Chapter 19

Along the legends in middle earth not all things could be said very clearly, a few things were still whispered among people and creatures until proved certain. One of them being that the creature that became known as Gollum had been a hobbit and truly he had been Smeagol but after the touch of the ring it seemed another life all together. Another whispering was of the orcs, in his youth Legolas had heard from many a person that they had once been Elves that had gone mad. Had they been it might explain how crafty and sure their archers had been or even why their ears much alike to an Elf. Nevertheless, he wanted them no where near his new wife and friends.

As relieved as he was seeing she had prepared for this instance, he wanted to tell her to pull back. Although he knew her aim might out shoot some of the best archers there, from under his instructions when they were children. Watching the orcs push passed the main gate and began flowing into the courtyard and Arri tossed him the other sword which he caught easily attaching it to the opposite side of the decorative sword he held.

"Let them come!" Gimli screamed flying headlong into the fray with his axe but the dwarf found elvish arrows helping to clear the path.

Arri watched with great admiration as Lord Elrond branded a sword as it seemed to glide through orcs and he lead fellow elves as they began to push passed the defenseless humans, protecting them all. His sword was a fluid motion that the orcs had a hard time to follow with mere eyes and very easily he pressed on barking orders in Elvish. So impressed was Arri that she considered her work with her bow to be lacking in compare. All too quickly a small yet frightened scream caught her attention taking her attention.

Turning her head to see a small child in an elvish dress fleeing from an orc with his sword drawn. There were many orcs and they would surely take the live of each human if they could. Arri's heart fell as she jumped from Legolas' side and raced for the child plucking her sword from her side.

Watching Gimli, Legolas continued to fire his arrows taking down the orcs before they became arm's reach of the dwarf and continued even as Gimli figured it out, "21, 22, 23, 24..." Quickly he pulled his sword as an orc ran to him and when his sword fell so did the orc, "25..." He pulled his bow again taking them at a distance and watched Gimli's head turn and with no enemy near him, he began to swing his Axe angrily at nothing at all.

"You cheat, elf!" He grumbled loud enough for everybody to hear although it only made sense to a few.

"29.." he called off loading another arrow but an orc was nearly on top of him and Legolas used the arrow's tip as a knife to it's throat, "30.." As he reached back he worried he had hit Arri and turn his head slight,"Arri?" Legolas said quickly but she did not turn to him as he watched her run to Eliza in the midst of the orcs. He exhaled running after her but still feeling quite light headed.

Eliza let another scream trying to take shelter under the table that contained refreshments but then the orc let his sword go smashing the table to reveal the child. Eliza watched the sword tossed over the dark monster's head as he gained momentum to bring the blade upon her and she closed her eyes. Hearing the clashing of metal but Eliza felt no pain so she opened her eyes to see Arri standing before her like her own guardian with her own sword as an obstacle between the orc's sword and Eliza. Eliza sucked a breath in sharply as Arri seemed to barely hold the blade back with her own. The Orc lost interest in Eliza and drew his sword back taking aim on Arri.

"Arri!" Eliza's little voice screamed above the din watching Arri's defense against the orc and seeing another approaching them.

Arri watched the orc's attention fall on her as he began to aim his blade at her head now and against she caught his blade with her own before he strike. She pushed his blade off and turned quickly moving with her own blade striking the orc down.

Brawn to brawn was not Arri's preference to fighting these orcs. She knew she was not as powerful as they and now this one was trying her strength. She managed to deflect his attention from the child and spun around quickly with her sword seemingly airborne. Then bound onto another table and then off before the rough beast smashed where she had stood, splintering the table to pieces. She dodged his swing and slid under the beast as he stabbed madly between his feet, where she had been. Turning and flipping behind him she was on her knees as the orc brought his vast weapon down at her head yet she had her sword up holding it back. She was not as muscular as he and felt his sword coming closer. Taking a deep breath she knew she had to do what she could to keep their unborn safe, it meant any means of fighting. She thrusted fast with all her might bringing the sword up but also her knee connecting with the orc groin. As the beast bent down at the waist in pain she brought her sword over his neck separating head from body. She caught her breath but hoped Legolas had not seen that...

