CHAPTER XVII – The Escape

Legolas froze for a brief moment and was brought back to life by Aragorn as the Man brushed passed him. He took his father's arm and slung it around his shoulder. They went as quickly as they could up the stairs. Neither Aragorn nor Legolas had been able to recognize who the other Elf was, but Haldir took him past Legolas and Êlanna's flet.

"Êlanna, get some blankets, please," Legolas requested, laying his father down on the cot in the sitting room. "Ada, wake up. Look at me, Ada, please."

Thranduil was still, his hands were cold and blood was dripping onto the floor. His fingers twitched and his breathing was erratic. Slowly, his eyes half-opened, but were constantly threatening to close.

"Legolas…save…"

"Shhh. Ada, save your breath. Na sel," Legolas beckoned, his voice shaking. He took a blanket from Êlanna and draped it over his father. Then, turning to Eryn, whose eyes were wide and crying. "Boromir, please take Eryn to her room."

As soon as Boromir touched her, Eryn started to scream. "No! Ada! Naneth!" It took a few moments before she was silent.

"Legolas…" Thranduil started, "Ithil…"

"What about Ithil?"

"Ithil's… there was… another attack… We had to run… Legolas, you must…"

"What happened to Ithil?"

"Legolas… you have to run… hain na teli... they are coming…"

"Who? Who, Ada?"

Thranduil's eyes closed again, his breathing slowed dramatically. Last words: "Run, Legolas."

"Ada?" Legolas asked. His eyes were starting to tear. "Ada!"

Êlanna's mouth fell open. She knelt next to Legolas and held him as she cried. He was bent over his knees, grasping his stomach as though to keep from being sick.

"Legolas—" Haldir halted as he stumbled in. "Oh my Gods…"

Aragorn couldn't believe it. Had that really just happened? Closing his eyes, he tried to forget, tried to imagine it was a dream. He looked at Haldir, who looked like he was about to be executed. Quietly, Aragorn asked, "Where did you go?"

"I… I had to take Ithil's body to Galadriel. He's been dead for a few hours now. Aragorn, they were being chased. Legolas has to get out of here. Now," Haldir said definitely. "You all have to run."

Aragorn nodded, feeling extremely tired all of the sudden. He looked at the hobbits, all with mortified expressions on their faces. Merry had fallen to his knees. Too much death already, Aragorn thought. Leaving the room, he went to see Boromir. The Steward's Son was sitting with Eryn on her bed, holding her tightly. She had her hands over her ears and even from where he stood Aragorn could see that she was shaking.

"Aragorn, what happened?" Boromir asked, clearly afraid for Eryn.

"Thranduil and Ithil are dead. They were running from Mirkwood after another attack and they were followed. The battalions are trying to keep them at bay, but we do not have much time. We have to leave now."

Boromir looked at Aragorn and then at Eryn. "What about her?"

"I don't know. If the battalion fails, then…"

Boromir's eyes widened. "No, we cannot let anything happen to her!"

"Boromir, this is out of my power. We have to leave or we're all dead."

Holding Eryn away, Boromir looked at her. "Eryn, I have to go now."

"Why?" she asked, still crying. "I don't want you to go!"

"Eryn, I'm sorry, but I have to. I promise that I will see you again," he said, his eyes now starting to tear. "Remember this." He held up her thumb with his signet ring on it.

She tried to smile and nodded then flung her arms around his neck. "I love you, Boromir Jaraet Anstrael."

"I love you, too, Eryn Estel Greenleaf," he said, embracing her and trying desperately not to cry. "Now I must leave you," he kissed her cheek and went with Aragorn, a few tears managing to escape.

In the sitting room, Legolas was now standing, focused dutifully on Haldir. Êlanna was holding his arm, crying, still, but most likely for different reasons than Thranduil's death. Legolas turned to face her and looked deeply into her eyes.

"Go," she whispered and kissed him. "Go now."

He nodded and released her reluctantly. Now looking at Aragorn, he said, "Lead the way."

Only at that moment did the Fellowship begin to feel the intensity and fear of what needed to be done. The hobbits shouldered their packs and Aragorn and Boromir buckled their sheaths to their waists. Before they left Eryn came running out of her room and jumped into Legolas' arms. "Namarië, Ada."

He held her and inhaled slowly. "Namarië, honey." He was crying again. "Don't try to grow up too much until I get back. I love you."

She nodded as he put her down and ran to Êlanna who mouthed, "Go."

Legolas smiled at her and they ran.

The stairs were dangerous now as the rain came down heavier. When they reached the bottom of the stairs they almost collided with Orophin and who remained of the battalion. "They have passed the perimeter, Haldir. We need more men!"

