Part 11

“Now, Lassui!” cried Eowyn.

Legolas and Haldir simultaneously drew their knives from beneath their cloaks, and dispatched the two Orc guards. Legolas took the keys from his victim’s hand, and tossed them to Haldir; Haldir unlocked the door to Ayleth’s cell.

“I knew you would come,” she croaked, lifting her trembling arms to him.

“What have they done to you?” he whispered, gathering her close; he kissed her forehead, and buried his face in her filthy hair.

Eowyn, having raised her visor, searched the central chamber until she found a pail of clean water and a drinking ladle, and carried them into Ayleth’s cell. “She needs some of this,” she said.

Legolas and Sighard, meanwhile, had dragged the corpses of the Orcs aside. “What do we do now, my Lord?” asked Sighard.

Legolas looked across at Haldir, feeding Ayleth the water. Beside him, Eowyn was standing, still holding the pail, her other hand resting upon her breast.

“We must get out of here,” he said, decisively. “The three Orcs on the door should give us no trouble. We must get the women to safety, Master Sighard. And then the March Warden and I will come back and deal with the reivers.”

...

Whilst Haldir was helping Ayleth to her feet, Legolas pulled Eowyn aside.

“What are you hiding from me, melmenya?” he asked, quietly.

“Nothing, Lassui.”

“Melmenya...” He let all his disappointment, his sense of betrayal, show upon his face and in his voice, and saw an answering guilt in her lovely eyes—but indecision in the way she bit her lip—and he willed her to tell him the truth.

“Outside Ayleth’s cottage, Lassui,” she began, at last, “I found—”

“My Lord,” hissed Sighard urgently, from beside the door, “they’re coming!”

Every other consideration flew from Legolas’ mind. “Melmenya,” he said, “your visor; Master Sighard, get ready to carry Mistress Ayleth; Haldir, with me!”