MISSION TO DOL GULDUR
by Jay of Lasgalen

Chapter 2 - Capture

Moving carefully away from the cliff, Legolas turned and ran back to where he had left the rest of the patrol. He slid down the slope, dropping silently at the edge of the clearing, startling Taniquel so much that she had an arrow aimed at his head before she recognised him, and lowered her bow with an exasperated sigh. "Gods, Legolas! I nearly shot you then! Give some warning next time."

"Sorry, Tani" he said breathlessly. "There's orcs heading our way. And goblins. We need to get out of the way."

In seconds there was no sign anyone had been in the clearing. They faded into the trees, well camouflaged, and waited for the orcs to appear. The first foot soldiers passed by and Legolas started to breathe a sigh of relief, when the next wave approached. These were larger and more evil looking than the goblins he had encountered before, and they seemed to sniff as they went, snuffling and snorting as they passed by. Before long one halted, peering into the undergrowth.

"I can smell something, Snurluk! Something 'orrible. Elf, I think!" Behind him, Legolas could hear the patrol backing away from the path, silently, leading the horses deeper into the trees. He almost laughed as he saw Elthan's indignant expression, and would have had the situation not been so serious.

"All right, you lot! Spread out! Find it!" commanded the orc captain.

The elf patrol retreated further into the forest. Even the horses moved silently through the bushes, but as the orcs spread out, several headed in their direction. They retreated again, away from the orcs, but again the orcs turned towards them. Legolas cursed silently. It was proving remarkably difficult to elude the orcs, and all the time they were moving away from the path they wanted to take. As they retreated further and further, the orcs kept turning in their direction. They were calling to each other, hacking at the undergrowth, and as they continued to spread out the Elves were in danger of being surrounded. Finally Legolas stopped. "This is no good. We're not getting anywhere" he whispered. "I've got to stop them."

"I don't think they're tracking us" breathed Alfiel. "I think it's just bad luck. But they're sure to blunder into us soon."

"We need to head them off. I'll lead them away from our position, take as many as I can persuade to follow me. You can deal with the ones left."

"No, Legolas, that's far too dangerous. You know we don't want to engage them. Besides, I don't think we should split up. Stay together and keep low."

"But they could stumble on us any minute. Then we would have no choice but to fight all of them. There's far too many, especially with Eléntia away. I can lead them off, lose them in the forest. We can regroup later. Alfiel, if I'm not back in four hours, carry on to Dol Guldur with the others. I'll try to meet you there." Without pausing for further argument, or to be told he was taking a foolish risk, Legolas leapt onto Pavisel and silently urged him away. It was dangerous, he knew that. It was also the best plan he could think of - he could not risk the group being caught, which seemed certain if the orcs continued to follow them as they had. If he succeeded in drawing off the main group, it would give the others a much better chance to reach Dol Guldur, no matter what happened. He turned, gave a brief wave, and disappeared into the forest.

Alfiel gazed after his friend. The logic was sound, and realistically he knew it was the best plan, but it was fraught with danger - especially for Legolas. He just hoped nothing would go wrong.

"There's over a hundred of them! What on earth does he think he's doing? How is he going to distract their attention from us without them suspecting something?" Math'rin wanted to know.

Alfiel shook his head in mock sorrow. He may have been a skilled and experienced warrior, but he was not a strategist. "Orcs aren't too bright, Math'rin. Listen and learn. Be ready. I don't know how many will be left for us to deal with."

They waited tensely to see what would happen. The orcs had slowed, and seemed to be listening. Alfiel prayed they hadn't heard the whispered debate, or suspected anything. While it was true that orcs weren't very intelligent, some of this group seemed brighter than most.

After what seemed like an eternity, shouts and loud neighs broke out, some distance to the west, along with the sound of snapping branches and something heavy crashing through the undergrowth. It sounded like an entire cavalry, not just one elf and a horse.

With cries of glee, the orcs tuned towards the racket. "I told you I smelled Elf! Come on you maggots! They're over that way - don't let 'em get away. And don't kill 'em all - I want one to play with!" The two leaders rallied their troops and headed off in pursuit.

