Tada! Another chapter for Person A's birthday--Happy belated Birthday!!
Chapter 52--Attacking The Vulnerable
It happened so suddenly that it was scary. One minute all was quiet and Legolas was talking with the twins then thirty soldiers burst from the trees and attacked the healers. Two were cut down as they tried to flee and a couple wounded Elves were stabbed to death on their pallets before warriors could get there to help.
"To the healers, they are being attacked!!" Haldir yelled.
Qui leaped up, eerily graceful for his size, blocking a soldier who had been coming at Legolas. One powerful blow from his knobbed club shattered his opponent's skull.
Elladan leaped up and shoved his bow and quiver into Legolas' hands. "Use it well," he said before joining the fight.
"Stay close to us, Legolas," Elrohir warned and joined his brother in the fight.
Legolas stood and notched an arrow and sent it into a soldier's throat. The enemies came in waves trying to overwhelm the healers and their guardians.
Aragorn glanced over towards Legolas and sighed in relief to see both the twins and Qui protecting him. He worried about the young prince being out here in this carnage. He brought down another enemy. He could not believe they would go so low as to attack the wounded and non-combatants like this. It was evil and shameful.
Legolas fired his last arrow into another foe then backed off slightly. He had no other weapon, but his knives. He drew them and got ready.
A Human lunged at him, eyes glinting in bloodlust. He thrust at Legolas' face.
Legolas dodged and thrust his dagger into the Human's heart. He fell at his feet with a heavy thud. Suddenly a rough hand seized his hair and dragged him backwards. Legolas cried out in pain.
Qui whirled and threw his club with hardly a pause. There was a sharp crack and blood splattered Legolas' face. He was dragged to the ground with the dead soldier that still clutched his hair.
Qui quickly moved to Legolas' side and helped him get free while the twins covered him. Qui finished and picked up his club. He turned and returned to the fight.
The fight was brutal, but also short. The soldiers were soon defeated and those that could fled from the warriors. The Elves were angry and disgusted at what was to them a cowardly attack. Elves did not attack those that were unable to defend themselves.
As Aragorn looked around at the angry Elves he knew that Rian had made a serious mistake in judgment. The Elves would fight even harder against him now.
Thranduil moved to his youngest son's side. He was splattered with blood though none of it was his own. "Are you all right, Greenleaf?" he asked.
"Aye, father. Thanks to Qui, Elladan, and Elrohir," Legolas said. He was pleasantly surprised when he was enfolded in his father's arms.
"Be careful, little one. I do not want to lose you. Promise me that you will stay close to Qui or one of the others at all times," Thranduil said.
"I promise that I will," Legolas said.
Thranduil released him and moved off, giving commands to the army for the next attack.
Legolas sighed and cleaned his weapons then sheathed them.
Qui came up and wetted a cloth and handed it to Legolas.
Legolas smiled in thanks and washed the blood from his face then helped Elladan reclaim his arrows from the bodies. Please let this be over soon before anymore lives are lost, he thought.
The bodies were dragged off to a clearing so they could be burned safely and the dead and wounded tended. Four healers had been killed and seven of the wounded that couldn't flee or fight back.
Syri tended a shallow sword cut on Boromir's shoulder while she watched the Elves go about their tasks. "I admire them," she said quietly.
"The Elves?" Boromir asked.
"Yes, they are very brave and strong folk. I hope this all ends soon. I hate to see their kind suffering so. Rian is a fool. They would be better allies then enemies. Can he not see that?" Syri said.
"Sometimes lust for power and land makes a King blind," Boromir said.
Syri nodded with a sigh and continued with her task. She wondered if this hellish war would ever end….
Hope you like you birthday gift, Person A…..*Plot Bunnies begin to sing happy birthday* She-Cat winces and covers her ears--Help!!! R/R quick!!!