Random Orcs, or We Fell to Middle Earth
Chapter Two: Orcs R Us--Grammatically, We Is Orcs
by Suzy Tolkien
For the next few days, Legolas and I headed up into the mountains, and I pried everything about this new land that I could from him. Political commentary, as well as other things, like how to make a good loaf of bread. I have no clue why elves make bread, but this one did. A few times, we stopped and ate, or rested for a few hours. But his mission was apparently urgent. And I had nowhere else to be.
Rivendell loomed at the edge of my mind, shadowy and distant. Something to wonder about, but not really notice. To the east and south, I sensed a darkness spreading but as there was little I could do about it, I left it alone.
Alayna and I had the occasional mental conference in our dreams. She told me about the political strife in the grasslands, I mentioned Lothlorien and Mirkwood. Oddly, that dream of evil riders had been something the herd had seen several months ago. Strange that it would have stuck with them, but it had been so pungently evil as to last at the back of the throat for years.
The higher we climbed, the colder the air became. I was grateful to the Marquis whose greatcoat I had borrowed so long ago. Legolas didn't seem to feel the cold, of course. Depend on irritating Elves to be like that. There was no real pass over the mountains, just many little game paths. Sometimes we spent half the day making our way up only to find that the path ended at a sheer cliff.
After the third time of that sort of frustration, I began climbing the cliff-face. Legolas appeared startled, then followed me. We dealt with many of them this way, climbing up clinging to granite and bits of root.
I was in the lead, in near twilight on about the sixth day since I'd met him and the ninth since I'd been dumped into Middle Earth, when we encountered some trouble.
Halfway up the cliff, I paused, ears straining. I'd heard something from below us. I glanced back to spot an orc aiming a crossbow at us. "Shit! Legolas!"
Without a thought, I shoved away from the cliff, flipping backwards to land on the orc, shattering its back as my feet landed on its shoulders. I hadn't stopped it firing though, and the arrow was flying towards Legolas, aimed at his middle back. I turned, arms out as he released from the cliff.
He landed in my arms, and we fell backwards, landing on the body of the orc.
Another orc came out of the trees and I shoved the elf out of my arms, rolling to my feet, sword singing as I pulled it from the sheath. I caught the first blow, then danced away, leading the thing away from Legolas, giving him time to get out his bow and arrow. For there were more coming, tramping madly up the path from some deep cave entrance we must have passed on our way up.
And they were out for our deaths.
I sliced the head off my opponent, and turned, ready to take on another. Legolas was half-crouched behind me, bow out. He was pulling arrows and firing as the orcs stepped out of the trees. One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Their momentum kept them coming, stumbling out straight into his line of fire, until one behind called a halt. Their own archers were coming to the fore.
Patting Legolas on the back, I took off at a run towards the trees, knowing our only hope was me getting there before they were ready.
I made it. Barely. Three of them fell with my first slash, but I was quickly surrounded in the melee by more. As I killed one, another took its place. Behind me and to my left, I could hear Legolas' bow singing as he took out more. Some of them were my own opponents, but I wasn't upset.
After all, twenty to one odds daunt even me.
I lost the greatcoat at some point, but ignored that, since it had been an encumbrance, anyway. Slash, parry, slice, behead, the dance went on, fueled by my boredom over the last several days, and the good food I'd been eating. The orcs died, their bodies a desecration to the forest and mountains, fetid stinking blood eating into the carpet of grass and leaves.
The trees hampered them as much as they helped me. Without the ability to charge me en mass, they were left to going at me by twos and threes. Easy odds. By the time the orcs had been reduced to ten, they were running from us, frightened at being overmatched so well.
I stood, panting, sword still held out as they disappeared back the way they'd come. My breath steamed into the air, drifting away in the darkness.
"They'll come back with more."
I swiped my free hand at my forehead, wiping the sweat away, then grimaced. The whole hand was coated in orc-brains, and I vaguely remembered bashing the head of one of their leaders in. "Yeah."
Quickly, I bent and swiped the sword blade clean, then resheathed it. By mutual agreement, the two of us checked the bodies for any usable arrows and other weapons. I gained another four knives, crudely made, but still sharp, and a crossbow with several quivers. My greatcoat I found under the body of an orc, soaked in blood and gore. With a grimace, I retrieved it. I'd be able to clean it when we got to Rivendell. For now, I would still need the warmth. Even if it did smell like dead orc.
Legolas retrieved many of his own arrows, and decided that the orc arrows would work, even though they were slightly shorter than his own.
We went back towards the cliff-face, listening to the stillness in the air. "You go up first, Legolas."
I wanted him watching my ascent with his bow nocked. I didn't want to have to worry about him being left behind. As he climbed, I watched the woods, listening with my instincts as the little woodland creatures slowly began to return to their routines. Several chattering squirrels argued over the body of one orc, while the night birds began coming out, hunting their small prey.
