Ok, I decided that the Elves needed a 'new look' so to speak, so I have
'upgraded' their fighting styles! Lol - especially Elrohir. I mean, the
aforementioned Elf I have based off of Eric Draven from The Crow, Stairway
to Heaven, Alice from Resident Evil the movie and a video game character
from 'Dead or Alive' on X-Box! I did this solely for my entertainment, so
if it does not go well, or you feel that I can not describe it well enough,
please tell me as I have plans for all the other characters as well (I have
a sort of The Matrix/The Brotherhood of the Wolf/Crouching Tiger, Hidden
Dragon/The Crow/Resident Evil/Musketeer/Interview with the Vampire - Queen
of the Damned/Dark Angel sorta thing happening with them all - but there
will be no running up walls and whatnot as I AM keeping it as realistic as
possible.) So, let me know what you think. LOL, I am also seeing a whole
'Charlie's Angels' stand with the five of them! LOL!
Oh, I have also decided to make Elrohir a little different to the others - I mean, you can tell by his fighting style already, and then there is the fact that I just could not resist putting the gloves on him! Lol, you will have to read on to find out.
*****
The Eaters of the Dead
Part Five
Encounters in the Woods
*****
"Estel, I will be fine - Elladan, tell him!" Elrohir could hear Legolas plead with his twin as he entered the prince's room. Estel was currently tucking the complaining archer into bed while Gilnen was sitting cross- legged upon the floor in the far corner of the room, his head leaning against the wall with an amused grin plastered on his face. Elladan, on the other hand, was standing at the balcony entrance, looking out to the trees as if keeping guard and watch.
Once Elrohir walked silently into the room, the Elf felt Legolas' pleading gaze fall on him. "Elrohir, help me!" Legolas begged while Estel fluffed up another pillow and shoved it behind the many others on the prince's bed, "they will not leave." When Elrohir merely smiled at them all, the pleading suddenly turned into a command, "tell them to leave, Elrohir!"
"Hey, leave me out of this one," the younger of the twins said while raising his hands in his own defense. "I have not come here to get involved in any of your disputes, little prince," Elrohir smirked at the look of shock then mild anger that passed over Legolas' face at the name used, "I have done enough of that today!"
"Oh yes Elrohir," Gilnen said with a large smile, "I would pay to see you thumping Culdôr like that again - it was brilliant!"
"It was rather funny!" Estel added, pulling the blankets up under the Elven prince's chin while battering the Elf's arms away when Legolas tried to get out of the restraining blankets.
"And fun!" Elrohir exclaimed as he pulled a large comfort chair along the floor and towards the bed, "oh so fun - I seriously recommend that you all try it sometime!"
"Elrohir?" Legolas pleaded again, wanting his friend to come to his rescue as Estel once again attacked the pillows, muttering that they were not high enough.
Sighing, Elrohir paused in his effort of dragging the rather large chair and turned to see the prince's distressed face as the human continued to fuss over him as if he were on the brink of death. "Fine," he sighed while moving over and taking a hold of the human's right hand, "Estel, leave the prince be, I am sure that he is perfectly comfortable."
"But-" Estel protested as Elrohir pulled him back and away from the bed. Gently pushing the human down, he sat him near Gilnen and with a pointed look at the other Elf, told him to keep the human in place ere he went back to his task of rearranging the furniture to suit him.
"Thank you!" Legolas said with a small pout at the fact that it had taken him so long to get the help that he needed. Glancing around the room, he could still see that Elladan stood at the window, alert and ready should there be a repeat of that morning, Gilnen was holding back a squirming Estel who kept muttering about pillows and Elrohir had finally finished his task of pulling the chair to the end of the bed. Flopping down in the soft seat, the younger of the twins slung his feet over one of the large arms and tucked his head into the other, obviously settled down for the night.
"Elladan," Gilnen called out softly, causing the said Elf to flinch at the unexpected sound of his name. "Come and sit down, you can not possibly hope to stand there all night and still be ready if we should all leave in the morning." He had both arms wrapped tightly around the human's waist as he struggled to get free, his hands waving about in front of him like a child who was reaching for is mother or a treat that was being held above its head and reach. "Curse you Estel," Gilnen hissed as if the man really was a child, "sit still!"
"I shall be fine - get some rest," Elladan commanded, taking on the part of the older Elf of the group. They were all rather close in age, apart from Estel of course, but Elladan was always the one to step into the elder brother role to them all, always seeking to protect the others that he saw as being under his charge.
"Elladan!" Legolas interjected before Gilnen could do the same thing. "We shall all be fine - we are together and it would take a completely insane person to try and pull anything off now. So come, there is room on the floor for you to rest - or even better," he said while turning to the others, stopping Estel and Gilnen's silent struggles as both looked up, guilty looks spread across their faces, "you could all go to your own rooms!"
A choir of "no's" and "uh-ah's" was all that he received in reply as Elrohir buried his head in the great chair and Estel finally broke free of Gilnen and came to lean up against the side of the bed near the prince's head.
"Come Elladan," Estel muttered as he lent his head back against the soft bed and closed his eyes. "We will not let anything happen to the prince, and I am sure that you standing there like a tree all night is likely to hinder your ability to do anything anyway."
Sighing grumpily, Elladan pulled the drapes across the large opening and moved over to the side of Elrohir's chair. "Fine," he stated, obviously beaten and not liking that fact, "and how come you get the chair?" he questioned of the dark-haired Elf that was curled up in the soft padding.
"Because I was the one that thought of dragging the damn thing all the way over!" Elrohir informed him while clutching to the arm rest that his head leant upon, showing that we would not give it up without a fight.
"Fine!" Elladan muttered again, this time with a large smile as he settled down next to it and lent up against the front of the chair, where Elrohir's legs should have been.
"You know," Legolas said quietly, "you could all have comfortable places to lye if you but-"
"NO!" came all four voices at once as they all settled back into their respective positions.
"Just a suggestion," Legolas said in his defense while rolling over and grabbing a few of the extra pillows that Estel had collected from the many spare rooms around the house. Tossing one over to Gilnen, it hit him in the head and even as the Elf pushed it behind his head in the corner of the room, he glared at the smiling prince. Pushing Estel's' head forward, Legolas tucked a pillow behind his head and shoulders as well and received a half asleep thank you. Finally, he threw one over for the twins who briefly fought over it, slapping at each others hands until another came sailing through the air and hit Elladan in the head. Snatching up that pillow, the eldest of the group leant back against the chair and, keeping his eyes glued on the balcony opening, waited for sleep to take him.
Watching as, one by one, starting with Estel, his friends fell asleep; Legolas could not help but smile at the way they all spread out about the room and yet were all in such close quarters. He truly felt safe, and, the most important feeling of all that he realized he felt as he drifted off to sleep was loved - he knew that they would do anything for him just as he would do anything for them, and it was that bond that would keep them alive through whatever was to come of this quest.
With that in mind, he allowed his eyes to slowly blink into a semi-closed state and glaze over, his world switching to that of Elven dreams.
*****
The harsh bite of the bright sun struck Legolas right in the eyes, rousing him from his peaceful dreams as the sound of large amounts of shifting velvet filled his ears.
"Good morning, my young Lords'!" Erestor said cheerfully from his position near the balcony where he held open the drapes, one in each hand as he watched the Elves and human stir with a smile. "I thought that I would find you all here," he told them while pulling the large, golden drapes back further, enticing moans of protest from both Elrohir and Estel. Elrohir tried to hide his head further into the chair while Estel turned and buried his head into the pillow that he was still leaning against. Elladan was slowly sitting up, surprised at the fact that they had slept for so long and Gilnen was working the cranks out of his neck from sleeping in his rather awkward position.
"Go away," Estel murmured into the pillow as the sun hit him directly and he, unlike the Elves, started to fell the golden glow heating the room already.
Smiling, Legolas reached down and patted the young man's head gently, "come on, Estel, time to get up."
Elrohir had already come to that conclusion, his earlier attempts in hiding from the morning forgotten as he slipped off the right arm rest and let his legs regain their circulation. Elladan was already up, having woken when Erestor had entered the room, and was wandering over to the balcony to great the morning - or check for any threats.
Erestor walked over to Legolas' bed, and, sitting down on the opposite edge to Estel, placed a hand on Legolas' forehead and looked into the prince's eyes. "How are you feeling, my prince?" he asked gently while reaching down and pressing his hands to Legolas throat, checking the pace of his pulse.
"Fine," Legolas responded with a smile.
"Truthfully?" Erestor questioned, and at Legolas' nod, he looked hard into the young ones eyes. Legolas was famous for brushing aside his feelings, injuries or the truth to how he was faring so it was vital that he received the honest answer, no matter what the means of getting it. Legolas' eyes where back to normal, his pulse steady and regular and he held no fever. Maybe this time he was telling the truth on the matter.
"Very well," Erestor sighed while standing up. Feeling eyes upon him, he turned to see Estel awake and alert, glaring at him with distrust and suspicion as he took the advisors place and hovered over the prince, making sure that he was comfortable and had slept well.
