Prequel to my version of The Lord of The Rings trilogy

The Six Hunters

As the sun dipped low in the sky, casting long shadows across the rugged landscape, the fellowship pressed on with renewed urgency. The air was thick with tension, every breath heavy with the weight of their mission. Aragorn, his ear pressed to a rock, frowned deeply as he listened intently to the distant rumble of orcish feet. "Their pace has quickened," he muttered, concern etching lines into his brow. "They must have caught our scent. Hurry!" he urged, his voice carrying the weight of their desperate pursuit.

Legolas, ever the swift elf, sprinted up the hill with the grace of a deer, his feet barely seeming to touch the ground. "Come on, Gimli, Liv!" he called out over his shoulder, his voice a blend of encouragement and urgency.

"I'm not as slow as I used to be, you pointy-eared show-off," Liv retorted with a playful grin, her voice a melody of affection and teasing as she followed Legolas's lead. Her eyes sparkled with determination as she matched her pace to his, her breath coming in steady, controlled bursts.

David, watching the camaraderie with amusement, couldn't resist joining in. "Did you just insult your brother?" he asked, his eyes twinkling with mischief as he adjusted his pack, ensuring it was securely fastened.

"Yeah," Liv replied with a laugh, her eyes dancing with amusement as she quickened her pace to keep up with Legolas. "But only because he deserves it."

Legolas threw a mock look of hurt over his shoulder. "Is this how you treat your kin, Liv? With sharp words and no mercy?"

"Only when they're showing off," she shot back, her tone light and teasing. "Me and David may be human but just as skilled as any elf" said Liv

Meanwhile, Gimli was struggling up the hillside, his sturdy frame laboring against the steep incline. He paused to catch his breath, wiping the sweat from his brow and shaking his head in frustration. "Three days and nights of pursuit. No food. No rest. And no sign of our quarry but what the rocks can tell," Gimli grumbled, his voice heavy with exhaustion and determination. Despite his weariness, he pushed himself forward, his spirit unyielding.

Liv glanced back at the dwarf, her expression softening. "Gimli, how is my three-year-old daughter faster than you?" she teased, a playful smile dancing upon her lips as she glanced back at him.

"Yeah, is that armor slowing you down?" David chimed in, his laughter echoing through the forest like a burst of sunshine on a cloudy day.

Gimli huffed, his chest rising with pride. "I'll have you know that this armor can be as light as a feather on a good day," he replied, a hint of pride in his voice as he pressed on, determined to keep pace with his companions.

Suddenly, a small voice cut through the banter, causing the fellowship to pause and turn back. "Mommy, Daddy, wait for me," cried Lily, Liv and David's young daughter. Her tiny legs struggled to keep up, her face flushed with exertion.

With a tender smile, Liv scooped Lily into her arms, the warmth of motherly love radiating from her as she held her daughter close. "We're right here, sweetheart," Liv murmured, pressing a kiss to Lily's forehead. "Just a bit further, and then we can rest."

Aragorn, Legolas, David, Liv, Saya, Lily, and Gimli continued their trek along the top of the mountains and hills. The landscape below stretched out before them, a patchwork of green and brown, dotted with the occasional flicker of movement as wildlife went about their business. Aragorn picked up Pippin's fallen elven brooch, holding it up to the light with reverence. "Not idly do the leaves of Lorien fall," he said softly, his voice tinged with sorrow.

Legolas stopped beside him, his keen elven senses alert. "They may yet be alive," he said, his voice carrying a note of hope. "Less than a day ahead of us. Come."