For full disclaimer and such, see chapter one.
Author's note: Some of this chapter is the ending of a flashback started in chapter one. If (and possibly when) you see ~ ~ ~ END FLASHBACK ~ ~ ~, that's just the end of the flashback.
So… I should start the chapter now, shouldn't I? (Yes, you really should. You're boring the readers!) Oh, shut up. Who asked you? NE ways… enjoy!
Italics denounce thoughts
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The five Elves were deep within the forest now, less than a mile from the Mountains of Mirkwood when Talkerm stopped them in a grove of pine trees knelt on the ground, studying something there. Legolas slipped up and crouched down besides him. They held a whispered conference about what they both saw there. After they had finished, Legolas moved back to where the others were gathered.
"The Fox says he's found some tracks. Orc tracks. Two days old by the look of them. They were dragging something after them. An Elf, I think. Don't you think that's unusual?" he asked quietly while the tall Elf continued to study the tracks in the background. The others nodded.
"They were headed south-east, towards Dol Guldur. And I think they *were* dragging an elf." Talkerm commented, straightening up.
"We should keep moving." Lenablin said, glancing around. Talkerm nodded and the small company continued on, following the tracks.
* * *
An hour later, they came upon a small clearing in the trees and stopped there to rest for a while. Kasmerc kept glancing around them nervously and shifting his position.
"Kas, what's wrong? You're a little edgy." Malrand said to his brother. Kasmerc started at the sound of his brother's voice.
"I don't know. It's something about this clearing, but I can't figure it out." he replied.
"I feel something also. And I don't like it." Lenablin whispered, glancing sidelong at Legolas. Suddenly, there was a nerve-wracking screech from the surrounding trees. The company started and looked around.
"Yrch!" Talkerm spat out the word like a curse.
"We shouldn't have stopped here!" Kasmerc snarled at The Fox, starting for the tree line. Malrand grabbed him roughly by the shoulder and dragged him back.
"It's too late to run. We have to stand and fight!" Malrand's voice shook with the strain from trying to keep from shouting at Kasmerc. Legolas fitted an arrow to his bow.
Suddenly, the Orcs broke through the tree line and into the clearing from all directions. Legolas shot the first one he saw. A volley from his companions followed his shot.
"Drop your bows! They won't do anything for us now! The Orcs are too close!" Lenablin shouted, dropping his bow and drawing his sword. The others followed his example without questions. The Orcs were advancing now, slowly. They snarled at the elves.
"Look what we have here. More Elves to play with." one of the Orcs sneered at the Elves in their midst. Legolas felt his brother shudder from beside him. They must mean Chanarin. Suddenly, the Orcs rushed in to fight.
* * *
Legolas ducked under an Orc's scimitar and risked a look around at his companion. Kasmerc and Malrand were back to back in a circle of Orcs. Meanwhile, Talkerm was fighting alone with his back to a tree. Legolas was forced to block another blade from taking his head off with its sweep. Suddenly there was a cry. The Orcs paused their assault long enough to see who had cried out. Lenablin, who had his back pressed against Legolas, gasped softly. Legolas managed to get a look over his shoulder at what his brother was staring at and he understood. Kasmerc had taken a scimitar in the side, opening a nasty gash. The Orcs started to take advantage of the situation. Malrand had his back wide open and too many Orcs around him to cover it. On top of that, his brother was on his knees, meaning that he had to defend both of them. Legolas caught his brother's inquisitive glance and nodded. I just hope this works. He rushed forward to meet the advancing Orcs before they reached him. His brother was doing the same thing. The Orcs fell away because of the strength of their attacks and the speed of their blades. Both of the Elves took advantage of these openings and were through them quicker than the eye could follow their movements. Legolas took advantage of the trees growing close together and sprang into one, moving through the branches until he was directly overhead Talkerm. He dropped down and moved to take a defensive position in front of Talkerm. The Orcs had backed away long enough for Legolas to take a quick look at his companion before starting to attack. It was a wonder what kept the tracker on his feet. He was wounded in a dozen places and breathing heavily. He flashed a quick smile at the taller elf and turned his attention back to the fight at hand. Legolas surveyed the situation carefully. No archers, and most of them seem gathered around Lenablin and the twins. The prince smiled grimly. Not enough to defend themselves for long. That's a good sign. The Orcs had recovered from their shock and began to attack, more viciously than ever. A few of them spoke to each other in their own language, sounding worried. Legolas felt the tracker stiffen slightly at his back but he dismissed it. I can always ask him about that later. Legolas parried a few scimitar slashes aimed at his head and legs, returning an attack of his own at a few Orcs that ventured too close into the range of his knives. They won't hold up for much longer.
