Legolas waited patiently for the two officers to get to the important part of their conversation. Most of it consisted of the food rationing and fights that have been breaking out in several of the camps. The elf hated their complaining. While their arguing over how much food they have, they also plot to kill innocent women and children, he thought to himself.
Finally, the soldiers started discussing the upcoming few days. Legolas listened very intently to every word spoken by the Urukai. Mostly the obvious;
"We should be in the city in the next day or two" said one.
"If we could get these lugs to pull their weight" said the other as he violently shoved another to the ground. The Uruk that fell had made another drop his bread, which of course caused a fight to erupt. Legolas did not realize how carefully he had been listening until the shouting of the Urukai turned into an unbearable screeching. The elf immediately backed off which caused him to miss part of the conversation.
During the interruption, another Urukai, not from this company, had run in from the south and had quickly explained something to one of the leaders. Legolas picked up bits and pieces but, because of the extra noise caused by the fight, he decided he should move closer to the camp. He quietly picked up his bow from the ground and moved forward slowly and quietly. Then, Legolas picked up on a small part of the conversation that changed his pace, "…Helm's Deep…".
They know, he thought to himself, the king should have killed him when he had the chance. Of course Legolas knew who had told Sarumon of King Theoden's alternative keep. He quickened his stride forward, keeping his focus on the conversation. He was only able to pick up "joining up with" and "thousands of the great lords Urukai" when a loud yell tore through his eardrum and caused him to cringe in pain, "Intruder!". Legolas looked to his right and an Urukai who had been on patrol was now running towards him. He took a quick look around to see the entire camp's eyes on either him or the Uruk running towards him. Knowing that he could not fight them all, Legolas quickly got to his feet and started running as swiftly as possible away from the camp.
The woodland prince flew past trees and was no longer focusing on anything other than getting as far away from the company of Urukai as possible. Legolas had just barely started to hear the footfalls of the Uruks fading when a tremendous pain ripped through his left shoulder. The force of the arrow caused him to stumble a bit, but he regained his balance by leaning onto a nearby tree. He could feel the cold metal that had ripped through his flesh and was now buried dangerously close to his heart. Blood started to soak the fabric of his green tunic around the wound.
Legolas pushed himself off of the tree with his right arm. He could hear the Urukai catching up. I must get back, he thought, the King must know. With this thought, he began running again. He could feel the arrow moving and burying itself deeper, but he could not stop to take it out, he had to keep running.
Legolas had reached the clearing ,where the previous battle between Urukai and intruder, when he heard another arrow being fired at him. He dodged quickly to the left, but was unable to avoid snapping the part of the arrow that stuck out from his shoulder. The movement of the arrowhead caused so much pain that Legolas was brought to his knees.
He was now in center of the clearing, on his knees, in so much pain he was unable to see straight. He heard Sarumon's dark soldiers begin to circle around the clearing. The soft clanking of their metal warned him that he was surrounded now by 12 of them. Taking deep breaths, Legolas was able to push the pain as far back in his mind as possible (he now realized that all of those things that his father taught him when he was younger actually were useful). Slowly, he stood up, drew an arrow and placed it on his bow. He listened to the slightest movements of the now slowly moving Uruks, waiting for the first attack.