Chapter XVIII

2nd Urui 3002 T.A

Eliel had continued travelling with the performers for two weeks and it kept her sane having people to talk to now and being able to eat every day. The eldest girl, Dorthe who was about nine years old, loved to ride with Eliel and Daeroch. She would sit in front of Eliel and hold onto the horse by his braided mane and sing little lullabies that her mother used to sing to her. The group had grown on Eliel and they were grateful that she travelled with him, not only would she hunt for rabbit's some nights she would also entertain the children. She taught the women some of her apothecary knowledge that could be helpful on the road and taught Dorthe how to braid which she would attempt in her father's hair every time they made camp.

They would leave before dawn and continue on the way to Dale and by mid-morning they would have a break to have something to eat. As Tomas was leading the group through the light underbrush of trees in the meadow he called out to every one behind him as he had found some food. Everyone had caught up and looked before them and saw several bulky trees with vines and leaves that protruded red green and gold. Hanging off the trees were ripe peaches, hundreds of furry fruits dangled.

Eliel got of Daeroch and started to pick some along with everyone else. She grabbed enough for her and enough for Daeroch which would last her about four days. She bit into one and the oranges juices went down her chin and she was happy with them. Eliel let Daeroch eat one off her palm and then placed the peaches in her bag waited for everyone else to finish sinking into the newly discovered luxury.

Dorthe came over to her and Eliel helped her onto Daeroch and then got on herself when everyone was ready to go. Runil started a song up and every seemed to join in except for Ahnissi who was ahead with Tomas discussing what would happen if they passed the Elves in Lorien. "They would probably not bother us mother. We are nothing but simply bards and musicians"

Ahnissi started to talk softer but Eliel's elf ears pricked up and could easily hear the conversation over the loud singing.

"I doubt you have noticed but that young girl is not so much human."

Tomas was puzzled and turned around to look at Eliel who had made it seem she was not listening but a part of the song instead.

"What is she then?" He faced his mother

"Well I have noticed that her ears are Elvish and yet she is not an elf." Eliel had not told them of her heritage and kept her ears covered by her hair but she must have tucked her hair once and exposed her ears.

"What if they kill her?" Ahnissi worried. Eliel was relived she thought she would be judged but come to realize that she had come across a free spirited family.

"We will just make sure she is hidden if something comes to that." Tomas assured his mother and she went back to caring for her granddaughter Sofie.

Many hours had passed and it was dusk meaning the sun would set soon and camp stilled needed to be set up, they were just outside of the Forest of Lorien and was close to the Elven City in the Trees or so that she had heard.

As they were discussing where to camp that's when they heard it. A loud battle cry that came from a pack of seven bloodthirsty orcs. They had spotted the group and being the vicious creatures they were, they wanted the group dead. "Everybody run" Eliel had never witness orcs before and she knew she would not witness anything anymore if she stood still. Everyone was out of range from the arrows but if they did not hurry up they would be the target. Eliel's heart started to race and she began to sweat, it did not help that the young girl in front of her started to scream. She kicked Daeroch into a gallop as did everyone else did with their horses, they headed north trying to lose them but it was not working their large feet pounded the ground after them. They were gruesome in appearance dark skinned with rotten teeth and scarred bodies.

Eliel thought of a plan quickly but needed Thonar to take his daughter. "Thonar" screamed Eliel, Thonar knew that his daughter was with the young girl and turned to see Eliel preparing Dorthe to get onto her father's horse. She was still screaming and her tears had flooded her face as well as the other nerve wracked children. "I am going to lead them away." She quickly handed the girl over and got out her bow and secured her knapsack on her back and ran in the opposite direction before anyone could stop her. They were calling out her name but were too determined to get to safety to help her.

Eliel had grabbed an arrow and steadied herself on Daeroch before she aimed at one of the orcs. She raised the bow feeling the weight against her arms and took a deep breath focusing on the ugly orc in the distance. She pulled the string back feeling the course line in her fingertips, she took a deep breath and exhale the same time she let go. The arrow flew smoothly through the air right through the closest orc. "Ah I hit it Dae" She celebrated with the horse until six other orcs were getting closer preparing their own fatal weapons. She realized and kick Daeroch urging him to go faster than he had ever run before.

There were arrows flying narrowly beside her head and she was just waiting for one to pierce her back or skull. She had too much adrenaline to think about anyone but herself and she clung to Daeroch "Come on, Dae." She had circled around the orcs and headed west towards Lorien, she was about to jump over a rock until Daeroch let out a painful neigh and knocked Eliel forward and they tumbled down a hill. In the seconds it took Eliel to hit the rocky ground she knew it was going to hurt, it all happened so fast that she could not prepared herself and hit several rocks as she rolled down the slope. Pain went through every part of her body and she was certain half of her bones were broken, she let out a scream that echoed through the field and accepted that the orcs were coming to kill her.