Disclaimer: I DO NOT own any of the original LoTR characters. They belong
to that wonderful magnanimous genius Tolkien. This story is fictional and
I'm not taking any money for it so please, no one sue me. Entertainment
purposes ONLY!
Chapter 7- "In Which the Trees Speak of Danger"
"Ahhh! Oh no, it isn't dead! Look! Kill it, kill it, kill it!!! Shy was yelling and pointing and jumping up and down.
I look to where she was pointing and sure enough one of those creatures was struggling to get up. "God, how do you recover from an arrow to the head" I thought horrified. Prince Legolas didn't miss a beat; before I could even react he had shot another arrow into its throat. The creature clutched at its neck for a moment before falling out dead. Again.
"Come we cannot linger" he said taking my arm gently but firmly and leading me into the woods. I looked back to make sure of Shiara and I saw her leaning against Rínon for support, following closely. I had noticed how she had conveniently jumped into his arms after her scare. "Go ahead Shy" I thought with silent approval. "Work your stuff."
I returned my attention then to my escort. What were those words he spoke to me just before Shy started screaming? It wasn't the softly lilting language that bothered me, it was the way he'd said it, as if he felt I was supposed to know what he was talking about. Well I didn't understand it, just like I didn't know where I was. All I knew was that right then, all I wanted was a warm bath and an equally warm bed. Complete with a long sleep so that I could wake up and find this whole thong had been a dream. But my tired aching body was working better than a pinch to the arm in keeping my reality checked. This wasn't a dream and I wasn't waking up. Well, at least a handsome prince had come to my rescue.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I looked at the Elf beside full of confusion that I was trying to hide. What was her name? Ah, yes Niari. It was a very exotic name, and not a common one for an elf maiden. I could not help but wonder who she was and why she was wearing those strange garments. I had never seen a woman in men's clothes except perhaps human women while riding. And why would she be looking for a town or camp. There were no Elvish settlements near by save Eryn Lasgalen. The only solution to her strange request must lie in her human companion. Perhaps she was trying to get her friend home. It would explain some things. What disturbed me the most however, was the utterly confused look that she'd given me when I spoke to her in our native tongue. What a strange pair my companions and I had fallen upon. Actually Sérener was my guard and Rínon my cousin but he held the place of head guard as well. We had grown up together and I considered him one of my closest friends. I chanced a glance back to where he was escorting the other young woman, Sérener bringing up the rear. Now she was a puzzlement all together. Sable skin color, with long, thick dark hair, and exotic eyes. This Shiana was a new and definitely different sight to behold, but clearly not an unwelcome one. I had seen Rinon's eyes glance on her more times than was necessary and I had never seen him quite this helpful to a maiden before. Forcing back a smile I kept my vigil firmly on the path ahead of me.
It was fully night out now, which was why I felt the need to get my party back as quickly as possible. The trees had been getting restless of late. They more and more often whispered to us of a dark presence creeping upon our fair wood and Sérener, Rínon and I had gone to listen to the trees that dwelt deeper in. Hoping to glean some wisdom from nature's abundance when he had detected the foul stench of orcs.
"Hey, what were those things back there?" The She-Elf beside me whispered as if reading my thoughts.
"They were orcs, goblins. Creatures of the dark. It is fortunate we happened upon you when we did."
I then turned back to the wood. In the dark Niari's eyes were of course visible to my Elf sight. Her black orbs reflected the light of the stars themselves and I noticed with chagrin that I was all too aware of her slight form pressed against mine and her arms clutching at me and leaning for support. She seemed very frightened and alone, though why she should feel so in the presence of her people was beyond me. I looked to her again.
"Do not be frightened little one for we shall soon be safe again in the lands of my father and our people will protect us." Her eyes narrowed a little at that and I frowned. I had meant to offer comfort not cause for suspicion, but what had I said to offend.
Be careful, be alert, dangerous things are about.
Immediately I stiffened and stopped. The trees. They were talking. They were warning us about something but what, I could not be sure.
"Prince Legolas" Sérener came up on my other side, caution in his voice.
"Yes friend, I know." He had felt it too but what was to be done. And now we had the two maidens with us. Our situation was more precarious than I felt wise to let on to my party. I strained my ears to listen. Then, the sound of low growling filled them and I instinctively pushed Niari behind me. Sérener and Rínon heard it as well for Rínon placed the girl 'Shy' next to Niari and came up next to me. From a dark section between to trees emerged two large black cats. "Panthers" I heard one of the girls gasp from behind us. The two cats were walking slowly and deliberately towards us, their white teeth bared and the sound coming from them made my skin crawl. These were true predators. Not necessarily evil, but still just as dangerous. Tense muscles flexed with every step they took. Through their depthless dark orbs they stared at us and even in the dark I could see it. Death. Being an elf, my affinity to nature took in their dark twin beauty even as my warrior instincts began to think of a plan of attack. Or if need be, defense.
"Sérener," I whispered. "Take the two females now and run. Rínon and I will try to buy you some time. Run and get help, the border of Mirkwood is close. May Elbereth grant you swift stride. Go Sérener now."
To his credit, Sérener allowed himself only a second of hesitation before he turned, grabbed an arm of each female and ran back out into the woods. As if they had been spurred on by the loss of much of their prey, the two cats moved on us with a smooth lightning speed that our Elven abilities were barely able to react to. The race for life and death begun had begun.
