Chapter 28
When the archer's two companions returned, Legolas was surprised. Why, that was Lieutenant-General Airion, Commander Aradan's direct deputy. The Lt-Gen acknowledged the Prince with a bow that Legolas returned. These were the soldiers who had taught him when he was young. He could be the prince but his Ada expected him to respect all elves of Mirkwood and as a soldier, he was below them in seniority, experience and..Legolas sighed, wisdom. Lt.-Gen. Airion had then turned to the archer and spoke to her. She looked thoughtful.
"The Orcs are increasing the frequency of their attacks. 'Tis meant to build up fear and wear down our confidence. The flare signals have been lit. Help will be on its way. We will take our positions behind the rocks. No one is to jump in to attack. We fight to kill and capture. This is no fight to die for. Archers will fire first. There are just four of us. The four pike men together, we are too small in number to take them on individually. Archers on the trees, pike men behind the rocks."
With that order, the archer deftly climbed up a tree and the rest followed. Again, Legolas followed obediently. Lt.-General Airion had not questioned the archer. Who was he to? As Legolas turned around and settled on a tree branch, he had to catch himself from letting out a low whistle. This was not the Mirkwood he had left behind. Why, it would take months of undefended siege to bring down that fort! How had his Ada achieved this? What was happening in Mirkwood?
Legolas turned and looked at the archer, who was in the next tree. Her eyes were focused beyond the rocks and when they narrowed, Legolas knew the fight had begun. Turning, he saw the invaders. There were at most a hundred of them, not just Orcs though, there were wildmen as well. "So few?" Legolas wondered.
Meanwhile, Erienne held her shudder. She would not be cowed down by the wildmen. She knew that Legolas was surprised and confused. But explanations had to wait. This was a mere skirmish but if care was not taken, casualties could result for them. Patiently, she waited until the invaders stepped into the range of fire. Bow raised, she gave the signal and took aim. The first arrow zinged past, catching a Wildman in the throat. He let out a groan and fell to the ground writhing. Astonished, Legolas let his own arrows fly as did the two other archers. His had an accurate aim too but did not kill the Orcs or the Wildmen instantaneously as did the archer's. He would have to check why later. The arrows kept flying slaying Orc after Orc, Wildman after Wildman.
As the rogues came nearer, all the archers realised that their arrows were depleting and readied to jump to the ground. Erienne saw Legolas draw his dagger and drew her own. She hoped that back-up would arrive soon. There were still around fifty of the Orcs left though so far all of her elves were standing. "Encircle now!" The order was given to the pike men as the two generals drew up near her and Legolas to form another circle. Looking around intently, they drew their daggers and swords swiftly to meet the Orcs that ran to meet them head on. Erienne slid to the ground, running her dagger up the belly of one Orc which was going towards Legolas. In fact, Erienne realised, all the Orcs were going towards Legolas, who was busy fending them off. She looked to Airion and the other soldiers who realised the same and went to draw them away.
Erienne realised that the Orcs intended to capture Legolas. One of the Orcs had a dagger in his hand aimed at Legolas' back. In that moment, Erienne lost her cool. Taking her sword, she moved without thought and nearly landed a scimitar on her back when a sword slashed it away, bringing down the Orc as well.
"Use your head and not your heart, Erienne. What will I answer Thranduil?" Aradan barked at her as he slit another Orc's throat. Standing up, Erienne mumbled an apology as she regained her composure and continued fighting. Obviously, back-up had arrived on seeing the flare signal. But why had Aradan himself come? Silly question, everyone knew that she was riding out today.
Within minutes, the elves believed the fight to be over and called to re-assemble when Airion shouted a warning. Three Orcs had hidden behind the rocks and were jumping out, again aiming at Legolas, who had been standing in front. He was looking slightly dazed at everything that was happening and failed to react, only to be pushed away by the Commander. The sword aimed at his neck swiped Aradan's back as the other two Orcs caught Legolas at sword point.
Erienne's scream split the air as she saw Aradan stumble and Legolas at the Orcs' mercy. "Tell your King to come to Mordor for his elfling's body," one of the Orcs cackled. Erienne stilled as she caught Aradan in her arms bidding him to remain silent, as the other soldiers came to stand behind her. "If.." anything that Legolas intended to say died in his throat as Erienne shot him a stare.
Looking at the Orc, she mustered the best pleading face she could in the face of her anger and said, "Please, the King would do anything. We are already helpless. Our Commander is wounded. Name your price." To add weight, she dropped to her knees, handing Aradan to Airion. The move appeared to have pleased the Orc. "As I was telling Legolas here, he might want to visit the place where his mother spilled her babe's blood…and add some of his own…he.." the cackle never escaped the Orc's throat as Erienne's dagger came down upon his skull.
Once she had knelt, all the Orcs' attention had moved to her as they relished her submission. Taking the cue, the soldiers launched their swords towards the Orcs while silent as a shadow, Erienne vaulted herself up on her sword, slitting the throat of one Orc and landing on the shoulder of the other that was holding Legolas. As the Orc fell to the ground, the dagger wedged through his skull, she hissed softly to him, "You should have thought harder before touching Aradan and even harder before deciding to spill the blood of my blood."
For probably the first time, Legolas stood with his mouth agape as the soldiers swiftly brought down the other Orc. "Do not kill him," Erienne ordered towards just one of the Orcs. She knew this Orc as the one that they had tied to the tree. They were not mere followers. This was the Orc that had mocked her that Mirkwood was weakened without the seal and that it would fall when attacked. Looking at him, Erienne asked, "Why this foolish attempt?"
The Orc looked at her and smirked. "For someone who served us, y…" the Orc did not finish his line as Airion brought his sword to the Orc's neck and said gruffly, "Answer my lady's question. No one needs your stories." Legolas looked puzzled at the Orc's arrogance and the general's words but the archer appeared stoic. "The seal. You came for it, didn't you?" she questioned softly. This time the Orc's silence confirmed Erienne's suspicions but the Orc refused to add on. Erienne took her dagger and looked at the Orc. She turned and looked at Aradan. His back was soaked with blood.
"Why?" she asked again, sliding the dagger through the Orc's skin slowly. The Orc writhed and then gagged as she brought the dagger up his belly and then spluttered, "The seal. We have one seal. If we captured his son, the King would be sure to follow or at least give up his seal. Once we get the King's seal, he will be all but crawling before us. From Elvenking to elven sla…"
Erienne twisted the dagger rendering the Orc to a dead faint as she said, "You had best take the King's name with respect."