Authors notes: - This is a repost as I made a couple of errors that were
kindly pointed out to me. Thank you so much, I so need a beta reader!!!
*
Bysal and Anwale quietly led their horses out into the courtyard. Twenty warriors were waiting for them ready to ride to the aid of the wood elves.
"I know you all understand the consequences of the actions we are about to undertake. We do not have permission to aid them and therefore the consequences will be severe if we return. I give you one last chance to go and we will not look on you any differently." Bysal looked round and noticed one on the warriors looking undecided. He recognised him as Oilm who had only recently become wedded. Deciding to make the decision for him Bysal walked over to him. Anwale started talking to distract the other warriors so that Oilm would not be the centre of attention and feel pressurised.
"Oilm" Bysal said softly. "Go home. Go home to your wife."
The young elf looked startled and shook his head.
"Your wife needs you. We all understand. Please stay with her."
"Legolas is my friend. I will not let him suffer alone."
"He would not want you to suffer or Mila to suffer if you do not return. Stay here. You can help us from here. We need time to get far enough away." Bysal said gripping Oilm's shoulder in support. Oilm bowed his head but Bysal did not miss the brief look of relief that he would not be parted from Mila flash across his face.
"Thank you." He whispered
"No thank you. You have done more than any could ask. Namaarie mellon."
Oilm disappeared back towards the main hall. Bysal smiled softly and returned to Anwale's side.
"Ready?" he asked. Anwale nodded.
"Let us depart." He called keeping his voice quiet. The elves mounted and rode out.
Elrond watched them leave and his heart prayed for them. With a small sigh he turned from the window and back to the advisors sat around the table.
**
Ale and food was brought to the table where Aragorn, Mithrandir, Gimli and Eomer were sat but Gimli refused to eat.
"I do not see what the debate is about. Legolas is our friend and he needs our help." The dwarf stated.
"It is not as easy as that Master Dwarf." Mithrandir said in a calm voice. "The attack came as a complete surprise to them. That should not have happened and I fear that there is more than orcs involved in this."
"Like what?" Eomer inquired.
"I know not but I fear that the aim is for us to ride to the rescue leaving our homes unguarded."
"So you would let them be destroyed on a feeling that you have. I was wrong to come here and I hope you realise that when Legolas learns of your reluctance to help he will be devastated. Now if you excuse me I have a friend to help." Gimli rose to his feet.
"Gimli son of Gloin return to your seat." Gandalf roared and the air seemed to darken. Any mere mortal would have quailed but not Gimli, he remained standing, his whole body enraged and his eyes flashing dangerously.
"Do not speak to me like some pathetic creature." Gimli roared easily matching Gandalf's anger. "Legolas needs us. If we leave now we could get there in time."
Everyone in the room held their breath watching the two.
"We could not leave the cities unattended." Gandalf snapped back.
"Do you think me stupid?" Gimli countered. "I brought the warriors I could spare and I don't see why you can't do the same? Are you afraid? Has Legolas been deceived in your feelings for him?"
"Of course not Gimli." Aragorn said.
"Then send the aid!"
"Gimli, I will talk to Aragorn and Eomer. Please see to your warriors." Gandalf said. Gimli bristled at being dismissed.
"We will leave in the morn with or without you" Gimli announced as he left making sure he banged the door loudly on the way out.
** Aeolian let out an agonised cry of grief as the light of his brother's eyes dimmed and went out.
"No!!" he lowered his brother to the ground and shook him trying to wake him up.
"Kahari please, please wake up. Don't leave me." He begged his voice choked from the lump in his throat.
"My lord the King" the elf cried again who had first come to him with the news of the King.
Aeolian let out a sob, he couldn't leave his brother. Kahari's blood was on his hands. The battle had ceased to exist to him. He didn't care anymore. Please no by the Valor no!
He felt someone kneel beside him.
"Aeolian." A soft voice said pulling Aeolian by the shoulders to face the elf that had spoken. He was an old friend who had known the Crown Prince since birth.
"He has gone to the Halls of Mandos Aeolian. There is nothing we can do for him; he is in a better place. Your father needs you now."
"Father?" he questioned blinking as if he was unaware of anything going on other than his dead brother.
"Yes your father. He had been wounded. He needs help." Aeolian stood up slowly and stumbled towards where his father was last.
A group of elves had formed a protective circle around the fallen King but they were rapidly weakening. Aeolian stumbled to his father's side.
"Father?" he whispered in terror at the fallen form of his father. An arrow embedded in his chest. The King was unconscious and he was breathing only shallowly.
