Author's Note –
Amelia – Actually, I checked an elvish website which said that the translation of "ada" would be "daddy" and "atar" would be "father." I figured Legolas was more likely to use "father" so I went with "atar." =)
Anolinde – Thanks. My computer is operational again, but it was kinda annoying having it crash. =)
Frodo – I'm glad you picked up on the fact that no one else seems to know that this fight is going on. I was wondering if anyone would realize that, but don't worry, all will be explained as best I can. =)
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Rushing back into the thick of the battle, Boromir could see that Legolas was in grave danger, for his bed was now surrounded by the foul creatures that had breached Gondor's palace. With no time to spare, Boromir raced to Legolas' side and thrust the point of his sword into the back of a large orc who hovered over Mirkwood's prince, dagger raised to strike. But for his efforts, the creature dealt a blow of his own, catching his dagger into Boromir's own chest, though the blow was dealt rashly and caught the man more towards his shoulder than his heart. Yet in his boldness and rashness to save his friend, Boromir failed to see the one orc lingering in the shadows. Rather, he continued to fight back the band of orcs, who pressed ever forward towards the elf laying exhausted on the bed, strength failing him.
Now Boromir struck out with fresh fury at the orcs, thankful that his sword arm was still unharmed, though the pain was great, first taking out one on the right, then to the left. Screams erupted from the victims of his blade and steel clashed harshly against steel. All the while, time seemed to stand still for Boromir, who wondered why none had answered his plea for help.
At last, the final orc was slain as Boromir used one swift motion to slice his throat. He dropped his sword and sighed in relief, though he wondered why he could still hear the sounds of battle. Arrows whizzed and Boromir realized that the palace guards had somehow been alerted to the orc invasion. He picked his way carefully over the bodies that lay strewn about on the floor, taking caution not to slip in the pools of blood that had collected close by each orc. Sticking his sweaty head out of the window, Boromir could just make out the dead orc bodies littering the courtyard, arrows sticking from them at odd angles. From a higher level, he could hear the commands of the Gondorian captains being shouted to the lesser guards.
From behind him, the lone orc that had taken refuge in the shadows of Legolas' room came forward, dagger poised to strike at Boromir, for the room was now very dark, with Boromir's figure blocking the steady flow of moonlight. Without a sound the orc advanced, murder on his mind. First he would strike at the man, and then, once all help was vanquished, he would complete his task to see the elf dead.
Luckily for both the man and the elf, Legolas was still alert, though his entire body screamed for the blissful world of the unconscious. He alone saw that final orc, and he reached blindly around him for a weapon of sorts, for he dared not take his gaze off of Boromir and the orc. Suddenly, his hand hit upon the cold steel of Boromir's dagger.
"Boromir!" he cried out. "Behind you!"
Boromir had just enough time to turn on his heel when his dagger flew across the room and found a resting place in the orc's back, hitting that sensitive area between the shoulder blades. With a gurgled cry, the orc spat out dark blood and fell to the floor, the last breath of life slowly leaving it.
Now Boromir breathed a sigh of relief and nodded in the elf's direction. "Thank you."
"Do not mention it," Legolas fairly panted out, for he was exhausted from the exertion of the fight.
Heavy footsteps could be heard down the hall, coming closer and closer to the room. Before long, Aragorn burst into the room, Faramir by his side, holding a torch in one hand and his sword in the other. There were others behind, and Boromir could just make out Thranduil and Gandalf, with Arwen hanging back until it could be seen if there was battle to do. He was about to wonder where Gimli was, when the dwarf burst through between Aragorn and Faramir, his grip like iron about his axe.
Boromir stood there panting among the scattered bodies strewn about the room, clutching his sword, which he had only just retrieved from where it had clattered to the floor.
Aragorn took a look about the room, as Faramir went and lit the candles and lamps. As the light grew stronger, the total sum of the fight could finally be taken in. Some two dozen orcs littered the room, dark blood splattered about carelessly. Boromir and Legolas themselves were covered in the thick blood.
"Why Aragorn," began Legolas, a mischievous smile playing on his lips, "you've missed all the fun."
A bright gleam came into the eyes of Gimli and Aragorn, for they knew now that the elf was alright.
"You couldn't have left even one for us?" Gimli joked.
"Come Gimli, there will be time enough for jokes later," Aragorn said gently. "Are you both alright?"
"Yes," they both answered without hesitation.
"Hmmm, you still look terrible," Aragorn winked at his friend, referencing an old joke between them. "I will have some of the servants prepare you both hot baths and a fresh room for you to stay in. If it is not too much trouble though, I'd like to check your wounds Legolas." Legolas nodded.
"Come now everyone, let us give them some privacy," Gandalf said, and soon, everyone began to drift back out, murmuring such things as "I am glad you are alright, Legolas, Boromir."
Only Gandalf and Thranduil stayed behind in the room with Aragorn, for the elven king would not be easily parted with his son now. Aragorn began to carefully undo the bandages that had bound many of the worst wounds that Legolas bore from his imprisonment. Some had reopened from the strain of the twisting and turning of the elf during the battle, but there did not appear to be too much damage that had been done. Still, the Gondorian king probed and prodded the various wounds, checking them systematically before turning his attention to Legolas' cracked and broken ribs. These he inspected with the utmost care, for he wished not to cause any sort of pain to his friend, or to disturbed the healing process.
"Your ribs are halfway healed already," he said, half to himself.
Legolas nodded. "They are less painful than they were before. But there is something else that presses on my mind. How did the orcs get into Gondor in the first place?"
"I can only assume that they moved with such stealth as they could muster, lurking and hiding in the shadows. You must remember, our defenses have still not be wholly fixed from the damage that they suffered in the war. Good timing must have seen them creep close to the palace during a shift change of the guards, though it is likely that luck brought them to your own window."
"But what would have brought them to Gondor?" the young elf prince asked.
"They carry the mark of the White Hand," Gandalf said, fingering a broken helm. "They must have been sent by Saruman to assure that his plan was secure. They probably made their way to the dwarven stronghold and when they found no one there, they must have followed whatever clues they could gather as to your whereabouts. Following the trail would have brought them straight to Gondor. Looking for you in the palace would have been the obvious decision to make."
"But Saruman has been killed!" Thranduil spoke out, before he could stop and think about what it was that he was saying.
"Ah, that is true, my old friend," said the wizard in a gentle voice, "but the orcs would not have known that. They would have been well on their way to the stronghold when the hobbits smote down Saruman."
A knock at the door broke them from their conversation. A servant poked her head in.
"Pardon me my lord, but the bath for Master Legolas is prepared."
"Thank you Anala. He will be there in a moment."
Anala bowed and exited the room. Aragorn made ready to help Legolas out of his bed and into the bathing room. But before he could be moved, Legolas stopped him.
"Aragorn, please. You have done more than enough for me. See to Boromir. He will not admit it, but I saw one of the orcs wound him. It was a stab wound, but it seemed a little high and near to his shoulder. I had nearly forgotten about it until now."
Aragorn nodded. "I will go. I will come back to check on you later."
To this, Legolas nodded his head back and Thranduil bent to help is son into the bathing room.
