As of October 2008 this archive is now fully restored and complete, bar one or two posts near
the end (which we have endeavoured to replace with a plot summary of what they contained).
You can find a more in-depth explanation of what this is about here, but basically it was a round robin style RPG that was started in late 2003. Otherwise known as 'TAD', this was the original raison d'etre of this board. What started as a very silly joke based around the fact that Elrond and Agent Smith (in 'The Matrix') are both played by Hugo Weaving turned into a thread of silliness on TWC ('The White Council'). The details and characters began to become more coherent, even within the utterly AU concept, and so BIA was born to houes the whole, and with it, the serious storyline of TAD.
Set a decade or so after The War of the Ring, TAD tells the story of the Fourth Kinslaying. Broadly the split is Sindar/Silvan versus Noldor
The EiWC (Elves in White Coats) are led by a mysterious elf ('Tulkas'), with awesome power and ambition, the EiWC are the leading force in Middle-earth, having been taken over from the command of Lord Elrond in an astonishing coup de grace. The numbers are huge, having corrupted both many of the remaining Noldor (many of whom have returned from the West), and a large sect of Gondorians, now known as the Royal Gondorian Police Force, supposedly funded by the King (yeah, right!
"> ) Their
massive numbers are dues to many of their followers - men and dwarves, as well as elves - having been cloned.
The EiB (Elves in Black) are mostly made up of elves from Mirkwood, and are, as you can see, just slightlyoutnumbered. Led by an equally mysterious elf, the Elves in Black are a small rebel group, hiding deep within the forests of Imladris. The have an alliance with King Thranduil of Mirkwood, hopefully to be cemented soon with a flux of marriages.
Writing on TAD finally ground to a halt some time in late 2004, early 2005 when TADers had taken off as the main writing focus on the board. You can find that, and other related writing, archived here in The Walls of the Weaver.
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Elberethia
Midnight shadows lingered in the woods, an ever-increasing darkness. The stars of Elbereth shone on one lone figure darting amongst the tall trees, as Lúthien once danced in the moonlit woods of Neldoreth. However, dancing was the last thing on this elf's mind. She brushed one sable curl from starlit eyes and assessed her situation.
There should be a scout here. Damn! An enemy blocking your way is a thousand times better than an enemy you cannot see. Elb went into a crouch, and felt a minute brush of wind against her shoulder.
She threw herself to the side, the curved blade of her opponent just catching her. She cursed, and drew her own sword from its leather-wound sheath, parrying the blow aimed for her head. The force of the next thrust, neatly parried by the elf in white, nearly shattered her arm. She feinted to the left, and, as the her enemy went for a final blow, she neatly parried and swung, bringing it down with enough force to break his skull. One down.
She thanked the Valar that she had decided to go on this mission alone. That had been a narrow miss. She covered the stiffening body with bracken, and once again melted into the undergrowth.
Elb crept through the dark, occasionally looking over her shoulder. This was getting easy. She had only met one scout, surely the EiWC weren't so arrogant-oh, wait, they were. But however arrogant Tulkas might be, he was careful. And ruthless. With that less than comforting thought in her head, she turned and crouched in a position of relative safety, making sure her gun was loaded and her sword was clean. She tapped the hilt once for luck, checked her poniard was still hidden. Then she waited.
Her uncomfortable wait was not in vain. Within half an hour, a small armoured vehicle stopped in the clearing, letting an elf in an immaculate suit step out. He was surrounded by bodyguards, uniformly dressed in white. He looked as if he were giving an order, some guards fanned out to the perimeter of the clearing, while some unloaded shovels from the vehicle. The underlings watched as Tulkas laid down a map, and pointed to a patch of ground, which was their cue to start digging.
Elb watched, horrified, as a box was taken up from the ground. It was opened with a crowbar, and Tulkas brought out a shining new automatic, a smug grin plastered on his face. Elb took out her camera, and began to take pictures, as many as she could. After she had garnered her evidence, she drew out her gun, screwed on a silencer, and carefully took aim... when, suddenly, there was a shout, and she heard a twig break behind her
Alatariel Nolatari
Slowly she had followed her, careful not to make a sound. She knew her commander wanted to go on this mission alone, yet she could not bear being left behind. Crouched behind a dark bush she had fingered one of her black arrows hesitatingly when Elb was being attacked by an EiWC, but she had known her commander would be able to clear the job on her own. She wasn't ready to give away her position just yet.
Darkness had drawn nearer as she continued her path. While Elb was seemingly taking pictures of something she couldn't see from where she sat, AN heard a noise coming up from behind here. She turned quickly and looked straight into the eyes of an Elf in white. He punched her in the face and she fell down. She reached for her dagger while stumbling up. Another one. There were two of them. One unsheathed his sword. The other carried a gun. Damn. If she was going to defeat him with steel, she had to do it quickly.
Her eyes shifted between the two of them, calculating which one of them would be the first to attack. To her disfortune, they attacked both at once. She was able to dodge the first three bullets and escape the swing of the other one's sword. She stepped back and flung her dagger at the Elf with the gun. It got stuck in his throat and he fell. One to go.
This one however wasn't as easily slain. Under the threatening darkness of the trees the sound of steel touching in a fierce fight could be heard. The Elf made a swing for AN's head, which she was able to avoid, but she lost balance and fell to the ground. She was near exhaustion from the long-distant running. The fight hadn't improved her conditions.
Her fingers had lost grip of the handle. Oh no. Desperately they searched the ground. Suddenly, pain. She groaned and looked at her right arm to see what was causing it. A heavy black muddy boot had driven its way into her flesh. Above that, a grinning smug Elven face. But no fair one. A
A wave of anger came over her soul and she wriggled from the Elf's grip. She gathered all her strength and got to her feet, punched the guy in the face with a hard right, which caused enough confusion for her to grab her sword and drive it between his ribs. He gave out a last shout for help. No one could hear it.
AN came down on her knees and gasped for breath. She looked at her arm. It looked a bit bruised, but fine. She crawled towards the dead body of the Elf who had carried the gun and pulled her dagger out of his throat. She cleaned it and tucked it away. It was not until then that she noticed that Elb had turned and was heading this way.
Elberethia
"Damnit, AN! What do you think you're doing?!" Elb glared at her first officer, then anxiously looked about. That fight could not have gone unnoticed. "Well?" She looked up at the older elf to see her struggling to hold down a smile. "Damn, this isn't funny!"
"Sorry, Elb."
"No, you're not! I gave you a direct order to stay at base!" AN had the decency to at least look ashamed. "Ai, eejit..." AN actually smiled. If she was an eejit, she was okay.
Elb grabbed her arm and pulled the sleeve up. "Are you injured?" After AN's negative answer, she sat down on the forest floor, cradling her head in her hands.
"What's happened?" Elb's only answer was to hand the photographs she had taken to her. "Bugger!"
"Yep."
"Did they see you?"
"Not that I know of. But then again, you were able to track me."
"I was taught by the best."
Elb gave a grateful smile, and tucked the photos away into her bag. "We'd better hurry back. The others will need to see these." She was suddenly silent, slowly standing up and looking around.
"Elb?"
Elb put her hand up to signify silence, then drew her sword. She motioned to AN, and they stood back to back. What was going on?
Then both heard the unmistakable sound of a magazine being loaded.
Tulkas
Now, you've been hearing about this 'Tulkas' for quite awhile, and it's about time he actually does something. I don't think you'd be very surprised to know that the man loading that magazine into his rifle was our friend Tulkas. But that's enough of the introduction, and on with the story.
As soon as Elb and AN heard that all-too-familiar sound, they knew what to do. Quickly but soundlessly, they both drew their swords, and went prone on the forest floor. They knew that their base was not far away, and they could make it back there safely. But they never had a chance to do anything, for at the moment that AN was about to propose to Elb that they retreat, they heard many voices whispering out of the surrounding darkness. But one of them in particular they recognized: the voice of Tulkas. They both thought quickly, for they knew that in a short time the EiWC would be upon them. Just how little time they had was underlined by the ring of swords being drawn. Suddenly, AN let out a groan as she was tackled from behind by an EiWC, whose knife, barely missing her head, grazed her shoulder. Stunned, AN felt for her pistol, but found the holster empty. But even as the man raised his knife for another blow, Elb brought down her sword on his neck, and he collapsed into a lifeless heap on the ground. But he was not their only enemy. Gasping for breath, AN tried to stand up, but she could not ignore the growing pain in her chest. And as Elb extended a hand to help her up, a bullet whizzed past her head, hitting a nearby tree. AN leapt to her feet, and jumped, sword in hand, at the gunman, hoping to take him by surprise. But she never got there, for she was hit a by a tranquilizer dart in midair, and Elb was powerless to help her, because she could feel it: the shove of a rifle in her back.
Elberethia
She raised her hands, carefully, and laced the fingers behind her head. AN was already unconcious. Someone grabbed her elbow and spun her about to face him. Elb quickly swung her leg up and about, unlacing her fingers as she did, knocking the rifle out of his hands and breaking his nose. He swore, blood streaming down his face, and Elb just had time to see Tulkas' shocked expression before she grabbed AN, and held her in a fireman's lift.
She ran. Elb could hear the shouts behind her, and she blessed the Valar that the elves had been made both naturally light and strong. However, AN was slowing her down as she ran through the dense forest. Suddenly, blackness hit, and she crumpled on the ground.
X Strider Luva X
Sluva stifled a giggle. She and Nimlas were sat in the forest, enjoying a late night frolic. Nimlas could always make her laugh, no matter how edgy she may be from the dark trees looming all around her.
"Don't be afraid," Nimlas reasurred her. She nodded, and they stood up together.
"Where to now then?" Nimlas said, grabbing hold of SL's hand. She felt cold. "You worry still."
"I cannot help it. Something is wrong. When we left... everyone was still out, weren't they? What if when we get back they are still no-where to be seen?"
"My dear, we are the EiB. It is our job. Stop fretting and walk with me." He smiled, and made Sluva smile once more.
They walked for a while, and then stopped dead. A noise had shot past their alert ears and both had noticed a dark shape move in the distance. Nimlas turned to look at his friend and nodded. SL understood. They drew their bows at the same time, and got out a single arrow each. Ready to shoot, they entered the clearing in which the noise had come from.
Elberethia
What was happening? She spun, and tripped, her head was thudding. AN slid off her shoulder as she fell to the ground. Gingerly, trying to ignore the painful flashes of light in her head, she lifted a hand to her shoulder, where she had been cut earlier.
Cut! Her arm was wet with blood, but surely it had not been that serious? Then she remembered. The EiWC had grabbed her elbow to pull her around. She had been so intent on escaping that she had not noticed the flesh tearing. She could not believe how stupid she had been!
The pain was moving quickly now, and, before she knew it, Elb was slumped on the ground next to AN.
X Strider Luva X
SL shuddered. The darkness crept into her eyes and she felt colder than ever. Just when she thought she had imagined the noise, she stumbled over an unseen thing on the forest floor. Nimlas cried out, seeing her fall, and dropped his weapons to help her up.
"It's Elb!" Sluva whispered in Nimlas's ear, realising only the EiWC could have done this... and would still be near.
"Get them up, dear. We'll have to carry one each. Let's get out of here... and fast." He said firmly, and so they acted at once. Stashing away their weapons, the couple lifted their comrades up off the ground and began to hastily carry them back to the HQ.
Tulkas
Trudging along under her heavy burden, Sl could feel her legs giving out on her.
"Nimlas!" she called, "I need to rest."
With this, Nimlas came to a stop, and after gently laying Elb on the ground, sat down with a sigh, just as he had on six occasions previous to this one. It had been a tiring journey, and already he felt the need to stop, though there was much ground yet to be covered. In truth, it was not a long trip: 45 minutes at worst if you are running. But that estimate does not account for carrying an unconscious elf on your back, nor does it consider that your journey might begin at two oclock in the morning. So, as a result of these circumstances, it was now close to an hour since they had found Elb and AN, and with the frequent breaks they had been taking, it would be another hour before they reached HQ, and they both dearly hoped that the EiWC had not picked up their trail. It was with this thought in their minds, that, without a word, they both stood up and began to walk again. Around this Sl started to count the arrows in Nimlas quiver to pass the time. And after counting three times fully, she still fancied that there was one missing. Though she tried to dismiss it as just paranoia, the though continued to linger in her mind. Little did she know, just how dangerous one fallen arrow can prove.
Though it was only a few minutes, it seemed like hours to the EiWC. They just stood there, stunned by Elb's escape. It had been at least 30 minutes when Tulkas finally returned to normal.
"What the hell are we waiting for?" he yelled, "We can still catch them!"
This roused the other EiWC from their coma-like state. Quickly, they started to follow Elb's footsteps in the soft ground, and ran at a surprising fast pace, given their heavy armor. Youd never think that 50 men in armor could run that fast without a sound, but, then again, youve probably never seen the EiWC. As he ran Tulkas too had a nagging though in his mind. Why on earth how they just stood, paralyzed, for all that time? He was not a man to be afraid, so long as he knew what he was up against; but this unknown weapon made him uneasy. But his thoughts were interrupted by more pressing matters when someone gave a shout up ahead.
"Stop! I think I've found something!"
Tulkas signaled for them to halt, and ran up to man who had shouted.
"What is it?" Tulkas asked.
But that was soon rendered a moot point, for he could see it too: two depressions in the soft earth, unmistakably made by two people lying there. He did not need to asked who had made the marks either. There was no doubt that a short time earlier, Elb and AN had been there. But who had rescued them? He would soon have an answer to that too, because at that moment Glorfindel walked up to him with the answer.
"Sir? Look at this," he said, handing Tulkas a long arrow. "Do you see were it says Nimlas on the shaft?"
"Yes, I do," replied Tulkas in a disinterested voice, scrutinizing the ground where Glorfindel had found the arrow, "We are too late. Sl and Nimlas have already been here. But they have not been gone for more than 30 minutes. Come on! If we hurry, we will catch them before they reach HQ."
And so, the EiWC once again pursued the EiB, now with redoubled pace. Over hill and under hill they ran, slowly but surely getting closer to their goal.
50 minutes and 5 stops later, Nimlas were still running, but now they were almost there. At last they reached a point the land to the sides of the path rose up into an embankment, some 60 or 70 feet high. The two EiB both welcomed and disliked this sight, for it meant two things. On the one hand, they knew they were but 10 minutes away from HQ. On the other hand, they knew that a little further on, there was a strong, deep stream, and crossing it would be one of the hardest parts of their journey. And there was one more thing: the embankment provided a perfect opportunity for an ambush, and with EiWC close at hand, they watched every shadow.
After close to 1 hour of running, without stopping at all, the EiWC finally caught sight of their target. Just a glimpse but a glimpse of your enemy can do wonders when you've been chasing them for so long. Now, they too had reached the beginning of the embankment. And when Tulkas saw this, he immediately realized the possibilities it gave him. He called his men to a stop.
"Alright, this is it," he said. "We've got to be quick. Glorfindel: I need you to take 20 men and climb the left side. Ecthelion: You also take 20 men, and climb the right side. With speed you can overtake them. Myself and the remaining men will come on them from behind. That way they'll be attacked from three sides and well force them into the river. Go!"
Even as the two EiB approached the river, and their journey's end, Tulkas' plan was executed. They heard a horn blow from behind and the next thing they knew, they were caught in a blizzard of bullets.
Elberethia
Both EiB ducked between an outcropping, placing their friends on the ground. Nimlas unslung his bow and fired three arrows in quick succesion. A loud cry told them at least one had found its target. "They're up there, near the edge of the trees," Nimlas said quickly as he unleahed another arrow. "We need the others!"
Sl reached deep into her bag and drew out what she wanted; poppers. She snapped one under AN's nose, and she regained conciousness with a jerk. And she was pissed.
"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?!" More bullets, directed by her shout, rained down on them, making Nimlas duck before he fired another arrow. His quiver was getting dangerously empty.
"We're under fire. You shoot for the trees, Nimlas will show you, and I'll try to wake up Elb."
Sl pushed AN out of the way, who started firing arrows in succession, each one hitting a target. Sl turned to her commander. The wound was messy, clean at one side, and then turning into a nasty rip. As long as Sl cleaned it up, Elb could weild a sword with her right hand, and possibly load a gun with her left. It would be painful though. She quickly found the bandage she was looking for, and made a simple tourniquet. Then she snapped the poppers under Elb's nose.
Nothing happened.
"Oh, crap!" Sl snapped another, and although Elb stirred, she did not wake. This was bad. They not only needed her awake, they needed her belligerent as well. Sl grabbed her wounded shoulder and squeezed.
Elb's eyes snapped open as she gave Sl an impresive right hook with her free hand. Then she realised where she was, saw what was happening and took command. "When I say 'I'm going alone' it means, I'm going alone! Otherwise messes like this don't happen, understand!?" Without waiting for an answer, she unslung her carbine, and stated picking off individual EiWC.
Suddenly, she heard a voice behind her; Tulkas, leading 10 men from behind. She spun round and managed to pick off five before they reached them, then her ammunition ran out. She threw her M4A1 to the ground and unsheathed her sword, running at Tulkas and his remaining men.
Alatariel Nolatari
In the heat of the battle AN turned towards the unmistakable voice she had just heard. Tulkas. Just what she needed. She turned back to the trees to fire her last arrows at the remaining EiWC. Nimlas was panting at her side. Little drops of sweat found their way down his forehead. AN was suddenly very aware of the growing pain in her chest, but tried not to think of it and focus on the battle. Assured by Nimlas and Sluva they could take the remaining EiWC on their own, AN turned to the other side once again. She tried to count the men Tulkas was leading, but her sight was whirling and she had trouble keeping her body from falling down. Ten, maybe more. As she saw her commander running towards them with nothing but a sword to face them, she got out her M24 SWS and and ran after Elb.
They were able to fight the first two off. AN tried to keep a distance as to succesfully shoot them one by one, but found herself surrounded in no time. An EiWC jumped on top of her from behind, and she used the handle of her gun to hit him off. Gasping for breath, she took half a second to check on Elb. Her commander was still bravely wielding her sword, but AN saw she wouldn't be able to hold out much longer. That considered both of them.
Meanwhile Tulkas was playing it smart by letting his men tire the two EiB out first. There was no way of knowing what he would be up to this time. AN saw his grinning face from a distance and tried to elbow her way to him, but got dragged back into the fight by several EiWC.
X Strider Luva X
Sl groaned in pain. She was in a deep duel with a cruel looking EiWC who was not tiring as fast as she had thought he would. So far she had slapped, punched and kicked the man, yet he was not slowing in his reflexes. She could see Nimlas out of the corner of her bloody eyes and it spurred her on. She had a huge cut on her forehead from a harsh blow with an odd whip-like device and the blood was dripping to her eyes, spoiling her sight. She wiped her eyes once more and screamed as loud as she could.
"Nimlas! Nimlas!"
Although she didn't shout what she wanted, she knew he would understand why she was yelling. Nimlas at once drove his fights towards his friend, ignoring everyone else in the hope that they would be okay. Sl was in trouble; he could tell by her voice.
The EiWC were not of a large amount, but with only the three EiB to fend them off, time was taking its toll on the EiB. They were now only outnumbered 3-1 from the much bigger amount previously, but things were not going as well as before. Nimlas valiantly continued towards his now fiercely fighting girl. She was actually scratching her enemy in the face while he continually tried to punch her hands away.
Finally Nimlas broke free of all enemies and ran to Sluva's rescue. She whispered a thankyou to him and then retreated to a corner to try and stop the bleeding on her forehead. Nimlas quickly and easily killed the EiWC that had caused Sluva so much time and laughed loud and clear.
