Black is all I can see. My body feels numb apart from a searing pain on my side. I'm cold so cold like I've been frozen in ice. But something soft and warm is next to me and around me pressing me against it. I let myself be jolted along even though I haven't the choice to change it. The movement stops and I'm laid down on a cushioned surface I don't recognise. I try to talk but my mouth is dry and weak. Agonising pain shoots through my side as something damp is pressed to the side of my body, and red spots flash across the darkness of my vision. I feel myself yelping and hear a distorted talking sound. I force my eyes open and see Legolas leaning over me pressing a piece of cloth to my side. His mouth moves and I strain my ears to hear him. But it's useless as I've used all the energy I can muster. My sight starts to blur and I fight to stay awake but I can feel my consciousness slipping away.
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"Urggh" my head feels like it's spinning. A rushing noise grows louder, coming towards me. "Arla" the desperation stings my ears and echoes in my brain. Why is his voice so drenched in worry? My eyelids reluctantly open, showering my vision with light and I see Legolas's intense stare studying my face. "Water" I manage to croak through cracked lips. In a flash he's hovering the glass next to me. I attemp to push myself to a sitting position but an excruciating fire rolls up my side and two strong hands lower my shoulders back down. Curiously I look for the source of the pain just to find my core bandaged. With a shock I realise I'm only in my tank top and leggings. A slight smirk enters his face then vanishes when he see's the blood seeping through my dressing. Oh gosh "w... what happened?" I stammer. He wraps one arm behind my back supporting me then forces the drink into my hands. "A young orc seems to have avoided me by hiding and seemed intent on killing you". I splutter on the cool liquid "Why me?"
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"Well" he pauses, "we don't actually know why the orc pack wants you dead". My face drops "oh". "But we will find out". Legolas says determinedly whilst he puts the drink down on a table next to me. Wait this isn't my table, my bed or my room. Where am I? Observing my surroundings I find it's a simple but beautiful room. Enhanced by twirling branches with small ocean-blue berries seemingly coming from the forest around the balcony. I haven't been here before. "Where are we?" I ask curiously looking into his oceanic eyes that match the little berries. Wait a minute... I almost know what he's going to say when he opens his mouth, "my room". I raise my eyebrows, "and why am I here instead of the healing room? ". He averts his gaze and replies, "here was closer than the healing room". I sense this is an excuse. Bitting hard on my dry lip I tease "oh really, so you could take me there now".he turns to me startled, then notices me staining to hold back the laughter at his expression. "Ok maybe I wanted to repay the debt". I give him a confused look "you looked after me when I was injured...". "Oh but I was the one that shot you in the first place" I remind him.
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On the journey to my room I realise just how far away Legolas's chamber is. However this could just feel a long way due to the gaping hole in my side, well I do have Legolas supporting me but still... Just as we turn a corner into an elegantly designed corridor, I unavoidably stumble having my weakened legs buckle under me. I fall against Legolas grabbing tightly onto his strong arm and looking up I see his face stricken with worry. He opens his mouth to say something but I beat him to it. And trying to escape his protective gaze I say "it feels like I havent used my legs in years". He looks away quickly. "Arla I should tell you..." He pauses and I look at him suspiciously, what has he not told me,"well". He turns his head back to me, "well... you've been unconscious for three days". My jaw drops "th...three days and you didn't think to tell me sooner". His face saddens and I immediately regret saying that "but how was I out for three days anyway I thought it was only an arrow that hit me". "Yes but you did hit the ground pretty hard and it was a poisoned arrow". "It was... I was hit by a poisoned... well im charmed that people want me dead so badly". I say sarcastically trying to break the tension.
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I rest my head against his strong shoulders, as he carries me the rest of the way back to my room. Typical how he doesn't want me to further injure my weakened body. Then it strikes me. "Legolas" I start "what day is it? ". " The second day of autumn", he replies quickly then the realisation dawns on us both. We were supposed to be married yesterday. His face seems devastated and I can tell the same expression is mirrored on my own. "Oh I was so distracted by healing you, I completely forgot... but we'll postpone it!" He admitts. I smile reassuringly at him telling him it will be alright. He stops abrubtly and mouths for me to stay quiet. I strain my ears and hear talking coming from round the corner. Legolas slips through the doorway hiding from view as Thranduil walks past arguing with a guard. "What was that about?" I ask when the sound of their footsteps disappear.
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Legolas's brows are scrunched together in concentration as he ignores my question. "Legolas!" I practically shout. "Wh... what, oh sorry" he nearly drops me as I pull him back to reality. I continue in a quieter voice"are you going to tell me what you heard?". His eyes show panic when he says "not much". I can tell he's luing as he averts his gaze and seems tense. "Anyway we're nearly at your room" he changes the subject then adds teasingly as an afterthought "Mrs Greenleaf". A grin spreads across my face, but I can't help but wonder what he's trying to keep from me.
