Elrohir glanced behind him, waiting for his brother Elladan to come back into sight. It took longer than he had anticipated but finally the other twin ducked underneath a fir branch and skidded to a halt beside Elrohir.
"You took long enough," Elrohir commented. He too was breathing heavily from the exertion. The air in the Misty Mountains was thin at this altitude and the brothers were slightly less impenetrable then the average elf. Their father was peredhil half-elf, afterall. Elrohir did not allow that to excuse the weakness. He pointed down the steep hillside. "I saw them head down there."
Elladan nodded and launched himself down the loose ravine, scattering dust and pine needles in all abandonment of stealth.
Elrohir followed, maintaining his balance with effort. His twin had always held the better aptitude for agility. Within moments his boots hit the hard granite of the region and Elrohir took off at off at a dead run, vaulting over a rough patch of brush to march up another boulder of grey stone. The smell of their quarry was growing heavy on the freshly rained out atmosphere. The sky was threatening to break open with another bout of thunderous storms.
If the rain came before the brothers had reached their prey, it would be nearly impossible to find the orcs. The Misty Mountains were fierce and favoured the monstrous creatures.
A harsh wind whipped up through the heavily garbed firs. They shook their fists as if in warning to the peredhil. Wild yowls carried loudly on the shivering branches.
Elrohir had gained a considerable lead over his brother and came upon the pack of orcs first.
He swung his heavy sword with a whistling blow that heralded the peredhil's arrival like a war horn.
The impact shook up the hilt and Elrohir braced his well-muscled arms for the twist surely to come. He took a step back, balancing himself while the orc whirled on him, swinging its brutish, long arms in a desperate attempt to maul him with its last remnants of strength.
Its final squeal honed the other orc's attention directly onto Elrohir. There was at least a dozen of the thickly armoured creatures. He raised his sword into a defensive stance with the blade perpendicular with the ground.
Arrows came hailing down in quick succession from the mountainside. Elladan had arrived.
Elrohir charged with a loud warcry. His blade collided with the iron armour of a heavyset orc, crunching the crappy metal with ease. The elvish blade was forged by his father's father long ago; it had cut down thousands of beasts.
Despite the situation, Elrohir smiled. He would add more tallys to the long list of history of the metal. The peredhil spun in a fast pirouette that whipped his long raven hair in a cascade. He connected another blow sending an orc crumpling to the ground and causing another to stumble.
Elladan's bow sung while the elf-man shot with deadly precision and unmatched speed. His arrows thumped loudly, matched with the intensity of the rolling thunder that was now grumbling low and close to the battlefield. A rush of rain was coming quickly.
As it fell, the ground turned treacherous and muddy. The orc's heavy footsteps squelched on the slippery surface. Elrohir grimaced. He planted his feet wide apart to brace against a rusty scimitar's hacking swing. He rolled the blade across his own and threw the orc into the soft earth. It's brethren trampled it in a bid to use the distraction to knock the elf down.
However, they consistently forgot his twin brother who was now jumping nimbly from a large limbed oak tree. Elladan whipped his drenched mane back to clear his eyes before taking aim. His strong hands pulled back on the bowstring and it released with a twang followed by the sharp snap of metal cracking.
Two orcs fell to the ground, tied together in death.
Elrohir used the moment of respite to tally the remaining enemies. Two more remained. He grinned, all white teeth in the growing gloom of the thunderstorm. The orc screeched terribly when Elrohir's blade dug into it's soft belly, passing through the boiled leather like butter.
The orc's companion, wild with rage and desperation, threw its small axe into the mud and flew at Elrohir with its talons extended like a true animal.
Elrohir sidestepped and took one overhead arc, that resulted in the enemy's head slapping to the ground with an individual splash. He straightened and raised his sword to signify to his brother that all enemies were slain.
Elladan smirked and dropped from the tree gracefully. His wet hair stuck to his cheeks and framed his powerful jaw the same as Elrohir's.
"What do you think they were carrying?" Elladan asked. He took a tentative step towards the large cedar chest that had fallen when the brother's had attacked.
"We should find out then get out of this storm."
"You afraid of a little water?" Elladan grinned and extended his arms, taking in the frigid rain.
"I am never afraid. But I am cold," Elrohir said uninspired.
"It is a little cold," Elladan agreed. He leaned over the thick chains wrapped haphazardly around the chest. Only an orc or a child would have contrived the tangled mess. The twin was holding a small vial in his grip. He inspected the puzzle before pouring the clear liquid contents onto the metal.
The chain bubbled and hissed as it disintegrated where the fluid came into contact.
"I should learn how to do that," Elrohir commented.
"Pfft. You don't have time for books," Elladan shot back.
"Not those kinds of books. You will thank me when your little ass gets shot by another poison arrow like last time."
"Touche," Elladan conceded. His finger wrapped around the delicate elven latch on the beautifully carved chest. Cautiously, he pried the creaking lid back.
Elrohir leaned over the edge and looked down. His jaw dropped when his eyes met another pair - these eyeswere large, green, and petrified.