Hey, all! I decided to update before I left to go to a show in New York this evening...just to save you some angst. I'm so nice. -grin- And I'm glad a lot of you share my opinion on that stupid ban! I REALLY want to tell you all personally that I loved the enthusiasm you gave me in your reviews, and that it made me want to update sooner, but I can't. -pout- I hope the petition gets up to numbah 200 soon! Thanx again for the encouraging reviews, and keep 'em comin' for the muses! (and the updates) Now, off to NY for the show! (I can't believe it! I'm actually going somewhere today! Can it be? Am I getting...a-a life? -gasp- I'm so whacked. lol)
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Disclaimer: Go away, lawyers; no one wants you here! -beat back lawyers with broom- I don't own them!
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ch. 8
Khílya shrieked just as a massive, hairy body crashed into hers, nearly making her lose her balance. Legolas spun in his seat on the branch and looked down to see the gray blurs of wolves emerging from the trees and surrounding the frightened mare, backing her into the tree trunk. Their long fangs were bared as they growled viciously at their prey, their mottled fur bristling. Khílya kicked out at the threats, desperately trying to keep their claws and canines away from her tender flesh.
Legolas instantly stood, drawing and notching his bow. He took aim at one of the deadly creatures circling his dear horse, letting the arrow fly with precise aim and hitting one of the beasts squarely between the shoulders. The horrid creature howled in anguish and snapped its teeth at the pain. The wolves looked up into the tree the projectile had come from and howled a challenge to the new enemy.
Legolas accepted quickly and leaped from the branch, landing nimbly on the one five feet below and continuing his way down. He dropped to the ground next to Khílya in a crouch, his bow already re-strung and ready for the massive battle about to come.
More wolves appeared from the darkness to help the first of them, and Legolas suddenly realized how huge they really were. They were nearly three times larger than a regular wolf, their claws sharp and deadly, their fangs almost as long as the knives that were sheathed at his back. They had an aura of unexplainable evil surrounding them and the elf realized that these beasts, unlike normal wolves, wanted to kill both from sheer pleasure and hunger. Legolas' heart gave a gallop of fear, but he held his position and rose from the crouch he had assumed to absorb the impact of his landing and began firing his arrows, most hitting their mark. One hit a wolf in the side of its throat, the other plunging into the chest of another.
But the beasts were not killed.
Confusion sparked through Legolas' conscience, but he had no time to ponder why the creatures were not dead before they pounced, their claws raised. He dropped his bow, for it would do no good at such a close proximity, drawing his knives quickly. He spun from underneath their claws and jaws and rolled into a crouch while Khílya bounded nimbly away from the leaping beasts, whinnying in fear. The pack split into two groups, one of five sprinting after Khílya while the other of six aimed at the armed elf.
He dodged the blow of one and slashed out with one of his knives, slicing the side of the wolf as it pounced by. It yelped in distress and landed with a slight stumble, whimpering as the pain of its wound reached its awareness. While that one recovered from the shock of the injury, the others all leaped at the elf before them, aiming for his throat. He twisted and spun, his knives reaching out with deadly precision and wounding many of the foul beasts facing him, but their hide was thick and could not be punctured so easily.
While Legolas was preoccupied with the other five, the one he had first injured circled around his back, its mouth open in what looked a devilish grin. Saliva dripped from its open jaws as it reveled in the fact it had caught its prey so unaware and it quickly pounced, colliding with Legolas' back and nearly knocking him to the ground. The elven prince's quick reflexes saved him, and he ducked at the right moment, sending the animal spinning off of his back. The beast's claws dug in and scraped harshly across his spine as it was sent reeling. Legolas bit back a scream as the long claws gouged him and straightened, forcing himself to steel back his pain and face these horrid animals.
They seemed to play with him, snapping their jaws and growling at him, surrounding him and making sure he had nowhere to go. Legolas' head whipped around as he saw he was surrounded. The smell of fear was obvious to the creatures and it only boosted their confidence, as well as the scent of his blood, which was trickling steadily down his back from the ragged gashes he had received from the first wolf. He braced himself as they closed in on him, their fur raised and evil eyes glinting maliciously.