"The morning meal will be served soon," Erestor informed them, putting the strangeness of the young human aside in his mind and regaining his air of importance and composure. Moving over to the doorway, he stood tall and looked down at the still waking friends while clasping his hands in front of his chest. "Will you be attending, or shall I see to it that food is brought up for you?"
"We shall stay he-" Estel said offhandedly while leaning over Legolas again.
Having had enough of this constant fussing that seemed to be taking place about him, Legolas shoved the human back and right into the slowly standing Gilnen. Both toppled over and fell into the far wall before slowly sinking to the floor in a collective daze while drawing a muffled laugh from Elrohir. "We shall join you!" Legolas stated courtly and daring any one of the others to even try to contradict him on the subject.
With a slight nod of his head, Erestor left the room without a sound. Walking regally around the corner with his head held high, he waited until he was sure he was out of sight before letting his shoulders slump and his walk turn more into one with a heavy burden and purpose then that of the Elven noble that he was.
Pressing his lips together and setting his jaw tightly, he wrung his hands as he made his way back into the main waiting hall of the Homely House. Pausing in the centre of the room, he lifted his head and looked down the far corridor, still darkened from the lack of sunlight to grace the western side of the house, checking to make sure that no one was present. Clicking his fingers once and yet loudly, a soft scamper of Elven feet came to him as a being rushed across the polished floor to stand by his side.
"The human knows something," Erestor said bluntly while looking out the main doors and onto the lush surrounding gardens.
"What should I do then?" Rastur asked, his tone cold and almost emotionless. "I could always. . ." his voice trailed off, his suggestion having been made in the dangerous tone of voice and the suggestive leer in both his eyes and smile.
"No!" Erestor said firmly and with a shake of his head while raising a commanding hand to stop any other suggestions. "He is not to be hurt!"
"Then you have a plan?" Rastur asked, his posture slumping slightly at the words that flowed from his mouth.
"Culdôr. . ." Erestor whispered, his eyes unseeing as he fell into deep thought, "he is the key - we know that." Biting down on his thumb nail, the advisor strummed his other fingers against his jaw and chin thoughtfully. Turning back of Rastur fully, his eyes coming back into focus, Erestor offered the other a weak smile. "Culdôr - see what he has to say on this."
"And the human - Estel?"
"Do nothing but deter him," Erestor commanded of the Mirkwood Elf. "If I find anything happens to him, I will finish you myself! Do you understand?"
"Perfectly," Rastur replied with a slight smile.
"Good," the advisor sighed, and, with a slight wave of his hand, added, "now go, you have work to do!"
Bowing, Rastur made his way back the way he had come and towards his room and the wing that held the rest of the Mirkwood envoys. Casting one last look about him, Erestor also moved off, his walk once again controlled and his face as blank as a canvas picture.
As the Rivendell Elf made his way towards the kitchens, neither he nor Rastur noticed the darkened shadow of a figure that lurked by the gloomy corridor, hearing all and remembering everything.
*****
Sighing, Elrohir knocked on his brother's door again, waiting for the other Elf to answer. The morning meal had passed with no mishap or excitement other then the announcement that the party of fourteen would be leaving the next morning. Both their father and Legolas had decided upon it over breakfast, claiming that the sooner they were on their way the better all would be and the quicker they could provide the help that they sort to give.
Almost two hours had passed since the diners had made their way to their rooms, Legolas finally getting his wish and being left alone for more then two minutes, and now Elrohir was - well - he was bored.
Banging on the door again, the dark-haired Elf called out, "oh come on Elladan, do not seek to pretend that you have anything better to do with your time!" Almost instantaneously the door was roughly pulled open and Elladan's annoyed face appeared. "Ah, good!' Elrohir sighed while pushing Elladan out of the way and letting himself inside the others room.
Sighing, rolling his eyes and half shrugging his shoulders, Elladan closed the door behind him and watched as his twin went and flopped down on his freshly made bed, his hands above his head and his feet dangling from the edge.
"Elrohir?" Elladan asked, his voice stern and yet slightly amused.
"Humm?" the Elven Lord replied while twirling a lock of hair around his fingers innocently.
"What are you doing?" Elladan questioned, putting emphasis on the last of his words.
Sighing, Elrohir sat up on the bed and shot his brother another of his famous innocent looks that, more often then not, meant that the had something to hide or ask. "Well," he sighed out overdramatically, "I was terribly bored!"
Frowning at the way his twin just finished his sentence, Elladan moved back over to the traveling bag he was packing for the journey that awaited them. "Why do you not pack - that should keep you busy for awhile." Elladan suggested while folding a white lace up undershirt and placing it in the doeskin bag.
Jumping off the bed, Elrohir looked over his brother's shoulder and into the bag. Surveying what he saw, he screwed up his nose and pointed to a brown jerkin. "You are not taking that, are you?" Elrohir asked incredulously yet at the warning look that Elladan sent over his shoulder, the twin smiled and nodded his head, "I just thought it too good to get ruined!" he lied, utterly unconvincingly, "and besides, I have done all my packing."
Scoffing at the Elf that patrolled his room, running his fingers over anything and everything, Elladan just rolled his eyes. Elrohir had always been the first to act and the first to prepare - it went hand in hand with his want and love of organizing everything in sight.
"Well then, do you not have anyone to say farewells to? Oh wait," Elladan corrected himself before Elrohir could say anything on the subject. "The only ones for you to give such a speech to are the ones that you have already dragged into this mess!" His words were said with a smile and in jest, and both knew that he did not resent Elrohir's actions of volunteering himself at the council. Truth be told, Elladan would have done the same thing had he had a few more moments to think it over.
Looking up from tracing his fingers over the delicate carvings of the bedpost, Elrohir gave his brother a cheeky smile and bit his bottom lip while crinkling up his nose. Moving away and yet letting his fingertips drift slowly off the carved wood, he moved over to the balcony and looked out and upon the beauty of his home. Raising his arms and breathing in deeply, he savored the sent of the woods and the great river as if it were to be his last time to set foot in this haven.
Spinning slightly, the youngest of the twins moved over and flopped down on the wooden chair that stood near the writing desk. Slumping back and letting his legs spread out before him, he interlinked his fingers together and placed them on the back of his head. "Ah, the joys of anti-socialism!" he said with a sigh and a large smile that made his eyes light up.
Not being able to keep a straight face any longer, Elladan burst into laughter as he drew the drawstring on his pack, pulling the folds of the skin closed and flipping the flap over it before he secured it with the small button and loop.
"So, Elrohir," Elladan started while moving over to sit on the side of the bed that was closest to his twin, "as much as I love these little chats of ours, what do you want?"
"What makes you think that I want something?" Elrohir asked quickly and with yet another cheeky grin.
"Because I have spent over three thousand years getting to know you and I know what you are like!" Elladan provided his answer without a second's hesitation.
"I could be changing my ways!" Elrohir offered while leaning forward in the chair and staring his twin right in the eyes, his hands clasped in his lap.
"Yeah?" Elladan asked sarcastically, "and I could decide that I have taken a liking to Arwen's dresses!"
Shrugging, Elrohir moved his head back and regarded his older twin with interest. "Well, I always did susp-"
"Elrohir!" Elladan warned with a hidden smile.
"Well," the other said with a defeated sigh, "it could happen!"
"Not likely! Now, what do you want?"
"I am bored!" Elrohir stated with a mischievous grin, knowing exactly how to play his brother.
"We have covered this. . ." Elladan said while rolling his hand over in the air, prompting the other to continue.
"Well," Elrohir went on, reaching behind him to grab a piece of paper. Placing it in his lap, he fiddled with the ends, rolling them between his fingers and folding them over at the points. "I do believe that I have thought of a way to relieve that boredom!"
"Elrohir!" Elladan warned, all to knowing of how his twin's mind worked and what sort of plans went through his head.
"It is nothing that anyone would disapprove of - well, maybe Culdôr, but what does he endorse?"
"Elrohir!" Elladan stated more firmly before his twin could continue with his pointless raving. "Just tell me!"
"Hunting!" Elrohir said simply while placing the mutilated piece of paper behind him and back on the desk. "I hope you did not need that!" he said quickly while motioning to the paper with his thumb, a lopsided smile on his lips. Leaning back, he watched his brothers face, almost being able to see him process the word in his head, and, sure enough, within a few seconds, his face turned to one of disbelief.
"Hunting?" Elladan asked and when Elrohir nodded, his mouth dropped open and his brow creased. "Then it is true!" he stated with grief and fear, "my brother is insane!"
Standing to his feet and once again moving towards the window, Elrohir secretly smiled, "there is nothing insane about a bit of hunting, Elladan!" he scolded like one would if talking to a child who had disobeyed an elder.
"Elrohir!" Elladan half shrieked, "we are leaving tomorrow! It is-"
"A wonderful idea!" Elrohir finished his brother's sentence the way he wanted it to sound. "Think about it Elladan, it would be like old times - you and me, the prince and Gilnen, just with Estel now. It would be fun and take our minds off the task at hand!"
