Chapter 14
Ethrin could almost feel her heart beating out of her chest. She had been riding for hours, and still the orcs came. And she was riding too slowly, for the orcs were nearly at her heels. She ordered Starlight to go faster, and drew farther and farther away from the horde of orcs. But the orcs just ran faster. She turned around, and saw as many orcs fit arrows onto their bows. They shot the arrows, but she either grabbed them, sliced them out of the air, or Starlight dodged them.
Starlight dodged right and left, his flanks straining to keep from sprinting off. His mane blew in the wind, and brushed onto Ethrin's face if she turned around. Ethrin decided that there were too many arrows for her to dodge, and even more for her to cut out of the air. So she turned and looked at where they were going. They had reached a forest on the mountains, and were running through trees now. She felt the wind around her, and her hood blew off, her hair waving in the breeze.
All of a sudden, an arrow sank into her shoulder. She cried in surprise, and felt as poison seeped into her blood. Black blood ran down her clothes, blending with the black cloth. Ethrin felt her mind start to wonder, and then dizziness came. The trees around her became hazy, and she couldn't see where everything was. She hollered for Starlight to speed up, and then fell forward, losing consciousness.
Starlight didn't need any more commands, and started on his fastest sprint. His hooves left no prints, and the orcs were soon far from sight. But they were still heard, as they screamed in rage, running in frenzy, trying to reach the one they hate. But nothing, except the wind itself, could ever race the magnificent horse and have a chance of winning. The orcs couldn't catch them, even with the added speed that their anger and hate gave them. Their chase was hopeless.
Starlight dodged around the trees, making circles, walking through small streams, and anything else that would confuse any trackers. Finally, he just ran straight forward, and reached a waterfall. He kneeled down, and gently let Ethrin fall to the ground. She was still unconscious, and was becoming dangerously pale. Starlight stayed beside her, ready to defend her with his life.
Legolas followed the orc's trail. Orc prints were imprinted on the ground, and he couldn't make out any hoof prints. But he knew that Starlight had run through there, for what else could the orcs be chasing? Whiteshadow's hooves left little mark on the ground, and he was running faster than he has ever before, sensing the urgency in his master. Soon enough, orcs were spotted upon the horizon.
Legolas watched the orcs for a while, and hid in the trees. Then he noticed that the orcs were going back, and no rider was near them. As they drew closer and closer, he heard Ughar bellowing at the other orcs, so loud that Legolas had no trouble hearing the words.
"How could you let her escape? And we were so close! You stupid insolent fools; can't even catch a horse! I thought that the Uruk-hai were bad, but no, you are even worse! We could have caught that she-elf!" he was screeching.
What could have happened to make Starlight start sprinting? Ethrin must have either lead them so far from camp that she thought it wasn't necessary to continue like that, or she was in trouble. Legolas decided to go find her, so that the group wouldn't be broken up anymore. And they still needed her power. Commanding Whiteshadow to continue faster, he began to look for signs of the elf maiden.
Whiteshadow began to tire. Legolas tried to make him go on, but he couldn't. He had been running for longer than he usually did, and was exhausted beyond knowledge. Legolas couldn't get him to move, so finally gave up and settled down. He lay down and watched the sunset, seeing the purple, red, orange, and all colors imaginable blending in as one. He used his pack as a pillow, watching the sun as it dipped into the horizon, and wouldn't be seen again until at least six hours passed.
"Lothlórien…. Lothlórien," a soft voice chanted. Lothlórien was just as it was when Legolas first visited it. He stood on top of a tree, and looked far. He could see a waterfall, in the middle of some forest. He saw a way through the forest that would lead him to it. Seeing the waterfall, the white water plunging down the rocks and the trees surrounding it, he felt his heart pounding hard, and breathing became almost hard; he felt so nervous, yet calm. Many elves walked on the forest floor, and through the trees. The sound of the falls pounded into his ears, and the rush of the water rang through him…chilling him to the bones….
Legolas woke, the moon shining on his face. Whiteshadow was awake, and restless again. Legolas knew that the waterfall was of some importance, and so he decided to find it. Why was he asleep anyway? He didn't even feel tired, so why had he fallen asleep? Questions raced through his mind as he got back on Whiteshadow, and started riding into a forest up ahead. He could remember the way exactly, and followed his conscience and his mind. The feeling that Ethrin had been through here didn't leave him, and he knew that he was going the right way. Afraid what he might see when he finds Ethrin, Legolas rode on without another thought.
