Chapter Fourteen

Gimli looked over at Legolas with concern in his eyes. The elf was curled up in a corner, sound asleep. This would have been normal for a human, but not for Legolas. Elves from the time Gimli and Legolas had come from usually rested in a trance-like state, with the eyes partially open. Legolas' eyes were completely closed this time.

"Don't worry. This only proves how tired he really is." Shiroi said, as he draped a blanket over Legolas, then sat down next to Gimli.

"I know, but it's still unnerving to see him sleep like that." Gimli murmured.

"Still, he's fared better than most. His only ailment is his exhaustion. There are some here I fear will not live to return to their homes." Shiroi murmured, sadly.

"Aye. That is true." Gimli agreed, as he turned his head and watched the coast of Lodoss come into view.

"Might as well wake him up, since it seems that we are going to dock next." Shiroi said, wincing as he stood back up.

"Were you wounded as well, Shiroi?" Gimli asked, having noticed Shiroi's pained expression.

"One of the Orcs gave me a going away present; a few cracked ribs." Shiroi said, with some sarcasm.

"Ah." Gimli said, giving the Elven priest a sympathetic look before turning and shaking Legolas' shoulder in an attempt to wake him up.

//*// Go bother Gandalf, Pippin. //*// Legolas muttered, as he curled up even tighter into the blanket.

"What did he say?" Gimli asked. (Even though he'd lived with the Elves in the Undying Lands and had heard their language often, Gimli still didn't understand Elvish)

"He's just told Pippin to bother Gandalf. Must be a realistic dream." Shiroi said, with amusement in his silver eyes.

"Must be." Gimli muttered, and went back to shaking the sleeping elf. Finally, Legolas wearily opened his eyes and looked at Gimli and Shiroi.

"Where are we?" Legolas asked, softly.

"We're almost in the port of Valis. This part of the evacuation is almost complete. There's a few more ships behind this one as well." Shiroi said, knowing that the elf in front of him needed even more rest than what he had gotten in those few hours at sea.

"What is the next part of the evacuation?" Legolas asked, as he stood up, keeping the blanket wrapped around his shoulders, as he did so.

"I do not know, but I have the feeling that we will be leaving for the Forest of Never Return in a few days' time." Shiroi replied, quietly.

"The Forest of Never Return? Where is that?" Legolas asked, as he watched the ship's crew prepare to dock.

"It is inland, a few miles from Valis. There is a clan of Elves living there that might be remnants of the exiled High Elf tribes." Shiroi said, as the ship was moored into place and the gangplank was put into position.

Lina glanced around as she and Gourry did what they could to help the refugees . It was in this port that Lina saw the effects of war. The peasantry of Marmo gazed back at her with haunted eyes, as tarp-clad stretchers laden with the dead were brought onto the land. Moans of the wounded were mingled with those of friends and loved ones mourning those lost in the battle. Gourry turned around once and found Lina sitting on a barrel, her face hidden in her hands. even though he knew he might get fire-balled (or worse), Gourry gently went over and put his arms around her.

"You've seen this kind of thing before, haven't you?" Lina asked, as she dried her tears with her sleeve, and leaned into Gourry's embrace.

"Yes. But that doesn't make it any easier. A lot of lives have been lost, and they can never be replaced. This is the first time Marmo has ever been invaded, and it is a tragedy to these people." Gourry murmured, as he gazed at the grim events that were taking place around them.

"C'mon, there must be something more we can do." Lina said, as she stood up and walked off, with Gourry not far behind her.

Kage hovered near Sheik, who was lying wounded on one of the stretchers, waiting for a healer to come and treat his wounds. Sheik had been stabbed twice, once in the stomach, and again in his left leg.

"Mizuu, what should I do? His temperature is falling. He won't last for too much longer." Kage muttered, as he tucked the blanket even tighter around the wounded Sheikah in a vain attempt to keep him warm.

"He needs athelas." Gandalf said as he walked over and kneeled down next to the fallen warrior.

"Athelas? What is that? How is it used?" Kage asked, anxiously.

"Athelas, or kingsfoil, is used to drive out the poison Orcs use on their weapons." Gandalf said, noticing when a look of recognition crossed Kage's features.

"Kingsfoil! There might be some in the Sacred Forest Meadow back home! Be right back!" Kage said, as he leaped up, pulled out his ocarina, played a tune on it, and was gone in a flash of light. Gandalf could only blink in surprise before Kage had reappeared, carrying enough athelas to treat everyone on board the ship they were on, and then some!

"Lucky for me that Saria was there, other wise I would never have found it. What do I do with it now?" Kage asked, looking to Gandalf for the answer.

"Boil it and clean his wounds. I will leave you enough to do that, but I will distribute the rest. I can only hope that there is more where this came from." Gandalf said, as he took a majority of the athelas from Kage's arms, leaving enough to treat Sheik's wounds.

"I hope this works." Kage thought, as he began working.

Ashram wandered around the port, his shock hidden by his worry for his people. He avoided Deedlit at all costs; he couldn't bring himself to tell her of her husband's fate.

"King Ashram." A voice said, from behind him. Ashram turned to find Etoh standing there.

"King Etoh…………..I owe you my life and the lives of my people. Thank you." Ashram murmured. The king of Valis nodded quietly in acknowledgement.

"Ashram, there is something you must know." Etoh said, his voice quiet yet urgent.

"What is wrong?" Ashram asked, noticing the urgency in the other king's voice.

"While I was concentrating my efforts helping you, Valis suffered a tragedy of its own. Orcs have destroyed most of the crops within the walls and we are cut off from Kanon." Etoh said, grimly.

"In other words, there isn't enough food to go around. What do you suggest I do?" Ashram asked, gravely aware of what traveling so soon after being chased out of their homeland would do to his people.

"Wait until the wounded have been tended to, then leave for the Forest of Never Return. Parn is on good terms with the elves there and they should let you at least rest there." Etoh suggested, then noticed when a look of pain crossed Ashram's features.

"Ashram? What's wrong?" Etoh asked, concerned for the former Black Knight.

"Etoh………..It pains me to tell you this since you are Parn's closest friend, but Parn…………….he fell, Etoh. He died bravely at the hands of the Orcs on the Heroes' Bridge." Ashram murmured, as he showed Etoh the bloodied circlet. Shock and horror, then grief, adorned Etoh's usually peaceful features as the news sank in.

"Have you told Deedlit yet?" Etoh asked, as some tears slid down his cheeks. Ashram sorrowfully shook his head.

"If anything, she probably already knows." Ashram said, as he sat down and lowered his head.

Far away, the Witch King chuckled with pleasure. His plan was going smoothly. Mordor was his, the orc breeding was doing well (with the exception of a few incinerations done to provide an example to the rest of the Olag-hai), and the kings of the land were demoralized by the loss of a great ally. The only thing that bothered the Witch King was that he could not determine whether or not the descendant of Isildur was really and truly dead.

"Oh well, even if he isn't he soon will be. Gondor won't remain a safe haven forever." The Witch King murmured, with self-satisfaction in his voice. Karla only stood where she was, shedding silent tears for Lodoss, and even for the fallen hero.

Author's Note!

Sorry about the incredibly short chapter, but I am currently battling writer's block. On another note, please say a prayer for our fighters in Iraq.

GOD BLESS THE USA!!!!!

Gemini