Disclaimer: lets see...checks thermometer nope, hell hasn't frozen over
yet, so I guess I still don't own lotr. (oh, and please excuse my lovely
French sentences) ;D
She was running through the forest. The trees seemed to keep ripping at her with their branches. They seemed to hate her. She cried out for help, but the trees pushed in closer. She was tired from running, though she knew that the blood loss was taking a toll on her as well. She finally couldn't go on any farther. She looked up. There was a gap in the trees. She could see Legolas standing there, his arms stretched out wide and welcoming. "Melamin..."she whispered and collapsed.
She felt like she was in a void. There was a black nothingness surrounding her. Her thoughts were fuzzy. Then she started to think clearer. She heard a voice. It was calling to her. She tried to sit up, but something was holding her. The voice was getting stronger, but it was comforting. She lifted her hand to rub her eyes. She opened her eyes to find herself still in the forest. 'Was all that a dream?' she thought. It was just barely dawn, and thin rays of light were steaming through the trees. She looked around and found herself sitting in between Legolas' legs, and his arms wrapped around her waist.
"Hush, Love," he whispered as he drew her back against his chest, "T'was no more than a bad dream. You're safe now."
"Why am I in your arms? Why don't I remember this?"
He was quiet for a moment. The words seemed to cut deep. 'Well I have a right to know.' "You were in a trance almost. I can't explain it. You kept tossing and turning. Then you called for help, so I tried to wake you. That's when you started thrashing, and the only way to subdue you was to pin your arms to your side, so I had to hold you. You grew quiet and...and you called for me. I was afraid you would start again so I held you the rest of the night. Then you started to stir just now, so I told you it was all right, and you woke up."
"That's it? You didn't do anything else?" 'He could have done anything to me, yet he didn't?'
"I want you to trust me, Love. I'm not about to screw that up by molesting you in your sleep."
She blushed a little at his bluntness. It was only now that she remembered she was still in his arms and decided it would be best if she moved. She stood up and he looked somewhat sad. She had been a bit abrupt, so she tried to cover it up, "Well, thanks, Melamin. We should get going soon. My folks will be worried." She knew her folks wouldn't be worried seeing as how she didn't even know her dad, and her mum could care less about her whereabouts, but she hoped that he would want to get going now that he thought she had people looking for her. He nodded and she went to pick up her bag, but he reached over and picked it up as he stood.
"I can carry it," he said and began walking down the path. She followed him and he continued, "Your parents won't be the only ones worried. My father will have my head for this. I was supposed to have been home by last afternoon."
"But you said that we had a lot longer to go. How could he have expected you to be home on time?"
"I said it would take us three hours to get there, but that is at your pace. If I went at my normal speed I'd have made it. I must say, I lost nearly two hours of traveling time trying to follow you for so long without you detecting me."
She blinked. "Then why did you follow me?"
"I told you. You were trespassing. You're lucky I found you. Any other elf on patrol would have brought your head to me on a platter."
She swallowed. "I hope you're kidding."
He looked at her, his eyebrows slanted ever so slightly. "Why would I be joking?"
She looked up at him wide eyed with astonishment. "They really would have killed me?"
"That warning shot I gave you, would have been through your neck, had it been any one but I that found you, and I only gave you a warning shot because you didn't seem to know where you were."
"Well I guess I really have to thank you now, don't I?"
"And what would be really thanking me?" he asked a little confused at what she meant by the question.
"Well, I'm not sure, but I have to make it up some how. I mean, how often does one get saved in their life? Not very often back home."
"And where is that?"
"Tell me where you live and I'll tell you where I live."
"You're quicker than I thought. Very well, I live in the land of Mirkwood. Where is your home?"
"I live in the land of California, to put it as you did. What city do you live in, if there is such a place in these woods," she said looking around her. She had assumed he meant these woods when he said Mirkwood.
He smiled, "You are much quicker than I thought. The city I hail from is also called Mirkwood, but few ever go there that do not live there."
"Well I come from Escondido. It's a relatively small town, but it's nice, the people are great."
"Escondido? California? I've not heard of either of those places. You will have to show me on a map when we arrive. After you meet my father that is."
There was silence for a while. Ane was bursting with questions but didn't know where to start. She was afraid he might think she was interrogating him or something. "So... tell me more about yourself. I mean, I feel like I hardly know you, even though we talk like we're old friends."
