A/N - Thanks to Teanna, who pointed out some glaring errors! (see her review!)
Chapter 4 - Darkness Dawns
The remainder of the day consisted of Elise growling under her breath and glaring at Legolas who was still being quite smug about trumping her earlier. Not being used to walking further than a couple of blocks or, at a push, running for a bus, she was feeling a little tired.
"Do we have to walk much further?" she huffed, still giving the blond elf daggers.
"You would like to rest my lady?" Aragorn had turned towards her with a look of concern on his face. This prompted Boromir, Gimli and Legolas to look at her too. Embarrassed by everyone's attention, she quickly denied all accusations of fatigue and soldiered on stubbornly, throwing nasty looks in the handsome elf's direction. Legolas couldn't resist the urge to further infuriate the already seething girl.
"I'm sure I can muster the energy to carry you if you weaken any further." He smirked.
"I...am...fine...thank-you." Now at the point of apoplexy, Elise had to breathe in between words to prevent another outburst which could result in more mouthfuls of rags. Something about him teasing her made her mad. She had brothers, so childish teasing she could handle, this was different. Dismissing it as stress, she concentrated on remaining upright. It was getting dark now. The dying sun rays cast bizarre shapes on the shrubs and trees. It seemed like they had walked at least 50 miles without seeing any further sign of any life. She was just about to take Legolas up on his offer when Aragorn turned to face her.
"We are nearing Bree, just over that hill. I know a good innkeeper where we can take rooms." With a huge sigh of relief Elise looked in the direction Aragorn had pointed and saw a settlement in the distance.
Legolas suddenly stopped and raised his arm in the air to indicate silence and knitted his brow. Before Elise could begin to complain he stated calmly and simply.
"Orcs." Immediately, the men took up a battle stance. Aragorn pushed Elise towards a bush.
"We are being attacked, you must remain here where it is safe. Do not leave this spot until we tell you." With that remark he sprung into action, unsheathing a giant sword. The short man pulled out an axe that seemed to be the same size as him and Legolas had pulled a bow from its harness on his back and readied it with two arrows. There was a long period of silence, followed by a cough and noisy gasp of air. She had been holding her breath without realising it and was now being forcefully reminded of her need for air. She threw a sheepish smile at the men who were all scowling in her direction and then noticed a cimmerian cloud appear over the rapidly darkening horizon. The smile faded when she realised the speed that this cloud was travelling and the extent of it. An eerie screeching sound echoed through the trees, which danced with an extra shadow. Fear crept through Elise's entire being as she scrabbled further under the bush she had been deposited in.
Suddenly, a hideous creature leapt in front of Legolas and swiped at him with a long knife. Immediately, Legolas leant back twisting to his left and bringing his arm up, arrow in hand, there was a sickening crunch as his arrow plunged though the animal's temple. It dropped to floor, unmoving. There was no time to contemplate the attack as more and more creatures lunged forward, each holding battered, unsophisticated and yet deadly weapons. Aragorn raised his own weapon and swung the blade in a massive arc, decapitating at least two Orcs. A head rolled towards Elise, spraying a black viscous liquid. It stopped inches away from her the victim frozen forever in a grimace, eyes rolled up in its head, its tongue hanging out of its mouth, a grotesque mask. Boromir, who also wielded a sword, powerfully slicing any enemy that came within fatal reach, joined Aragorn.
Legolas had moved away from the fray and had turned into a machine gun made flesh, firing arrow after arrow, each shot as true as the first. She couldn't see his hands, the precise movements of notching and releasing were a blur. A pile of dark, ugly bodies were piling up in front of him, soaked in a pool of their own vile blood.
Gimli emitted a terrifying battle cry. "Baruk Khazad! Khazad ai-menu!" Elise turned to see the skull of another Orc split open with a mighty axe blow.
Elise watched the synchronised way the men moved. Each warrior, with his own unique skill, combined to create a formidable force far greater than their opponents, even though they were severely outnumbered.
At that moment, it seemed to Elise that the four companions were not ordinary men. She didn't have time to think after that, a blackened, knarled hand had gripped her ankle and was now pulling with all its might, causing her to fall backwards. She let out an ear-piercing scream, kicking at the creature with her free foot as it dragged her away from the travellers. Her alarm was drowned by the noise of raging battle. Whilst Elise found herself being carried away, the others fought on, oblivious.