* * *
The prince cut off the last Orc's head and glanced around. Talkerm let out a moan and Legolas caught him as the he fell forward, bruised, battered, and exhausted. Talkerm groaned softly as Legolas gently lowered him down to the ground, settling him against a tree.
"Are you alright?" Legolas asked, concern filling his voice. Talkerm nodded, wincing at the pain that raced up his neck with the movement.
"Just a little cut up, that's all. You should see to Kasmerc first though. That gash in his side looks painful. There are some bandages in my pack. Use them." Legolas took the pack he was offered and pulled out the bandages. He moved quickly over the piles of the dead Orcs towards where Malrand was kneeling over his brother with concern etched on his features. Kasmerc, on the other hand, had lapsed into unconsciousness sometime during the fight because of blood loss. Lenablin was out somewhere following a hunch he had that whoever the elf that the Orcs was dragging was nearby, and he was determined to find the victim of the Orcs "play".
"Kas, wake up." Malrand was saying as Kasmerc slowly opened his eyes and blinked. He smiled softly at his brother, reaching out to cover his brother's hand gently.
"I'm alright, don't worry about me." Kasmerc told Legolas and his brother. They both nodded. Legolas handed the bandages to Malrand and went back over to Talkerm. He knelt next to the tracker and touched his shoulder gently, calling the other's attention out of the trees.
"Did you understand anything that passed between the Orcs?" Legolas asked, recalling that Talkerm could understand a little of the Black Tongue. Talkerm nodded.
"Could you tell me what you understood?"
"From what I could understand of it, it seems that they do have an elf held captive nearby, apparently taken about a week ago, around the time that Chanarin disappeared. They said that they hoped that the Orcs left to guard the elf were enough to hold up against us should we kill them all." Talkerm whispered. Suddenly, Legolas felt something amiss. He stood up abruptly, looking around at the surrounding trees, drawing his companion's worried glances.
"I have to go and see where Lenablin is. I think I know where the Orcs with their captive are. Did the Orcs mention any number of those left behind?" Legolas asked. Talkerm shook his head. "Thank you for that information. I'll be back as soon as I can be. Will you three be alright?" Legolas looked back at the twins, who both nodded. He started off into the trees in search of his brother.
* * *
Legolas glanced around, looking for any sign of his brother. Nothing showed Legolas where his brother was. He sighed in frustration. Then, a soft sobbing reached his ears. He looked around to identify its source. He saw the sunlight glint off of something in the trees and moved towards it.
Within the trees he found his brother, cradling the still form of Chanarin in his arms, sobbing. Legolas looked down at the ground and saw dark red drops on the ground. Blood. That must be how Lenablin found Chanarin. He moved forward and gently placed a hand on his brother's shoulder. Lenablin looked up, tears in his eyes.
"He was dying when I found him. He told me that there was nothing I could do to help him. He managed to say a few other words before he died, but I couldn't understand them. He died a few minutes ago." Lenablin said quietly.
"Lenablin, I'm sorry about Chanarin, but we should move back to the others. The Fox said that there were Orcs guarding him. Besides, we have to let the others know that Chanarin is dead." Legolas knelt next to the younger elf.
"I already took care of the guards. There were only two of them." Lenablin graced his brother with a wry smile. A tear slipped down his cheek, and he turned his head away, but not before Legolas saw it. Legolas wrapped an arm around the younger elf's shoulder, hugging Lenablin to him.
"I'm sorry about Chanarin, I really am. But we must go." Legolas released his younger brother and stood up. "We must let his family know and we also must bury his body. But in a safer place." He reached down and gently pulled his brother to his feet, his arms still wrapped protectively around Chanarin's body. Then Legolas led his brother back through the trees.
~ ~ ~ END FLASHBACK ~ ~ ~
A drop of water dripped down onto Legolas's face, waking him from his thoughts. He knows what it's like to actually lose a friend to death. He knows more pain than I do. I never should have said that. Legolas stood up and let his feet wander, taking him where they will.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
TBC
*sniff* I don't like to kill my characters anymore than the next person. *looks at next person who happens to be my beta reader, Anarril, who grins at the thought of killing a character* On second thought, I take that back. NE way… *bursts into tears* I SHOULDN'T HAVE KILLED CHANARIN!!! NOW I'M ON A GUILT TRIP TO PARADISE!!! *sniff* I feel bad.
Please R&R. I want feedback. Please? I want other's opinions on this, not just my beta's! Though she is welcome to review. Tell you what: I'll offer a LotR plushie of your choice to the 10th reviewer. Wait…. that'll be too hard. How about a Legolas plushie to the 10th and an Aragorn plushie to the 20th (if I even get to that number.)Well, that's all for this chapter. Thanks for sticking to me! I love you all, my wonderful readers!
Namarie!
~*Mariana Nimeneth*~