Chapter 20
The next day.
The second of their trip. Traveled quickly upon their horses, making good time. At the end of the day, they stopped for another archery lesson. This time they had improved since the previous day. They accuracy was just as horrible, but the power of each shot had improved greatly. Soon they would settle down, eat some food, and fall asleep.
The day after.
They traveled down the north-south road. Heading towards what was a great port city, that had existed when Sauron's first attack, Tharbad. Their trip would take them through Rohan, passing by Edoras, and straight to Minas Tirith. But at the moment they are in the fields of barrow downs. Seeing no one on the trail, anywhere. Fortunately there were no orks, or even evidence. They seen some animals, all of them being birds. Only to be informed by Legolas that it was less than normal.
Being on horseback, it took relatively short time to reach the bridge at Tharbad. They had shortly after midday. And continued to head down the north-south road. Passing a massive swamp to their left.
Late in the day, at around the end of the swamp. At about the time of day that Sesshoumaru comes back into sight. They seen him, swords unsheathed. And numerous dead bodies of large creatures. Legolas called them trolls. Once they were up close, they seen huge weapons. Swords, axes, spears, and a couple others. There was at least fifteen dead trolls.
"Where did the trolls come from?" Legolas asked.
"They were heading down the trail towards you three," Sesshoumaru answered, "They got in my way".
"They must of come from Moria," Legolas said, "Mordor has to much in the way to send of trolls this large. Gondor or Rohan would of destroyed them. Out in the open, Rohan's cavalry would of massacred them".
"It does not matter now," Sesshoumaru replied, "I killed all of those trolls. And there all no more trolls within the immediate area. I suggest you deal with your horses, and practice your archery".
They used the dead trolls bodies as their target for their practicing. They had some slight problems focusing on what they were doing. Yuka and Eri were to disturbed by the dead trolls. And using them as targets had only made it worse, even though Legolas agreed to retrieve all the arrows. But once they had gotten into the session, Yuka and Eri had became a little able to deal with the dead corpses. And they made a slight improvement in accuracy, power, and showing themselves to be more accustomed to using a bow. Though they had definitely not looked like that they were professionals. They had a long way to go, still a little sloppy with their positioning.
After their target practice, they did the usual. Get something to eat, and sleep until the next the morning, the next day. Sesshoumaru had stayed up all night, playing watch dog. Which did not amount to much. The night had no incidents, had he been human he would of been exhausted. But since he was a demon, he had plenty of energy in reserve to go another day.
The sun rose the next day, and Sesshoumaru left to get his usual head start. While Legolas, Eri, and Yuka had a bite to eat. Before they resumed their journey to Minas Tirith. Staying on the north-south road, only stopping when necessary. Just like each day before, Legolas had an important mission to do. And he a short deadline to do it in. The only reason he was giving Eri, and Yuka archery lesson was because rides had to rest. So instead of wasting time doing nothing, he did something productive.
At around the same time as they did the previous day, they stopped to rest their horses, and archery lessons. Sesshoumaru had not shown.
"Where is Sesshoumaru?" Eri asked.
"Likely a little ahead of us," Legolas answered, "He will realise that we have stopped. We should do what have normally done at this time of day. If he is not here by the time we sleep, then he likely will not return".
"He can handle himself fairly well in a fight," Yuka said, "Those trolls, nor the orks that he slaughtered were any real show of power for him. I doubt that he was killed".
"I was not saying he was killed," Legolas said, "From what I've seen, there would be many dead orks. Likely in the hundreds, it would be painfully obvious if he was in a fight. None the less, it is not matter we need to worry about".
It was the next day, and Sesshoumaru never shown during their archery practice, supper, or when they woke up. They were concerned that Sesshoumaru was not going to show up again.
"It is not really that surprising, he has always been a little..., weird," Eri commented.
"Weird, try unpredictable," Yuka commented, "And a bit of a prick too".
"Settle down," Legolas said, "He may be around here still. Though we can not search for him".
"That is fine with us," Eri said, "And yes I know, if a fight comes our way. We will not be able to fight back as much".
Soon after they ate, they each mounted their horse. Their journey to Minas Tirith was their top priority. Sesshoumaru disappearing, had to wait. One person although a demon was not enough to risk a civilisation for. The day for Eri, Yuka, and Legolas had without an effect. That was, until shortly after midday.
