Sorry for the delay. I just got out of the habit of updating frequently. Mwaha. Anyway, here's the next chapter. Happy thanksgiving! Gobble gobble.
I got a LiveJournal account in this name. (see my bio for more details.) I would appreciate it if you stopped by, even though I only started it today.
Princes of the Earth
Chapter 7
Amarth
Aragorn raised his sword as the Uruk-hai advanced, then lunged forward to meet them. He held his own surprisingly well, considering the overwhelming odds, and quickly slew several of them before Legolas and Gimli suddenly appeared.
The figure in the trees nearly lurched forward at the sight of the Elf, but held himself back in time. Not yet…
The three together were making quick work of the Uruk-hai despite their larger size and skill than normal Orcs, but more kept coming in an endless tide.
But three warriors was not what the Uruks were after. A large part of the unit broke off to find the Halflings as their master had commanded, leaving only enough to deal with the warriors, as they thought.
The cloaked figure watched as many of the Uruks separated and charged off into the forest. He reluctantly pulled himself away from the scene before him. He knew what he had to do. These three could watch over themselves.
Turning, he quickly ran through the boughs of the trees with a grace worthy of the Firstborn, easily outrunning the slower Uruks until he found his target.
Two Hobbits stood among the trees, shouting wildly at the oncoming Uruk-hai, then running. From the corner of his eye, the observer saw as another Hobbit quickly ran in the opposite direction of his fellows, thankful for the diversion.
The silver-cloaked onlooker followed silently through the trees as the two Hobbits below ran on, leading the Uruk-hai further from their cousin and friend.
Turning his head, the being watched as a tall Man came running to the Hobbits' rescue, catching a descending Uruk axe and quickly retaliating. He watched as the three defended themselves against the enemy, and the Man, Boromir, blew his great horn for aid.
He saw as a large Uruk, the leader over the rest, pulled out a crudely fashioned black bow and fitted it with an arrow. His time had come.
Leaping down straight in front of the Uruk, barely even two meters in front of it, the cloaked being raised his hand palm outwards to the black beast.
Immediately, the arrow fell from the string to the ground, followed shortly by the bow. The Uruk stared with widened eyes at the new threat.
"You shall not harm him, creature of the darkness," the stranger said in a low voice. The Uruk's eyes widened even further before he fell to the ground dead. The other lowered his hand.
He could feel the Hobbits and Man's stares of wonder on him, but he ignored them, instead turning to the remaining Uruk-hai. Though his face was hidden in shadow by his hood, the foul creatures could feel his sharp eyes pierce through their black hearts and minds.
Several of them turned and ran from the imposing presence, but most stayed, more afraid of what their master would do to them should they return empty-handed. These growled and raised their weapons, charging at the tall stranger.
Merry and Pippin cowered behind Boromir, who stood ready for the onslaught with his sword in hand.
The being drew his cloak to one side, revealing only more silver-grey beneath, and unsheathed a long sword. The silver elven blade seemed to emit a light of its own, gathering the sun's rays and turning them to silver before throwing them back into the air.
The Uruks faltered in their advance at the revealing of this fearsome weapon, but were quick to charge again.
It was at that moment that Aragorn suddenly came crashing through the trees with a shout of Elendil! in response to Boromir's horn call. He barely spared a glance toward the stranger before hewing into the Uruk-hai. He was obviously not of Orc-kind, and there would be time for questions later.
Legolas and Gimli were not long in following, and Boromir and the Hobbits quickly rejoined the fight. The Uruks did not even strike at Merry and Pippin; their weapons seemed to be more aimed at the bigger people, even though the two Hobbits felled a few of the dark beasts.
The stranger's long sword was a mere flash of silver as it readily cut through the dark flesh of the Uruk-hai. The tall warrior looked more as if he were hewing blades of grass than the tough creatures of the darkness.
Boromir saw movement from the corner of his eye, and, turning his head to it, saw it to be an enemy archer, bow already strung and aimed. He gave a shout of warning, but it was too late. The arrow was loosed, and sped on its way straight to the stranger's back.
Without even breaking stride, the warrior raised his arms up and back, so his sword was straight against his back. The blade caught the arrow neatly in its center, harmlessly deflecting it to the side. The Hobbits nearly dropped their swords in awe.
The stranger suddenly dropped to the ground, bringing his sword down on the head of an enemy with one hand and kicking its legs out beneath it. He grabbed a discarded scimitar from the forest floor and, turning, threw the clumsy weapon effortlessly back at the archer. The Uruk fell to the ground dead, the long weapon embedded in its face.
A group of a half-dozen Uruks took this opportunity to grab the two Hobbits and quickly run in the opposite direction of the warriors.
"Aragorn! Boromir!" The two Men looked up in surprise as the new being called their names. "The Hobbits! Go! We can finish these last few."
The two Humans immediately ran after the escaping Uruk-hai, leaving the last dozen to Legolas, Gimli, and the stranger. Among the five of them, the Uruks were made quick work of, and the Hobbits were safely returned from enemy hands.
Merry had suffered a nasty knock on the head though, but the stranger slowly passed his hand over it and declared it fine. To the Hobbit's own surprise, Merry felt the pain already lessened and could even feel the wound beginning to heal.
Legolas suddenly gasped. "I remember you!" he declared to the figure in silver. "You were there that day—six months ago, the battle…"
They could see him smile slightly beneath his hood, which by some miracle had stayed perfectly in place all during the battle. "Yes, it was I who you saw, and I am glad to see you fully recovered. A wound like that could have killed a man."
Legolas cocked his head slightly to the side. "Who are you?"
