Of Elves and Humans

Chapter 3. Fire and wood

They were trapped...

"Elbereth, do let this be the end..."

Legolas let out a scream of frustration, he couldn't let this child die like this. He wouldn't be able to bear it, to only be able to watch her scream as the fire ripped away her soul. He angrily kicked at the weakening stonewall. The child whimpered and buried her face in his shoulder, her fingers fastened tightly on a lock of Legolas' hair.

"I will not let you die like this," Legolas kissed the top of Marli's head, a fierce sense of protection came over him and he held her tighter in his arms.

Legolas crouched down by the small drain vent. It was large enough to push the girl through, and that was enough. He sat down and kicked furiously at the iron barrier but it wouldn't budge.

The fire hissed and crackled as it eased into the room; searing heat and thick smoke trailing in its wake.

Time was running out.

Legolas heaved forward in a fit of dry coughs that racked through him and he gasped for breath. His hand brushed over a thick tree root that had grown under the flooring. He quickly raised his head and glanced at the approaching fire and then back at the tree root that hadn't been there a moment ago. Legolas placed his palm against the root, his eyes closed and his senses opened to the tree. He felt a new light pulse through his veins like a deep power re-awakened.

"Welcome, wood elf"

A strong wind gushed into the room making the trees outside sway as their roots grew and stretched. With great speed, they shot out of the ground. Thick, strong roots and limbs latched onto the barrier and tore at the vent that held the wood elf trapped inside.

Marli's reddened eyes widened in amazement and fear. The trees are moving, moving? her young mind couldn't understand but something deep inside her felt at peace. She held tighter to her strange rescuer and laid her head against his thumping heartbeat.

A bright light that not even the fire could outshine exploded in front of their eyes. Stone crumbled to the ground leaving a large open gap to the outside. The roots, having completed their task, retreated into the moist earth.

Wasting no time, Legolas ran out of the burning building and far out into the opening. The child in his arms let out a gasp as fresh air filled her starved lungs.

Legolas sucked in the air as if it was the day he was born. The aroma of autumn air and wildflowers welcomed him with open arms and he sank to the ground in exhaustion by a large tree that provided shade. He unwrapped his cloak from the child and found that she was fast asleep. Legolas smiled, he ran a finger over her dusty face. The little girl's brunette hair was soaked in sweat and her face grey with ash, but she was alive.

The soft wind gently soothed them and Legolas rested his head against the rough bark, he whispered his thanks to the Valar and closed his weary eyes.