Hey all!
No I didn't forget Stolen...here's a somewhat action-y chapter. My first, really. Please tell me how I do with it. I'm a little leery of action-y type sequences, and I've just written my first...can you tell I'm nervous. *chuckles* sorry.
Oh, and if you see really stupid typos in this chapter, I deny most responsibility. I did spell check, but I typed and spell checked with my 80 lb dog trying to crawl into my lap and licking my ear and pulling my hair. Devin's a nut! She's in a mood tonight. The house'll be trashed by morning. *sigh* But I wouldn't get rid of her for the world.
OK, on with the story....disclaimers and all that rot on previous chapters.
Stolen
Chapter Six
Legolas drew up so suddenly that Aragorn ran into his back before stopping. The elf stumbled forward, paying no heed to the Ranger as he looked around carefully. His eyes narrowed as he peered down the trail. "Go right," he told Aragorn quietly.
Without question, Aragorn went right with Legolas behind him. For the past two hours, they'd been carefully keeping out of sight and sound of a group of the slavers. As a result, they'd been forced to take the long way home. Aragorn barely refrained from snorting. Their direct track to Rivendell had denigrated into a series of tacks right and left, backtracking, and circling. Only the fact that Aragorn had grown up in these woods kept them both from being completely lost. In two hour's time, they'd not gone very far from where they'd started.
Legolas tapped the man on the shoulder. "They're behind us. Following quickly."
"Did they catch our trail?" Aragorn asked even as he sped up.
Legolas shrugged, and glanced behind him. "Hard to tell. Tack left."
Aragorn spun left, darting through the trees. He trusted Legolas' sense completely, but this was utterly frustrating. He would have liked to know just exactly why he was tacking left. His blindness, so to speak, was beginning to grate on the man.
"Still behind us?" he asked somewhat harshly, but still quietly.
Legolas glanced toward him sympathetically; he had long ago found how irritating it was for Aragorn to run blind. Aragorn brought his gaze to the elf's face. Legolas nodded. "I would suggest more haste."
They were already jogging. "More haste means less careful."
"They seem to be above average trackers." Legolas glanced over his shoulder. "Must aid them in their endeavors," he said distastefully.
"Only we would manage to get skilled trackers behind us." Aragorn faced front again, moving straight forward until Legolas told him differently. "How do we get so lucky?"
Legolas spared a tense smile, and they ran forward in silence. The rain had long ago soaked their clothes, and Aragorn felt a distinct chill that grew from uncomfortable to nearly unbearable when the wind bit into him. Legolas turned around and went backward for a few steps, casting his keen senses about to find their pursuers.
Roles were reversed suddenly when Aragorn stopped. Legolas barely avoided running into him. He spun around to find the Ranger stepping left to avoid a charge by a burly man. Legolas, wide eyed, stepped right as Burly stumbled past him. He had an arrow notched and aimed as Burly righted himself, but suddenly changed his stance and shot into the trees behind Aragorn.
The man who had been in a perfect position to bring down the Ranger fell with a cry. As Aragorn turned to meet any new challengers, Burly lunged again.
Again, Legolas easily side stepped the lunge, giving the man a whack with his bow on the way by. Burly, however, twisted as he passed Legolas and grabbed a corner of the elf's cloak. The big man gave a strong tug as he fell and his sheer weight brought Legolas to the ground. Legolas landed hard on his back beside Burly. The elf blocked an awkward punch from the man and rolled left to right himself. Burly, however, had other plans. Legolas' roll was stopped short as Burly grabbed the elf's long hair and pulled Legolas back down.
"Get his legs!" was the cry Burly gave as he and Legolas grappled. The elf narrowed his eyes at this, and elbowed him in the stomach before he could call out anymore questionable orders. Unfortunately, Legolas' actions weren't quick enough; before he had even pulled his elbow back, he was surrounded and still on the ground.
Aragorn whirled around, looking for his friend during a lull in the action. Spinning around with his fist up and ready, he quickly dropped a man. Aragorn frowned; he didn't see the elf immediately. He did, however, see a cluster of men. One cried out, and stumbled back, clutching his shoulder. In the gap created by the missing man, Aragorn could see Legolas on his knees, a dagger in each hand. The men were kept at bay, and Legolas looked around. His eyes locked with Aragorn's, and the Ranger nodded.
