Chapter Three, When darkness holds
Rain poured down hard from the sky, showing no mercy lashing the men and elves as they stood, ready to fight to the death. The orcs were vexed by such cause, raging and screaming, thumping and thrashing causing the cold hard ground beneath them to shake. Finally, an answer came. A storm of arrows met the army of braves, and a hail of stones. The orcs wavered, broke, and some fled back, but most charged. Like the incoming sea, they ran.
Seeing this a press of roaring men leaped forth, they held their great shields above them like a roof to a house. The orc-men did not cease to send more deadly arrows from their archers, many threw rocks and pushed heavy boulders towards the men. Any man can be crushed easily under those hard weapons of the orcs.
Elrond and Isildur stood together in front of the army they gathered, seeing the leaderless men flying to fight, they drew their swords together.
" This is the night when we draw weapons together!" Isildur said.
Running like a blazing fire they sped pass many orcs and slashed them as they go. Battle cries were heard, the orcs were strong, but they do not use their head, no tatics, no plans just slaughtering whoever they see.
" I will avenge what had ended you , Gil- galad" Elrond thought as he pushed his sharp blade into an orc's heart. As time went on, which seems to be forever, many orcs were slain as well as the men and elves. A sword swung in the air and swept back, two orcs fell headless. The rest fled. By this time, Elrond was covered with sweat and dirt, his feet were staggering from the never ending running from here to there.
Isildur came running towards his, seeing the orcs had fled, the sword of his also found marks and targets as he ran, towards those who had not been quick enough to escape.
From the corner of his eye, Elrond saw his friend coming towards him, but also with another shadow unawared by Isildur.
Quickly he notched an arrow and cried, " Isildur! Duck down!"
Isildur ducked without question, feeling an arrow swoosh above his head, finding its mark on the heart of another orc that had his knife ready to kill. The knife fell to the floor as the orc sunk soundlessly along with it. Isildur recovered himself and was just about to call out thanks when the sight in front of him caused him to cry out.
" Elrond! Watch out!"
Seemingly ironic enough, Elrond was so concentrated on saving his friend he was oblivious of what was happening behind him. Though his Elven agility was quick, but not nearly quick enough. A huge orc pushed a blade through his side, he cried out as the cold blade made contact with his body. Blood immediately begun to flow, he clutched his side while daggers flew and ended the killer's life.
His vision failing, his whole body felt disorientation as his fell to his knees, everything was pounding and his head was throbbing. Soon he felt a pair of arms holding onto him, there were voices, but he could not respond to them.
" Elrond! Elrond!" Isildur called out softly, " Can you hear me?"
Elrond tried to nod but the pain shot through his whole body when he moved, this action was caught by the eyes of his comrade, knowing he was still conscious, he was aware that it would not be long.
" Galiers!"
A stout man came running over, seeing the wounded elf his eyes went wide with horror.
" What happened?" He asked with fear, leaning over.
" No questions now, " Isildur waved him off impatiently, " I will need refuge, tell the men to set up something! Anything! As long as I can tend Elrond. Go!" The man went with his orders with a flash. Isildur looked down, his breathing was very labored, the blood still had not stopped flowing. Isildur had pressed against it but nothing seems to work. Panicking he glanced at his friend, Elrond's face was deathly pale and white, his body temperature was dangerously low. His skin was clammy and his body would not stop trembling, not to the weather, but towards the wound.
" Hold on my friend." Isildu whispered, " Hold on...you cannot leave us now." He looked around the battlefield, there were no more orcs at sight, everything was cleared. " victory is so near..you cannot fade now!"
" How very touching."
Isildur quickly looked up. A slick looking man was standing a few feet away from him. He was all clothed in black, his face looked bloodless, his snake like eyes gleaming with glee.
" Who are you?" Isildur demanded. His hand reached to the hilt of his sword, his other still supported his friend. His labor breathing was still heard; Isildur can feel his body trembling with pain. * I need to get him to safety now! * he thought.
The man snared and said nothing. When Isildur looked up again, he was gone. * Where did he go?* He had an eerie feeling about that man, but that was not the time to think of him, he had to get Elrond to a healer fast.
Galiers came running towards them, " A tent has been build up, hurry and bring him forth!" He said panting, trying to catch his breath. Isildur went without thought, trying to support Elrond against his own body as gentle as possible. He heard his moan with pain as he tried to lift him up. Galiers also helped carrying the elf to the tent, there were about a dozen of men there, waiting for them to return. Many gasped as they saw what came forth, they had not known the reason for building the tent, Galiers was such in a hurry he had forgotten to tell them why. Carefully Isildur lay Elrond on a bed, " Does anyone here knows how to heal? " he called out, desperately trying to stop the bleeding.
