Dire Needs: Chapter Nine
Author's Note: This chapter and the ones following will have references from Aftermath, but you don't need to read it. There are also references to 'Return of the King'. Which is gonna be a very long movie. Four hours, twenty minutes!! Then again i'm not surprised, considering all that they left out in TTT...
the evil witch queen-- you're gonna have to wait and find out. ;)
For all other notes: See previous chapters.
**************
Chapter Nine: Mirkwood Beseiged
It was night. Aragorn and the others stopped to make camp just before the mountain entrance. They had found a nice little cave a short distance up the savage mountains.
"I reckon we'll be there in a four days, maybe five, if we go through the mountains." Haldir said.
Aragorn nodded. "I know a shortcut through the mountains that'll get us there in three and a half days."
"The mountains are too dangerous as of late," Elrond said. "We would do better to go around."
"Ada, it will take a good solid week just to get around," Elladan said.
"We have to make haste," Elrohir quickly said.
The others looked at him strangely. "Why do you say that, my son?" Elrond asked.
Elrohir frowned. "I don't know," he said quietly.
~~~~~~~~~~
Thranduil sighed.
It had been nearly three weeks since he had sent his two children out to Rivendell with the ill tidings, and he had heard no news since. He was extremely worried, not just for his children but also for his kingdom.
He leaned on the balcony and gazed at the dense forest. He felt a cool summer breeze on his face and smiled. 'Perfect weather', he thought to himself. Normally around this time there would be a celebration in Mirkwood for a great summer.
'But,' Thranduil thought, 'this summer has hardly been great'.
Even with Legolas and Harathiel gone to seek help, more and more elves were being mysteriously attacked. One attack was actually in the palace, down in the dungeons.
Thranduil tried shutting the main gate, putting extra guards on constant patrol, closing off the dungeons, even ceased trading with the men at Lake Town, and somehow people were still being attacked. He feared the strange being was actually in the castle.
He was about to turn around and go in when he felt an arrowhead at his back. "Don't move," a voice hissed in his ear.
Thranduil complied, but was filled with sudden dread. 'Where are the guards? And why does that voice sound familiar?'
Just then he heard another familiar voice behind him. "All the guards are chained in the Main Hall, and the villagers are in the dungeons."
"Excellent," the first person said. He pushed the arrowhead against Thranduil's back. "Turn around," he ordered.
Thranduil turned around, and when he saw the two assailants, he let out an audible gasp.
~~~~~~~~
It was dusk. Aragorn was standing guard while the others prepared to sleep. They were going to get up early tomorrow and continue as quickly as they could through the mountains.
Aragorn felt the cool breeze on his face and smiled. Around this time he and the others would be heading to Mirkwood for the annual celebration. Now they were going for completely different reasons.
Aragorn sat quietly, gazing at the mountains, when Elrohir came and sat next to him.
"What are you doing?"
"I am standing guard with you. In a few hours it will be Haldir and Elladan."
Aragorn raised his eyebrows. "And why do we feel the need to guard two at a time?"
"Because the mountains are dangerous," was Elrohir's reply.
Aragorn didn't believe him (he rarely did), but didn't push the subject. They spent most of the night standing outside the cave, adding new branches of wood to the fire once in a while. It was almost two a.m. when they woke Elladan and Haldir up, and they settled down to sleep. In a few short minutes, Aragorn's light snoring was heard.
But Elrohir did not go to sleep so easily. He lay deep in thought, trying to understand his small outburst a few hours ago. He had suddenly felt the urgency to go to Mirkwood as quickly as possible. But he did not know why. He felt that Mirkwood was in great danger.
With these thoughts whirling around in his mind, Elrohir finally fell asleep.
~~~~~~~~~~
Legolas had just as much trouble sleeping. Even with the medication the Ents had given him, his back and ribs still ached. And he was worried about his sister. She had still not awoken, and was feverish.
Legolas finally quit the idea of sleeping and quietly walked around the forest. He walked a few minutes until he came to a small clearing with a lake.
He saw someone sitting at the lake, and was surprised to see it was Harathiel.
"Harathiel?" he whispered softly. Harathiel turned her head in his direction, but did not reply. Her face shone in the moonlight, reflecting her troubled features.
Legolas walked over to her and sat down. "Are you alright?"
"I am well," she said. "I suddenly woke up late this evening and my fever was gone. Legolas, look in the lake and tell me what you see."
