Into the Mines

By: Max Pilote

Chapter Seven - Holes

Legolas sat up in his bed. "Elrohir?" he asked, looking around. He could have sworn the elf had called out his name. Maybe he was just hallucinating?

The prince shrugged and laid back down. Still, sleep would not come to him. He laid there for several more minutes before he heard another noise. It sounded like a glass shattering on the ground. Maybe one of the elves in the kitchen dropped one. It seemed the only possibility. Or he was simply hearing things.

"I am getting to the bottom of this," he muttered, getting up. In truth, he was just restless. After being awoken after an extremely short sleep, it was hard to go back to sleep.

As Legolas stepped into the hallway, he heard a small thud. It was a thud probably caused by someone hitting a door. People were extremely clumsy if that was just elves running into things for no apparent reason.

Wait. What if Ryldor-

He took off at a fast run down the hallway and stopped at Elrohir's door. After trying to pry open the door, he found it be locked.

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"Wait! Legol-"

Rymir quickly put his hand over his mouth. "We don't want to attract unnecessary attention," he whispered in the injured elf's ear.

Even though it hurt worse than when the wound was originally created, he managed to kick Rymir when the brutal elf drug his victim out of the bed. It knocked him against a table. A glass fell to the ground and shattered.

Legolas probably heard that, thought Elrohir. He sat on the ground, staring helplessly up at Rymir. He grabbed a tray and looked down at the son of Elrond.

"That was a mistake," he said with a growl. With great strength, he tossed the tray at Elrohir. The injured elf turned his back to it. He clenched his teeth as he hit him, then fell to the floor with a clatter.

Several seconds later, they both heard the sound of the door trying to open. Rymir growled and turned to face it. It started to shake and rattle as whoever was trying to get in started throwing themselves against the door. When it gave way, Legolas stumbled in. His shoulder was bleeding.

"Stay away from him, Rymir! You're fight is with me! Or rather...Ryldor's fight is with me," he said, growling.

"I was expecting you would come in here, but you ruined my fun," responded Rymir.

"Then torture me," taunted Legolas, "if you can catch me."

The elf lunged at the prince, but he stepped aside and grabbed his attacker's arm. Then, he proceeded to flip of over his shoulder. It was a success, but also a mistake. Pain shot down his arms and he found himself unable to move them for several seconds. It was all Rymir needed. He pinned the prince against the wall by his neck.

"Just a small message for you," he said with a smirk as Legolas struggled for breath under his grip.

With great strength, Legolas curled his knees up between him and his attacker then kicked him in the gut. He fell to the ground while Rymir stumbled back, a piece of paper falling from his pocket to the ground.

Rymir took a step towards Legolas, but suddenly stopped.

"Ada!" exclaimed Elrohir as Rymir pushed past Elrond and disappeared down the hallway.

Quickly, the elven prince picked up the paper and walked over to Elrohir. He helped the elf back into bed and turned to Elrond.

"I'll go," he said.

"First, you will tell me the truth," replied the elf-lord, taking Legolas by the arm and leading him into the hallway. "What is happening with you?"

"Ryldor has returned," responded the prince. "I do not understand why he would wait ten years before he struck again, but he has. Unfortunately, he is out to destroy me by slowly destroying everyone I care about. Now, I have no time left to explain anything else! I have to go save Estel!"

"Estel is in no danger with Elladan..."

"Or so you think. I am truly sorry." With that last apology, Legolas turned and left.

"You are far too confusing, son of Thranduil."

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Elladan helped Estel down into the shaft. It actually opened up into a large cave after a drop of a few feet. It seemed empty, though darkness shrouded much of the area. Several orc bodies lay a few feet from where they stood.

"Well, there have been orcs here," remarked Elladan with a sigh. He walked over and began to examine the bodies. Nudging one with his foot caused it to turn over and reveal a hole in the floor. There was an orc camp on the level below them. It was not a straight drop. The wall of the cave the hole was above served as a slide when one fell down. It seemed more like the orcs down there had used a rope and lowered themselves down in order to avoid the embarrassment of rolling to the ground.

Elladan turned to his brother, "Alright, we have found the orcs. Where is Merion?"

Estel looked back, "I thought he was following us."

Ryldor was standing there, Merion laying at his feet with a dagger in his back.

"It is becoming less difficult to sneak up on you," he said with a smirk. "I find it quite pathetic at how easily I can dispense of you."

The older brother growled, "I thought you were dead."

"You thought Legolas was dead..."

He looks so familiar, thought Estel as he moved back several paces and stood by his brother.

