A/N: This chapter is dedicated to my wonderful friend Kara Angelle, because I was going to give up and try finishing this tomorrow because my stubborn characters wouldn't cooperate, but then she begged me to finish it, so I did. Enjoy! *AS*
Chapter 25: Revenge
Elwing and Erestor raced lightly across Rohan's plains, their Elven blood lending them endurance and speed. They stopped rarely, and when they did it was only to drink some water and eat some lembas before continuing on.
As the morning dawned on the third day, Erestor saw they were less than a hundred yards from Fangorn Forest. He glanced at Elwing, who's face was tight with anger and thoughts of revenge.
"Are we going to stop soon?" he asked, only slightly breathless.
"We'll stop just inside Fangorn. They won't be expecting an attack from there."
Erestor shook his head. Two kids was not exactly what he would call an 'attack', but he wisely kept his mouth closed, and they carried on until they were under Fangorn's branches. They found a spot from which they could see, but not be seen, and waited for the orcs to arrive.
Over a hundred orcs were standing with their backs to Elwing and Erestor, scarcely ten yards from the forest. They were coming no further, for Rohan Riders had them surrounded on three sides, with Fangorn at their back.
Erestor glanced at Elwing. "When do we go?" he whispered.
"We can't show ourselves until Grishnak carries off Merry and Pippin," she whispered back.
Erestor frowned. "Why?"
Elwing sighed. "Because, if the Hobbits see us they won't go into Fangorn and they won't meet Treebeard and there won't be an Entmoot and the Ents won't destroy Isengard or come to the battle of Helm's Deep!"
Erestor rolled his eyes. "Okay, okay. I get it."
Any further discussion was cut off by fearsome cries and the sound of metal clashing against metal. The battle had begun.
Elwing watched closely, her hazel eyes shining green in anticipation of the battle. Her fingers thrummed impatiently on her sword hilt and she fidgeted restlessly. Erestor glanced at her worriedly.
"Elwing, this isn't one of your better ideas," he said over the noise of the battle. "We haven't even been in any real battles before. Well, you haven't. I mean, we could get killed!"
Elwing gave him a wearied look. "You mean I could get killed. Well, you're wrong. We'll have to fight eventually, so we may as well start now. Besides, I haven't been reading the Fire Book for nothing."
Erestor was about to ask what she meant, but she cut him off. "Look! There goes Grishnak! Come on!"
Elwing was halfway to her feet when Erestor stopped her and pointed. Five orcs had broken away from the others and were headed for the forest. Elwing grinned.
"Piece of cake."
The orcs thought they were home free. The Riders weren't close enough to stop them, and they were almost in the forest when a movement stopped them. A girl had seemingly materialized out of the trees. She wore a strange cloak, and her only hand rested on the hilt of a sword.
"I suggest you turn back," she said nonchalantly.
The orcs laughed, and the biggest of them stepped forward. "Or what? You'll tickle us with your sword?" he leered.
The girl smiled. "You'll be dead before you're within sword range."
The orc sneered. "Is that so? Let's find out!"
He charged, sword raised to strike. Suddenly, a wall of fire appeared around the orc. He gave one scream and fell, dead. The other orcs stared in shock at their burning companion.
"Demon!" one of them screamed. The other three took up his cry and ran screaming wildly back into the fray. Elwing smiled and drew her sword. Orcs, they never listen. Now she had another problem. The dead, still on fire orc was right in her way. Elwing sighed and backed up a little bit to get a running start.
Eomer's attention was brought back to the battle as an orc charged him. Eomer sighed and steered his horse toward it. Whoever this girl was, he was glad she was on his side.
Six, and I'm just getting started! she thought, panting slightly. Her main advantage was that her enemies kept underestimating her, foolishly thinking she was slow and weak. But there was one orc who did not underestimate her. Uglúk had been watching the strange girl closely, and now he pushed his way towards her.
