one end of the clearing to the other, where he could distinguish the fallen forms of the black orcs, and his companions bending on top of them, some stained with blood, some still drawing their knives out of the bodies of their foes. Trying to focus his mind, he searched wearily across the woods, counting silently the number of his companions.
'Nine, ten... eleven! We are all here!' Uncertain of what to do first, he looked for the countenance of Thalion, who stood only a few feet away from where he was, his knife stained with black blood. He then woke at the sound of Medlin, who was lying on the ground close to where he stood, and rushed to her side.
-"Thank you, friend. But go to Toronath. His leg was badly hurt." -Legolas glanced to his friend, who rested on the roots of a large tree, pressing his hand against the cut on his leg. Legolas helped Medlin get up, and left her with Edregol who had now come to them, and walked toward Toronath, who managed to grin through his pain.
-"We gave battle, did we not?" -he chuckled, but then clenched his teeth as a frown formed in his face.
-"By your countenance, I would not know whether our victory gives you pleasure or pain," -Legolas said, managing a smile, but hurt to see the expression in the face of his friend.
-"Hush!" -Toronath answered, half looking at him.
-"Legolas!" -Thalion called, -"Bring him here. Edregol! Bring Medlin and Cirion as well. We need to tend to their wounds."
Thalion's commands put order in the messed state that had followed after the attack, and soon enough, the warriors had reassembled in the center of the clearing.
-"Linnathon, let me take a look at your neck," -Ninniach ordered, as she brought some bandages and a sort of cream made out of healing herbs to clean Linnathon's wound.
Meren was also intent on taking a look at Edregol's arm, which seemed to bleed now.
-"Legolas, le us see what we have here," -Maegron said, as he pointed at his shoulder. Legolas had not felt anything, but upon looking, he saw the blood-stained fabric of his tunic, and realized he was probably injured.
Thalion approached them from the behind, and patted Maegron and Legolas' backs.
-"Well met, my friends." -He allowed his face to show his open pleasure at the sight of his companions. Although there were some severely injured, and they were tired and dirty from battle, they were all alive. He grinned, -"Well met."
-"Thank the Valar this arrows were not poisoned," -Ninniach pointed out, as she cleaned a wound on Meren's side. Meren grimaced in pain, and complained. However, Ninniach only chuckled; she knew her young friend was only teasing her with his whining.
-"Indeed, Ninniach," -Thalion replied,-"which is very strange. They must have been traveling very far from their stronghold, and for a long time too, thus running out of poison for their weaponry."
Legolas regarded his captain's pondering face, and then frowned as Maegron cleaned the wound on his shoulder. 'It does hurt more than I expected' he thought, as he grimaced at the burning sensation.
-"Do you believe we will be able to follow our journey undisturbed now?" -Linnathon asked, glancing ahead of them at the path they were supposed to travel.
-"I think nothing could be ascertained," -Thalion said, turning to meet Linnathon's gaze.
-"We get closer to Mirkwood, yet the creatures of darkness do not tire, nor sleep. I would hope the road goes on smoothly as we reach Lonnath, but do not venture to rely on that. I would much rather pursh forth toward the city, as soon as possible."
-"Do you think we will be detained here long?" -Legolas asked, as he glanced at his injured companions. -"This mishap has already slowed our march. It might be another half day before we reach Lonnath, perhaps at noon tomorrow." -He worried at the increasing threat that weighed upon their realm, and was aware that any delay would only add to the danger of their present state. They were still far from the city, but the enemy was getting stronger. They needed to return and report their findings, so effective measures could be taken.
Thalion also cast his eyes around, wandering to each of his warriors. Yet, he read in their faces their willingness to do what needed be done.
-"Maybe half a day, but no longer. Let us seize this chance to rest ourselves; our march has been hasty and hard. We will be much recovered by nightfall, and ready to meet the challenge."
As soon as the wounded were tended to, the warriors began to recover their lost weapons. The quivers were refilled with the arrows they had lost, and one by one the elves began to make ready their traveling gear. The dusky shadows that announced evening fell upon the glade, leaving the travelers again in a world of penumbra. From above, they could distinguish the round and fair figure of Ithil in the sky: night had begun.
Reassembling the line of warriors, Thalion ordered a new scheme to be followed.
-"As the peril still lingers, we will have to be ever more vigilant than before. We will travel in three groups of two in the center, and two ahead and three behind. Linnathon, Medlin, go to the left. Legolas and Edregol to the right, with Meren and Toronath at the center. Ninniach and I will travel in the front. Maegron, Cirion and Faelon at the rear."
Alerted by their recent encounter, the elves complied to the orders in great haste, each one very conscious of their responsability toward the other.
Ithil shone its mild rays upon them. The bright beams that strayed from the moon fell over the obscure forest, producing a faint light that reflected in the leaves. A gray halo surrounded the travelers, and through the darkness that melted into evening, the journey to Lonnath began.
Author's notes: Well, here is chapter 2. What do you think? It was loong, but I worked compulsively until it was finished. I hope it turned out as exciting as you wished for, and hopefully it gives you more information about the warriors in Legolas' party. Please, review with any comments and ideas you might have on how to make this work better; I really appreciate your input and thoughts. Hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it, and please, please, review! ;)