Disclaimer: Yo no owno Elo Lordo deo Ringo!!
Author's Note: Sorry to keep you all waiting for so long but I'm having a HUGE piano exam this weekend. Wish me luck! I lied! This is NOT the final chapter. *yay* This is also from Rumil's POV if you haven't figured it out. I wrote it listening to The Fields of Pelennor on the soundtrack so it may have some scenes similar to the move. Read on!
We Are One
We Cannot Get Out
Rumil groaned again. His back was aching from the weight of Haldir draped over him. He tried hard not to complain but when they got back to Lothlorien, he seriously needed to loose some weight. Not that he wasn't skinny enough already. He was so thin that you could practically count all his ribs. He shifted Haldir's weight to another area on his back to give one side a break.
His brother's skin was icy cold against his warm skin. Rumil shivered involuntarily. He couldn't bare to think about what they had done to his brother to make him so vulnerable. He remembered that when he was the child, Haldir would always care for him and comfort him when he was afraid. 'Things have changed, brother. Now, I will look after you. I will take care of you now.'
"Rumil?" Rumil turned around slowly. It was Orophin. "Let me carry Haldir now. You take this lead."
Rumil nodded gratefully and handed the burden to his second eldest brother. He easily hoisted Haldir up onto his back with little effort. "Take the lead, Rumil."
There was a soft hiss as steel gently slid free of its confines. He walked lightly to the front and fell into step with Hithiel. "Where are we?" he asked softly.
"I don't know", she admitted. "We followed the torches to get in so I guess we follow them back out right?"
Almost as soon as she said that, all the torches went out with a faint whoosh. An uneasy silence settled upon the group and Rumil felt a warm body press against his. He wrapped an arm around Legolas and inhaled his piney scent to give him some comfort. The only light came from Rumil's drawn sword that glowed softly in the dark. "Telu nambar. Im lhaw," he whispered into the pointed ear. He felt Legolas's body tense and he quivered slightly in anticipation. The archer was deadly. [Do not be afraid. I am here.]
The entire group was silent and tense, waiting for the next move. Bowstrings were cocked and swords slithered free but it would be little use in the dark. "Cel nu!" yelled out one of the twins and as soon as those words left his mouth, a volley of arrows were released from somewhere behind them.
Rumil's Guardian reflexes responded instantly and he pushed Legolas to the ground and raised a head to look around. No one was hit. The arrows had all lodged themselves into a wall in front of them. The darkness offered nothing for shooting. He didn't notice that Legolas had slithered free of his grip and there was a resounding twang of a bowstring and two arrows sped through the air.
The enemy was grouped so tightly together it was almost impossible to miss. A pain-filled yell told him that he had hit at least one of his targets. Another volley answered the archer and he flung himself to the ground. This time, the enemy knew where they were and the arrows were closer. They peppered onto the floor and stuck there. "Untup nin," whispered Rumil to Legolas. [Cover me]
The Prince nodded and notched another arrow onto his bow. He held it there for a beat and let it fly. His hand flew back to grab another arrow and repeated. Before the Black Elves could react, the Guardian rushed past them and flung himself at the archers. They were armed only with a bow and so they didn't stand a chance against Rumil's sword. The Elf's fury was great as he fought for his life. Behind him, shots were being fired by Legolas. The Black Elves were forced to make a hurried retreat and scampered back with Rumil slashing at their backs.
The silvery light that shone from his sword dimmed as black blood covered the surface of it. He staggered ungracefully back to his company who watched him with awe. Legolas ran to him. "Are you hurt?" he asked.
Only then did Rumil feel a small pain in his arm. He glanced down to see a small graze on his arm from an arrow. He shrugged. "It's nothing. Let's keep going."
Orophin approached him quietly from behind. "You were good. Stupid, but very good," he said with a grin. Rumil flashed a smile back at him. The battle had taken away his fear of being in the cave. "Next time, we go together."
Rumil nodded then realized that Orophin no longer was carrying Haldir. "Where's Haldir?" he asked with a bit of worry.
To his surprise, Orophin grinned. "Back there," he said gesturing towards Hithiel. "For some reason, his strength has returned. He can at least walk on his own."