"Find who you can that is left in the city. Tell those who cannot fight to go to Galadriel's flet," Haldir was yelling to be heard over the rain and thunder. "I'll join you soon."

Êlanna stood at the window, trying to see where they were now. She was biting her knuckles nervously. Eryn was standing next to her, staring out. Suddenly, she took off.

"ERYN!" Êlanna screamed as she tore after her daughter. "ERYN, COME BACK!"

Eryn was careful but quick as she put the staircase behind her. She didn't want her Ada to leave. Not now. She didn't want Aragorn and Boromir to die. She didn't want anything to happen. The sudden clap of thunder halted her. She tripped over her dress and fell into the mud. As lightening pierced the sky she thought she saw a huge shadow at the entrance of the city. Frightened, she screamed.

Legolas halted and turned around. Something was wrong. He listened and heard another scream. "ERYN!" He began to sprint back when an arrow flew into his path. He yelled at Aragorn, "I'm going back!"

"Legolas!" Aragorn started to chase after him, but another arrow flew at them. This time it hit its mark and Aragorn cried out as it broke through the flesh on his arm. Facing the Company who were trying to get into the boats without capsizing them, he said, "Find cover!"

Boromir, however, came closer to him, "Where's Legolas?" he asked.

"I'm going to find him," Aragorn replied, pulling the arrow out of his arm and biting back the pain.

"No, stay here. You're hurt; I'll go."

Aragorn didn't have time to argue, so he nodded to Boromir. The Man ran past him and quickly vanished behind the thick veil of rain. He couldn't see where he was going until lightening flashed and lit the sky for a moment. Legolas wasn't far ahead of him. With a burst of speed, Boromir caught up with him, but it was the Elf that pulled him into cover for the next round of arrows. "Legolas, go back."

"No, Eryn is out there," Legolas replied. The fear combined with the quickly arriving weakness made his head light. He moved to continue, but Boromir grabbed his arm saying: "You are already injured badly enough—"

Eryn screamed again.

Instinctively, Boromir ran out into the next loose of arrows. Another bolt of lightening showed him where Eryn was. His heart was beating violently in his chest. He dove for Eryn and just pushed her out of the way to avoid the oncoming arrows, one of which deeply grazed his outer thigh. Barely finishing that motion, Boromir held onto Eryn and ran back for the stairs. He got her to the stairs where Êlanna was. Eryn was crying and hiccupping. "Go to Galadriel," Boromir commanded. "Now, go."

Êlanna was about to run when she halted, petrified, and screamed.

Boromir grabbed Êlanna and held her. The next thing he heard was the sound of a blade cutting through the air, but did not feel the pain he was anticipating. Still holding Êlanna, he turned around. Êlanna screamed.

Legolas pushed his sword hard against the Orc's. "GO, ÊLANNA!"

Boromir released her watched her run. He then drew his own sword and stabbed the one in the stomach. Turning, he put his back against Legolas'. They were quickly surrounded. Their blades flashed in the lightening as they ripped them through every assaulting creature. The Orcs and Uruk-hai began to disperse from them.

"Go back to Aragorn and the others," Legolas said. "I have to find Êlanna and Eryn."

Obeying, Boromir ran back to where they were preparing the boats. Thankfully, there were no Orcs there yet. He found the hobbits crouching together under a tree root. "Where is Aragorn?" he asked them. His eyes flickered over all four of them until Sam pointed with a quivering finger, his mouth twitching, but releasing no sound. Boromir was afraid to turn around, but he did. Only taking a moment to analyze the situation, he sprinted off.

Aragorn was struggling to fight against so many. He was balancing on the river bank, which was growing muddier and less stable every time he moved his feet. His sword was slipping in his hand and he felt the grip lessening in his injured arm. For a moment he saw that this would be the end and then he felt something radiating on his chest. Arwen… In that single moment that he had taken to think about his love instead of his battles, Aragorn felt the handle of a sword crash against his temple and all went black.

"Toss 'im in the river," said the Uruk-hai that had hit him. His followers obeyed, cackling as they did so. He watched a stream of blood follow the human with his green eyes and grinned. "Don't just stand there, you scum!"

Merry had watched this all unfold as the only of the hobbits that had kept his eyes open. He nearly threw up when he heard the splash.

"Merry, come back!" Pippin called as he saw his cousin throw the pack off his shoulders and dive into the river. "Merry!"

The Brandybuck had dived well and he soon saw Aragorn's shadow in the water. Swimming quickly and without disturbing the surface too much, Merry grabbed Aragorn around the waist and dragged him back to shore. He had managed to get all the way back to his friends in a single breath, but knew this was not the time to be proud. Pippin and Sam helped pull the Ranger onto the grass and into the low root system they had been using as a shelter.

