I meant to post this last night. But had a problem and I couldn't log on. So here's yesterday's chapter.
Mornflower: Yeah, the summary ended up as 'fsf' because it wasn't letting me upload, so I tried with a shorter summary, and it worked, I changed it now though.
Chapter 2
The skies were much darker a few hours later and the companions knew a storm was approaching. They all knew they would have to find some shelter, or they could end up in serious trouble. They had no knowledge of how serious the storm would be. If they had they would have surely turned round and headed back to Mirkwood. "We'll wait out the storm, there are some caves ahead" Legolas called, struggling to be heard above the rising winds. "Hurry"
The four friends set off towards the river walked heads bowed leading their horses to the river.
By the time they reached he river, the storm had got progressively worse. Legolas looked across to the other side of the river and turned to his friends, "Let me lead the horses" he said, seeing the looks of protest shot his way from the twins he added "I know which places in this river are likely to be safer, and which are not. You can follow me afterwards." Without waiting for a reply he collected the horses by their makeshift reins and stepped into the river, at once he gasped at the sheer coldness of the water. Then bracing himself he led the four horses into the water.
Estel watched Legolas walk through the river apprehensively; when he saw the elf prince reach the other side he breathed a sigh of relief.
"Are you coming?"
Estel started at the sound of the voice, looking around in alarm. He relaxed when he realised that it was only Elladan who was stood knee deep in water
"What? Oh! Yes" Estel replied walking towards them, feeling slightly stupid at not having noticed the twins crossing the stream.
As Estel stepped into the stream he gasped at the sheer coldness of the water, cursing he took another step towards Elladan who stood chest deep in the centre of the stream. Elrohir, the mortal noticed as he took another step, had already reached the other side and was standing with Legolas waiting for him. Deciding it would be better to hurry Estel waded deeper into the stream. However his inexperience in Mirkwood was evident-he knew not where to place his feet-and stumbled many a time, and as he neared Elladan, he slipped on a moss covered rock. Falling forward he reached out for the nearest object, which unfortunately was Elladan. He grasped the elf's tunic, pulling him under the water with him. The two elves on the bank watched with horror as they disappeared under the raging waters. After a few seconds of waiting, Estel's head appeared from the water, spluttering he managed to crawl to where Legolas held out his arm to pull him in. Elrohir stood looking out at the waters waiting for his twin to resurface. After a few more moments the younger twin waded back into the water, calling his twins name over and over again. Legolas watched as he handed Estel a spare blanket from his own pack. Elrohir ducked under the water searching for a sign of his brother. Searching the bottom his hand brushed against something that felt strangely like hair. Reaching out Elrohir grabbed the body and swam upwards, resurfacing with a large gasp for air. Looking at the figure in his arms he was relieved to find it was Elladan. "Thank Elbereth" he breathed swimming to shore and helping Legolas push his unconscious twin onto the grass and then into the cave. Kneeling over him Legolas began to resuscitate Elladan, in a matter of moments the twin spluttered and coughed up water, "Wha…what happened" he breathed.
"You nearly drowned. Are you alright?" Legolas said stepping back to allow a relieved Elrohir to pull him brother into an embrace,
"I'm fine, except I think I've broken my ankle and I'm unable to breathe" he shoved his twin away from him, "Get off me Elrohir. I'm alive!"
"When you didn't surface…I thought…"
"Yes you thought. And as usual you were wrong" Elladan replied
"Stop bickering," Legolas laughed "You simply worry about each other far too much!" he glanced over at Estel, who was sat huddled in the blanket, "Estel, are you well?" he asked concernedly.
"I…I am fine," the mortal replied "Just a little cold"
"A fire would be a good idea" said Elladan. Legolas looked at him; the Elf Prince did not like to light a fire in the midst of Mirkwood. Few did. The horrors a fire could attract were not the kind that he wished to fight, he looked around at the shivering mortal.
"I do not sense any evil he agreed and anything that dares venture out in this storm, must either be desperate or stupid."
