The SONGS of SPRING

I AM HALF A HUMAN

Brenn grinned revealing his crooked teeth. 'No, you take the boy. Just run 'round like a wild doe you are until he can chase you no more. Outrun death instead of trying, that is wise.'

'You reason well thug. Very well. If you get killed by that fool I'll laugh at your grave.' Raen held her bo tight, heaving courage from her anger. At far she thought of the silver haired elf who caused her misery since she left Greyford. I'll hang that elf up side down, she thought, pull his hair one by one until his head is completely bare. Then she would cut his neck and let him die slowly.

At last the two Gondorian closed in, making slow cross steps as if they were on a hunting game. Brenn was first to charge and he drew his sword against the armoured Gondorian. Swords tinked, the crowd cheered some more as the Gondorian eluded the slash. Next the hunter drew near yet Raen simply stood her ground waiting for him to make the first move.

Legolas turned upon hearing the sword clashed, heart thumping he was afraid to death. Gimli was cursing his way through the crown behind him. He was too far from the exit but it would be unwise to jumped off to the pit and rescue her. No that would only cause chaos. Yet he refused to give up, Legolas would do anything to save her, even it means killing a few. Then he pushed on and snatched a bow and arrows from the passing guard, positioned himself to the top row and drew his bow.

'What were you thinking?' Gimli called panting, 'Legolas, don't!' he warned.

'It's Safirah fighting in there. I won't let anything or anyone hurt her.' He nocked an arrow and pulled the shaft to the back of his ears. Gimli came just right and tapped his bow before he released it.

'It was your idea to lock her in prison, you Elf ---'

'Step aside.' Legolas hissed.

'There must be another way, call to stop the show. Eldarion is that way.' Gimli pointed back to where the canopy was but he was pointing at the many backs, everyone were all standing now. But Legolas seek for a higher ground, climbed some more steps and found a spot on top of a five feet post.

In the pit Brenn and the Gondorian fought the hardest, they were equal in strength and speed. Brenn displayed an undeniable endurance even with a wounded leg. Raen dodged and rolled, avoided the hunter the best she could.

To the crowd she seemed to be running away, rolling over and ducking, skipping and bouncing everytime the hunter swings his sword. And when she saw the heavy sweat dripping from his forehead, Raen knew it was time.

She charged ahead being offensive this time. The crowd echoed as her first side stroke caught the hunter on the leg, and back and side until he distant himself.

As he drew back Raen scooped sand and waved it to him, blinding the man for a while. She pounced to disarm but the hunter was quick to side step and counter, swooped his sword. Raen blocked holding her bo across, faint green light crawled like fine threads on the surface of the enchanted wood.

She cussed.

With force enough to break stone, the stick sustained. Raen was brought to her knees. She rolled away and bounced back, more deadly, more angry. Imagining she was fighting the Elflord, it angered her more. She thrust her bo side to side in a tight battle between sword and stick, and she was not lacking in skill. One strong thrust to his chest and the hunter flew back to his knees. Raen held the bo with both hands asunder, stroke by the neck, worked her foot and twisted to cripple his legs, then pinned his face to the ground.

The crowd gasped.

'You can't kill me,' the hunter scoffed. 'Or you'll die too.'

'Says who?' And she swung her fist to his chin, and another and another and another.

Every blow the crowd echoed the pain. And when he was severely wounded she stopped and turned to Brenn. The Gondorian was swaying in his knees, anchoring on his spear. Brenn was hurrying to the  exit dragging his endured leg with him. Finally the Gondorian fell. Raen ran ignoring the growing noise above them. But as she went the hunter discretely crawled to the fallen man and pulled his bow.

On the canopy, Beren was relieved. He knew Raen would make it. It would take more men to bring her down, he even had doubts in his skills when Raen wields a stick. With fate ascertained, Legolas pulled back to find the way to the exit.

'Brenn!' Raen called. She pulled the man just before he catches the ground. 'Almost there. We're almost there.' she said. A sword cut severed his knee and he couldn't walk. He had suffered two more wounds in his arm and blood was running down his nose.

'Save yourself lass. Run to the exit.'

'I won't leave you behind,'

'You owe me nothing.'

'I'm not paying a debt, I'm just being half a human.'

Brenn shrugged. 'What would an Elf side of you do?'

'Run like a coward and live in shame.' She urged him to walk faster. 'Come, walk now or never.'

But when they were near the exit door the hunter draw his bow and pulled the shaft back, sitting on the ground he aimed at Raen's heart. Legolas saw the horrow below and found himself shouting to warn her.

The crowd boomed and his voice was swallowed, Raen had no idea of what was coming.

Then,...

An arrow sailed overhead the crowd and hit the hunter by the head and his arrow flew towards Brenn instead. He fell down feeling the blood on his chest. No words came out, Raen cupped his face in disbelief.

'Brenn!' Raen whispered.

'This is a cruel world, Raen. People die a disgraced death...hope you'll find better reason to die for.' There he tilted his head East hoping the see the Sun in his last moment - he saw none. His other hand fell to the side revealing Nestor's letter in his hand.

She pulled the letter from his grasp and stood, walked into the door filled with grief. There came cries and shouts from the angry crowd and Gondor have customs to follow, a young man has been killed and so the guards were deployed to take her back. From the tight passageway Raen trotted. It wasn't long until she realized guards were gathered before and behind her. Suddenly out of the shadows came Galu, the hound had been waiting for her escape. Raen mounted the Hound of Luthien and together they rode fast away from the House of Valor, into the streets and galloped to the Eastern gate towards Anduin.

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A/N

Thanks for reading this far, I'm sorry it took so long to update. The next few chapters may be longer, please be patient. More of Legolas and Raen scenes are next. :) Who do you think killed the hunter? Comment your guess below. -Haz

Credit goes to the owner of the video above.