Khílya was faring no better on the other side of the clearing. The five wolves attacking her did so without relent, one leaping at her after the other one had missed. She was tiring from clubbing them away with her hooves and kicking out at them. Her light brown coat was glossy with sweat and her large eyes wild as they roved over the threats, trying to decide what to do. Any normal horse would have bolted, but Khílya was loyal and would not leave her elf behind so willingly. She wanted to reach him and help him, but the wolves prevented that, blocking her path and refusing to allow her to pass. They had her backed up against a thick tree, fighting desperately for her life. She squealed in pain as a set of claws drove into her side, catching the soft flesh and creating a grievous wound. The scent of blood drew the wolves closer, and they each batted out with their claws, making more wounds on her strong form. Given time, she would tire from blood loss and the extremities they were pushing against her.
"Khílya!" her elf called to her from across the clearing, where he was battling the pack of wolves against him desperately. "Thásl, Khílya, thásl ect ar-tû! Run, Khílya, run and get help!" he shouted at her in Elvish making sure she understood. She hesitated, watching his lithe form carefully as he fought. The wolves around her growled.
"Tenëry, Khílya!" he hollered. "Now!" She needed no more urging as the wolves around her slowly closed in, greedy glints in their eyes as they sniffed the scent of the blood she was losing. Quick as a threatened ferret, she lunged with her hooves and sent one of the animals reeling from her blow. Taking advantage of the opening, she swiftly rushed from the circle of wolves, disappearing into the forest. Two of the wolves rushed after her while the other three went to help with the elf.
Legolas was not faring well. He was beginning to tire from beating back the bloodthirsty beasts, strong though he was. Yet even an elf can be pushed unwillingly to the edge of dropping, and the feeling of his strength draining was not a pleasant one. He struggled to stay focused and alert to the movements of his predators as they inflicted only more damage upon his being. They administered scratches and blows to his head that dizzied him for brief moments, but they did not kill him just yet. They wanted to have their fun with him first.
A wolf pounced forward and deftly knocked one of the knives out of the elf's hand with its paw, sending it spinning into the darkness. While Legolas turned to face the one that had unarmed one of his hands, another leaped forward and snatched the prince's wrist in its jaws, forcing the weapon from his fingers. He cried out sharply with the pain of the beast's fangs driving into his skin, yanking his arm quickly back. The wolf stepped back into line, and the whole pack seemed to take a moment to revel in their near victory. Legolas held his injured wrist against his side tightly, trying to concentrate past the pain. He was now faced with almost ten wolves and was utterly defenseless.
One of the smaller wolves could be patient no longer and leaped forward, crashing into Legolas' back and knocking the elf to the ground. His chin collided sharply with the ground, dimming his vision for a moment and sending his senses reeling with the sharp pain. The wolf on his back dug its claws unmercifully into his skin, piercing through the fabric of his tunic and forming tiny pinpoints of blood. But that amount of pain was only to keep the elf still. It leaned down with open jaws and snatched Legolas' shoulder in its teeth, stepping off of him and flipping him over onto his back, dragging him slightly backwards as if he were a prize it had won. It deftly shook him in its teeth, eliciting a cry of pain from the prince as its long fangs shifted in his shoulder.
Another wolf, this one bigger than the one that had a hold of the elf, pounced forward and grabbed his leg, throwing back its weight and trying to wrench Legolas from the jaws of the smaller one. Its goal was accomplished, the fangs ripping painfully from his shoulder and causing him to cry out again. He thumped heavily onto his back. The bigger wolf dragged the elf away from the smaller one, wanting the prey all for itself.
Another leaped forward and batted the wolf away with a snarl, taking the elf as its own by grabbing his already injured leg. Legolas began to struggle, and he kicked out at the jaws that had a hold of his calf, receiving a satisfactory yelp from the beast and getting his leg free. He quickly rolled over onto his stomach and pushed himself up from the ground, getting his feet underneath him and attempting to escape. He did not get far in his injured state, and two wolves swiftly caught up with him, tugging him to the ground again.
One clubbed the elf on the head as punishment for trying to get away, dazing him and sending the world spinning, while the other dug its jaws into his side. It gripped his slim form tightly between its teeth and lifted him halfway off of the ground, shaking him until its grip was ripped away with the force of which it was swinging the elf prince. The fangs tore away from his flesh, nearly taking a large bite of him as they did so. Legolas' screamed loudly in pain, the injury hurting more than he ever thought was possible. The world warped and spun in sickening twirls as he rolled away from the wolves, and he felt nauseous. Such a feeling was unpleasant and he was not used to it, for elves' immortal blood prevented them from getting sicknesses.
