Chapter 9
Danger
The next morning, the Elves the Dwarf and the Mage awoke very very early. "Good morning," Kendalla greeted as Irene pushed herself up from the ground with her hands. She saw the mage standing before her and nodded a respectful greeting though she did not speak.
"She does not know English," Erisana explained. "Actually, she knows very little. In my home my father only spoke in Elvish and that is what she picked up as a child."
Kendalla understood. "I see. So, Natannael. What is the plan for today?"
"Just walk until we end up somewhere I guess..." the Elf replied, checking to make sure the Moonblade was safe in its sheath. Once a light breakfast had been eaten, the company started off again. Omar kept a stride quick enough so that he was right beside Natannael all of the time. Irene walked beside Erisana and Kendalla rode her stallion bringing up the rear.
For quite a long time, no one spoke. The day was growing very cold and windy, and Irene bitterly took a cloak from her pack and wrapped it around her. "I told you," Erisana teased in Elvish, "That it would get cold and that you would freeze in what little you wear."
Irene stuck her tongue out at her Lady, recieving another laugh. Natannael looked back at the two young Elfesses and smiled...Erisana was so beautiful, with her long blonde hair and deep blue eyes. Her skin was fair and showed no signs of age (as was the way of the Elves). "Stop." Irene hissed suddenly, bringing the travellers to a halt. "What's the matter?" Erisana asked, giving Irene a queer look. Irene darted up ahead to Natannael and placed one hand on her shoulder, pointing through a grove of trees. "Orcs...a large nest of them are through there."
Omar snorted. "How can you tell through all of those trees, girl?"
"Smell." Irene replied. "Orcs are foul and not difficult to find."
Kendalla grumbled something inaudible under her breath. "Should we find a way to go around them?" she whispered, not wanting to stir up any commotion from their enemies. Natannael peered through the grove of trees to get a look at what in the name of Middle-Earth Irene was talking about. Sure enough, big oafish looking creatures sat around in a circle eating some kind of an animal that was roasting over an open flame. "Shhhh." he whispered as the others came up behind him. "Get down."
"What are we going to do?" whispered Erisana. "We ought to charge 'em...startle 'em. Goin' out of our way...rediculous." grunted the Dwarf.
Natannael turned around and motioned for the others to follow him. When they were out of ear shot, he had them all huddle in a group to discuss a plan. "We could launch a surprise attack...the more orcs we kill the better."
"I do not have any weapons..." Erisana hissed.
"I will protect you my Lady," Irene promised, getting her bow ready. Kendalla grinned.
"And I am a mage...I've used my power to kill those brutes before, and I don't see why I can't do it again."
Natannael looked at Omar. "You can use your axe...and I have this." he patted the sheath at his side.
"Right...what are we waiting for?" asked the Dwarf, impatient.
"Yeeeeee!" Irene cried, raising her bow and arrow as she charged right at the hideous creatures. The orcs, as was expected, were furious about being attacked without warning, and gathered their weapons immediately. Irene killed two on the spot, using two arrows to shoot with. "Ya!" she gasped once they had fallen. Then she, Natannael, Kendalla, Omar and Erisanna dashed around avoiding being hit by the arrows. All of the orcs in the camp were killed within a matter of fifteen minutes. Kendalla, worn out by using a lot of her magic, fainted in a heap at Natannael's feet.
"Is she all right?" asked Irene with a frightened expression. Natannael nodded as he lifted the mage into his arms.
"This is not uncommon for her. She uses up too much of her energy with her magic. I tell her time and time again not to but does she listen to me? Of course not!"
Irene wrinkled her nose as she accidentally stepped in a puddle of dark Orc blood. "Why would someone make such creatures?" Erisana asked as she gazed around at the beheaded bodies. They headed towards a forest and entered it. "Mirkwood," Natannael sighed. Irene looked around. Everything flooded back to her memory.she was home!
"But we are not stopping here. We must keep on this path or we will never find our way out." Natannael ordered and they continued to walk in a straight line.