Legolas whistled down to me, and I resheathed my sword. I jumped for the fourth set of handholds, then began climbing my way up. I dispensed with the need for caution, and almost fell twice. But we needed to be away from this area, as far ahead on the trail as we could. For the orcs must have other ways of following us and getting up the cliff wouldn't trouble them at all.
We walked and jogged long into the night, climbing four more steep sections, and finally realising we might actually fall off the mountain in the dark before we stopped. Legolas took first watch and I curled up into the greatcoat, wincing at the smell, and slept.
--
Legolas woke me out of an endless replay of the battle. In slow motion I'd rewatched every stroke of my sword, ever movement of my body. And felt every blow I'd received. I was glad to be awake. My stiff arms and back were less happy.
There was a bruise on Legolas' cheek, and I blinked, wondering when he'd gotten it.
He grinned, "Our fall wasn't quite so gentle as it might have seemed."
"Ah." I stretched, wincing as several bruises rippled. "Sleep, Legolas."
"My thanks." He curled up into a ball, and I sensed he fell into the dreamless sleep the elves seemed to have quickly.
The stars above me whirled in their silent dance, and I idly picked out shapes that might be constellations. One looked like a car, another seemed to be the Sydney Opera House. Dawn was only a few hours away, and I frowned. Legolas seemed to need sleep, yet had still taken the bulk of the night. I could survive on far less sleep than I'd been getting if need be.
I'd have to mention that later.
Which reminded me that I needed to check my ribs and extremities. The dragon mail had kept me from getting slashed up, but I'd still gotten bruises from some of the strikes.
I pulled my shirt off, then unzipped the upper half of the mail, wincing as I saw the large bruises spreading across my chest and left arm. The right had several around the elbow. I had a feeling my back probably mirrored my front. Especially since my normal tactic when wearing the mail was to forget about protecting my body from strikes. I tended to get more bruised, but killed more that way.
With a wince, I rezipped the mail and settled my knives again. I wondered if my healing abilities had passed over into this universe. It might be a good idea to find out, since we were sure to encounter many more orcs.
The slight trance was enough to find them, bubbling away as they reknit my ruptured blood vessels, cell by cell. They seemed to be going somewhat slower, but then, I think I might have had a cracked rib at one point. So, a slow healing of bruises wasn't going to bother me.
The rest of the night passed quickly, the light in the East slowly growing, tipping the rocks around us with a pearly glow. The trees were scraggly, giving way to scrub as we had reached the three-quarter mark up the mountain. There was still days of travel to go. I pulled a strip of meat from my pocket and munched, grimacing at the slight taint of orc blood.
"Legolas, time for breakfast."
--
The orcs didn't find us again until we were over the summit and heading down the mountain. Legolas had explained that orcs really didn't like the sun, for which I was grateful. We had been watching for them, and Legolas caught the glint of metal that signaled the ambush.
I studied the area, trying to find a way around them. There wasn't one. "Legolas, I don't suppose you can fly?"
He looked at me, "Are you serious?"
"Yes." I pulled the crossbow around to the front (it hung from its strap down my back and shoulder), and cursed the lack of time I'd spent practising so my use of it would be quick and smooth. I knew the rudiments, but it had a slightly different configuration than what I'd been used to.
We were hidden behind several bushes, watching the area down slope for movement. So far, the ambushers hadn't noticed us. This was good, because we had lots of time to plan our next move. It was bad, since it meant once we did move, they would probably see us immediately.
"Legolas, how well do you fight in the dark?" I was beginning to have an idea. I closed my eyes and touched the ambient magic around us, confirming that I could use it quickly.
"Fairly."
"Then we wait until full dark. I'll go down first, you follow me very slowly. Once I've engaged them, I'll try and attract them out into range for you." I looked at him, "And this is something they won't expect. I can make bursts of light, will you be able to handle that?"
He frowned, "The flashes will startle my eyes, but they shouldn't cause me undo harm."
I nodded, "I'm going to try sustained light, first. It should scare them somewhat, since you said they don't like the sun."
"Which is why you wish to await full dark."
"Exactly."
He smiled, "I would not want you as my enemy, Marya."
I looked at him gravely, "As long as you seek to destroy Mordor, you shall not have me as such."
"Thank you."
We waited in silence for the evening to deepen, and night to fall on the mountain. I absently checked my knives, making sure they were ready to be drawn. The four orc-knives I had shoved into my belt, I also loosened. I reached for the ambient magic, pulling it into myself, and preparing it for its task in the fight ahead. Without those blasts of light, we would have no advantage. For I had a feeling the orcs might smell us long before we got there.
Finally, it was night, the moon hiding behind clouds. It was going to rain the next day. I hate walking in mud.
I lay down and began slithering down the slope on all fours. Silently I made my way to the right side of the ambushers. A jingle of chain caught my ear, and I froze, listening as one of them muttered to another. It seemed an "I'm so bored now." mutter, so after a moment, I continued on my way.
Five minutes later, I was in the perfect position to rain arrows on our foes, sending them into a crossfire position with Legolas. I picked my first three targets, then waited. Oh. Right. Signal. I whistled softly, knowing his keen hearing would pick it up.