Elwing turned, but not quite fast enough. Her sword arm shuddered painfully as it bent awkwardly to block Uglúk's stroke. She tried to avoid locking swords with him, dodging his blows. Uglúk swung a hard, fast stroke at her neck, and Elwing had to drop to the ground to avoid it. Before she could stand back up, Uglúk's hard booted foot connectedly painfully with her right side, sending her rolling and causing her to lose hold of her sword.
Elwing lay on her back, stunned and gasping for breath. Uglúk towered over her, sword raised to strike. Elwing was helpless, too stunned to do anything. Suddenly a spear seemed to grow out of Uglúk's ugly neck. Erestor pulled Elwing out of the way of the orc's falling body.
"Are you okay?" he asked worriedly.
Elwing nodded, still trying to breathe.
Eomer galloped up, his cautious eyes scrutinizing the two intruders.
"Are you all right?" he asked.
Elwing nodded as Erestor helped her to her feet. "We'll be fine," Erestor said a bit coldly to Eomer, who was watching Elwing closely.
Eomer glanced at Erestor. "Strangers in this land should be careful with their words," Eomer said warningly. "I cannot speak with you now, but if you are still alive after the battle, I will speak with you." With that, he rode off.
Erestor freed his spear from Uglúk and protected Elwing while she retrieved her sword.
"I told you to be careful!" Erestor said angrily, dodging a sword stroke from an orc.
"I was!" Elwing snapped, dodging an arrow. "He came out of nowhere!"
Erestor grunted. "You're lucky I found that spear, or you would be a twin right now!"
Elwing snorted. "Thank you for saving my life, and I promise I will be more careful, but war is war and whether you like it or not we will get hurt!" she said coldly.
Erestor did not reply, but carried on fighting.
"Not bad for one of my not-so-good ideas," Elwing said pertly, wiping her sword clean on the grass.
Erestor sighed and rolled his eyes. "You know, you are very different when you're fighting. Even your eyes change."
Elwing frowned as she sheathed her sword. "What do you mean?"
"Whenever you get angry or are in a fight your eyes turn green," he explained, cleaning and sheathing his sword as well. The spear had long been shattered. "It must be your Sunstar blood."
Elwing shrugged. "I guess."
Their conversation ended as Eomer rode up, his proud face stained with blood and sweat.
"I wish to speak with you now," he said, more to Elwing than she and Erestor both.
Elwing nodded consent, and Eomer lead them away from the battlefield to a hill roughly thirty yards from where the Riders were piling the orc bodies. Eomer dismounted and sat down, biding them to do likewise. Erestor sat facing Eomer, Elwing on his right and the battlefield on his left.
"I am Eomer son of Éomund, and am called the Third Marshal of the Riddermark. By your actions I assume you are friends, but one cannot be sure in these dark days," Eomer began. "Who are you, and how came you to our lands?" "I am Elwing, and this is Erestor," she said politely. "We were traveling with others, but we became separated from them. The orcs you just killed murdered one of our friends."
Eomer watched her closely. "Who were the others you were traveling with, and whom do you all serve?"
"As for who we serve, it is certainly not Sauron," Elwing said vehemently. "We are fighting against the Dark Lord. As for our companions, you shall meet them in a few days on your way back to the Golden Hall."
Eomer looked at her suspiciously. "How do you know this? Are you a sorceress?"
Elwing's eyes glinted. "Certainly not! As for how I know, it is a long story, one that is not to be told at this time. You must promise me one thing, when you meet our companions, do not tell them you met us."
Eomer frowned and his suspicion deepened. "And why not? Would you not want your friends to know you are safe?"
Elwing sighed. "Look, we don't have time for this! Please, just promise me this."
Eomer watched her for a moment, then sighed. "Very well, you have my word."
Elwing smiled and glanced at Erestor, but something past him caught her attention. The Riders had finished piling the orcs, and were now standing a distance from them lighting torches. Elwing grinned, her hazel eyes flashing green. Suddenly the pile burst into flame.