"My lord we need to withdraw!" a voice called. Aeolian looked up tears misting his vision. He looked around to see elves falling and the orcs devastating the palace. His brother was dead, his father dying and his people falling.
"Retreat" he whispered and then with more confidence he cried for retreat.
"Take the wounded and follow me. To the Haven we shall go."
"What about the others?"
"Legolas and Azian are still out there. They will lead the others to the Haven." Aeolian said standing up and assuming command. He was acting on instinct alone.
The tired warriors gathered their wounded and followed Aeolian into the trees.
** Balian watched in horror as the orc stepped up to his fallen best friend and pulled the arrow out. Blood ran down Legolas back pooling on the ground. He tried to cry out, to move, to do anything but his body failed him. The orc hissed in pleasure as it licked the blood off his fingers. Balian shivered in fear and disgust.
"Master wants him." Another orc said kicking the still form of Legolas.
The orc knelt over Legolas. It tied his hands and legs and placed a gag in his mouth.
"Why are you doing?" one of the orcs asked.
"Master said he was dangerous and if he got away he would burn us to death" The orc then grabbed Legolas and flung him carelessly over the orcs shoulder. Balian watched in horror as for a brief moment Legolas opened his eyes. Their eyes locked and Balian saw the pain and fear in Legolas's. The orc began to run and Legolas lost his battle to stay awake. Balian watched until Legolas and the orc were gone before he lapsed again into darkness.
* Balian woke. He had no idea how long he was unconscious but the sun was beginning to set. He knew he was dying. He could feel his light dieing but he could not go, not while Legolas was in the hands of the orcs. They said their master had wanted him. Why? He could not abandon Legolas. Summoning all his strength he began to crawl. Every stone and stick that he crawled across passed waves of agony through his body. Blood was running down his chin and spots danced in front of his eyes.
'Stay awake, stay awake, stay awake' he chanted in his mind. He crawled over to Voronwer who was still led on its side.
"No!" he whispered in anguish. The horse was wounded perhaps mortally; he would not be able to carry him anywhere.
Laying his head on the horse's heaving flanks he let tears fall down. He had failed Legolas. I am sorry.
A shadow fell across his body and he waited for the orc to kill him but no blow came. Curiosity drove him to look up. The last creature on Middle Earth that he expected to be there was stood in front of him.
**
*
Bysal and Anwale quietly led their horses out into the courtyard. Twenty warriors were waiting for them ready to ride to the aid of the wood elves.
"I know you all understand the consequences of the actions we are about to undertake. We do not have permission to aid them and therefore the consequences will be severe if we return. I give you one last chance to go and we will not look on you any differently." Bysal looked round and noticed one on the warriors looking undecided. He recognised him as Oilm who had only recently become wedded. Deciding to make the decision for him Bysal walked over to him. Anwale started talking to distract the other warriors so that Oilm would not be the centre of attention and feel pressurised.
"Oilm" Bysal said softly. "Go home. Go home to your wife."
The young elf looked startled and shook his head.
"Your wife needs you. We all understand. Please stay with her."
"Legolas is my friend. I will not let him suffer alone."
"He would not want you to suffer or Mila to suffer if you do not return. Stay here. You can help us from here. We need time to get far enough away." Bysal said gripping Oilm's shoulder in support. Oilm bowed his head but Bysal did not miss the brief look of relief that he would not be parted from Mila flash across his face.
"Thank you." He whispered
"No thank you. You have done more than any could ask. Namaarie mellon."
Oilm disappeared back towards the main hall. Bysal smiled softly and returned to Anwale's side.
"Ready?" he asked. Anwale nodded.
"Let us depart." He called keeping his voice quiet. The elves mounted and rode out.
Elrond watched them leave and his heart prayed for them. With a small sigh he turned from the window and back to the advisors sat around the table.
**
Ale and food was brought to the table where Aragorn, Mithrandir, Gimli and Eomer were sat but Gimli refused to eat.
"I do not see what the debate is about. Legolas is our friend and he needs our help." The dwarf stated.
"It is not as easy as that Master Dwarf." Mithrandir said in a calm voice. "The attack came as a complete surprise to them. That should not have happened and I fear that there is more than orcs involved in this."
"Like what?" Eomer inquired.
"I know not but I fear that the aim is for us to ride to the rescue leaving our homes unguarded."
"So you would let them be destroyed on a feeling that you have. I was wrong to come here and I hope you realise that when Legolas learns of your reluctance to help he will be devastated. Now if you excuse me I have a friend to help." Gimli rose to his feet.
