Chapter 9
The crush of bodies made the fight difficult. Legolas saw the frenzied flashing of Elf swords on either side of him, and knew they were in trouble. They had to get to an open area.
"To the columns," he yelled and led the way to the veranda.
The Elves and Estel moved doggedly forward, while the mass of Orcs seemed as an undulating wave of forms. Wave after wave slammed against them, bent on preventing the Elves from gaining an advantage.
When they reached the opening, Legolas abandoned his sword in the middle of a particularly troublesome Orc and drew his knives. Out here he could move. And he did. The Orcs had trouble seeing him; he was as a blur, dispatching all who had the misfortune to come within his reach. Unluckily for the Orcs, his reach was immense.
As he saw his killing strokes find their mark, delight filled his heart. He knew that it had been long since he had felt such pleasure, and a distant part of him wondered that he could feel such joy at slaughter. Then he saw before him the faces of his friends: Cirion, Ancaleb, and Alnaron. And remembered their last breaths.
The Orcs paid dearly for this memory.
Flashes of gold caught the lamplight. Legolas looked to the wall. Shining gold on black vambraces shimmered all along the top of the wall as archers took aim.
The Gurth-Oneth!
The first volley sent surprise rippling among the rank of the horde. The second, third, and fourth volleys followed quickly. The volleys ceased as the Gurth-Oneth took aim individually. The Orcs saw their numbers diminish substantially in a matter of seconds.
Legolas laughed into the Orc face in front of him. After decapitating it in a swift cross-action, he turned to take note of Elladan, Elrohir, and Estel.
The Elves had flanked Estel since Legolas had left them in his wake. The boy was swinging his sword with deadly accuracy, his blue eyes blazing fiercely in a grim face. Blood showed on his left arm and side. There was a streak of blood running from a gash along his cheek.
Legolas' heart jumped at seeing wounds on the boy. Coming quickly to Estel's aid, Legolas took up position to his right, where Orcs were threatening to break his defense. He observed a skill and power in the boy that surprised him. Estel seemed not to have noticed that he was wounded; his sword arm did not falter.
Legolas thought wryly that his Father need not have worried about Estel going on patrol.
Suddenly, Elves came in from the Great Hall and succeeded in herding the remaining Orcs against the wall. The Gurth-Oneth finished them off easily.
Estel turned a shining face to Legolas. This was his first real battle and he beamed with the pride of victory.
Legolas gently placed a hand on Estel's shoulder. "You are wounded. Let us seek help."
Ignoring him, Estel said excitedly, "Legolas, did you see? When I was fighting, I felt in my soul that this is what I was meant to do! It felt right, somehow!" Estel's countenance seemed to glow with a light, emanating from within. Then his handsome face contorted with pain and he clutched his side. Turning pale, he sank to his knees.
The three Elves grabbed him to keep him from falling.
Estel looked at Legolas. "I have never seen an Elf as fair or fell. You fought as one possessed. I am most proud to have fought with you, Legolas of the gentle heart and dragon spirit." Before he faded into unconsciousness, his eyes focused on a distant scene and he whispered in a strange voice, "While fighting, I had a waking dream, fair Legolas. The most beautiful and perilous sword in the world came to me and said that I was its only true master." The voice faded and his eyes slid shut as his body slumped against the arms of the Elves.
"I will take him," Elrohir said gently.
Elrohir slipped an arm around Estel to pick him up, but Legolas looked at him. "Let me." The two brothers exchanged looks then helped Legolas pick up the unconscious heir of Isildur.
Elladan and Elrohir made certain that Estel was carefully in Legolas' arms. They could see that the wound in his side was serious, but not life threatening.
Legolas carried the wounded boy toward the Royal Chambers, treading carefully over strewn Orc bodies and slippery black blood on the floor. Elladan and Elrohir were at his side. He saw his Father come toward them with Cúroniel, his Officer of the Guard. The look of relief on Thranduil's face was apparent when he saw his son, but quickly gave way to concern as he gazed upon Estel.