Tulkas
In spite of the heavy losses the EiWC were taking, Tulkas grinned. He had the EiB right where he wanted them: tired, wounded, and still outnumbered. He was ready to finish them off. He blew a loud blast on his horn, and immediately answering horns came from the positions of his two commanders. Within half a minute Tulkas had concentrated all his forces into one place. But what he did with those men might surprise you a little. No, he didn't attack. Although he could have swept the EiB into the river, he wasn't taking any chances. With a loud cry of "Fall back! Fall back!" the EiWC retreated quickly back into the woods. S
eeing this, Elb was certainly more than a little surprised. She knew Tulkas would never retreat while he still had a chance. 'He must be up to something,' she thought. But what exactly was he up to?
As you might expect, he did not take all his men on the hunt for Elb and AN. The remainder of them, or perhaps I should say the main part of them, were still waiting for his return. These EiWC numbered between two hundred and three hundred, and Tulkas knew that with this force, he could do whatever he wanted. But let's get back to the four EiB. As soon as Tulkas retreated they started off for HQ. Nimlas, AN, and Sl all wanted to rest before continuing, but Elb felt very strongly that Tulkas would be back, and it would mean certain death to be caught once again. And she was right. Tulkas had known that by sunrise, which was now just over five minutes gone, more EiB would come, and he wasnt sure if his weary men could hold out against them. So, as the EiB arrived at HQ, Tulkas was traveling back to his starting point.
Elberethia
Elb stared at the retreating EiWC in shock, bloody sword in hand. AN sat on the ground, wiping a piece of hair from her eyes, blinking away sweat. Sl and Nimlas walked to where their comrades waited.
"Elb? We need to rest..." Elb waved away the trifle with a hand, then frowned as she considered Tulkas' tactics. Where was he going?
The ammunition. Ammunition, unguarded, ripe for the taking.
"Very well. You three, go back to HQ. Take these pictures, show them to the others, make sure everyone knows what we are up against. AN, tell Fallë to meet me there in 30 minutes. We can travel faster through the trees than they can on the ground." AN nodded wearily, and the three set off back to HQ, while Elb, once again alone, set off after the EiWC.
Alatariel Nolatari
AN got up from where she had been sitting for a moment to recover from the many hits she had had to take during the fight. Her eyes followed the dark sillouhe of her commander as she saw her disappear into the woods. She was worried, naturally, but too tired and loyal to refuse the request Elb had just made. She gave a little nod in Sluva's direction as to ask her to help her get back onto her feet. The pain in her chest was growing again, much more noticeable than before. Sluva gave her a hand and AN forced herself to smile thankfully. Nimlas suggested we moved along, Elb would need Fallë to help her.
After a lot of stumbling in the direction of HQ, the three Elves finally reached it. A company of others awaited them and ran towards them with anxious looks on their faces. AN almost tripped over her own feet, but fortunately the worried Tuorë was there just in time to catch her. Fallë let out a cry.
"Where's Elb?!"
AN and Sluva exchanged an uneasy look and Fallë suddenly knew what was going on. His body stiffened and his eyes became filled with disbelief. AN nodded slowly. "She needs you to help her", she said with surprising effort, which only caused Tuorë to be even more concerned about the state AN was currently in.
Fallë gathered what he needed and speeded out of the door. Nimlas showed the pictures to the others.
Tuorë carried AN and laid her down on her bed carefully. He wiped away some of the dried blood on her lips with wet cloth, and stood up to find some medicines. AN didn't want to look down at her wound, though she felt a persistent and intense pain in her chest. All became black in front of her eyes, and the last thing she thought about before she passed out, was Elb's safety.
Nenya
Lotheliel was tired - they had been travelling for weeks now - but she was happy to see Elendor once more. She had been worrying about him ever since she and Anaril had parted company with him some months previously. They had continued South to Lothlorien on a urgent EiB diplomatic mission, but Elendor had been heading West: to Imladris - a 'rekkie' mission, and a dangerous one at that. It had taken all her and Elendor's skill in tact to stop Anaril insisting on going instead. He was far too hot-headed and would have done something brave but foolish and got himself captured or worse. No, Elb needed information and recon, not another Elf to rescue. Elendor was the better choice by far. Still Lotheliel was glad to see him and know for certain he was safe. The news he had brought, though, was not good. She had only the barest details but she suspected Anaril had been told more: the brothers had stayed up late into the night and Anaril's expression had been grim ever since he had woken that morning.
"I don't like this, "Elendor was saying. "This far North there shouldn't be this many EiWC around." They had just taken out their third scout that morning and there had been several others yesterday too. Lotheliel nodded in agreement.
Anaril, tracking ahead, stiffened and raised his fist. As one Lotheliel and Elendor stopped dead in their tracks, listening intently. Anaril signalled them to get down. Two EiWC went past. Two swift arrow shots later and they were down. And they wouldn't be getting up again. From the bushes they could see down a steep embankment to a large group of EiWC in camp. Tulkas was moving among them gesticulating wildly.
"No. I do not like this at all," muttered Elendor.
They moved off as silently as they could, taking care to keep their eyes open for yet more scouts and guards. When they were some distance away they spoke, but keeping their voices low.
"They were far too close to our camp for my liking," whispered Anaril.
"And Tulkas was there too this is not a good sign," agreed Elendor.
"We need to get back as quickly as possible," urged Lotheliel, "I was concerned we'd been too long away as it was. This only seems to confirm it."
"And confirm what I saw in Imladris," muttered Elendor grimly.
Lotheliel looked at him quizzically, but he said nothing more.
They were at the camp soon enough, but it was immediately apparent that all was not well. Legolas came forward to meet them, smiling at seeing them after all this time, but his smile was thin and forced. Elendor spoke as soon as he saw his expression.
"What's happened? What's going on?"
Legolas gave them a brief outline of the attack and the injuries sustained.
"And Elb? Where's Elb?" insisted Elendor, "I need to speak to her, and urgently."
"She's gone after the EiWC. Fallë's gone after her. She asked for him."
"What?!" Anaril was shocked, "and you're all sitting here letting her go?"
Legolas rounded on him, "Those were her orders, and we have wounded here. We need to protect the camp at all costs, Anaril!"
Lotheliel stepped between them. "We need to keep cool heads, boys, come on. How is AN, Legolas?"
Legolas shook his head, "Tuorë is with her and SL. They are doing what they can."
"Fine, you and Anaril stay here, Lothy, and help rally the troops," said Elendor. "I am going after Fallë. Two against that lot is no contest. They need all the help they can get."
Before his siblings could protest he was gone. Lotheliel dragged Anaril off with Legolas to see what they could do to help.
Elberethia
Fallë sped through the forest, moving quickly and stealthily. It was getting onto the darkest part of the night, but the moon was full, on his own glow aided him in reaching the rendez-vous point. He quickly climbed a tree with the inherent grace of all silvan elves, and waited. A new weight on the brace next to him alerted him to Elb's presence.
"You're late. But you look wonderful."
"I wish I could say the same for you!" Fallë's words were mocking, but seeing Elb covered in blood and dirt saddened him. "What are we here for?"
"We steal as much as the ammunition as we can, and destroy the rest."
Elb set about removing as much ammo as she could, while Fallë rigged up the box to explode when they detonated it, occasionally listening with sharp ears for approaching EiWC.
"Elb, they're coming!"
She quickly stuffed one last grenade into the bulging bag, and handed it to Fallë as she struck the flint. Wait until the opportune moment...
The second the EiWC appeared in the glade, she was spotted. Fallë was already making for the trees, and it was only when Tulkas was clearly in view that she lit the fuse and leapt into the tree above her.
She raced through the forest, jumping from branch to branch. She had heard the noise of the explosion with a deep feeling of satisfaction, but retaliation couldn't be far off, and they weren't out of the woods yet. Occasionally she would stop to make sure she was near Fallë. After reaching a place where she could rest, she quietkly descended, and sat with a laugh. "I believe that is what we call a victory!"
She was greeted by complete and utter silence.
"Fallë?"
There was no-one. She could hear no-one, apart from the thuds of the EiWC that could still run from the blast, closing on where they were.
"Fallë? FALLË!"
Nenya
As Elendor neared the ammunitions dump the numbers of EiWC increased on the ground. Elb's instincts, as ever, had been right on this one. He silently climbed into the treetops and continued travelling forward that way for safety. Just then, a massive explosion rocked the ground. The tree he was in swayed violently, and Elendor had to hold on tightly to stop from being thrown out of it.
"Eru! What the HELL was that?" he murmured. Clouds of acrid smoke were billowing skywards, blocking out the stars above the canopy. He could hear the screams and yells of EiWC and pressed forwards towards them.
The ammunitions dump was obliterated. Several trees were burning. The ground was littered with dead, dying and maimed EiWC. Elendor at once realised what Elb and Falle had done and grinned. Tulkas, bleeding profusely from a head wound, looked livid...no, incandescent with rage! Elendor's smile broadened. He was then aware of Tulkas pointing East and a contingent of EiWC soldiers heading off in that direction. That must have been the way Falle and Elb had gone. They had been seen.
'Time for a diversion,' he thought.
He quickly made his way to the opposite side of the newly made clearing and then stood on the remains of a flet and made sure he was clearly visible in the moonlight and flames. His bow in his hand, he shot straight at Glorfindel's head. The arrow, travelling at some speed, glanced off his helmet, but not before denting it. Elendor smiled - that must have hurt! Glorfindel spun round, raising his gun.
"What the..?"
Tulkas looked up.
"Well, well, well. What do we have here? Elendor - how nice to see you again." Malice dripped from his voice and his eyes were hard and filled with hatred.
"Well, shit-for-brains, I see you have achieved a great victory...yet again," grinned Elendor. "Don't even think about it," he added to three EiWC who had cocked their weapons or armed their bows.
He shot three arrows in swift succession and they fell, clutching their necks. Tulkas screamed in fury but Elendor was gone, heading West in the opposite direction from Elb and Falle. He tried to make as much noise as possible, and kept turning and firing behind him at the EiWC.
They fell for it.
With a cry of "White coated morons!" Elendor switched to automatic fire as they rushed after him.
Tulkas, signalling to the remaining EiWC to follow him, chased after them. He passed a wounded and maimed EiWC soldier who grabbed his leg: "My lord Tulkas. Please. Help me."
"Why of course," he replied, smiling as he levelled his gun to the elf's head. "Say 'hi' to Mandos for me."
Elendor led them further and further away from the smouldering wreck of the ammunitions dump, dodging from tree to tree, shouting or firing at them from one flank and then another, so they were not in fact sure there wasn't more than just one Elf in the tree tops. The smoke wasn't helping them see, but Elendor knew these trees like the back of his hand and the lack of vision didn't affect him. Their white coats made easy targets in the dark.
After some time he reckoned he'd led them far enough. They had managed to lose formation in the gloom and the confusion and were separated into smaller groups now. Tulkas would not be pleased. Elendor gave one or two parting shots and then melted into the night, going back the way he had come. He picked off any stray EiWC he found on his way, though he returned to his bow for the job since he didn't want any weapons fire giving away his position. In the distance he could hear the sounds of EiWC shouting and cursing, Tulkas's fine Quenyan vocabulary being the loudest.
Elendor's quiver was nearly empty by the time he reached the ammunitions dump once more. The fires had more or less died down. The place was deserted other than the heaps of bodies and body parts. Elendor noted with distaste that several, that he had seen to be only injured previously, were now lying prone and riddled with bullets: Tulkas's work, no doubt.
As quickly as he was able he gathered all the arrows he could find, including several with explosive tips, and filled his quiver once more. Then he picked up any useable weaponary he could find as much as he could carry and headed off in the direction of where hed seen the EiWC scouts chasing after Elb and Falle.
There were still quite a number of EiWC around, but Elendor made short work of them from the trees. "Stupid EiWC - they may wear helmets, but that doesn't protect the face or neck." After some time he felt it was safe enough to stop. All the while he had been heading back towards the camp, but keeping his elven senses alert to any sign of Elb or Falle.
Then he heard it. An urgent whisper down on the forest floor: "Falle! Falle? Where the hell have you got to? FALLE!"
He looked down and could see her, turning round in desperation, her weapon drawn, peering into the darkness under the trees. He could also see two EiWC heading this way.
"Elb!"
She looked up, incredulous. "Elendor? But..wha..how?"
"No time. Here."
A rope appeared in front of her. She jumped and climbed.
As soon as she reached the flet where Elendor stood and he had silently pulled the rope up after her, two EiWC came to the spot where she had just been standing. Elendor and Elb pressed themselves further back into the gloom of the treetops against the trunk. Elendor raised his bow. The EiWC fell in rapid succession: an arrow in the eye is not a pleasant way to die.
"It's so good to see you," Elb turned to Elendor. "And the others..?"
"Yes, they made it back okay too. They're at the camp. Where's Falle?"
Elb's expression became clouded and her eyes filled with concern. "I dont know. He was right ahead of me, I was keeping him in sight. And then suddenly he just wasn't there. I can't find him..."
"Well we just have to hope he's gone back to camp as per the plan. We have to get you back and we can look for signs of him on the way. Hopefully we'll find him back there safe and sound."
He tried to reassure her, but that wasn't like Falle: he would have been doing everything in his power to keep within sight of Elb and protect her if necessary. Something had happened, and he knew Elb sensed it too.
They headed off together in the direction of the camp.
Elberethia
Elendor guided Elb into HQ, where she collapsed. An anxious Lotheliel, accompanied by SL, ran out to greet them. "What happened? Where is Fallë?"
Elb's head fell into her hands, where she shook it, beginning to cry. "I don't know, I don't know..." Lotheliel sat down beside her and put a comforting arm about her shoulder, while Sl questioned Elendor.
"I don't know, I came across her in the forest. They were successful in destroying the ammunition, but she was chased, and Fallë is missing. That cannot be good."
Elb lifted her head definantly. "I'm going out to find him." There was a collective disagreement.
"Elb, we don't even know where he is..." AN, having entered, tried to reason with the younger elf.
"I know a way we can find out." Elb sniffed, wiped her eyes, and unlatched the communicator from her trenchcoat. She turned it on, then adjusted the frequency Fallë operated from. "Fallë?" There was the ominous sound of static. Elb hastily swallowed, then tried again. "Fallë, if you can hear me, answer!"
"Greetings, Lady Hemp-widow." A deep voice resonated from the radio, and Elb nearly dropped it in shock.
"You bastard!"
X Strider Luva X
Sluva looked away from her captain. The look on Elb's face was too much for her, and she could feel her face growing hot and her eyes becoming moist with tears. Falle couldn't be dead... it couldn't happen to an EiB... She turned right around, trying to hide her face from everyone. She didn't want them to see her cry and make them all upset.
Nimlas saw SL weeping and went to her.
"Hush, dear. Elb is going to find him. We all will find him. It will be okay, I promise."
"But... but... Tulkas... dead... he's killed him..." she stammered inbetween her sobs.
Nimlas merely hugged her and then went over to AN, Tuore and Elb.
"What to do? Shall me and Tuore go out? Surely we cannot let you, Elb, go out there... you know your own mind well enough yet I fear you will do something rash..."
"Nimlas, be quiet!" AN shrieked hearing his last comment. "Don't you ever talk to Elb like that."
"It's okay AN... I can cope, you know. Nimlas, I'm afraid you are wrong. But I thank you for your care."
Nimlas scratched his neck and shrugged. "Do as you will, Elb. I will not question your actions. No-one has been lost from the EiB before, and I doubt under your lead they ever will be." Then he turned back to SL, who had now turned back to the company in the centre of HQ, watching silently.
"You really should just stick to the arrow shooting, dearest," SL said, smiling.
"Hmmm... it seems my advice was not the best. I shall go with Elb though, whatever she chooses to do. Falle is my friend. He cannot be lost to us yet."
Nenya
Legolas stepped forward, "If anyone's going to go and find him, it's me. He's my kid brother."
"And I won't let you go alone, Legolas. I have known you both since you were born and both you and Falle are like brothers to me and mine, you know that."
Anaril stepped forward and laid his hand on Legolas's shoulder. Legolas smiled at him gratefully. Beleg was already strapping on quiver, bow, and automatic weaponary muttering about how he was one of the best trackers Middle Earth had ever produced and if anyone was going to do this then he was. Elendor was helping, and there were murmurs from Tuore, SL, AN and Lotheliel and the rest that they were damned if they were going to sit there twiddling their thumbs while one of their own was out there in Tulkas's clutches.
Elb looked at them gratefully. She knew with elves this skilled and determined on her side they would find Falle...if he was still alive.
"Well, we can't all go." Elb's voice broke through their preparations. "Some of you will have to stay here to protect the camp. Their numbers are too great and though we killed many in the explosion at the munitions dump and afterwards, there are still many more and you can be sure Tulkas will be regrouping and forming a plan of attack even as we speak."
"But if Tulkas has Falle captive, then we have to go to them to get him back," reasoned AN.
The transmitter suddenly crackled into life. They fell silent as Elb picked it up. "You still there, you peasant wood elf?" As one, the company stiffened at the insult. "You want your precious Falle back? Come and get him."
Suddenly there were shouts in the background: "Don't listen to him, Elb. Don't do it! Leave me. It's a trap!"
"Shut that damn fool up!", Tulkas was shouting.
There was a thump and a scream.
There was a gasp from the elves standing round Elb. She and Legolas exchanged glances as the transmitter fizzled and then cut out.
"Well, Elb?" Legolas looked at her enquiringly. She turned to look at them all as they waited for her order. They were ready and armed to the teeth and she only had to say the word, she knew that.
She picked up the transmitter. "Now listen here you sorry excuse for an immortal..."
Tulkas
She was interrupted by Tulkas.
"It's so good to hear from you. I'd just like you to know that while Falle may be giving a bit of trouble, it isn't anything that can't be silenced by the Morgul-needle that should start taking effect around now. I've got a gun pointed at Falle's head, and I am very eager to pull the trigger. You have 24 hours to make an offer. Goodbye."
Tulkas kicked Falle's radio, smashing it against a wall. He smiled as he looked at Falle lying on the floor, bound and gagged.
"Aren't you glad Elby cares for you so much?" he asked mockingly, "I'm sure she'll help you. I mean I'm sure she'll try to help you; not that there's any possibility of her succeeding, of course. Enjoy your last few hours of peace. It won't last much longer."
Tulkas left the cell, locking the heavy blast-proof metal door behind him. 'The EiB think they've hurt me,' he thought, 'I couldn't care less about that ammunition.' He smiled as he fingered the cut on his forehead. 'If this is a wound,' he said to himself, 'I dont know what isn't.'
He stopped in front of a door marked Control Center #3 - Cmdr. Eonwe and slid his key into the lock. Stepping in, he turned to a tall elf sitting in front of a computer.
"At least that stupid mission wasn't a total bust. We got the boyfriend, and this thing," said Tulkas, holding a small black box in his hand, "Plus we have the EiB for another crime: vandalism and trespassing. That's 14 counts of each if we ever get them in court."
"I'd call that a success," replied Eonwe.
"Maybe, but it was a loss to have them slip right through our fingers."
"I guess so."
"Call everybody near to that damned ammo shed back. We dont need wounded soldiers just walking around waiting to get killed."
"Yes, sir," mumbled Eonwe.
"Give them two hours to get here, and then seal all the entrances and double security. I have a feeling those EiB will be trying to get their friend back."
"Immediately, sir"
"You said there was something you wanted to tell me about?"
"Oh, yes. I almost forgot."
Eonwe handed Tulkas a few sheets of paper. Before he had even finished the first one, Tulkas face had turned into an enormous grin.
Nenya
Elb had tears in her eyes as she stared in disbelief at the transmitter in her hand. The expressions on the elves round her were grim, Legolas particularly.
AN stepped forward. "We've done it before, Elb, we can do it again." There were nods of agreement and murmurs of assent all round.
