Chapter Four, The Darkness Claims
The sky finally cleared; once again its blueness was visible through the slight forms of the clouds. The shadows were slowly disappearing from sight, joy appeared on every man's face. As soon as it was known to all that the enemy had perished, plans were being made, stories were being shared, one can see, happiness did not occur much in these lands.
Elrond stepped out of his tent, the morning sun blinding his eyes. Shading them with his long and slender fingers, he saw before him, men were rushing around everywhere. A party seemed to be set up. Isildur noticed his friend and started to walk towards him.
" The day is anew is it not?" He said, " How do you feel?"
Elrond smiled and replied, " I am fine, a new day it is to all people."
Isildur looked very happy, " indeed it is."
Suddenly, a shiver went up Elrond's spine, but the man was too focused on other things he did not notice. " Soon we will be able to build up the villages and let the people return to their previous lives." He kept going on and on of the future, but Elrond was troubled. Why did he have that feeling? Isildur took him by the arm and lead him to a spot where many of the soldiers were sitting and drinking, He handed him a goblet of wine and ushered him to sit down with the others, placing himself besides him.
" So Elrond my friend, tell me, " Isildur asked with a questioning look, " how did you recover from your loss?" That caught the attention of them all. Elrond seemed confused. " What do you mean how?" Isildur waved his hand impatiently, " Your recovery! All of the sudden you were not bleeding, your temperature went back to normal, and the most extraordinary thing was your wounds heals itself! Is this some dark magic you say?"
The men nodded and started to chatter, amongst Javas looked the most confused. Elrond saw their expressions and chuckled. " To tell you the truth, that was the first time that I know it happened. It is not quite usual to heal so fast, even for an Elf." Elrond paused, before Isildur could put in a comment, Elrond's expression changed, his visage suddenly became serious, the men could see the Elf's eyes darting towards the direction of the battlefield.
" Wha.."
Elrond waved Isildur off before he could ask anything. Something was amiss, something, he felt, is terribly wrong. He slowly leaned down and whispered to his friend, without taking his eye off where he was looking, " Get the men ready." He senses the confusion within his friend, " Do not ask questions now just do as I say." Isildur nodded, whispered to the men, they were all puzzled, but they did not want to disobey orders, and Elrond had been so precise of things they have come to trust him.
The shiver came again, only this time it was clearer. The cold feeling sliced through his heart. He nearly gasped, then he saw something. Far across the plains as far as the sun can show, there was a black shadow coming towards them. The sky suddenly turned dark, the sun had vanished along with it. It was all as if they were in battle, again.
He squinted to try to get a better look, then he realized what it was. Another Orc army. Quickly he sprinted to the men and cried out, " An Orc army! More Orcs have arrived!" All the people shot up and gathered their weapons, the stables were emptied as some leaped up to their stead. Isildur shouted out orders as the men went all directions, he needed to get them to order. A scattered army could never win a war. Elrond was about to ask a rider to go alarm his army of elves on the other side when a white stallion galloped towards him.
" Telir!" He cried in surprised, what surprised him even more was that behind his horse was his army. The captain jumped down from his steed and said in a deep voice, " Your horse is very wise my Lord, he fled to tell us what had fallen of his master, only we were to slow to respond. For that, I ask of your forgiveness." He was about to kneel when a pair of arms quickly pulled him up, he was looking into Elrond's eyes. " There is nothing to forgive, Lanthir." Hastily he gestured the direction of the orcs, " there is another band of orcs coming this way, " Lanthir's eyes went wide, " we will need all we can to fight." Lanthir nodded in understanding, he would give his life for his land if necessary.
It was an unbelieving sight but as real as it can be. Thousands of Orcs were half marching half running towards them. Yelling and growling, swinging their weapons around them, the sight of the men and elves were reeling up their desire to kill. The more blood shed, the more pleased their master will be. The sky was so dark is was hard to distinguish anything. But that did not stop them coming.
" Isildur! " Elrond cried, " Rally up the men! They are not stopping!" He waved his arm towards them, the Orcs showed no means of stopping, there was no formation, no plan, they charged at them with murderous gleams in their eyes. Isildur acknowledged him and called out to his men, gathering up as he speaks, weapons ready.
The image of Gil-Galad dying was still fresh in his mind. The sensation of his blood pouring from his wound, sinking into the earth, as if the ground is savoring the taste of Elven bloodshed, for the Earth no longer listened to the fair folk. The feeling of revenge filled the young elf's heart, it was because of him he lived, he was not about to forget that. Clenching his teeth he notched his arrow and send it flying that the first Orc that approached them. Those behind him roared and charged towards the elf, seeing their comrade had fallen. Quicker then a blinking eye he shot many arrows at them, they sung through them finding marks, many had fell dead before they reached the army. Soon the distance was too close to shoot, all the men grabbed their swords and slashed. Elrond did the same, the clash of swords were heard across the plains, it seems to be never ending.
