The Outrider // LOTR & LEGOLAS

{4} ℜ𝔞𝔲𝔡𝔥𝔭𝔞𝔯𝔞𝔫'𝔰 𝔈𝔩𝔳𝔢𝔫 ℜ𝔞𝔳𝔦𝔫𝔢

𝕿𝖗𝖆𝖓𝖘𝖑𝖆𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓𝖘 𝖆𝖓𝖉 𝕯𝖊𝖘𝖈𝖗𝖎𝖕𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓𝖘:

𝐈𝐦𝐥𝐚𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐬: An elven kingdom that also goes by the name of Rivendell and Hidden Valley. This s the home to Lord Elrond, the half-elf, his kin, Glorfindel, and many others.

𝐀𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐢𝐧: A river that lies to the east of the Misty Mountains and Imladris.

𝐑𝐚𝐮𝐝𝐡𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐧: A land that I made up. It lies north of Lorien and in between the Misty Mountains and the Anduin. Its name is Sindarin for "cavernous hills cleared of trees". As its name suggests, the land consists of hills barren of trees and has a large network of caves underneath its surface.

•∆•∆•∆•∆•∆•
"I've been on a long road...
with the devil right beside me.
Rising with the morning sun,
it's a hunger that drives me."
•∆•∆•∆•∆•∆•

{4} Raudhparan's Elven Ravine

"How they even managed to cross the Anduin with these rapids is beyond me," Legolas muttered under his breath as he hastily made his descent down the scarp. If he hadn't been blessed with his elven balance, then he certainly would've fallen face-first already. The rocks littered across the ground certainly didn't aid his cause.

One could only hope that the hill in front of him rose high enough to conceal his trek. If the opposition had been able to discern his location and send a small pack of warg-riders, then his chances of escaping unscathed would be slim.

The Wood-elf didn't even have a plan formulated yet, but his survival instincts drove him to regroup with his horse and the rest of his equipment, and he didn't hesitate to obey them.

White splashed the corners of the horse's eyes and he threw dodgy glances at his surroundings. His hooves clopped against the dirt path as he pranced in place from being wired with nerves. Legolas made quick work of fastening the saddle and packs into place; his slightly calloused fingers slipping across the rough leather as he hastily cinched the girth and billet strap. A quick jerk on the strap was plenty for Legolas to establish that the packs were secured.

His plan had finally panned out in his frantic, rambling thoughts: run now and think later.

His horse didn't require any command for him to leap into a full-fledged gallop. Both rider and mount were aware of each others' priorities at the moment so well that they easily might have created an affinity amongst themselves. The pounding of Legolas' heart was perfectly synchronized with his mount's hoof beats as they flew across the trails of Raudhparan.

They followed the northern path without a single blunder or dwindle in speed. To the untrained eye, the pair would appear as no more than a flicker of blinding, pure light streaking along the lands of Raudhparan. It did not take long for the three ridges that separated them from the fell beasts to grow into five, and eight thereafter.

Even the prodigious horses of the elves had their limit, however, and Legolas' mount was gradually reaching his. Once they had assumed a comfortable position away from their opposition, Legolas pulled the horse to a halt so they could recollect. Sweat had now become visible on his ivory coat, and his nostrils were flaring as he inhaled deeply.

"It's unlikely that they've discovered us," Legolas mumbled to no one in particular. His keen eyes never left the horizon as he pondered aloud and took up the role of constantly sweeping across the hills for potential threats. "If they had, then they would've charged a scout pack towards us. An entire legion marching at their pace wouldn't be efficient in slaughtering one elf and a horse."