A quick examination relieved the King. "All will be well, my Son. The boy is strong. He will live to fight many battles."
A sudden look of pain showed on Legolas' face, and just as quickly disappeared. "I will take him to my room." He veered swiftly towards his chambers.
"I will send a Healer." Cúroniel hurried to find one.
Estel lay on the bed, bandaged but still unconscious in a deep healing sleep. Elladan and Elrohir had joined in the cleanup leaving Legolas to watch over Estel. Legolas strangely could not find it within him to leave the boy. He was drawn to the figure on the bed.
He thought of the light that shone from the face of Estel as he had spoken of the battle and the sword. It was the Light from the Other Side. What was it about this boy that stirred his soul with just his presence? Was it the blood of Númenor that ran in Estel's veins? Not Elf, but Elf-kin? If he had stayed with Estel during the battle would he have been wounded? Legolas shook his head to clear this thought.
Legolas looked to the door as Elladan and Elrohir entered. Elrohir went to Estel and placed a hand upon his brow. Elladan put a comforting hand upon Legolas' shoulder as he looked at the boy.
Elladan had news. "Cúroniel reports signs of sorcery in the forest which led them back to the palace. He believes that is the reason why Orcs were able to traverse Mirkwood undetected. A parting gift from the Necromancer."
"He will return." Legolas was certain of this.
"Yes. We must be ready."
Then, softly, "What did he mean when he spoke of a sword that called him master?" Legolas did not take his eyes off Estel.
Elrohir sat in the chair beside Estel and took the still hand in his own. "Narsil." Then taking a deep breath, "His destiny presses him."
"He really doesn't know who he is?" Legolas wondered.
"He has no idea. He sees- things. He has not been raised among his kind and visions are common with Elves." Elladan smiled knowingly.
As Legolas watched the measured breathing of Isildur's heir, his heart filled with emotion. One thought resounded throughout his being. He would not leave Estel again.
TBC
The crush of bodies made the fight difficult. Legolas saw the frenzied flashing of Elf swords on either side of him, and knew they were in trouble. They had to get to an open area.
"To the columns," he yelled and led the way to the veranda.
The Elves and Estel moved doggedly forward, while the mass of Orcs seemed as an undulating wave of forms. Wave after wave slammed against them, bent on preventing the Elves from gaining an advantage.
When they reached the opening, Legolas abandoned his sword in the middle of a particularly troublesome Orc and drew his knives. Out here he could move. And he did. The Orcs had trouble seeing him; he was as a blur, dispatching all who had the misfortune to come within his reach. Unluckily for the Orcs, his reach was immense.
As he saw his killing strokes find their mark, delight filled his heart. He knew that it had been long since he had felt such pleasure, and a distant part of him wondered that he could feel such joy at slaughter. Then he saw before him the faces of his friends: Cirion, Ancaleb, and Alnaron. And remembered their last breaths.
The Orcs paid dearly for this memory.
Flashes of gold caught the lamplight. Legolas looked to the wall. Shining gold on black vambraces shimmered all along the top of the wall as archers took aim.
The Gurth-Oneth!
The first volley sent surprise rippling among the rank of the horde. The second, third, and fourth volleys followed quickly. The volleys ceased as the Gurth-Oneth took aim individually. The Orcs saw their numbers diminish substantially in a matter of seconds.
Legolas laughed into the Orc face in front of him. After decapitating it in a swift cross-action, he turned to take note of Elladan, Elrohir, and Estel.
The Elves had flanked Estel since Legolas had left them in his wake. The boy was swinging his sword with deadly accuracy, his blue eyes blazing fiercely in a grim face. Blood showed on his left arm and side. There was a streak of blood running from a gash along his cheek.
Legolas' heart jumped at seeing wounds on the boy. Coming quickly to Estel's aid, Legolas took up position to his right, where Orcs were threatening to break his defense. He observed a skill and power in the boy that surprised him. Estel seemed not to have noticed that he was wounded; his sword arm did not falter.