A heavy blow came towards Elrond but he leaped aside easily, sending his sword into the heart of his opponent, another came behind him quickly he took out his daggers with his free arm and ended the life that was going to end his. He stole a quick glance towards the men; they seem to be doing well. Suddenly the ground trembled, catching him off guard he lost his balance and fell to the ground. Shrieks of terror and anger came out of the Orcs, they seem to have lost control. The men also panicked at the sudden change, Isildur did his best to calm them down, though he also was panicking. Rearing his horse he looked for his friend, thinking that he might have an answer to this phenomenon.
Elrond's face was grim and streaked with dust and sweat. He could feel something terrible beneath these plains. Something that was not natural. Another vicious tremor took over the lands, shrieks of fury and all hell broke lose. All the Orcs started running all directions, not caring what their purpose was here, it was like another war was starting although the other had not even ended.
" Erond!"
Elrond looked up, Isildur was flying towards him with Telir following him close behind.
" Elrond! The boarders are falling!" He called frantically, pointing towards the mountains. Because of the tremor clunks of huge rocks can be seen rolling down, crushing many Orcs that were trying to escape. This was not something everyone anticipated.
Not realizing they were so close to the mountains Elrond mounted up Telir, facing his friend he asked, " How are the men?" Isildur shook his head and replied, " Not good, the tremor trembled their courage, Javas is trying sooth them down and get to somewhere safe, it seems," he chuckled, " it seems that them Orcs are not so vicious after all." He grinned at Elrond heartily, " I was wondering if you would know of this."
Elrond shook his head, " There is nothing I can make of this, the two thousand years I have lived on this earth I have never encounter such." He saw Isildur looking at him with wide eyes. " What?"
Isildur gulped and replied sheepishly, " Well..its just..you never mentioned how old you were."
Elrond laughed and smiled, " Well, there you go, I am."
Suddenly the conversation was cut with an arrow that flew out of no where, finding its mark on the Elf's shoulder he cried out in surprised, causing him to fall to the ground. The force was so hard his head spin. Telir neighed with fright, seeing his master fall. Isildur leaped off his horse and ran to his friend.
" Elrond! Are you alright?" the elf nodded but the pain cannot be ignored, first his side, now his shoulder. He laughed inside of this joke he seems to think. Isildur had pressed against the wound, it was a smooth shaft that went through his shoulder, the blood was flowing out without mercy, and into the lifeless ground. " How very touching."
The voice! Isildur looked up, it was that man again! Quickly he drew his sword out of its shaft and pointed it at the man. " Who are you! It was you who shot him!"
The man simply smirked and looked at the elf. Elrond was bleeding furiously, but his eyes were looking back into his coldly. He saw no pain. * Soon, you will feel pain*
He took a step towards Elrond, but Isildur stood in front of him, blocking his way. " What are you doing!" The man smirked again and said, " Why, to take him away of course." Then by the time he realized, the man had leaped to the side and caught Elrond by the arm, he cried out and then vanished.
Isildur blinked, the sight, what had just happened was not registering into his mind. What just happened? The sound behind him brought him back to his senses. It was Telir, rearing and neighing, he knew something was wrong, something had gone amiss with his master. Isildur jumped and went to calm him, " Do not worry my friend, we will get him back." Soothing him he leaped up to his horse, and quickly urged it towards the men, he had to get him back, but how? The winding blew fiercely against his face, but it was not going to stop him, he had let Elrond disappear right in front of his eyes, he was going to get him back.
Galiers saw his lord rushing towards them. His heart leaped for he thought something had fallen for it had been so long since he left. But his heart immediately sank when he saw the other horse returned rider less. " What had happened?" He asked as Isildur got off his horse. " He took him."
" Who took him? " Galiers asked confused. Isildur looked at him and said more precisely, " There was this man, this man clad all in black that took him away, I do not know who he is but he took Elrond away." Galiers gasped. Isildur was preparing many things into a ragged bag and setting them on his horse. " Where are you going? "
Isildur answered without looking at him, " I am going to go look for him." Without letting him speak he continued, " I want you to gather the men, defend this land, we do not know what might happen next but I want you all to be at full alert." Galiers nodded. Isildur took off again. With the same task he had from before, only this time he dreaded.
