Legacy of the Ring
Echo the Nymph
Disclaimer: I don't own Tolkien's characters.
Chapter 11
Phoenix accepted the bow and quiver of arrows handed to her, for today, a small group of elves, a hobbit and herself were going into the forest. Last night's scouting party had discovered a large group of orcs nearby that had apparently captured a Watcher. Gimli came up to Phoenix and Legolas, handing each one of them specially made arrows. "Do be careful, my friends. If you need any help, send Talitha. We will know what to do from there."
The dragonness nudged him in a friendly way. He still wasn't ready for direct communication with her, yet he could understand her body language. Talitha flew over to her huntress as they vanished into the forest that seemed dark and foreboding.
The huntress felt the danger in the air. Like the elves, she had an arrow notched into her bow. Her hooves were silent over the leaves, twigs and pine needles beneath them. All the forest creatures were silent, revealing darkness invading this fair land. They crept along for the better part of an hour before Merry signaled for a halt. He silently crept over to Legolas and Phoenix. "They haven't moved at all. By now the orcs usually break camp."
Phoenix peered into the clearing. She noticed that they had no tents and that they were very sloppy. Uneaten food, wastes, and even weapons were scattered throughout the camp. Then, her eyes lit upon the colt. "That's Searching Owl, son of Wise Owl. He is younger than his brother, yet has more powerful elemental magic." Her tone was no more than a whisper. If they were heard, they would need help instead of being able to give it.
Legolas shifted uneasily, noticing the tension in his fellow archers. "The darkness grows. We must attack." All the elves agreed, for the shadow was growing on their minds as well. Silently, they took positions around the camp. Hidden in trees, brush and by boulders, they were indistinguishable from the forest around them. Arrows sprang from bows, striking the unwary orcs. Those spared the onslaught leapt to their feet, drawing or grabbing their weapons.
They leapt into the clearing, knowing the orcs would tear the forest apart in an effort to find their enemies. Phoenix easily blocked a blow with her bow then swiftly raised her knee into the orc's gut. She used the arrow in her hand to stab his back as he doubled over before leaping over to her cousin. He felt the ropes fall away from him. What was going on? Phoenix shouldn't be all the way out here, and yet here she was, fighting the evil in the forest. "Thera'ri Riharan byin feylas."
Searching Owl instinctively trusted her. She wouldn't befriend Riharan unless they were true friends. Unarmed though he was, he leapt into the battle as well. They were risking their lives to save him, and he wouldn't feel right if he just ran off. Talitha soared overhead and flamed the orc attempting to get Legolas from behind. An angered cry came from Phoenix as a couple of orcs effectively restrained her. A dark laugh caused all action in the clearing to halt. The blood-bay colt, Screech Owl himself, emerged from the darkness of the wood.
His brother froze in his tracks. The tattoo that had marked him as a Watcher was gone. "Hala cquera sonya? Sonya cria betrare lua!" Searching Owl trembled in rage, yet didn't move. He did not wish for his Princess to be added to the bodies littering the clearing.
Screech Owl approached his brother and slapped him. "Have you no pride, my brother? Watching the Riharan is a waste of time and talent. I would rather serve a greater power."
"Tijaro." Phoenix hissed, causing him to turn.
"What did you call me?" His tone was low and dangerous.
A harsh laugh escaped her. "You heard me, Screech Owl. None of your father's wisdom resides within you. Just what do you hope to accomplish by abducting ah Veroanda biyn ah amarhea amakaiya?" Her entire form trembled with suppressed rage. This was not a crime that set lightly with her. Talitha grew more agitated, picking up on her huntress's anger.
Her eyes saw the orcs tighten their grip, prompting her to soar in to flame them. They released her rapidly, trying to dodge the fire. What they didn't see was a hoof coming at them with incredible speed. The huntress leapt away from where she had been as the orcs fell dead. Her glare could have made a dragon freeze in his tracks.
The ten remaining orcs glared back, awaiting their orders. These warriors were more skilled than their now dead kin and would pose quite the problem. At Screech Owl's signal, they leapt into battle. He watched cynically.
"Searching Owl, look out!" Phoenix cried as she dodged a sword. Her hooves slid slightly upon the dead leaves yet she was firmly upon her feet. He leapt away from his brother, throwing leaves and pine needles into the air.
"You know I won't let you take the Princess or me to Mordor." A strange light was in his eyes. This light outlined his form, making him appear as though he were glowing. "Parra ali eleyans!" The light pierced the orcs, killing them instantly. Elemental mages were not something they could deal with easily.
While the others were shielding their eyes from the light, Screech Owl leapt forward and stabbed his brother's left hind haunch deeply. An anguished cry escaped him, prompting Phoenix to hit his brother away from him. "How could you do that to your own brother? Sonya ria ah lei ne daema, be las lanashi. As your treason has dictated, your colors will fade until only gray remains." Anger seemed to radiate off of her form. Astonished, the colt nearly took a step back.
