Lady of Light: I was hoping that Haldir wouldn't go over the top. Never can tell with elves can ya? LOL I was afraid that I didn't quite nail the stench part of the bodies, but if you were able to sense it, then I'm happy. :D This chapter isn't as long, so you were forewarned. :D

Zammy: I do as fast as I can and as fast as the orc called "life" allows. Unfortunately this chapter is a bit short. OH well, better get it out and updated, right?

Naomie: snort I thought I was the only one who still used "Tubular." I wanted to bring some closure to the elves that didn't survive, and than for the ones that killed them to be entombed with them forever?

Seeing Spots: Hate to tell ya this, but I think this chapter is a cliffie as well. And sadly, its shorter than the other chapters. But I will update sooner to make up for it. ;)

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Chapter Seventeen: Only Just the Beginning

Múrendil wove between the trees with Haldir dodging them to his left. Lacing the reigns on his saddle, Múrendil whispered to his horse, "Keep your path steady and true, my friend." The horse nickered softly in answer, his speed leveled out, his hooves pounding a steady beat with the song of the chase.

Múrendil tightened his legs around the horse's midsection and easily pivoted, drawing his bow off his back and grabbing an arrow. Notching with trained ease, Múrendil barely lined up his target before he let it fly.

A loud shout of surprised pain announced the arrow's aim was true. Angry shouts issued forward as Múrendil withdrew another Elven projectile and took aim faster than the eye could detect. The whistling signaled its launch and the muffled cry that followed told the Elf that another had went down.

Haldir heard the familiar whooshing noise and strangled cries and knew Múrendil was picking off their pursuers. Calling out in Elvish, Haldir yelled orders at Múrendil, knowing he would hear and veered his horse to the left, disappearing into the trees. Wishing he had a saddle and reigns to allow him to be able to use his bow, he weaved his horse easily by the mane, gentle tugs directing the steed in the desired directions. The proud stallion easily outran those chasing behind, his tail arced high with his slipstream. He seemed to enjoy the pursuit, giving a soft whicker when the sounds of the attackers grew distant. Haldir whispered softly in his pinned ear and the steed slowed, allowing the men to catch up. When they did, the horse sped forward with a new surge of excitement, keeping his Elven rider away from danger.

The men fractioned off again, half going to the left after Haldir, half going right after Múrendil, who swung his bow over his shoulder and maneuvered through the trees, breaking through, zigzagging at breakneck speed. Trees flashed past in a blur the horse's hooves made drumming beats on the forest floor. Haldir swerved his horse right, quickly changing direction and surprising the men behind him. They yelled threats and cries at their prey.

Múrendil heard the shouts of the men behind him becoming louder, then veered his horse left, cutting through the woods. A low hanging branch cuffed his face and neck, sending several scratches along his smooth skin. A limb of briars whip-lashed from the interruption of its normal stagnate state. Múrendil winced as thorns embedded themselves in his hand and ripped the skin into bloody shreds.

Múrendil ignored the humans yelling in Common behind him and withdrew his sword, yelling in Elvish. Haldir heard the Elvish cry and withdrew his own blade, his horse snorting in excitement, and jumped easily over a small stream and galloped deep into the forest. The pair blanched their quarry, directing them without notice as directions were lost in the hunt.

Weaving through the trees, the two Elves caught sight of one another and veered their steeds to meet. The horses listened obediently to their riders and put forth a burst of speed, coming within inches of each other as they glided past.

The Elven swords slit and severed the men chasing their counterpart, catching the men off-guard and momentarily confusing them. Haldir's sword was stained with blood as he slashed one way, then spun the other, the deadly edge slicing easily through bone and skin. As the last man following Múrendil was decapitated, Haldir spun his horse around and dismounted, un- slung his bow, and notched an arrow. When a man on horseback charged back around, he was greeted by a white tipped arrow that imbedded itself in his chest. He fell to the ground with a loud crash.

Múrendil dispensed several of the men that chased Haldir as he spun his horse around for another pass. A man on his horse unsheathed a sword and charged, yelling a battle cry, revenge gleaming in his demented eyes. Múrendil slid in his saddle, leaning heavily on one side as the man swiped at him, missing him by inches. Ordering the horse to evade the man, Múrendil reseated himself as the horse easily sidestepped the man who continued to yell, though the words were lost on the elf. By the tone, he understood their meaning.

Haldir quickly targeted the remaining men, his aim deadly as they dropped one by one. The sound of thundering hoof beats sounded in his ear and he turned to see Múrendil pursued by four angry men on horseback, yelling their threats and brandishing swords.

Múrendil swerved around the thick trunks and headed for Haldir, who was already taking aim. The air ruffled the fair elf's hair as the arrows whizzed passed.

As the last man dropped from his horse, Haldir hurriedly began to retrieve his spent arrows that were still intact. Múrendil bowed his head in thanks; Haldir nodded the same, then placed the few unbroken arrows that he retrieved back into his quiver, not bothering to remove the blood that dripped from their tips.

The ground was stained with crimson as the human bodies bled freely, spilling the life of their owners, who stared open-eyed into oblivion. Their horses galloped off into the distance- finally free of their riders- as the two Elves searched the area.

Sensing it was clear; Haldir's mount trotted out of the forest and lowered its head to him in welcome. With ease, he mounted again and directed the horse in the bearing he knew the others to be headed.

The horses panted, sucking in as much air as they could while they rode hard through the trees, looking for the rest of the company. Trees zipped past as the two rode, their hearing trained for any sounds that may tell them where the others had fled.

