Also thanks to our IRL friend Helen for doing our awesome new cover art. You rock!
DISCLAIMER: If we owned LoTR the events of this story would be canon. ;)
Chapter 6: Affection
Isobel regained consciousness a-saddle, seated between the head of a stunning white stallion and the strong arms of the elfen gentleman who had attended to her so tenderly before.
"I am glad to see you awake, my lady Eruwaedhiel," Legolas said courteously with a caring smile. "It is good to see your stunning peridot eyes once more."
"I feared that it would have been a dream," Isobel murmured softly, greatful that the wind was conveniently blowing her hair from her eyes as she gazed back at him.
"No dream, I warrant you," he smiled.
Isobel surveyed their surroundings with curiosity that set her eyes ablaze - something that tugged at Legolas' heart strings in a way he had never experienced until now. She was astonished to see the rolling hills and lucious, foreign trees that made her think of the New Zealand countryside, though she had never even left her country of birth before.
"So...where are we actually going?" Isobel asked.
"To Rivendell, Imladris, the seat of Elrond, fair maiden. Lord Elrond has called for us and we obey his summons."
"Oh, I see" she replied, though she didn't really see at all. Instead of asking for clarification, she instead nestled herself comfortably against him and they journeyed on in comfortable, intimate silence.
On Gimli's horse was a young woman called Elinor, who did not know the other girls. She had luscious straight flame-red hair that shimmered like a crimson tide of blood on a battle field and deep blue eyes, like the deepest darkest depths of the ocean blue. But in these depths, the dwarf Gimli sensed a secret and believed he could be the one to bring it to the light.
"So," Gimli said suddenly, gruffly, deciding it was time they got to know one another, "have you heard what they say about dwarves with big beards?"
"...I beg your pardon?" the stunning temptress asked, instantly cold. Gimli panicked - he didn't want her to shut off further. "Well, ah, actually, what I meant to say was-"
"Silence, dwarf." The redhead's crystalline orbs flashed in warning. "I have experienced suffering to a degree of which you could not even begin to imagine. The last thing I need right now is useless trivia from a vertically-challenged drunkard."
Abashed, Gimli spurred his grey mare onwards.
A few hours later, as the afternoon light faded and the cool, evening air began to stir amongst the trees, the travellers decided it was time to make camp. Madeleine, still drifting in and out of consciousness, sighed softly as she felt herself being lifted from the saddle and set gently (almost lovingly?) upon a soft patch of grassy earth. Legolas, meanwhile, was going to similar lengths to ensure Isobel's comfort. Gimli likewise made a valiant effort to aid Elinor, but was shunned by the cold beauty despite his obvious eagerness.
Both Madeleine and Isobel watched as the unknown girl made to sit over at the far edge of their small camp, her flame-colored hair shining like a beacon in the growing darkness.
"Do you, like, know her or something?" Isobel asked her best friend.
"No way. How do you think she ended up here?"
"Beats me," Isobel began, "but something's not quite right about her. Know what I mean?" Madeleine nodded astutely.
"I know, right? We'll have to keep an eye on her."
"Anyway, the most important thing right know is figuring out where we are. Otherwise we'll never be able to find a way back to our world." Isobel glanced over to her right, where Legolas was seated gracefully by the fire. Was it her imagination, or did his eyes meet hers for a moment?
"Oh, I already figured that out," Madeleine smiled knowingly. Her smile made her eyes glitter even more than usual, as though imbued with the light of thousands of stars. "Aragorn told me when I woke up." Isobel could only assume that this 'Aragorn' her friend spoke of was the grubby-but-nonetheless-very-attractive brunet who was currently deep in conversation with her elven saviour.
"What did he tell you? Like, where are we?" Isobel pouted at her friend's playful secrecy.
"Middle-Earth," Madeleine relented. Isobel gasped prettily. "Middle-Earth? You mean... like in the LoTR movies?"
"Exactly!" Madeleine giggled. "This is so exciting! We're, like, elves and stuff now! And just look at what we're wearing!"
Isobel looked down at her friend's gown, spread prettily about her in gentle folds. Madeleine was dressed in light turquoise velvet dress with floor length sleeves with a pattern of swirls stitched on in pale peridot. Around her slender waist was tied a cloth-of-silver belt that draped prettily on her knees. Isobel's own dress had an under skirt of pink, and on top of that, a silken, purple robe with flowers embroidered in shiny thread. She wore a golden corset around her own petite ribcage.
"Wow. How did that happen?" Before Isobel could wonder too much about her sudden costume change, she glimpsed Legolas leaping to his feet from the corner of her amber eye. She whipped her head round to face him, red-gold hair flowing in the sudden breeze. She could somehow sense his disquiet, as if they shared a psychic connection. "Legolas? What is it?"
Legolas stared off into the gloom, and Isobel could only watch with growing fear as his expression turned to one of manly concern. Their gaze met, and a jolt of electricity ran down Isobel's spine. She knew from the fleeting look of desire darkening Legolas' gaze that he felt it too.
Their attention was brought back to the present by the sound of heavy footsteps and monstrous growls growing ever closer. Madeleine placed a slim hand on Isobel's arm. "Ohmygod, what's that noise?"
Isobel did not know, but whatever it was, she knew it could not be good. One word from Legolas confirmed her suspicions.
"Orcs."
Thanks for reading! Please leave a review, it encourages us to write new chapters! xx