SIXTEEN “Listen up, you wargs!” The Orc commander called out to the mass of disorganized, grunting troopers waiting for direction. “I hope this is about food, because I’m starving. I don’t see why we’re out here anyway. There’s nothing but woods all ‘round fer’ miles. Pitiful waste of time, I’d say,” one Orc complained. The commander hissed and cut the cantankerous Orc down with a quick sweep of his blade. The others inhaled sharply and backed away cowering, in both in astonishment and fear. “Food he wanted, and food he’s become,” The commander growled. “Is there anyone else here who’d like to join him?” The Orcs fell silent. “I thought as much,” the commander continued. “I have news from the Dark Lord, and you will do what is asked of you, lest you meet the same fate as your comrade here,” he snarled, kicking aside the dead body of the fallen soldier. “There’s a party of elves coming thru from Mirkwood within a couple of weeks, I am told. We are to take them down, but not quite before they lead us to the Golden Wood,” the Commander went on. “*The Golden Wood?”* Another Orc sniggered. “What kinda name is that? But listen, we ain’t ever *seen* the place. It’s protected by some elf witch. Supposed ter be invisible. How’re we meant to know when we got to the damned place?” The Orc cringed when the commander turned to him. Surprisingly, the commander laughed. “If it weren’t for a half intelligent question spoken from your lips you would surely join your friend as an appetizer. It’s true, we can’t see the Wood. But we know that’s where they’re heading, and we *will* ambush them. We will spread out far along their course and strike when the time is right. They’ll call for aid, for there are two in this party that can *See*. When the others come forth to assist them, we will know then from where they come, and we will slaughter them as well. As for the two that can *See,* the Dark Lord has a special death in store for them. Outside of myself, who is the best archer amongst you?” All heads turned to a fairly large Orc called Tarq, and gave way as he stepped forward. “That’d be me, commander.” “Good. Then to you I assign this task.” He knelt down and pulled several arrows from a tattered quiver, and turned to him. “These arrows are coated with poison. We will use these to take down the Seers. We will target them from the trees above.” He took half and handed the other half to Tarq. The Orc grunted and took them. “You are to take the dark one; that half-breed lordling. I’ll take the other, for Melkor has shown him to me,” the commander continued. “*Melkor!”* Several Orcs’ breath hitched in their throats at the mere mention of the name. “That is right, you worms.” The Orc commander remarked. He turned to look Tarq in the eyes. “Do not miss, archer- for poisoned arrows are costly, and if you do- you too will meet their fate.” “I won’t, Commander.” The commander chortled, and moved to stand over the corpse of the Orc he had slain. “Good. Now come; eat up boys! We have but only to wait.” ************************************ Two weeks later, Elrond and party were within a league of the outskirts of the great divide. They proceeded at a leisurely pace, conversing quietly amongst themselves. It was almost dusk, streaks of grey, orange and azure stretched out along the sky above the road they had travelled for miles. Siddhir smiled as he gazed up into the heavens. He loved sunsets; sunrises too for that matter, for both displayed such colourful masterpieces of beauty for all to bear witness to. Suddenly a uneasy feeling made him snap his head around. He scanned the plains quickly as far as he could see, but saw nothing. He frowned. A terrible sense for foreboding crawled under his skin like maggots through rotten flesh. He stopped his horse abruptly, causing Celeborn and Elrond to halt suddenly as well. Glorfindel, who was pacing beside him, had moved ahead a few paces before stopping and turning around. “*Mani naa ta? Mani marte?”* [what is it? what happened?] Glorfindel queried, a confused look crossing his well defined features. “*Nad no ennas,”* [something is out there] Siddhir whispered, his sharp, suspicious eyes darting all around them. Glorfindel smiled. “*Uuma dela pen-neth,* [don’t worry, young one] all is well,” He nodded at the Lords behind him and turned his attention back to Siddhir. “*Uuma ma’ten rashwe, ta tuluva a’lle.* [don’t look for trouble, it will come to you] The divide is near.” Siddhir’s features grew dark. “*Dina! Lye aphadar aen!”* [Be silent! We are being followed!] He did not give Glorfindel a chance to answer. He moved slowly towards Elrond. “Look out and *See,* my Lord. How many?” Siddhir whispered. Elrond closed his eyes for a few moments, and then opened them fast and wide. “Fourscore at least! All around us!” Siddhir clenched his teeth. “Our skills are vast, but we are only four. We cannot take them all- especially should they charge upon us at once. My Lord Elrond, seek out Lady Galadriel. Have her send reinforcements to meet us.” Siddhir moved his horse back in formation, and turned to them. “We ride now. We will start out slowly, as we were- but when I say, we will ride hard and fast. We must get as close as we possibly can to Lothlorien. *Heniach nin?”