Chapter 33
They remained in the cave with the Rangers for three days. Occasionally, Legolas would go with a couple of the men to steal some food from the goblins, and kill any if necessary, so as not to gain their attention.
The Faye had decided to remain in her fairy form, she didn't know why, but she felt safer in that form when Legolas wasn't with her, especially as they were so deep underground and in a room full of strange men.
"It's no use." Adrianna stated, forming into her normal size once everyone had eaten. "We have got to get out of here."
"Good luck with that, Princess." Shof stated, rolling his eyes. "There's plenty of tunnels for you to get lost in, and plenty more to take you further underground."
"And plenty of them to take me closer towards the surface." She replied, her hands positioned indignantly on her hips. "Gandalf always used to say 'follow your nose', so that's what I'm going to do. Who's coming? Legolas?"
"Of course," The elf replied with certainty as he rose to his feet.
The Faye smiled up at the blonde as he positioned himself beside her, "Anyone else?" She asked, turning to face the Rangers.
They were silent before turning to look at Nasir, once the leader stood up and bowed his head, "I will be prepared to decapitate any goblins who stand in our way."
"Brilliant." Adrianna stated, smiling at the Ranger. "Now, if you four gentlemen do not wish to accompany us, then I bid you farewell!"
Xane stood up, "I'm coming too." He stated, turning to look at the brothers with disgust across his face, "I'll surely go mad without Nasir here to keep them quiet."
In a way, the two brothers reminded Adrianna of Merry and Pippin.
It wasn't long until the other four Rangers decided to join them as well, and as Adrianna smiled satisfactorily, they left the cave and stepped into the dark corridor. Adrianna shivered, but it was too late to turn back and hide now!
Nasir took the lead, a lit torch in one hand, his sword in the other. Adrianna and Legolas walked side by side behind the Ranger, and the others followed close behind them with either a sword or a bow in their calloused hands.
Now that there was a torch to light the way, Adrianna could see bones and skulls abandoned here and there on the dark, stone ground. Carefully, she either tiptoed around or jumped over the pieces. Instinctively, the hilt of her sword was clasped tightly in one hand, and the material of her dress was clutched in the other to prevent herself from tripping over the hem of the skirt.
"Which way?" Nasir asked, coming to a halt at the point of a tunnel split into three.
Adrianna stepped in front of the Ranger, and peered around the tunnels. "You're Rangers." She stated, "Which tunnel appears clearer?"
"We've been down here for a while, Princess." Tas stated, propping his bow on his shoulder. "All I can smell is goblin."
Adrianna sighed in frustration and formed into her fairy size. She zipped down one of the tunnels, and left upon finding herself shivering. She did the same to the next two, before coming to the conclusion that they were all bad. "The left one seems less dangerous." She stated, returning to her normal elleth-like form.
"Then we shall take it." Legolas stated, taking the torch from Nasir and leading the way into the tunnel. "The air feels much clearer," He began, taking a sharp turn to the right. "I'm sure we will at least find a small crevice in the wall which you can get through, Ade. You'll be safe, and you can get help for us."
"I'm not leaving you down here."
The elf stopped and turned to face her, his eyes sad, "It might be our only choice."
The Princess didn't reply, instead, she continued on down the corridor, only stopping when the corridor they were all walking down split into six more, each going into a different direction.
The Faye shivered, and her hand found its' way to the hilt of her sword, and clutched at it tightly in her hand.
"Stop," Legolas stated, once he caught up to the Faye. "I can hear drums." He listened for another moment before turning to look at each of the Rangers, "Keep your eyes open, they know we're on the move."
They all began to quicken their pace, surprised that all their footsteps were light enough not to thud loudly and echo along the corridors.
Adrianna formed into her fairy size to peer around the 'T' junction at the end of the corridor. She flew towards the ceiling and peered slowly around the corner on the left, before doing the same on the right.
"It's clear." She stated.
"Go right." Legolas stated, "The drums are louder towards the left."
As they all turned down the corridor on the right, they found a flight of stone stairs at the end. The group ascended them with haste, and once they were at the top, they were faced with another long, stone corridor.
They slowed their jog to a walk, and made their way cautiously down the stone corridor. Faint drums echoed in the distance behind them, but Legolas didn't mention them. A high pitched shriek caused the elf to wince, and that didn't go unnoticed by the Faye.
"How close is it?" She asked, placing an affectionate hand into his.
