Naomi: blushes profusely Thanks for the great review! You really boosted my confidence, and gave me a good laugh with the Tolkien reference. ;) Hope you like this chapter as well.
Giggles1995: Thanks for such a wonderful review! I'm glad you are enjoying this tale, it took me over a year to write. Leggy is a great character and he likes to pop up when you least expect it. I have some other LOTR fics up, so be sure to check them out.
Zammy: Ask as ye shall receive!
WOW.. only three reviews to answer? That's kinda sad… oh well.. on with the story!
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Chapter Nine: The Tempest Roars and Who Shall Answer?
Large, ominous, gray clouds rolled overhead, their thickness dotting out any afternoon sunlight that may have tried to pierce through the veil of gloom. Lightning forked the sky, severing and ripping through the pale defenses of the surrounding clouds, pausing only to send violent shocks throughout the heated air, rumbling and rattling even the most secure thing on the hapless ground below.
Haldir pulled his cloak tighter around him, though no rain had yet begun to fall. However, the air was thick with the sweet smell of the coming rain. It was a smell the March Warden loved. He allowed the clean scent to sweep through him, chasing away all turmoil and lamentations that hung heavy on his heart. For the first time Haldir could remember, the oncoming storm brought no soothing presence, no forth-coming, expectant relaxation or release from worry or doubt. Though he fought to deny the feeling, a strange sense of foreboding lingered in his conscious.
This rain would not be a benediction, but a purge. The threatening tempest crashed down to the earth with an ear-splitting crack, causing the elves to flinch from the sharp sound assaulting their heightened hearing. The distant rustle of leaves murmured to the elves, the wind picking up and dancing merrily atop the upturned branches. The leaves effervescence of excitement followed the churning wind, coming from the distance and approaching the elves with playful vigor above their heads.
Haldir's brow drew together as his mind became darker than the looming clouds above. In his heart, he heard the soft voice of nature warn him that this was a comforting rain, but also one to cleanse the soil and rid the earth of a great evil that polluted its surface.
Suppressing a shiver that had nothing to do with the chilling air now blowing stronger in his hair, Haldir leapt lightly from the tree branch he choose as a vantage point and landed with a muffled 'thud' beside his brothers.
"The sky grows gray far beyond my eyes."
Rúmil and Orophin exchanged bewildered looks at the news. The Elves in the company shifted nervously, apprehensive at the Commander's orders of what they were to do. Secretly, they hoped to find shelter before the storm hit, but somehow they doubted that route, seeing the determined look in Haldir's eyes. Their hearts held little hope at finding their kin alive, their souls withdrawing sadly, feeling that too much time had passed for a happy reunion of the Elven kin. Orophin had spoken very little of Iavasriel, his hopes diminishing with every passing minute of finding his adoptive little sister. Rúmil and Haldir had spoken briefly to one another, and agreed to give Orophin privacy for his heartache.
Haldir quickly scanned the area. His usually vibrant blue eyes were dull and shadowed as they searched the surrounding terrain for answers to lead the Elven contingent in the right direction. Many long hours had been spent on a silent trek, occasionally stopping and backtracking to find a new trail. From the tracks, Haldir surmised that the humans were moving at a fast pace, their steps long and heavy.
Reaching a conclusion, Haldir spoke to the warriors around him, "We keep searching until we can no longer see. Return to your assigned positions."
The three Elven brothers looked to one another, their faces masks of concern, but their eyes searched for a confirmation that this was truly the right course of action and a good decision. Rúmil nodded slightly, Orophin shrugged resignedly, his shoulders slumped, both feeling there really was no other option available. Haldir felt his tension double. Too much time had already passed, and their kin were still in grave danger.
Haldir motioned for everyone to break back into pairs and fan out to search for the trail. Orophin converged on Haldir's side, his expression worried as another roil of thunder shook the ground like a herd of stampeding animals.
