Saving the Sons of Durin

Thand Odo

~ Part Seven ~

~ Flashback ~

"Ellía, nin galad, what did I say about wandering off?" A beautiful she-elf asked her daughter. "Sorrui, Amil. I just wanted to explore a bit." The small she-elf said with a sheepish smile. "Perhaps it is best we wait for Círdan and Joralf to return, before running about, yes?" The elf asked with an adoring smile at her child. "Lá, Amil."

As the two she-elves were about to start a small fire for the night, Joralf and Círdan came sprinting towards them. "My Lady Celebrían! We must go, now!" Joralf ordered as Círdan began to untie their horses. "Whatever is the matter, Joralf?" She asked as she took you Ellía's hand in hers.

"An orc pack has picked up our sent and is on their way." Círdan rushed out as he tossed their packs onto the horses. "Just one pack? I believe we can handle that." Celebrían said confidently to the two shaken guards. "No, My Lady. We cannot." Joralf said lowly as he came to look her in the eye. "The pack is lead by the Pale Orc..." He breathed out.

Ellía looked up at her mother's face and saw an emotion that she had never witnessed from her before. Fear. "We must make haste for our borders." Celebrían said firmly and picked Ellía up as she hurried to the horses. "Amil? Who is the Pale Orc" the child asked as her mother placed her on the ground so she could strap her swords on.

"I hope you will never find out, nin mel." Celebrían whispered out as she lightly cupped Ellía's cheek. "My Lady, they will be here any mo-" Joralf began to say but was cut short when he dropped to his knees with an arrow lodged in his throat. "Joralf!" Ellía cried out and started to run to the guard but her mother gripped her arm tightly.

"GO CELEBRÍAN!" Círdan shouted as he unsheathed his dual swords and turned to face the charging orcs that had appeared out of nowhere. "Amil! We cannot leave them!" Ellía sobbed as she has placed on her mother's horse as Celebrían climbed on behind her. "Joralf is my gone, my dear, and Círdan is making a sacrifice so we may get away. Let their lives not be lost in vain!" Her mother explained as she pushed the horse into a gallop.

Ellía could hear the pounding of feet and snarls behind them, but she kept her eyes shut gripped the horse's mane tightly. "You must keep going, nin galad. Venâ knows the way home. All you must do is hang on." Her mother suddenly whispered in her ear. "Why do you say this, Amil?" Ellía asked worriedly as she finally opened her eyes and looked up at her face.

Celebrían looked down at her daughter with a fierce love burning inside her. She would do anything for her children, even if that meant laying down her life so that they may return home safely. "Tell your Ada and siblings that I love the dearly." She told her daughter before taking Venâ's reigns and forcing them into Ellía's trembling hands.

"Amil!", Ellía cried, but her mother had already gracefully jumped form the horse with her blades drawn. Ellía looked over her shoulder, with tears streaming down her cheeks, and watched as Celebrían began to cut down orc after orc, while dodging the snapping jaws or wargs.Venâ let out a sad whiny before running even harder.

Just as Ellía had lost sight of her mother in the trees, she heard a horrible growl and she and Venâ were knocked to the ground. The young elf felt her breath be knocked from her as she hit the forest floor hard and her head slammed on to a tree root sticking up from the ground, causing her vision to go dark.

When she awoke again, she let out a cry when she saw her mother laying across from her, bloody and beaten. "Amil!" She called weakly and tired to sit up, but a piercing pain shot through her head, making her fall back to the ground. She glanced over to see if her mother had heard her, but she did not even move.