A young man name Javas came to his side. He eyed the wound and the face of the victim. Elrond's face seems to be paler by the second, cold sweat was pouring down his fair face. " Someone go get some warm water quick!" He ordered. Placing his hand around the wound. " I will need to take out the blade. " he said quietly, Isildur looked at him and nodded, understanding what has to be done.
******** The room filled with a sinister feeling, the darkness had not changed. The fire ceased to die down instead it was blazing up high, luminating the room with its evilness. It was hot and humid, but Sauron did not seem to be affected by it. There he stood, in the middle of the room with the ring in his hands, it shone brightly against the light with inscriptions all around it. No sweat came upon his brow, the exterior was cold, but the inside of him was fuming.
" That no good of a Malserke, fool!" He snared, clutching the ring tightly, " time has gone and he had not brought me the elf." Licking his lips, " I should eliminate him."
" My Lord, I have seen the elf you seek."
A dark shadow showed itself from a corner, it was the same man that Isildur encountered at the plains.
" You have indeed?"
The man replied slickly, " Yes, and he is badly wounded, I doubt that he will make it through the night." Silence glazed the room, Sauron seemed to be deep in thought. " my Lord?"
Sauron turned to face him, " Go, go and lead up my last army, start again the war those idiotic men and elves thought they ended. Kill everyone..everyone, but that elf. " He grinned evilly beneath his mask, " bring me the elf, I could use some sport."
The man nodded and left the room without any further conversation, quite unlike the way Malserke retreated.
" You better not fail me, or I will show you just what will happened to you with my last servant." Sauron's voice rang though his mind. " I assure you that I will not fail."
*****
" The wound is infected!" Javas announced, " I will need some herbs." Isildur asked, " What sort?" Quickly he jotted down certain herbs he needed then Isildur sent out a man to retrieve it. Elrond's condition seemed to worsen as time go by, the blade was out of his body, but Javas feels that there are still pieces that where inside. He needed medicine to go from the inside and force the blood to take out the bits.
" It seems that the blade had been poisoned." Javas remarked, checking the blade. The tip was black and covered with blood. It was only when Isildur noticed that it was not entirely red. " What are we to do? " he asked fearfully, though he is not familiar with healing, he knows that poisons can do to ones body. Javas said nothing, He looked intently at the warrior that lay before him. " I do not know."
" Galadriel.."
All those who were in the tent looked up at the sound of the wounded elf's voice.
" Galadriel." Elrond mumbled, he was tossing and turning as if in great turmoil, calling softly to his friend. " aniron lin dulu."
" What is he saying?" Javas whispered, Isildur shook his head, he did not understood Elvish, nor has he heard anyone spoke it. He shook his shoulders gently, " Elrond?"
It was a void. He could not see anything. His head was throbbing and his vision was blurry. Where was he? He kept walking and walking, the path seemed to never end. Everything hurt, he wanted to give up, he wanted to just let go and walk away. The brink of ending life seemed so simple, all he had to do was fall over..
:: Elrond...:: The voice, He recognized the voice. A white simmering light appeared before him, it assumed the shape of a lady, but he could not see her face. " Galadriel?" He whispered. He needed his friend, he needed light, he cannot be alone. " You are not alone Elrond..the road ahead of you is full of hardships, but you must face it, face it and defend your life because...every living being in Middle Earth depends on it." " I do no understand." He said softly, he had lost everything he had, his mother and father, his brother, what is worth fighting for now?
" You remember the stories and tales we hear often when we were just elflings?" he nodded. " All those tales that showed great power, great strength, showing how good will always conquer the evil? Those stories are what matters, it is only a passing, the darkness will be gone, if you would hold on."
" Hold onto what? " Elrond asked wearily, " there is nothing to hold onto."
" That there is some good in this world that is worth fighting for."
" What?"
~Lasto beth nîn. Tolo dan na ngalad~
" Galadriel!"
~Lasto beth nîn. Tolo dan na ngalad~
The light was gone. Again he was alone, but it did not feel the same. Now he had to choose between the painful embrace of life, or the sweet world of death, so tempting. A voice of warmth and guidance filled his heart, images of home and friends appeared in his mind, the songs he used to sing and dreams that he had, life was slowly returning, returning to where it belonged.
" Oh my...look! " Javas exclaimed, pointing to the wound he was tending.
