Hey everyone! Sorry about the long wait but with camp, and a Good Charlotte concert, it's been tough updating and will get even tougher until August arrives. I have a week long writing course at the Public Library. I was selected along with 15 other people and apparently it's very hard to get into. Anyway, here's part 2 and soon it seems, there will be a part 3!
Overthrown
Chapter 14
Battle in the Brown Lands
Part 2
Gimli stalked into Aragorn's tent and fastened the flap behind him. Far away, in the darkness, he could hear Wargs howling and his heart clenched despite of himself. He was a brave Dwarf and welcomed a battle but Legolas and Elladan were out there alone. Granted, Elladan was the most annoying Elf he had ever met and his unnatural twin was no better but he didn't wish them to be hurt.
The beaten Elf lay still on the mound of blankets Aragorn had erected as his bed. Gimli crouched down beside the poor thing and examined it with his eyes. The broken nose's swelling had gone down and it no longer bled. One eye was still dark purple and black, the lids swollen shut and the other was red and puffy. The split lip still boar unmistakable signs of bleeding recently and the Elf's breathing was shallow. Around its bear chest were thick bandages mending a broken rib below.
Gimli mentally noted that he would never get into a serious fight with Legolas; He valued his life to much. Gimli reached out and ran a hand over the Elf's brow. The poor creature was burning up.
"Damn." Gimli growled, jumping to his feet and going to Aragorn's saddle bags in the corner. He began rummaging through the large black one and pulled out a small bowl and a cloth.
Gimli stumped over to the door flap, unhooked it and pushed it open. The cool night air was thick with fear and danger but he ignored it and motioned over a Gondorian guard.
"Find me cold water and fill this bowl." Gimli instructed. The guard nodded, took the bowl and walked away nervously into the night. Gimli watched him go, realizing that he was very young, so young, infact, that he looked half of Legolas' age (if he were a human).
Going back into the tent, Gimli sat down beside the poor creature and stared at him. "Don't you die on us yet." He whispered. The Elf moaned slightly and turned his head to the right. "I want to know why you're after my friend and who sent you."
"Master Dwarf?" The guard was back, standing in the doorway, looking awkward. Gimli rose to his feet and took the bowl with a muttered 'Thank you'. When he's closed the flap, he again went to the Elf and sat down on the floor beside the bed.
Gimli dipped the cloth into bowl and then rung it out, placing it on the Elf's forehead. As he did so, a Warg's howl pierced the night and the Elf moaned. "Lithôniel."
Gimli leaned closer to the Elf's mouth. "What was that, lad?" Gimli asked gruffly. The Elf was quiet for a moment and then whispered again, "Lithôniel, Lle naa vanima. Manke naa lle?"
"Speak so I can understand you!" Gimli commanded, but to no avail. The Elf just continued whispering, 'Lithôniel'.
"Aragorn has just left." Elrohir said, entering the tent. Gimli turned and motioned the Elf forward. Elrohir stood at the end of the poor creature's bed, watching him sadly.
"What does Lith…Lith…?" Gimli struggled to find the right word, pressing his face into his hands.
"Lithôniel." The Elf muttered again. Gimli motioned to the Elf and nodded. Elrohir moved around the bed and knelt beside the dying Elf.
"Mani naa essa en lle?" Elrohir asked. Gimli shifted impatiently but decided that the son of Elrond knew what he was doing.
"Valdaglerion." The Elf muttered. Elrohir nodded and placed his hand on the Elf's shoulder. Slowly, the creature on the bed opened its red eye and stared blankly at Elrohir.
"Manke naa lle tuulo'?" Elrohir asked. Gimli shifted uncomfortably. Surly they could speak common?
"Eryn Lasgalan." The Elf answered.
"Lithôniel?" Elrohir waited for a reply.
"Herves." The Elf answered. Elrohir nodded.
"Hannon lle." He said. The Elf closed his eye and soon was asleep again.
"What was that all about?" Gimli asked gruffly, disgruntled about being left out of the loop. Elrohir took the cloth from the Elf's forehead and ran it down the creature's neck.
"His name is Valdaglerion. He is from Mirkwood and his wife is Lithôniel." Elrohir sounded sad. As he moved the cloth down the Elf's side, he froze and his face fell into a look of confusion and concern. "Dwarf, come look at this."
Gimli jumped to his feet and moved around the bed. Elrohir was fingering Valdaglerion's side gently. He'd removed the bandage and was swirling around black ooze with his finger.
"It's poison." Gimli said, running his finger through it. He brought it to his nose and sniffed the strong smell. There was something different about this poison, however. It was not twisting through the Elf's body like it was with Legolas but simply sat concentrated around the wound. The smell, also, was different. It wasn't as strong.
"This is a very old wound." Elrohir said, confusion in his voice. "It has hardly closed but I can tell by the edges of the wound. This Elf should be dead but why isn't he? Why hasn't the poison spread?" He looked to Gimli but the Dwarf had fewer answers then the Elf.
Aragorn took his men out, nervous eyes darting into the dark around him, knowing the Wargs were on the way. Would some break apart and move towards the small group bound for Legolas and Elladan or would the ones already mounting the attack on the two elves just fight them when they arrived?
Gariel rode at his side, Kelser having stayed behind with Aragorn's contingent of men. Aragorn had to admit that he was nervous with out his second in command at his side but was relieved that Gimli would have someone reliable to fight with him.
Lodrin rode behind Aragorn, his young face pale and sick looking. He seemed to be about to pass out at any minute and the King wondered if the coming battle was his first.
"Prepare to race the clock." Aragorn said out of the corner of his mouth to Gariel. The other man nodded and motioned the men to take their horses into a fast trot and soon they were cantering across the empty field towards the sounds of howling and yelping ahead of them. Aragorn just prayed they wouldn't be too late.