Eomer and Erestor leapt to their feet, staring wide-eyed at the blaze. Elwing stood as well, feigning surprise. The Riders were shouting to each other and watching the fire suspiciously.
Erestor turned and gave Elwing an exasperated look. "Why?" he asked wearily.
Elwing smiled smugly. "Why not?"
Erestor grimaced at her scornful tone. "They should have named you Fire Demon, not Morning Flame," he muttered.
Elwing stick her tongue out at him in a most un-lady like manner. Eomer looked back and forth between the two.
"What do you mean?" he asked at last.
Erestor gave him a disdainful look. "What do you think?"
Eomer's eyes widened. "You mean she is responsible for the fire?"
Erestor rolled his eyes. "They're real bright in Rohan I see," he muttered under his breath.
Elwing hit him in the stomach, hard. Erestor gave her a fierce look.
"But, how?" Eomer asked, stunned.
Elwing sighed. "Look, we have to go now, but I promise that everything will be explained in due time. Don't forget your promise!"
Eomer snapped out of his shock. "Very well, I will not forget my promise if you do not forget your's. And Erestor," he looked at the boy. "You are wrong. She should not be called Fire Demon, she should be called Swift Fire."
Elwing smiled as Erestor fumed, then they all bowed, and Elwing and Erestor set off into Fangorn Forest.
End Chapter 25
Please Review! *begs*
Chapter 25: Revenge
Elwing and Erestor raced lightly across Rohan's plains, their Elven blood lending them endurance and speed. They stopped rarely, and when they did it was only to drink some water and eat some lembas before continuing on.
As the morning dawned on the third day, Erestor saw they were less than a hundred yards from Fangorn Forest. He glanced at Elwing, who's face was tight with anger and thoughts of revenge.
"Are we going to stop soon?" he asked, only slightly breathless.
"We'll stop just inside Fangorn. They won't be expecting an attack from there."
Erestor shook his head. Two kids was not exactly what he would call an 'attack', but he wisely kept his mouth closed, and they carried on until they were under Fangorn's branches. They found a spot from which they could see, but not be seen, and waited for the orcs to arrive.
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Erestor had fallen asleep, but he awoke quickly when Elwing shook him. He was going to speak, but Elwing signaled him to be quiet and pointed out of the forest. Erestor peered out of the bush they were hidden behind and saw them.Over a hundred orcs were standing with their backs to Elwing and Erestor, scarcely ten yards from the forest. They were coming no further, for Rohan Riders had them surrounded on three sides, with Fangorn at their back.
Erestor glanced at Elwing. "When do we go?" he whispered.
"We can't show ourselves until Grishnak carries off Merry and Pippin," she whispered back.
Erestor frowned. "Why?"
Elwing sighed. "Because, if the Hobbits see us they won't go into Fangorn and they won't meet Treebeard and there won't be an Entmoot and the Ents won't destroy Isengard or come to the battle of Helm's Deep!"
Erestor rolled his eyes. "Okay, okay. I get it."
Any further discussion was cut off by fearsome cries and the sound of metal clashing against metal. The battle had begun.
Elwing watched closely, her hazel eyes shining green in anticipation of the battle. Her fingers thrummed impatiently on her sword hilt and she fidgeted restlessly. Erestor glanced at her worriedly.
"Elwing, this isn't one of your better ideas," he said over the noise of the battle. "We haven't even been in any real battles before. Well, you haven't. I mean, we could get killed!"
Elwing gave him a wearied look. "You mean I could get killed. Well, you're wrong. We'll have to fight eventually, so we may as well start now. Besides, I haven't been reading the Fire Book for nothing."
Erestor was about to ask what she meant, but she cut him off. "Look! There goes Grishnak! Come on!"
Elwing was halfway to her feet when Erestor stopped her and pointed. Five orcs had broken away from the others and were headed for the forest. Elwing grinned.
