Seeing-Spots: Yes, you get your choice of frisky elves for all the reviews. ;) Who said that Rúmil and Orophin are gonna save the day here? EG You'll have to read and find out what happens... I hope its up to my normal standards. It feels bittersweet to say goodbye to this fic. wails
Laer4572: I'm glad that you like the fic. Sadly, its coming to an end and I think I'm gonna take a bit of a break before I begin uploading new stuff. Enjoy!
Naomie: Gotcha! I hoped to give someone a heartattack before the end of this. snickers Yup, Craig was Gothmog and the orc with the head on a spike on top his helmet, and he did the Nazgul screeches. He's so multi-talented! Lol I'm not working on the sequel yet, so I may or may not do one. I have other projects that MUST be finished first... I'm simply running out of time during a day. Hope you like this one as well!
Hyperactive Forever: AH Ha! Gave another one a heart attack! Go me! J/K Amarah gets whats coming to her now... and I hope you like what happens. :D well, since you were so kind to leave many reviews, you can have BOTH Elladan AND Rúmil. They will be there soon. :D
Lady of Light: Yeah, nothing better than randy elves, eh? EG So you read only half while in school and had to go home to read the rest? Wow.. I don't think I could do that. I would have to sit and finish something... I hate to leave things hanging and then they nag at the back of ya mind until you finish what ya started. blushes profusely Thank you very much for ya words of encouragement. As of right now though, I'm working on some other projects and will write a sequel when I get them finished. Hope you like this chapter as well!
AN: A sequel will be written when I am finished with at LEAST one of these LONG ass fics I'm working on now. I'm going to take a bit of time off to collect my insanity and sort out what I'm going to do, then I shall begin posting other fics, mainly 'one timers' and then I will start uploading the longer fics. They should be close to being finished by the... muse willing. Thank you all for your patience and support. monster elven hugs to all
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Chapter Twenty-Eight: The Deadly Dance
Haldir closed his eyes and waited for Amarah to flick her wrist and end his life. Time seemed to slow, creeping by; a second feeling as if an eternity had passed. Haldir could feel Amarah's hot breath on his cheek as she fumed. He felt some satisfaction knowing he caused her so much trouble and distress.
With the grim satisfaction came the heartache and pain. Images of large silver trunks appeared in Haldir's mind, their tops capped with leaves of shining gold that glittered in the sun. He felt despair overcome him as he thought he would never stand before the Lord and Lady again, never again gazing into their fathomless eyes and learning their age-old wisdom. Never again would he feel the Lady's gentle caress in his mind, gone would be the comfortable silence she emanated. No more would he hear her voice, calming as a balm, soothing as a spring rain, easing away all worries and heartache with a few tender words.
Haldir felt like bursting into tears when he saw images of his brothers flash before his eyes, highlighted by the white lightning dazzling in a constant array. Haldir felt his heart seize when he knew he would no longer see them, laugh at their jokes, be the unlucky recipient of their pranks, or enjoy their companionable silence on the borders. He would no longer enjoy Rúmil ill attempts at poetry or Orophin's colorblind wardrobe.
He silently prayed, 'Valar, if this indeed be the end, please grant me this one wish. If I pass, allow me to watch over my brothers as they live. Allow me to guard them until they sail to the West.'
Haldir felt himself relax, his prayer sent to the Vala and now awaiting the deadly blow. He felt at peace, and felt his heart well up, knowing he left behind a legacy of good deeds and noble endeavors.
A sudden whooshing noise caught Haldir's attention. He opened his eyes, expecting to see Amarah and her guards ready to deal a deadly blow, but instead, he saw their attention drawn away from him.
A guard shouted, "ELVES!"
Everyone began to yell and ready their blades for an attack. Haldir pulled from Amarah's grasp and saw, to his great relief and amusement, Rúmil and Múrendil charging in through the hole now cut through the wooden barrier. Haldir smiled and, taking the lack in attention, easily knocked Amarah's dagger from her limp grip.
Amarah hissed in frustration and lunged at Haldir, tackling him to the ground and planting a well-aimed knee to his already inflamed ribs.