Turning to Eliza she saw her wide eyes knowing she had seen the whole fight, "Make haste for the castle and Legolas." She said quickly when she saw another orc coming at her threateningly.

Eliza choked tears of fear back but did as she was told and ran into Legolas as he was running for them. Eliza threw her arms around Legolas' neck and attached herself to him like a tree in a hurricane, "Arri said to go to you." She explained with a quivering lip.

Legolas tucked his arms under the child's back and knees carrying her swiftly. Unable the use of his hands, he found with the slew of orcs coming at them, he narrowed eyes as one began to stab at them with his sword. As the clumsy orc continued his powerful pointed reach Legolas jumped to and fro never being where he aimed. Then seizing the opportunity he leaped onto the flat of the Orc's blade upon but one foot and with the other foot he took another step to land on it's mammoth head. Then he slid down it's back using the momentum to hasten their route to the castle where Jared had began ushering the unarmed people, woman and children to the safety of the castle's walls. Legolas placed her in Jared's arms stopping quickly with an orc behind him.

Eliza looked to Jared excitedly, "He flew me here! He can fly!"

Jared chuckled, "No, he ran but his feet are very deft."

Other children approached Eliza as if she was an enigma too having been brought by the auric haired elf and wearing a dress similar to Arri's as they touched her gown in awe. Eliza didn't notice them but stared out at Legolas, Arri and the elves fighting the orcs. She could see Arri fighting the larger creatures as she finally was caught with a blade across her face and Eliza gasped loudly. The other children were exclaiming and pointing watching Legolas as he produced both blades and began to fight as a mad man making way through the orcs and freeing unarmed humans to run for safety.

"Wow!" the child next to Eliza gasped and Eliza smiled watching the incredible proficiency Legolas had and seeing him free her mother who came running for her daughter.

Eosin and Aragorn battled back to back and Eosin stopped slightly watching Arri's manner of fight and Aragorn looked to her too. She was not as strong as the orcs but she dove under and out of the way of their blades with the grace of a dancer and she seemed to float around the orcs moving her blade so quickly it was hard to tell where the blade began and ended.

Eosin grinned with great pride at her but seeing arrows flying at her feet and the orcs approach her and seemingly to forget the humans.

Aragorn was impressed with her manner of fight and had been ready to let her battle her own until he saw she was hopelessly outnumbered as orcs began straight for her. "They would flank her." Grunting could be heard from the castle and children began to scream as they exchanged a knowing look.

In the throes of combat nearby and Legolas heard Aragorn easily and he ran for his love with a piercing gaze at the orcs who approached Arri, as well as she fought he was certain this many at once was beyond her.

Eosin nodded to the castle, "Jared and Elrond will require your assistance." He ran to help Arri and Legolas with his bow striking the orcs quickly. His arm became a quick flowing object between his quiver and his bow as the arrows only seemed to see his bow for mere seconds, if that. Sighing he sprinted up the back of the an orc and hopping atop of his head easily then bounded from orc to orc and quite amused how it bothered them, that is just before he landed an arrow in their skulls. Springing from them he had a hold of decorative garland riding it as he let it tear slowing his fall but he let go landing by Arri and Legolas. He moved to his friends quickly and gave a nod ready to see it through.

Arwen kept her blade close as she and her father saw Aragorn running to help Jared keeping the castle containing the helpless safe. She saw her own father drawing near to help and keep the orcs from over taking the castle. Between the combination of the three they found Arwen could fall back and help the crying children and frightened humans.

Arwen glanced at the wide eyes of the children for any injuries but Eliza came forward reaching for her silky hair and touched it gently.

"You are an elf like Legolas?" Eliza smiled. "You're going to help us aren't you?"

