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** Silen stood still watching the young prince and the other elves disappear back into the forest. With a gleeful smile he turned to look at the orc who stood by his side.
"They are ready my lord." The orc hissed indicating his troops that were hid behind the ridge.
"Attack, bring the youngest prince to me, kill the rest." Silen said.
"Yes my lord." The orc hurried back to his companions and muttered a series of commands; the orcs hefted their weapons and charged towards the forest.
A cloaked figure appeared next to the elf.
"Why the youngest prince?" it said softly.
"He is beloved of all, if we capture him and display him in front of the survivors they will be destroyed. He is the elf that fought alongside men and dwarfs in the War of the Ring, what a way to hit back at them by torturing him to death."
Silen walked over to his horse and mounted.
"I will not fail you master." Silen said bowing his head.
"I know because you know the punishment for failure."
Silen's smile faltered and he turned his horse and galloped back to the defences.
* Thranduil stood in the middle of the courtyard of the palace and ordered the final defences into positions. A cry went up and he turned his head to see a party of injured elves clatter across the polished cobbles.
"Legolas." He said as he recognised his youngest son. Quickly crossing towards them he reached up and halted Legolas's exhausted horse. Legolas slid off the horse.
"Healers." Thranduil cried as he took in the injured state of his son and the party.
"Rivendell will send no aid." Legolas said a mixture of hurt and anger visible in his eyes. Thranduil sighed. His youngest had always been so naïve towards things of this nature. Deep in his heart Thranduil knew that no aid was going to be sent by anyone. The hatred of the advisors of Lord Elrond was never going to lessen. The mortals he had befriended would not send aid, they had their own problems and the problems of elves were not of their concern. Their true colours would be shown and it would hurt his son.
"They practically accused me of lying!" Legolas exclaimed.
Thranduil was saved from replying by the arrival of the healers. Legolas was taken, protesting away.
Rimmal stepped up to the King.
"Have any others returned my lord?" he asked.
"Lyran returned just minutes before you. King Elessar has refused to send aid."
"Are you going to tell him?" Rimmal asked as he watched Legolas get up and walk away from the protesting healers to gather more weapons from the armoury. The young elf disappeared into the large building.
"No. If we survive this, I will let him find out from the man himself."
Rimmal nodded.
"You are needed at the front Rimmal. Legolas will wish to go with you, take him and Balian, they will not wish to be separated. Each of the princes will be located in different warrior groups. If you can no longer hold and you fear for the lives of everyone the princes will lead you to safety."
"The Haven?" Rimmal questioned as he watched Legolas and Balian walk towards them.
"Yes. We will regroup there. The palace will not be safe, the attack will hit here hard."
"Yes my lord." Rimmal bowed and turned back to his horse.
"Legolas!" Thranduil called. Legolas walked over to him.
"You know what to do. Fight well my son." He said and he hugged Legolas. Legolas returned the embrace.
"I love you father." Legolas whispered.
"I love you to." Thranduil said back and they broke apart. Legolas mounted Voronwer and followed the warriors out of courtyard. Thranduil watched him leave and he prayed to the Valor to keep him safe.
* Balian watched Legolas as they rode to the front. His friend had shadows under his eyes and looked as though he had given up already.
"Do not despair." Balian said and he reached across to grip his shoulder.
"Aragorn is not coming."
"How do you know?" Balian asked.
"Lyran found me and told me. The look on his face made me want to punch him hard. He was waiting in the armoury, just couldn't wait to tell me." Legolas said bitterly.
"He is my friend and he would not come."
Balian sighed. "I am sure he had his reasons."
"What? What could be more important than helping a friend?"
"I cannot answer that Legolas."
Suddenly war horns echoed through the air. The army had come.
"Charge!" Rimmal cried and the elves nudged their horses into a gallop. The horses flashed through the trees. They could see the orcs charging towards them. Legolas pushed all the feelings to the back of his mind and he calmed himself as he drew his bow. His wrist had been tightly bandaged so he could grip and he fitted an arrow to the bow. Settling on a target he fired and the orc fell dead. It had begun.
