When Will the Sun Shine Again?
Chapter 5- Trapped
A.N: I know, I say it every time, it's been ages but I will finish this story, I will, I will! Chalk one up to the power of positive thinking! We'll get through, you'll just have to stick with me. I know I cannot please everyone (no matter how much I would like to) as the reviews have been so mixed about the pairing, so for whichever pairing I don't do, if you guys want it enough I can probably manage an alternate ending for all of you who didn't get what you wanted, you'll all see soon enough what pairing it is, mwahaha! Thanks for the amazing support, I love all you guys! Happy holidays, remember to review!
xXx
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By the time Arwen awoke from the waking dream-world of elves, she realised by the waxing sun above the hills that day was already upon them, and running to Legolas' room she found it neatly placed, with no trace of the elven prince anywhere. Arwen's heart sank, she knew Legolas hated goodbyes, but she still wished she had been there to see him off safely.
"Tenna' ento lye omenta. (Until next we meet)" she whispered looking out of the misty window and to the hills beyond, where many miles away Mirkwood lay.
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Legolas reached Mirkwood the next day, after tireless riding for many hours. Upon his arrival into the bowels of Mirkwood he found the forest strangely deserted. Truly ever since the shadow of Sauron had infested Greenwood the Great, transforming it into the shadow filled Mirkwood, there had always been an oppressive silence where darkness still held sway. But as far as he was aware this part of the forest was part of his fathers kingdom, and the shadows had been held at bay. Had another attack taken place without him knowing? Did that mean all were lost, Legolas could never bear to imagine the horror that truth would bring, so he pushed it to the back of his mind and slowed his horse, continuing carefully and quietly through the dark woods that he would usually feel at home in, now all he felt were shadows watching him, it was unnerving, even to the centuries old elf.
When he was almost sure the blackness would suffocate him if he did not find some sign of life soon, he got his wish. The horse he was now leading behind him stepped on a brittle branch, and it snapped with a loud crack, that was amplified to almost unreal proportions in the hollow stillness. Legolas' keen ears picked up the sound of growls, followed by snippets of the fell black tongue of Orcish.
Legolas glanced around him and after obscuring his steed from sight in a dense patch of bushes, darted up into a nearby tree, finding sufficient shelter in its thick foliage.
After waiting for a few moments a pair of heavy set, hulking Orcs traipsed into view. Their very stench made the elven prince's stomach roll, but he grasped a branch and closed his eyes, fighting the nausea that came with the Orcs appearance and the fear that his father's kingdom had indeed been attacked and he was too late to save them.
The pair were grumbling in their dark language and thankfully Legolas could only understand snippets of the conversation, due to his basic training in all languages no matter how foul they could be. This was supposed to further negotiations or at least help emissaries know what they were dealing with in situations like this. The speech was guttural and uneven, Legolas loathed hearing it, the sound was an assault on his very being.
"Why'd we always get the bad luck of patrol? Aint no more of those cursed, stinking elves out 'ere, we made sure of that. Sliced 'em up good, pretty little playthings hehehe. No-one would be stupid enough to venture to these parts anymore, perfect hiding place for us, dark and depressing, just what we need eh?"
"Who does that slimy Meshlak think 'e is anyway? No-one made 'im leader that's for sure. Appointin' us hours like we were common goblins or somthin? Man I'd like to get my 'ands round 'is scrawny neck that's for sure, give 'im a lesson in respect, 'e'd make good grub when the rest of that rabble get 'ungry." And with that the two passed out of sight, and Legolas breathed somewhat easier in their absence.
But he had heard what the fell beasts had said, 'No more stinking, cursed elves out here, sliced them up good?' Legolas felt himself sink into despair, his father, his friends, all gone, and now he was trapped in a wood full of disgusting murderous Orcs, and there was no way he could escape without being discovered. He waited a few more minutes until he was satisfied the treacherous beasts were safely away from him, he slipped nimbly from the tree, to find his horse. Upon reaching the bush to his horror he discovered the horse was missing, but there was a large amount of blood where it had been, and a twisted dagger which could only belong to something as evil as an Orc.
But how, there were only two and I watched them all the way through, nay they could not have doubled back without my realising, unless…
"Ta naa neuma! (It is a trap!)" He exclaimed in horror.