It was healing. The blood begun to dissolve and disappeared, the huge gash had started to close in. The men gasped in surprise, Isildur sat stunned, but that was not all. Color seems to return to Elrond's face, no longer the paleness, his temperature had came back to normal, no longer was he trembling, his muscles had relaxed. His eyes tried to flicker open, the light of the open blinded his vision, but after a few moments, it was clear. A pair of tired gray eyes finally opened, tired, but defiantly awake.
" Elrond!" Isildur cried with joy, " Quick, " Turning to someone behind him, " get some fresh water!" Javas took a cloth and wiped his own forehead, he let out a breath he did not know he was holding, it was a sight that he never thought he would witness. " Elrond my friend, how do you fare?" Elrond coughed and said softly, " Breathing." Isildur could not help but gave him a hug, " you gave us quite a scare there." Though the times of them together had not been long, he had grown to like the elf, so had many others, though they never showed it, he did not realized how much this had affected him til now.
" How does the others fare?" Elrond asked, sitting up. He was fully recovered, but because of the severe lose of blood, he was still weak. " All is well." Isildur replied, handing him water that the man had brought back, " many casualties but we had victory." Elrond raised his eyebrows, " Victory?"
" Yes, Victory! We slaughtered them orcs long and hard! Some may still roam around but will not cause anymore problems."
Elrond sat thoughtfully, " Seems to be too easy."
Isildur looked at his friend with amusement, " Must had been the fever you had, burned into your head! What is to be complicated? We killed them all, end of this battle, we are free!" Many of the men cheered. They left one by one, leaving Elrond to himself, since just recovering, he would need his rest.
" We will transport to a better place at dawn, " Isildur said to Elrond, " The people will want to hear the news and start planning their lives." He could not help surpass a grin.
Elrond smiled and said, " Yes, they will." Bidding him to rest, Isildur left the tent. The dim candlelight shone slightly inside, he could feel the stars shining outside, he could not see it, but feel it.
" Hannon le, " He said softly, " Hannon le Galadriel."
aniron lin dulu; I need your support. Lasto beth nîn. Tolo dan na ngalad: hear my voice, come back to light. Hannon le: thank you
There goes Chapter Three..hope its getting better...please read and review! Motivate me~ SAT's tomorrow..AGH! MAY THE VALAR GIVE ME STRENGTH AND KNOWLEDGE! =)
Rain poured down hard from the sky, showing no mercy lashing the men and elves as they stood, ready to fight to the death. The orcs were vexed by such cause, raging and screaming, thumping and thrashing causing the cold hard ground beneath them to shake. Finally, an answer came. A storm of arrows met the army of braves, and a hail of stones. The orcs wavered, broke, and some fled back, but most charged. Like the incoming sea, they ran.
Seeing this a press of roaring men leaped forth, they held their great shields above them like a roof to a house. The orc-men did not cease to send more deadly arrows from their archers, many threw rocks and pushed heavy boulders towards the men. Any man can be crushed easily under those hard weapons of the orcs.
Elrond and Isildur stood together in front of the army they gathered, seeing the leaderless men flying to fight, they drew their swords together.
" This is the night when we draw weapons together!" Isildur said.
Running like a blazing fire they sped pass many orcs and slashed them as they go. Battle cries were heard, the orcs were strong, but they do not use their head, no tatics, no plans just slaughtering whoever they see.
" I will avenge what had ended you , Gil- galad" Elrond thought as he pushed his sharp blade into an orc's heart. As time went on, which seems to be forever, many orcs were slain as well as the men and elves. A sword swung in the air and swept back, two orcs fell headless. The rest fled. By this time, Elrond was covered with sweat and dirt, his feet were staggering from the never ending running from here to there.
Isildur came running towards his, seeing the orcs had fled, the sword of his also found marks and targets as he ran, towards those who had not been quick enough to escape.
From the corner of his eye, Elrond saw his friend coming towards him, but also with another shadow unawared by Isildur.
Quickly he notched an arrow and cried, " Isildur! Duck down!"
Isildur ducked without question, feeling an arrow swoosh above his head, finding its mark on the heart of another orc that had his knife ready to kill. The knife fell to the floor as the orc sunk soundlessly along with it. Isildur recovered himself and was just about to call out thanks when the sight in front of him caused him to cry out.
" Elrond! Watch out!"
Seemingly ironic enough, Elrond was so concentrated on saving his friend he was oblivious of what was happening behind him. Though his Elven agility was quick, but not nearly quick enough. A huge orc pushed a blade through his side, he cried out as the cold blade made contact with his body. Blood immediately begun to flow, he clutched his side while daggers flew and ended the killer's life.