Chapter 7- "In Which the Trees Speak of Danger"
"Ahhh! Oh no, it isn't dead! Look! Kill it, kill it, kill it!!! Shy was yelling and pointing and jumping up and down.
I look to where she was pointing and sure enough one of those creatures was struggling to get up. "God, how do you recover from an arrow to the head" I thought horrified. Prince Legolas didn't miss a beat; before I could even react he had shot another arrow into its throat. The creature clutched at its neck for a moment before falling out dead. Again.
"Come we cannot linger" he said taking my arm gently but firmly and leading me into the woods. I looked back to make sure of Shiara and I saw her leaning against Rínon for support, following closely. I had noticed how she had conveniently jumped into his arms after her scare. "Go ahead Shy" I thought with silent approval. "Work your stuff."
I returned my attention then to my escort. What were those words he spoke to me just before Shy started screaming? It wasn't the softly lilting language that bothered me, it was the way he'd said it, as if he felt I was supposed to know what he was talking about. Well I didn't understand it, just like I didn't know where I was. All I knew was that right then, all I wanted was a warm bath and an equally warm bed. Complete with a long sleep so that I could wake up and find this whole thong had been a dream. But my tired aching body was working better than a pinch to the arm in keeping my reality checked. This wasn't a dream and I wasn't waking up. Well, at least a handsome prince had come to my rescue.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I looked at the Elf beside full of confusion that I was trying to hide. What was her name? Ah, yes Niari. It was a very exotic name, and not a common one for an elf maiden. I could not help but wonder who she was and why she was wearing those strange garments. I had never seen a woman in men's clothes except perhaps human women while riding. And why would she be looking for a town or camp. There were no Elvish settlements near by save Eryn Lasgalen. The only solution to her strange request must lie in her human companion. Perhaps she was trying to get her friend home. It would explain some things. What disturbed me the most however, was the utterly confused look that she'd given me when I spoke to her in our native tongue. What a strange pair my companions and I had fallen upon. Actually Sérener was my guard and Rínon my cousin but he held the place of head guard as well. We had grown up together and I considered him one of my closest friends. I chanced a glance back to where he was escorting the other young woman, Sérener bringing up the rear. Now she was a puzzlement all together. Sable skin color, with long, thick dark hair, and exotic eyes. This Shiana was a new and definitely different sight to behold, but clearly not an unwelcome one. I had seen Rinon's eyes glance on her more times than was necessary and I had never seen him quite this helpful to a maiden before. Forcing back a smile I kept my vigil firmly on the path ahead of me.
It was fully night out now, which was why I felt the need to get my party back as quickly as possible. The trees had been getting restless of late. They more and more often whispered to us of a dark presence creeping upon our fair wood and Sérener, Rínon and I had gone to listen to the trees that dwelt deeper in. Hoping to glean some wisdom from nature's abundance when he had detected the foul stench of orcs.
"Hey, what were those things back there?" The She-Elf beside me whispered as if reading my thoughts.
"They were orcs, goblins. Creatures of the dark. It is fortunate we happened upon you when we did."
I then turned back to the wood. In the dark Niari's eyes were of course visible to my Elf sight. Her black orbs reflected the light of the stars themselves and I noticed with chagrin that I was all too aware of her slight form pressed against mine and her arms clutching at me and leaning for support. She seemed very frightened and alone, though why she should feel so in the presence of her people was beyond me. I looked to her again.
"Do not be frightened little one for we shall soon be safe again in the lands of my father and our people will protect us." Her eyes narrowed a little at that and I frowned. I had meant to offer comfort not cause for suspicion, but what had I said to offend.
Be careful, be alert, dangerous things are about.
Immediately I stiffened and stopped. The trees. They were talking. They were warning us about something but what, I could not be sure.
"Prince Legolas" Sérener came up on my other side, caution in his voice.
"Yes friend, I know." He had felt it too but what was to be done. And now we had the two maidens with us. Our situation was more precarious than I felt wise to let on to my party. I strained my ears to listen. Then, the sound of low growling filled them and I instinctively pushed Niari behind me. Sérener and Rínon heard it as well for Rínon placed the girl 'Shy' next to Niari and came up next to me. From a dark section between to trees emerged two large black cats. "Panthers" I heard one of the girls gasp from behind us. The two cats were walking slowly and deliberately towards us, their white teeth bared and the sound coming from them made my skin crawl. These were true predators. Not necessarily evil, but still just as dangerous. Tense muscles flexed with every step they took. Through their depthless dark orbs they stared at us and even in the dark I could see it. Death. Being an elf, my affinity to nature took in their dark twin beauty even as my warrior instincts began to think of a plan of attack. Or if need be, defense.
"Sérener," I whispered. "Take the two females now and run. Rínon and I will try to buy you some time. Run and get help, the border of Mirkwood is close. May Elbereth grant you swift stride. Go Sérener now."
To his credit, Sérener allowed himself only a second of hesitation before he turned, grabbed an arm of each female and ran back out into the woods. As if they had been spurred on by the loss of much of their prey, the two cats moved on us with a smooth lightning speed that our Elven abilities were barely able to react to. The race for life and death begun had begun.