What seemed like seconds later, a soft whistle echoed across the slope.
I fired, taking two of my targets out before the others even noticed. The crossbow got jammed, then, and I swore under my breath. I heard the orcs on Legolas' side suddenly start yelling, and cursed again. "Luthien!" I cried, then sprang into the trees, slicing the head off one orc while throwing a knife at another.
Bright light broke over the battle, shimmering at the edges as it glowed yellowly down. The orcs gave a shout of fear, and broke into a melee, scrabbling away from the 'sun', trying to get back to their caves and the darkness.
I took out several more before the spell-flare faded, and the orcs began slowing their riot. They didn't have time for regrouping as I sheered down through rows and rows of them, the sword biting deep, and their heads and legs and arms falling away, twisted and torn. I lost five knives, and the three orc knives that were left ended buried in the necks of their former owners.
They began to regroup, and I tore on, listening to the other side, to Legolas, steadily shooting arrow after arrow. Every arrow found its target. Every target died. But he would be short, soon, and I would need help.
I lost count of how many I'd killed, when I saw a concerted front starting back up towards us. I'd come further down the mountain, but I could still hear Legolas' bow, far in the distance as I shattered the night with another burst of radiance.
The orcs didn't run, this time, having guessed I was the instigator. With a soft curse, I let the light fall, knowing I needed the darkness to stay alive in this world of shadows, pain and rage.
Orcs behind me were regrouping, turning to come after me. I estimated there were twenty to thirty still left on the slopes, with more coming from below. I smiled grimly as I ducked behind a tree. We might not make it through this unscathed. I'd be OK, but Legolas would not. And damned if I was going to get him this far to lose to these ugly creatures.
The sound of the bow stopped, and I realised he must be out of arrows.
I wondered how close we were to Rivendell, or if it even mattered.
With a sigh, I drove into the orcs that lay between allies; my sword, already dark with blood and squishy things, becoming darker. I felt something slice into the back of my shirt, and thought sadly of losing yet another t-shirt. And it was the last such t-shirt, until I reached civilisation again. Coffee...
Turning, I sent a knife into the orc's throat, then I soldiered on, destroying as I went, no longer caring what sort of noise I made, as long as they died fast. They did.
Legolas met me halfway, his long knife almost as good as my sword. We nodded over the bodies, then turned and melted silently into the shadows as another group came behind me into the passage choked with bodies. They studied their comrades, then seemed to decide on something. One of them ran off the way they'd come. I predicted more orcs were being mustered, and wondered exactly what to do.
If I did magic, it would be like walking up to Sauron and pinching his cheek. Bad idea. I could probably take him, but something told me it wasn't my fight. And it would be showing my hand too soon. I didn't want him knowing a major power had awoken in this land of Middle Earth.
Maybe that was Fate talking. I frowned, leaning against a tree and closing my eyes. I focused below us, reaching for the orcs. They were sort of an oily green to my inner sight. More than fifty were gathering, making ready to come back up to meet us. My body whimpered in weariness. There was no way we would win. I turned to face the area they were in, and pondered my options.
Beyond the orcs lay freedom.
There was forest all down this section of mountain. I pondered that, then looked at the trees around me. They all grew fairly close together, their branches mingling even close to the ground where they were thick.
"Legolas, how's your tree climbing ability?"
He looked at me, then up at the trees; a slow grin touched his lips. "I'm a Sylvan Elf. It's fairly good."
"Wonderful." I quickly leaned over and wiped the sword blade clean on an orc cape, then sheathed it. Next I checked that the remaining knives were secure. "Right. Let's see how this works."
Without another word I hoisted myself into the tree and clambered to about the middle. I then stood on the fairly broad branches. Hanging on to surrounding branches and balancing, I made my way to where the branches of another tree crossed my path. Lightly I stepped over, the branches hardly moving as my weight transferred over. It's good to be able to use TK to make yourself weigh less.
I heard Legolas slip into the tree behind me and walked on to the trunk.
In this softly journeying, sometimes detouring around odd gaps, way, we made our journey down the mountain.
When we came upon the orcs, we moved as silently as possible, and I hoped they wouldn't look up. If they did, we would be screwed. They gathered below the trees, almost a hundred strong now, gabbling amongst themselves as they prepared to charge up the hill after us. I caught a snatch of phrase at one point and almost laughed aloud. They thought I was an elf!
As we left them behind, I didn't relax. Any sound, any movement, and they'd be after us. And, while we were now on the Rivendell side of the orcs, I didn't think we could run for it. Not with them so close.
The night stars rarely twinkled out from behind the clouds as we made our way. I smelled rain on the way and pondered the irritations of the day to come. I briefly considered the knives I'd lost, but then decided not to think about that. I could always buy more. Or make them myself.
It was a lost art, most places, but I could magically create knives. It had saved my life before, and it probably would again. But for now we couldn't stop and spend the half-day meditating that it would take.
Rivendell called, portents and horrors and epic quests to fulfill.
