Chapter 13: Fight In The Forest.
It was mid day, the small company traveled unescorted through Lorien, making their way back to Mirkwood. They planned to be in Mirkwood late that night, They were making good time, their hearts were light and their horses feet were quick and merry; all were in high spirits.
They were less than a mile from the edge of the woods, Legolas came up next to Aire, and he smiled. Aire looked at him oddly. There was a mischievous glitter in his deep blue eyes.
"What is it?" she asked, raising an eyebrow at him.
Legolas smirked and laughed, "Nothing" he replied, he looked her up and down, and eyed Morwing, then looked at his own horse, then back at her.
Aireromen glared at him, then a smile spread across her face, she read his mind. She looked ahead at Gandalf and Aragorn, then back at him. "Race you." She mouthed silently to him, and with a single kiss, Morwing took off. Legolas kissed his horse into a canter as well and they both zipped around Gandalf and Aragorn, racing off into the woods, laughing and hollering.
Aragorn turned to Gandalf, his eyes questioning. Gandalf raised his hand to him, nodding.
"It is alright, Aragorn. Let them be." He smiled at the young elves, and shook his head.
Morwing leapt over fallen branches and rocks, he had the agility of his elven horse bloodlines, yet he was large, much taller and bigger than any Elven horse, that he got from his Nazgul father. Nazgul steeds were known to be giants among horses, yet despite how big Morwing was he was very graceful and had a quick, light step. Legolas's horse could not compete with him, they trailed behind Aire, occasionally gaining enough ground to even out with them, but with a little nudge from her and Morwing sped up and with one giant leap he leapt through the trees, breaking the forest line, now onto the open plane that they had crossed a few days before. Legolas came out behind her, she turned Morwing around and slowed him down, he had hardly broken a sweat. She patted his neck.
"Good boy" she said soothingly to her horse. She looked up at Legolas and laughed. "Looks like I win." She retorted.
Legolas smiled at her "you got a head start"
Aire shrugged. And leaned over and kissed his cheek.
After a few moments, Gandalf and Aragorn broke through the tree line.
"Well, it took you long enough" she said laughing.
They continued on their way, walking silently for a while, smiling, and talking occasionally. Totally unaware of the danger that lay ahead of them.
Evening was setting in as they stepped in to Mirkwood forest; the sky was filled with warm colors. Red, orange, deep yellow, and streaks of purple were everywhere, the evenings in autumn were Aireromens's favorite. She loved it.
Morwing's ears flickered back and forth, he sensed something, his nostrils flared, he didn't like what he sensed. He began to slow down, his steps more hesitant.
Aireromen bent down over his neck, "What's wrong boy?" she asked. "Come on, were almost there, we'll be home soon and then you can rest."
It was then that she heard it, a slight noise, a sound only audible by elven ears. Without her having to say anything, Morwing stopped. She looked to Legolas, who had stopped as well.
"Legolas-" she began to say.
"I know" he replied. "I heard it too."
"Heard what?" asked Aragorn, eyeing the woods that surrounded them.
Their hands slid to the weapons that they carried with them, an erie silence fell, and nothing could be heard except the breathing of the horses. Then, it was broken, by a single arrow zooming out from the ever- growing darkness around them, the arrow struck the trunk of a tree next to Aireromen, Morwing reared and let out a shrill neigh. The others startled as well, they all drew out their weapons, it was in this moment when Orcs began pouring out of the shadows. There were about 50 of them, and they were quickly filling up the large clearing they had entered. Aragorn was the first to charge into the fray, he slashed and stabbed. Legolas drew his bow and fired numerous arrows, when he had run out he pulled out his short swords and charged. Gandalf too drew out his sword and charges in, they were at an advantage for a time, as long as they were on their horses, but that did not last long. An orc stabbed Aragorn's steed, sending it crashing to the ground in a lifeless heap. Aragorn was thrown and knocked out.
Shadowfax was hit with an arrow in his left flank, he let out a cry of pain, Gandalf leapt off of him began to fight on ground, he did not want the extra weight to pain him and cause more damage. Legolas's had freaked out entirely and threw him, and had taken off running through the woods. Only Morwing was unscathed, and only Aireromen was still mounted, Morwing used his powerful legs as weapons and crushed the skull of any orc that came close. Aire plunged her sword into many Orc chests, but she could do little more while she was still atop her horse, so with a great leap she jumped to the ground and wielded her sword about, gutting many of the stinking orcs, black blood was everywhere. Five gigantic orcs ganged up on the wizard, he was distracted. Legolas battled on, he was slashed below his shoulder, and his pure elven blood was slowly flowing down his arm. Aire fought many at once, but her sword fighting skills were rusty, and the orcs seemed to sense this. Snikag, came into the clearing, his eyes burned with seething hatred at the sight of the elven princess, the one who had cost him his arm, and his pride. He would make her pay.