Legolas' stomach and everything around him lurched. He landed on his wounded side, the air ripped again with the sound of his cry. He tried to sit up, to get away from the horrid creatures torturing him, but his vision would not clear and the world continued to spin. He pushed himself from the ground feebly, hearing the wolves coming up behind him for another round of playing their sharp barks sounding like taunting laughter. His stomach heaved once again and he retched from the pain in his injuries and the pressure of the situation. He felt teeth grasp his already injured wrist, and he knew that he was going to die. It was not the way he would have chosen it, but the fact was unavoidable.
Legolas whispered a prayer in Elvish to whatever god or goddess that would care to hear it.
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Khílya, racing forward through the trees, heard the elf she had left behind scream in pain, and her racing heart twinged as she was forced to keep running and not go back to help him. She heard the two wolves behind her keeping pace, but ignored them as she ran on, desperate to help her elf in any way she could.
Khílya screeched in pain and surprise as claws dug deeply into her left haunch, raking cruelly over her side before withdrawing. She stumbled slightly, but did not break stride, despite the new pain that had been added to the others. The wolves snarled and snapped their jaws, seeming to curse in their own twisted language. Khílya tried to run faster as they dogged after her, relentlessly pounding on her trail, the sounds of their barks ringing in her ears. She risked her fast pace as she stopped and kicked out at one of the wolves, catching it beneath the chin and snapping its head back, an ear-shattering crack coming from its neck as it was snapped. The wolf fell to the ground, dead before it even hit the earth.
Khílya resumed her sprint, even as the other wolf raced after her, enraged at the death of its companion. It bounded forward and sturdy legs and pounced at the fleeing mare, its mouth open wide. Khílya neighed in surprise as the hound landed on her back, digging its claws into her flesh. She bucked and tossed beneath the beast, who was attempting to lunge for her throat for the killing shot. She threw the wolf from her back. It landed with a soft thump on the forest floor and tried to turn over to raise to its feet. Before it could do such a thing, Khílya reared and brought her hooves down upon the beast's head. Its movements stilled immediately.
Khílya, snuffling in satisfaction, bounded forward yet again to retrieve the help her elf had asked for.
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"Ada, what was that?" Estel asked, awakening abruptly to the sound of the scream. He gazed in confusion at his elven family, who were staring out at the forest, their bodies pressed against the railing. They all had recognized Legolas' voice in the scream and were all pale and sober as they tried to identify what was really going on. The sounds of the wolves could clearly be heard in the former quiet night air. They all heard another scream come from the forest. Estel huddled down into his father's arms as Elrond sat next to him to comfort him, tears of sheer horror at what he was hearing coursing down the young boy's cheeks.
Elladan and Elrohir swept quickly off of the balcony, running towards the entrance. They were going out there to help whatever poor soul was at the mercy of the beasts. Arwen sat next to the elven lord and tried to comfort Estel with him, but the boy suddenly leaped from the chair he was sitting on and raced after the twins. Elrond and Arwen followed, their hearts shadowed.
Estel ran after Elladan and Elrohir and emerged outside in the night air. The twins were pulling their horses from the stables with urgent Elvish words. Estel watched anxiously from the threshold, his eyes wide as the horrible noises of the wolves continued. Guards rallied together under Elladan's command, waiting patiently on their mounts for the twins to get themselves ready to ride out. The twins gathered their weapons quickly and leaped onto the backs of their horses.
A loud whinny forced all of their heads to snap around in time to see a bloodied mare come racing from the forest, screeching exigently. Arwen immediately recognized the horse bolting in their direction, and her fears were confirmed.
"It's Khílya!" Estel shouted, recognizing the horse only moments after his elven sister. The mare halted in front of the group of guards, rearing and tossing her head restlessly. She squealed again at the guards, pacing forward a few steps and then falling back, wanting them to follow her. Elladan understood and commanded his mount to follow the mare, who sprinted swiftly away, her fear for her elf spurring her speeds. The small band of warriors raced after the frightened and injured horse, disappearing into the trees. Estel whirled to face his father, his eyes huge with fear and horror.
"It was Khílya, Ada!" he whispered, his voice broken and harsh as he tugged at his father's robes. Elrond knelt down next to the distraught boy and wrapped him in his arms. "Where's Legolas, Ada, where is he? Is he going to be okay?" The elven lord swallowed tightly and gazed at the trees through which his sons and the guards had vanished. He did not answer to Estel's question, for he did not know how to respond.
