Authors Note: Thank you so much for your reviews they really boost my
confidence and increase the speed of my typing.
Chapter Eight
Legolas opened the door to Estel's room wearily. It was still fairly early in the morning and they had been promised a full nights rest.
A young she-elf stood nervously just outside the room. She had long dark hair tied loosely at the back of her neck and parts of it had come free giving her a slightly dishevelled appearance.
She looked exhausted but instantly averted her gaze.
Realising his lack of attire Legolas grinned sheepishly but did not attempt to hide himself from her.
"I am sorry to disturb you my lord."
"Your presence and that of Lord Estel's has been requested in the court yard immediately." She twisted her hands together and refused to look at him.
"Do you know why?" He enquired, his expression clearly displaying his confusion.
"I.." she stumbled over her words, her nervousness getting the better of her.
Legolas reached out and gently brushed his fingers against her chin forcing her to meet his gaze. "What is wrong?"
Taking a slow, deep breath she managed to calm herself enough to speak.
"Orc's are attacking sir."
"Where, how close have they got to Imladris?" His tone changing suddenly from concerned to serious.
"Very sir, some how they got passed all three of our night patrols and are nearing one of the settlements."
He felt rather than heard Estel appear behind him.
"What is going on?" He said, his voice betraying his still weary state.
"An orc attack love."
"Where, when?" Ignoring Estel's questions he turned back to the she-elf he bowed his thanks for the news and bid her to tell the Lord that they were on their way.
Closing the door he told the dark haired man what she had told him, while dressing with as much speed as possible. He was grateful that he had chosen a pair of less formal robes to where this day, for it would be difficult to take part in battle with ones long flowing formal clothing to trip over.
~*~
By the time Estel and Legolas reached the courtyard it crowded. Many warriors were gathering by the stables waiting for their horses to be readied for battle by the stable hands.
Legolas noticed as Elladan waved over at them his face solemn, calling them to the centre of the chaos.
"Here take these." Elladan handed Legolas a bow and quiver full of arrows, before handing similar weapons to Estel. "We will be leading out the next group of patrols. Scouts reported back a short while ago they say that although many Orc's have fallen they still refuse to cease their attacks."
"Where Is Elrohir?" Estel said glancing around, trying to catch sight of his other brother.
"He has already left leading an earlier patrol, he has only a small head start on us we will meet him there so do not worry for him."
"How close are they to any settlements?" Legolas asked while attaching the quiver securely across his back and shoulders, before turning and assisting Estel with his own.
"To close." Elladan muttered. "It will take us less than an hour to reach them on horse back but there is a human village not far from the battle."
"How close." Estel questioned his expression grave.
"Very." Was the only answer he received before three specially armoured horses were handed to them, one of which was saddled specifically meant for Estel.
A young stable hand appeared by Estel's side handing him a sword and scabbard which he quickly attached to his waist.
"Good luck my lord." He said. "Get rid of them for us."
Grinning Estel grasped the elflings shoulder.
"We will." He said in return before hoisting himself up into the saddle. Turning he watched as Legolas was given his own pair of highly decorated elvish knives, clearly forged in Mirkwood and obviously designed for royal use.
"It is sad that these have almost become extensions of my arms over the past few years."
"Yes it is sad." Estel watched as the blond mounted his own horse. "But we will see the end of it." His smile was grim but in some way it did having the comforting effect on the elf as it was supposed to have.
"Come we must be off." Elladan called out making sure that his voice could be heard clearly to all those who were designated to travel and fight with them above the noise of the frenzied courtyard. "We must make haste, the soon we enter battle the sooner we will defeat the Orc demons that plague us."
Legolas grinned inwardly. Elladan had always had the ability to encourage others and now by rallying the troops he was putting those talents to good use.
~*~
The forest was unusually quiet. There was no bird song, no rustling of animals in the leaf litter on the ground, even the trees were silent. The only sound came from the younger of the elven soldiers.
There were two elves among the large group Legolas had noticed that could be barely past their majority and by the noise they were making between them they were nervous.
"How old are they?" He asked Elladan glancing back at the young elves.
"They are old enough, but only just." Elladan smiled gently. "In this day and age we must all be warriors Leg's you know that."
Legolas slowly nodded digesting what had been said.
"This is their first time." Elladan continued.
"They have never been in battle before?" Legolas exclaimed the thought of sending inexperienced young elves into battle of this magnitude was unsettling.
