A/N Hey guys, this is my first published fic! Hope y'all like it and don't hate me for my obsessive shipping! Hugs and kisses to all my readers!
Chapter 1: The huntress
Ienala Arapoldorë slinked carefully through the underbrush, watching the small band of companions. Her princely charge was speaking in elvish to the heir to the kingdom of men. She sniffed with disdain when she caught sight of a dwarf among the Halflings, accompanied by the power hungry human she had seen at the council. She glanced around at the trees, their stillness unsettling. A shadow of doubt was growing in her mind. This place was not safe. Returning her eyes to the prince of Mirkwood, she closed her eyes and called upon the enchantments her family had crafted eons ago, to protect the royal house of Mirkwood. "Amin imya sina ri' vanwa elee ilya ar' kwentra amin ya sinome ar'." She whispered into the wind, careful not to be detected.
She repeated it to herself in common tongue, liking the smooth words. "Sight surround me let none pass, through this brush or over grass, let my eye see all and tell me true, who is here and what is new." She glanced up to see that much had changed. Her spell gave her the ability to sharpen and become more aware of what illusion is and what is real. What she noted with shock was that Prince Legolas was no longer with the company. She drew her green, grey, and brown cloak closer around her, tugged on the hood, and slid off into the sea of grass like a snake. What she didn't know is that Legolas wasn't apart from the group; rather he was sitting behind a tree trying to make sense of the sudden flare of magic he had felt.
"What was that?" Legolas wondered aloud, trying to sort out who he knew with that magic signature. He searched through his memory. It was definitely a female. He knew that much. What he couldn't put a finger on was who. The magic was slippery and hard to trace. It then hit him. That was the signature magic of the Durbatuluk. They were the royal family's body guards since the house of Mirkwood first settled in the woods of Middle Earth. His musings were interrupted by Gimli waddling over and slapping a hand on his back. "Well look who's all gloomy and out of sorts. What's wrong with ye?" The dwarf so inelegantly barged in on everything. "Just trying to find the position of a hidden Durbatuluk." The dwarf snorted. "Go take a nap, elf. There's nothing there."
At the mention of her family's name carried by the helpful wind to her ears, Ienala changed course and rippled over the ground as she ran towards the source. About twenty meters away from her Prince, she climbed a tree, swiftly and silently, glad for her training. As they said, when a Durbatuluk didn't want to be found, they weren't. Hopping from limb to limb, and climbing through the trees until she was above the arguing pair, she pulled her cloak about her and swung upside down like the bats in the darker regions of Mirkwood. The charms on the thick fabric made her appear to be merely a leaf blowing on the tree. She froze as the Durbatuluk came up again.
"The Durbatuluk are the guards of my family, they probably sent their best and brightest to follow the crown prince around." Legolas laughed lightly. "Don't think you are the only one of royal lineage, stupid elf." Gimli answered back gruffly. In the tree, Ienala stiffened. "Do not worry my friend, all is well." Legolas' answer surprised her. Why should he assuage the concerns of a lowly dwarf? Her answer came when Legolas reached for a charm hanging around his neck. NO! The thought exploded out of Ienala. That was the charm that allowed the royal family to view the Durbatuluk so as to prevent traitorous acts from their most trusted guardians.
In one motion, Legolas squeezed it, murmuring unleash under his breath. At the same time, Ienala dropped from her perch to land in a one kneed bow before him, startling the dwarf as her spells were unraveled. "My lord Prince, Legolas of Mirkwood, how may I serve you?" She intoned formally. Legolas chuckled. Damn. He had recognized her. "Come Ienala, my childhood playmate turned guard. Meet the fellowship." She glanced around at the others curiously. "I only count eight. Where is Gandalf the wise?" At this the party seemed to be drained of all hope. "He is lost then?" She asked quietly. She looked around to see what effect her arrival had. The Halflings looked curious, the Gondorian wary, the dwarf outraged, Elessar (A/N Ellesar is the name the elves gave Aragorn) amused, and Legolas amused.
"Stand up Ienala." She did so and he surprised her by giving her a swift hug. "Everyone, this is my best friend, Ienala. She is, as you can tell, one of the elven body guards known as Durbatuluk. She is greatly skilled battle, magic, and in being one with nature. It would be wise not to court death by insulting her." Ienala gave him a strange look and lightly punched his arm. "Forgive me my lord Prince, but no need for that. Hello my friends." She turns, addressing them all. She blinked again, people kept on disappearing! "Where are the Ring bearer and the Gondorian?" Aragorn paled. "Frodo!" The group froze with dread as the horn of Gondor echoed through the trees, and then ran full tilt to aid their comrades.
(A/N Sorry it was so awful! Please rate and review! I love hearing from people! Let me know about your theories for what will happen next and I just might let some of them become canon. Good luck!)