Echo the Nymph
Disclaimer: I don't own Tolkien's characters.
Chapter 11
Phoenix accepted the bow and quiver of arrows handed to her, for today, a small group of elves, a hobbit and herself were going into the forest. Last night's scouting party had discovered a large group of orcs nearby that had apparently captured a Watcher. Gimli came up to Phoenix and Legolas, handing each one of them specially made arrows. "Do be careful, my friends. If you need any help, send Talitha. We will know what to do from there."
The dragonness nudged him in a friendly way. He still wasn't ready for direct communication with her, yet he could understand her body language. Talitha flew over to her huntress as they vanished into the forest that seemed dark and foreboding.
The huntress felt the danger in the air. Like the elves, she had an arrow notched into her bow. Her hooves were silent over the leaves, twigs and pine needles beneath them. All the forest creatures were silent, revealing darkness invading this fair land. They crept along for the better part of an hour before Merry signaled for a halt. He silently crept over to Legolas and Phoenix. "They haven't moved at all. By now the orcs usually break camp."
Phoenix peered into the clearing. She noticed that they had no tents and that they were very sloppy. Uneaten food, wastes, and even weapons were scattered throughout the camp. Then, her eyes lit upon the colt. "That's Searching Owl, son of Wise Owl. He is younger than his brother, yet has more powerful elemental magic." Her tone was no more than a whisper. If they were heard, they would need help instead of being able to give it.
Legolas shifted uneasily, noticing the tension in his fellow archers. "The darkness grows. We must attack." All the elves agreed, for the shadow was growing on their minds as well. Silently, they took positions around the camp. Hidden in trees, brush and by boulders, they were indistinguishable from the forest around them. Arrows sprang from bows, striking the unwary orcs. Those spared the onslaught leapt to their feet, drawing or grabbing their weapons.
They leapt into the clearing, knowing the orcs would tear the forest apart in an effort to find their enemies. Phoenix easily blocked a blow with her bow then swiftly raised her knee into the orc's gut. She used the arrow in her hand to stab his back as he doubled over before leaping over to her cousin. He felt the ropes fall away from him. What was going on? Phoenix shouldn't be all the way out here, and yet here she was, fighting the evil in the forest. "Thera'ri Riharan byin feylas."
Searching Owl instinctively trusted her. She wouldn't befriend Riharan unless they were true friends. Unarmed though he was, he leapt into the battle as well. They were risking their lives to save him, and he wouldn't feel right if he just ran off. Talitha soared overhead and flamed the orc attempting to get Legolas from behind. An angered cry came from Phoenix as a couple of orcs effectively restrained her. A dark laugh caused all action in the clearing to halt. The blood-bay colt, Screech Owl himself, emerged from the darkness of the wood.
His brother froze in his tracks. The tattoo that had marked him as a Watcher was gone. "Hala cquera sonya? Sonya cria betrare lua!" Searching Owl trembled in rage, yet didn't move. He did not wish for his Princess to be added to the bodies littering the clearing.
Screech Owl approached his brother and slapped him. "Have you no pride, my brother? Watching the Riharan is a waste of time and talent. I would rather serve a greater power."
"Tijaro." Phoenix hissed, causing him to turn.
"What did you call me?" His tone was low and dangerous.
A harsh laugh escaped her. "You heard me, Screech Owl. None of your father's wisdom resides within you. Just what do you hope to accomplish by abducting ah Veroanda biyn ah amarhea amakaiya?" Her entire form trembled with suppressed rage. This was not a crime that set lightly with her. Talitha grew more agitated, picking up on her huntress's anger.
Her eyes saw the orcs tighten their grip, prompting her to soar in to flame them. They released her rapidly, trying to dodge the fire. What they didn't see was a hoof coming at them with incredible speed. The huntress leapt away from where she had been as the orcs fell dead. Her glare could have made a dragon freeze in his tracks.
The ten remaining orcs glared back, awaiting their orders. These warriors were more skilled than their now dead kin and would pose quite the problem. At Screech Owl's signal, they leapt into battle. He watched cynically.
"Searching Owl, look out!" Phoenix cried as she dodged a sword. Her hooves slid slightly upon the dead leaves yet she was firmly upon her feet. He leapt away from his brother, throwing leaves and pine needles into the air.
"You know I won't let you take the Princess or me to Mordor." A strange light was in his eyes. This light outlined his form, making him appear as though he were glowing. "Parra ali eleyans!" The light pierced the orcs, killing them instantly. Elemental mages were not something they could deal with easily.
While the others were shielding their eyes from the light, Screech Owl leapt forward and stabbed his brother's left hind haunch deeply. An anguished cry escaped him, prompting Phoenix to hit his brother away from him. "How could you do that to your own brother? Sonya ria ah lei ne daema, be las lanashi. As your treason has dictated, your colors will fade until only gray remains." Anger seemed to radiate off of her form. Astonished, the colt nearly took a step back.