Elb blinked away the tears, but still couldn't speak and was grateful when Tuore cut in: "Yes, but as Elb said we cannot leave the camp unguarded. The EiWC will be waiting for any opportunity for us to let our guard down. I suggest a small party for this - a select group. Elb, you will need to choose who."
"Yes, but before then Elb and I have matters to discuss."
Something in Elendor's tone made Elb look up. She saw the look in his eyes and nodded.
"Alright. Yes. I need to know what you've learnt."
"Yes indeed", answered Elendor grimly.
Lotheliel tried to catch Anaril's gaze but he avoided her eyes. SL looked at her enquiringly but she just shrugged.
"Come with me, Elendor" said Elb as she lead the way to her office. "As for you lot, I want everything made ready. I'll make a final decision once I have heard what Elendor's got to tell me. Meanwhile, I do not want to be disturbed."
The elves looked anxiously at the pair as Elendor followed her in to her office and the door was shut behind them.
Elberethia
"You are sure of this?" Elb asked, pouring over the photographs Elendor had given her, biting her lip.
"As sure as I can be."
"Damn."
Elb strode out of the antechamber, the tears replaced with grimness. Her eyes looked over her men, her friends, and she handed the papers to Elendor without a backward glance. "There is another base." A ripple of shock went through the assembled elves. "Which means that Fallë is either being held in Rivendell or this base, which is smaller, and less guarded but heavily armed. We have to guess. Any ideas?"
The silence stung her.
"Anaril, were you taking a transcript of the radio conversation?"
"Of course. Offer withing 24 hours, or Fallë dies."
"Did he mention how?"
"What?!"
"The method of execution!" Her voice shook slightly on the last word.
"Basic bullet to the temple."
Elb shook her head. That didn't help. Then, suddenly, her gaze cleared. "Lady Hemp-widow! That arrogant bugger!"
Sl looked doubtful. "Lady Hemp-widow?"
"Someone who's husband was hung." Elb suddenly grabbed the photos, threw them on the table, scanned them for a second then pointed triumphantly at the second. "A scaffold. He's handed it to us on a plate. After 24 hours, they'll hang Fallë..." Her voice certainly shook then, and she looked away.
AN leant over to Tuorë and whispered, "Impersonal coping device in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1..."
Elb looked up, dark fire in her eyes. "Elendor, Legolas and I go on the rescue strike. Anaril, Beleg and Lotheliel, make a deceptive track to Imladris. We need a diversion. Any of you get caught, and I'll kill you myself." The elves grinned. "AN, Tuor, Sl and Nimlas..." She gave them an apogetic look. "You stay and guard HQ." The was an angry outburst from Nimlas, but Elb silenced it with a look. "Get your equipment, we regroup here in ten minutes. Time is essential. If Elendor, Legolas and I hurry, we can get there within an hour; take them by suprise. Dismissed."
As Elb strapped a poniard to her thigh, AN came closer and leant against the simple door frame. "Why are you not letting me go? I've known Fallë longer than you. There's no point looking down on me."
Elb looked livid. "You are staying here for a reason."
"And what reason is that? If you remember, you were wounded tonight as well. You are the liability of this mission!"
Grey flecks on the horizon heralded the dawn. The evening seemed like a decade ago. "You are not staying here because you are a liability. I fully intend to take some miruvor before I leave. And I would thank you to speak to me in a more respectful tone of voice."
"Why? You are the one that this is because of." In fairness to AN, she was tired. Her wound had been paining her, and Fallë's fate left a fresh hurt. The seeming indignity of simply being left was bringing all this hurt to the surface, hoping to unleash it.
"How? If you hadn't followed me, the entire plan would have gone to plan!"
"You lost Fallë! You were the one who caused him to be captured! And now you may be leading them to their deaths!"
Elb was lost. No comeback could repair that. She abandoned the impersonal facade, shattered as it was by her best friend's attack. "I wanted you to stay so that you and Tuorë would be safe. I would have no one go through what I am going through now."
It tore AN like a knife. "Oh, Elb, I'm sorry."
"So am I." They embraced, as one went to lead a mission, perhaps doomed from the start.
Elendor and Legolas knelt behind Elb, hiding in the shadow of the scaffold, which cast an omnious shadow over their faces. They had reached the base in less than an hour, and the EiWC were complacent. Legolas quietly unslung his bow, and, at Elb's signal, started picking offguards, always when they were alone, as not to have their deaths detected too quickly. It secretly pained him to send so amny souls to Mandos, the vision of his younger brother swinging and choking in front of his eyes buried any misapprehension.
Elendor and Elb crept through the lessened security, entered the base, and came to a break in the paths. They clasped shoulders breifly, before Elb took the right path, Elendor taking the left.
Elb silently sneaked along the corridor. When she neared the end, she was forced to hide in the shadows, for she heard Tulkas voice in the cell to her left.
"Do you know what this is, Fallë?" Elb prayed that he was only taunting him, she prayed that she wouldn't have to hear. There was a slight graon in answer.
"It's something called Beroglide. Very effective drug. Now, I'm going to be nice, and only give you a little, start with two CCs?" there was a sound of an injection being prepared. "Now, I'm just going to inject this into your diaphram..." There was a gasped from Fallë as his lungs began to paralyze, and a laugh from Tulkas. That was it.
Elb was behind him in less than a second, knocking the gun off the table and out of reach with a round-house kick. Her own lay in its holster. "You-" Tulkas fell back, blood pouring from a broken nose. "Ab-" A chop to the shoulder. "So-" A punch to the stomach. "Lute-" A knee to the groin. "Bastard!" An upercut to the jaw, and Tulkas was unconscious on the floor.
Elb spat at the prone body on the floor, then rushed to where Fallë lay bound, still gasping for breath. She quickly administered an antidote, and undid his bonds. "Oh, Fallë..."
Nenya
Lotheliel was thankful she and Anaril had been teamed up with Beleg. Anaril had huge respect for the famous Elf and, apart from Elendor, he was about the only person Anaril would listen to. This was going to be dangerous enough as it was and the last thing she needed was her brother charging about and doing something reckless that would get himself, if not all of them, killed.
They were nearing Rivendell. The scouts were increasing in number Beleg had taken out three and Anaril two already. She had yet to let loose an arrow: both of the others were quicker off the mark than her, if marginally. As they reached the West bank of the river they stopped to go over the plan.
"Right," Beleg was commander of this mission, "Anaril I want you to take the North tower out. Lotheliel you come with me and we'll take out the South gate and the West tower. Give them enough of a bang and that should do it! Synchronise watches people: I make it 06.48 exactly. Now Elb said we should time our attack for 07:00 hours and they will attack the other basecamp at the same time. Keep the EiWC doubly occupied. Now, Anaril nothing reckless, you hear me? I want you to keep your head down, and stay a good distance away. You get yourself captured and it won't just be Elb wholl kill you..."
"No, I will!" murmured Lotheliel.
"..Lotheliel you take the West tower. Then you and Anaril take out as many EiWC as you can. When I give the signal, pull back, but I want you to head in different directions, as we agreed, then meet back at the rendevous point. If you can't make the rendezvous point at the agreed time, then signal. No signal by 09:00 hours and we presume capture or death, understood?"
Lotheliel and Anaril both nodded.
They crossed the river, taking out the scouts on the opposite bank. Beleg silently motioned Anaril to head right. Before he moved off her brother clasped Lotheliel's hand. She looked at him. No need for words. Then he was gone.
She silently followed behind Beleg, crouching when he signalled and keeping as near as she could to the line of trees between them and Rivendell. Beleg motioned her to stop, pointed towards Rivendell. She could see the West guard tower on the battlements. Beleg indicated he would be going on and she was to make her way to within firing range.
She watched as he disappeared in the gloom of the trees and then headed forward. She could feel her heart pumping as she neared the outer walls. Her elven senses strained for the slightest sound.
What was that? She stiffened and crouched low. A guard. She waited till the last moment and then jumped, knife in hand. Clamping her hand over his mouth she stabbed him in the neck and clung on till she felt him go limp in her arms. She laid him under a bush and covered the body with bracken: she didn't want to go drawing attention to herself just yet.
She settled back into some bushes to wait. She glanced at her watch. Not long to go now. She could see guards in the tower, lounging around and chatting. She got out the explosive tipped arrows, and strung two to her bow. There was a crackle on the radio: "Lotheliel? You all set?"
"Check," she responded. She checked her watch again.
5...4..3..2...1.. She let them fly.
Two massive explosions obliterated the West tower. To the North she could hear a bang and the North tower in flames and collapsing, catching other buildings alight as it fell. A huge bang rocked from the South and clouds of smoke billowed upwards from what must have been the South gate. Sirens went off, and there were screams and shouts from inside Rivendells walls. Lotheliel grinned. Well, that went according to plan.
Within seconds she could see soldiers appearing at the walls and firing in her direction. Their aims were wild, they could not see her, but she had to be careful nonetheless. She swiftly started firing arrows back, knocking first one then another from the walls. A soft beep from her receiver told her it was time to move back. She backed into the darkness of the trees behind her, firing as she went.
She took one look behind her, and as she did her heart sank. Soldiers, and quite a few of them, pouring out of a small door in the West wall towards her position. Elbereth! She kept turning to fire as she ran. She needed to make it to the river.
Before she knew it they were upon her. She turned to face them, let loose a few arrows and took a few more down, but they were getting too close. She did a quick count: ten of them. Not good. She reached behind her and drew out her long fighting knives. They wanted it up close and personal? They were going to get it. She just hoped Beleg or Anaril might pass this way on their way to the rendezvous point. She better get out of this. Elb would kill her if she didn't.
They came at her. She ducked as one lunged for her, swiping at him as he fell past her and taking off an arm. She cut upwards towards the next managing to get him below the ribs. Another was behind her and she spun round to slash his face, but not enough to put him down. She blocked his blow, but could see three more reaching where they were.
This was hopeless.
She quickly sheathed one knife and pulled out her gun with her left hand, and fired wildly behind her. A scream and a thud told her she'd hit one at least. The elf fighting her cut her a glancing blow on the upper arm and she could feel the blood wet on her sleeve. He was a good fighter this one and she was struggling to defeat him. He thrust forward, she ducked and rolled and cut him down from behind.
She was now facing the rest. They encircled her, getting closer. She turned round and round in desperation, grim determination on her face. As she did so an elf, taller than the rest, stepped forward.
"What have we here?"
She gasped. "Glorfindel!"
"But of course, did you think Tulkas would be so stupid as to leave Rivendell without suitably capable captains in charge to deal with a decoy attack?"
Lotheliel's jaw dropped. Glorfindel's smile widened.
"Oh you didn't think we were trying to keep the second base secret did you? Tut, tut. Come now, do you really have that low an opinion of our tactical abilities?" He moved closer. "You're the Eluchir's kid sister aren't you?" He leered, "and so pretty too. Shame to have to kill you really."
Lotheliel pocketed her gun and pulled her other fighting knife out once more. She wasn't going down without a fight.
Alatariel Nolatari
AN buried her head in her hands. After Elb had left, she had been standing by the door gazing into the woods for a while. Tears had welled up in her eyes as she had seen Elb leaving. 'Maybe this is the last time I'll ever see her again,' she had thought. Maybe Tulkas would get her too. All would be lost. She had shaken her head and quickly wiped away her tears with the back of her hand. If she was going to be left behind, she was to do something, and she had turned and entered the HQ again.
Lost in thoughts in her office she felt a soft touch on her shoulder. She startled and lifted her head to see a grimly smiling Tuorë. She could see he was trying to look certain of the others' return, and he might have looked that way to an outstander, but to her, he failed.
"Are you feeling well?" he asked in a concerned tone. She nodded hesitatingly and asked for the others. "Everyone's fine."
"Any word of Elb and Fallë yet?"
Tuorë's courage seemed to sink to his feet and he hung his head. AN sighed and got up. She felt useless.
"There must be something we can do?!" she shouted when she entered the main room where the others were. Nimlas was still examining the pictures and occasionally raised an eyebrow. Sluva came towards her and handed her the transmitter.
"It's dead", she said in a defeated tone.
AN tried it out anyway. "Elb?" Buzzing. "Fallë?" More buzzing. She continued trying to reach them for a while longer, then threw away the bloody thing in rage.
Tulkas
"It's a good thing I never do any of the dirty work myself," a voice from behind Elb said. Elb turned around to see a cloaked figure pointing an assault rifle at her.
"One move," said the man, "and both of you are dead."
"Tulkas!" yelled Elb.
"Clever deduction. You did not seriously think we were dumb enough to let you rescue Falle? It's a little something called surveillance. I put a few rebellious soldiers out there for you to execute, and you did the job quite well. I'm afraid this party is going to have to end now."
Lotheliel never had a chance to fight. Glorfindel had orders to get her alive, and he stuck to them. As she lunged for Glorfindel with her knives, she was caught in mid-jump by several darts. She felt her face hit the ground, and then she blacked out.
"Come on guys, let's tie this idiot up. I hope for her sake that there are no more of them. Otherwise, it's going to be a problem."
Glorfindel was in a hurry to get back to Rivendell. Right then he caught the glint of metal about 40 meters in front of them. He signaled to be quiet.
"Let's split up. I think this fool had more with her." he whispered angrily, "C'mon. Let's not let him miss out on the VIP treatment."
Tulkas circled around Elb and Falle, keeping out of range of anything they might try to do. He was about to shoot both of them when his radio turned on.
"This is Eonwe," it said, "There's at least 3 EiB inside the building. All of the decoys are dead."
"Seal off the building," replied Tulkas, "nobody leaves here alive."
"Ah," said Tulkas, turning back to the two EiB, "I see that more of you filthy EiB have shown up. I could kill you both now, but that wouldn't do justice to all the trouble you've caused me. So I've thought of a better solution." In one fluid movement he pulled a throwing knife out of his vest and flung it at Elb, striking her in the leg and knocking her to the ground. He then slammed the cell door shut, locking them inside. "Goodbye, my friends," he called as he left, "I'll be seeing you again soon."
Nenya
Anaril grinned. He was running full tilt up the hill northwards from Rivendell. That tower had exploded in spectacular fashion. A massive breach in the walls had opened as the tower had fallen backwards inside Rivendell and he had watched as the flames had spread from roof to roof inside the city walls. The fires were too intense for anyone to have tried to come through the breach to track him down. He had idly picked off the few soldiers hed seen on the battlements and then, when he heard the beep on the radio, had turned and headed off into the trees. After a few minutes, when he was sure he wasn't being followed, he hooked a right and started South towards the river.
Beleg meanwhile was having a more difficult time of it. The gate was blackened and splintered but was well defended and he had not stopped stringing his black bow with armour piercing arrows. Every arrow flew true from Beleg Strongbow, warrior of Doriath, and had hit its mark. He had lost count of how many he had taken down. He was grimly aware of what lay ahead of them in the Halls of Mandos and did not take any life lightly. He took advantage of a lull to press the beeper on his transmitter. Time to fall back. He headed South, turning to bring down any EiWC foolish enough to try and come outside the comparative safety of the charred gates. When he felt he had gone far enough, he turned North, running in parallel with the river looking for a suitable place to cross.
It was then that they both heard it: gunfire.
Beleg stiffened. The shots had come from an area just in front of the West guard tower. He could see the plumes of smoke billowing from its remains. But if Lotheliel had been reduced to gunfire, so giving away her position, then she was in trouble. He turned East and ran, as cautiously as he could, towards the sound of fighting.
Anaril didn't need to ask which direction it had come from. Lotheliel needed him. He sprang down the slopes, sword in hand, gun in the other, cursing himself for having left her. If anything happened to her.... He pushed the thought to the back of his mind, and pressed on all the faster.
"Beleg!" he rasped into the receiver, "Beleg! Come in, dammit! That has to be Lothy. Beleg!"
"I heard. Go carefully. No sense us getting caught as well. I'm heading North as fast as I can."
Beleg could hear the clash of metal and thuds of hand to hand combat getting nearer. He inched forward to the brow of a hill. He could see her, though he was too far off to help. Four EiWC were dead on the ground but he could see six others surrounding her menacingly. One had moved forward and was talking to her: Glorfindel. Elbereth! This was not good. He started down the hill.
Anaril had come in sight of the scene from the North. Just in time to see Glorfindel stroke his sister's cheek and leer at her.
'Bastard! I'll kill him! No-one touches my sister and lives!' he thought, but for once managed to hold himself back from charging into Glorfindel then and there.
He cautiously picked up the receiver and whispered, "Beleg? Ill be decoy...got it?"
"Check," was the whispered reply.
Anaril moved back to a clearing that was en route to Rivendell from where his sister, now drugged and bound, was being hoisted on to EiWC shoulders. He kept his back to some rocks, but made no attempt to hide himself.
"Anaril? Get ready. They've spotted you. They've split into two groups going on either side of you to ambush. I've got you covered."
Beleg Cuthalion silently moved in behind the EiWC, bow at the ready.
Elberethia
Elb fell to the ground with a cry, opening her eyes just in time to see the door slam. Trapped.
Fallë moved quickly to her side, his breathing returning to normal. However effective Beroglide was, a strong person could recover quickly. That in itself was part of the torture, no chance of escape during recovery time. His hands moved to her thigh where the handle of a small knife was embedded.
"Nice of you to come. How do you suppose we get out?"
Elb winced, and pulled the knife free of her leg, thanking the Valar that it wasn't barbed. She tore a strip of cloth from her cloak and used it as a tourniquet. She then removed it and draped it around Fall's bare shoulders. His back was wet with blood, and would need tending, but they had no time now.
Then, hoisting herself to her feet, she removed the radio transmitter from her tunic.
"Elendor! Elendor, come in!"
There was a buzz, then Elendor's voice. "Elb? Where are you?"
"I've found Fallë, but we may be delayed. Find Legolas, then take him to the rendez-vous point we arranged with the decoy team. We'll meet you there."
"Elb?"
Elb quickly hid the transmitter again and started searching her pockets. "What, Fallë?"
"How?"
Elb triumphantly showed him her find. "Picklock."
Fallë grinned. "Shall I do it, while you tend to your leg? I'll need to borrow it."
"Will you give it back?"
"Trust me."
"Rather hard to trust someone who wants to borrow your picklock."
Fall smiled weakly at the joke, and began to undo the door.
Elendor raced down the corridor, slitting a guard's throat as he blocked his way. Legolas had emptied his quiver, and had attached a silencer to his sniper rifle and reverted to more modern technology. Nothing like the old models though.
"Where are they?"
"They should be here. Fallë's safe."
Legolas unconsciously let out a sigh of relief, then looked up as two figures crept out of the base. Legolas embraced his brother, then looked at his hands in horror as they came away bloody.
Nenya
Anaril stiffened. He had moved behind the rocks after Beleg's warning and although he had not heard them close in, he had heard the unmistakeable 'click' of someone arming a weapon. A shot rang out and there was a ping of the bullet hitting the rocks behind him. Within a heartbeat Anaril had returned fire in the direction it had come, aiming instinctively for the flash of white his sharp sight had just caught a glimpse of. An elf stumbled forward, clutching his own arm, the red blood saturating his white coat. He waved his weapon unsteadily in Anaril's direction, but the second shot, straight to the head, sent him reeling backwards into the trees.
Anaril smiled thinly. One down. Before he had time to think another elf appeared, this time armed with a sword. Anaril stepped forward to meet him. He dodged the elfs first lunge, swiping at his leg and opening a large gash in the elfs thigh. The elf came at him again, but Anaril spun out of the way cutting the elf's throat as he went past him.
He looked up. Slow clapping was coming from the trees and a tall, elegant elf walked towards him.
