{}«Legolas' POV»{}

Jagged rocks scrape across my hands as they slip on the slick, wet surface. I climb the steep incline east of the battlefield. Thaladir climbing up behind me.

Once we are level with the shelf, we will sneak behind it. From the ground, the shelf looks like it sticks out of the mountain with three high walls surrounding the back and part of the sides, as though it had been dug out.

Finally, after what seems like hours, we reach a level spot and I gently rub the dirt and blood from my hands as I stand at full height. Trees will keep us concealed for now.

Pulling my already stung bow from my back, I notch an arrow. Thaladir does the same and we start forward, silently creeping from the shadow of one tree, to another.

Sounds of battle can still be heard in the distance, but they are faint. The sound of commands being given come to my attention, but from the sound of it, the shelf is still aways away.

The rain continues to pour, making the footing underneath uncertain. I start to slip but catch my balance. Then the ground starts to move, slowly starting to slip underneath.

Landslide.

I turn to Thaladir who is several paces behind me. "Go back!" I yell over the increasing noise of water and ground moving.

The ground continues to shift and Thaladir has no choice but to step back to keep from being swept away. I turn away, stumbling towards my enemy as the ground gives way under me.

Every time I take a step, the ground slips. I stumble forward, eyes pinned on the steady earth ahead of me. But as I near it, the stone I am standing on slips and I lose my balance, falling into the moving earth, mud splashing into my eyes. I'm sliding with the ground, its speed becoming quicker by the second. My foot searches to find a foothold, and finding one, I leap forward, my hand grasping the grass of solid land and I pull myself up.

My heart is racing, I tremble slightly as I wipe the mud from my eyes. I continue forward, the enemy's voices becoming clearly audible as I near the edge. Not wanting to make my presence known, I keep out of their line of sight. If they spot me before I am in position, they will not hesitate to shoot me where I stand. I draw back my arrow, aiming it for Calithilon's head. But the anger and hatred towards the elf withing my arrow's sights is causing me to struggle in holding my hands steady.

I let the string go and time slows as the arrow travels through the air and buries itself in my brother's flesh. He gasps and falls to the ground, writhing in agony. But my own emotions betrayed me in the shot. I was not been able to hold my weapon steady and I hit him in the shoulder blade and I curse under my breath at my own foolishness.

Seeing their leader fall, crying out in pain, the Orcs now turn their attention towards me. Steadying myself, I let several arrows fly, they hit their target with a thunk. Two are left alive when I jump down and they are quickly eliminated. But at the sight in front of me, I freeze.

Dolenel, whom I thought dead, stands before me. "You- you- how-" My head spins, trying to grasp the sight before me. He must have fought them all off himself back in the mines! I smile and start towards him, not sure if the sight before me is real. 

"Legolas! No!" A frantic shout comes from behind as I reach to grasp the one I thought dead. But as I near him, a glint of metal shows from behind him. Time slows again as Dolenel brings the blade forward in hopes of driving it into my abdomen. But just as the tip grazes the fabrics of my clothing, he staggers back, an arrow in his shoulder.

I stare in shock at the sight as Dolenel arches his back were he lies on the ground, clutching the bleeding wound.

At a shout from Thaladir, I pull my gaze away from the bleeding ellon and force myself to focus on the task at hand. More Orcs are racing up the path, holding their swords above their head in a charge. I must finish the job before they reach me. I turn to where Calithilon lies with an arrow still lodged in his flesh, but he clutches his sword regardless.

I straighten, ready to run my blade through the one who killed my adar. I bring it down but it doesn't meet flesh, instead it hits a blade and my hands tingle, not expecting the resistance. Calithilon holds the blade above him, blocking my deadly blow.

Time is against me as the Orcs draw nearer. I spin my sword to unlock it and strike again but that is also blocked. An arrow flies past me and I know the Orcs will be upon me in a few seconds.

"Legolas! Climb up!" Thaladir calls and I obey as Orcs appear in my peripheral vision.

