Chapter 2

All was still in the green wood, or at least it seemed that way. The Uruk Hai, if passing by, would not have seen Aragorn standing behind a tree, his sword drawn, nor Boromir in a likewise position only a few yards off. The Dwarf crouched low behind a rock, whilst a rather feral Wood Elf concealed himself in the trees, so that not even his companions knew where he was. Here they waited for any sign of their Hobbit friends. Aragorn and Legolas both sensed they were close. A little bit longer and they would pass by, along with the Uruk Hai. Aragorn shot Boromir a glance and gave a slight nod. The heavy footfalls of their enemies could be heard rumbling in the ground beneath them.

Sure enough, the large band of Uruk Hai appeared a moment later, running like a pack of wolves and growling savagely. An arrow hissed through the air and felled the leading beast, with its bearer still invisible. Yet Aragorn sensed the foliage ruffle above him. With the killing of the first, the other Uruks let out shrieks of annoyance. Boromir's eyes widened as he spotted Merry and Pippin struggling in the grasp of two Uruks among the group. Aragorn had to shoot Gimli a look to keep the Dwarf from bounding out too soon. Shortly afterwards, however, the ranger made his presence known and set forth to face the beasts that held his small friends. With a stern face, he bore his sword in front of him before swinging it at the closest Uruk and jabbing fatally. Boromir bound at them from his hiding place, crying " Gondor." Gimli grunted as he swung his ax at the few who approached him. The Uruk Hai were now distorted and scattered about, fighting off each of these new beings. They were all aware of their orders. The short ones were to be taken back to Isengard unharmed, but these....these were left to their own bidding, each of the monsters thought with malicious pleasure.

Aragorn fought fiercely, striking several attacking Uruks as a time. He kept an almost subconscious watch on his companions as he warded off his foes. Boromir was not too far away from his fellow Gondorian, wielding his own sword mightily. The clang of fine metal upon that of Uruk Hair scimitars echoed throughout the wood. Boromir saw then that Merry and Pippin were being carried off, away from the fight. He immediately moved to reach them, working his way hurriedly through crowd. He swiped through Uruk flesh as he went, looking as if he were hewing tall grass with a saber. Gimli growled and grunted as he brought his ax down hard on his own attackers. Boromir gained speed as he reached the skirts of the crowd, but failed to see one Uruk in particular that stood a distance off, armed with a loaded crossbow. The beast fired and caught Boromir in the chest, sending a sharp inhaled breath upon the Man. He froze for a moment, slightly bent over in pain. Before the Uruk could fire again, another tree-borne arrow caught it in the neck and sent to the ground. Aragorn noticed Boromir in the distance, obviously not well. He began to make for his friend, thankful that the Uruks had died down some in number. Boromir straightened, biting back the pain, and began to go on in pursuit of the Hobbits. Aragorn reached before he got very far, however.

" Boromir ", the ranger murmured as he steadied his friend with one hand upon the shoulder of the Steward's son. Aragorn peered over for a short moment to see Gimli still going at it with his ax, and Legolas finally leap down from the trees and whip out his knives once more.

" They're taking the hobbits away ", Boromir told him. " We must stop them."

" Indeed ", Aragorn replied. " But you'll be better off when you are free of that arrow."

Legolas was a soundless flash of cold steel and platinum blonde hair as he twirled his twin blades through Uruk flesh as if it were recreational. From every direction, they came at him, drawn to the Elf that was of the race they most hated. Yet the moment one of them stepped near enough, Legolas turned and slashed. Lucky for the Dwarf, the Uruks were so attracted to the Elf that he was left with only a few to handle.

" For Balin and Moria ", he cried out with a growl as he slew another.

Legolas ducked below a swiping scimitar, only to pop up again and deal the beasts to his left a rapid strike. He had greatly reduced their number, yet he was still surrounded. The Elf gave a quick glance above him. If only he could return to the trees, he could deal away with the rest using his bow.

Aragorn kept Boromir firmly in place as he extracted the arrow from his friend's flesh. Boromir bit back a groan of pain, yet could not keep the grimace from his face. Aragorn threw the arrow aside. He knew it was poisoned, but he would have to deal with it later when they had more time. He really wished he could bind up Boromir's chest, eyeing the wound warily as it bled freely.

" My thanks ", Boromir said as he steadied himself. Fortunately, there were no Uruks nearing them at the moment. A weight had been lifted from his chest now that the arrow was dealt away with, but the burning was still there. He resisted the urge to place a hand over his breast, lest his hand should come away red with blood.

" I believe our companions are in need of our aid ", Aragorn said, his gaze fixed on Legolas, who stood encircled by Uruks.

Boromir nodded with a pant. He supposed the Hobbits would have to wait for now. He quickly followed Aragorn as the ranger strode past him and toward the Elf and Dwarf.

Legolas was growing tired of this. He had felled many and yet still he was trapped in a ring of beasts. It was rather tedious work, he thought. Swipe, cut, jab, parry, swing, stab. It only seemed to repeat itself. The muscles in his shoulders and arms asked him to cease the knifework and take up his bow again. He would gladly do it, if only he could get a moment to retreat to the trees.

A harsh and unsuspected blow came to his lower back, knocking the air out of him and sending him to the ground, despite his attempts to regain his balance. An Uruk had kneed him. The Elf hit the ground hard and knew they had him now.

Aragorn's eyes widened as he saw Legolas go down and disappear from view. He dashed toward the gathering of Uruks with all haste, followed closely by Boromir. Gimli struck out at one of the Uruks on the outside of the circle that had firmed around his new Elf friend. It only annoyed them, however, and they sent the Dwarf flying back. As was inevitable, they bore down on Legolas. His blades were snatched away from his slender yet strong fingers and a large foot came down on his back, pinning him to the ground. He grunted at the weight upon him as the Uruks let out a savage cheer.

" Elendil ", Aragorn cried as he threw himself at the Uruks, brutally slashing at them with his sword in defense of his best friend. Again, the Uruks were contorted and vexed. Half of them now dealt with Aragorn and Boromir, whilst the other half began to drag Legolas away. Mind you, it did take several of them to keep the struggling Elf from escaping, but they were too many and his struggles were in vain. Along the way, they picked up a hotheaded Gimli, who had begun to charge at them, only to be stopped and captured.

Legolas was screaming a stream of Elvish curses as he writhed in the beasts' grasp. He wasn't afraid, nor panicked, only furious as being contained in such a way. Needless to say, he had not made a good first impression the Uruks. Six held him off the ground, their large hands gripping him so tightly he could feel his skin bruise. He did not cease to thrash about, however, seeming as a wild stallion, and crying out in burning fury and hatred.

" Shut up, you damned Elf ", one of the Uruks growled.

" Norn na Udun ", Legolas spat with feral malice. " Go to Hell."

The Uruk roared in annoyance, not able to understand to the language but sure that it had been something contemptuous. It glowered at the Elf with wicked slits of eyes, ablaze with contempt and ill intent. Legolas only fearlessly returned to gaze with murderous, stone-cold, icy blue eyes.

" Legolas ", Boromir cried at the fleeting band of Uruks as he leaped over an Uruk body and made for the Elf. Aragorn's head snapped up from the creature he fought at the moment, watching dismally as his best friend was carried away, along with Gimli. One quick thrust, and his opponent was dead. He followed as quickly as possible behind Boromir, pursuing the Elf and Dwarf, with part of his mind also on the Hobbits.