"Most impressive, Anaril, I must say." Glorfindel smiled. "Not that such fools are much competition it has to be said. So you've come to save your sister, have you? Your pretty, delicious sister?"
Anarils eyes blazed.
"Alright," continued Glorfindel, "let's see what you're made of shall we? I think I am going to enjoy this."
He drew his sword. They circled each other warily. Anaril was not scared of Glorfindel, but was well aware what he was up against. This elf had taken down Balrogs for Eru's sake! He was going to have to keep his wits about him.
Beleg had used up most of his arrows on the South gate. He had only three left. He let one loose and one of the three elves he was tailing fell dead instantly. As the other two spun round in shock, he shot another through the neck. Immediately he had his last arrow notched and pointed at the elf still standing and who was holding the unconscious Lotheliel on his shoulder.
"Now then," said Beleg in a voice that would have made an Orc wet itself, "We can do this the easy way or the hard way. Which is it to be? Put the elf down. Now. And gently."
The elf hesitated for a moment and then grabbed for his gun. He didn't even have it out of its holster before he was collapsed on the ground, screaming in agony with the still prone Lotheliel now pinning him to the floor. Beleg jumped over to him.
"Now that was stupid, wasn't it?" he grinned. He took out the gun from the holster and pocketed it. "Oh, and I'll be needing this back. It's my last one, you know. "
Standing on the elf's ankle he wrenched the arrow out of his knee. The elf screamed in pain and passed out.
Beleg quickly cut through Lotheliel's bonds. Then he used what rope he had to bind and gag the unconsciouself - he had no desire to kill anyone unless he had to, and this one would be maimed for life as it was. He gathered up the arrows from the EiWC's quivers and took their guns, then hoisted Lotheliel over his shoulder and ran quickly towards the sounds of gunfire and fighting coming from the clearing.
Anaril was losing. He was skilled, very skilled, but no match for Glorfindel's experience and speed. He had managed to block plenty of his thrusts and blows, but had been caught on the arm and leg and he was tiring. Glorfindels arrogance and confidence that there had only been two involved in the attack, led him to start taunting the younger elf.
"Come on, I thought you'd put up a better fight than this! I had heard you were meant to be a skilled fighter. Shame you won't be around to see me torture your sister to death, isn't it?"
Anaril, riled, lunged wildly at Glorfindel, but he spun away from him, catching him on the cheek with the tip of his blade, and as Anaril turned back to him, caught and twisted Anarils sword from his grasp. Glorfindel thrust his blade towards Anaril's neck.
"Pathetic. Absolutely pathetic," he sneered. "Call yourself a warrior? You arrogant whelp. Pity more of your family didn't die on the slopes of Dol Guldur!"
With a roar Anaril lept at Glorfindel, knocking his blade aside with his arm no matter that it cut him. His ferocity and speed took even Glorfindel by surprise as Anaril shoved his head and shoulder into Glorfindel's solar plexus and pushed him back hard against the rocks behind him. Glorfindel, winded, let his blade drop.
"Never," hissed Anaril, "ever touch or defame my family..."
He grabbed Glorfindel by the neck, half throttling him, and smashed his head backwards against the rock. Even though he was helmeted, it was a massive blow. Glorfindel slid down the rock unconscious with blood pouring down his face.
Beleg came into the clearing.
"See you didn't need me, then?" he grinned.
Anaril turned away from Glorfindel, and allowed himself to the feel the pain of his wounds. Then he saw Beleg's burden.
"Lotheliel!" he cried, running forwards, as Beleg laid her on the ground. Anaril wiped her dark hair from her face.
"Lothy..," he whispered as he kissed her forehead and tears sprang to his eyes. Then he noticed the deep gash in her arm. "She's wounded," he said to Beleg, concern in his voice.
"I know, but we don't have time to deal with it now. We need to hurry. We've spent too long here as it is. We need to move and move fast. Only once we are a safe distance away can we afford to treat her wounds," Beleg replied and then, noticing the cuts to Anaril's face, arms and leg, added, "and yours."
"Don't worry about me," said Anaril and, as Beleg stepped forward to take up his burden once more, "No. I'll carry her."
They set off at a run, crossing the river as quickly as they could, and then heading East into the trees. They kept up the pace despite Anaril's wounds, fatigue and burden, for more than half an hour. Then and only then did they stop briefly to dress his and Lotheliel's wounds. Then they picked up the still unconscious Lotheliel and headed off at a run once more.
Alatariel Nolatari
While AN was pacing back and forth through the room, she heard a sudden creak in the corner. She rushed towards the sound and found what was left of the transmitter, that she had so discreetly flung away some time ago - a time that seemed to surpass the ages of Arda - , and picked it up cautiously. She beckoned Sluva and Tuorë to come closer and they crouched beside her. They listened to the noises carefully and their expressions darkened as one. This could not be their Commander. Sounds of mischievous laughter were ringing in their ears. They'd picked up one of the EiWC's signals.
AN handed the transmitter to Tuor and got out her notebook. "morons... escaped... revenge... plan... Tulkas... EiB". AN quickly penned down the few words that they could hear and her eyes widened when the transmitter gave a final creak and broke down. "They're out", she said, yet fearing to gain false hope. "But the EiWC are up to something. They know Elb and Fallë have escaped. But they were talking about more than two EiB, I'm sure of it..."
AN sat in thought for a while, until Sluva suddenly grabbed her arm and stared into her shining green eyes. AN understood it at once. Legolas. Elendor. Perhaps they'd still stand a chance! But although they were all fierce fighters, the four of them, the other EiB knew they'd get themselves into a lot of trouble facing dozens of EiWC.
"We must do something!" AN cried out. "To warn them about the trap at least!"
"But we don't know what the trap's all about ourselves!" reasoned Sluva.
AN frowned. There must be some way they could reach Elb... It hit her like lightning. She whispered something in Tuorë's ear and retreated to her office for some good old EiB telepathy practice... She just hoped she would be able to reach Elb in time.
Elberethia
Legolas supported his younger brother, while Elb leant on Elendor, attempting to keep her lweight on her left leg. They were avoiding the gorge that had almost killed them earlier, but this meant that the only way across the river was under it. None of the elves liked having to go underground, but they had to get there as squickly as possible, pursued as they were.
Elb suddenly collasped against Elendor, and he set her on the floor. "What is it?"
"AN..." Elb had remembered the benefits of their telepathy, but not the splitting headache and loss of strength that came with it. She inwardly thanked AN for the sarifice, then bent over as another wave of pain, weakness, regret, sorrow and worry came over to her from AN. One word was repeating itself, over and over and over....
Elb's head snapped up. "Trap. There's a trap." Elendor grabbed the torch and sprinted ahead, Legolas pulling the hurt Fallë with him. Elb used the wall for support as she tried to cach up.
Elendor was using the torch to check the structure of the tunnel, when there was a rumble. "Explosion!" Legolas grabbed Fallë by the shoulders and dragged him to Elendor, then turned and put out a hand for Elb. Then, the tunnel collapsed, and they were separated, the last thing Elb seeing was Fallë's wordless cry as rocks blocked their view.
Nenya
Falle stood stupified, staring at the fallen rocks piled in front of him. "Elb!" he shouted, "Elb? Can you hear me?" Nothing. He tried the transmitter, but of course, being underground it was dead. ELendor and Legolas were scrabbling at the rocks to see if they could move or remove enough to make a passage through, but it was quickly clear that it was hopeless. There was absolutely nothing they could do. Falle, wounded, exhausted and now utterly distraught wept bitterly at their fate, or more exactly, at Elb's. Legolas comforted him, but Elendor was looking stern.
"We have no choice but to continue on and, if we can, double back over the gorge to come back for her," he said.
Legolas looked at him, "But, Elendor, isn't it likely they'll be covering the gorge now as well? That's the only way to get to the base. We won't be able to get anywhere near it.."
His brother interupted him, "We have to do something!"
"First things first," said Elendor, "We need to get out of this tunnel. They may assume we are buried under the rubble, but Tulkas won't take any chances - they will be coming round to the other side of the tunnel, if it's not already covered. We have no option. If we are quick, or it's only a light ambush we might just make it out. We can decide then what we are going to do."
Legolas nodded, but Falle was loth to leave the spot and kept looking back at the pile of rocks and rubble with tears streaming down his face.
"Come on, Falle, we need to go. We can't help her if we get captured too..," reasoned Legolas.
Falle nodded though it broke his heart to do it, turned, and let his brother carry him over his shoulder. Elendor and Legolas started off down the tunnel at a run.
After some time Anaril and Beleg came within sight of the camp. There had been one or two scouts on the East side of the river at Rivendell, but otherwise no-one had followed them, or were too far behind them to cause them any problems.
Beleg switched frequencies on his transmitter radio: "AN? Open up, it's Beleg."
"Good to hear you," was the reply.
Within a few minutes, as they reached the brow of the hill, the small gate, otherwise invisible to the eye when shut, swung open to let them through.
They were surrounded by welcoming smiles. AN stepped forward to meet them. "Well?" she asked.
"Successful mission," said Beleg, "but..." He indicated Anaril, still carrying Lotheliel, and his voice died.
SL and Tuore rushed forward to take her off Anaril's shoulders.
"Let's get you sorted out, Anaril, you've got some nasty cuts there," said SL kindly.
But Anaril wouldn't let anyone take Lotheliel from him and insisted on staying by her side even as his wounds were treated and wouldn't be moved even though he needed rest himself. The drug would be wearing off soon, he knew, and he wanted to be the first thing she saw when she finally came round.
Beleg meanwhile was asking AN about Elb and if they had got any word from them yet. They should have been back by now... if there hadn't been any problems. AN brought him up to speed and his face became dark with concern.
"Let's just hope you got through to her in time, AN" he said, then he realised what he'd said as he saw the fear and concern in AN's eyes. "I am sure you did," he added. And AN smiled gratefully that at least he was trying to make her feel better.
Elladan had stepped forward. "Look AN, I know we are new here and as yet untried in battle for the Elves in Black, but myself and my brother want you to know that we are ready and willing to go out now and get them."
AN smiled, "Do not fear, Elladan. If we need you we will use you. As yet I am unsure what to do next. I think we need to give Elb some time and hope we hear from her ... or one of the others. Meanwhile," she looked on the elves stood round her, "I think we should discuss the possibilities and tactics if we need to go in and get them." Beleg, NL, Nimlas and the rest murmured their agreement.
As they neared the tunnel entrance the elves slowed, keeping themselves flat against the tunnel sides. There was a large boulder in front of the tunnel opening, just to one side. Elendor motioned for Legolas to stop where he was while he inched forward, keeping as low as possible. He peered over the boulder. He couldn't see any sign of an ambush, but it was too quiet for his liking. He moved back silently to Legolas and whispered, "Can't see anything, but more than likely they're out there. Just have to hope there's not many of them." Legolas nodded and, having used up all his arrows at the base, took out his automatic.
Elendor and Legolas edged closer to the entrance. Falle had insisted they would have a better chance if Legolas stopped carrying him and Elendor had handed him a spare gun. The three elves stepped out into the daylight, shooting as they ran.
Elberethia
"Fallë? Fallë!" Elb shouted, and scrambled at the rocks, but none moved. She unsheathed her sword, and began to lever rocks away, starting with the smaller ones. This would take a while. Her leg was aching, but she could not afford to stop working. Her left arm was also throbbing, but Elendor's painkillers had helped.
After a few minutes, she realised that it wasn't working. She hoped Elendor, Legolas and Fallë had made it out safely, then turned around, sheathing her sword, and bringing her carbine to her shoulder. It hurt the wound a little, but thhe pain was tolerable. She turned on the pinpointer, and began walking into the darkness.
Fallë ducked against the rockface and carefully aimed at another elf. They were doing well, so far, but they had underestimated the ambush. Legolas' deadly aim was once more apparent, and Elendor's zeal was terrifying, but they were outnumbered, and Fallë was fully aware that he was nothing more than a vulnerability. He ducked again as another bullet whizzed past his right ear, and looked over Legolas shoulder into the forest, were two Noldor were approaching.
"Legolas! Behind you!" The two Noldor looked at him, and began to run towards him. He tried to load the gun, but the Beroglide had seriously sapped his strength, and the first of the Noldor knocked it out of his hand, knocking him to the floor. He kneeled on his hands, and put a hand over his mouth.
"Quiet! It's us!" The elf released his hold.
"Elladan? Why are you wearing white?"
"Don't worry, we have a plan..."
Legolas recognised the two immediately, and nodded to Elendor, who caught the glance and carried on fighting. Elladan stepped out from behind the rockface, Fallë in front of him, fingers laced behind his head. Elladan had a rifle pointed at his back. Legolas guessed the plan, but the sight still disturbed him.
Elrohir loaded and aimed his own rifle as the fighting ceased, coming from behind Elendor. "Put your weapons on the ground. You are surrounded."
One of the EiWC, probably the ranking officer, recognised them and ordered his own officers to relax. "Nice to see you again. Do you know where the other is?"
"No idea." Elladan turned his gaze back to the 'prisoners'. "Stand, in a circle, back to back, and place your weapons on the floor!" The three obeyed, but kept hold of their weapons. "Release your weapons, or I shoot the youngest!" No one moved. Elladan aimed his rifle at Fallë's chest, the signal given. Elendor, Legolas and Fallë fell to the floor, protecting their heads, as Elladan and Elrohir shot past each other at the surrounding EiWC.
Queen Elamooo
Em opened her eyes and looked around. She got up slowly and walked out to find the others.
"By the looks on your faces I chose the wrong time to fall ill. What the hell's going on?"
Sl turned slowly around and told Em what had happened, and reasurred her that everyone's ok.
Em-
"What, what did I do?"
"You haven't mentioned Elb."
An got up from her cahir and turned to face Em.
"She went to find Falle."
"When?"
"Hours ago, she should have come back by now."
"And, none of you have done anything?"
"She said not to."
"You listened to an injured, heart-broken Elb? Do we have any idea where she is?"
"The Gorge."
Em mulls over what she's heard, trying to think of any way to help. As she does, the radio sparks to life.
Pipertook
We all swivled arround to watch the radio. i didn't know why we were watching it, all you had to do was listen to it, but the ways of the elves are far to large for a little hobbit to comprehend. as the radio crackled and hissed the elvs ran over to it.
"It's Elb!" EM said.
"crackling and hissing? why would she do that?" i asked.
They all gave me a look and then resumed trying to figure out what she was saying. after long debate we decided that the radios needed new batteries and that next time we'd get the walkie talkie 2003 instead of the walkie talkie 1311.
Queen Elamooo
Em rushes out the room to find some more batteries, but by the time she had come back in the statioc had died, and so had the hope of the EiB. She walked towards the radio and put the new batteries in, tossing the dead ones carelessly into the bin. Everyone sits and waits for the next attempt at contact.
Nenya
Elb stumbled forward in the darkness of the tunnel. She could hear voices ahead and slowed.
"Come on, we need to see if there were any this side of the fall-in!" someone was shouting.
She could see torches being waved around. There was no escape. Before she had time to raise her gun she stumbled, her right leg giving way from underneath her and she fell heavily to the floor.
"What was that?" a voice cried and Elb suddenly couldn't see as a torch was shone straight in her eyes. "Don't try anything or well shoot," she was told and she decided not to try and put up a fight. It was clear she was hopelessly outnumbered. Someone ordered the elves to move aside and came forward.
"Shine that light back over here, let's see which one of the rats we've caught!"
It was Eonwe's voice. Elb was blinded once more. There was soft laughter from Eonwe as he crouched down to her level and stared at her malevolently. He nodded,grinning and whispered, "Bingo! "
Immediately he turned on his heel. "Check there aren't any more further in and then bring this one with you. You!" He pointed at a elf standing near the entrance to the tunnel.
The elf jumped. "Yes, sir?"
"Get Tulkas on the radio and say it worked. We've got her."
As soon as Elladan and Ellrohir started firing, the other three, who had never dropped their weapons, turned and fired also. Within minutes the remaining EiWC were dead. At last they could greet and thank the twins.
"Where's Elb?" they asked. The three elves exchanged looks and Falle broke down once more, still faint from his injuries.
"She got trapped on the other side of a fall-in in the tunnel. That was the trap that AN was trying to warn us about," said Legolas. The twins looked grave.
"We don't have time to go to base camp," Elendor was saying, "We need to go back and attempt a rescue now before they take her into the second camp.. or take her back to Rivendell."
Falle looked up at him from where he was seated, half collapsed on the ground, "Elendor, I agree with you, but I am a liability if I stay with you. I can barely walk. Though it breaks my heart to say this you will have to go and get her without me."
Legolas looked at his brother, "You are right, Falle. And I will go with you and tend to your wounds. We need to get you fit for Elb's return." Falle forced a smile.
As Legolas and Falle got ready to return to base camp, Elendor was trying to get through to AN on Elbs radio again. "AN? Come in, AN? You there?"
Nothing. Just static. He switched frequencies and tried once more.
"AN? An, come in. .... If you can hear me its Elendor. The twins made it here ok but Elb's in trouble. We're going back for her. Falle and Legolas are coming back to camp. Do you read me? Over."
Nothing. Then suddenly a voice, interspersed with static, and clearly AN.
"Yes...we...heard that....fizz...ending....eleg and ...fizz ...help. Over "
Elendor and the twins exchanged glances.
"What was that?"
"I have no idea," replied Elendor.
"Maybe I can help," said a voice from the trees as Beleg stepped forward. "She was probably telling you she'd sent you back-up."
SL appeared behind him and grinned. "The rest are back at camp just in case were attacked," she said, "Oh, and Anaril and Lotheliel are back safely," she added pre-empting Elendor's question.
Elendor took charge. "Right, Legolas, Falle you had better get going. You should get back safely enough. The rest of us need to get moving and moving fast if we are going to have a chance of rescuing Elb before they get to their camp."
Legolas and Falle headed off into the trees, while the others set off at a silent run in the direction of the gorge and Elb.
Tulkas
"Faster, you idiots," yelled Ecthelion, "we dont have much time!"
He had been ordered to cover the exit of the tunnel, and cover it he would, because Tulkas was ready to kill anyone in his current state of anger. As they reached what used to be the exit of the tunnel, he smiled at the destruction the explosives had caused. But he knew that it was too much to hope for that the EiB had been killed. They were probably coming toward him right now.
'That's alright,' he thought, 'I'll fix them up.'
"Get some snipers hidden around the exit," he ordered, "shoot any non-EiWC on sight."
His men quickly got to work. Within minutes there were 7 snipers around the exit, none of which could be seen by the most experienced Elf. But that wasn't all. Anti-personnel mines were set a few feet inside the tunnel, where a bottleneck caused by the falling rocks would force anyone passing into a narrow passage.
"Hey! Ecthelion!" said a loud voice from inside the tunnel, "What are you doing up there? We've already searched this part of the tunnel!"
It was Eonwe.
'Oh shit,' thought Ecthelion, 'what the hell am I going to do with these mines?'
"Everyone!" he yelled, "Disarm your detonators to the mines!"
As his order was carried out, he hoped that his would have the sense not to detonate the mines; otherwise he'd be up to his ears in trouble. An EiWC approached him.
"All the detonators have been disarmed, as per your order."
"Good," replied Ecthelion, "Get in touch with Haldir over on the other side. Make sure everything's alright."
As the Elf left to contact Haldir's unit, Eonwe and his men reached the exit of the tunnel.
"Look what we found," said Eonwe, kicking the tied Elb, "Can you believe she says she doesn't know where her boyfriend and his filthy brother are?"
"Really, eh?" replied Ecthelion, "We'll just show her our fine methods of persuasion as soon as the helicopter get here from Rivendell."
At that moment, the Elf that had been sent to contact Haldir returned. He looked troubled.