"Elrohir! The prince needs rest - he was almost killed yesterday. The last thing that we want to do is go dragging him out on a hunting trip that will just tire him further. You heard father, that drug will be in his system for days yet!"
"All the more reason to take him out! Get him some nice, fresh Rivendell air!" Elrohir retorted while turning pleading eyes on his brother. "Oh Elladan, do not make me beg? Please?" Elrohir's voice grew desperate and Elladan could not help but notice truly how young and innocent his twin seemed. It was almost as if Elrohir was one hundred again, pleading with their father for something that his life depended on at the time.
Sighing and running a hand through his straight, chest length dark hair, Elladan looked to the pleading Elf that looked exactly like him. "Fine!" he muttered and when Elrohir almost jumped for joy, he raised his hand to stop his rejoicing. "But you are not to bully them into coming if they do not want to and you are the one telling father!"
"As you wish!" Elrohir said with a smile while hurrying out the door and pulling it closed behind him.
Standing alone in his room, Elladan just shook his head once again before he turned towards his closet, needing to find some sort of hunting gear that he was yet to pack.
*****
The sun was streaming down through the thick canopy in long streaks, its rays shining upon the damp greens and browns of the lush forests surrounding the Homely House as the five riders picked their way leisurely through the dense undergrowth.
They had been riding for most of the day and were still to trap any game, which, in all probability was due to the fact that neither of them could keep quiet for more then four seconds.
"You look like a thief!" Elladan informed his twin who rode beside him. Elrohir was dressed all in dark browns and riding leathers and wore a pair of doe skin wrist gloves that flared slightly over his gauntlets. That, with his polished leather knee-high boots, made his attire resembled that of a highwayman or pirate more so then that of an Elf. He looked more like a sneak then even Estel, and compared to the other Elves who were dressed in greens and soft browns, he stood out like a Sindar would in the home of the Noldor.
"He is all in black!" Elrohir pointed out while inclining his head towards Estel.
"Yeah," Estel said while shooting the younger of the twins a look telling him to leave him out of it, "but I am a Ranger, I am supposed to be."
"And at least he does not wear those little gloves!" Elladan laughed while motioning to his twins rather brigand looking gloves.
"Well, they come in handy," Elrohir stated as if it were obvious and the others were the fools.
"How?" Gilnen interjected before Elladan had the chance to ask the same thing, "what? Do you go around and slap people across the face and issue challenges with them?"
"No," Estel corrected the other, "Elrohir here likes to keep his hands clean - he has a fear of dirt!"
"I most certainly do not!" Elrohir protested with a shriek to both of the comments. None of them understood his ways, and, even though he would never say that it annoyed him, he was often irritated at the fact that he found himself constantly explaining his actions.
"All of you stop it!" Legolas said with a smile, "you all know perfectly well why Elrohir wears his gloves so let him be!" Nodding his thanks, Elrohir sent the rest of the company a smug look, glad that his friend had come to his aid. "Now, keep quiet and we may have a chance of catching something!"
Falling into line, the Elves slowed their horses as they came to a narrow pass way through two large rock faces. They had traveled this path many a time, and knew it well so it did not proved any danger to the mounts or their riders. The passage itself was only a few feet long and then opened up into a small clearing on the other side, so when they found that they had to go single file, it came naturally to them and without hesitation. Gilnen lead, followed by Elrohir, Legolas, Estel and Elladan bringing up the rear, and as they came out into the open of the clearing, they slowly started to branch out and back into their normal riding positions.
"Wait!" Elladan muttered while raising his hand to signal them to stop. Legolas looked around them, his eyes scouring the woods that surrounded like a hawk while Elrohir closed his eyes and listened to the sounds of the forest. Something was not right; something had upset the natural flow and song of the forest and it cried out its hurt and discomfort to the listening Elves.
Working it out an instant before the others, Elrohir ducked and lowered his hand, commanding the others to do the same.
A black feathered arrow shot through the leaves of a nearby tree and lightly grazed Gilnen's right shoulder, causing a small flower of crimson to bloom against the greens of his tunic. Left hand automatically flying to cover the bleeding wound even though it was but a mere scratch, Gilnen turned to the others, hissing a word that sent them whirling into action. "Orcs!"
Exchanging a quick look with his twin, Elrohir jumped from his horse at the same time as Elladan, both then making their way over to stand on either side of Legolas as he hastily dismounted. The Elven prince gave them both a warning look, telling them to back off and that he did not need protection but it was quickly dismissed as, as one, the twins pulled both their blades from their sheaths. An instant later Estel came and joined them, crouching in front of the prince, sword drawn and a protective scowl upon his face. Un-slinging his bow and fitting an arrow to the taught string, Legolas stood tall in the middle of his dark-haired protectors while Gilnen stood just to the right of all four, no weapon in hand as he looked from tree to tree.
As the onslaught of Orcs came pouring out into the confined space with a shout in the Black Speech that made the Elves inwardly shiver, Legolas' arrow hit the first one in the right eye, signaling for the four to split from their stance and make their way to their closest opponent.
Throwing his bow to Gilnen, Legolas pulled out his two daggers and moved forward while the other golden Elf leapt up into the closest tree and settled himself on one of the thick branches. Pulling an arrow from his quiver, the archer fit it to the prince's bow and pulled the string, letting it fly. Within moments, the Orcs below had not only the four blade wielders to contend with, but also a raining volley of arrows assailing them from above.
Moving his upper body to the side to avoid a downward swing, Legolas stepped forward and sent his right blade into the back of the Orc's neck, killing it before it even hit the ground, while swiping out with his left and slitting another's throat.
As both Orcs bled onto the forest floor, covering the fallen leaves black, another two came rushing at the Elven prince, swords held high. Spinning his blades so that his thumbs rested on the top of the gold plated hilts, Legolas held them high, the thin and slightly curved blade running parallel with his arms.
Both Orcs' struck at the same time and Legolas let his instincts take over both his mind and body. Raising both blades, he caught both blows at the same moment, and, letting his ring and little fingers' of his right hand slip behind the handle of his blade, he spun it up while pushing back on the blade stopped by his left. The Orc on his left stumbled back while the one on his right fought to keep hold of its sword. Kicking it in the ribs, he sent it falling backwards just as the other re-approached. Crossing his right arm over his body, he drove the thin yet unbreakable blade into the heart of the Orc on his left side and, as the other came back upon him, Legolas spun and allowed the momentum of his movement to drive his left bow-knife into the chest of the other.
Pulling both blades up, he heard the gurgling sound of blood coming up their throats as the sharp knives cut through the vital internal organs. As Legolas was about to pull the bow-knives free, he saw another Orc came running at him, its hands held out for attack and yet empty of any weapons. Deciding to try a trick that Elrohir had once told him of, he waiting until the running beast was within leg reach, and, as it took its next step, he pushed off the ground with his feet, placing his weight on his blades that were tightly jammed in the bodies of the Orcs behind him. Tightening his arms and pulling his side closer to his elbows, he kicked his feet out and closed his calves around the Orc's neck.
Cursing under his breath, Legolas made the best of the move, having not caught the Orc with his thighs' as he was supposed to, and, wedging one calve under the beast's jaw, lifted his leg, effectively snapping the neck. Smiling to himself, he let the beast fall as he dropped back to the ground and pulled his blades free.
**
An Orc almost twice the size of him and armed with a long sword - obviously stolen from some now dead human mercenary - ran straight at Elrohir. Quickly surveying his attacker, Elrohir knew that he would stand no chance at getting to him with his bow-knives and keeping his arms in the process.
Stepping backwards slightly, he waited until the Orc was almost upon him, and, throwing his blades point down into the dirt on either side of him, sprung off his feet and into a back flip. Gloved hands hitting the rough, stick covered ground, he made sure that he messed up the leaves and twigs before he pushed off again and sent himself into a second flip, putting more distance between him and the creature.
Feet hitting the ground again, he turned and faced the beast off; waiting for the right moment and keeping his eyes on the place that his hands had scraped a small line into the foliage.
As the Orc saw that its victim was finally still and standing, the creature rushed at the Elf, eager to kill it before it tried any other disorientating maneuvers.
Once the beast was charging at him, its sword held out in front, Elrohir sent his closed fists up to either side of his head, and, as the Orc came to the spot where his gloved hands had hit the ground, Elrohir sprung off the ground and pulled down his arms with as much force as the could, sending him into a flip straight over the Orcs head. As he had judged, by the time that the Orc was at the spot his hands had touched, he had just enough room to pass over its head without hitting it while not allowing the beast to get to close so to be able to wound him with the sword. Hitting the ground with bent knees, the Elf finished the move with a tumble turn, coming right in between his two waiting daggers.
Closing his hands around the golden hilts, he drew them from the ground and rose, spun on his heels and rushed toward the baffled Orc. Coming up behind it, it was not until Elrohir was two paces away that the Orc noticed his intended victim and, as it turned, Elrohir swept both blades in opposite directions, severing the head from its body.
