{}«Legolas' POV»{}

Arrows whistle through the air. Screams of fear echo in the air around me as elves rush to and fro in an attempt to flee.

Word had come of yet another Orc pack coming from the south-west. This one is the largest to have crossed our borders. One hundred had attempted to cross.

They attacked during the early hours of morning. Those on patrol were able to kill half of them on sight. But seventy-five broke through and are now raising havoc on a village west of my adar's halls, burning, and killing everything in their sight.

I continue to shoot beside several archers under my command. We are positioned in the trees. This gave us the ability to see, but left us vulnerable to any Orc archers.

I turn as a cry is uttered from one of the ellyn beside me. He falls to the earth and I look for the shooter. I spot him and I draw back another arrow. The Orc's aim was not in our direction now though, it is at my friend and captain: Thaladir. He had taken his ellyn around to the west side, whilst I stayed on the east side.

Aiming my arrow at the Orc, I exhale and release the string. True to its mark, the arrow drives itself into the Orc's skull. He releases but his shot is a poor one. It flies through the air, landing harmlessly in the trees.

Only a few are left now, so I discard my bow and unsheathe the long white knife I carry on my hip. Making my way down the street, I behead the first Orc that comes within reach. The second receives my blade through its chest, it gasps for breath as blood drips from its mouth. I rip my sword from its wretched body and it falls face first onto the leaf covered ground.

The remaining Orcs start to retreat only to meet their end when the archers that remained in the trees let their arrows fly. Ten of them drop dead on impact while three others stagger on a few feet before meeting the ground.

I hurry to where I saw the ellon fall out of the tree. He landed on his back, the arrow shaft sticking out his abdomen. Two others are already there, applying pressure to the wound. I curse under my breath at the blood that soaked his leather armor.

I turn around, surveying the area. Orc corpses litter the ground. The warriors that aren't caring for the wounded have already started gathering the bodies and piling then outside the village to burn.

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

It's evening before I return home. Adar is sitting in his chair in front of the roaring fire, reading several papers in his hands. He doesn't look up until I sit down on the couch across from him and pour a glass of wine. I take a sip before breaking the silence. "Seventy-five made it through this time."

He sighs and sets his papers aside. "Casualties?"

"Fifteen. We arrived at the same time the Orcs did and were able to kill most of them before they made it into the village."

He nods as he stares at the flickering flames. "What of your warriors?"

"In that we were more fortunate. Only two were injured and they are expected to recover."

He looks up at me. "And how do you fare ion nin?"

"I am well adar," I reassure him. "Though I am worried, their numbers seem to be growing."

"Indeed," he answers and hands the papers he was reading to me. "According to this letter, Gondor has also been experiencing these raids. King Elessar wishes to meet to discuss this matter as we seem to be the only two realms under this new threat."

This information puzzles me. Unless they are ordered to do otherwise, Orcs will raid whenever and wherever they wish. "Does he know why they do not attack elsewhere?"

"He did not say. He will be here sometime within the next few weeks. He may have more to tell us by then."

The last time I saw Aragorn, was sometime after his coronation. I had stayed in Minas Tirith for a time afterward before traveling home with Gimli.

Bidding my adar goodnight, I decide to turn in for the night. Not for the sake of weariness, but because I need some quiet to reflect on the happenings of the previous weeks and think on the best method for dealing with this threat.

We were living in peace as the damage from the Battle Under The Trees was cleaned and we had begun to live life without the constant threat of the shadow that had plagued our homeland for so long. The attacks started weeks ago. It was unexpected but we were still able to hold them off. At first, we believed it to be nothing more than random Orc raids. But their numbers started growing at each attempt. Until today, when one hundred-fifty attempted to cross the border.

Walking into my chambers, I stroll over to the window and push it open, letting the autumn breeze blow into the room. I inhale it deeply, allowing its energy to well up inside me. Papers ruffle behind me and I turn to see that most of the papers on my desk have blown onto the floor. Sighing, I walk over and start to clean it up. I really need to remember to set something on them before opening the window.

