Hey guys, this is another update for you.
In the next chapter, there'll be an explanation of the dissention ritual and the consequences so wait patiently for your answers to be revealed!
I don't owe anything to do with LOTR or Peter Jackson's work.
Servant Rule Number Seven:- The welfare and safety of your master lies always in your hands.
They avoided each other the next day, Legolas for he felt embarrassed for his behaviour and Isil for her battered emotions. They skirted each other when they heard each other and tried to carry out their normal day as far away from the other's presence as possible but the day that followed after that which was Isil's birth year, things were dramatically tipped on its head. Isil was guaranteed a birth year she never forgot for a long time.
It began early in the morning when the maids were just stirring to wake their masters when the guard's horn blew, it's deep clear note echoed in the palace's spires, sending the birds flying and soldiers running.
Legolas was up as soon as he heard the horn, not that he was asleep anyway.
His mind was troubled of late which prevented him from doing much.
Hurrying downstairs into the courtyard where nearly all the palace staff and inhabitants gathered, he saw a blood-soaked elf upon a horse riding into the palace grounds.
"My prince!" the elf called but got no further when his drained body slumped to the ground. Running over to the fallen elf, Legolas pushed aside a few soldiers and knelt down, "Who did this to you?"
"We're under attack. Orcs roam the forests and they attacked the village in the east just off the forest road. They are not far off. They'll attack!" The elf spluttered, determined to past his message on to his prince and sovereign. He slumped in the prince's grasp due to blood lost and exhaustion, leaving the prince to stare at him, his mind clouded with the news.
"Milord! The orcs are by the river, there's about three thousand of them and a few hours march away." An elf cried from the guard house where it offered a panoramic view of the land surrounding the palace.
"Sound the calls to arms." Legolas snapped to a soldier who bellowed the command to the tower, the horn sang its piercing note and there was a mad scramble as elves scattered from the courtyard to take up their call to battle.
Legolas turned and quickly headed to his quarters, aware that he was being followed by his servants.
Once in his quarters, Arkle unlocked the armoury in the prince's room and handed the armour to Isil and Keay who suited him up.
"My sword!" he barked at Arkle and it was quickly retrieved and strapped round the prince's waist. He asked Keay to get his arrows and his bow as he and Isil attached the white blades to his back.
"Arkle go and tell Horthe to line up a rank of archers to head into the west, he'll know what I mean from that. Keay, find my father and ask him what he plans to do."
Legolas ordered and both servants scurried from the room to comply to their orders.
He looked up to see Isil with the box containing his mother's necklace in it and smiled, he gave her a nod and watched her unlock the box and retrieved the necklace. She undid the clasp and fastened it round Legolas's bowed neck, "Be safe." She whispered and grasped his hand, she lifted it to her lips and pressed a kiss on the back of his hand, aware that her voice trembled at the prospect of losing him to battle and war.
"I'll be back." He replied softly, he turned her hand and pressed it against his chest to feel his heart beat that hammered away. "Take care my friend."
Arkle arrived to say that his orders were being carried out as they speak, he was quickly followed by Keay who relayed his father's message.
"If anything happens and our palace defences fall, flee. Don't worry for me." Legolas commanded his servants and they all nodded weakly, each to their own thoughts and prayers.
He took in Isil's form one last time and turned to join his men waiting down below in the courtyard.
Isil hurriedly walked down to the basement where all palace inhabitants that weren't fighting were ordered by the king to go.
Beneath the palace foundations laid numerous hidden rooms where they would be safe throughout the battle.
She looked at the dark, cold stairwell that was hidden behind walled panelling and stopped. Far off, she could hear the sounds of horses galloping, shouts and clamours of footsteps.
Slowly turning, she headed back up to the palace hall which laid silent and out into the bustling courtyard where armed soldiers hurried. She'd flee when she's seen the palace over-run and Legolas brought down. But until then, she planned to see the battle.
"Isil? What are you doing here?" a voice called and she turned to see the king walking up to her, "You must go down to the caves. It's far too dangerous for you out here."
"I'm not the only elleth out here." Isil pointed to some ladies who were adamant on not going to the caves and flee like weaklings. They wished to meet an honourable death if means so. Thranduil raised an eyebrow as her refusal but said nothing more.