"Well," he said as the carcass fell to the ground, "that was fun!" Pushing a stray lock of hair from his eyes and mouth and placing his daggers back into their sheaths, the young Lord turned and was met head on by his next attacker.
Ducking a blow to the head, Elrohir fell to his right side on his gloved hands and, using them to support himself, kicked up with both feet. Feet pounding upon the beast's chest, he walked his hands along the ground, pushing the Orc backwards and into a tree while silently pointing out to Elladan that this was why he wore his gloves. Caught between the trunk of the tree and the Elf's kicking feet, the Orc had no time to act as Elrohir pushed off the forest floor with his right hand and flipped over his left, coming to stand easily on his feet. Moving swiftly forward, he sent his left elbow into the side of the creatures head, snapping the neck with a single blow.
**
Elladan moved his right arm up to block a punch aimed at his temple and as the Orc he was fighting moved its right arm, attempting the same move as before, Elladan again blocked it in the same fashion. Acting quickly, he arched both arms, hooked the Orcs in under his elbows and arms and pulled him forward. Sending his knee into its groin, it slumped in his arms and as it did so, he head butted it and dropped his arms, allowing the beast to fall to the ground unconscious.
A yell from both sides alerted him to the approach of his next two duelers, and, seeing that they were both running at him and neither looked as if they would stop for the other, Elladan stood waiting in the middle, a plan already formed in his mind.
The one on his right was slightly further away, so, leaning on his left foot, he sent his right into its chest in a spring kick while sending his open palm into the nose of the one of the left. Both stumbled back at the surprise of the attack, and yet, after only a moment, they ran again, swords brandished and ready to draw Elven blood.
As they came closer again, Elladan made ready to do the same move, yet, as they were within hitting distance, he spun backwards, confusing them both which proved to be their downfall.
Having kept their eyes on the Elf that was now officially out of harms way, both Orcs', not thinking, kept running until they felt the bite of the others blade at their chests. Stopping in shock at the swords' entrance, the beasts' looked to each other, forgetting the Elf that walked up to them.
Placing his hand quickly on the lower back of each, Elladan shoved the forward and together, running them through with the others sword. Giving them a slight push, they fell over, still as statues in their strange death with their swords still tightly buried in the other.
**
Driving his sword through the beast's stomach, Estel turned to face his next opponent only to see Elrohir leap into the air and applied a neck breaking kick to an Orc's head. The Elf landed gracefully on his feet, arms raised in front of his face in a defensive position as the beast almost flew through the air with the power of the kick.
A sudden punch to the stomach brought Estel out of his revere of his brother and sent him gasping for air as he straightened up to look into the yellow eyes of an Orc. Pushing the complaints of his lungs to the side, he leapt forward and sent his sword in a wide arch towards the creature's midsection. The Orc blocked the blow with his own sharp blade and counted it with an arch of its own, sending Estel's back the way it came.
As the force of the blow continued, Estel felt his blade slowly slipping from his grip as his arms became trapped at a painful angle, his sword held tightly under the Orc's. Moving as swiftly as his human reflexes would allow, he let go of the blade completely and ducked.
The Orc, having placed a considerable amount of pressure on the human's sword, stumbled as the blade fell to the ground, his balance thrown. Seeing this, Estel pulled his small dagger from his boot and, being under the beast, sent it up and straight into the creature's heart.
As it died, it overbalanced and fell forward slowly, realization on its face. Timing his actions perfectly as Elrohir had taught him, Estel rolled forward and under the falling beast, avoiding both being squashed as well as hitting its feet or legs.
Grabbing his sword, he went back to join in the fight only to see Legolas push an arrow through an Orc's open mouth, Elladan stab an Orc through both sides of the throat and Elrohir sweep a creature's legs out from underneath it with its own sword, severing the beast from its knees. The last Orc fell with one of Gilnen's arrows through its temple.
As one all four on the ground slowly walked towards each other as Gilnen swung down from the tree that he had been standing in. Standing around the last Orc that fell, each looked out over the clearing that was dotted with the bodies of lifeless creatures' and the signs of their destruction. A rough count by Legolas estimated that there had been over thirty Orcs' and giving each of his friends a quick look over, he saw that the only one harmed was Gilnen with the small cut on his arm that had already stopped bleeding.
A collective sigh filled the group, and, not speaking a word, they turned towards their horses' that had patiently waited over the far end of the small clearing.
"So," Elrohir said, like always being the first to break the silence, "who is hungry?" he finished as he swung himself up onto his horse. Looking to his companions, he saw Legolas do the same, a large smile on his face, Elladan already seated on his mount and shaking his head while Gilnen laughed openly while handing Legolas his bow.
"I am," Estel exclaimed with a smile, "though I do hope that this was not what we were meant to be hunting for dinner!" he said while sweeping his arm in the general direction of the Orcs', getting all to laugh as they each turned their mounts in the direction of the Homely House.
"Tell me Elrohir," Legolas asked the younger of the twins while turning his body on his horse so he could see the Elf, "that move you once showed me, have you ever snapped someone neck with your calves?"
Smile widening, Elrohir's eyes twinkled as he looked at the prince. "You stuffed it up, did you not?"
Hanging his head and faking shame, Legolas nodded his head, offering a soft "yes," as his answer. Lifting his head, blue eyes dancing with the excitement that still pulsed through his veins', the prince offered the other a huge smile. "Yet it still worked!"
"Practice makes perfect, my friend," Elladan spoke for his twin.
"Though not for you, it seems," Elrohir added with an impish grin. "You would not all believe how many times I have tried to teach him how to do even a simple flip, but no, it never seems to sink in."
Making a lung at his younger brother, Elladan grabbed only air as Elrohir moved his horse so that Legolas was put between the two. "You would not hurt the prince, now would you?" Elrohir asked innocently while battering his eyelids and smiling, his tongue poking out from between his teeth slightly as Legolas rode along, pretending that he did not notice the way his friend was using him as a shield.
Glaring playfully at his twin, Elladan lifted his finger in the way that Lord Elrond used to when the twins where but children in the eyes of the Elves. "Just you wait," he hissed dangerously, and at the faked look of terror that Elrohir used to counter Elladan anger, the entire party cracked, their laughter rising up to the tops of the trees.
*****
Tbc. . .
As said, that was kinda pointless, but it gave me the chance to play around with different fighting types for later on - I men, I have twelve Elves that I have to give original styles to - it is quite a daunting task! This was just a way of establishing what I was going to do with the main ones, and then later on I'll play around with the others.
Also, it gave a nice new twist on the Erestor/Rastur/Culdôr thing! *Evil laughter.* I am glad that it is confusing so many people! Also, I guess I just wanted to write a section solely dedicated to everyone's favorite twins - they are fun to do!
Response to reviews:
Camlost: as much as I would love to allow you to get Culdôr, that would fuck up what I have planned for him and since I have already written that, I am going to have to thank you for your offer but refuse. Umm, Culdôr will be back in it, as will be Elrond and Thranduil.
Gemstone: repetitive is my middle name! repetitive is my middle name! repetitive is my middle name! repetitive is my middle name! repetitive is my middle name! see?!
Lol, I am glad that I was able to trick you with the beginning. I really wanted people to think that all was nice and fluffy with sun shining and birds chirping and, all in all, all the things that I hate in life! Lol. I too would hate to be strangled - so I do it to my characters all the time! Lol! And yes, I wanted to keep that element of lightheartedness in it and who better to carry that off then Elrohir?
Yes, don't we all hate Legolas for his utter perfection! As to Culdôr's motives, I kinda don't know myself, but that, like all ideas, shall come to me as I write and flesh everything out a bit more. And yes, there shall be much trouble for these poor little dears!
Thank you for your complement about the twins. I have always been annoyed that they were never really that well portrayed in the books, so I kind of took it upon myself to really think about what they would be like - I came up with what you see before you, and I am just glad that people seem to like it. As to the Estel thing, I am doing my best there as, as you probable know, I hate Aragorn!! So I am trying to make his younger form into something that I would like - it makes it more bearable to write him if he is - well, not him!
Hope Rastur is still bugging you and I hope that this has added to it!
*nods* I used to keep everything from others sight until a friend stumbled upon it and hassled me into letting his read more and then, *poof* I was putting it up here, acting as if I have all the confidence in the world - which I do not! But still, thank you for taking the time to review and to send your feedbacks. I mean, there are many people out there who would not bother to review, just read and 'lurk' about, so I am much obliged to the fact that you do tell me what you think
Gwyn: hey, glad you are liking so far!
LittleSpacedemon: yay, another person that likes my version of the twins! Umm, as for the slash, I was not planning on doing it - just having it as a close friendship story as it fits better that way with the other scenes that I have pre-written. But I do think that the human prince my have a male lover - but that is still undecided!
Legofan: yes, it is good to see Legolas good at something other then what is so commonly displayed. As for the twins, as said in the above responses, I am very glad that you like them - they can be quite the mischievous pair, can't they? Wait till you see a little more of what (Elrohir especially - being the more irrational one) gets up to later on.