His vision failing, his whole body felt disorientation as his fell to his knees, everything was pounding and his head was throbbing. Soon he felt a pair of arms holding onto him, there were voices, but he could not respond to them.
" Elrond! Elrond!" Isildur called out softly, " Can you hear me?"
Elrond tried to nod but the pain shot through his whole body when he moved, this action was caught by the eyes of his comrade, knowing he was still conscious, he was aware that it would not be long.
" Galiers!"
A stout man came running over, seeing the wounded elf his eyes went wide with horror.
" What happened?" He asked with fear, leaning over.
" No questions now, " Isildur waved him off impatiently, " I will need refuge, tell the men to set up something! Anything! As long as I can tend Elrond. Go!" The man went with his orders with a flash. Isildur looked down, his breathing was very labored, the blood still had not stopped flowing. Isildur had pressed against it but nothing seems to work. Panicking he glanced at his friend, Elrond's face was deathly pale and white, his body temperature was dangerously low. His skin was clammy and his body would not stop trembling, not to the weather, but towards the wound.
" Hold on my friend." Isildu whispered, " Hold on...you cannot leave us now." He looked around the battlefield, there were no more orcs at sight, everything was cleared. " victory is so near..you cannot fade now!"
" How very touching."
Isildur quickly looked up. A slick looking man was standing a few feet away from him. He was all clothed in black, his face looked bloodless, his snake like eyes gleaming with glee.
" Who are you?" Isildur demanded. His hand reached to the hilt of his sword, his other still supported his friend. His labor breathing was still heard; Isildur can feel his body trembling with pain. * I need to get him to safety now! * he thought.
The man snared and said nothing. When Isildur looked up again, he was gone. * Where did he go?* He had an eerie feeling about that man, but that was not the time to think of him, he had to get Elrond to a healer fast.
Galiers came running towards them, " A tent has been build up, hurry and bring him forth!" He said panting, trying to catch his breath. Isildur went without thought, trying to support Elrond against his own body as gentle as possible. He heard his moan with pain as he tried to lift him up. Galiers also helped carrying the elf to the tent, there were about a dozen of men there, waiting for them to return. Many gasped as they saw what came forth, they had not known the reason for building the tent, Galiers was such in a hurry he had forgotten to tell them why. Carefully Isildur lay Elrond on a bed, " Does anyone here knows how to heal? " he called out, desperately trying to stop the bleeding.
A young man name Javas came to his side. He eyed the wound and the face of the victim. Elrond's face seems to be paler by the second, cold sweat was pouring down his fair face. " Someone go get some warm water quick!" He ordered. Placing his hand around the wound. " I will need to take out the blade. " he said quietly, Isildur looked at him and nodded, understanding what has to be done.
******** The room filled with a sinister feeling, the darkness had not changed. The fire ceased to die down instead it was blazing up high, luminating the room with its evilness. It was hot and humid, but Sauron did not seem to be affected by it. There he stood, in the middle of the room with the ring in his hands, it shone brightly against the light with inscriptions all around it. No sweat came upon his brow, the exterior was cold, but the inside of him was fuming.
" That no good of a Malserke, fool!" He snared, clutching the ring tightly, " time has gone and he had not brought me the elf." Licking his lips, " I should eliminate him."
" My Lord, I have seen the elf you seek."
A dark shadow showed itself from a corner, it was the same man that Isildur encountered at the plains.
" You have indeed?"
The man replied slickly, " Yes, and he is badly wounded, I doubt that he will make it through the night." Silence glazed the room, Sauron seemed to be deep in thought. " my Lord?"
Sauron turned to face him, " Go, go and lead up my last army, start again the war those idiotic men and elves thought they ended. Kill everyone..everyone, but that elf. " He grinned evilly beneath his mask, " bring me the elf, I could use some sport."
The man nodded and left the room without any further conversation, quite unlike the way Malserke retreated.
" You better not fail me, or I will show you just what will happened to you with my last servant." Sauron's voice rang though his mind. " I assure you that I will not fail."
*****
" The wound is infected!" Javas announced, " I will need some herbs." Isildur asked, " What sort?" Quickly he jotted down certain herbs he needed then Isildur sent out a man to retrieve it. Elrond's condition seemed to worsen as time go by, the blade was out of his body, but Javas feels that there are still pieces that where inside. He needed medicine to go from the inside and force the blood to take out the bits.
