Author: Mirrordance

Title: Sacred Betrayal

Summary: Elrohir forfeits the life of his brother Elladan for a secret price and Aragorn and Legolas go to unspoken dangers to discover the cause of this most sacred of betrayals…

PART 3: The Rescue

* * *

Southwestern Borders of Mirkwood

* * *

      The heavy footfalls of the orcs sounded mightily against the southwestern border of the realm of Thranduil; Legolas had been right, and they dared to trespass the kingdom to reach Dol Guldur quicker.

      Relying on their stealth, the elves had left their horses some distance back with a handful of their comrades, and traveled the rest of the way on foot, hiding behind trees and foliage as they searched for their quarry.

      Unmoving, the eight soldiers stood in cover of the trunks and leaves, silent and undetectable above a gentle slope that overlooked a battered dirt road.  The host of orcs passing through it was thick; they must have numbered over forty, accounting not only for how they had overpowered the seasoned warriors from Rivendell days ago, but also for their nerve to cross into these borders.  If the few elves had faced them openly, it could have been a brutal massacre at worst, or a heavy-casualty victory at the very least.

      Legolas' eyes narrowed as he watched the host move, finding the solitary, battered elf that one large uruk-hai had hoisted over his shoulder.  From this distance, he could not even tell if the elf was alive, his head bobbing in a curious manner, his eyes closed…

      It was Elladan, he guessed, and of the rest of the party of ten the messenger had spoken of as being lost some days ago, there was no sign.

      ~They will near Dol Guldur in a short while,~ Amadis told Legolas in a low voice, ~We will not have a chance then.  That cursed place is mightily fortified.~

      Legolas' brows furrowed in thought.  Calling for reinforcements were futile.  By the time they get here, the orcs would have already reached their mighty stronghold.  But there were only eight of them.  Five apiece to fell, which were not too bad odds considering they were all skilled warriors, though there was little doubt that some of them could be lost.  But the orcs had an obvious edge; the elf they seek to rescue is in the line of fire.  To loose him, and loose themselves would render the entire exercise profoundly pointless.

      Legolas silently watched the host move.  There would be a curve on the road soon, which would be taken by the scout orc holding the lead meters in front of the rest of his comrades.

      Crouching low on the ground and signaling for his troop to get prepare to move out, he stealthily ran towards the part of the slope that overlooked the curve.

      ~Release an arrow at my signal,~ he whispered to Amadis, ~For the Valar's sake, do not let a sound escape from that scout's mouth.~

      The old soldier nodded, his calm eyes already resting upon and following his target as he steadied the aim of his bow.

      ~Evan,~ Legolas whispered to the youngest soldier he was with, and also their best runner, ~Do not let him hit the ground.  Move forward the very breath that shaft leaves Amadis' fingers.~

      The young elf nodded, and readied his running stance.

      Legolas raised up his palms to prepare his soldiers.  Then very lightly, as the scout turned the curve, he let his hand fall to a rest upon Amadis' shoulder.

      The arrow was released, and Evan shot forward.  Legolas almost smirked at the precision of Amadis' aim; the arrow went through the orc scout's throat, rendering him voiceless.  Evan caught him cleanly before he hit the ground.

      Soundlessly, the rest of the small contingent moved forward and dragged the scout up the slope, as Legolas stirred the grass they had trampled to hide the trail.  Then they sank under the cover of the foliage again, just as the rest of the host turned the corner and looked about bewilderedly for their scout.

      Drawing a dagger from his boot, Legolas slashed at the orc scout's neck, and plunged his graceful hands into the blood that pooled around them.  Amadis was looking at him dispassionately, making him grin as he smudged the blood upon his clothes, his face, his arms…

      ~The more we smell like them,~ he reasoned, ~The closer we can come without their notice.  The longer we keep the element of surprise.  The greater the chance of success, given their number.~

      ~You are strong and madly clever like your ada,~ Amadis told him grudgingly, ~But this cursed odor will not come off for a week, I promise you.  No one will happily welcome us back.~

      ~A risk I willingly take,~ grinned Legolas, before turning to Evan, ~Can you take another sprint?~

      ~Of course, sire,~ said the elf, his wide eyes and earnest face looking even younger underneath the smeared blood of the dead orc.

      ~Red herring,~ said Legolas, ~Run across the dirt road and make sure someone sees you.  Hide on the other side,~ to the others, he said, ~Cover him only when you see one of them aim.  Otherwise, fire at will only after the moment they turn to look towards the direction Evan ran.  Watch the captive, I don't want him hit by friendly fire.~

      ~On my signal, Evan,~ he said to the runner, ~Keep safe.~

      ~Of course, sire.~

      Legolas' eyes darted from left to right as he watched the host look about them in suspicion and confusion.

      ~Now.~

      From those words, the events unfolded in quick, uncontrollable succession, and Legolas could only rely upon the soundness of his plan, and the competencies of himself and his soldiers.