*laughs eviliy at what you think is up with Rastur and Culdôr* ah, I am loving this way too much! Lol, and yes, the little excursion will be full of death, torment, blood and a lot more battle scenes! Lol.
And I have updated Shadows! Took me long enough, but it is now done! *happy dance for her own achievement*
Ok, that done, I shall see you all in the next post which sees our friends on their way! Fun assured! *evil laugh*
Minka.
Oh, I have also decided to make Elrohir a little different to the others - I mean, you can tell by his fighting style already, and then there is the fact that I just could not resist putting the gloves on him! Lol, you will have to read on to find out.
*****
The Eaters of the Dead
Part Five
Encounters in the Woods
*****
"Estel, I will be fine - Elladan, tell him!" Elrohir could hear Legolas plead with his twin as he entered the prince's room. Estel was currently tucking the complaining archer into bed while Gilnen was sitting cross- legged upon the floor in the far corner of the room, his head leaning against the wall with an amused grin plastered on his face. Elladan, on the other hand, was standing at the balcony entrance, looking out to the trees as if keeping guard and watch.
Once Elrohir walked silently into the room, the Elf felt Legolas' pleading gaze fall on him. "Elrohir, help me!" Legolas begged while Estel fluffed up another pillow and shoved it behind the many others on the prince's bed, "they will not leave." When Elrohir merely smiled at them all, the pleading suddenly turned into a command, "tell them to leave, Elrohir!"
"Hey, leave me out of this one," the younger of the twins said while raising his hands in his own defense. "I have not come here to get involved in any of your disputes, little prince," Elrohir smirked at the look of shock then mild anger that passed over Legolas' face at the name used, "I have done enough of that today!"
"Oh yes Elrohir," Gilnen said with a large smile, "I would pay to see you thumping Culdôr like that again - it was brilliant!"
"It was rather funny!" Estel added, pulling the blankets up under the Elven prince's chin while battering the Elf's arms away when Legolas tried to get out of the restraining blankets.
"And fun!" Elrohir exclaimed as he pulled a large comfort chair along the floor and towards the bed, "oh so fun - I seriously recommend that you all try it sometime!"
"Elrohir?" Legolas pleaded again, wanting his friend to come to his rescue as Estel once again attacked the pillows, muttering that they were not high enough.
Sighing, Elrohir paused in his effort of dragging the rather large chair and turned to see the prince's distressed face as the human continued to fuss over him as if he were on the brink of death. "Fine," he sighed while moving over and taking a hold of the human's right hand, "Estel, leave the prince be, I am sure that he is perfectly comfortable."
"But-" Estel protested as Elrohir pulled him back and away from the bed. Gently pushing the human down, he sat him near Gilnen and with a pointed look at the other Elf, told him to keep the human in place ere he went back to his task of rearranging the furniture to suit him.
"Thank you!" Legolas said with a small pout at the fact that it had taken him so long to get the help that he needed. Glancing around the room, he could still see that Elladan stood at the window, alert and ready should there be a repeat of that morning, Gilnen was holding back a squirming Estel who kept muttering about pillows and Elrohir had finally finished his task of pulling the chair to the end of the bed. Flopping down in the soft seat, the younger of the twins slung his feet over one of the large arms and tucked his head into the other, obviously settled down for the night.
"Elladan," Gilnen called out softly, causing the said Elf to flinch at the unexpected sound of his name. "Come and sit down, you can not possibly hope to stand there all night and still be ready if we should all leave in the morning." He had both arms wrapped tightly around the human's waist as he struggled to get free, his hands waving about in front of him like a child who was reaching for is mother or a treat that was being held above its head and reach. "Curse you Estel," Gilnen hissed as if the man really was a child, "sit still!"
"I shall be fine - get some rest," Elladan commanded, taking on the part of the older Elf of the group. They were all rather close in age, apart from Estel of course, but Elladan was always the one to step into the elder brother role to them all, always seeking to protect the others that he saw as being under his charge.
"Elladan!" Legolas interjected before Gilnen could do the same thing. "We shall all be fine - we are together and it would take a completely insane person to try and pull anything off now. So come, there is room on the floor for you to rest - or even better," he said while turning to the others, stopping Estel and Gilnen's silent struggles as both looked up, guilty looks spread across their faces, "you could all go to your own rooms!"
A choir of "no's" and "uh-ah's" was all that he received in reply as Elrohir buried his head in the great chair and Estel finally broke free of Gilnen and came to lean up against the side of the bed near the prince's head.
"Come Elladan," Estel muttered as he lent his head back against the soft bed and closed his eyes. "We will not let anything happen to the prince, and I am sure that you standing there like a tree all night is likely to hinder your ability to do anything anyway."
Sighing grumpily, Elladan pulled the drapes across the large opening and moved over to the side of Elrohir's chair. "Fine," he stated, obviously beaten and not liking that fact, "and how come you get the chair?" he questioned of the dark-haired Elf that was curled up in the soft padding.
"Because I was the one that thought of dragging the damn thing all the way over!" Elrohir informed him while clutching to the arm rest that his head leant upon, showing that we would not give it up without a fight.
"Fine!" Elladan muttered again, this time with a large smile as he settled down next to it and lent up against the front of the chair, where Elrohir's legs should have been.
"You know," Legolas said quietly, "you could all have comfortable places to lye if you but-"
"NO!" came all four voices at once as they all settled back into their respective positions.
"Just a suggestion," Legolas said in his defense while rolling over and grabbing a few of the extra pillows that Estel had collected from the many spare rooms around the house. Tossing one over to Gilnen, it hit him in the head and even as the Elf pushed it behind his head in the corner of the room, he glared at the smiling prince. Pushing Estel's' head forward, Legolas tucked a pillow behind his head and shoulders as well and received a half asleep thank you. Finally, he threw one over for the twins who briefly fought over it, slapping at each others hands until another came sailing through the air and hit Elladan in the head. Snatching up that pillow, the eldest of the group leant back against the chair and, keeping his eyes glued on the balcony opening, waited for sleep to take him.
Watching as, one by one, starting with Estel, his friends fell asleep; Legolas could not help but smile at the way they all spread out about the room and yet were all in such close quarters. He truly felt safe, and, the most important feeling of all that he realized he felt as he drifted off to sleep was loved - he knew that they would do anything for him just as he would do anything for them, and it was that bond that would keep them alive through whatever was to come of this quest.
With that in mind, he allowed his eyes to slowly blink into a semi-closed state and glaze over, his world switching to that of Elven dreams.
*****
The harsh bite of the bright sun struck Legolas right in the eyes, rousing him from his peaceful dreams as the sound of large amounts of shifting velvet filled his ears.
"Good morning, my young Lords'!" Erestor said cheerfully from his position near the balcony where he held open the drapes, one in each hand as he watched the Elves and human stir with a smile. "I thought that I would find you all here," he told them while pulling the large, golden drapes back further, enticing moans of protest from both Elrohir and Estel. Elrohir tried to hide his head further into the chair while Estel turned and buried his head into the pillow that he was still leaning against. Elladan was slowly sitting up, surprised at the fact that they had slept for so long and Gilnen was working the cranks out of his neck from sleeping in his rather awkward position.
"Go away," Estel murmured into the pillow as the sun hit him directly and he, unlike the Elves, started to fell the golden glow heating the room already.
Smiling, Legolas reached down and patted the young man's head gently, "come on, Estel, time to get up."
Elrohir had already come to that conclusion, his earlier attempts in hiding from the morning forgotten as he slipped off the right arm rest and let his legs regain their circulation. Elladan was already up, having woken when Erestor had entered the room, and was wandering over to the balcony to great the morning - or check for any threats.
Erestor walked over to Legolas' bed, and, sitting down on the opposite edge to Estel, placed a hand on Legolas' forehead and looked into the prince's eyes. "How are you feeling, my prince?" he asked gently while reaching down and pressing his hands to Legolas throat, checking the pace of his pulse.
"Fine," Legolas responded with a smile.
"Truthfully?" Erestor questioned, and at Legolas' nod, he looked hard into the young ones eyes. Legolas was famous for brushing aside his feelings, injuries or the truth to how he was faring so it was vital that he received the honest answer, no matter what the means of getting it. Legolas' eyes where back to normal, his pulse steady and regular and he held no fever. Maybe this time he was telling the truth on the matter.
"Very well," Erestor sighed while standing up. Feeling eyes upon him, he turned to see Estel awake and alert, glaring at him with distrust and suspicion as he took the advisors place and hovered over the prince, making sure that he was comfortable and had slept well.
"The morning meal will be served soon," Erestor informed them, putting the strangeness of the young human aside in his mind and regaining his air of importance and composure. Moving over to the doorway, he stood tall and looked down at the still waking friends while clasping his hands in front of his chest. "Will you be attending, or shall I see to it that food is brought up for you?"
"We shall stay he-" Estel said offhandedly while leaning over Legolas again.
