Chapter 8

"It appears that she did." Selinde cautiously replied. "But it is lucky for you that she did. Did the others follow you, or are they back the way we came?"

"Back that way I believe." He stumbled a little as he rose. "Let us go and find them, I don't like being separated."

The four put off any healing for the moment, and tracked back the other way. Kao was still a little confused, but it didn't take her long to find the original clearing. What they saw scared them. They could see the tracks of the other three, but they were all leading in different directions. Orcs were present on all paths.

Kaolith stopped, seeing that they had fallen into a trap when they had become separated, and was not sure how to proceed. Tanad was the youngest, and most likely to need help, she knew, but she did not relish the idea of either splitting up or leaving Elladan and Strider to their own devices. She looked to Legolas and Selinde for answers, but found none there. They too were loath to abandon any one person to the Orcs for any longer than necessary.

A cry to their right solidified the unspoken decision, and they took off, following the path to the far right, not sure of whom they were following. What they saw frightened them.

A large group of Orcs had surrounded him. They had him hung from a tree by his ankles. Talking amongst themselves in the guttural language that grated against Kaolith and Selinde's ears. Turning to Legolas, seeking his ideas, they were surprised not to find him there. Figuring he had turned back after one of their other friends, the two pushed him to the back of their minds at the sight of the boy.

"So, what do we do now?" Selinde was looking at the child, wondering how they were going to come out of this unscathed and find their friends, hopefully in the same relative safety.

"I want to just run in there and take them on, but...while that appeals to me, you may find it more useful to take to the trees and shoot them down with your bow. Then you can at least cover me." Kaolith's eyes were gleaming with a stratagem's glare, calculating how she could effectively manage this.

"Me? In the trees? Kao, do you think that's such a good idea? We both know how well I do in trees." Selinde was confused.

"What? What are you talking about? We don't have much time, get up there, please we have to save...him." With a glare that would very well scare off some of the Orcs she was about to take on, she pointed to one of the oak trees and watched as the she-Elf took her aim.

Elrohir had followed behind the others, just a little bit slower. His head was still reeling. He was shocked when he saw Selinde take for the trees.

"Kao, do you think that's smart. It's one thing when there is no danger around, but she...." Kao spun on him.

"Why does everyone keep saying that?" She spat as she turned on Elrohir. "She's an Elf. All Elves climb trees."

Elrohir just shook his head. This was not a good memory to lose at this particular time. He watched as Selinde made her way through the trees. He released the breath that he didn't know he was holding when she fired off several arrows, taking down many of the Orcs. There were three of them left in the clearing with Tanad, when, to Kao's utmost astonishment, she fell.

Legolas had been following the main group, when he heard a sound behind him, and decided to check it out first. They did not need more Orcs sneaking up behind them. He carefully followed the sound, and soon realized he was following Elladan. Legolas was surprised he was making noise. When he came upon the other Elf, Elladan put a finger to his lips and pointed.

A group of Orcs had overtaken Aragorn, and though it was obvious that he had fought valiantly, there were simply too many for one Man to handle, and he lay face down on the ground. A rather large Orc was sitting on his back, binding his hands and laughing cruelly. The Elves could not tell if he was still conscious, but they could see the puddles of blood that had pooled around him.

Not wanting to cause further injury to Aragorn, Legolas and Elladan nodded to each other and went off to climb trees on opposite sides of the clearing. They tensed when Strider cried out, a whip now biting into his back, and wasted no more time, beginning to pick off the creatures.

When it was all over, the 'army of archers' dropped from their perches and started to move the carnage off Aragorn. The damage there was far too noticeable, and they were grateful that he had passed out sometime during the foray.

"You...you...fell?" Kaolith was utterly lost. She had never heard of an Elf that fell from trees. "That is possibly the funniest thing I have ever seen, I thought all Elves were graceful and stuff like that. You're...that was...clumsy!" The Ranger didn't know the hurt that she was causing, but Elrohir had seen that coming beforehand.

"Kao, go get Tanad. Now." He needed to get the child away from Selinde before she said something else unknowingly. She hesitated for a minute, then when the boy cried out, turned and rushed the clearing.

"I'm all right 'Ro, for now. We have to help Tan. She didn't...she didn't..." she couldn't finish, not believing what she was trying to tell him. Instead, she picked up her bow and notched another arrow. Aiming to fire, she sighted the neck of the nearest Orc and released. Breath caught in both Elves' throats as Kao was thrown by another of the enemy, right into the path of Selinde's arrow. She watched in horror as the arrow embedded itself in her friend's back.

The fire that suddenly began to burn in Kaolith's back lasted only a second before she fell, confusion etched on her face. The last thing she saw was the bright red face of the boy as the blood continued to rush to his head.

Selinde gasped and fell to her knees. "Oh Valar, what have I done." She exclaimed to no one in particular. She was quickly brought back to reality, when the sound of more Orcs rang through the trees. Elrohir quickly finished off the ones in the clearing, but they were unable to free Tan and check on Kao before the next ones came upon them. And stopped dead in their tracks.

If they had not been Orcs, the looks of complete shock on their faces, would have made everyone laugh. The looks did not last long, as Elven arrows finished them off. Elrohir had just reached Tanad and was cutting him down, when the first of the Mirkwood warriors entered the clearing.

"Mae govannen, Elrohir of Rivendell." One of the warriors said. The others had seen the need of assistance and were now helping with Tanad and Kao. Selinde had collapsed back to her knees and was staring into the trees.

"Mae govannen, Nondil of Mirkwood. We are glad to see you, and we thank you for your help."

"We have been tracking this group of Orcs for several days," Nondil replied. "I apologize if we caused you any harm by chasing them in this direction."

