RATING: PG-13
DISCLAIMER: The characters from Lord of the Rings and their wonderful world are borrowed from J.R.R. Tolkien. The plotline and all other characters are copyright 2002 Emily (emi_kins@yahoo.com)
***A/N*** Sorry guys. I've had some wicked writer's block, but I think I'm better now. Been really busy buying a house too. And visiting with my mom. And missing my not-so-little-anymore sister! Forgive me?
23.
The five Orcs surrounded Elenath, threatening her with their garish, jagged weapons. But she had had it. She would not stand by and let those wretches kill her. No. She would go out fighting and take as many of them with her as she could.
"You had best turn and run now and save your pathetic lives," she warned, glaring at them through narrowed eyes. She held fast to the little jeweled dagger and hoped beyond hope that help would arrive quickly.
"Kill her," said the Orcs' leader and all five advanced on her at once.
How she wished she had Calmakil! It was clear that she needed a larger weapon if she were going to have any chance at survival at all, and she scanned those carried by her enemies. Choosing a jagged sword carried by a smallish Orc, she flung the little dagger at close range. It plunged home and the Orc collapsed into a heap on the floor; the princess was upon him at once, relieving him of his weapon.
"Now," she said, "Let us discover how well you fight when the match is more equal, hmmm?"
In actuality, with her head pounding and her lack of nourishment for the last few days, the match was not equal at all. Besides, there were five of them and only one of her. Yet she refused to let them see her fear.
One Orc thrust his spear at her and she dodged. Were their weapons poisoned with grimleaf? She decided then and there that she would have to be particularly careful.
Ever mindful of the rescuers she hoped were coming, she made as much noise as possible as she slashed out with the Orkish blade, bringing another of her enemies down.
***
"This way!" shouted Legolas, "I hear her! She battles with the enemy even now." His jog changed to a sprint through the darkness of the cave. Elenath was still alive! He had heard her cry and hoped that he would not be too late.
Gandalf brightened the light from his staff as he ran behind the Elves, struggling a bit to keep up. "Do not wait for me," he panted when two of them hung back to wait. "See to the princess."
Faintly, Elenath's screams and the sounds of battle drifted up to the rescue party as they ran ever downward. These sounds grew louder and louder as they rushed downward, and the Elves drew their bows, knocking arrows.
Presently they came to a fork in the cave and skidded to a halt, listening carefully until another shriek led them down the right-hand tunnel. So intent were they upon their task that no one noticed the small silent figure rushing along behind them, just beyond the light of Gandalf's staff.
***
Elenath panted and could barely keep her feet. She had killed three of the Orcs now and the other two regarded her with a mixture of fear and rage. They looked as if they could not decide whether to attack or to run.
The princess hoped that they would run; prayed that they would, for she was exhausted. Her vision clouded and then cleared with the beating of her heart, and she swayed on her feet.
Her life or death all came down to this moment. All her life, she had striven to be independent but now she wished for just one Elven warrior to help her. She recalled Legolas' words as the Orcs advanced on her menacingly: "Even the bravest of warriors needs someone to watch his back during battle." How true those words were proving now. As she felt her strength give way beneath the Orkish onslaught and rolled to avoid their blades, she wondered vaguely if she would ever see the Prince of Mirkwood again.
Suddenly, Elenath's vision lapsed in a flash of blinding white light and she wondered if she had been slain at last. But then she heard a wonderful sound – the sound of familiar Elven voices shouting their attack. Still blinded, she felt herself being hoisted off the ground roughly by one of the Orcs, and she kicked and flailed for all she was worth until she felt cold steel at her throat.
"Dim the light!" demanded the Orc. "Now, or I will kill her!"
The light dimmed and Elenath was finally able to make out shapes around her. "Do not risk yourselves for me," she said, her voice as weak as the rest of her body. "Just tell my family how much I love them. Please."
"You'll tell them that yourself," said Legolas.
The Orc laughed. "Drop your weapons."
Elenath heard the sound of bows and swords clattering to the cave floor.