Arwen nodded with a brief smile, "Are you injured?" Arwen asked the group. Most shook their heads no but scattered few came forward showing their injuries. Arwen began to apply them and Eliza's mother came forward watching her avidly.

"Why are these elves helping us?" the woman looked to see darker haired elves fighting hard against the orcs.

Arwen let a breath, "we are friends of Legolas and Arri and of Loredell."

Another woman pushed forward, "What of the female elf curse to the crown?"

"A mere legend," Arwen kept her gaze on helping the child in front of her.

"That one elf looks like the one in yer legend," Eliza's mother pointed to Arri who remained fighting and making it harder for Arwen to concentrate on helping the child before her.

Arwen met the woman's eye, "Say you that Elves are immortal, do you think we would risk such a long life if we had not thought we were correct the right person on the throne."

Eliza smiled, "you mean Arri." Arwen nodded at the little girl. "I like her and I like Arri too." then she looked to her mother, "Mommy Arri saved me."

"A queen that fights for others?" Another woman said watching them in the courtyard.

"My father is Lord of Rivendell and he fights for you as well as he would our own people," Arwen gestured to her father he had began to look dirty from the battle.

"Giles doesn't fight," Eliza chirped in and Arwen nodded and then Eliza gasped watching the orcs numbers decrease slowly. "Are we winning?"

They looked to the noises of shuffling as the hobbits seemed to pushed with the children and one parent had snatched Sting from Frodo. Despite telling they were hobbits and showing them their feet they found it only made the humans laugh at them curiously that somebody had such hairy boys. Eliza heard her friend's mother tell them to behave and sit in the chairs until their parents were found.

Sighing the hobbits looked to and fro feeling helpless in this attack but thought the better than to disobey and create a disturbance, least they see somebody fall because they argued.

Legolas did not feel as sure footed as he should. He had gone days with battle or practice without feeling as clumsy as he did now. He still fought better than any human but he did rely on his keen ability and he felt it was letting him down. He joined Arri letting his decorative sword fall back into it's sheath and he glanced at her from the corner of his eye.

Arri exhaled, "so much for a wedding."

They could see swift elvish arrows striking orcs beyond their reach and Legolas shook his head to gain his balance, "we 'are' wed." He looked to see an Orc archer had made his way to the rampart and began and fire at them but what scared him was he seemed to be aiming for Arri. He kept his sword drawn and began to yell for her but he knew the warning would come to late and he pushed her from the deadly strike. Legolas flew back with the momentum of the arrow as it struck him squarely in the shoulder and leaving him on the ground.

Seeing him fall to the ground Arri's world fell with him and she was positive he had knocked her out of the path of the orc's strike. Growing angry he had been touched, she sprang to protect him brandishing her sword over him and deflecting the orc who had hoped to land his blade on his head then she tossed him back with a well placed foot on his chest.

Eosin rushed forward with his arrows knocking the orcs from Arri as well as the archer that hit Legolas and she fell to her knees next to Legolas.

She eyed the arrow in his shoulder and felt tears strike her cheeks madly. Cradling his head she looked to his injury, "It was meant for me."

Opening his eyes and looked to her hardly believing he had been hit. He had never been hit before and the worst blow he had taken only drew blood but never a hit, "it found a sheath." He muttered jokingly and noticed her solemn look, "I can still fight." He assured her but she did not looked convinced as she touched his face. He heard Eosin in front of them keeping the orcs back with his bow and pushed to his feet with a grunt to help the other elves.

"You must go to the castle," Arri said quickly and as she turned her head to see the other elves looking about with empty hands and a battle won.

All too suddenly, she heard a loud gasp behind her and the growling of an orc. Turning she saw Eosin's pained face, an orc landed an unlucky strike for Eosin then began the orc whooping and cheering his victory of striking an elf, of striking Eosin.

Her face gone ashen to see Eosin turn to her with the Orc blade in his stomach and the crimson flow that covered his hands as he grasped the blade that pained him, no word came from him but his mouth was agape. "No!" Arri yelled grabbing him as he began to fall to his knees.

