"Try them now," Haradrenor murmured as he spat the foul taste from his mouth again.

Legolas tried to tug his wrists apart and gave a silent cheer when he felt the leather thong give a little. One more tug and he felt it part. He sat up at once, sparing a scant moment to massage his red ringed wrists before unfastening the ties around his ankles. By the time he turned to Haradrenor the guard had rolled onto his side, giving Legolas easy access to his restraints. Shortly all three were free and Haradrenor crept silently to the exit.

With infinite care he tucked himself close in to the rock wall and leaned out a little to look either way down what he now saw was a tunnel. When he turned to beckon the others forward he was smiling. "The idiots have posted no guards and our weapons and gear are piled up in an alcove to the left."

When Legolas would have stepped into the tunnel to collect the weapons Pethon held him back, earning a glare from the prince. "Let one of the idiots collect them from the idiots."

It was Haradrenor who slipped out, returning with all their weapons only moments later. Rather than argue the issue Legolas settled for arming himself. He turned in time to see Haradrenor rinsing his mouth with water several times.

"I can still taste it," he complained.

Legolas reached into his belt pouch and produced a small wad of leaves. "Chew these and stop complaining," he instructed with a grin. Then he turned to Pethon and began to unwrap his forearm. He grimaced when he saw the damage done and began to smear the wound with ointment before tearing a strip from the hem of his shirt to bind it up again. "It needs cleansing properly and stitching but I am afraid we have not the time."

Pethon only smiled. "I knew there was a reason we brought you along with us on this walking party. I do not suppose you have a map to these tunnels in that pouch?"

"Sorry. I forgot to pack it," Legolas replied ironically as he leaned out to look up and down the tunnel once more. "We had better move. I don't know who this Sharkey is but I suspect it will not be long before he issues his instructions."

"I cannot argue with that. But which way do we go? We have no idea which is the way out or how deep we are," Pethon noted as he flexed the fingers of his injured arm.

"We will just have to follow our noses," Legolas noted. "Go whichever way smells cleanest." He nodded to Haradrenor and Pethon in turn. "Your nose is filled with the smell of mint at the moment and your sword arm is weak so it seems I am in the lead."

Not waiting for any arguments he stepped into the tunnel and inhaled deeply. "Phew! That is not going to be as easy as I thought." He turned left and his guards followed a little uneasily. Their weakest member, Pethon, was placed in the middle and Haradrenor drew his sword and brought up the rear.

They had been travelling for several minutes and Legolas was beginning to think that the air really was growing less odorous when their luck ran out. As they crept down yet another tunnel a group of orcs appeared from a side entrance just in front of them. For what seemed like an eternity but was probably only moments both groups simply stared at each other. The orcs recovered first, turning to rush the smaller elven party.

The narrow confines of the tunnel presented both advantages and disadvantage. There was no room for elf or orc to stand side by side, which meant that the orcs could only attack one at a time. Unfortunately, as Legolas was the one in front, his two guards were helpless to protect him, other than to ensure that no enemies came up behind them. Bereft of arrows the prince drew his knives and set up a whirring shield of lethal steel. Pethon joined in when he could, crouching low to apply his sword, spear-like between Legolas' scything ballet.

Orc bodies and orc body parts began to pile up in front of Legolas. Rather than having to reach over their fallen comrades the orcs simply used the heap as a springboard and the three elves found themselves retreating down the tunnel. It would only be a matter of time before the noise of their fight would draw more orcs and they would be overwhelmed once more. This time they may not be fortunate enough to be captured, rather than killed. Sharkey may issue his instructions but orcs heeded little else when fighting; particularly when fighting elves. The creatures were bred to kill.

So focussed was he upon the task before him that when a strong hand grabbed Legolas' tunic and hauled him into an open space he spun about at once to apply his knives to the new threat. It was only Orophin's quick sideways sweep of his sword that prevented him being sliced and diced by the Mirkwood prince. When Legolas paused in shock for an instant the captain of Lorien threw him to one side to join Haradrenor and Pethon.

