Chapter 4 –The Black Arrow
Leali rode bareback behind Legolas, resting her head on his muscular shoulder, as they galloped across the lush fields.
She did not know precisely where she was headed, but having Legolas with her made her feel relaxed, and untroubled.
As they continued to ride, Leali flouted gently into slumber, undisturbed by the thought of her frightening journey.
A strong hand shook her out of sleep, "Leali, Leali wake up. Alas we have to camp here for the night we can travel no longer"
Leali opened her eyes to find Legolas dismounted and waiting to help her slide off the horse.
Coming in to full-consciousness, she realized the scenery had changed considerably since she had drifted to sleep.
The region was dark and large rocks and felled trees riddled its surface.
A grey castle appeared in the fog, and as she became more conscious she also noticed a vast cluster of soldiers, all on horseback entering the dark fortress.
"Where are we?" she inquired, after letting Legolas slide her down from the horses back.
"This is Helm's Deep, here we shall stay with the Riders of the Mark. I sense there is great evil growing in the hills. We ought to be ready to defend ourselves."
Legolas looked down into Leali's now wide eyes and gave her a reassuring smile. "Now come, it is not safe in the open, we must get within the walls of the castle, Make Haste!"
Legolas took the reins in one hand and wrapped his other around Leali, and quickly lead them through the great doors of the garrison and to safety.
Sleep came swiftly to Legolas and the others, but Leali did not find rest in the strange dark surroundings.
She had left her bed and wandered onto a balcony that overlooked the surrounding region.
Though she could see far, nothing was familiar; all that she could see was strange and daunting.
A lone sparkling tear dripped solemnly down her pale glowing cheek. Her head flooded with doubt, had she made a grave mistake? Was it foolishness that had stolen her from her beloved home? 'No it was for love!' Blurted her mind
'It was for your love for Legolas!' She stopped, surprised with herself, for she had never been in love before and it felt strangely, pleasant to hear herself admit to it.
She smiled, "For Love" her doubts seemed to fade away and she continued to gaze into the starry night.
Not long after, sunlight began to thread itself through the darkness of Helm's Deep, did Leali become aware of the dark figures that were creeping through the shadows and towards the proud castle.
Instinctively, her hand flew to her shoulder and the gash that was not yet healed.
Orcs.
Her mouth opened in an attempt to alarm the rest of the company, but no sound could be heard.
Running quickly through the halls she reached Legolas and his companions.
Legolas awoke to find Leali's bed empty and when she came running back he could tell by the disturbed look on her face that something was terribly wrong.
He jumped up and ran to her side. "O.orcs!"
Her voice seemed far off and diluted, but Legolas understood at once.
Instantaneously his face changed quickly from concern to hatred, and after awaking Aragorn and Gimli, he ran off to alarm the rest of the small defence.
The sun was high in the sky before the realization of the sheer numbers of the orc army, came to rest on Aragorn's face.
They blanketed the area, like a black swarm of death and disease.
Men began to cry, as the first of the orcs reached the walls of the castle.
Legolas sat himself on the wall shooting arrows at the surge of orcs.
Leali was not far from him, though she was not fighting, she sat safely behind a large rock that protruded from the ramparts.
She tried not to be in the way and once in a while went hunting for arrows when Legolas began to run low.
As she was watching the battle commence she noticed a strange being, lurking in the shadows of the fighting orcs.
He was tall and dressed in white, not unalike the wizard, Gandalf.
As Leali looked closer she saw that he was carrying a black arrow, witch bore strange red writing, and a similar bow.
To her surprise, as she watched, he drew his bow and fitted it with the bizarre black arrow.
A feeling of terror washed over her face as she followed the strange archers aim.
The horrid black arrow was pointed at Legolas, who was still without notice to his peril, shooting down at the black mass of orcs.
Without a thought Leali shot forward and pushed Legolas down to the floor and out of the dark arrows path.
Legolas looked up, from the ground, at Leali with surprise, not yet knowing why the elf had pushed him down.
The answer soon came to him.
Leali let out a silent scream as the black arrow flew into the flesh of her back.
She fell awkwardly down beside Legolas, who had let out a cry and rushed to her side.
She began to sweat and pain swept over her every move she made.
Legolas's blurry figure bent over her and she could feel his warm tears hitting her face.
She then reached up and stroked Legolas's soft face, "For Love" and with that she gave a weak smile and fell unconscious.
Legolas lifted her limp body and took her far into the safety of the fortress.
It was hours until the war was won and the last of the evil orcs had fled to the forests.
Helm's deep was covered in dead bodies, orc and man.
Though they had won, the blow to their numbers weakened them greatly; they could not survive another attack.
Legolas slept, tears staining his face, at Leali's side, holding her pale hand to his cheek.
He awoke violently when Aragorn and Gimli arrived, looking sorrowfully at them and back to Leali's colourless face.
"My friend, Let me look at her. I will help the best that I can," whispered Aragorn.
Legolas, now filled with anger, screamed "No Aragorn! You cannot help her! Her fate has already been sealed!"
At that he held up the black arrow.
Aragorn looked with shock at the blood-tainted weapon and then down to the ailing elf-girl.
Legolas turned back and began to sob.
"Trickery of this sort could only have been done by a powerful evil…Saruman" Aragorn walked out of the room, with hatred burning in his veins. "Saruman"
Gimli who has never heard of 'black arrows' stopped Aragorn just out of Legolas's earshot.
Aragorn knew from Gimli's face the question that sat on the dwarfs tongue.
"It is much harder to kill your friends than it is your foes" Aragorn with a look of pity, walked away leaving the dwarf to his thoughts.