Legolas swallowed hard ignoring the pain and swinging his sword above Arri and Eosin as she fell to the ground with him. He was sure this orc had also been coming for them but Legolas landed a clear swipe beheading the orc and watched at the elven archers finished the orcs with their arrows. Legolas turned to see Arri looking very dismal and trying make Eosin comfortable but the blood Legolas saw was more than he had wished to. He felt his own eyes growing soft with sorrow for Eosin, that had taken the blow and Arri's anguish of the only elf she called brother.

Arri wiped the hair from Eosin's face and hearing his shallow gasps as a few humans stood seeing the elf's distress.

"Arri?" Eosin said slightly between parted lips.

"Legolas and I are here," She choked trying not to cry as Legolas stood by her with a hand on her shoulder. "We need to get you to Elrond."

"It is done," Eosin gasped between breaths. He seemed to try to focus on one thing as he ordered his eyes to work. "Arri...," he smiled obviously making her face out.

Arri noticed the blood loss and swallowed hard looking to Legolas who held as dismal stare as she did. She felt Eosin's weak grasp on her hand as tightly as he could now.

"I loved you until the end of my days," he grunted between labored breaths. He managed a smile as he reached a hand to touch her face but fingers barely grazed her skin when his gaze went to the heavens then he seemed to no longer focus.

"Eosin?" Arri touched his face lightly and with a last breath his body went limp as he let her hand go.

"Eosin!" She refused to believe this but Legolas brought his hand forward taking his fingers over his eyes to shut them, a final time. With his arm around her shoulders Legolas guided her to her feet.

"Arri," he said quietly. He knew they had been good friends for many years and he understood the pain much more so after Helm's Keep.

She looked on clouded by tears to see the arrow still embedded in his shoulder and sniffled but she remembered Legolas needed her now, "we need to get you to Elrond." She glanced back not very willing to leave Eosin there but noticed the men carrying him with the other elves.

A man picked Eosin up gently as another elf guided him holding another body. Arri and Legolas heard the man mutter, "He was a hell of a fighter."

It was in the quiet that Arri saw Giles finally come from the safety of the castle as and as he did Elrond looked grievous at the Mirkwood elf. Elrond made his way to Legolas and gestured for other elves to come help him believing the prince would be hard to hold. "A flesh wound." Elrond nodded his head at it but knew how it must hurt

"You will need this removed." Elrond said indicating to the orc arrow and grabbing it firmly and as soon as legolas nodded he tugged it from his shoulder. Legolas stumbled but caught his footing and the other elves released him when he stood without sway.

Arri saw Giles racing to them and grit her teeth as he seemed to offer a diplomatic hand to them and Manveru was at his side like an obedient dog. As Legolas was treated by Elrond he took advantage of the two being separate for the now.

Offensively she looked at his hand as he began to mumble thanks but she knew it was to dissuade them. She scoffed loudly at his falsehood and her look went to the men as they wandered for help so her thoughts were to aide. Beginning to move away to survey the damage there she was stopped short as the arrogant wizard stood before her.

Knowing Gandalf had exhausted himself battling physically, Manveru halted the she-elf and continued a straight gaze as if he bore into her soul through her aqua gaze. He spoke in in hushed tones and his breath became a vapor that swirled around her, holding her captive in her own being. Watching her closed eyes but she still stood and reached her arms as if she held her sword yet fought a ghost. Speaking fast he grew angry yet amazed she still stood and the cloud he breathed began to grow, until another wizard stood there staff at the ready.

Gandalf, was always admired by many but to Manveru he was his bane. Hastily he removed his sticky green vapor as he caught it in hand then closed fist about it. He shook fist and then released it but it was upon opening his hand that Arri did fall.

Authors Note: Yes this chapter did contain character death but I ask you please do not name who it is or how they died in any review. I have seen some groups very rabid about spoilers :( Me? I really do not care but I rather not ruffle other people's feathers here and ask spoilers are respected.