After an exhausting three hours of tree walking, we felt it safe enough to drop back down to earth. For a moment we paused, resting in the darkness. I listened back along our path, feeling for the orcs. They were angry, full of rage that we seemed to have escaped. For now they seemed to be searching further up the mountain. But I was betting they'd be our way by morning.
Legolas looked grave as I told him all of this softly. He looked at the sky, and then at me. "Can you run?"
"If I have to," I replied wearily. This last leg would probably send me into a slight endurance fever, but I was willing to risk it. "How far is it to Rivendell?"
"Another four days."
I closed my eyes, then sighed, "Let's go. I'd rather break a leg than be captured and killed by orcs."
"There would be worse torments before you died."
"Great. I knew I didn't like them."
He led the way, starting off at a ground-devouring slow lope. I followed, the adrenaline slowly fading, but bolstered by other energies. The cloud cover spread a half-light around us, making it less difficult to see than other nights had been. It kept us from breaking our necks in the dark. Always a good thing.
For hours we ran, alternating between a slow jog, and the ground-devouring lope. We ran until I couldn't sense the orcs behind us anymore. Until the sun was beginning to touch the tops of the mountains with a gilding of gold. As it grew lighter, the clouds got thicker and the rain I had dreaded began falling in a slow drizzle.
We stopped for a bit under an overhang. Legolas made me sleep, and I went, too exhausted to protest. My dreams were full of things crawling under the earth, and something buried in the mountains that called itself Gollum. It lost its Precious as I slept, the dream turning back and forth. Sometimes I was Gollum, sometimes Bilbo. The great Eye watched it all, irritated and lost to its Ring.
Legolas woke me at midday, and we ate some waybread then continued on, running towards Rivendell. Orcs didn't have to sleep.
I began losing track of time as the rain poured down on us, soaking us and sending the ground into so much muck and mud. By the time night had fallen again, I was a shivering muddy wreck, unable to do more than jog. Blind to many things, I barely noticed Legolas halting us for a time until he tried to get me to sleep.
"No."
"But you need rest."
"Legolas, I will not be able to." I gritted my teeth, forcing my weary eyes into focus. He was looking at me in concern. "I hear them behind us, making up the time we lose at every stop, at every moment of rest. They run, Legolas. And they do not tire as we do."
He handed me a wafer of bread and I ate it, not even tasting it. Good for me, yes. But I was exhausted beyond endurance. I needed meat and potatoes, and some ale. A nice bottle of vodka and some cherry juice sounded so good. And coffee...
--
I awoke what seemed only several minutes later, my mind vaguely restored and my body screaming for more. The orcs were close behind us now, the hours we had rested giving them time to catch up. "We must go." I croaked, struggling to my feet.
Legolas looked at me, "They are close?"
"Very." I looked to the west, wishing I might see the famous Rivendell there, twinkling in the rain.
He took my hand and led us back out into the rain, heading down the slope. The mud made the footing treacherous, and I fell more than once, garnering more bruises each time. Towards evening Legolas himself fell, getting his blond hair completely grimy. I felt sorry absently, but was more worried that we make it through the night.
The mountainside was coming to an end, though, and level ground would be a welcome change.
A road lay to the south, winding gently between the official mountain pass and the further western downs. I hadn't asked why we had taken the scenic route, but I had guessed it to be slightly less dangerous.
Slightly. There were orcs behind us, and a day's run before us to safety.
The flatness seemed to give me energy, and I began loping, pulling Legolas with me. Scrubby trees accepted us into their refuge, and we went on slightly more stable now that the road was not slanting forward.
Miles went by, we ran in an almost soundless world of rain and trees. Far behind I could feel the orcs slowly breaking off their pursuit, and I wondered if they had other allies in this land. Or if they were afraid of going too close to Rivendell. I decided it was the latter as the land slowly changed, warming slightly, gaining a sense of peace. I was betting it came from Rivendell itself.
It was a welcome feeling after the pain and exhaustion and dirt of the last days. For one thing, I had at least three cracked ribs that I had ignored all this time, and they were slowly coming out to play and make my journeying miserable.
My breath began to come in shorter and shorter gasps as the pain grew, and I guessed that one had punctured a lung after all this time. Not unheard of, when I wasn't able to heal it while well-rested and energised. And the magic blasts I'd called had drained me oddly, a surprise, since at the time I hadn't felt so much drained as energised. But then, I could have been spending too much on You Can't See This shields. Which would explain the sense of not-there-ness I was beginning to feel as we crested a short rise.
Below us lay the road, stretching out to either side. On it galloped a rider on a white horse, white-blonde hair glinting in the half-light.
Legolas released my hand, and I sagged, my energy finally gone. I heard him greet the other, then nothing for a while before I sensed I lay sideways on the back of a horse, Legolas behind me keeping me from falling as the horse made its way down the road.
We topped another rise, and I heard a river. Legolas relaxed behind me, his breath calm, "Imladris. Rivendell. We are safe."
And my mind released me, spiraling down into a comfortable darkness where I knew no more.