He pushed his fellow orcs out of the way; all fighting ceased, Legolas and Gandalf looked around in a daze. Snikag smiled evilly as he came closer to her. Aireromen looked, she saw him, she stood almost in a trance, a flash back came to her, and she saw his face, many, many years ago. His sickening laughter, his horrible smirk. And she felt the jerk of his blade running through her. She shook her head; the flashback was over, yet in front of her still stood Snikag.
"Grab her" he growled.
Two orcs came from behind her and knocked the sword out of her hands, they grabbed her arms and bound her hands behind her.
"LEGOLAS!" she screamed
Legolas's eyes widened, "NO!" he yelled, and made an attempt to run to her, he was hit in the back of the head by the handle of an orc's blade. He crumbled to the ground, unconscious.
"Legolas." Shouted Gandalf, he too was bound and hit over the head.
"Foolish Wizard" smirked Snikag. "Now, my pretty little thing" he said running his foul hand across her fair face. She turned her face away. "Let's get out of here." He growled.
"NO!" she screamed "MORWING!"
Morwing came into view he knocked one of the orcs holding her down, but three grabbed rope that they had brought with them for such events and threw it around his neck and legs, they wrapped the rope around the largest tree they could find, binding Morwing to it. He thrashed and kicked, squealing in anger.
"Morwing!" Aireromen cried. She writhed her arms, determined to break free; they gagged her and flung her over their shoulders.
Snikag called to the others. "Let's get out of here, we'll finish her off later, I want her to suffer!" he laughed and they left the clearing, making their way swiftly back to their camp.
As they left, Legolas opened his eyes half way, he saw them leaving, at first he did not understand, then it hit him. "AIRE!" he screamed. He slowly got up, his head was throbbing. Gandalf and Aragorn were coming around as well.
Gandalf went to Morwing, who was thrashing about. He cut through the rope with a dagger, Morwing got up immediately, he shook and snorted, thankful for the Wizard's help.
"We must get her back!" shouted Legolas
"What?" asked Aragorn.
"Aireromen, they took her! They took her! COME! We must get her back!" shouted Legolas.
"Not to be rude, but how do we do that? If their plan is to kill her then we have little chance of tracking them in time; they travel fast, and do not stop for rest. None of us, not even you, Legolas are swift enough to catch them." Said Gandalf.
Legolas looked at the wizard, then at Morwing; he glared at the horse and then looked back at Gandalf. Legolas pointed to the giant black horse, who looked at them all with menacing red eyes.
"He is." Said Legolas coldly.
It was mid day, the small company traveled unescorted through Lorien, making their way back to Mirkwood. They planned to be in Mirkwood late that night, They were making good time, their hearts were light and their horses feet were quick and merry; all were in high spirits.
They were less than a mile from the edge of the woods, Legolas came up next to Aire, and he smiled. Aire looked at him oddly. There was a mischievous glitter in his deep blue eyes.
"What is it?" she asked, raising an eyebrow at him.
Legolas smirked and laughed, "Nothing" he replied, he looked her up and down, and eyed Morwing, then looked at his own horse, then back at her.
Aireromen glared at him, then a smile spread across her face, she read his mind. She looked ahead at Gandalf and Aragorn, then back at him. "Race you." She mouthed silently to him, and with a single kiss, Morwing took off. Legolas kissed his horse into a canter as well and they both zipped around Gandalf and Aragorn, racing off into the woods, laughing and hollering.
Aragorn turned to Gandalf, his eyes questioning. Gandalf raised his hand to him, nodding.
"It is alright, Aragorn. Let them be." He smiled at the young elves, and shook his head.
Morwing leapt over fallen branches and rocks, he had the agility of his elven horse bloodlines, yet he was large, much taller and bigger than any Elven horse, that he got from his Nazgul father. Nazgul steeds were known to be giants among horses, yet despite how big Morwing was he was very graceful and had a quick, light step. Legolas's horse could not compete with him, they trailed behind Aire, occasionally gaining enough ground to even out with them, but with a little nudge from her and Morwing sped up and with one giant leap he leapt through the trees, breaking the forest line, now onto the open plane that they had crossed a few days before. Legolas came out behind her, she turned Morwing around and slowed him down, he had hardly broken a sweat. She patted his neck.
"Good boy" she said soothingly to her horse. She looked up at Legolas and laughed. "Looks like I win." She retorted.
Legolas smiled at her "you got a head start"
Aire shrugged. And leaned over and kissed his cheek.
After a few moments, Gandalf and Aragorn broke through the tree line.
"Well, it took you long enough" she said laughing.
They continued on their way, walking silently for a while, smiling, and talking occasionally. Totally unaware of the danger that lay ahead of them.
Evening was setting in as they stepped in to Mirkwood forest; the sky was filled with warm colors. Red, orange, deep yellow, and streaks of purple were everywhere, the evenings in autumn were Aireromens's favorite. She loved it.