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(I could've stopped here, but I'm gonna be nice this time.) -grin-
Khílya kept an extremely fast pace, dodging trees and shrubs blocking her path nimbly and efficiently. Elladan had a hard time keeping sight of the mare and urged his horse faster as the sounds of the wolves grew closer. He lost sight of Khílya, but it was obvious in which direction to go from where they were. They burst into the clearing, where Khílya was standing protectively over a still form on the ground, lashing out at the gigantic hounds with a ferocity that was rare in the usually gentle mare. She screeched angrily at the wolves, baring her blunt teeth and snorting. She was furious that these demons had hurt her elf so severely and was determined to make them pay for what they had done.
A wolf snapped at her legs, causing her to rear in an effort to keep herself away from the sharp fangs of the hound. The wolf only came closer, swiping at the mare with its claws and trying to reach the play toy they had lost to the horse. Khílya clubbed the wolf viciously in the head, causing the beast to yelp and leap quickly away or suffer another blow from the rage filled mount. The wolves fanned out and closed in on the mare, who stood over the still figure of her elf, half-crouching down to keep him protected from the lashing claws and teeth. She tossed her head and bravely stood her ground despite the fear emanating from her at the sight of the sharp talons aimed at her.
Before the wolves could take another cuff at the surrounded horse, a volley of arrows flew from the trees, piercing and startling many of the hounds. With surprised yelps and howls, they turned to face the new threat…only to sprint quickly away as eleven horses raced from the trees, snorting in disgust at the canines and batting them away from the wounded mare and her precious charge. The elves upon their backs fired deadly arrows at the wolves, sending them back into the darkness where they belonged. Elladan and Elrohir leaped from their mounts and strode to the frightened mare when all of the wolves had gone, slinging their bows back over their shoulders.
Khílya tossed her head and stamped at the ground when they approached, the adrenaline and fear she had felt still effecting her system. She chased the two elves farther away from the wounded elf prince lying beneath her, fearing that they were another threat. Hurriedly, Elladan and his twin spoke in soothing Elvish to calm the horse, explaining that they would need to see to her elf's wounds before he died. It took some coaxing, but Khílya eventually backed down, allowing them access to her elf. She knelt by his side, rubbing her velvety nose against his pointed ear in concern.
The twins had learned a great deal of healing from their father, but even they could not be prepared for the sort of wounds Legolas had sustained. They had not the supplies for the job. They were both equally horrified when they turned the prince over onto his back. The elf was covered with blood from three grievous injuries on his body. His breathing was ragged and shallow, his eyes tightly closed in pain. He had taken a severe beating from those wolves and would not live much longer if he was not properly cared for.
Elladan swiftly lifted the prince in his arms and placed him on the back of his horse, climbing smoothly up behind him. Khílya paced anxiously next to the horse that held her elf, not wishing to leave his side for even moments. Elladan's horse nickered softly and rubbed her neck in an effort to console her. Khílya calmed only momentarily. She trotted still at El's horse's side when they were heading back to Lord Elrond's home, her brown eyes always on the elf prince. Elladan wrapped an arm around Legolas' chest to keep him steady on the back on his horse. He felt the blood coming from the wound in Legolas' shoulder and lightly kicked his horse into a faster gait.
His attention was taken off of riding when Legolas moaned softly, shifting as consciousness slowly came back to him. When he was awake he instantly wished he was not. Shocking pain seemed to come from all points in his body and his head still spun horribly, doing nothing to help his already uneasy stomach. He hissed softly in pain as the horse's hoof slipped into a ditch, jolting him. Elladan's heart went out to the prince's pain. He slightly tightened his hold around Legolas' shoulders and urged his horse a little faster.
"W-what happened?" Legolas muttered, opening his eyes. They were clouded and glazed with pain, the once piercing blue a now dull gray. "Where…am I?"
"Hush and regain your strength," Elladan whispered in Elvish. "It is Elladan. We are taking you back to Elrond's home."
"Khílya…" Legolas moaned, his eyes closing again as he remembered his mount. An answering whinny came from his right, and a soothing brush of her nose across his fingers reassured him, and he relaxed as he fell into unconsciousness once again.
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See? He's not dead...but he doesn't look to good, does he? Oooh...ouch. He might yet live, if you send me reviews. -grin- Oh, and to the one reviewer who sent me chocolates, thank you very much! I LUV chocolate! - past full mouth of chocolate- I hope you all liked the chapter! Byes! -Copperfang