Rumil looked back at Haldir. He was still pale but light has returned to the dead orbs. His footsteps were not as graceful as they once were but with time, the old Haldir will return. Haldir now stumbled a bit as he walked without assistance but Rumil could see through his mask. Haldir was tired but he had to go on with a show of energy. He would never allow others to help him. He was too stubborn.
He shook his head at his older brother's childish behavior but at the same time, he felt a surge of pride towards him. Haldir was all he ever wanted to be. His eyes scanned the dark surroundings, trying to detect any other movements. He glided ahead of the others, his muscles moving so smoothly it was catlike. He made no sound, a skill he had mastered since childhood. His head whipped back and forth, ears straining for the slightest sound that would give away the enemy's location.
He paused for a second to let the others catch up with him. His greenish- blue eyes never left the tunnel that was in front of him. He sensed something was wrong. There was something terrible wrong with the air. It was way too quiet, even by his standards. The dry air swirled around his body, making his golden hair blow out behind him. The curved steel was gripped tightly with both hands and he brought it across his body into a guard position. Orophin stepped next to him and knowing what Rumil was thinking, pulled his sword from behind his back without a sound and brought it up. He trusted Rumil when it came to stealth. Rumil possessed this natural ability ever since he was able to walk.
The two brothers looked identical in the dim light, proud, straight-backed Elven warriors. The only things you could see were their bright hair and glowing steel in their hands. Orophin's eyes darted nervously to the walls that trapped them on either side and to the misty gloom ahead.
A gust of dry air blew and cleared the misty gloom that had settled there. As the fog-like gloom cleared, Rumil could see their enemy. Light glinted off their swords and spears and they stood in organized ranks. When he squinted, he saw a dark outline of their commander: an Elf by the figure. It was to curved to be male. As they got closer, he saw the face and his eyes grew wide as he realized her to be Sayda, captain of Mirkwood, Ambaril's bodyguard, and his former companion.
Her heard Legolas gasp from behind him and he was speechless too. How could she serve Sauron after so many years of service to Mirkwood? How can she be so disloyal to her own kin? To the family she had sworn to protect? Why? Why Sayda?
His grip tightened on his sword until his knuckles turned white as he faced the approaching party. A red smear that looked like blood was smeared across her forehead and her expression was unreadable. Her eyes glinted with malice, all trace of compassion and love of nature was gone. She was one of them. But more skilled. The group stopped at about twenty yards away from them but the orcs leered at them from across the narrow hall. Rumil knew this was the end. Either kill or be killed. He could almost feel the cold steel against his neck that would bring his life to and end. To fade to nothingness. That was his fate.
A soft breath touched the back of his neck, making his skin prickle. He didn't need to turn to know that it was Legolas. His heart retched painfully at the thought of leaving Legolas. He firmed his resolve to live. 'Fate can be cruel. Do not grieve for me, meloneth.'
To his surprise, the enemy did not release a volley of arrows as he expected. His sharp eyes scanned his surrounding but he couldn't detect any archers but Legolas and Elladan. 'There mayhap be hope left,' he thought as he stared at the startling change in the former Mirkwood guard.
"Give us the Prince," commanded Sayda in her clear voice. "Give us Legolas and we might let you live."
Rumil instinctively stood protectively in front of Legolas. She sneered nastily at him. "Are you really that stupid? Don't you value your own life? Why don't you save your own life rather than throw it away needlessly to that of a brat Prince who will never be capable of love."
Legolas stepped defiantly out of Rumil's reach. "No one commands me! Especially a low guard. No matter what you have become, to me, you will always be that failure of a warrior. A disgrace to Mirkwood and all Elven- kind."
What was left of Sayda's pale skin flushed angrily. "You will pay for that you brat-prince." Her eyes flashed dangerously at him but he just stared back. She raised a finger. "Get him!" she shouted.
Four Black Elves sprang to her command and leapt for the Prince but Legolas calmly raised his bow and shot all four before they even reached him. Sayda glared angrily at her defeat. 'Of course! How could I have forgotten? The greatest archer in Middle-Earth...'