"Stay away from them!" exclaimed someone from outside the cave. Legolas dropped through the opening and kicked Ryldor in the back. He pinned the elf there with his foot. "You are far too easy, my oldest nemesis."

He managed to get out from under Legolas and to his feet. "What is it with you and always showing up when I am starting to have fun?" asked Ryldor with a sarcastic frown.

The prince smirked and pulled out his dagger. "Some habits are hard to break," he responded. "Are you ready for that duel?

"Elladan, get Merion and Estel away from here," he commanded.

Elladan did as Legolas said and gathered Merion in his arms. He motioned for Estel to follow.

The remaining occupants of the cave began their fight. Legolas turned twirled his blade in a lazy circle beside him as he and Ryldor stood many feet away from each other. They were casually regarding their enemy, examining them, and searching for weak points. The prince had not forgotten his battle with his enemy ten years ago. The memory may serve him well, he thought to himself.

Before Elladan had taken Merion, Ryldor had taken his blade out of the elf's back. Therefore, he was armed. He knew Legolas would not attack him if he was unarmed. The prince's sense of fairness would allow his opponent to be armed.

Without warning, the deadly dance begun. Both met halfway between the other and struck blades. Each blow was either dodged or blocked, then countered. Legolas had almost forgotten what it was like to battle another elf. The memories were not completely lost on him nor was Ryldor rusty around the edges. The prince seemed to be at a slight disadvantage, though, with his recent injuries to his shoulders. His movements were hindered slightly. His opponent seemed to be toying with him, though. It seemed that each had an equal advantage in the fight.

The elven prince used a move that was unexpected. Ryldor swung at him with his blade, but he had grabbed his arm. Instead of making him drop his weapon and claiming victory, Legolas pulled the other closer and clubbed him in the back on the head with the hilt of his knife. Ryldor was momentarily stunned. The wood-elf pushed him onto the ground and pressed the tip of his knife softly against his enemy's neck.

"I win," said Legolas coldly.

"Not quite."

Quickly, the prince turned and swung his knife. Rymir's strong grip held his wrist tightly, having caught it before he could strike with his blade.

"I should have known you weren't far behind," said the prince with a frown.

"Ah, but you did not and that is what has caused your downfall."

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Estel frowned as he followed his brother back to the safety of Elrond's home. There was no sign of Legolas and that worried him. What if Legolas needed him? What if he fell down that hole into the orc camp? So many 'what ifs' tugged at the human's mind.

"Elladan, I have to go back and help Legolas," he stated plainly.

"Ryldor will tear you apart," argued Elladan.

"What if Legolas has defeated Ryldor," insisted Estel, "but is seriously injured. He may need my help."

"He is going to be angry with you," said the older brother, turning back to face Estel.

"I know."

"Then go," said Elladan with a frown. "Be extremely careful. Ada is already going to kill me for letting you run off like this."

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A failed attempt to dodge a blade sent it plunging into Legolas's side. It struck nothing vital, but it hurt enough to cause him to double over. Rymir kicked him, knocking him onto the ground.

"As much as I enjoy watching you suffer," said Ryldor. "I still need to kill your human friend-"

"Leave him alone! You can kill me if you will just spare him," pleaded Legolas as Rymir kicked him once more.

"I don't do final requests. My brother and I are just going to feed you to the orcs," responded the old nemesis with a smirk.

His brother hit his victim in the temple with the dagger he had obtained. It stunned the prince and sent a dark shadow momentarily over his vision. In the few moments he was defenseless, Rymir practically threw him into the hole.

The orcs looked up as Legolas rolled down the cavern wall. A few of the vile creatures recognized him as their escaped prisoner. It seemed now was a time ripe for vengeance. Two bound him with their ropes and seized whatever remaining weapons he had left. They would not make the mistake of letting this one escape so easily again. He was clever, but not enough for them.

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Estel was forced to duck into the shadow of a nearby thicket of bushes as Rymir and Ryldor emerged from the cave. Ryldor seemed unscathed, meaning he must have won the battle. As soon as the two malicious brothers were out of sight and surely out of range to detect his motions, the young human crept back into the cave.

Cautiously, he peered into the hole and saw an orc remove Legolas's weapons while another bound him. That bastard Ryldor had pulled a dirty trick on Legolas to have put him down there.

It seemed as though the prince were regaining his grip on consciousness. However, he soon wished to have simply stayed asleep when an orc took a handful of his hair and forced him to the look into the horrid creatures face.

"Was anyone with you?" demanded the orc.

"No," responded the prince, turning his head away as to avoid the smell of the orc.

Estel frowned as he took the rope from his side. He just needed to wait until a good amount of the orcs were asleep...