"Well, where do you want me to start?"
"What do you do in your spare time? What's your dad like? Are the people nice? How old are you? What are your interests? What's your home look like? Do-"
"Slow down, slow down! One question at a time. Let's see... I do archery and swords play, or I like to go horse back riding or swimming. My father? He is strict and almost always grumpy. Say one wrong thing and he'll bite your head off, so I'll have to tell you what to say before we get there, but that can wait. The people? They are a bit reserved so you might want to keep your distance for a while. How old am I? You don't want to know. Interests? Right now they're you. My home? I'm told you either love it or you hate it. It's a bit extreme, so there's no in betwe-"
"Wait. Go back. I do want to know how old you are, and what do you mean, I'm your interests?"
"Well, right now you're what I'm interested in."
"Um... okay. You can explain that in a minute, but first I want to know how old you are. There's no way you can be younger than me, so you must be an adult. Now tell me."
"Alright. I'm two thousand, nine hundred, and thirty-one years old. I swear it!" he said seeing the look of shock on her face, "I swear, I'm telling the truth! Elves are immortal beings, Love. We don't age the same way men do."
All she could do was gawk at him. She didn't believe what her ears were telling her brain.
"Please believe me, Ane. I know it's difficult to comprehend, but I wouldn't lie to you. Please..." he said, taking her hand. She looked down at their interlocked hands. She couldn't believe how well they fit together like that. Whenever she used to hold hands with her ex-boyfriend it was always awkward, but this felt different. This felt... right.
She knew she had to say something. This silence was probably killing him, "Okay, Melamin. I believe you. But you still haven't answered my other question." She found she couldn't bring her eyes to look at him.
"Well, Love, when I first saw you, I was fascinated. It was, at first, probably due to your strange clothing, but then it was just your body language."
"Body language?" she looked up to see he had not taken his eyes off her face, but no matter how embarrassed she was by it, she couldn't look away.
"Yes. When you were unsure, you walked slower, and more cautious. When you were nervous, you walked faster and with a ridged back. When you were deep in thought, you wouldn't walk the same way as the path curved. You would sort of walk straight through the middle, but if you were paying more attention to your surroundings, you would curve more with the path."
"How long were you watching me?" she asked, smiling a little.
"Not long enough," he said, still looking at her. He looked smitten, and she realized she was on the verge of being just the same. She looked away.
"Do all elves act like this to complete strangers?"
"No. You're just special," he said, laughing at the look on her face. "Do you always get caught off guard when someone compliments you?"
"No. You're just special."
They continued talking, and eventually got to the subject of swords play. Knives and swords had always fascinated Ane, so Legolas let her hold his knife. She was amazed at how light and beautifully carved it was. Legolas explained that it was an elven knife and was one of the best in the kingdom. She swung it around a bit, imitating a mock battle. She pretended it was a Bowie knife and did the standard procedure of killing a foe with it (parry, cut, stab, and rip out as you pull up). Legolas said he'd have to try it some time. She jokingly stepped in front of him with the knife.
"Do I scare you?"
But before he could answer he heard a bird cry. He knew that meant for him to get down while one of his kin shot at his attacker. He quickly kicked the knife out of her hand and tackled her to the ground. He lay on top of her, hoping that they wouldn't shoot if he were shielding her.
"What was that for?! I was only joking," she said indignantly.
"SShh!!"
She froze. 'Oh please tell me there aren't any more orcs.'
He was about to call them off when one jumped out from behind a tree and pushed him off her. Another jumped out and put a knife to her neck.
A third helped Legolas to his feet, "Don't worry, my lord. We'll take care of her."
They bound her hands and gagged her, and pulled her away faster than Legolas could say anything. He was a bit confused at what was going on because he was in shock they had bound and taken her from him so fast. His brain started to work again when he found himself being led around a corner in the path, which ended at a great wall surrounding a hill. "Welcome home my lord," said the elf that was leading him.
"Thank you, Thunodun. Please inform my father that I have arrived, and tell me where he plans to keep the prisoner. I would like to speak with her," he said, hoping that the point got across that he did not want her killed before he saw her.
"Yes, my lord."
yeah, that was a hard one to end, but oh well. But Legolas is sssoooo sweet in this one, so it kinda cancels out don't ya think? Okay, now! On to the next one.