Haldir rolled onto his side, unable to stop the tremors of pain that raced through him and felt Amarah ready herself for another assault.
Her hand struck his face and neck several times, her nails scratching at his eyes and leaving bloody trails down his face. Haldir tried to fight her off, his body still listless from the drug. Planting his foot in Amarah's midsection, he twisted and rolled, flipping her easily over his head. She landed with a loud crack and moaned.
Rúmil emptied his quiver of the crude arrows. He scowled at the bolts protruding awkwardly from the guards joining the fray with their own bows, though their aim was hampered by the blinding rain and lack of Elven skill. The rudimentary Elven arrows tended to wobble in mid-flight and embedded themselves in chaotic positions, ones that the elves didn't intend for them to land. Each guard stopped with at least two rough arrows entrenched in their bodies, though not on their intended marks. When the guards became too numerous, Rúmil and Múrendil quickly swung their bows across their backs and withdrew their long blades.
Múrendil parried the cutting edges whirling around him, disabling the guards one by one and rendering them either unconscious or unable to move. The defensive shield Múrendil provided allowed Rúmil to go to his brother's side and help Haldir to his feet.
Haldir groaned, inhaling sharply as his injuries flared from his movements. Rúmil leaned in to whisper, "Told you that you would need to be rescued," before grinning and returning his attention to the guards now coming towards them. Haldir smiled and used Rúmil as a screen as he searched for his weapon that had skidded away during the attack. He found it and whirled, slicing into the forearm of a guard and making his arm go limp at his side. The guard clutched at his bleeding arm and howled in pain, unable to continue his assault.
Haldir joined the other two as they battled their way through Amarah's guards. Very few remained to oppose the elves. As the last ones fell, crying out in pain and crumpling to the ground, Rúmil pointed to the hole in the barrier.
Haldir nodded, but Amarah's voice got his attention.
"Haldir! You may escape this time, but be warned, I do not take easily to defeat. I will have my revenge, on you and your kind!" Amarah screamed. Blood ran down over her face, matting in her hair and mixing with the rain. She seemed to vibrate with cold fury, her voice pitched roughly in her fever. "The master will ensure my success. You wait, he will give me a grand army and I shall wreck havoc upon you and your filthy kind!"
"The only master is the one in your mind, Amarah," Haldir spat bitterly.
Amarah's face split into a maniacal look and she laughed, cold and cruel, "He is the most powerful being to ever walk Middle Earth. His magic..."
Amarah's voice was drowned out by the upheaval of wind, rain, and thunder. A strange voice lilted the air, muffled by the storm, yet more dangerous than any act of nature. The elves flinched, the words painful on their ears.
A violent crash overhead shook the ground, causing everyone to struggle to maintain their balance. A streak of lightning, pure and dazzling white, struck the courtyard. The impact created a deep crater that sent blackened cobbles flying in all directions. The lightning seemed to dance merrily, twisting and contorting to the ground, spiraling out as it began to trace a path along the cobblestone.
Time seemed to slow down for the deadly dancer, the white light beautiful as it created a chaotic pattern, sending charred stones flying in its wake as it traveled across the courtyard. The light journeyed over the stones effortlessly, and as it neared Amarah, it seemed to intensify, flashing a brilliant blue.
Amarah stared in awe and wonder as the electric intruder made its way towards her. She felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end and her body become covered in a chill. The light hovered before her for a moment that seemed an eternity, before it joined with its partner, jolting the life out of the human as it painted her features in an ethereal glow.
Haldir, Rúmil, and Múrendil stood transfixed, watching the lightning progress to the human, then take her in its deadly embrace. Amarah twisted fiercely as the energy coursed through her, distorting her body.
A final, earsplitting scream rent the air, then the lightning disappeared instantly, releasing its tormented lover. Amarah fell to the ground, misshapen and blackened, her once beautiful features now charred into grotesque images.
The guards that were still conscious looked helplessly at their mistress, unsure how to help her or what to do. They exchanged glances, some fearful, others shocked, as the rain continued to fall upon their heads.