" Hold on my friend, hold on."
The sky finally cleared; once again its blueness was visible through the slight forms of the clouds. The shadows were slowly disappearing from sight, joy appeared on every man's face. As soon as it was known to all that the enemy had perished, plans were being made, stories were being shared, one can see, happiness did not occur much in these lands.
Elrond stepped out of his tent, the morning sun blinding his eyes. Shading them with his long and slender fingers, he saw before him, men were rushing around everywhere. A party seemed to be set up. Isildur noticed his friend and started to walk towards him.
" The day is anew is it not?" He said, " How do you feel?"
Elrond smiled and replied, " I am fine, a new day it is to all people."
Isildur looked very happy, " indeed it is."
Suddenly, a shiver went up Elrond's spine, but the man was too focused on other things he did not notice. " Soon we will be able to build up the villages and let the people return to their previous lives." He kept going on and on of the future, but Elrond was troubled. Why did he have that feeling? Isildur took him by the arm and lead him to a spot where many of the soldiers were sitting and drinking, He handed him a goblet of wine and ushered him to sit down with the others, placing himself besides him.
" So Elrond my friend, tell me, " Isildur asked with a questioning look, " how did you recover from your loss?" That caught the attention of them all. Elrond seemed confused. " What do you mean how?" Isildur waved his hand impatiently, " Your recovery! All of the sudden you were not bleeding, your temperature went back to normal, and the most extraordinary thing was your wounds heals itself! Is this some dark magic you say?"
The men nodded and started to chatter, amongst Javas looked the most confused. Elrond saw their expressions and chuckled. " To tell you the truth, that was the first time that I know it happened. It is not quite usual to heal so fast, even for an Elf." Elrond paused, before Isildur could put in a comment, Elrond's expression changed, his visage suddenly became serious, the men could see the Elf's eyes darting towards the direction of the battlefield.
" Wha.."
Elrond waved Isildur off before he could ask anything. Something was amiss, something, he felt, is terribly wrong. He slowly leaned down and whispered to his friend, without taking his eye off where he was looking, " Get the men ready." He senses the confusion within his friend, " Do not ask questions now just do as I say." Isildur nodded, whispered to the men, they were all puzzled, but they did not want to disobey orders, and Elrond had been so precise of things they have come to trust him.
The shiver came again, only this time it was clearer. The cold feeling sliced through his heart. He nearly gasped, then he saw something. Far across the plains as far as the sun can show, there was a black shadow coming towards them. The sky suddenly turned dark, the sun had vanished along with it. It was all as if they were in battle, again.
He squinted to try to get a better look, then he realized what it was. Another Orc army. Quickly he sprinted to the men and cried out, " An Orc army! More Orcs have arrived!" All the people shot up and gathered their weapons, the stables were emptied as some leaped up to their stead. Isildur shouted out orders as the men went all directions, he needed to get them to order. A scattered army could never win a war. Elrond was about to ask a rider to go alarm his army of elves on the other side when a white stallion galloped towards him.
" Telir!" He cried in surprised, what surprised him even more was that behind his horse was his army. The captain jumped down from his steed and said in a deep voice, " Your horse is very wise my Lord, he fled to tell us what had fallen of his master, only we were to slow to respond. For that, I ask of your forgiveness." He was about to kneel when a pair of arms quickly pulled him up, he was looking into Elrond's eyes. " There is nothing to forgive, Lanthir." Hastily he gestured the direction of the orcs, " there is another band of orcs coming this way, " Lanthir's eyes went wide, " we will need all we can to fight." Lanthir nodded in understanding, he would give his life for his land if necessary.
It was an unbelieving sight but as real as it can be. Thousands of Orcs were half marching half running towards them. Yelling and growling, swinging their weapons around them, the sight of the men and elves were reeling up their desire to kill. The more blood shed, the more pleased their master will be. The sky was so dark is was hard to distinguish anything. But that did not stop them coming.
" Isildur! " Elrond cried, " Rally up the men! They are not stopping!" He waved his arm towards them, the Orcs showed no means of stopping, there was no formation, no plan, they charged at them with murderous gleams in their eyes. Isildur acknowledged him and called out to his men, gathering up as he speaks, weapons ready.
The image of Gil-Galad dying was still fresh in his mind. The sensation of his blood pouring from his wound, sinking into the earth, as if the ground is savoring the taste of Elven bloodshed, for the Earth no longer listened to the fair folk. The feeling of revenge filled the young elf's heart, it was because of him he lived, he was not about to forget that. Clenching his teeth he notched his arrow and send it flying that the first Orc that approached them. Those behind him roared and charged towards the elf, seeing their comrade had fallen. Quicker then a blinking eye he shot many arrows at them, they sung through them finding marks, many had fell dead before they reached the army. Soon the distance was too close to shoot, all the men grabbed their swords and slashed. Elrond did the same, the clash of swords were heard across the plains, it seems to be never ending.