All three Mirkwood elves lay to one side for several stunned moments, only watching as the larger Lorien party began to decimate the orcs. Then they gathered their wits and rejoined the fray. They soon recognised that the Lorien warriors were slowly moving back, through an exit in the far wall and guessed that this was the way out of the noisome lair. They took no persuading to fall in with this unspoken plan and then all were running swiftly down another tunnel, this one also showing signs of recent battle. Legolas, Pethon and Haradrenor concentrated so intently on keeping their feet among the detritus of orc body parts, that when they suddenly burst out into brilliant sunshine they stumbled on blindly until they came up short within a stand of trees.

Haradrenor threw his princely charge to the ground as a final volley of unexpectedly well aimed black arrows pierced the air where Legolas had stood a scant moment before. The larger orc creature had followed them and was actually standing outside in the sunlight. Legolas had only a moment to register his surprise before a return volley from Orophin's troop forced its retreat. For several moments it could be heard screaming in pain and then all fell silent.

The tentative warbling song of a lone blackbird heralded the return of sound to the stunned world and the disciplined elven warriors began to mould order from the chaos.

"What was that creature?" murmured Haradrenor.

"I do not think I want to know," Legolas replied with a grimace before rising to join Orophin's troop and allowing his mind to take refuge in the mundane.

Some of the Lorien warriors cleaned weapons while others moved among the wounded, offering what aid they could in the field. Considering the heat of the battle Legolas was surprised that there were no serious injuries but he moved to help where he could. It was as he was slipping a makeshift sling over the arm of a Lorien archer that Orophin approached him. "Is it serious?" he asked, nodding at his compatriot.

"No. The shoulder was out of joint but I have put it back. He only needs rest but you should check regularly to ensure that the blood supply to the arm has not been compromised."

Orophin drew Legolas to one side when he stood. "Do you require an escort as far as Imladris? We have plenty of uninjured who could accompany you if you wish."

Legolas shook his head. "Despite what just happened I think our safest path is in stealth. I thank you for your aid. How did you know we were in there?"

Orophin had the grace to look sheepish. "I sent one of my troop to shadow you." When Legolas would have protested this indignity Orophin added quickly, "I knew the orcs had gone to ground close to the fords and that if they did attack you would be greatly outnumbered. If you had managed to slip by them you would have been none the wiser of my little subterfuge. But if they did attack my people were close enough to help and, under those circumstances, I did not think you would object too strongly." He met Legolas' eyes squarely. "Do you?"

Legolas could not help the smile that sparkled in his eyes. "I do not. Thank you, Orophin. It is good to know that the peoples of the Golden Wood and the Greenwood can still fight together at need."

Orophin grinned as he clasped his shoulder. "Are you certain I cannot provide you with further escort? The Lord Celeborn has given his permission."

Legolas did not question how that had been achieved more than a day's ride from Caras Galadhon. The Lord and Lady of the Golden Wood had garnered more skills than he, in lives many times the length of his own. But the prince of Mirkwood touched hand to heart and bowed formally to their representative. "My thanks to the rulers of the Golden Wood. But I and my companions were appointed by King Thranduil to perform a task. We should now resume our journey, as he instructed."

He blinked as, within the privacy of his mind, he heard a lady's rich laughter. "I believe the decision to travel with such a small escort was yours. But I will let that pass. Youth is the time to make mistakes. Farewell, young prince - until we speak again."

Legolas glanced around at Orophin, Pethon and Haradrenor but none of them showed any indication of having heard the voice. Orophin only gave a lopsided smile. "Very well. I bid you a safe journey." He turned away to supervise the disposition of his warriors for the return journey to Lorien.

Pethon drew the ruin of his sleeve over a clean bandage and Haradrenor slipped fresh arrows, gleaned from the Lorien archers, into Legolas' quiver. Legolas tugged his tunic into place, nodding to his guard as they turned for the foothills of the Misty Mountains. The remainder of their journey was uneventful, which gave Legolas plenty of opportunity to consider the Lady's final words to him.

"Until we speak again."

END

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