Ch 10 Battle
The battle was joined. The wraiths were the first to strike, but the nine were ready. They stayed in a circle, facing outwards. The wraiths shrieked as they found they were not able to separate them.
The ringing of swords was sharp in the chamber, as each elf and human battled for their lives. Estel saw Elrond battling two of the wraiths. Suddenly, the elf lord felt a searing pain as a wraith managed to slash his arm. Before he could react, Estel brought his sword up and stabbed the creature. Elrond nodded his thanks to his foster son, who gave a nod in return. Both went back to fighting. The creature that was stabbed again entered the fray.
The twins, along with Legolas, were having a difficult time trying to avoid the sword thrusts of their enemies. Each had numerous cuts, but none were life threatening.
Gil-galad and Glorfindel, along with Elros, were fighting with knives as well as swords. They, too, had numerous cuts.
Arathorn suddenly found himself being pressed back towards the wall of the chamber. He could feel the sword at his throat, but was unable to reach for his knife. Suddenly, the creature shrieked as a knife came flying and entered the creature's back. As Arathorn caught his breath, he saw that the knife belonged to Legolas.
As the battle progressed, the floor became slippery with the blood being spilled upon it. As Arathorn turned to meet an attack, he slipped and fell. The wraith was upon him, and Arathorn was badly wounded. Estel saw the wraith raise the sword to finish his human father. He threw his knife and managed to deflect the sword stroke. The sword still managed to wound Arathorn, but not fatally. Arathorn was in pain, but he managed to tell Aragorn, "Do not mind me. I will be fine. Just watch yourself." He received a nod from his son.
Elrond and Glorfindel both had numerous cuts on their arms and Elrond had a gash on his left shoulder, as well as the slash on his arm.
Suddenly, Elladan saw Elros go down under the sword of a wraith. He managed to leap over Arathorn and stop the wraith from killing Elros. The wraith then disappeared, leaving eight.
Another wraith was stabbed by Legolas' knife, and was no longer a threat. With Arathorn and Elros unable to fight, it was seven against seven.
Estel was getting tired, and was starting to make errors that could cost him his life. It appeared he was the focus of the attack, with four of the wraiths coming towards him. He noticed that Gil-galad, Legolas and Elrohir were attempting to get the wraiths to attack them, without success.
Glorfindel managed to rid himself of the wraith that was attacking him, but was in no shape to do much more than to slide down the wall to sit on the floor.
Both Elladan and Elrohir managed to rid themselves of the wraiths pressing them. Their wounds had weakened the twins enough so that they were of no assistance to their human brother.
"Legolas! Beware!" cried Estel as he saw the Mirkwood prince go down with a blow to his head.
Estel was alone, with the four wraiths surrounding him. He grasped his sword, determined that if he were to fall, he would take as many wraiths with him as he possibly could.
As he raised his sword, he called out, "Gilthoniel A Elbereth!"