Building Ithilien [Legolas] LOTR

Out of the Mist

Fog hung heavily across flat lands. Neither Miredhel nor Legolas could really see beyond a few feet, but they heard plenty: the constant thud of heavy shod feet, the sleek hum of arrows, and a low familiar bird call.

"Eledhel?" mouthed Miredhel silently to Legolas, and he shrugged. There was no way to know for sure. It certainly did not sound like an orcish signal to him, but Miredhel remembered such a birdcall from her distant youth, of her father and brown, slick feathered woodland thrushes. Her father had said, 'such birds call their young back to its nest, and so shall I call you.' Miredhel remembered, and she whistled back, one long and two short.

She whispered, so quietly that only another elf could hear, "He's looking for us, but I cannot tell where he is, can you?"

"No, let us keep moving toward camp," Legolas returned, and following his lead, Miredhel also slid her knife from her belt.

Legolas led the way, and he traveled so quickly that Miredhel could hardly keep up. She was not sure that he even knew where he was going, and especially at such a deliberate speed, but she trusted him. When he looked back and saw that she had fallen several paces behind, he reached for her hand so they would not be separated.

A low throaty snarl broke the silence, and a broad shadow loomed before the elves. Though he tried, Legolas could see nothing beyond barely two arms' lengths. Letting his fingers slide from Miredhel's hand, he gripped his knife and pulled its mate from his belt. He hung back for a moment, remembering to breathe, his ears pounding, his mouth feeling wickedly dry, and then he charged toward the unknown.

With a feral gleam in his eyes, Legolas rushed forward, his muscles tensed and honed for pursuit, for that first strike and battle: a quick slice and a rush of warmth, followed by the acrid stench of winning, of killing your opponent, of death. He found none of these things however, for his opponent had vanished before he could act. The prince skidded on his heels and turned.

"Miredhel, did you see?" he started, but she was gone.

"Miredhel?!" He raced back to where he had left her, panic gnawing through his gut. Then he heard her gasp, followed by the shrill screech of metal scraping against metal.

"Legolas, watch out!" she screamed, and his head snapped toward the sound of her voice, and he chased in that direction. The orcs had better watch out for him.

"Legolas, duck!" she yelled. "Get down!"

"Miredhel?" he shouted, hoping he could find her, help her. He frantically pushed through the swirling walls of fog, quick footfalls of a heavy force pounded behind him, but he cared not. He had to find her.

So focused he was on the path before him, Legolas failed to notice the assailant on his left, who sprang from the darkness, tackling him to the ground. The world bloomed red as the back of his head collided with the earth, and then all faded black in the hush of night.

Out of the darkness leapt a blaze of flames, brilliant, burning. Then through the midst of the fire, a sleek, black beast pierced the darkness with wings outspread, his myriad scales glittering like embers in the dead of night. His yellow eyes gleamed as he rose to rival even the moon's height then dove down toward the earth, his great malice lending him speed to crush his foes.

Legolas watched quietly. His eyes had roamed the land, for the mist and fog had cleared from the desolate plains. All was empty, a dry and bitter wasteland. He was alone, utterly alone. Desperation consumed the elf, and he reached for weapons but found none. He was alone, utterly alone.

Without friends, without love, without family, he faced the dark night and foe. So many times he had leaned on the strength of others to pull him through pain and conflict; even if he would not admit it, this was true! Now he stood without defense, all by himself, and the great dragon soared toward him. The heat of its breath licked his face, his eyes watered and squinted, but he would not look away, nor would he run. A great flame billowed before him, and he thought, 'here is my end..."