I'm Back! Hello all, I'm sorry I have taken so long to update but have no fear, It is summer and I have time! So, I apologize to those who reviewed so faithfully until the last chapter, chapter 10 and I hope you will keep reviewing. I AM BACK! So onto the fic!
Severity of Silence
Chapter 11: Always with you
(Aragorn)
"Never dreamed, I would not have you by my side my friend." I tell Legolas as he puts the light saddle on King, my Slayer already tacked and antsy from the tension. His back turned to me I see the tensing of Legolas' muscles, the ever-slight twitch of muscle that alerts me to the emotion he is keeping back. Hands resting on the saddle seat he lowers his head with a sigh, between his arms before straightening. Turning the blonde elf looks sorrowfully at me, his blue eyes now the color of Indigo.
" Neither I. Aragorn, I know times are uncertain but one thing I can be certain about is your fighting abilities. I have faith in you my friend and that faith is what shall keep us together even though we will be apart." He puts his hands on my shoulders and looks me right in the eyes, his own spilling the faith, sadness and worry like a window. Slowly he brings his head closer so that our heads touch. Placing my own hands on his shoulders I leans in closer, not truly wanting to let my friend go. Slowly the elf pulls back and stands straight once more, his eyes now clear and somehow that little contact between us made me feel a little better about the situation. Still I am not happy about being split from Legolas.
" We have always fought as a team" I begin but the elf's silences me with a look before speaking
" And a team we shall keep fighting as Aragorn. You are a part of me, and I am a part of you, brothers in all but blood. My friend you will always be with me, no matter where you go, or what you want to do. You will always be with me, in spirit, in mind, in soul." He mounts the gray and leans down, long hair falling about his shoulders and reaches out a frail, thin looking but capable and callused hand to me, I take it in my own large, awkwardly thick one, clasping his forearm. Before I never noticed the great difference between humans and elves, other than their beauty and wisdom, pointed ears. Now that I gaze at Legolas, in the heat of battle I see the differences that I never saw before. His frail looking body is deceiving and his childish looks belay the fact that he is centuries older than my whole family line. Legolas is the word 'warrior' through and through, his training leaving nothing to be desired in battle, the courage and loyalty is superior to the race of men.
" I shall see you after the battle my brother. My the gods be with you and keep you safe." I give the leather arm brace one last squeeze and then release it, slapping King on the ass as Legolas goes to meet with Glorfindel, Elladan, Elrohir, Elrond and Kerrick. Each in a set of warriors armor, not bulky but of Elven build so that they may move in the metal. Graceful in anything the elves make wearing the annoying armor look enjoyable. Catching Elladan's eye I nod, silently telling the dark haired elf to watch out for my friend, keep him safe. The elf nods and with a kick to his horses sides charges after his family and comrades.
" Ready young Aragorn?" I turn to find Tracker standing close by, holding his own horses' reins and watching me. Nodding I mount Slayer and walk him to where he and his group of men are, all rugged featured men with sharp eyes and deadly accurate aiming. Tracker sits astride his own horse and smiles, clasping me with his thick hand
" To ride with us Rangers you need another name other than Aragorn, son of Arathorn." He says and I think of something that Legolas once called me after falling into the river while trying to navigate the current on foot.
" Strider." I offer and Tracker smiles again
" You are now Strider, Dundian of the North, you shall always be welcomed among our people Strider. Now, we go." He raises his hand in the air and lets out a howl like a wolf, starting the horses and calling the men's attention. He then throws his hand foreword while kicking his horse and gallops ahead of the others, leading the men. Kicking Slayer in the sides I race along beside another, younger than I but still determined and riding with me. He notices my eye and smiles,
" Names Bowin." He says and leans further over his horses neck
" Strider." I tell him back and soon we are galloping headlong among the mountain valleys and through farmer's fields. Heading to battle on the horizon of the rising sun.
(Glorfindel)
I have been in battle before, the concept has not changed. Together the five of us charge out onto the southern field, our weapons raised and ready. My horse's strides are sure and strong so I use this time to string my bow, loosing an arrow into the face of an attacking man, hell-bent of killing my friends or me. Rearing the stallion takes out another's horse, forcing the rider to fight on foot. He slashes at me with his broad sword, whirling my great beast I narrowly miss getting sliced in the leg. Growling with annoyance at this little man I grab my short blade and jab down, sending the tip through the man's neck and jugular vein, spraying blood all over my leg and horse's side. Removing the blade I swipe a spear away, kicking out with my foot and catching the opposing rider in the thigh, making him grip the pommel in pain and unbalance. My horse screams a cry of challenge and takes on the horse, rearing and lashing out with his sharp hooves. The other cries and backs away, bucking his own rider off and trampling him. Slicing with my sword I make my way through the mass of warriors, killing as many as possible, making up for all those I failed to kill in the battle for my homeland and people. I fight for them, and no one else.
(Elladan)
When Aragorn shot me a look I knew exactly what he wanted me to do. Pledging to protect the last Mirkwood elf was the last thought that escaped my mind as we rode into battle, my horse going at a Druth warriors like he was possessed. My sharp eyes search out the tree tops where Legolas said he was going to shoot from, with his much sharper gaze and accurate shots he would be a better asset up from his vintage point than here on horseback. A long shafted arrow is loosed from the tree and sings through the air, just over my head to land in a warriors throat, gargling sounds accompany the man to the ground where he lays, unmoving. Ahead of me my twin is battling viciously with another warrior on horseback, one whose huge sword is splintering my brothers shield. With a cry and sharp kick to my steeds side I race down and land a killing blow on the mans unprotected side.