A heavy blow came towards Elrond but he leaped aside easily, sending his sword into the heart of his opponent, another came behind him quickly he took out his daggers with his free arm and ended the life that was going to end his. He stole a quick glance towards the men; they seem to be doing well. Suddenly the ground trembled, catching him off guard he lost his balance and fell to the ground. Shrieks of terror and anger came out of the Orcs, they seem to have lost control. The men also panicked at the sudden change, Isildur did his best to calm them down, though he also was panicking. Rearing his horse he looked for his friend, thinking that he might have an answer to this phenomenon.
Elrond's face was grim and streaked with dust and sweat. He could feel something terrible beneath these plains. Something that was not natural. Another vicious tremor took over the lands, shrieks of fury and all hell broke lose. All the Orcs started running all directions, not caring what their purpose was here, it was like another war was starting although the other had not even ended.
" Erond!"
Elrond looked up, Isildur was flying towards him with Telir following him close behind.
" Elrond! The boarders are falling!" He called frantically, pointing towards the mountains. Because of the tremor clunks of huge rocks can be seen rolling down, crushing many Orcs that were trying to escape. This was not something everyone anticipated.
Not realizing they were so close to the mountains Elrond mounted up Telir, facing his friend he asked, " How are the men?" Isildur shook his head and replied, " Not good, the tremor trembled their courage, Javas is trying sooth them down and get to somewhere safe, it seems," he chuckled, " it seems that them Orcs are not so vicious after all." He grinned at Elrond heartily, " I was wondering if you would know of this."
Elrond shook his head, " There is nothing I can make of this, the two thousand years I have lived on this earth I have never encounter such." He saw Isildur looking at him with wide eyes. " What?"
Isildur gulped and replied sheepishly, " Well..its just..you never mentioned how old you were."
Elrond laughed and smiled, " Well, there you go, I am."
Suddenly the conversation was cut with an arrow that flew out of no where, finding its mark on the Elf's shoulder he cried out in surprised, causing him to fall to the ground. The force was so hard his head spin. Telir neighed with fright, seeing his master fall. Isildur leaped off his horse and ran to his friend.
" Elrond! Are you alright?" the elf nodded but the pain cannot be ignored, first his side, now his shoulder. He laughed inside of this joke he seems to think. Isildur had pressed against the wound, it was a smooth shaft that went through his shoulder, the blood was flowing out without mercy, and into the lifeless ground. " How very touching."
The voice! Isildur looked up, it was that man again! Quickly he drew his sword out of its shaft and pointed it at the man. " Who are you! It was you who shot him!"
The man simply smirked and looked at the elf. Elrond was bleeding furiously, but his eyes were looking back into his coldly. He saw no pain. * Soon, you will feel pain*
He took a step towards Elrond, but Isildur stood in front of him, blocking his way. " What are you doing!" The man smirked again and said, " Why, to take him away of course." Then by the time he realized, the man had leaped to the side and caught Elrond by the arm, he cried out and then vanished.
Isildur blinked, the sight, what had just happened was not registering into his mind. What just happened? The sound behind him brought him back to his senses. It was Telir, rearing and neighing, he knew something was wrong, something had gone amiss with his master. Isildur jumped and went to calm him, " Do not worry my friend, we will get him back." Soothing him he leaped up to his horse, and quickly urged it towards the men, he had to get him back, but how? The winding blew fiercely against his face, but it was not going to stop him, he had let Elrond disappear right in front of his eyes, he was going to get him back.
Galiers saw his lord rushing towards them. His heart leaped for he thought something had fallen for it had been so long since he left. But his heart immediately sank when he saw the other horse returned rider less. " What had happened?" He asked as Isildur got off his horse. " He took him."
" Who took him? " Galiers asked confused. Isildur looked at him and said more precisely, " There was this man, this man clad all in black that took him away, I do not know who he is but he took Elrond away." Galiers gasped. Isildur was preparing many things into a ragged bag and setting them on his horse. " Where are you going? "
Isildur answered without looking at him, " I am going to go look for him." Without letting him speak he continued, " I want you to gather the men, defend this land, we do not know what might happen next but I want you all to be at full alert." Galiers nodded. Isildur took off again. With the same task he had from before, only this time he dreaded.
" Hold on my friend, hold on."