"Please let me stand with them, I'll protect them with a bow if needs be." Isil pleaded, she didn't expect his hand to clamp down on her shoulder or him to bark an order for a bow to be brought to him. He handed her the bow and a quiver full of arrows and said, "You'll do one better, would you protect your king?"
"Ye...Yes!" Isil stammered, Thranduil smiled, "I've seen you on the archery field so I know your aim is good. Come. We must get into position before the first attack."
They headed up to the palace walls which were heavily fortified with guards and soldiers, all armoured and on standby with arrows notched and swords drawn. The chink and rattle of armour along with cries of orders mingled the air and it wasn't until Isil stood on top of the command tower did she realised that the noise came from outside the city walls. There, below her was an army strong, box-like ranks held their positions with armour shining in the sun as horses galloped into positions. Banners fluttered in the wind, each declaring their own house and all were united under the flag and orders of Mirkwood.
"Where are the enemy?" Thranduil barked at an officer, he in turn pointed to the trees with foliage so think that it was impossible to see. "They are amongst the trees my lord, scouts confirmed they are half a league away."
"Form ranks." Thranduil said, and a horn was rung. With uniformed precision, Isil watched the boxes of men fall out and hurry to the front to form long lines, a silver sea of armour all twinkling in the sun. From this line stepped forth another line, these were armed with bows and would lead the attack. Each archer had a soldier who would hand them their arrows and quickly gather those that are spent, Thranduil knew their strength was in archery and he planned to use it to the full.
"Legolas is leading the first wave milord." The elf told Thranduil who nodded. Isil, overhearing this looked down the first rank of archers, trying to pick out the prince's distinctive blonde hair. She found him close by, walking down the ranks and shouting last minute orders, his voice rising on the wind as he raised the morale of his troops.
She turned to Thranduil as he muttered a prayer, asking Eru to guide each arrow true and strength to his only beloved son who still shouted his orders. She watched Legolas's orders being carried out, a runner on horseback leapt off his mount and stood before Legolas, there was an exchange between the two that Isil couldn't hear and the runner leapt back on his horse and urged it to gallop to the mounted Calvary. She watched the multicoloured horses, hues of white, brown and tan shift like a flock of birds to the far side of the battle field, prompting Isil to ask Thranduil what was Legolas doing.
"He'll planning an attack from the side when the enemy come into view." The king replied, it was at that moment that the chants and foul cries of their invisible enemies arose on the wind. From the trees, they saw like spiders, orcs scuttling out into view.
"They hate the sunlight, they wouldn't attack so foolishly unless they have something up their sleeve." Thrnaduil mused as he watched the battle plan unfold before him. Isil spotted it first and shouting, she pointed to the orcs pouring what looked to be water onto the trees. They watched as torches were brought forward and set the trees on fire.
"They plan to block the sun with smoke!" Isil exclaimed, not liking this one bit.
"Which way is the wind blowing?" Thranduil barked but before him the answer was clear as the wind blew the smoke over the elven army, temporarily blocking their sight.
"Sweet Eru!" an elf exclaimed, Thranduil narrowed his eyes dangerously as Isil watched in horror how her kind was now blinded from the waiting, leering army.
"Isil, give them light in darkness, something to aim for." Thranduil said and Isil looked at him in confusion. "Fire an arrow." He explained and Isil nodded, she drew an arrow and watched it get rapped in flammable material, it was quickly lit and Isil drew it back, arms and string, tensed and poised.
"Now aim it so it'll land before Legolas, he'll see it and know what to do." Thranduil softly instructed, Isil willed away her inner battle of nerves and fought the pain in her shaking arm. She looked over the battlefield to see the smoke momentarily parted to reveal the prince. She let the arrow go and watched it fall, a lighted beacon that stood out from the smoke.
It impaled itself into the ground, even through the smog it was visibly clear. In the darkness of the smoke, Isil watched the front line archers lit their arrows and aimed, in one clear note, all arrows was released and unearthly screams rung, signalling they had aimed in the correct direction and hit their mark.
"Well done." Thranduil clapped his hand down on Isil's shoulder and smiled, "Commence attack!"
