CH III. Field of tears
When Legalos arrived, Belemir was fighting three Otarcs on his own. Aregnor was facing a different direction protecting Frohic and Glomli swung generously his axe at a few Otarcs. Legalos sprung through the battlefield firing at any enemy that would stand in his way. Running sinuously, stopping to hide behind tree trunks for cover, he realized that hundreds of Otarcs had made their way into the village and were killing in a sadistic manner. He spotted a small nebulan child crying and ran silently to hoist him in his arms as he continued running. The little boy saw his mother running south and reached out to her falling out of Legalos' grasp to meet her. She was scared for her life but tears of joy ran down her eyes at the sight of her little one.
Meanwhile, Undowen had taken the three Hobbets towards the stream. She thought if she could get to the other side, she would be safe.
Enormous amounts of Otarcs and Nebulans lay lifeless on the ground. Legalos reached the eating room but it had changed since his last visit. Tables had been turned over and chairs torn to shreds. An arrow ricochet on the stone wall and lodged itself in a nearby wood bench. He suddenly felt the urge to look towards the river. Through the trees with his eagle eyes, he saw dozens of Nebulans trying to swim farther into the stream with hope of getting away from Otarcs. Most of them were being swept away by the cruel torrents created by the mass movement. The Otarcs were closing on them and some were resisting, others fled, most of them were killed or drowned. He turned away at the unbearable reality set before his eyes. Then, looked back seconds later to recognize Undowen and Amaranth with the Hobbets crossing the river. He wasn't dreaming. The frightening thought of Amaranth in danger revived all his fighting senses. 'I must help', he murmured to himself. He ran down and bumped into Belethil who said briefly that the enemy was surrounding the city and Otarcs have captured Frohic and some Nebulans. Legalos used most of his arrows down the path towards the beach. Safety belonged nowhere. He reached for another finely crafted arrow and set his target, eyes narrowed and glowing with concentration. The arrow cut through the air, curving and whistling. A hit. He remembered his father's words 'As a warrior, you move and fight with a grace and speed none other can parallel. When the time comes, you shall not fail.'
When he arrived, he looked to the other side of the river and saw that the Otarcs had already travelled farther into the forest. He quickly dragged himself through the water unaware of the danger that had spotted him from high up in the mountain. Legalos wasn't paying attention to the surroundings; his mind drifted on the picture of Amaranth in his arms. An Otarc released an arrow. Legalos turned at the sound of the moving object but it was too late, the arrow pierced his shoulder. He was brought to his knees as the fierce pain raged through his body. He wanted revenge and, submerged in water, he prepared his bow with an arrow. Then, swung out and hit the Otarc in surprise and placed more arrows to hit a few other Otarcs hidden in the landscape. He left the water with his slim hope of finding Amaranth. His wound stung. He walked through the forest, collecting arrows from dead bodies. The ground was painted red and not a sound was heard. He walked so softly that he left no footprint on the ground he lay foot, not even the grass was bent or torn under his light feet. He spotted a woman lying face down. He ran towards her, kneeled and turned her slowly. It was Undowen. She had been pushed to the ground and had dark bruises on her entire body. Probably thought dead, she had been left in agonizing pain. Her upper lip was bleeding and she opened her eyes slowly, squinting at the thought of coming face to face with an Otarc. She screamed. Legalos closed her mouth with his hand and touched her face to calm her.
She lifted her head and spoke with difficulty 'the enemy has dissipated but I fear they have captured the Hobbets'
He looked up at the sky and strangely enough, a ray of sunlight attracted him and he followed it to the ground back towards Undowen weeping and, to his surprise, saw Amaranth almost crawling towards the sound of Undowen's cries. The battle was over and had left a terrible silence. No birds, no voices, oblivion. Amaranth struggled, grasping at anything to keep her from falling holding her stomach with her left hand. Legalos went to her and, placing her arm around his shoulder, helped her stay on her feet. Undowen was now sitting, cradled in her pain and interior damage.
'Where are you hurt?' she asked Amaranth but received no answer.
She hadn't said a word even after Legalos had asked her the same. Amaranth slowly removed the arrow piercing Legalos' shoulder and he didn't twitch at the stingy pain. He wouldn't take his eyes off her. She placed her hand on his shoulder, tearing away the wet fabric to touch his skin and cure him from his injury. He noticed Amaranth hadn't removed her hand from her stomach and the strange position was making Legalos nervous. He removed it to reveal a deep cut. He tore her dress to apply pressure on the wound and asked why she hadn't said anything.
