The first few orcs sprung out from between the trees and advanced, waving their scimitars wildly and giving cries of excitement and bloodlust. They fell dead with arrows in their heads. But more soon came and, bow work was no longer an option. Long white knifes glinted in the few rays of light which had crept between the canopy, as the fight began.
Orcs, orcs and more orcs, could they not all just die already?
Legolas winced as yet another orc knife connected with his skin, before its owner was cut down. It's blood dripped from his long white knife, staining the forest floor red.
These orcs were delaying they journey back home. The shadow was rising again, it was creeping back into the woods, slowly and surely. Poisoning the once pure forest and tainting the untainted. Legolas blood boiled at the thought.
How dare it.
Angrily, he turned on another orc, stabbing it with vengeance. The more of these foul beasts he killed, the less there would be to run around middle earth...
He hoped this would be over soon.
A female elf hesitatingly pushed open the door to Ghilane's room. The girl was asleep.
It has already been a few weeks and yet, she still does nothing much but rest.
But then she is only mortal after all. She has not the healing abilities of the first born.
She peered at the girl when where she stood, half afraid to approach the bed.
She is mortal ...
Mortals are not creatures at which we gawk at,.. a little voice in her head reasoned.
Unconsciously, she tangled her fingers in the soft fabric of her gown, creasing the smooth fabric, and walked towards the bed.
The girl's face was half buried in the pillow and her hair spilled over the other part of the pillow. A small pale hand was clenched into a fist, and the thumb seemed to be stuck fast in the girl's mouth. The girl's eyes were closed, and a dried path of tears could be seen down one of her chubby cheeks.
Hesitatingly, the elf reached out a hand and tentatively brushed away the stray tendrils of hair from the girls face. She did not stir.
Rumors about the little mortal the prince had befriended had been drifting about the palace and she was the one elf whose curiosity had finally got the better of her and had built up the courage to see the child for herself.
She pulled up a chair and gingerly sat down at it. Her eyes intent on the girl. To her, the mortal was a thing of curiosity for elves seldom came in contact with the second born and some were loathe to.
A strange thing it was for the elf continued to sit there as the sun went down the horizon.
She sat there as the stars one by one came out.
She sat there when the stars blinked brightly in the dark night sky, her mind deep in thought as she pondered over the mortal and other memories resurfaced, while the girl slept on.
Time seemed to slow down considerably as the orc thrust it's weapon into the stomach of the elven warrior. His hands flew to his wound while his eyes widened and his mouth gaped. Legolas watched stunned and then fought his way to his comrade's side, his fellow warriors immediately covering his back.
"Turgon...hold on"
Turgon gasped as the pain overwhelmed him and his hand tightened around Legolas' arm.
"Hold on..."
His eyes rolled behind his head. Legolas frantically searched for a pulse, and breathed a sigh of relief upon finding one. He closed his eyes wearily, the stress of the past week was getting to him, and he was threading closer and closer to his limits.
Ghilane listened enthralled as Nienna began yet another elven tale. The two had become fast friends from the time Ghilane had awoken to find the elf by her bedside a few days before. The female elf was a more than fitting substitute for Legolas in his absence but Ghilane still waited anxiously for his return.
A raspy cough interrupted the tale and Nienna turned worriedly to Ghilane
"Shall I get the healer?"
"I will be fine. Go on!"
Not entirely convinced, Nienna reluctantly continued her story telling. Ghilane's health was getting worse and she had began to cough more and more frequently. Nienna strongly suspected this was due to the prince's absence. She silently prayed to the valar that he would be home soon.
Legolas stumbled yet again on another protruding tree root. He shook his head to clear his hazy eyesight, irritably. He was not grievously wounded but the constant orc attacks had drained him of much of his strength and he was weary beyond what an elf should be.
At least, he noted with a touch of happiness, he would be able to see Ghilane soon.
TBC...
Well, this IS a long chapter, tell me what you think !
