Authors notes: - Thanks again to all my reviewers. Sorry for the delay but
I have just started a new job and I have been ill. I hope you enjoy this
and again any comments on how to improve or what you like are much
appreciated.
Oooooo
Lord Elrond dropped into a crouch as the orcs sword swept through the air where his head had just been. With a distinctly un – lord like growl he thrust his sword up and into the orcs chest. For a brief moment he glanced around to see how the rest of his group of warriors were faring. Despite their differences the three races were working together. The wounded had been placed in the centre in a desperate attempt to protect them but the overwhelming numbers of the enemy meant that it wouldn't hold the enemy off for long. The spiders for the time being sat in the trees watching the battle waiting to pick off the wounded or any that tried to flee. Of the twenty warriors that had entered this area of the wood with him only ten were still standing and actively causing damage to the orcs.
'We need to retreat or this will be the end of us.' He thought frantically looking around for a possible avenue of escape but finding none. The spiders sensing the imminent defeat of the group moved closer and began to string their webs across the trees, intent on trapping those who intended to retreat.
"Close ranks!" the elf lord cried trying to get everyone together instead of spread out and fighting individual battles. Hopefully that would keep them alive for a longer period of time but still if something did not happen soon they would not survive. Lifting his sword he swung it into the face of a nearby orc his arms beginning to ache with a bone deep weariness. He was exhausted.
The shaking started slowly almost undetectable and at first he considered it to be the exhaustion in his trembling legs. Slowly it became more pronounced, the trees shaking and swaying as if in a storm. Tremors tore through the ground knocking several of the most wounded off their feet.
The intensity of the tremors increased dramatically and the fighting faltered, uncertainty of this new threat bringing all to a temporary halt, even the spiders, that were now retreating high into the trees. The orcs backed away and this alone sent waves of fear through the elf lord. This wasn't natural; something was coming that frightened them more than the Nazgul did. Again the tremors increased and a hideous scream echoed through the air. The earth seemed to quake deep to its foundations and it groaned as if in pain. The orcs turned and fled.
"What is it?" one of the dwarfs next to him asked.
"If it is what I think it may be then we are in more trouble than anyone could have imagined." Elrond whispered more to himself than to answer the dwarf's question. The ground proceeded to crack open with an ear splitting scream.
OOOO
"Legolas!"
A small blonde elfling looked up from his position kneeling on the ground to see his father stood on the steps leading into the garden.
"Ada." The elfling squealed jumping up and running towards his father, the ants nest forgotten.
Thranduil leant down and grabbed the elfling in a tight hug.
"You're home!" Legolas cried burying his head into the crook of his father's neck. "Don't leave again." He begged.
"I cannot promise that my little one." Thranduil said sitting down on the steps and moving Legolas so he could see his son's face.
"Why not?" Legolas questioned. "You are King! You can stay in bed all day!"
Thranduil chuckled and smoothed Legolas's hair. "I would love too but I cannot."
"Why?" Legolas demanded.
"Because as King I have to keep the kingdom safe, I have to keep you safe."
"But I am big now! I can look after myself. I beat Azian yesterday."
Thranduil smiled at Legolas's triumphant face. "Well done Legolas but not all opponents will be as kind and forgiving as your brother."
Legolas's face scrunched up in anger at his perceived slight of his abilities by his father.
"I could beat a spider. Kahari said so; he said he was much younger than me when he killed one. Can I go with you on a patrol?"
"He did not and I shall have a word with him about lying to you. And no you cannot come on a patrol because it is too dangerous, when you are older I will consider it."
"You are so unfair." Legolas said and struggled in an attempt to get his father to let him go. Thranduil held tight.
"I am doing this for your own good and one day you shall see that. When you are older you will wish you were back in this garden playing with the ants nests without a care in the world."
Legolas shook his head vigorously. "Nope, because I will be doing exciting things liking patrolling and travelling to see other elves. I will never be bored!" the elfling exclaimed.
"I hope so little one."
"I will find a dragon and slay it!" Legolas said excitedly waving his arms about. "And I will rid Middle Earth of orcs."
"Single – handed?" Thranduil asked.
"No with you and Aeolian and Azian and Kahari. We will be the greatest elves ever!"
Thranduil laughed and rose to his feet.
"Yes you will for you are a prince of Mirkwood!"
A deep agonising pain tore Legolas from the safety of unconsciousness and his memories and back into reality. He screamed and opened his eyes trying to find the source of the agony. He was met with the sight of a warg's jaws clamped down on his arm. With his other arm he struck the creature hard on the nose and it howled and let go. Quickly he dragged his arm close to his body and he scrambled away. The warg growled angrily and moved towards him. Legolas frantically looked around for a weapon but he could find nothing. Fleeing was not an option, as he did not have the energy to even regain his feet. The warg approached, slightly wary for its prey was now awake but it was still wounded and with a growl it pounced. Legolas slammed into the ground, pinned firmly by its weight. The jaws moved dangerously close to his neck and with his one good arm he desperately tried to bat it away. The warg hit Legolas across the face with its paw leaving deep scratch marks along his pale cheek. Legolas felt unconsciousness begin to claim him.
