SHADOW IN THE TREES
By : mirkwood-elf-20931 & Thala


CHAPTER 12


Flowing ebony robes now covered the Elf the Uruk-hai had beaten and tortured on the way to Orthanc. He was taking orders from her now, a woman, a maiden, an Elf of all creatures.

She stood next to Saruman's throne, yet he was nowhere to be seen. "I want you to find the she-Elves and dispose of them." Her voice was cool and calm, void of all emotion.

"Where is Saruman? He is the master." It seemed to him as if the woman floated down the steps toward him. She was a rather frightening sight to behold. He was so preoccupied with thinking of how much she'd changed that he didn't even see the back of her hand coming toward his face. The Orc was actually knocked to the ground. The she-Elf was surprisingly strong!

"You take your orders from me now also! Understand?" she said coldly. Turning her back on him as he lay on the floor, she retreated back to her post. "I want them dead and their bodies brought back to me. Do you think you can handle this?" she sneered.

"Yes, my lady," he quivered.

A wily smile crossed Thalawen's once pretty lips. "Good, because if you fail, I will kill you. The master wants them dead; I want them dead. Especially the blonde. Don't let your fear for me cloud your little brain." She inclined her head toward a window, looking out over the black grounds. "Be gone."

"Yes, my mistress, I understand," he murmured, backing out of the room never taking his eyes away from the form that was once Thalawen Whitestar of Rivendell.


* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *


The next couple days were spent keeping the horse behind them as they rode. With Landailyn immediately beginning to train it to come to whistles, as her own sometimes did.

Lucky for her, it seemed to be working, though there were times when it took a couple of tries and poor Athron thinking they were for him, would come trotting eagerly to her.

Their progress of travel still held a propitious aspect. By the next day, the mountains would end and their remote destination would clearly be in their sights.

At the top of a mountainous hill, they stopped for the time being, so that their horses could have a short rest. Both women dismounted, willing to walk as the remainder of the day carried out.

It was slower on foot, yes, and they could be moving with more haste, but luckily they had found nothing along the way to this point that indicated they should be worried and they would not give up hope yet that their friend had met an untimely demise. No, they had already figured it out. She had been taken, not for the Orcs' pleasure, but for a substantial purpose. What it could be, they would just have to find out when they arrived to see it.

"Beautiful view up here." Commented Arwen.

The sun was sinking behind the Misty Mountains, casting shadows where rays were unable to peek through its solid gray rock. It was quiet in this area, only a light wind rustled fallen leaves and songbirds chirped melodies to the earth. Other than that, it was almost too quiet.

"That it is." Landailyn replied a bit hesitantly. Having the sudden feeling this magnificent scenery would not be for much longer. Cautiously, she headed downward with Arwen and the horses.

About half way, they saw them, coming from a small woodland ahead. Running straight in their direction at an unearthly pace, as if they had the knowledge that there would be no tomorrow.

"Landy..." Arwen said anxiously in an undertone. She looked to her left at the Elf, but all Landailyn could do was stare at a small black cloud that was approaching.

For now, the group of Orcs had disappeared, hidden from view by a mound in front of the she-Elves, but very shortly they would come into contact with them. There only appeared to be maybe twenty or less, but what could the Elves do? They both knew they had already been sighted. They couldn't hide, their horses had not much of a place to go and before long the Orcs would reappear and be much closer.

If they were careful, the two could take them.

Somewhere behind, one could hear the Mearh's warning neighs. He was watching and knew that something was very wrong. So they sent their steeds to him, away from the area and out of harm.

"Arwen," Landailyn started in a whisper, but also in a different tone.

The princess knew before hand what was coming next and stopped her friend before she could say a word further. "Landailyn, I will be fine. Just help me fight...it is all you can do. Come on!"

As they raced back to the top, Landailyn sighed. Arwen would have to fight her own battles while in her presence and she would just have to keep an eye on her. She prayed they did not have bows of their own, as she prepared an arrow on hers and as soon as the first Uruk-hai came over the little hill, she let it soar.

It wasn't the captain that fell by this missile, it was merely one of his soldiers who recieved it in his neck. So she shot another and another, but they kept coming at the same speed, trampling over the bodies of the ones that went down in front of them.

