Legolas swung through the trees, often using his elven rope to swing from
branches or pull himself up a tall tree. When he reached the orc-camp, he
saw a small group of orcs sitting around a fire and laughing, arguing, and
eating as well as drinking in great quantities. He came around silently and
picked up a light javelin, throwing it at an orc in the same movement. The
orcs jumped as he imitated the harsh voice of Ugarku. "Sitting round the
fire, eh? Well, who said you could do that?" another javelin killed an orc
as the rest of them cowered fearfully. Yet another javelin hit an orc. The
remaining four orcs tried to find where their leader was, but could not see
him even though it was mid-day. They took off through the trees, screaming.
As the elf ran into the camp, he searched the dead orcs for keys. Luckily, one had the keys looped in its belt. Gently he tapped the first sleeping elf. "They seem to be so exhausted they are sleeping standing up and in shackles," he thought. As one of the elves raised his head, expecting to see an orc, he was surprised to see the fair face of Legolas. "Laduer, my friend?? Is it really you? What are you doing here?" before Laduer could answer, Legolas heard several orcs running towards the camp.
"Ho harr, lads. We've got the she elf!" They said as Legolas dropped into hiding.
Gimli shot an arrow at an orc as it passed by his hiding place. Almost casually he placed another arrow on the string and drew it back. The charging orcs were soon stumbling over 10 bodies of their comrades. They were now starting to be careful, picking their way through the trees, ducking behind brush, but still being picked of by Gimli, who was high in a tree. An orc noticed him, and started climbing the tree. He was immediately shot, and the other orcs started to climb the tree as Gimli in turn shot them. ____________________________________________________________ The orcs broke through the brush into the orc camp and threw the bound elf to the ground. She was still, and had a number of cuts on her face.
"Phew, that was a struggle. She can really fight. But look at 'er now. Ha, idn't putting much of a fight up now. She shouldn't have wasted her energy. Ugarku will be happy," they said to each other, panting. "Hey, where are the guards? They weren't supposed to leave. Those elves might have gotten away." They said, running around to where the chaining wall was. As the first orc appeared, Legolas shot it with an arrow. Soon 8 orcs were lying on the ground, struck by arrows. The remaining 2 ran back and grabbed the elf-maid. Dragging her over so Legolas could see her, they placed their swords on her throat, and called out threateningly, "don't move if you don't want her dead. Throw your bow down." Legolas placed his bow on the ground. Then straightening up, it appeared to the orcs he that he drew something from his back. Two elven daggers whizzed at them at the same time. They toppled over, shock etched all over their faces.
So it was that Legolas Greenleaf, prince of Mirkwood, first beheld Ariana (ARE EE ONNA), warrior elf-maid of Rivendell. Running over to her, he picked her up in his strong arms, studying her beautiful face for signs of life. Her face was fair, and although she was petite, as she opened her eyes he noticed they were a deep, dangerous looking blue with a touch of Eldar battle light. He did not want to allow time to get attached. Feeling life coursing through her veins, the indifferent Legolas carried the now unconscious elf as he hurried back to the chaining wall. ___________________________________________________________
Gimli finally decided he had held his position in the tree long enough. Letting off a last arrow, he moved to another tree. As the orcs climbing his former position reached the top, they looked around confusedly when they could not see him. Gimli held his breath as the orcs looked at the other trees in wonder.
"Ho, lads, that dwarf just disappeared. Where do ye suppose he went to?" said one.
"I dunno, Slagback. I guess he musta fell out of the tree." said another while precariously hanging onto a small branch.
"That's ridiculous," said the one called Slagback. "But we might as well look down there. As they were climbing down, a last arrow hit one of the orcs in the back. The rest jumped with surprise, many falling out of the enormous tree.
"Better get out of here," Gimli thought as he used his rope as a pulley to slide down to the ground. He silently ran off to where the orcs camp was. As he was hurrying along, he ran right into a few orcs.
"harr, lookee what we've got here. Ugarku will probably pardon us if we bring him back to the camp," said the biggest one. Pulling out his sword, he charged Gimli. Luckily, he had his axe out and sidestepped the orc, swinging his axe at the orcs head. Swiping the other two quickly, he ran past their bodies and into the orc camp. _____________________________________________________________
Legolas ran up to the elves and silently unlocked their shackles. Laduer had already wakened them all, and they were waiting patiently if not a little agitatedly. Then Legolas realized they came from his home. When all of them were unchained, Legolas made a request "Which one of you is the best healer, and then, why are you so far away from Mirkwood?"
