***I once again disclaim the majority of characters and places in
this piece as not my own. Enjoy***
Neither force had gained the upper hand in the battle when Verya had arrived to the fray, for that he was pleased, his elves were holding their own although they were slightly outnumbered by the commander's observation. He looked above him, finding the forces stationed above on the braches, stealthily taking out their targets one by one, things were seemingly under control, he quickly subdued the well of pride he felt for the elves that he had spent so long training and fighting with and turned to the dark haired elf mounted on the horse beside him.
"Tulcahrve, I need you to ride to the other side of the field and report back to me what is happening there, I need to make sure that our positions are equally as secure." Verya voiced across the small gap between the two steeds, quickly ducking his head as an arrow whizzed passed. Tulcahrve nodded, giving a slight bow to his leader before riding off.
"Captain Verya!" A voice shouted to the right of him, Verya gave his horse a nudge, maneuvering to the right to face this new rider, one of the ranking troops, Seregon. "Captain, we have things in control for now, we are currently pushing them south, but they seem to be intent on further exploring our lands, with the oncoming aide, I do believe, I would like to say with the utmost confidence, this will be a battle easily one." After finishing his debriefing he gave a swing of his sword beheading an orc that had wandered to close.
"It seems so, Seregon." Not much more talk could be afforded as the battle began to shift their way, both preparing to wield their weapons toward a Mirkwood victory, Verya leaned close to his horses ear, patting him on the neck, "Fare thee well my friend."
The horse gave a slight rear of its head, as though to nod in agreement. The first wave was his own soldiers, gradually being pushed on by a strong repel by the orcs, although Verya held faith that soon they would regroup to head on this threat. His keen eyes caught sight of a particularly vulnerable young elf, though his name escaped the Captain, he at once remembered the young elf, not too long ago just joining ranks. He gave his horse a slight nudge, quickly pulled the bow from where it was slung upon his back, and shot an arrow as he and the horse rode by, killing an orc that stood behind the young elf who was currently occupied with an orc at his front. Without delay Verya released two more arrows, hitting two targets in the distance who had arrows aimed in his and his counterparts general direction.
"Captain!" Cutting across the field was Tulcahrve, whom was sporting what seemed to be a shallow cut across his forearm; the elf gave notice to his commander's stare and smiled, "Wasn't paying attention and an arrow nicked my arm."
"I always told you to work on your focus in training, I don't seem like such a foolish old soldier anymore?" Verya joked, able to keep his light spirit in even the most tense of situations. The two discontinued their conversation as a group of five orcs approached the two closer with swords drawn, while the other three in an outer circle with arrows notched. Tulcahrve without a second thought rushed his horse forward sword in the air, giving a yell; startling one of the orcs enough to easily swipe his head away. This diversion allotted Verya a matter of a few seconds to get his own arrow notched and released taking out one of the further orcs. But that moment of surprise faltered, as one of the two remaining orcs of the outer ring, released his own arrow at Tulcahrve, whose horse was the unfortunate recipient. In sudden surge of pain and shock the horse reared up, and Tulcahrve being unprepared for the action, was thrown from the horse and landed on the ground with a thud.
Verya snapped his head in that direction, his younger counterpart was unmoving upon the ground, with the orc with sword in hand, was quickly approaching him. Releasing a second arrow as the other orc released his, Verya jumped from his horse, giving it a quick slap, advising it to get out of harm's way, missing the arrow flying at him by a mere breath. The last remaining orc with the bow and arrow was thankfully taken out of commission by an unseen elf in the trees who had witnessed the predicament of his captain. Though Verya was thankful for the aid, he had no time for thank you, he ran in the direction of his fallen comrade, slinging his bow once again on his back, and in what seemed to be the same movement drew his sword.
Upon the ground, Tulcahrve was beginning to return back to the world, trying to shake away the fog that had infiltrated his mind, not quite grasping the reality of the situation before him. Only aware of the dim feeling of danger, and the beginning of a throbbing pain in his head; suddenly there was a thud next to his head. He gave a slight turn, he could afford to do no more, and saw the body of an orc beside him, seemingly dead. What was that doing there, he wondered, in fact, what was he doing lying on the forest floor, was that Verya kneeling over him. He could see the commander's mouth moving but heard no words, that was peculiar. He blinked a few more times, trying to focus in on things.
