Everyone including the horses was becoming skittish at the sense around them. A few swung off and sent the horses to the edge of town to wait for them. Sydney felt a slight tug on her mind and senses that pulled her to the side. Scanning the area carefully, she pulled out her blades and held them tightly and poised for motion.
"Hey Elrohir, come-"
Sydney didn't finish her sentence as a body barreled into her and sent her crashing through the side window and into a building. The body that landed on her knocked the breath out of her and sent her blades clattering across the wood floor. Before taking a breath, she pushed the body off her and rolled to the side.
"Sydney!"
"Find the other humans. They're nearby and so are a few elves; find them!" she called back and tried to find her attacker.
She blocked out whatever they said back as she slowly crouched to pick up one of her blades. The other one was a few feet away against the wall as Sydney slowly moved towards it. Her Elven sense couldn't detect the other being in the house and that bothered her more than she wanted it to. Before crouching to pick up her blade she looked around her for any of the slightest movement. Dropping her gaze to her blade, she didn't hear or see the foot swinging towards her. Her head snapped back and almost fell on her back as she tried to clear her vision. Clearing it just in time, she saw her own blade swinging down towards her throat. Rolling to the side quickly, the tip of the blade nicked the side of her neck and she quickly stood to fend off the blows. While she defended herself, she looked at her attacker and evaluated the movements for weakness.
The attacker was a man, or a boy. He was just at that age that he was gangly and still growing but despite all of that he was good. Far too good for that age. His movements were swift and fluid like he had years of training; years that he did not possess. Swiftly ducking under his arm, she jabbed her elbow into his unprotected side and pushed him away. Beating down her pride, she lunged out the doorway and searched for an exit from the building. Seeing a door leading outside, she lunged for it but staggered to her knees when a blinding pain erupted in her head. She heard someone scream in agony and vaguely realized that it was her.
The door crashed open, surprising both inhabitants as Sydney pressed the heels of her hands against her temples. The boy retreated deeper into the house and barely escaped the arrow that Elrohir fired. Slinging his bow over his shoulder, Elrohir lifted Sydney to her feet and helped her out of the building. Reaching the middle of the street, Sydney fell to her knees and clenched her eyes shut. The pressure suddenly disappeared as quickly as it appeared and Sydney slowly lifted her head.
"Are you alright Sydney?" Elrohir asked and glanced over as Legolas drug a body out of the building.
"I think so. Where is Elladan?" she asked and spat a bit of blood onto the ground.
"With the others getting the survivors. What happened?" he asked as Sydney looked at the young boy.
Legolas had an arrow drawn and pointed towards the attacker as Sydney slowly moved to her feet. Walking past Elrohir, she knelt on the ground and reached for the young boy. Closing her eyes, she held his head between her hands and forced his mind open to her. Plunging in, she shifted through his memories and sensed a shadow lurking over his mind. Gasping in realization, she jerked out of his mind just as he awoke with a cry and pushed her away. Remembering his intentions, she moved just as he did and moved in front of Elrohir. A small dagger buried into her abdomen just as an arrow dug into his back. Elrohir moved back in shock as Sydney and the young boy fell to the ground. The air rushed out of Sydney's lungs as she hit the unyielding ground with the weight on her chest. She felt the blade actually move deeper and whimpered in pain before the body was pulled off her.
"Legolas help me," Elrohir ordered as he inspected the wound and dagger.
"What can I do?"
"I need to get the dagger out and stop the bleeding. Hold her down," he instructed and moved to pull the dagger out.
Counting down from three, he slid the dagger out as Sydney tried to curl into fetal position. She was turning a deathly shade of paleness and was sweating as she grabbed Elrohir by the front of his tunic and pulled him down to her with sudden strength.
"Assassin…Elrond…royal…Elessar."
"Sydney's grip loosened suddenly as she lost consciousness and Elrohir sat back in shock. Legolas looked at him worried as the color seemed to drain from his friend's face.
"Elrohir, how do you fare?"
Elrohir blinked and looked at Legolas before looking back to Sydney. Realizing that she was still bleeding, he pressed against the wound and looked over his shoulder at the small group in the distance.
"ELLADAN!"
Legolas flinched part in shock and part in pain. He had never heard Elrohir yell that loudly and definitely not with that twinge of fear. Apparently neither had Elladan for he appeared next to them almost immediately.
