Yup, I'm back again! What can I say; I'm really getting into this and I'm on an updating spree, lol! =)
Deana; ahem My dear; who says that there won't be any Legolas Angst?! I've only just begun... =) And remember that I have over 30 more stories to write!
Astievia; LOL! Yes I've noticed that! =) Apparently my friend reckons that I can now type so fast (thanks to muchos muchos practice with ff.n!) that I look like a touch-typist on Prozac... still trying to work out whether that's a good thing or not... for example, if I start a sentence from HERE; this sentence here has only taken me a few seconds to write even though it is actually quite a long one... lol! =) But I guess that's just me... thanks for reviewing!!!
Anarya; Yay!!! =) That's good; thanks for reviewing!
Lexial147; WOW! I had no idea that this series took an hour to read! Though I must admit; once I sat reading for 5 hours straight through the Mellon Chronicles... lol! Funnily enough it's very amusing to write too! =) I can't wait to see your LOTR fic!!! Tell me when you post it, ok?
shadowfaxgal7; You DO realise that the more you don't want something to happen to one of these four, the more inevitable it is to happen, don't you?! =) I'm like that you see... ah, twin Angst... haven't done much of it but the amount I have done makes the Evil Grin creep over my face... more to come in the future!
Dha-Gal; LOL!!! You know, reading one of your reviews is like reading a mini-fic!!! =) snorts HA; LEGGY WET HIMSELF!!! =D Oh yeah; it was you who said you wanted to draw Tiliath, wasn't it? I don't know if you got my CoE reply but you have my full permission; make sure you show me it too!!! (Oh, and if it wasn't you, SORRY! =S)
galadriel evenstar; Hmmm, you'll have to read and find out if Dan is ok... =)
Coolio02; Yes, you could say that Elladan was certainly not in a good luck state when all that happened... let's see if his luck changes, shall we? =)
Stoneage Woman; Wow, a reviewer's never said THAT before!!! =) Lol! blushes Oh you shouldn't... =) Thank you for all the lovely compliments!!! You've really brightened up my day...
leggylover03; =) Lol! You're desperate for Estel pain, aren't you?! Don't worry... you shall have what you want... maybe not in this fic, but you will... who knows?!
Stephanie-Lou; gasps and huggles Stephanie-Lou I haven't had a review from you in aaaaaaaaaaages!!! Yes, that was one of my more gentle cliffies there! =) Oh wow I feel so thrilled; thank you SO much for all those nice comments!!! I'm bright red! Ok then, I'll update just for you! ;-)
Mellaithwen; LOL! Alright Amy love you don't need to blow out my eardrums... I CAN HEAR YOU!!! Another one wanting Leggy Angst?! Well this just won't do...
Lainfaer; I hate the poisonous ones, but the non-toxic ones I'm alright with!!! =) Ah; speaking of Hal... well, let's just say, keep an eye out for him in this one... =) whacks Lainfaer You need a thesaurus!!! LOL! Joking!!!
Estel; You utter nutter!!! Ooh that rhymed! Actually I think I got your review for last chapter but I'd just posted when it came through!!! =S Oops! Wow; that sounds like a pretty bloody life there! =) Namárië my rambling pal!
CSI3; Oh thanks! =) About the snake... you'll have to see if it was the Orcs! =)
Mysterious Jedi; LOL! Yes it does, doesn't it?! =) Thanks!!!
Celebrean; Actually that reminds me... I WAS actually going to call this Red Sun, but then you began posting your story. I didn't want to steal your title so I popped Rising on the end!!! =S You don't mind do you? =)
Terreis; I know! No matter where they go, there's always trouble... took them to Disneyland one time – only these four were typical enough to get themselves tied to the tracks of Big Thunder Mountain by crazed Elf and Ranger haters... I mean what are the odds of THAT happening to anybody else?!?! Yup; Orcs and a snake... well I guess you could say that at least I don't do things by halves!!! =) Mine the first involving a snake?! thinks for a moment, which for me is a VERY rare occurrence Wow...
eruve tinwen; 8-. hands over a new pair of pants I believe you'll need them... LOL! Joke!!! =D Thanks for reviewing!