Morwing's ears flickered back and forth, he sensed something, his nostrils flared, he didn't like what he sensed. He began to slow down, his steps more hesitant.
Aireromen bent down over his neck, "What's wrong boy?" she asked. "Come on, were almost there, we'll be home soon and then you can rest."
It was then that she heard it, a slight noise, a sound only audible by elven ears. Without her having to say anything, Morwing stopped. She looked to Legolas, who had stopped as well.
"Legolas-" she began to say.
"I know" he replied. "I heard it too."
"Heard what?" asked Aragorn, eyeing the woods that surrounded them.
Their hands slid to the weapons that they carried with them, an erie silence fell, and nothing could be heard except the breathing of the horses. Then, it was broken, by a single arrow zooming out from the ever- growing darkness around them, the arrow struck the trunk of a tree next to Aireromen, Morwing reared and let out a shrill neigh. The others startled as well, they all drew out their weapons, it was in this moment when Orcs began pouring out of the shadows. There were about 50 of them, and they were quickly filling up the large clearing they had entered. Aragorn was the first to charge into the fray, he slashed and stabbed. Legolas drew his bow and fired numerous arrows, when he had run out he pulled out his short swords and charged. Gandalf too drew out his sword and charges in, they were at an advantage for a time, as long as they were on their horses, but that did not last long. An orc stabbed Aragorn's steed, sending it crashing to the ground in a lifeless heap. Aragorn was thrown and knocked out.
Shadowfax was hit with an arrow in his left flank, he let out a cry of pain, Gandalf leapt off of him began to fight on ground, he did not want the extra weight to pain him and cause more damage. Legolas's had freaked out entirely and threw him, and had taken off running through the woods. Only Morwing was unscathed, and only Aireromen was still mounted, Morwing used his powerful legs as weapons and crushed the skull of any orc that came close. Aire plunged her sword into many Orc chests, but she could do little more while she was still atop her horse, so with a great leap she jumped to the ground and wielded her sword about, gutting many of the stinking orcs, black blood was everywhere. Five gigantic orcs ganged up on the wizard, he was distracted. Legolas battled on, he was slashed below his shoulder, and his pure elven blood was slowly flowing down his arm. Aire fought many at once, but her sword fighting skills were rusty, and the orcs seemed to sense this. Snikag, came into the clearing, his eyes burned with seething hatred at the sight of the elven princess, the one who had cost him his arm, and his pride. He would make her pay.
He pushed his fellow orcs out of the way; all fighting ceased, Legolas and Gandalf looked around in a daze. Snikag smiled evilly as he came closer to her. Aireromen looked, she saw him, she stood almost in a trance, a flash back came to her, and she saw his face, many, many years ago. His sickening laughter, his horrible smirk. And she felt the jerk of his blade running through her. She shook her head; the flashback was over, yet in front of her still stood Snikag.
"Grab her" he growled.
Two orcs came from behind her and knocked the sword out of her hands, they grabbed her arms and bound her hands behind her.
"LEGOLAS!" she screamed
Legolas's eyes widened, "NO!" he yelled, and made an attempt to run to her, he was hit in the back of the head by the handle of an orc's blade. He crumbled to the ground, unconscious.
"Legolas." Shouted Gandalf, he too was bound and hit over the head.
"Foolish Wizard" smirked Snikag. "Now, my pretty little thing" he said running his foul hand across her fair face. She turned her face away. "Let's get out of here." He growled.
"NO!" she screamed "MORWING!"
Morwing came into view he knocked one of the orcs holding her down, but three grabbed rope that they had brought with them for such events and threw it around his neck and legs, they wrapped the rope around the largest tree they could find, binding Morwing to it. He thrashed and kicked, squealing in anger.
"Morwing!" Aireromen cried. She writhed her arms, determined to break free; they gagged her and flung her over their shoulders.
Snikag called to the others. "Let's get out of here, we'll finish her off later, I want her to suffer!" he laughed and they left the clearing, making their way swiftly back to their camp.
As they left, Legolas opened his eyes half way, he saw them leaving, at first he did not understand, then it hit him. "AIRE!" he screamed. He slowly got up, his head was throbbing. Gandalf and Aragorn were coming around as well.
Gandalf went to Morwing, who was thrashing about. He cut through the rope with a dagger, Morwing got up immediately, he shook and snorted, thankful for the Wizard's help.
"We must get her back!" shouted Legolas
"What?" asked Aragorn.
"Aireromen, they took her! They took her! COME! We must get her back!" shouted Legolas.
"Not to be rude, but how do we do that? If their plan is to kill her then we have little chance of tracking them in time; they travel fast, and do not stop for rest. None of us, not even you, Legolas are swift enough to catch them." Said Gandalf.
Legolas looked at the wizard, then at Morwing; he glared at the horse and then looked back at Gandalf. Legolas pointed to the giant black horse, who looked at them all with menacing red eyes.
"He is." Said Legolas coldly.