Reaching the pair, there were no more than thirteen left. Fortunate for the two, it was turning out easier than they had first thought, without the twenty they had started with. Each swing and stab of Hadhafang caused peril to the waning group. Each slice and jab of two Elvish daggers brought more of the same.

The last one standing noticed he was all that lived. He was the leader and his total intention was to destroy them both, as ordered. 'Especially the blonde' He could hear the words of the one he'd taken orders from and went after Landailyn first with all speed, before either Elf had a chance with any long range weapons.

She heard the heavy feet as they hit the earth. Reversing to face him, she swung an arm to slice at his neck, but instead both her wrists were locked in iron grips by his hands. The force was enough to make her lose balance and the Uruk-hai tripped on a large rock sending them sideways.

Together they rolled backward down the slope, losing one of Landailyn's knives on the way, they fought over the second, one trying to drive it into the other.
Landailyn was desperately trying to stop herself and get up from the ground, but it wasn't working. The Orc's body was just too massive and made them fall all the faster. They came to a halt in the valley, with the Uruk-hai half on top.

Arwen was still at the peak of the hill, soon spotting the trouble below. Hurrying to get to them, she was afraid she had been too late. Landailyn lay underneath the Orc and from her point of view, they seemed to be staring at one another, the knife hidden between them.

But really, Landailyn was just trying to muster the strength to throw the body off and soon it lay a few feet away, blood dripping to the dry browning grass.

"I thought..." Arwen sighed in relief. "Don't scare me like that."

"Like what?" Landailyn wiped her blade on the ground and rose to stand with her, quickly inspecting her for any type of injury. "Are you alright?"

"Perhaps it is you, my friend, that question should be asked."

"I'm fine...and I think we did good for ourselves." Chuckling, she pointed to their horses, whose heads peeked out from a few bushes, making sure the coast was clear.

Arwen laughed too, as side by side they came trotting to their owners. "It was odd though. It seemed they were mostly...after you." She was almost talking to herself, her thin brows pressed together in wonderment and confusion.

"I am sure it was indeed meant for us..." Landailyn put in an absentminded agreement, not even sure what it was her companion had said. She was busy skimming over the grounds, trying to find out where the Rohan stallion had disappeared to. And when she couldn't, she whistled. Athron nudged her arm, letting her know he was already there. "Sorry boy, still not for you." She muttered, patting the long smooth bridge of his nose.

A few minutes passed with another shrill calling and she was about to give up for the moment, when it finally showed. Cantering to the top of the first smaller hill they had journeyed over. She grinned up at him. "There you are. I was hoping you had stayed with us."

Moving back over the larger hill, Landailyn picked up her lost knife on the way and hurried around the bodies, collecting her arrows.

Valuable time had been wasted on that little battle, so both remounted and set off at a gallop. Landailyn glancing over her shoulder often to make sure the Mearh still followed.


* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *


Rain poured upon the ground of Isengard. Its tower drenched, a gleaming black spike of doom.

Inside, a white clad figure stood next to a pedestal in the center of a large dark and dreary room, his hand outstretched, the fingers curved over a glass ball. His eyes closed in concentration. "Your plan did not work," He eventually said, slowly and never opening an eye. "My Uruk-hai did not succeed, as I knew they would not, and I will spare no more for you foolishness."

The Elf remained silent for the moment, watching the Wizard. "I will go to them myself..." she began, darkly.

"No! Shhh..." Saruman interrupted. Squeezing his eyes closed to concentrate harder. The driving rain annoyed him immensely. Without another word, he put his arm down, opened his eyes and walked back to his chair, the only chair in the room. His subject stood in stillness next to it.

"The Silvan and Noldor she-Elves are closer still." His voice barely made a ripple on the air, as if listening and relaying what he heard to his single companion in the room. This comrade was completely in black, a sinister creature Thalawen made, standing next to her master's chair.

"You will go to them," He said, holding his hands over his eyes, rubbing at the tension. "You will ride out and eliminate the threat the she-Elves pose. If you fail, you will be severely punished." He looked at her meaningfully. "Do not fail, dark Elf." Waving his hand, he absently dismissed her presence.

She bowed her head and left immediately to do his bidding.


TBC ...