Into the Mines
By: Max Pilote
Chapter Three - A Little Too Tricky
"When and where did you see them?"
"Right at the border a little more than ten minutes ago."
Legolas glanced over his shoulder at the forest around them. It felt like they were being watched. Was he the only one who felt like that?
"All right," said Elladan, gathering the attention of the ones around him, "since we aren't quite sure how many there are, it would not be safe to assume we can take them all at once."
"Thirty or forty.maybe more," chimed Legolas.
"We will ambush them," continued Elladan. "Elrohir and I will stay here and wait for them. Estel and Legolas, you two go down the path a little and wait in the trees for them. Shoot them as they come."
The human and elf nodded, then turned to leave.
"Oh, Estel.be careful."
He rolled his eyes, "Don't worry, Legolas will take care of me."
"Wonderful," muttered the prince with a light laugh.
Elrohir watched the two friends leave, then frowned. "I don't like this, Elladan," he remarked. "It isn't normal for orcs to just rush the border."
The older twin nodded, agreeing with his sibling. "Stay alert," cautioned the elf. "They may be trying to trap us."
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Estel pulled himself into a tree. A soft chuckle from Legolas gained the elf a nasty little glare from his human companion.
"Do you enjoy teasing me?" asked the boy.
"Of course," responded the prince truthfully. "Try not to fall."
The wood-elf put his skills to good use as he climbed to the higher branches of the tree he was currently settled in for the time being. Finding a particularly strong branch, Legolas balanced himself perfectly and peered out into the forest. He could see the orcs. The normal estimate of forty had been inaccurate. There were far more than that.
"What do they need with an army that large? What are they trying to do?" he muttered to himself. He did not like this at all.
As he climbed down to the lower branches, Legolas saw something pass through the corner of his eye between two trees. Within mere seconds, his bow was out and loaded, but whatever was there was gone. A twig snapped. He turned and shot at a silhouette. It dropped to the floor.
"What did you slay?" asked Estel.
"I have not the faintest idea."
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It was far too quiet as the two brothers waited patiently for their enemy. Elladan was the first to hear the arrow released from Legolas's bow. Had the orcs come already? No...it would take them a little longer for them to reach where the other two hid.
Then he saw it...the same dark shadow Legolas had seen briefly. On reflex, he turned to face it. It was no longer there.
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Both Estel and Legolas heard the outcry. It had come from one of twins, but neither had time to go back to aid them. A large group of orcs, about twenty-three when the elf counted, rushed at them. It was as if they knew where the two were hiding.
The prince was not worried. He moved behind the trunk of the tree to dodge a few arrows, then shot down five of the orcs. Estel shot down four. He frowned as he peered across the path and could not see Legolas. The boy did not worry long for he saw the prince balancing on a rather thin branch. An orc had climbed the tree and was presently trying to knock the wood-elf off his perch. A rather swift flick of the knife Legolas had taken from his quiver sent the orc crashing onto two of his fellow soldiers.
There were twelve left. He could take them.
"Estel! Go back and help the twins," commanded the prince, moving to a different tree and shooting down two more orcs.
Without protest, Estel jumped down from the tree and ran to his brothers.
An arrow flew through the air with a faint whistle and dug into the back of the foul beast. This distraction served well enough for a second orc to climb into a tree not too far from the one in which Legolas was settled. It stepped onto one of the strong and rigid branches that touched the one the wood-elf was currently balanced.
With great strength, the orc swung his heavy blade. It was a sad attempt to cleave off the prince's head. Within seconds, Legolas had switched his bow and arrow for his elvish daggers, ducked the blow, and stabbed at the orc. It moved back then stepped forward again.
Neither could hear the faint cracking of the branch as the orc stepped onto the same one as the prince. Legolas pressed himself against the tree trunk. The orc went to stab him with the blade, but it was simply embedded into the tree as the elf ducked it and went after him with the knife. Suddenly, the branch fell.
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Worry only served to fuel the movements of the young human as he raced for his brothers. Had the orcs simply set a trap for them? Were the orcs that intelligent?
"Elladan, where are you? Are you two hurt?" Estel called out. "Elladan? Elrohir?"
As he came into the clearing, he quickly spotted his eldest brother. He was leaning against a tree, pressing a deep gash on his side to stop the bleeding. Quickly, Estel rushed to his side.
"How did this happen? Where is Elrohir?" asked the boy, alarmed.
"Goblin scouts...took him..." responded Elladan in a faltering voice. He slumped against his brother.
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"Where are those scouts? They should have been back ages ago!" said an angered orc chieftain. "What word have you of them?"
"They shall be here soon, sir," replied a lesser soldier. "I do believe that they have a prisoner with them."
"Good, that makes two."
After the branch had fallen from the tree, the orcs had swarmed around Legolas. He was quickly overtaken and now stood restrained on the east side of the orc camp. A low curse escaped his lips as he heard the news of the goblin scouts. Those must have been the creatures following the small orc- hunting party.