Having had enough of this constant fussing that seemed to be taking place about him, Legolas shoved the human back and right into the slowly standing Gilnen. Both toppled over and fell into the far wall before slowly sinking to the floor in a collective daze while drawing a muffled laugh from Elrohir. "We shall join you!" Legolas stated courtly and daring any one of the others to even try to contradict him on the subject.
With a slight nod of his head, Erestor left the room without a sound. Walking regally around the corner with his head held high, he waited until he was sure he was out of sight before letting his shoulders slump and his walk turn more into one with a heavy burden and purpose then that of the Elven noble that he was.
Pressing his lips together and setting his jaw tightly, he wrung his hands as he made his way back into the main waiting hall of the Homely House. Pausing in the centre of the room, he lifted his head and looked down the far corridor, still darkened from the lack of sunlight to grace the western side of the house, checking to make sure that no one was present. Clicking his fingers once and yet loudly, a soft scamper of Elven feet came to him as a being rushed across the polished floor to stand by his side.
"The human knows something," Erestor said bluntly while looking out the main doors and onto the lush surrounding gardens.
"What should I do then?" Rastur asked, his tone cold and almost emotionless. "I could always. . ." his voice trailed off, his suggestion having been made in the dangerous tone of voice and the suggestive leer in both his eyes and smile.
"No!" Erestor said firmly and with a shake of his head while raising a commanding hand to stop any other suggestions. "He is not to be hurt!"
"Then you have a plan?" Rastur asked, his posture slumping slightly at the words that flowed from his mouth.
"Culdôr. . ." Erestor whispered, his eyes unseeing as he fell into deep thought, "he is the key - we know that." Biting down on his thumb nail, the advisor strummed his other fingers against his jaw and chin thoughtfully. Turning back of Rastur fully, his eyes coming back into focus, Erestor offered the other a weak smile. "Culdôr - see what he has to say on this."
"And the human - Estel?"
"Do nothing but deter him," Erestor commanded of the Mirkwood Elf. "If I find anything happens to him, I will finish you myself! Do you understand?"
"Perfectly," Rastur replied with a slight smile.
"Good," the advisor sighed, and, with a slight wave of his hand, added, "now go, you have work to do!"
Bowing, Rastur made his way back the way he had come and towards his room and the wing that held the rest of the Mirkwood envoys. Casting one last look about him, Erestor also moved off, his walk once again controlled and his face as blank as a canvas picture.
As the Rivendell Elf made his way towards the kitchens, neither he nor Rastur noticed the darkened shadow of a figure that lurked by the gloomy corridor, hearing all and remembering everything.
*****
Sighing, Elrohir knocked on his brother's door again, waiting for the other Elf to answer. The morning meal had passed with no mishap or excitement other then the announcement that the party of fourteen would be leaving the next morning. Both their father and Legolas had decided upon it over breakfast, claiming that the sooner they were on their way the better all would be and the quicker they could provide the help that they sort to give.
Almost two hours had passed since the diners had made their way to their rooms, Legolas finally getting his wish and being left alone for more then two minutes, and now Elrohir was - well - he was bored.
Banging on the door again, the dark-haired Elf called out, "oh come on Elladan, do not seek to pretend that you have anything better to do with your time!" Almost instantaneously the door was roughly pulled open and Elladan's annoyed face appeared. "Ah, good!' Elrohir sighed while pushing Elladan out of the way and letting himself inside the others room.
Sighing, rolling his eyes and half shrugging his shoulders, Elladan closed the door behind him and watched as his twin went and flopped down on his freshly made bed, his hands above his head and his feet dangling from the edge.
"Elrohir?" Elladan asked, his voice stern and yet slightly amused.
"Humm?" the Elven Lord replied while twirling a lock of hair around his fingers innocently.
"What are you doing?" Elladan questioned, putting emphasis on the last of his words.
Sighing, Elrohir sat up on the bed and shot his brother another of his famous innocent looks that, more often then not, meant that the had something to hide or ask. "Well," he sighed out overdramatically, "I was terribly bored!"
Frowning at the way his twin just finished his sentence, Elladan moved back over to the traveling bag he was packing for the journey that awaited them. "Why do you not pack - that should keep you busy for awhile." Elladan suggested while folding a white lace up undershirt and placing it in the doeskin bag.
Jumping off the bed, Elrohir looked over his brother's shoulder and into the bag. Surveying what he saw, he screwed up his nose and pointed to a brown jerkin. "You are not taking that, are you?" Elrohir asked incredulously yet at the warning look that Elladan sent over his shoulder, the twin smiled and nodded his head, "I just thought it too good to get ruined!" he lied, utterly unconvincingly, "and besides, I have done all my packing."
Scoffing at the Elf that patrolled his room, running his fingers over anything and everything, Elladan just rolled his eyes. Elrohir had always been the first to act and the first to prepare - it went hand in hand with his want and love of organizing everything in sight.
"Well then, do you not have anyone to say farewells to? Oh wait," Elladan corrected himself before Elrohir could say anything on the subject. "The only ones for you to give such a speech to are the ones that you have already dragged into this mess!" His words were said with a smile and in jest, and both knew that he did not resent Elrohir's actions of volunteering himself at the council. Truth be told, Elladan would have done the same thing had he had a few more moments to think it over.
Looking up from tracing his fingers over the delicate carvings of the bedpost, Elrohir gave his brother a cheeky smile and bit his bottom lip while crinkling up his nose. Moving away and yet letting his fingertips drift slowly off the carved wood, he moved over to the balcony and looked out and upon the beauty of his home. Raising his arms and breathing in deeply, he savored the sent of the woods and the great river as if it were to be his last time to set foot in this haven.
Spinning slightly, the youngest of the twins moved over and flopped down on the wooden chair that stood near the writing desk. Slumping back and letting his legs spread out before him, he interlinked his fingers together and placed them on the back of his head. "Ah, the joys of anti-socialism!" he said with a sigh and a large smile that made his eyes light up.
Not being able to keep a straight face any longer, Elladan burst into laughter as he drew the drawstring on his pack, pulling the folds of the skin closed and flipping the flap over it before he secured it with the small button and loop.
"So, Elrohir," Elladan started while moving over to sit on the side of the bed that was closest to his twin, "as much as I love these little chats of ours, what do you want?"
"What makes you think that I want something?" Elrohir asked quickly and with yet another cheeky grin.
"Because I have spent over three thousand years getting to know you and I know what you are like!" Elladan provided his answer without a second's hesitation.
"I could be changing my ways!" Elrohir offered while leaning forward in the chair and staring his twin right in the eyes, his hands clasped in his lap.
"Yeah?" Elladan asked sarcastically, "and I could decide that I have taken a liking to Arwen's dresses!"
Shrugging, Elrohir moved his head back and regarded his older twin with interest. "Well, I always did susp-"
"Elrohir!" Elladan warned with a hidden smile.
"Well," the other said with a defeated sigh, "it could happen!"
"Not likely! Now, what do you want?"
"I am bored!" Elrohir stated with a mischievous grin, knowing exactly how to play his brother.
"We have covered this. . ." Elladan said while rolling his hand over in the air, prompting the other to continue.
"Well," Elrohir went on, reaching behind him to grab a piece of paper. Placing it in his lap, he fiddled with the ends, rolling them between his fingers and folding them over at the points. "I do believe that I have thought of a way to relieve that boredom!"
"Elrohir!" Elladan warned, all to knowing of how his twin's mind worked and what sort of plans went through his head.
"It is nothing that anyone would disapprove of - well, maybe Culdôr, but what does he endorse?"
"Elrohir!" Elladan stated more firmly before his twin could continue with his pointless raving. "Just tell me!"
"Hunting!" Elrohir said simply while placing the mutilated piece of paper behind him and back on the desk. "I hope you did not need that!" he said quickly while motioning to the paper with his thumb, a lopsided smile on his lips. Leaning back, he watched his brothers face, almost being able to see him process the word in his head, and, sure enough, within a few seconds, his face turned to one of disbelief.
"Hunting?" Elladan asked and when Elrohir nodded, his mouth dropped open and his brow creased. "Then it is true!" he stated with grief and fear, "my brother is insane!"
Standing to his feet and once again moving towards the window, Elrohir secretly smiled, "there is nothing insane about a bit of hunting, Elladan!" he scolded like one would if talking to a child who had disobeyed an elder.
"Elrohir!" Elladan half shrieked, "we are leaving tomorrow! It is-"
"A wonderful idea!" Elrohir finished his brother's sentence the way he wanted it to sound. "Think about it Elladan, it would be like old times - you and me, the prince and Gilnen, just with Estel now. It would be fun and take our minds off the task at hand!"
"Elrohir! The prince needs rest - he was almost killed yesterday. The last thing that we want to do is go dragging him out on a hunting trip that will just tire him further. You heard father, that drug will be in his system for days yet!"
"All the more reason to take him out! Get him some nice, fresh Rivendell air!" Elrohir retorted while turning pleading eyes on his brother. "Oh Elladan, do not make me beg? Please?" Elrohir's voice grew desperate and Elladan could not help but notice truly how young and innocent his twin seemed. It was almost as if Elrohir was one hundred again, pleading with their father for something that his life depended on at the time.
