Right, this chapter is entirely brand new and was not at all part of the original plan -after Trekqueen's last review (thanks!) I wanted to add just a small bit about their wedding at least and decided it would be a good idea to bring the action at the mountains into the story. It's the first piece of real action writing I've written so please be nice and thusconstructive criticism is definately welcome.
I'm not sure if the forces guards of Lorien did help in rescuing Celebrian or not, I swear I've read it somewhere but that may have just been in another fic. If they didn't I apologise for the incorrectness (something I normally hate) but its too late to change it now because I worked rather hard on this chapter and quite like it and I dont have time to do my research fully at the moment!

Chapter twenty four

Elemiriel touched her face where Celeglin had kissed her and watched his figure blend in with the trees as he rode further away. The kiss had almost been lost upon her in her agitated and distressed mood. I did not kiss him back…nor say even a simple farewell. Feeling herself begin to regret sending Celeglin away as he passed from her sight, Elemiriel straightened herself determinedly and prayed nothing would harm her love. You have done no wrong, she told herself Celeglin will help save Celebrían and those who you hold dear shall be safe…nothing shall harm them…


Celeglin's eyes flicked back and forth across the swarming mountain pass, the filthy creatures seemed everywhere though the tight ring of Lorien guards held strong against the oncoming tide, their armour like rocks along the shore. The guards had travelled toward the pass after the Lady Celebrían had failed to arrive in Lorien; meeting Celeglin and Elrond's sons there they had begun an attempt to rescue her. Hearing the satisfying sound of his arrow being loosed and the twanging of his bow string Celeglin looked elsewhere on the battle ground knowing the arrow would not miss its target. What he looked for were the twins who had snuck from the main group as part of a plan to enter the myriad of tunnels in the mountain to find their mother and bring her to safety whilst the goblins were distracted and engaged within the fight. Having run out of the arrows given to him by the Galadhrim soldiers he readied his sword and prepared to move forward to the front line of their defence, taking one last look. A quick flash of green and Celeglin had spotted them, slipping into the gaping tunnel mouth.

Moving to the front line satisfied their distraction had worked Celeglin had little time to look for anything after that. The orcs and goblins shrieked and yelled seemingly revelling in the carnage. This at least, thought Celeglin as his sword passed clean through the neck of a goblin, is an advantage – such an unorganised force have little chance. Despite this they were outnumbered and they could not retreat without condemning Elladan and Elrohir to death leaving them alone in the mountains.

Celeglin was determined to survive, he could not die. He would not. He would not let Elemiriel suffer. The swift movements of his blade, fluid silver to look upon, were precise and accurate; many fell before him. A blur of crude black fletching and arrow shaft passed inches away from his face and Celeglin turned briefly to see the elf behind him fall. For a moment his breath was taken away in sudden panic: that could have been me. Celeglin mentally struggled to maintain his focus, to fight his rising thoughts of death and doom upon Elemiriel and his family. Cowardly, selfish he told himself firmly, knowing that there were elven bodies fallen in the pass as well as those who still fought with valour and courage. Taking a steady breath he swung his sword again. With every stroke he fought for them, fought for her. For the white satin ribbons in her hair on the day of their wedding, for the visions of his father and mother he had been allowed, for their deaths, for his remaining family, for the life he had left. Death would not scare him, he would not give in.

There was a lull in the fighting, sides regrouped and rearmed, Celeglin hurriedly supported a Lorien soldier with an injured leg who was limping to the back of the group and positioned himself with a bow, ready for the next onslaught. Celeglin gulped some water down and passed his skein to the elf who had half climbed and leant against a rock against the wall of the mountain pass and was testing the tautness of his bowstring. Before he could even speak with the other elf, clashes of sword upon armour could be heard again and he was rushing back into the fray whilst arrows began to fly overhead.

The fighting intensified and Celeglin prayed Elladan and Elrohir had come to no harm and would not be much longer within the mountains, they would not be able to hold off the seemingly endless amounts of goblins and orcs that issued forth from the main tunnel entrance they had discovered. Suddenly Celeglin felt a staggering blow to his side, looking down eyes wide in shock he saw the hilt of bone dagger protruding from his side and between his armour. Staring at it for what seemed like an age Celeglin began to feel the searing pain. He looked up and saw the grinning and ghastly face of an orc; he swung his sword and then saw it no longer. Hastily he gripped the dagger handle and bracing himself tugged hard. It came free, yet Celeglin had no time to examine how deep it had gone nor to stop the bleeding. He quickly parried an oncoming blade and soon the pain had been forgotten as he fought on.

Blocking a sword thrust, Celeglin felt his arms jar with the impact and looked up at his foe. He looked up even higher and then saw the face of an exceptionally large orc chieftain standing a full head above him. Celeglin's breath caught in his throat. He was no great warrior, a fighter yes but felling a creature like this was a deed for a hero. He thought of what he must live for once again and courage rose within him, meeting the creature's eyes resolutely, Celeglin tightened his grip upon his sword hilt. A snarl came from the beast as Celeglin forced its sword away and their swords met again and again, Celeglin felt he had never moved so quickly in his life as they fought. He ducked, swerved, jumped and parried in utter desperation: he could not die. Their swords met in front of their faces and grated as each tried to force the other away. Celeglin dug his feet into the loose shale upon the ground and desperately tried to hold his ground. The orc leered at him mockingly, though Celeglin would not be daunted by this obvious attempt to unnerve him. His body strained with the effort of pushing the orcs sword back and sweat dripped down his forehead, Celeglin knew he could not hold out in this situation much longer. Briefly looking down he saw, to extreme relief, his salvation.

In one swift and dangerous movement he released one hand from his sword hilt and before his right arm wavered and the orcs sword came crashing down upon him the orc faltered, Celeglin's dagger embedded to the hilt in its stomach. Before the orc had further time to react Celeglin took up his sword in both hands again and there was a satisfying thud as the head of the chieftain hit the ground.

Taking a shuddering breath Celeglin looked around, not realising the fighting had more or less stopped around them. The orcs and goblins screeched and jabbered unsure of what to do with one of their chieftains felled. In the pause the guards of Lorien managed to reform their line with Celeglin amongst them. An orc turned and ran back into the tunnels and seeing the resolve of the elves the others retreated back to the tunnel mouth or even further cowardly running down into their dark pits.

"We shall need to restart battle again should the twins be able to escape," Celeglin heard the captain of the guards announce "All those uninjured at the front, archers behind. If we stay in a single group we will have more chance of survival."

Celeglin felt the blood drying around his wound and prayed that the dagger had not gone too deep, it was aching now his mind had less to focus on. The captain raised his arm to signal for the arches to send some arrows into the orcs clustered around the tunnel entrance but before he could give the signal there was a shout from behind. Recognising the voice, Celeglin turned relieved to see Elladan further back along the pass. The captain called the retreat and slowly they edged back along the pass, not taking their eyes from the tunnel mouth lest the orcs decided to charge them.

Drawing level with Elladan they saw Elrohir even further down the path carrying a limp and pale haired form.

"We found another tunnel that exited further up the mountainside all the way back here," Elladan explained to Celeglin and the captain as the group rushed along the pass. His face was strained and he and his brother looked just as bloody as those who had been fighting outside.

"How is she?" Celeglin asked as they ran, Elladan merely shook his head.