Authors notes: Thank you very much for your patience and kind comments. I
bid welcome to a new reviewer leralonde (thank you for your great comments)
and thank my faithful ones!!!! Sorry for all the delays but I have just
finished my 2nd year university exams, which were very hard. Except when
our stupid department left the answers to part of the exam on the paper and
had to stop and restart a 3 hour exam!!!! Then I had to pack and get home!
Hopefully now things should get back to at least once a week posting! On a
totally unrelated topic I have now learned how to steer a horse without
reins, with eyes closed and no stirrups so almost elf like!!!
Eomer grunted as he stumbled over a tree root. With a weary sigh he looked
back to find that he had in fact only travelled a matter of metres when it
felt like he travelled many miles. Just as he was about to start another
round of cursing he heard a sound that sent shivers down his spine.
"Nazgul! Bloody Nazgul! When I die the Valor and I am going to have strong
words!"
Wondering like a drunk through the wood using the trees as support he began to see the very familiar signs of battle. Dead bodies of orcs, humans and dwarfs littered the ground. The stench of blood made his stomach roll, he had seen it many times before but still it made him feel ill. The waste of life, each one had a family and to every warrior of Rohans' family he would have to say that their son or husband died for the greater good. The greater good! They never cared whether it was for the greater good; the ones they loved were dead. Who cares why?
The Nazgul screeched again and he heard the beat of their giant wings passing above. Ducking into the tree line he heard the cries of men far off and the scream of the creature as it descended on them. He shivered and was thankful that he wasn't those men. He continued on his way having no real idea where he was going or what he was going to do when he got there without a horse or weapons.
Suddenly he froze sure he had just heard someone whisper his name. Slowly he turned around, fearful of moving too fast and falling again, to find that all he could see were dead bodies. He felt like bursting into hysterical laughter, he was wondering through Mirkwood utterly lost, wounded and now hearing people call his name.
"Eomer." The voice called. This time he did fall over. Looking around frantically he saw a wounded elf slumped against a tree. Crawling in a most undignified manner to the elf's side he recognised him as one of Legolas's brothers Azian.
"Are you well?" he asked. The elf rolled his eyes.
"Just admiring the view. You?" he replied Eomer chuckled.
"The same. Seen anyone else?"
"No probably sunbathing or by the waterfalls." Eomer smiled and slumped against the tree.
"What do you suggest?" Azian asked. Eomer sighed.
"I have no idea. I do not remember how I became so detached from my men and therefore no idea as to their current whereabouts. I have been wondering about the forest and you are the first living soul I have seen."
Azian frowned. "The tide of battle keeps changing. This area was swarming with soldiers a mere half hour ago, now I only hear the Nazgul and men far away."
"It seems they have succeeded in dividing us."
"We are failing Eomer. We have fought for millennia to keep this forest safe, never did I think that I would see it fall."
"It has not fallen yet Azian. Do not despair. Aragorn will not allow the destruction of Mirkwood."
"It is not up to Aragorn. If sheer will alone could save us Mirkwood would have been restored to Greenwood many centuries ago. I guess this is the Valor's way of telling us we should have gone to the West a long time ago when the others left."
"If that had happened I would not have had the pleasure of meeting you and especially Legolas. Your brother has saved us countless times and his bickering with Gimli has proved endless amusement. He has shown steadfast courage and bravery where others would have been reduced to quivering wreaks and I feel proud to call myself his friend."
Azian's face became a picture of brotherly love. "That does not surprise me. Legolas has always had a big heart. Father has always said his love of mortals would cause him pain but I am beginning to see why he loves you so. I will find my brother and free him even if it kills me!" Azian stated passionately.
"We all would, but first we need to find out what is going on and regroup."
"First things first we need to get up." Azian said with a grimace. Both males groaned and hauled themselves to their feet before setting off towards the screams, dreading what they might find.
Aragorn watched with unconcealed horror as the Nazgul swept down towards him. Deciding that turning and running into the cave like every instinct in his body screamed at him to do would only lead the Nazgul straight to the other survivors.
"Get to the citadel!" He cried and then bolted for the tree line hoping that the Nazgul would follow him but also hoping that it wouldn't. He needed a plan; running aimlessly through Mirkwood in an attempt to lose a winged Nazgul would probably prove to be a marvellously short lived option. Then it came to him. The waterfall! Yes the waterfall where Legolas used to go to think! Behind the falls was a cave that led deeper into the forest, if he could reach it before the Nazgul caught sight of him then he could disappear and it would take the creature a while to find him. Putting every ounce of effort into his running he failed to notice the body lying on the ground and tipped, slamming into the mud and leaving him dazed. Struggling to sit he turned to look at the body that he had tripped over. His heart stopped. Gandalf. Forgetting all about his plan and the Nazgul he turned the body over and his heart fluttered slightly as he saw the wizard was still breathing.
"Gandalf! Gandalf?" he whispered frantically but he received no response. The beat of the displaced air as the Nazgul neared increased his desperation. He would not reach the waterfall. New plan, he struggled to his feet and dragged Gandalf deeper into the forest. Exhausted and wounded he realised that he would not be able to get anywhere fast with Gandalf in such an unresponsive condition. Praying for anything to distract the Nazgul or someone to help him he continued dragging Gandalf.
"Need some help?" he heard a voice call. Jumping he dropped Gandalf clumsily and whirled around to see a familiar face. Aeolian.
"I could kiss you right now!" Aragorn exclaimed.
