Legolas did not know what had happened. He remembered a quick battle with some orcs, and reaching up to a headwound, remembered a glancing blow from a spear. He was still in the clearing but there was no sign of the orcs. Legolas knew he had killed at least two. Why would they have taken their dead? They had no emotions for one another.
How long had he been dead to the world?
Dusk was beginning and in the distance he could hear music and laughter. Wearily he made his way towards it. Through the trees he saw many people dancing to a small group of minstrels playing in a gazeebo. Small tents surrounded the clearing about the gazeebo and there was a building with a pub for a ground floor. The trees round about were tall and comforting but they spoke of nothing to Legolas. There was one lady-elf nearby under a large live oak. Her skirts were gathered about her, as she was sitting rather childeshly (or so Legolas thought). She laughed heartily as she watched the wild dance around her but she declined participation. It was she who Legolas decided to approach.
"Hail! my lady-" he said, bowing deeply. She grinned unabashedly.
"And hail yourself, sir. Who are you, and from whence did you come?" She seemed to be enjoying the simple introductions, but to Legolas' surprise, did not so much as rise. Perhaps she was injured.
"Legolas Greenleef, of Mirkwood, my lady. What is your name?"
This seemed to throw her into a fit. She laughed and laughed, and then finally stood. "Well, then you're my favourite." Legolas looked at her, puzzled. She rolled her eyes up and shook her head smiling. "My name is Everlease," she said, bowing, and as if on second thought, she added, "of Spring."
Legolas smiled. Before he could say another word, a young boy came crashing into her. "Ryan!" she cried. "I told you to go play with the ponies."
"Mommy, look at his ears! He has elf ears like us today!" Ryan exclaimed delightedly.
Legolas smiled confusedly.
"Yes, I know sweetheart. Everybody likes being an elf. Now go look at those ponies before I tear you up," Everlease warned, and ruffled his hair before he ran off again. "Sorry about that. What were you saying?" she asked politely.
Legolas stared after the boy and then looked at his mother with a new curiousity. 'Everyone likes being an elf.' "Well, I was walking in the woods just now, and have realized that I have lost my way."
Before he could say another word, Everlease's smile melted away. She inhaled sharply and closed her eyes, muttering a sharp set of words. Legolas flinched, though not knowing what he had said that had caused such a negative reaction. He watched her small hands turn into balls of white knuckles and red mottled flesh. Eyes still shut, she murmured, "Look, buddy, if you want a freaking ride home, go ask Big Scott. You look like a Ren Fest freak, I'm sure you know which one he is." Her eyes opened and the grey colour in them that was like a calm October sky was now wrath like a storm. Legolas felt hurt, confused yet ashamed. He felt as though he had done something wrong. Since she was already upset, he could at least try to help the situation.
"Lady Everlease, I did not mean any harm by my words. I have simply wandered afar from my people and do not know the way back. If you could point me to some other means of food and shelter then I would be willing to abandon your presense of mine."
Everlease stared back at him. Her eyes lessened and were not as flamey as they had been but she still studied him. "I'll take you to the city and get you somewhere you can stay." Legolas smiled. "But only if you'll help me pick up my booth for the night." He shrugged and followed her lead, packing small goods and toys into boxes.
How long had he been dead to the world?
Dusk was beginning and in the distance he could hear music and laughter. Wearily he made his way towards it. Through the trees he saw many people dancing to a small group of minstrels playing in a gazeebo. Small tents surrounded the clearing about the gazeebo and there was a building with a pub for a ground floor. The trees round about were tall and comforting but they spoke of nothing to Legolas. There was one lady-elf nearby under a large live oak. Her skirts were gathered about her, as she was sitting rather childeshly (or so Legolas thought). She laughed heartily as she watched the wild dance around her but she declined participation. It was she who Legolas decided to approach.
"Hail! my lady-" he said, bowing deeply. She grinned unabashedly.
"And hail yourself, sir. Who are you, and from whence did you come?" She seemed to be enjoying the simple introductions, but to Legolas' surprise, did not so much as rise. Perhaps she was injured.
"Legolas Greenleef, of Mirkwood, my lady. What is your name?"
This seemed to throw her into a fit. She laughed and laughed, and then finally stood. "Well, then you're my favourite." Legolas looked at her, puzzled. She rolled her eyes up and shook her head smiling. "My name is Everlease," she said, bowing, and as if on second thought, she added, "of Spring."
Legolas smiled. Before he could say another word, a young boy came crashing into her. "Ryan!" she cried. "I told you to go play with the ponies."
"Mommy, look at his ears! He has elf ears like us today!" Ryan exclaimed delightedly.
Legolas smiled confusedly.
"Yes, I know sweetheart. Everybody likes being an elf. Now go look at those ponies before I tear you up," Everlease warned, and ruffled his hair before he ran off again. "Sorry about that. What were you saying?" she asked politely.
Legolas stared after the boy and then looked at his mother with a new curiousity. 'Everyone likes being an elf.' "Well, I was walking in the woods just now, and have realized that I have lost my way."
Before he could say another word, Everlease's smile melted away. She inhaled sharply and closed her eyes, muttering a sharp set of words. Legolas flinched, though not knowing what he had said that had caused such a negative reaction. He watched her small hands turn into balls of white knuckles and red mottled flesh. Eyes still shut, she murmured, "Look, buddy, if you want a freaking ride home, go ask Big Scott. You look like a Ren Fest freak, I'm sure you know which one he is." Her eyes opened and the grey colour in them that was like a calm October sky was now wrath like a storm. Legolas felt hurt, confused yet ashamed. He felt as though he had done something wrong. Since she was already upset, he could at least try to help the situation.
"Lady Everlease, I did not mean any harm by my words. I have simply wandered afar from my people and do not know the way back. If you could point me to some other means of food and shelter then I would be willing to abandon your presense of mine."
Everlease stared back at him. Her eyes lessened and were not as flamey as they had been but she still studied him. "I'll take you to the city and get you somewhere you can stay." Legolas smiled. "But only if you'll help me pick up my booth for the night." He shrugged and followed her lead, packing small goods and toys into boxes.