The Fourth Age (closed)

[queenclaire]

Eruve was happy for Uther’s quick reflexes as he pulled her off her drake. Luckily Legolas pulled her drake out of the crevasse and she did not lose him. She kissed Uther back and nodded. Though she hated to leave him, she knew she needed to get the men to Dayrn. “Of course, my love,” she said she moved away from him, “Be careful.”

She wondered if this was what her warning was about this morning or it there was something worse around the corner for him. Either way, she rushed ahead, leaving Uther behind. She led the men she had to where Dayrn was camped out, telling them to keep their eyes peeled for anything, this land was their foe. There was still a sense of dread looming over them. She wondered what evil Dache had in store for them.

 

[KieranSoares]

Dayrn settled the men and made them hold still as they came. Finally the rear of the army caught up and all fell silent and still. Dayrn led them slowly out into the valley where the sun could shine down on them and they all began to calm down.

"Uther, gather your group to me!" Aragorn called, but no answer came.

"Uther?" Oswyn asked, sitting up high on his drake to see over the mass. Everyone was looking around for him, but he was gone.

"Where's Legolas?" Gimli asked in alarm. Miras, Gimli, Lexan, and the two hobbits gathered to Oswyn. Legolas and Uther could not be found.

"Did they fall...?" Pippin asked softly with an edge of fear on his voice.

"They couldn'ave..." Merry muttered in disbelief, "They stayed back to help the men, maybe they just aren't here yet!" So they waited, but the two never came. Gimli suddenly tried to charge into the forest to find them, but Miras and Lexan stopped him. If Uther and Legolas were gone, it was far too dangerous to go back and get them.

 

[queenclaire]

Eruve was busy helping Dayrn settle the men and having them wait for the others. Some were shaken by what just happened. She tried to calm them and assure them it was okay, though she did not believe it herself. She was not even really paying too much attention as the rest came since she was busy, but it did not take long to get it.

“What?”, she said sharply as she heard Uther and Legolas did not return. She made her way over to the others as they spoke. She stood there frozen, unsure what to do. She was torn between love and duty. She wanted to rush into the woods and find Uther and make sure he was indeed alive and the other part of her knew that she had come here to save Middle Earth. She looked up as Gimli was stopped from running in to save his best friend. She felt unbelievably numb. She could not believe he was gone. The fact he could be hurt and lying out there scared her. She needed to know, yet she knew if she found out he had indeed fallen and she would not any good to the group. She nervously twirled Uther’s ring on her finger as she tried to think past her fear. She looked to Oswyn, “Or Dache could have them.” None of those sounded like a good outcome to this, but at this point she would rather have that than him dead…though…that did not mean he would not be dead soon. She felt overwhelmed suddenly. What was she supposed to do? She was being pulled in two directions and could not seem to breathe.

 

[KieranSoares]

"We have to push on..." Aragorn said sadly, "Whether they are gone, taken, or simply fallen behind, we cannot pause. If they are only behind, they will find us. If they are taken, we will find them. If they are gone... then it shall not be in vain."

Slowly but surely, the men turned to continue, many glancing back and hoping Uther would come charging out with Legolas, but they never did. Oswyn saw to Eruve and Miras to Gimli. Dayrn brought them down the valley once more to find the vast stone doors already wide open, its darkness looming before them and seeming to call them in. But in the shadows, a dark, tall figure watched them with white eyes.

 

[queenclaire]

Eruve nodded at Aragorn’s words. She knew it was what needed to be done. Yet, she wanted nothing more than to find her love. She swallowed down her selfish want and pressed on with the rest of them. It seemed as if Uther and Legolas’ absence was weighing on them all, but she could not think about it. She was an elf and they could only die two ways, in battle or from sorrow. And for now, she needed to focus on the battle.

She silently followed the group down into the valley. She was not surprised to see the doors opened upon their arrival. She stood there staring into the darkness, seeing a hint of someone standing in the shadows. She felt anger well up inside of her.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Come in... please, make yourselves at home," the figure spoke, and they knew it to be Dache immediately. "Do make yourselves comfortable. You will be here a long, long time."

"Where's m'elven brother!" Gimli roared, brandishing his axe.

"And where's our leader!" Merry shouted just as fiercely.