"I will not be defeated by an overgrown dog." He growled putting as much effort into his next blow as his body could provide. It was a pathetic attempt and the warg sensed its victory. Legolas cringed as the creature's breath flooded his nostrils, its mouth so close that he could see the remnants of the wargs last meal on its teeth.
Time seemed to freeze as the last of Legolas's strength gave out. Suddenly the orc howled as if in agony and slumped on Legolas. The pressure on his chest made him gasp in pain as he tried to desperately draw breath.
"Why do I always have to rescue you from these situations little brother?" a voice questioned and Legolas felt the warg move slightly as it was dragged from its position covering him. "Although last time we were in this position I was not on the verge of unconsciousness."
Legolas recognised his brother's voice and tried to help Azian move the body but proved to be little help. Eventually after many minutes of trying the warg was only part of the way off of Legolas. Azian slumped next to Legolas breathing heavily.
"Give me a minute." He gasped. Legolas sighed and desperately tried to reduce the pain that his body was feeling.
"So any ideas?" Azian questioned. Legolas nodded. "Warg...off and then reclaim Mirkwood."
"Did anyone ever tell you that you have far too high goals? Aim low that's what I always say, more achievable." Azian mumbled. Legolas smiled with a raised eyebrow.
"Fine. Warg first. Then nothing will stop us!" Azian said with more cheer than he felt.
"I have a plan." Legolas stated. Azian groaned and fixed a long-suffering expression on his face.
"I hate your plans. One of us always ends up wounded or lost or trapped in the cellars..." Azian stopped when he saw the gleam in Legolas's eyes.
"No!" he exclaimed. "Not the cellars."
"Yes for there is where we find salvation."
"Or we get lost and miss the end of the world because we are trapped in the cellars." Azian stated.
"Or that." Legolas began shoving the warg with renewed energy. Azian moved to help him.
"What did you mean by salvation?" Azian asked.
"Something I overheard father talking about. An ancient power."
"That's all you know?" Azian questioned and grunted as the warg rolled over off his brother.
"You expected a detailed map and instructions?"
Azian sighed. "Not from you."
"Lets go." Legolas said and together they pulled themselves up. They staggered towards the citadel. After five paces the ground began to shake and they heard a terrifying scream.
"I hope you know what you are talking about with that salvation because I think we are going to need it."
OOO
Oooooo
Lord Elrond dropped into a crouch as the orcs sword swept through the air where his head had just been. With a distinctly un – lord like growl he thrust his sword up and into the orcs chest. For a brief moment he glanced around to see how the rest of his group of warriors were faring. Despite their differences the three races were working together. The wounded had been placed in the centre in a desperate attempt to protect them but the overwhelming numbers of the enemy meant that it wouldn't hold the enemy off for long. The spiders for the time being sat in the trees watching the battle waiting to pick off the wounded or any that tried to flee. Of the twenty warriors that had entered this area of the wood with him only ten were still standing and actively causing damage to the orcs.
'We need to retreat or this will be the end of us.' He thought frantically looking around for a possible avenue of escape but finding none. The spiders sensing the imminent defeat of the group moved closer and began to string their webs across the trees, intent on trapping those who intended to retreat.
"Close ranks!" the elf lord cried trying to get everyone together instead of spread out and fighting individual battles. Hopefully that would keep them alive for a longer period of time but still if something did not happen soon they would not survive. Lifting his sword he swung it into the face of a nearby orc his arms beginning to ache with a bone deep weariness. He was exhausted.
The shaking started slowly almost undetectable and at first he considered it to be the exhaustion in his trembling legs. Slowly it became more pronounced, the trees shaking and swaying as if in a storm. Tremors tore through the ground knocking several of the most wounded off their feet.
The intensity of the tremors increased dramatically and the fighting faltered, uncertainty of this new threat bringing all to a temporary halt, even the spiders, that were now retreating high into the trees. The orcs backed away and this alone sent waves of fear through the elf lord. This wasn't natural; something was coming that frightened them more than the Nazgul did. Again the tremors increased and a hideous scream echoed through the air. The earth seemed to quake deep to its foundations and it groaned as if in pain. The orcs turned and fled.
"What is it?" one of the dwarfs next to him asked.
"If it is what I think it may be then we are in more trouble than anyone could have imagined." Elrond whispered more to himself than to answer the dwarf's question. The ground proceeded to crack open with an ear splitting scream.
OOOO
"Legolas!"
A small blonde elfling looked up from his position kneeling on the ground to see his father stood on the steps leading into the garden.
"Ada." The elfling squealed jumping up and running towards his father, the ants nest forgotten.
Thranduil leant down and grabbed the elfling in a tight hug.