"Piece of cake."
The orcs thought they were home free. The Riders weren't close enough to stop them, and they were almost in the forest when a movement stopped them. A girl had seemingly materialized out of the trees. She wore a strange cloak, and her only hand rested on the hilt of a sword.
"I suggest you turn back," she said nonchalantly.
The orcs laughed, and the biggest of them stepped forward. "Or what? You'll tickle us with your sword?" he leered.
The girl smiled. "You'll be dead before you're within sword range."
The orc sneered. "Is that so? Let's find out!"
He charged, sword raised to strike. Suddenly, a wall of fire appeared around the orc. He gave one scream and fell, dead. The other orcs stared in shock at their burning companion.
"Demon!" one of them screamed. The other three took up his cry and ran screaming wildly back into the fray. Elwing smiled and drew her sword. Orcs, they never listen. Now she had another problem. The dead, still on fire orc was right in her way. Elwing sighed and backed up a little bit to get a running start.
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Eomer wiped sweat from his brow and glanced around him. The orcs were putting up a good fight, but the Riders appeared to be winning. Suddenly a noise caught his attention. He turned his head and saw four wild-eyed orcs running from the forest screaming 'demon.' Eomer frowned. Orcs did not frighten easily, and these were terrified. He looked behind them and saw the body of an orc lying burning on the ground. Before he could ponder this, a girl leapt through the flames, her green eyes glinting with mischief and a bright sword clasped in her hand. Eomer watched, stunned, as the girl readily joined the battle, wielding her sword with ease.Eomer's attention was brought back to the battle as an orc charged him. Eomer sighed and steered his horse toward it. Whoever this girl was, he was glad she was on his side.
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Elwing grunted as she drew her sword from an orc's back. Black orc blood flecked her hair and clothes, and she had four to her count already. Suddenly, out of the corner of her eye she saw a huge orc running towards her. Unfazed, she locked swords with an orc in front of her, and the other orc fell in a mass of flames. Startled, the orc she was fighting momentarily forgot he was fighting and Elwing swiftly dispatched him.Six, and I'm just getting started! she thought, panting slightly. Her main advantage was that her enemies kept underestimating her, foolishly thinking she was slow and weak. But there was one orc who did not underestimate her. Uglúk had been watching the strange girl closely, and now he pushed his way towards her.
Elwing turned, but not quite fast enough. Her sword arm shuddered painfully as it bent awkwardly to block Uglúk's stroke. She tried to avoid locking swords with him, dodging his blows. Uglúk swung a hard, fast stroke at her neck, and Elwing had to drop to the ground to avoid it. Before she could stand back up, Uglúk's hard booted foot connectedly painfully with her right side, sending her rolling and causing her to lose hold of her sword.
Elwing lay on her back, stunned and gasping for breath. Uglúk towered over her, sword raised to strike. Elwing was helpless, too stunned to do anything. Suddenly a spear seemed to grow out of Uglúk's ugly neck. Erestor pulled Elwing out of the way of the orc's falling body.
"Are you okay?" he asked worriedly.
Elwing nodded, still trying to breathe.
Eomer galloped up, his cautious eyes scrutinizing the two intruders.
"Are you all right?" he asked.
Elwing nodded as Erestor helped her to her feet. "We'll be fine," Erestor said a bit coldly to Eomer, who was watching Elwing closely.
Eomer glanced at Erestor. "Strangers in this land should be careful with their words," Eomer said warningly. "I cannot speak with you now, but if you are still alive after the battle, I will speak with you." With that, he rode off.
Erestor freed his spear from Uglúk and protected Elwing while she retrieved her sword.
"I told you to be careful!" Erestor said angrily, dodging a sword stroke from an orc.
"I was!" Elwing snapped, dodging an arrow. "He came out of nowhere!"
Erestor grunted. "You're lucky I found that spear, or you would be a twin right now!"
