Thank you to Leg-less harry, Angel of the Elves, gwyn, ZeroCool, Lady-Daine
and genny for the reviews. This story has almost finished and I would love
to know what people think of it. It is only my second story and I would
love to have feedback! So if you read and like or feel I could improve in
any way just click on the review button and speak your mind. No flames
please! Enjoy!!
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Aragorn let out a war cry as he led his warriors into the fight. The wood elves were retreating to the tree line, they had taken a terrible beating. The orcs of the first army panicked at seeing the reinforcements and fled. The second army entered the battle adding to the confusion. The warriors of Aragorn divided. Those of Gondor stayed with Aragorn. The riders of Rohan followed Eomer who went straight to attack the second army. The dwarfs charged at anything that moved and the elves went to aid the Mirkwood elves.
"Take down the leaders!" Aragorn cried as he slew the head of an orc clean off. Despite the addition of the advanced party, the warriors were still out numbered five to one. The rain continued to poor down making the ground a slippery mud bath. Horses slid and went down throwing their riders. Chaos reigned. The wood elves had regrouped and rained down a hail of arrows on the panicked orcs. Trying the escape they ran into the second army of orcs disturbing the ranks. The army faltered and the warriors took full advantage of the hesitation. Slowly they began to drive back the orcs and Uruk Hai.
* Azian glanced at the assembled warriors, numbers were dwindling and Legolas was still missing.
"Look!" a voice cried. Azian turned tired eyes to see over a hundred horses charge into the canyon. The orcs confused at this new development tried to run but they were hemmed in.
"Join with the archers and fire down on them. Make them regret they ever attacked us."
The warriors ran to reinforce the archers but were promptly cut off by a pack of warg riders that burst out of the forest. Azian slipped and fell. He looked up to see a warg looking down on him with fangs bared in a snarl. Saliva dripped from its mouth and it pressed one of its front paws down on the elf's chest opening wounds in the pale flesh. Just as the warg was about to lunge it let out a yelp. Azian watched the warg stagger off him and a flash of white appear in his vision.
Legolas snarled at the warg as he placed himself between it and his brother. His limbs felt like lead and he was so exhausted he wanted to collapse and die but Azian needed his help. He was not going to fail his brother; he was not going to fail anymore. He didn't care if he died. A primal scream left Legolas's lips as he leapt at the warg. With a ferocity rarely witnessed by an elf he attacked. The warg was dead within seconds. Turning he tackled another warg. Ducking and stabbing Legolas attacked warg after warg. Ignoring the wounds he suffered he continued.
"Legolas!" Azian screamed as he struggled to his feet. He was scared of the viciousness that his brother was showing.
"Stop! You are going to get yourself killed." Legolas turned to look at him; a wild look was in his eyes.
"Legolas they are retreating. We have survived" Azian shouted. The wargs had been slain. The orcs in the canyon were retreating. The riders had driven them off. He walked up to Legolas who was breathing heavily, clutching tightly at the knives in his hand. The wild look was beginning to fade as the last of adrenaline finally wore off. Legolas looked exhausted, more exhausted than any other creature Azian had seen.
The surviving warriors of Mirkwood converged on the two tired and wounded princes. Thirty warriors, just thirty had survived. The knives fell from his hands but as he watched the riders who had driven off the orcs and Uruk Hai ride towards them, he felt the rage return. Yet again they appeared after the slaughter of so many. He watched Aragorn ride up, followed by Eomer, Gimli and a collection of dwarfs, men and elves. He saw the relief appear on Aragorn's face as their eyes met but it promptly turned to confusion as Legolas stared coldly at him.
"Legolas, Prince Azian I am glad to see you still on your feet." Aragorn said as he dismounted.
"Help your conscience does it, feel better do you?" Legolas snarled at Aragorn. The King of Gondor froze, as did everyone.
"Riding in to save us but late again."
"Legolas you have been through a hard time you know not what you speak." Aragorn said.
"I have spent a year as a prisoner of Sauron, I return to my home to find this and you tell me that I don't know what I speak of." Legolas cried.
Aragorn watched the other Mirkwood elves move to stand next to their prince. Azian placed a calming hand on his brother's arm and tried to sooth him.
"No I will not calm down. How do they expect us to react? Fall at their feet and thank the Valor. We appealed for their aid but they sent none and look how we suffered for it. Thirty elves that is all that have survived from nearly 300 warriors. You have my thanks for riding to our aid albeit late again but you will never have the eternal gratitude of my people. You came too late and I cannot forgive you. We need to see to our dead." Legolas marched past the warriors and was followed by his people. Azian walked up to Aragorn.
"Thank you. I know you have sacrificed for us. We are tired, so very tired. Legolas is suffering, he did not mean all he said."
"Yes he did. There are no words in the whole of Middle - Earth that could express our sorrow for the mistake we made a year ago. I know you can never forget and that forgiveness is out of the question but we are here now and we will aid you while you restore your Kingdom to all its glory."