There was a triumphant cry of "ELF!" and from the bushes scrambled ten of the large Orcs as the two before. It was then that Legolas realised his mistake and cursed his own folly as the Orcs amassed upon him like a horde of Crebain.
Knowing his bow would be of no use here, he unsheathed his glittering daggers and spun them impressively in his hands, readying himself for the onslaught.
"Gurth gothrim Tel'Quessir! (Death to the foes of the elves!)" He cried, his emotions mixing into pure rage at their very presence. Legolas twirled his daggers and twisted nimbly to avoid the fell Orcish dagger that plunged his way. Legolas ducked under the blow of another Orc and brought his dagger scything up into the stomach of the awful creature. Thick dark blood gushed onto the elf's tunic as the goblin crumpled, but two more took his place almost instantaneously.
Legolas knew he could not afford to be beaten in this fight, given the Orcs' immense hatred for their pure-blooded kin, the elf knew a fate worse than death awaited him in defeat. This strengthened his resolve and he jumped to the side, narrowly missing the slash of an Orcs weapon, but in dodging this attack, he miscalculated and fell pray to another attack, and was blindsided by a sword-hilt to the face. He staggered slightly and shook his head to right himself, only just dodging another slash which-though falling short of its target- did graze the arm of the elven prince, sending a flash of crimson down his arm, the shock of this made him drop one of his daggers, and he cursed his stupidity as he jumped to avoid another blow and brought his remaining dagger up into another Orcs chest.
Legolas knew this battle was not one that he could win, it could have been his fatigue from tireless riding and a surprise battle with a dozen or so Orcs, but he was tiring easily now, and it seemed that the number of Orcs was increasing not depleting as he had hoped. He slashed the head clean off another goblin, but was surprised with a strong fist in his gut which knocked the wind clean out of him. Gasping to try and replenish his lungs with essential air he sensed another blow and dodged just in time, feeling the dagger disturb the air where his head had been a second before.
Swiping and unfortunately narrowly missing another Orc, he stumbled over a concealed tree root and fell to the ground, an Orcish boot crashing down on his wrist almost instantaneously and forcing him to let go of his other dagger. Standing above him and grinning evilly was a disgusting and mutilated Orc, with a scar where his left eye should have been, who was now in possession of his two daggers, though it seemed to cause him great discomfort, as they were of elven craft.
The Orcs were muttering among themselves and thankfully Legolas understood none of it, apart from the only discernable word 'dug' which he knew meant filth. His anger boiled, the stench of these creatures was nauseating and their expressions were of hatred and malice.
The Orc holding his daggers leant in towards the elven prince, who was very effectively pinned down with a boot on both wrists, another pinning his feet, and another pair on his golden hair that was spread around his head like a halo.
It seemed the Orc was most entertained by Legolas' discomfort, and brought his face in very close to the elf's, his stench was unbearable from this distance and Legolas was very aware of the blood running down his wounded arm -as sharp bursts of pain reminded him of its presence- and apparently another gash in his leg he had not noticed before. When the fell creature spoke in common tongue his words were garbled and punctuated by snarls, as it was not used to using language that common folk could understand.
"Thought we'd got the last of you, elven filth, but it seems not. My men may have more entertainment tonight than thought, unlucky for you hehehe." The creature laughed nastily as did the rest of the group, still eight or so strong at least.
"Amin feuya ten' lle (You disgust me)" Legolas spat hatefully and the Orcs feigned offence, then laughed cruelly, the apparent leader raising one of Legolas' own daggers and grinning nastily.
"Glob (fool)" he laughed scornfully at the incapacitated elf before bringing the dagger down with great force. And that was all Legolas saw.
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Oooh, suspenseful no? (You're right, no!) There was a lot more action than I intended, and not much fluff hehe, but my muse has a mind of its own. Sorry for the lack of Arwen this chap, I will probably be focusing more on Legolas from now on, but tell me if you have cravings to know what Arwens doing and I'll be sure to put more of her in, after all you are the readers, so tell me what you like and don't and I'll be sure to take it into account. Constructive criticism only please, review and tell me what you think, it'll make my day! Thanks for reading, hopefully see you next chap!
xXx