So here it is, betaed and down, with thanks to MORNFLOWER!!! The twins are in it a lot, so there you go for the absence in the last chapter. My friend did live to run the VCR, they are fortunate.
Elladan: You wouldn't kill us, you would want to anger the fans. Right?
Elrohir: Do not show fear, the authoresses can smell it mile away.
I don't have to smell it, I write it.
Estel: Stupid Elves.
I killed you last time. I have no inhibitions to stop me again. Be warned…
Estel: Creepy.
Answering to the Threat
Chapter Ten: Off to Lothlorien We Go
Two horses rode through high grass, carrying riders too tired to notice the animals' heads bobbing down every now and then to grab bits of the prairie. They kept their pace, for the most part, the mounted elves sleeping with the strange way of the elves. Identical heads bobbed simultaneously with each meeting of ground and hoof, making the twins look comical. Their horses were told where to go; they would not need guidance from the pair for a little while, long enough to get some shut eye in the bright sunlit fields. They had decided, or the horses did rather, that the farmer of whose fields had the light tramplings of elven horses, could live with the small loss of yield.
The river ran before them, and they unanimously decided it was time for a short drink. The heads and necks slipped forward took suck up the cool seat water. The precariously balanced elves slid slowly forward as they came around to their position. "Daro, whoa!" The fully aware animals held their positions as the twin elves made twin fools of themselves as the hauled themselves back on.
"Elrohir, are you aware of where we are, I mean, these horses are fast." Elladan looked around, "We are almost at the Anduin!"
Elrohir glanced up at his brother, whose voice started a headache, "Great."
"Yes brother, as our cynical Silvan brethren would say, but of course the horses are from Mirkwood. Then Legolas would go on to describe at great monotonous detail the difference in our cultures, us being more inclined to become scholars, bookworms, and they being the cunning warriors." Elrohir smiled, 'I have that speech memorized as well, the warrior was right.'
"Ah, yes brother, but our dear friend failed to mention that the reason he is not an exceedingly wise scholar in histories of the past, is that he showed up for his lessons as a teenaged elf either half asleep, or sneaking in a bottle of Lothlorien's finest." Elladan grinned, they were picking at an old tender spot in their friends cold exterior, and he wasn't even here to defend himself.
"Elladan, do not go to hard on him, I've seen his old teacher, you would have needed to be asleep to get through his lectures. He's nice and educated, but just a little dull." Elrohir remembered Legolas reprimanded for running in the hall. The teacher failed to notice that twenty other young novice fighters were doing it for exercise at the same time, to make use of the stairs inside, Legolas was leading them in the training.
"Ah, the old geezer, no wonder. Come, let us get to Lothlorien, so we can get back and pull our friend and brother out of whatever trouble they've stirred up." Elladan glanced around seeing the forest ahead. Tapping the messenger's stallion, it lifted its head.
"Ready to run, brother? Noro lim!" Elrohir glanced up to his brother slowly catching up to him. "Brother, let us see how far we can get in with out the March Warden sensing us. Five gold pieces says three miles?"
Elrohir laughed, "I take that bet, we could make it four if these fine animals," he talked sweetly into his mare's ear to woo her, "would ran as hard and quietly as we are led to believe from the word of the Mirkwood prince."
"You know that Legolas hates to be called that, right? Even I don't cross that line, much." Elladan turned in too face his brother, noticing a wince from the sharp pain in his leg, reminding him of their mission. "I wonder if we should have left those two alone, the lord of trouble, and the only person who has shot himself in the stomach with a slingshot, twice, in the same day."
"Oh Elladan, you sound like a mother hen, they are probably fine. Legolas is usually artfully able to avoid seriously problems on his own. With luck, Estel made friends with him, and he'll drag our brother with him." Elrohir sighed, and directed his horse to run even with his brother's.
"What of the woman, Myliné, they are most definitely driving her up the wall. Legolas is probably bossing her around to keep her out of trouble. Estel's probably bumbling around her like a love struck wasp, even if he doesn't mean it. She seems remarkably calm for what slaughter descended her village. Poor dear, if she did show any real emotion, she would scare the two of them worse than she was before. I can't see Legolas being sympathetic to emotion, anymore than a wolf saying I'm sorry to a lamb that had two of its legs broken." Elladan shook his head as the forest became nearer.
"You judge him too hard, I think when she started to cry, he would find the nearest and ask its advise on what was wrong. Then she would start to laugh, and his problem would be solved until they hit the bit of open plain." Elrohir smirked, and rubbed his leg feeling heat emanating from the sore area, "But that is not an issue until I convince our esteemed Lady Galadriel, and grandmother, to let us go back with that new fancy hole in my leg."
"You know, you could just not let them see, and call it a sprain." Elladan frowned after as he saw Elrohir wince and take a swig of the painkiller he brewed. "I saw that, I would not assist you until I knew you could handle yourself in battle, on foot, for at least twenty minutes." Elrohir glared at him. "I would not help you escape until I am sure that we will not end up become casualties ourselves, what logic is that."
