Legolas instructed the horses to choose a rider, the horses trotted to up and nuzzled into their chosen owner. Finduilas, a silvery mane white horse went to Legolas, Isilindil, a chestnut brown went to Anna, Elwing, a dapple grey mare went to Jemima, Inwë ,a light brown mare went to jem and last, a black Arabian mare with white socks and a blaze for Harriet.
"They are horses of the wild, they are bonded to me, and I to them, I can call upon them, they will take you far, I shall guide you to a safer dwelling. You must ride bareback, wild horses do not carry riders with a saddle." He told them, then he said some Elvish words and the horses bent down, so they could be easily mounted. Harriet tried to mount her horse, but the wound at her side shot pain through her body. She winced, and bent, body buckling. She looked up; Legolas was by her side, "here, let me help."
Gently, avoiding her bandaged wound he lifted her onto the horses back, she smiled at him. He patted the horse.
As he went to mount his own horse Anna stopped him and showed him her cut arm, "Tell me, what do the runes say." She demanded,
"I shall tell you later, when there is time, for now keep it hidden." he replied.
Anna looked at it in silence, it hurt. He handed her a roll of cloth to wrap it in and the tied it round the runes, taking care to conceal whatever it said. She looked back up at him and nodded solemnly.
All were seated on their horse, fingers tangled within the it's mane for grip. Finduilas whinnied and Legolas dug his heels in, it began to walk, into the forest.
As they edged deeper into the forest it grew darker and more sinister than before. The silvery twigs rustled in the wind as it passed by. The dying brown leaves spiralled to the ground, falling solemnly through the air, eventually landing on their final resting place. The earth was damp and trodden beneath the horse's hooves. Mysterious hisses and whispering wind reached their ears from somewhere through the thick winding branches, seamlessly never ending. Dark green clouds of gas puffed from spores on the trees, choking them as they galloped past.
They all galloped along the path in formation, Legolas leading. He threw up his hand to signal them to slow, he came to a halt. He dismounted, a look of worry upon his face. He crouched and listened, no one dared breath, the silence was like death.
"They are too near, they come from along the path, I should of sensed it earlier" He whispered faintly.
"What is it? What comes?" Jem said, growing panicky.
He looked up, face white, "Orcs."
"Mount your horses quickly now! They have wargs with them! They have picked up our scent!" He commanded rushing to Finduilas. He waited for the others to steady their horses, before galloping fast along the path, leading the fleeing group. Behind them they could hear the clashing and clanging of orc armour and the murderous growling, bellowing from the excited wargs. Round the corner of the path came the foul group of monsters running towards them at speed, Jem screamed as she looked round.
The horses scattered, all whinnying and frightened, Jem and Jemima's horses swerved off the path, to the right, horses giddy with panic.
Legolas lead Finduilas into the trees to escape the orcs, naturally Harriet followed him, the orcs gained on them, jaws gnashing, but as Legolas and Harriet disappeared into the thicket they were out of sight, only Anna remained on the path, abandoned. Her horse was fastest, and the wargs, still chasing her began to fall behind, til she was ahead of them, but she could not control , Isilindil, who galloped fiercely along the path.
She could still hear the orcs behind her, but as she looked around, they were out of sight, for the path had turned a sharp corner. In that moment, an overhanging branch she did not see, collided with her body as Isilindil ducked beneath it. She fell from his back onto the path, as the orcs advanced. Soon they would round the corner and see her lying helpless and rip her apart. She could not scream, no sound came from her open mouth.
Suddenly, just before the orcs saw her, she felt strong arms around her, pulling her into the dense thicket at the side of the path. This time she did scream, but a firm hand covered her mouth to prevent it.
"Shut it" The voice whispered. The voice was male, she could define that, but whoever it was, she couldn't see their identity.
They both tensed as the orcs passed them, they were hidden in the bushes, one dismounted from a warg and sniffed. It followed its nose towards them, clearly it could smell them. Anna froze, not daring to breath. Its face was mangled, nose protruding from its pus filled face. It bared its yellow teeth, snarling.
"My darlings, I can smell you, smell your fear, where are you?" It growled, spitting with every pronunciation. The orc had fallen behind the view of the rest, who had ridden further ahead, in the illusion Anna was still on the horse. It opened its foul mouth, about to call the others back, when her captive drew dagger and threw it into him.
It fell to its knees silently, the other orcs did not see it die, they were far ahead.
Anna exhaled with a sigh of relief and struggled from his grip. He let go, and she jumped from the bush to grasp the knife he had used to kill the orc, implanted in its belly. In a split second she had the knife at her captor's throat, eyes wide with fear from her recent experience, and excitement at her new found inner warrior.
He drew his hands back to signal he meant no harm, and laughed. She recognised who he was, Kili.
"Put down the knife little lass, I won't hurt you." He chuckled, as she looked at him astonished.