Chapter 4 - Darkness Dawns
The remainder of the day consisted of Elise growling under her breath and glaring at Legolas who was still being quite smug about trumping her earlier. Not being used to walking further than a couple of blocks or, at a push, running for a bus, she was feeling a little tired.
"Do we have to walk much further?" she huffed, still giving the blond elf daggers.
"You would like to rest my lady?" Aragorn had turned towards her with a look of concern on his face. This prompted Boromir, Gimli and Legolas to look at her too. Embarrassed by everyone's attention, she quickly denied all accusations of fatigue and soldiered on stubbornly, throwing nasty looks in the handsome elf's direction. Legolas couldn't resist the urge to further infuriate the already seething girl.
"I'm sure I can muster the energy to carry you if you weaken any further." He smirked.
"I...am...fine...thank-you." Now at the point of apoplexy, Elise had to breathe in between words to prevent another outburst which could result in more mouthfuls of rags. Something about him teasing her made her mad. She had brothers, so childish teasing she could handle, this was different. Dismissing it as stress, she concentrated on remaining upright. It was getting dark now. The dying sun rays cast bizarre shapes on the shrubs and trees. It seemed like they had walked at least 50 miles without seeing any further sign of any life. She was just about to take Legolas up on his offer when Aragorn turned to face her.
"We are nearing Bree, just over that hill. I know a good innkeeper where we can take rooms." With a huge sigh of relief Elise looked in the direction Aragorn had pointed and saw a settlement in the distance.
Legolas suddenly stopped and raised his arm in the air to indicate silence and knitted his brow. Before Elise could begin to complain he stated calmly and simply.
"Orcs." Immediately, the men took up a battle stance. Aragorn pushed Elise towards a bush.
"We are being attacked, you must remain here where it is safe. Do not leave this spot until we tell you." With that remark he sprung into action, unsheathing a giant sword. The short man pulled out an axe that seemed to be the same size as him and Legolas had pulled a bow from its harness on his back and readied it with two arrows. There was a long period of silence, followed by a cough and noisy gasp of air. She had been holding her breath without realising it and was now being forcefully reminded of her need for air. She threw a sheepish smile at the men who were all scowling in her direction and then noticed a cimmerian cloud appear over the rapidly darkening horizon. The smile faded when she realised the speed that this cloud was travelling and the extent of it. An eerie screeching sound echoed through the trees, which danced with an extra shadow. Fear crept through Elise's entire being as she scrabbled further under the bush she had been deposited in.
Suddenly, a hideous creature leapt in front of Legolas and swiped at him with a long knife. Immediately, Legolas leant back twisting to his left and bringing his arm up, arrow in hand, there was a sickening crunch as his arrow plunged though the animal's temple. It dropped to floor, unmoving. There was no time to contemplate the attack as more and more creatures lunged forward, each holding battered, unsophisticated and yet deadly weapons. Aragorn raised his own weapon and swung the blade in a massive arc, decapitating at least two Orcs. A head rolled towards Elise, spraying a black viscous liquid. It stopped inches away from her the victim frozen forever in a grimace, eyes rolled up in its head, its tongue hanging out of its mouth, a grotesque mask. Boromir, who also wielded a sword, powerfully slicing any enemy that came within fatal reach, joined Aragorn.
Legolas had moved away from the fray and had turned into a machine gun made flesh, firing arrow after arrow, each shot as true as the first. She couldn't see his hands, the precise movements of notching and releasing were a blur. A pile of dark, ugly bodies were piling up in front of him, soaked in a pool of their own vile blood.
Gimli emitted a terrifying battle cry. "Baruk Khazad! Khazad ai-menu!" Elise turned to see the skull of another Orc split open with a mighty axe blow.
Elise watched the synchronised way the men moved. Each warrior, with his own unique skill, combined to create a formidable force far greater than their opponents, even though they were severely outnumbered.
At that moment, it seemed to Elise that the four companions were not ordinary men. She didn't have time to think after that, a blackened, knarled hand had gripped her ankle and was now pulling with all its might, causing her to fall backwards. She let out an ear-piercing scream, kicking at the creature with her free foot as it dragged her away from the travellers. Her alarm was drowned by the noise of raging battle. Whilst Elise found herself being carried away, the others fought on, oblivious.