At least twenty of the massive monstrosities were creeping towards them,
slowly at first, but increasing pace. To Sevein's eyes, it appeared at
first as if the branches of the trees in the far-off were approaching them,
but as they got nearer, she knew her fears had been well-founded. The
Spiders were leading an attack on the two helpless and hapless companions.
"Behind that tree," Legolas ordered in a harsh whisper, gesturing with his head, but not taking his gaze from the approaching creatures. He knelt down and freed Celegsûl from his entrapment, and slowly pushed on the horse to right it. Slow was his work, and ever closer drew the monsters. Finally, with one last heave, the horse was on its feet, though shaky. The Elf grabbed the maiden about the waist, nearly threw her on top of Celegsûl, and, hoping that the approaching horde would alarm the horse enough to forget the wooziness it had fallen into while tightly bound, started off down the trail, leading still away from the city.
Luckily, he was right. It took one look behind, even in the horrifying dark of night in Mirkwood, and the horse was off, terror-stricken, but still aware enough to keep to the path. The spiders were in hot pursuit, but by some luck or stroke of fate, the horse managed to keep ahead of their vicious jaws and spindly legs. Legolas fired arrow after arrow backwards into the oncoming swarm, knocking them out of the race one at a time. As they bore down the trail, the monsters began to give up the chase, until all of them had scowled and skulked back to their dark lair to tend their wounds and wait for another meal to wander off the path.
Celegsûl did not reduce speed until they were two leagues off. Sevein was barely recovering from the fright and Legolas was staring grimly behind them as the horse slowed to a trot, breathing hard.
They traveled in silence for a long, long time. Sevein shattered the stillness first. "What.was.that?" she asked in a hushed tone.
"The Spiders of Mirkwood," Legolas said quietly. "The Necromancer brought them here, allowed them and other dark creatures to breed freely through our forest. They have been the bane of the Elves ever since."
Sevein just nodded, wondering how she had missed them on her trek through Mirkwood. I guess I was just lucky, she thought to herself.
"You kept to the outer edge of the forest," he said, again seeming to read her thoughts. She was silent.
After another hour or two, the dim light of dawn began to peek through some of the trees, and Sevein began to nod off. Legolas' arm around her waist kept her from falling, and she dozed peacefully on and off. Once she awoke to find herself lying on a soft patch of grass a short way from the path. Legolas sat not far away, leaning against a tree and watching the woods. Then she fell asleep again.
When she woke again, Legolas was nowhere in sight. Jumping up with a start, she looked around frantically, peering into the darkness of the trees. Celegsûl stood on the path, munching on the grass. The horse seemed calm enough.
"Legolas?" she called softly. She heard no reply, and repeated his name, louder and louder until she was practically yelling. No answer. She sat down on the ground, hard, holding back tears. He had left without her. Or worse, been carried off.but the horse was still there.and she had been left undisturbed. She stood again. And screamed.
"Behind that tree," Legolas ordered in a harsh whisper, gesturing with his head, but not taking his gaze from the approaching creatures. He knelt down and freed Celegsûl from his entrapment, and slowly pushed on the horse to right it. Slow was his work, and ever closer drew the monsters. Finally, with one last heave, the horse was on its feet, though shaky. The Elf grabbed the maiden about the waist, nearly threw her on top of Celegsûl, and, hoping that the approaching horde would alarm the horse enough to forget the wooziness it had fallen into while tightly bound, started off down the trail, leading still away from the city.
Luckily, he was right. It took one look behind, even in the horrifying dark of night in Mirkwood, and the horse was off, terror-stricken, but still aware enough to keep to the path. The spiders were in hot pursuit, but by some luck or stroke of fate, the horse managed to keep ahead of their vicious jaws and spindly legs. Legolas fired arrow after arrow backwards into the oncoming swarm, knocking them out of the race one at a time. As they bore down the trail, the monsters began to give up the chase, until all of them had scowled and skulked back to their dark lair to tend their wounds and wait for another meal to wander off the path.
Celegsûl did not reduce speed until they were two leagues off. Sevein was barely recovering from the fright and Legolas was staring grimly behind them as the horse slowed to a trot, breathing hard.
They traveled in silence for a long, long time. Sevein shattered the stillness first. "What.was.that?" she asked in a hushed tone.
"The Spiders of Mirkwood," Legolas said quietly. "The Necromancer brought them here, allowed them and other dark creatures to breed freely through our forest. They have been the bane of the Elves ever since."
Sevein just nodded, wondering how she had missed them on her trek through Mirkwood. I guess I was just lucky, she thought to herself.
"You kept to the outer edge of the forest," he said, again seeming to read her thoughts. She was silent.
After another hour or two, the dim light of dawn began to peek through some of the trees, and Sevein began to nod off. Legolas' arm around her waist kept her from falling, and she dozed peacefully on and off. Once she awoke to find herself lying on a soft patch of grass a short way from the path. Legolas sat not far away, leaning against a tree and watching the woods. Then she fell asleep again.
When she woke again, Legolas was nowhere in sight. Jumping up with a start, she looked around frantically, peering into the darkness of the trees. Celegsûl stood on the path, munching on the grass. The horse seemed calm enough.
"Legolas?" she called softly. She heard no reply, and repeated his name, louder and louder until she was practically yelling. No answer. She sat down on the ground, hard, holding back tears. He had left without her. Or worse, been carried off.but the horse was still there.and she had been left undisturbed. She stood again. And screamed.