Chapter 23

Legolas rode Otrinity out of the smoke and away from the wall. Legolas looked back once to see the damage. The smoke curled up from the now flaming wall. Fire danced off the wooden beams and the two guard shacks.

"Stop!" he cried suddenly. Otrinity skidded to a stop down a street with tall sandwiched buildings.

'What's wrong?' asked Otrinity, stamping her feet in urgency.

"My father's still up there!"

*

Thranduil found himself limping although he could not feel any hurt in his leg. He was barely aware of Helwar being loose somewhere around him. The smoke stung his eyes and he was burned in several spots on his arms. He groped ahead with his hands and was bent over. His eyes burned and tears constantly dripped from them, causing bleary eyesight.

Wherever he would stumble to there was a balcony wall or a burning barrier. He felt completely lost in this hazy maze.

He stretched out his arms until they reached their extent. He shut his eyes tightly and took cautious steps forward. He listened hard with his ears. The smell of burning filled his nose.

He felt helpless as he felt his way around the shaded hell. A sudden burn entered his fingertips and he touched a burning beam. He gasped and pulled his hand close to his chest.

Trapped.

*

Legolas scanned the gate wall, searching for some sign of his father. The smoke obscured his elvish vision to a thin limit. Otrinity pranced and tossed her head with worry.

'This is my entire fault!' she cried. 'Mirkwood burns because of me!'

"There was nothing you could do except what you had too." replied Legolas. "The wall can be rebuilt and these trees have survived worse things then flames." Otrinity nodded her head. "We have to find my father!"

*

Thranduil collapsed. He breathing grew harsh and raspy. He coughed and spat out blackened saliva. A large pop sounded and ash settled on his boots. He hardly noticed as his vision began to blacken.

"Thranduil, Thranduil, Thranduil." Helwar appeared, shaking his head. The broken sword was still in his hand. "What in this world made you think you could defeat me? I have the strength, the pride and the men to defeat any realm I wish. Today my reign begins. I shall be greater then even Morgoth himself! It has commenced, with the death of the king of what shall again be Greenwood!"

The sword was raised.

Thranduil shut his eyes tightly.

A cry.

A clatter.

A curse.

"Father!" called Legolas as he stood up from the ground beside Helwar. Helwar reached out for him and caught his hair. Legolas winced as he yanked him back.

"No you don't!" he hissed, putting the blade against the elf's bare neck. Legolas struggled until he felt the cold steel.

"Otrinity! Take my father!" Otrinity's white form appeared out of nowhere. She bent down and waited as Thranduil slowly climbed onto her back. She was about to gallop away into the haze when Helwar yelled.

"Otrinity!" Otrinity stopped and looked around. "I'm sure you still love this pathetic elfling, don't you?" Otrinity's eyes widened. "You wouldn't want anything bad to happen to him, would you? Something, perhaps, like this!" Helwar caught Legolas's neck in a lock and took the sword from it. Legolas watched in terror as the blade was stabbed into his thigh. He gave a quick yelp of pain that made Otrinity wince.

"Otrinity, don't listen to him!" Helwar thrust the sword deeper into the now spurting wound. Legolas cried out and shut his eyes tightly. Sweat began to form on his temple. The knife in the wound burned unlike anything he had ever experienced. Almost as though the flesh inside was being singed away.

"You want him to survive? You want him to live? Give me Thranduil and lay yourself in front of me! I have long desired your blood on my hilt!" Otrinity remained where she was, silent.

"Otrinity, RUN!" Legolas cried. Helwar quickly pulled the knife out of the wound. Legolas managed to hold back a cry this time as he turned his head away from it. "RUN, damnit! RUN!"

Otrinity turned and bolted.