"I am, milord," said one. "My name is Randuerin. How can I be of assistance?"
Legolas glanced in surprise at the wise, slightly venerable looking elf he had not noticed before. "Randuerin the wise, counselor of Thranduril my father! Why are you here? Oh, I am sorry. I have a request first. Tend to this maid, for she has been dragged and beaten by the orcs." Legolas said, with pity in his eyes. "And Laduer can tell me why you are here. Oh, and the rest of you should look for your weapons," he added with a smile. Happily he noted no one complained about his orders.
"We were sent by your father to look for you," Laduer said to Legolas. "And I must say after the disturbing reports we have had, I am glad to see you, and to have you rescue us. I had not in the immortal lifetime of our race expected to be rescued from the orcs, much less my best friend. Thranduril received word from a stranger that they thought they saw his son dead on the Fields of Pellenor. That is why we were sent to find you. The elf- maid is not one of our party. I am not sure why she is here. But I do know most of the elves of Rivendell have left for the grey havens. So we will be returning with you to Mirkwood as soon as we are able to get ready."
Legolas smiled as he said; "my friend Laduer, I wish it were so. But two reasons prohibit that. One, we must not forget the orcs which my good friend Gimli is keeping away from here. And I have made a commitment to my friend to go on adventures with him."
"I'm sorry," said Laduer, "forgive my imprudence. I had forgotten to think about the orcs. We will help fight them. Legolas Greenleaf, I will protect you with my life. I am honored to fight along side of my rescuer, and we will not intrude on your adventures." As the elves that were sent to search for weapons walked up, Lauder's face lit up "I see you have found our weapons, my friends," he said. Among the elvish two-handed sabers, there were also recurve longbows with quivers full of arrows. As each elf found his weapons, Legolas slid off silently towards a source of noise south of the camp.
Ariana's first reaction was to grab the nearest body as she came awake "wait, my maid." protested a kindly elf voice. "I am most certainly NOT an orc, so you might want to let go of me so I can minister to your bruises and cuts." She fell back, slightly embarrassed. The maid realized then that she was not seeing clearly. As she tried to focus, her eyes became clearer. She was in the orc camp, lying on a makeshift bed of pine needles. A kind, elderly elf-face was looking at her worriedly.
"She will be fine, milord. She hasn't lost to much blood, nor is she seriously wounded. Milord? Where has he gone, Laduer?" Randuerin asked.
"He headed off into the trees." The elf responded. "I think he heard something. We will follow him, so we may be of help." As the elves moved south, they left 4 elves to guard Randuerin and Ariana. _______________________________________________________
As the elf ran into the camp, he searched the dead orcs for keys. Luckily, one had the keys looped in its belt. Gently he tapped the first sleeping elf. "They seem to be so exhausted they are sleeping standing up and in shackles," he thought. As one of the elves raised his head, expecting to see an orc, he was surprised to see the fair face of Legolas. "Laduer, my friend?? Is it really you? What are you doing here?" before Laduer could answer, Legolas heard several orcs running towards the camp.
"Ho harr, lads. We've got the she elf!" They said as Legolas dropped into hiding.
Gimli shot an arrow at an orc as it passed by his hiding place. Almost casually he placed another arrow on the string and drew it back. The charging orcs were soon stumbling over 10 bodies of their comrades. They were now starting to be careful, picking their way through the trees, ducking behind brush, but still being picked of by Gimli, who was high in a tree. An orc noticed him, and started climbing the tree. He was immediately shot, and the other orcs started to climb the tree as Gimli in turn shot them. ____________________________________________________________ The orcs broke through the brush into the orc camp and threw the bound elf to the ground. She was still, and had a number of cuts on her face.
"Phew, that was a struggle. She can really fight. But look at 'er now. Ha, idn't putting much of a fight up now. She shouldn't have wasted her energy. Ugarku will be happy," they said to each other, panting. "Hey, where are the guards? They weren't supposed to leave. Those elves might have gotten away." They said, running around to where the chaining wall was. As the first orc appeared, Legolas shot it with an arrow. Soon 8 orcs were lying on the ground, struck by arrows. The remaining 2 ran back and grabbed the elf-maid. Dragging her over so Legolas could see her, they placed their swords on her throat, and called out threateningly, "don't move if you don't want her dead. Throw your bow down." Legolas placed his bow on the ground. Then straightening up, it appeared to the orcs he that he drew something from his back. Two elven daggers whizzed at them at the same time. They toppled over, shock etched all over their faces.