"Report... report..." I murmur to myself as I go through the mess. "another report, wait... what is this?" Amidst the other papers was an envelope stamped with the symbol of the white tree. Curious, I open it up and read its contents.

Legolas,

As I told you adar, I will be traveling to your realm soon. I wish for you to meet me in Imladris in one month. I do not believe it to be wise to travel in large numbers, so I wish for you to bring someone you trust you if you agree to meet me.

My heart is glad that we will meet again mellon nin. I only wish it was under more favorable circumstances.

Aragorn.

I turn the page over but it's blank. The only other writing on it is the date which is two weeks ago. Why didn't adar tell me of this I wonder? I walk back out to where adar is still sitting and hand him the letter. "Did Aragorn not mention that he wishes for me to meet him in Imladris?"

"No, he did not... I would have told you if he had." Adar said, skimming over the words.

Strange, it is unlike Aragorn to ask me to leave at all. Especially in a time like this, and to ask me to travel with only one other is strange. Still, there must be a reason for it.

"You should go." Adar said bringing me out of my thoughts. "He would not ask your presence without reason."

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

Morning dawns cool, the sun peeking into my room. I find myself slumped over in my desk chair. I had begun to read the reports that had made a mess of my room last night and must have fallen asleep after all.

Yawning, I stand up and begin to pull myself together. Adar and I decided last night that I would go and Thaladir would come with me if he is willing. I decide to seek out the captain as we are to leave tomorrow.

Heading for the gate, I spot Dolenel. He is in Thaladir's unit. A skilled archer and good swordsman.

"Dolenel." I call to him. He turns to me and smiles. "Have you seen Captain Thaladir this morning?"

He frowns and shakes his head. "No, I have not. He's off duty. Though I do believe he said he was going to spend some time with his sister today. Mentioned something about being sick of eating stew?" Dolenel shrugs and I fight to hold back a laugh at his captain's inability to cook. Thaladir and his twin sister, Faervel, struggle with the idea. Their little sister, Iwen, used to do it for them; she enjoyed it. But she married and moved out several months ago.

Thanking Dolenel, I walk past him in the direction of Thaladir's little house in the woods. The structure is made of wood. Vines grow up the carved spirals of the porch railing. Smoke rises from the stone chimney.

Aglar, Thaladir's horse, greets me as I near the house. He nudges his nose into my back, making sure I acknowledge him. I turn around and gently pet his forehead in recognition. "Mae govannen Aglar." I whisper to him.

Turning, I head for the door where I hear Thaladir's voice. "Faervel, I believe we burnt supper again."

A loud sigh sounds from within. "Are we ever going to learn how to do this? I'm getting tired of stew and soup." It was Thaladir's twin sister speaking.

I knock on the door and their conversation stops. The door opens and Faervel is standing there. The scent of burnt food floods my nose. Before Faervel can say anything, I step inside and throw a glance towards the kitchen, before asking her, "Attempting to cook again?"

They both laugh. "Yes," Thaladir says. "But as you can smell, it's not our specialty. Since Inwen moved out, we have had to try to figure this out on our own. But anyway, what brings you here mellon nin?"

"Business," I answer. "May we speak outside?"

He nods and casts an apologetic glance at his sister.

"Go ahead. I will take care of the cleanup." She says before adding with a smile. "But you can scrub the pan when you come back in." She turns and walks into the kitchen. Thaladir shakes his head as his sister disappears.

"What is it?" he asks me as we walk away from the house.

"I would like you to accompany me to Imladris. Aragorn has requested me to meet him there. He said I should bring an ellon I trust as he believes it would not be wise to travel in large numbers."

"Do you believe this to be wise?" he questions.

"I don't see as I have much choice," I say, scratching my forehead with my thumb. "We can't afford to take a large number of soldiers away from their duties."

"That is true." He sighs, but then forces a grin. Like myself, he isn't convinced this is the wisest course of action. "Well I can't let you go alone I suppose? When do we need to leave?"

"Tomorrow."