@ Miste-Thanx 4 ur review! I hope you like this chapter and sorry it took
so long to get up!
Chapter 9
Legolas rode deep into the woods, letting his horse lead the way. His arm was in a sling and a bandage around his head was stained with blood. He didn't care. All that mattered now was that he would find Otrinity before it was too late.
The steed he rode wasn't nearly as good as Otrinity, and gave a bumpy ride that caused hiccups of pain to shoot up and down Legolas's arm whenever the path got to rough. They followed the dark trail made by the hunters that kidnapped Otrinity. His elvish locks where untidy and bobbed behind him as they weaved through the trees at full speed.
After perhaps half a day of riding, they came across something. Legolas reared his steed and sniffed the air. There was a heavy metallic smell hanging over the path. His ears pricked the sound of an active debate between two men. He shivered as he dismounted, wondering what weapon he could use. With his arm, it was impossible to use his bow and his knife wouldn't be quick enough. Finally, he decided he could only succeed in one way, and he laughed as he began his plan.
He slipped quietly off the path, tiptoeing off to the left behind a line of thick brush. He began crawling on one arm and his knees. He couldn't help but grin. He took his index finger and dipped it in the mud, making it as black as coal. Then, he continued on until he reached the spot where two men were sitting across from each other on the path, arguing lively.
"I'm sure it was accidental!" insisted one. "Reqrui didn't mean to set that second home on fire."
"Well, it's his entire fault now that the elves will be after the human's necks! They're probably sending their beasts on us right now!"
"Balderdash!" rebounded the other. As the dispute went on Legolas positioned himself so that he was able to be completely silent. Then, he slowly began breathing in deep, raspy gasps. At first, neither of the men noticed until Legolas had poked his muddy finger out through the bush, waving it up and down slowly. The man across from him stared wide-eyed. Legolas started making a sniffing noise.
"What now?" asked the man Legolas was closest to. The man across pointed a trembling finger to the shrub. Legolas grinned as the other turned around in fear. After a couple of quick gasps and yells, the men ran off crying "Beast! Beast!" Legolas waited until he could no longer see them, hear them, or feel them until he returned to his horse and continued his search for Otrinity.
He didn't come across any other men for quite some time. He thought maybe that they weren't even part of the hunting group. Just as he pushed the thought from his mind, a tearing pain ripped through his shoulder. He gasped and nearly fell off his horse. Then, a high whinny whipped through the air.
Otrinity!
*
Otrinity felt more sorrow then pain. The dagger plunged into her shoulder let out very little blood, but when the man withdrew it, the red liquid oozed out like a waterfall. She trembled in fear. Her stomach wretched with hunger and her head throbbed with agony. She tried to focus on breathing, but couldn't concentrate with all this pain in her body.
How can I hurt so much all at once? she asked herself.
Moments passed and a laugh finally ceased from the man's harsh throat.
"You will die the same way your damned mother did." he cackled. Otrinity could feel the dagger sliding down her neck, leaving behind a long, red scratch against her white coat.
"Helwar!" came a cry before a wail of pain split the atmosphere. The man looked over his shoulder to see one of his men fall, an arrow plunged deep into his chest. "Ambush!"
Helwar was much wiser then his brother, Breraw, and knew that if this was an ambush then someone would have gotten to him and Otrinity by now. He ignored the dead man and prepared his final strike on Otrinity before he would kill whoever dared to enter their camp.
Suddenly, an elven arrow flew through the air and struck the dagger just as it was about to be brought down on Otrinity's head. It spun from his grasp, landing embedded in the dirt. In a swift motion, something had knocked him down and taken Otrinity from where she lay against the tree.
When he recovered, he could only see a figure limping out of sight. Retrieving his dagger from the soil, he pursued.
He didn't know how long it took him; just that the figure had suddenly disappeared and reappeared again.
"You!" he cried, dagger at ready, his eyes displaying merciless anger.
Legolas stared at him, silent and deadly with an arrow nocked to his bowstring.
"Don't make me do it again." he pleaded, his hands trembling.
For a fleeting moment, they could only stare. Then, Legolas let go of the arrow, letting it fly.
Helwar stood stock still, holding his breath as the arrow whizzed by him. He closed his eyes and let the breath out. When he reopened them, Legolas was gone.
"Run then." he murmured. "Run from what you are to face, like the coward you are! You'll never get away! I won't let you! You'll never escape! I'll get what I want and avenge my brother! Avenge my people!" he paused, panting with rage. "It's far from over."