"You listened to our ada more than I ever suspected, my dear brother, memorizing his speeches with too much detail and precision." Elrohir knew his brother was right, for once, but he'd be damned if he was going to admit it aloud.
"As a Silvan would say, we are Noldor, the knowledgeable ones of the three remaining realms." Elladan glanced about, "We are officially in the realms of Golden Wood, watch intently and oh yeah, shut up!"
"That wasn't very tactful, brother of our world. Elladan is it." The horses snorted, and glanced slightly to the right of them. The March Warden himself and five other border patrolmen stood there looking very pleased with themselves.
"Elrohir, for the score, half a mile is closer to three than four." Elladan grinned. "Well met, Haladir of Lothlorien, couldn't you have popped out of the bush two and a half miles up. It was in five gold pieces for me."
"I am afraid we had advanced notice from the Lady that two kinsmen of hers would burst into this edge of the forest bearing hidden ill news. We were assigned to wait here for you." Haladir smile knowingly, "And one does not disobey the Lady for a mere bet."
"What how did you know about that?" Elladan looked at them, uncomprehending. Elrohir glanced at them, knowing his own expression probably wasn't much more restrained.
"If we had waited until you were three or four miles in, as Galadriel saw in the mirror, one of you would have uncontrollable chronic poisoning from a poisoned arrow, and the other's horse would have broken a leg." Haladir seemed to be enjoying this foreknowledge a little too much. Though at that minute Elrohir seemed too get woozy and the horse struggled shifting around to keep him on.
"Hey, 'Ro, I guess I missed something, I am sorry. Hey 'Ro! Get down before you fall down." He felt himself sliding down of the side of stallion, which was doing it's best to keep his injured rider on. Elladan gripped his brother's waist and hauled him onto his mare. "Elrohir, too bad grandmother is as accurate as she says she is." He heard his brother sigh.
"I think it is you who has been aiding the orcs. You just gave them a new concoction of poison to work with," He shut his eyes feeling nauseous. "And I was the first person to get caught with it. Unless Estel tripped over one of the blades after one of the battles Legolas seems to attract."
"Lords, I suggest we hurry to the city, before your playful banter is impossible. There is a powerful anti-toxin with a few warriors ahead, make haste Lords." The six warriors of Lothlorien turned their own animals and started to trot off. "Elladan and Elrohir, do who know what is going on."
Elladan shifted his hold on Elrohir holding so that lean his head on his brother's shoulder. "We'll tell what is happening in a counsel. This poison might be a type of vine called bearstalk; it will not cause harm to treat for it generally now. I just wonder how they got a hold of it. It only grows near Rivendell, so close that any elf would be able to sense wrong."
"I believe you are correct, I feel like I have been to a really good party last night, its effects are described to start out like a hangover." Elrohir's head bounced loosely, "I don't think we would have any of the black fern out here, the antidote, I've never seen it." He started to feel sick.
"It's going to be fine, we're almost there. We'll get some of the herbs, and then, hey stay with us alright." Elladan kept him from falling off his horse. Elrohir looked around watching as the field on the border disappeared. The golden wood, was beautiful in the fall the leaves drifting slowly down. They drifted and settled glinting from the patches of the sun like spun gold. His eyes drifted shut watching a leaf fall to the forest floor. A horse's hoof crushed it.
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Legolas swayed back on forth on horse riding through pure instinct. He was miffed. They were at least two days behind where they should have been. They should have been in Imladris by now, and telling Elrond the new peril and taking steps to counter it, or at least arguing with the Noldor counselors that 'No, it does exist', and 'I am not drunk'. Instead he was roaming over the country side, not a tree insight, and not a one, until they were at least another hours' decent ride. He was sure he had a bottle of scotch from the second age around somewhere. He was going to share it as a job well done at Rivendell with the ranger. Though looking back to his human companions, lagging behind, again, nearly an quarter of a mile back, he figured that having the cool refreshing drink by himself as they caught up was not, as Myliné would have put it, a 'bigee.'
Reaching back in his saddlebag, the close one, his hands clasped the smooth glass. Legolas pulled out the bottle and swinging around he sensed the entity was very near. It had been hovering ahead of them for days now; disappearing at night, staying between them and their goal during the day. Legolas hated the feel of it; it was like watching someone you care about die, repetitively. He could not tell what it was; nothing had ever presided like this before. It hovered between them and Rivendell staying far enough away to remain unidentified, but wisp of its presence haunted the elf. It dimmed the light of the day casting shadow ahead. He had been hoping to find it pushing the horses hard, but they were no closer. Legolas knew he was wrong of what he sensed before; it was not malice, but pure sorrow. He was no empath, but he could tell this.
He uncorked the glass bottle and took a shallow sip, and regretfully put it away. If the enemy, the warg riders were tracking him, this was a perfect time for an assault. He could not sense anything but the spirit, or whatever, not even the horse underneath him or his falcon in the sky. The falcon roamed back and forth far ahead, only Legolas' elf eyes could see him. If the falcon found something, it would fly straight back to him, as fast as it was able. Legolas watched the bird, meditating, trying to shield his exposed mind from the sadness that seemed to be guiding them to Rivendell. If the Valar thought he needed an escort to get the job done, they could have at least sent a happy soul, or something. He doubted the enemy was creative enough to figure such a thing to block surveillance.