"Close." He replied, "But alone."
Adrianna nodded, and they quickly caught up with the rangers, turning down a narrow, dank corridor to the left. There was a sudden shriek as a goblin ran towards them with a sharp, corrugated blade, black with poison.
Xane quickly notched an arrow, aimed and fired at the goblin, impaling it right between the eyes.
It fell hard to the cold stone ground, black blood oozed out of its forehead and across the stone slabs.
Legolas looked up and back down the corridor where they had just come from, "They're answering its cry, we must hurry!"
The group ran down the corridor, until they reached another flight of stairs. They looked as though they couldn't sustain much weight, and had crumbled in places. Ra'an and Runam scaled them first, a few lose stones fell to the floor, Legolas and Adrianna followed along with Shof and Nasir. But as the stairs gave way, Xane was left stranded at the bottom.
"I'll keep them here for as long as I can." He stated, preparing his bow as the clank of armour and thudding of footsteps and drums came closer towards them. "Go!"
Shof dropped off the ledge to join his friend, "Not alone, you're not." He stated to his friend before looking up at the others, "We'll draw them away," He began, "And find a different route if we can."
Nasir nodded his head, "I hope we shall be reunited again soon, my friends."
Legolas, Adrianna, Nasir, Ra'an and Runam then fled along the next corridor, taking a sharp left and then a right towards the lighter looking tunnels. Battle cries and the clang of weaponry were left in the distant corridors the further and further they ran.
The Rangers led the way, the clearer the air was, and the faster they ran. Legolas remained at the back, alert and assertive to the sounds of drums and cries of the goblins trailing them.
The corridor ended, and the Rangers and Royals found themselves standing in a Grand Hall, much like the Mines of Moria.
Goblins appeared from various corridors adjacent to the hall, their shrieks and cries filled the room as they brandished their weapons at the strangers in their territory.
As Legolas and Ra'an notched arrows into their bows, Adrianna unsheathed her sword, as did Nasir and Runam.
The onslaught began. The elf, Faye and Rangers fought their way through the goblins and towards the flight of stairs across the room, few goblins descended the stone staircase and Legolas was quick to take them out and clear their path.
Swords clashed together, the goblins shrieked, and Adrianna squealed slightly when a decapitated head rolled under her moving feet.
They ascended the stairs, Nasir exchanged his sword for his bow and joined Legolas and Ra'an at the top to pick off goblins one by one as they crowded around Adrianna and Runam at the bottom. Black blood stained the shining silver blades, and Legolas found his eyes constantly wandering towards the Faye protectively, as he picked off the few goblins behind her.
He exchanged his bow for his twin blades, before leaping into the ambush of goblins. The enemy dwindled rapidly, and it wasn't long before there were few goblins left, and the group could make their escape up the stairs and onto the next level of the rocky labyrinth in which they were stranded.
Adrianna formed into her fairy size to catch up with the others, her dress was getting under her feet, and for the first time in many years, she longed for a pair of breaches and boots.
They stopped to rest as soon as the cries and shrieks fell far behind them, and Legolas checked the next two corridors for goblins, clearer air, and light.
"Ade?" He called.
The Princess sheathed her sword and turned around to face the elf, "What is it?" She asked, making her way towards him.
Sunlight shone through a small crevice in the ceiling, and Adrianna frowned before peering up through the gap. She could see a beautiful blue sky. Freedom.
She stood up straight and looked at him with stern, wide eyes. "I said I'm not leaving you."
He put his arms around her waist and held her close to him, looking gently down at her fair face. His clear blue eyes met her gorgeous green ones, "Ade, it's the far boarders of Mirkwood."
"How can we be so close?" She asked, exhaustion ebbing into her voice.
"I don't know." He replied honestly, "But I do know that you can get help."
"But the spiders-"
"-Will not attack in sunlight." He reassured her. "You'll be fine, I promise."
Adrianna sighed, and reluctantly nodded, "I'll be as quick as I can." She stated, "Promise me that you'll keep safe until I return?"
He placed a soft kiss on her forehead, "I give you my word."
A/N: I know it didn't take very long to get to the far boarders of Mirkwood, but remember that I said earlier in the story that the two Kingdoms were a four day ride apart? It took a day and a half to ride to the clearing here they made camp, and they had been in the goblin infested caves for a few days.
Anyway, do you think Legolas will be able to keep his word? I hope so!
Please review xx