Days passed as they made their way south. The trail that had started plain as day soon faded away with the waning light. The leaves became dry and compacted as they neared their own border. The mountains of Mirkwood loomed high in the distance, their black trees covered in a blanket of fog.

Smoke tinged the evening air as they neared one of the outposts. Legolas' gut churned as they stepped into the clearing. Up through the smoky haze, stood a tree. The outpost had been built all the way around the trunk with different levels leading up into the tree's high branches. All lay silent save for the thudding in his chest. 

Arrows drawn, they made their way up the foothill across the trampled grass. Smoke tickled the back of the prince's throat and he swallowed hard. Reaching the door, Legolas pressed his back against the wall beside it, listening. Inside something creaked and for a split second, hope sparked in his chest even as the scent of blood burned in his nostrils. Still, he drew in a breath before whirling around and kicking the door back, bow drawn.

It hit the inside wall with a bang! and dust flew in the dark of the outpost, but nothing moved. Legolas blinked and his eyes adjusted slowly. Several bodies lay across the floor, their armor stained in dark blood, staring up at the ceiling. 

A low curse left the prince's lips as he made his way in. He checked the ground floor while the others came in behind him and checked the rest. The all clear was given before he slowly lowered his weapon. Unease grew in his chest and his fingers ached for an enemy to take it out on. 

Bending down, he reached for the pulse of a warrior slumped against the wall. At the touch, the warrior jumped, his eyes flying wide open and his breath coming in shaky gasps. 

"Easy, soldier, easy," Legolas whispered. The warrior grabbed the prince's arm, smearing the sleeve with blood.

"Get them out of here, saes!" he cried, eyes wide yet unfocused. "Saes, get my ellyn out of here. There are too many--"

"Shh, soldier," Legolas attempted but the warrior jerked his head back and forth. He opened his mouth once more but before a sound could leave his lips, his head stilled and the light left his eyes. Legolas placed his hand on the warrior's chest and gently lowered the body to the ground. 

Stepping back outside, he turned to the other captain who had accompanied them in order to take over the post. "Care for the dead the best you can but do not send them home yet. Don't risk having fewer soldiers here than you have already.."

"Yes, sir," the captain said with a nod and turned to leave.

"The two guards have been found," Thaladir's voice came from behind and Legolas turned around, brow furrowed. "The guards charged with Gollum's protection. They were found tied to a tree. Their bodies are being taken down now." Legolas cured and brushed the hair back from his face. How could he have been so thoughtless?

"Forgive me for asking," Thaladir continued, voice low, "but are you sure it is wise for us to continue?"

Legolas drew himself up, nodding. "It is my fault Gollum is missing. I have to track him down. You need not accompany me if you don't want to." 

Thaladir shook his head with a sad smile. "If I let you wander over the mountains alone, there would be no one to drag you back before you did something really stupid."

*****

The trees had fallen silent on the other side of the clearing, as if they had delved too far into themselves to feel the hurt the orcs had brought upon them.

Day by day the forest grew darker. They slept beside small, smokeless fires to ward off spiders. But sleeping under the trees instead of in them made them anxious. 

While the others set to building a small camp, Legolas bent to study the dying trail.

"One would think the density of this place would make it easier," he said and Thaladir shook his head. 

"It's dark here," Thaladir said, fingers tapping at his chest. "I don't like it. It doesn't sit well."

Legolas didn't answer, letting his hand stray to his own chest as he looked at the tracks. Where before the creature's footsteps had been clear even among the orc's tracks, they were now barely a smear in the dust below dead leaves.

"Legolas," Thaladir continued, "We should turn back. We are too few to be so deep in the forest."

It was true and the prince knew it. It was only a matter of time before something found them. But Legolas shook his head, eyes trained on the ground. "We cannot. Who knows what this creature has already told the enemy of our realm. We cannot risk leaving him with the orcs." Thaladir didn't reply.

Suddenly, a twig snapped far above and Legolas froze, then slowly moved his hand from the ground to his bowstring where an arrow already lay.

A low hiss and a moment later a spider dropped from above. Legolas ducked and rolled, pulling his bow up and shooting. The spider screeched in pain, rearing back before lashing out in a vain attempt at revenged.

"Spiders!" Thaladir yelled and they ran back to the others. They formed a ring around the camp in moments. Sparks few as a log was thrown on the small fire. Hissing and screeching filled the air. Bows creaked as their strings were pulled back.  

A moment passed. The spiders creeped closer. 

"Fire!"