I begin to climb, several Orcs following suit, using the rocks that stick out of the ground for grip. Making it to the top, Thaladir pulls me up over the edge before letting another arrow fly, hitting the Orc climbing up after us. We turn and run into the cover of the trees.

"What were you doing?" I question as we run. "How did you get passed the slide?"

"I used the trees." He answers simply as we run under the branches. 

We have to travel further east to find a way down the mountain as the way we came has been undoubtedly washed away and steep cliffs line this side of the mountain.

Night falls and we are forced to stop for the night. I sink to the base of a tree, letting my tired muscles relax against the broad trunk. 

"Here." He says, tossing a water canteen from where he sits in front of me. It isn't until the water touches my tongue that I realize just how thirsty I am.

A quarter of an hour passes in silence as I replay the day's events in my mind. I should be dead. Dolenel had tried to kill me and would have succeeded if Thaladir hadn't warned me... The thought hits me and I glance at my longtime friend. "You knew." I state simply.

He glances up from the stick he's fiddling with and nods.

"And you didn't care to tell me?" 

He sighs, tossing the stick aside. "I didn't want to believe it myself and there was not much evidence in favor of Dolenel's betrayal. I was going to tell you, but when you said he helped you out of the caves, I didn't know what to think. So I elected to keep silent, for the time being at least. You have had enough to worry about and since he was supposedly dead, I felt there was no reason to broach the issue."

I simply nod, to tired to argue his position. He should have told me, but I understand why he didn't.  

I try, but can't hold back a sigh. I had trusted Dolenel. Trusted him with my life on more than one occasion. Why would he betray us? I shake my head to clear my mind. There is no point in questioning it now.

"The battle will be over soon with their leader injured." Thaladir comments after several more moments of silence.  

"Yes, and I believe those who are able will attempt to flee back to Moria. But they will be back," I tell him. They will definitely be back. I failed to kill Calithilon and they will be back with more vengeance than before. "We need to attack them at their source."

Thaladir looks up at my statement. "Legolas, I don't know if an attack on Moria is the wisest option."

"Then what should I do? Pray tell! They will not stop until the last drop of elven blood in Eryn Lasgalen is spilt. Is that what you want?" 

"Legolas, calm down. I am not rivaling against you." He says, his voice even. "You know I will follow you to the end of all things, but you need to think about this, many have tried to reclaim those mountains to no avail, defending them will be no easy task, they have had many years to multiply their numbers."

I sigh, knowing what he says is true and that I let my emotions get the best of me. "Goheno nin, mellon."

He smiles a half smile. "There is nothing to forgive, mellon nin."

<><><><><><><><>

It's midday before Thaladir and I arrive back at the camp. Smoke still hovers on the air as fires burn in various places, heating water and providing warmth for the wounded.

Several advisers and other captains meets us when we reach the center of camp outside my tent. "My lord," One of the advisers, Maethon, says. "We were beginning to assume the worst. Are you injured?"

"I am well." I answer him before continuing. "Their leader is wounded. Whether he will die of them or no, I do not know." 

The ellon nods, "We assumed as much, they scattered the moment the flag signals stopped coming from the mountain."

I turn my attention to the army captains, "Send those that are able to hunt down any that may have fled." They nod and hurry to fulfill my commands and I turn back to Maethon. "We will head for home as soon as possible."

Maethon bows and takes his leave and I turn to Thaladir. "Go," I tell him, knowing he will want to check on his ellyn. "I am alright."

He doesn't question and walks in search of his ellyn, leaving me alone for the moment. I walk into the tent and sit down on the cot placed in the corner. The words of my captain from the previous day ran through my mind. He is right. I shouldn't rush into declaring war. But that does not change my mind in the matter. They want us dead. I will not allow that as long as I am charged with protecting this kingdom. Calithilion started this and I plan to finish it. 

A/N: So sorry this took so long. It's unfortunately only going to get worst as I am running out of pre-written chapters. But I will do my best to get a chapter up at least once a week. Have a great week! 

-Sierra