Chapter 8
The feeling of darkness in Adrianna had her unsettled for the majority of the evening. She joined Legolas on watch very early that morning, and before they knew it, everyone had awoken so that the journey to Helms Deep could continue.
Despite sharing a tent with Eowyn that night and knowing that the blonde maiden was a really kind-hearted woman, Adrianna still didn't understand why she felt the need to be jealous of her. As she watched Eowyn walking and speaking with Aragorn, she finally realised what it was.
She had been the only female on the journey with the Fellowship and had had all the male attention. But now the men were speaking to other women, she felt as though she was losing all her friends.
"Princess!" Startled, she formed into her fairy size and fluttered away from Gimli's face. Her heart was racing at her shock and surprise. The dwarf rolled his eyes, "You need to pay more attention to where you are walking. Three times you've stood on my foot, three!"
"I'm sorry." The faye replied, hanging her head. Shivers went up and down her spine, so much so, that she stopped dead in her tracks. She knew this kind of fear anywhere, the beasts would feast on faye's whenever they could. The winged creatures were sweet treats for them. Adrianna remembered when her brother had been attacked by one when he was just a young boy. He had feared to leave the gates of The Glade of Tarasara for weeks until the scouts were sure that the Wargs were no longer roaming their boarders.
"What is it?" Legolas asked the faye, placing a calming had upon her shoulder.
"Wargs!" One of the guards cried as his riding company was thrown off his horse by one of the creatures. Adrianna's eyes widened when she saw the four-legged, vicious creature and reached for her bow. But before she could reach into her quiver for an arrow, Legolas had beaten her too it, two arrows fired a deadly strike into the creatures forehead, and he ran over in time to kill the Rider with his swords.
"A scout!" Legolas shouted over towards Aragorn.
"What is it? What do you see?" Theoden shouts towards the Ranger as he makes his way back towards the travellers.
"Wargs!" He shouted. "We are under attack!
Upon hearing the shout of alarm, the villagers began to cry and panic, babies began to wail as their mothers' held onto them tightly and protectively, and the guards did nothing to stop the shouts of alarm as they awaited the King's orders.
"Get them out of here!" Aragorn commanded.
"All riders to the head of the column!" The King commanded.
Gimli tried to mount Arod, "Come on, get me up here, I'm a rider!" As two guards aided him onto the horse, Legolas gazed into the distance to see many Warg-Riders coming towards them with due speed, kicking up dust trails as they rode over the hill.
"You must lead the people to Helms Deep." Theoden stated to Eowyn and Adrianna. "And make haste!"
"I can fight!" Eowyn stated, courageous.
"No!" The King snapped, "You must do this... for me." His tone took a gentler approach and he held Eowyn's gaze for a moment longer before the blonde maiden reluctantly agreed. He watched her turn and run towards the villagers to aid them in their escape.
"My Lady, you must go!" He demanded the faye.
"No!" Adrianna snapped, "If the Wargs catch my scent they will follow me." She paused for effect, "And all your people will be in danger."
The King nodded in acceptance, "Ensure your own safety." He then turned to face his armed men, "Follow me!"
Gimli tried to get Arod to move towards the battle and after the guards, "Forward." He demanded the horse, "I mean, charge forward! March forward!" The horse began to ride with Gimli seated unsteadily in the saddle. "That's it! Go on!"
Adrianna, although full of fear, defeated her first Warg with a swift blow from her blade. Sensing a Warg charging from behind her, she transformed into her winged being before flying to the side, transforming again to deal a hard blow to the back of the beast. Upon noticing Gimli fall off the horse he had been riding with Legolas, the faye thought the worst and flew towards him with much speed. As soon as she reached the Dwarf and realised he was alright, she turned, but screamed as a huge pair of jaws narrowly missed her waist. She delivered a deadly blow to the Warg, and completely missed the fact that it fell dead on top of the dwarf.
Two Wargs caught onto her scent and began to charge towards her, the faye quickly drew her bow and shot one of the Riders before slotting another arrow into the string; pulling it back to deliver a fatal blow on the rider-less Warg.