Legolas surged upward, driving through the circle of men with almost no opposition worth noting. The men parted, and Aragorn could suddenly see their plan.
An archer appeared from behind several trees, taking careful aim at Legolas' now unprotected back.
"Legolas!" Aragorn took several steps forward before he was hit from behind. The initial hit dazed him and the second disarmed him. Within seconds, he had several hands holding him, and a knife pressed against his throat.
Legolas had turned back at the sound of his warning, but when all motion stopped, turned his gaze back to the Ranger. The archer's arrow never left its place in the bow.
"Disarm him," Burly said from beside him, wiping blood from his lip. The men moved toward Legolas. The elf's hands twitched, the blades coming slightly up to be at the ready. "I wouldn't," Burly called. He motioned toward Aragorn. "He'll die." Legolas looked at him. "I know you're quick, but not that quick."
Legolas dropped the daggers to his side and allowed the men to take them. After his bow and quiver was removed, he turned his gaze to Aragorn.
"Sorry," the Ranger said quietly. The elf shrugged.
"Bind them."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Jamyn looked over his newest captives. He knelt in front of Aragorn, noting the way the Ranger looked back at him. It was a stare full of defiance and barely contained rage. Not good, thought Jamyn. This works much easier if they're scared. "Cleaned up, he might fetch a price in the hard labor market. He's too old for what most want." Jamyn shook his head. "You're not the prime piece, that's for sure, but it's been a lean year for us. We take what we can get."
Jamyn stood up after Aragorn didn't answer him. "You're only here because we couldn't have got the elf without you. Thank you. I do appreciate your cooperation." Jamyn crossed to where Legolas sat on the ground, bound hand and foot and leashed to the tree.
"Normally, I wouldn't bother with your kind," he told Legolas. He sounded preoccupied, almost as if he talked to himself. Jamyn caught the elf's chin in his hand, turning his head to see a bruise blossoming on the pale cheek. Legolas pulled out of his grip. "You'll heal," Jamyn said. "I know someone who would pay handsomely for one such as you. The price alone I'd get from you might be enough to compensate for the lean year." Jamyn looked over his shoulder. "Narit!"
Narit turned and jogged toward them. "Yes, Jamyn?"
"Keep an eye on this one. On them both," he amended. "They could be trouble." Jamyn stood up. "We need to get through this place quickly. I don't like how long we've lingered. If the flooding wasn't so bad south of here, we wouldn't have needed to come this way." Jamyn looked at the elf. "Though it could prove fortunate," he mused.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Aragorn had worked his bonds enough that his wrists were chafed and bloody, but he barely noticed. His hands were loose. That's all that mattered. He looked up, almost smiling at the early darkening sky. If he could have, he would have embraced the low, dark clouds and kissed the rain for the help. He looked over at Legolas.
The elf was having a little more trouble than the man simply because Jamyn had ordered extra precaution taken when tying him. Aragorn, at least, didn't get tied to the tree, nor had his hands and feet been tied as tightly as the elf's. Legolas was gaining ground, though, judging from the slightly triumphant look the prince threw Aragorn.
Aragorn winked back, and after looking around, held up one free hand. Keeping a watchful eye on the men, he set to work on the rope around his ankles. Within minutes, he was completely free and slipped through the trees. He reappeared at Legolas' back and silently set to work untying the elf. "They really didn't want you to get away, did they?" he asked quietly.
Legolas nodded. "Looks that way. What took you so long?"
"I was tied up."
Legolas rolled his eyes at the pun. Aragorn unwrapped the rope from Legolas' wrists, wincing at the state they were in. Aragorn's own hands may have been chafed and bloody, but they were almost unhurt compared to the state of Legolas' wrists. "You've really been at this, haven't you?"
"That bad?"
Aragorn nodded.
"I hadn't noticed, really," Legolas answered. Aragorn removed the rope from the elf's hands completely. Legolas winced as blood flowed back into his fingers. "That is, not until now."