Haldir ignored the growing sense of dread in his heart, putting it aside to keep his mind clear and focused for the task at hand that would require his utmost concentration. His eyes scanned the forest floor for any discrepancies or signs of recent activity. Several sets of footprints had been demolished by the frequent passage of animals, making the tracking more difficult.
Lightning lit up the sky like bright white fingers, grasping through the air to strike at any unsuspecting thing in its destructive path. A shudder of the ground signaled the deadly bolt had landed somewhere nearby, striking the earth with anger and revenge.
Orophin frowned as the light reflected off his brother's eyes, which were sweeping the area back and forth beneath a drawn brow. Usually, their sapphire depths sparkled even in the poorest of illumination, but now, Haldir's eyes were darker than midnight, their depths endless and shrouded with worry, and though he would never admit it, fear.
"Brother, something troubles you," Orophin said, keeping his voice low so the others couldn't overhear.
"Nay," Haldir said shortly, turning his attention to the saplings and foliage that were chest high.
"Haldir, I do not need Rúmil's gift of foresight to see something stirs within you," Orophin said with a hint of mirth, though his tone was very serious.
"I do not know of what you speak," Haldir lied, frowning at the less than foretelling underbrush that seemed undisturbed.
"Your eyes betray you, Brother," Orophin whispered. "They have darkened, and I wish to know why."
Haldir sighed and gave in, knowing Orophin would pursue the matter; "There is something not right here. My mind is full of dread; my heart warns me of something unknown. Even the approaching storm is sending worry into my very being."
After a minute of silent thought, Orophin asked, "Have you spoke to Rúmil about this feeling?"
"Nay," Haldir sighed. "There is nothing more than a feeling. He has not spoken of anything he senses. Surely had he felt something, he would have spoken of it. He would be able to sense the danger before I."
Haldir meant it to be a statement, but somehow, it seemed that he was questioning the truth. Orophin opened his mouth to speak, but a sudden clap of thunder drowned out any sound he made as it echoed around, bouncing off the trees and magnifying its voice in the wilderness.
"Haldir!" Rúmil shouted, "We have found it!"
Haldir raced to Rúmil's voice- Orophin following a few steps behind. Haldir passed a large ash tree, its heights lost in the leafy canopy above, and found Rúmil and Láiraen knelt on the ground.
"Here!" Rúmil said, pointing to the forest floor where there was a definite impression in the likeness of a foot.
Haldir knelt beside the two, his eyes taking in the size, shape, and depth of the mark. He glanced around and spotted the small sapling nearby that had been recently broken, the leaves of the hanging branch sill pale green, though already dying from their breakage off of the main plant. Several paces away, other prints converged together, their path set straight ahead though the gloomy wood.
"Very good," Haldir smiled at the two, then raised his voice so the others in the scouting party could hear where ever they were, "Eremae!! Múrendil! Over here!"
Lightning snaked through the sky, turning the surrounding forest a bright green as the charged energy danced through the air. Leaves began to tremble and bob as rain began to fall to the ground, the drops tinkling themselves into a symphony of nature.
The rushing footfalls barely audible to Elven hearing of the two approaching were lost in the increased frequency of the rainfall. Eremae and Múrendil erupted from the foliage as lightning lit up the heavens again, temporarily chasing away the shadows, but quickly relinquishing its hold as its energy was spent.
"Commander?" Eremae asked, his fair head already soaked with the falling rain, turning his dark tresses into liquid night upon his brow.
"We have a trail," Haldir said, rising to his full height and stepping to the next foot indentation, swiping his hand across the fallen leaves to reveal its description more clearly.
With an almighty uproar, the steel gray skies released their full burdens, sending a thick sheet of rain down upon the Earth. Lighting lashed above, charging the atmosphere and striking down, beating, booming, and raging against the seemingly defenseless and innocent ground. The very heavens beyond seemed to weep, drenching the world with its crystalline tears.
Haldir called over the noise of the storm, "This way. Stay close together!"
