Thanks for all the wonderful reviews! You guys are the greatest. I'm glad
you are all enjoying this. Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside.
Happy 4th to all my fellow Americans. Well, I guess a happy 4th to everyone. It's just, it has more significance here in America.
Disclaimer: I own nothing. Not even Ylana. My demon came up with her. I do own a Legolas action figure though. But it's mine, all mine. My preciousssss......Ahem.
The Silent Prince
Chapter 10: Attack!
Frodo was afraid. He would have to be an idiot not to be. The first howl of an Orc had set him quaking, and the now glowing Sting nearly slipped out of his sweaty grip.
Yet he stood firm. He had just pledged himself to stay and fight. If he ran away now, when the going got tough, he would be a coward indeed. So he stayed by Legolas's side, though every fiber of his being was telling him to run as far as he could as fast as he could.
Both Elves stood at the ready with their bows, arrows notched and pulled back to their cheeks, ready to let fly at any second. The rest had drawn their blades and held them out in front of them. Gimli was muttering something about how much his ax missed hewing the heads off of Orcs.
More howls joined in to make up an unearthly chorus. No doubt the Uruk-hai had picked up their scent and knew that their quarry wasn't far off. Both Legolas and Ylana winced at the sound, but their hold on their bows remained rock steady. Frodo gulped and tightened his grip on Sting. He heard Gandalf mutter something in a different language. The hobbit guessed it was some kind of Elvish prayer or spell. He didn't know what was said, and he didn't have time to wonder about it. The loud crash of underbrush and curses shouted in a foul language heralded the arrival of the Uruk-hai.
Without warning, Legolas sent an arrow singing through the trees. Frodo heard a loud cry which he guessed belonged to the victim of the Elf's arrow. This was followed by a loud, angry roar.
Frodo began to tremble.
~Be strong,~ he told himself firmly. ~Yesterday, you were eager to jump into battle with the Wargs. Show them that you can fight alongside them and not constantly be protected. Prove your worth!~
Another arrow went shooting forward, this one released by Ylana. Another cry told them that she too had felled one of the creatures.
Just then, the first Orc burst through the trees and into the clearing the Company had sat up camp in. There, in the silver light of the dying moon, Frodo got his first look at the Uruk-hai.
They were hideous. That was the first thought that came to his mind. This one had yellow fangs jutting out of his mouth from under a bent nose. Two yellow eyes glistened as it glared at the Company. Long, thick, unruly dark hair spilled down its shoulders. Less than a second later, it was relieved of its head, courtesy of Aragorn.
More Uruk-hai began spilling into the campsite, each as horrifying to look at as the first. Frodo raised Sting in front of his face. A sudden urge overtook him and, without thinking, he let out a war cry and jumped into the fray. Sam quickly followed him, ready to protect his master at all costs.
Both Elves, realizing that they would now be fighting in close confines, slung their bows over their shoulders and reached for their blades: Ylana for Dolinril, and Legolas his two white-handled knives. Then they began to slash and stab at everything around them.
Gimli was treating this more as a game than a battle. Every time his ax found flesh he would let out a happy cry. "You Uruk-hai are no different from other Orcs," he sneered as he sliced one in half. "Tougher skin, mayhap. But nothing my ax can't cleave!"
Boromir held his shield in one hand while he expertly wielded his sword in the other, cutting down any Uruk-hai that dared approach him. One eye was kept on the fell creatures, the other staying on the she-Elf as she began her dance of death.
A huge circle of the creatures had gathered around the two Elves, howling and snarling at the beings that had once been their kin. The two found themselves fighting back-to-back a few times before they managed to beat the Uruk-hai back.
The hobbits were faring quite well, much to their own surprise. Frodo had managed to take out three of the Orcs before they ever even noticed the Halflings. Sam was running them through almost gleefully. Merry and Pippin were stabbing at anything that moved, and only barely missed stabbing each other a time or two.
Aragorn and Gandalf spent their time trying to break through the circle to help their friends. But every time they got close to making it through, the Uruk-hai would pull in closer, pushing them back to the outside of the circle and leaving the two Elves t defend themselves.
Legolas twirled his knives menacingly as a snarling Orc charged him. The two white-handled Elven-forged blades were already dripping with black Orc blood. Piles of the creatures lay dead at his feet. Luckily, Saruman wanted him alive. The Uruk-hai couldn't stab him outright, giving him ample room to drive a knife hilt-deep into their chests.