"So? You will not make this easy for yourself eh? Rather than to let all your friends die painfully before your very eyes." Legolas shifted uncomfortably and she saw. "Yes, Legolas. Picture it. Every single beautiful detail. Your friends falling to the ground, their bodies covered with blood. Your name will be upon their dying lips and will whisper 'murderer' before they depart. Yes, you will kill them. It is all because of you. Murderer. Their eyes rolling inside their head, milky white and lifeless. Their bodies like little puppets. You control them. You play with them and use them. Then you discard them like useless toys. Yes, you were always a savage underneath. I don't blame you. I would too. My own life would be before all my friends," she whispered spitefully.
Legolas paled and looked down at the ground. "Yes, my Prince. It is the right thing to do. Sacrifice your friends for your own life. That's the way to play it. Can you not imagine Rumil lying in your arms dying? The breath of life gone from his body? The way his head falls back when he makes his final journey? The way his whole body goes limp? The feeling of his cold skin against yours? The—"
"SHUT UP!" cried Legolas flinging himself at the treacherous She-Elf. Rumil grabbed him before he could get to her.
"It's a trap! Think, Legolas. She wants you to come for her! She knows your weakness! Don't let it get to you. No one is going to die." It sounded weak even to his ears but he had to reassure him that it was not going to be his fault.
Sayda's eyes darkened when she realized it wasn't going to work. "So be it," she whispered. "Get them! Do not touch the Prince!"
All the dark warriors behind her scrambled to obey their commanders but the others were ready with lightning fast reflexes. Rumil shoved Legolas out of harms way and brought his sword across his body to slash into the gut of an unfortunate enemy. After throwing down the enemy, he looked up to find his love slashing frantically at the many orcs that surrounded him. He bounded over to them and found all the others working to help him. The main force was concentrated on Legolas.
He sliced and shoved his way through the melee to the Prince's side. He fell into the rhythm of combat and his movements coordinated smoothly with the graceful strokes dealt by the beautiful but deadly Prince. 'Where's Haldir in all this?' he wondered as he parried a heavy blow to his head.
His brother was not yet strong enough to fight. He allowed his eyes to scan the room quickly before returning to his opponent. He knew it was risky and that not paying attention for a split-second could result in his death but he couldn't help his natural sense of curiosity. He saw either Elladan or Elrohir out of the corner of his eye defending Haldir. The other twin was half-buried under the orcs.
Suddenly, he crossed blades with Sayda, the leader of the band. "Why, Sayda? Why?" he asked her softly through the clash of steel upon steel.
She shoved her sword and pulled back in one fluid movement. "I have found my purpose. I have no need of Mirkwood any longer," she said silkily.
"But your oath to Mirkwood, what about that? You swore your loyalty and honor. You were THE guard. Why did you change?" He had to shout to make himself heard amidst the battle around him.
A flicker of Sayda's former self appeared within the dark depths of her eyes but it was enough to tell Rumil that it was still there. She was still inside. Just trapped. Almost as soon as it appeared, it disappeared again and her steely self reemerged. "Mind your own business, Guardian," she growled. "You know nothing of the power of the Dark Lord."
A cry of pain that ripped his heart tore his attention from Sayda. Foolishly, he turned his back onto his battle to Legolas who sank to the ground clutching his left arm. His eyes widened in fear and he felt as if the cold steel had pierced his arm too. He raced to his side or tried to.
Sayda's blade came whirling around when he turned his back on her and cut into his back. A ragged moan sprang to his lips as he felt his own warm blood drip down his back. It didn't matter. Nothing did. The only thing that mattered was Legolas. He would gladly give his life so that his Prince would live another day. Even if it was just for one more day.
He turned around and saw the dishonored guard of Mirkwood with her sword raised in a killing blow. An ironic smile was upon her darkened features and the sword descended towards the Guardian. He had no time to react, no time to bring his weapon up to block. 'Namaarie, nin meloneth, Legolas,' he thought as images of the Prince danced before his eyes. 'Tinwe nin pata hain le mbando.' [Farewell, my love, Legolas. I'm sorry I failed protecting thee.]
The point of the sword got closer as he let his last thought fly. He closed his eyes, his dark eyelashes resting upon his high cheekbones waiting for the blow to fall. But it didn't come. He opened his eyes to find Hithiel there engaged with Sayda who looked livid when she failed to kill him. "Get to Legolas!" she cried in between her strikes. "Protect him! Protect the Prince!"