About three goblins and a five orcs stepped into the clearing. One was pushing a half-conscious Elrohir in front of him, using his foot to kick the poor elf when he slowed down slightly. The orc-chieftain jerked his head towards Legolas. The son of Elrond was pushed forcefully against the prince, who stumbled back against a tree. Both fell to the ground, Elrohir because he was too weak to go on and Legolas because Elrohir was leaning against him.
"Do not worry," whispered the wood-elf. "I will get you home safely."
"No talking," commanded a guard curtly, slapping Legolas across the face. A bruise began to form on his cheek and he frowned. For Elrohir's sake, he didn't argue with the orc.
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"Ada...aren't you worried about them?" asked Elladan as his father finished wrapping the deep gash in his side.
"Well, if Estel is uninjured," responded Elrond, a little humor in his voice, "then chances are that Legolas is to. True to his friends as he is, Elrohir will be returned to us safely."
"I hope," muttered Estel.
Elladan laughed and ruffled his brother's hair, "Do not worry, Estel," he said.
"It is hard. Elrohir is my brother, and Legolas is my best friend."
"It is the same for me, Estel," Elladan remarked sadly. "Did you ever hear about the time Legolas and Elrohir went over the falls? I believe that Elrohir spoke of it once, but you were a little too young to remember something so simple."
"Well, I remember Legolas coming back when we thought he was dead after fighting Ryldor..."
"It was actually sort of an accident," explained Elrond. Everyone turned to him. "Sort of funny, later, though. Your brilliant brother Elladan dared Elrohir to walk across this large tree that had fallen across the river at one time. When he fell in, Legolas went to save him..."
"And they both fell into the river and it dragged them down the falls. We searched for hours," said Elladan, "only to have them come back later soaking wet and laughing like lunatics."
Estel laughed, "And this is why neither of you are worried?"
The two elves nodded.
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An hour seemed like forever as Legolas sat with his friend leaning against him, asleep. He had spent the last sixty minutes looking for ways to escape. So far, he had found two possibilities. They would probably not work, however. Current circumstances, Elrohir being unconscious for one, they would most likely fail before he could get out of the encampment.
The elf leaning against him stirred and opened his eyes slightly.
"Wh-"
"Shush," whispered Legolas into Elrohir's ear, "don't talk. Now that you're awake, I have a plan."
One of the orcs guarding them turned, thinking he heard one of them speaking. Elrohir pretended to be unconscious still and Legolas simply glared up at him, daring it to hit him again.
When he turned away, Legolas continued. "Can you stand?"
By: Max Pilote
Chapter Three - A Little Too Tricky
"When and where did you see them?"
"Right at the border a little more than ten minutes ago."
Legolas glanced over his shoulder at the forest around them. It felt like they were being watched. Was he the only one who felt like that?
"All right," said Elladan, gathering the attention of the ones around him, "since we aren't quite sure how many there are, it would not be safe to assume we can take them all at once."
"Thirty or forty.maybe more," chimed Legolas.
"We will ambush them," continued Elladan. "Elrohir and I will stay here and wait for them. Estel and Legolas, you two go down the path a little and wait in the trees for them. Shoot them as they come."
The human and elf nodded, then turned to leave.
"Oh, Estel.be careful."
He rolled his eyes, "Don't worry, Legolas will take care of me."
"Wonderful," muttered the prince with a light laugh.
Elrohir watched the two friends leave, then frowned. "I don't like this, Elladan," he remarked. "It isn't normal for orcs to just rush the border."
The older twin nodded, agreeing with his sibling. "Stay alert," cautioned the elf. "They may be trying to trap us."
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Estel pulled himself into a tree. A soft chuckle from Legolas gained the elf a nasty little glare from his human companion.
"Do you enjoy teasing me?" asked the boy.
"Of course," responded the prince truthfully. "Try not to fall."
The wood-elf put his skills to good use as he climbed to the higher branches of the tree he was currently settled in for the time being. Finding a particularly strong branch, Legolas balanced himself perfectly and peered out into the forest. He could see the orcs. The normal estimate of forty had been inaccurate. There were far more than that.
"What do they need with an army that large? What are they trying to do?" he muttered to himself. He did not like this at all.
As he climbed down to the lower branches, Legolas saw something pass through the corner of his eye between two trees. Within mere seconds, his bow was out and loaded, but whatever was there was gone. A twig snapped. He turned and shot at a silhouette. It dropped to the floor.
"What did you slay?" asked Estel.
"I have not the faintest idea."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
It was far too quiet as the two brothers waited patiently for their enemy. Elladan was the first to hear the arrow released from Legolas's bow. Had the orcs come already? No...it would take them a little longer for them to reach where the other two hid.
Then he saw it...the same dark shadow Legolas had seen briefly. On reflex, he turned to face it. It was no longer there.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Both Estel and Legolas heard the outcry. It had come from one of twins, but neither had time to go back to aid them. A large group of orcs, about twenty-three when the elf counted, rushed at them. It was as if they knew where the two were hiding.