* The dwarfs made quick time to Edoras. They were met by King Eomer and the news he had for them greatly shocked Gimli.
"What!" he roared and Eomer winced. He could swear the building's foundations had shaken with the cry.
"Gondor and Rohan will send no aid. We cannot spare the warriors."
"And you call yourself his friends." The dwarf spat.
"You do not understand." Eomer said trying to calm the dwarf.
"Correct, I do not understand how you could ignore a friend's appeal and abandon him."
"Put yourself in my position." Eomer said pleadingly.
"I will do no such thing. I will not sink to your level." Gimli turned and walked towards the door.
"Where are you going?"
"To Gondor, to beat some sense into that stubborn man, with my axe if I have to."
Eomer rolled his eyes and quickly went after the furious dwarf. He would ride to Gondor to stop the carnage that was threatening to occur.
*
Eomer was surprised at how fast a group of dwarfs could go in a hurry. They reached Gondor quickly.
"I demand to see the King!" Gimli snapped anger flashing in his eyes. The guard stood in front of the enraged dwarf had the look of a trapped animal.
"The King is in a meeting with his advisors he cannot be disturbed."
Eomer gave the man credit for standing against the dwarf.
Another guard stepped forward.
"Remove yourself from this place or I will get a guard to do it." Eomer started forward before the man had finished the sentence well aware that that was the worst thing that could have been said. Gimli's face turned beetroot and he raised his axe. Eomer grabbed him and stepped in front of him.
"I am King Eomer of Rohan and you will open the doors right this minute because neither you or I can hold back a company of enraged dwarfs." The King snapped. The man glared but went to the doors and opened them.
"Wait here."
Gimli lunged and Eomer had to practically tackle the dwarf to stop him. The guards stepped backwards in fear.
"Gimli, Gimli!" Eomer cried. "You will get imprisoned and how will that aid Legolas?"
The dwarf stopped his struggles and stood still breathing heavily trying to calm himself.
"I am afraid that." the man said reappearing. That was the last straw and Gimli burst from Eomer's arms, pushed past the man and hurried into the room. Eomer rolled his eyes and followed, as did the guards.
Aragorn looked up surprised as the dwarf entered.
"What by the Valor is wrong with you?" The dwarf roared. Several of Aragorn's advisors rose to their feet.
"Sit down." Gimli snapped and they did exactly that.
"Gimli." Aragorn began but the dwarf interrupted.
"He is your best friend, you have known him longer than any of us. How could you?" Gimli demanded seeking the answers that had eluded him.
Aragorn at first did not respond but turned to his advisors.
"Leave us." He commanded. They all left quickly unwilling to risk the wrath of the dwarf. "You as well." Aragorn said indicating the guards who also left quite quickly.
"Gimli it was the hardest decision I have ever made but my position is not as secure as it needs to be for me to be able to order my warriors to the fight against the decisions of my advisors."
"And I am sure when those elves die they will understand that pathetic excuse and accept it."
"Gimli please." Aragorn pleaded.
"What if he dies? How could you live with yourself?" Gimli demanded his voice full of anger and his own fears.
"Calm yourself Gimli!" a new voice said and Gandalf entered the room. Gimli whirled at the wizard's cheerful comments ready to let his vengeance out. Eomer again blocked him by laying a restraining arm on his shoulder.
"What do we owe the pleasure of your appearance to?" Aragorn asked tiredly rubbing his forehead.
"You invited us!" Gandalf said with a smile.
"Us?" Gimli demanded in no mood for riddles.
"The hobbits have accompanied me."
"The feast!" Aragorn exclaimed, his memories unclouded suddenly. Arwen had been working on the decorations for many weeks. His mind had been so preoccupied with Legolas.
"Yes the reunion of the fellowship and your anniversary." Gandalf said as he sat down. He indicated that the others should also do so.
"But I fear events have somewhat been overshadowed by the goings on in Mirkwood."
"That is an understatement!" Gimli snapped and Eomer groaned this was going to be one of those days.