Legolas looked down, and gasped.
Harathiel's reflection was her's, yet not her's. It showed the same face, the same eyes, but everything else was different. Her hair, lips and finger nails were jet black, as were the tips of her ears. Her skin was almost translucent and she had an evil gleam in her eyes. Legolas looked at his own reflection and saw it was not his, either. It had the same disturbing features as Harathiel's.
Harathiel reached down and gently touched the reflection of Legolas' cheek. "This is some strange evil," she muttered. She moved her hand onto her reflection. "This is the girl I saw in my vision."
"What are they?" Legolas asked, prodding his face as if it was a dangerous toy about to spring up.
"Some evil reflections of us. But they must be real, if I saw... her in my vision."
"How did they come to be?" Legolas asked.
Harathiel shrugged. "I do not know."
"Oh, I think you do," a voice replied. The two siblings gasped: their own reflections suddenly sprang to life in the lake. Harathiel and Legolas stared at them.
"We were created by Saruman," Harathiel's reflection said.
"He created us to destroy you," Legolas' said.
"We are the Morimaikarea," they said in unison.
"I am Elithraniel," Harathiel's evil form replied.
"And I am Calithrang," Legolas' replied.
"And why does Saruman want to destroy us?" Harathiel said.
"And for that matter, why is he alive? I heard he was killed," Legolas asked, frowning in confusion.
"That he was," Elithraniel said. "But did you forget he is an Istari? They are not easily killed, and he always has a few tricks up his sleeve."
"Did you not know when he was killed his body vanished?" Calithrang informed them. "He turned into a shadow, roaming the world. It took him quite some time to restore his body, and come back to power."
"Of course, we're not here to talk to you about Saruman. We have something to talk to you about."
"And what would that be?" Legolas asked.
"Where is the pendant?" Elithraniel and Calithrang asked in unison.
"We need it," Calithrang said.
"Very badly," Elithraniel added.
"Well sorry to disappoint you, but we don't know where it is," Harathiel said through gritted teeth.
Elithraniel reached up through the water and grabbed Harathiel's throat. Her skin felt slippery and smooth, like an eel. She pulled her down close to the water and whispered, "well, I do. And i suggest you listen and go get it, because I can't. I'm busy here." She let Harathiel go.
Harathiel rubbed her throat. "And where exactly are you?" Legolas asked.
"Mirkwood," she replied.
Harathiel stared at her. "What?"
Calithrang rolled his eyes and turned to her. "We're in Mirkwood. We're in complete control. The inhabitants are all in the dungeons and your guards are forced to listen to us or else their precious king--your father--will die at our hands," he said.
Legolas and Harathiel shared uneasy looks. "And how are we going to get there?"
"We will take you," Elithraniel said.
"How? I thought you said you were busy," Legolas said.
"We will transport you magically," she replied.
"That was Saruman!?" Harathiel replied, seized by a sudden suspicion. "All those years ago? He was the one who transported us from Mirkwood to Rohan?" she exclaimed, being remembered of what happened all those years ago.
"Yes," Elithraniel replied cooly. "And his power in doing so improved. He also taught us. Care for a demonstration?" Elithraniel raised her hand and pointed them at the two firstborns. There was a flash of light, and they disappeared.
~~~~~~~~~
It was early morning. The sun was just beginning to rise, and the four younger travelers were enjoying a light breakfast. Elrond went out ahead to scout a bit.
"So, who will stand guard tonight? We're going even deeper into the mountains, we'll have to be extra careful," Elladan said.
Aragorn nodded. "I think Haldir and I should take the first watch--"
"You will not!" Elrohir explained. "Last night you nearly fell asleep twice. It's a good thing I guarded with you or else anyone could wander idly into our camp and kill every single one of us."
"Hey, I was fine. I would not have fallen asleep, you should know me better than that!"
Haldir frowned. "I think he has a point, Aragorn. You are human--"
"What has that got to do with anything?" Aragorn retorted.
"I am merely saying that during night, humans are more likely to succumb to sleep. We are going into mountains where there are orcs and goblins, and to stand guard at night requires sharp skills and a weary-free mind," Haldir gently explained.
"What, so now I don't have enough skill--"
"Enough," a stern voice said. Elrond returned to the camp, eyeing everyone wearily. "We are passing through a dangerous road, the last thing we need is for orcs and goblins to hear all your ruckus. I will stand guard tonight. If anything goes amiss, I will wake you all up." Elrond said.