The prince was not worried. He moved behind the trunk of the tree to dodge a few arrows, then shot down five of the orcs. Estel shot down four. He frowned as he peered across the path and could not see Legolas. The boy did not worry long for he saw the prince balancing on a rather thin branch. An orc had climbed the tree and was presently trying to knock the wood-elf off his perch. A rather swift flick of the knife Legolas had taken from his quiver sent the orc crashing onto two of his fellow soldiers.
There were twelve left. He could take them.
"Estel! Go back and help the twins," commanded the prince, moving to a different tree and shooting down two more orcs.
Without protest, Estel jumped down from the tree and ran to his brothers.
An arrow flew through the air with a faint whistle and dug into the back of the foul beast. This distraction served well enough for a second orc to climb into a tree not too far from the one in which Legolas was settled. It stepped onto one of the strong and rigid branches that touched the one the wood-elf was currently balanced.
With great strength, the orc swung his heavy blade. It was a sad attempt to cleave off the prince's head. Within seconds, Legolas had switched his bow and arrow for his elvish daggers, ducked the blow, and stabbed at the orc. It moved back then stepped forward again.
Neither could hear the faint cracking of the branch as the orc stepped onto the same one as the prince. Legolas pressed himself against the tree trunk. The orc went to stab him with the blade, but it was simply embedded into the tree as the elf ducked it and went after him with the knife. Suddenly, the branch fell.
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Worry only served to fuel the movements of the young human as he raced for his brothers. Had the orcs simply set a trap for them? Were the orcs that intelligent?
"Elladan, where are you? Are you two hurt?" Estel called out. "Elladan? Elrohir?"
As he came into the clearing, he quickly spotted his eldest brother. He was leaning against a tree, pressing a deep gash on his side to stop the bleeding. Quickly, Estel rushed to his side.
"How did this happen? Where is Elrohir?" asked the boy, alarmed.
"Goblin scouts...took him..." responded Elladan in a faltering voice. He slumped against his brother.
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"Where are those scouts? They should have been back ages ago!" said an angered orc chieftain. "What word have you of them?"
"They shall be here soon, sir," replied a lesser soldier. "I do believe that they have a prisoner with them."
"Good, that makes two."
After the branch had fallen from the tree, the orcs had swarmed around Legolas. He was quickly overtaken and now stood restrained on the east side of the orc camp. A low curse escaped his lips as he heard the news of the goblin scouts. Those must have been the creatures following the small orc- hunting party.
About three goblins and a five orcs stepped into the clearing. One was pushing a half-conscious Elrohir in front of him, using his foot to kick the poor elf when he slowed down slightly. The orc-chieftain jerked his head towards Legolas. The son of Elrond was pushed forcefully against the prince, who stumbled back against a tree. Both fell to the ground, Elrohir because he was too weak to go on and Legolas because Elrohir was leaning against him.
"Do not worry," whispered the wood-elf. "I will get you home safely."
"No talking," commanded a guard curtly, slapping Legolas across the face. A bruise began to form on his cheek and he frowned. For Elrohir's sake, he didn't argue with the orc.
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"Ada...aren't you worried about them?" asked Elladan as his father finished wrapping the deep gash in his side.
"Well, if Estel is uninjured," responded Elrond, a little humor in his voice, "then chances are that Legolas is to. True to his friends as he is, Elrohir will be returned to us safely."
"I hope," muttered Estel.
Elladan laughed and ruffled his brother's hair, "Do not worry, Estel," he said.
"It is hard. Elrohir is my brother, and Legolas is my best friend."
"It is the same for me, Estel," Elladan remarked sadly. "Did you ever hear about the time Legolas and Elrohir went over the falls? I believe that Elrohir spoke of it once, but you were a little too young to remember something so simple."
"Well, I remember Legolas coming back when we thought he was dead after fighting Ryldor..."
"It was actually sort of an accident," explained Elrond. Everyone turned to him. "Sort of funny, later, though. Your brilliant brother Elladan dared Elrohir to walk across this large tree that had fallen across the river at one time. When he fell in, Legolas went to save him..."
"And they both fell into the river and it dragged them down the falls. We searched for hours," said Elladan, "only to have them come back later soaking wet and laughing like lunatics."
Estel laughed, "And this is why neither of you are worried?"
The two elves nodded.
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An hour seemed like forever as Legolas sat with his friend leaning against him, asleep. He had spent the last sixty minutes looking for ways to escape. So far, he had found two possibilities. They would probably not work, however. Current circumstances, Elrohir being unconscious for one, they would most likely fail before he could get out of the encampment.
The elf leaning against him stirred and opened his eyes slightly.
"Wh-"
"Shush," whispered Legolas into Elrohir's ear, "don't talk. Now that you're awake, I have a plan."
One of the orcs guarding them turned, thinking he heard one of them speaking. Elrohir pretended to be unconscious still and Legolas simply glared up at him, daring it to hit him again.
When he turned away, Legolas continued. "Can you stand?"