      Evan ran to the other side and hid safely.  The orcs turned to look his way, and volley after volley of arrows were unleashed, each shaft making its lethal way according to the design of their masters.

      It was in the middle of this that Legolas noticed that he and his soldiers were loathe to fire on the uruk-hai bearing Elladan; he had cleverly used the elf as a shield, and were making booming commands to his comrades, their reasonably sized contingent already breaking from the rest of the group, undoubtedly running towards the direction of Dol Guldur.

      ~Long distance shots will do no good,~ Amadis said, reading his mind, ~And they will move ever more quickly, knowing they have been sighted.~

      Legolas nodded, and looked towards the rest of their group, who seemed well in control of the situation.

      ~How many would you say made the move?~ he asked the old guard.

      ~You will not--~

      ~Amadis,~ snapped Legolas in his most regal of tones, ~How many.~

      ~Ten at least,~ the soldier replied, ~No more than fifteen.~

      ~Excellent,~ said Legolas, ~Five for you, five for me.~

      ~You will not--!~

      ~Fabian!~ Legolas said to one of his soldiers, ~Take command.  Amadis and I will pursue.  Keep this contingent off our backs.  We will meet where we hid the horses.  If we are not back by shift's end, return to the Realm and send the new group to the same area.  Do not forget Evan.~

      ~Yes sire,~ said the soldier, as he released more arrows towards the orcs, ~Be safe.~

      ~And you,~ said Legolas, rising to his feet and Amadis following miserably in his wake.

      ~I do not know when your father will figure out that I am getting too old to keep up with you,~ he said flatly, in that usual blasé way of his; Amadis had long been a guard to the Prince, and had therefore long been in suffering.

      ~You, old?~ teased Legolas as he ran, picking up his pace just to challenge the older elf a bit, ~Never.~

      Amadis matched the speed easily, meeting the challenge coolly.

      The two elves ran through the forest, dodging stray shots from orc-crossbows as they ran after the orcs who had taken Elladan.  As they neared their enemies, they fired a quick succession of arrows, their aim suffering little even as they ran, meeting their marks neatly.

      Some of the orcs they downed they ran past, fallen as the beasts were on the ground, and were left with little more than four more orcs to hunt before Amadis was accosted by a fallen orc's hand grabbing his leg.  The old guard fell to his face on the hard ground, winded.

      Legolas skidded to a halt, and turned to aid Amadis, just as the orc who had grabbed him raised his axe for a lethal blow.  Legolas released an arrow that hit the orc between the eyes, sending it back to the ground, its axe after it.

      He knelt next to Amadis, who was blinking and regaining his senses slowly.  His head had hit upon a rock, and his temple was bleeding.  Legolas looked up at the orcs bearing Elladan, already beginning to vanish in the distance, torn.

      ~Go.~

      Legolas looked down upon Amadis, surprised that the personal guard whom Aragorn used to tease as being his nanny, who is probably more overprotective of him than his own father, would allow such a thing, much less encourage it.

      ~What?~

      ~Before I change my mind,~ the older elf winced.

      ~There is four of them left,~ said Legolas coolly, willing to inspire confidence in the older soldier, ~I have easily beat more than twice that.  Return to the rest of the group.  Can you do this? Do you remember where?~

      ~Of course I remember,~ the other elf said irritably, ~Go.  Before you loose your quarry.~

      ~Maybe you forgot,~ teased Legolas, ~After all, you did trip.~

      ~Get your impish face away from mine, boy,~ growled Amadis, ~Go.  I'm changing my mind, I'm changing my mind,~ he threatened.

      ~I'm away,~ grinned Legolas, ~Be safe.~

      ~Don't make me regret this,~ Amadis called after him as he ran.

* * *

      Legolas reached behind him for another shaft, but found his hands cursedly empty.  He had run out of arrows, just as he was down to the last three of his quarry.

      "Blast," he muttered as he ran, drawing out his twin swords and picking up his pace.  Long-distance weapons had been so crucial in this chase.  He ducked as the orcs he were chasing fired returning shots from their handy crossbows.

      Why aren't they running out?, he wondered bitterly.

      He was steadily gaining on his prey, and when he had come as near as a meter away from the last of the three orcs, he lunged at the beast with a cry, sending his blades across the back of its head.

      Two more.

      Or not.

      Legolas' ears perked at the sound of nearing, heavy footsteps.  Had they come so close to Dol Guldur by now? Or had these cursed orcs become so bold that they dare to trespass into Mirkwood even further than they already have? Either way, if he did not rush, he would have an entire host to have to deal with, and if he did not die in this skirmish, Amadis would kill him.

      He grabbed the crossbow of the orc beneath him, and aimed for the back of the orcs he still pursued.  One fell immediately after it was hit.  The tougher uruk-hai was shot twice before it fell to the ground, and Legolas winced in sympathy as he took Elladan down with him.