"Haldir says that all his men are dead, and he is wounded. The EiB have escaped."
You can find a more in-depth explanation of what this is about here, but basically it was a round robin style RPG that was started in late 2003. Otherwise known as 'TAD', this was the original raison d'etre of this board. What started as a very silly joke based around the fact that Elrond and Agent Smith (in 'The Matrix') are both played by Hugo Weaving turned into a thread of silliness on TWC ('The White Council'). The details and characters began to become more coherent, even within the utterly AU concept, and so BIA was born to houes the whole, and with it, the serious storyline of TAD.
Set a decade or so after The War of the Ring, TAD tells the story of the Fourth Kinslaying. Broadly the split is Sindar/Silvan versus Noldor
The EiWC (Elves in White Coats) are led by a mysterious elf ('Tulkas'), with awesome power and ambition, the EiWC are the leading force in Middle-earth, having been taken over from the command of Lord Elrond in an astonishing coup de grace. The numbers are huge, having corrupted both many of the remaining Noldor (many of whom have returned from the West), and a large sect of Gondorians, now known as the Royal Gondorian Police Force, supposedly funded by the King (yeah, right!
"> ) Their
massive numbers are dues to many of their followers - men and dwarves, as well as elves - having been cloned.
The EiB (Elves in Black) are mostly made up of elves from Mirkwood, and are, as you can see, just slightlyoutnumbered. Led by an equally mysterious elf, the Elves in Black are a small rebel group, hiding deep within the forests of Imladris. The have an alliance with King Thranduil of Mirkwood, hopefully to be cemented soon with a flux of marriages.
Writing on TAD finally ground to a halt some time in late 2004, early 2005 when TADers had taken off as the main writing focus on the board. You can find that, and other related writing, archived here in The Walls of the Weaver.
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Elberethia
Midnight shadows lingered in the woods, an ever-increasing darkness. The stars of Elbereth shone on one lone figure darting amongst the tall trees, as Lúthien once danced in the moonlit woods of Neldoreth. However, dancing was the last thing on this elf's mind. She brushed one sable curl from starlit eyes and assessed her situation.
There should be a scout here. Damn! An enemy blocking your way is a thousand times better than an enemy you cannot see. Elb went into a crouch, and felt a minute brush of wind against her shoulder.
She threw herself to the side, the curved blade of her opponent just catching her. She cursed, and drew her own sword from its leather-wound sheath, parrying the blow aimed for her head. The force of the next thrust, neatly parried by the elf in white, nearly shattered her arm. She feinted to the left, and, as the her enemy went for a final blow, she neatly parried and swung, bringing it down with enough force to break his skull. One down.
She thanked the Valar that she had decided to go on this mission alone. That had been a narrow miss. She covered the stiffening body with bracken, and once again melted into the undergrowth.
Elb crept through the dark, occasionally looking over her shoulder. This was getting easy. She had only met one scout, surely the EiWC weren't so arrogant-oh, wait, they were. But however arrogant Tulkas might be, he was careful. And ruthless. With that less than comforting thought in her head, she turned and crouched in a position of relative safety, making sure her gun was loaded and her sword was clean. She tapped the hilt once for luck, checked her poniard was still hidden. Then she waited.
Her uncomfortable wait was not in vain. Within half an hour, a small armoured vehicle stopped in the clearing, letting an elf in an immaculate suit step out. He was surrounded by bodyguards, uniformly dressed in white. He looked as if he were giving an order, some guards fanned out to the perimeter of the clearing, while some unloaded shovels from the vehicle. The underlings watched as Tulkas laid down a map, and pointed to a patch of ground, which was their cue to start digging.
Elb watched, horrified, as a box was taken up from the ground. It was opened with a crowbar, and Tulkas brought out a shining new automatic, a smug grin plastered on his face. Elb took out her camera, and began to take pictures, as many as she could. After she had garnered her evidence, she drew out her gun, screwed on a silencer, and carefully took aim... when, suddenly, there was a shout, and she heard a twig break behind her
Alatariel Nolatari
Slowly she had followed her, careful not to make a sound. She knew her commander wanted to go on this mission alone, yet she could not bear being left behind. Crouched behind a dark bush she had fingered one of her black arrows hesitatingly when Elb was being attacked by an EiWC, but she had known her commander would be able to clear the job on her own. She wasn't ready to give away her position just yet.
Darkness had drawn nearer as she continued her path. While Elb was seemingly taking pictures of something she couldn't see from where she sat, AN heard a noise coming up from behind here. She turned quickly and looked straight into the eyes of an Elf in white. He punched her in the face and she fell down. She reached for her dagger while stumbling up. Another one. There were two of them. One unsheathed his sword. The other carried a gun. Damn. If she was going to defeat him with steel, she had to do it quickly.
Her eyes shifted between the two of them, calculating which one of them would be the first to attack. To her disfortune, they attacked both at once. She was able to dodge the first three bullets and escape the swing of the other one's sword. She stepped back and flung her dagger at the Elf with the gun. It got stuck in his throat and he fell. One to go.
This one however wasn't as easily slain. Under the threatening darkness of the trees the sound of steel touching in a fierce fight could be heard. The Elf made a swing for AN's head, which she was able to avoid, but she lost balance and fell to the ground. She was near exhaustion from the long-distant running. The fight hadn't improved her conditions.
Her fingers had lost grip of the handle. Oh no. Desperately they searched the ground. Suddenly, pain. She groaned and looked at her right arm to see what was causing it. A heavy black muddy boot had driven its way into her flesh. Above that, a grinning smug Elven face. But no fair one. A
A wave of anger came over her soul and she wriggled from the Elf's grip. She gathered all her strength and got to her feet, punched the guy in the face with a hard right, which caused enough confusion for her to grab her sword and drive it between his ribs. He gave out a last shout for help. No one could hear it.
AN came down on her knees and gasped for breath. She looked at her arm. It looked a bit bruised, but fine. She crawled towards the dead body of the Elf who had carried the gun and pulled her dagger out of his throat. She cleaned it and tucked it away. It was not until then that she noticed that Elb had turned and was heading this way.
Elberethia
"Damnit, AN! What do you think you're doing?!" Elb glared at her first officer, then anxiously looked about. That fight could not have gone unnoticed. "Well?" She looked up at the older elf to see her struggling to hold down a smile. "Damn, this isn't funny!"
"Sorry, Elb."
"No, you're not! I gave you a direct order to stay at base!" AN had the decency to at least look ashamed. "Ai, eejit..." AN actually smiled. If she was an eejit, she was okay.
Elb grabbed her arm and pulled the sleeve up. "Are you injured?" After AN's negative answer, she sat down on the forest floor, cradling her head in her hands.
"What's happened?" Elb's only answer was to hand the photographs she had taken to her. "Bugger!"
"Yep."
"Did they see you?"
"Not that I know of. But then again, you were able to track me."
"I was taught by the best."
Elb gave a grateful smile, and tucked the photos away into her bag. "We'd better hurry back. The others will need to see these." She was suddenly silent, slowly standing up and looking around.
"Elb?"
Elb put her hand up to signify silence, then drew her sword. She motioned to AN, and they stood back to back. What was going on?
Then both heard the unmistakable sound of a magazine being loaded.
Tulkas
Now, you've been hearing about this 'Tulkas' for quite awhile, and it's about time he actually does something. I don't think you'd be very surprised to know that the man loading that magazine into his rifle was our friend Tulkas. But that's enough of the introduction, and on with the story.
As soon as Elb and AN heard that all-too-familiar sound, they knew what to do. Quickly but soundlessly, they both drew their swords, and went prone on the forest floor. They knew that their base was not far away, and they could make it back there safely. But they never had a chance to do anything, for at the moment that AN was about to propose to Elb that they retreat, they heard many voices whispering out of the surrounding darkness. But one of them in particular they recognized: the voice of Tulkas. They both thought quickly, for they knew that in a short time the EiWC would be upon them. Just how little time they had was underlined by the ring of swords being drawn. Suddenly, AN let out a groan as she was tackled from behind by an EiWC, whose knife, barely missing her head, grazed her shoulder. Stunned, AN felt for her pistol, but found the holster empty. But even as the man raised his knife for another blow, Elb brought down her sword on his neck, and he collapsed into a lifeless heap on the ground. But he was not their only enemy. Gasping for breath, AN tried to stand up, but she could not ignore the growing pain in her chest. And as Elb extended a hand to help her up, a bullet whizzed past her head, hitting a nearby tree. AN leapt to her feet, and jumped, sword in hand, at the gunman, hoping to take him by surprise. But she never got there, for she was hit a by a tranquilizer dart in midair, and Elb was powerless to help her, because she could feel it: the shove of a rifle in her back.
Elberethia
She raised her hands, carefully, and laced the fingers behind her head. AN was already unconcious. Someone grabbed her elbow and spun her about to face him. Elb quickly swung her leg up and about, unlacing her fingers as she did, knocking the rifle out of his hands and breaking his nose. He swore, blood streaming down his face, and Elb just had time to see Tulkas' shocked expression before she grabbed AN, and held her in a fireman's lift.
She ran. Elb could hear the shouts behind her, and she blessed the Valar that the elves had been made both naturally light and strong. However, AN was slowing her down as she ran through the dense forest. Suddenly, blackness hit, and she crumpled on the ground.
X Strider Luva X
Sluva stifled a giggle. She and Nimlas were sat in the forest, enjoying a late night frolic. Nimlas could always make her laugh, no matter how edgy she may be from the dark trees looming all around her.
"Don't be afraid," Nimlas reasurred her. She nodded, and they stood up together.
"Where to now then?" Nimlas said, grabbing hold of SL's hand. She felt cold. "You worry still."
"I cannot help it. Something is wrong. When we left... everyone was still out, weren't they? What if when we get back they are still no-where to be seen?"
"My dear, we are the EiB. It is our job. Stop fretting and walk with me." He smiled, and made Sluva smile once more.
They walked for a while, and then stopped dead. A noise had shot past their alert ears and both had noticed a dark shape move in the distance. Nimlas turned to look at his friend and nodded. SL understood. They drew their bows at the same time, and got out a single arrow each. Ready to shoot, they entered the clearing in which the noise had come from.
Elberethia
What was happening? She spun, and tripped, her head was thudding. AN slid off her shoulder as she fell to the ground. Gingerly, trying to ignore the painful flashes of light in her head, she lifted a hand to her shoulder, where she had been cut earlier.
Cut! Her arm was wet with blood, but surely it had not been that serious? Then she remembered. The EiWC had grabbed her elbow to pull her around. She had been so intent on escaping that she had not noticed the flesh tearing. She could not believe how stupid she had been!
The pain was moving quickly now, and, before she knew it, Elb was slumped on the ground next to AN.
X Strider Luva X
SL shuddered. The darkness crept into her eyes and she felt colder than ever. Just when she thought she had imagined the noise, she stumbled over an unseen thing on the forest floor. Nimlas cried out, seeing her fall, and dropped his weapons to help her up.
"It's Elb!" Sluva whispered in Nimlas's ear, realising only the EiWC could have done this... and would still be near.
"Get them up, dear. We'll have to carry one each. Let's get out of here... and fast." He said firmly, and so they acted at once. Stashing away their weapons, the couple lifted their comrades up off the ground and began to hastily carry them back to the HQ.
Tulkas
Trudging along under her heavy burden, Sl could feel her legs giving out on her.
"Nimlas!" she called, "I need to rest."
With this, Nimlas came to a stop, and after gently laying Elb on the ground, sat down with a sigh, just as he had on six occasions previous to this one. It had been a tiring journey, and already he felt the need to stop, though there was much ground yet to be covered. In truth, it was not a long trip: 45 minutes at worst if you are running. But that estimate does not account for carrying an unconscious elf on your back, nor does it consider that your journey might begin at two oclock in the morning. So, as a result of these circumstances, it was now close to an hour since they had found Elb and AN, and with the frequent breaks they had been taking, it would be another hour before they reached HQ, and they both dearly hoped that the EiWC had not picked up their trail. It was with this thought in their minds, that, without a word, they both stood up and began to walk again. Around this Sl started to count the arrows in Nimlas quiver to pass the time. And after counting three times fully, she still fancied that there was one missing. Though she tried to dismiss it as just paranoia, the though continued to linger in her mind. Little did she know, just how dangerous one fallen arrow can prove.
Though it was only a few minutes, it seemed like hours to the EiWC. They just stood there, stunned by Elb's escape. It had been at least 30 minutes when Tulkas finally returned to normal.
"What the hell are we waiting for?" he yelled, "We can still catch them!"
This roused the other EiWC from their coma-like state. Quickly, they started to follow Elb's footsteps in the soft ground, and ran at a surprising fast pace, given their heavy armor. Youd never think that 50 men in armor could run that fast without a sound, but, then again, youve probably never seen the EiWC. As he ran Tulkas too had a nagging though in his mind. Why on earth how they just stood, paralyzed, for all that time? He was not a man to be afraid, so long as he knew what he was up against; but this unknown weapon made him uneasy. But his thoughts were interrupted by more pressing matters when someone gave a shout up ahead.
"Stop! I think I've found something!"
Tulkas signaled for them to halt, and ran up to man who had shouted.
"What is it?" Tulkas asked.
But that was soon rendered a moot point, for he could see it too: two depressions in the soft earth, unmistakably made by two people lying there. He did not need to asked who had made the marks either. There was no doubt that a short time earlier, Elb and AN had been there. But who had rescued them? He would soon have an answer to that too, because at that moment Glorfindel walked up to him with the answer.
"Sir? Look at this," he said, handing Tulkas a long arrow. "Do you see were it says Nimlas on the shaft?"
"Yes, I do," replied Tulkas in a disinterested voice, scrutinizing the ground where Glorfindel had found the arrow, "We are too late. Sl and Nimlas have already been here. But they have not been gone for more than 30 minutes. Come on! If we hurry, we will catch them before they reach HQ."
And so, the EiWC once again pursued the EiB, now with redoubled pace. Over hill and under hill they ran, slowly but surely getting closer to their goal.
50 minutes and 5 stops later, Nimlas were still running, but now they were almost there. At last they reached a point the land to the sides of the path rose up into an embankment, some 60 or 70 feet high. The two EiB both welcomed and disliked this sight, for it meant two things. On the one hand, they knew they were but 10 minutes away from HQ. On the other hand, they knew that a little further on, there was a strong, deep stream, and crossing it would be one of the hardest parts of their journey. And there was one more thing: the embankment provided a perfect opportunity for an ambush, and with EiWC close at hand, they watched every shadow.
After close to 1 hour of running, without stopping at all, the EiWC finally caught sight of their target. Just a glimpse but a glimpse of your enemy can do wonders when you've been chasing them for so long. Now, they too had reached the beginning of the embankment. And when Tulkas saw this, he immediately realized the possibilities it gave him. He called his men to a stop.
"Alright, this is it," he said. "We've got to be quick. Glorfindel: I need you to take 20 men and climb the left side. Ecthelion: You also take 20 men, and climb the right side. With speed you can overtake them. Myself and the remaining men will come on them from behind. That way they'll be attacked from three sides and well force them into the river. Go!"
Even as the two EiB approached the river, and their journey's end, Tulkas' plan was executed. They heard a horn blow from behind and the next thing they knew, they were caught in a blizzard of bullets.
Elberethia
Both EiB ducked between an outcropping, placing their friends on the ground. Nimlas unslung his bow and fired three arrows in quick succesion. A loud cry told them at least one had found its target. "They're up there, near the edge of the trees," Nimlas said quickly as he unleahed another arrow. "We need the others!"
Sl reached deep into her bag and drew out what she wanted; poppers. She snapped one under AN's nose, and she regained conciousness with a jerk. And she was pissed.
"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?!" More bullets, directed by her shout, rained down on them, making Nimlas duck before he fired another arrow. His quiver was getting dangerously empty.
"We're under fire. You shoot for the trees, Nimlas will show you, and I'll try to wake up Elb."
Sl pushed AN out of the way, who started firing arrows in succession, each one hitting a target. Sl turned to her commander. The wound was messy, clean at one side, and then turning into a nasty rip. As long as Sl cleaned it up, Elb could weild a sword with her right hand, and possibly load a gun with her left. It would be painful though. She quickly found the bandage she was looking for, and made a simple tourniquet. Then she snapped the poppers under Elb's nose.
Nothing happened.
"Oh, crap!" Sl snapped another, and although Elb stirred, she did not wake. This was bad. They not only needed her awake, they needed her belligerent as well. Sl grabbed her wounded shoulder and squeezed.
Elb's eyes snapped open as she gave Sl an impresive right hook with her free hand. Then she realised where she was, saw what was happening and took command. "When I say 'I'm going alone' it means, I'm going alone! Otherwise messes like this don't happen, understand!?" Without waiting for an answer, she unslung her carbine, and stated picking off individual EiWC.
Suddenly, she heard a voice behind her; Tulkas, leading 10 men from behind. She spun round and managed to pick off five before they reached them, then her ammunition ran out. She threw her M4A1 to the ground and unsheathed her sword, running at Tulkas and his remaining men.
Alatariel Nolatari
In the heat of the battle AN turned towards the unmistakable voice she had just heard. Tulkas. Just what she needed. She turned back to the trees to fire her last arrows at the remaining EiWC. Nimlas was panting at her side. Little drops of sweat found their way down his forehead. AN was suddenly very aware of the growing pain in her chest, but tried not to think of it and focus on the battle. Assured by Nimlas and Sluva they could take the remaining EiWC on their own, AN turned to the other side once again. She tried to count the men Tulkas was leading, but her sight was whirling and she had trouble keeping her body from falling down. Ten, maybe more. As she saw her commander running towards them with nothing but a sword to face them, she got out her M24 SWS and and ran after Elb.
They were able to fight the first two off. AN tried to keep a distance as to succesfully shoot them one by one, but found herself surrounded in no time. An EiWC jumped on top of her from behind, and she used the handle of her gun to hit him off. Gasping for breath, she took half a second to check on Elb. Her commander was still bravely wielding her sword, but AN saw she wouldn't be able to hold out much longer. That considered both of them.
Meanwhile Tulkas was playing it smart by letting his men tire the two EiB out first. There was no way of knowing what he would be up to this time. AN saw his grinning face from a distance and tried to elbow her way to him, but got dragged back into the fight by several EiWC.
X Strider Luva X
Sl groaned in pain. She was in a deep duel with a cruel looking EiWC who was not tiring as fast as she had thought he would. So far she had slapped, punched and kicked the man, yet he was not slowing in his reflexes. She could see Nimlas out of the corner of her bloody eyes and it spurred her on. She had a huge cut on her forehead from a harsh blow with an odd whip-like device and the blood was dripping to her eyes, spoiling her sight. She wiped her eyes once more and screamed as loud as she could.
"Nimlas! Nimlas!"
Although she didn't shout what she wanted, she knew he would understand why she was yelling. Nimlas at once drove his fights towards his friend, ignoring everyone else in the hope that they would be okay. Sl was in trouble; he could tell by her voice.
The EiWC were not of a large amount, but with only the three EiB to fend them off, time was taking its toll on the EiB. They were now only outnumbered 3-1 from the much bigger amount previously, but things were not going as well as before. Nimlas valiantly continued towards his now fiercely fighting girl. She was actually scratching her enemy in the face while he continually tried to punch her hands away.
Finally Nimlas broke free of all enemies and ran to Sluva's rescue. She whispered a thankyou to him and then retreated to a corner to try and stop the bleeding on her forehead. Nimlas quickly and easily killed the EiWC that had caused Sluva so much time and laughed loud and clear.