"Can you hear me? You have to get up, come now Tulcah, we must get you out of here and into safety." Verya put his hands behind the young soldiers back and helped him to a sitting position, although help, is being gracious, one might go as far as to say he sat him up completely without the aide of the younger elf.
With a rush, Tulcahrve's senses went on overload, suddenly the sky was not in front of him, but trees, and elves, and orcs; why if someone asked him he might say that there was a battle of sorts going on, but he didn't remember such a thing. Wait, yes, that was right, his horse was hit, some orc hit his horse with an arrow, and there, that was Captain Verya. They were there fighting, suddenly the words of Verya reached his ears.
"Can you stand up? Are you okay? This isn't the safest of places to be doing this." Tulcahrve grinned up at his leader, starting to feel foolish, how could he have forgotten where he was.
"I'm fine, sir, just a little dazed, completely capable of rising; perhaps some aid might be required though, if you do not find yourself to busy." Verya rose, aware that they had not become part of the fringe of the battle, rather than the battle itself, as his own forces began to push the orcs back once more.
"I do believe I could spare a moment of time to help get you back on your feet. Every able body would help in such a fray." He took grip of the other elf's extended hand and helped pull him up, giving the young one a moment to regain his senses. A frown appeared on Tulcahrve's face, Verya raised his brows in inquisition.
"My horse," Tulcahrve explained, "I don't know where it ran off to, it's hurt, it needs my help!"
"Trust me, your horse knows its way home better than you do, I'm certain she can take care of herself." Without warning, Verya pushed the other elf back down, swerved to the left of him, and met the blade of another orc, soon the pressure from the other blade relinquished, as the orc fell to the ground, the sword of Tulcahrve protruding from his gut.
"Not so disoriented I can't kill an orc, sir," Tulcahrve jested from the ground, with his characteristic wide grin spread upon his face; Verya once again offered him a hand heaving him up.
"For that I am thankful." The two spun their heads around as they heard fast approaching gallops to the left of them, in the not too far distance roe the rest of the scouting party, Kaimelar in the lead.
"I do believe we can now proclaim today to be a victory, Captain Verya." The elder simply nodded in agreement, as now the elven horsemen rode by them to join their comrades in completely wiping the orc force out of their woods.
***
The King had once again resumed his pacing, feeling utterly ignorant of what was outside his walls, there had not been a message for good or bad on the progress of what was happening on his southern borders, and more importantly (to himself) what was happening to his eldest son. On the couch laid his youngest son, who although had provided an ample amount of entertainment for him in a means to divert his father from his worries, had grown weary and was now napping on the large armchair.
"I'm certain he is fine, my lord," Helyanwe whispered, placing a hand atop the King's forearm, "Come, I think you need some air, I have yet to take a walk in your gardens. If you would like to, I would enjoy to see them once again, with you as a companion."
The King nodded, attempting to allow his anxiety to slip away, was this what it was for his father when he ha gone away to fight? Is this what it was for all fathers as their sons ran off into battle? If the choice need be made, he would much rather had gone into the fight than sat in his throne room like some useless drone. But so was the duty of the King to remain. It was a desperate fight indeed when the King was called upon to lead his troops once again, forgoing his own safety. Trust Verya he told himself, his old friend was more than able to fight, to lead, though he seemed of a tender nature, soft spoken almost, Thranduil ha witnessed his ferocity in battle, the quick mind for a fight.
The young elven maiden guided him with a gentle force out doors, into the simple beauty of the royal gardens, which, though they had servants to do this, Sildulin kept up with the utmost vigor and the most tender of hands.
"There is rumor in Rivendell that the young princess and young Lord Elladan, are intertwined in a relationship." If anything were to break the King's worries of his son's welfare it was that, his worries now focused on Sildulin's heart choices. There wasn't a doubt he enjoyed the twins their antics, he had even witnessed Elladan's sweet nature to his daughter, but when it came to your only daughter, a babe still in his eyes, a father was never to give his approval with full heartedly, at least not so soon. But it was his daughter's happiness so he spoke not a harsh word of the matter within her earshot, he could not bear to see her frown.
"Tis not a rumor, such is truth." Without glancing on her face he knew she was smiling, knowing her like he knew his own children, seeing her as his own, surrogate daughter; perhaps one day he mused.
"I was able to spend a great many days basking in the glow of their light spirits, the twin's, that is. Lord Elrond certainly has his hands full, and with the little one, Arwen, as well. You two must share the most horrid of stories of the topic of your children's antics." Spotting a bench, the two meandered over, finding a moment of repose on its hard surface.