"Ah yes, Lord Legolas of Lothlorien, and General Uther of Rohan. You shall see them soon if you only enter," he smirked and disappeared from the entrance, leaving the doors open.

 

[queenclaire]

Eruve curled her lip in disgust as the sickly sweet voice of doom met their ears. She felt disgust as he beckoned them in. “It’s a trap,” she said softly. She had a feeling if they all went in, few would actually make it out. But if Dache truly had Uther and Legolas, then she would go in and fight to free them. She had no choice. Just like she had no choice to not go in at all. Middle Earth needed to be protected. She was ready, just as she was sure the others were. At least most of them.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I know it is... but it's a trap I'm willing to face for two dear friends," Aragorn growled, and the others of the group nodded in agreement. For two great people, it would be worth risking injury.

Aragorn led the way in, and almost immediately after the last man entered, the doors slammed shut. Slowly, they advanced, weapons ready and torches lit. White eyes began appearing all around, watching hungrily.

"Eruve..." Aragorn whispered, "what do we do...?"

 

[queenclaire]

Eruve nodded, she was willing to go in the trap as well. She wanted Uther back and Dache dead. She walked into the darkness, knowing that something was in there ready to attack them. She closed her eyes momentarily as the door closed once all in. She looked to Aragorn out of the corner of her eyes, keeping alert to everything around them. “They don’t like bright light,” she said softly, “Keep the fires lit and to the sun light in the roof and pray we are out before dark.”

 

[KieranSoares]

Aragorn was about to pass the order to the others when suddenly before them, the lights began to dim and die. Dache was definitely was trying to get his monsters out. A great gust of wind blew through the hall, extinguishing their torches and leaving only a strange amber wisp before them for them to follow in the pitch blackness.

 

[queenclaire]

“No,” Eruve whispered as she looked around. Dache was not going to let them be lucky this time. She frowned as the place started to go black. She knew most of them were not ready for what was in the dark just yet. She acted on instinct and held up her hand in the air. Her kind had the ability to control the elements. She had just a bit of fire left, she used it. She lit a huge ball of light, it was bright. Along with it the torches lit up again. She was furious and was using her anger to her fuel powers. Anger was a strong emotion and she was channeling it rather well. "We need to keep moving," she urged them on.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Quick march, lads!" Gimli called, and the army set off. The white eyes followed them closely, but it wasn't til they got to the deeper levels where the monsters were used to torchlight that the trouble began.

The first beast that leapt out was quickly felled by an arrow from Lexan, but none of the newer men were prepared. Droves of the beasts came at them and Lexan headed the archers to shoot volleys into their ranks. Fighters steeled themselves and strode forward with Gimli and Aragorn and Oswyn, and those too frightened were left defended in the center til they could gather their wits about them. They needed to do it quickly.

The battle raged only minutes before reinforcements came for the undead. The awful bears, at least a score, came charging in, causing a few men to scream in terror and turn tail. Merry and Pippin leapt to Eruve's side, but immediately, a great bear snatched up Pippin in his claws.

"Pip!" Merry cried and rushed forth with his dagger.

"NO MERRY!" But Pippin's call was too late. The bear struck up with his other paw at Merry and it cracked sickeningly across the little hobbit's head. He was thrown aside and laid, motionless. "MERRY!!!!!" Pippin screamed when he saw blood smeared across the floor. The bear's strike had caused Merry to fall on his own blade.

 

[queenclaire]

Eruve fought alongside the men that had not fled. She held her own well. She was not about to falter, lives were at stake as well as Middle Earth’s fate. She was here to save it and her people. She saw the bears coming and tried to keep the hobbits safe, but it was no use. In seconds, the bear had Pippin and Merry was on the ground bleeding. She had her sword out already and was ready. She lightening quick speed, she swung her sword and cut off the arm of the bear that held Pippin. Then she spun, pulling out one of the daggers Legolas gave her. With her sword and dagger in hand, she stabbed the dagger into the bear’s heart and slit it’s throat.

She looked to Pippin, pushing the bear back, “Check on Merry.” She took he sword that was used to slit the throat and then quickly gutted the bear. As it felt back, she grabbed the dagger out and threw it into the mouth of another charging bear, causing it to stagger slightly. She charged it, cutting off it’s head. She yanked the dagger from the mouth and turned to see how the others did with the bears and if Merry was still alive.

