A/N: First of all... I AM SO VERY, VERY SORRY!
I am so dreadfully sorry about the delay: I've been shifting computers, been connected to broadband, had to move all my stories from one rubbish computer to a slightly less rubbish onewithout the internet (which meant I had to convert all my files into one type of document and transfer them via disk due to stupid incompatibility problems, before changing them back again)... on top of this, I've been finishing up with exams while simultaneoulsy having to start my new A-level course, and a new job. Plus, I haven't been very well this past week.
All in all, I'm a tad stressed out. But nevermind, it's here now! Thankyou all so much for being so very patient. Here is your reward, and I promise to be a much better and more reliable author from now on, okay?
Reviewer comments are awaiting you at the bottom... Hope you enjoy!
Legolas cursed under his breath as he slowly grasped hold of his nearest weapon, one of his white hunting knives, being careful not to alert any enemy to this movement. This situation was the very last thing he had wanted. Usually, the prince almost enjoyed a good orc-fight... but now, when the group was already tired and injured, and they had an urgent message to deliver, being surrounded by the foul creatures could hardly be seen as anything sporting, even amongst Mirkwood elves.
All five of the elves unconsciously drew themselves into a loose, outward-facing circle, bright eyes darting around the surrounding woodland in an attempt to locate the threat they sensed was all around them. Legolas looked to his left to see Tauredal, standing brave and strong, by his side. The light-haired elf was the fastest runner of them all, barr Legolas himself who would obviously stay and fight, and the prince knew the message for Lord Elrond had to reach Rivendell, no matter what the cost.
Tauredal, sensing the archer's glance, turned his head and looked at him. Legolas saw understanding flash implicitly in the large orbs - an unspoken message passed between them, and Tauredal knew what he must do: the warningmust reach Elrond in time.
Knowing that his captain and prince would cover him, but heart heavy with the knowledge that his actions were doubtless going to alert the enemy, and therefore sentence his friends to their untimely deaths, Tauredal's muscles tightened one by one, and he prepared himself to sprint. All he needed was a signal of some kind from Legolas. Or a good omen, perhaps, from the Valar. Anything.
But fate was not smiling down upon them, and the Valar all seemed to have turned to look another way, for at that precise moment the twenty orcs surrounding them, realising they no longer had the ever-so-crucial element of surprise, launched their disgusting bodies into their midsts. Tauredal had no time to run for cover, and all five of the elves were forced to immediately launch themselves into the deadly fray.
Quickly unsheathing his long-sword, Fienngil's bright eyes sought the location and circumstances of each of his elves, so as he could know all that was occuring in the small sunlit clearing.
Maegathir was blazing away, the furthest from him, a strange energy having burst into his grumbling limbs: he fought three orcs at the same time, enraged as he was. Fienngil did not know a great deal about the stealth warrior's former life, but he did know that Maegathir was a great asset in any sort of fighting, and that his everyday-moodiness had lent the elf some odd sort of enjoyment of battle. There... the elf was being hit in the face, but all he did was grin and fight back all the harder.
Fienngil nodded to himself, Maegathir could handle himself.
His concentration was broken then as a foul-stenching orc took that moment to hurl itself towards him. Fienngil's light feet danced around the dark creatures, and his fire-like blade was brought down and down again... clashing one, twice... and then finding it's mark in the orc's rattling throat.
Pulling his sword free, and half-heartedly wiping the dark, oozing blood from it's length, Fienngil cast his eyes about once more, trying to discover the actions relating to the loud cries and fighting sounds that enveloped the clearing.
The smallest elf, Tauredal, looked like he was almost being overpowered by two very large, very heavy-looking orcs, who were raining solid blows down upon him. The brave young elf was unleashing his all upon the two things - who looked, if orcslooked anything, a little surprised that such a thin and diminuative being could move so quick and with such force - and yet the awkward positioning of the orcs might have been the undoing of the Silvan captain. Fienngil made to move forward, knocking an orc back as he did so with his elbow, in order to help him, but stopped when he saw Legolas had leapt forward and relieved Tauredal of the orc that was attempting a pincer-like movement around the captain, by dispatching one of his white knives in it's chest, though not before he was kicked squarely in the pelvis, eliciting a sharp exclamation from the prince.
The other orcs, however, were angered by this, and five more moved across to the two younger elves. Fienngil saw Abrome run to protect his prince, ignoring the orc-arrows firing and the punches being thrown, and launched himself upon the broad back of the largest one which was advancing upon Legolas, before cleanly cutting it's thick, stubborn throat with a quick flash of his blade. A flash of pride flared in the elder prince's heart at that, and a glimmer of hope appeared that they might get out of this one largely unscathed.
Fienngil himself moved to the scene, and cut another orc in the backs of it's knees. Howling in it's cursed black tongue, the creature tumbled down, narrowly missing Legolas, who spared himself a moment to glare his green eyes at his brother for nearly crushing him, as though convinced he did it on purpose: "Fienngil, do you mind?" he cried out, over the noise of fighting.
There was no time for Fienngil to triumph, though, as both princes' heads whirled at the distinctive sound of a desperate elven shout.