They watched the camp of men for a bit. Despite Jamyn's repeated warnings, Narit had left them unoccupied. Most of the men were gathered around two or three large fires. Some slept. Some were in tents. The important thing, though, was that none were looking at their two captives. Legolas leaned forward to untie his ankles while Aragorn worked the rope the held his friend near the tree. Before long, Aragorn appeared at his side and helped him to stand up. He surveyed the rope on the ground. "I think they are all free."
"They had better be," Legolas said wryly.
He had barely finished the sentence when Narit, at the nearest fire, turned around. The man cried out, sending a number of men scrambling for weapons. Aragorn and Legolas exchanged a wide-eyed look before darting into the trees, hoping the deepening dusk could hide them.
"Archer," Legolas suddenly warned from behind the Ranger. Aragorn immediately ducked as Legolas pulled himself into the tree above him. Aragorn, before long, heard a scuffle, a soft cry, and a thud. Legolas dropped down in front of him, now armed with a bow and carrying a leather quiver. The elf smiled. Aragorn grinned back.
Legolas cocked his head, and stopped Aragorn's forward movement. "They're circling. Go left. It's our best chance to get through."
Immediately, Aragorn ran. Legolas came right behind him, newly procured bow ready. The quiver hung loosely on his shoulder; he hadn't had time to buckle it. Legolas slowed, bringing an arrow to bear. He'd found a target.
"Legolas," Aragorn cried out. Legolas glanced to the side. He'd known they were coming. The circle was closing around them. As one, they rushed.
Legolas got one shot off, downing his first target. He notched a second arrow, already finding his next victim. Things, unfortunately, got out of hand at that point.
Aragorn jumped back to avoid a spear swung at him. His jump, though, placed him in Legolas' line of sight. The elf only had a breadth of a second to react. He swung the bow up slightly, but his bruised fingers would not cooperate. He lost hold of the arrow and it flew, its path awry. Turning a shocked and concerned look to Aragorn, Legolas noted with no small amount of relief that he was fine. So far.
"Sorry!" the man called. Legolas nodded, and whirled away from Aragorn. He used the bow as a club, catching an approaching man underneath the jaw. The prince swung with so much force that the bow snapped. The man fell, a gurgling sound reaching Legolas' ears.
Legolas regarded the broken bow for a moment. "The fates really are against me," he muttered. Another man came up on him. Legolas put the supposedly useless bow to use, swinging it. One jagged end hit the man's chest. The man spun, trying to land a punch. Legolas blocked, bringing his wrist up. The man's fist hit the elf's wrist, and Legolas grunted as pain shot through his arm. The bow dropped. Legolas caught the man's next punch, and landed on of his own to the man's face.
There was a lull. Legolas turned to find Aragorn catching his breath not to far from him. The elf frowned. It was time to regroup. "This would be a problem, right?" Legolas deadpanned as he stepped back toward Aragorn. He had his hands up, ready to move without hesitation.
Aragorn snorted. "This is now a problem."
Legolas eyed the men circling them. All had weapons, mostly swords and spears, a couple with bows. He glanced back to Aragorn, again noting with much frustration that they were both unarmed. "It is just now a problem? What kept it from being a problem, say, an twenty minutes ago?"
"That was when I thought you could still shoot an arrow with some accuracy."
Legolas, despite the situation they were in, gaped at Aragorn. In doing so, he turned his gaze from the men advancing on them, and nearly paid for it dearly.
A call from Aragorn was his only warning. The elf sidestepped and ducked, not entirely sure where the strike was coming from. He gave a quick sigh of relief when the sword missed his side by a hairs breadth. He whirled, using his own momentum to shove the soldier's back. True, it wasn't the most graceful of moves, but it worked. The man fell forward, and Legolas landed a kick to his temple, effectively knocking him out of the fight. Stooping, he grabbed the man's sword and tossed it to Aragorn just in time for the Ranger to deflect an arrow coming at him.
All movement stopped for a moment as the men took in what just happened. Legolas and Aragorn moved to stand back to back. Then, with a cry rising from fifteen throats, the men attacked.
Aragorn only had time to note that the archers couldn't shoot for fear of hitting their own men, and charged into the fray, sword raised. He was determined not to give them a target. Legolas followed, already decided his first order of business was to procure a weapon. Aragorn concentrated on trying to disarm only; a warrior he might have been, but not a killer. He had no taste for man's blood.