" It seems that the blade had been poisoned." Javas remarked, checking the blade. The tip was black and covered with blood. It was only when Isildur noticed that it was not entirely red. " What are we to do? " he asked fearfully, though he is not familiar with healing, he knows that poisons can do to ones body. Javas said nothing, He looked intently at the warrior that lay before him. " I do not know."
" Galadriel.."
All those who were in the tent looked up at the sound of the wounded elf's voice.
" Galadriel." Elrond mumbled, he was tossing and turning as if in great turmoil, calling softly to his friend. " aniron lin dulu."
" What is he saying?" Javas whispered, Isildur shook his head, he did not understood Elvish, nor has he heard anyone spoke it. He shook his shoulders gently, " Elrond?"
It was a void. He could not see anything. His head was throbbing and his vision was blurry. Where was he? He kept walking and walking, the path seemed to never end. Everything hurt, he wanted to give up, he wanted to just let go and walk away. The brink of ending life seemed so simple, all he had to do was fall over..
:: Elrond...:: The voice, He recognized the voice. A white simmering light appeared before him, it assumed the shape of a lady, but he could not see her face. " Galadriel?" He whispered. He needed his friend, he needed light, he cannot be alone. " You are not alone Elrond..the road ahead of you is full of hardships, but you must face it, face it and defend your life because...every living being in Middle Earth depends on it." " I do no understand." He said softly, he had lost everything he had, his mother and father, his brother, what is worth fighting for now?
" You remember the stories and tales we hear often when we were just elflings?" he nodded. " All those tales that showed great power, great strength, showing how good will always conquer the evil? Those stories are what matters, it is only a passing, the darkness will be gone, if you would hold on."
" Hold onto what? " Elrond asked wearily, " there is nothing to hold onto."
" That there is some good in this world that is worth fighting for."
" What?"
~Lasto beth nîn. Tolo dan na ngalad~
" Galadriel!"
~Lasto beth nîn. Tolo dan na ngalad~
The light was gone. Again he was alone, but it did not feel the same. Now he had to choose between the painful embrace of life, or the sweet world of death, so tempting. A voice of warmth and guidance filled his heart, images of home and friends appeared in his mind, the songs he used to sing and dreams that he had, life was slowly returning, returning to where it belonged.
" Oh my...look! " Javas exclaimed, pointing to the wound he was tending.
It was healing. The blood begun to dissolve and disappeared, the huge gash had started to close in. The men gasped in surprise, Isildur sat stunned, but that was not all. Color seems to return to Elrond's face, no longer the paleness, his temperature had came back to normal, no longer was he trembling, his muscles had relaxed. His eyes tried to flicker open, the light of the open blinded his vision, but after a few moments, it was clear. A pair of tired gray eyes finally opened, tired, but defiantly awake.
" Elrond!" Isildur cried with joy, " Quick, " Turning to someone behind him, " get some fresh water!" Javas took a cloth and wiped his own forehead, he let out a breath he did not know he was holding, it was a sight that he never thought he would witness. " Elrond my friend, how do you fare?" Elrond coughed and said softly, " Breathing." Isildur could not help but gave him a hug, " you gave us quite a scare there." Though the times of them together had not been long, he had grown to like the elf, so had many others, though they never showed it, he did not realized how much this had affected him til now.
" How does the others fare?" Elrond asked, sitting up. He was fully recovered, but because of the severe lose of blood, he was still weak. " All is well." Isildur replied, handing him water that the man had brought back, " many casualties but we had victory." Elrond raised his eyebrows, " Victory?"
" Yes, Victory! We slaughtered them orcs long and hard! Some may still roam around but will not cause anymore problems."
Elrond sat thoughtfully, " Seems to be too easy."
Isildur looked at his friend with amusement, " Must had been the fever you had, burned into your head! What is to be complicated? We killed them all, end of this battle, we are free!" Many of the men cheered. They left one by one, leaving Elrond to himself, since just recovering, he would need his rest.
" We will transport to a better place at dawn, " Isildur said to Elrond, " The people will want to hear the news and start planning their lives." He could not help surpass a grin.
Elrond smiled and said, " Yes, they will." Bidding him to rest, Isildur left the tent. The dim candlelight shone slightly inside, he could feel the stars shining outside, he could not see it, but feel it.
" Hannon le, " He said softly, " Hannon le Galadriel."
aniron lin dulu; I need your support. Lasto beth nîn. Tolo dan na ngalad: hear my voice, come back to light. Hannon le: thank you
There goes Chapter Three..hope its getting better...please read and review! Motivate me~ SAT's tomorrow..AGH! MAY THE VALAR GIVE ME STRENGTH AND KNOWLEDGE! =)