"Yes father," Elladan said.
"Of course Lord Elrond," Haldir said, bowing his head slightly.
The next several hours consisted of walking. Elrond was in the lead, Elladan and Elrohir walked side by side behind him, with Haldir and Aragorn brining up the rear. They were on alert, their weapons close by and ready to be used. Aragorn seemed to be the only one relaxed, and was amused at seeing them so tense. "You can all relax you know," he said. "Orcs and goblins rarely come out during the day."
"We know," Elrohir said.
"We just want to be extra careful, that's all. In case anything happens," Haldir said.
Aragorn nodded. "Nothing wrong with that, I guess."
Throughout the day, the group made their way through the rocks and boulders. There was really no need for them to be so worried.
The trouble only started at night.
They had just finished setting up camp, when dozens of shrieks and cries were heard echoing around them. They did not hesitate to draw their weapons and stand in a tight circle.
Orcs and goblins scampered out of several small crevices they had passed earlier. A small group even came out of the ground, in the middle of the circle. So the travelers were forced to separate.
Aragorn ducked another orc blade and cut of the arm that held it. With a swift move, he cut of the orc's head. He plunged his blade into the stomach of another orc, kicking another orc that advanced towards the human.
Elrohir wasn't doing much better. Several orcs had in surrounded in a circle, and were getting ready to lash out at him at once. The moment they did, Elrohir ducked and rolled, cutting the legs of an orc and freeing himself of the circle. He stood up gracefully and decapitated three nearby orcs.
Elladan and Elrond were trapped together, and each were holding their own. There were very few orcs surviving now.
After several intense minutes and fighting, the orcs were finally dead. Elladan, Elrohir, Aragorn and Haldir slackened their hold on their swords, panting.
"Well, that was an interesting battle," Haldir commented sarcastically.
Elrond wiped his sword and sheathed it. "I found it to be rather envigorating. Brought back lots of memories."
The others looked at him as if he were crazy.
"Well it did," Elrond said. Just then a shriek was heard, and two orcs came running out of no where towards Elrond.
TBC
Author's Note: This chapter and the ones following will have references from Aftermath, but you don't need to read it. There are also references to 'Return of the King'. Which is gonna be a very long movie. Four hours, twenty minutes!! Then again i'm not surprised, considering all that they left out in TTT...
the evil witch queen-- you're gonna have to wait and find out. ;)
For all other notes: See previous chapters.
**************
Chapter Nine: Mirkwood Beseiged
It was night. Aragorn and the others stopped to make camp just before the mountain entrance. They had found a nice little cave a short distance up the savage mountains.
"I reckon we'll be there in a four days, maybe five, if we go through the mountains." Haldir said.
Aragorn nodded. "I know a shortcut through the mountains that'll get us there in three and a half days."
"The mountains are too dangerous as of late," Elrond said. "We would do better to go around."
"Ada, it will take a good solid week just to get around," Elladan said.
"We have to make haste," Elrohir quickly said.
The others looked at him strangely. "Why do you say that, my son?" Elrond asked.
Elrohir frowned. "I don't know," he said quietly.
~~~~~~~~~~
Thranduil sighed.
It had been nearly three weeks since he had sent his two children out to Rivendell with the ill tidings, and he had heard no news since. He was extremely worried, not just for his children but also for his kingdom.
He leaned on the balcony and gazed at the dense forest. He felt a cool summer breeze on his face and smiled. 'Perfect weather', he thought to himself. Normally around this time there would be a celebration in Mirkwood for a great summer.
'But,' Thranduil thought, 'this summer has hardly been great'.
Even with Legolas and Harathiel gone to seek help, more and more elves were being mysteriously attacked. One attack was actually in the palace, down in the dungeons.
Thranduil tried shutting the main gate, putting extra guards on constant patrol, closing off the dungeons, even ceased trading with the men at Lake Town, and somehow people were still being attacked. He feared the strange being was actually in the castle.
He was about to turn around and go in when he felt an arrowhead at his back. "Don't move," a voice hissed in his ear.
Thranduil complied, but was filled with sudden dread. 'Where are the guards? And why does that voice sound familiar?'
Just then he heard another familiar voice behind him. "All the guards are chained in the Main Hall, and the villagers are in the dungeons."