Tulkas
In spite of the heavy losses the EiWC were taking, Tulkas grinned. He had the EiB right where he wanted them: tired, wounded, and still outnumbered. He was ready to finish them off. He blew a loud blast on his horn, and immediately answering horns came from the positions of his two commanders. Within half a minute Tulkas had concentrated all his forces into one place. But what he did with those men might surprise you a little. No, he didn't attack. Although he could have swept the EiB into the river, he wasn't taking any chances. With a loud cry of "Fall back! Fall back!" the EiWC retreated quickly back into the woods. S
eeing this, Elb was certainly more than a little surprised. She knew Tulkas would never retreat while he still had a chance. 'He must be up to something,' she thought. But what exactly was he up to?
As you might expect, he did not take all his men on the hunt for Elb and AN. The remainder of them, or perhaps I should say the main part of them, were still waiting for his return. These EiWC numbered between two hundred and three hundred, and Tulkas knew that with this force, he could do whatever he wanted. But let's get back to the four EiB. As soon as Tulkas retreated they started off for HQ. Nimlas, AN, and Sl all wanted to rest before continuing, but Elb felt very strongly that Tulkas would be back, and it would mean certain death to be caught once again. And she was right. Tulkas had known that by sunrise, which was now just over five minutes gone, more EiB would come, and he wasnt sure if his weary men could hold out against them. So, as the EiB arrived at HQ, Tulkas was traveling back to his starting point.
Elberethia
Elb stared at the retreating EiWC in shock, bloody sword in hand. AN sat on the ground, wiping a piece of hair from her eyes, blinking away sweat. Sl and Nimlas walked to where their comrades waited.
"Elb? We need to rest..." Elb waved away the trifle with a hand, then frowned as she considered Tulkas' tactics. Where was he going?
The ammunition. Ammunition, unguarded, ripe for the taking.
"Very well. You three, go back to HQ. Take these pictures, show them to the others, make sure everyone knows what we are up against. AN, tell Fallë to meet me there in 30 minutes. We can travel faster through the trees than they can on the ground." AN nodded wearily, and the three set off back to HQ, while Elb, once again alone, set off after the EiWC.
Alatariel Nolatari
AN got up from where she had been sitting for a moment to recover from the many hits she had had to take during the fight. Her eyes followed the dark sillouhe of her commander as she saw her disappear into the woods. She was worried, naturally, but too tired and loyal to refuse the request Elb had just made. She gave a little nod in Sluva's direction as to ask her to help her get back onto her feet. The pain in her chest was growing again, much more noticeable than before. Sluva gave her a hand and AN forced herself to smile thankfully. Nimlas suggested we moved along, Elb would need Fallë to help her.
After a lot of stumbling in the direction of HQ, the three Elves finally reached it. A company of others awaited them and ran towards them with anxious looks on their faces. AN almost tripped over her own feet, but fortunately the worried Tuorë was there just in time to catch her. Fallë let out a cry.
"Where's Elb?!"
AN and Sluva exchanged an uneasy look and Fallë suddenly knew what was going on. His body stiffened and his eyes became filled with disbelief. AN nodded slowly. "She needs you to help her", she said with surprising effort, which only caused Tuorë to be even more concerned about the state AN was currently in.
Fallë gathered what he needed and speeded out of the door. Nimlas showed the pictures to the others.
Tuorë carried AN and laid her down on her bed carefully. He wiped away some of the dried blood on her lips with wet cloth, and stood up to find some medicines. AN didn't want to look down at her wound, though she felt a persistent and intense pain in her chest. All became black in front of her eyes, and the last thing she thought about before she passed out, was Elb's safety.
Nenya
Lotheliel was tired - they had been travelling for weeks now - but she was happy to see Elendor once more. She had been worrying about him ever since she and Anaril had parted company with him some months previously. They had continued South to Lothlorien on a urgent EiB diplomatic mission, but Elendor had been heading West: to Imladris - a 'rekkie' mission, and a dangerous one at that. It had taken all her and Elendor's skill in tact to stop Anaril insisting on going instead. He was far too hot-headed and would have done something brave but foolish and got himself captured or worse. No, Elb needed information and recon, not another Elf to rescue. Elendor was the better choice by far. Still Lotheliel was glad to see him and know for certain he was safe. The news he had brought, though, was not good. She had only the barest details but she suspected Anaril had been told more: the brothers had stayed up late into the night and Anaril's expression had been grim ever since he had woken that morning.
"I don't like this, "Elendor was saying. "This far North there shouldn't be this many EiWC around." They had just taken out their third scout that morning and there had been several others yesterday too. Lotheliel nodded in agreement.
Anaril, tracking ahead, stiffened and raised his fist. As one Lotheliel and Elendor stopped dead in their tracks, listening intently. Anaril signalled them to get down. Two EiWC went past. Two swift arrow shots later and they were down. And they wouldn't be getting up again. From the bushes they could see down a steep embankment to a large group of EiWC in camp. Tulkas was moving among them gesticulating wildly.
"No. I do not like this at all," muttered Elendor.
They moved off as silently as they could, taking care to keep their eyes open for yet more scouts and guards. When they were some distance away they spoke, but keeping their voices low.
"They were far too close to our camp for my liking," whispered Anaril.
"And Tulkas was there too this is not a good sign," agreed Elendor.
"We need to get back as quickly as possible," urged Lotheliel, "I was concerned we'd been too long away as it was. This only seems to confirm it."
"And confirm what I saw in Imladris," muttered Elendor grimly.
Lotheliel looked at him quizzically, but he said nothing more.
They were at the camp soon enough, but it was immediately apparent that all was not well. Legolas came forward to meet them, smiling at seeing them after all this time, but his smile was thin and forced. Elendor spoke as soon as he saw his expression.
"What's happened? What's going on?"
Legolas gave them a brief outline of the attack and the injuries sustained.
"And Elb? Where's Elb?" insisted Elendor, "I need to speak to her, and urgently."
"She's gone after the EiWC. Fallë's gone after her. She asked for him."
"What?!" Anaril was shocked, "and you're all sitting here letting her go?"
Legolas rounded on him, "Those were her orders, and we have wounded here. We need to protect the camp at all costs, Anaril!"
Lotheliel stepped between them. "We need to keep cool heads, boys, come on. How is AN, Legolas?"
Legolas shook his head, "Tuorë is with her and SL. They are doing what they can."
"Fine, you and Anaril stay here, Lothy, and help rally the troops," said Elendor. "I am going after Fallë. Two against that lot is no contest. They need all the help they can get."
Before his siblings could protest he was gone. Lotheliel dragged Anaril off with Legolas to see what they could do to help.
Elberethia
Fallë sped through the forest, moving quickly and stealthily. It was getting onto the darkest part of the night, but the moon was full, on his own glow aided him in reaching the rendez-vous point. He quickly climbed a tree with the inherent grace of all silvan elves, and waited. A new weight on the brace next to him alerted him to Elb's presence.
"You're late. But you look wonderful."
"I wish I could say the same for you!" Fallë's words were mocking, but seeing Elb covered in blood and dirt saddened him. "What are we here for?"
"We steal as much as the ammunition as we can, and destroy the rest."
Elb set about removing as much ammo as she could, while Fallë rigged up the box to explode when they detonated it, occasionally listening with sharp ears for approaching EiWC.
"Elb, they're coming!"
She quickly stuffed one last grenade into the bulging bag, and handed it to Fallë as she struck the flint. Wait until the opportune moment...
The second the EiWC appeared in the glade, she was spotted. Fallë was already making for the trees, and it was only when Tulkas was clearly in view that she lit the fuse and leapt into the tree above her.
She raced through the forest, jumping from branch to branch. She had heard the noise of the explosion with a deep feeling of satisfaction, but retaliation couldn't be far off, and they weren't out of the woods yet. Occasionally she would stop to make sure she was near Fallë. After reaching a place where she could rest, she quietkly descended, and sat with a laugh. "I believe that is what we call a victory!"
She was greeted by complete and utter silence.
"Fallë?"
There was no-one. She could hear no-one, apart from the thuds of the EiWC that could still run from the blast, closing on where they were.
"Fallë? FALLË!"
Nenya
As Elendor neared the ammunitions dump the numbers of EiWC increased on the ground. Elb's instincts, as ever, had been right on this one. He silently climbed into the treetops and continued travelling forward that way for safety. Just then, a massive explosion rocked the ground. The tree he was in swayed violently, and Elendor had to hold on tightly to stop from being thrown out of it.
"Eru! What the HELL was that?" he murmured. Clouds of acrid smoke were billowing skywards, blocking out the stars above the canopy. He could hear the screams and yells of EiWC and pressed forwards towards them.
The ammunitions dump was obliterated. Several trees were burning. The ground was littered with dead, dying and maimed EiWC. Elendor at once realised what Elb and Falle had done and grinned. Tulkas, bleeding profusely from a head wound, looked livid...no, incandescent with rage! Elendor's smile broadened. He was then aware of Tulkas pointing East and a contingent of EiWC soldiers heading off in that direction. That must have been the way Falle and Elb had gone. They had been seen.
'Time for a diversion,' he thought.
He quickly made his way to the opposite side of the newly made clearing and then stood on the remains of a flet and made sure he was clearly visible in the moonlight and flames. His bow in his hand, he shot straight at Glorfindel's head. The arrow, travelling at some speed, glanced off his helmet, but not before denting it. Elendor smiled - that must have hurt! Glorfindel spun round, raising his gun.
"What the..?"
Tulkas looked up.
"Well, well, well. What do we have here? Elendor - how nice to see you again." Malice dripped from his voice and his eyes were hard and filled with hatred.
"Well, shit-for-brains, I see you have achieved a great victory...yet again," grinned Elendor. "Don't even think about it," he added to three EiWC who had cocked their weapons or armed their bows.
He shot three arrows in swift succession and they fell, clutching their necks. Tulkas screamed in fury but Elendor was gone, heading West in the opposite direction from Elb and Falle. He tried to make as much noise as possible, and kept turning and firing behind him at the EiWC.
They fell for it.
With a cry of "White coated morons!" Elendor switched to automatic fire as they rushed after him.
Tulkas, signalling to the remaining EiWC to follow him, chased after them. He passed a wounded and maimed EiWC soldier who grabbed his leg: "My lord Tulkas. Please. Help me."
"Why of course," he replied, smiling as he levelled his gun to the elf's head. "Say 'hi' to Mandos for me."
Elendor led them further and further away from the smouldering wreck of the ammunitions dump, dodging from tree to tree, shouting or firing at them from one flank and then another, so they were not in fact sure there wasn't more than just one Elf in the tree tops. The smoke wasn't helping them see, but Elendor knew these trees like the back of his hand and the lack of vision didn't affect him. Their white coats made easy targets in the dark.
After some time he reckoned he'd led them far enough. They had managed to lose formation in the gloom and the confusion and were separated into smaller groups now. Tulkas would not be pleased. Elendor gave one or two parting shots and then melted into the night, going back the way he had come. He picked off any stray EiWC he found on his way, though he returned to his bow for the job since he didn't want any weapons fire giving away his position. In the distance he could hear the sounds of EiWC shouting and cursing, Tulkas's fine Quenyan vocabulary being the loudest.
Elendor's quiver was nearly empty by the time he reached the ammunitions dump once more. The fires had more or less died down. The place was deserted other than the heaps of bodies and body parts. Elendor noted with distaste that several, that he had seen to be only injured previously, were now lying prone and riddled with bullets: Tulkas's work, no doubt.
As quickly as he was able he gathered all the arrows he could find, including several with explosive tips, and filled his quiver once more. Then he picked up any useable weaponary he could find as much as he could carry and headed off in the direction of where hed seen the EiWC scouts chasing after Elb and Falle.
There were still quite a number of EiWC around, but Elendor made short work of them from the trees. "Stupid EiWC - they may wear helmets, but that doesn't protect the face or neck." After some time he felt it was safe enough to stop. All the while he had been heading back towards the camp, but keeping his elven senses alert to any sign of Elb or Falle.
Then he heard it. An urgent whisper down on the forest floor: "Falle! Falle? Where the hell have you got to? FALLE!"
He looked down and could see her, turning round in desperation, her weapon drawn, peering into the darkness under the trees. He could also see two EiWC heading this way.
"Elb!"
She looked up, incredulous. "Elendor? But..wha..how?"
"No time. Here."
A rope appeared in front of her. She jumped and climbed.
As soon as she reached the flet where Elendor stood and he had silently pulled the rope up after her, two EiWC came to the spot where she had just been standing. Elendor and Elb pressed themselves further back into the gloom of the treetops against the trunk. Elendor raised his bow. The EiWC fell in rapid succession: an arrow in the eye is not a pleasant way to die.
"It's so good to see you," Elb turned to Elendor. "And the others..?"
"Yes, they made it back okay too. They're at the camp. Where's Falle?"
Elb's expression became clouded and her eyes filled with concern. "I dont know. He was right ahead of me, I was keeping him in sight. And then suddenly he just wasn't there. I can't find him..."
"Well we just have to hope he's gone back to camp as per the plan. We have to get you back and we can look for signs of him on the way. Hopefully we'll find him back there safe and sound."
He tried to reassure her, but that wasn't like Falle: he would have been doing everything in his power to keep within sight of Elb and protect her if necessary. Something had happened, and he knew Elb sensed it too.
They headed off together in the direction of the camp.
Elberethia
Elendor guided Elb into HQ, where she collapsed. An anxious Lotheliel, accompanied by SL, ran out to greet them. "What happened? Where is Fallë?"
Elb's head fell into her hands, where she shook it, beginning to cry. "I don't know, I don't know..." Lotheliel sat down beside her and put a comforting arm about her shoulder, while Sl questioned Elendor.
"I don't know, I came across her in the forest. They were successful in destroying the ammunition, but she was chased, and Fallë is missing. That cannot be good."
Elb lifted her head definantly. "I'm going out to find him." There was a collective disagreement.
"Elb, we don't even know where he is..." AN, having entered, tried to reason with the younger elf.
"I know a way we can find out." Elb sniffed, wiped her eyes, and unlatched the communicator from her trenchcoat. She turned it on, then adjusted the frequency Fallë operated from. "Fallë?" There was the ominous sound of static. Elb hastily swallowed, then tried again. "Fallë, if you can hear me, answer!"
"Greetings, Lady Hemp-widow." A deep voice resonated from the radio, and Elb nearly dropped it in shock.
"You bastard!"
X Strider Luva X
Sluva looked away from her captain. The look on Elb's face was too much for her, and she could feel her face growing hot and her eyes becoming moist with tears. Falle couldn't be dead... it couldn't happen to an EiB... She turned right around, trying to hide her face from everyone. She didn't want them to see her cry and make them all upset.
Nimlas saw SL weeping and went to her.
"Hush, dear. Elb is going to find him. We all will find him. It will be okay, I promise."
"But... but... Tulkas... dead... he's killed him..." she stammered inbetween her sobs.
Nimlas merely hugged her and then went over to AN, Tuore and Elb.
"What to do? Shall me and Tuore go out? Surely we cannot let you, Elb, go out there... you know your own mind well enough yet I fear you will do something rash..."
"Nimlas, be quiet!" AN shrieked hearing his last comment. "Don't you ever talk to Elb like that."
"It's okay AN... I can cope, you know. Nimlas, I'm afraid you are wrong. But I thank you for your care."
Nimlas scratched his neck and shrugged. "Do as you will, Elb. I will not question your actions. No-one has been lost from the EiB before, and I doubt under your lead they ever will be." Then he turned back to SL, who had now turned back to the company in the centre of HQ, watching silently.
"You really should just stick to the arrow shooting, dearest," SL said, smiling.
"Hmmm... it seems my advice was not the best. I shall go with Elb though, whatever she chooses to do. Falle is my friend. He cannot be lost to us yet."
Nenya
Legolas stepped forward, "If anyone's going to go and find him, it's me. He's my kid brother."
"And I won't let you go alone, Legolas. I have known you both since you were born and both you and Falle are like brothers to me and mine, you know that."
Anaril stepped forward and laid his hand on Legolas's shoulder. Legolas smiled at him gratefully. Beleg was already strapping on quiver, bow, and automatic weaponary muttering about how he was one of the best trackers Middle Earth had ever produced and if anyone was going to do this then he was. Elendor was helping, and there were murmurs from Tuore, SL, AN and Lotheliel and the rest that they were damned if they were going to sit there twiddling their thumbs while one of their own was out there in Tulkas's clutches.
Elb looked at them gratefully. She knew with elves this skilled and determined on her side they would find Falle...if he was still alive.
"Well, we can't all go." Elb's voice broke through their preparations. "Some of you will have to stay here to protect the camp. Their numbers are too great and though we killed many in the explosion at the munitions dump and afterwards, there are still many more and you can be sure Tulkas will be regrouping and forming a plan of attack even as we speak."
"But if Tulkas has Falle captive, then we have to go to them to get him back," reasoned AN.
The transmitter suddenly crackled into life. They fell silent as Elb picked it up. "You still there, you peasant wood elf?" As one, the company stiffened at the insult. "You want your precious Falle back? Come and get him."
Suddenly there were shouts in the background: "Don't listen to him, Elb. Don't do it! Leave me. It's a trap!"
"Shut that damn fool up!", Tulkas was shouting.
There was a thump and a scream.
There was a gasp from the elves standing round Elb. She and Legolas exchanged glances as the transmitter fizzled and then cut out.
"Well, Elb?" Legolas looked at her enquiringly. She turned to look at them all as they waited for her order. They were ready and armed to the teeth and she only had to say the word, she knew that.
She picked up the transmitter. "Now listen here you sorry excuse for an immortal..."
Tulkas
She was interrupted by Tulkas.
"It's so good to hear from you. I'd just like you to know that while Falle may be giving a bit of trouble, it isn't anything that can't be silenced by the Morgul-needle that should start taking effect around now. I've got a gun pointed at Falle's head, and I am very eager to pull the trigger. You have 24 hours to make an offer. Goodbye."
Tulkas kicked Falle's radio, smashing it against a wall. He smiled as he looked at Falle lying on the floor, bound and gagged.
"Aren't you glad Elby cares for you so much?" he asked mockingly, "I'm sure she'll help you. I mean I'm sure she'll try to help you; not that there's any possibility of her succeeding, of course. Enjoy your last few hours of peace. It won't last much longer."
Tulkas left the cell, locking the heavy blast-proof metal door behind him. 'The EiB think they've hurt me,' he thought, 'I couldn't care less about that ammunition.' He smiled as he fingered the cut on his forehead. 'If this is a wound,' he said to himself, 'I dont know what isn't.'
He stopped in front of a door marked Control Center #3 - Cmdr. Eonwe and slid his key into the lock. Stepping in, he turned to a tall elf sitting in front of a computer.
"At least that stupid mission wasn't a total bust. We got the boyfriend, and this thing," said Tulkas, holding a small black box in his hand, "Plus we have the EiB for another crime: vandalism and trespassing. That's 14 counts of each if we ever get them in court."
"I'd call that a success," replied Eonwe.
"Maybe, but it was a loss to have them slip right through our fingers."
"I guess so."
"Call everybody near to that damned ammo shed back. We dont need wounded soldiers just walking around waiting to get killed."
"Yes, sir," mumbled Eonwe.
"Give them two hours to get here, and then seal all the entrances and double security. I have a feeling those EiB will be trying to get their friend back."
"Immediately, sir"
"You said there was something you wanted to tell me about?"
"Oh, yes. I almost forgot."
Eonwe handed Tulkas a few sheets of paper. Before he had even finished the first one, Tulkas face had turned into an enormous grin.
Nenya
Elb had tears in her eyes as she stared in disbelief at the transmitter in her hand. The expressions on the elves round her were grim, Legolas particularly.
AN stepped forward. "We've done it before, Elb, we can do it again." There were nods of agreement and murmurs of assent all round.