Múrendil tightened his jaw apprehensively. Eremae took a deep steadying breath, prepared to follow the orders of the Commander of the Lothlorien Guard. Láiraen nodded once, his posture was, as always, rigid and edgy for action. Rúmil and Orophin fell into step behind Haldir, their pace matched to his quick strides.
Haldir got a faint scent of something unpleasant and knew they were on the right track. The odor was gone with a strong gust of wind that blew the torrential rain down in unforgiving layers, sweeping across the land in waves and eddies. The ground eagerly absorbed the proffered quench to the seasonal drought.
Puddles formed, mixing with the forest debris and slowly drained away in all directions with the natural contours of the ground and pull of gravity. The tracks were quickly filling with water, hiding their depths and their numbers as the mud congealed from the saturation.
Grateful for the close weave of fabric, the Elves pulled their cloaks further up their necks to prevent the icy droplets from trickling down into their clothes. Long, blond hair became plastered to each of their heads, darkening the strands to the color of rich honey. Their boots slipped on the soaked leaves and loose nettles.
After a few minutes of heavy downpour, the ground expelled the excess, sending the stray droplets into each other, colliding and flowing into fast moving muddy currents, slithering over the ground like a watery serpent. The wind howled in the treetops, singing a song of torment and anger as it wound its way through the limbs, its previous lullaby now long forgotten.
The Elves boots sank a little into the mud now covering the ground thickly, each step making a gross squelching noise that was drown out by the constant orchestra of deep bass thunder claps, tinkling of rain on leaves and the low murmur of water streaming to an unknown destination. The crescendos of the symphony were lost to the ears of the trackers as they fought through the cruel, biting winds. Rain now fell with such ferocity that the Elves, even with their keen sight, could barely see through the downpour, their eyes squinted against the onslaught and constant reflexive blinks to keep their eyes protected from the icy stings falling heavily around them.
The over-saturated ground sucked in every step as if trying to swallow them whole into its suffocating depths, refusing to give up its prey, but the Elves struggled through, making grotesque faces at the grime now covering their boots and lower leggings. Rivulets of water raced down the protective cloaks the Elves wore, keeping most of the wetness away from their bodies.
"Haldir!" Rúmil called through the storm. "We have to find shelter! We can not continue in this!"
Haldir turned to his brother and charges, seeing them all huddled down against the onslaught. They were staring at him expectantly, their cloaks drawn up tight against them, their hair matted and plastered to their heads, their boots covered in thick sludge up to the knee, and eyes narrowed against the pounding elements. Haldir downed the voice urging him to order rest, and yelled at the Elves cowering away from the storm.
"We have wasted too much time. We must continue on!"
As if to counteract the order, thunder bellowed overhead and split the sky with white deadly fingers of lightning. Ignoring the forlorn looks of the others and of the threats the heavens rumbled with, Haldir turned and continued his trek through the forest, his mouth set in a fine line and unyielding expression.
Containing their misgivings, the Elves trudged after the March Warden, their hearts as heavy as their footfalls. The plant life opened out into a more noticeable trail, heavily worn and frequently used. Haldir's brow furrowed in concern.
"Why would the humans stray onto a well traveled path if they carry hostages? The risk of exposure would be too great."
Holding up his hand to prevent the others progress, Haldir felt someone collide against his back, and spun to see Rúmil glaring at him through the gale.
"Why did you stop?" Rúmil snapped, rain blurring his vision.
Orophin collided against Rúmil, exclaiming a rather harsh Elven curse, then felt himself bumped as Láiraen stumbled against him. Eremae and Múrendil followed suit, until the entire contingent of soaked Elves stood up against one another, then jostled around to fan out around Haldir and yet remain huddled together for some protection against the biting winds. Thunder rent through the air, sounding like a thousand drums being struck at once, the sound bouncing off the hills and trees.
"This path as been well traveled," Haldir shouted over the raging storm. "I do not think our quarry traveled thus. They have tried to cover their tracks and mislead us. Look around, see if you can find a trail that breaks off."
The elves obeyed, though seriously doubted they could detect anything in the weather. Flashes of intense lightning illuminated the multicolored clouds overhead, and gave momentary light to search by.