She was running through the forest. The trees seemed to keep ripping at her with their branches. They seemed to hate her. She cried out for help, but the trees pushed in closer. She was tired from running, though she knew that the blood loss was taking a toll on her as well. She finally couldn't go on any farther. She looked up. There was a gap in the trees. She could see Legolas standing there, his arms stretched out wide and welcoming. "Melamin..."she whispered and collapsed.
She felt like she was in a void. There was a black nothingness surrounding her. Her thoughts were fuzzy. Then she started to think clearer. She heard a voice. It was calling to her. She tried to sit up, but something was holding her. The voice was getting stronger, but it was comforting. She lifted her hand to rub her eyes. She opened her eyes to find herself still in the forest. 'Was all that a dream?' she thought. It was just barely dawn, and thin rays of light were steaming through the trees. She looked around and found herself sitting in between Legolas' legs, and his arms wrapped around her waist.
"Hush, Love," he whispered as he drew her back against his chest, "T'was no more than a bad dream. You're safe now."
"Why am I in your arms? Why don't I remember this?"
He was quiet for a moment. The words seemed to cut deep. 'Well I have a right to know.' "You were in a trance almost. I can't explain it. You kept tossing and turning. Then you called for help, so I tried to wake you. That's when you started thrashing, and the only way to subdue you was to pin your arms to your side, so I had to hold you. You grew quiet and...and you called for me. I was afraid you would start again so I held you the rest of the night. Then you started to stir just now, so I told you it was all right, and you woke up."
"That's it? You didn't do anything else?" 'He could have done anything to me, yet he didn't?'
"I want you to trust me, Love. I'm not about to screw that up by molesting you in your sleep."
She blushed a little at his bluntness. It was only now that she remembered she was still in his arms and decided it would be best if she moved. She stood up and he looked somewhat sad. She had been a bit abrupt, so she tried to cover it up, "Well, thanks, Melamin. We should get going soon. My folks will be worried." She knew her folks wouldn't be worried seeing as how she didn't even know her dad, and her mum could care less about her whereabouts, but she hoped that he would want to get going now that he thought she had people looking for her. He nodded and she went to pick up her bag, but he reached over and picked it up as he stood.
"I can carry it," he said and began walking down the path. She followed him and he continued, "Your parents won't be the only ones worried. My father will have my head for this. I was supposed to have been home by last afternoon."
"But you said that we had a lot longer to go. How could he have expected you to be home on time?"
"I said it would take us three hours to get there, but that is at your pace. If I went at my normal speed I'd have made it. I must say, I lost nearly two hours of traveling time trying to follow you for so long without you detecting me."
She blinked. "Then why did you follow me?"
"I told you. You were trespassing. You're lucky I found you. Any other elf on patrol would have brought your head to me on a platter."
She swallowed. "I hope you're kidding."
He looked at her, his eyebrows slanted ever so slightly. "Why would I be joking?"
She looked up at him wide eyed with astonishment. "They really would have killed me?"
"That warning shot I gave you, would have been through your neck, had it been any one but I that found you, and I only gave you a warning shot because you didn't seem to know where you were."
"Well I guess I really have to thank you now, don't I?"
"And what would be really thanking me?" he asked a little confused at what she meant by the question.
"Well, I'm not sure, but I have to make it up some how. I mean, how often does one get saved in their life? Not very often back home."
"And where is that?"
"Tell me where you live and I'll tell you where I live."
"You're quicker than I thought. Very well, I live in the land of Mirkwood. Where is your home?"
"I live in the land of California, to put it as you did. What city do you live in, if there is such a place in these woods," she said looking around her. She had assumed he meant these woods when he said Mirkwood.
He smiled, "You are much quicker than I thought. The city I hail from is also called Mirkwood, but few ever go there that do not live there."
"Well I come from Escondido. It's a relatively small town, but it's nice, the people are great."
"Escondido? California? I've not heard of either of those places. You will have to show me on a map when we arrive. After you meet my father that is."
There was silence for a while. Ane was bursting with questions but didn't know where to start. She was afraid he might think she was interrogating him or something. "So... tell me more about yourself. I mean, I feel like I hardly know you, even though we talk like we're old friends."
