Authors notes:- Thank you for all the great reviews. I am quickly approaching the end of term so my updates might be a little later than normal as I have to fight over a computer and prepare for relatives descending on us for Christmas. I will try to keep posting at the same frequency but please bear with me. Hope you enjoy this next chapter.
OO
"Sir! Sir!" Haran yelled as he ran towards Eomer, for a brief moment the horse lord had emerged from the fray and Haran would get his attention if it was the last thing he did.
Eomer looked down at the soldier who had grabbed hold of his reins.
"What is it?" he demanded quickly.
"There are orcs in the forest to the rear." He blurted in between gasps for breath.
"Can you confirm this?" Eomer questioned.
"Yes sir I was part of the party sent to investigate. We were set upon by orcs and Feren ordered me to run and get help."
Eomer vaguely recognised the name Feren as one of Aragorn's lieutenants. Cursing he grabbed Haran and pulled him up to sit behind him on his horse. Quickly scouting the battle he saw that they were slowly winning. The left flank had now closed its ranks and was inflicting severe casualties. The orc ranks were now crumbling and Eomer allowed himself a smile which was swiftly swallowed up as he realised that if the orcs attacked the rear everything would be lost.
"ROHAN WITH ME!" he roared and turned his horse as he heard the answering cry of his men. His horse ploughed through the ranks of the enemy well trained not to shy at any blow aimed at it. Haran hung on for dear life never before riding in a battle. The momentum increased as they came towards the rear of the battle the horses deftly side stepping the scattered bodies. Despite the fact that Rohan had significantly less trees than Mirkwood the animals weaved in and out of the trunks as if they have been doing it all their lives.
It took mere seconds to come across the orcs and barely a minute more to trample them beneath the flaying hooves. Sliding to a stop the horses turned as one and quickly reformed the line. On Eomer's command they charged again giving the startled orcs little time to recover. Haran watched amazed at the skills of the riders of Rohan. Normally this number of orcs would have presented a grave problem to soldiers of Gondor but they seemed little more than an annoyance to the riders. The small group of orcs had stood no chance.
"Was this all?" Eomer asked Haran.
"It seemed a larger group but I cannot be certain." Haran stuttered apologetically.
"No need to apologise. Battles are confusing places and it is above anyone to try and count the exact number of enemy. WE WILL SWEEP THE FOREST" he cried and the horses spaced out trotting through the forest.
"And we shall see if we can find Feren as well."
OO
Azian scrambled across the courtyard till he came to steps leading down into the dungeons. He knew that was where Legolas would be, he could feel it. Cautiously and keeping very close to the side of the stairwell he descended. For once in his life he wished he was not an elf for the natural light his kind produced increased in brightness as he descended deep into the depths. There was no sound so his footfalls sounded like a herd of orcs and his breathing was as loud as the creature of the Nazgul. The temperature decreased as he went lower and the walls that he was running his hand along became wet with rivers of freezing water. The dripping echoed producing puddles across the stairs. Suddenly his foot slipped and he fell hard down the stairs. Luckily he was near the bottom but the pain left him stunned for a moment.
Cursing he listened for any indication that anyone had heard his fall but the silence remained. Crawling to his feet he continued down the passage. It was dimly lit and that filled him with hope that someone had been down here recently.
A piercing scream made his heart skip a beat and he dropped to a crouch breathing heavily. Another agony filled scream echoed and Azian's heartbeat increased as he recognised his brother's voice. Even though it was a scream and so hoarse a sound he could still tell that it was Legolas.
"Hold on little brother." He whispered and withdrew a knife. Creeping quietly along the passage he neared the source of the screams. As he approached he could hear the sounds of orcs jeering. Ducking into what appeared a side passage that was not used, he paused and waited. However much he wanted to he could not burst into the room and free his brother. Although he had surprise on his side he could not hope to overwhelm the orcs and would only be killed or suffer a worse fate. He would have to wait until they left and pray that he was in time. The wait was the worst agony he had ever faced.
OO
Legolas felt the blows land and the pain flare but he did not flinch. He had neither the will nor the energy to respond to anything. There was light now and he could see the blackening of his arm. With morbid fascination he studied the arm, how the skin had cracked. He could hear Sauron taunting him but paid no attention, death held no fear for him; he had been teetering on the brink of life and death for so long.
"STOP!" Sauron cried. "Leave him. LEAVE HIM! I have a battle to win but once I am victorious I will return and teach him a lesson. He will not IGNORE ME!" the dark lord was beyond fury, his pet no longer responded and his main orc army had been destroyed.
Legolas was dimly aware that the orcs left and he could no longer hear Sauron's taunts.
"Legolas?" a voice whispered.
"By the Valor Legolas."
He felt someone kneel beside him and a soft hand smoothed his hair.
"Legolas…Legolas it is me Azian. Can you hear me?"
"Leave me." He whispered.
"What? No…get up!" Azian said frantically. "We don't have long."
"I said leave me!" Legolas finally looked at Azian.
"Don't say that. I am not going to leave you." Azian made to grab him but Legolas shied away.
"I am not going. LOOK AT ME!" Legolas screamed and Azian moved to hush him. Suddenly he froze as he caught sight of his brother's arm.
"No." Azian choked.
"You can't help me!" Legolas said frantically. "I am being turned into an orc."
Azian began to cry.
"Gandalf and Elrond will help you. They will know what to do."
"Have you ever heard of an elf that was in the process of being turned into an orc being saved?"
"No but there is always a first time. We must go…come on."
"And where do you think you are going?" a voice hissed from the doorway.
OO