      He sheathed his swords, took the crossbow and slipped it into his tunic, and then rushed forward towards Elladan, falling to his knees before the unconscious elf.

      He turned Elladan over onto his back, and laid a hand upon his neck, immediately finding a steady pulse.  Exhaling in relief, he heard the footfalls come closer and hurriedly decided that there was little else to be relieved about.  More orcs afoot.  He was practically unarmed.  And he had an injured friend to protect.  It was, to put it plainly, a rather dire situation.

      Legolas hoisted Elladan over his shoulder, much as how the uruk-hai had carried him; Legolas figured that if it had not been too detrimental before, he might as well replicate its efficiency, it being that he was profoundly pressed for time.

      Running in the opposite direction of the sounds he had heard, Legolas knew that he was not making very good time, and if the tracking senses of the orcs could be relied upon (or carelessly cursed at, it depended on which side one was on), then he and Elladan would be found soon.

      Looking around him, he decided that for the moment, the best option was to stay hidden.  Careful not to disturb his surroundings, Legolas took a solid grip of an old, gigantic tree and steadily made his way up along its multitude of branches.  Its leaves were large and thick, randomly placed and grew close together.  It was the tree to climb if one did not want to be sighted from the bottom.  Near to the top, he found a solid curve of a branch near to the thick trunk, and he laid Elladan down upon it, securing his position to ensure he would not fall.

      Then he looked about the hanging branches and the general area they had settled in to ensure that it was clean or there were no spiders or snakes also making their refuge here.  Nodding to himself in approval, he removed the leather strap to his quiver and tied one of Elladan's arms to a large branch; he had to confuse the tracks they had left, and he would have to leave the injured elf for a short while.  Secured this way, he needn't fear that his friend would stir and fall.

      Climbing hastily down the tree, he calmed the grasses they had trod, and ran some meters away in distorted patterns.  He also took his dagger and made a cut along his palm, squeezing at the wound to draw blood and smattering it around.  Then, he tore at his tunic and bound the wound, climbing up the nearest tree he could find, just as he heard the voices of the orcs cursing heavily at the sight of their fallen comrades and the prey they had lost.

      Balancing carefully against the branches, he maneuvered from one tree to the next, careful to keep his steps light and quiet, until he returned to the tree he had left Elladan in.  The elf did not stir at all!

      Gently, he removed the leather straps that bound the other elf, then sat behind him, leaning against the trunk of the tree and encasing Elladan in his arms.  He slowed his breath and listened as tens of feet beneath them, orcs had settled for awhile and seemed to be pondering their next course of action.

      Move along, move along, he prayed silently.

      He heard them mutter and stir, as if they had heard him or perhaps someone had at last found the confusing tracks he had happily left them.  He was ready to exhale in relief when Elladan stirred, as if he neared waking, and groaned.

      Legolas put his palm against the elf's mouth to silence him, and whispered to his ear in elvish, ~Be still, mellon.  You are almost safe.~ Elladan did as he was told, and Legolas closed his eyes and held his breath when he heard the orcs stop, survey their surroundings, and then hesitantly move away.

      He waited a few moments before he sighed and said to Elladan softly, ~You have terrible timing.~

      ~And you stink like an orc,~ Elladan retorted in the same lowered tone, his shoulders shaking as he chuckled, ~But I am most pleased to see you, Legolas.~

      Legolas shifted, and let Elladan rest against the trunk as he moved away, adroitly moving across the branches and sitting in front of Elladan, surveying his wounds.

      ~I am fine,~ Elladan said quickly, ~Just the knock on the head, and it is healing well.  All others are days old and also on the way to recovery, and even trivial to begin with.~

      Legolas looked at him skeptically, decided not to press him and prod him, but just to observe his movements. 

      ~You are gaining Estel's Evil Eye,~ Elladan sighed, ~All right, all right.  The ribs are a bother, I think the ankle is badly sprained, and so's a wrist.  Will I live?~

      Legolas grinned at him triumphantly, ~For awhile.~

      The elf prince tore at his tunic and grabbed at random sturdy twigs and created various makeshift splints, binding Elladan's injuries.  Elladan teased him that he didn't do a very pretty job, but it was sure feeling better bound that way.

      ~Thank you, mellon,~ said Elladan, leaning back against the tree trunk comfortably.

      Legolas tilted his head and looked at his friend curiously, before he asked, ~I was told you had left in a party of ten to hunt orc, and that you had all gone missing.  And yet I have sighted only you.  Where are the others? Where is Elrohir?~

      ~The eight soldiers we were with were slain and their corpses eaten,~ Elladan said bitterly, ~Elrohir they had set free, to bear a message to my ada.~

      ~A message?~ Legolas inquired.

      ~More of a ransom, actually,~ replied Elladan, ~My life, in exchange for the heir of Isildur.~

TO BE CONTINUED…