Author's Note: Alright, here we are, a new chapter, as promised, no need
for warrior celery or other threats, we're all just gonna sit down and read
and have a good time, okay? Cause that's what this is all about right?
Okay then, as long as we are all on the same page here and nobody gets
hurt, well, except for Legolas of course (evil laughter). And once again,
I am not Tolkien, I only shamelessly steal his ideas due to lack of
creativity.
Chapter 25
An hour or more passed, and the anxiety dwelling within Legolas' mind was becoming too much to bear. It was almost a mental shout that was telling him to get out of there and get of there quickly. The horse picked up on Legolas' feelings and started to fight the reins, wanting to break out into a run. Legolas carefully checked the animal and struggled for control.
"What are you doing to the horse?" Eirien asked from behind him.
Legolas had almost forgotten she was there. "He wants to break away and run," he told her.
"Does he sense something?" she asked suspiciously. The fear was more evident in her voice now.
"Only the same thing I do," Legolas replied quietly.
"And what would that be?" It was not a question asked in sarcasm, but in earnest, she truly did not feel the menace in the trees, but was at least able to sense his unease.
Legolas reminded himself that these elves were not wood-elves and did not spend much time within nature. They were relaxing because they truly did not feel the danger.
"There is something within these trees, eyes, watching us. We should never have come here." Legolas did not expect the she-elf to believe him, but she said nothing and out of the corner of his eye he could see her look around carefully at the trees around them.
Legolas began to weigh his options. They had traveled too far within the forest, it would do no good to try to turn and make for the fringe of the forest. The best thing to do would be to press on and try to make it to where his father and people dwelled. Legolas wagered that it was less than a day's ride to reach the city. If nothing interfered with their passage, they would make it a little after nightfall.
And then what would happen? The anxiety from the trees had driven Legolas' mind to forget who he traveled with. Even if they reached it safely, Maeglin would then start a battle to take over Mirkwood.
Bitter reality settled within Legolas. The best thing to do now would be to let his horse run away and create a lot of noise to alert the inhabitants of the trees. Perhaps enough of the elves would be slain to save Mirkwood. It was a suicide mission at best, but Legolas knew he could not just let them march into his father's home.
As it turned out, Legolas did not have to do anything to attract attention.
Just when Legolas tested the thought of a suicide mission, a black- feathered arrow came from the trees and impaled an elf less than ten feet from Legolas' own horse in the chest. There was a moment of stunned silence as the elves who witnessed the assassination stopped and regarded the elf who slumped slowly off his horse and down to the ground. The remaining elves looked around at each other and then uneasily at the trees, but before anybody could decide on fight or flight, a whole volley of arrows came from the depths of the trees and towards the elves.
Legolas ducked and laid low over the neck of the horse. The frightened animal was confused and tried to rear in its terror. Legolas fought to bring the animal down while prompting it to run at the same time. Eventually the horse obeyed him and started moving forward.
Many others were doing the same thing. They surged forward, calling out to the other elves that there was an ambush. Legolas looked to the side and into the trees. It was as he suspected, hordes of goblins ran throughout them, looking for a place to get the best shots off.
The elves started to fight back. They fired arrows as they ran both on foot and on horse. Legolas grit his teeth in the frustration of not having his bow and quiver. Yet as he glanced over at the other side, he noticed that Eirien had a bow and was firing off shots.
Legolas straightened from the low position he had been in to urge the horse faster and twisted in the saddle. "Give me the bow," Legolas commanded.
Whether it was due to her fear or the authority in his voice, Eirien complied. Reactions and matters of cooperation between individuals were different when it meant the difference between life and death.
Legolas gripped the bow expertly and quickly took the proffered arrow from the she-elf. He narrowed his eyes and sighted along the arrow before letting it fly between the trees. The screech of a stricken goblin proved he hit his mark.