Dolinril too was covered with the foul creatures blood. The flames licking the sword hissed as they came in contact with it. The Orcs were not being as careful with her, and red blood stained a sleeve of her dress where one of them had gotten too close while she was fighting off another. Her slight cry had gotten Legolas's attention, and he had dispatched the Orc before he could take another chunk out of Ylana.
Adrenaline and desperation surged through the Fellowship, adding to their strength. They *had* to defeat the Uruk-hai. If they didn't... None of them wanted to think about that possibility.
Suddenly, the Uruk-hai changed tactics. A group of them broke off and began to attack Gandalf and the others in earnest. The rest began to drive the two Elves deeper into the forest and away from the others.
Ylana snarled as she drove Dolinril into the stomach of the nearest Uruk- hai and sliced upwards, cutting through bone and flesh. She knew good and well what they were doing: separating their target from his reinforcements. Once they were far enough away, they would no doubt kill Ylana and take Legolas. And Aragorn and the others, caught up in their own battles, would be powerless to help.
She whirled, Dolrinril out in front of her, and yet another Uruk-hai was relieved of the upper half of his body. "Legolas, we must press them back!"
Her male companion gave her an understanding nod, the ducked under the scimitar of an Orc, whirled, and came up behind it to stab it through its back. At the same time, he used his other knife to slit the throat of yet another of the creatures.
Seeing that he was holding his own, Ylana began attacking with renewed vigor, desperately trying to push the Uruk-hai that had surrounded them back towards her friends.
Aragorn let out a cry as Anduril flashed in the dying moonlight. Like every other blade wielded by the Company, the re-forged sword was black with the blood of Orcs. But he paid it little heed. He had seen what was happening and his thoughts were running along the same lines as Ylana's. He knew that he had to somehow reach the two struggling Elves, or all would be lost.
Legolas felt anger rise within him. These---these *fiends* were hurting his friends. And all because of him. ~They're all willing to give their lives for me. I won't let that happen. We *will* beat them.~
He gave a grim smile as another Orc came charging towards him. "Come on," he snarled, twirling his knives. "Let's dance."
-------------------------------------
The Uruk-hai were pressing Ylana and Legolas deeper and deeper into the forest, away from the others. No matter what they tried, Gandalf and the others could not break through their own barrier of the creatures. Gimli swung his ax as hard and as fast as he could. Even the hobbits were stepping up in their vigor. But it seemed that, every time they cut one down, more came forward to take its place.
Aragorn let out a cry of anger and despair. All he could do was watch as his two closest friends got swept further away from him and closer to certain doom. ~Iluvatar, give me strength! I can't lose them both. I just can't...~
"Just give it up, human," one Uruk-hai near him sneered, his voice hissing like dancing flames. "You cannot save the tree-hugging scum. No one can come up against Saruman and expect to be victorious. None!"
Aragorn growled. "That is because he has never faced us. We shall break the rule."
The Orc began to cackle. The Ranger swung at him in fury, but was blocked by the Uruk-hai's scimitar.
"You're pathetic," it snarled, yellow eyes looking into the blazing gray of Aragorn's. "Giving your life *willingly* for another. Especially an Elf. It's no wonder you humans don't live very long."
The Man took a step back, raising his sword for another attack. "The Elf is my friend. If it were the other way around, he would do the same for me."
The Orc's mouth twisted into what Aragorn thought was supposed to be a smile. "Are you sure about that, human?"
The Ranger offered a twisted grin of his own. "Very."
He swung again, aiming for the creature's head. When it raised its own weapon in an attempt to block it, Aragorn quickly reversed his momentum, bringing the sword down, ramming Anduril strait into the Orc's stomach. With a snarl of rage, he pulled upwards. Ribs, flesh, and other parts gave way under the Man's strength.
Aragorn stared at the body for a moment, breathing hard. He suddenly felt much better...
"Aragorn! *Aragorn*!"
The Ranger looked around to see who it was that was trying to get his attention.
It was Boromir. The other human was desperately fighting off an Orc, but once he was sure he had the Ranger's attention, he jabbed a finger forward.
Aragorn followed his pointing finger, looking deeper into the forest. At first, he didn't see anything out of the ordinary... then realized that this was exactly what had upset Boromir.
His heart skipped, then stopped.
Ylana and Legolas were nowhere to be seen.
-------------------------------------
It was awhile before Ylana realized that she could no longer hear the others. That the only sounds of clashing steel came from her and Legolas as they continued their own battle. ~This is not good...~
"Legolas!" she called, risking a glance over her shoulder to make sure he was all right. His eyes met hers briefly, and she knew that he had also noticed.
