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 ...