The horn rang and in the smoke, they heard the arrows sing and swords shrilled, the deathly music of battle was being played blindly before them and all they could do was watch with baited breath.
The only thing that made the battle visible was the flames from arrows and trees and the occasional shimmer of masses of swords and armour whenever there was a break in the smoke. They saw shadows silhouetted before the burning trees, spectre-like as they thrust and parried, some triumph whilst others fall and no one could tell who was winning or the positions of each other.
The wind by some holy fate, shifted and the smoke drifted over the trees and the orc army, blinding them in turn and revealing before the elven king and Isil the situation of the battle. The orcs, over-confident of their surprised tactic and smoke have pushed themselves too far out from the cover of the trees and were now in the middle of open ground and in direct sunlight.
They screamed and howled, turning blindly to try and get away from the sun but were struck down by swords and arrows. From the far side of the battle field came the great sea of horsed riders galloping in between the orcs and the tree cover, in turn sandwiching them to either be trampled upon or struck down.
Some of the orcs have gotten themselves in the tree cover that surrounded the palace and began launching a direct attack on the city walls. Ladders were sprung p and Thranduil exclaimed with surprise when he watched orcs climb up and demanded that the horn was sound again, this time to indicate that the town was under attack.
Isil watched the soldiers shift from the battle field where the orcs were held at bay by the riders and the sun to run to defend their homeland. Isil drew her arrows and let them loose, some were deflected by orcish armour but many struck true, another quiver was bought to her as she ran out. Then another as Thranduil barked orders.
Isil looked down to see if there were anymore orcs only to see Legolas fighting directly beneath them, Thranduil peered over the edge and yelled down to his son, "Get to the gates, they are trying to break in!"
Legolas looked up and nodded at his father's concerned form, he knew he was eyeing the arrow protruding from his shoulder but there was nothing anyone could do now. he was however surprise to see Isil standing next to him with a bow notched and ready, he faintly heard her scream and the arrow flew down.
He threw himself flat on the floor and heard a grunt. Rolling on his back, he saw an orc slump to the ground.
"Run! I'll cover you!" Isil screamed, already with another arrow notched. The prince scrambled to his feet and yelled for some assistance in taking out what looked to be twenty orcs with a crude and heavy battering ram.
He was quickly joined by Horthe who roared and attacked the orcs with no mercy, and between the two battle harden warriors, they took out the troupe of orcs that threatened Mirkwood.
The orc army have retreated though the sounds of battle from the forest rang in elven ears. Thranduil bellowed the order to open the gates and this was complied, Legolas and Horthe stumbled in, looking for the king as he hurried down the fortress wall's steps.
"Get mounted and follow the orcs into the forest. Push them away from our frontier." Thranduil ordered and both elves before him bowed their heads and ran to where two stable hands had horses waiting.
Legolas called to Horthe and ordered him to round up the horsed archers and lead them into the forest.
Isil watched him re-arm himself with arrows and a new sword as he chuckled his former one to the floor where it was broken from the hilt. Her heart hammered with happiness at his very presence and that he was alive. Her fingers itched to reach out and stroke his hair from his battle weary face, smudged with orc blood and mud.
Then to her sickly horror, Legolas called over a healer and ordered him to quickly sort out his injured shoulder where she saw the stump of the arrow shaft protruding.
The healer insisted Legolas sat down and he did so on the bottom step of a flight of stairs. The healer helped Legolas shrug out of his armour and shirt and when his shoulder was bare, Isil could see the full extent of the injury.
The flesh round the arrow was swollen and discoloured with the aggravation of the arrow, which has made the ripped hole bigger as Legolas moved his arm throughout battle. It oozed sickly, dark red blood and even Legolas cringed at the sight of the wound.
Thranduil winced at his son and Isil frowned, "With your permission milord." Isil bowed her head and Thranduil looked at her, "Please do so."
Isil hurriedly walked over to the crouched healer and Legolas and knelt down, "I'm his maid. Is there anything I can do?" she ignored Legolas stare and listened to the healer explaining the complications of this injury. Apparently the arrow has gone into his shoulder but not all the way through. They cant pull it out the way it came as it'll do more harm than good. They need to push the arrow through to the other side of Legolas's shoulder and withdraw it that way. "I need to fight." Growled Legolas as the healer prodded the wound.