"You could not have known we were here," Elrohir said as he watched them tend to his friends. "Do not let it worry you."

"We need to get them medical attention," Amolas stood and joined the pair. "Do you wish to take them to Rivendell?"

"Let me ask Elladan first," he replied. He then remembered that he hadn't seen his brother for a while. As he turned and headed in the other direction, the two warriors followed, letting the others know they would be right back.

It did not take the warriors long to search out the other half of their group, but the Mirkwood Elves soon found themselves supporting the Prince of Imladris as he saw his brother, being tended by his twin, with Legolas handing off bandages and herbs. Face blanched, Elrohir stood only a moment in shock before he rushed forward to help. The two warriors stood by, standing guard should another company of Orcs burst through.

"Elladan, we need to get him and Kao back to Ada. Tanad should be checked out as well. 'Dan, something happened, something bad." Elrohir could not bring himself to accept the knowledge of what he'd seen, knowing that he would have to remain strong for the she-Elf who would no doubt find no solace in anything until she knew that her kid sister was alive and well. Even then, he knew that she would be guilt ridden for a long time, and they could only hope that she would be able to overcome this obstacle.

"Selinde won't follow, we need to keep going for her sake, but 'Ro, what happened?"

"I think she'll follow this time, I really do. But if you can heal them, then maybe…" he gazed off, back in the direction they had come. "'Dan, Kao got shot in the back…and we were supposed to be watching out for her. 'Dan, it was Selinde's arrow…"

Legolas was of course the one who kept a level head. "I cannot believe she would shoot Kao on purpose." He looked directly at Elrohir, daring him to contradict.

"Of course not!" Elrohir exclaimed. "That is not what I said."

Before the two could start a battle of who said what, Nondil stepped forward. "My Prince, would it be better to go to the palace? If Lord Elrond is not needed, it would be closer."

Legolas looked at Elladan, who nodded. "Yes Nondil, we will ride for the palace. Please send a couple of the warriors to retrieve our horses, if they are still to be found."

Nondil spoke briefly to Amolas, who then left for the other clearing. "We should head out as quickly as possible my Liege, the Orcs in this area have grown in number. I would not put your friends in harms way again."

Legolas nodded and with the help of Elladan, they moved Estel to the other clearing. Elladan then assessed the other injured. Tanad would be fine he assured the others, after a few days rest. He had been lucky the others showed up when they did. Kao on the other hand needed to be tended to before they left. Elladan removed the arrow, glancing at Selinde when he removed it. He was not surprised to see his friend in shock.

Soon Elladan had them ready to travel, and was glad to see that the horses had been found. The scouts said that they were probably headed back to Rivendell, but the tracks they found indicated another band of Orcs, which had sent them running back this way.

As they headed to the Palace of King Thranduil, Elladan could only wonder why their luck just kept getting worse.

They had only made it two leagues; Kaolith balanced on Elladan's horse, Aragorn with Legolas, and Selinde holding Tanad, sitting in front of Elrohir, when the group was only grimly surprised when they found themselves in the midst of another attack. This time wargs had surrounded the party, and were closing fast.

The two Mirkwood Elves pleaded with the three Princes to be mindful of their charges and to ride onto the Palace. The three paused only a split second before drawing their bows. They ignored the admonishing looks of Nondil and Amolas and tensed, shifting only to accommodate the injured. No one moved save Elrohir, who shifted only slightly in order to call to Selinde's horse as he saw her reach for her own bow.

Knowing that she was fighting through the shock in attempts to provide a little more safety for Kao, and knowing all too well that the same guilt would return with a vengeance when the adrenaline had dropped, Elrohir helped her dismount and resettled his young charge.

Within seconds, arrows were flying through the clearing, wargs were falling, and soon the horses were too spooked to hold their riders. One by one the group found themselves on the hard ground, injured and healthy alike, but none could worry about that until the threat had passed. They didn't notice, therefore, that one had landed on her back, and the wound was open and bleeding. Tanad fought through the headache that was blurring his own vision, more from the sudden onrush of blood, and pulled his dagger. He stood protectively over the two Rangers until he too fell.

Nondil and Amolas had sent the other four in their party to scout ahead, and to warn the King they were coming. The King wasn't overly fond of humans, but they figured if they were with Legolas and Strider, he would accept them. When the wargs attacked, they only hoped that the rest of their party had successfully made it to the palace.

Night was settling upon the forest, when the last of the wargs were killed. They had been a brutal bunch, and none had retreated. As Legolas pulled his daggers from the last, he stood to regain his balance. His ribs were pounding from the fight with the Orcs, and several were broken. His left arm dripped with blood, and he could still see a warg's tooth stuck in the bone. His balance was off he figured, due to the loss of blood.

As he turned to talk with the others, any blood left in his face drained. He and Amolas were the only two still standing. And Amolas wasn't doing any better then he. Legolas could see the deep claw marks dug into the Elven warrior's stomach, and as he watched, the other Elf slumped to the ground.

Legolas couldn't remember such fear in a long time. It was almost completely dark, and they were in the middle of the forest. The smell of blood itself would attract every predator in the woods. Trying desperately to remain conscience, Legolas managed to start a fire, he then assessed his friends and did what he could for each. Bringing them close to the fire, he knew, without a miracle, they would not make it through the night. Unable to bear his pain any longer, Legolas also lapsed into painful dreams.

To the Reviewers:

CathyCathy, you are so demanding. Can we demand in reverse? What about your fics? LMAO. And we do try to put humor in when we can. Keep enjoying.

TCFirst you all complain about too many evil cliffies, and now you want one? LMAO *pause while TC reads the chapter* Well, was there?

SparxHey Sparx! Are you saying we don't post often enough? Gosh, what do you want, an update every hour? LMAO Glad you are enjoying it.