SHADOW IN THE TREES
By : mirkwood-elf-2931 & Thala


CHAPTER 15


Two black ebony doors, of the deepest hue, opened on the opposite side of the room. Through them stepped the black-clad Thalawen, looking for her prey. This time she would eliminate the Silvan Elf, destroy her and take back what rightfully belonged to her.

Out the corner of her eye she saw a blonde head step towards her. Thinking it was Landailyn, she quickly drew her sword and slashed once, twice, a third time. When the Elf fell Thalawen bent down to examine the body. She was immensely disappointed to see that it was not the one she wanted. Without a backward glance she went forth into the throng of dueling bodies.

Orcs and Elves battled to the death. Bodies of both races, covered in blood, fell all around her.

She glided silently across the room, blending in well with the background and searching the room for her specific enemy. But her entrance had not gone unnoticed, Landailyn spotted her easily before anyone else, save her master, the White Wizard.

The blonde leader finally came into view, so she rushed toward her, hoping to catch her off guard. Not even knowing or caring if Landailyn was aware of her presence or not.

Just finishing off an Orc, Landailyn turned and crossed both blades high over her head, just in the second that a double-edged sword came swooping down at what would have been her right side.

They stayed like this only a moment, before having the same idea and pushing off one another's side with the opposite foot.

The two Elves were backed up from another once more, wondering just what the other's next moves would be.

And before either could make one, another small Orc had come to attack Landailyn from the right. Flipping the handle around, so that the dull edge of her knife rested against her forearm, Landailyn slashed at the beast's neck, stabbed it in the side where its armor split and quickly kicked it out of the way.

Meanwhile, someone had come to aid in his captain's difficult situation.

Thalawen stood idle, watching the fight with the Orc with seeming delight, hoping to have the pleasure of seeing her job done for her. And the man coming fast upon her, didn't know she saw him from the corner of her eye, even having time to turn sideways, before delievering a wide over head swing at neck level.

The male Elf had not even had a second's time to react.

After the Orc had fallen, Landailyn's focus quickly returned to her match. Her eyes widening more than ever at a sight in which she could not bear. It was Teredith. She had neglected to tell him to leave Thalawen to her alone. She wanted to look away from the bloodied sight, but she couldn't bring herself to do it. This event had done it for her. Her next action was out of pure anger and hurt.

And their one membered audience sat in his own amusment and gratification at how well this was all apparently going. The Silvan Elf was turning on her own friend.

At a forceful run, Landailyn's double weapons encountred the side of Thalawen's blocking one. Landailyn spun out of the way, only to block left and right a quick five times and cross over head again, pushing Thalawen away with all her strength.

By this time, Thalawen was much angered that she was not getting the upper hand in this fight. She needed to win, she must win. She would not give up until she had accomplished what she was here for.

Bolting forward for another hopefully successful swing, Landailyn was ready and caught the blade between her two own. But it was hardly worth it, Thalawen was learning to expect these things and twisted and rounded her sword to the right.

Not expecting this, Landailyn's knives were flung from her hands and looked up to see even Thalawen's had landed near them, some feet behind her. For now, she was not getting them back. She glanced up at the dark Elf's face. Another one of those iniquitous little smiles had appeared again, taunting her, wanting her to strike first. But not this time, she wouldn't give into to what the enemy desired.

Both weaponless, though it didn't matter and seeing as how her opponent wasn't making a move, Thalawen thought it better to try once again herself to accomplish what she was so willingly set to do.

A punch, meant for Landailyn's face, but blocked by her forearm was fast, but not fast enough. Landailyn was getting tired of this, something had to happen and soon, she didn't know how long her men could hold out against an enemy of so many.

Three times, she literally handed Thalawen punches to her side and finally put a leg behind Thalawen's and at the same time with the help of her arm against the Elf's neck, tripped her to the hard floor.

Thalawen fell with a thud onto her back, the first time either one of them had gone down the two times they had fought, but it would not be for long. Regaining her wits in record time, she shoved a foot of her own against one of Landailyn's shins, before the blonde Elf could back off from her spot. Rolling backward, she grabbed the hilt of her sword on the way and stood to her very tall, full height.

Looking quickly for something to defend herself with, Landailyn suddenly remembered she too had a sword, even if it wasn't really hers and silently thanked Teredith for its find. The evil Elf in front of her merely stared, watching her every move, but seemed not to have recognized her own precious weapon.

The long blades met, Landailyn blocking again and counteracting. Block after block carried on and both were eventually learning each other's skills and way of combat. But Thalawen did not give up. Oh no, she was dedicated to her mission.

The two circled one another, with Thalawen making the first move. Fast as lightning, and before Landailyn could do a thing, Thalawen's hand had shot out and grabbed the front folds of her jerkin, pulled her forward, and rammed her sword into Landailyn's right shoulder. A sudden intake of air passed Landailyn's separated lips. A severe pang increased just below her right collarbone. She swallowed hard and looked down to see that that was where her enemy had buried a third of the flat silver blade.