"Relax, they have been on patrols many times before and come across many a creature of the darkness just never anything of this scale." Looking back at the youngsters Elladan sighed. "They just need a confidence boost that's all rest assured that they would not be here if they were not properly trained."
"Then maybe I can give them the confidence boost as you say they need." He smiled, slowing his horse and allowing others to pass him when the two youngsters reached him he urged his horse to walk at their side at the same speed speed.
He watched as they regarded him curiously, their nervousness was clearly readable on in their postures.
Legolas smiled serenely.
"Forgive me I have not yet introduced myself." He said, his gaze moving, meeting both pairs of stunned eyes. Both elves were fair of face with long dark hair tied back in traditional warrior's braids.
"You have no need to my Lord we are both well aware of who you are." The nearest to Legolas spoke, he was obviously surprised that one such as Legolas had chosen to converse with them.
"But I do not know who you and it would be ill-mannered for me to assume that you would recognise me." He smiled again. "Now I am known as Legolas and although I am not a stranger to these parts it has been many years since I last stayed in Rivendell and I am glad to be back."
Legolas glanced forward to catch the eyes of both Estel and Elladan who both shook their heads at him in amusement.
He ignored them turning back to the elves at his side.
"I am called Leith and my friend here is known as Quilan." The elf nearest to him said. Leith's eyes were bright green Legolas noticed a surreal colour that he could not remember seeing in a pair of eyes before. "It is an honour to meet you my Lord." Leith bowed his head slightly.
"Please I do not like titles call me Legolas everyone else does."
"I don't know Leggy suits you better." Elladan called back purposely lightening the mood. Grinning as Legolas glared back at him and Estel laughed.
"See why I seek out new elves to talk with." He said to Leith. "When ever they speak to me the conversation usually involves insults."
~*~
They had been talking for some time. Legolas choosing to listen as Leith and Quilan spoke fairly animatedly about amusing incidents on past patrols. Legolas laughed along with them and added comments when he felt they were necessary.
He began to feel his concentration slipping from the conversation and towards the dizzy feeling he had experienced late the previous night. He finally put it down to just pure exhaustion; it could not possibly be anything else he told himself over and over again. It just couldn't be.
TBC.
I apologize for this chapter being so short it is a linking chapter of sorts, but I promise there is a big battle scene in the next chapter and as it is almost finished I should be able to post it with in the next day or so.
Chapter Eight
Legolas opened the door to Estel's room wearily. It was still fairly early in the morning and they had been promised a full nights rest.
A young she-elf stood nervously just outside the room. She had long dark hair tied loosely at the back of her neck and parts of it had come free giving her a slightly dishevelled appearance.
She looked exhausted but instantly averted her gaze.
Realising his lack of attire Legolas grinned sheepishly but did not attempt to hide himself from her.
"I am sorry to disturb you my lord."
"Your presence and that of Lord Estel's has been requested in the court yard immediately." She twisted her hands together and refused to look at him.
"Do you know why?" He enquired, his expression clearly displaying his confusion.
"I.." she stumbled over her words, her nervousness getting the better of her.
Legolas reached out and gently brushed his fingers against her chin forcing her to meet his gaze. "What is wrong?"
Taking a slow, deep breath she managed to calm herself enough to speak.
"Orc's are attacking sir."
"Where, how close have they got to Imladris?" His tone changing suddenly from concerned to serious.
"Very sir, some how they got passed all three of our night patrols and are nearing one of the settlements."
He felt rather than heard Estel appear behind him.
"What is going on?" He said, his voice betraying his still weary state.
"An orc attack love."
"Where, when?" Ignoring Estel's questions he turned back to the she-elf he bowed his thanks for the news and bid her to tell the Lord that they were on their way.
Closing the door he told the dark haired man what she had told him, while dressing with as much speed as possible. He was grateful that he had chosen a pair of less formal robes to where this day, for it would be difficult to take part in battle with ones long flowing formal clothing to trip over.
~*~
By the time Estel and Legolas reached the courtyard it crowded. Many warriors were gathering by the stables waiting for their horses to be readied for battle by the stable hands.
Legolas noticed as Elladan waved over at them his face solemn, calling them to the centre of the chaos.
"Here take these." Elladan handed Legolas a bow and quiver full of arrows, before handing similar weapons to Estel. "We will be leading out the next group of patrols. Scouts reported back a short while ago they say that although many Orc's have fallen they still refuse to cease their attacks."
"Where Is Elrohir?" Estel said glancing around, trying to catch sight of his other brother.
