Authors Note: I apologise for any spelling mistakes in this chapter, I typed it up late last night so any errors can be put down to my tired state. Oh and KatieTook you will have to wait for the next chapter to find out if Legolas is preggy yet, but I promise that you won't have to wait long for it.

Chapter Nine

It had taken a while but Legolas had managed to deflect the young warrior's minds away from the up coming battle. The whole patrol was far more relaxed, but that changed immediately as the sounds of battle became clear. The sound of metal falling on metal, and the hissing of Orc's snaking through the trees.

Elladan brought his horse to a stop at the head of the group and Legolas moved away from the young elves he had been in the company of to join him.

"By the sounds of it their numbers are large." Elladan sighed, as Estel also joined them.

"But so are ours." Estel remarked. "We also have the element of surprise; we must use it to increase our advantage."

"How do you wish us to proceed?" Legolas asked. Elladan was in charge so overall it was his decision of how they continued.

"If we." He sighed loudly, obviously thinking over all their options carefully. "We need to come at them from behind, is there anyway we can get round without getting noticed and without having to go the long way round?" He said more to himself rather than those around him.

"What if we split into smaller groups?" Legolas suggested. "Smaller groups are difficult to spy especially when they are already occupied by the struggle of combat."

"Yes," A grinned spread across the dark haired elf's face, Elladan was obviously excited now. "Into three groups and depart in different directions. Then if we attack at the same time we can over whelm them quickly, they will have no option but to flee."

Legolas felt a hand on his shoulder. Turning he smiled as Estel silently thanked him for encouraging his brother.

"We shall split into three with each of us heading a group." Elladan pulled both their concentration back towards the situation at hand. "One I will continue to lead my group straight ahead. Legolas, you will take your further round to the right and Estel to the left. When we get near our main archers will spread out through the trees where we will wait for the signal that each of our groups is in place." His grin was almost evil. "Then we attack together."

"They will not know what has hit them." Estel agreed excitedly. "What shall be the signal?"

"A sound signal would be too difficult with the noise of a battle." Legolas started but was quickly interrupted.

"What about firing an arrow alight with fire into the most central group of orc's."

"Then it will have to be your group that fires the arrow as Estel and I will not have enough time to position our groups and set up a fire." Legolas said turning to direct the patrol behind them into three similar sized groups.

"Fine, but we must hurry." Elladan agreed. Gesturing for one of the sets of elves to follow him. "I will wait a few moments so that you can move into place."

~*~

A few moments later all three groups were spread out around the edges of the battle field. It wasn't until they got close that they could see the extent of the on going attack. Bodies of both elves and orc's lay scattered across the forest floor. The trees themselves seemed to have shrunk back almost, somehow edging away from the fighting in some form of self preservation leaving a large open space where the battle was continuing.

From up in the branches Legolas had already sighted Elrohir. He was in the midst of the fight on foot; he had obviously lost his horse at some point earlier on. Scanning the rest of the battle he caught sight of another he recognised.

Lysander. He was standing to one side of the battle range shooting arrows intermittently into a group of orc's which seemed to be advancing upon his small group with increasing speed.

He suddenly spotted it, the arrow he had been waiting for. Flames being released from the deadly arrow head and shaft. All thoughts of Lysander and the others flew from his mind.

"Now!" He cried out and every archer around him reacted instantly, firing arrows into heart of the orc assault.

Not a single arrow missed its target.

"Again!" He shouted with the same reaction. "Now let us end this." Legolas jumped down from the tree and on to his horse. Calling the horse to high speeds he careered out from the comforting camouflage of the leaves and branches closely followed by the rest of adrenalin charged elven warriors.

From three different directions, Elladan, Legolas and Estel lead their patrols. Their attack for just an instant startling the orc's. But an instant was all they truly needed to gain the upper hand.

Aiming arrows and slashing with their blades with such precision that with in moments the orc's seemed to fall back. But there was no elf willing to chance that these dark creatures would not attack again so many set about chasing them into the depths of the forest determined to destroy as many as possible.

