Fan Fiction ❯ The Sorrows of Tomorrow ❯ Unsettled Plans ( Chapter 8 )

Title: The Sorrows of Tomorrow

Summary: Trouble brews deep in the heart of Mirkwood and Rhun the darkness thickens. Friends will be pitted against each other and only hope can save them.

Chapter 8: Unsettled Plans

The sun was starting to set and it was almost time to stop for the night. Groto stomped across the ground and glared at the setting sun. He turned his attention to the elf and he smiled in satisfaction. The elf limped next to the mortal and another Orc. It was obvious that the prince was in pain but wouldn't ask for assistants. Beating the elf had felt good and he couldn't wait to do it again. But the problem was Selamant and his threat to kill anyone who harmed the elf again. No other Orc would go near the elf without Selamant's permission and this angered him. The Orcs should listen to him and not the mortal. He was the one in charge and they should only obey him! He hated the boy with a passion and wished him dead. Ever since there last confrontation, the boy had grown more arrogant and his troop feared him less. He had been utterly humiliated and the only way to gain back his fear was to kill the boy. The only problem with this was that Lady Serutia would be angered and might make him pay. He could see Selamant conversating with the elf and narrowed his eyes. The boy had been getting to friendly with the elf and he didn't like it at all.

"Selamant!"

He watched as the boy turned his head and gazed at him. Disinterest shown in the silver eyes and Groto wanted to choke him.

Selamant broke off his conversations with Legolas and sighed. He wanted to roll his eyes at the Orc but decided against it. Now was not the time to get into confrontations with the Orc and he wasn't in the mood either.

"What is it?"

Legolas watched his companion tense up and then gazed ahead. The Orc and boy had been at each others throats for days. It was bound to come to head soon and he hoped he wasn't anywhere nearby.

"I want you to scout a head and find us a place to camp." Groto smiled smugly and watched anger flash in the boy's eyes.

Selamant was really getting sick and tired of Groto picking him to scout all the time. They did have Orcs trained to do this but no it just had to be him. If he had to scout one more time after this then there would be hell to pay.

"Fine. But if the elf comes to harm then who ever did it will suffer the consequences."

He watched as the Orcs around him moved away a bit and then watched Groto. The Orc looked ready to kill him but he could care less. Turning to his companion, he smiled at him and then jogged into the forest. Soon there confrontation was coming and then hopefully all would be settled once and for all.

Legolas watched the human disappear and sighed. He was glad that they were stopping soon but not that Selamant had to scout. It was safer when the boy was around and the Orcs stayed clear of them. Although they did stay away when the boy had just told them what would happen if they harmed him. It was a bit odd that he felt safe around a total stranger and a human. The last time he had felt this way was when Estel was alive and they had just clicked. But then again it was better to feel this way about the boy then the Orcs. Shaking his head he ignored theses thoughts and began to plot for a way to escape.

~

Elrohir rode his mount and smiled. The past few days hadn't been too bad and they were making good time to Lothlorien. So far they hadn't encountered anything dangerous on the road and hopefully there luck would hold out.

"What are you smiling about gwador?" Elladan asked curiously. For the past few minutes his twin had been grinning like a cat that got the mouse.

Elrohir smirked at his twin. "Why because dear gwador. So far we haven't been injured, broken, or dragged to Lothlorien. I'd say that is something to be happy about wouldn't you?"

"Well." Elladan said seriously. "It was never us that got that badly damaged if I remember." A huge impish grin appeared on his face. "If I remember correctly it was always Estel who came back the worse for wear."

Elrond held his breath and waited for his other son's reaction. They hadn't bickered so happily since Estel's death or spoke of the past with him. It had hurt them all too much to even mention the boy, much less reminisce about him.

Elrohir watched as Elladan expression change to sadness at what he had unwittingly said. He knew that if he looked back at his father then he would see the same expression. It didn't hurt as much as it should have to be talking about his little brother. Perhaps they were slowly healing and the best way to do it would be to talk about him.

