"We will arrive in Rivendell tomorrow, Legolas, or at least says Carenroch!"
It was Maikamacilion, trusted adviser and friend to Legolas, speaking. They, along with two other Elves, were on their way to Rivendell, as messengers for King Thraduil.
"I think we should camp now, Legolas," suggested Quelletarmaion, one of the other Elves, "so we will have strength enough to ride tomorrow."
"All right, we shall camp now." agreed Legolas, bringing his steed to a stop.
They made camp, and cooked some dinner, and were just about to turn in for the night, when a horrible, piercing, screech wrenched the air. They froze in their tracks.
"Nazgul!" hissed Legolas, snatching up his bow and arrow. They ambled silently over to a thick patch of bushes surrounding a small, treeless expanse, waiting apprehensibly. Suddenly, without a sound, a cloaked figure darted into the clearing. Its breathing was sharp and horse, it's thin chest raising and falling rapidly under its cape. The hood was up, hiding it's face. The Elves didn't shoot, knowing not if it was friend or foe. The figure was moving now, it's head swinging this way and that, searching for something. Another cry echoed, closer now. The head stopped, and the figure bolted to a nearby tree, curling up at it's base, and shivering violently. All was quiet and still. Then, a tall, menacing, hooded rider strode up behind the tree. The creature froze, tensely listening. The rider dismounted, and peered around the tree at the trembling creature. It jumped, slowly rising to its trembling legs. Another rider appeared behind the cloaked figure. It swung around, hood falling from its head. Legolas and his group of Elves were in a state of shock. For before them, encircled by Black Riders, was not an Orc, not even a Man- it was a woman. Her eyes were wide with terror, and she spun on the spot, as more ominous shadows loomed out of the gloom. While her back was turned, one of the Nazgul slowly stepped forward, with a mail-plated hand extended towards the girl. She whirled around, and stared, horrified, at the hand. It made its way, silently, around her neck. She gagged. The Rider lifted her off the ground, seeming to relish each gasp for air she admitted, and the hopeless pawing at its hand. Her arm became suddenly limp, the puffs for breathe less frequent. The woman's eyes rolled back into her head. Startling the group of both Nazgul and Elves, an arrow whizzed through the air, and struck the Rider's cloaked arm. It shrieked, dropping the girl to the ground, where she lay, immobile.
"Maikamacilion, Nilakarion! Help me with them!" cried Legolas, advancing on the Ringwraiths, "Quelletarmaion! Grab the girl! Take her back to the camp!"
A fierce battle raged. Most of the black spirits retreated after only a few minutes. Finally, they were left with only one Nazgul. The demon looked about for support, but, seeing none, flung his sword at Legolas, and fled. The Prince dodged it easily, looked about himself for his companions, and seeing them in good shape, heading back for the camp.
There, they found Quelletarmaion, who was a noted healer, bent over the unconscious girl. They could see now, that she was in rather bad shape. Cuts occupied most of her visible skin. One was still bleeding, staining her ragged garb. Her face, illuminated by the dying fire, was deathly pale, and had a pinched look, as though she hadn't eaten anything for a long while. Through a tear on her frock, they could see a too-thin middle, and could almost count her ribs.
"She is in a bad situation. She may not live through the night," began Quelletarmaion, looking sadly at the forlorn creature on the ground.
"Then I shall start for Rivendell now!" proclaimed Legolas, moving towards his horse, "We cannot just let her die like this! We should at least try to help her, don't you think?"
A series of agreeing mutters followed his retreating back . Before long, he was galloping to Rivendell, the ebbing maiden positioned in front of him on his horse.
"Noro lim, Ernoleiom, noro lim!" he cried to the stallion, who neighed, rearing, and cantered off into the night.
"May Aru watch over him," mumbled Maikamacilion
It was Maikamacilion, trusted adviser and friend to Legolas, speaking. They, along with two other Elves, were on their way to Rivendell, as messengers for King Thraduil.
"I think we should camp now, Legolas," suggested Quelletarmaion, one of the other Elves, "so we will have strength enough to ride tomorrow."
"All right, we shall camp now." agreed Legolas, bringing his steed to a stop.
They made camp, and cooked some dinner, and were just about to turn in for the night, when a horrible, piercing, screech wrenched the air. They froze in their tracks.
"Nazgul!" hissed Legolas, snatching up his bow and arrow. They ambled silently over to a thick patch of bushes surrounding a small, treeless expanse, waiting apprehensibly. Suddenly, without a sound, a cloaked figure darted into the clearing. Its breathing was sharp and horse, it's thin chest raising and falling rapidly under its cape. The hood was up, hiding it's face. The Elves didn't shoot, knowing not if it was friend or foe. The figure was moving now, it's head swinging this way and that, searching for something. Another cry echoed, closer now. The head stopped, and the figure bolted to a nearby tree, curling up at it's base, and shivering violently. All was quiet and still. Then, a tall, menacing, hooded rider strode up behind the tree. The creature froze, tensely listening. The rider dismounted, and peered around the tree at the trembling creature. It jumped, slowly rising to its trembling legs. Another rider appeared behind the cloaked figure. It swung around, hood falling from its head. Legolas and his group of Elves were in a state of shock. For before them, encircled by Black Riders, was not an Orc, not even a Man- it was a woman. Her eyes were wide with terror, and she spun on the spot, as more ominous shadows loomed out of the gloom. While her back was turned, one of the Nazgul slowly stepped forward, with a mail-plated hand extended towards the girl. She whirled around, and stared, horrified, at the hand. It made its way, silently, around her neck. She gagged. The Rider lifted her off the ground, seeming to relish each gasp for air she admitted, and the hopeless pawing at its hand. Her arm became suddenly limp, the puffs for breathe less frequent. The woman's eyes rolled back into her head. Startling the group of both Nazgul and Elves, an arrow whizzed through the air, and struck the Rider's cloaked arm. It shrieked, dropping the girl to the ground, where she lay, immobile.
"Maikamacilion, Nilakarion! Help me with them!" cried Legolas, advancing on the Ringwraiths, "Quelletarmaion! Grab the girl! Take her back to the camp!"
A fierce battle raged. Most of the black spirits retreated after only a few minutes. Finally, they were left with only one Nazgul. The demon looked about for support, but, seeing none, flung his sword at Legolas, and fled. The Prince dodged it easily, looked about himself for his companions, and seeing them in good shape, heading back for the camp.
There, they found Quelletarmaion, who was a noted healer, bent over the unconscious girl. They could see now, that she was in rather bad shape. Cuts occupied most of her visible skin. One was still bleeding, staining her ragged garb. Her face, illuminated by the dying fire, was deathly pale, and had a pinched look, as though she hadn't eaten anything for a long while. Through a tear on her frock, they could see a too-thin middle, and could almost count her ribs.
"She is in a bad situation. She may not live through the night," began Quelletarmaion, looking sadly at the forlorn creature on the ground.
"Then I shall start for Rivendell now!" proclaimed Legolas, moving towards his horse, "We cannot just let her die like this! We should at least try to help her, don't you think?"
A series of agreeing mutters followed his retreating back . Before long, he was galloping to Rivendell, the ebbing maiden positioned in front of him on his horse.
"Noro lim, Ernoleiom, noro lim!" he cried to the stallion, who neighed, rearing, and cantered off into the night.
"May Aru watch over him," mumbled Maikamacilion