" Thanks brother." Elrohir smiles and I nod
" Welcome brother." I retort and whirl my horse away from the angry fray of three riders hoping to catch us between them. An arrow stops one, leaving us to battle the other two. My horse rears and brings its hooves down on some poor bastard who just happened to get in the way. Glancing back up into the trees I see the brief flash of gold and nod slightly before racing back into the action, slaughtering the Druth men who seek to kill my family once more, this time they shall not succeed.
(Elrond)
My sword is covered in blood and my opponents lay dead or dying at my feet. Although my healer's heart is crying out to me not to kill I force that wailing part of me aside and focus only on the visions from my imprisonment, the murder of my family, the thought of having lost my boys drive me. Fierce emotions make my mind spin with training long since forgotten now brought to the surface as the adrenaline pumps through my veins. I hold no hatred for these men, just anger that they didn't learn the last time not to fight the forces of Gondor. My sword sings its song as I bring it down and chop down another man trying to get behind Kerrick, doing something so cowardly as attacking someone from behind, unforgivable. The Arkots warrior turns his eyes flashing a blood red as he is too in the heat of battle and is pumped up.
" Thank you Lord Elrond." He says, sharp teeth flashing bloody saliva from attacking his opponents like a relentless fighting dog. Long hair stained with blood he raises his twin punching blades and yells
" DUCK!" I do so and the sound of the blades cutting clean through a body is so crips above me, blood raining down as the man's head falls to the ground, eyes and mouth open in pure shock and horror. Raising up I bring my sword over, impaling a man through the stomach as he tries to take out Glorfindel, as he moves closer, still astride his mighty charger. All three of us glance at each other and heave a sigh, we have leveled the battlefield, once it was one hundred or so warriors of Druth to only six Gondor fighters. Many bodies litter the ground with silver and green shafted arrows protruding from some fatal part of their body, thanks to the young warrior acting as an assassin in the trees. Nodding to both Glorfindel and Kerrick, now astride his massive red eyed demon horse. Silently pledging my life to this battle for they destroyed one of my lives, one of my treasured memories, they will not destroy this one.
(Legolas)
My arrows shoot through the branches in a tree that lines the battlefield. Stringing what has to be my hundredth arrow I pull back and sight my target, a man sitting astride a large black stallion, a horned helmet atop his head. I remember this man from my imprisonment. The man never removed his helmet and for years after we were freed he hunted my nights, the man in the helmet. Glancing at Elrond now on his own charger I wait for his signal, my keen sight fixing the man with a fatal shot. Elrond moves, kicking his horse into a charge the animal rearing before taking off at a paced gallop. His sword raises, then with a wickedly arced swipe he brings it down, that's the signal. Fixing the man once more I breath a sigh and let loose the arrow
Gun held ready
Breathe out a long sigh
Target locked,
Shoot for the eye
Trigger finger ready
The command has been said
One true shot is fired
Another target falls dead
Over your dead body no prayer is said
Just a simple
'Fuck you, you're dead'
The man jerks, his back arching, hands reaching for the arrow that is lodged in his eye and brain. He pitches foreword, crying out in pain and shock before falling from his horse. Landing in the dirt face down and unmoving. The oddest thing happens next, the men who were preparing to fight stop and look at their fallen leader, and I can see them pale visibly. Some actually point to the trees, yelling in fear and begin to drop their weapons. Elrond steps his horse closer and I can make out a little of what he says
" …leader… dead. Surrender… be spared." I smile, we elves have gotten our revenge upon those who stole our life, our homes, our families. Climbing swiftly from the tree to jump onto King's back I kick him and race to where the others are seated, holding their weapons at ready. Stopping King close to the dead leader I reach down, grabbing the longest helm horn I pull the helmet off and bring it to my chest, holding it loosely in my hands. Looking down I take in the mans face, my tormentor for so long is finally dead. Oddly I feel no joy, no pleasure in seeing him dead. To me this man is nothing but another casualty of the race of Men's hatred for things they do not understand or don't try to understand. Except he took his misunderstanding to an extreme and killed a whole race of beings. I honestly wonder what was running through his head when he attacked my Adar's home. Was he thinking he was doing something right? Glancing back down at the mans face I drop the helm and it lands with a thud in the dirt beside his body, the end of his terrible rein on me, on my people. Looking back at the group of me who so willingly follow him I see sorrow, and I begin to feel pity. Kicking King closer to the group of men I stop and stare coldly at them.
" You, people of hatreds spawn. Put aside your hatred and fear for our race and help the King of Gondor, the King of Rohan the realm you live in, help us defeat Druth and we shall see your punishment for your crimes on humanity will be lessened. Raise your weapons not to us but to the darkness now threatening your homes, your wives, and your children. Give your children what you did not give ours, give your children and their children a life to be proud of, a life to live as they see fit. Give them life." I tell them, the words pouring not only from my mouth but from my soul. The men look at the ground, eyes clouded with hatred, fear, thought and wonder. One steps out of the group, followed closely by Glorfindel's sword and Kerrick's pike.
" I shall fight along side you sir Elf. My son shall not live within the shadow of an oppressed lord. He will grow in the grace of Gondor!" He says and several others mumble in agreement. Smiling at Elrond I take out one white handled knife and slash at the air.
" Then to Battle with Druth!" Kicking my King the group follows, then the thundering of hooves can be heard from behind of the warriors, their cries giving me hope.
"Hold out Aragorn, my brother. I am on my way. Faith you keep, faith."
Authors note: next chapter will be the end of the battle. So how did ya all like the story? The poem in the middle was one I made up and yes I know it says 'gun' but I wasn't going to modify it. Don't mind the swear at the end, I thought it went well with the whole poem. So, of you could PLEASE review, I would appreciate it. Thanks! REVIEW!