Reluctantly, the group disbanded, fanning out and searching the surrounding area for another path that could have been taken. Rain pelted down like slivers of glaciers, stinging faces and blurring vision. Everything within the limited field of sight turned into a hazy, gray silhouette. The wind raced through the trees, causing them to sway dangerously and crack, warning those around them that the powerful force of nature was winning its battle against them.
Thunder rolled over head, its rhythm like a steady heartbeat, pounding and reverberating all around, filling the air with many unseen soldiers marching across the skies and wrecking havoc upon those below their wrath. The almost constant flash of the heavenly soldiers battling against one another flickered across the landscape, stinging and causing flash-burn to the sensitive eyes.
Eremae wiped rivulets of rain away from his eyes and tucked stray strands of his dark hair back from his face, securing it behind his pointed ear. A thin broken limb on a sapling caught his attention. Bending closer, his piecing sea-blue eyes struggled against the storm's suffocating gloom and gale. He noticed a thick clump of tangled bramble. Inspecting closer, he found a deep impression swelling with water through the thicket as rain found its way through the maze of briars and fell to the virtually dry ground below.
"Commander! Over here! I think I found it!" Eremae yelled through another rumbled of thunder. Seeing the tall, blond form of the March Warden approach, he pointed in the direction of the bramble and stepped towards it.
Haldir saw Eremae's gray outline start off in the direction he had indicated. Frowning Haldir called, "Eremae, wait!"
The March Warden's plea went unheard as lightning danced across the sky and thunder played across the heavens, supplying the deep bass for the lightning to set its cadenced song throughout the clouds.
Eremae pushed back the limbs blocking his path and stepped past them, straining against the dismal light and hazy rain.
Haldir was a couple strides away from the impulsive Mirkwood elf when his senses picked up the faint scent of rotting flesh. He opened his mouth to shout at Eremae and prevent him from making any further progress, but his realization and response had come too late.
Within the span of a few seconds, several things happened in quick succession.
Eremae caught the pungent odor and screwed up his face in disgust just as his foot descended to the ground. A large metal trap sprung from its well-concealed hiding place. A loud snap rent the air, which seemed to have stilled suddenly, reverberating the sound, and magnifying it louder than the seemingly quieted storm above.
A second snap off to the side, much quieter, except to those close by, and erupted a large mesh net that fell on Eremae and Haldir, who were standing a few paces apart.
Through the gloom, Haldir saw Eremae's pale face frozen in shock, staring unblinkingly at him as he fell to the ground in slow motion.
"Haldir!" Rúmil yelled, crashing through the brush towards the disturbing sounds.
Rúmil arrived at his brother's side quickly, closely followed by Múrendil and Láiraen. The trio had drawn their long knives, expecting an attack. They sighed in relief when they found the March Warden covered in a net, and apparently unharmed.
Suppressing a laugh, Rúmil said, "Remain still. We will cut you free."
Haldir held completely motionless as Rúmil flicked his blade expertly around him, slicing through the offending net with precision. Within a minute, the thin webbing fell away. Haldir smiled at his brother and secretly thanked the Vala that his brother had such wonderful accuracy and made a vow to never tease his younger sibling over his weapon skills and timing. Well, Haldir mused, maybe at least for a time, then he will continue with his quips and jibes.
The air, as if enraged of the easy escape, electrified as another streak of lightning arched high over head, lacing through the clouds and cutting them just as easily as Rúmil had done to the netting.
Haldir gratefully stepped over the downed net, barely making an indentation with his steps. He withdrew a long knife and began cutting the form of Eremae down on the forest floor. The others knelt by his side and began cutting through the net as well; clearly perturbed their companion was motionless on the ground.
"What happened?" Orophin asked, joining the ground and unsheathing his knife and hacking away at the bindings.
Haldir pulled the mesh away from Eremae's body and felt his stomach knot up. Eremae's leg was pinned between two jagged edged metal clasps. His bone was completely snapped in half, part of it protruded against the cold black of the metal, blood pouring from the open wound.