Thanks for all the reviews people!!! Now, on with the most angsty Nilmé Series story yet... =) I decided that I liked a certain original character I created the story before last far too much, so I'm going to do some character development too... please read and enjoy!!!
.: Chapter Three :.
Meanwhile, in Mirkwood...
Hallataulë suddenly frowned as a lightning bolt tearing down his spine made him shudder. It certainly woke him up; being tutored had to be the most boring thing ever. The classroom was hot and stuffy, despite all of the openings from the underground room being opened as wide as possible. The eldest Prince of Mirkwood had been slumped over his desk and parchment, quill in one hand whilst his other cradled his golden head, his boredom at such an unbelievable amount he was sure his mind had somehow fried with the combined heat and dullness.
He had been doing an essay on the Silmarils. Only Eru knew why on Middle-Earth this was important to his education and future hierarchy to the throne, but it was quite interesting nonetheless. He had actually been quite captivated by what he had written so far...
"Fëanor created three jewels which captured the light the Two Trees of Valinor; Telperion and Laurelin. They were the Silmarils. Those with evil in them could not touch them, for if they did, they would be burned, and their beauty was so immense that no soul could set eyes on them and come away indifferent. However, the sheer power of the jewels was that of legend, grief and despair to Valinor... "
It was here that his hand had caused a sharp black line of ink across his page when the strange sensation hit him.
His tutor turned around, wondering at the sudden silence of the Prince. The Elf's name was Mereth. He was a good friend of Thranduil and had gladly agreed to teach the heir of the throne.
"Hal?" asked Mereth. He was concerned over the younger Elf's behaviour; it was very unlike Hallataulë to stop in the middle of his work. "Are you alright?"
Hallataulë shook his head slightly to clear it. "Yes Sir; I'm fine."
The look in the Prince's eyes betrayed him. 'Must be the heat,' thought Mereth. He cleared his throat. "Alright then Hal, I think that's enough for today. Go on..." He opened the door, pushing back piles of worn paper with it. "Get some air."
Hallataulë sighed for a moment, running a skinny hand over his face. Yes... air; that would be good. Finally he rose from the velvet cushions on the ornate chair, and headed out of the room. "When do you want me back by?" he asked, turning back to his mentor.
Mereth shook his head. "I think you've been working too hard; I'll tell you when I want you back – it shouldn't be for a while though. About two weeks."
For the first time in a good many weeks, a true smile lit up Hallataul's face. Two weeks? That would give him enough time to head out to Rivendell and see his friends... 'And,' he thought, sniggering softly to himself. 'That wayward brother of mine. He spends more time there now than he does at home!' If he got a good ride, Imladris was, at most, two days away.
He headed out to the stables; he would just ask one of the stable-hands to pass the message on to his father – he was old enough to make his own decisions by now...
A few hours later, the eldest Prince was off, riding West over the Dimrill Dale towards the Last Homely House...
-=-=-=-
Elrohir didn't like the panicky surge of energy that he suddenly felt. That meant that his twin was scared... terrified... The Elf was worried that his brother could be slipping into shock.
"Dan?!"
Down in the dark, dank hole, Elladan tried to squirm away from the snake, succeeding only in causing himself more pain in his ankle. The dark green reptile was a vicious animal; the covri. Covris were aggressive snakes, famed for attacking with fast-acting venom without provocation. It was also famed for a rather unpleasant phenomenon. If a person was unlucky enough to be bitten by one of these snakes, the snake in question would develop rings around its neck.
The number of rings indicated how many hours the victim had before he died.
There was only one cure; normally the victim died due to not being able to get it quickly enough. Elves could normally hold out longer than mortals; double the amount of rings that appeared. They weren't immune though; even the immortals would eventually die if they weren't treated fast enough.