"Thank you Aragorn but do not expect civility from our people. They have suffered long and hard. Their pain and grief runs deep."
"You have no need to explain this to us Azian. Go be with your people." The elf nodded and followed Legolas.
Aragorn turned to his troops. He expected to see anger on their faces because of Legolas's words but he was shocked to discover shame and guilt instead. They had failed the elves and how they even considered forgiveness was now unbelievable to them as they watched the survivors, too numb to show grief slowly collect their dead.
"Treat the wounded. I need some volunteers to bury the dead. Everyone else rest but be ready to move. Do not interfere with the wood elves; let them see to their dead in peace. They have not yet grieved or let out their anger. I do not want their wrath brought down on anyone as the shock wears off" Aragorn stepped forward to pick up the knives of Legolas that the elf had obviously dropped and forgotten about. He would give them back later when he went to talk to Legolas. Turning he watched as Eomer selected a few soldiers and they made their way down the canyon. The elves mourned away from the group and the dwarfs were as far away from elves as they could possibly get. The men were passing out rations and seeing to the surviving horses. They had driven the dark forces off and it would take a little time for them to regain their confidence to attack again. Aragorn intended to make full use of the time, rest the men and confront Legolas. He knew the elf would drive himself to his death from grief or by being careless in battle caused by his desire to absolve his guilt. Walking down the canyon to aid with the burials he saw Legolas and Azian stood by a fallen elf. Suddenly Legolas let out an agonised cry as he fell to his knees. Azian knelt next to his brother and wrapped his arms around him. Rocking him gently Azian looked over to see Aragon, shaking his head he indicated that now was not the time to talk. Aragorn turned from the sad sight to join his men. The men were looking in his direction at the site of the grief stricken elf and his tortured sobs.
** Azian rubbed Legolas's back in soothing circles as his brother clung onto him and cried his heart out. The tears mixed with the rain and the mud as Legolas sobbed as he buried his head against Azian's shoulder.
"He does not blame you. You have never failed anyone." Azian whispered.
"It haunts me, every laugh, taunt, sneer haunts me. The pain unbearable pain and the humiliation. The loneliness. I don't want to feel like this anymore."
"You won't. I will help you. We will all help you. Teerina will help and we will share in your memories and help you overcome them."
Azian panicked when Legolas slumped with his eyes closed. Quickly checking for a pulse, he relaxed as he felt the familiar beat pulsed against his fingers. Clutching his brother closely, he began singing a soft lullaby and praying that Teerina, the soul healer could help him.
**
****
Aragorn let out a war cry as he led his warriors into the fight. The wood elves were retreating to the tree line, they had taken a terrible beating. The orcs of the first army panicked at seeing the reinforcements and fled. The second army entered the battle adding to the confusion. The warriors of Aragorn divided. Those of Gondor stayed with Aragorn. The riders of Rohan followed Eomer who went straight to attack the second army. The dwarfs charged at anything that moved and the elves went to aid the Mirkwood elves.
"Take down the leaders!" Aragorn cried as he slew the head of an orc clean off. Despite the addition of the advanced party, the warriors were still out numbered five to one. The rain continued to poor down making the ground a slippery mud bath. Horses slid and went down throwing their riders. Chaos reigned. The wood elves had regrouped and rained down a hail of arrows on the panicked orcs. Trying the escape they ran into the second army of orcs disturbing the ranks. The army faltered and the warriors took full advantage of the hesitation. Slowly they began to drive back the orcs and Uruk Hai.
* Azian glanced at the assembled warriors, numbers were dwindling and Legolas was still missing.
"Look!" a voice cried. Azian turned tired eyes to see over a hundred horses charge into the canyon. The orcs confused at this new development tried to run but they were hemmed in.
"Join with the archers and fire down on them. Make them regret they ever attacked us."
The warriors ran to reinforce the archers but were promptly cut off by a pack of warg riders that burst out of the forest. Azian slipped and fell. He looked up to see a warg looking down on him with fangs bared in a snarl. Saliva dripped from its mouth and it pressed one of its front paws down on the elf's chest opening wounds in the pale flesh. Just as the warg was about to lunge it let out a yelp. Azian watched the warg stagger off him and a flash of white appear in his vision.
Legolas snarled at the warg as he placed himself between it and his brother. His limbs felt like lead and he was so exhausted he wanted to collapse and die but Azian needed his help. He was not going to fail his brother; he was not going to fail anymore. He didn't care if he died. A primal scream left Legolas's lips as he leapt at the warg. With a ferocity rarely witnessed by an elf he attacked. The warg was dead within seconds. Turning he tackled another warg. Ducking and stabbing Legolas attacked warg after warg. Ignoring the wounds he suffered he continued.
"Legolas!" Azian screamed as he struggled to his feet. He was scared of the viciousness that his brother was showing.