**
** Silen stood still watching the young prince and the other elves disappear back into the forest. With a gleeful smile he turned to look at the orc who stood by his side.
"They are ready my lord." The orc hissed indicating his troops that were hid behind the ridge.
"Attack, bring the youngest prince to me, kill the rest." Silen said.
"Yes my lord." The orc hurried back to his companions and muttered a series of commands; the orcs hefted their weapons and charged towards the forest.
A cloaked figure appeared next to the elf.
"Why the youngest prince?" it said softly.
"He is beloved of all, if we capture him and display him in front of the survivors they will be destroyed. He is the elf that fought alongside men and dwarfs in the War of the Ring, what a way to hit back at them by torturing him to death."
Silen walked over to his horse and mounted.
"I will not fail you master." Silen said bowing his head.
"I know because you know the punishment for failure."
Silen's smile faltered and he turned his horse and galloped back to the defences.
* Thranduil stood in the middle of the courtyard of the palace and ordered the final defences into positions. A cry went up and he turned his head to see a party of injured elves clatter across the polished cobbles.
"Legolas." He said as he recognised his youngest son. Quickly crossing towards them he reached up and halted Legolas's exhausted horse. Legolas slid off the horse.
"Healers." Thranduil cried as he took in the injured state of his son and the party.
"Rivendell will send no aid." Legolas said a mixture of hurt and anger visible in his eyes. Thranduil sighed. His youngest had always been so naïve towards things of this nature. Deep in his heart Thranduil knew that no aid was going to be sent by anyone. The hatred of the advisors of Lord Elrond was never going to lessen. The mortals he had befriended would not send aid, they had their own problems and the problems of elves were not of their concern. Their true colours would be shown and it would hurt his son.
"They practically accused me of lying!" Legolas exclaimed.
Thranduil was saved from replying by the arrival of the healers. Legolas was taken, protesting away.
Rimmal stepped up to the King.
"Have any others returned my lord?" he asked.
"Lyran returned just minutes before you. King Elessar has refused to send aid."
"Are you going to tell him?" Rimmal asked as he watched Legolas get up and walk away from the protesting healers to gather more weapons from the armoury. The young elf disappeared into the large building.
"No. If we survive this, I will let him find out from the man himself."
Rimmal nodded.
"You are needed at the front Rimmal. Legolas will wish to go with you, take him and Balian, they will not wish to be separated. Each of the princes will be located in different warrior groups. If you can no longer hold and you fear for the lives of everyone the princes will lead you to safety."
"The Haven?" Rimmal questioned as he watched Legolas and Balian walk towards them.
"Yes. We will regroup there. The palace will not be safe, the attack will hit here hard."
"Yes my lord." Rimmal bowed and turned back to his horse.
"Legolas!" Thranduil called. Legolas walked over to him.
"You know what to do. Fight well my son." He said and he hugged Legolas. Legolas returned the embrace.
"I love you father." Legolas whispered.
"I love you to." Thranduil said back and they broke apart. Legolas mounted Voronwer and followed the warriors out of courtyard. Thranduil watched him leave and he prayed to the Valor to keep him safe.
* Balian watched Legolas as they rode to the front. His friend had shadows under his eyes and looked as though he had given up already.
"Do not despair." Balian said and he reached across to grip his shoulder.
"Aragorn is not coming."
"How do you know?" Balian asked.
"Lyran found me and told me. The look on his face made me want to punch him hard. He was waiting in the armoury, just couldn't wait to tell me." Legolas said bitterly.
"He is my friend and he would not come."
Balian sighed. "I am sure he had his reasons."
"What? What could be more important than helping a friend?"
"I cannot answer that Legolas."
Suddenly war horns echoed through the air. The army had come.
"Charge!" Rimmal cried and the elves nudged their horses into a gallop. The horses flashed through the trees. They could see the orcs charging towards them. Legolas pushed all the feelings to the back of his mind and he calmed himself as he drew his bow. His wrist had been tightly bandaged so he could grip and he fitted an arrow to the bow. Settling on a target he fired and the orc fell dead. It had begun.