* [do you understand?] The warriors nodded, and they slowly set forth. ******************** Haldir watched his brothers as they ate. Orophin was helping to feed Rumil, and Rumil was letting him- which was a first. Normally Rumil would be hard at work trying to feed Orophin instead, which usually caused Orophin to whine when Rumil would undoubtedly drop food onto his clothes. They had come such a long way, he thought. Orophin looked at him. “Are you well, brother?” Haldir blinked. “I am very well. Why would you ask?” “You look sad,” Orophin answered. Haldir smiled. “I am far from sad, *pen-neth.* [young one] In fact, I am quite content. I was just thinking how very much I love you both.” Orophin grinned. “We love you too brother, even though we are bad sometimes.” Haldir reached out and pulled him close, hugging him. “I would never say that you were bad; wilful, perhaps- but never bad.” “Da!” Rumil interjected, holding out his arms. Haldir chuckled, and reached over to pick him up. “You want a hug too, *pen- tithen?* [little one] Rumil responded by wrapping both arms around Haldir’s neck. Haldir laughed and held him tight, along with Orophin at his side. “Can we practise tomorrow, brother? Lady Galadriel will be glad to watch Rumil,” Orophin suggested. “Possibly. I have an early watch, but I will be free in the afternoon,” Haldir answered. “Good. Can we play the game Siddhir gave me before bed?” Haldir smiled. “I suppose. Go and get it, whilst I clear the table.” Orophin ran into the other room to fetch the game. Haldir smoothed over Rumil’s unruly hair and grinned. “I hope that your hair becomes more manageable as you grow older Ru, for now it is quite disorderly.” “Da-dir!” Rumil giggled in response. Haldir laughed, and kissed the toddler on the forehead. “Well, that was much closer. You will get my name right someday.” Orophin dashed in again with the game. Haldir put Rumil back down, and cleared the table of all but the sweetbread. He gave a piece to Rumil, who took it eagerly. Haldir winked at Orophin. “That will keep him busy for a time.” Orophin laughed and set up the pieces to the game on the table. “I go first.” “Of course,” Haldir chuckled. Orophin made his move, and looked up at Haldir. “It is your turn, brother.” Both elves glanced at Rumil, who had started humming- and smiled. Haldir moved his piece on the board. “Are you sure you want to move there?” Orophin asked, with a grin. Haldir looked at his piece on the board, and back at Orophin. “Why certainly. What is wrong with that move?” Orophin chuckled, and moved his piece, overtaking Haldir’s on the board. “Because I can do this!” “Ah!” Haldir frowned, slapping his forehead. “How dim of me!” Orophin laughed hard. Haldir smiled, and moved his next piece. “Mayhap it is time I went to bed, for my senses are less than sharp, it would seem.” “You just need more practice,” Orophin snickered. “That I do,” Haldir replied. “I was thinking….” Haldir stopped cold, as an alarm sounded throughout the wood. ******************************** “*Noro lim!”* [ride fast] Siddhir shouted, as the four charged down the wide dirt path, kicking up dust as they went. Just as Siddhir had thought, the Orcs gave way their cover and began to come at them from behind, and on both sides as far as he could see. Arrows hurled past them in droves, hissing like serpents in the darkening night. They tore on, ducking and shooting arrows all along the way. Siddhir grit his teeth as one tore past his arm, ripping his sleeve and drawing blood. The slash it created burned like fire, but he ignored it, keeping hold of the reins as he pressed forward. The divide was now in sight. Siddhir looked behind to see that his party was still with him and urged his horse to go faster. Glorfindel called out to him with alarm. He turned back to see a mass of Orcs charging forth directly in front of them. “*Do not falter! Ride!”* Siddhir shouted above the din that roared around them. “*Mow them down if need be! Ride!”* It seemed as if they had come from nowhere. Out of the dark night, the line of Orcs that blocked their route to the divide was thickening, to Siddhir’s horror. There were far more than fourscore now, and although they had heard the alarm sound, he prayed to the Valar that the reinforcements would make it to them in time. He did not know how long the four of them could keep the ever-growing sea of monsters at bay. Elrond’s scream told him that their clock had just started ticking. ************************ “Oro, I must trust you now to look after Ru!” Haldir called out, as he hurriedly dressed in the other room. “I have not the time to get you both to our Lady. *Lle rangwa amin?”