Sighing and running a hand through his straight, chest length dark hair, Elladan looked to the pleading Elf that looked exactly like him. "Fine!" he muttered and when Elrohir almost jumped for joy, he raised his hand to stop his rejoicing. "But you are not to bully them into coming if they do not want to and you are the one telling father!"
"As you wish!" Elrohir said with a smile while hurrying out the door and pulling it closed behind him.
Standing alone in his room, Elladan just shook his head once again before he turned towards his closet, needing to find some sort of hunting gear that he was yet to pack.
*****
The sun was streaming down through the thick canopy in long streaks, its rays shining upon the damp greens and browns of the lush forests surrounding the Homely House as the five riders picked their way leisurely through the dense undergrowth.
They had been riding for most of the day and were still to trap any game, which, in all probability was due to the fact that neither of them could keep quiet for more then four seconds.
"You look like a thief!" Elladan informed his twin who rode beside him. Elrohir was dressed all in dark browns and riding leathers and wore a pair of doe skin wrist gloves that flared slightly over his gauntlets. That, with his polished leather knee-high boots, made his attire resembled that of a highwayman or pirate more so then that of an Elf. He looked more like a sneak then even Estel, and compared to the other Elves who were dressed in greens and soft browns, he stood out like a Sindar would in the home of the Noldor.
"He is all in black!" Elrohir pointed out while inclining his head towards Estel.
"Yeah," Estel said while shooting the younger of the twins a look telling him to leave him out of it, "but I am a Ranger, I am supposed to be."
"And at least he does not wear those little gloves!" Elladan laughed while motioning to his twins rather brigand looking gloves.
"Well, they come in handy," Elrohir stated as if it were obvious and the others were the fools.
"How?" Gilnen interjected before Elladan had the chance to ask the same thing, "what? Do you go around and slap people across the face and issue challenges with them?"
"No," Estel corrected the other, "Elrohir here likes to keep his hands clean - he has a fear of dirt!"
"I most certainly do not!" Elrohir protested with a shriek to both of the comments. None of them understood his ways, and, even though he would never say that it annoyed him, he was often irritated at the fact that he found himself constantly explaining his actions.
"All of you stop it!" Legolas said with a smile, "you all know perfectly well why Elrohir wears his gloves so let him be!" Nodding his thanks, Elrohir sent the rest of the company a smug look, glad that his friend had come to his aid. "Now, keep quiet and we may have a chance of catching something!"
Falling into line, the Elves slowed their horses as they came to a narrow pass way through two large rock faces. They had traveled this path many a time, and knew it well so it did not proved any danger to the mounts or their riders. The passage itself was only a few feet long and then opened up into a small clearing on the other side, so when they found that they had to go single file, it came naturally to them and without hesitation. Gilnen lead, followed by Elrohir, Legolas, Estel and Elladan bringing up the rear, and as they came out into the open of the clearing, they slowly started to branch out and back into their normal riding positions.
"Wait!" Elladan muttered while raising his hand to signal them to stop. Legolas looked around them, his eyes scouring the woods that surrounded like a hawk while Elrohir closed his eyes and listened to the sounds of the forest. Something was not right; something had upset the natural flow and song of the forest and it cried out its hurt and discomfort to the listening Elves.
Working it out an instant before the others, Elrohir ducked and lowered his hand, commanding the others to do the same.
A black feathered arrow shot through the leaves of a nearby tree and lightly grazed Gilnen's right shoulder, causing a small flower of crimson to bloom against the greens of his tunic. Left hand automatically flying to cover the bleeding wound even though it was but a mere scratch, Gilnen turned to the others, hissing a word that sent them whirling into action. "Orcs!"
Exchanging a quick look with his twin, Elrohir jumped from his horse at the same time as Elladan, both then making their way over to stand on either side of Legolas as he hastily dismounted. The Elven prince gave them both a warning look, telling them to back off and that he did not need protection but it was quickly dismissed as, as one, the twins pulled both their blades from their sheaths. An instant later Estel came and joined them, crouching in front of the prince, sword drawn and a protective scowl upon his face. Un-slinging his bow and fitting an arrow to the taught string, Legolas stood tall in the middle of his dark-haired protectors while Gilnen stood just to the right of all four, no weapon in hand as he looked from tree to tree.
As the onslaught of Orcs came pouring out into the confined space with a shout in the Black Speech that made the Elves inwardly shiver, Legolas' arrow hit the first one in the right eye, signaling for the four to split from their stance and make their way to their closest opponent.
Throwing his bow to Gilnen, Legolas pulled out his two daggers and moved forward while the other golden Elf leapt up into the closest tree and settled himself on one of the thick branches. Pulling an arrow from his quiver, the archer fit it to the prince's bow and pulled the string, letting it fly. Within moments, the Orcs below had not only the four blade wielders to contend with, but also a raining volley of arrows assailing them from above.
Moving his upper body to the side to avoid a downward swing, Legolas stepped forward and sent his right blade into the back of the Orc's neck, killing it before it even hit the ground, while swiping out with his left and slitting another's throat.
As both Orcs bled onto the forest floor, covering the fallen leaves black, another two came rushing at the Elven prince, swords held high. Spinning his blades so that his thumbs rested on the top of the gold plated hilts, Legolas held them high, the thin and slightly curved blade running parallel with his arms.
Both Orcs' struck at the same time and Legolas let his instincts take over both his mind and body. Raising both blades, he caught both blows at the same moment, and, letting his ring and little fingers' of his right hand slip behind the handle of his blade, he spun it up while pushing back on the blade stopped by his left. The Orc on his left stumbled back while the one on his right fought to keep hold of its sword. Kicking it in the ribs, he sent it falling backwards just as the other re-approached. Crossing his right arm over his body, he drove the thin yet unbreakable blade into the heart of the Orc on his left side and, as the other came back upon him, Legolas spun and allowed the momentum of his movement to drive his left bow-knife into the chest of the other.
Pulling both blades up, he heard the gurgling sound of blood coming up their throats as the sharp knives cut through the vital internal organs. As Legolas was about to pull the bow-knives free, he saw another Orc came running at him, its hands held out for attack and yet empty of any weapons. Deciding to try a trick that Elrohir had once told him of, he waiting until the running beast was within leg reach, and, as it took its next step, he pushed off the ground with his feet, placing his weight on his blades that were tightly jammed in the bodies of the Orcs behind him. Tightening his arms and pulling his side closer to his elbows, he kicked his feet out and closed his calves around the Orc's neck.
Cursing under his breath, Legolas made the best of the move, having not caught the Orc with his thighs' as he was supposed to, and, wedging one calve under the beast's jaw, lifted his leg, effectively snapping the neck. Smiling to himself, he let the beast fall as he dropped back to the ground and pulled his blades free.
**
An Orc almost twice the size of him and armed with a long sword - obviously stolen from some now dead human mercenary - ran straight at Elrohir. Quickly surveying his attacker, Elrohir knew that he would stand no chance at getting to him with his bow-knives and keeping his arms in the process.
Stepping backwards slightly, he waited until the Orc was almost upon him, and, throwing his blades point down into the dirt on either side of him, sprung off his feet and into a back flip. Gloved hands hitting the rough, stick covered ground, he made sure that he messed up the leaves and twigs before he pushed off again and sent himself into a second flip, putting more distance between him and the creature.
Feet hitting the ground again, he turned and faced the beast off; waiting for the right moment and keeping his eyes on the place that his hands had scraped a small line into the foliage.
As the Orc saw that its victim was finally still and standing, the creature rushed at the Elf, eager to kill it before it tried any other disorientating maneuvers.
Once the beast was charging at him, its sword held out in front, Elrohir sent his closed fists up to either side of his head, and, as the Orc came to the spot where his gloved hands had hit the ground, Elrohir sprung off the ground and pulled down his arms with as much force as the could, sending him into a flip straight over the Orcs head. As he had judged, by the time that the Orc was at the spot his hands had touched, he had just enough room to pass over its head without hitting it while not allowing the beast to get to close so to be able to wound him with the sword. Hitting the ground with bent knees, the Elf finished the move with a tumble turn, coming right in between his two waiting daggers.
Closing his hands around the golden hilts, he drew them from the ground and rose, spun on his heels and rushed toward the baffled Orc. Coming up behind it, it was not until Elrohir was two paces away that the Orc noticed his intended victim and, as it turned, Elrohir swept both blades in opposite directions, severing the head from its body.
"Well," he said as the carcass fell to the ground, "that was fun!" Pushing a stray lock of hair from his eyes and mouth and placing his daggers back into their sheaths, the young Lord turned and was met head on by his next attacker.