Chapter Two: Orcs R Us--Grammatically, We Is Orcs
by Suzy Tolkien
For the next few days, Legolas and I headed up into the mountains, and I pried everything about this new land that I could from him. Political commentary, as well as other things, like how to make a good loaf of bread. I have no clue why elves make bread, but this one did. A few times, we stopped and ate, or rested for a few hours. But his mission was apparently urgent. And I had nowhere else to be.
Rivendell loomed at the edge of my mind, shadowy and distant. Something to wonder about, but not really notice. To the east and south, I sensed a darkness spreading but as there was little I could do about it, I left it alone.
Alayna and I had the occasional mental conference in our dreams. She told me about the political strife in the grasslands, I mentioned Lothlorien and Mirkwood. Oddly, that dream of evil riders had been something the herd had seen several months ago. Strange that it would have stuck with them, but it had been so pungently evil as to last at the back of the throat for years.
The higher we climbed, the colder the air became. I was grateful to the Marquis whose greatcoat I had borrowed so long ago. Legolas didn't seem to feel the cold, of course. Depend on irritating Elves to be like that. There was no real pass over the mountains, just many little game paths. Sometimes we spent half the day making our way up only to find that the path ended at a sheer cliff.
After the third time of that sort of frustration, I began climbing the cliff-face. Legolas appeared startled, then followed me. We dealt with many of them this way, climbing up clinging to granite and bits of root.
I was in the lead, in near twilight on about the sixth day since I'd met him and the ninth since I'd been dumped into Middle Earth, when we encountered some trouble.
Halfway up the cliff, I paused, ears straining. I'd heard something from below us. I glanced back to spot an orc aiming a crossbow at us. "Shit! Legolas!"
Without a thought, I shoved away from the cliff, flipping backwards to land on the orc, shattering its back as my feet landed on its shoulders. I hadn't stopped it firing though, and the arrow was flying towards Legolas, aimed at his middle back. I turned, arms out as he released from the cliff.
He landed in my arms, and we fell backwards, landing on the body of the orc.
Another orc came out of the trees and I shoved the elf out of my arms, rolling to my feet, sword singing as I pulled it from the sheath. I caught the first blow, then danced away, leading the thing away from Legolas, giving him time to get out his bow and arrow. For there were more coming, tramping madly up the path from some deep cave entrance we must have passed on our way up.
And they were out for our deaths.
I sliced the head off my opponent, and turned, ready to take on another. Legolas was half-crouched behind me, bow out. He was pulling arrows and firing as the orcs stepped out of the trees. One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Their momentum kept them coming, stumbling out straight into his line of fire, until one behind called a halt. Their own archers were coming to the fore.
Patting Legolas on the back, I took off at a run towards the trees, knowing our only hope was me getting there before they were ready.
I made it. Barely. Three of them fell with my first slash, but I was quickly surrounded in the melee by more. As I killed one, another took its place. Behind me and to my left, I could hear Legolas' bow singing as he took out more. Some of them were my own opponents, but I wasn't upset.
After all, twenty to one odds daunt even me.
I lost the greatcoat at some point, but ignored that, since it had been an encumbrance, anyway. Slash, parry, slice, behead, the dance went on, fueled by my boredom over the last several days, and the good food I'd been eating. The orcs died, their bodies a desecration to the forest and mountains, fetid stinking blood eating into the carpet of grass and leaves.
The trees hampered them as much as they helped me. Without the ability to charge me en mass, they were left to going at me by twos and threes. Easy odds. By the time the orcs had been reduced to ten, they were running from us, frightened at being overmatched so well.
I stood, panting, sword still held out as they disappeared back the way they'd come. My breath steamed into the air, drifting away in the darkness.
"They'll come back with more."
I swiped my free hand at my forehead, wiping the sweat away, then grimaced. The whole hand was coated in orc-brains, and I vaguely remembered bashing the head of one of their leaders in. "Yeah."
Quickly, I bent and swiped the sword blade clean, then resheathed it. By mutual agreement, the two of us checked the bodies for any usable arrows and other weapons. I gained another four knives, crudely made, but still sharp, and a crossbow with several quivers. My greatcoat I found under the body of an orc, soaked in blood and gore. With a grimace, I retrieved it. I'd be able to clean it when we got to Rivendell. For now, I would still need the warmth. Even if it did smell like dead orc.
Legolas retrieved many of his own arrows, and decided that the orc arrows would work, even though they were slightly shorter than his own.
We went back towards the cliff-face, listening to the stillness in the air. "You go up first, Legolas."
I wanted him watching my ascent with his bow nocked. I didn't want to have to worry about him being left behind. As he climbed, I watched the woods, listening with my instincts as the little woodland creatures slowly began to return to their routines. Several chattering squirrels argued over the body of one orc, while the night birds began coming out, hunting their small prey.
Legolas whistled down to me, and I resheathed my sword. I jumped for the fourth set of handholds, then began climbing my way up. I dispensed with the need for caution, and almost fell twice. But we needed to be away from this area, as far ahead on the trail as we could. For the orcs must have other ways of following us and getting up the cliff wouldn't trouble them at all.