Desperation filled her then, but she did her best to push it away. ~Don't give up,~ she told herself sternly. ~There's still a chance. We have to hold on!~
Another Uruk-hai scimitar came too close. With a snarl, she took his sword arm. His life quickly followed.
A dry chuckling arose from her left. Turning, she saw it came from a leering Orc.
"Go ahead, tree-hugger," it rasped. "Call for help. Scream your throat raw. Your friends can't do anything. You're all alone..."
She let out a cry, all her attention focused on the hideous form of life that stood in front of her.
Which is why she never saw the hilt of the sword that slammed into the back of her head.
She hit the ground hard, stunned. ~How did I miss that? Legolas... I'm sorry.~
She watched the trees come in and out of focus, then it all faded away into darkness.
-----------------------------------------
"*Ylana*!"
The cry was literally ripped from Legolas's throat, leaving it raw. But he didn't notice it. All his attention was focused on his friend, who was now lying motionless on the ground. "*No*!"
With a scream that made the unearthly howls f the Uruk-hai seem like music, Legolas began a very intricate dance of death, whirling faster than Orc- eyes could follow, the light from the paling sky above them seeming to give his knives lives of their own. He slashed and stabbed at anything and everything that moved around him, snarling in rage.
~I've got to get to Ylana, make sure she's all right. If I can hold them off long enough for Aragorn and the others to get here...~
But deep in his heart, Legolas Greenleaf knew that the fight was over. And that he, Prince of Mirkwood, was the loser.
He sliced the throat of one Orc while taking out the eye of another. He was a prince, with a prince's pride coursing through his veins. He would *not* go down without a fight!
He nearly lost his grip on one of his knives. He spared a look to see that the handle was slick with red blood.
*His* blood.
Legolas had to blink, surprised. He'd been injured? When? How?
This distraction was all that the Orcs needed. With something akin to glee, one of them raised its scimitar and brought it crashing down on the head of the blond Elf.
Legolas fell to his knees, the loud ringing in his ears blocking out the victorious howls of the Uruk-hai. His eyes fell on one of his dearest friends, lying motionless a few feet away.
~Ylana...~
Then he fell forward, darkness wrapping around him like a shroud.
Happy 4th to all my fellow Americans. Well, I guess a happy 4th to everyone. It's just, it has more significance here in America.
Disclaimer: I own nothing. Not even Ylana. My demon came up with her. I do own a Legolas action figure though. But it's mine, all mine. My preciousssss......Ahem.
The Silent Prince
Chapter 10: Attack!
Frodo was afraid. He would have to be an idiot not to be. The first howl of an Orc had set him quaking, and the now glowing Sting nearly slipped out of his sweaty grip.
Yet he stood firm. He had just pledged himself to stay and fight. If he ran away now, when the going got tough, he would be a coward indeed. So he stayed by Legolas's side, though every fiber of his being was telling him to run as far as he could as fast as he could.
Both Elves stood at the ready with their bows, arrows notched and pulled back to their cheeks, ready to let fly at any second. The rest had drawn their blades and held them out in front of them. Gimli was muttering something about how much his ax missed hewing the heads off of Orcs.
More howls joined in to make up an unearthly chorus. No doubt the Uruk-hai had picked up their scent and knew that their quarry wasn't far off. Both Legolas and Ylana winced at the sound, but their hold on their bows remained rock steady. Frodo gulped and tightened his grip on Sting. He heard Gandalf mutter something in a different language. The hobbit guessed it was some kind of Elvish prayer or spell. He didn't know what was said, and he didn't have time to wonder about it. The loud crash of underbrush and curses shouted in a foul language heralded the arrival of the Uruk-hai.
Without warning, Legolas sent an arrow singing through the trees. Frodo heard a loud cry which he guessed belonged to the victim of the Elf's arrow. This was followed by a loud, angry roar.
Frodo began to tremble.
~Be strong,~ he told himself firmly. ~Yesterday, you were eager to jump into battle with the Wargs. Show them that you can fight alongside them and not constantly be protected. Prove your worth!~
Another arrow went shooting forward, this one released by Ylana. Another cry told them that she too had felled one of the creatures.
Just then, the first Orc burst through the trees and into the clearing the Company had sat up camp in. There, in the silver light of the dying moon, Frodo got his first look at the Uruk-hai.