DISCLAIMER: The characters from Lord of the Rings and their wonderful world are borrowed from J.R.R. Tolkien. The plotline and all other characters are copyright 2002 Emily (emi_kins@yahoo.com)
***A/N*** Sorry guys. I've had some wicked writer's block, but I think I'm better now. Been really busy buying a house too. And visiting with my mom. And missing my not-so-little-anymore sister! Forgive me?
23.
The five Orcs surrounded Elenath, threatening her with their garish, jagged weapons. But she had had it. She would not stand by and let those wretches kill her. No. She would go out fighting and take as many of them with her as she could.
"You had best turn and run now and save your pathetic lives," she warned, glaring at them through narrowed eyes. She held fast to the little jeweled dagger and hoped beyond hope that help would arrive quickly.
"Kill her," said the Orcs' leader and all five advanced on her at once.
How she wished she had Calmakil! It was clear that she needed a larger weapon if she were going to have any chance at survival at all, and she scanned those carried by her enemies. Choosing a jagged sword carried by a smallish Orc, she flung the little dagger at close range. It plunged home and the Orc collapsed into a heap on the floor; the princess was upon him at once, relieving him of his weapon.
"Now," she said, "Let us discover how well you fight when the match is more equal, hmmm?"
In actuality, with her head pounding and her lack of nourishment for the last few days, the match was not equal at all. Besides, there were five of them and only one of her. Yet she refused to let them see her fear.
One Orc thrust his spear at her and she dodged. Were their weapons poisoned with grimleaf? She decided then and there that she would have to be particularly careful.
Ever mindful of the rescuers she hoped were coming, she made as much noise as possible as she slashed out with the Orkish blade, bringing another of her enemies down.
***
"This way!" shouted Legolas, "I hear her! She battles with the enemy even now." His jog changed to a sprint through the darkness of the cave. Elenath was still alive! He had heard her cry and hoped that he would not be too late.
Gandalf brightened the light from his staff as he ran behind the Elves, struggling a bit to keep up. "Do not wait for me," he panted when two of them hung back to wait. "See to the princess."
Faintly, Elenath's screams and the sounds of battle drifted up to the rescue party as they ran ever downward. These sounds grew louder and louder as they rushed downward, and the Elves drew their bows, knocking arrows.
Presently they came to a fork in the cave and skidded to a halt, listening carefully until another shriek led them down the right-hand tunnel. So intent were they upon their task that no one noticed the small silent figure rushing along behind them, just beyond the light of Gandalf's staff.
***
Elenath panted and could barely keep her feet. She had killed three of the Orcs now and the other two regarded her with a mixture of fear and rage. They looked as if they could not decide whether to attack or to run.
The princess hoped that they would run; prayed that they would, for she was exhausted. Her vision clouded and then cleared with the beating of her heart, and she swayed on her feet.
Her life or death all came down to this moment. All her life, she had striven to be independent but now she wished for just one Elven warrior to help her. She recalled Legolas' words as the Orcs advanced on her menacingly: "Even the bravest of warriors needs someone to watch his back during battle." How true those words were proving now. As she felt her strength give way beneath the Orkish onslaught and rolled to avoid their blades, she wondered vaguely if she would ever see the Prince of Mirkwood again.
Suddenly, Elenath's vision lapsed in a flash of blinding white light and she wondered if she had been slain at last. But then she heard a wonderful sound – the sound of familiar Elven voices shouting their attack. Still blinded, she felt herself being hoisted off the ground roughly by one of the Orcs, and she kicked and flailed for all she was worth until she felt cold steel at her throat.
"Dim the light!" demanded the Orc. "Now, or I will kill her!"
The light dimmed and Elenath was finally able to make out shapes around her. "Do not risk yourselves for me," she said, her voice as weak as the rest of her body. "Just tell my family how much I love them. Please."
"You'll tell them that yourself," said Legolas.
The Orc laughed. "Drop your weapons."
Elenath heard the sound of bows and swords clattering to the cave floor.
