Book 2: Where They Are Going [Legolas]

Chapter 12

There was nothing but blind panic as the soldiers ran about. Linnéa kept more of a level head as she passed off a bench towards Gimli and Aragorn. She reached for another object when a hand grasped her upper arm. She nearly attacked them from how on edge she felt before realizing that it belonged to a familiar face.

"You're injured," Legolas stated.

"Now is not the time to see a healer," she said.

No, but he worried she may faint from the blood loss or become dizzy if the flow wasn't stanched. His grip held firm as she tried to pull away.

"Linnéa, please, you must sit down."

"I am fine, Legolas. I will not rest while everyone else fights," she retorted.

But the prince was adamant. The other hand pressed on a sore shoulder to try and get her to stop moving. The young woman held back a wince.

"You are bleeding."

It was true. The young woman had yet to realize just how bad the injury was. There was a gash running from the left side of her face from the temple, curving over the cheek and just touching the neck. Her lip was busted as well, another gash running along the right side of the jaw. And that was only from what was visible. Legolas wondered from the fall off the main wall what else had been hurt under the armor.

"So are you," though his cuts were minor in comparison, "but we have more important things to deal with right now."

"The fortress is taken," Théoden said.

Their heads turned towards the king. He sat leaned up against a stone pillar. Gamling tended to his shoulder wound trying to wrap it through the armor with some difficulty.

"It is over," the king added.

He sounded completely defeated. Like he was giving up. That made Linnéa angry. The Elf could see the rage in her eyes, holding on to her even tighter to be sure the princess didn't do anything rash. For instance, punch the ruler.

"You said this fortress would never fall while your men defend it," Aragorn shouted. Shoving a piece of wood into the Dwarf's hands he scrambled off towards the door. "They still defend it," he stated, motioning towards the Rohan and Rivendell forces, voice rising, "They have died defending it!"

The statement didn't seem to stir any emotion from the ruler.

"Is there no other way for the women and children to get out of the caves?"

He remained quiet. The silence that dragged on annoyed Strider. Now was not the time to back down.

"Is there no other way?" he questioned again.

"There is one passage," Gamling finally spoke up. The Ranger's head whirled towards the man, urging him to continue. "It leads into the mountains. But they will not get far. The Uruk-hai are too many."

The wood started to splinter behind them.

"Send word for the women and children to make for the mountain pass," Aragorn ordered. "And barricade the entrance!"

A soldier rushed off with three others to perform their task.

"So much death," Théoden finally found his voice. "What can Men do against such reckless hate?"

He was going into shock at this defeat, but to Aragorn, Linnéa, Legolas, and Gimli, defeat didn't come until death welcomed them into its embrace.