A loud screech, an absolutely horrible sound. And Eri's horse had almost thrown her off. Legolas immediately drawn his bow, and signalled the lesser experienced Eri, and Yuka to draw their bows in case of combat. Kilala started to growl, jumped off the horse that she had randomly decided to ride on. Transformed into her larger form, and faced the attackers. Seeing a force that was of warg riders. Though it was only a small group of them. Only about fifty of them. Being mounted, the warg riders would easily catch up to Eri, Yuka, and Legolas. Especially since Yuka and Eri were not experienced riders. With no way to run, or hide. They had to fight.
"Eri, Yuka listen to me," Legolas said, "Try to keep out of as much hand to hand combat as possible. We can not escape this fight. When there is close range combat, myself and the cat will do as much as we can. Please for the sake of all of us, stay calm".
The wargs moved into range, Legolas fired and arrow. Shortly after Eri, and Yuka followed suite. Kilala charged right through them. Killed two riders, five wargs, and main a clear path in their force. Combine that with the two riders the first wave of archers, and that should be considered a good start. Though that did not stop the wargs from closing in close. Four more arrow fired, two from Legolas. A rider, and two wargs killed. Kilala barrelled through the first that would of hit, and killed four wargs, and three off the riders. The wargs hesitated for a second. Which allowed for a three more arrows, killing two wargs. Kilala landed in between the wargs and the two humans and elf he was trying to protect. Which caused many wargs and riders to go right into and over. Ayumi fired Eri, Yuka, and Legolas fired a couple arrows each. Kilala shrugged off many wargs off. retreated, the three held on, and Kilala leaped back many feet.
That had killed off, at least eight more wargs, and their riders. And still three fifths of the wargs remain. Sesshoumaru had never shown up, the horses all we killed off, and the wargs surrounded them instead of a mindless relentless attack. It became a moment of unstable peace. Eri, Legolas, and Yuka had their weapons readied for the next attack.
There wargs legs retracted, waiting for the tremendous power be yet again, released. Which was not long, the yelp with glee, not wanting to wait for their next meal. The three arrows killed only one warg and its rider. Kilala charged in to the closest warg, killing it and its rider and moved on the next one. The second warg Kilala killed that way, had landed on top of Eri, and Yuka. Though it didn't kill or seriously injure them. They became utterly useless, and would easily killed without a defender. Legolas's blade sliced the throat of the first warg to go after them. And next the throat of the warg that went after him.
By that time, Kilala had managed to kill three more wargs off. Legolas went back to his bow as quickly fired at the two closest wargs. And then fired at the warg from behind climbing over the dead warg, over top the two girls. Killing the rider and then the warg. While Kilala stopped the warg and rider that attacked him after that. Kilala had killed off three more wargs and their riders as well as four of the riders that had already lost their warg.
Eri and Yuka had somehow survived, even though having no experience, and minimal training. Some how kept their nerves in check. And somehow, even though they were caught looking useless. They proved to have some capability to so some damage. Eri had held up the bow both hands, while Yuka pulled an arrow on the string aimed and fired it. It had actually managed to hit an ork rider to. Which caused the wargs to take a step back for a moment.
Kilala who had taken five wargs, and their riders. Knocked off the dead warg holding Eri, and Yuka down. The two girls got to their feet and readied themselves to the best their ability to defend themselves. They had inflicted heavy casualties, at least four fifths of them were dead. And had absolutely nothing to show for it. The warg were frustrated, and it was obvious. They were not going to play the waiting game for long.
The wait was not long, the remaining wargs attacked. The result three more arrows fired, and three wargs killed. Kilala killed the closest warg and rider. Legolas killed the closest warg, well before Eri, or Yuka could get their next arrow. Kilala landed on top before her teeth ripped it life out. Legolas gave up his arrow to Eri and Yuka, and drawn his two blades. Eri and Yuka killed the last of the wargs that had a rider. Kilala, killed the two of the three remaining wargs. Eri and Yuka killed the other warg as Legolas made short work of the orks who had already lost their wargs.
Sesshoumaru was no where to be found.
(A/N): Please Review! Wow, twenty chapters already and it feels like the fan fic is just starting. I'm really finding Sesshoumaru's route to be the hardest to do. For a little while a thought that Miroku's and Sango's would of been the hardest. But, that one has been easier than I thought. I had edited the previous chapter with Sesshoumaru in it, chapter 15. I had said about a week on foot. That was changed to a couple weeks on foot.