They were hideous. That was the first thought that came to his mind. This one had yellow fangs jutting out of his mouth from under a bent nose. Two yellow eyes glistened as it glared at the Company. Long, thick, unruly dark hair spilled down its shoulders. Less than a second later, it was relieved of its head, courtesy of Aragorn.
More Uruk-hai began spilling into the campsite, each as horrifying to look at as the first. Frodo raised Sting in front of his face. A sudden urge overtook him and, without thinking, he let out a war cry and jumped into the fray. Sam quickly followed him, ready to protect his master at all costs.
Both Elves, realizing that they would now be fighting in close confines, slung their bows over their shoulders and reached for their blades: Ylana for Dolinril, and Legolas his two white-handled knives. Then they began to slash and stab at everything around them.
Gimli was treating this more as a game than a battle. Every time his ax found flesh he would let out a happy cry. "You Uruk-hai are no different from other Orcs," he sneered as he sliced one in half. "Tougher skin, mayhap. But nothing my ax can't cleave!"
Boromir held his shield in one hand while he expertly wielded his sword in the other, cutting down any Uruk-hai that dared approach him. One eye was kept on the fell creatures, the other staying on the she-Elf as she began her dance of death.
A huge circle of the creatures had gathered around the two Elves, howling and snarling at the beings that had once been their kin. The two found themselves fighting back-to-back a few times before they managed to beat the Uruk-hai back.
The hobbits were faring quite well, much to their own surprise. Frodo had managed to take out three of the Orcs before they ever even noticed the Halflings. Sam was running them through almost gleefully. Merry and Pippin were stabbing at anything that moved, and only barely missed stabbing each other a time or two.
Aragorn and Gandalf spent their time trying to break through the circle to help their friends. But every time they got close to making it through, the Uruk-hai would pull in closer, pushing them back to the outside of the circle and leaving the two Elves t defend themselves.
Legolas twirled his knives menacingly as a snarling Orc charged him. The two white-handled Elven-forged blades were already dripping with black Orc blood. Piles of the creatures lay dead at his feet. Luckily, Saruman wanted him alive. The Uruk-hai couldn't stab him outright, giving him ample room to drive a knife hilt-deep into their chests.
Dolinril too was covered with the foul creatures blood. The flames licking the sword hissed as they came in contact with it. The Orcs were not being as careful with her, and red blood stained a sleeve of her dress where one of them had gotten too close while she was fighting off another. Her slight cry had gotten Legolas's attention, and he had dispatched the Orc before he could take another chunk out of Ylana.
Adrenaline and desperation surged through the Fellowship, adding to their strength. They *had* to defeat the Uruk-hai. If they didn't... None of them wanted to think about that possibility.
Suddenly, the Uruk-hai changed tactics. A group of them broke off and began to attack Gandalf and the others in earnest. The rest began to drive the two Elves deeper into the forest and away from the others.
Ylana snarled as she drove Dolinril into the stomach of the nearest Uruk- hai and sliced upwards, cutting through bone and flesh. She knew good and well what they were doing: separating their target from his reinforcements. Once they were far enough away, they would no doubt kill Ylana and take Legolas. And Aragorn and the others, caught up in their own battles, would be powerless to help.
She whirled, Dolrinril out in front of her, and yet another Uruk-hai was relieved of the upper half of his body. "Legolas, we must press them back!"
Her male companion gave her an understanding nod, the ducked under the scimitar of an Orc, whirled, and came up behind it to stab it through its back. At the same time, he used his other knife to slit the throat of yet another of the creatures.
Seeing that he was holding his own, Ylana began attacking with renewed vigor, desperately trying to push the Uruk-hai that had surrounded them back towards her friends.
Aragorn let out a cry as Anduril flashed in the dying moonlight. Like every other blade wielded by the Company, the re-forged sword was black with the blood of Orcs. But he paid it little heed. He had seen what was happening and his thoughts were running along the same lines as Ylana's. He knew that he had to somehow reach the two struggling Elves, or all would be lost.
Legolas felt anger rise within him. These---these *fiends* were hurting his friends. And all because of him. ~They're all willing to give their lives for me. I won't let that happen. We *will* beat them.~
He gave a grim smile as another Orc came charging towards him. "Come on," he snarled, twirling his knives. "Let's dance."
-------------------------------------
The Uruk-hai were pressing Ylana and Legolas deeper and deeper into the forest, away from the others. No matter what they tried, Gandalf and the others could not break through their own barrier of the creatures. Gimli swung his ax as hard and as fast as he could. Even the hobbits were stepping up in their vigor. But it seemed that, every time they cut one down, more came forward to take its place.
