These were no ordinary orcs. They were taller, stronger, thicker than any other orc that Aldamir knew of. More like wicked men, they were. Quivers of long, cruel arrows were slung across their backs, and they carried bows of a strange make. Short, flat-bladed, iron swords were in their hands, and broad, dark shields were on their arms. But what was strangest of all was the mark they bore on their crudely made helmets; a white hand. Many of them bore the hand imprinted on their face as well.
Aldamir had no time to speculate over anything at that particular moment, however. In a moment he was fully occupied, as the orcs flung themselves upon him and Haldir. Aldamir would have called to the other Elves, but he had no time, not even a half a second. The orcs were surprisingly strong and fearless. They had no second thoughts of attacking two skilled Elves, especially since there were five of them against the two Elves.
With an ugly roar, one of them launched himself on Aldamir. He jumped back to allow himself a moment to draw his sword, and then attacked. Parrying the orc�s strong but badly aimed blows, he slashed at it�s legs, and as it fell, slit its throat with a swift cut. For a moment he was free of attackers; immediately he looked to Haldir.
Haldir had dispatched one of his attackers, but two of them were upon him now. Setting his sword down quickly, Aldamir drew an arrow and sent it thudding into the back of one of them. Then he found himself again under attack. The fifth of the orcs had drawn back for a moment, hoping to stab one of them in the back, but he didn�t quite escape Aldamir�s notice. He was too close to be shot with an arrow, but as Aldamir�s sword lay three feet away, the Elf stabbed him through the throat with his next arrow. The orc fell like a log, and Aldamir turned to Haldir once again.
Haldir had killed the other of the orcs; the attack was over.
�Well, we are lucky to have caught sight of them when we did, Aldamir,� Haldir said, breathing hard, �else there might have been two less Elves in the Lady�s service.�
�Ah, Haldir, you don�t really think we�re that easy to kill, do you?� grinned Aldamir. Then his expression darkened. �But these are strong orcs. A few thousand of them could do great damage indeed.�
�Yes. And the white hand! That is not Sauron�s mark.�
Aldamir shook his head slowly. Both of them knew all too well who was represented by the White Hand. �Saruman,� muttered Aldamir.
�I fear dark times are coming, Aldamir,� said Haldir. �Treachery is now to be found in any corner of this world. Now that Saruman has betrayed us, who can we trust? How will we know that any are not in the Enemy�s service?�
Aldamir nodded. �Dark times indeed. The Shadow is gaining power and drawing in. But come, Haldir, let us gather our arrows and get ourselves into hiding before any more of these black-minded creatures come sneaking up on us.�
Upon returning to the other Elves, their news of the strange orcs was received with consternation. �We are caught between two enemies,� exclaimed Rumil. �Sauron in the East, and Saruman, his puppet. If these orcs are created by Saruman, which I think they might be, for never have I heard of such orcs, then we are indeed hard pressed. Two armies will join together; we may not be able to resist them if they grow much stronger.�
�The outlook is poor, if that were to happen,� agreed Haldir. �But the Lady Galadriel reigns yet over these woods, and there is great power in her rule. It will be long yet before the Enemy can defeat us. Come, let us get to our posts.