The Ranger whirled, deflecting a blade. Even as he followed through, he changed his hold on the sword to hit a man with the flat of his blade. The man grunted as the sword hit his side, but continued after Aragorn. The Ranger feinted with his blade, but landed a punch to the man's unprotected nose. He went down without another sound. Aragorn brought his sword back up, looking for his next target and trying to find Legolas at the same time.
The elf was not far from him and holding his own, even without a weapon, but Aragorn could tell Legolas needed something in order to gain the upper hand. His fighting was reduced to a series of feints and quick punches, which, though Aragorn know from experience were powerful, just couldn't do the job the elf needed them to. Not with so many men around.
Legolas ducked low under a swing and came up quickly, grabbing the man's wrist. Using the man's own sword still in his grip, the elf parried another blow, then elbowed the man he had hold of. In doing so, he left himself open for a well aimed sword. Legolas' eyes widened and he spun, letting go of his quarry. The sword intended for the elf instead sank into the man's belly. Legolas backed away, knowing he was out of immediate danger, at least from those two. But, he placed himself in the open.
And became a perfect target for the archers. Keen senses suddenly screaming, Legolas sidestepped back toward the men he'd just got away from. Shoving the still shocked (and still alive) man out of the way, he grabbed the sword that now lay inches away from lifeless fingers. Three arrows imbedded themselves in trees just beyond Legolas' former position.
Aragorn sighed, seeing that Legolas was now armed, and parried another blow. Steel rang loudly as the blades crossed and Aragorn suddenly whirled, leaving his opponent wide open for a blow to his throat from Aragorn's elbow.
It wasn't long before all the men either lay lifeless or unconcsious on the ground or had run away. Aragorn noted that most were merely unconcious; six lay dead, and Aragorn truly grieved for that, as he knew Legolas did also. The Ranger looked around until he found the elf, who was efficiently dispatching one last archer. The archer slumped to the ground and Legolas, with a look of complete anger, was fiercely unbuckling the man's quiver. Aragorn looked closer; no, it wasn't the man's quiver. Legolas, without ceremony and apparently without caring overly much about the man's dignity, pulled the quiver off his back.
"This," he told the unconcious man, "belongs to me. As does this." Legolas held up the ornate bow, practically shaking it in the insensate man's face. "And these," he said, picking up scattered arrows and shoving them in the quiver. Standing up, the elf carefully inspected his reacquired belongings and strapped them on. As he was buckling his quiver, Aragorn spoke.
"You know, I don't think he could hear you."
Legolas tested his bow, pulling back on the string a little bit before answering. "It's no wonder he couldn't hit anything. This is my bow."
Aragorn stayed quiet. He'd long since discovered that the elf was fiercely protective about his weapons, especially his bow. Anything Aragorn might say could be considered as an insult to the elf, and when it pertained to his bow, those insults became death knells.
"What were we doing?"
Aragorn started at the elf's question. "Uh, what?"
"Before all this."
"Would that be the heading for Rivendell part or the finding out what happened to Rabryn part?" Aragorn watched the elf carefully. "Did you get hit on the head? You know this."
"I'm thinking."
"Can you walk while you think? We need to get back." Aragorn ducked a friendly cuff from the elf as Legolas passed him.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"She says she's from south of here. Her family was camping, and they were attacked." Elladan's voice was quiet in the Hall of Fire. He regarded the dark haired human woman sitting on the couch. She stared at the fire, her eyes blank. Her wrists and feet and been cleaned and bandaged. She was exhausted, and by all rights, should have been asleep. Elladan furrowed his brow as he watched her. "Sleep eludes her. She is worried."
"Does she have a name?" Elrond asked.
"Not that I've been able to glean," Elladan said, his irritation showing.
"Enalaen."
Elladan, Elrohir and Elrond turned at the sound. The woman tore her gaze from the fire to look at the three elves. "Enalaen. My name." She shook her head, green eyes flashing in the firelight. "I apologize. I am not myself."
Elrond sat in a chair opposite her. Before he spoke though, she continued.