Rúmil grabbed Haldir's arm, pulling his attention away from the smoldering heap that once beheld a human, "Haldir, we must leave now."
Several guards recovered from their injuries, fury sparking their bodies into action. Wounds that held the guards at bay were now forgotten as adrenaline surged through their systems and spurned them on to demand justice for Amarah's death.
Haldir felt his knees wobble and threaten to give out. He shook his head, trying desperately to clear the fog that had settled in his brain, numbing his senses. Rúmil laced his arm around his brother's midsection and held his sword at the ready. Múrendil stationed himself defensively, trying to give the brothers a good chance to escape while he kept the advancing guards busy.
A loud smash echoed into the courtyard. The guards instantly turned to the noise and as they were distracted, Múrendil motioned for the other two to make their escape. The cause for the sound showed itself almost immediately.
A black, cantankerous stallion came charging into the courtyard, tossing his head and rearing up on his hind legs, striking the injured guards and causing them to flinch back. One stumbled backwards, knocking down three of his colleagues. The stallion landed his hooves across the chests of two guards; one screamed as his sternum was cracked with the impact.
The horse kicked out, landing powerful hooves against unsuspecting chests and sending the guards careening backwards. The stallion whinnied, bucking in circles and attacking the stunned guards. When all guards lay unconscious, the horse nickered smugly and pranced to Haldir, ducking his head and nudging the elf affectionately.
Haldir chuckled, stroking the rain-slicked muzzle of the steed and whispered, "Le hannon, Hravanáro."
The horse nickered in answer.
Rúmil smirked, "You call him 'WildFire'?"
Haldir sheathed his sword and, leaning heavily on Rúmil, staggered through the roughly cut opening. The black stallion tossed his head and followed the elves through. Múrendil took up the rear to make sure no guards regained consciousness and decided to attack.
When the three elves were clear of the barrier, two other horses whinnied in delight and flicked their tails, greeting their riders and fellow equine.
With Rúmil's help, Haldir swung up on Hravanáro's back and gave the horse an affection pat. Rúmil and Múrendil mounted their steeds and bolted off through the forest, Haldir wincing constantly from the jostling his ribs were taking.
The trees flashed by in a gray blur. Haldir kept his attention focused on not falling off his horse and not giving in to the sweet oblivion of unconsciousness that called to him. He felt a particularly nasty jerk as Hravanáro jumped over a fallen tree. Haldir was vaguely aware of the familiar whooshing noise filtering through the torrential rain. He knew from the constant hoof beats behind him that the others were with him, and prayed they were uninjured as they streaked through the forest.
Múrendil withdrew another arrow, his face contorted in disgust as he let it fly. Instead of implanting itself in the man's chest, it made contact with his thigh, sending him crashing down onto the platform nestled high in the boughs. Extracting another arrow and aiming at the guard's partner, Múrendil aimed higher and felt a surge of satisfaction when the man collapsed with an arrow jutting from his eye.
"Ride south!" Múrendil shouted through the rain and thunderclaps.
The others heard and veered their steeds left, taking a secondary path through the foliage. Múrendil notched two arrows and aimed high at the platform hidden well amongst the branches. His keen eyes picked out the guards raising their bows and taking aim. With elven speed, Múrendil released his projectiles. They landed haphazardly in the midsections of the two guards, who shouted in pain and crumpled in the rain.
Múrendil pivoted back on his horse, slinging his bow over his back and spurning his horse to catch up with the other two. When he gained Haldir's side, he called, "There are no more guard posts this direction. We ride until dawn, then turn northwest."
Haldir nodded, feeling his head spin worse with the movement. The drug had begun to lessen, being absorbed into his system and losing its potency, but enough still lingered to pose a problem. Haldir was glad Múrendil had taken the initiative and coordinated their escape. He allowed himself to slip into a light stupor as the horses charged through the night, their hooves pounding in time with the lullaby of the rain.
The fleeing elves didn't make it to the dawn. Haldir's condition deteriorated, the drug making his healing much slower as his injuries overwhelmed his body. Rúmil had noticed the slack expression before Haldir could fall, having slowed down their progress and leaned over just in time to catch his unconscious brother.