Reaching up, the stranger at last dropped his hood back. "I am called Amarth." He had a serious face surrounded by shockingly silver hair. His deep silver eyes looked as though they had seen too much in their time.
"Why have you been following me?" Legolas asked.
For a long moment the two Elves simply stared at each other, and no one spoke. Amarth had just opened his mouth when Merry suddenly cut in with, "Where's Frodo?"
"And Sam!" Pippin added, looking around.
"And Gandalf!" Gimli realized. They all started. The wizard was nowhere in sight, and none could remember seeing him since before they split up.
Amarth quickly raised his hands before they could all run off again. "Peace. Mithrandir is at the high seat. He is quite safe, at least as any of you could help."
"And Frodo and Sam?" Pippin asked in a small voice, perplexed by what the tall Elf was saying.
"They too are quite safe, for now, on their way to the Black Land. They are with my brother Nen as we speak," Amarth answered.
"Brother!" Gimli cried. "You are not also the brother of Los and Mor, are you?" Amarth gave a slight smile and nod. "I knew it!" Gimli exclaimed. "How many of you are there?" he asked, unwittingly copying Sam's earlier question to Nen.
Amarth hesitated. "Five…well, four."
"What happened to the last one?" Pippin asked softly.
Amarth turned silver eyes on the young Hobbit. "Perhaps the question you should be asking is what happened to us." He did not smile at the Company's puzzled expressions. "But now is not the time to speak of such things." He gestured into the trees before him. "Your leader returns."
A moment later Gandalf stepped into view of the remaining six of the Company. He looked very worn and haggard, as if he had just returned from a very long and tiresome journey.
"Gandalf!" Aragorn and Legolas quickly helped him to a fallen log where he sat for many long moments without speaking.
"Gandalf…?" Merry questioned. Amarth quickly held his arm before the Hobbit to prevent him from going to the wizard.
"He is fine," the Elf murmured. "Just let him rest a moment."
Gandalf finally looked up and briefly took notice of Amarth, not seeming very surprised to see another of the mysterious Elves.
"Gandalf?" Aragorn prodded gently. "What happened?"
"There were higher powers to contend with than mere Orc minions," Gandalf said simply, then turned his eyes back to Amarth. "And who is this?"
"His name's Amarth!" Merry quickly introduced, eager to help.
"He saved us from the Orcs!" Pippin exclaimed.
"Did he?" Gandalf smiled slightly. "I thought you might be here," he said to the silver elf. "I felt a great power, as with your brothers."
Amarth bowed his head slightly, then turned to the trees behind him. "Nen."
Nen suddenly came into sight as if he had been hiding invisible to the others the whole time. His silver eyes danced as they met Legolas's.
"Where's Frodo and Sam?" the two remaining Hobbits cried in unison.
Nen laughed that sweet, clear laugh. "Safe on the Eastern Shore, Master Perian. But now we should discuss the path of the remainder of the Fellowship."
"He is right," Gandalf said, standing with a grunt.
"We follow Frodo!" Merry exclaimed, surprised that it was not the obvious answer.
"We cannot all of us go with him," Gandalf stated. "I know Boromir intended to return to Minas Tirith, and perhaps Aragorn also, though I cannot decide for any of you."
"We will trust in whatever decision you make," Aragorn stated firmly, and the others of the Company nodded in agreement.
"And we cannot forget the other peoples of Middle-Earth," Gandalf continued. "There is still Saruman to deal with. What attacked today was only a very small part of his army, I feel. He will attack again."
Boromir did not seem to be paying attention to what was being said, his gaze to the ground and his eyes very far away. Amarth slipped unnoticed to his side, gently pulling him away from the others.
"The Ring is beyond your reach now," the Elf told him softly.
"I—I tried to take it…from Frodo," Boromir admitted, eyes still cast to the ground in shame.
"I know. But you did not." Amarth forced the Man to look him in the eyes with two fingers under his chin. "You are strong, and have a good heart. You will return to the White City. You will fight the darkness for your people, and good shall prevail. You shall be strong for your people, your city, your king."
Boromir straightened his shoulders and grasped his sword hilt. "For my king," he repeated, and for the first time in too long the light of hope shone again in his eyes. Amarth smiled encouragingly and turned back to the others.
"I will gladly follow you anywhere you would lead, Mithrandir," Legolas was saying.
"And I," Gimli agreed.
"I shall not now leave your side, old friend," Aragorn stated.
"And I," Boromir said, "shall follow my King and brother to the very ends of the world." Aragorn looked up, surprised, but nodded with a smile.
"I suppose if you are all going together, we cannot very well be separated now," Merry said, a little disappointed that they were most likely not going after Frodo.
"Very well," Gandalf said. "This war shall be fought on more than just one front. I feel it best that we continue on the Kingdoms of Men, while Frodo and Sam secretly invade Mordor. Hopefully we shall keep the eyes of both Sauron and Saruman on us and blind to all else."
Amarth slipped to Legolas's side. "I know you have many questions, and I feel that this is the time to speak, lest we never have another chance. If you would?" Legolas instantly nodded in agreement. "Nen." Amarth nodded to his brother, who nodded back in understanding, before leading Legolas away.
"You need not worry about the White Wizard for much longer," Nen began.
………End of chapter. MWAHA. I know, it was short. I also know that it's dangerous to keep both Boromir and Gandalf alive, but worry not, I have a plan. Of course it's AU! I did warn you, you k now. If you want canon, go read the book.
Next chapter—Legolas and Amarth have a talk. (DUN DUN DUUUNN) It's actually longer than this one. But don't worry—it's not all just talking.