[Thalionyulma]

Rûdhchamion ignoring his wound, looked wildly below, intently searching out whatever it was that had attacked him. It seemed the nearer they drew to Dol Goldur, the more foul the woods became. Even the plants seemed to their own “life” – a monstrosity of the flora it should actually have been. The dark elf suspected an evil connection to all of it, though he knew not how, or why.

“Thank you,” he said to the elf maiden, with a faint smile.

Resheathing his blade, he unslung his bow. The noise from the plant-creature had drawn unwanted attention. The dark elf cursed himself silently, he should have been more cautious. He hoped his chance to find the orc company who were responsible for his family’s death would not be in vain.

He heard Khelek softly growl. Rûdhchamion turned to see the young wolf’s eyes burning with inner light. One that he had seen in those packs that use to roam Greenwood to hunt freely. This one will grow to be a formidable hunter, the elf thought silently.

“Be ready. They seem to be a small band, but a troll or two among them could prove dangerous,” he whispered, keeping an eye towards the mortals’ group. “Though most trolls stay out of daylight, there is one kind known to resist it. Avoid it if you can, aim for its eyes if you must. Its skin is tough, doubly so with armor. Your arrows will be sorely tested, Anarya Silverbranch. But I have faith, elven-steel will prove a match to those creatures of the dark.”

Khelek, beware. Stay alert. I know you will be tempted to attack those that have harmed thee. Choose thy prey well, and stay alive! Rûdhchamion told the white wolf-pup.

Just then he saw the group ahead of them split-up. The mortals, with Micanar among them were going ahead! A dozen armored orcs and men came out from the group of trees. A troll with a large axe was among them as well as wargs. A wolf-rider was leading them.

The dark elf let fly his arrow as soon as an orc came in range, hitting it between the eyes. Another arrow followed his from Anarya’s bow, downing a big black warg. As one, the elves picked their target, letting not a single arrow go to waste. Before the orc archer could ready his aim, an arrow nearly lifted him off his feet, another beside him was struck in the eye.

The troll proved a harder target to down, as the dark elf expected. And the wolf-rider had a heavier armor than most.

The enormous troll charged wildly at their tree, swinging its large battle-axe at the oak’s trunk. The oak shuddered at the impact, but its wide, sturdy body withstood the strike. The elves took aim at the monster’s eyes, angering it more as an arrow found its mark. It swung at the tree once more.

The dark elf jumped down, bouncing onto the head of the troll before nimbly landing on the ground. This of course infuriated the beast, and as the elf expected, it came after him, drawing it away from his companions. The beast may be big, but it lumbered on clumsily, and the dark elf knew he had speed on his side.

Dodging a wild swing aimed particularly at his head, Rûdhchamion shot its other eye before running quickly from its reach. The troll’s wail of pain and rage reverberated among the trees. Taking advantage of this, the dark elf shot two arrows to its mouth.

He used another arrow to stab an orc in the neck, which had come from his left before he took another shot at the huge beast. It swung its heavy axe once more, blindly, hitting an unfortunate orc nearby. Finally, the troll fell forward with a huge thud, unto the ground.

The dark elf felt beads of sweat run down his face, and he turned to see Anarya take aim at the wolf-rider. Spotting a sword, he quickly grabbed it and headed towards her. A warg leaped at him, and he met it with the point of the sword. Casting the dead wolf aside, he went to the aid of the young elf maiden.