Ok, ok! I'm continuing! Read on, guys!
The men were startled to see the golden haired elf prince. They all gaped at Legolas in astonishment. "An elf?" The humans rarely saw an elf, and what a magnificent sight this one was! But why is this elf protecting the mad beast? They also wondered.
"Move aside, master elf!" The leader of the huntsmen ordered, gripping hard at his bow. "You're spoiling our shots!"
Tiger had abandoned his hunts' game, stalking closer towards his master. Brushing Tiger's head comfortingly, Legolas narrowed his eyes at the huntsmen. "I said no! Do not harm him!"
"The beast must be killed! It had slaughtered our friends! If we let it live, many more will lost their lives!"
"But he's not the one you're looking for!" Legolas cried out, already gripping one of his twin blades in one hand. He cursed himself silently for not bringing his bow and arrows. "You've mistaken him for another wild creature. This one here is my friend and would never harm a human being…if he's not provoked."
The huntsmen were still staring at Tiger with predatory gleam in their eyes. Tiger sensed the tension in the air and growled deeply in his throat, baring his sharp teeth for everyone to see. "Hush, Tiger. Keep your cool," Legolas commanded. His own eyes were busy scanning the faces of the men. They were still intent to end the life of his pet. "Again, I ask you. Leave him be! And leave this woods at once. Go back to your village. This tiger is not the one that had killed your friends, I swear to you."
"Your words are not to be trusted, elf! You and your kind are so proud of your high being that you look down your nose upon us humans!" the leader snapped back. "For all we knew, you could've been ordering that beast to kill us all for your own fun!"
"Of all the preposterous ideas!" Legolas heaved a heavy sigh of exasperation. "You are going far out of line, human. I want you all to leave. Now."
The man smirked. "We will not leave until the tiger is dead!" Without warning, he released his arrow. But Legolas had been expecting this. Raising his arm in lightning speed, he deflected the arrow with his blade. The arrow snapped away, hitting the bark of a tree instead. Growling in anger, the man advanced forward and started to pounce on Legolas.
The elf easily jumped to the side, evading the man's fist. The huntsman was thrown overbalance; enabling Legolas to cuff him at the back of his head. The man fell face-forward to the ground. His friends came rushing now, attacking Legolas from every direction. But the elf was too fast for the humans. Armed with only a blade, Legolas was even more deadly than any living human being.
In less than a minute, most of them were lying on the ground; moaning and groaning in agony. Legolas's fist and kicks had hit them at the very vulnerable spots, rending them helpless. Not once did he use his blade, for it was not necessary. Tiger was looking at this whole scene in tense silent, knowing that his master could well care after his own self.
Legolas stared down at the men at his feet in disgust, before glaring at the others who were still pointing their arrows at Tiger and him in uncertainty. "Get your friends and get out of my woods! And do not ever return!"
They hurried forward, grabbing their fallen comrades. The men got up painfully to their feet, glowering at Legolas all the while. They reluctantly walked away, glancing now and then over their shoulder at the elf and the tiger.
Legolas was about to turn away when he saw the leader of the troop turned back around, whipped his bow and aimed straight for Tiger once again. Legolas did the only thing he could think of. Faster than the eyes could follow, he threw his blade with deadly precision. The man's eyes widened when the blade hit him in the chest. His fingers went lax and the bow and arrow fell from his grasp. He then collapsed to the ground, breathing his last breath.
The prince came forward, crouched down, and pulled out his blade. After wiping the blood-drenched blade against the grass, he stood up and stared hard at the troop of men. "That would not have happened if you had abide to my earlier request," Legolas remarked, feeling slightly regretful for killing the man. "Now, leave this woods before the woodland elven guards put every one of you under arrest for trespassing!"
The men gathered the lifeless body of their friend and hurriedly vanished towards the Mirkwood border. Legolas turned to his pet. "Now you realized how much trouble you'll get into if you're not careful?"
Tiger roared, shaking his head in protest. Legolas knelt down and stared at Tiger eye to eye, rubbing the animal's neck all the while. "Don't argue with me. I know it's not your fault. But I think Gandalf is right. You shouldn't venture far form the palace. Not at a time like this." Straightening up, he called, "Come, Tiger. Let's go home. And no more hunting for you today. Let's ask the cook if she has some venison left for you in her kitchen."
Tiger followed his master, glancing regretfully at the remains of the rabbit carcass left abandoned in the middle of the clearing.
***************
Legolas should've known that Tiger would not stay docile for long. On their way back they stumbled upon a fawn drinking by a brook. Tiger and fawn stared at one another for several tense moments before the small deer took off at high speed. Tiger immediately gave chase.
Legolas groaned. "Oh, please not again." He proceeded to follow, cursing Tiger's wild streak of enjoying a chase so much. "I'll chain you up to my bed post when we get back home! I swear I will!"
Tiger had already vanished from his sight, getting far ahead with his prey. Only the sound of the chase gave clue to Legolas of its direction. He trudged through the bushes and shrubs, slapping low branches out of his face…and came face to face with Tiger.
"There you are! Lost your food, haven't you? Didn't I tell you…" Legolas's voice trailed off when he realized that something was very strange with Tiger. The animal looked so fierce…and angry. "Tiger?"
Then Legolas knew. This was not his Tiger, for his pet did not have a scar at its neck. Tiger's black and white coat was shinier and cleaner, not muddied and bloodied like this one.
Legolas took involuntary steps backward, suddenly feeling very afraid. He whipped his head about, searching for Tiger's figure. But Tiger must've strayed far away from here, unaware of its master's difficult plight. Legolas reflexively grabbed for his bow, and then he cursed as he remembered that he didn't bring it. Gripping his blades instead, he stared directly into the tiger's unblinking eyes.
Snarling, baring his sharp teeth, the tiger stalked forward. Legolas had no other choice but took more steps back. The prince never had a fight with a tiger before, especially not with his own Tiger. But Legolas was sure he would never emerge a winner with this beast. It was bigger than him, and looked even stronger. If what Gandalf had said was true, the tiger in front of him could kill him with only a single blow.
He looked up for a way to escape, but the nearest tree branch was too high even for an agile elf like him. The tiger was backing him towards a river nearby, challenging the prince to make the first move. Never had Legolas felt so undecided before. If he makes a move, the tiger would definitely attack him. But if he didn't, he was doomed anyway.
Becoming impatient, the beast suddenly roared and lunged. Legolas dived to the right, landing on the ground on his side. He immediately got up to his feet only to find himself being attacked once again. The sharp claws of the tiger break through the skin of Legolas's chest, causing him to stumble and cried out in pain.
His vision was blurry for a moment. But still not giving up, Legolas held up his blades and charged back. He dropped low and stabbed the tiger at its flanks, making it roared in fury and agony. The tiger swiped its humongous paw at Legolas's head, throwing the elf prince onto his back.
Legolas dizzily straightened up, back onto his feet, and faced the mad tiger in determination. But when the tiger made the final lunge at him, he didn't even have the power to avoid it. The beast hit him fully, knocking him backwards. To his horror, Legolas's feet met only thin air; the tussle had brought them very near to the high cliff of the riverbank.
Crying out in terror, Legolas felt himself falling down, hitting his head against the many rocks by the cliff. Grabbing desperately for the shrubs growing there, he tried unsuccessfully to stop his wild descent. But he kept falling and falling…
The last thing he saw was the roaring white of the river; the current very swift and fierce due to the heavy rain last night…
TBC…
I know. That was cruel. A very evil cliffie. Don't kill me guys or you won't know what happens next!