Aragorn let out a cry of anger and despair. All he could do was watch as his two closest friends got swept further away from him and closer to certain doom. ~Iluvatar, give me strength! I can't lose them both. I just can't...~
"Just give it up, human," one Uruk-hai near him sneered, his voice hissing like dancing flames. "You cannot save the tree-hugging scum. No one can come up against Saruman and expect to be victorious. None!"
Aragorn growled. "That is because he has never faced us. We shall break the rule."
The Orc began to cackle. The Ranger swung at him in fury, but was blocked by the Uruk-hai's scimitar.
"You're pathetic," it snarled, yellow eyes looking into the blazing gray of Aragorn's. "Giving your life *willingly* for another. Especially an Elf. It's no wonder you humans don't live very long."
The Man took a step back, raising his sword for another attack. "The Elf is my friend. If it were the other way around, he would do the same for me."
The Orc's mouth twisted into what Aragorn thought was supposed to be a smile. "Are you sure about that, human?"
The Ranger offered a twisted grin of his own. "Very."
He swung again, aiming for the creature's head. When it raised its own weapon in an attempt to block it, Aragorn quickly reversed his momentum, bringing the sword down, ramming Anduril strait into the Orc's stomach. With a snarl of rage, he pulled upwards. Ribs, flesh, and other parts gave way under the Man's strength.
Aragorn stared at the body for a moment, breathing hard. He suddenly felt much better...
"Aragorn! *Aragorn*!"
The Ranger looked around to see who it was that was trying to get his attention.
It was Boromir. The other human was desperately fighting off an Orc, but once he was sure he had the Ranger's attention, he jabbed a finger forward.
Aragorn followed his pointing finger, looking deeper into the forest. At first, he didn't see anything out of the ordinary... then realized that this was exactly what had upset Boromir.
His heart skipped, then stopped.
Ylana and Legolas were nowhere to be seen.
-------------------------------------
It was awhile before Ylana realized that she could no longer hear the others. That the only sounds of clashing steel came from her and Legolas as they continued their own battle. ~This is not good...~
"Legolas!" she called, risking a glance over her shoulder to make sure he was all right. His eyes met hers briefly, and she knew that he had also noticed.
Desperation filled her then, but she did her best to push it away. ~Don't give up,~ she told herself sternly. ~There's still a chance. We have to hold on!~
Another Uruk-hai scimitar came too close. With a snarl, she took his sword arm. His life quickly followed.
A dry chuckling arose from her left. Turning, she saw it came from a leering Orc.
"Go ahead, tree-hugger," it rasped. "Call for help. Scream your throat raw. Your friends can't do anything. You're all alone..."
She let out a cry, all her attention focused on the hideous form of life that stood in front of her.
Which is why she never saw the hilt of the sword that slammed into the back of her head.
She hit the ground hard, stunned. ~How did I miss that? Legolas... I'm sorry.~
She watched the trees come in and out of focus, then it all faded away into darkness.
-----------------------------------------
"*Ylana*!"
The cry was literally ripped from Legolas's throat, leaving it raw. But he didn't notice it. All his attention was focused on his friend, who was now lying motionless on the ground. "*No*!"
With a scream that made the unearthly howls f the Uruk-hai seem like music, Legolas began a very intricate dance of death, whirling faster than Orc- eyes could follow, the light from the paling sky above them seeming to give his knives lives of their own. He slashed and stabbed at anything and everything that moved around him, snarling in rage.
~I've got to get to Ylana, make sure she's all right. If I can hold them off long enough for Aragorn and the others to get here...~
But deep in his heart, Legolas Greenleaf knew that the fight was over. And that he, Prince of Mirkwood, was the loser.
He sliced the throat of one Orc while taking out the eye of another. He was a prince, with a prince's pride coursing through his veins. He would *not* go down without a fight!
He nearly lost his grip on one of his knives. He spared a look to see that the handle was slick with red blood.
*His* blood.
Legolas had to blink, surprised. He'd been injured? When? How?
This distraction was all that the Orcs needed. With something akin to glee, one of them raised its scimitar and brought it crashing down on the head of the blond Elf.
Legolas fell to his knees, the loud ringing in his ears blocking out the victorious howls of the Uruk-hai. His eyes fell on one of his dearest friends, lying motionless a few feet away.
~Ylana...~
Then he fell forward, darkness wrapping around him like a shroud.