"Certainly such tales would not deter you from wanting your own family," he inquired with a certain investment in the answer.
"Hardly, I would love one day to be able to raise a family with such energy, and life. It is a sad thing to witness a sedated sort of family, you wonder what happened to subdue them in such a manner."
"SIRE!" a voice called, stumbling around the corner appeared Tapuc, trying to regain his breath, then suddenly turning solid as stone as he realized he might have interrupted his King, and his friend. "I can come back later sire, so sorry to disturb you." He began to start his erratic bowing, and backing out. After a few moments of allowance, perhaps for his own amusement, Thranduil raised his hand, giving his capable, yet so incapable, aide permission to remain, and attempt to speak.
"Oh, well, thanks you my Lord, I suppose you might like to hear this news, very good news indeed, yes, very good." Amidst the rambling of his aide, and Helyanwe's own stifled laughter, Thranduil cleared his throat to regain Tapuc's attention.
"Just please, if you could, tell me what good news you have," the King ordered gently as not to startle the young nervous elf; in a lighter mood after guessing what the good news was. Before Tapuc could deliver his news, Legolas came bounding into the garden, running up to his father.
"They are home! I see Kai, he is home with Verya! Come ada, we go see now!" The little one yelled, grabbing hold of his father's hand trying to pull his father's much larger form along with his own slight one.
"Um, well yes that was the news I had as well, King Thranduil, we have won. Yes, that was it." Legolas stopped pulling his father, to stare at the bumbling aide, Thranduil, now in a much lighter mood, could do nothing but laugh at the sight. He scooped his little elfling up in his arms and whispered into his ear, "Don't stare, it's not polite." Then turning his attention on his aide, "Thank you Tapuc, I very much appreciate the effort you made in delivery."
Without giving his aide a chance to perform his traditional bowing routine, the party ran from the room, to greet their returning friends.
***Once again your reviews are kind and appreciated. I enjoy so much reading that you have liked this story so far. I apologize for my inability to write anything to o with fighting, hopefully after a few trial and errors my skills will improve. Happy Holidays, I'll try to post the last chapter shortly!!***
Neither force had gained the upper hand in the battle when Verya had arrived to the fray, for that he was pleased, his elves were holding their own although they were slightly outnumbered by the commander's observation. He looked above him, finding the forces stationed above on the braches, stealthily taking out their targets one by one, things were seemingly under control, he quickly subdued the well of pride he felt for the elves that he had spent so long training and fighting with and turned to the dark haired elf mounted on the horse beside him.
"Tulcahrve, I need you to ride to the other side of the field and report back to me what is happening there, I need to make sure that our positions are equally as secure." Verya voiced across the small gap between the two steeds, quickly ducking his head as an arrow whizzed passed. Tulcahrve nodded, giving a slight bow to his leader before riding off.
"Captain Verya!" A voice shouted to the right of him, Verya gave his horse a nudge, maneuvering to the right to face this new rider, one of the ranking troops, Seregon. "Captain, we have things in control for now, we are currently pushing them south, but they seem to be intent on further exploring our lands, with the oncoming aide, I do believe, I would like to say with the utmost confidence, this will be a battle easily one." After finishing his debriefing he gave a swing of his sword beheading an orc that had wandered to close.
"It seems so, Seregon." Not much more talk could be afforded as the battle began to shift their way, both preparing to wield their weapons toward a Mirkwood victory, Verya leaned close to his horses ear, patting him on the neck, "Fare thee well my friend."
The horse gave a slight rear of its head, as though to nod in agreement. The first wave was his own soldiers, gradually being pushed on by a strong repel by the orcs, although Verya held faith that soon they would regroup to head on this threat. His keen eyes caught sight of a particularly vulnerable young elf, though his name escaped the Captain, he at once remembered the young elf, not too long ago just joining ranks. He gave his horse a slight nudge, quickly pulled the bow from where it was slung upon his back, and shot an arrow as he and the horse rode by, killing an orc that stood behind the young elf who was currently occupied with an orc at his front. Without delay Verya released two more arrows, hitting two targets in the distance who had arrows aimed in his and his counterparts general direction.
"Captain!" Cutting across the field was Tulcahrve, whom was sporting what seemed to be a shallow cut across his forearm; the elf gave notice to his commander's stare and smiled, "Wasn't paying attention and an arrow nicked my arm."