* [do you understand me?] “Yes, brother,” Orophin answered. “Do not worry.” Haldir rushed over to quickly embrace him. “I worry not, for you are more than capable. *“Amin mela lle.”* [I love you] “I love you too, brother,” Orophin replied. Haldir quickly moved to Rumil and kissed him, tasting sweetbread on the toddler’s lips. “Hmm, Da,” Rumil replied thoughtfully, pushing another piece of sweetbread in his mouth. Haldir winked at Orophin, and rushed out of the talan. *********************** Siddhir turned to see that Elrond had been unseated and was now surrounded and engaged in battle on the ground. He whistled sharply to let the others know what was happening, and quickly turned his horse around and charged towards him, followed now by both Celeborn and Glorfindel. When they reached him with swords drawn, they jumped from their horses and fought their way to his side. “Are you injured, my Lord?” Siddhir called out above the din of battle. “I took an arrow to the arm, but not mortally as yet,” Elrond replied, swiftly beheading a large Orc in his path. “But you are, it seems.” “’Tis nothing, my Lord. Keep pressing forward!” Siddhir shouted, pulling his sword from an unfortunate Orc’s chest. Steel clashed loudly amongst steel as they battled on. Little progress was made as they tried to move forward for there were simply too many Orcs containing them. The more they cut down, more appeared to take their place. They kept their backs to each other forming a small a circle, covering all points of entry, but Siddhir knew that they would be overcome. He suddenly darted out and away from them, slashing one Orc after another as he went. Black blood covered him from head to toe as it spurted forth from their putrid bodies. Just as he thought, a large number of Orcs broke away and followed him, leaving space for the others to manoeuver. As he avoided a sweep of an Orc’s blade across his stomach, he could see the others doing the same and moving forward as fast as they could. Noticing a clear path to his right, Siddhir charged through it, stabbing and slashing as he went. He could see Lorien’s army charging fast towards them now, and he breathed a sigh of relief. Just a while longer, he thought, as he fended off another four Orcs. Suddenly, a searing pain exploded in his leg and he fell to the ground, losing his sword. An exceptionally large Orc jumped on top of him then from the trees above, pressing the arrow that was lodged in his thigh clean through to the earth below them. Siddhir heard himself scream. “Die now, elf!” The horrific looking Orc shouted, holding his blade fast to Siddhir’s throat. Siddhir thrashed underneath him, mostly from the pain in his leg- surprising the Orc. He raised his good leg and pulled a dagger from his boot, brought it up high and plunged it into the unsuspecting Orc’s back. The creature’s life escaped him with a pitiful hiss and his rancid corpse fell forward onto Siddhir, who growled and pushed him off. Another Orc came at him, and he could not move- immobilized by the arrow chaining him to the earth. He held fast to the dagger and tried to grab his fallen sword, but it was just out of his arm’s reach. Suddenly, a cluster of arrows took the Orc down, and Haldir was at his side, kneeling by him. “No!” Siddhir shouted. “You must go to our Lords!” “I will *not* leave you here, Siddhir!” Haldir screamed back, firing a volley of arrows at the Orcs closing in on them. While Haldir covered them by shooting arrows continuously, Siddhir groaned and quickly pulled himself up into a sitting position. With one hand he held tight to the arrow lodged in his thigh from above, while grasping it underneath him simultaneously. He took a deep breath and raised his leg high enough to get a good grip on the end that was imbedded in the earth. Tears spilled from his eyes as he snapped it off. Haldir grimaced. With a scream, Siddhir pulled what was left of the arrow from his flesh. The pain was blinding, and threatened to overtake him. Sweat, mingled with tears, dirt, and black Orc blood distorted his fair features- but he fought against it. Now was not the time to lose consciousness, he thought. He reached out and claimed his sword again. “Help me up, Haldir,” Haldir leaned down and quickly helped him to his feet. “Stay here, and do not try to move. We will fight together from this position.” Siddhir coughed. “Fair enough.” Together, they fought. Haldir could not help but be impressed by Siddhir’s strength and sheer force of will, still being able to fight in his obviously tortured condition. Finally, what seemed to have lasted for an eternity was over. Feeling Siddhir still pressed at his back, Haldir looked out at nearly two hundred Orc corpses sprawled out over the plains. He sighed heavily and turned with a weary smile to face Siddhir, just in time to catch him as he fell to the ground.