Legolas thought wryly that his Father need not have worried about Estel going on patrol.
Suddenly, Elves came in from the Great Hall and succeeded in herding the remaining Orcs against the wall. The Gurth-Oneth finished them off easily.
Estel turned a shining face to Legolas. This was his first real battle and he beamed with the pride of victory.
Legolas gently placed a hand on Estel's shoulder. "You are wounded. Let us seek help."
Ignoring him, Estel said excitedly, "Legolas, did you see? When I was fighting, I felt in my soul that this is what I was meant to do! It felt right, somehow!" Estel's countenance seemed to glow with a light, emanating from within. Then his handsome face contorted with pain and he clutched his side. Turning pale, he sank to his knees.
The three Elves grabbed him to keep him from falling.
Estel looked at Legolas. "I have never seen an Elf as fair or fell. You fought as one possessed. I am most proud to have fought with you, Legolas of the gentle heart and dragon spirit." Before he faded into unconsciousness, his eyes focused on a distant scene and he whispered in a strange voice, "While fighting, I had a waking dream, fair Legolas. The most beautiful and perilous sword in the world came to me and said that I was its only true master." The voice faded and his eyes slid shut as his body slumped against the arms of the Elves.
"I will take him," Elrohir said gently.
Elrohir slipped an arm around Estel to pick him up, but Legolas looked at him. "Let me." The two brothers exchanged looks then helped Legolas pick up the unconscious heir of Isildur.
Elladan and Elrohir made certain that Estel was carefully in Legolas' arms. They could see that the wound in his side was serious, but not life threatening.
Legolas carried the wounded boy toward the Royal Chambers, treading carefully over strewn Orc bodies and slippery black blood on the floor. Elladan and Elrohir were at his side. He saw his Father come toward them with Cúroniel, his Officer of the Guard. The look of relief on Thranduil's face was apparent when he saw his son, but quickly gave way to concern as he gazed upon Estel.
A quick examination relieved the King. "All will be well, my Son. The boy is strong. He will live to fight many battles."
A sudden look of pain showed on Legolas' face, and just as quickly disappeared. "I will take him to my room." He veered swiftly towards his chambers.
"I will send a Healer." Cúroniel hurried to find one.
Estel lay on the bed, bandaged but still unconscious in a deep healing sleep. Elladan and Elrohir had joined in the cleanup leaving Legolas to watch over Estel. Legolas strangely could not find it within him to leave the boy. He was drawn to the figure on the bed.
He thought of the light that shone from the face of Estel as he had spoken of the battle and the sword. It was the Light from the Other Side. What was it about this boy that stirred his soul with just his presence? Was it the blood of Númenor that ran in Estel's veins? Not Elf, but Elf-kin? If he had stayed with Estel during the battle would he have been wounded? Legolas shook his head to clear this thought.
Legolas looked to the door as Elladan and Elrohir entered. Elrohir went to Estel and placed a hand upon his brow. Elladan put a comforting hand upon Legolas' shoulder as he looked at the boy.
Elladan had news. "Cúroniel reports signs of sorcery in the forest which led them back to the palace. He believes that is the reason why Orcs were able to traverse Mirkwood undetected. A parting gift from the Necromancer."
"He will return." Legolas was certain of this.
"Yes. We must be ready."
Then, softly, "What did he mean when he spoke of a sword that called him master?" Legolas did not take his eyes off Estel.
Elrohir sat in the chair beside Estel and took the still hand in his own. "Narsil." Then taking a deep breath, "His destiny presses him."
"He really doesn't know who he is?" Legolas wondered.
"He has no idea. He sees- things. He has not been raised among his kind and visions are common with Elves." Elladan smiled knowingly.
As Legolas watched the measured breathing of Isildur's heir, his heart filled with emotion. One thought resounded throughout his being. He would not leave Estel again.
TBC