"Well, where do you want me to start?"
"What do you do in your spare time? What's your dad like? Are the people nice? How old are you? What are your interests? What's your home look like? Do-"
"Slow down, slow down! One question at a time. Let's see... I do archery and swords play, or I like to go horse back riding or swimming. My father? He is strict and almost always grumpy. Say one wrong thing and he'll bite your head off, so I'll have to tell you what to say before we get there, but that can wait. The people? They are a bit reserved so you might want to keep your distance for a while. How old am I? You don't want to know. Interests? Right now they're you. My home? I'm told you either love it or you hate it. It's a bit extreme, so there's no in betwe-"
"Wait. Go back. I do want to know how old you are, and what do you mean, I'm your interests?"
"Well, right now you're what I'm interested in."
"Um... okay. You can explain that in a minute, but first I want to know how old you are. There's no way you can be younger than me, so you must be an adult. Now tell me."
"Alright. I'm two thousand, nine hundred, and thirty-one years old. I swear it!" he said seeing the look of shock on her face, "I swear, I'm telling the truth! Elves are immortal beings, Love. We don't age the same way men do."
All she could do was gawk at him. She didn't believe what her ears were telling her brain.
"Please believe me, Ane. I know it's difficult to comprehend, but I wouldn't lie to you. Please..." he said, taking her hand. She looked down at their interlocked hands. She couldn't believe how well they fit together like that. Whenever she used to hold hands with her ex-boyfriend it was always awkward, but this felt different. This felt... right.
She knew she had to say something. This silence was probably killing him, "Okay, Melamin. I believe you. But you still haven't answered my other question." She found she couldn't bring her eyes to look at him.
"Well, Love, when I first saw you, I was fascinated. It was, at first, probably due to your strange clothing, but then it was just your body language."
"Body language?" she looked up to see he had not taken his eyes off her face, but no matter how embarrassed she was by it, she couldn't look away.
"Yes. When you were unsure, you walked slower, and more cautious. When you were nervous, you walked faster and with a ridged back. When you were deep in thought, you wouldn't walk the same way as the path curved. You would sort of walk straight through the middle, but if you were paying more attention to your surroundings, you would curve more with the path."
"How long were you watching me?" she asked, smiling a little.
"Not long enough," he said, still looking at her. He looked smitten, and she realized she was on the verge of being just the same. She looked away.
"Do all elves act like this to complete strangers?"
"No. You're just special," he said, laughing at the look on her face. "Do you always get caught off guard when someone compliments you?"
"No. You're just special."
They continued talking, and eventually got to the subject of swords play. Knives and swords had always fascinated Ane, so Legolas let her hold his knife. She was amazed at how light and beautifully carved it was. Legolas explained that it was an elven knife and was one of the best in the kingdom. She swung it around a bit, imitating a mock battle. She pretended it was a Bowie knife and did the standard procedure of killing a foe with it (parry, cut, stab, and rip out as you pull up). Legolas said he'd have to try it some time. She jokingly stepped in front of him with the knife.
"Do I scare you?"
But before he could answer he heard a bird cry. He knew that meant for him to get down while one of his kin shot at his attacker. He quickly kicked the knife out of her hand and tackled her to the ground. He lay on top of her, hoping that they wouldn't shoot if he were shielding her.
"What was that for?! I was only joking," she said indignantly.
"SShh!!"
She froze. 'Oh please tell me there aren't any more orcs.'
He was about to call them off when one jumped out from behind a tree and pushed him off her. Another jumped out and put a knife to her neck.
A third helped Legolas to his feet, "Don't worry, my lord. We'll take care of her."
They bound her hands and gagged her, and pulled her away faster than Legolas could say anything. He was a bit confused at what was going on because he was in shock they had bound and taken her from him so fast. His brain started to work again when he found himself being led around a corner in the path, which ended at a great wall surrounding a hill. "Welcome home my lord," said the elf that was leading him.
"Thank you, Thunodun. Please inform my father that I have arrived, and tell me where he plans to keep the prisoner. I would like to speak with her," he said, hoping that the point got across that he did not want her killed before he saw her.
"Yes, my lord."
yeah, that was a hard one to end, but oh well. But Legolas is sssoooo sweet in this one, so it kinda cancels out don't ya think? Okay, now! On to the next one.