As the trio came to a halt, Rúmil eased Haldir down to Múrendil, who had pulled a blanket off his saddle and wrapped the injured elf up tightly before handing him back to his concerned brother. Rúmil nodded his thanks and nudged his horse into a light gait, the belligerent Hravanáro trailing behind, nickering at his rider and keeping pace beside Rúmil's horse.
Múrendil climbed back atop his steed and followed behind, keeping a sharp ear for any sounds of hunting guards looking for revenge. As the dawn approached, the storm abated, revealing a sky of pure blue. The sun peeked over the horizon, bathing the world in a pale glow. The rain glistened off the leaves and mud made disgusting squelching sounds as the horses plunged through the thickets.
"We need to find a place to rest the horses," Rúmil called.
Múrendil gained Rúmil's side and noted the ashen tinge to Haldir's face, "We need the rest ourselves, and Haldir needs attention."
Rúmil shifted wearily in the saddle, his mind arguing with itself over never riding a horse again and how much abuse his rear-end had suffered the past week from the bumpy rides. Cradling Haldir against him did not alleviate the pain he was beginning to feel along his back and legs.
The forest opened into a grassy plain as morning fully bloomed over the land. The pale light reflected the stalks of weeds, swaying gently in the morning breeze. Rúmil found it odd that the plain showed no signs of recent storm activity. He frowned as he noticed the ground seemed dry, not saturated by the driving rains that hovered constantly while in Amarah's territory.
Múrendil rode a small ways ahead and searched for any possible threats. When only grass waved merrily at him, he dismounted and untacked his horse, allowing it to drink at a nearby stream.
Rúmil eased Haldir down to Múrendil and dismounted, untacking his horse and sending it with the others. Hravanáro playfully nipped at the other horses, whose moods were not as cheery, and snapped at the overzealous horse as it cantered around whinnying.
Rúmil cautiously removed the blanket and positioned Haldir on his stomach, mindful of the injuries and whimpers of pain. The shallow scratches along his face were already sealed and well on the way to mending. Rúmil took great care in removing his brother's tunic and washing the wounds. The most severe wound was diagonal across Haldir's back, the perfect copy of his bow, which was snapped and was repeatedly pounded into the elf's skin by vicious blows.
Blood congealed, sealing off the worst part of the injury. Rúmil cleaned as gently as he could and whispered assurances under his breath as he worked.
Múrendil scouted the area more thoroughly, ensuring their safety. When the perimeter was secured, he went back to the two brothers and pulled what little food rations he brought with him from a pouch on his saddle.
Rúmil sputtered an apology as he poked along Haldir's ribs and caused the March Warden to jerk violently and moan in pain. Rúmil felt the sharp edge of bone beneath the skin and knew that the rib had a clean break. Taking a deep breath, he placed his hands on Haldir's side and thrust quickly, realigning the bone so it would heal properly. As gently as he could, Rúmil wiped away the rivulets of blood that had dried from Haldir's injuries. The impression of his bow was deep in the skin on his back and Rúmil winced when he carefully cleaned the wounds of splintered wood.
Haldir thrashed and cried out in pain. Rúmil kept apologizing over and over and took strips of material off the blanket and wrapped them around Haldir's midsection, giving his ribs the support they would need for the rest of their journey. Rúmil was silently thankful that he had watched Orophin set bones and bandage them. The older brother had taught him much, and on the occasional mission, the healing techniques came in handy. Of course, he would never admit that to Orophin.
"There are many bruises," Múrendil stated quietly, handing Rúmil some dried meat.
"There are at least two broken ribs. One I had to set," Rúmil said, pulling his cloak off and draping it over Haldir. "His bow was broken across his back and the guards struck it hard enough to cause his skin to split."
"Will he be all right?" Múrendil asked.
Rúmil sighed and took a bite, and nodded his head, "The wounds are deep, but his tunic and quiver cushioned the blows. The wounds are now cleaned and able to heal properly. But I do not have the herbs that Orophin uses to heal them more quickly."