Ducking a blow to the head, Elrohir fell to his right side on his gloved hands and, using them to support himself, kicked up with both feet. Feet pounding upon the beast's chest, he walked his hands along the ground, pushing the Orc backwards and into a tree while silently pointing out to Elladan that this was why he wore his gloves. Caught between the trunk of the tree and the Elf's kicking feet, the Orc had no time to act as Elrohir pushed off the forest floor with his right hand and flipped over his left, coming to stand easily on his feet. Moving swiftly forward, he sent his left elbow into the side of the creatures head, snapping the neck with a single blow.
**
Elladan moved his right arm up to block a punch aimed at his temple and as the Orc he was fighting moved its right arm, attempting the same move as before, Elladan again blocked it in the same fashion. Acting quickly, he arched both arms, hooked the Orcs in under his elbows and arms and pulled him forward. Sending his knee into its groin, it slumped in his arms and as it did so, he head butted it and dropped his arms, allowing the beast to fall to the ground unconscious.
A yell from both sides alerted him to the approach of his next two duelers, and, seeing that they were both running at him and neither looked as if they would stop for the other, Elladan stood waiting in the middle, a plan already formed in his mind.
The one on his right was slightly further away, so, leaning on his left foot, he sent his right into its chest in a spring kick while sending his open palm into the nose of the one of the left. Both stumbled back at the surprise of the attack, and yet, after only a moment, they ran again, swords brandished and ready to draw Elven blood.
As they came closer again, Elladan made ready to do the same move, yet, as they were within hitting distance, he spun backwards, confusing them both which proved to be their downfall.
Having kept their eyes on the Elf that was now officially out of harms way, both Orcs', not thinking, kept running until they felt the bite of the others blade at their chests. Stopping in shock at the swords' entrance, the beasts' looked to each other, forgetting the Elf that walked up to them.
Placing his hand quickly on the lower back of each, Elladan shoved the forward and together, running them through with the others sword. Giving them a slight push, they fell over, still as statues in their strange death with their swords still tightly buried in the other.
**
Driving his sword through the beast's stomach, Estel turned to face his next opponent only to see Elrohir leap into the air and applied a neck breaking kick to an Orc's head. The Elf landed gracefully on his feet, arms raised in front of his face in a defensive position as the beast almost flew through the air with the power of the kick.
A sudden punch to the stomach brought Estel out of his revere of his brother and sent him gasping for air as he straightened up to look into the yellow eyes of an Orc. Pushing the complaints of his lungs to the side, he leapt forward and sent his sword in a wide arch towards the creature's midsection. The Orc blocked the blow with his own sharp blade and counted it with an arch of its own, sending Estel's back the way it came.
As the force of the blow continued, Estel felt his blade slowly slipping from his grip as his arms became trapped at a painful angle, his sword held tightly under the Orc's. Moving as swiftly as his human reflexes would allow, he let go of the blade completely and ducked.
The Orc, having placed a considerable amount of pressure on the human's sword, stumbled as the blade fell to the ground, his balance thrown. Seeing this, Estel pulled his small dagger from his boot and, being under the beast, sent it up and straight into the creature's heart.
As it died, it overbalanced and fell forward slowly, realization on its face. Timing his actions perfectly as Elrohir had taught him, Estel rolled forward and under the falling beast, avoiding both being squashed as well as hitting its feet or legs.
Grabbing his sword, he went back to join in the fight only to see Legolas push an arrow through an Orc's open mouth, Elladan stab an Orc through both sides of the throat and Elrohir sweep a creature's legs out from underneath it with its own sword, severing the beast from its knees. The last Orc fell with one of Gilnen's arrows through its temple.
As one all four on the ground slowly walked towards each other as Gilnen swung down from the tree that he had been standing in. Standing around the last Orc that fell, each looked out over the clearing that was dotted with the bodies of lifeless creatures' and the signs of their destruction. A rough count by Legolas estimated that there had been over thirty Orcs' and giving each of his friends a quick look over, he saw that the only one harmed was Gilnen with the small cut on his arm that had already stopped bleeding.
A collective sigh filled the group, and, not speaking a word, they turned towards their horses' that had patiently waited over the far end of the small clearing.
"So," Elrohir said, like always being the first to break the silence, "who is hungry?" he finished as he swung himself up onto his horse. Looking to his companions, he saw Legolas do the same, a large smile on his face, Elladan already seated on his mount and shaking his head while Gilnen laughed openly while handing Legolas his bow.
"I am," Estel exclaimed with a smile, "though I do hope that this was not what we were meant to be hunting for dinner!" he said while sweeping his arm in the general direction of the Orcs', getting all to laugh as they each turned their mounts in the direction of the Homely House.
"Tell me Elrohir," Legolas asked the younger of the twins while turning his body on his horse so he could see the Elf, "that move you once showed me, have you ever snapped someone neck with your calves?"
Smile widening, Elrohir's eyes twinkled as he looked at the prince. "You stuffed it up, did you not?"
Hanging his head and faking shame, Legolas nodded his head, offering a soft "yes," as his answer. Lifting his head, blue eyes dancing with the excitement that still pulsed through his veins', the prince offered the other a huge smile. "Yet it still worked!"
"Practice makes perfect, my friend," Elladan spoke for his twin.
"Though not for you, it seems," Elrohir added with an impish grin. "You would not all believe how many times I have tried to teach him how to do even a simple flip, but no, it never seems to sink in."
Making a lung at his younger brother, Elladan grabbed only air as Elrohir moved his horse so that Legolas was put between the two. "You would not hurt the prince, now would you?" Elrohir asked innocently while battering his eyelids and smiling, his tongue poking out from between his teeth slightly as Legolas rode along, pretending that he did not notice the way his friend was using him as a shield.
Glaring playfully at his twin, Elladan lifted his finger in the way that Lord Elrond used to when the twins where but children in the eyes of the Elves. "Just you wait," he hissed dangerously, and at the faked look of terror that Elrohir used to counter Elladan anger, the entire party cracked, their laughter rising up to the tops of the trees.
*****
Tbc. . .
As said, that was kinda pointless, but it gave me the chance to play around with different fighting types for later on - I men, I have twelve Elves that I have to give original styles to - it is quite a daunting task! This was just a way of establishing what I was going to do with the main ones, and then later on I'll play around with the others.
Also, it gave a nice new twist on the Erestor/Rastur/Culdôr thing! *Evil laughter.* I am glad that it is confusing so many people! Also, I guess I just wanted to write a section solely dedicated to everyone's favorite twins - they are fun to do!
Response to reviews:
Camlost: as much as I would love to allow you to get Culdôr, that would fuck up what I have planned for him and since I have already written that, I am going to have to thank you for your offer but refuse. Umm, Culdôr will be back in it, as will be Elrond and Thranduil.
Gemstone: repetitive is my middle name! repetitive is my middle name! repetitive is my middle name! repetitive is my middle name! repetitive is my middle name! see?!
Lol, I am glad that I was able to trick you with the beginning. I really wanted people to think that all was nice and fluffy with sun shining and birds chirping and, all in all, all the things that I hate in life! Lol. I too would hate to be strangled - so I do it to my characters all the time! Lol! And yes, I wanted to keep that element of lightheartedness in it and who better to carry that off then Elrohir?
Yes, don't we all hate Legolas for his utter perfection! As to Culdôr's motives, I kinda don't know myself, but that, like all ideas, shall come to me as I write and flesh everything out a bit more. And yes, there shall be much trouble for these poor little dears!
Thank you for your complement about the twins. I have always been annoyed that they were never really that well portrayed in the books, so I kind of took it upon myself to really think about what they would be like - I came up with what you see before you, and I am just glad that people seem to like it. As to the Estel thing, I am doing my best there as, as you probable know, I hate Aragorn!! So I am trying to make his younger form into something that I would like - it makes it more bearable to write him if he is - well, not him!
Hope Rastur is still bugging you and I hope that this has added to it!
*nods* I used to keep everything from others sight until a friend stumbled upon it and hassled me into letting his read more and then, *poof* I was putting it up here, acting as if I have all the confidence in the world - which I do not! But still, thank you for taking the time to review and to send your feedbacks. I mean, there are many people out there who would not bother to review, just read and 'lurk' about, so I am much obliged to the fact that you do tell me what you think
Gwyn: hey, glad you are liking so far!
LittleSpacedemon: yay, another person that likes my version of the twins! Umm, as for the slash, I was not planning on doing it - just having it as a close friendship story as it fits better that way with the other scenes that I have pre-written. But I do think that the human prince my have a male lover - but that is still undecided!
Legofan: yes, it is good to see Legolas good at something other then what is so commonly displayed. As for the twins, as said in the above responses, I am very glad that you like them - they can be quite the mischievous pair, can't they? Wait till you see a little more of what (Elrohir especially - being the more irrational one) gets up to later on.
*laughs eviliy at what you think is up with Rastur and Culdôr* ah, I am loving this way too much! Lol, and yes, the little excursion will be full of death, torment, blood and a lot more battle scenes! Lol.
And I have updated Shadows! Took me long enough, but it is now done! *happy dance for her own achievement*
Ok, that done, I shall see you all in the next post which sees our friends on their way! Fun assured! *evil laugh*
Minka.