Author: Estelrond
Disclaimer: The words are mine, the elves aren't
Warnings and all that good stuff can be found in Chapter one. I appreciate reviews though. I'm a feedback junkie. (Plus, if you don't, I'll send my assassin elves after you.)
I have to give a hug to Sio and Carol, my most faithful reviewers; I don't think they've missed a chapter! You rock, ladies!
Trinka- Thanks for sticking with me. I know I'm just a confuzzled little girl, but you tolerate me anyway.
San, Claudia, Any, Morwen and Sa… my world wouldn't be the same without you.
The rest of this story can be found at (reviews there are nice as well)
Ok, this is IMPORTANT!!!!!!!!!!! I'm going to be heading out of town for about three weeks and you probably WILL NOT RECEIVE AN UPDATE till then. I'm sorry, but if you consider the end of this story a cliffie, then it's not one of those really evil ones. So, I am trying to be nice.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Part Twelve
First Blood
When the two elves and the human awoke the next morning, their animal friend was nowhere in sight. But he silently assured them of his presence all the same. Saying only that it was best he remain hidden, as the men of Dale were not likely to be understanding of his place with them. There was still distrust among the fragile alliance and Farlest could only hope that 'Ros knew what he was doing.
The first half of the day was blessedly uneventful. Legolas and Aragorn were still somewhat disgruntled from their argument the night before, and Farlest did not make any comment, fearful as he was of sparking another confrontation. The dark-haired elf rode behind Legolas, as he knew better than to trouble the ranger, who had already taken a dislike to him and his woodland friend.
They never had time to make amends however. They were almost within sight of Dale when it happened. Another hour along the river and they would have arrived at their final destination. But suddenly, seeming to spring from the very ground, the orcs came.
The horses, as startled as their riders, fled as the three companions slid to the ground, drawing blades and meeting the attackers stroke for stroke. Farlest fought with a sword and dagger, Legolas with his twin knives, and the ranger with his sword, each adept at his craft. The elf prince was almost dancer-like in his moves, and save for the determined expression and fierce snarl that twisted his lips, one could almost believe it was a dance. Farlest spun and slashed, spinning his dagger in a blinding display of deathly skill, and the sword hacked heads and limbs from the orcs if they came too near. Aragorn cut a fierce swath through the evil creatures; his blade moved in a silver blur as he parried and sliced.
But there seemed to be no end to the foul enemies. The three were finally beginning to tire, when another, deadlier enemy stepped out. Another elf, his hair, so dark as to be almost black, and clad in midnight velvet, sought out Farlest, and engaged him in the battle; their swords meeting with a fierce clash. The raven-haired elf seemed taken aback by his opponent, as he looked into eyes as emerald as his own.
"Imagine seeing you here!" Said the strange elf, "I heard you were in these parts. Thought you'd have sense enough to stay out of trouble."
Farlest parried a sword-stroke, the orcs having backed away from the combatants, encircling them, a sort of makeshift fighting ring. "So nice to see you, Farqwen, didn't think your mommy would let you go out and play."
Farqwen's eyes narrowed dangerously, "Still witty as ever I see."
"Learned it from the best. But then, Ada never did like you, did he?" Farlest smirked, slashing low with his dagger as he taunted his brother.
"That's none of your concern." Growled the brown-haired elf through gritted teeth.
"Your company certainly hasn't improved any. Make any new Corsair friends?" He barely missed Farqwen's stroke, the point of the blade caught on his tunic, and ripped it open, leaving a red mark across his chest.
"No not lately." Replied his brother conversationally, "And if I do you won't live to meet any of them."
"Not as if I'd want to." The tone was equally light, "But I'm not going to kill you, brother. I don't want to hurt you."
"Pity our feelings aren't likewise." Snarled Farqwen, driving in as Farlest missed a parry and swung wide, his reflexes slowing with exhaustion, the blade met flesh in the area of his brother's left shoulder and emerged out the elf's back.
The raven-haired elf smiled sadly, "Yes, a pity." He slid off the blade and collapsed onto the ground, unconscious.
(Author's note: Be nice to me, I thought about leaving you here…)
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
When Farqwen had appeared, the orcs had received reinforcements from a group of swarthy men, who seemed to feel no fear fighting side by side with the evil creatures. The elf prince was the first to fall, the flat of a blade struck him from behind and he collapsed into darkness. Aragorn was simply overwhelmed by numbers and beaten into oblivion. Their enemies were seemingly more interested in taking them alive than doing any real damage.
Neither were out long, as the elf was resilient and the ranger simply had a very hard head. They were in time however to see the end of Farlest's fight, and Aragorn closed his eyes as the elf fell, mourning the brave warrior. Legolas hung his head and sang softly, drawing up within himself. Not a one of them knew if the rogue elf lived, or if he did, the extent of his injuries.
The dark elf looked his captives up and down. "well, here we are. My brother defeated, and a Dunedain and a Wood Elf on my hands." He smirked, "Seems someone's willing to pay a lot for your head, ranger. You're fortunate they want you alive." He then moved from Aragorn to his elven companion. "But you," he remarked condescendingly, kneeling in front of the prince, who had been forced to his knees, "on the other hand, are expendable."
The prince's eyes were far more expressive than words, they burned like an icy flame, as if to sear the mocking figure before him to the very heart. But still he spoke, giving voice to his emotions, "You cruel-hearted savage, he meant no harm to you." His tone was low, and dangerous, despite his position, he was furious and outraged over the fact that, not only had Farlest been his friend, but that this dark elf had so callously slain his own brother.
The elf in question did not seem to be fazed in the least. He gazed almost serenely at Legolas, and his voice was just above a whisper, "Cruel-hearted savage I may be, warrior, but the fact remains that unless my brother was more open than usual, there is no way you could comprehend the events leading up to this day. And it seems that my path has served me far better than yours, remind yourself which one of us is a prisoner."
Legolas swore at him, "You let us go. You have no cause to hold us… " he strained against the men which held him down, thinking himself lucky that it was only men, and not orcs.
"Don't have too." The other said, his manner almost childish.
Legolas swore again.
"Tsk. Tsk. Wherever did you learn such language?" Farqwen chided.
Aragorn, still shaky from being beaten into submission, whispered harshly, "Leave it be, mellon-nin." The ranger shook his head violently at the prince's questioning glance. Now was not the time to challenge the dark elf.
The midnight-clad elf shouted something in a language neither of the two friends recognized. And the elf and ranger were hauled to their feet. Just then, the grief-stricken howl of a wolf cut through the air, and it chilled Aragorn to his very heart. He knew for whom 'Ros howled.
Farqwen's eyes scanned the forest about them. "How odd. The creature howls in the daylight." He cast a dispassionate glance at his fallen brother. "I won, Farlest."
The elf strode from the forest, heading for the hills beyond, his men dragging the two captives in tow.
Luckily, Legolas was the only one that noted the slight rise and fall of the rogue elf's chest as he lay, his blood staining the ground.
To be continued…xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Aranna Undomiel: My wolf's pretty fiesty isn't he?
Carol: ::bops:: Hey, no kissing my elf! ::grin:: just get him back to me before dark, ok? Farlest is a sweetheart, but I'm going to be very very mean to him before the end of this story, so hang on. But hey, aren't you happy I didn't kill him? Should thank heavens for little miracles.
Deana: I'm posting! I'm posting! Sorry, but I'm going to have to take a break from that, but hey, no really EVIL CLIFFIES....