* He he he
Leali rode bareback behind Legolas, resting her head on his muscular shoulder, as they galloped across the lush fields.
She did not know precisely where she was headed, but having Legolas with her made her feel relaxed, and untroubled.
As they continued to ride, Leali flouted gently into slumber, undisturbed by the thought of her frightening journey.
A strong hand shook her out of sleep, "Leali, Leali wake up. Alas we have to camp here for the night we can travel no longer"
Leali opened her eyes to find Legolas dismounted and waiting to help her slide off the horse.
Coming in to full-consciousness, she realized the scenery had changed considerably since she had drifted to sleep.
The region was dark and large rocks and felled trees riddled its surface.
A grey castle appeared in the fog, and as she became more conscious she also noticed a vast cluster of soldiers, all on horseback entering the dark fortress.
"Where are we?" she inquired, after letting Legolas slide her down from the horses back.
"This is Helm's Deep, here we shall stay with the Riders of the Mark. I sense there is great evil growing in the hills. We ought to be ready to defend ourselves."
Legolas looked down into Leali's now wide eyes and gave her a reassuring smile. "Now come, it is not safe in the open, we must get within the walls of the castle, Make Haste!"
Legolas took the reins in one hand and wrapped his other around Leali, and quickly lead them through the great doors of the garrison and to safety.
Sleep came swiftly to Legolas and the others, but Leali did not find rest in the strange dark surroundings.
She had left her bed and wandered onto a balcony that overlooked the surrounding region.
Though she could see far, nothing was familiar; all that she could see was strange and daunting.
A lone sparkling tear dripped solemnly down her pale glowing cheek. Her head flooded with doubt, had she made a grave mistake? Was it foolishness that had stolen her from her beloved home? 'No it was for love!' Blurted her mind
'It was for your love for Legolas!' She stopped, surprised with herself, for she had never been in love before and it felt strangely, pleasant to hear herself admit to it.
She smiled, "For Love" her doubts seemed to fade away and she continued to gaze into the starry night.
Not long after, sunlight began to thread itself through the darkness of Helm's Deep, did Leali become aware of the dark figures that were creeping through the shadows and towards the proud castle.
Instinctively, her hand flew to her shoulder and the gash that was not yet healed.
Orcs.
Her mouth opened in an attempt to alarm the rest of the company, but no sound could be heard.
Running quickly through the halls she reached Legolas and his companions.
Legolas awoke to find Leali's bed empty and when she came running back he could tell by the disturbed look on her face that something was terribly wrong.
He jumped up and ran to her side. "O.orcs!"
Her voice seemed far off and diluted, but Legolas understood at once.
Instantaneously his face changed quickly from concern to hatred, and after awaking Aragorn and Gimli, he ran off to alarm the rest of the small defence.
The sun was high in the sky before the realization of the sheer numbers of the orc army, came to rest on Aragorn's face.
They blanketed the area, like a black swarm of death and disease.
Men began to cry, as the first of the orcs reached the walls of the castle.
Legolas sat himself on the wall shooting arrows at the surge of orcs.
Leali was not far from him, though she was not fighting, she sat safely behind a large rock that protruded from the ramparts.
She tried not to be in the way and once in a while went hunting for arrows when Legolas began to run low.
As she was watching the battle commence she noticed a strange being, lurking in the shadows of the fighting orcs.
He was tall and dressed in white, not unalike the wizard, Gandalf.
As Leali looked closer she saw that he was carrying a black arrow, witch bore strange red writing, and a similar bow.
To her surprise, as she watched, he drew his bow and fitted it with the bizarre black arrow.
A feeling of terror washed over her face as she followed the strange archers aim.
The horrid black arrow was pointed at Legolas, who was still without notice to his peril, shooting down at the black mass of orcs.
Without a thought Leali shot forward and pushed Legolas down to the floor and out of the dark arrows path.
Legolas looked up, from the ground, at Leali with surprise, not yet knowing why the elf had pushed him down.
The answer soon came to him.
Leali let out a silent scream as the black arrow flew into the flesh of her back.
She fell awkwardly down beside Legolas, who had let out a cry and rushed to her side.
She began to sweat and pain swept over her every move she made.
Legolas's blurry figure bent over her and she could feel his warm tears hitting her face.
She then reached up and stroked Legolas's soft face, "For Love" and with that she gave a weak smile and fell unconscious.
Legolas lifted her limp body and took her far into the safety of the fortress.
It was hours until the war was won and the last of the evil orcs had fled to the forests.
Helm's deep was covered in dead bodies, orc and man.
Though they had won, the blow to their numbers weakened them greatly; they could not survive another attack.
Legolas slept, tears staining his face, at Leali's side, holding her pale hand to his cheek.
He awoke violently when Aragorn and Gimli arrived, looking sorrowfully at them and back to Leali's colourless face.
"My friend, Let me look at her. I will help the best that I can," whispered Aragorn.
Legolas, now filled with anger, screamed "No Aragorn! You cannot help her! Her fate has already been sealed!"
At that he held up the black arrow.
Aragorn looked with shock at the blood-tainted weapon and then down to the ailing elf-girl.
Legolas turned back and began to sob.
"Trickery of this sort could only have been done by a powerful evil…Saruman" Aragorn walked out of the room, with hatred burning in his veins. "Saruman"
Gimli who has never heard of 'black arrows' stopped Aragorn just out of Legolas's earshot.
Aragorn knew from Gimli's face the question that sat on the dwarfs tongue.
"It is much harder to kill your friends than it is your foes" Aragorn with a look of pity, walked away leaving the dwarf to his thoughts.
* He he he