"He has already left leading an earlier patrol, he has only a small head start on us we will meet him there so do not worry for him."
"How close are they to any settlements?" Legolas asked while attaching the quiver securely across his back and shoulders, before turning and assisting Estel with his own.
"To close." Elladan muttered. "It will take us less than an hour to reach them on horse back but there is a human village not far from the battle."
"How close." Estel questioned his expression grave.
"Very." Was the only answer he received before three specially armoured horses were handed to them, one of which was saddled specifically meant for Estel.
A young stable hand appeared by Estel's side handing him a sword and scabbard which he quickly attached to his waist.
"Good luck my lord." He said. "Get rid of them for us."
Grinning Estel grasped the elflings shoulder.
"We will." He said in return before hoisting himself up into the saddle. Turning he watched as Legolas was given his own pair of highly decorated elvish knives, clearly forged in Mirkwood and obviously designed for royal use.
"It is sad that these have almost become extensions of my arms over the past few years."
"Yes it is sad." Estel watched as the blond mounted his own horse. "But we will see the end of it." His smile was grim but in some way it did having the comforting effect on the elf as it was supposed to have.
"Come we must be off." Elladan called out making sure that his voice could be heard clearly to all those who were designated to travel and fight with them above the noise of the frenzied courtyard. "We must make haste, the soon we enter battle the sooner we will defeat the Orc demons that plague us."
Legolas grinned inwardly. Elladan had always had the ability to encourage others and now by rallying the troops he was putting those talents to good use.
~*~
The forest was unusually quiet. There was no bird song, no rustling of animals in the leaf litter on the ground, even the trees were silent. The only sound came from the younger of the elven soldiers.
There were two elves among the large group Legolas had noticed that could be barely past their majority and by the noise they were making between them they were nervous.
"How old are they?" He asked Elladan glancing back at the young elves.
"They are old enough, but only just." Elladan smiled gently. "In this day and age we must all be warriors Leg's you know that."
Legolas slowly nodded digesting what had been said.
"This is their first time." Elladan continued.
"They have never been in battle before?" Legolas exclaimed the thought of sending inexperienced young elves into battle of this magnitude was unsettling.
"Relax, they have been on patrols many times before and come across many a creature of the darkness just never anything of this scale." Looking back at the youngsters Elladan sighed. "They just need a confidence boost that's all rest assured that they would not be here if they were not properly trained."
"Then maybe I can give them the confidence boost as you say they need." He smiled, slowing his horse and allowing others to pass him when the two youngsters reached him he urged his horse to walk at their side at the same speed speed.
He watched as they regarded him curiously, their nervousness was clearly readable on in their postures.
Legolas smiled serenely.
"Forgive me I have not yet introduced myself." He said, his gaze moving, meeting both pairs of stunned eyes. Both elves were fair of face with long dark hair tied back in traditional warrior's braids.
"You have no need to my Lord we are both well aware of who you are." The nearest to Legolas spoke, he was obviously surprised that one such as Legolas had chosen to converse with them.
"But I do not know who you and it would be ill-mannered for me to assume that you would recognise me." He smiled again. "Now I am known as Legolas and although I am not a stranger to these parts it has been many years since I last stayed in Rivendell and I am glad to be back."
Legolas glanced forward to catch the eyes of both Estel and Elladan who both shook their heads at him in amusement.
He ignored them turning back to the elves at his side.
"I am called Leith and my friend here is known as Quilan." The elf nearest to him said. Leith's eyes were bright green Legolas noticed a surreal colour that he could not remember seeing in a pair of eyes before. "It is an honour to meet you my Lord." Leith bowed his head slightly.
"Please I do not like titles call me Legolas everyone else does."
"I don't know Leggy suits you better." Elladan called back purposely lightening the mood. Grinning as Legolas glared back at him and Estel laughed.
"See why I seek out new elves to talk with." He said to Leith. "When ever they speak to me the conversation usually involves insults."
~*~
They had been talking for some time. Legolas choosing to listen as Leith and Quilan spoke fairly animatedly about amusing incidents on past patrols. Legolas laughed along with them and added comments when he felt they were necessary.
He began to feel his concentration slipping from the conversation and towards the dizzy feeling he had experienced late the previous night. He finally put it down to just pure exhaustion; it could not possibly be anything else he told himself over and over again. It just couldn't be.
TBC.
I apologize for this chapter being so short it is a linking chapter of sorts, but I promise there is a big battle scene in the next chapter and as it is almost finished I should be able to post it with in the next day or so.
