Ok, here is chapter 4. Let's see. All places belong to Tolkien, as do Legolas and Thranduil and Elrond. Obviously Gimli (who is mentioned) and the Hobbits (ditto) do too. All the rest of the characters are mine. I made up too many names to list them all. :)
Ok, enjoy and leave me comments please. Oh, and a special thanks to ABeautifulLetDown, because she is my first fan! Yea! Ok, ok to the story…
A Face from the Past
Legolas was not the first to arrive to the meeting. There was a group of about fifteen elves already gathered and a few more began to scramble in. There was an air of uneasiness and uncertainty. Everyone glanced around giving questioning looks to one another. The gathering consisted mainly of males, but the few female elves that had followed the others out attempted to mask their concern. Traces of fear swept across their faces. There were murmurs of trouble… danger.
Then he saw her. She sat next to Thranduil looking exhausted. Legolas saw Leilia bring her a blanket and whisper something to her that seemed to calm her down. She nodded and a forced smile pursed through her lips. "Settle down, please," Thranduil commanded in a loud, but gentle voice. Legolas made his way to his father's side and took his rightful place at his father's right.
"Ada (Father), what has happened?" Legolas whispered to his father. Thranduil suddenly looked so old. He looked into his son's eyes and shook his head. "Orcs."
The elves sat around the king. Their voices became hushed at the command of their king, but they still shared furtive glances at each other, and this injured stranger. Leilia was tending to the girl, muttering elven phrases and inspecting her wounds. "Please, I'm fine. Thank you." It was the first words this new woman had spoken. At the sound of her voice, all lingering whispers halted and dead silence ensued.
"Thank you," Thranduil spoke. "We have an urgent matter to discuss. This lady," Thranduil said motioning to the golden haired elf "was traveling to Mirkwood from Rivendell with a group of our brothers. A group of orcs overtook them at Anduin River…
Ireth and the others were traveling to Mirkwood, bearing gifts from Elrond to Legolas and Thranduil. It was Rivendell's way of congratulating Legolas's heroic efforts. He had sent similar gifts to be sent to the hobbits, and to Gimli as well.
Ireth had been privileged enough to join the group traveling to Mirkwood. Admittedly she had ulterior motives…
They had been traveling for a few days now, and were almost half way to their destination. They reached the Auduin River and had settled for a break from walking. They took out their Lembas bread and drank from the cool, river water. It had been a quiet and peaceful trip so far. The weather had been in their favor and the trip had been fairly quiet so far. Even going through the mountains had been uneventful.
It wasn't until the break of their third day that Ireth suddenly looked about her, alarmed.
"Dina! (Quiet!)" She whispered.
"I feel it too," muttered the elf next to her.
"Thasda'l, weapons ready."
"They are coming from over there. I hear them approaching. Maybe thirty. We have a minutes lead on them, no more."
"Should we try to out run them?"
"They are on the path back to Rivendell. We can not let them get through with out sending warning ahead."
Ireth was the only female among them, and the rest of the elves felt the need to protect her, even though it was quite known that she could handle herself in battle. "Ireth, run ahead. Take my horse; his speed will keep you safe. Speed to Mirkwood, send for help!"
Ireth knew it would be of no avail to protest and she grabbed the horse, and leapt on. She gave them fearful nods and told them to take care. She turned to leave.
"Ireth!" Maeglin called after her. Maeglin was one of the most respected elves, aside from Elrond who had yet to travel to the Undying Lands. "Uuma dela (Do not worry), we will be together shortly." Ireth nodded to him and headed straight for Mirkwood. The safest route would be through the old Forest Road, then to follow Celduin up to the Woodland Elves. However, the quickest route would be to cut through the Mirkwood Mountains and head straight to the Forest River. She knew what she had to do. She pressed the horse as fast as he could go. She sensed the orcs in her path only a moment before she saw them. There were four of them, scouts most likely. Three orcs, and one Urukai.
Her horse trampled two of the orcs, with ease. All that remained was the Urukai who laughed at her as she tried to pass, and an orc who was looking at her hungrily. She could out run them with her horse.
"My lady," the orc spit out with much sarcasm. "Such beauty..." he scoffed. "Come down, let me touch you. I won't hurt you much." He laughed at himself, while Ireth calculated her next move. She stroked her horses back. She could sense his unease. He snorted and nickered in fear. "Come down, pretty thing, so I may show you how orcs treat women of your kind!" He licked his lips and stared at her.
"Amin feuya ten' lle! (You disgust me!)" Ireth spat.
Her horse knew her next move before she did. She backed up a few steps and prepared to run ahead. The horse began to run at full speed and the orc and Urukai knew they could not stop her. They moved aside. As the horse jumped in the air to clear them the Urukai flung his arm back and released his black metal sword into the air. It struck his mark. Ireth let our a pained scream. The Urukai's weapon was lodged in the back of her right shoulder. He let out a shriek of pleasure as he watched Ireth flee from them.