Pure pleasure, plastered Saruman's aged and bearded face at his personal view of the shocked expression on the fair Elf's. His newest servant was doing a most adequate job in all he had asked.

With an iron grip, Thalawen placed her hand upon Landailyn's pierced shoulder, who could do nothing but try to keep her legs from buckling beneath her.

She leaned in close to whisper in the Elf's delicate ear. "You lose." Then released her hold on the girl, shoving her away and ripping out the sword along with this action. She watched in triumph as her opponent fell, backward to the cold stone flooring.

A single hand reached up to touch the open wound, bringing it back to see it covered in a sticky red liquid, as expected. Though luckily, the blade had just missed the top of her lung.

Now, it was time for the kill.

Giving her victim no time to recover, if one in her state even could, stalking forward, Thalawen put down a booted foot on the Elf captain's sternum, then brought the rough metal of her sword to meet the tender skin of her neck. The traitorous Elf could read pain and the slightest hint of trepidation in the blue eyes staring up at her.

If it came to it, Landailyn was not afraid to die.

Arwen on the other hand, was faring much better in her situation. The Mirkwood warriors were doing their best to look out for her, making sure she went untouched, as one beast after another came to replace ones she and themselves had felled.

Slaying yet another, a troubled feeling washed over her entire body, alerting her senses and redirecting her attention, taking in a scene that seemed to all play out in slow motion. "Thalawen, no!" Arwen screamed.

But neither looked away, the two's eyes remained locked.

A small trickle of blood slid down the side of Landailyn's neck, where the sword's edge was forced. She didn't speak, nor dare move an inch, just watched to see what the Elf would do. Prevail itself, sat in Thalawen's depths. More of a sign of life than had been in them the night before, for then they had appeared dead. But now, she had overpowered her adversary, she had finally won.

Arwen gained their position, keeping a safe several feet away.

Landailyn did not look well. Her complexion was far too pale for her thoughts of what it should normally be. And the blood stain on her chest was expanding in size. Arwen had to act quickly, either way, Landailyn's life was in danger.

"Thala, do you not recognize us?" She began in a gentle tone, speaking entirely in Elvish. "We are your friends, we care about you, Saruman does not! You are not his servant, you are your own person, Thalawen Whitestar!"

Still holding her sword firmly in place, her bright Orc-like eyes darted between her former friends.

As the Elf on the ground continued to stare, she could see a small change happening somewhere within her.

"Please Thala, Landy is going to die if you do not stop this now! I know you do not really want that, she is your friend now too, remember? Can you not remember before your capture?"

Thalawen shut her lids tightly. Part of her refused to listen to the Elven princess, yet there was another deep inside that did not. Another that wanted out of these evil dealings and to inflict no more pain.

"Come on Thala, you can do this! I know you are strong, I know you better than anyone! Many lives depend upon you now, but you can change their fates for the better! What will you do?"

A moment passed where nothing more was said, only more confused gestures. And finally, her eyes grew, as if in realization of her wrong doings, her breath coming in short rasps. She removed her foot, then the sword from Landailyn, backing up and dropping it. A clang breaking the silence. Even if the slightest, something had broken through the wall that kept her true self.

"No!" The Wizard stood from his black throne. "You will kill her! Both of them!"

But now, a part of her refused to listen to him. She turned on the elderly man, her face twisting in contempt.

"My dear, you know well what you cannot have, if you do not finish what has already been started." He watched her cunningly, as she showed more visible signs of agitation and uneasiness.

There was a full on war inside of her. So many different thoughts raced laggardly through an unnatural cloud of darkness hanging over her torn mind. Who was right anymore anyway? She didn't know. She couldn't think clearly.

But then again, why listen to anyone, when she could very well do things for herself? Be her own person.

What was it that she wanted?


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


Arwen quickly lowered to her knees beside her fallen companion, as the other dealt with trying to return from the overwhelming evil control. "Oh Landy," She was near tears, brushing away stray golden strands from her face.

"Think you got through?" Landailyn barely whispered, forcing a small smile for the princess's sake. She felt she was growing weaker by the minute.

"You're going to be alright, Landy." She tried to reassure, though it seemed to be said aloud more for herself. "Once Thala is herself again, we're getting out of here."

Landailyn only nodded. She knew her condition was serious and that the words may not come true.

Arwen kept looking behind to see what was happening, then back to the fallen she-Elf. Eventually, she found her head limp to the side, breathing shallow and eyes attempting to close. She was losing blood faster than before and Arwen knew there was no way of stopping it here and now.

"Landailyn! Landailyn, you must stay with me!" She shook her uninjured shoulder gently, only extracting a painful moan and her eyes closing all the way.

Soon, her current status would end fatally.


TBC ...