"I always told you to work on your focus in training, I don't seem like such a foolish old soldier anymore?" Verya joked, able to keep his light spirit in even the most tense of situations. The two discontinued their conversation as a group of five orcs approached the two closer with swords drawn, while the other three in an outer circle with arrows notched. Tulcahrve without a second thought rushed his horse forward sword in the air, giving a yell; startling one of the orcs enough to easily swipe his head away. This diversion allotted Verya a matter of a few seconds to get his own arrow notched and released taking out one of the further orcs. But that moment of surprise faltered, as one of the two remaining orcs of the outer ring, released his own arrow at Tulcahrve, whose horse was the unfortunate recipient. In sudden surge of pain and shock the horse reared up, and Tulcahrve being unprepared for the action, was thrown from the horse and landed on the ground with a thud.
Verya snapped his head in that direction, his younger counterpart was unmoving upon the ground, with the orc with sword in hand, was quickly approaching him. Releasing a second arrow as the other orc released his, Verya jumped from his horse, giving it a quick slap, advising it to get out of harm's way, missing the arrow flying at him by a mere breath. The last remaining orc with the bow and arrow was thankfully taken out of commission by an unseen elf in the trees who had witnessed the predicament of his captain. Though Verya was thankful for the aid, he had no time for thank you, he ran in the direction of his fallen comrade, slinging his bow once again on his back, and in what seemed to be the same movement drew his sword.
Upon the ground, Tulcahrve was beginning to return back to the world, trying to shake away the fog that had infiltrated his mind, not quite grasping the reality of the situation before him. Only aware of the dim feeling of danger, and the beginning of a throbbing pain in his head; suddenly there was a thud next to his head. He gave a slight turn, he could afford to do no more, and saw the body of an orc beside him, seemingly dead. What was that doing there, he wondered, in fact, what was he doing lying on the forest floor, was that Verya kneeling over him. He could see the commander's mouth moving but heard no words, that was peculiar. He blinked a few more times, trying to focus in on things.
"Can you hear me? You have to get up, come now Tulcah, we must get you out of here and into safety." Verya put his hands behind the young soldiers back and helped him to a sitting position, although help, is being gracious, one might go as far as to say he sat him up completely without the aide of the younger elf.
With a rush, Tulcahrve's senses went on overload, suddenly the sky was not in front of him, but trees, and elves, and orcs; why if someone asked him he might say that there was a battle of sorts going on, but he didn't remember such a thing. Wait, yes, that was right, his horse was hit, some orc hit his horse with an arrow, and there, that was Captain Verya. They were there fighting, suddenly the words of Verya reached his ears.
"Can you stand up? Are you okay? This isn't the safest of places to be doing this." Tulcahrve grinned up at his leader, starting to feel foolish, how could he have forgotten where he was.
"I'm fine, sir, just a little dazed, completely capable of rising; perhaps some aid might be required though, if you do not find yourself to busy." Verya rose, aware that they had not become part of the fringe of the battle, rather than the battle itself, as his own forces began to push the orcs back once more.
"I do believe I could spare a moment of time to help get you back on your feet. Every able body would help in such a fray." He took grip of the other elf's extended hand and helped pull him up, giving the young one a moment to regain his senses. A frown appeared on Tulcahrve's face, Verya raised his brows in inquisition.
"My horse," Tulcahrve explained, "I don't know where it ran off to, it's hurt, it needs my help!"
"Trust me, your horse knows its way home better than you do, I'm certain she can take care of herself." Without warning, Verya pushed the other elf back down, swerved to the left of him, and met the blade of another orc, soon the pressure from the other blade relinquished, as the orc fell to the ground, the sword of Tulcahrve protruding from his gut.
"Not so disoriented I can't kill an orc, sir," Tulcahrve jested from the ground, with his characteristic wide grin spread upon his face; Verya once again offered him a hand heaving him up.
"For that I am thankful." The two spun their heads around as they heard fast approaching gallops to the left of them, in the not too far distance roe the rest of the scouting party, Kaimelar in the lead.
"I do believe we can now proclaim today to be a victory, Captain Verya." The elder simply nodded in agreement, as now the elven horsemen rode by them to join their comrades in completely wiping the orc force out of their woods.