The next morning, the Elves the Dwarf and the Mage awoke very very early. "Good morning," Kendalla greeted as Irene pushed herself up from the ground with her hands. She saw the mage standing before her and nodded a respectful greeting though she did not speak.
"She does not know English," Erisana explained. "Actually, she knows very little. In my home my father only spoke in Elvish and that is what she picked up as a child."
Kendalla understood. "I see. So, Natannael. What is the plan for today?"
"Just walk until we end up somewhere I guess..." the Elf replied, checking to make sure the Moonblade was safe in its sheath. Once a light breakfast had been eaten, the company started off again. Omar kept a stride quick enough so that he was right beside Natannael all of the time. Irene walked beside Erisana and Kendalla rode her stallion bringing up the rear.
For quite a long time, no one spoke. The day was growing very cold and windy, and Irene bitterly took a cloak from her pack and wrapped it around her. "I told you," Erisana teased in Elvish, "That it would get cold and that you would freeze in what little you wear."
Irene stuck her tongue out at her Lady, recieving another laugh. Natannael looked back at the two young Elfesses and smiled...Erisana was so beautiful, with her long blonde hair and deep blue eyes. Her skin was fair and showed no signs of age (as was the way of the Elves). "Stop." Irene hissed suddenly, bringing the travellers to a halt. "What's the matter?" Erisana asked, giving Irene a queer look. Irene darted up ahead to Natannael and placed one hand on her shoulder, pointing through a grove of trees. "Orcs...a large nest of them are through there."
Omar snorted. "How can you tell through all of those trees, girl?"
"Smell." Irene replied. "Orcs are foul and not difficult to find."
Kendalla grumbled something inaudible under her breath. "Should we find a way to go around them?" she whispered, not wanting to stir up any commotion from their enemies. Natannael peered through the grove of trees to get a look at what in the name of Middle-Earth Irene was talking about. Sure enough, big oafish looking creatures sat around in a circle eating some kind of an animal that was roasting over an open flame. "Shhhh." he whispered as the others came up behind him. "Get down."
"What are we going to do?" whispered Erisana. "We ought to charge 'em...startle 'em. Goin' out of our way...rediculous." grunted the Dwarf.
Natannael turned around and motioned for the others to follow him. When they were out of ear shot, he had them all huddle in a group to discuss a plan. "We could launch a surprise attack...the more orcs we kill the better."
"I do not have any weapons..." Erisana hissed.
"I will protect you my Lady," Irene promised, getting her bow ready. Kendalla grinned.
"And I am a mage...I've used my power to kill those brutes before, and I don't see why I can't do it again."
Natannael looked at Omar. "You can use your axe...and I have this." he patted the sheath at his side.
"Right...what are we waiting for?" asked the Dwarf, impatient.
"Yeeeeee!" Irene cried, raising her bow and arrow as she charged right at the hideous creatures. The orcs, as was expected, were furious about being attacked without warning, and gathered their weapons immediately. Irene killed two on the spot, using two arrows to shoot with. "Ya!" she gasped once they had fallen. Then she, Natannael, Kendalla, Omar and Erisanna dashed around avoiding being hit by the arrows. All of the orcs in the camp were killed within a matter of fifteen minutes. Kendalla, worn out by using a lot of her magic, fainted in a heap at Natannael's feet.
"Is she all right?" asked Irene with a frightened expression. Natannael nodded as he lifted the mage into his arms.
"This is not uncommon for her. She uses up too much of her energy with her magic. I tell her time and time again not to but does she listen to me? Of course not!"
Irene wrinkled her nose as she accidentally stepped in a puddle of dark Orc blood. "Why would someone make such creatures?" Erisana asked as she gazed around at the beheaded bodies. They headed towards a forest and entered it. "Mirkwood," Natannael sighed. Irene looked around. Everything flooded back to her memory.she was home!
"But we are not stopping here. We must keep on this path or we will never find our way out." Natannael ordered and they continued to walk in a straight line.