"If there were any left to spare from Orophin, I would have packed them as well," Múrendil said sadly.
Rúmil sat beside Múrendil and put an arm around his shoulders, "You have done more than what was called upon you. You have kept a level head and did what needed to be done in order to rescue your commander. I am sorry to say I did not keep my wits about me and would have gotten myself and my brother killed."
"You merely wished to do what we all wanted to do," Múrendil said.
"No, I wanted to go and get my brother, no matter the consequences," Rúmil shook his head. "My foolishness would have gotten Haldir and I both killed. Orophin too, if he would have followed me."
"He would follow you anywhere," Múrendil smiled at Rúmil. "It seems that where one brother goes, the other two are sure to follow behind."
Rúmil rolled his eyes, "Yes, Haldir seems to get into trouble and Orophin and I have to come to his rescue. It is an awful duty, but he is our brother and I fear what would happen to him without us."
"As do we all," Múrendil whispered.
"Talking about your commander behind his back is a violation of the Galadhrim laws and punishable by our strict codes," came Haldir's raspy rebuke.
Múrendil and Rúmil were instantly at his side.
"Brother, how do you feel?" Rúmil asked quickly.
Haldir chuckled and winced as the pain chastised his movements, "Only now do I realize what a dumb question that is to ask someone who is injured."
Rúmil rolled his eyes to Múrendil, "He is going to be just fine."
Haldir nodded slightly, "Yes, I will be fine, Rúmil. The pain is already lessened."
"You should see the bruises on you, Brother," Rúmil said with an awed voice, looking down at Haldir's back.
Haldir tried to turn but pain prevented him from making any movement, "I can feel them, Rúmil. I do not need to see them to know the pain they cause."
Rúmil smirked, "I was just thinking of all the she-elves that would love to attend to a hurt Warden."
Haldir's eyes narrowed as he tried to position himself to better glare at Rúmil, "Is that all you think about? She-elves?"
"No," Rúmil said with a hurt voice. "I also think about food."
Haldir laughed and cried out from the pain, but felt that its aches were worth it. He relaxed onto the blanket and sighed, "How long have I slept?"
Múrendil looked to the sky, noticing the sun's position, "I would guess four, maybe five hours."
Haldir sighed and buried his face in the blanket, "It feels as if I only slept a few minutes. The drug must have affected me more than what I first believed."
"Drug?" Rúmil asked with a drawn brow. "What drug?"
"Amarah slipped a drug into some wine," Haldir explained, now feeling quite silly and very angry with himself. He should have realized what the human was up to and prevented it from happening. He should have been paying better attention! He should have left with the others and not allowed Amarah's affections to influence his decision. He should have....
"She was a vile woman," Rúmil spat angrily. "She deserved what happened to her."
Haldir was snapped out of his thoughts by Rúmil's voice and angled his head to better view his brother, "I have never seen lightning behave in such a manner. There was a magic behind all this, I know it."
"Magic?" Rúmil asked skeptically. "I admit I have never witnessed such a thing before, but truly brother, you believe magic was behind this?"
Haldir nodded and Rúmil scoffed, "Magic, like what Mithrandir possesses?"
Haldir tried to shrug but thought better of it when pain laced across his back, "Of its origin, I know not. But I have a feeling that had Amarah continued with her thoughts, we would have learned who was behind the attacks on Elven realms."
The other two elves were left to their thoughts as the sun continued to climb overhead. The horses drank their fill and grazed lazily on the grasses, occasionally laying down in the cool grass and rolling playfully.
Haldir slipped back into a reverie, allowing his body time to heal for the rest of the journey ahead. Rúmil and Múrendil rotated watch, laughing at the horses' play and their light spirits. The world glowed warmly as the sun hovered in the heavens, drying the rain-soaked elves and watching over the three weary travelers.
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Well, was that a fitting end? I wanted to give a hint of what was happening, and hopefully it will blend in nicely with the movie and Tolkien's plot. Click that little button over there on the left and let me know what ya think! NamáriË