Without any more encouragement, Rumil struggled to his feet and fended off blows as best as he could as he staggered towards the fallen Prince. A rush of energy flowed through his body when he saw the helpless Prince. He rushed towards the orcs, brandishing his weapon and slashing them down with a single strike. The pain in his back was forgotten when he saw the filthy hands groping at the weaponless Legolas.
His sword flashed with blinding intensity and the orcs blinked stupidly as they caught a glimpse of the sword before it cut them down and were left staring at their own entrails wondering what had happened. Rumil reached Legolas whose arm had a deep cut in it. His knives laid forgotten somewhere in the battle where he had dropped them in his pain. He cradled Legolas with one arm as he fended off other orcs. He grimaced at the black blood that covered his sword but he didn't have time to dwell on it for long. All the orcs were now rushing at him since he was the one carrying their prize—Legolas.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Hithiel finally throwing off Sayda. She wasn't very injured but a long cut ran from her eyebrow down her cheek. A bead of blood ran down steadily leaving a long red trail behind. She glanced at him and started fighting her way through the thick crowd of orcs who were now driven by pure blood lust now that their commander was dead.
Suddenly, all movement stopped. All the orcs had their weapons raised upon the ragged group of Elves and were going to bring it down but their movement stopped. It was as if time had frozen itself. Hithiel even brought her knives down on a motionless orc and it dropped onto the bloody floor without a sound. It was as if they were all dead already. Rumil caught Orophin's eye but he was also as puzzled as they were. Then they all started moving again. The company raised their weapons again and were ready to fight but they didn't move towards them. They scattered like ants across the black marble floor and faded into the darkness of Barad-dur as suddenly as they had come.
The Elves were confused and stood motionless waiting for the next move. Legolas quickly retrieved his weapons and stood at Rumil's side. For a couple of silent minutes, nothing happened. Then a thunderous roar echoed and reverberated throughout the hallways of Barad-dur. The Elves took a step back in fear and through the gloom, they saw the murderous red eyes of Sauron.
Yay! Another cliffie!! Yes, I'm evil and proud of it! It's a very good way to get reviews. *hint hint* Anyways, wish me luck on my exam! All put up responses to all the reviews I ever had in the next final chapter. This time, I'm not lying. The next chapter is THE last. Thanks you oh faithful reviewers! You are my life!
Author's Note: Sorry to keep you all waiting for so long but I'm having a HUGE piano exam this weekend. Wish me luck! I lied! This is NOT the final chapter. *yay* This is also from Rumil's POV if you haven't figured it out. I wrote it listening to The Fields of Pelennor on the soundtrack so it may have some scenes similar to the move. Read on!
We Are One
We Cannot Get Out
Rumil groaned again. His back was aching from the weight of Haldir draped over him. He tried hard not to complain but when they got back to Lothlorien, he seriously needed to loose some weight. Not that he wasn't skinny enough already. He was so thin that you could practically count all his ribs. He shifted Haldir's weight to another area on his back to give one side a break.
His brother's skin was icy cold against his warm skin. Rumil shivered involuntarily. He couldn't bare to think about what they had done to his brother to make him so vulnerable. He remembered that when he was the child, Haldir would always care for him and comfort him when he was afraid. 'Things have changed, brother. Now, I will look after you. I will take care of you now.'
"Rumil?" Rumil turned around slowly. It was Orophin. "Let me carry Haldir now. You take this lead."
Rumil nodded gratefully and handed the burden to his second eldest brother. He easily hoisted Haldir up onto his back with little effort. "Take the lead, Rumil."
There was a soft hiss as steel gently slid free of its confines. He walked lightly to the front and fell into step with Hithiel. "Where are we?" he asked softly.
"I don't know", she admitted. "We followed the torches to get in so I guess we follow them back out right?"
Almost as soon as she said that, all the torches went out with a faint whoosh. An uneasy silence settled upon the group and Rumil felt a warm body press against his. He wrapped an arm around Legolas and inhaled his piney scent to give him some comfort. The only light came from Rumil's drawn sword that glowed softly in the dark. "Telu nambar. Im lhaw," he whispered into the pointed ear. He felt Legolas's body tense and he quivered slightly in anticipation. The archer was deadly. [Do not be afraid. I am here.]
The entire group was silent and tense, waiting for the next move. Bowstrings were cocked and swords slithered free but it would be little use in the dark. "Cel nu!" yelled out one of the twins and as soon as those words left his mouth, a volley of arrows were released from somewhere behind them.