Legolas got off three more shots, all of them true, when the horse screamed and fell to its knees on its forelegs. Legolas stopped firing arrows and gripped the neck of the horse to keep from being thrown. He soon saw the reason for the animal's stumble, a cruel looking arrow was imbedded neatly in the right flank of the horse. Legolas reached over and yanked it out of the sordid flesh. The horse cried out again and pushed itself up to try and regain its footing. Legolas became aware of a tight vise around his mid-section and he looked down in distraction. The she-elf was gripping him tightly, trying to keep on the horse through his balance.
The horse stumbled for a few paces and tried to pick up speed before pitching forward again. This time, Legolas could not keep his hold. He hit the ground with his shoulder and rolled automatically to get back up on his feet. Yet when he tried to stand, his leg refused to obey him. Unsteadily, Legolas stood with his weight placed on one foot. He looked over at the fallen horse. It would be no more help to him, the poor beast was writhing on the ground, straining to get up. Legolas knew that the arrows were most likely dipped in the cruel poison the goblins loved so much, the horse was dying.
Eirien was croaching uneasily to the right of Legolas. She was gripping her sword and watching for anything to approach. Legolas knew that would do her no good. The goblins were not coming in for hand to hand combat, this was simply an ambush, an unfair raid from the trees.
The sound of hoof beats redirected Legolas' attention. He saw a riderless horse coming his way. Legolas turned to face it, lowering himself for a good spring.
When the horse was within reach, Legolas uncoiled his body and grabbed the top of the saddle. He leapt and pulled himself up onto the top of the horse. His jump was successful, yet when he landed in the saddle his injured leg hit the side of the horse and he was rewarded with a wave of searing pain.
Legolas fought through the pain and laid down low over the horse, letting the animal run where it wanted to. He knew the horse had instincts of its own and would run to where there was the least amount of threat.
When the pain had subsided, Legolas realized that he still gripped the bow he had taken from Eirien, but he had no arrows to use with it. Legolas slung it over his back, deciding to keep it should he get the chance to collect any arrows. Legolas then focused on blending with the animal as best as he could to allow the horse the best amount of speed. He did not touch the reins, not wanting to interfere with the horse's stride and only gripped the mane lightly to keep himself steadied. His face was close to the horse's ear as he leaned and Legolas urged it softly in elvish, provoking even greater speed.
Legolas rode past many elves, yet none even took any notice of him, so intent they were on fighting the goblins and saving their own lives. The best Legolas could do at the moment was simply lie low and let the horse navigate its own way out of the mess. Legolas kept a sharp eye out, watching for any arrows that would come their way. After a short amount of time he began to notice that the bulk of the arrows were flying behind him. The horse was outrunning the goblins and had pulled in front while the bulk of the elves still remained behind him. He was in the clear and out of the middle of the mess. Legolas urged the horse even faster.
He kept the horse going at a break-neck speed for as long as it could. When it began to show clear signs of fatigue, Legolas straightened and told it softly to stop. The horse threw its head and snorted, yet slowed down into a trot. The animal's eyes were wide and showed white all around as it looked about nervously. Legolas understood what the horse felt, they were not yet out of the darkness of the forest and there were still fell beasts about, but the immediate danger was gone. They had left the goblins behind and consequently the other elves as well.
Legolas checked the horse to the side. The horse balked at the change in direction, but continued after soft promptings from the elf. Legolas knew that the horse had been traveling in a straight line, the fastest way to be rid of the danger, and that meant that he was vulnerable to recapture. He doubted that the goblins were able to slay all of the Moriquendi and they would be moving along presently. To Legolas, it seemed the best he could do now was to take a roundabout way home and hope that he reached it before Maeglin and his elves.
The only problem with taking a longer path home was staying true to his course and not running into anymore dangers.
It was a large problem, but Legolas had to do it. The attack from the goblins would make the other elves more wary and cause them to press on faster. They would reach the city of Mirkwood before nightfall.
Despite Legolas' unfamiliarity with the southern end of the forest, he felt he still had a well enough sense of direction. Instincts drew him towards his home, and an intense desire to reach his home quickly made his senses stronger.
