It seemed to take forever to free the other eight elves. Two of the elves seemed to be in better shape than Hinacea, some of them were just as bad, and the others were worse. It had been hard to breathe through the webbing and others had been poisoned more. The last elf, Rowan, seemed to be lapsing in and out of consciousness.
Aragorn looked at the gathered elves. "We will have to go together. I don't want to take the chance of anyone getting separated."
Legolas nodded. "We will pair off, the strongest with the weakest."
'Afraid to go but afraid to stay.' Aragorn thought to himself.
"My Lord?" Hinacea whispered motioning them over quickly.
Aragorn and Legolas crouched near the entrance. It was easy to see that things were coming to a head outside. The noise if possible had become worse. Several spiders were making threatening gestures to the others.
"Now will be our best chance." Legolas murmured.
"I think you're right." Aragorn replied turning to help support a silver haired elf. Legolas gathered Rowan issuing orders to the others.
There was a shriek outside as the smaller spider launched itself at the matriarch. The other spiders rushed in to defend one or the other creating total chaos. The two spiders guarding the cave also rushed in leaving the way clear.
Taking the opportunity presented to them, the elves and man, quickly dashed out. They took little time for hiding hoping the fight would keep the spiders occupied for a moment. Aragorn felt like giving a cry of joy as they exited the large chamber and found themselves back in the tunnel. All they needed now was just a little more luck.
Dead silence suddenly echoed through the cavern. After the terrible noise caused by the fighting spiders the sudden silence was deafening. The small group shared a look before trying to pick up the pace more. The pair of elves in front of Legolas stumbled as the weaker of the two lost his footing sending them both to the ground. The smaller of the two curled up in on himself dry heaving. The other elf rubbed his back speaking soothingly.
"Ayrose, come on mellon nin." Legolas coaxed. "We need to keep moving."
The elf nodded allowing his companion to help him back up. Ahead of them Hinacea gave a joyful cry.
"I can see the opening!" Hinacea called excitedly. "We are almost out."
"Hurry!" Legolas ordered.
Behind them a deafening roar startled them all. The sound swelled echoing down the corridor. Then came the sound of scuttling legs over stone and the angry chittering of dozens of spiders.
"I think they know we're gone." Aragorn muttered tightening his grip around the elf beside him. "RUN NOW!"
Quickly the elves raced to the entrance. Aragorn risked a look over his shoulder. A wall of black bodies and glowing eyes filled his vision. He glanced forward. They were never going to make it without some way of slowing the spiders down. Aragorn pushed up beside Hinacea practically pushing the other elf into Hinacea's arms.
"Take him, go!" Aragorn commanded.
Legolas turned Rowan still unconscious in his arms. "What are you doing?!"
"I'll be fine go!" Aragorn demanded drawing his sword.
Legolas hesitated a split second then fled with the other elves. Aragorn watched them go before turning back to face off with the spiders. The tunnel space only allowed three spiders to come at once but it was the hundred behind that worried him. A dead spider though would help block the passage forcing down the number of his attackers.
The first spider was on him then. Aragorn fought without thought bringing down body after body as he slowly backed down the corridor. He brought his sword up quickly decapitating one spider before twisting to slash the legs off another. He attacked another one just as something flew by his head. A green and gold arrow protruded from the creature's bulbous eyes. It shrieked in agony going over backwards and giving Aragorn a breather. Aragorn could feel Legolas come up beside him as he heard the whisper of knives being drawn.
"I thought I told you to leave." Aragorn reminded as they backed up as quickly as they could.
"I never listen to humans." Legolas returned a smile plucking at the corner of his mouth. He quickly dispatched two more spiders. "Anyhow what would your brother's say if I got you killed? We were suppose to leave together remember?"
Aragorn couldn't help but grin. "Oh good I thought you forgot. How much further do we have to go?"
Legolas risked a quick glance behind him. "Only several more feet. The trip wire is not far."
Aragorn nodded then as he quickly drove his sword into the underbelly of another spider. Suddenly the mass of bodies seemed to be thrust forward causing Legolas and Aragorn to be thrown back. The elf was able to keep his feet but the man lost his footing falling onto his back. The prince moved to block Aragorn from the spiders' attacks until he was able to get to his feet. Legolas dispatched the closest spider just as a huge black shape loomed over them.
Aragorn scrambled to his feet just as the matriarch lunged at them. Legolas blocked the first blow trying to under cut her with his second knife. The spider was to smart for it though and using another one of her legs hit the elf a glancing blow. Legolas felt himself fall back but Aragorn grabbed his arm trying to steady him. She lunged with a high-pitched shriek just as Aragorn blocked her attack with his sword. The spider hissed angrily.
"Our situation has improved." Aragorn called to Legolas.
"How do you figure?" Legolas asked as he ducked a sticky strand of webbing.
"Well we're down to one spider."
"You are exactly like your brothers." Legolas commented his eyes searching for the exit again. "Aragorn watch it!"
Aragorn looked down and saw the rope he and Legolas had rigged earlier. Nearly falling he managed to avoid setting the trap off. One of the matriarch's legs came crashing down nearly crushing the man's hand. Aragorn yelped rolling out from under the heavy body. Legolas grabbed his coat pulling him out further.
Legolas' eyes narrowed as he watched the spider's legs come dangerously close to the rope. "She's going to bring the whole place down on top of us!"
"We're going to have to make a run for it." Aragorn replied backing up and pulling the prince with him.
Legolas sheathed his knives quickly bringing his bow to bear. He snapped off several shots that bounced harmlessly off the spider's hard body. He focused once more eyeing where the front appendages met the body. There was just a sliver of area there that was not protected by the hard body armor. Ignoring everything around him for the moment Legolas took a deep breath letting the arrow fly. It flew true. The matriarch reared back in pain and anger. Legolas and Aragorn turned and ran just as she slammed a foot down on the rope.