Rumil's Guardian reflexes responded instantly and he pushed Legolas to the ground and raised a head to look around. No one was hit. The arrows had all lodged themselves into a wall in front of them. The darkness offered nothing for shooting. He didn't notice that Legolas had slithered free of his grip and there was a resounding twang of a bowstring and two arrows sped through the air.
The enemy was grouped so tightly together it was almost impossible to miss. A pain-filled yell told him that he had hit at least one of his targets. Another volley answered the archer and he flung himself to the ground. This time, the enemy knew where they were and the arrows were closer. They peppered onto the floor and stuck there. "Untup nin," whispered Rumil to Legolas. [Cover me]
The Prince nodded and notched another arrow onto his bow. He held it there for a beat and let it fly. His hand flew back to grab another arrow and repeated. Before the Black Elves could react, the Guardian rushed past them and flung himself at the archers. They were armed only with a bow and so they didn't stand a chance against Rumil's sword. The Elf's fury was great as he fought for his life. Behind him, shots were being fired by Legolas. The Black Elves were forced to make a hurried retreat and scampered back with Rumil slashing at their backs.
The silvery light that shone from his sword dimmed as black blood covered the surface of it. He staggered ungracefully back to his company who watched him with awe. Legolas ran to him. "Are you hurt?" he asked.
Only then did Rumil feel a small pain in his arm. He glanced down to see a small graze on his arm from an arrow. He shrugged. "It's nothing. Let's keep going."
Orophin approached him quietly from behind. "You were good. Stupid, but very good," he said with a grin. Rumil flashed a smile back at him. The battle had taken away his fear of being in the cave. "Next time, we go together."
Rumil nodded then realized that Orophin no longer was carrying Haldir. "Where's Haldir?" he asked with a bit of worry.
To his surprise, Orophin grinned. "Back there," he said gesturing towards Hithiel. "For some reason, his strength has returned. He can at least walk on his own."
Rumil looked back at Haldir. He was still pale but light has returned to the dead orbs. His footsteps were not as graceful as they once were but with time, the old Haldir will return. Haldir now stumbled a bit as he walked without assistance but Rumil could see through his mask. Haldir was tired but he had to go on with a show of energy. He would never allow others to help him. He was too stubborn.
He shook his head at his older brother's childish behavior but at the same time, he felt a surge of pride towards him. Haldir was all he ever wanted to be. His eyes scanned the dark surroundings, trying to detect any other movements. He glided ahead of the others, his muscles moving so smoothly it was catlike. He made no sound, a skill he had mastered since childhood. His head whipped back and forth, ears straining for the slightest sound that would give away the enemy's location.
He paused for a second to let the others catch up with him. His greenish- blue eyes never left the tunnel that was in front of him. He sensed something was wrong. There was something terrible wrong with the air. It was way too quiet, even by his standards. The dry air swirled around his body, making his golden hair blow out behind him. The curved steel was gripped tightly with both hands and he brought it across his body into a guard position. Orophin stepped next to him and knowing what Rumil was thinking, pulled his sword from behind his back without a sound and brought it up. He trusted Rumil when it came to stealth. Rumil possessed this natural ability ever since he was able to walk.
The two brothers looked identical in the dim light, proud, straight-backed Elven warriors. The only things you could see were their bright hair and glowing steel in their hands. Orophin's eyes darted nervously to the walls that trapped them on either side and to the misty gloom ahead.
A gust of dry air blew and cleared the misty gloom that had settled there. As the fog-like gloom cleared, Rumil could see their enemy. Light glinted off their swords and spears and they stood in organized ranks. When he squinted, he saw a dark outline of their commander: an Elf by the figure. It was to curved to be male. As they got closer, he saw the face and his eyes grew wide as he realized her to be Sayda, captain of Mirkwood, Ambaril's bodyguard, and his former companion.
Her heard Legolas gasp from behind him and he was speechless too. How could she serve Sauron after so many years of service to Mirkwood? How can she be so disloyal to her own kin? To the family she had sworn to protect? Why? Why Sayda?