"What is it brother?" he asked before catching sight of Sydney. "Valar! Is she well?"
"Ride as quickly as you can home and guard father. Send a rider to all the kingdoms with a message of extreme urgency. An assassin is loose and going after the royal families. Send a messenger to the dwarf king, Lothlorien, Mirkwood, Rohan, and Gondor. Have them ride with the utmost speed," he ordered as he fought to control the bleeding.
"Are you sure brother?"
"Do it now!" he snapped angrily and jerked his head around to glare at his brother.
Legolas gaped at Elrohir, shocked that he would use that tone with his twin brother. Elrohir was usually the calm one and rarely raised his voice to anyone, least of all his brother. It must have shocked Elladan into movement for the next minute; he was atop a horse and disappeared into the forest at a gallop.
"We have to get the survivors and Sydney to Imladris. There may be evil lurking nearby," Elrohir said and called the horses. "Go and tell the warriors to escort the survivors to Imladris."
Elrohir's horse stood by him patiently as he lifted Sydney from the ground. Mounting behind her, he turned his horse towards home and spoke a few words to the stallion. Legolas suddenly appeared at his side and started to ride with him. Without saying a word to each other, the two warriors rode hard into the forest. The horses moved quickly through the woods, knowing the woods like no other. Their lithe, powerful bodies flew over the ground and made barely a sound. Elrohir leaned over slightly and pulled Sydney closer to him, feeling the wetness of her blood on his arm. Her words ran through is mind as he stirred over them and what they could mean.
When the path leading into Imladris widened, the horses sped up and galloped across the stone bridge and into the court yard. Elrohir saw his father hurrying down the steps with Elladan at his side. Swinging off his horse, he pulled Sydney down and rushed to meet his father. With a swift glance over his son for wounds, Elrond turned his focus to the bleeding body in Elrohir's arms.
"Take her inside, quickly," Elrond ordered as he held Elrohir's shoulder and pulled him towards the steps.
Rushing up the steps and towards the hospital wing, Sydney suddenly jerked in his arms and started coughing. It sounded more like choking as Elrohir rushed the last steps and set her on a bed. Blood formed a trail down her chin as she gasped for air and clutched at Elrohir's tunic. Elrond suddenly appeared on the other side of the bed and slid his hands under her back.
"Help me sit her up," he said as Elrohir complied.
Swing his arm back, Elrond hit her forcibly with the flat of his hand on her back. Feeling her lungs clear, Sydney took a gasping breath as they lowered her back to the bed. Elrond started to efficiently clean the wound as Sydney weakly smiled.
"I'm…staying true…my word…my lord…I'll carry…to my grave," she murmured and flinched.
"You are not going to die Sydney," Elrohir said from beside Elladan.
"Ask Elrond…can sense…blade…poisoned…ancient poison."
"Lord Elrond?" Legolas asked to confirm Sydney's words.
"It may not be too late," he replied but he could see a black tinge along the veins every time her heart pumped.
Sydney smiled weakly, knowing that Elrond was trying to prote4ct his sons. A sudden bolt of pain raced up her spine and she arched against it with a silent cry. Legolas appeared next to her and held her hand as she clenched her teeth in pain. Elladan and Elrohir stood behind him silently holding each other up.
"Hang on Sydney," Elladan said as Elrond tried to heal the wound.
"Sorry…Elladan…never forget…you and 'Ro," she whispered quietly.
With a sudden burst of energy, she reached up and placed her hands on either side of Legolas' head and clenched her eyes shut. Legolas gasped her grip tightened and knowledge flooded his brain at a painful rate. When it almost became unbearable, Sydney released him and slumped back to the bed. Legolas fell back and almost knocked the twins over. The lights in the room and from outside were painfully bright as his eyes rolled into the back of his head and he slumped to the floor.
Everyone was shocked into silence before Elrond felt for a pulse in Sydney. His head bowed in sorry and respect before looking up at his sons.
"She has passed on."
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Okay first let me apologize immensely for taking so long on this story. I don't know what happened to me. I went into withdrawals I guess and it took me a while to get out of my little slump. Well please review for me and hopefully I'll have the next chapter up quicker than this one. Peace.