We walked and jogged long into the night, climbing four more steep sections, and finally realising we might actually fall off the mountain in the dark before we stopped. Legolas took first watch and I curled up into the greatcoat, wincing at the smell, and slept.
--
Legolas woke me out of an endless replay of the battle. In slow motion I'd rewatched every stroke of my sword, ever movement of my body. And felt every blow I'd received. I was glad to be awake. My stiff arms and back were less happy.
There was a bruise on Legolas' cheek, and I blinked, wondering when he'd gotten it.
He grinned, "Our fall wasn't quite so gentle as it might have seemed."
"Ah." I stretched, wincing as several bruises rippled. "Sleep, Legolas."
"My thanks." He curled up into a ball, and I sensed he fell into the dreamless sleep the elves seemed to have quickly.
The stars above me whirled in their silent dance, and I idly picked out shapes that might be constellations. One looked like a car, another seemed to be the Sydney Opera House. Dawn was only a few hours away, and I frowned. Legolas seemed to need sleep, yet had still taken the bulk of the night. I could survive on far less sleep than I'd been getting if need be.
I'd have to mention that later.
Which reminded me that I needed to check my ribs and extremities. The dragon mail had kept me from getting slashed up, but I'd still gotten bruises from some of the strikes.
I pulled my shirt off, then unzipped the upper half of the mail, wincing as I saw the large bruises spreading across my chest and left arm. The right had several around the elbow. I had a feeling my back probably mirrored my front. Especially since my normal tactic when wearing the mail was to forget about protecting my body from strikes. I tended to get more bruised, but killed more that way.
With a wince, I rezipped the mail and settled my knives again. I wondered if my healing abilities had passed over into this universe. It might be a good idea to find out, since we were sure to encounter many more orcs.
The slight trance was enough to find them, bubbling away as they reknit my ruptured blood vessels, cell by cell. They seemed to be going somewhat slower, but then, I think I might have had a cracked rib at one point. So, a slow healing of bruises wasn't going to bother me.
The rest of the night passed quickly, the light in the East slowly growing, tipping the rocks around us with a pearly glow. The trees were scraggly, giving way to scrub as we had reached the three-quarter mark up the mountain. There was still days of travel to go. I pulled a strip of meat from my pocket and munched, grimacing at the slight taint of orc blood.
"Legolas, time for breakfast."
--
The orcs didn't find us again until we were over the summit and heading down the mountain. Legolas had explained that orcs really didn't like the sun, for which I was grateful. We had been watching for them, and Legolas caught the glint of metal that signaled the ambush.
I studied the area, trying to find a way around them. There wasn't one. "Legolas, I don't suppose you can fly?"
He looked at me, "Are you serious?"
"Yes." I pulled the crossbow around to the front (it hung from its strap down my back and shoulder), and cursed the lack of time I'd spent practising so my use of it would be quick and smooth. I knew the rudiments, but it had a slightly different configuration than what I'd been used to.
We were hidden behind several bushes, watching the area down slope for movement. So far, the ambushers hadn't noticed us. This was good, because we had lots of time to plan our next move. It was bad, since it meant once we did move, they would probably see us immediately.
"Legolas, how well do you fight in the dark?" I was beginning to have an idea. I closed my eyes and touched the ambient magic around us, confirming that I could use it quickly.
"Fairly."
"Then we wait until full dark. I'll go down first, you follow me very slowly. Once I've engaged them, I'll try and attract them out into range for you." I looked at him, "And this is something they won't expect. I can make bursts of light, will you be able to handle that?"
He frowned, "The flashes will startle my eyes, but they shouldn't cause me undo harm."
I nodded, "I'm going to try sustained light, first. It should scare them somewhat, since you said they don't like the sun."
"Which is why you wish to await full dark."
"Exactly."
He smiled, "I would not want you as my enemy, Marya."
I looked at him gravely, "As long as you seek to destroy Mordor, you shall not have me as such."
"Thank you."
We waited in silence for the evening to deepen, and night to fall on the mountain. I absently checked my knives, making sure they were ready to be drawn. The four orc-knives I had shoved into my belt, I also loosened. I reached for the ambient magic, pulling it into myself, and preparing it for its task in the fight ahead. Without those blasts of light, we would have no advantage. For I had a feeling the orcs might smell us long before we got there.
Finally, it was night, the moon hiding behind clouds. It was going to rain the next day. I hate walking in mud.
I lay down and began slithering down the slope on all fours. Silently I made my way to the right side of the ambushers. A jingle of chain caught my ear, and I froze, listening as one of them muttered to another. It seemed an "I'm so bored now." mutter, so after a moment, I continued on my way.
Five minutes later, I was in the perfect position to rain arrows on our foes, sending them into a crossfire position with Legolas. I picked my first three targets, then waited. Oh. Right. Signal. I whistled softly, knowing his keen hearing would pick it up.