* The dwarfs made quick time to Edoras. They were met by King Eomer and the news he had for them greatly shocked Gimli.
"What!" he roared and Eomer winced. He could swear the building's foundations had shaken with the cry.
"Gondor and Rohan will send no aid. We cannot spare the warriors."
"And you call yourself his friends." The dwarf spat.
"You do not understand." Eomer said trying to calm the dwarf.
"Correct, I do not understand how you could ignore a friend's appeal and abandon him."
"Put yourself in my position." Eomer said pleadingly.
"I will do no such thing. I will not sink to your level." Gimli turned and walked towards the door.
"Where are you going?"
"To Gondor, to beat some sense into that stubborn man, with my axe if I have to."
Eomer rolled his eyes and quickly went after the furious dwarf. He would ride to Gondor to stop the carnage that was threatening to occur.
*
Eomer was surprised at how fast a group of dwarfs could go in a hurry. They reached Gondor quickly.
"I demand to see the King!" Gimli snapped anger flashing in his eyes. The guard stood in front of the enraged dwarf had the look of a trapped animal.
"The King is in a meeting with his advisors he cannot be disturbed."
Eomer gave the man credit for standing against the dwarf.
Another guard stepped forward.
"Remove yourself from this place or I will get a guard to do it." Eomer started forward before the man had finished the sentence well aware that that was the worst thing that could have been said. Gimli's face turned beetroot and he raised his axe. Eomer grabbed him and stepped in front of him.
"I am King Eomer of Rohan and you will open the doors right this minute because neither you or I can hold back a company of enraged dwarfs." The King snapped. The man glared but went to the doors and opened them.
"Wait here."
Gimli lunged and Eomer had to practically tackle the dwarf to stop him. The guards stepped backwards in fear.
"Gimli, Gimli!" Eomer cried. "You will get imprisoned and how will that aid Legolas?"
The dwarf stopped his struggles and stood still breathing heavily trying to calm himself.
"I am afraid that." the man said reappearing. That was the last straw and Gimli burst from Eomer's arms, pushed past the man and hurried into the room. Eomer rolled his eyes and followed, as did the guards.
Aragorn looked up surprised as the dwarf entered.
"What by the Valor is wrong with you?" The dwarf roared. Several of Aragorn's advisors rose to their feet.
"Sit down." Gimli snapped and they did exactly that.
"Gimli." Aragorn began but the dwarf interrupted.
"He is your best friend, you have known him longer than any of us. How could you?" Gimli demanded seeking the answers that had eluded him.
Aragorn at first did not respond but turned to his advisors.
"Leave us." He commanded. They all left quickly unwilling to risk the wrath of the dwarf. "You as well." Aragorn said indicating the guards who also left quite quickly.
"Gimli it was the hardest decision I have ever made but my position is not as secure as it needs to be for me to be able to order my warriors to the fight against the decisions of my advisors."
"And I am sure when those elves die they will understand that pathetic excuse and accept it."
"Gimli please." Aragorn pleaded.
"What if he dies? How could you live with yourself?" Gimli demanded his voice full of anger and his own fears.
"Calm yourself Gimli!" a new voice said and Gandalf entered the room. Gimli whirled at the wizard's cheerful comments ready to let his vengeance out. Eomer again blocked him by laying a restraining arm on his shoulder.
"What do we owe the pleasure of your appearance to?" Aragorn asked tiredly rubbing his forehead.
"You invited us!" Gandalf said with a smile.
"Us?" Gimli demanded in no mood for riddles.
"The hobbits have accompanied me."
"The feast!" Aragorn exclaimed, his memories unclouded suddenly. Arwen had been working on the decorations for many weeks. His mind had been so preoccupied with Legolas.
"Yes the reunion of the fellowship and your anniversary." Gandalf said as he sat down. He indicated that the others should also do so.
"But I fear events have somewhat been overshadowed by the goings on in Mirkwood."
"That is an understatement!" Gimli snapped and Eomer groaned this was going to be one of those days.
**