Elladan braced himself for the worst as the snake slithered silently, all the time towards him...
-=-=-=-
"When do we get 'em then?!" hissed the smaller Orc impatiently, itching with annoyance. The bigger, fatter Orc rolled his large yellow eyes and hit his companion (if he could be called anything along the lines of 'friend') upside the head.
"When they get tha' one out!" he snapped fiercely. "They're gonna lead us to tha' stinkin' rotten Elf home." He pulled a brutal-looking scimitar from his belt. "An' when we get there..."
The scimitar was suddenly slammed into a dead tree trunk with a dull thud.
"Tha's when we get all of 'em..."
-=-=-=-
Legolas' blood ran cold when a scream issued up from the depths of the hole. He squinted as best he could, seeing only a slight form wriggling away from his friend. Whipping out an arrow from his quiver, he notched it to his bowstring and aimed.
There was a shrieking hiss from the snake as the arrow pierced its head and rammed through it's skull. It was dead in seconds.
Estel rummaged through Elladan's pack which he had left on the horse. In it, thank the Valar, was a rope. He praised whoever it had been to give his older brother as much paranoia as he had; it was about to save his life.
Elladan squeezed his eyes shut as the fang embedded deeper into his skin. It had snapped off as the snake had sunk his sharp fangs into his forearm, forcing it to flee.
Estel threw the rope to Elrohir, who tied it around a large rocky formation close to the trap. "Stay up here," he told the human. "Legolas and I are going to help Dan." He pulled the knot tight and tugged the rope. It would hold them.
Estel nodded and watched as the two Elves disappeared over the edge. He kneeled at the side, worry gnawing away at his heart.
Elladan gasped as the bleeding wound flared up like flame. He could feel the dark venom beginning to course his veins; he began to shiver and burn at the same time and his head spun and felt light. All he could do was sit and cradle his arm, shaking.
Elrohir's feet touched the ground first, landing on crunchy leaves and broken twigs. He ran over to his twin.
"Dan, are you alright?!" He kneeled next to his brother. Sudden shock, like that felt when a fist rams into your stomach, took him over as he took in his twin's appearance. Elladan was rapidly losing all of the colour in his cheeks to be replaced by a sickly grey. Elrohir gently pried Elladan's fingers from around his arm. He was shocked at the amount of blood.
Elladan opened his grey eyes and the younger Noldo saw unshed tears sparkling in them.
"Covri..." he whispered.
Elrohir suddenly felt the pit of his stomach drop out. He was suddenly floating in air, not quite knowing what to do. Panic overrode all other emotions.
Legolas bent down to retrieve his green fletched arrow from the snake's skull. He frowned, noticing something strange about the reptile. Around its neck were five rings.
"Legolas!" called Elrohir. The Mirkwood Elf turned around. "How many rings are there around that snake's neck?!"
Legolas was confused; why would that help? "Ro, I don't see how-"
"JUST TELL ME!!!" screamed Elrohir suddenly. Legolas' face fell and he shrank back slightly; Elrohir had never shouted at him before, not like that.
"F-five... th-there are five..." he blurted out.
Elladan heard this. Doubled; that was ten. He had ten hours to live, to linger in his few remaining hours dying in agony. It had already begun; sweat trickled down his forehead and ran into his eyes. Elladan suddenly felt highly relieved as unconsciousness crept over him, washing over his tired mind like a wave.
Elrohir ran a comforting hand over his brother's brow. "It's alright Dan," he whispered. "You're going to be fine..."
-=-=-=-
The smaller Orc was itching to attack the Elves and the boy. He hadn't been part of an ambush for so long; bloodlust began to creep up on him.
"Wait scum," warned the captain. "If you move Shardûg, I'll make sure you regret it all your days..."