"You're home!" Legolas cried burying his head into the crook of his father's neck. "Don't leave again." He begged.
"I cannot promise that my little one." Thranduil said sitting down on the steps and moving Legolas so he could see his son's face.
"Why not?" Legolas questioned. "You are King! You can stay in bed all day!"
Thranduil chuckled and smoothed Legolas's hair. "I would love too but I cannot."
"Why?" Legolas demanded.
"Because as King I have to keep the kingdom safe, I have to keep you safe."
"But I am big now! I can look after myself. I beat Azian yesterday."
Thranduil smiled at Legolas's triumphant face. "Well done Legolas but not all opponents will be as kind and forgiving as your brother."
Legolas's face scrunched up in anger at his perceived slight of his abilities by his father.
"I could beat a spider. Kahari said so; he said he was much younger than me when he killed one. Can I go with you on a patrol?"
"He did not and I shall have a word with him about lying to you. And no you cannot come on a patrol because it is too dangerous, when you are older I will consider it."
"You are so unfair." Legolas said and struggled in an attempt to get his father to let him go. Thranduil held tight.
"I am doing this for your own good and one day you shall see that. When you are older you will wish you were back in this garden playing with the ants nests without a care in the world."
Legolas shook his head vigorously. "Nope, because I will be doing exciting things liking patrolling and travelling to see other elves. I will never be bored!" the elfling exclaimed.
"I hope so little one."
"I will find a dragon and slay it!" Legolas said excitedly waving his arms about. "And I will rid Middle Earth of orcs."
"Single – handed?" Thranduil asked.
"No with you and Aeolian and Azian and Kahari. We will be the greatest elves ever!"
Thranduil laughed and rose to his feet.
"Yes you will for you are a prince of Mirkwood!"
A deep agonising pain tore Legolas from the safety of unconsciousness and his memories and back into reality. He screamed and opened his eyes trying to find the source of the agony. He was met with the sight of a warg's jaws clamped down on his arm. With his other arm he struck the creature hard on the nose and it howled and let go. Quickly he dragged his arm close to his body and he scrambled away. The warg growled angrily and moved towards him. Legolas frantically looked around for a weapon but he could find nothing. Fleeing was not an option, as he did not have the energy to even regain his feet. The warg approached, slightly wary for its prey was now awake but it was still wounded and with a growl it pounced. Legolas slammed into the ground, pinned firmly by its weight. The jaws moved dangerously close to his neck and with his one good arm he desperately tried to bat it away. The warg hit Legolas across the face with its paw leaving deep scratch marks along his pale cheek. Legolas felt unconsciousness begin to claim him.
"I will not be defeated by an overgrown dog." He growled putting as much effort into his next blow as his body could provide. It was a pathetic attempt and the warg sensed its victory. Legolas cringed as the creature's breath flooded his nostrils, its mouth so close that he could see the remnants of the wargs last meal on its teeth.
Time seemed to freeze as the last of Legolas's strength gave out. Suddenly the orc howled as if in agony and slumped on Legolas. The pressure on his chest made him gasp in pain as he tried to desperately draw breath.
"Why do I always have to rescue you from these situations little brother?" a voice questioned and Legolas felt the warg move slightly as it was dragged from its position covering him. "Although last time we were in this position I was not on the verge of unconsciousness."
Legolas recognised his brother's voice and tried to help Azian move the body but proved to be little help. Eventually after many minutes of trying the warg was only part of the way off of Legolas. Azian slumped next to Legolas breathing heavily.
"Give me a minute." He gasped. Legolas sighed and desperately tried to reduce the pain that his body was feeling.
"So any ideas?" Azian questioned. Legolas nodded. "Warg...off and then reclaim Mirkwood."
"Did anyone ever tell you that you have far too high goals? Aim low that's what I always say, more achievable." Azian mumbled. Legolas smiled with a raised eyebrow.
"Fine. Warg first. Then nothing will stop us!" Azian said with more cheer than he felt.
"I have a plan." Legolas stated. Azian groaned and fixed a long-suffering expression on his face.
"I hate your plans. One of us always ends up wounded or lost or trapped in the cellars..." Azian stopped when he saw the gleam in Legolas's eyes.
"No!" he exclaimed. "Not the cellars."
"Yes for there is where we find salvation."
"Or we get lost and miss the end of the world because we are trapped in the cellars." Azian stated.
"Or that." Legolas began shoving the warg with renewed energy. Azian moved to help him.
"What did you mean by salvation?" Azian asked.
"Something I overheard father talking about. An ancient power."
"That's all you know?" Azian questioned and grunted as the warg rolled over off his brother.
"You expected a detailed map and instructions?"
Azian sighed. "Not from you."
"Lets go." Legolas said and together they pulled themselves up. They staggered towards the citadel. After five paces the ground began to shake and they heard a terrifying scream.
"I hope you know what you are talking about with that salvation because I think we are going to need it."
OOO