The other beast was too close for her to shoot so she drew her sword. As soon as the beast came close enough for her to strike, an arrow embedded itself in between the eyes of the foul creature; causing it to fall dead at her feet.
Adrianna turned on her heel in time to slaughter a Warg before his jaws could clamp down on her shoulder, but she did not anticipate the rider to draw the point of his dagger across her cheek. The chestnut haired faye winced as the sharp edge sliced a neat, red line across her pale face. She had no time to stop to examine her wound as another Warg and rider came at her from the right; the beasts had obviously began to catch her scent.
In no time at all, the Princess was joined by Legolas and two other guards. The four of them stood back to back and let the blood bath unfurl around them as they fired arrows and swung their swords, until finally, the last Warg dropped dead.
Adrianna looked around the field before sheathing her sword and turning to look for Gimli and Aragorn. Upon not being able to spot her friend, she turned to the elf, "Where's Aragorn?" She asked.
"Aragorn!" Legolas called out, turning around as he searched for the Ranger.
Gimli came to stand with them, "Aragorn?" He called.
"Over there." Adrianna stated, gesturing towards a dying Warg-Rider lying beside the edge of a cliff, he was wheezing and laughing.
Gimli stood over the dying Orc threateningly, holding his axe to the creatures throat. "Tell me what happened and I will ease your passing."
The Orc grinned, showing his black teeth to Legolas, Adrianna and Gimli. "He's," The Orc coughed violently. "Dead." He chuckled evilly before continuing, "Took a little tumble off the cliff."
Adrianna gasped and walked towards the edge of the cliff face whilst Legolas grabbed the Orc by the collar of his black tunic. "You lie!"
After his words, the Orc went stiff as he died, Legolas dropped the Orc onto the ground. He was about to leave to see what the faye was doing when something caught his eye, he took the Evenstar pendant from the Orc before getting to his feet and running to Adrianna's side.
"Can you see anything down there?" She asked the elf, tears building in her eyes at the possible loss of her friend.
The elf scanned his eyes over the rocks and rushing water below before slowly shaking his head, "Could you possibly go down and search?"
The faye nodded, "I'll try." She replied, forming into her fairy size.
Adrianna flew down the side of the cliff, being careful about any Wargs which could be down there. She searched between every rock and even picked a leaf and placed it in the water to see how fast the current was.
"Ade!" Legolas called down, "What can you find?"
"Nothing." She replied, knowing he'd be able to hear her even if she didn't raise her voice. "Absoloutely nothing." She flew back up the side of the cliff to join Legolas and Gimli, and she narrowed her eyes at the King as he rode towards them, giving orders to the guards he passed.
"Get the wounded on horses." The King stated as he came to a stop in front of them, "The wolves of Isenguard will return. Leave the dead." Legolas turned to face the King an expression of anger on his face. Whereas Adrianna felt as though she was about to explode from her own; were they supposed to leave without finding Aragorn's body? Theoden placed his hand on Legolas' shoulder, "Come." He stated, turning his stallion around so that he could continue to round up his men.
Gimli, Legolas and Adrianna turned back to face the water, and the faye only just remembered the cut on her face. It began to sting the more she thought about it, and as she raised her hand to touch it, a hand beat her too it.
"Leave it." Legolas stated, his eyes full of sadness and concern. "Wait until we get to Helms Deep."
A/N: Just a quick update before I go on holiday tomorrow :) I will be back on Monday, but just though I would get a chapter out so you all wouldn't have to wait an extra few days. How kind of me! :)
Yes, if anyone was wondering, the cover photo is of Katie McGrath, playing Morgana La Fey in the TV show 'Merlin'. I should have said this before: I do not own the photo. But yes, I did base Adrianna's looks on Morgana, so the photo is intended to represent the Faye Princess :)
Also, the name Adrianna is pronounced 'Ade-ree-are-na' incase anyone was wondering :) xx