"So glad that you could make it." Lysander called out as Legolas galloped passed him.

"We knew that you could not win with out us." Legolas answered as the dark elf leapt up on to the back of his horse. "If you are going to weigh down my horse you had better make your self useful." He felt an arm encircle his waist, trying to dislodge it while keeping his balance and lashing out with his knives at a passing orc.

"Would I ever let you down?" The arm left his waist and the twang of Lysander's bow could be heard in Legolas's ear as he fired his arrows. "You do not mind if I use your arrows do you, I seem to have run out?"

"Yes." Legolas growled although he was not quite sure which question he was answering.

"What do you think your new love toy would think if he saw us like this?" Lysander purposely brushed his fingers through the blond hair in front of his as he extracted another arrow from Legolas's quiver.

"I think that you do not keep your hands to yourself that he would remove your head cleanly from your shoulders."

"Oh come now do you really believe that he would be so violent?" Both elves chanced a look across the battle field to where Estel was demonstrating his skills in disembowelling a group of orc's.

"Yes."

"Hay, watch what you're doing!" Lysander cried out sinking an arrow into an orc that had seemingly appeared beside the horse from nowhere.

"Thank you." Legolas sighed, his concentration was beginning to slip again, and he could feel the dizziness from last night creeping into his consciousness. Shaking his head he tried to dislodge it.

"I believe that is the first time you have ever thanked me."

"That is because you have never done anything that warrants my gratitude before."

"Watch what you are doing!" Lysander called out again killing another orc that Legolas seemed not to have seen. "What is wrong with you, if you are not careful you are going to get us both killed!"

"I am fine." Legolas growled angry at himself for not being able to keep his focus.

"Then pay attention!"

"I do not need lessons from you."

"Then prove it!"

~*~

Estel's need for this battle to end increased as he saw Legolas, still upon his horse struggling on the far side of the battle field. He himself had abandoned his mount in favour of fighting on foot. His anger suddenly amplified as he noticed Lysander practically plastered to his lovers back.

Distracted by them he failed to notice the orc that had managed to creep up behind him until it was too late. Pain as the sharp blade entered his should shot through his system causing a cry of pain to escape his lips.

"Estel!" Elrohir appeared beside him slaughtering the surrounding orc's. "Here." The elf pulled his foster brother up on to the back of his horse.

"I am alright Elrohir!"

"Really then show me how you lift your weapon." Estel's arm was completely num and there was not chance of him being able to grasp his sword and he knew it.

The fighting continued around them although now many of the dark creatures had retreated into the depths of the forest. Those that were left were either deed or soon would be.

Moving back to where many injured elves had now gathered. Elrohir dismounted and then assisted Estel in doing the same.

"Come let me look at your wound."

"Elrohir!" He growled in annoyance.

"Indulge your worrisome brother." Elrohir sighed, moving to lift Estel tunic and slide it off of the injured shoulder.

Estel breathed in deeply swallowing the pain he felt as his brother examined the wound. Elrohir tore off a piece of the blood covered cloth and leather tunic and wrapped it tightly around the mans shoulder.

"It is deep Estel, It needs seeing to straight away."

"I will not leave now!"

"I can not tell if the blade was poisoned, and can you feel your fingers?"

"I.." Estel stammered.

"No I did not think so, if the blade had gone much deeper it would have gone right the way through, as it is I believe that you have done some serious damage!" The elf shook his head slowly attempting to calm himself. "The battle is almost over, I will ride back with you then I can report back to father and you can have your shoulder looked at."

"If that is the way it must be." Estel sighed in defeat. "But what about Legolas."

"What about him?" Elrohir helped him back up onto the horse.

"He will worry."

"Estel, there are those who have seen us leave he will not fret for long now let us go." Swinging himself up on to the horse in front of his brother, Elrohir glanced back for the last time on the battle and forced his mount to speed away.

~*~ TBC.