Arrows whizzed through the air and embedded themselves into the sider's flesh. The creatures squealed in pain and curled in upon themselves as life leaked from them.

Spiders poured form all directions and Legolas was forced to switch to his knives.

The one he fought hissed in fury. Legolas cut into its head and it bled darkness, but the injury was not enough to put it out of action. It charged at him and he was too late in jumping out of the way as it came down, it's leg grazing his side.

He turned to it and drove his blade into its eye. It screeched and died seconds later.

The spiders soon dwindled to only a few. He headed in the direction of one of the last standing spiders. A warrior fought off each of its attacks, but there was no grace to the warrior's movements, only a desperate thought for survival.

The spider renewed its attacks as the warrior weakened and Legolas drew his last throwing knife. The weapon landed true and the target fell dead next to its companions.

Legolas watched the last spider fall. He would have sighed if not for the pain he felt in his side. He gazed at it. It would hinder his movements some, but it didn't seem to need stiches. 

He looked up at Thaladir as he walked towards him, arm cradled against his chest. "Are you alright?" the prince asked.

Thaladir nodded. "I'll be fine. Five are injured, but can still walk. What are your orders?"

Legolas bit his lip, drawing a deep breath. "Good. Send the wounded back to the outpost. They shouldn't run into anything if they leave now."

"We should rest for the night."

Legolas shook his head. "Not here. We need to pick up on the trail again before we lose it altogether."

"Captain, forgive me, but the trail still leads south. If we are attacked again, we might not be so lucky."

"We cannot give up just yet." Something deep in his chest shook at the thought of having to turn away. Perhaps the attack at the gate left him more shaken than he thought. He shoved it down. They would find the creature. 

*****

The faint light of day dwindled and Legolas' side stung. The trees refused to speak to him this far south and were no help in following the trail. Thaladir walked beside him as they studied the ground. 

"Gollum's tracks are gone," Thaladir said, his fingers touched the disturbed ground at the base of a tree. "But why has he chosen to take to the trees now?" Gollum hadn't left the ground the entire time. "Why would he wait until the trees were less friendly?"

Legolas didn't respond and simply turned his attention to the orc tracks. They continued south, towards Dul Gul Dur. The prince's heart shuddered at the though of that place. How foolish he had been to think the shadow could ever be lifted from this accursed part of the forest. 

Thaladir spoke, but his words didn't register. Legolas' eyes grew wide as his fingers pulled away fresh mud from the tracks, no more than an hour or so old. 

Legolas stood and drew an arrow, nocking it in his bow. 

Thaladir did the same. "What is it?" he whispered.

Legolas scanned the forest as if a hoard of orcs were just hiding behind the evil trees. "These orc tracks are fresh."

They turned, retreated back to the others. The forest fell into silence as they kept their footsteps light. 

Suddenly a deep roar split the air and the hair on the back of the prince's spine stood on end. Another roar followed by the thudding of hundreds of feet. Legolas cured the evil that had retain their forest before shouting orders to the other warriors. 

His side still stung but he pulled back his bow in spite of it. The first orc appeared through the trees and he released. It fell back screeching, arrow in it's head. Another one showed and received the same fate. Then another one came, and another. Arrows thudded into orcish armor with a thunk as cried filled the stale air. 

The air seemed to turn black and thick, as the blood of the orcs filled the atmosphere. Orcs scurried around the trees, running across the ground to get to where the prince's small unit stood. 

"We're outnumbered!" the call from the other side of the camp was unneeded. Legolas shot once more and switched to his knives. He slashed the neck of another orc, then turned and blocked the blow of another before it could come down on his head. 

Then, something slammed into his back as an elven cry of pain joined the battle cries. He turned, unable to catch the falling body of one of his soldiers. 

Orcs swarmed them and he could do little else save block the incoming blows. 

"Retreat!" he called. Swiftly, he bent down and pulled the fallen soldier up onto his back. But as he stood a punch slammed into his face. His ears rang and his eyes watered. Hot blood gushed from his nose. He shook his head, clearing the white from his vision just in time to block the knife aimed at his chest. 

The orc roared at the deflection. Legolas whipped his own weapon around and sliced it across its throat, severing its head leaving it hanging from it's body by a thread of flesh. 

"Retreat!" he called again and they pulled back the way they came. Legolas dragged the injured warrior on his back as they ran. "Up into the trees! Retreat!"

So sorry this chapter took so long! There is only one more chapter after this which is already written and then an epilogue which I haven't actually written yet XP Anyway! Thanks for sticking with me! Let me know what you think! Or just leave a comment to let me know you're here! :D 

Sierra