[Hama Of The Riddermark]

Thorvel looked round to seeif Lomarandil had gotten to his position at the top of the tree. He didn't see him there, so he looked around the trunk, then looked right around the forest surrounding them. Lomarandil was gone, completely and utterly gone. Thorvel looked back up and down the tree, and then around him again. A small rustling of leaves caught his eye, but he saw it was nothing more than a squirrel. It was a long while before Thorvel winced as he though what this could mean, perhaps Lomarandil had keep captured, perhaps even killed...Shaking slightly he walked quietly over to Calenvasa. The older elf looked round as he approached. "Lomarandil is gone..." Thorvel whispered into his ear. Calenvasa's jaw dropped spectacularly and Thorvel could almost see the cogs in his mind grinding, trying to find the most likely solution. After a few seconds Thorvel saw the change in the captain's expression which could mean only one thing, that Calevasa had found the same conclusion as he had.

A way away, Lomarandil perched on a tree. He could see the orcs well from here, and could see them walking around the captives. His blood boiled and he slowly notched an arrow to his elaborate bow. He waited for an orc to stray into the forest, far from the camp. One did that, and came right underneath his tree. Lomarandil drew his breath quickly he flattened himself against the tree. The orc grunted and started to walk away. With the arrow still notched he let it fly with pinpoint accuracy. It penetrated the orc's skull, busting through his head and coming out of the left eye socket. The lifeless orc staggered for a moment before crashing to the ground. Luckily, not even Lomarandil heard him fall over the din of the other orcs, which meant that they couldn't possibly have heard it. Dropping lightly to the ground he extracted the arrow from the orc, leaving no trace of himself. He was about the climb the tree again when a whistling noise turned him around. He saw the arrow a fraction of a second too late, it embedded itself in his right shoulder, just below the collar bone. Coughing blood, Lomarandil sunk slowly to the ground in front of the tree, the last thing he remembered seeing was the orc that had shot him coming towards him...grabbing his legs and dragging him toward the camp. The arrow jolted violently in his shoulder as he was dragged, and Lomarandil tried not to let a cry escape him. He opened his eyes once more, and saw, in the distance, Calenvasa and Thorvel's crestfallen faces as they watched him dragged away...Lomarandil willed for them to help, but he knew they could not...he was too near the camp now...With one last gasp, he black out...