The sun came up slowly. Soon, Legolas heard water in the distance. The roaring of falls and the trickling of the stream reached his ears, and he knew that he was nearing the falls in his dreams. Legolas urged Whiteshadow on faster, his heart still pounding. The sounds became louder and louder. Finally, Legolas reached the clearing, and saw the waterfall. He heard a snort and saw Starlight galloping towards him. His eyes followed him, and spotted a small figure lying down on the ground. A cry nearly escaped his lips, as her jumped off his horse and rushed up to the form on the ground. He saw Ethrin, her face chalk white. Legolas touched her face, feeling the cold skin.
Ethrin suddenly opened her eyes, and Legolas observed that they were a deep brown, and seemed black from a distance, yet sometimes seemed to change to a shade of green. Her black hair had brown streaks, and even the black of her hair seemed to gleam a honey color in the sunlight. Although now her hair was a tangled mess, and her dark cloak was stained with blood. Ethrin tried to sit up, and Legolas rushed up to her, helping her to stay in a sitting position. Ethrin looked into his eyes, and suddenly coughed, blood pouring down her front. She gasped and then fainted, falling into Legolas's arms.
Legolas picked her up quickly, and put her on his horse. Starlight came up to him, wondering what he was doing to Ethrin. Starlight then understood the situation, and let Legolas turn Whiteshadow around. He followed Legolas and Whiteshadow as they started riding towards Lothlórien.
Legolas looked down at the still form leaning against him, and fear flowed through him. Pulling the hood over her head, he ordered Whiteshadow forward. He was afraid for this elf-maiden's life.
Ethrin felt her strength draining ever so slowly. She knew she couldn't fight for long.
Aragorn, Laphaela, and Arlena still climbed quickly, not bothered at all. Laphaela looked behind her, and saw a figure behind them. She stopped Aragorn and Arlena, and pointed out the figure to them. They saw the boulders and rocks that the Fellowship of the Ring had hid in many years before, and decided to hide there. The figure got nearer and nearer, and the three could see that he was an elf. They soon saw that it was Glorfindel. Laphaela let out a cry, and then ran up to him. Glorfindel saw her, and grinned.
"What are you doing here?" Laphaela asked as Aragorn and Arlena also came out of hiding.
"Well, I was wondering if I'd ever find you. Elrond sent me here," Glorfindel replied.
"I don't think that Elrond would really send you out here all alone."
"I didn't. Demons killed one of my companions, and I sent the other two back to Rivendell to report. I have been alone since, going along the trail that the Fellowship went on those many decades ago."
"Lortil, Legolas, and Gimli are gone. I will update you on their doings, and you should perhaps tell us about the demons you've encountered. The more information we have, the easier it is for us to protect ourselves."
The four of them started walking again, this time faster, now that they remembered clearly why the others were gone. They whispered about the things that have passed, pursuing their journey at the same time.
"Should we go on without Legolas? I would hate to leave and then have him come back looking for us," Diamond said.
"Don't worry, he'll be alright. We all already know that the destination for now is Lothlórien. He'll know that we're going there. Besides, I think he would want some time alone with Lortil," Gimli said.
"Where are we going after Lothlórien?" Frodo asked.
"After Lothlórien, we would be going to Mordor," Gimli said unhappily.
Frodo groaned. He had had enough dealings with Mordor. After destroying the one ring there, he had never wanted to even hear the name uttered again. But now, he was making a journey to the one place he doesn't want anything more to do with.
"I will go, not because I want to, but because my friends are, and I want to be of some assistance," Frodo finally said.
"And I am going with you," Diamond said, looking Frodo straight in the eye.
"You cannot go! I don't want to lose you, it would be the biggest pain of my life!"
"I am going! I want to be there to look after you, and I would be crushed for life if you were to die. If fate destines our lives to end, then I want you to be there with me."
"But…"
"And nothing can shake me from it, Frodo Baggins, son of Drogo!"
Frodo was about to say something else when Diamond got up and started to pack. She loaded the rolls and blankets on her back, rolled up her skirt a little, and then walked off towards the East. Frodo and Gimli looked at each other, and then got their things ready as quick as possible, and ended up chasing the stubborn hobbit. And so they also went on their way to the fair elf woods.
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*Diamond Baggins is created by me. Please don't use her in any of your stories. THANK YOU!