The few who remained looked at each other uncertainly. "I ain't going after them! Sounds like there's an 'ole army out there! We'll stop 'ere for a bit, and 'ave a rest" said a small orc with straggly black hair and a chipped tooth.

"Yeah. Be safer. I ain't chasing no Elf army - let Snurluk's lot do that!"

With an appreciative grin at the tactic, Alfiel crept forward so he could see how many were left behind. There were only about twenty left, now sitting or sprawling on the grass, which would pose no problem. He turned to Math'rin. "You see? Simple, isn't it?" He moved into position. At his signal they fired on the orcs. Four fell before the others even realised they were under attack. They reacted swiftly, but by the time they drew their own weapons there were only six left. One, braver than most, raced towards Alfiel with a drawn sword, but he never even got close. Soon all had fallen to the elves' arrows.

They dragged the bodies into the undergrowth, out of sight, then paused to listen for any sounds of pursuit. The crashing, shouts, and wild neighing, and the cries of the pursuing orcs could still be heard, but it was growing fainter. "Sounds like he's having fun," said Math'rin. "But it's a dangerous game he's playing. There must be almost a hundred after him. I hope he'll be all right."

Elthan laughed. "I wouldn't worry. He's trained that beast of his well. Sounds like Pavisel's using his hooves well."

The ruse had worked, even better than they had hoped. The orcs had been lured far away from their position. Eventually the noise faded even more, but suddenly there was a different sound, a loud scream of fear and pain from a horse. It could only be Pavisel.

The shouts and crashing stopped abruptly, and the cries of the orcs turned jubilant, exultant. Alfiel looked at the rest of the patrol in horror. Had Legolas been caught?

They moved south of where they had killed the orcs, then quickly debated their best course of action. "I know what he said, but it's no good, I can't leave him" said Alfiel. "Taniquel, stay under cover with the others. I'm going to see what's happened. I don't want to separate again, but I don't know what else to do. I must find out!"

Reluctantly, Taniquel nodded. "All right. This is madness, Alfiel, but I know why you have to do it. Take care."

Alfiel turned and disappeared into the forest with Fanuidhol. She sighed. "I hope they both know what they're doing. Because I don't want to return without them and face the King!"

They were near an overhanging ledge. She moved the horses to the shelter of the cliff, then pulled branches across. There was a clump of gnatweed growing nearby, and the pungent smell would mask the scent of the horses. From only a few paces away they were completely concealed, even if orcs passed right in front of them. Sending Math'rin to keep watch, she and Elthan sat down wearily. It had been a long and eventful journey. After nearly an hour Math'rin called a low warning. "An orc patrol is approaching. About ten of them. They'll pass your position, but don't seem to be looking for anything. Just keep still!"

A few minutes later the patrol came into sight. They walked noisily, talking in their guttural voices, making no attempt to conceal their presence. This close to Dol Guldur they did not fear anything. They had come from the north, so were presumably not the ones that had gone after Legolas. Word of the chase and capture, however, had reached them. By listening carefully, Taniquel could make out what they were talking about. "Get a move on, Moghar! I want to get back soon as possible, to see the fun. What is it they've got, anyway?"

"Dunno. Some Elf, I think. Morluk said they'd had to shut it up, it was fighting so hard. The Masters want to question it, anyway - and I want to watch, too! Move your arse, Moghar!"

As the orc patrol continued their way south to Dol Guldur, they were speculating on what might be in store for the captive. Before they finally went out of earshot, she could hear them laying wagers on how long the prisoner would last before succumbing to the 'Masters' questioning. Taniquel looked at Elthan. There was a stark fear in his eyes. "They've got him, haven't they? Now what are we going to do?!"

"I don't know. Let's wait for Alfiel, he might know more. Math'rin! Did you hear?"

Math'rin appeared behind them, descending from the tree he had been in.

"I heard. Alfiel left you in charge, what are you going to do?"

She swallowed, her mouth dry. Legolas was a friend, as well as army commander. That was bad enough. But most of all, she did not want to be the one to tell the King that his son had been captured by the orcs of Dol Guldur.