"You do not need to start questioning me. I'll tell you what happened. This is your land; you should know what goes on here."
"You seem quite at ease, Mistress Enalaen."
Enalaen smiled slightly. "If you are referring to the fact that suddenly I'm rescued by elves..." she trailed off and shrugged. "I've never met an elf, but people are people. Unless they are orcs."
At Elrond's amused look, Enalaen seemed to replay her words. Her eyes widened. She immediately looked to the floor. "My lord," she stuttered, "forgive me. I forget my place."
"In my experience," Elrond answered, "when a human is overly tired, they cannot be held responsible for what they might say."
Relief shone in Enalaen's eyes. Elladan smothered a chuckle with a small cough. Elrond and Elrohir glanced at him, but before any of them could speak again, the door flew open to admit a harried elf maiden.
Elrond stood, turning to meet Fiwen. Twigs and dry leaves adorned her disarrayed hair. She turned wide eyes onto Elrond, bowed hastily, and muttered hurried apologies for interupting. Upon close inspection, Elrond could see tear tracks on her cheeks. "He's disappeared again, hasn't he?" Elrohir said suddenly.
Fiwen nodded. "Yes, my lord. I have looked long and hard. I am so sorry."
"Calm yourself, Fiwen," Elrond told her. She made a visible effort to restrain herself. Enalaen, sensing something horribly amiss, stood up and looked from the maid to the lord. "It was expected; I honestly did not expect Rabryn to stay put."
"Rabyn," Enalaen whispered. "Rabryn is here?" she asked louder, panic coloring her voice. Elrond, who had turned to watch the human woman as soon as Fiwen bore her news, raised a hand.
"Peace, Enalaen. Your questions will be answered. Fiwen, follow me." Elrond glanced at Enalaen. "You as well," he said. "Elladan, Elrohir, see about finding the boy. Enlist what help you think you need."
The twins nodded and ducked out the door ahead of their father. Elrond gestured to Fiwen and Enalaen to proceed him out the door. On the way out, he spoke to Fiwen. "I must apologize to you, Fiwen. I should have warned you of my suspicions when I put him in your care."
Fiwen merely gaped as the lord of Imladris apologized to her.
"Worry not, Enalaen," he continued. "Rabryn will be found. You are his mother, his 'Enna', are you not?"
Enalaen nodded. "What has happened?"
Elrond only shook his head. "I am not entirely sure." He regarded the two women standing before him for a moment before speaking again. They looked back at him, each with identical expressions. Fiwen's darker green eyes held monumental amounts of worry, while Enalaen's misty green orbs were quickly filling with panic. Both had dark hair, Fiwen's longer and a shade darker. Elrond suddenly smiled and chuckled. "You know, he was right. The two of you do look somewhat alike."
Panic and worry was replaced by mild surprise, and Fiwen and Enalaen turned to each other with appraising gazes. Fiwen graced Enalaen with a small, but genuine smile while the human woman chuckled softly.
"We will find him," Elrond promised. "Now, come. Both of you need food, one of you needs rest desparately," he said with a pointed look at Enalaen. "And you both have stories to relate to me."
tbc...
Okay, responses. This is so cool! I've never had so many reviews, but then again, I've never posted a story this long either.
Chloe! Girl, you had better get Erfier (sp?) out soon! I am so looking forward to reading it. Ok. February. I can wait 'til February. Maybe. You are so unbelievably kind, nin mellon. I'm absolutely blown away by your reviews. Lots of love!
Jo March: Yep, I'm finishing this one. As for "It Rains…", it's in the works. I don't know why I'm having so much trouble with it. I may just post what I have and let the reviewers (what little of them I have snared) be my muses. It will be updated, though. Soon, hopefully.
Emmithar: Thanks for keeping me on the straight and narrow. It's so appreciated. Love to see your name on any of my stories…you're a favorite author of mine.
Susie: Oh, my…I am completely humbled by your beautiful review. What more can I say about those kind words? I hope I continue to live up to your expectations.
Odyssey, leggy-stinks, and anyone else I've missed (I'm looking at the page! I hope I'm not dense enough to miss anyone.): Wow! Thank you so very much!