 

[KieranSoares]

In the midst of the battle, the beasts suddenly began to back away, and ran as if terrified of something the warriors couldn't see. The sunpools lit up again, and out of the gloom came two figures with amber eyes, and the entire fighting force was floored and terrified at who they were. It was Uther and Legolas. Uther was in a full suit of dark armor minus a helmet and carrying a wicked greataxe, and Legolas was dressed in archer's garb with a deadly longbow. Their amber eyes glowed like Dache's.

"Brother...?" Oswyn asked softly, and that set Uther off. He bolted at Oswyn, bringing his axe down on the taller man's shield and completely splitting it, breaking Oswyn's arm in the process. Oswyn fell with a snarl of pain, and then Uther's possessed eyes turned to the next nearest target: Eruve.

Legolas engaged with Lexan and Gimli and Miras, and it took all the three had to block his arrows and soon his fighting knives too. Uther came at Eruve with reckless abandon with a monstrous growl, his axe at the ready. No one dared intervene because they simply couldn't bring themselves to hurt Legolas or Uther. Aragorn, after seeing Merry and Pippin were taken back to the center for defense, tried to help Eruve, but was thrown aside roughly and struck his head thus knocking him out. Uther didn't halt his charge.

 

[queenclaire]

Eruve stood as the things backed off. She looked around as it lit up again, she had a bad feeling about it. She suddenly froze as she looked down at Uther and Legolas in ominous amour. She swallowed hard as she looked at them, it was as if they were possessed. They were alive, but not themselves. She watched in horror as Uther charged his brother and broke him arm. She staggered back slightly as Uther turned his gaze to her. She did not like the look in his eyes. Her eyes grew wide as Uther tossed Aragorn aside as if he weighed an ounce. She spun her sword in his hand as she readied herself for his charge. She was going to take him on and try to keep him alive.

She moved down as he charged at the last minute, tripping him as went over her. She spun around to face him. She wondered if Uther could hear her. She projected her voice into his mind, “Uther, if you are there, fight it.” She then charged Uther herself, jumping on his back and strangling him. She was hoping he was pass out without being harmed too much. "Uther," she whispered in his ear in elvish, "don't make me kill you."

 

[KieranSoares]

Uther's gloved fingers closed around her arms to pry her off, and an awful sensation like thousands of needles spread up through her hands and arms. Blackness began to form on her skin and then an awful realization came about: Uther wasn't even trying to breathe. Even when he pried her arms away just enough, he didn't take in a breath.

"He's mine now, dear lady," Dache's voice echoed through the room.

 

[queenclaire]

Eruve winced as he touched her skin. The pain traveled into her arms. She still fought to him, not wanting to give up yet. She watched the black begin to form on her arms. She tightened her hold on him. She narrowed her eyes as Dache’s voice echoed in the cavern. Her arms ached where the black was and she cried out in pain. A bright light formed around and chased the black on of her as she acted on instinct once again. She fell back off of Uther, pulling one of his gloves with her.

She dropped it immediately once her feet hit the ground. Still, the light around her, kept her safe and then faded. She spoke to Dache, “Are you so scared to face us, you must make minions to dwindle us down first? You are no god, Dache.”

 

[KieranSoares]

"I fear no mortals, I only enjoy toying with you."

But at that moment, Lexan, who was pinned beneath Legolas, was forced to stab his uncle. The moment he did, Legolas' body disappeared in a wisp of shadows. "Lady Eruve! Kill him, he's not real!" Lexan called to her, but before anyone could move, Uther disappeared in the same shadows.

Everything fell quiet and the wounded were gathered together, including an unconscious Aragorn, Merry whose true condition was unknown at the moment, and several dying men who likely could not be saved.

"Does... does that mean they're still alive somewhere else...?" Lexan asked quietly.

 

[queenclaire]

Eruve raised an eyebrow at what Dache said. She was going tired of this game. She wanted to end it, but knew it was not be so easy. Dache was enjoying watching them suffer. Their torment was his pleasure. She turned to look Lexan as he spoke, but Uther vanished before she could act. She sighed softly as she leaned back against the wall. She drew in a deep breath and tried to calm herself. The group was not faring well at the moment. She wondered if they would even survive.

