Sorry guys, this really wasn't meant to happen. I keep being late with my posts for some reason or another. To be honest I'm just really unhappy with this chapter, it's not working for some reason, so I apologise if it is utter shit. I'll leave it as that, but the next chapter will be better (and on time) I promise. Anyone watching the England football match on Sunday, look out for me, I'll be the random girl trying to kidnap David Beckham, being followed by a rather alarming looking *ducks from her flying fist* sister-figure…
Chapter Fourteen: Mist on the Moors
The gentle haze of dawn shifted over the hills, the mist gathering like hungry dogs to fresh kill. It was an eerie hour, the battle between day and night leaving the land engulfed in an unsettling shadow. Riding through the morning fog in a wary silence, listening out for the slightest whisper in the long grass or the nearby tree, the house of Roiderick and his family disappeared from their view. It had been an uncomfortable farewell; promises of the swift return of their horse, Bess, whom both Legolas and Estel considered to have a ridiculous name, but was nevertheless a sturdy beast, bids of all the luck in the world and a safe return had been spoken with a constant rueful stare from the two adults. Estel had picked up on it and was utterly mortified. He was also furious with his friend though he did not show it, but Legolas could tell and was equally angry with himself. He had not meant to speak of it to strangers, or even to anyone, but it had slipped out in a momentary weakness.
They rode around the forest, still under the cover of a sluggish, murky dawn. The cheerful chirping of the waking birds did not match the mood between the pair, they were tense and nervous and their silence suited both. Estel stared blankly at the bow hanging on the elf's back, slipping into his own thoughts. He was drained in every sense, his whole body ached with exhaustion and his head had finally stopped spinning with vicious memories, grinding to an unsettling, weary blur. He yawned, but he was not tired. He doubted whether he would ever sleep again. A sudden realisation they had stopped snapped him back. Estel immediately knew why, he could feel the same unease as his friend did.
They were being tracked.
"Hold on." Legolas whispered. "We'll try and outrun them."
The young human slinked his hands on the fair elf's hips and they sped along the plains, the cool wind gusting through their hair. Estel bit his lip; the whole of his lower body was in agony from the rough path the horse took. The bruises on his thighs throbbed painfully and his heart grew heavy; Bess was reasonably fast but it was clear that she was not used to galloping at this speed. He glanced behind and saw the remaining three assassins in pursuit, gaining slowly on them. Grudoc was surprisingly the best rider and led the pack, his ugly podgy face in clear view.
"Estel, use your bow and take out Grudoc while he's in range." The elf instructed.
"Does your memory deceive you? I would have more chance of sprouting wings from the side of my head and flying to Imladris, than I would killing him with my aim!" He hissed seriously.
"Fine," Legolas mumbled. "Take the reins."
"What?"
"Just take the reins."
Leaning forward so that he was almost resting against the elf, he fumbled and managed to grasp the leather between his fingers. He couldn't see where they were going, trusting Bess to guide them safely along. Legolas pulled an arrow out and turned to look backwards. Closing one eye, he took a deep breath. Everything around him became a blur as he focussed on his target. A swift release and the slim arrow whistled through the air. It thumped into Grudoc's chest and he fell from his horse and landed on the sparse grassland with a sickening thud. The elf watched him land and knew he was dead; his accuracy with the bow had not diminished over the past harrowing fortnight.
They continued to race along the dry plain. There was barely a tree in sight and the wind bellowed down from the Misty Mountains in the east. Their grim shadow stood over the couple as they sped north. The blond elf took Bess' reins back and he leant closer, urging her on faster. There was a large, but relatively light, sparse woodland a little further north, and it became clear that it was a sprint to the relative cover of the trees. An arrow fizzled narrowly wide of them and Legolas felt his heart skip a beat. They repeated their exchange of reins and Legolas watched as Donvan readied another missile for them. Responding, the elf shot at him at the blink of an eye, it whirled like a rocket and embedded itself in the human's thigh. He roared in pain and slowed down slightly as he gathered his bearings once more. A little smile crept across the fair being's face as he watched his foes struggle now they were in a position to fight back, but he was annoyed that he had not slain him as he had the other bulky human.
Turning his attention to the pursuer who had caused him the most personal injury and steadied himself once. Raenir glowered, his deep hazel eyes snarling with hatred and bitter revenge at his fallen comrades. Memories of his stomach churning taunts about Carinyc's lust for his young companion in the early days of their capture boiled the blood in his veins and his determination to punish them grew to unimaginable levels. The vicious beatings he had suffered at Raenir's hands were also fresh in his mind. Legolas' face hardened, his eyes darkening with revulsion. He would never feel more satisfaction at killing one man than if it had been Carinyc himself. Raising his bow, he felt his heart thump. This was it. The last real obstacle stopping them from returning to Rivendell, Donvan was injured and was a simple target to pick off now. All the sound around him muted, only the stretching fibres twanging quietly were now audible.