From there we travel in silence both lost in thoughts. Then out of nowhere a large elf appears nearly crashing into us. He greets Legolas with courtesy, apologising and asking if we need any help to make up for his error. Legolas declines the favors insisting it was no ones fault. I stay quiet watching him carefully. There's something about him that's vaguely familiar, I just can't put my finger on what exactly.
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I wait patently for Legolas to return with some food. I look around still overwhelmed by the beauty of my room. Hmm Legolas has been gone for nearly 10 minutes, probably arguing with the maids. They don't like food being taken to bedrooms. My stomach grumbles loudly. "Hurry up" I murmur even though I know he can't hear me. I wander slowly over to the mirror and sigh at my reflection. Being wounded and unconscious for the days really doesn't do anything for my hair. I lock the second door to the bathroom, then limping to the bath taps I run the warm water into the pool. Whilst it fills I examine a coloured powder that smells of flowers. Turning the pot I clumsily drop it into the steaming water. The scent grows stronger showing that's what it was intended for. Slipping off the blood stained I slide into the revitalising pool that's covered in bubbles. I hear a click and smile, Legolas must be back. Thankfully he can't get in here. Once I've washed my hair I get onto of the bath and wrap a towel around me hopefully he's remembered to bring me clean clothes. I unlock the door and step out but looking around there's no sign of Legolas. "Strange" I wisper to myself, I didn't hear him leave.
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I scan the room and something small on my pillow catches my eye. I struggle over curiously and stare at the delicate piece of paper. Elegant handwriting covers the page but it also looks scrawny as if it's been written in a hurry. I gently pick it up and study the message. "Legolas won't like this" I mutter subconsciously. "What won't I like" he says suspiciously entering the room. I spin scrunching the paper in my fist behing my back. "Don't you ever knock, I could have been indecent" I tease attempting to distract him from my hidden note. He smirks slightly and I realise I am indecent as I only have a towel wrapped around me. "Still im sure you don't mean its the towel I won't like" he jokes walking closer causing my grip on the paper to tighten. "Oh I was on about..." I panic thinking desperately "how I'd have to have my bandages rebound because of my wash". He studies my face looking for any sign of lying and for once he can't read my mind. Then I realise he must not find out.
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Once Legolas reluctantly leaves for the night, after a lot of persuasion. It is quite comforting having someone care so much though. Hmmm and what am I about to do? Go and betray his trust. I test my side but it seems numb from the kingsfoil thats stuffed inside the bandage. I throw of my blankets and stand. My stomach churns making me queasy but when I drink some water it stops. I look in the wardrobe and am thankful Legolas had brought all my new clothes, including my hunting outfit and weapons. Once dressed I grab my weapons and some lambas bread and walk to the balcony. Going through the Castle would be risky and besides I still don't know my way around. With effort I jump over the barrier and grab hold of a nearby branch. I swing from it to a lower branch landing lightly in a stance, then I brace myself and jump to the still far away floor. Red spots dance in my eyes when I land painfully on my feet. This would have usually been no trouble. When I recover I sprint stealthily into the forest drawing of the message from my pocket.
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A few beams of pure starlight dance across the forest floor, lighting up the clearing. I watch and wait in silence, every so often taking out the note and checking I'm in the right place at the right time. The scribbled message is a bit vague as it only says. "If you want to understand, meet me in the clearing of the old spider nest under the light of the stars". I know I shouldn't have come. Only now does the realisation come, that if anything or anyone in alliance with the enemy comes, I'll be to weak to properly defend myself. I shiver partly because of the cold and partly because I can sense a pair of eyes burning into my back.
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My grip on the feathered shaft of my arrow tightens and I feel my body tense. He or she is here. I can hear light quite footsteps come nearer. I hold back till the last moment, then with a swift and fast movement I fling my leg round, kiking them on to the floor and I hold my bow poised at their hooded back. If this is a trap its not set up very well. "Who are you and what do you know?" I order the cloaked figure still holding them down with my foot. A muffled word that sounds like "foot" comes from the figure. Realising what he means I reluctantly lift my foot of him but I don't lower my bow. He sits up "my name is Mardil". Patting some dirt of his cloak he continues, "and I know more than you want to know". Something about his voice seems familiar. Keeping my arrow strung I reply "lets not stray from the purpose of our gathering, you promised me information". A sigh comes from him and he removes his hood. Surprised I find he is the elf me and Legolas bumped into earlier, I half expected him to be an outcast.
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Even though I don't trust this Maldir guy I listen intently. "The orc pack wants you because you injured a orc leader, known to them as Bolg." The harsh black speech cuts through his soft elven accent. "He has ordered his legions to either bring you back as his prize or kill you". He chuckles at my disgusted expression and I glare back suspiciously. "How did you find this out". But he replies quickly. "I came across some orcs in the forest when I was hunting spiders, so I questioned one of them". My bow seems to lower itself, "so your in the guard?". He nods slowly then starts to grin menacingly. "Well I was in the high guard". I spin to look behind me at the sound of a twig braking but when I look back Maldir has disappeared into the trees.