Behind Your Shell

Chapter 3: Mirkwood Palace

"She is getting worse. We need to hurry or she will not make it. " Jasper said. Legolas looked to him understanding as he looked to Ashley who was laying on a stretcher they had just made that night. She was deathly pale and struggling to breathe. Her hair was clamy and sticking to her head.

"We can take a faster route but I may be harder as there are roumors of spiders still lurking in there." Legolas explained to Jasper.

"How long will it take that way?" Jasper asked him as Legolas thought to himself.

"About half a day."He said after a moment. Jasper nodded and walked over to Ashley.

"Then we take that route. If we don't she won't last the day."Jasper said as he looked to Dan and Kevin. They both looked worried as they feared she may die.

"very well, But stay close and if anything happens you three stay with Ashley and let me and my men deal with it." Legolas ordered them, sure they don't take orders from anyone but Ashley. But either way what he told them to do was exactly what they were going to do.

"very well, lets go." Dan said as he, Kevin and Jasper all took a corner of the stretcher and continued walking, following Legolas and his men. Legolas placed some of his men behind them to cover their backs.

"This way." Legolas said as he marched his man onwards. Ashley stirred on the stretcher as they walked over rough ground.

"Hey, Ash. Don't worry you will be alright." Kevin said softly as he looked down to her. His corner was right next to her head so it was easy for him. Ashley looked up to him with weak eyes and a weak smile.

"You boys. " She whispered to them as she giggled softly. Her breathing hitched and she coughed as her eyes rolled around.

"Come on Ashley. Stay with us just a little longer." Jasper whispered softy. Ashley hummed to him in response as she had no energy to speak.

The route back to the palace of Mirkwood was rough and harsh but they were lucky they did not come face to face with the spiders that were rumored to be there. Legolas could now see the large doors to the palace just up ahead.

"See that? We are nearly there Ash." Kevin said happily as he looked down to Ashley.

"Ash?" He said but he got no response. When he looked down at her he did not see any movement coming from her.

"Ashley?!"Kevin shouted at her but withno response. Jasper put the stretcher down and leaned over her mouth to listenfor her breathing.

"Legolas! We must hurry! She is barely alive!" Jasper cried to him. Legolas nodded and then quickly moved everyone along. They ran to the gates as they opened. Legolas ran right through followed by Ashley and the others.

" quickly! Fetch the healers!" He ordered. The guards bowed and disappeared in an instant. Legolas jogged over to the three men.

" follow me." He said, they followed him without any arguments. Legolas lead them through halls and winding staircases of the large palace. He then came to a wooden oak door and pushed it open. He walked in and held open the door for the others.

" place her on the bed. " They followed his instructions and done so. After the step back slightly two more elves rushed into the room with bags.  Legolas looked to them as he lead then over.

" She was shot in the arm with a poison arrow." Legolas informed them.  They nodded and took of the dressing on her wounded arm while the other check her signs of life.  They looked to each other with a distant look.

" How long ago?" One of the elves asked.

"Yesterday morning. " Jasper said watching their every move.  The healers looked to reach other one again.

" We will do what we can but. By now the poison will have done the most of it damage." The same healer said as he looked to the three men standing at the bottoming of the bed. 

" My Lord Legolas." A voice came from the door causing Legolas to look in the direction. A fully armored elf was standing straight.

" what? " Legolas asked him.

"Your father wishes your presence immediately. " He said and then bowed before swiftly leaving. Legolas sighed and walked towards the door. He looked back at Ashley, laying on the bed. She looked so peaceful, yet he did not want to lose her.

"I will be back as soon as I can." Legolas said as he left and walked down the stairs and twisting halls to the throne room.

"Father!" He said as he walked up to the lathe throne with elk antlers on top of it.  His father sat there with his crown and silvery robes on. His long blond hair the same as his own styled away from his face.

" How did the hunt fair?" Thrundril asked his son. Legolas looked to the floor then back up.

" It went well. We apprehended the Hunters that have been running around the lands. " He said to his father, whom aid from his chair once he heard that. 

"That is wonderfully. They are locked up? " He asked Legolas, who shook his head in return.

"As he caught then we were ambushed by orcs. One fitted and arrow towards me, but Ashley jumped in the way and took it. " He informed him. Legolas knew it was a lie but had he told his father the truth.  No doubt he would have stopped the healers and allowed her to die.

" I see. So she is being healed? " He asked and Legolas nodded.

" Father, I believe there is a new force comanding the orcs. They are no longer running wild and I believe Ashley may knew about this." Legolas told his father. Thrundril though for a moment before walked down to his son. He placed a hand on his shoulder gently.

" when she awakens talk to her. Get as much information as you can." He said softly to him. Legolas nodded and bowed his head slightly at his request.

" Oh and how is that dwarf friends of yours doing?" He asked Legolas. Legolas smiled softly as he knew he was talking about Gimli.

" Gimli is doing just fine." He said and walked out of the throne room and back towards the room were the healers were tending to Ashley.