Out of Mirkwood
Scribbles-on-Parchment
November 2, 2019
Chapter 17 – The Calm Before a Storm
Legolas felt his blood run cold at the elvish cry. He had never seen an orch before, let alone fought one. He might have had a chance to defend himself had he not been lying ill and helpless on the ground.
If his kidnappers were not in league with the yrch and did view them as a threat, then he was in big trouble. He was weak and had no way to protect himself. A battle against those wicked beasts would surely lead to his death. There was no way around it.
The ellon beside him put a hand gently onto his arm as though trying to reassure him.
"Stay here mellon. Everything will be fine; I will not let them get to you. You are safe."
Legolas desperately wanted to disagree. He was far from fine. He was sick, poisoned, being held captive by the son of his adar's enemy, and now he was about to be killed by an army of yrch. If this meant that everything was fine, then the elfling did not want to know how it could get any worse.
However, a plan had begun to form in the young elf's mind even as he heard more shouts. The chaos of a fight was the perfect opportunity to escape. All he needed was strength, perfect timing, a bit of luck, and perhaps he would be able to slip away.
Beside him, the prince watched Elrond's son jump to his feet as the cries continued. A sword was soon in the eldar's hand. Yet to Legolas's surprise, instead of leaving him alone and helpless where he lay, the ellon stayed by him, standing almost protectively over him.
He wants to guard his captive no doubt, Legolas thought fighting between feelings of gratitude and of frustration.
This would be a problem to his plan; with the brown-haired elf staying by him it would mean that he would have no opportunity to get away. The only bright side to this is that he might stand a chance to survive the looming attack.
Angered at his continual bad luck the Sinda let his eyes slowly drift shut. He needed to save his energy in case the chance for escape presented itself. He would be of no help to his captures even if he wanted to.
As soon as his brother's cry reached his ears, adrenaline started to course through Estel. He could tell the young elf was frightened by the nervous look that suddenly flooded his bright blue eyes.
He thinks I am going to leave him alone and unprotected, the human put his hand gently on the ellon's arm, He does not realize that I intend to stay with him and that he will be well.
"Stay mellon. Everything will be fine; I will not let them get to you. You are safe," the edan put his hand to the hilt of his sword even as he tried to reassure the elfling.
Estel quickly scrambled to his feet and drew his blade, his grey eyes darting around for any sight of the enemy, however, there were none in sight; only his adar and brothers were there, looking anxiously out across the waving grass. The young human quickly glanced back at Maer and gave a sigh of disappointment. The elf's eyes had once more closed, long, dark, lashes covering the orbs beneath.
The edan started as he heard someone approach him. He whirled around swinging his sword ready to strike down any orch that dare approach him and the elfling. There was a loud clang as his blade met that of his older brother's. Estel, for once, did not laugh at the surprised look on the younger twin's face at his sudden attack.
"Peace toron," Elrohir said thanking Eru for his elvish reflexes, "The yrch are not yet upon us; there is no need yet to attack without first seeing your opponent."
"Goheno nín. I reacted without thinking. I thought you were an orch."
"No harm done. It is always wise to be on alert before an attack, however, perhaps just be more careful about whom you attack. Some of us do not have as quick of reflexes as others," Elrohir grinned lightly and glanced over at his twin before looking down at the unconscious elf; his smile was instantly replaced with a frown, "I had hoped he would be awake. Yet it matters not. At least this will save him from feeling any pain while we travel."
Now it was Estel's turn to frown.
"What do you mean travel? Are we such cowards that we are going to flee from danger yet again? Will we let the yrch chase us all the way back to Imladris?"
"It was not my choice to make and I am no happier about it than you are. Yet for once I feel that it is the best thing for us to do. Think about it, there is no way that we can protect ourselves, our horses, and an ill elfling. We are too few and we know not how badly we will be outnumbered. It would be foolish."
The man looked back at the unconscious eldar; perhaps it was for the best.
"Stay with him. I will have Ada come get both of you when we are ready to travel. He is anxious for he worries greatly for Maer. Ada wants to leave quickly because he does not want to be caught by those blasted creatures. They have been following us since the forest and are thankfully several leagues off still so you need to worry about one of them sneaking up on you."