Elwing snorted. "Thank you for saving my life, and I promise I will be more careful, but war is war and whether you like it or not we will get hurt!" she said coldly.
Erestor did not reply, but carried on fighting.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The battle was long and tiring, but at last it ended. Together Elwing and Erestor had felled thirty orcs."Not bad for one of my not-so-good ideas," Elwing said pertly, wiping her sword clean on the grass.
Erestor sighed and rolled his eyes. "You know, you are very different when you're fighting. Even your eyes change."
Elwing frowned as she sheathed her sword. "What do you mean?"
"Whenever you get angry or are in a fight your eyes turn green," he explained, cleaning and sheathing his sword as well. The spear had long been shattered. "It must be your Sunstar blood."
Elwing shrugged. "I guess."
Their conversation ended as Eomer rode up, his proud face stained with blood and sweat.
"I wish to speak with you now," he said, more to Elwing than she and Erestor both.
Elwing nodded consent, and Eomer lead them away from the battlefield to a hill roughly thirty yards from where the Riders were piling the orc bodies. Eomer dismounted and sat down, biding them to do likewise. Erestor sat facing Eomer, Elwing on his right and the battlefield on his left.
"I am Eomer son of Éomund, and am called the Third Marshal of the Riddermark. By your actions I assume you are friends, but one cannot be sure in these dark days," Eomer began. "Who are you, and how came you to our lands?" "I am Elwing, and this is Erestor," she said politely. "We were traveling with others, but we became separated from them. The orcs you just killed murdered one of our friends."
Eomer watched her closely. "Who were the others you were traveling with, and whom do you all serve?"
"As for who we serve, it is certainly not Sauron," Elwing said vehemently. "We are fighting against the Dark Lord. As for our companions, you shall meet them in a few days on your way back to the Golden Hall."
Eomer looked at her suspiciously. "How do you know this? Are you a sorceress?"
Elwing's eyes glinted. "Certainly not! As for how I know, it is a long story, one that is not to be told at this time. You must promise me one thing, when you meet our companions, do not tell them you met us."
Eomer frowned and his suspicion deepened. "And why not? Would you not want your friends to know you are safe?"
Elwing sighed. "Look, we don't have time for this! Please, just promise me this."
Eomer watched her for a moment, then sighed. "Very well, you have my word."
Elwing smiled and glanced at Erestor, but something past him caught her attention. The Riders had finished piling the orcs, and were now standing a distance from them lighting torches. Elwing grinned, her hazel eyes flashing green. Suddenly the pile burst into flame.
Eomer and Erestor leapt to their feet, staring wide-eyed at the blaze. Elwing stood as well, feigning surprise. The Riders were shouting to each other and watching the fire suspiciously.
Erestor turned and gave Elwing an exasperated look. "Why?" he asked wearily.
Elwing smiled smugly. "Why not?"
Erestor grimaced at her scornful tone. "They should have named you Fire Demon, not Morning Flame," he muttered.
Elwing stick her tongue out at him in a most un-lady like manner. Eomer looked back and forth between the two.
"What do you mean?" he asked at last.
Erestor gave him a disdainful look. "What do you think?"
Eomer's eyes widened. "You mean she is responsible for the fire?"
Erestor rolled his eyes. "They're real bright in Rohan I see," he muttered under his breath.
Elwing hit him in the stomach, hard. Erestor gave her a fierce look.
"But, how?" Eomer asked, stunned.
Elwing sighed. "Look, we have to go now, but I promise that everything will be explained in due time. Don't forget your promise!"
Eomer snapped out of his shock. "Very well, I will not forget my promise if you do not forget your's. And Erestor," he looked at the boy. "You are wrong. She should not be called Fire Demon, she should be called Swift Fire."
Elwing smiled as Erestor fumed, then they all bowed, and Elwing and Erestor set off into Fangorn Forest.
End Chapter 25
Please Review! *begs*