"Excellent," the first person said. He pushed the arrowhead against Thranduil's back. "Turn around," he ordered.
Thranduil turned around, and when he saw the two assailants, he let out an audible gasp.
~~~~~~~~
It was dusk. Aragorn was standing guard while the others prepared to sleep. They were going to get up early tomorrow and continue as quickly as they could through the mountains.
Aragorn felt the cool breeze on his face and smiled. Around this time he and the others would be heading to Mirkwood for the annual celebration. Now they were going for completely different reasons.
Aragorn sat quietly, gazing at the mountains, when Elrohir came and sat next to him.
"What are you doing?"
"I am standing guard with you. In a few hours it will be Haldir and Elladan."
Aragorn raised his eyebrows. "And why do we feel the need to guard two at a time?"
"Because the mountains are dangerous," was Elrohir's reply.
Aragorn didn't believe him (he rarely did), but didn't push the subject. They spent most of the night standing outside the cave, adding new branches of wood to the fire once in a while. It was almost two a.m. when they woke Elladan and Haldir up, and they settled down to sleep. In a few short minutes, Aragorn's light snoring was heard.
But Elrohir did not go to sleep so easily. He lay deep in thought, trying to understand his small outburst a few hours ago. He had suddenly felt the urgency to go to Mirkwood as quickly as possible. But he did not know why. He felt that Mirkwood was in great danger.
With these thoughts whirling around in his mind, Elrohir finally fell asleep.
~~~~~~~~~~
Legolas had just as much trouble sleeping. Even with the medication the Ents had given him, his back and ribs still ached. And he was worried about his sister. She had still not awoken, and was feverish.
Legolas finally quit the idea of sleeping and quietly walked around the forest. He walked a few minutes until he came to a small clearing with a lake.
He saw someone sitting at the lake, and was surprised to see it was Harathiel.
"Harathiel?" he whispered softly. Harathiel turned her head in his direction, but did not reply. Her face shone in the moonlight, reflecting her troubled features.
Legolas walked over to her and sat down. "Are you alright?"
"I am well," she said. "I suddenly woke up late this evening and my fever was gone. Legolas, look in the lake and tell me what you see."
Legolas looked down, and gasped.
Harathiel's reflection was her's, yet not her's. It showed the same face, the same eyes, but everything else was different. Her hair, lips and finger nails were jet black, as were the tips of her ears. Her skin was almost translucent and she had an evil gleam in her eyes. Legolas looked at his own reflection and saw it was not his, either. It had the same disturbing features as Harathiel's.
Harathiel reached down and gently touched the reflection of Legolas' cheek. "This is some strange evil," she muttered. She moved her hand onto her reflection. "This is the girl I saw in my vision."
"What are they?" Legolas asked, prodding his face as if it was a dangerous toy about to spring up.
"Some evil reflections of us. But they must be real, if I saw... her in my vision."
"How did they come to be?" Legolas asked.
Harathiel shrugged. "I do not know."
"Oh, I think you do," a voice replied. The two siblings gasped: their own reflections suddenly sprang to life in the lake. Harathiel and Legolas stared at them.
"We were created by Saruman," Harathiel's reflection said.
"He created us to destroy you," Legolas' said.
"We are the Morimaikarea," they said in unison.
"I am Elithraniel," Harathiel's evil form replied.
"And I am Calithrang," Legolas' replied.
"And why does Saruman want to destroy us?" Harathiel said.
"And for that matter, why is he alive? I heard he was killed," Legolas asked, frowning in confusion.
"That he was," Elithraniel said. "But did you forget he is an Istari? They are not easily killed, and he always has a few tricks up his sleeve."
"Did you not know when he was killed his body vanished?" Calithrang informed them. "He turned into a shadow, roaming the world. It took him quite some time to restore his body, and come back to power."
"Of course, we're not here to talk to you about Saruman. We have something to talk to you about."
"And what would that be?" Legolas asked.
"Where is the pendant?" Elithraniel and Calithrang asked in unison.
"We need it," Calithrang said.
"Very badly," Elithraniel added.
"Well sorry to disappoint you, but we don't know where it is," Harathiel said through gritted teeth.
Elithraniel reached up through the water and grabbed Harathiel's throat. Her skin felt slippery and smooth, like an eel. She pulled her down close to the water and whispered, "well, I do. And i suggest you listen and go get it, because I can't. I'm busy here." She let Harathiel go.