Bess suddenly bucked, a shrill neigh filling their ears as they rose higher. They went crashing to the ground and Legolas' arrow wandered aimlessly high in the morning sky. The elf fell particularly awkwardly, landing on top of Estel. His head hit the ground with a dull thud and his body went limp. The young boy groaned sorely, noticing Donvan's arrow in the horse's hide that had caused their downfall. Squirming from the uncomfortable situation underneath his friend, his close proximity too much for him to cope with, he glanced back to see Raenir drawing nearer, a smug grin of triumph on his gruff face. Estel felt his hands shaking, and his shook the fair elf's shoulder frantically, but it was no use. He had taken a nasty blow to the head and he wouldn't wake for some time. The fear grew inside his heart and he looked between the two desperately. What should he do? He couldn't leave Legolas. He shook the elf once more, but there was no response.
"Come on, Legolas! Wake up!" He hissed hysterically.
Estel stumbled back a little, watching as Raenir closed in the last few yards, his gaze shifted to Donvan, who had dismounted and was limping slowly toward him. His heart was thumping so hard and fast in his chest that he thought it would burst. He stood, frozen to the spot again, just like it had been in the very beginning. His grey eyes flickered toward the assassin once more, to see him standing equally still. His bow was raised.
Their eyes met. The darkest brown against the softest silver. His fingers released and the arrow whizzed toward him. With a panicked squeal, he leapt out of the way, falling to the ground on his stomach. A sudden grip on his ankle caught him off guard and he was dragged backwards. Spinning onto his back, he saw Raenir's stony expression looking down at him. Terror raced through his veins and his breath caught in his throat.
"You killed my friends." He growled, and wrapped his large fingers around the boy's neck.
"Get off me!" He managed to choke out.
"Brings back bad memories, does it? I can still smell him on you." He smiled.
Estel froze. His bow dug into him from underneath and his fingers dug into the soil.
"Maybe I should finish what he started… in memory of a life you snuffed out." Raenir whispered threateningly.
His eyes widened, tears already threatening to fall. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end and a cold sweat formed. This wasn't happening.
"Forgive me, Legolas." He murmured.
He thrashed his legs as hard as he could, kicking Raenir hard in the legs and the stomach. Panting in a hysterical panic, he hit out and connected with his nose, the blood spattering everywhere. The startled human fell away and he scrambled free, sprinting as fast as he could away. Glancing back, he saw Raenir climbing to his feet to give chase. His eyes fell ruefully on his unconscious friend and he quickly turned away. Guilt hung heavy in his heart but he had to get away. He couldn't go through it again.
Raenir sped after him, his long legs helping him gain on the terrified child. Blood ran down his face and he drew his sword, sensing the kill was close. Estel ducked to the left. Falling to his knees, he scrambled under the dead thorns of an old hedge. They scratched his skin and tore his clothes but he struggled through them relentlessly. The shrubs were thick and he only just managed to pull his foot out of the man's reach. The dark haired man frowned and slashed at the dense thicket, his blade cutting through the brittle wood easily.
The young boy clambered along on his knees, his black curls falling over his face. The sword ripped through and swept inches from Estel's ear. He squealed and jumped to his feet as Raenir pushed his way past the severed bushes. He spun and tore away, moving as fast as his legs could possibly go. His heart leapt into his throat as his angry pursuer cried out after him. Estel leapt over a small row of greying plants that had clearly perished in the summer drought, and ducked under the low hanging saplings.
Raenir was close behind, the sound of his knife slicing everything in his path. The dawn mist still hovered low on the field, and visibility reduced as they drew closer to the Bruinen that lay beyond the spare woodland. Estel continued his sprint, his heart thudding and eyes watering. This field felt as if it went on for miles.
An unseen branch caught his face and cut into his throat. He shrieked at the sudden pain, stumbling but managing to stay on his feet. They chase continued for at least another five minutes of both humans darting and squeezing through the hostile environment, the mist thickened further and left them in an unnerving haze. Pushing his way past what he thought was the other side of the abandoned field, Raenir stopped in his tracks. Estel was nowhere to be seen.
He frowned and took a few steps into the sparse woodland. The river ran a few yards away and was the only sound amongst the few trees surrounding him. Glancing around the tree trunks and up into the thin branches, his confused scowl deepened. Pacing around the area, he could still find no sign of his prey. Raenir kicked out at the long grass with frustration and growled angrily.