What seemed like seconds later, a soft whistle echoed across the slope.
I fired, taking two of my targets out before the others even noticed. The crossbow got jammed, then, and I swore under my breath. I heard the orcs on Legolas' side suddenly start yelling, and cursed again. "Luthien!" I cried, then sprang into the trees, slicing the head off one orc while throwing a knife at another.
Bright light broke over the battle, shimmering at the edges as it glowed yellowly down. The orcs gave a shout of fear, and broke into a melee, scrabbling away from the 'sun', trying to get back to their caves and the darkness.
I took out several more before the spell-flare faded, and the orcs began slowing their riot. They didn't have time for regrouping as I sheered down through rows and rows of them, the sword biting deep, and their heads and legs and arms falling away, twisted and torn. I lost five knives, and the three orc knives that were left ended buried in the necks of their former owners.
They began to regroup, and I tore on, listening to the other side, to Legolas, steadily shooting arrow after arrow. Every arrow found its target. Every target died. But he would be short, soon, and I would need help.
I lost count of how many I'd killed, when I saw a concerted front starting back up towards us. I'd come further down the mountain, but I could still hear Legolas' bow, far in the distance as I shattered the night with another burst of radiance.
The orcs didn't run, this time, having guessed I was the instigator. With a soft curse, I let the light fall, knowing I needed the darkness to stay alive in this world of shadows, pain and rage.
Orcs behind me were regrouping, turning to come after me. I estimated there were twenty to thirty still left on the slopes, with more coming from below. I smiled grimly as I ducked behind a tree. We might not make it through this unscathed. I'd be OK, but Legolas would not. And damned if I was going to get him this far to lose to these ugly creatures.
The sound of the bow stopped, and I realised he must be out of arrows.
I wondered how close we were to Rivendell, or if it even mattered.
With a sigh, I drove into the orcs that lay between allies; my sword, already dark with blood and squishy things, becoming darker. I felt something slice into the back of my shirt, and thought sadly of losing yet another t-shirt. And it was the last such t-shirt, until I reached civilisation again. Coffee...
Turning, I sent a knife into the orc's throat, then I soldiered on, destroying as I went, no longer caring what sort of noise I made, as long as they died fast. They did.
Legolas met me halfway, his long knife almost as good as my sword. We nodded over the bodies, then turned and melted silently into the shadows as another group came behind me into the passage choked with bodies. They studied their comrades, then seemed to decide on something. One of them ran off the way they'd come. I predicted more orcs were being mustered, and wondered exactly what to do.
If I did magic, it would be like walking up to Sauron and pinching his cheek. Bad idea. I could probably take him, but something told me it wasn't my fight. And it would be showing my hand too soon. I didn't want him knowing a major power had awoken in this land of Middle Earth.
Maybe that was Fate talking. I frowned, leaning against a tree and closing my eyes. I focused below us, reaching for the orcs. They were sort of an oily green to my inner sight. More than fifty were gathering, making ready to come back up to meet us. My body whimpered in weariness. There was no way we would win. I turned to face the area they were in, and pondered my options.
Beyond the orcs lay freedom.
There was forest all down this section of mountain. I pondered that, then looked at the trees around me. They all grew fairly close together, their branches mingling even close to the ground where they were thick.
"Legolas, how's your tree climbing ability?"
He looked at me, then up at the trees; a slow grin touched his lips. "I'm a Sylvan Elf. It's fairly good."
"Wonderful." I quickly leaned over and wiped the sword blade clean on an orc cape, then sheathed it. Next I checked that the remaining knives were secure. "Right. Let's see how this works."
Without another word I hoisted myself into the tree and clambered to about the middle. I then stood on the fairly broad branches. Hanging on to surrounding branches and balancing, I made my way to where the branches of another tree crossed my path. Lightly I stepped over, the branches hardly moving as my weight transferred over. It's good to be able to use TK to make yourself weigh less.
I heard Legolas slip into the tree behind me and walked on to the trunk.
In this softly journeying, sometimes detouring around odd gaps, way, we made our journey down the mountain.
When we came upon the orcs, we moved as silently as possible, and I hoped they wouldn't look up. If they did, we would be screwed. They gathered below the trees, almost a hundred strong now, gabbling amongst themselves as they prepared to charge up the hill after us. I caught a snatch of phrase at one point and almost laughed aloud. They thought I was an elf!
As we left them behind, I didn't relax. Any sound, any movement, and they'd be after us. And, while we were now on the Rivendell side of the orcs, I didn't think we could run for it. Not with them so close.
The night stars rarely twinkled out from behind the clouds as we made our way. I smelled rain on the way and pondered the irritations of the day to come. I briefly considered the knives I'd lost, but then decided not to think about that. I could always buy more. Or make them myself.
It was a lost art, most places, but I could magically create knives. It had saved my life before, and it probably would again. But for now we couldn't stop and spend the half-day meditating that it would take.
Rivendell called, portents and horrors and epic quests to fulfill.
