The patrol of orcs didn't know what had hit them. Figures shot out of the
shadows, attacking with swords, daggers, and axes. Within minutes the orcs
lay dead, with no one the wiser.
The group moved on, huddled protectively around Galadriel, who stole along
with them, her eyes burning bright.
*~*~*
In the solar at the very top of the highest tower, Galadriorn fell to his knees, sharp pain permeating his conscious thoughts. The orc guards looked at one another, uneasy. The master never showed any pain. His hands were pressed to his temples, his breathing ragged.
Suddenly he looked up, the pain gone. Standing, he sent out a probing thought, encountering the minds of his orcs, and the minds of elves, dwarves, and men. He smiled grimly.
Turning to the orcs, he barked a command.
'Take some men and kill the she-elf. Bring her body to me.'
The orcs bowed stiffly and marched out, leaving him alone. He gazed out over the silent fort. A scuffle broke out by one of the gates, as the elves struggled to gain entry. The alarm was raised, and dark shapes poured into the courtyard, weapons at the ready.
'So, my sister,' he whispered viciously. 'You think you can get to me, do you? Think you can defeat me?'
'Yes, Galadriorn, I do.'
He spun around, as Galadriel stepped out from the shadows, flanked by Celeborn and Elrond. A cruel laugh escaped his lips.
'What's this?' he mocked. 'The great Galadriel too afraid to face me alone?'
Celeborn growled angrily, but Elrond put out a hand to stop him.
'We are here to see you don't have any help,' Elrond said, and, drawing their weapons, the two elves left the room, taking up positions either side of the door.
Brother and sister faced each other across the empty room.
'And so it begins, Galadriel,' he hissed, drawing in his power. 'If you had allowed me to take what was mine, we would not now be preparing to fight one another.'
Galadriel drew in her own power to match that of her brother's.
'I could not allow you to shed innocent blood, Galadriorn. It would have destroyed all we had been working towards.'
'And me? Was it right for you to destroy me while protecting those ingrates who call themselves Men? I am your brother, Galadriel! And you have cast me aside!'
She sighed regretfully.
'No, Galadriorn. My brother died a long time ago.'
With a howl of fury, he released his pent up energy, lashing it out at her. A wall of golden light surrounded the Lady of the Wood, blocking his attack. The light grew brighter, expanding until it filled the room. Galadriorn backed away, throwing weaker and weaker attacks at the soft light that was his sister, realising only then that he could never have hoped to defeat her.
Tears were pouring down Galadriel's cheeks. The blow, when it came, lifted Galadriorn clear off his feet, throwing him across the room. He clung for a moment to the window frame, before being swept off. His body fell to the ground, his soul having long since fled.
The light slowly dimmed, and diminished, revealing Galadriel crumpled on the floor, sobbing.
*~*~*
Aragorn and Gimli ran down the dark passageways, after Legolas. The elf knew exactly where he was going, following his heart. Loud grunts and crashes were coming from the next passage, and as they rounded a corner, they came across six orcs trying to break down a door. Aragorn barely saw Legolas move. The elf drew his daggers and rushed the orcs, his friends close behind.
As they fought, Aragorn spied a small goblin huddled in the corner, holding what looked like the key to the cell. He cut down the orcs trying to hold him back, and grabbed the creature, holding him high in the air.
'Is this the key to the lady's cell?' he demanded.
The little goblin nodded, his eyes wide with fear.
'Tried to get lady out, lady not wake, sleeps,' he chattered as his feet hit the floor. He scurried over to the door, ducking as Gimli danced past, his axe flying. More orcs were streaming into the passageway. The little goblin pushed the door open, spreading light over Aniarel's slumbering form.
As Aragorn dodged another flailing sword, Graac hurried over to the sleeping elf, swinging her up into his arms. He hurried back over to them, not seeing the anger in Legolas' eyes at the sight of a goblin touching his love. Gimli got himself between the elf and the goblin, pulling Legolas back down the passage. They fought their way back to the main passage, meeting Galadriel, Celeborn and Elrond on their way out.
Outside the orcs were in disarray, not fighting the elves any longer, but each other. The party from Lorien slipped away, Graac refusing to give up his precious cargo. Legolas strode beside him, seeing for the first time, how gentle the goblin was with her, and the genuine affection in his eyes when he looked at her. And the worry that filled his being, as it filled Legolas' heart. Aniarel had still not woken.