But the prospect of bloodshed called him far too strongly. Shardûg pulled a crudely fashioned arrow from his quiver and set it to his bow, creeping out of the bushes silently.
Garvorg, his captain, felt rage boil up inside of him. He had told the fool not to attack! Though, when he thought of it... perhaps using these fools for sport was not such a bad idea. They could get the location of the stinking Elf haven out of the human anyway...
After all, his methods of persuasion were such as not to be ignored.
Pulling his scimitar out, he joined the first in the attack...
-=-=-=-
Above the dramatic scene, Estel suddenly shivered as a shadow fell over him, blocking away the warm sun. He turned slowly.
"'Ello there..." growled the Orc, staring at the boy. Estel's eyes widened.
He had never fought an Orc before. Heard of them and the horror stories surrounding them, yes, but fought? Oh no...
His sword shrieked shrilly as he whipped it from the scabbard by his side. The Orc, seeing this, pulled his grey-green lip into a disgusted snarl and kicked at the blade before the human could get a swing at him. It skidded across the forest floor.
"RO!"
It was all that he could cry as a sword pommel cracked into the side of his head. Estel's eyes rolled up as he passed out, hitting the ground with a muffled thud.
Elrohir's head snapped up as he heard his younger brother's cry. He knew the dark shape all too well. Memories of pursuing Orcs as hard as possible for days on end; days that felt like Ages... Celebrían...
Nothing could describe the agony of losing his mother. She wasn't dead, but the Elf that had departed Middle-Earth wasn't his light-hearted bright mother... she was a broken empty shell.
He couldn't let anything close to that happen to Estel. He wouldn't.
"Legolas, stay with Dan!"
Legolas had no time to think as Elrohir pulled himself up out of the hole using the rope.
He had it all planned; kill the Orcs and help Estel. The best laid plans, however, are wont to go astray...
The raven haired Elf was about to draw his dagger when an ice-like pain shot into his shoulder. He looked down to see the rough fletching of an Orc arrow poking out, the sharp tip tearing through out of the back of his shoulder. It had gone clean through.
The cold began to spread outwards, snaking like bitter tendrils of frost. It hit him. Poison. The world swam around him before fading away into darkness.
Legolas heard his friend slump to the floor and whipped an arrow out of his quiver. He pointed upwards, aiming for an enemy he could not see. He had thought the darker corners of Mirkwood had thrown everything at him; spiders and Wargs, but now that he thought about it, he had never come across an Orc. He had no idea how to fight one.
Suddenly a dark blur jumped down into the hole. A clawed fist connected with the Prince's jaw, sending his arrow wildly off course. His bow was yanked from his hands as he lay in a daze; gruff hands gripped his collar and pulled him roughly to his feet as his arms were twisted behind his back and wrenched into the most uncomfortable position possible.
"Wha' abou' the fourth one?" asked the skinny Orc, calling up. Garvorg approached the hole with triumphant strides. The larger Orc sneered as he looked down at Elladan, spitting at him. The Elf's head lolled sickeningly. It was a shame really; the scum now trapped by the rock would've made good sport. But...
"Leave it. It'll be dead in a couple o' hours anyway..."
Legolas squirmed against groping hands as Shardûg tied his hands together and pulled him roughly from the hole. As he looked, he saw Estel's limp body thrown over the shoulder of a burly Orc. "Dan!" No response issued from the older Elf; he was now fully in the grip of oblivious darkness.
A cord was tied around his waist though he fought against them, which the Orc now used as a lead so that he could carry Elrohir in the same fashion as the boy. Legolas was forced to start walking; a blade pointed into his back gave him good reason to comply. "DAN!!!"
But Elladan remained unconscious, all the while the venom of the covri swimming through his veins...
Wow that was pretty long! Sorry about that; I just kept typing and typing and... Well, you get the picture! =D And I did all that research on the Silmarils myself!!! =D Tell me if I got anything wrong though. Well, as usual thanks for reading; please R&R!!!