She looked to Lexan as he spoke. He sounded about as hopeful as she felt at the moment. “I don’t know,” she answered with a shrug, sounding rather hopeless in her tone. She pushed herself off the wall and moved to Aragorn, “We need to regroup. We will be lucky if this reprisal last long enough.” She checked to make sure he had a pulse, just in case. She then held her hand over his chest and a warm light glowed over him to bring him back. “What of Merry?” she asked anyone, hoping he was alive.

 

[KieranSoares]

"'E's alive... but tha's all I can say fer sure..." Miras sighed. Merry was unconscious and entirely unresponsive and Pippin was terrified for him.

"Some of the wounded can't move," one fighter spoke up. "What do we do with them?"

"... We'll have to either split the group to defend the wounded here, or find a way to carry them, but we don't have any way of doing that," another spoke up, and all looked to Aragorn and Eruve's group.

 

[queenclaire]

At least Merry was alive, Eruve was happy with that news. Small good news was better than what they have been dealing with. She listened to the men talk about what to do. She shook her head and sighed with frustration. Dache was weakening their ranks so easily. There was no way to carry the wounded, and even if they tried it would tired them too much. Yet, splitting out was not something the group should really do down here. “We cannot afford to carry them and risk injuring more,” she said with a sigh, “We need the ones that can fight to have the strength to do so.” She paused and ran a hand through her red hair as she thought for a moment. She felt like any choice she brought up would be the wrong one. She shook her head, “We should split up. Some stay and defend the wounded and the rest march onward to fight.”

 

[KieranSoares]

The men split themselves accordingly, and Pippin stayed behind with Merry. Oswyn continued on, though, as his sword arm was still useful. Eruve and Aragorn's group continued on into the gloom of the halls and the silence therein. They walked for nearly a half-hour before a strange glow filled the hall with amber light. Everyone paused, but that was a mistake. Before them, Dache himself appeared and behind them, the ceiling caved in and sealed any exit they might've had.

"Hello again," the dark elf smirked. "Lady Eruve, your dearly beloved has been calling for you for some time. Screaming, even. And his elven companion had long since stopped making any sound at all. Would you care to see them?"

 

[queenclaire]

Eruve looked at Dache as the ceiling caved in. She was not surprised it happened, but she had wished it did not. Seems the odds were against were against no matter what they did. The harder they fought, the more they were pushed to the edge. She was losing any hope of winning rather quickly and she knew that was not the mind set to have at this moment.

She glared at Dache as he spoke. “I would. So, you tell me where they are and then once we kill you, I will go find them,” she said rather snidely. She had lost any patience a while back and without Uther around, she felt a bit lost.

 

[KieranSoares]

"The only way you'll see them is if you join them," Dache smirked. "It's interesting, you know... who knew Hell could exist in the mortal world?"

Dache stepped forward toward them, and the men all stepped back, terrified out of their wits. On either side of the sorcerer, from the darkness came two huge horse-like demons with tendrils extending out from their bodies and white eyes like all Dache's creatures. Both horses had strange imps with black skin riding on their backs, chains in their hands.

"Please, come join your lover," Dache smirked, and both horses charged at Eruve.

 

[queenclaire]

Eruve sneered as Dache said the only way to see them was to join them. That was not one of her plans. Though her only plan at the moment was to survive this meeting with Dache. She furrowed her brow as he mentioned Hell on their realm and stepped forward, causing the men with her to step back. She watched as the two horses came out of the shadows. She cringed inwardly as she looked at the evil beings. She started to wonder how she was going to survive this.

She could not help but smirk slightly at Dache as he spoke. He definitely enjoyed toying with them. She had to think fast as the horses began to charge. She was sure they were dead-ish along with most things down here. Normal tactics would not work. Only thing she had on her side was she was light on her feet. She drew out the two draggers Legolas gave her and she waited for the right moment to jump and flip over them. She sliced down the backs of the imps and horses as she went over and landed on her feet facing Dache. “You have to ask nicer than that,” she said to him. She knew she had not stopped the horses and awaited their decision to turn around and charge her again, or go towards the men that were behind her. What worried her were the chains, she had dodged them once, this time would not be as easy. Then again, Dache may just charge her himself. She was between a rock and a hard place, the horses at her back and Dache to her front. She did not foresee a good outcome to this.