Anguished cries in the distance guided the two Elves to their brethren. A riderless horse galloped past through the trees, its eyes wide with fear. Haldir and Múrendil spurred their steeds harder, praying to the Vala that they find their friends safe.

The sound of many horses thundering grew stronger as the two wound their way through the forest, dodging low-slung branches and thick brambles.

Soon, the backs of the slowest pursuers came into view through the foliage. Múrendil gripped his bow and notched an arrow, letting it fly into the unsuspecting back of the man chasing after the other Elves. With a strangled cry, he fell to the ground. He writhed uselessly on the damp forest floor as the Elven riders passed him without a second glance.

Haldir drew back his sword as the next man became closer. With a quick chop, the enemy fell to the ground dead. Múrendil took out another of the riders, then slung his now useless bow- as all his arrows were spent- over his back.

The men still chasing after the escapees noticed their diminishing numbers and called to the others, roughly a dozen, to retreat. They pealed away into the wood, separating from the Elves on either side.

Haldir could just make out the backs of his kin, their horses slowed from the added weights of carrying the injured.

"Peace!" Haldir called as they neared the group.

The others slowed to allow the newcomers to catch up, which they did easily. The horses snorted for air, their coats slick with sweat.

When they became level, Haldir asked, "How do you fare?"

Láiraen sported a bloody arm, but waved off concern, "'Tis only a scratch. We must find the humans before the men come back."

The others nodded, and Orophin spoke up, "We need to rest so I can treat Lómetar, Aravitan and Wethíar. This hard ride is very dangerous to them. I fear for their lives," Orophin held Lómetar in front of him, the injured elf's head lulled on his shoulder.

Haldir nodded curtly, then ordered Rúmil and Láiraen to spare Múrendil their arrows. They withdrew a few from their quivers and handed them to the elf, who nodded his thanks and sheathed them on his back.

"Múrendil, guard our backs," Haldir ordered. "Keep those injured safe as we ride."

Haldir started in the opposite direction to where the men had fled. Orophin, Rúmil, Láiraen, then finally Múrendil followed, his fingers resting delicately on the strung arrow poised in his bow across his lap.

After several minutes of a quick pace, Haldir called out softly, "Amarah? Calorad?"

The only sounds were of the forest wildlife and rustle of leaves in a gentle wind. Several minutes passed by. Haldir called out again, "Amarah? Calorad?"

Haldir felt a growing sense of unease. Had the two been captured? Were they being tortured?

Swallowing down the lump in his throat, Haldir forced his mind away from such thoughts. They have fled and hid well. That is all. Be thankful they listened so well and have avoided capture.

No sooner had the thought crossed the March Warden's mind, when Rúmil spoke behind him, "Maybe they were captured?"

Biting back the possibility that it was true, Haldir called out louder, "Amarah? Calorad? Where are you?"

"Here!" came a reply far to the right of the Elves. Turning their horses and heading toward the voice, Haldir waited for several minutes, keeping his horse at an even trot to spare it anymore fast-paced pursuits.

"Amarah?"

"We are here," the voice floated louder in the air. "It is safe?"

"Yes, my Lady," Haldir answered.

"Good!" Amarah's voice exclaimed from high above. Haldir and the others looked up to see Amarah and Calorad descend down the thick branches of the oak tree they had hidden in.

"Where are your horses?" Haldir asked surprised, a smile quirking the corners of his lips as the human woman landed noisily to the ground.

"They are in a cave," Calorad said, landing beside Amarah. "Over here."

Haldir breathed a sigh of relief and dismounted with a quick movement. Calorad walked brusquely through the trees and disappeared behind a curtain of ivy vines. A second later he walked out, holding the reigns of their horses.

Amarah looked at the others and gasped, noticing the injured elves held protectively.

"You found them."

"Yes," Haldir said shortly, trying to hide the sadness in his voice.

"Are they dead?" Calorad asked, his eyes shining with tears as he watched the limp bodies for signs of life.

"They live," Haldir said curtly, "They are all who survive."

"All who survive?" Calorad didn't like the sound of that and frowned. He mounted his horse and looked to Orophin, who cradled Lómetar against him, "Who would do such a thing? And why?"

Amarah climbed atop her steed and leaned over touch Calorad's arm, "Come, let us get the back to the estate where they will be safe."

Calorad pulled his gaze away from the heart-wrenching sight and wiped his face on his sleeves, his cheeks coloring with embarrassment at his display of emotion.

Haldir swung onto the bare back of his horse, which still shimmered with sweat from the chase and opened his mouth to issue a command, when the sounds of beating hooves and angry voices reached his acute hearing.

All the Elves turned their heads to the noise, tightening their grips on the reigns and their unconscious comrades. Amarah and Calorad looked curiously to the Elves, not knowing the reason for their heightened alertness.

Haldir turned to Amarah and hissed, "Ride hard and fast. Do not look behind you. We will keep pace!" Without another word, he slapped Amarah's horse's flanks and ordered the Elves carrying the injured to follow. They immediately obeyed, Calorad galloping at their sides. Haldir and Múrendil took up the rear; Múrendil tightened his legs around his horse in preparation to pivot and fire.

Hoping the pursing humans hearing to be less heightened than those of an Elf, Haldir prayed their rhythm to be lost in the distance as the humans' horses pounded in the Elven ears.

A loud shout broke the tempo of the hooves, "Spread out! They could not travel far with the injured ones!"

"Make them pay!" another shouted angrily.

"Death to all Elves!" roared another, whose voice was drowned by the yelling lynch mob and the thundering of hooves on the warpath.