"Fine!" He yelled. "I shall just have to have my fun with your friend. Make him squeal instead of you for once!"
He stalked away irritably, back toward the two figures he could see in the distance.
Donvan knelt over the unconscious elf, tightening the bonds around his hands and ankles. Sitting back down, he turned his attention to his injured leg, wincing as he pulled Legolas' arrow from his thigh. Glancing up, he raised his sword warily at the sound of approaching footsteps. He spotted Raenir emerging through the mist and relaxed.
"Is he dead?" Donvan asked flatly.
"I lost him." The other human replied. "He'll be back though, he wouldn't leave his precious elf behind."
"No?" He glared furiously. "You do not think him fleeing was a good indication of his future actions?"
"He stayed with him when we first captured them." Raenir reasoned.
"And do you think he is in the same state of mind now as he was in the beginning?" Donvan's eyes glowered angrily. "You fool! That boy is absolutely terrified and you can thank your depraved little friend for that! It wouldn't surprise me if is halfway to his home by now."
The newly returned human frowned, his face hardening. "He will come for his friend."
"I cannot take the risk of him not doing what you are so sure of. Keep the firstborn alive until I return with the body of his friend." He growled, limping into the distance.
TBC…
See what I mean? Awful wasn't it. Sorry, next chapter will be better.
Snow_Glory – I make no guarantees… He may be okay, but let's remember who's writing this shall we? Me. And admittedly I'm not very nice.
Nib…err Nilth… umm…Nilbahwhocares – Yes, I am evil. I'm glad I'm taking you on a roller coaster (or Ferris Wheel – I'm still trying to get over the blinding terror of going on one of those things) and I hope that I'm capturing the emotion of Estel's situation because I think getting it wrong would be an insult to everyone who's suffered similar traumas.
Mannie – Hehe, I liked your review, blunt but lovely! I'm not an author, I will be one day, I guarantee it, even if I have to bribe the publisher.
Tithen Min – You: Caffeine rush, me: chocolate high. With people like us in the world, who needs sane, rational folks, we can make the world a better place. Woo, that made no sense whatsoever.
Jadelyn Rashwe – Ah, you're Australian. That explains a lot. ;)
Leggylover03 – Aah, the never-ending question of Elrond's whereabouts. I hear he's cut his hair, bought a suit and is busy in some random and frankly confusing thing called the Matrix.
Dragonfly – No! No baldness. I have no insurance for that. Elrond is busy dammit! His cute ass is donning a suit and doing the whole multiplying thing, you never know, there could be a thousand Elronds by the time this fic is finished.
TigerLily713 – I could be calling on your experience in this field, if that's okay with you. I'm just determined to get this right.
Alex mistress of dirty pre-roadkill – Sorry, I laughed. Pinecones, eh? Have you genetically modified your rodents now? No worries, I've just got China on board, so I'll meet you outside the White House on Thursday and we'll sort this out once and for all! I'll let the psycho freak comment pass, because well, I'll justify Bush and his poodle's WMD claims and we'll see who's name-calling at the end!
Lady Melime – Hunt me down, go on! You couldn't find me if I gave you my address and a painted my house neon pink. I will NOT repeat after you, because 1) I'm not 10, and 2) Cliffies are GOOD! Good for the heart, soothing for the soul.
Maranwe1 – Look, fate and me go back years, we went to school together, so of course we're going to conspire with one another. Don't take it personally. Make a prediction, and I'll change the whole plot so that you're right, how does that sound?
Grumpy – Thank you, the hangover and sneezes seem to be subsiding, but I am still evil, so killing everyone off is still a distinct possibility. I'll ransom Season 6 onwards of ER (DVD only please) a Mars Bar and Orlando Bloom, for the guaranteed survival of all of our favourite characters, deal?
TrinityTheSheDevil – Oooh, how can I ever repay you?! You sent the beautiful Elrond to me and now I've got him chained to my bed…ahem…put that camera away! That's got to be illegal. Oh, and I like the 'evil wench' tag, it's got a nice ring to it.
Crystal-chan – Estel's good sword skills aren't very useful when he doesn't possess a sword. Oh wait, now he does… classify that as a hint if you will, but predicting what will happen doesn't usually produce results (just ask Maranwe1)
Silvertoekee – Do you ever really get over it? I doubt it, I think you just move on. As mentioned above, Elrond is busy with his alter-ego, he'll be around soon enough.
Ryoko Lasgalen - *narrows eyes* You. You gave me this beastly monstrosity of an illness! You will suffer the consequences! My 15-stone Rugby player from Grimsby will break your head, and then I'll bomb Wales. Mwahahahahahaha. A lesson to you all, do not make Alice ill.