Elb blinked away the tears, but still couldn't speak and was grateful when Tuore cut in: "Yes, but as Elb said we cannot leave the camp unguarded. The EiWC will be waiting for any opportunity for us to let our guard down. I suggest a small party for this - a select group. Elb, you will need to choose who."
"Yes, but before then Elb and I have matters to discuss."
Something in Elendor's tone made Elb look up. She saw the look in his eyes and nodded.
"Alright. Yes. I need to know what you've learnt."
"Yes indeed", answered Elendor grimly.
Lotheliel tried to catch Anaril's gaze but he avoided her eyes. SL looked at her enquiringly but she just shrugged.
"Come with me, Elendor" said Elb as she lead the way to her office. "As for you lot, I want everything made ready. I'll make a final decision once I have heard what Elendor's got to tell me. Meanwhile, I do not want to be disturbed."
The elves looked anxiously at the pair as Elendor followed her in to her office and the door was shut behind them.
Elberethia
"You are sure of this?" Elb asked, pouring over the photographs Elendor had given her, biting her lip.
"As sure as I can be."
"Damn."
Elb strode out of the antechamber, the tears replaced with grimness. Her eyes looked over her men, her friends, and she handed the papers to Elendor without a backward glance. "There is another base." A ripple of shock went through the assembled elves. "Which means that Fallë is either being held in Rivendell or this base, which is smaller, and less guarded but heavily armed. We have to guess. Any ideas?"
The silence stung her.
"Anaril, were you taking a transcript of the radio conversation?"
"Of course. Offer withing 24 hours, or Fallë dies."
"Did he mention how?"
"What?!"
"The method of execution!" Her voice shook slightly on the last word.
"Basic bullet to the temple."
Elb shook her head. That didn't help. Then, suddenly, her gaze cleared. "Lady Hemp-widow! That arrogant bugger!"
Sl looked doubtful. "Lady Hemp-widow?"
"Someone who's husband was hung." Elb suddenly grabbed the photos, threw them on the table, scanned them for a second then pointed triumphantly at the second. "A scaffold. He's handed it to us on a plate. After 24 hours, they'll hang Fallë..." Her voice certainly shook then, and she looked away.
AN leant over to Tuorë and whispered, "Impersonal coping device in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1..."
Elb looked up, dark fire in her eyes. "Elendor, Legolas and I go on the rescue strike. Anaril, Beleg and Lotheliel, make a deceptive track to Imladris. We need a diversion. Any of you get caught, and I'll kill you myself." The elves grinned. "AN, Tuor, Sl and Nimlas..." She gave them an apogetic look. "You stay and guard HQ." The was an angry outburst from Nimlas, but Elb silenced it with a look. "Get your equipment, we regroup here in ten minutes. Time is essential. If Elendor, Legolas and I hurry, we can get there within an hour; take them by suprise. Dismissed."
As Elb strapped a poniard to her thigh, AN came closer and leant against the simple door frame. "Why are you not letting me go? I've known Fallë longer than you. There's no point looking down on me."
Elb looked livid. "You are staying here for a reason."
"And what reason is that? If you remember, you were wounded tonight as well. You are the liability of this mission!"
Grey flecks on the horizon heralded the dawn. The evening seemed like a decade ago. "You are not staying here because you are a liability. I fully intend to take some miruvor before I leave. And I would thank you to speak to me in a more respectful tone of voice."
"Why? You are the one that this is because of." In fairness to AN, she was tired. Her wound had been paining her, and Fallë's fate left a fresh hurt. The seeming indignity of simply being left was bringing all this hurt to the surface, hoping to unleash it.
"How? If you hadn't followed me, the entire plan would have gone to plan!"
"You lost Fallë! You were the one who caused him to be captured! And now you may be leading them to their deaths!"
Elb was lost. No comeback could repair that. She abandoned the impersonal facade, shattered as it was by her best friend's attack. "I wanted you to stay so that you and Tuorë would be safe. I would have no one go through what I am going through now."
It tore AN like a knife. "Oh, Elb, I'm sorry."
"So am I." They embraced, as one went to lead a mission, perhaps doomed from the start.
Elendor and Legolas knelt behind Elb, hiding in the shadow of the scaffold, which cast an omnious shadow over their faces. They had reached the base in less than an hour, and the EiWC were complacent. Legolas quietly unslung his bow, and, at Elb's signal, started picking offguards, always when they were alone, as not to have their deaths detected too quickly. It secretly pained him to send so amny souls to Mandos, the vision of his younger brother swinging and choking in front of his eyes buried any misapprehension.
Elendor and Elb crept through the lessened security, entered the base, and came to a break in the paths. They clasped shoulders breifly, before Elb took the right path, Elendor taking the left.
Elb silently sneaked along the corridor. When she neared the end, she was forced to hide in the shadows, for she heard Tulkas voice in the cell to her left.
"Do you know what this is, Fallë?" Elb prayed that he was only taunting him, she prayed that she wouldn't have to hear. There was a slight graon in answer.
"It's something called Beroglide. Very effective drug. Now, I'm going to be nice, and only give you a little, start with two CCs?" there was a sound of an injection being prepared. "Now, I'm just going to inject this into your diaphram..." There was a gasped from Fallë as his lungs began to paralyze, and a laugh from Tulkas. That was it.
Elb was behind him in less than a second, knocking the gun off the table and out of reach with a round-house kick. Her own lay in its holster. "You-" Tulkas fell back, blood pouring from a broken nose. "Ab-" A chop to the shoulder. "So-" A punch to the stomach. "Lute-" A knee to the groin. "Bastard!" An upercut to the jaw, and Tulkas was unconscious on the floor.
Elb spat at the prone body on the floor, then rushed to where Fallë lay bound, still gasping for breath. She quickly administered an antidote, and undid his bonds. "Oh, Fallë..."
Nenya
Lotheliel was thankful she and Anaril had been teamed up with Beleg. Anaril had huge respect for the famous Elf and, apart from Elendor, he was about the only person Anaril would listen to. This was going to be dangerous enough as it was and the last thing she needed was her brother charging about and doing something reckless that would get himself, if not all of them, killed.
They were nearing Rivendell. The scouts were increasing in number Beleg had taken out three and Anaril two already. She had yet to let loose an arrow: both of the others were quicker off the mark than her, if marginally. As they reached the West bank of the river they stopped to go over the plan.
"Right," Beleg was commander of this mission, "Anaril I want you to take the North tower out. Lotheliel you come with me and we'll take out the South gate and the West tower. Give them enough of a bang and that should do it! Synchronise watches people: I make it 06.48 exactly. Now Elb said we should time our attack for 07:00 hours and they will attack the other basecamp at the same time. Keep the EiWC doubly occupied. Now, Anaril nothing reckless, you hear me? I want you to keep your head down, and stay a good distance away. You get yourself captured and it won't just be Elb wholl kill you..."
"No, I will!" murmured Lotheliel.
"..Lotheliel you take the West tower. Then you and Anaril take out as many EiWC as you can. When I give the signal, pull back, but I want you to head in different directions, as we agreed, then meet back at the rendevous point. If you can't make the rendezvous point at the agreed time, then signal. No signal by 09:00 hours and we presume capture or death, understood?"
Lotheliel and Anaril both nodded.
They crossed the river, taking out the scouts on the opposite bank. Beleg silently motioned Anaril to head right. Before he moved off her brother clasped Lotheliel's hand. She looked at him. No need for words. Then he was gone.
She silently followed behind Beleg, crouching when he signalled and keeping as near as she could to the line of trees between them and Rivendell. Beleg motioned her to stop, pointed towards Rivendell. She could see the West guard tower on the battlements. Beleg indicated he would be going on and she was to make her way to within firing range.
She watched as he disappeared in the gloom of the trees and then headed forward. She could feel her heart pumping as she neared the outer walls. Her elven senses strained for the slightest sound.
What was that? She stiffened and crouched low. A guard. She waited till the last moment and then jumped, knife in hand. Clamping her hand over his mouth she stabbed him in the neck and clung on till she felt him go limp in her arms. She laid him under a bush and covered the body with bracken: she didn't want to go drawing attention to herself just yet.
She settled back into some bushes to wait. She glanced at her watch. Not long to go now. She could see guards in the tower, lounging around and chatting. She got out the explosive tipped arrows, and strung two to her bow. There was a crackle on the radio: "Lotheliel? You all set?"
"Check," she responded. She checked her watch again.
5...4..3..2...1.. She let them fly.
Two massive explosions obliterated the West tower. To the North she could hear a bang and the North tower in flames and collapsing, catching other buildings alight as it fell. A huge bang rocked from the South and clouds of smoke billowed upwards from what must have been the South gate. Sirens went off, and there were screams and shouts from inside Rivendells walls. Lotheliel grinned. Well, that went according to plan.
Within seconds she could see soldiers appearing at the walls and firing in her direction. Their aims were wild, they could not see her, but she had to be careful nonetheless. She swiftly started firing arrows back, knocking first one then another from the walls. A soft beep from her receiver told her it was time to move back. She backed into the darkness of the trees behind her, firing as she went.
She took one look behind her, and as she did her heart sank. Soldiers, and quite a few of them, pouring out of a small door in the West wall towards her position. Elbereth! She kept turning to fire as she ran. She needed to make it to the river.
Before she knew it they were upon her. She turned to face them, let loose a few arrows and took a few more down, but they were getting too close. She did a quick count: ten of them. Not good. She reached behind her and drew out her long fighting knives. They wanted it up close and personal? They were going to get it. She just hoped Beleg or Anaril might pass this way on their way to the rendezvous point. She better get out of this. Elb would kill her if she didn't.
They came at her. She ducked as one lunged for her, swiping at him as he fell past her and taking off an arm. She cut upwards towards the next managing to get him below the ribs. Another was behind her and she spun round to slash his face, but not enough to put him down. She blocked his blow, but could see three more reaching where they were.
This was hopeless.
She quickly sheathed one knife and pulled out her gun with her left hand, and fired wildly behind her. A scream and a thud told her she'd hit one at least. The elf fighting her cut her a glancing blow on the upper arm and she could feel the blood wet on her sleeve. He was a good fighter this one and she was struggling to defeat him. He thrust forward, she ducked and rolled and cut him down from behind.
She was now facing the rest. They encircled her, getting closer. She turned round and round in desperation, grim determination on her face. As she did so an elf, taller than the rest, stepped forward.
"What have we here?"
She gasped. "Glorfindel!"
"But of course, did you think Tulkas would be so stupid as to leave Rivendell without suitably capable captains in charge to deal with a decoy attack?"
Lotheliel's jaw dropped. Glorfindel's smile widened.
"Oh you didn't think we were trying to keep the second base secret did you? Tut, tut. Come now, do you really have that low an opinion of our tactical abilities?" He moved closer. "You're the Eluchir's kid sister aren't you?" He leered, "and so pretty too. Shame to have to kill you really."
Lotheliel pocketed her gun and pulled her other fighting knife out once more. She wasn't going down without a fight.
Alatariel Nolatari
AN buried her head in her hands. After Elb had left, she had been standing by the door gazing into the woods for a while. Tears had welled up in her eyes as she had seen Elb leaving. 'Maybe this is the last time I'll ever see her again,' she had thought. Maybe Tulkas would get her too. All would be lost. She had shaken her head and quickly wiped away her tears with the back of her hand. If she was going to be left behind, she was to do something, and she had turned and entered the HQ again.
Lost in thoughts in her office she felt a soft touch on her shoulder. She startled and lifted her head to see a grimly smiling Tuorë. She could see he was trying to look certain of the others' return, and he might have looked that way to an outstander, but to her, he failed.
"Are you feeling well?" he asked in a concerned tone. She nodded hesitatingly and asked for the others. "Everyone's fine."
"Any word of Elb and Fallë yet?"
Tuorë's courage seemed to sink to his feet and he hung his head. AN sighed and got up. She felt useless.
"There must be something we can do?!" she shouted when she entered the main room where the others were. Nimlas was still examining the pictures and occasionally raised an eyebrow. Sluva came towards her and handed her the transmitter.
"It's dead", she said in a defeated tone.
AN tried it out anyway. "Elb?" Buzzing. "Fallë?" More buzzing. She continued trying to reach them for a while longer, then threw away the bloody thing in rage.
Tulkas
"It's a good thing I never do any of the dirty work myself," a voice from behind Elb said. Elb turned around to see a cloaked figure pointing an assault rifle at her.
"One move," said the man, "and both of you are dead."
"Tulkas!" yelled Elb.
"Clever deduction. You did not seriously think we were dumb enough to let you rescue Falle? It's a little something called surveillance. I put a few rebellious soldiers out there for you to execute, and you did the job quite well. I'm afraid this party is going to have to end now."
Lotheliel never had a chance to fight. Glorfindel had orders to get her alive, and he stuck to them. As she lunged for Glorfindel with her knives, she was caught in mid-jump by several darts. She felt her face hit the ground, and then she blacked out.
"Come on guys, let's tie this idiot up. I hope for her sake that there are no more of them. Otherwise, it's going to be a problem."
Glorfindel was in a hurry to get back to Rivendell. Right then he caught the glint of metal about 40 meters in front of them. He signaled to be quiet.
"Let's split up. I think this fool had more with her." he whispered angrily, "C'mon. Let's not let him miss out on the VIP treatment."
Tulkas circled around Elb and Falle, keeping out of range of anything they might try to do. He was about to shoot both of them when his radio turned on.
"This is Eonwe," it said, "There's at least 3 EiB inside the building. All of the decoys are dead."
"Seal off the building," replied Tulkas, "nobody leaves here alive."
"Ah," said Tulkas, turning back to the two EiB, "I see that more of you filthy EiB have shown up. I could kill you both now, but that wouldn't do justice to all the trouble you've caused me. So I've thought of a better solution." In one fluid movement he pulled a throwing knife out of his vest and flung it at Elb, striking her in the leg and knocking her to the ground. He then slammed the cell door shut, locking them inside. "Goodbye, my friends," he called as he left, "I'll be seeing you again soon."
Nenya
Anaril grinned. He was running full tilt up the hill northwards from Rivendell. That tower had exploded in spectacular fashion. A massive breach in the walls had opened as the tower had fallen backwards inside Rivendell and he had watched as the flames had spread from roof to roof inside the city walls. The fires were too intense for anyone to have tried to come through the breach to track him down. He had idly picked off the few soldiers hed seen on the battlements and then, when he heard the beep on the radio, had turned and headed off into the trees. After a few minutes, when he was sure he wasn't being followed, he hooked a right and started South towards the river.
Beleg meanwhile was having a more difficult time of it. The gate was blackened and splintered but was well defended and he had not stopped stringing his black bow with armour piercing arrows. Every arrow flew true from Beleg Strongbow, warrior of Doriath, and had hit its mark. He had lost count of how many he had taken down. He was grimly aware of what lay ahead of them in the Halls of Mandos and did not take any life lightly. He took advantage of a lull to press the beeper on his transmitter. Time to fall back. He headed South, turning to bring down any EiWC foolish enough to try and come outside the comparative safety of the charred gates. When he felt he had gone far enough, he turned North, running in parallel with the river looking for a suitable place to cross.
It was then that they both heard it: gunfire.
Beleg stiffened. The shots had come from an area just in front of the West guard tower. He could see the plumes of smoke billowing from its remains. But if Lotheliel had been reduced to gunfire, so giving away her position, then she was in trouble. He turned East and ran, as cautiously as he could, towards the sound of fighting.
Anaril didn't need to ask which direction it had come from. Lotheliel needed him. He sprang down the slopes, sword in hand, gun in the other, cursing himself for having left her. If anything happened to her.... He pushed the thought to the back of his mind, and pressed on all the faster.
"Beleg!" he rasped into the receiver, "Beleg! Come in, dammit! That has to be Lothy. Beleg!"
"I heard. Go carefully. No sense us getting caught as well. I'm heading North as fast as I can."
Beleg could hear the clash of metal and thuds of hand to hand combat getting nearer. He inched forward to the brow of a hill. He could see her, though he was too far off to help. Four EiWC were dead on the ground but he could see six others surrounding her menacingly. One had moved forward and was talking to her: Glorfindel. Elbereth! This was not good. He started down the hill.
Anaril had come in sight of the scene from the North. Just in time to see Glorfindel stroke his sister's cheek and leer at her.
'Bastard! I'll kill him! No-one touches my sister and lives!' he thought, but for once managed to hold himself back from charging into Glorfindel then and there.
He cautiously picked up the receiver and whispered, "Beleg? Ill be decoy...got it?"
"Check," was the whispered reply.
Anaril moved back to a clearing that was en route to Rivendell from where his sister, now drugged and bound, was being hoisted on to EiWC shoulders. He kept his back to some rocks, but made no attempt to hide himself.
"Anaril? Get ready. They've spotted you. They've split into two groups going on either side of you to ambush. I've got you covered."
Beleg Cuthalion silently moved in behind the EiWC, bow at the ready.
Elberethia
Elb fell to the ground with a cry, opening her eyes just in time to see the door slam. Trapped.
Fallë moved quickly to her side, his breathing returning to normal. However effective Beroglide was, a strong person could recover quickly. That in itself was part of the torture, no chance of escape during recovery time. His hands moved to her thigh where the handle of a small knife was embedded.
"Nice of you to come. How do you suppose we get out?"
Elb winced, and pulled the knife free of her leg, thanking the Valar that it wasn't barbed. She tore a strip of cloth from her cloak and used it as a tourniquet. She then removed it and draped it around Fall's bare shoulders. His back was wet with blood, and would need tending, but they had no time now.
Then, hoisting herself to her feet, she removed the radio transmitter from her tunic.
"Elendor! Elendor, come in!"
There was a buzz, then Elendor's voice. "Elb? Where are you?"
"I've found Fallë, but we may be delayed. Find Legolas, then take him to the rendez-vous point we arranged with the decoy team. We'll meet you there."
"Elb?"
Elb quickly hid the transmitter again and started searching her pockets. "What, Fallë?"
"How?"
Elb triumphantly showed him her find. "Picklock."
Fallë grinned. "Shall I do it, while you tend to your leg? I'll need to borrow it."
"Will you give it back?"
"Trust me."
"Rather hard to trust someone who wants to borrow your picklock."
Fall smiled weakly at the joke, and began to undo the door.
Elendor raced down the corridor, slitting a guard's throat as he blocked his way. Legolas had emptied his quiver, and had attached a silencer to his sniper rifle and reverted to more modern technology. Nothing like the old models though.
"Where are they?"
"They should be here. Fallë's safe."
Legolas unconsciously let out a sigh of relief, then looked up as two figures crept out of the base. Legolas embraced his brother, then looked at his hands in horror as they came away bloody.
Nenya
Anaril stiffened. He had moved behind the rocks after Beleg's warning and although he had not heard them close in, he had heard the unmistakeable 'click' of someone arming a weapon. A shot rang out and there was a ping of the bullet hitting the rocks behind him. Within a heartbeat Anaril had returned fire in the direction it had come, aiming instinctively for the flash of white his sharp sight had just caught a glimpse of. An elf stumbled forward, clutching his own arm, the red blood saturating his white coat. He waved his weapon unsteadily in Anaril's direction, but the second shot, straight to the head, sent him reeling backwards into the trees.
Anaril smiled thinly. One down. Before he had time to think another elf appeared, this time armed with a sword. Anaril stepped forward to meet him. He dodged the elfs first lunge, swiping at his leg and opening a large gash in the elfs thigh. The elf came at him again, but Anaril spun out of the way cutting the elf's throat as he went past him.
He looked up. Slow clapping was coming from the trees and a tall, elegant elf walked towards him.
"Most impressive, Anaril, I must say." Glorfindel smiled. "Not that such fools are much competition it has to be said. So you've come to save your sister, have you? Your pretty, delicious sister?"