Ireth held on to the horse's mane. It took all her concentration to keep her from letting go. She tried as hard as she could to keep the pain from entering her mind. Even more, she tried to keep the images of what could have happened to her friends, from tormenting her. She had pulled the weapon out of her back and groaned. There was no time to stop and tend to her wound. She could tell it wasn't life threatening. Maeglin's horse, Belegohtar (mighty warrior) could sense the urgency of their pace. When darkness fell, neither of them was ready to stop. Horse and rider rode well into the night. They did not stop to rest for more than a few hours at a time. Just before dawn of the second day, she could see the Woodland Elves home before her. And it was a sight for sore eyes.
"… She has traveled the last two days to reach us. From what she knows, the orcs were headed to Rivendell. What happened of her other escorts is uncertain. Now what is left to us is the decision of what to do next."
"Father," Legolas stood up. "Let me take a few elves with me, and go with haste to Rivendell. We shall make sure that they are safe, and have not been overcome by the orcs. Since we do not know how many of those vile creatures that traveled together, we can not guess at the amount of danger that Rivendell may find themselves in."
Thranduil looked proudly at his son. "You speak like a leader, so I will send you to Rivendell as you have requested, you may pick your men to assist you. Immediately a few elves stood up to volunteer their services. Twelve in all. Among them was Ellisdin, son of Ethinar, Thandis, son of Ithminger, and Curucuar, son of Tel'raa.
"My Lord," a voice spoke up. A female elf, which leaned against an ornament cane made her way to the circle. This was Vanimle, a well known, and highly respected healer in the Woodland realm. Many years ago she had suffered a horrible injury to her leg due to a band of orcs traveling through these parts. The fact that she had managed to save her leg at all was testament to her healing abilities. Her only sign of this injury now, was a slight imbalance on her left leg. "Permit me to speak."
"Of course Vanimle," Thranduil smiled at the woman. "What troubles you?"
"You do not know what has happened to the elves that accompanied this young one," she motioned to the elf that sat with a blanket now pulled like a cloak over her. "They could still be alive, on the road, injured. Allow me to travel with them, the skills of a healer may be needed."
Thranduil appeared to be thinking to himself. "Vanimle, you know that I treasure you and your wisdom," he said carefully. "But this must be a mission of haste. Speed is of the essence." He said gently, not wishing to pursue this subject more.
She smiled at him. "I understand your concerns. I would hold them back, slow them down."
"Vanimle---" Thranduil began desperately.
"Peace," she smiled again. "My Lord, I understand your meaning. Then allow one who has been in my charge to go. I have taught her many skills, that may prove useful." Leilia stepped forward towards Thranduil.
"Legolas?" Thranduil questioned his son.
Legolas had been watching this interchange with something like amusement. Vanimle was a very close friend of his fathers. Besides his mother, she may have been the only woman Legolas had ever heard speak this way to his father. Had Legolas commanded his father to have peace, it would have been most likely met with stern looks. His father's questioning however, awoke him from this train of thought,
"Yes Ada?"
"Would you have a healer accompany you?"
Legolas looked at Leilia and solemnly smiled. He suddenly realized he would love nothing more than to have her accompany him. He felt ashamed of this thought. There were elves that could be in danger and he was wondering what it would be like getting to know more about her. Perhaps she shouldn't come. Still, a healer would be needed and his father was right, Vanimle would not be able to make the trip.
"I would be delighted to bring along someone with your abilities, my lady," Legolas answered. "But we must leave quickly; time is of the essence." He motioned towards the other elves, "Pack your things and grab your weapons. We leave in one hour, at the first sign of sunlight."
Elves hurried off to prepare provisions for those leaving. Those who were leaving went to get their horses and their weapons ready. Leilia hurried off to pack a bag of necessary herbs, plants, and balms. Soon all that remained was Thranduil, Legolas, and the elf from Rivendell.
The night was still dark, despite the few lights that had been put up in haste for their emergency meeting. For the first time Legolas was able to glance at this newcomer. The blanket covered her like a cloak and hid her features. "Legolas," his father began. "I will entrust her into your care. Return her home safely." An odd look, a smirk perhaps, passed over his father's face and he nodded to the elf and smiled at her. He started to walk away, but called back, "Take care, Ireth."
Ireth? Legolas thought. This name hit him like a punch. His mind raced. Rivendell and Ireth? He fought for composure. It must be a mistake. Ireth lowered the blanket.
"Oio naa elealla alasse', Legolas" Ireth whispered.
"Ireth!" Legolas gasped. He was at a loss for words. "Ireth…" was all he could manage to say.
I know, how awful am I. I don't mean to make them all end in cliff hangers.