Legolas urged the horse into a swift canter. He kept himself alert to the trees around him, not willing to make the same mistake as the other elves, and hoped to the Valar that he would pass by unnoticed. His every thought coiled down to one thing, reaching his father and his people and warning them before Maeglin did.
Chapter 25
An hour or more passed, and the anxiety dwelling within Legolas' mind was becoming too much to bear. It was almost a mental shout that was telling him to get out of there and get of there quickly. The horse picked up on Legolas' feelings and started to fight the reins, wanting to break out into a run. Legolas carefully checked the animal and struggled for control.
"What are you doing to the horse?" Eirien asked from behind him.
Legolas had almost forgotten she was there. "He wants to break away and run," he told her.
"Does he sense something?" she asked suspiciously. The fear was more evident in her voice now.
"Only the same thing I do," Legolas replied quietly.
"And what would that be?" It was not a question asked in sarcasm, but in earnest, she truly did not feel the menace in the trees, but was at least able to sense his unease.
Legolas reminded himself that these elves were not wood-elves and did not spend much time within nature. They were relaxing because they truly did not feel the danger.
"There is something within these trees, eyes, watching us. We should never have come here." Legolas did not expect the she-elf to believe him, but she said nothing and out of the corner of his eye he could see her look around carefully at the trees around them.
Legolas began to weigh his options. They had traveled too far within the forest, it would do no good to try to turn and make for the fringe of the forest. The best thing to do would be to press on and try to make it to where his father and people dwelled. Legolas wagered that it was less than a day's ride to reach the city. If nothing interfered with their passage, they would make it a little after nightfall.
And then what would happen? The anxiety from the trees had driven Legolas' mind to forget who he traveled with. Even if they reached it safely, Maeglin would then start a battle to take over Mirkwood.
Bitter reality settled within Legolas. The best thing to do now would be to let his horse run away and create a lot of noise to alert the inhabitants of the trees. Perhaps enough of the elves would be slain to save Mirkwood. It was a suicide mission at best, but Legolas knew he could not just let them march into his father's home.
As it turned out, Legolas did not have to do anything to attract attention.
Just when Legolas tested the thought of a suicide mission, a black- feathered arrow came from the trees and impaled an elf less than ten feet from Legolas' own horse in the chest. There was a moment of stunned silence as the elves who witnessed the assassination stopped and regarded the elf who slumped slowly off his horse and down to the ground. The remaining elves looked around at each other and then uneasily at the trees, but before anybody could decide on fight or flight, a whole volley of arrows came from the depths of the trees and towards the elves.
Legolas ducked and laid low over the neck of the horse. The frightened animal was confused and tried to rear in its terror. Legolas fought to bring the animal down while prompting it to run at the same time. Eventually the horse obeyed him and started moving forward.
Many others were doing the same thing. They surged forward, calling out to the other elves that there was an ambush. Legolas looked to the side and into the trees. It was as he suspected, hordes of goblins ran throughout them, looking for a place to get the best shots off.
The elves started to fight back. They fired arrows as they ran both on foot and on horse. Legolas grit his teeth in the frustration of not having his bow and quiver. Yet as he glanced over at the other side, he noticed that Eirien had a bow and was firing off shots.
Legolas straightened from the low position he had been in to urge the horse faster and twisted in the saddle. "Give me the bow," Legolas commanded.
Whether it was due to her fear or the authority in his voice, Eirien complied. Reactions and matters of cooperation between individuals were different when it meant the difference between life and death.
Legolas gripped the bow expertly and quickly took the proffered arrow from the she-elf. He narrowed his eyes and sighted along the arrow before letting it fly between the trees. The screech of a stricken goblin proved he hit his mark.
Legolas got off three more shots, all of them true, when the horse screamed and fell to its knees on its forelegs. Legolas stopped firing arrows and gripped the neck of the horse to keep from being thrown. He soon saw the reason for the animal's stumble, a cruel looking arrow was imbedded neatly in the right flank of the horse. Legolas reached over and yanked it out of the sordid flesh. The horse cried out again and pushed itself up to try and regain its footing. Legolas became aware of a tight vise around his mid-section and he looked down in distraction. The she-elf was gripping him tightly, trying to keep on the horse through his balance.
