So glad you all liked the update, once again apologies it took so long. Here is the next update, hope you enjoy it.
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Rohirrim
Aragorn stood in horror as he watched his friend crumble to the ground, his eyes rolled back into his head and his bow fell to the ground as his whole body went limp. The ranger ran to the elf's side, pulling him up into his arms as tears began to collect on his bottom lids. He desperately searched for any sign of life, rewarded by weak, raspy breathing sounds escaping from Legolas' slightly parted lips. He briefly allowed his eyes to look around and he gasped at what he saw. The orcs that had surrounded the elf were little more than ash and bones on the ground. The men who had stood beside Legolas now stood there with eyes wide in shock, unsure of what they had just witnessed.
'Go to the keep, your king awaits you.' He said as he motioned then to leave with the shake of his head.
He looked back at the elf who lay motionless in his arms. Skin pale, lips blue as he fought for every breath he took. Aragorn wondered if this is what they had intended to give him these powers for, only not to kill orcs, but to elves and men. Had he been created as a weapon to end middle earth? Aragorn lifted his companion into his arms and carried him to the throne room, realizing bow that every orc that had managed to get into the keep were now reduced to rubble, but he could hear the screams and squeals of more entering through the gate and so he quickly dashed through the large wooden doors before the surviving soldiers closed them behind him. He looked around for Haldir but he could not see him. His heart sunk for he knew that meant the elf had fallen. The Ranger placed Legolas down on a wooden table, the elf was barely breathing now and his back arched as he fought to draw breath.
'What happened?' Came a gruff voice.
Aragorn looked down to see the dwarf stood beside him. He did not answer only returned his attention to Legolas, he knew he needed to get the elf somewhere safe. He picked the elf up again and headed to the entrance to the caves, knowing he would be safer there with the women and the children than in the keep. He stepped carefully but quickly down the work stone steps towards where the women and children lay in waiting for the battle to be over. Èowyn sat at the top, sword at her side, ready for anything to come through the doors and down the steps to kill them. The maiden saw Aragorn heading towards her and leaped to her feet but her eyes soon caught sight of who was in his arms and she raised her hand to her mouth as she gasped in shock.
'Aragorn' she said as she ran to his side and placed a worried hand upon the elf's brow 'what happened to him.'
'I have no time to explain,' he exclaimed as he lay the elf down onto a long flat rock 'he is struggling to breathe, I wish I could stay and tend him but I cannot. Please can you do all you can for him until I return?'
'Yes.' she replied as she dropped the elf's side and placed a comforting hand on his chest, feeling the weak and uneven breaths he took.
She looked up to see the Ranger scaling the steps again, running back towards the battle and so she was left with the Mirkwood prince. She called some of the women to help her and started to take off his armor and his cloak. She opened his tunic so that a small amount of his chest was on show and rubbed a chick green salve onto his chest. Straight away his breathing eased and his body relaxed. Banging sounds started to echo through the caverns and people began to scream and cry in fear.
'They're breaking in.' Shouted a woman as another threw herself at Èowyn, tears running down her cheeks.
Eowyn stood there in shock as she held the weeping woman, her eyes wide as fear began to creep into her heart. The woman pulled away and ran back to her family who was a little deeper in the cave.
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Aragorn looked up at Gandalf who sat proudly upon Shadowfax on top of the steep stony hill. A smile formed on his lips as he saw Éomer walk up behind him, his sword raised as he ushered his men to form up behind them.
'Rohirrim' he shouted, his voice echoing across the valley as their horses lurched into a gallop.
They jumped over the orc's spears with ease, slicing the creatures down which gave Aragorn a chance to get back onto Brego and join the rest of the warriors. The orcs started to flee and so they chased them to the edge of the battlefield but what greeted them was a surprise.
'Stay out of the forest! Keep away from the trees!' shouted Éomer as he ran up and down the line with his sword raised above his head.
The warriors of Rohan all stopped and watched as the Orcs fled into the trees, none seemed to realize that those woods had not been there when they had arrived. The trees began to squeal and creek as they started to move, crushing the orcs beneath their roots. After some time the trees stilled again and not another sound came from the woods. Aragorn breathed a sigh of relief and turned to Gandalf who has come to sit beside him.
'I must return to the keep.' Aragon said suddenly has his stomach dropped.
Gandalf looked at him with a questioning glance, taking in the ranger's panicked expression. He followed as the man kicked his horse into a gallop back into the keep, jumping off his horse's back and straight to the entrance of the caves. The woman and children had started to move towards the mountain pass but Eowyn had remained, still standing vigilant over Legolas' unconscious body.
'My lady?' he said as he approached her.
She stood and leaped into his arms, tears of joy escaped from her tired eyes.
'How is he' he asked as he pulled away, his eyes scaling down to his friend.
'He is weak but alive.' she replied as she placed a comforting hand on the eld's shoulder 'If I knew what ailed him I could better help him.'
'He spent his power and it has weakened him to the point of near-death.' replied the man as he placed his hand upon the elf's brow.
Éowyn looked at the man with a quizzical expression. What had he meant by his power? She watched as Aragorn lifted the elf into his arms and took him from the caves to his quarters where he laid his companions down on the wooden cot in the corner. He noticed the salve on Legolas' chest, smelling the salve he recognized the scent and smiled. Éowyn was a smart, brave woman, that he already knew but she seemed to have a hand at medicine also. He pulled up a stool beside the cot and sat upon it. Rubbing his temples with the palms of his hands as he pondered what to do.
'How can I help you?' he questioned and he leaned forward on his arms that rested on his lap.
'What happened Aragorn?' came a familiar voice.
The ranger turned to see Gandalf stood in the doorway. He stepped further into the room and stood in the pale appearance of the elven prince. He perched himself at the edge of the cot and waved his hand over the elf's face whilst muttering some words under his breath. Aragorn watched, waited as the wizard worked. Legolas' eyes cracked open as Gandalf's hand came to rest upon the elf's chest.
'Legolas?' said the Ranger as he saw the elf begin to stir.
The prince turned his head to face the man, his sapphire orbs locked with the Ranger's grey ones.
'It seems you weren't destined to die here.' said Aragorn as he placed a comforting hand on his friend's shoulder.
The elf smiled weakly before his eyes then drifted to Gandalf who was still sat beside him.
'Thank you Mithrandir.' he said as he gave the wizard a nod in appreciation.
The wizard smiled before rising from where he sat and leaving without a word, only smiling at them as he left. Legolas could feel the darkness tugging at his mind again, his breathing was still a battle and he could feel his consciousness slipping away from him.
'Did we win?' was all he could say, talking was tiring also.
'Yes Mellon nin, victory is ours.' replied Aragorn
'Good.' replied the elf.
His battle to stay awake however was not one that he could win and he once again he went limp. The Ranger fell to his knees as he took the elf's face in his hands. He could no longer hear the elf breathing and his heart quickened. He pulled the blade that Celeborn had given him and lifted the blade up to his friend's nose, hoping for any sign that the elf was still breathing. He wasn't.
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Dun… dun… duuuuuun! So there is the next chapter up. I plan on getting this wrapped up in the next chapter but I couldn't help but leave this one on a cliffhanger. I'd love to know what you thought. I will get the next chapter up as soon as I can!