His grip tightened on his sword until his knuckles turned white as he faced the approaching party. A red smear that looked like blood was smeared across her forehead and her expression was unreadable. Her eyes glinted with malice, all trace of compassion and love of nature was gone. She was one of them. But more skilled. The group stopped at about twenty yards away from them but the orcs leered at them from across the narrow hall. Rumil knew this was the end. Either kill or be killed. He could almost feel the cold steel against his neck that would bring his life to and end. To fade to nothingness. That was his fate.
A soft breath touched the back of his neck, making his skin prickle. He didn't need to turn to know that it was Legolas. His heart retched painfully at the thought of leaving Legolas. He firmed his resolve to live. 'Fate can be cruel. Do not grieve for me, meloneth.'
To his surprise, the enemy did not release a volley of arrows as he expected. His sharp eyes scanned his surrounding but he couldn't detect any archers but Legolas and Elladan. 'There mayhap be hope left,' he thought as he stared at the startling change in the former Mirkwood guard.
"Give us the Prince," commanded Sayda in her clear voice. "Give us Legolas and we might let you live."
Rumil instinctively stood protectively in front of Legolas. She sneered nastily at him. "Are you really that stupid? Don't you value your own life? Why don't you save your own life rather than throw it away needlessly to that of a brat Prince who will never be capable of love."
Legolas stepped defiantly out of Rumil's reach. "No one commands me! Especially a low guard. No matter what you have become, to me, you will always be that failure of a warrior. A disgrace to Mirkwood and all Elven- kind."
What was left of Sayda's pale skin flushed angrily. "You will pay for that you brat-prince." Her eyes flashed dangerously at him but he just stared back. She raised a finger. "Get him!" she shouted.
Four Black Elves sprang to her command and leapt for the Prince but Legolas calmly raised his bow and shot all four before they even reached him. Sayda glared angrily at her defeat. 'Of course! How could I have forgotten? The greatest archer in Middle-Earth...'
"So? You will not make this easy for yourself eh? Rather than to let all your friends die painfully before your very eyes." Legolas shifted uncomfortably and she saw. "Yes, Legolas. Picture it. Every single beautiful detail. Your friends falling to the ground, their bodies covered with blood. Your name will be upon their dying lips and will whisper 'murderer' before they depart. Yes, you will kill them. It is all because of you. Murderer. Their eyes rolling inside their head, milky white and lifeless. Their bodies like little puppets. You control them. You play with them and use them. Then you discard them like useless toys. Yes, you were always a savage underneath. I don't blame you. I would too. My own life would be before all my friends," she whispered spitefully.
Legolas paled and looked down at the ground. "Yes, my Prince. It is the right thing to do. Sacrifice your friends for your own life. That's the way to play it. Can you not imagine Rumil lying in your arms dying? The breath of life gone from his body? The way his head falls back when he makes his final journey? The way his whole body goes limp? The feeling of his cold skin against yours? The—"
"SHUT UP!" cried Legolas flinging himself at the treacherous She-Elf. Rumil grabbed him before he could get to her.
"It's a trap! Think, Legolas. She wants you to come for her! She knows your weakness! Don't let it get to you. No one is going to die." It sounded weak even to his ears but he had to reassure him that it was not going to be his fault.
Sayda's eyes darkened when she realized it wasn't going to work. "So be it," she whispered. "Get them! Do not touch the Prince!"
All the dark warriors behind her scrambled to obey their commanders but the others were ready with lightning fast reflexes. Rumil shoved Legolas out of harms way and brought his sword across his body to slash into the gut of an unfortunate enemy. After throwing down the enemy, he looked up to find his love slashing frantically at the many orcs that surrounded him. He bounded over to them and found all the others working to help him. The main force was concentrated on Legolas.
He sliced and shoved his way through the melee to the Prince's side. He fell into the rhythm of combat and his movements coordinated smoothly with the graceful strokes dealt by the beautiful but deadly Prince. 'Where's Haldir in all this?' he wondered as he parried a heavy blow to his head.
His brother was not yet strong enough to fight. He allowed his eyes to scan the room quickly before returning to his opponent. He knew it was risky and that not paying attention for a split-second could result in his death but he couldn't help his natural sense of curiosity. He saw either Elladan or Elrohir out of the corner of his eye defending Haldir. The other twin was half-buried under the orcs.
Suddenly, he crossed blades with Sayda, the leader of the band. "Why, Sayda? Why?" he asked her softly through the clash of steel upon steel.
