The Edge of a Knife

Chapter 16: Attack on Edoras

Aragorn and Legolas raced into the the Golden Hall. Inside it was nothing but devastation and chaos.

Legolas looked back out across the city. The orcs were breaking through the gates. The soldiers hadn't had enough time to rally.
The people were defenseless.
"Go find the others!" Legolas told Aragorn.
"Where are you going?" he asked.

Legolas didn't have time to answer. He raced down the steps and disappeared down the steep hill.

Aragorn turned and entered the room. People were struggling to get out. Everyone was in a panic.

Where was Gandalf? Or Theoden? Aragorn raced deeper into the destruction and mayhem. He had to find them no matter what.

------------------------------------------------------

Legolas ran swiftly down the hill. Moving like a shadow, he threw off his hood and pulled out his bow, thankful that he had decided to keep it close to him at all times.

When he arrived the people were in a panic. They ran towards the top of the hill towards the Meduseld.

Legolas turned towards the gate. The orcs had broken through and were charging through the streets. Frightened people desperately tried to outrun them.

Legolas nocked an arrow into the bowstring. He fired it at the first orc he saw, then another.

He ran straight into them. Firing and dodging arrows as he went. Thankfully there were soldiers nearby who aided the elf in protecting the people.

Now that he was closer, he switched from his bow to his knives. He spun them once in his hands before engaging the first orc who was unfortunate enough to cross his path.

He sliced off an orc's head with one knife while stabbing one in the heart with the other.

He quickly forced both of them into another orc that appeared in front of him.

At the same time he thrust one knife forward into an orc and the the other one backwards into another.

He kneeled down onto one knee to avoid a swinging sword. He sprang up and thrusted his knives into the orc that wielded it.

Screaming caught his attention. He looked and saw a young boy alone outside his house.

He was screaming for his mother. Legolas wasted no time and fought his way toward the child.

He reached him just as an orc was about to kill him. He threw one of his knives into the back of the orc's head.

It fell and Legolas ran over to retrieve his knife. He looked at the boy and held out his hand.

"It's alright, I'm going to help you." The boy stared up at him in fear. He refused to move.

"Where is your mother? Let's go find her, alright?" he smiled and reached his hand out again.

This time, the boy took it. Legolas gripped it tightly as they made their way towards the Meduseld where Legolas assumed the boy's mother went. As they ran an orc suddenly charged at them.

He dodged the orc who flew past him and kept running, keeping the boy close to him.

Another scream sounded in his ears. He turned and saw a man who stood between an orc and a woman who lay injured on the ground. He assumed that it was the man's wife.

The man was desperately trying to fight off the orc but it was no use. The orc knocked him down and went in for the kill.

Legolas switched to his bow and fired an arrow at the orc. It fell dead but another came up to the man.