Chapter Four: The Rescue from Mirkwood.
Morril, Kal, Tintil, Oin, and Arorod followed Malarka through Dagorlad. There was nothing there, only boring plains, that seemed to go on forever. Meeting up with the Anduin near the Field of Celebrant, they stopped for their first night.
‘When will we get to Rivendale?’ Tintil asked timidly. She didn’t truly trust Malarka but she had to for she promised that she would stand by Morril.
‘In 2 weeks time, if things go well. And if we can ride as hard as we are now.’ Malarka said.
‘What is going on?’ Oin asked grunting.
‘I have said it once, Oin, I have said it a million times, you will find out in Rivendale. There will be held a counsil there and there will be decided the fate of Middle Earth.’ Malarka said. ‘I have told you to much already. Now sleep for you will need it, even if you are elves.’
They did as Malarka said. Soon they were up riding again. As Malarka said a week pasted slowly but the landscape changed. From the Ash mountains to the Battle Plains to a dark forest, which Malarka told them was southern Mirkwood.
‘Mirkwood?’ the elves cried in awe. They had never thought that they’d see they would see the forest of Mirkwood.
‘This is the southern edge of it. You all, I’m guessing came from Northern Mirkwood, where King Thranduil and his son and daughters live. We will meet up with the Old Forest Road, that lead directly towards their domain. Mirkwood is not the place that it was. Being the largest forest in Middle Earth, it is also the deadliest. For you will see, Dol Guldur luming in the distance. That is where the Dark Lord lived for a short time. Regaining his strength and power. Now he is in Mordor. I will not speak any more of this for, he has spies everywhere. And if he knew what I was leading towards Rivendale, he would send the Nine riding towards us.’ Malarka told in her low ruff voice.
Soon the Old Forest Road, came into view and the went west, into the Misty Mountains.
There Malarka told of the creature Gollum.
‘You know a lot.’ Kal said.
‘yes I do, Kal.’ Malarka said. ‘but not enough that I can do what is about to happen without counsil.’ Malarka said sadly. ‘It seems that hobbits will shape the future.’
‘Hobbits?’ Oin asked.
‘Halflings. Oin, you should know of one. The Great Burglar, Bilbo Baggins?’ Malarka said.
‘I know of him. My Father had told me stories of Bilbo.’ Oin said. ‘I sometimes wonder what I would have done if the Elves and Dwarfs of Silme didn’t go South.’ Oin said sadly. ‘I would be under stone, in depression for I could not see the trees and sky.’
‘You are a strange dwarf.’ Malarka said with a twinkle in her eye. ‘I like you.’
Oin smiled smugly at the other elves in jest. Malarka smiled, for once her brown eyes didn’t seem so hard and cold, but lovely and understanding. Sadness came over those eyes now as she looked other the elves. All were best friends, two were lovers, one was a betrayer. When or where the betrayer struck, she did not know, she didn’t even now which one was the betrayer.
‘Hopefully, I find out before we get to Rivendale.’ Malarka whispered to her dapple gray horse.
They traveled for two days and Malarka said that they were drawing near the Old Forest Road.
‘Arorod, is acting not his usual self.’ Tintil said as she looked over at her lover. He was staring at Mirkwood, as if waiting for something.
‘He has been really quiet lately.’ Oin said. ‘He usually sits and laughs with me and my jokes, but it seems that he doesn’t want to. Since we came to Mirkwood.’
‘There’s something near.’ Malarka said as she stood and watched Mirkwood.
‘What is it?’ Tintil asked her bright eyes were now full of terror.
‘It is mostly likely orcs or spiders from Mirkwood.’ Malarka said. ‘We have traveled quietly and discreetly. Orcs are stupid and useless unless, someone tells them where their objective is.’ Malarka said as she looked at each elf and dwarf.
‘Either spies from Mordor have found us. Which is unlikely, for there are 4 elves, myself and a dwarf. Or someone here has betrayed us.’ Malarka said. ‘They know and they are under the Dark Lord’s power.’ Malarka said standing up to her full height. ‘I have brought with me swords and bows with quivers full of arrows from Lothlorien. Anyone who can fight…fight. Anyone who can’t. Learn.’ Malarka said as she got out her weapons. There was, as on cue almost, a whistle. A band of twenty orcs came flying out of the woods.
Morril gasped.
‘We have been betrayed!’ Her mind screamed. She wanted to grab a sword and fight with the others, but something was pulling her back. Someone calling her to him. She looked around and saw Arorod standing near her, gazing at her. The darkness she felt in Silme almost a week and a half ago, came back. Within her, darkness treaded 3 more threads of dread in her heart. Everything became slow motion. She looked around and saw her friends fighting for her. Malarka was yelling something at her. Morril didn’t understand. Everything became darker, her eyes, her hair….her heart. Morril soon came back into the light and picked up the sword. Arorod stopped her.
‘Morril, we can leave now!’ Arorod said.
‘What?’ Morril asked.
‘We can leave and go see your husband. He is waiting. He needs you, your ring and the One.’ Arorod said. ‘Than you could be queen.’
‘Queen? What are you talking about?’ Morril asked.
‘MORRIL! AROROD! Fight!’ Malarka’s voice screamed.
‘Leave with me! Make it easier on everyone!’ Arorod screamed at her.
‘I can’t leave Kal, Oin or Tintil! What has come over you!’ Morril asked.
‘You don’t know do you?’ Arorod smiled evilly.
‘Don’t know what?’ Morril asked.
‘You will find out soon! Come…’ Arorod was broken off by the sounds of horse galloping towards them. A group of elves in greens and browns came out of the North East. Wielding blades and shooting arrows from their beautiful horses.
‘Come!’ Arorod yelled.
‘No!’ Morril answered as she slashed an orc to her left. ‘Leave if you are a coward.’
‘You are going to make this horrible for us!’ Arorod said. Than the orcs started to retreat into the woods, Arorod ran after them.
Morril stood there staring after Arorod. Kal came up behind her and put a hand on her shoulder.
‘Are you alright?’ Kal asked looking after Arorod.
‘Yes.’ Morril said. ‘I don’t know what to do…Arorod….he told me to leave with him. To see my husband…’ Morril said tears forming in her eyes. ‘I thought he was a friend.’
‘Oh, Morril!’ Tintil gasped as she held Morril as both cried their hearts out. Kal, walked over to the horses to see if they were alright, and to get things ready for their journey. Oin was next to Malarka talking with the elves that helped them. ‘
Morril, Kal, Tintil! Come, quickly! We have no time to waste! Get your horses. We are riding with the Elves of Mirkwood to Rivendale.’ Malarka said sternly. She glanced at Morril.
‘You’ve changed.’ Malarka said.
‘I know I have! One of my friends has betrayed me and my friends!’ Morril cried.
‘No, you have become darker.’ Malarka stated.
‘How?’ Kal asked.
‘Her eyes and hair.’ Malarka said. ‘Quickly! Milord, we need to get to Rivendale as fast as we can. For my companions are in grave danger.’ Malarka said.
‘We will escort you to Rivendale, for we are heading that way ourselves. To speak with Lord Elrond. You will be safe from further attacks.’ A tall, blonde elf said with piercing blue eyes, who must have been the leader.
‘Quickly, Prince Legolas. We have had a signal that the Orcs are reforming.’ another tall blonde said to the leader.
‘Let us depart than.’ The leader said smiling towards the elf-maidens and glancing at the dwarf riding a pony near Malarka.