Elrohir winked at the young edan before quickly walking off to join his twin and ada by the horses.
Legolas had heard every word.
What was this second eldar talking about? What had been following them since the forest? Surely, they could not be that far from the Greenwood? Then it struck him.
His adar. His adar was the one who had been following them. This had to be it. No doubt they were using the excuse of yrch to bring him fear and dispel his hope and it had almost worked. The Sinda wanted to curse himself for falling for their trick and thinking that his adar would not come. The king had been tracking him down ever since he had been captured. He was sure of it.
Hope ignited once again in the prince's heart and he felt his resolve begin to strengthen. He would find a way to get free of his captors and get to his adar. The only question was how?
Hethion stood a way off watching the yrch march steadily toward the small cluster of eldar; a smile graced his face. This was going to be simple. His master should have given him a harder task than to just ensure that the young prince of the Greenwood was dead. All he had to do now was wait for the group of Noldor to be attacked by the yrch. If the young Sinda was not killed in the ensuing battle then he would be able to easily finish the prince off with one arrow to the heart. No one would ever have to even know he had done it.
The Silvan pulled a black arrow from his quiver and set it to his bow; his gaze never left Thranduil's son. The young prince appeared to be semiconscious and if everything went as planned the elfling would never wake again. Hethion stood still, waiting to see if Legolas was to die by his hand or follow in the footsteps of the queen and be killed by the yrch.
Legolas knew that something was wrong. Something in his heart was warning him of danger. Yet the thought of having a chance to escape, or at least slow his captors down, outweighed that feeling. This could very well be his only opportunity to flee from his kidnappers. He was not going to waste it because he felt paranoid.
The young Sinda could hear Elrond's son still beside him. He was not sure what the ellon was doing but he was not going to open his eyes to check. Hopefully, the eldar would leave him alone for even a moment. That was all he needed.
Patience, the young elfling thought trying to calm his racing heart. It had to be the perfect timing.
He was thankful that whatever they had forced him to drink had caused his pain to now fade to a dull throb. If this had not happened he would have had no hope to escape.
As he lay on the soft grass the young prince ran over his plan in his mind trying to keep himself calm. If he could get the Noldor to wait just a little longer surely his adar would be here. Then as long as this accursed elf, Estel did not stand guard over him the entire time he might be able to conjure up the energy to flee to the elven king.
Legolas let all the tenseness in his body drain out. This whole nightmare would be over by nightfall. He would be back with his adar and Kélion soon and he swore he would never leave the palace on his own again.
After several minutes the prince heard soft footfalls coming toward him.
"Estel," the voice that spoke was soft but had an edge of worry and urgency to it, "We must leave now if we have any hope of outrunning the yrch. I feel that something evil is near. It is different from those foul beasts; it is something else… something darker. I know not what it is, but I fear that it is after our young mellon."
Legolas stiffened. Were there actually yrch after them and about to attack? Was his adar not coming for him after all? Or was this about to become a meeting of all three parties?
The Sinda did not have time to think about this, for a moment later a pair of strong arms slid under him, lifting him up. The sudden movement caused the ellon to gasp in surprise, however, the pain that he had expected never came.
"Peace penneth," a voice whispered into his ear, "Do not fear whatever chases you, for as long as you are with us we will protect you. Now rest."
An overwhelming urge to sleep came over the young prince. He desperately wanted to give in to its call, but the hope in his heart kept him sinking back into the darkness.
"There," the voice said, "He should continue to sleep. The last thing that we need is for him to be in pain as we ride."
Legolas forced himself to remain limp as he was carried off. He had lost his sense of direction long ago but guessed that he was taken to the horses. As he was being carried he could feel his left forearm resting against the cold metal of a sword hilt. If he was going to act then he needed to do it now.
Hethion watched as the young prince was lifted up by the dark-haired human. The elf lord that had come over to get them, leaned over the elfling and said something. It was only a moment before the young prince went completely limp. The Silvan smirked. This would be all too easy.
Elvish Translations:
orch - orc
yrch – orcs
mellon – friend
adar – father
toron – brother (Noldorin)
goheno nín – forgive me
ada – dad
penneth – young one