***
The King had once again resumed his pacing, feeling utterly ignorant of what was outside his walls, there had not been a message for good or bad on the progress of what was happening on his southern borders, and more importantly (to himself) what was happening to his eldest son. On the couch laid his youngest son, who although had provided an ample amount of entertainment for him in a means to divert his father from his worries, had grown weary and was now napping on the large armchair.
"I'm certain he is fine, my lord," Helyanwe whispered, placing a hand atop the King's forearm, "Come, I think you need some air, I have yet to take a walk in your gardens. If you would like to, I would enjoy to see them once again, with you as a companion."
The King nodded, attempting to allow his anxiety to slip away, was this what it was for his father when he ha gone away to fight? Is this what it was for all fathers as their sons ran off into battle? If the choice need be made, he would much rather had gone into the fight than sat in his throne room like some useless drone. But so was the duty of the King to remain. It was a desperate fight indeed when the King was called upon to lead his troops once again, forgoing his own safety. Trust Verya he told himself, his old friend was more than able to fight, to lead, though he seemed of a tender nature, soft spoken almost, Thranduil ha witnessed his ferocity in battle, the quick mind for a fight.
The young elven maiden guided him with a gentle force out doors, into the simple beauty of the royal gardens, which, though they had servants to do this, Sildulin kept up with the utmost vigor and the most tender of hands.
"There is rumor in Rivendell that the young princess and young Lord Elladan, are intertwined in a relationship." If anything were to break the King's worries of his son's welfare it was that, his worries now focused on Sildulin's heart choices. There wasn't a doubt he enjoyed the twins their antics, he had even witnessed Elladan's sweet nature to his daughter, but when it came to your only daughter, a babe still in his eyes, a father was never to give his approval with full heartedly, at least not so soon. But it was his daughter's happiness so he spoke not a harsh word of the matter within her earshot, he could not bear to see her frown.
"Tis not a rumor, such is truth." Without glancing on her face he knew she was smiling, knowing her like he knew his own children, seeing her as his own, surrogate daughter; perhaps one day he mused.
"I was able to spend a great many days basking in the glow of their light spirits, the twin's, that is. Lord Elrond certainly has his hands full, and with the little one, Arwen, as well. You two must share the most horrid of stories of the topic of your children's antics." Spotting a bench, the two meandered over, finding a moment of repose on its hard surface.
"Certainly such tales would not deter you from wanting your own family," he inquired with a certain investment in the answer.
"Hardly, I would love one day to be able to raise a family with such energy, and life. It is a sad thing to witness a sedated sort of family, you wonder what happened to subdue them in such a manner."
"SIRE!" a voice called, stumbling around the corner appeared Tapuc, trying to regain his breath, then suddenly turning solid as stone as he realized he might have interrupted his King, and his friend. "I can come back later sire, so sorry to disturb you." He began to start his erratic bowing, and backing out. After a few moments of allowance, perhaps for his own amusement, Thranduil raised his hand, giving his capable, yet so incapable, aide permission to remain, and attempt to speak.
"Oh, well, thanks you my Lord, I suppose you might like to hear this news, very good news indeed, yes, very good." Amidst the rambling of his aide, and Helyanwe's own stifled laughter, Thranduil cleared his throat to regain Tapuc's attention.
"Just please, if you could, tell me what good news you have," the King ordered gently as not to startle the young nervous elf; in a lighter mood after guessing what the good news was. Before Tapuc could deliver his news, Legolas came bounding into the garden, running up to his father.
"They are home! I see Kai, he is home with Verya! Come ada, we go see now!" The little one yelled, grabbing hold of his father's hand trying to pull his father's much larger form along with his own slight one.
"Um, well yes that was the news I had as well, King Thranduil, we have won. Yes, that was it." Legolas stopped pulling his father, to stare at the bumbling aide, Thranduil, now in a much lighter mood, could do nothing but laugh at the sight. He scooped his little elfling up in his arms and whispered into his ear, "Don't stare, it's not polite." Then turning his attention on his aide, "Thank you Tapuc, I very much appreciate the effort you made in delivery."
Without giving his aide a chance to perform his traditional bowing routine, the party ran from the room, to greet their returning friends.
***Once again your reviews are kind and appreciated. I enjoy so much reading that you have liked this story so far. I apologize for my inability to write anything to o with fighting, hopefully after a few trial and errors my skills will improve. Happy Holidays, I'll try to post the last chapter shortly!!***