"I don't know what you men normally do but if you even attempt that I will shoot you." Aeolian answered with a raised eyebrow and smirk. Two elves dropped out of the trees, quickly grabbed the wizard and disappeared back into the trees as if Gandalf weighed nothing.
"Follow me. We have men that need commanding. Sauron was too arrogant to think that he could defeat us in one wave."
Aragorn followed the elves through the trees and listened with quiet satisfaction as the Nazgul screamed its frustration at its inability to find him.
Wondering like a drunk through the wood using the trees as support he began to see the very familiar signs of battle. Dead bodies of orcs, humans and dwarfs littered the ground. The stench of blood made his stomach roll, he had seen it many times before but still it made him feel ill. The waste of life, each one had a family and to every warrior of Rohans' family he would have to say that their son or husband died for the greater good. The greater good! They never cared whether it was for the greater good; the ones they loved were dead. Who cares why?
The Nazgul screeched again and he heard the beat of their giant wings passing above. Ducking into the tree line he heard the cries of men far off and the scream of the creature as it descended on them. He shivered and was thankful that he wasn't those men. He continued on his way having no real idea where he was going or what he was going to do when he got there without a horse or weapons.
Suddenly he froze sure he had just heard someone whisper his name. Slowly he turned around, fearful of moving too fast and falling again, to find that all he could see were dead bodies. He felt like bursting into hysterical laughter, he was wondering through Mirkwood utterly lost, wounded and now hearing people call his name.
"Eomer." The voice called. This time he did fall over. Looking around frantically he saw a wounded elf slumped against a tree. Crawling in a most undignified manner to the elf's side he recognised him as one of Legolas's brothers Azian.
"Are you well?" he asked. The elf rolled his eyes.
"Just admiring the view. You?" he replied Eomer chuckled.
"The same. Seen anyone else?"
"No probably sunbathing or by the waterfalls." Eomer smiled and slumped against the tree.
"What do you suggest?" Azian asked. Eomer sighed.
"I have no idea. I do not remember how I became so detached from my men and therefore no idea as to their current whereabouts. I have been wondering about the forest and you are the first living soul I have seen."
Azian frowned. "The tide of battle keeps changing. This area was swarming with soldiers a mere half hour ago, now I only hear the Nazgul and men far away."
"It seems they have succeeded in dividing us."
"We are failing Eomer. We have fought for millennia to keep this forest safe, never did I think that I would see it fall."
"It has not fallen yet Azian. Do not despair. Aragorn will not allow the destruction of Mirkwood."
"It is not up to Aragorn. If sheer will alone could save us Mirkwood would have been restored to Greenwood many centuries ago. I guess this is the Valor's way of telling us we should have gone to the West a long time ago when the others left."
"If that had happened I would not have had the pleasure of meeting you and especially Legolas. Your brother has saved us countless times and his bickering with Gimli has proved endless amusement. He has shown steadfast courage and bravery where others would have been reduced to quivering wreaks and I feel proud to call myself his friend."
Azian's face became a picture of brotherly love. "That does not surprise me. Legolas has always had a big heart. Father has always said his love of mortals would cause him pain but I am beginning to see why he loves you so. I will find my brother and free him even if it kills me!" Azian stated passionately.
"We all would, but first we need to find out what is going on and regroup."
"First things first we need to get up." Azian said with a grimace. Both males groaned and hauled themselves to their feet before setting off towards the screams, dreading what they might find.
Aragorn watched with unconcealed horror as the Nazgul swept down towards him. Deciding that turning and running into the cave like every instinct in his body screamed at him to do would only lead the Nazgul straight to the other survivors.
"Get to the citadel!" He cried and then bolted for the tree line hoping that the Nazgul would follow him but also hoping that it wouldn't. He needed a plan; running aimlessly through Mirkwood in an attempt to lose a winged Nazgul would probably prove to be a marvellously short lived option. Then it came to him. The waterfall! Yes the waterfall where Legolas used to go to think! Behind the falls was a cave that led deeper into the forest, if he could reach it before the Nazgul caught sight of him then he could disappear and it would take the creature a while to find him. Putting every ounce of effort into his running he failed to notice the body lying on the ground and tipped, slamming into the mud and leaving him dazed. Struggling to sit he turned to look at the body that he had tripped over. His heart stopped. Gandalf. Forgetting all about his plan and the Nazgul he turned the body over and his heart fluttered slightly as he saw the wizard was still breathing.
"Gandalf! Gandalf?" he whispered frantically but he received no response. The beat of the displaced air as the Nazgul neared increased his desperation. He would not reach the waterfall. New plan, he struggled to his feet and dragged Gandalf deeper into the forest. Exhausted and wounded he realised that he would not be able to get anywhere fast with Gandalf in such an unresponsive condition. Praying for anything to distract the Nazgul or someone to help him he continued dragging Gandalf.
"Need some help?" he heard a voice call. Jumping he dropped Gandalf clumsily and whirled around to see a familiar face. Aeolian.
"I could kiss you right now!" Aragorn exclaimed.
"I don't know what you men normally do but if you even attempt that I will shoot you." Aeolian answered with a raised eyebrow and smirk. Two elves dropped out of the trees, quickly grabbed the wizard and disappeared back into the trees as if Gandalf weighed nothing.
"Follow me. We have men that need commanding. Sauron was too arrogant to think that he could defeat us in one wave."
Aragorn followed the elves through the trees and listened with quiet satisfaction as the Nazgul screamed its frustration at its inability to find him.