So it was that Legolas Greenleaf, prince of Mirkwood, first beheld Ariana (ARE EE ONNA), warrior elf-maid of Rivendell. Running over to her, he picked her up in his strong arms, studying her beautiful face for signs of life. Her face was fair, and although she was petite, as she opened her eyes he noticed they were a deep, dangerous looking blue with a touch of Eldar battle light. He did not want to allow time to get attached. Feeling life coursing through her veins, the indifferent Legolas carried the now unconscious elf as he hurried back to the chaining wall. ___________________________________________________________
Gimli finally decided he had held his position in the tree long enough. Letting off a last arrow, he moved to another tree. As the orcs climbing his former position reached the top, they looked around confusedly when they could not see him. Gimli held his breath as the orcs looked at the other trees in wonder.
"Ho, lads, that dwarf just disappeared. Where do ye suppose he went to?" said one.
"I dunno, Slagback. I guess he musta fell out of the tree." said another while precariously hanging onto a small branch.
"That's ridiculous," said the one called Slagback. "But we might as well look down there. As they were climbing down, a last arrow hit one of the orcs in the back. The rest jumped with surprise, many falling out of the enormous tree.
"Better get out of here," Gimli thought as he used his rope as a pulley to slide down to the ground. He silently ran off to where the orcs camp was. As he was hurrying along, he ran right into a few orcs.
"harr, lookee what we've got here. Ugarku will probably pardon us if we bring him back to the camp," said the biggest one. Pulling out his sword, he charged Gimli. Luckily, he had his axe out and sidestepped the orc, swinging his axe at the orcs head. Swiping the other two quickly, he ran past their bodies and into the orc camp. _____________________________________________________________
Legolas ran up to the elves and silently unlocked their shackles. Laduer had already wakened them all, and they were waiting patiently if not a little agitatedly. Then Legolas realized they came from his home. When all of them were unchained, Legolas made a request "Which one of you is the best healer, and then, why are you so far away from Mirkwood?"
"I am, milord," said one. "My name is Randuerin. How can I be of assistance?"
Legolas glanced in surprise at the wise, slightly venerable looking elf he had not noticed before. "Randuerin the wise, counselor of Thranduril my father! Why are you here? Oh, I am sorry. I have a request first. Tend to this maid, for she has been dragged and beaten by the orcs." Legolas said, with pity in his eyes. "And Laduer can tell me why you are here. Oh, and the rest of you should look for your weapons," he added with a smile. Happily he noted no one complained about his orders.
"We were sent by your father to look for you," Laduer said to Legolas. "And I must say after the disturbing reports we have had, I am glad to see you, and to have you rescue us. I had not in the immortal lifetime of our race expected to be rescued from the orcs, much less my best friend. Thranduril received word from a stranger that they thought they saw his son dead on the Fields of Pellenor. That is why we were sent to find you. The elf- maid is not one of our party. I am not sure why she is here. But I do know most of the elves of Rivendell have left for the grey havens. So we will be returning with you to Mirkwood as soon as we are able to get ready."
Legolas smiled as he said; "my friend Laduer, I wish it were so. But two reasons prohibit that. One, we must not forget the orcs which my good friend Gimli is keeping away from here. And I have made a commitment to my friend to go on adventures with him."
"I'm sorry," said Laduer, "forgive my imprudence. I had forgotten to think about the orcs. We will help fight them. Legolas Greenleaf, I will protect you with my life. I am honored to fight along side of my rescuer, and we will not intrude on your adventures." As the elves that were sent to search for weapons walked up, Lauder's face lit up "I see you have found our weapons, my friends," he said. Among the elvish two-handed sabers, there were also recurve longbows with quivers full of arrows. As each elf found his weapons, Legolas slid off silently towards a source of noise south of the camp.
Ariana's first reaction was to grab the nearest body as she came awake "wait, my maid." protested a kindly elf voice. "I am most certainly NOT an orc, so you might want to let go of me so I can minister to your bruises and cuts." She fell back, slightly embarrassed. The maid realized then that she was not seeing clearly. As she tried to focus, her eyes became clearer. She was in the orc camp, lying on a makeshift bed of pine needles. A kind, elderly elf-face was looking at her worriedly.
"She will be fine, milord. She hasn't lost to much blood, nor is she seriously wounded. Milord? Where has he gone, Laduer?" Randuerin asked.
"He headed off into the trees." The elf responded. "I think he heard something. We will follow him, so we may be of help." As the elves moved south, they left 4 elves to guard Randuerin and Ariana. _______________________________________________________