After an exhausting three hours of tree walking, we felt it safe enough to drop back down to earth. For a moment we paused, resting in the darkness. I listened back along our path, feeling for the orcs. They were angry, full of rage that we seemed to have escaped. For now they seemed to be searching further up the mountain. But I was betting they'd be our way by morning.
Legolas looked grave as I told him all of this softly. He looked at the sky, and then at me. "Can you run?"
"If I have to," I replied wearily. This last leg would probably send me into a slight endurance fever, but I was willing to risk it. "How far is it to Rivendell?"
"Another four days."
I closed my eyes, then sighed, "Let's go. I'd rather break a leg than be captured and killed by orcs."
"There would be worse torments before you died."
"Great. I knew I didn't like them."
He led the way, starting off at a ground-devouring slow lope. I followed, the adrenaline slowly fading, but bolstered by other energies. The cloud cover spread a half-light around us, making it less difficult to see than other nights had been. It kept us from breaking our necks in the dark. Always a good thing.
For hours we ran, alternating between a slow jog, and the ground-devouring lope. We ran until I couldn't sense the orcs behind us anymore. Until the sun was beginning to touch the tops of the mountains with a gilding of gold. As it grew lighter, the clouds got thicker and the rain I had dreaded began falling in a slow drizzle.
We stopped for a bit under an overhang. Legolas made me sleep, and I went, too exhausted to protest. My dreams were full of things crawling under the earth, and something buried in the mountains that called itself Gollum. It lost its Precious as I slept, the dream turning back and forth. Sometimes I was Gollum, sometimes Bilbo. The great Eye watched it all, irritated and lost to its Ring.
Legolas woke me at midday, and we ate some waybread then continued on, running towards Rivendell. Orcs didn't have to sleep.
I began losing track of time as the rain poured down on us, soaking us and sending the ground into so much muck and mud. By the time night had fallen again, I was a shivering muddy wreck, unable to do more than jog. Blind to many things, I barely noticed Legolas halting us for a time until he tried to get me to sleep.
"No."
"But you need rest."
"Legolas, I will not be able to." I gritted my teeth, forcing my weary eyes into focus. He was looking at me in concern. "I hear them behind us, making up the time we lose at every stop, at every moment of rest. They run, Legolas. And they do not tire as we do."
He handed me a wafer of bread and I ate it, not even tasting it. Good for me, yes. But I was exhausted beyond endurance. I needed meat and potatoes, and some ale. A nice bottle of vodka and some cherry juice sounded so good. And coffee...
--
I awoke what seemed only several minutes later, my mind vaguely restored and my body screaming for more. The orcs were close behind us now, the hours we had rested giving them time to catch up. "We must go." I croaked, struggling to my feet.
Legolas looked at me, "They are close?"
"Very." I looked to the west, wishing I might see the famous Rivendell there, twinkling in the rain.
He took my hand and led us back out into the rain, heading down the slope. The mud made the footing treacherous, and I fell more than once, garnering more bruises each time. Towards evening Legolas himself fell, getting his blond hair completely grimy. I felt sorry absently, but was more worried that we make it through the night.
The mountainside was coming to an end, though, and level ground would be a welcome change.
A road lay to the south, winding gently between the official mountain pass and the further western downs. I hadn't asked why we had taken the scenic route, but I had guessed it to be slightly less dangerous.
Slightly. There were orcs behind us, and a day's run before us to safety.
The flatness seemed to give me energy, and I began loping, pulling Legolas with me. Scrubby trees accepted us into their refuge, and we went on slightly more stable now that the road was not slanting forward.
Miles went by, we ran in an almost soundless world of rain and trees. Far behind I could feel the orcs slowly breaking off their pursuit, and I wondered if they had other allies in this land. Or if they were afraid of going too close to Rivendell. I decided it was the latter as the land slowly changed, warming slightly, gaining a sense of peace. I was betting it came from Rivendell itself.
It was a welcome feeling after the pain and exhaustion and dirt of the last days. For one thing, I had at least three cracked ribs that I had ignored all this time, and they were slowly coming out to play and make my journeying miserable.
My breath began to come in shorter and shorter gasps as the pain grew, and I guessed that one had punctured a lung after all this time. Not unheard of, when I wasn't able to heal it while well-rested and energised. And the magic blasts I'd called had drained me oddly, a surprise, since at the time I hadn't felt so much drained as energised. But then, I could have been spending too much on You Can't See This shields. Which would explain the sense of not-there-ness I was beginning to feel as we crested a short rise.
Below us lay the road, stretching out to either side. On it galloped a rider on a white horse, white-blonde hair glinting in the half-light.
Legolas released my hand, and I sagged, my energy finally gone. I heard him greet the other, then nothing for a while before I sensed I lay sideways on the back of a horse, Legolas behind me keeping me from falling as the horse made its way down the road.
We topped another rise, and I heard a river. Legolas relaxed behind me, his breath calm, "Imladris. Rivendell. We are safe."
And my mind released me, spiraling down into a comfortable darkness where I knew no more.