She shoved her sword and pulled back in one fluid movement. "I have found my purpose. I have no need of Mirkwood any longer," she said silkily.
"But your oath to Mirkwood, what about that? You swore your loyalty and honor. You were THE guard. Why did you change?" He had to shout to make himself heard amidst the battle around him.
A flicker of Sayda's former self appeared within the dark depths of her eyes but it was enough to tell Rumil that it was still there. She was still inside. Just trapped. Almost as soon as it appeared, it disappeared again and her steely self reemerged. "Mind your own business, Guardian," she growled. "You know nothing of the power of the Dark Lord."
A cry of pain that ripped his heart tore his attention from Sayda. Foolishly, he turned his back onto his battle to Legolas who sank to the ground clutching his left arm. His eyes widened in fear and he felt as if the cold steel had pierced his arm too. He raced to his side or tried to.
Sayda's blade came whirling around when he turned his back on her and cut into his back. A ragged moan sprang to his lips as he felt his own warm blood drip down his back. It didn't matter. Nothing did. The only thing that mattered was Legolas. He would gladly give his life so that his Prince would live another day. Even if it was just for one more day.
He turned around and saw the dishonored guard of Mirkwood with her sword raised in a killing blow. An ironic smile was upon her darkened features and the sword descended towards the Guardian. He had no time to react, no time to bring his weapon up to block. 'Namaarie, nin meloneth, Legolas,' he thought as images of the Prince danced before his eyes. 'Tinwe nin pata hain le mbando.' [Farewell, my love, Legolas. I'm sorry I failed protecting thee.]
The point of the sword got closer as he let his last thought fly. He closed his eyes, his dark eyelashes resting upon his high cheekbones waiting for the blow to fall. But it didn't come. He opened his eyes to find Hithiel there engaged with Sayda who looked livid when she failed to kill him. "Get to Legolas!" she cried in between her strikes. "Protect him! Protect the Prince!"
Without any more encouragement, Rumil struggled to his feet and fended off blows as best as he could as he staggered towards the fallen Prince. A rush of energy flowed through his body when he saw the helpless Prince. He rushed towards the orcs, brandishing his weapon and slashing them down with a single strike. The pain in his back was forgotten when he saw the filthy hands groping at the weaponless Legolas.
His sword flashed with blinding intensity and the orcs blinked stupidly as they caught a glimpse of the sword before it cut them down and were left staring at their own entrails wondering what had happened. Rumil reached Legolas whose arm had a deep cut in it. His knives laid forgotten somewhere in the battle where he had dropped them in his pain. He cradled Legolas with one arm as he fended off other orcs. He grimaced at the black blood that covered his sword but he didn't have time to dwell on it for long. All the orcs were now rushing at him since he was the one carrying their prize—Legolas.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Hithiel finally throwing off Sayda. She wasn't very injured but a long cut ran from her eyebrow down her cheek. A bead of blood ran down steadily leaving a long red trail behind. She glanced at him and started fighting her way through the thick crowd of orcs who were now driven by pure blood lust now that their commander was dead.
Suddenly, all movement stopped. All the orcs had their weapons raised upon the ragged group of Elves and were going to bring it down but their movement stopped. It was as if time had frozen itself. Hithiel even brought her knives down on a motionless orc and it dropped onto the bloody floor without a sound. It was as if they were all dead already. Rumil caught Orophin's eye but he was also as puzzled as they were. Then they all started moving again. The company raised their weapons again and were ready to fight but they didn't move towards them. They scattered like ants across the black marble floor and faded into the darkness of Barad-dur as suddenly as they had come.
The Elves were confused and stood motionless waiting for the next move. Legolas quickly retrieved his weapons and stood at Rumil's side. For a couple of silent minutes, nothing happened. Then a thunderous roar echoed and reverberated throughout the hallways of Barad-dur. The Elves took a step back in fear and through the gloom, they saw the murderous red eyes of Sauron.
Yay! Another cliffie!! Yes, I'm evil and proud of it! It's a very good way to get reviews. *hint hint* Anyways, wish me luck on my exam! All put up responses to all the reviews I ever had in the next final chapter. This time, I'm not lying. The next chapter is THE last. Thanks you oh faithful reviewers! You are my life!