She was already dozing off but whispered 'you needed mending, first. I didn't want your concern.' She had difficulty breathing.
Undowen sat beside Amaranth, placing her hand on the wound. Legalos stood up and stayed still listening to the faint sound of a horn. once more the horn of Gondir.
'I must find Belemir' said Legalos.
'No, I will go. Do not leave Amaranth when she needs you the most' Undowen replied.
Undowen took his hand and made him place it on Amaranth's cut. He tried to hold Undowen back by grabbing her arm ' You're injured, Undowen!' he said. She whispered to his ear 'Amaranth will most likely die. stay with her.' She pulled away while Legalos stayed in shock. He held Amaranth and caressed her hair. He sung as the stars were already disappearing in the sky. In a last effort, she drew her knees up against her chest and the tears going down her cheeks were barely visible in the weak light. The most prevalent thought in Legalos' mind at that moment was how much he really needed her and wanted her to live. His lips trailed down to kiss her bare shoulder and he pressed himself as tightly as possible against her trying to take away her pain with his touch. As he breathed her scent, he realized how badly he wanted to make love to her but he wasn't going to let her know his yearning. He wanted to stay in this trance for the longest amount of time that would permit him to keep them away from the rest of the world forever. When love is greatest, words are fewest. Still at every hour death is near.
'I desire you to live' Legalos told Amaranth, 'Even a million years would never be enough time to love thee.'
She replied 'I am sorry if I have brought the burden of my death upon you, my love'
-'I am the one who felt taken to meet you. Do not blame yourself in this moment of pain and vulnerability. I will never leave you Amaranth. if only Narond could find us. He must certainly be on his way, knowing his daughter disobediently fallowed Aregnor and is in possible danger.'
-'I am fighting to stay with you, Legalos but my spirit is weak.'
Legalos' hands were covered in blood as he held Amaranth. 'Will you love me for the rest of my life?' Amaranth slowly asked.
'No I will love you for the rest of mine' said Legalos.
He continued singing as tears slowly traced his cheeks. His voice was so uplifting that she would forget, for moments in time, the pain overpowering her while listening to the soothing elf's voice.
When Legalos arrived, Belemir was fighting three Otarcs on his own. Aregnor was facing a different direction protecting Frohic and Glomli swung generously his axe at a few Otarcs. Legalos sprung through the battlefield firing at any enemy that would stand in his way. Running sinuously, stopping to hide behind tree trunks for cover, he realized that hundreds of Otarcs had made their way into the village and were killing in a sadistic manner. He spotted a small nebulan child crying and ran silently to hoist him in his arms as he continued running. The little boy saw his mother running south and reached out to her falling out of Legalos' grasp to meet her. She was scared for her life but tears of joy ran down her eyes at the sight of her little one.
Meanwhile, Undowen had taken the three Hobbets towards the stream. She thought if she could get to the other side, she would be safe.
Enormous amounts of Otarcs and Nebulans lay lifeless on the ground. Legalos reached the eating room but it had changed since his last visit. Tables had been turned over and chairs torn to shreds. An arrow ricochet on the stone wall and lodged itself in a nearby wood bench. He suddenly felt the urge to look towards the river. Through the trees with his eagle eyes, he saw dozens of Nebulans trying to swim farther into the stream with hope of getting away from Otarcs. Most of them were being swept away by the cruel torrents created by the mass movement. The Otarcs were closing on them and some were resisting, others fled, most of them were killed or drowned. He turned away at the unbearable reality set before his eyes. Then, looked back seconds later to recognize Undowen and Amaranth with the Hobbets crossing the river. He wasn't dreaming. The frightening thought of Amaranth in danger revived all his fighting senses. 'I must help', he murmured to himself. He ran down and bumped into Belethil who said briefly that the enemy was surrounding the city and Otarcs have captured Frohic and some Nebulans. Legalos used most of his arrows down the path towards the beach. Safety belonged nowhere. He reached for another finely crafted arrow and set his target, eyes narrowed and glowing with concentration. The arrow cut through the air, curving and whistling. A hit. He remembered his father's words 'As a warrior, you move and fight with a grace and speed none other can parallel. When the time comes, you shall not fail.'
