A/N: I apologize for this being so late and so short. Food poisoning will do that to you. Read on!
Chapter 35-More Sentry Trouble
She was trying to see so far ahead that she wasn't paying attention to her own two feet. She tripped and went sprawling in a most un-Elf-like way.
"What was that?" She froze. Since when did Men get so good at concealing themselves?? She had been looking as hard as she ever had before, and she didn't see a blest thing! She didn't dare move a muscle; the dead leaves rustling would be as obvious as a hundred soldiers marching before her, with heralds to boot.
"Who's there?" A second voice, or the first? How many were out here?
"What did you hear?" Okay, two at least. She hoped there weren't any more. And then, because she hoped for it, it didn't happen. Another male voice, though about an octave higher than the rest.
"Hear? What did he hear? Hear what?" There was a communal sigh of consternation from...more than two voices. Oh no.
"Menel, you worthless excuse for a sentry," hissed one. Well, this was better than the other sentries; at least he didn't shout it. "Why the Warlord shoved you on us is beyond my comprehension, but you have to pay attention! Luin heard a noise in the woods. Where did you hear it?"
"Sou'westerly!" came a voice.
"Did I ask you? I asked Luin." So she was up to four, at least. Most likely more.
"Nah, it came from more to the south and east."
"The west, I'm sure it was," insisted the other voice.
"I heard it first, Irithmacar, and it came from the east! So what do we do now, Bain?" Bain, that must be the one in charge, the one who chastised Menel.
"And they told me you lot were the best soldiers! What do you think we do? We go look for what caused the noise. This spurred a collective groan.
"Bain, we did this last night, and Irithmacar had us chasing every damned squirrel in the forest!" Irithmacar didn't sound pleased with whoever had spoken.
"We're surrounded by a spider-infested forest, fighting Elves, and you think I'm jumpy? Well, when they use your body for target practice, can't say I didn't warn you! You'll be asking why you didn't listen to me, then, oh, yes you will!"
"Hush, both of you! Listen, that was too big to be a squirrel, so when I say we're going out to investigate, you say 'Right away, sir'. Now then. We're going out to investigate."
"Right away, sir," came the sullen voices.
"That's more like it. Irithmacar, Luin, and...Demelin. Come with me." Now the tally was up to five.
"Can't I come?" someone whined.
"I should think not, Menel. I'm not that desperate yet. The rest of you, keep this imbecile here, and make sure he doesn't wake up the whole forest." So, much more than five. What had she done? Maybe she should have taken up on Legolas's offer of companionship. He wouldn't have been caught in this sort of predicament. Anyone would be acceptable at this point; it was stupid for her to go alone. She heard the sentries creep up slowly, drawing nearer to her not-much-of-a-hiding-place.
A/N: Again, I apologize for the length. I'll do better next time, I hope.
Chapter 35-More Sentry Trouble
She was trying to see so far ahead that she wasn't paying attention to her own two feet. She tripped and went sprawling in a most un-Elf-like way.
"What was that?" She froze. Since when did Men get so good at concealing themselves?? She had been looking as hard as she ever had before, and she didn't see a blest thing! She didn't dare move a muscle; the dead leaves rustling would be as obvious as a hundred soldiers marching before her, with heralds to boot.
"Who's there?" A second voice, or the first? How many were out here?
"What did you hear?" Okay, two at least. She hoped there weren't any more. And then, because she hoped for it, it didn't happen. Another male voice, though about an octave higher than the rest.
"Hear? What did he hear? Hear what?" There was a communal sigh of consternation from...more than two voices. Oh no.
"Menel, you worthless excuse for a sentry," hissed one. Well, this was better than the other sentries; at least he didn't shout it. "Why the Warlord shoved you on us is beyond my comprehension, but you have to pay attention! Luin heard a noise in the woods. Where did you hear it?"
"Sou'westerly!" came a voice.
"Did I ask you? I asked Luin." So she was up to four, at least. Most likely more.
"Nah, it came from more to the south and east."
"The west, I'm sure it was," insisted the other voice.
"I heard it first, Irithmacar, and it came from the east! So what do we do now, Bain?" Bain, that must be the one in charge, the one who chastised Menel.
"And they told me you lot were the best soldiers! What do you think we do? We go look for what caused the noise. This spurred a collective groan.
"Bain, we did this last night, and Irithmacar had us chasing every damned squirrel in the forest!" Irithmacar didn't sound pleased with whoever had spoken.
"We're surrounded by a spider-infested forest, fighting Elves, and you think I'm jumpy? Well, when they use your body for target practice, can't say I didn't warn you! You'll be asking why you didn't listen to me, then, oh, yes you will!"
"Hush, both of you! Listen, that was too big to be a squirrel, so when I say we're going out to investigate, you say 'Right away, sir'. Now then. We're going out to investigate."
"Right away, sir," came the sullen voices.
"That's more like it. Irithmacar, Luin, and...Demelin. Come with me." Now the tally was up to five.
"Can't I come?" someone whined.
"I should think not, Menel. I'm not that desperate yet. The rest of you, keep this imbecile here, and make sure he doesn't wake up the whole forest." So, much more than five. What had she done? Maybe she should have taken up on Legolas's offer of companionship. He wouldn't have been caught in this sort of predicament. Anyone would be acceptable at this point; it was stupid for her to go alone. She heard the sentries creep up slowly, drawing nearer to her not-much-of-a-hiding-place.
A/N: Again, I apologize for the length. I'll do better next time, I hope.