"Stop! You are going to get yourself killed." Legolas turned to look at him; a wild look was in his eyes.
"Legolas they are retreating. We have survived" Azian shouted. The wargs had been slain. The orcs in the canyon were retreating. The riders had driven them off. He walked up to Legolas who was breathing heavily, clutching tightly at the knives in his hand. The wild look was beginning to fade as the last of adrenaline finally wore off. Legolas looked exhausted, more exhausted than any other creature Azian had seen.
The surviving warriors of Mirkwood converged on the two tired and wounded princes. Thirty warriors, just thirty had survived. The knives fell from his hands but as he watched the riders who had driven off the orcs and Uruk Hai ride towards them, he felt the rage return. Yet again they appeared after the slaughter of so many. He watched Aragorn ride up, followed by Eomer, Gimli and a collection of dwarfs, men and elves. He saw the relief appear on Aragorn's face as their eyes met but it promptly turned to confusion as Legolas stared coldly at him.
"Legolas, Prince Azian I am glad to see you still on your feet." Aragorn said as he dismounted.
"Help your conscience does it, feel better do you?" Legolas snarled at Aragorn. The King of Gondor froze, as did everyone.
"Riding in to save us but late again."
"Legolas you have been through a hard time you know not what you speak." Aragorn said.
"I have spent a year as a prisoner of Sauron, I return to my home to find this and you tell me that I don't know what I speak of." Legolas cried.
Aragorn watched the other Mirkwood elves move to stand next to their prince. Azian placed a calming hand on his brother's arm and tried to sooth him.
"No I will not calm down. How do they expect us to react? Fall at their feet and thank the Valor. We appealed for their aid but they sent none and look how we suffered for it. Thirty elves that is all that have survived from nearly 300 warriors. You have my thanks for riding to our aid albeit late again but you will never have the eternal gratitude of my people. You came too late and I cannot forgive you. We need to see to our dead." Legolas marched past the warriors and was followed by his people. Azian walked up to Aragorn.
"Thank you. I know you have sacrificed for us. We are tired, so very tired. Legolas is suffering, he did not mean all he said."
"Yes he did. There are no words in the whole of Middle - Earth that could express our sorrow for the mistake we made a year ago. I know you can never forget and that forgiveness is out of the question but we are here now and we will aid you while you restore your Kingdom to all its glory."
"Thank you Aragorn but do not expect civility from our people. They have suffered long and hard. Their pain and grief runs deep."
"You have no need to explain this to us Azian. Go be with your people." The elf nodded and followed Legolas.
Aragorn turned to his troops. He expected to see anger on their faces because of Legolas's words but he was shocked to discover shame and guilt instead. They had failed the elves and how they even considered forgiveness was now unbelievable to them as they watched the survivors, too numb to show grief slowly collect their dead.
"Treat the wounded. I need some volunteers to bury the dead. Everyone else rest but be ready to move. Do not interfere with the wood elves; let them see to their dead in peace. They have not yet grieved or let out their anger. I do not want their wrath brought down on anyone as the shock wears off" Aragorn stepped forward to pick up the knives of Legolas that the elf had obviously dropped and forgotten about. He would give them back later when he went to talk to Legolas. Turning he watched as Eomer selected a few soldiers and they made their way down the canyon. The elves mourned away from the group and the dwarfs were as far away from elves as they could possibly get. The men were passing out rations and seeing to the surviving horses. They had driven the dark forces off and it would take a little time for them to regain their confidence to attack again. Aragorn intended to make full use of the time, rest the men and confront Legolas. He knew the elf would drive himself to his death from grief or by being careless in battle caused by his desire to absolve his guilt. Walking down the canyon to aid with the burials he saw Legolas and Azian stood by a fallen elf. Suddenly Legolas let out an agonised cry as he fell to his knees. Azian knelt next to his brother and wrapped his arms around him. Rocking him gently Azian looked over to see Aragon, shaking his head he indicated that now was not the time to talk. Aragorn turned from the sad sight to join his men. The men were looking in his direction at the site of the grief stricken elf and his tortured sobs.
** Azian rubbed Legolas's back in soothing circles as his brother clung onto him and cried his heart out. The tears mixed with the rain and the mud as Legolas sobbed as he buried his head against Azian's shoulder.
"He does not blame you. You have never failed anyone." Azian whispered.
"It haunts me, every laugh, taunt, sneer haunts me. The pain unbearable pain and the humiliation. The loneliness. I don't want to feel like this anymore."
"You won't. I will help you. We will all help you. Teerina will help and we will share in your memories and help you overcome them."
Azian panicked when Legolas slumped with his eyes closed. Quickly checking for a pulse, he relaxed as he felt the familiar beat pulsed against his fingers. Clutching his brother closely, he began singing a soft lullaby and praying that Teerina, the soul healer could help him.
**