Authors notes: - Thanks again for the lovely reviews. The battle is coming I assure you. I know these chapters are quite slow paced but its all needed to set the scene. Hopefully everyone is still enjoying this and any reviews will make my overworked university brain happy!!!!!! Please!
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Azian sat on a grassy bank sharpening his knives; he was paying the task little attention choosing instead to stare at Legolas. His younger brother sat silently on the magnificent white horse. Since Azian had taken up his position Legolas had not moved, not even his head just the occasional blink of his eyes. The other two knights sat in equally still positions, their eyes locked on the tower in the distant.
"Trying to stare him into submission?" Aeolian questioned as he joined his brother on the ground.
"No. I just want him to look at me, to talk to me, to do something!" Azian said sadly.
"I understand but we cannot force him. The other two will protect him against anything that they deem a threat, unfortunately you would be included. I doubt we are near the forefront in his mind, it seems that their minds are focused on one task only."
"If he is in there at all." Azian muttered and then cursed as his hand slipped and he cut the pale skin of his hand. Aeolian took hold of the hand and examined it. Azian sighed and pulled it away.
"I have had worse." he said barely glancing at the wound, the pain washing away the numbness that had taken over his body.
"You have changed so much." The elder elf sighed as he regarded his brother.
"I have always been this clumsy and easily distracted brother."
"True but before you always looked to either myself or Kahari to sooth it. Even a paper cut was a big incident." Aeolian smiled at the memories.
"Yes well I wish I was still that elf but I have changed. I had too; I didn't have you, Kahari or father to turn to."
Aeolian frowned. "I know and for that I am sorry."
Azian's expression turned furious. "Why? Do you think that things would be different if you had taken my place? Do you think that Mirkwood would have survived intact?"
Azian rose intent on leaving to find another place to sit, alone. Aeolian grabbed him and turned him back to face him.
"I do not doubt your abilities Azian. You did a great job of keeping the elves under your command alive and making trouble for the dark army..."
Azian yanked his arm back, moving further away.
"There was nothing 'great' about it! I am not a hero! I did the only thing that I could do, I fought. Of course I have changed, having to fight every day just so that you can wake the next morning, having to watch as each day our number grew less and less and every night looking to Dol Guldur knowing that my brother was being tortured."
"Azian please." Aeolian said trying to calm his brother down as the younger elf screamed at him.
"No this needs to be said, I will not be quiet. I will never be the same again and neither will this forest or anything in it."
"Azian that is enough!" Thranduil said stepping forward well aware that apart from the pure ones everyone was watching the scene with interest.
"This is not the time or the place."
"It never is, is it? Am I embarrassing you?" Azian questioned with a sneer.
Thranduil looked stunned but before he could respond a cry of "Orcs" reached the party. Azian was gone before Thranduil registered his movement. The elf king turned to see the elf ordering the archers into the trees. The assembling group of warriors were not prepared, having been in the middle of briefings by their various commanders.
The orcs appeared swiftly but they were only a small group obviously trying to get back to the tower and had without realising stumbled upon the warriors. The elven archers were efficient and had taken the majority down before they reached the main group. The rest were quickly dispatched before most had been able to use their weapons.
Azian scanned the group of orcs checking that they were all dead. Satisfied he jumped down from the tree he had taken position in.
"Move the bodies and I want more scouts in the forest. They got far too close. Lyrin..." Azian said indicating one of the elves who stepped forward. "You are in charge of deployment, make sure everyone doubles up. Any elves, dwarfs or men the eagles send this way, make sure they move quickly and the border guards are alerted I want no one shot by our own side."
"Yes my lord." Lyrin said and moved to comply. Azian had commanded Lyrin and the group of elves with him for the past year and they still followed his orders without needing Aeolian or Thranduil to confirm them.
Azian moved through the hastily gathered warriors and frowned. They were too few and too weary to present a valid threat. Approaching the lord and kings he realised that they too were exhausted. With a burst of cold fury he cursed the fates and the Valor for the raw deal they had received.
"I have doubled the guards in the forest." He stated coming to a halt.
"What for? The group was dealt with swiftly and it is extremely doubtful that we were the intended targets." Gandalf questioned.
"Nevertheless there is no hope of preparing for battle if we are constantly battling parties of orcs that 'stumble' across us. I have therefore doubled the guard." Azian retorted.
"Tonight the watches will be trebled. They know we are here, we are vulnerable and the only things that are preventing our immediate demise are those horsemen. They are recalling their troops, which is what the pure ones are watching. Come dawn they will attack, we need to be ready. This lot will not stop a strong wind. They have been through a terrible ordeal, rest them, feed them and make it clear tomorrow what they are to do. This could easily descend into chaos and will undoubtedly do so."
Azian finished and looked expectantly at the group. They were looking at him in astonishment.
"What is going on with you Azian?" Aeolian questioned. "One minute you are screaming, the next you are depressed and now you have turned into a calm and controlled commander."
"We are probably going to lose this battle tomorrow and I will not allow that. This epic battle plan may work if the battle goes our way but if it doesn't what then? We are outnumbered and weak. I have been dealing with these odds for a year while you were in the Haven. The screaming and depression is still there but I have learnt to bury it when the need calls for it"
"We are sorry for what you have endured my son." Thranduil said.
"I care not for you apologies, when this is all said and done we will sit down and discuss the matter but for us to have that conversation we need to survive. I will not be discounted, for the past year I have battled hard and I know these warriors well."
"Your opinion is valued Azian." Elrond said reassuring the young elf.
"Then we need a back up plan. What if Sauron does not commit all his forces in one attack? Your plan involves committing all our forces."
"What do you suggest?" Gandalf asked silently admiring the mind that Azian had developed proving to be a proficient commander.
"Keep to the plan but give me my warriors."
"To do what with?" Aeolian asked wondering what his younger brother was thinking.
"What we do best! Being a thorn in the side of the enemy." Azian said with a grin.
"Fine they are yours to command."
"Thank you." He turned and disappeared into the forest.
"What was that?" Aeolian asked.
"The result of a young elf being thrust into an unfamiliar situation and dealing with it the best way he can. You should be proud of your sons, all four of them are a credit to you, this realm and elf kind."
"They are indeed Gandalf but I fear if we survive this I am going to have to have a have a long talk with each one. I worry that they have changed so much."
"We have changed father but we are still your sons who like nothing better than sitting around a fire drinking warm wine and teasing each other. We will do that again."
Thranduil smiled.
"NAZGUL!"
"The white riders are leaving!"
The two cries echoed simultaneously and the group froze momentarily before they burst into action. The battle was drawing close and the fate of everyone gathered was about to be decided.
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