| Chapter 1 Go one to part 2 |
�Halt your horses!� All three riders immediately stilled. �Where are we?� Elladan whispered. �Near the edge of Tarduain�s land. We are almost out of it.� �Put down your weapons!� �Nay! It is our right to bear them.� Elrohir shouted back. �I would kill you for that, if not for the king�s order.� �And what is your king�s order?� Legolas asked calmly. �Any riders through his land are to be taken to him.� �And if we don�t go to him?� Legolas� voice faltered, earning him a meaningful glance from Elrohir. �Then it will be your deaths! Tell me, what business do three elves have traveling through this land?� �A business is our own. Let us pass,� Elladan finally spoke. An arrow flew, narrowly missing his head. �The next one will not be off target, I can promise you that.� Elrohir notched his own bow, and a man fell dead before them. �Elrohir! That was unnecessary!� �Legolas, I swore to my father that I would protect you, and so I shall. Now, go, before any more men show up!� They turned their attention back to their path, but sighed with despair. Twenty hooded men stood before them, all with swords brandished. �Does this look familiar, Legolas? All these men staring at you, ready to kill you by my word?� One of the hooded men asked. An icy chill ran down the prince�s spine, and his body stiffened considerably. The man advanced slowly, sheathing his sword. The king held his hands up in a would-be peaceful action. �You walk to your own death,� Elladan said, his bow ready. �You kill me, and all these men, and more, will be upon you. Besides, my business is with Cemendur.� Legolas� body tensed further. �You have the wrong group of travelers then. There is no one here by that name.� Elladan said fiercely. Elrohir knew better; he had been the one to give Legolas that nickname as a child. It became clearer now to Elrohir what Legolas had tried to do when he was captured. He had given a false name� and had probably paid dearly for it. �Ah, but there is. Get off your horse, Legolas. Are you ready to scream again?� Legolas gripped his reins to keep his hands from shaking. �You have no more power over me. Do not come any closer!� �I believe you just disobeyed an order.� �She is out of your reach now.� Although no one could see, the man under the hood smiled. �Do you think so? Do you think she is safe in your little elf town?� Elrohir finally spoke again. �You will no longer refer to Arwen. She is safe there, and even if she isn�t, it matters not; you will soon be dead. If you wish to die,� he drew an arrow and notched his bow, �by all means, keep walking closer.� Legolas was the only one without a ready weapon. �Kill me,� the man said, lowering his hood. Legolas� horse tossed its head, mirroring the apprehension of its rider. �I dare you.� Elrohir hesitated. Why was he so willing to be shot? The hesitation cost him. Men were rushing out from behind the trees, pulling them off their horses. Elrohir�s bow was ripped away from him, as was his brother�s, (though Elladan had managed a couple of shots first.) They both grabbed their long knives, and momentarily forgot about Legolas. �How many men are there?� Elrohir hissed, just loud enough for his brother to hear. It seemed that for every man they felled, two more arose. �Too many.� Elladan dared a glance around. �Where is Legolas? I cannot see him.� His brother cursed. �We failed him, then.� �Nay, hold them off, I will go find him.� The king had taken out his sword, fighting lazily against Legolas� blades. He was driving him away from his friends, getting him completely alone. He would torture him with words while the elf was dying. Legolas was fairing well, even though his blades were much shorter than the king�s sword. He tried to avoid being driven away from the clearing, but the king did seem to have an unfair advantage. �Legolas!� The king looked towards the voice. One of the other elves� why had his guards not taken care of him? �Go back, Elladan, this is my battle,� Legolas breathed. �Go help your brother!� Elladan cried out as the tip of a sword met his throat. Legolas looked over and sighed. �Now what have you gotten yourself into, Dan?� He was talking more to himself, but the elf heard. �Worry not, I�ll get out of this.� Legolas turned his attention back to the king as a blow narrowly missed his left shoulder. �How�ve you been since I last saw you?� �Such idle chit chat for a man who is about to die.� �Your threats lie dead. I heard you talking to that other elf� you don�t have what it takes to kill me.� The sword actually made contact with Legolas� shoulder this time. Pain shot through his arm, but he did not cry out. Elladan watched with dread as Legolas� knife fell to the forest floor. The elf ducked down quickly to pick it up with his good hand, and re-sheathed it. He didn�t dare try to fight with it; his fingers could not have held on to it. Legolas was forced now completely into defense. He was using all his energy to block the king�s attacks, while trying to regain strength in his arm. He waited for a prime moment and then� His good hand flew forward as met the king in the temple. Dazed, his sword fell, and he stumbled back. Legolas pounced on the opportunity, knocking the man to the ground. He placed his knife over the man�s heart just as he regained consciousness. The king took only a second to take in what had happened. He smiled wickedly. �Kill me,� he said slowly, �and the boy dies.� Legolas looked up. The guard that had surprised Elladan was dragging him into the prince�s field of vision, the sword still at his throat. �Kill him, Legolas. Don�t worry about me,� Elladan whispered. He saw fear in the elf�s eyes. �Make your choice, Legolas. You never were very good at protecting those around you, were you? Your actions caused others so much suffering.� Legolas� grip on the knife tightened, but no downward force was applied. �Kill him, Legolas.� Elladan�s voice grew stronger. Legolas sighed. He would not forsake one of his own kind� a friend. �So much needless suffering. Surrender, and we�ll let him go. I swear it.� Elladan could see Legolas� mind spinning. �Legolas�� there was a note of warning in the voice. �There is no promise you could make that I can trust.� �Then by all means, kill me.� Legolas looked back to his companion. The guard who held him pressed the blade closer to the elf�s neck. |