"Is he breathing?" Sam asked.

Merry pressed his ear against the Man's chest and listened intently. Fear gripped him immediately.

"Aragorn… Aragorn," he said, slapping him gently. Swallowing hard, Merry tilted Aragorn's neck back and pinched his nose then proceeded to give him mouth to mouth. After the fourth attempt, Aragorn began to cough and immediately turned on his side. It took a moment for the panic to retreat from him. "Are you alright, Aragorn?"

The Man nodded. "Thank—Thank you, Merry," he said, his voice strangled by the small amounts of water still stuck in his throat. When he moved to sit up he felt a searing pain in his head and quickly lay back down. Aragorn heard someone rip a piece of cloth from one of their garments and wrap it around his forehead.

"You shouldn't move too much, Aragorn."

That meant that he wouldn't be able to fight. Aragorn felt incredibly helpless and began to pray fervently that the others would do well, gripping the pendant on his chest. There was faint voice in his head saying: Do not be afraid. I am here.

Boromir had somehow become involved in enough clashes that he was now far from the riverbank. He had to find a way to get back there, but another side of him told him to continue fighting; Aragorn could take care of himself. No decision ended up being made as he became too focused on his sword. The Orcs fought with no reason to their movement, it was all entirely random. Even though Boromir had been raised with a sword, he found them difficult to predict and it put him in danger every time they moved. There was blood on his fingers and his hands, possibly farther up his arms, but his concern became narrowed on his weakening leg. It was almost at the point where he was limping. Finally killing the creature, he tried to find a place that he could stop for a moment and at least dress the wound to stop the blood. He found a very shadowed place behind a group of young trees and tore his sleeve to use as a makeshift bandage. Tying it tightly, he prayed that it would hold until defeat— whose he did not know, but considering the present, it did not look like it would be them.

"Naneth—" Eryn started, sobbing and shaking.

"Shhh, you must be quiet," Êlanna said, looking behind her, telling herself to be brave for her little girl.

"Eryn, listen to me. You must go to the Kardaina behind the flets. Do you know what it looks like?"

Eryn nodded, wiping her eyes. Her face was covered with mud and her pupils seemed to be swallowing the green of her eyes. She was cut in numerous places, bruised, and weak from trembling so violently from the cold and fear. "I don't want to go, Naneth. I want to stay with you."

"I know. I want to stay with you, too. But you must go to the Kardaina and be safe." Êlanna kissed her forehead. "I love you no matter what."

Eryn looked at her mother with the most heartbroken eyes she had ever known then turned and ran.

"Be careful." Valar, watch over her. Burying the fright away, Êlanna searched for her courage and set out with determination to find her husband.

"Êlanna!" Legolas cried as he slew every creature that crossed him. He had to find her. "Êlanna!" There were so many… He was already growing tired and sore. The memory of his father still floated to the front of his mind, growing close to distraction. The Orcs must have been determined to get rid of the Mirkwood royal family if they hunted… them… all the way… "They're after me…" Legolas whispered. He ducked behind a thicket of bushes to have a moment to think. An entire city was in danger because of him. Elves were dying because of him… He was a threat to his friends, his family, his own wife and daughter… If he could run fast enough… but he knew he couldn't. There was no way he could outrun a battalion of Orcs and Uruk-hai. He could only fight. Then a disturbing thought occurred to him. Legolas took a moment to swallow what he was about to do and ran back out into the massacre. He whistled loudly and yelled at the top of his voice: "I am Legolas Greenleaf, son of King Thranduil of Mirkwood. I am who you have searched so desperately for. If you leave this city, you can have me!"

Êlanna froze when she heard a familiar voice echo into the air. If you leave this city, you can have me… "LEGOLAS!" she screamed. Tears streaming down her face, she ran towards his voice.

Legolas stood proudly, his neck held high and his eyes open. His mouth was a perfectly straight line, but he was trembling inside. This could be it. This could finally be it. The end. He looked down at the approaching Uruk-hai, treating it like an inferior.

"You reek of fear, Elf," said the Uruk-hai, green eyes glittering maniacally.

Legolas' strong disposition faltered for a moment as he noticed this. "You have to promise to leave the city."

The Uruk-hai thought for a moment. He brandished his dagger and said, "I think I'd rather kill you now."

Never had any being felt so much fear as Legolas did in that moment. A tear slipped down of his cheek, but he didn't close his eyes. He watched the Uruk start to bring the dagger down and felt his heart stop.

"LEGOLAS!" Êlanna cried, stopping in front of him.

"ÊLANNA!"

The dagger came down and Êlanna fell into Legolas' arms, limp…