"Gimli son of Gloin return to your seat." Gandalf roared and the air seemed to darken. Any mere mortal would have quailed but not Gimli, he remained standing, his whole body enraged and his eyes flashing dangerously.
"Do not speak to me like some pathetic creature." Gimli roared easily matching Gandalf's anger. "Legolas needs us. If we leave now we could get there in time."
Everyone in the room held their breath watching the two.
"We could not leave the cities unattended." Gandalf snapped back.
"Do you think me stupid?" Gimli countered. "I brought the warriors I could spare and I don't see why you can't do the same? Are you afraid? Has Legolas been deceived in your feelings for him?"
"Of course not Gimli." Aragorn said.
"Then send the aid!"
"Gimli, I will talk to Aragorn and Eomer. Please see to your warriors." Gandalf said. Gimli bristled at being dismissed.
"We will leave in the morn with or without you" Gimli announced as he left making sure he banged the door loudly on the way out.
** Aeolian let out an agonised cry of grief as the light of his brother's eyes dimmed and went out.
"No!!" he lowered his brother to the ground and shook him trying to wake him up.
"Kahari please, please wake up. Don't leave me." He begged his voice choked from the lump in his throat.
"My lord the King" the elf cried again who had first come to him with the news of the King.
Aeolian let out a sob, he couldn't leave his brother. Kahari's blood was on his hands. The battle had ceased to exist to him. He didn't care anymore. Please no by the Valor no!
He felt someone kneel beside him.
"Aeolian." A soft voice said pulling Aeolian by the shoulders to face the elf that had spoken. He was an old friend who had known the Crown Prince since birth.
"He has gone to the Halls of Mandos Aeolian. There is nothing we can do for him; he is in a better place. Your father needs you now."
"Father?" he questioned blinking as if he was unaware of anything going on other than his dead brother.
"Yes your father. He had been wounded. He needs help." Aeolian stood up slowly and stumbled towards where his father was last.
A group of elves had formed a protective circle around the fallen King but they were rapidly weakening. Aeolian stumbled to his father's side.
"Father?" he whispered in terror at the fallen form of his father. An arrow embedded in his chest. The King was unconscious and he was breathing only shallowly.
"My lord we need to withdraw!" a voice called. Aeolian looked up tears misting his vision. He looked around to see elves falling and the orcs devastating the palace. His brother was dead, his father dying and his people falling.
"Retreat" he whispered and then with more confidence he cried for retreat.
"Take the wounded and follow me. To the Haven we shall go."
"What about the others?"
"Legolas and Azian are still out there. They will lead the others to the Haven." Aeolian said standing up and assuming command. He was acting on instinct alone.
The tired warriors gathered their wounded and followed Aeolian into the trees.
** Balian watched in horror as the orc stepped up to his fallen best friend and pulled the arrow out. Blood ran down Legolas back pooling on the ground. He tried to cry out, to move, to do anything but his body failed him. The orc hissed in pleasure as it licked the blood off his fingers. Balian shivered in fear and disgust.
"Master wants him." Another orc said kicking the still form of Legolas.
The orc knelt over Legolas. It tied his hands and legs and placed a gag in his mouth.
"Why are you doing?" one of the orcs asked.
"Master said he was dangerous and if he got away he would burn us to death" The orc then grabbed Legolas and flung him carelessly over the orcs shoulder. Balian watched in horror as for a brief moment Legolas opened his eyes. Their eyes locked and Balian saw the pain and fear in Legolas's. The orc began to run and Legolas lost his battle to stay awake. Balian watched until Legolas and the orc were gone before he lapsed again into darkness.
* Balian woke. He had no idea how long he was unconscious but the sun was beginning to set. He knew he was dying. He could feel his light dieing but he could not go, not while Legolas was in the hands of the orcs. They said their master had wanted him. Why? He could not abandon Legolas. Summoning all his strength he began to crawl. Every stone and stick that he crawled across passed waves of agony through his body. Blood was running down his chin and spots danced in front of his eyes.
'Stay awake, stay awake, stay awake' he chanted in his mind. He crawled over to Voronwer who was still led on its side.
"No!" he whispered in anguish. The horse was wounded perhaps mortally; he would not be able to carry him anywhere.
Laying his head on the horse's heaving flanks he let tears fall down. He had failed Legolas. I am sorry.
A shadow fell across his body and he waited for the orc to kill him but no blow came. Curiosity drove him to look up. The last creature on Middle Earth that he expected to be there was stood in front of him.
**