Maegathir was being pinned against a tree trunk and, while he struggled with all his might and had succeeded in bending his legs so that his feet were both on the chest of the orc holding him, pushing it away, he was obviously injured. One arm hung limply by his side, and the other hand, grasping at the claws around his neck, was uncharacteristically weak.
Legolas, with the speed of a born archer, gained both bow and arrow in the passing of a second, aimed, and fired with the passing of another, before he himself was tackled to the ground by an orc from behind. The wind was knocked out of his ribcage and stars danced before his eyes. Legolas was now locked in a deadly battle for survival, his one remaining white knife rising up to lock firmly with the evilly-barbed sword of the orc on top of him.
Unfortunately, the creature holding Maegathir had lunged in for the kill at the same time, and so the arrow which was destined to pierce it's cruel heart actually embedded itself in the orc's shoulder.
The orc screamed in anger, red puss-filled eyes raging, and in retaliation - for the thing had an evil disposition, more so than most it's kin - the creature leaned forward and grasped one of Maegathir's long legs, swung with all it's might, before realising. Maegathir was thrown like a rag-doll through the air, arms pinwheeling, until he was brought to a sharp stop as he connecting with another tree, impacting right in the middle of the thigh with a sickening crunch.
"No!" cried out Fienngil, against his will, drawing the attention of a nearby orc who held a mean-looking scythe in his hands, and was followed by another. The began to fight.
Abrome and Tauredal, having finished of the orcs that had previously been on them, came to his aid. Abrome reached out, and with the deathly silence of an experienced palace guard, went through the process of snapping the neck of the one nearest to him. Before he could complete this action, however, the orc had ducked and whirled around, slashing the faithful guard deeply with his long sword. Abrome fell back with an agonised howl, clutching at the huge streak of red painting his thin chest, fighting against unconsciousness. Tauredal moved towards the fallen elf, where Fienngil saw him disappear behind another advancing orc.
Another scream came to Fienngil's attention, but before he could pinpoint what it was exactly, he was locked into a wrestle with the last remaining orc. Blows were dealt to his face and chest, but he gave as well as he recieved. It all happened so quickly, the prince was unable to remember what came first. He felt a searing pain in the right side of his head, his shout mixing with the clamour of the others going on all around him. The world tumbled around him, and suddenly he was flat on his back, cracking his head on the ground below, with the sickening corpse of an orc laid across him.
"Legolas?" he cried out weakly, feeling the strength leave his body: there was no way he would be able to shift this orc on his own. His vision was fading...
The world went black.
A/N: Sorry this is quite short, I promise I shall have more for you soon. I am dreadfully sorry about the delay, and hope you will forgive me by reviewing! If you read the story at all, please don't hesitate to let me know all your various thoughts or feelings, and please tell me what I can do to make it better foryou folks!
SmilingDragonGirl: I'm glad and relieved you like my created Mikwood elves, and also thankful the names aren't too confusing. I'm afraid you'll just have to see whether they survive! If your curious about all the mentioned little pasts and histories, you should check out my other LOTR stories, as they are often direct references back to them... however, I have gotten into a nasty habit where I include things I am GOING to write about, or at least plan to... Stick wi' me, kid: I'll get there in the end!
xiaoweisan: Now you've said that, I might have to ARRANGE for Legolas to overhear such innocent remarks from Estel... if he survives, that is! Cheers for the idea. I'm glad you're liking it.
the silent planet: Stick with it, I guarantee even cuter-ness. Thanks for the good luck (didn't work, but nevermind!).
Ithil-valon: I'm always intrigued when my stores interest people from the "OTHER" camp i.e. those who prefer Aragorn... now, don't get me wrong, I love Aragorn very much: find him funny, handsome, great etc... I just always seem to focus (and injure) Legolas, for some reason. But I promise you there will be some bone-fide lovely little Estel moments just for you if you stick with me!
A. NuEvil: Cool name, by the way... Aragorn's managed to grow up pretty near his own idea of the ideal prince, hasn't he? But I promise you he will find out the trouble of being a royal soon enough! Also, your reviews are incredibly amusing to me for some reason, and very much appreciated, so please keep it up!
Sirith: Yay - you're finally back! You seemed to just drop off the face of the planet a while back. What on earth happened? I shall have to get my pitchfork back out... dust it off, ready for weilding. Welcome back!
Beth: Mwaahahahaaha - I thought that might work! Go on, tell me: if you absolutely HAD to choose between Legolas and Elladan? I'll include some nice fluffy moments between the pair of them later on, if you want!
Templa Otmena: I am glad you're still with me... though infinately jealous of your gap year. But don't you worry, pet: the karma god will strike back in vengeance soon enough, and you will quickly remember how crappy life really is! Only another year till my gap year. Humph... if I get there! I love the fact you like my original characters. I'm, always nervous about the reaction they will get from readers, especially the established and much-liked ones like you... I think that might be partly why I bottled it with "The Return Of The Prince" (which I will get back to, I promise). There were too many of my precious characters who were not having justice done to them - in my opinion - and I wanted to include them all, but then it just got incredibly confusing. So, all in all, THANKYOU!
Cheers again to all of you, and please review!
AliciA xxxxx