The horse stumbled for a few paces and tried to pick up speed before pitching forward again. This time, Legolas could not keep his hold. He hit the ground with his shoulder and rolled automatically to get back up on his feet. Yet when he tried to stand, his leg refused to obey him. Unsteadily, Legolas stood with his weight placed on one foot. He looked over at the fallen horse. It would be no more help to him, the poor beast was writhing on the ground, straining to get up. Legolas knew that the arrows were most likely dipped in the cruel poison the goblins loved so much, the horse was dying.
Eirien was croaching uneasily to the right of Legolas. She was gripping her sword and watching for anything to approach. Legolas knew that would do her no good. The goblins were not coming in for hand to hand combat, this was simply an ambush, an unfair raid from the trees.
The sound of hoof beats redirected Legolas' attention. He saw a riderless horse coming his way. Legolas turned to face it, lowering himself for a good spring.
When the horse was within reach, Legolas uncoiled his body and grabbed the top of the saddle. He leapt and pulled himself up onto the top of the horse. His jump was successful, yet when he landed in the saddle his injured leg hit the side of the horse and he was rewarded with a wave of searing pain.
Legolas fought through the pain and laid down low over the horse, letting the animal run where it wanted to. He knew the horse had instincts of its own and would run to where there was the least amount of threat.
When the pain had subsided, Legolas realized that he still gripped the bow he had taken from Eirien, but he had no arrows to use with it. Legolas slung it over his back, deciding to keep it should he get the chance to collect any arrows. Legolas then focused on blending with the animal as best as he could to allow the horse the best amount of speed. He did not touch the reins, not wanting to interfere with the horse's stride and only gripped the mane lightly to keep himself steadied. His face was close to the horse's ear as he leaned and Legolas urged it softly in elvish, provoking even greater speed.
Legolas rode past many elves, yet none even took any notice of him, so intent they were on fighting the goblins and saving their own lives. The best Legolas could do at the moment was simply lie low and let the horse navigate its own way out of the mess. Legolas kept a sharp eye out, watching for any arrows that would come their way. After a short amount of time he began to notice that the bulk of the arrows were flying behind him. The horse was outrunning the goblins and had pulled in front while the bulk of the elves still remained behind him. He was in the clear and out of the middle of the mess. Legolas urged the horse even faster.
He kept the horse going at a break-neck speed for as long as it could. When it began to show clear signs of fatigue, Legolas straightened and told it softly to stop. The horse threw its head and snorted, yet slowed down into a trot. The animal's eyes were wide and showed white all around as it looked about nervously. Legolas understood what the horse felt, they were not yet out of the darkness of the forest and there were still fell beasts about, but the immediate danger was gone. They had left the goblins behind and consequently the other elves as well.
Legolas checked the horse to the side. The horse balked at the change in direction, but continued after soft promptings from the elf. Legolas knew that the horse had been traveling in a straight line, the fastest way to be rid of the danger, and that meant that he was vulnerable to recapture. He doubted that the goblins were able to slay all of the Moriquendi and they would be moving along presently. To Legolas, it seemed the best he could do now was to take a roundabout way home and hope that he reached it before Maeglin and his elves.
The only problem with taking a longer path home was staying true to his course and not running into anymore dangers.
It was a large problem, but Legolas had to do it. The attack from the goblins would make the other elves more wary and cause them to press on faster. They would reach the city of Mirkwood before nightfall.
Despite Legolas' unfamiliarity with the southern end of the forest, he felt he still had a well enough sense of direction. Instincts drew him towards his home, and an intense desire to reach his home quickly made his senses stronger.
Legolas urged the horse into a swift canter. He kept himself alert to the trees around him, not willing to make the same mistake as the other elves, and hoped to the Valar that he would pass by unnoticed. His every thought coiled down to one thing, reaching his father and his people and warning them before Maeglin did.