Livewire[LOTR]

Chapter fifteen- The War is coming.

Chapter Fifteen

"What, What?" I asked, shaking the man as he fainted again. What the hell was he talking about, Orcs? Where were they going, why had they spared him. I shoved him back onto his bed and reached for the door but before I could open it was slammed open narrowly missing my face. My father stormed in, he grunted at me but went straight to the unconscious warrior. "Hes out cold-" I said but I was cut off as my father gruffly shook the man. "What do you think this, some kind of joke." He yelled. I'd never seen him so angry in my life. I winced and backed up a few steps as he shook the sleeping body. "First, my son and now the Orcs. They don't have the gull to attack the palace. How dare you return after loosing the fight" as I stared at the man, I could see the magnitude of his wounds. He had been hurt badly, how had he made it back. My father dropped his limp body onto the floor and stormed out. "Disregard the note, it was nothing more than a stupid joke played by a child." He said to the guards at the door. "When he wakes up, execute him." My father said.

"Wait-" I began, looking at the king. "You cant possibly expect these wounds to be fake, he obviously did something to warrant that. You cant possible insinuate that he would play such a terrible jo-" My father turned on me as quick a snake. "You dare question your king, boy. I know a joke when I see one, and I know what to do when fools don't take wars seriously. They much be killed." I nodded, saying no more. I knew it would be an uphill battle. Again my eyes went to the body laying limply on the floor, covered in burns and bites I felt- guilty. I don't know why, and I don't know how but when my father left I lifted the limp body and placed him back onto his bed. Allowing the healers to work their magic with herbs and such. I sat down and folded my arms along my chest.

I don't know how anyone would come up with such a evil joke, to say that the Orcs where going to attack the palace. There was no way they would be that gutsy, they knew they were outnumbered. I would have to investigate, I knew my father wouldn't but it was better to air on the side of caution when it came to these things. Orcs where unpredictable, it was impossible to decipher whether or not they would actually attack the palace head on. I sat for quite some time, waiting for the warrior to wake up. It was sunset by the time his eyes opened again, this time his wounds had been treated- so he should have been in less pain. But the groan of pain he let out the second he took a breath told me otherwise.

He looked over at me, the cloudy haze above his eyes was gone now and the sparkling blue surface was back. "Did, the king read the note?" he asked. I nodded slowly, cupping my hands together in front of my nose. "He did, but he did not believe you. You are to be executed." His eyes widened, but quickly sunk into a stubborn frown. "They will attack tonight and midnight-" suddenly he was standing. Ignoring his wounds. "Be wary, princeling. They are after your family. They want this palace for their own. It has the ability to harbor something beyond our comprehension." He stopped and turned towards the massive window. Branches hung low and close behind the glass. "Can you tell me where my Bird is." He said, not looking back at me. I stood up and stormed over. "You're leaving? You're the one who brought the warning! How did you even survive, how do you know all this?"

His blue eyes turned towards my blue ones, for a moment we looked at eachother. Nothing but the sound of the evening and our breaths between us. "They told me." He finally said. Then he lept from the window, he'd taken his armor but nothing else. I raced to the window and watched him slide down the branches, flying along like some sort of bird. I didn't even have a change to tell him where his Eagle was. I guess he would have to figure that out on his own now.

I had to get out of here, now. I'd seen their armies first hand and I knew what was marching here at this very moment. If they wouldn't listen, I wouldn't die for the kings stupidity. I pulled my helmet down over my eyes and acted like I was supposed to be here, I headed towards the trees where the eagles had been roosting. I looked around in the sunset trees above me but could not see Naia. She was not here.

I glanced around behind me, but I couldn't see anything in-between all the tents and warriors. I sighed and began to scale one of the larger trees, careful not to touch the eagle's nests. I reached the top and balanced on one of the branches, looking out into the camp and village. From up here I could see Naia. She was caged up in a small metal cage towards the front of the palace. Guards where stationed around her. I reached for my bow, but remembered I had lost it. Well shit. I thought, stumped. What could I do now... well. I could always sneak around them and free her. I guess that was my only option now.

I scaled down and walked towards them, when I got close enough to the cage I ducked behind one of the tents. I would need to hurry, someone was bound to notice I was awake and gone now. I got close to the guards as a rush of people moved towards them. I slipped behind the first one on the right and went for the latch. As I pulled it back Naia squawked loudly with the joy of seeing me. The guards turned and shouted in surprise- to late. The latch fell and Naia jumped from the cage. I grabbed her feathers as her wings hit the guards. She jumped into the sky as the guards shouted for reinforcements. Naia let out a cooing noises off relief. She was happy to have me back. "We need to get out of her, girl. There is about to be a blood bath that I will not be around to see." We where out of firing range when I realized what I was doing. I tugged Naias feathers. "Wait." She stopped and flapped her wings, swiveling her head back to look at me.

"My brothers are down there." I said quietly. Ivian and Sivmit. I couldn't let them die. I couldn't. "We have to go back for them." Naias eyes narrowed slightly. "My brothers, c'mon Naia. I promise we will be in and out." Naia landed softly. As she did I spotted a White fox. It moved towards me as I watched, its shape flickered and it became The White Witch. Tovella. I stared at her, I'd assumed she'd left as many Wizards and Witches do. "What are you doing here." Tovella asked. "The king wants your head." I scowled. "Listen up Fox woman. I'm just looking for my... friends." I scowled at her. "There will be an attack tonight at moonhigh and I don't want to see them killed. If the king wont listen to me, I wont be here." Tovella shook her head causing her white hair to dance. "I know of the March, I have seen them. They are moving underground." I touched Naia who was snarling at the Witch. "Will you warn them." I asked. She shook her head smiling at me. "No, this is not my fight." Then she left. I shivered like someone had touched my spine. "She gives me the creeps." I turned back to Naia who had laid down now that The White Witch was gone. "I don't know how I'm going to get Sivmit and Ivian." I muttered.

Suddenly and Idea came to me, I could dress up like myself- The real me. The Ireth me. It had been so long it felt strange to think that I had to become someone else. I removed my armor and I stood in my underclothes. Rubbing my head. I would need a dress or something to make it believable.