Orophin hissed at the site of the broken bone and glanced up to Haldir's face, "He will not be able to travel like this. We need shelter so I can properly treat him."
Haldir's head jerked to the other Elves standing around with shocked and sympathetic looks on their faces, "Rúmil, Múrendil, Láiraen, look for shelter! If you can not find one close by, then return and we will fashion one ourselves."
The three elves nodded and disappeared into the gray veil of the downpour. Haldir gently turned Eremae over and found his eyes half-lidded and glazed over in unconsciousness.
"'Tis better this way," Orophin said lowly as he inserted the edge of his blade between the two sharp teeth of the trap. With a flick and thrust, Orophin managed to pry the spring apart, then maneuvered the cruel device over Eremae's leg and disengaged the mechanisms to render it harmless. Snarling angrily, he pulled the trap away from the broken, bleeding leg and cast it aside.
Eremae's leg fell limply at an odd angle now that it lost its support. Orophin took his knife and cut the elf's leggings away from the damaged area, careful to not aggravate the bone and inflame of the already tender skin.
Haldir cradled Eremae's head against him, thankful that the young elf was unconscious and not witnessing the torment his body had sustained.
As quickly and as gently as he could, Orophin twisted and reset the bone with a grinding, sickening pop. Eremae groaned and thrashed as Haldir tightened his hold and kept him immobile.
Orophin opened a small compartment on his travel bag and removed a strong smelling herb. He rubbed it vigorously in his palms and applied the crushed plant to the gaping wound on Eremae's leg where the bone had impaled the fair skin.
"Commander!" Láiraen panted, coming into view with his golden hair plastered to his head. "We found a cave."
Though personally despising any underground dwelling, Haldir nodded and hoisted Eremae's unresponsive body into his arms. He followed Láiraen through the downpour, Orophin right behind him, pulling his travel bag closed to protect the contents from being drenched.
Haldir breathed a quiet sigh of relief when he saw the cave. He had dreaded the deep, blackened abyss, which threatened to release the foulest creatures from its depths into the world. Instead, he found himself looking at an overgrown outcropping, forming a protective ledge, set back into the hillside, but wide and open to the outside.
Easing Eremae down, Haldir returned to his earlier post of holding the young elf's head against his chest and gently, but firmly, holding his hands to prevent thrashing during his treatment. Orophin planted himself by Eremae's injured leg, his hands already searching through his supplies. Finding what he needed, he withdrew two large pieces of the mellorn tree that grows readily and sturdily in Lothlorien.
"You brought a brace to set the bone?" Haldir asked incredulously with a hint of mirth in his voice.
Orophin grinned at his brother, then busied himself with cleaning the wound and mixing a couple of herbs from a leather pouch and applying them liberally to seal off the gaping wound, "After centuries of traveling with you, Brother, I have learned to be prepared for anything."
Haldir smirked as Orophin finished up. Eremae moaned, wincing in his sleep as Orophin secured the splint in place with strips of fabric he withdrew from his travel pack.
Múrendil pulled a spare cloak out from his bag, and after Orophin removed the drenched cloak off of Eremae, he pulled the fabric tightly around the still unconscious elf. The others, quite subdued from the injury to the small elf, settled in the alcove while the storm raged on outside, pounding the world with its wind and rain unmercifully.
Haldir kept watch as the others bedded down for a rest after the long and strenuous journey. Cloaks hung draped along the backside of the refuge in hopes of the outer layer drying off.
The storm clapped like a large assembly of people, shaking the ground with its intensity. Rain tormented the saturated earth as Haldir watched from the safety of the alcove. His heart hardened knowing that too much time had already been wasted, and now their ranks diminished with Eremae's injury. If they ran into more resistance, Haldir feared if they would be victorious, and cursed silently as he watched the abuse Nature enforced on the earth. Somewhere in the back of his mind, the dread returned, along with the feeling that this mission was doomed.