AUTHOR'S NOTE: Sorry for the long delay in updates, my dear readers. Things have just been very hectic on my end…I had my college graduation to deal with among them. And then right afterwards I went to do two weeks of charity work in Hawaii with the school, so I haven't had too much time to come around and post my updates. But I am home now and still unemployed, so hopefully there will be quicker updates. Thank you everyone for bearing with me!
The morning broke warmer than the previous day. Legolas was up and about before all the rest, on watch to relieve the warriors that had spent the previous few hours standing vigil against enemy attacks. When others came to replace him, he quietly slipped up to a higher level of the stronghold and gazed out at the mist-flooded woods; the distant trees a ghostly gray shade. There were many questions on his mind and he was determined to get the answers. But first, he would have to gain Wolf's trust and he was not quite sure how to do that. It was true that the elf had opened up enough to inform him of his name, but he had closed up and become quiet again just as quickly. Legolas had gotten the feeling that Wolf was testing him to see if he could be trusted. This, Legolas did not like at all. The idea that an elf could be so shy was troublesome and worried him greatly. Just what had happened in the elder elf's life that had caused this?
With more questions and fewer answers than he had had originally, Legolas dejectedly left the upper roof of the stronghold and slipped back inside to where his bedroll lay. This he tied up and made his few other belongings ready for departure. With the diminishing supplies that the elves had and with the new mystery of Wolf's true identity, Legolas knew that he would have to return to his father's palace. Perhaps Thranduil could shed some light on what was going on with Wolf.
He was packed and ready to leave when Aragorn, Gimli, and Wolf awoke. One of the younger and less graceful warriors had dropped one of the swords that he carried in a bundle. The weapon clattered to the floor harshly, startling those inside and waking those who had been asleep.
Legolas called his men together and let them know of his intentions to return to the palace. A number of elves would be needed to go with him to aid in the transport of supplies – the weapons of the goblins that would be presented to their king, and the much needed supplies that had to come back to the stronghold. These warriors would actually only go to the palace, for once there, they would be replaced by fresh warriors that had not spent the last few weeks in daily battles. These warriors would bring the fresh supplies with them and, being large enough in number, would replace not only the missing warriors but those who had stayed behind as well.
For the group to return to the palace then, Legolas chose Valos and the elves under him, Lanan and his warriors, Tallos, who excelled most in the use of a sword, Illus and his men, and Elein, the horse master. Also to go with him were Kyno, Queilos, and Artuous, all respected healers, and these were chosen to watch over the wounded warriors who would be escorted back to the palace walls. Lastly, Aragorn, Gimli, and Wolf were to accompany the group as honored guests to their fair city in the woods.
As soon as all could prepare to leave, the group left the safety of the stronghold and headed out into the foreboding woods. All were on high alert, moving as stealthily and quietly as they could, for none knew if goblins or spiders lurked in the shadows. A few elves threw annoyed looks at Gimli, for by far he was the noisiest member of the bunch. Legolas gave them reprimanding glances; the dwarf was his friend and was trying his best to stay silent. Every so often they would have to stop the procession and tend to a wounded elf. Mostly it was Randor who groaned in pain as his body shifted into uncomfortable positions that irritated his wounds, and of the wounded, he bore some of the worst.
The day drew on and the shadows lengthened. The group had so far encountered only the silence of the woods, save for the chirping of birds high up, unseen in the topmost branches of the trees. They were halfway to the city gates when Legolas suddenly stopped, looking intensely into the shadows. The others followed suit.
"What is it?" Gimli whispered, but his question was met with silence.
"Spiders!" Legolas cried as the first dark shape burst through the undergrowth and onto the lighted path.
A battle cry went up immediately as weapons were brandished and bodies leapt into the fray. All around them, more of the vile creatures approached. Arrows took flight from the bows of the archers, raining down on the spiders like a deadly hail. Several of the arrows sunk into the swollen bodies of the beasts, felling them in mid-run. But now the battle was too close for the use of bows, and these were dropped to the ground without hesitation. Swords replaced them in the hand-to-fang combat. Aragorn too joined into the battle, wielding Anduril as skillfully as the elves used their own. Gimli, always eager for a fight, hewed at the oversized insects with his study axe clenched tightly in his hands. He fought at the backs of Legolas and Aragorn, for the three were used to covering for one another in battle, and now the stance came naturally to them.
A few of the spiders went after the wounded elves, for these could not fight as well as the others, if they could fight at all. To their aid dashed Legolas, using his twin elven blades to sever the lengths of sticky webbing that the spiders had wound around them. Legolas knew that if he went after the spiders themselves first, several of the warriors would be lost, dragged away into the darkening woods to the spiders' lair. His blades flashed as they caught the sunlight, shining as with an undying flame as they slashed at first the webbing and then the heads and bodies of the spiders. Now he was surrounded, for neither the dwarf or the man was at his side now, having been preoccupied with another group of the creatures. Legolas twisted this way and that, striking out whenever and at whatever he could. His blows were lightening quick, but he was sorely out numbered and the spiders were too fast. They edged around him closer and closer, hemming him into a small space that left him barely enough room in which to dodge the attacks. He gave a cry for help just moments before a cry of pain escaped his lips.
Several of the closest elves finished off the spiders that they were facing and went to aid the prince, not knowing what had happened. Aragorn and Gimli joined them as well, hoping to get to their friend in time. Fierce were the strikes that they made at the spiders and their blades bit hungrily into the flesh and blood. Heads were severed from necks and landed with dull thuds on the soft grassy ground as a path was hewed away to rescue Legolas. He was lying on the ground, looking pale and clutching his left shoulder. His tunic was torn and blood was flowing from a wound.
Aragorn stooped low to the ground to protect the elf while the others finished off what was left of the spiders. When they had all been slain, a cry was made for Kyno to come forth to help.
"My lord," he said as he knelt down on the ground next to Legolas.
"One bit me when I turned to strike another on my right side," said the prince shakily.
Kyno rummaged around in a small satchel that he always carried with him. After a moment he produced two vials of liquid. One, a clear fluid, he uncorked and raised to Legolas' lips for him to drink.
"This will counteract the spider's poison," he said as Legolas drank it down.
The other liquid was an amber color. This Kyno spread on a bandage, which he used to bind Legolas' wound with.
"Combination cleanser and pain reliever," he said to Aragorn's questioning looks.
"He will be all right?" Aragorn asked.
Kyno nodded. "Absolutely. The venom did not have enough time in his system to do damage before he got the antidote. Can you stand and walk, my lord?"
"I think so, yes," Legolas said as he got to his feet. "Let us press on. I want to be in the city before dusk. I will not risk another attack by the spiders."
"And the carcasses, my lord?" asked Valos.
"Leave them for now. Tomorrow morning I shall send a group to burn them, if other spiders do not come to eat the dead this night."
The warriors picked up the bows and swords that had been abandoned and plucked their arrows from the ground and spiders. Once they were ready, they picked up the ends of the litters that the wounded had been placed on and headed on towards the city.