*~*~*
In the solar at the very top of the highest tower, Galadriorn fell to his knees, sharp pain permeating his conscious thoughts. The orc guards looked at one another, uneasy. The master never showed any pain. His hands were pressed to his temples, his breathing ragged.
Suddenly he looked up, the pain gone. Standing, he sent out a probing thought, encountering the minds of his orcs, and the minds of elves, dwarves, and men. He smiled grimly.
Turning to the orcs, he barked a command.
'Take some men and kill the she-elf. Bring her body to me.'
The orcs bowed stiffly and marched out, leaving him alone. He gazed out over the silent fort. A scuffle broke out by one of the gates, as the elves struggled to gain entry. The alarm was raised, and dark shapes poured into the courtyard, weapons at the ready.
'So, my sister,' he whispered viciously. 'You think you can get to me, do you? Think you can defeat me?'
'Yes, Galadriorn, I do.'
He spun around, as Galadriel stepped out from the shadows, flanked by Celeborn and Elrond. A cruel laugh escaped his lips.
'What's this?' he mocked. 'The great Galadriel too afraid to face me alone?'
Celeborn growled angrily, but Elrond put out a hand to stop him.
'We are here to see you don't have any help,' Elrond said, and, drawing their weapons, the two elves left the room, taking up positions either side of the door.
Brother and sister faced each other across the empty room.
'And so it begins, Galadriel,' he hissed, drawing in his power. 'If you had allowed me to take what was mine, we would not now be preparing to fight one another.'
Galadriel drew in her own power to match that of her brother's.
'I could not allow you to shed innocent blood, Galadriorn. It would have destroyed all we had been working towards.'
'And me? Was it right for you to destroy me while protecting those ingrates who call themselves Men? I am your brother, Galadriel! And you have cast me aside!'
She sighed regretfully.
'No, Galadriorn. My brother died a long time ago.'
With a howl of fury, he released his pent up energy, lashing it out at her. A wall of golden light surrounded the Lady of the Wood, blocking his attack. The light grew brighter, expanding until it filled the room. Galadriorn backed away, throwing weaker and weaker attacks at the soft light that was his sister, realising only then that he could never have hoped to defeat her.
Tears were pouring down Galadriel's cheeks. The blow, when it came, lifted Galadriorn clear off his feet, throwing him across the room. He clung for a moment to the window frame, before being swept off. His body fell to the ground, his soul having long since fled.
The light slowly dimmed, and diminished, revealing Galadriel crumpled on the floor, sobbing.
*~*~*
Aragorn and Gimli ran down the dark passageways, after Legolas. The elf knew exactly where he was going, following his heart. Loud grunts and crashes were coming from the next passage, and as they rounded a corner, they came across six orcs trying to break down a door. Aragorn barely saw Legolas move. The elf drew his daggers and rushed the orcs, his friends close behind.
As they fought, Aragorn spied a small goblin huddled in the corner, holding what looked like the key to the cell. He cut down the orcs trying to hold him back, and grabbed the creature, holding him high in the air.
'Is this the key to the lady's cell?' he demanded.
The little goblin nodded, his eyes wide with fear.
'Tried to get lady out, lady not wake, sleeps,' he chattered as his feet hit the floor. He scurried over to the door, ducking as Gimli danced past, his axe flying. More orcs were streaming into the passageway. The little goblin pushed the door open, spreading light over Aniarel's slumbering form.
As Aragorn dodged another flailing sword, Graac hurried over to the sleeping elf, swinging her up into his arms. He hurried back over to them, not seeing the anger in Legolas' eyes at the sight of a goblin touching his love. Gimli got himself between the elf and the goblin, pulling Legolas back down the passage. They fought their way back to the main passage, meeting Galadriel, Celeborn and Elrond on their way out.
Outside the orcs were in disarray, not fighting the elves any longer, but each other. The party from Lorien slipped away, Graac refusing to give up his precious cargo. Legolas strode beside him, seeing for the first time, how gentle the goblin was with her, and the genuine affection in his eyes when he looked at her. And the worry that filled his being, as it filled Legolas' heart. Aniarel had still not woken.