Chapter 9
Legolas rode deep into the woods, letting his horse lead the way. His arm was in a sling and a bandage around his head was stained with blood. He didn't care. All that mattered now was that he would find Otrinity before it was too late.
The steed he rode wasn't nearly as good as Otrinity, and gave a bumpy ride that caused hiccups of pain to shoot up and down Legolas's arm whenever the path got to rough. They followed the dark trail made by the hunters that kidnapped Otrinity. His elvish locks where untidy and bobbed behind him as they weaved through the trees at full speed.
After perhaps half a day of riding, they came across something. Legolas reared his steed and sniffed the air. There was a heavy metallic smell hanging over the path. His ears pricked the sound of an active debate between two men. He shivered as he dismounted, wondering what weapon he could use. With his arm, it was impossible to use his bow and his knife wouldn't be quick enough. Finally, he decided he could only succeed in one way, and he laughed as he began his plan.
He slipped quietly off the path, tiptoeing off to the left behind a line of thick brush. He began crawling on one arm and his knees. He couldn't help but grin. He took his index finger and dipped it in the mud, making it as black as coal. Then, he continued on until he reached the spot where two men were sitting across from each other on the path, arguing lively.
"I'm sure it was accidental!" insisted one. "Reqrui didn't mean to set that second home on fire."
"Well, it's his entire fault now that the elves will be after the human's necks! They're probably sending their beasts on us right now!"
"Balderdash!" rebounded the other. As the dispute went on Legolas positioned himself so that he was able to be completely silent. Then, he slowly began breathing in deep, raspy gasps. At first, neither of the men noticed until Legolas had poked his muddy finger out through the bush, waving it up and down slowly. The man across from him stared wide-eyed. Legolas started making a sniffing noise.
"What now?" asked the man Legolas was closest to. The man across pointed a trembling finger to the shrub. Legolas grinned as the other turned around in fear. After a couple of quick gasps and yells, the men ran off crying "Beast! Beast!" Legolas waited until he could no longer see them, hear them, or feel them until he returned to his horse and continued his search for Otrinity.
He didn't come across any other men for quite some time. He thought maybe that they weren't even part of the hunting group. Just as he pushed the thought from his mind, a tearing pain ripped through his shoulder. He gasped and nearly fell off his horse. Then, a high whinny whipped through the air.
Otrinity!
*
Otrinity felt more sorrow then pain. The dagger plunged into her shoulder let out very little blood, but when the man withdrew it, the red liquid oozed out like a waterfall. She trembled in fear. Her stomach wretched with hunger and her head throbbed with agony. She tried to focus on breathing, but couldn't concentrate with all this pain in her body.
How can I hurt so much all at once? she asked herself.
Moments passed and a laugh finally ceased from the man's harsh throat.
"You will die the same way your damned mother did." he cackled. Otrinity could feel the dagger sliding down her neck, leaving behind a long, red scratch against her white coat.
"Helwar!" came a cry before a wail of pain split the atmosphere. The man looked over his shoulder to see one of his men fall, an arrow plunged deep into his chest. "Ambush!"
Helwar was much wiser then his brother, Breraw, and knew that if this was an ambush then someone would have gotten to him and Otrinity by now. He ignored the dead man and prepared his final strike on Otrinity before he would kill whoever dared to enter their camp.
Suddenly, an elven arrow flew through the air and struck the dagger just as it was about to be brought down on Otrinity's head. It spun from his grasp, landing embedded in the dirt. In a swift motion, something had knocked him down and taken Otrinity from where she lay against the tree.
When he recovered, he could only see a figure limping out of sight. Retrieving his dagger from the soil, he pursued.
He didn't know how long it took him; just that the figure had suddenly disappeared and reappeared again.
"You!" he cried, dagger at ready, his eyes displaying merciless anger.
Legolas stared at him, silent and deadly with an arrow nocked to his bowstring.
"Don't make me do it again." he pleaded, his hands trembling.
For a fleeting moment, they could only stare. Then, Legolas let go of the arrow, letting it fly.
Helwar stood stock still, holding his breath as the arrow whizzed by him. He closed his eyes and let the breath out. When he reopened them, Legolas was gone.
"Run then." he murmured. "Run from what you are to face, like the coward you are! You'll never get away! I won't let you! You'll never escape! I'll get what I want and avenge my brother! Avenge my people!" he paused, panting with rage. "It's far from over."