"We have to talk about him sometime and better to remember him fondly then not at all."

"Yes you are right Elrohir. It is very hard to do so and I truly miss him." Elladan replied quietly.

"Then that's why you should speak of him more often then." Elrond watched as the twins looked at him curiously and rode between them. "That way you will never forget him and he is always with you."

The twins were quiet for a moment and then grinned in reply. Elrond knew that his sons understood and smiled back. Coming to a decision, he decided to tell his sons about his reverie with Estel once they reached Lothlorien. They had a right to know about it and of course that they possible might see there gwador again. His horse's head suddenly shot up and he felt him tense. He noticed for the first time how the forest was strangely silent and not a bird sung nearby. It was eerie and he shivered.

Elladan placed a hand on his sword and gripped the reins tighter. His horse shifted uneasily and tossed his head. Something felt off. He could see his father and twin felt the same.

"I do not like this Elladan." Elrohir replied quietly.

Elrond nodded in agreement. "It is as if something evil lurks nearby and is waiting for us to make a wrong move."

Elladan spurred his horse closer to his brother and father. The tension was mounting and he narrowed his eyes. A sudden snarl came from there left followed by loud crashing. Grabbing his bow, he strung it and let it go. It hit its target and the creature fell over dead.

"Yrch." Elrohir snarled. More of them poured out of the forest and he pulled out his sword. Letting out a war cry, he charged forwarded and the others did the same.

Elrond followed the twins and slashed at the Orcs. There went their injury free trip to Lothlorien and he had a feeling this fight would not be pleasant. So far the odds were in there favor even with this so called ambush. Theses Orcs sure were not that intelligent at sneak attacks and for that he was glad. Otherwise they might have been taken by surprise and killed off quickly. Turning his attention back to the Orcs he prayed to Ilúvatar that they would not get damaged too much.

The Orcs were losing badly and were starting to retreat. Bodies littered the ground and none of them were elves. Elladan smiled in satisfaction and glanced at his twin. So far it looked like everything was going okay and soon this battle would be over. Turning around, he checked on his father and saw that he was holding his own. Something glinted near the trees and he turned his head. An Orc was hidden there and had an arrow ready to fly and it was aimed at his father. He knew he would never make it in time and watched horrified as the Orc released the arrow.

"Ada!"

~

The elf lay on the ground and feigned sleep. It had been many hours since they had made camp and the Orcs bedded down for the night. He cracked his eyes open for a bit and could see dark shapes in the night. The Orcs were fast asleep in the camp and all he needed to worry about were the sentries and Selamant. Opening his eyes more fully he sat up and almost groaned. His injuries were still healing but he still needed more time to recover fully. Standing up, he thanked Ilúvatar that they had not bound him because of his injuries. Slipping past the bodies quickly, he left the camp and entered the forest. It was faintly lit by the moon and he could make out different shapes. Stopping by a tree, Legolas leaned against and closed his eyes. The tree was quiet for a moment and began to sing to him. It told him that the Orc sentries were no where nearby and it was safe. Thanking the tree, he quickly walked through the forest and ran for a time. He needed to get as far away as he could before the Orcs would notice him gone. Movement up ahead had him slowing down and he cautiously approached. Legolas peered around a tree and blinked in surprise. Selamant sat next to a lake and an air of melancholy surrounded him.

Selamant gazed down at the water and sighed tiredly. The last few days had been stressful and it would only get worse. Ever since he had humiliated Groto in front of the others, the Orc had been an extreme pain. He seemed intent on being more annoying then before and ordering everyone about. The other Orcs listened because they feared him, but he did not. He would ignore Groto's orders and just do what he wanted. This would infuriate Groto and a confrontation would start. The other Orcs would watch this and do nothing. They didn't care who won as long as it was entertaining or they weren't involved. So far he hadn't lost his temper since the last incident but that wouldn't last long. Sooner or later the two of them would battle and only one of them would survive. He also knew that Groto and the other Orcs had it in for the elf. It was getting down right tiring having to make sure that no one harmed Legolas. And yet he knew that he couldn't let anything happen to the elf since he had given him his word. He closed his eyes and ran a hand through his hair distractedly.