When he arrived, he looked to the other side of the river and saw that the Otarcs had already travelled farther into the forest. He quickly dragged himself through the water unaware of the danger that had spotted him from high up in the mountain. Legalos wasn't paying attention to the surroundings; his mind drifted on the picture of Amaranth in his arms. An Otarc released an arrow. Legalos turned at the sound of the moving object but it was too late, the arrow pierced his shoulder. He was brought to his knees as the fierce pain raged through his body. He wanted revenge and, submerged in water, he prepared his bow with an arrow. Then, swung out and hit the Otarc in surprise and placed more arrows to hit a few other Otarcs hidden in the landscape. He left the water with his slim hope of finding Amaranth. His wound stung. He walked through the forest, collecting arrows from dead bodies. The ground was painted red and not a sound was heard. He walked so softly that he left no footprint on the ground he lay foot, not even the grass was bent or torn under his light feet. He spotted a woman lying face down. He ran towards her, kneeled and turned her slowly. It was Undowen. She had been pushed to the ground and had dark bruises on her entire body. Probably thought dead, she had been left in agonizing pain. Her upper lip was bleeding and she opened her eyes slowly, squinting at the thought of coming face to face with an Otarc. She screamed. Legalos closed her mouth with his hand and touched her face to calm her.
She lifted her head and spoke with difficulty 'the enemy has dissipated but I fear they have captured the Hobbets'
He looked up at the sky and strangely enough, a ray of sunlight attracted him and he followed it to the ground back towards Undowen weeping and, to his surprise, saw Amaranth almost crawling towards the sound of Undowen's cries. The battle was over and had left a terrible silence. No birds, no voices, oblivion. Amaranth struggled, grasping at anything to keep her from falling holding her stomach with her left hand. Legalos went to her and, placing her arm around his shoulder, helped her stay on her feet. Undowen was now sitting, cradled in her pain and interior damage.
'Where are you hurt?' she asked Amaranth but received no answer.
She hadn't said a word even after Legalos had asked her the same. Amaranth slowly removed the arrow piercing Legalos' shoulder and he didn't twitch at the stingy pain. He wouldn't take his eyes off her. She placed her hand on his shoulder, tearing away the wet fabric to touch his skin and cure him from his injury. He noticed Amaranth hadn't removed her hand from her stomach and the strange position was making Legalos nervous. He removed it to reveal a deep cut. He tore her dress to apply pressure on the wound and asked why she hadn't said anything.
She was already dozing off but whispered 'you needed mending, first. I didn't want your concern.' She had difficulty breathing.
Undowen sat beside Amaranth, placing her hand on the wound. Legalos stood up and stayed still listening to the faint sound of a horn. once more the horn of Gondir.
'I must find Belemir' said Legalos.
'No, I will go. Do not leave Amaranth when she needs you the most' Undowen replied.
Undowen took his hand and made him place it on Amaranth's cut. He tried to hold Undowen back by grabbing her arm ' You're injured, Undowen!' he said. She whispered to his ear 'Amaranth will most likely die. stay with her.' She pulled away while Legalos stayed in shock. He held Amaranth and caressed her hair. He sung as the stars were already disappearing in the sky. In a last effort, she drew her knees up against her chest and the tears going down her cheeks were barely visible in the weak light. The most prevalent thought in Legalos' mind at that moment was how much he really needed her and wanted her to live. His lips trailed down to kiss her bare shoulder and he pressed himself as tightly as possible against her trying to take away her pain with his touch. As he breathed her scent, he realized how badly he wanted to make love to her but he wasn't going to let her know his yearning. He wanted to stay in this trance for the longest amount of time that would permit him to keep them away from the rest of the world forever. When love is greatest, words are fewest. Still at every hour death is near.
'I desire you to live' Legalos told Amaranth, 'Even a million years would never be enough time to love thee.'
She replied 'I am sorry if I have brought the burden of my death upon you, my love'
-'I am the one who felt taken to meet you. Do not blame yourself in this moment of pain and vulnerability. I will never leave you Amaranth. if only Narond could find us. He must certainly be on his way, knowing his daughter disobediently fallowed Aregnor and is in possible danger.'
-'I am fighting to stay with you, Legalos but my spirit is weak.'
Legalos' hands were covered in blood as he held Amaranth. 'Will you love me for the rest of my life?' Amaranth slowly asked.
'No I will love you for the rest of mine' said Legalos.
He continued singing as tears slowly traced his cheeks. His voice was so uplifting that she would forget, for moments in time, the pain overpowering her while listening to the soothing elf's voice.