His horse tossed her head and whinnied bringing him somewhat out of his peace. He tried to ignore the world, the sorrow, not to mention the stinging sensation of healing wounds. Aragorn was trying to talk to him. His horse had apparently stopped during this little moment of self-tranquility he was valiantly trying to obtain. "You know, Legolas, you would not be so tired and fall asleep in the middle of the day if you actually slept at night during my watches."
Legolas just turned to him with a somewhat cynical frowning; 'don't make me kill you, because I have nowhere else to hide a body' look. "Ranger, I was asleep then, elves, as you should know being raised by them, do not need to look asleep while being, asleep."
"Oh dear Legolas," Myliné obviously have nothing better to intrude upon said, "You are so weary, you can not even come up with a witty comeback."
"You," he almost yawned but caught himself, "can think enough for the both of us." At night when the sense disappeared left him mind raw, and painful, it takes from him feeds on his mind, he was sure. The dead have no source of life, so they must take it from the living. 'Alright,' he thought to himself, 'I think I've had one to many sips of scotch in my life, listening to one to many ghost tales.'
"We should get a few more miles in before dark. I know you want to go sleep in nice bed as soon as possible, aye." Legolas tapped his horse and she broke into a fresh trot. He looked back and saw them both shrug, the spurred their horses up. They in turn passed him. His mare was not going to be last, no way. She started to easy gallop and cut between them.
They kept going faster racing each other. These horses were some of the fastest in Mirkwood. They were trained and exercised for the sport. Estel's began to fall behind, but not by much. Legolas urged his mare on in elvish. Myliné saw the sport in this and start whispering to her gelding, trying to imitate the words Legolas was saying with surprising accuracy. The mare and her young foal were neck and neck; Legolas was pondering Myliné sudden riding ability and it stemming from the desire to show him up.
Myliné started to yell, screaming as she gripped the saddle and hung on for dear life, "Legolas make him stop now, or else!" She started to yell louder, "I mean it, Legolas, if I fall off," she began just screeching.
"Daro ha." The three horses all slid to a stop slowly. Legolas did not call it from Myliné's desire to forfeit the race in fear of death. Celebtir, his falcon was flying at record speed, straight towards them, crying in alarm.
His senses suddenly cleared. There was a trap in front of them, and ambush. They had raced into it. They were hiding in the trees they had run up to. "Damn it." He did not know why he was suddenly able to feel everything again, but he was glad. Fate finally started to agree with him for now. If he was careful they might live to see it again.
"Aragorn, le lasto enni, daro, aphado nin, avo visto, avo bedo, nad nâ ennas." (Listen to me, stop, follow me, don't stray, do not speak, something is out there) Legolas whispered in low undertones. The horses also understood and lined up behind him.
"Man cenich?" (What do you see?) Aragorn was looking around as well.
Legolas, looked back to them, "There is an ambush."
A double cliffy! Wha ha ha! Sorry, I feel spiteful cause I watched a sad movie and everybody, including the eternally hot favorite character died off an anime (Samurai X Reflections).
Estel: Lucky bastard.
Hanyou (evil authoress's friend): IF YOU DARE CALL KENSHIN HIMURA A BASTRAD AGAIN, I SWEAR THE HITOKIRI BATTOUSAI a.k.a Kenshin WILL HUNT YOU DOWN FROM HIS GRAVE. sniff Poor Kenny….
(Sorry non-Kenshin fans)
(P.S. Himura Kenshin is a former assassin of the Japanese feudal era. He would kick Elrohir's and Elladan's asses any day!!!)
(P.S.S. 'Battousai' means 'sword-bearing master assassin.)
(P.S.S.S. I'll shut up now.)
Thank you
DEMONESS RETAKES CONTROLL OF THE COMPUTER!!!!
Elladan: Should we be happy or frightened.
I would actually find it quite comical to see him, a puny short human put you in your collective places, at the same time. He is really hot compared to the likes of you.
Legolas: Even me?
Maybe, depends what you'd do for me. You can cook right?
Legolas: (rolls eyes) Shure, right.
Okay Kenshin's better, why don't the readers vote? Check the ( the-oro . com ) for pictures. Review first!
Reviewer Responses:
SakuraRangerGrl: Thanks for the review, and you put me on your favourite stories list. Thankyou!!!
Mornflower: You know I am eternally grateful, hope this chapter wasn't too bad for errors, I did not get a whole lot of time to fix it myself, sorry!! Got another sneak peek, glad you signed up, heh. Thankyou!!!!! You forgot to email me the chapter, funny. Thanks!!
Oh by the way, Hanyou, the idiot with the Inu Yasha story, wants a beta, do not, I repeat not sign up. She was going to hurt me intensly if I did not say something. Or worse yet, at least hide my new sad movie from me.
HANYOU: PWEASE!!!
SAVE, SA- VE, Me
Legolas: No.