Legolas watched the boy for a moment and came to a decision. Reaching down, he checked his left boot and smiled in satisfaction. The Orcs might have searched him but they hadn't gotten his knife. Sliding it free, he cautious snuck on the boy and pounced.

Selamant froze when he felt cold steel at his throat and swallowed. Glancing out of the corner of his eyes, he could see long blond hair and knew it was the elf.

"Who is your master, Selamant?" Legolas asked coldly. He felt the boy stiffen and pushed the knife closer to his throat. This might be his only chance to get answers and it was worth the risk of getting captured again.

Selamant closed his eyes for a moment and cursed. It was his own fault for letting his guard down and especially for not tying up the elf, even if he was wounded. Next time he would remember to thoroughly check his captives and not let someone else do it. Perhaps if he told the truth then the elf would relax his guard and then he could break free.

"The lady Serutia."

The name sounded familiar to Legolas and he wondered why. Perhaps one of his tutors or even his father had mentioned it?

"And what does your lady want with me?"

"I do not know Legolas." Selamant replied honestly. He didn't know why the she-elf wanted the prince or even her plans. "All I was told was to capture you and bring you to her. Perhaps Groto will know since he is in charge of this mission."

This was getting more and more curious. The lady wanted him for some reason but the human didn't know why. Legolas gazed down at the white head and cocked his head. Perhaps one of his questions might still be answered this night.

"And why do you follow this lady Serutia?"

Selamant gazed unseeingly at the ground and smiled sadly. "I have no memories of my past and because she saved my life."

Legolas somehow knew he was telling the truth and that was odd. Weird to trust ones enemy but for some reason he did. It was funny how the more he learned about the boy, the more interesting he became.

A snapping of a branch nearby made the both of them freeze. Selamant raised a hand and gently grasped Legolas's wrist. He felt the elf stiffen and hoped he wouldn't kill him.

"It is one of the Orc sentries Legolas, please drop the knife and surrender. I cannot protect you if you try and escape or even kill me."

Legolas heard the seriousness in the boy's voice and sighed. There was no way he could flee now and he knew that Selamant wouldn't let him. He felt there was no reason to kill the boy and decided to trust him. Removing the knife, he stepped back and watched Selamant rise. Flipping the knife over, he watched as Selamant took it and place it in his boot. Another snap nearby had the both turning around and they watched two Orcs appear. They appeared surprised to see them both and relief shown in there eyes.

"What do you want?" Selamant asked. He watched the two Orcs shift uneasily and smiled

"We were looking for the elf and thought that he had tried to escape."

"Are you the only two who came looking?" Selamant watched them nod and was grateful. If Groto had found out then there truly would have been trouble and he was not in the mood for it. Looking at the Orcs again, he glared at them and watched them shift uneasily. "Well as you can see he is with me. Now go back to your patrol."

The two Orcs nodded and quickly vanished into the forest. Legolas gazed at him and shook his head in confusion. The human could have told the truth but he had lied.

"Why did you do that?"

Selamant heard the curiousity in the elf's voice and sighed. "I don't know."

He could see the perplexed look on the elf's face and shrugged. It was the truth and he didn't understand it either. All he knew was that he didn't want to see the elf tied up or worse.

"Come on we had better head back to camp, before Groto comes looking for us and asks why you are here."

Legolas watched as Selamant started to head back to camp. He just couldn't figure out this human and he was the strangest captor ever. Gazing back longingly at the forest, he turned and followed the human. Perhaps he could have escaped but his injuries were protesting loudly and so was his common sense. Selamant wouldn't let him free for one nor would the Orcs. He would just have to bide his time and wait for another opportunity to escape.

~

TBC

Not a whole lot of action but uh some touching scenes and stuff. Did leave a sorta cliffie with Elrond and oh boy. Well more stuff is about to be revealed and man thats going to be fun. Try and post the next chapter soon!