Harathiel rubbed her throat. "And where exactly are you?" Legolas asked.
"Mirkwood," she replied.
Harathiel stared at her. "What?"
Calithrang rolled his eyes and turned to her. "We're in Mirkwood. We're in complete control. The inhabitants are all in the dungeons and your guards are forced to listen to us or else their precious king--your father--will die at our hands," he said.
Legolas and Harathiel shared uneasy looks. "And how are we going to get there?"
"We will take you," Elithraniel said.
"How? I thought you said you were busy," Legolas said.
"We will transport you magically," she replied.
"That was Saruman!?" Harathiel replied, seized by a sudden suspicion. "All those years ago? He was the one who transported us from Mirkwood to Rohan?" she exclaimed, being remembered of what happened all those years ago.
"Yes," Elithraniel replied cooly. "And his power in doing so improved. He also taught us. Care for a demonstration?" Elithraniel raised her hand and pointed them at the two firstborns. There was a flash of light, and they disappeared.
~~~~~~~~~
It was early morning. The sun was just beginning to rise, and the four younger travelers were enjoying a light breakfast. Elrond went out ahead to scout a bit.
"So, who will stand guard tonight? We're going even deeper into the mountains, we'll have to be extra careful," Elladan said.
Aragorn nodded. "I think Haldir and I should take the first watch--"
"You will not!" Elrohir explained. "Last night you nearly fell asleep twice. It's a good thing I guarded with you or else anyone could wander idly into our camp and kill every single one of us."
"Hey, I was fine. I would not have fallen asleep, you should know me better than that!"
Haldir frowned. "I think he has a point, Aragorn. You are human--"
"What has that got to do with anything?" Aragorn retorted.
"I am merely saying that during night, humans are more likely to succumb to sleep. We are going into mountains where there are orcs and goblins, and to stand guard at night requires sharp skills and a weary-free mind," Haldir gently explained.
"What, so now I don't have enough skill--"
"Enough," a stern voice said. Elrond returned to the camp, eyeing everyone wearily. "We are passing through a dangerous road, the last thing we need is for orcs and goblins to hear all your ruckus. I will stand guard tonight. If anything goes amiss, I will wake you all up." Elrond said.
"Yes father," Elladan said.
"Of course Lord Elrond," Haldir said, bowing his head slightly.
The next several hours consisted of walking. Elrond was in the lead, Elladan and Elrohir walked side by side behind him, with Haldir and Aragorn brining up the rear. They were on alert, their weapons close by and ready to be used. Aragorn seemed to be the only one relaxed, and was amused at seeing them so tense. "You can all relax you know," he said. "Orcs and goblins rarely come out during the day."
"We know," Elrohir said.
"We just want to be extra careful, that's all. In case anything happens," Haldir said.
Aragorn nodded. "Nothing wrong with that, I guess."
Throughout the day, the group made their way through the rocks and boulders. There was really no need for them to be so worried.
The trouble only started at night.
They had just finished setting up camp, when dozens of shrieks and cries were heard echoing around them. They did not hesitate to draw their weapons and stand in a tight circle.
Orcs and goblins scampered out of several small crevices they had passed earlier. A small group even came out of the ground, in the middle of the circle. So the travelers were forced to separate.
Aragorn ducked another orc blade and cut of the arm that held it. With a swift move, he cut of the orc's head. He plunged his blade into the stomach of another orc, kicking another orc that advanced towards the human.
Elrohir wasn't doing much better. Several orcs had in surrounded in a circle, and were getting ready to lash out at him at once. The moment they did, Elrohir ducked and rolled, cutting the legs of an orc and freeing himself of the circle. He stood up gracefully and decapitated three nearby orcs.
Elladan and Elrond were trapped together, and each were holding their own. There were very few orcs surviving now.
After several intense minutes and fighting, the orcs were finally dead. Elladan, Elrohir, Aragorn and Haldir slackened their hold on their swords, panting.
"Well, that was an interesting battle," Haldir commented sarcastically.
Elrond wiped his sword and sheathed it. "I found it to be rather envigorating. Brought back lots of memories."
The others looked at him as if he were crazy.
"Well it did," Elrond said. Just then a shriek was heard, and two orcs came running out of no where towards Elrond.
TBC