Legolas' horse leapt onto its back feet at the last second and the Warg that had tried to pounce on him merely grazed the frightened creature's neck. Speaking words of comfort to his frightened mount, Legolas yelled for her to go and the animal took off like a shot, dogging one Warg and then another, racing for Mirkwood which was still hours away.
Legolas managed to get past four Wargs but another materialized out of no where and before he knew it his horse was thrown to her left and fell over, landing hard on Legolas' already bruised leg. The poor beast thrashed about on the ground and finally got up, racing into the dark and leaving its master to defend himself.
Legolas crawled to his feet, wincing. The Warg circled him, drool falling in thick, clear tendrils from his yellow fangs. Although the thing was a good seven meters away, Legolas could feel it's hot breath on his face and smell the rotting, matted hair that covered it's body.
"Come get me." Legolas growled, unsheathing his twin blades and grinning manically.
The Warg seemed to appraise him for a moment and then charged. Legolas swiped at it just before it hit him. The large creature fell back, its chest split open. Slowly, it got to its feet, obviously reeling from the strike it had just taken and then charged again.
Legolas rolled to his left, just avoiding the Warg's claws. Suddenly, this Warg was joined by a second and then a third. They circled him like hungry birds, watching prey.
Legolas stood very still in the middle of them, waiting and soon they struck. One came at him from the left, the other from behind while the injured Warg strayed out of his reach.
Legolas spun to meet the attacking Warg on his left and ran his knife through its throat. The one behind him missed and bowled over its dead companion. Legolas threw one of his knives and it embedded itself in the creature's hairy side.
The injured Warg behind him saw its change and lunged just as Legolas turned to meet it, pulling his bow from his shoulder and he went. Before the creature had reached him it had an arrow in its right eye.
Blinded and in pain, the Warg continued running straight and Legolas easily dogged it, knocking another arrow. Finding its prey behind it, the Warg turned and began a fresh assault but soon found a second arrow in it's left eye.
Completely in the dark the Warg again ran past him but Legolas was a little slower then he had been before. The Warg knocked him sideways onto his back as a second materialized out of the dark.
This new Warg pounced onto his chest, snapping at his face. Legolas managed to bring his arm up to block its teeth, holding it at the neck. The creature was stronger then he was and with every snap of its enormous jaws it came closer and closer to chomping into his face.
The blind Warg now used its sense of smell and was stalking slowly forward, cautious of the Elf, not knowing he was now pinned and disarmed. Legolas used his free hand, groping behind him for a knife and instead found a bunch of spilled arrows.
Clutching one, Legolas brought it up and stabbed the creature in the neck. The Warg didn't even seem to notice. Drool fell from its jaws and pooled on the side of Legolas' neck, below his chin as flecks hit his face.
Ripping the arrow from the creature's neck, Legolas was dismayed to see the tip of it had broken off in the Warg's neck leaving just the blunt shaft. Throwing the arrow aside, Legolas brought his other arm up and held it at the Warg's neck as well, trying to push the frightful face farther away from him. The blind Warg slowly stalked nearer.
Farther away, Elladan was in a similar predicament. His keen eyes watched the six Wargs that circled him, growling and snapping their jaws threateningly. He held a sword out in front of him, tense and waiting.
Aragorn and the others could just barely be seen coming to his rescue but they were still a good hour and a half's hard ride away and soon would have their own worries as three Warg had gone off after them.
One of the closest ones lunged, soon followed by four others. Elladan spun, swinging his sword around him. The blade made a weird shrieking sound as it cut through the air and instantly decapitated the lead Warg.
One creature hit him hard from behind at the same time one slammed into him from the left. With all the breath knocked out of him completely, Elladan slammed into the ground and spat out a mouthful of dirt, rolling away as the two creatures fought with each other for the prize.
With these two occupied, two others mounted an attack, leaping over the dead Warg and coming on strong. Elladan sliced into the first Warg's belly, sending it springing back, yelping, only to meet the second one. He barely managed to nick this Warg's shoulder before the smart animal jumped away and began to circle him like a vulture.
The injured Warg waited until he had his back on it before it leapt at him. Elladan, predicting the move, turned at the last second and ran his sword into its mouth. The damn creature, however, continued snapping its jaws at him, chewing on his sword until the metal splintered apart.
Elladan fell backwards and crawled away as the creature advanced on him, spitting out shards of metal. He reached into his boot and pulled out a dagger, holding it up in front of him. The Warg pounced and Elladan swiped at its exposed throat. The skin beneath his blade ripped and spilled hot blood all over him. Bringing his legs up under him, Elladan flung the dead creature over his head. It hit the Warg behind him and sent it sprawled on the ground a few feet away.
Now there were two…or, not. One was missing. Looking around, Elladan's heart clenched. Legolas was down on the ground, both hands holding off an attacking Warg, its large teeth snapping dangerously close to his face. There was a Warg coming at him from his right, two arrows sticking out of its eyes. One of the Wargs Elladan had fought was now stalking low to the ground, drawing nearer and nearer the two struggling enemies.
The Warg which had been pinned beneath its fellow had managed to roll away from it and was growling at Elladan, promising with its raising voice that imminent death was at hand. Elladan crouched low to the ground and held the dagger out in front of him, ready and waiting.
The Warg stalked around him, blood dripping from a long gash in its side. Its eyes flashed dangerously and then, suddenly, it attacked.
Hey everyone, well, that was chapter 14! Now on to chapter 15! Due to Fan fiction's new rules, I can no longer post reviewer responses. Any questions submitted in a review will be answered by email! Sorry for the inconvenience and I just want to say you're comments were all much appreciated.