"The way it looks right now, I don't think you will. This type of wounds can be dangerous and cause long time damage if not treated right." The healer replied smoothly, obviously use to healing difficult patients.
"Son, I think you should listen." Thranduil stepped over, hearing the exchange of words.
"No! There's a battle to be won." Legolas bolted to his feet, staring eye to eye with his father who didn't look fazed. Something told Isil this isn't the first time father and son had disagreements like this.
"The battle is already won, let Horthe take over. He'll understand. Mirkwood's only heir is at stake and I cant afford to loose you." Thranduil rationally explained, Isil watched Legolas's face crumble from stern anger to sorrow as he apologised for not understanding.
"All is forgiven, Let the healer's look at you. Isil, take him to his room." Thranduil called forth Isil who nodded. Legolas accepted her arm around his waist to support him as they headed towards the palace. He realised he wasn't as strong as he thought and shifted his weight for Isil to bear. She stumbled then called for aid, the healer ran up and between them, they shifted Legolas's mass and hurried to the prince's bedroom.
They stumbled in and placed Legolas on the bed where he groggily sat up, "Get him undressed. I need to go get the healers." The healer instructed and Isil nodded.
Legolas having heard this has already unbuckled his armour and it fell to the floor with a clang. Isil pulled his shirt from his trousers and with a fine elven dagger, ripped the shirt's sleeve so it wouldn't become tangled with the arrow stump. The bloody shirt joined the growing number of dirty garments on the floor and she kicked them away, as he sat bare in only his breeches. "Legolas, stay awake." She ordered him as he sagged against her, she heard him swallow and wince when she pressed a clean cloth to the arrow to try and stop it bleeding. The cloth was stained red in matter of minutes and Isil was starting to despair.
The door opened again to reveal a group of healers, all worrying and chattering as they ushered Isil aside and took over. A potion was given to Legolas which made him delirious and oblivious to pain, Isil watched the healers sit him upright and talk amongst themselves on how they were going to do this. A few minutes more and it was decided. The leading healer turned and looked at Isil, "We need you to support him. It's not going to be nice to watch so you may wish to turn your head." Isil crawled across the huge bed and knelt upon the mattress behind the prince who was lowered into her arms.
"Isil?" he murmured and his head turned to see her face, his hand weakly sought out her own and she grasped it, smiling weakly she softly said, "It'll be alright."
The prince nodded and closed his eyes, not aware of the pain and content in her arms.
"on the count of three....." the healer who was assigned the task of pushing the arrow through his shoulder warned.
"One....."
Isil shifted so the prince's head was upon her shoulder, his eyes closed and chest heaving.
"Two......" she held him tight to her, whispering to him it'll be alright as she soothed his feverish skin with the tender caresses of her own.
"Three!" the healer pushed the shaft through and with a rip of skin and a fountain of blood, the arrow forced it's sharp point through. Legolas screamed and bucked against Isil who felt his every muscle taunt and rigid. Then he slumped and Isil panicked.
"He's fainted. Best thing for him really." A healer squeezed her hand as she sobbed. Feeling like a fool, she wiped her tears away and lowered Legolas to the bed and rolled him on his side to give better access for the healers.
"We need you to just stay with him and make sure he's alright." She was ordered and she did so, stroking Legolas's pale face and dabbing his forehead with a cool cloth.
"Will he be alright?" Thranduil asked, Isil looked up and saw the king's worried face. He was consoled by the healer who wrapped the wound tightly that Legolas's will be fine and there was nothing more anyone could do.
She didn't know how long she knelt there but when she looked up to see the healer, he was finished in his task and told Isil he was needed elsewhere. He handed her a pack of herbs and gave her instructions regarding the padding which needed changing every so often and cleaned with alcohol in case of infection. The prince wasn't to move from the bed in case he stretched the wound and if in pain, mix him the usual concoction.
And then he was gone.
Isil looked round the disturbingly quiet room and sighed.
He was alive.
Drugged and in pain but alive. Relief flooded her system and she looked down to the sleeping prince and smiled. She brushed his hair from his face as her thoughts turned to his whispered words days ago that felt like years. It was all down to her to make a move. And he'll be waiting.
