A Second Chance

A Second Chance Part 24

"Look she's scared," I hear one elven lady say with a laugh as more join in,

"Pretending she's a warrior, pathetic,"

"What did the prince see in her,"

"Stupid, weak human," the comments make my face burn with humiliation and so steeling my resolve I begin to march slowly towards the thick trees. As soon as I am concealed from their gazes I stop and sink to the floor drawing in a shaky breath. I can't do this. I can't leave him. But I can't stay either, quite simply put I am screwed! Just as I draw another rattling breath the sound of metal clashing and screaming of orcs and elves and scrambling to my feet and rushing forward a few steps I see a great army of Orc's attacking the Mirkwood elves. How did they get here? Where were Legolas and the others? Okay, now I am screwed. Panic is running freely through my veins and just as I begin to feel like I have lost my mind everything stops around me and Galadriel appears before me just as she had at Helms Deep.

"You must calm yourself child," she says and I feel a sudden anger and complete despair rush through me.

"I cannot, I do not..." I start not knowing what I am saying or doing,

"Finley, stop!" she says so firmly I do and just stand there in shocked silence. "You have to get control of your fear you must not let it control you or all will be lost,"

"I don't understand," I say frowning in confusion.

"You dreamt of Middle Earth in despair, did you not?" she asks and I nod in dumbfounded silence, "It is a truth that will come to pass if you do not learn to control you fear and your power, if you leave now Legolas will perish along with all you hold dear," she says and a new shaking starts up inside of me.

"I am not strong enough," I whisper brokenly and she steps forward her hand gently grasping my chin and pulling my head up until I am forced to meet her eye.

"They are dying Finely, if you do not help Mirkwood will perish," she says gently and my breath catches in my lungs, fear for Legolas now the emotion overwhelming me.

"Legolas," I breath and she smiles gently,

"He is safe child, he is on his way back with the others in his party but unless you do something they will be too late,"

"What can I do? I have not the strength," I murmur and she shakes her head sadly.

"King Thandril long ago lost his humanity, you must remind him, they have not been welcoming but for Legolas you must save them, it is the right thing to do," she says and I sigh shakily.

"I don't think I can, without him," I say fear still threatening to overwhelm me.

"This is the last time I shall visit you my child but Gandalf will be here soon all will become clear, you must trust me now, you must find your strength and power," she says and then she is gone and I once again alone listening to the fighting.

Closing my eyes I take a couple of deep breaths and then pulling out my sword begin running before I can talk myself out of it. As I break through the tree line I block out the sounds and the scale of the battle instead concentrating on cutting down enemies as I make my way towards the king. Reaching him and elves surrounding them I try not to think about the expressions on their faces, choosing to turn my backs on them facing the approaching orcs and cutting them down before pausing slightly.

"Get back," I yell behind me before closing my eyes and concentrating as Galadriel had told me to. I feel the energy build inside me and begin to glow and when I know it is strong enough I open my eyes and letting out a scream draw up my arms allowing my brain to subconsciously direct movements, sending stray arrows into the skulls of the orcs, using their own weapons against them. I can feel my power waining after a few minutes but know that I have given the elves time to regroup and prepare, archers lining up behind me whilst the beasts' attention's have been on me. Just as my power disappears and I feel the familiar lightheadedness engulf me, feel the blood dripping from my nose I see an orc raise a bow and turning briefly to my left see Thandril and so with my last ounce of strength I step in front of him pushing him away from me as the orc's arrow finds it's home in my right shoulder. I don't have the energy to scream, not anymore, after all I had endured worse pain than this before, no, instead I simply sink to the floor as I let the exhaustion wash over me.

I seem to be there for a long time, drifting in and out of consciousness as I listen to the battle going on above me, sounding distant. Then another cry and suddenly everything sounds different.

"Finley, fin... tarien, can you hear me, open your eyes," to hear his voice is like being immersed in warm water as it washes over me and I smile as I open my eyes and stare up at him.

"Did it work, did you win?" I ask and he smiles back at me, although I can tell it is strained.

"Yes my love," he replies, before looking up and saying something in elvish, "I must move you, you need to get to the healing houses," he says urgently and I am aware that there is someone else there but I cannot make them out as things begin to become hazy.

"I have suffered far worse injuries than this Legolas you know that, just pull the arrow out and bandage it, I just need sleep and there are bound to be those in much more desperate need of help than I," I respond thickly and he moves to argue, "please," I add and he growls slightly before placing one hand on my shoulder and the other on the arrow, breathing deeply I nod and he pulls quickly a short gasp of pain the only sound that escapes me before blissful darkness begins to wash over me.

"Tarien, open your eyes, you must stay with me, you cannot leave me know," his voice is so desperate that it pulls me back from the darkness trying to claim me and I open my eyes once again although even his face is hazy now.

"I tried to save them... I tried to save... you father," I say and even to my own ears my voice is thick and my speech slurred and his grip tightens on me as he yells something in elvish.

"You saved them all my love, but now you must stay strong just a little longer," he is muttering and I nod to him and feel myself slip from consciousness even as I feel him lift me.