Ships in the Sky Chapter Twelve- The Duel
Telmork swung his bat'leth in a wide arc, seeking to kill the Elf before he was prepared. Legolas jumped back, the wicked end missing him by a hair's breadth. He brought his weapons up to guard.
'A child's toys for a child to play with,' said Telmork disdainfully.
'We shall see,' Legolas replied coldly.
Telmork stepped forward again, bringing the bat'leth down onto Legolas' head. The Elf blocked the stroke with the two swords, side-stepped and kicked the Klingon's knee, causing it to fold. This raised a murmur of admiration from the gathered Klingons. He might look like a child but he was strong.
Telmork forced himself onto two legs. The one that Legolas had kicked was still numb. Again and again he pressed home an attack only to have it blocked with ease by the Elf. Legolas ducked under the bat'leth's swing and shoulder charged the Klingon, knocking him onto this back. The weapon spun out of his hands. Telmork lay waiting for the final stroke but the Elf stepped away and indicated that his foe should reclaim his weapon.
He retrieved the bat'leth but now felt shame. He should have been able to beat this child without any problems. What was wrong with him? Maybe what the boy had said was true. Maybe his father had been trying to take the weapons. No! That was not true- could not be true!
Telmork launched himself at his opponent like a wild animal but Legolas managed to flinch back just in time. The edge of the bat'leth cut a narrow slice along the Elf's chest and the Klingon kicked out, hitting the same spot, causing Legolas to gasp in pain. Before he could defend himself the Klingon was on top of him, weapon forgotten. He only wanted to squeeze the life from this creature. Legolas, still in possession of his knives, beat at the Klingon's hands with the butts of the swords, struggling to escape. Bringing up his feet he planted them on the Klingon's chest and pushed with all his strength. The Klingon staggered away, scoping up his weapon as he did, then charged in again. Swinging the bat'leth from the side, he suddenly swapped directions and brought it back up, hitting Legolas on the chin with the back of the blade. The Elf staggered back, blood dripping from his face. Telmork ran at Legolas, pushing him back against the wall of the arena. Dropping his weapon he seized the slim being in his arms and began to squeeze, lifting Legolas off his feet. The force of Telmork's charge had caused Legolas to drop both his weapons and he now felt the breath being crushed from his body. He head-butted the Klingon but all that did was daze him. He was powerless against the sheer brute strength of this creature.
In desperation he bought his hand up to the Klingon's neck and pinched with all his strength. The pressure around his body eased as the Klingon crumpled to the ground. Legolas staggered and fell, then lay gasping from breath beside the dazed warrior. One of his swords lay to his side. He managed to grasp it and bought the blade to bear on Telmork's throat. All it would need was a push and the fight would be over. Telmork blinked to try and clear his sight. He could feel the slim blade against the skin of his throat and wanted to at least look his killer in the eyes one last time before he died. But the push did not come. Instead the pressure was eased and the Elf rose to his feet.
He hefted the bat'leth and retuned it to Telmork, then turning his back he walked towards the Klingon party. He bowed as he approached.
'I will not also rob you of your son, my lady. Your husband was killed in error by me. If he was as brave a warrior as your son…I wish I could have met him.' He bowed again and turned towards Telmork. Raising his swords he crossed them across his chest. 'Lle nann belelohatr .'
Telmork looked to his kin for what to do. Finally his mother spoke, 'Do you crave kra'qu/?' she asked Legolas.
'No,' was the reply, 'I grant it to your son and your family. I will shed no innocent blood.'
She stepped forward. 'If my husband had fought you in fair duel, I doubt that he would have won.' Then, turning to the gathered crowd, 'The vendetta is finished.' She pulled the black veil from her head and let it blow away in the wind.
T'Pol ran forward, a worried look on her face, 'You're hurt!'
'It is nothing my dulin it will heal.' he replied.
'Let me be the judge of that,' Phlox was also at his side.
'Just what the hell is going on between you two?' exclaimed Archer. He had never seen his Vulcan first officer acting like- like this love sick creature in front of him.
'Oh, don't worry about them Captain,' said Phlox, 'I was waiting for this to happen. What with T'Pol being in mind weld with Legolas for so long and everything, there was bound to be some sort of 'leakage' between the two of them.'
'What are you talking about, Phlox?' asked Archer.
'Well Legolas learnt to speak English and do the Vulcan neck pinch, and T'Pol learnt how to speak Elvish and to love…but don't worry. It'll wear off shortly.'
Legolas suddenly gasped, the world was spinning and he began to fall.
'Awake Legolas, awake, the shadow is gone and all darkness is washed clean, awake.' Legolas felt the sun on his face and the sweet scent of athelas in the air. He opened his eyes to the worried face of Aragorn bending over him.
'Aragorn?'
'Yes, my friend, welcome back, you had us worried for a while there. Luckily Elrond turned up and took care of your arm.'
'My arm?' He went to move it and hissed in pain. The memories came flooding back then- the battle, the Orcs, the arrow.
'I dreamt I sailed in a ship in the night sky and met a beautiful maiden,' he said, in wonder at himself.
Aragorn laughed, 'I'm sure you did, mellonîn. Now rest, you are still weary.'
The End.
mellonîn – my friend