"Which are we?" laughed Elladan
"Well, I don't know about me, but you definitely fit into the latter category" replied Elrohir with a grin. "Where is that fire Legolas!" he yelled
"Well that's nice" Legolas said entering the cave "I'm the Prince of this realm and I still get order…" he stopped "Did you hear that?" he said
"Hear what?" asked Estel confusedly. But Legolas wasn't listening
"There. That. Elladan, Elrohir, did you hear that?"
"Legolas we can't hear anything" Elladan asked shooting a glance at his twin
"Someone needs help" Legolas said, dropping the wood and walking to the cave entrance and grabbing his weapons.
"Where are you going?" Elladan demanded
"I have to go; I'm Prince of this realm. If someone is in trouble I'm expected to help them"
"We are coming too then" Estel said, rising shakily.
"No!" Legolas said "I'm going alone. Elladan you can't walk on your ankle, Estel, you are not going out of this cave. Ilyanna would kill us if she saw you"
"It's just a cold" Estel protested
"Elrohir, you need to stay here, if there is any trouble, they'll need your help." And with that he disappeared into the stormy night.
Legolas stepped into the midst of the storm and pulled his hood over his face, he then began to make his way along the river bank, the voice-definitely that of a female was still crying out for help, mixed with it were the sounds of sobbing.
"Where are you" he yelled, hearing the cry again he raced off in the direction it came from, the cry becoming more frequent and louder. "I'm coming!" called "Hold on" then the cries ceased. He burst into a clearing; breathing deeply "Where are you?" he called again…then all went silent. The prince no longer heard the sounds of the storm…instead a void filled his mind, blocking out all sound.
Thought I was gone did you? Well…I never left. I lured you here and like a fool you fell for it!
Legolas turned around
And this time you won't escape and neither will your friends. Yes they too will be taken care off
"Who are you?" Legolas snapped "And if you hurt my friends I shall kill you!"
And how do you propose to kill a voice in your head? Ah, do not be foolish little Prince. You cannot defeat me!
"And how can a voice in my head do me harm?" Legolas fired back
Quite Easily little Prince, Quite Easily, You do not know how much pain I shall cause you!
Pain erupted in Legolas' mind; he cried out in agony and fell to his knees clutching his head. As quickly as it had occurred however, the pain passed and the elf prince got shakily to his feet.
Looking around the clearing he shuddered and began to walk away, but as he reached the edge of the clearing he slowly turned…his eyes widened with terror at what he heard. An unmistakable noise…Orcs!
Cursing Legolas turned around and fled the clearing…
Back at the cave, the sons of Elrond were getting worried about Legolas. Elladan and Elrohir sat against one of the walls silently, while Estel sat by the fire looking out into the woods, it was dark, dreary, and wet. The trees towered high above and the storm still showed no signs of letting up. "Where do you think Legolas is?" He asked
"I really don't know" Elladan replied "He shouldn't have gone out in this weather. His Father will murder us if anything happens to him" but Estel wasn't listening, he was staring out into the woods…
"Elladan…Elrohir…" he whispered.
"What is it?"
"Are those Eyes?" Estel whispered
Elrohir came to stand behind him and looked into the tall trees, suddenly he cursed. For he too could see the yellow eyes staring at him from the branches, branches they could use to cross the river.
"Get away from the fire Estel!" he hissed pulling the startled mortal into the shadows, get your sword ready!"
"What are they?" asked Estel
"Spiders" replied Elrohir casting a dark look at his twin. "One of most evil things to dwell in Mirkwood,"
"Spiders!" Estel whispered his eyes widening in terror
"Yes, they are very fast, and their poison can be deadly. The easiest way to kill them is to slice open the underbelly" Elrohir told him
"But…"
"To do that though you'll have to blind them"
A rustling in trees outside the cave, made the three brothers start. Then a clicking noise sounded through the storm…and yellow eyes began to appear in the cave entrance…
TBC…
I'll post 3 either tonight or tomorrow