Anarils eyes blazed.
"Alright," continued Glorfindel, "let's see what you're made of shall we? I think I am going to enjoy this."
He drew his sword. They circled each other warily. Anaril was not scared of Glorfindel, but was well aware what he was up against. This elf had taken down Balrogs for Eru's sake! He was going to have to keep his wits about him.
Beleg had used up most of his arrows on the South gate. He had only three left. He let one loose and one of the three elves he was tailing fell dead instantly. As the other two spun round in shock, he shot another through the neck. Immediately he had his last arrow notched and pointed at the elf still standing and who was holding the unconscious Lotheliel on his shoulder.
"Now then," said Beleg in a voice that would have made an Orc wet itself, "We can do this the easy way or the hard way. Which is it to be? Put the elf down. Now. And gently."
The elf hesitated for a moment and then grabbed for his gun. He didn't even have it out of its holster before he was collapsed on the ground, screaming in agony with the still prone Lotheliel now pinning him to the floor. Beleg jumped over to him.
"Now that was stupid, wasn't it?" he grinned. He took out the gun from the holster and pocketed it. "Oh, and I'll be needing this back. It's my last one, you know. "
Standing on the elf's ankle he wrenched the arrow out of his knee. The elf screamed in pain and passed out.
Beleg quickly cut through Lotheliel's bonds. Then he used what rope he had to bind and gag the unconsciouself - he had no desire to kill anyone unless he had to, and this one would be maimed for life as it was. He gathered up the arrows from the EiWC's quivers and took their guns, then hoisted Lotheliel over his shoulder and ran quickly towards the sounds of gunfire and fighting coming from the clearing.
Anaril was losing. He was skilled, very skilled, but no match for Glorfindel's experience and speed. He had managed to block plenty of his thrusts and blows, but had been caught on the arm and leg and he was tiring. Glorfindels arrogance and confidence that there had only been two involved in the attack, led him to start taunting the younger elf.
"Come on, I thought you'd put up a better fight than this! I had heard you were meant to be a skilled fighter. Shame you won't be around to see me torture your sister to death, isn't it?"
Anaril, riled, lunged wildly at Glorfindel, but he spun away from him, catching him on the cheek with the tip of his blade, and as Anaril turned back to him, caught and twisted Anarils sword from his grasp. Glorfindel thrust his blade towards Anaril's neck.
"Pathetic. Absolutely pathetic," he sneered. "Call yourself a warrior? You arrogant whelp. Pity more of your family didn't die on the slopes of Dol Guldur!"
With a roar Anaril lept at Glorfindel, knocking his blade aside with his arm no matter that it cut him. His ferocity and speed took even Glorfindel by surprise as Anaril shoved his head and shoulder into Glorfindel's solar plexus and pushed him back hard against the rocks behind him. Glorfindel, winded, let his blade drop.
"Never," hissed Anaril, "ever touch or defame my family..."
He grabbed Glorfindel by the neck, half throttling him, and smashed his head backwards against the rock. Even though he was helmeted, it was a massive blow. Glorfindel slid down the rock unconscious with blood pouring down his face.
Beleg came into the clearing.
"See you didn't need me, then?" he grinned.
Anaril turned away from Glorfindel, and allowed himself to the feel the pain of his wounds. Then he saw Beleg's burden.
"Lotheliel!" he cried, running forwards, as Beleg laid her on the ground. Anaril wiped her dark hair from her face.
"Lothy..," he whispered as he kissed her forehead and tears sprang to his eyes. Then he noticed the deep gash in her arm. "She's wounded," he said to Beleg, concern in his voice.
"I know, but we don't have time to deal with it now. We need to hurry. We've spent too long here as it is. We need to move and move fast. Only once we are a safe distance away can we afford to treat her wounds," Beleg replied and then, noticing the cuts to Anaril's face, arms and leg, added, "and yours."
"Don't worry about me," said Anaril and, as Beleg stepped forward to take up his burden once more, "No. I'll carry her."
They set off at a run, crossing the river as quickly as they could, and then heading East into the trees. They kept up the pace despite Anaril's wounds, fatigue and burden, for more than half an hour. Then and only then did they stop briefly to dress his and Lotheliel's wounds. Then they picked up the still unconscious Lotheliel and headed off at a run once more.
Alatariel Nolatari
While AN was pacing back and forth through the room, she heard a sudden creak in the corner. She rushed towards the sound and found what was left of the transmitter, that she had so discreetly flung away some time ago - a time that seemed to surpass the ages of Arda - , and picked it up cautiously. She beckoned Sluva and Tuorë to come closer and they crouched beside her. They listened to the noises carefully and their expressions darkened as one. This could not be their Commander. Sounds of mischievous laughter were ringing in their ears. They'd picked up one of the EiWC's signals.
AN handed the transmitter to Tuor and got out her notebook. "morons... escaped... revenge... plan... Tulkas... EiB". AN quickly penned down the few words that they could hear and her eyes widened when the transmitter gave a final creak and broke down. "They're out", she said, yet fearing to gain false hope. "But the EiWC are up to something. They know Elb and Fallë have escaped. But they were talking about more than two EiB, I'm sure of it..."
AN sat in thought for a while, until Sluva suddenly grabbed her arm and stared into her shining green eyes. AN understood it at once. Legolas. Elendor. Perhaps they'd still stand a chance! But although they were all fierce fighters, the four of them, the other EiB knew they'd get themselves into a lot of trouble facing dozens of EiWC.
"We must do something!" AN cried out. "To warn them about the trap at least!"
"But we don't know what the trap's all about ourselves!" reasoned Sluva.
AN frowned. There must be some way they could reach Elb... It hit her like lightning. She whispered something in Tuorë's ear and retreated to her office for some good old EiB telepathy practice... She just hoped she would be able to reach Elb in time.
Elberethia
Legolas supported his younger brother, while Elb leant on Elendor, attempting to keep her lweight on her left leg. They were avoiding the gorge that had almost killed them earlier, but this meant that the only way across the river was under it. None of the elves liked having to go underground, but they had to get there as squickly as possible, pursued as they were.
Elb suddenly collasped against Elendor, and he set her on the floor. "What is it?"
"AN..." Elb had remembered the benefits of their telepathy, but not the splitting headache and loss of strength that came with it. She inwardly thanked AN for the sarifice, then bent over as another wave of pain, weakness, regret, sorrow and worry came over to her from AN. One word was repeating itself, over and over and over....
Elb's head snapped up. "Trap. There's a trap." Elendor grabbed the torch and sprinted ahead, Legolas pulling the hurt Fallë with him. Elb used the wall for support as she tried to cach up.
Elendor was using the torch to check the structure of the tunnel, when there was a rumble. "Explosion!" Legolas grabbed Fallë by the shoulders and dragged him to Elendor, then turned and put out a hand for Elb. Then, the tunnel collapsed, and they were separated, the last thing Elb seeing was Fallë's wordless cry as rocks blocked their view.
Nenya
Falle stood stupified, staring at the fallen rocks piled in front of him. "Elb!" he shouted, "Elb? Can you hear me?" Nothing. He tried the transmitter, but of course, being underground it was dead. ELendor and Legolas were scrabbling at the rocks to see if they could move or remove enough to make a passage through, but it was quickly clear that it was hopeless. There was absolutely nothing they could do. Falle, wounded, exhausted and now utterly distraught wept bitterly at their fate, or more exactly, at Elb's. Legolas comforted him, but Elendor was looking stern.
"We have no choice but to continue on and, if we can, double back over the gorge to come back for her," he said.
Legolas looked at him, "But, Elendor, isn't it likely they'll be covering the gorge now as well? That's the only way to get to the base. We won't be able to get anywhere near it.."
His brother interupted him, "We have to do something!"
"First things first," said Elendor, "We need to get out of this tunnel. They may assume we are buried under the rubble, but Tulkas won't take any chances - they will be coming round to the other side of the tunnel, if it's not already covered. We have no option. If we are quick, or it's only a light ambush we might just make it out. We can decide then what we are going to do."
Legolas nodded, but Falle was loth to leave the spot and kept looking back at the pile of rocks and rubble with tears streaming down his face.
"Come on, Falle, we need to go. We can't help her if we get captured too..," reasoned Legolas.
Falle nodded though it broke his heart to do it, turned, and let his brother carry him over his shoulder. Elendor and Legolas started off down the tunnel at a run.
After some time Anaril and Beleg came within sight of the camp. There had been one or two scouts on the East side of the river at Rivendell, but otherwise no-one had followed them, or were too far behind them to cause them any problems.
Beleg switched frequencies on his transmitter radio: "AN? Open up, it's Beleg."
"Good to hear you," was the reply.
Within a few minutes, as they reached the brow of the hill, the small gate, otherwise invisible to the eye when shut, swung open to let them through.
They were surrounded by welcoming smiles. AN stepped forward to meet them. "Well?" she asked.
"Successful mission," said Beleg, "but..." He indicated Anaril, still carrying Lotheliel, and his voice died.
SL and Tuore rushed forward to take her off Anaril's shoulders.
"Let's get you sorted out, Anaril, you've got some nasty cuts there," said SL kindly.
But Anaril wouldn't let anyone take Lotheliel from him and insisted on staying by her side even as his wounds were treated and wouldn't be moved even though he needed rest himself. The drug would be wearing off soon, he knew, and he wanted to be the first thing she saw when she finally came round.
Beleg meanwhile was asking AN about Elb and if they had got any word from them yet. They should have been back by now... if there hadn't been any problems. AN brought him up to speed and his face became dark with concern.
"Let's just hope you got through to her in time, AN" he said, then he realised what he'd said as he saw the fear and concern in AN's eyes. "I am sure you did," he added. And AN smiled gratefully that at least he was trying to make her feel better.
Elladan had stepped forward. "Look AN, I know we are new here and as yet untried in battle for the Elves in Black, but myself and my brother want you to know that we are ready and willing to go out now and get them."
AN smiled, "Do not fear, Elladan. If we need you we will use you. As yet I am unsure what to do next. I think we need to give Elb some time and hope we hear from her ... or one of the others. Meanwhile," she looked on the elves stood round her, "I think we should discuss the possibilities and tactics if we need to go in and get them." Beleg, NL, Nimlas and the rest murmured their agreement.
As they neared the tunnel entrance the elves slowed, keeping themselves flat against the tunnel sides. There was a large boulder in front of the tunnel opening, just to one side. Elendor motioned for Legolas to stop where he was while he inched forward, keeping as low as possible. He peered over the boulder. He couldn't see any sign of an ambush, but it was too quiet for his liking. He moved back silently to Legolas and whispered, "Can't see anything, but more than likely they're out there. Just have to hope there's not many of them." Legolas nodded and, having used up all his arrows at the base, took out his automatic.
Elendor and Legolas edged closer to the entrance. Falle had insisted they would have a better chance if Legolas stopped carrying him and Elendor had handed him a spare gun. The three elves stepped out into the daylight, shooting as they ran.
Elberethia
"Fallë? Fallë!" Elb shouted, and scrambled at the rocks, but none moved. She unsheathed her sword, and began to lever rocks away, starting with the smaller ones. This would take a while. Her leg was aching, but she could not afford to stop working. Her left arm was also throbbing, but Elendor's painkillers had helped.
After a few minutes, she realised that it wasn't working. She hoped Elendor, Legolas and Fallë had made it out safely, then turned around, sheathing her sword, and bringing her carbine to her shoulder. It hurt the wound a little, but thhe pain was tolerable. She turned on the pinpointer, and began walking into the darkness.
Fallë ducked against the rockface and carefully aimed at another elf. They were doing well, so far, but they had underestimated the ambush. Legolas' deadly aim was once more apparent, and Elendor's zeal was terrifying, but they were outnumbered, and Fallë was fully aware that he was nothing more than a vulnerability. He ducked again as another bullet whizzed past his right ear, and looked over Legolas shoulder into the forest, were two Noldor were approaching.
"Legolas! Behind you!" The two Noldor looked at him, and began to run towards him. He tried to load the gun, but the Beroglide had seriously sapped his strength, and the first of the Noldor knocked it out of his hand, knocking him to the floor. He kneeled on his hands, and put a hand over his mouth.
"Quiet! It's us!" The elf released his hold.
"Elladan? Why are you wearing white?"
"Don't worry, we have a plan..."
Legolas recognised the two immediately, and nodded to Elendor, who caught the glance and carried on fighting. Elladan stepped out from behind the rockface, Fallë in front of him, fingers laced behind his head. Elladan had a rifle pointed at his back. Legolas guessed the plan, but the sight still disturbed him.
Elrohir loaded and aimed his own rifle as the fighting ceased, coming from behind Elendor. "Put your weapons on the ground. You are surrounded."
One of the EiWC, probably the ranking officer, recognised them and ordered his own officers to relax. "Nice to see you again. Do you know where the other is?"
"No idea." Elladan turned his gaze back to the 'prisoners'. "Stand, in a circle, back to back, and place your weapons on the floor!" The three obeyed, but kept hold of their weapons. "Release your weapons, or I shoot the youngest!" No one moved. Elladan aimed his rifle at Fallë's chest, the signal given. Elendor, Legolas and Fallë fell to the floor, protecting their heads, as Elladan and Elrohir shot past each other at the surrounding EiWC.
Queen Elamooo
Em opened her eyes and looked around. She got up slowly and walked out to find the others.
"By the looks on your faces I chose the wrong time to fall ill. What the hell's going on?"
Sl turned slowly around and told Em what had happened, and reasurred her that everyone's ok.
Em-
"What, what did I do?"
"You haven't mentioned Elb."
An got up from her cahir and turned to face Em.
"She went to find Falle."
"When?"
"Hours ago, she should have come back by now."
"And, none of you have done anything?"
"She said not to."
"You listened to an injured, heart-broken Elb? Do we have any idea where she is?"
"The Gorge."
Em mulls over what she's heard, trying to think of any way to help. As she does, the radio sparks to life.
Pipertook
We all swivled arround to watch the radio. i didn't know why we were watching it, all you had to do was listen to it, but the ways of the elves are far to large for a little hobbit to comprehend. as the radio crackled and hissed the elvs ran over to it.
"It's Elb!" EM said.
"crackling and hissing? why would she do that?" i asked.
They all gave me a look and then resumed trying to figure out what she was saying. after long debate we decided that the radios needed new batteries and that next time we'd get the walkie talkie 2003 instead of the walkie talkie 1311.
Queen Elamooo
Em rushes out the room to find some more batteries, but by the time she had come back in the statioc had died, and so had the hope of the EiB. She walked towards the radio and put the new batteries in, tossing the dead ones carelessly into the bin. Everyone sits and waits for the next attempt at contact.
Nenya
Elb stumbled forward in the darkness of the tunnel. She could hear voices ahead and slowed.
"Come on, we need to see if there were any this side of the fall-in!" someone was shouting.
She could see torches being waved around. There was no escape. Before she had time to raise her gun she stumbled, her right leg giving way from underneath her and she fell heavily to the floor.
"What was that?" a voice cried and Elb suddenly couldn't see as a torch was shone straight in her eyes. "Don't try anything or well shoot," she was told and she decided not to try and put up a fight. It was clear she was hopelessly outnumbered. Someone ordered the elves to move aside and came forward.
"Shine that light back over here, let's see which one of the rats we've caught!"
It was Eonwe's voice. Elb was blinded once more. There was soft laughter from Eonwe as he crouched down to her level and stared at her malevolently. He nodded,grinning and whispered, "Bingo! "
Immediately he turned on his heel. "Check there aren't any more further in and then bring this one with you. You!" He pointed at a elf standing near the entrance to the tunnel.
The elf jumped. "Yes, sir?"
"Get Tulkas on the radio and say it worked. We've got her."
~*~
As soon as Elladan and Ellrohir started firing, the other three, who had never dropped their weapons, turned and fired also. Within minutes the remaining EiWC were dead. At last they could greet and thank the twins.
"Where's Elb?" they asked. The three elves exchanged looks and Falle broke down once more, still faint from his injuries.
"She got trapped on the other side of a fall-in in the tunnel. That was the trap that AN was trying to warn us about," said Legolas. The twins looked grave.
"We don't have time to go to base camp," Elendor was saying, "We need to go back and attempt a rescue now before they take her into the second camp.. or take her back to Rivendell."
Falle looked up at him from where he was seated, half collapsed on the ground, "Elendor, I agree with you, but I am a liability if I stay with you. I can barely walk. Though it breaks my heart to say this you will have to go and get her without me."
Legolas looked at his brother, "You are right, Falle. And I will go with you and tend to your wounds. We need to get you fit for Elb's return." Falle forced a smile.
As Legolas and Falle got ready to return to base camp, Elendor was trying to get through to AN on Elbs radio again. "AN? Come in, AN? You there?"
Nothing. Just static. He switched frequencies and tried once more.
"AN? An, come in. .... If you can hear me its Elendor. The twins made it here ok but Elb's in trouble. We're going back for her. Falle and Legolas are coming back to camp. Do you read me? Over."
Nothing. Then suddenly a voice, interspersed with static, and clearly AN.
"Yes...we...heard that....fizz...ending....eleg and ...fizz ...help. Over "
Elendor and the twins exchanged glances.
"What was that?"
"I have no idea," replied Elendor.
"Maybe I can help," said a voice from the trees as Beleg stepped forward. "She was probably telling you she'd sent you back-up."
SL appeared behind him and grinned. "The rest are back at camp just in case were attacked," she said, "Oh, and Anaril and Lotheliel are back safely," she added pre-empting Elendor's question.
Elendor took charge. "Right, Legolas, Falle you had better get going. You should get back safely enough. The rest of us need to get moving and moving fast if we are going to have a chance of rescuing Elb before they get to their camp."
Legolas and Falle headed off into the trees, while the others set off at a silent run in the direction of the gorge and Elb.
Tulkas
"Faster, you idiots," yelled Ecthelion, "we dont have much time!"
He had been ordered to cover the exit of the tunnel, and cover it he would, because Tulkas was ready to kill anyone in his current state of anger. As they reached what used to be the exit of the tunnel, he smiled at the destruction the explosives had caused. But he knew that it was too much to hope for that the EiB had been killed. They were probably coming toward him right now.
'That's alright,' he thought, 'I'll fix them up.'
"Get some snipers hidden around the exit," he ordered, "shoot any non-EiWC on sight."
His men quickly got to work. Within minutes there were 7 snipers around the exit, none of which could be seen by the most experienced Elf. But that wasn't all. Anti-personnel mines were set a few feet inside the tunnel, where a bottleneck caused by the falling rocks would force anyone passing into a narrow passage.
"Hey! Ecthelion!" said a loud voice from inside the tunnel, "What are you doing up there? We've already searched this part of the tunnel!"
It was Eonwe.
'Oh shit,' thought Ecthelion, 'what the hell am I going to do with these mines?'
"Everyone!" he yelled, "Disarm your detonators to the mines!"
As his order was carried out, he hoped that his would have the sense not to detonate the mines; otherwise he'd be up to his ears in trouble. An EiWC approached him.
"All the detonators have been disarmed, as per your order."
"Good," replied Ecthelion, "Get in touch with Haldir over on the other side. Make sure everything's alright."
As the Elf left to contact Haldir's unit, Eonwe and his men reached the exit of the tunnel.
"Look what we found," said Eonwe, kicking the tied Elb, "Can you believe she says she doesn't know where her boyfriend and his filthy brother are?"
"Really, eh?" replied Ecthelion, "We'll just show her our fine methods of persuasion as soon as the helicopter get here from Rivendell."
At that moment, the Elf that had been sent to contact Haldir returned. He looked troubled.
"Haldir says that all his men are dead, and he is wounded. The EiB have escaped."
