This section of my fanfiction has a little bit of skewing going on... okay I think I've made it very clear that I do some skewing so let's just get on with it, shall we?
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The next day, I did not want to pull myself out of bed. Nothing could motivate me to move, and nothing could motivate me to go anywhere near a place where Legolas might be lurking. I was not scared as much as embarrassed – embarrassed at the fact that I let him kiss me even once, and embarrassed at the fact that I liked it. Obviously.
Before I had sufficient time to secure a plan that included sneaking away from the castle with my bag, stealing a horse, and somehow feeling my way back to Rivendell, a soft knock came at my door. I pulled the covers over my head, hoping the intruder was not Legolas.
"Tialyn?" I heard a familiar husky voice from outside the door say.
"Aragorn?" I called back. The door swung open, and there he was with a rather worried look on his face. "What in the name of Ilúvatar are you doing here?" I asked, sitting up immediately, a wave of anxiety surging through me.
"Last night the outskirts of Mirkwood were attacked by Orcs," he said almost monotone.
"Orcs?" I replied, astonished and very taken aback. Aragorn nodded gravely, crossing his arms and pacing around my room. "How is that possible?"
"Early in the Third Age, a group of Orcs decided that they would not ally themselves with Sauron any longer because he treated them like his animals," Aragorn started.
"But they were his creation," I replied incredulously. "Why would anyone turn against his maker?"
"Rumor says they found the way Sauron treated them unfair and ungrateful because they did all of his dirty work," Aragorn continued. "Which is true, for the most part. The Orcs were sent to far away lands without a real leader to vanquish groups of Elves, Dwarves, and Men who were almost impossible to defeat. This group of Orcs had grown tired of Sauron's control, which seemed to be waning or rising too slowly for them to care, and they separated themselves from Sauron and his dominions." Aragorn kept pacing, his hands behind his back now.
"But why didn't Sauron find them and kill them? Isn't that what he does to dissenters?" I questioned.
"I wondered that myself, but I suppose the band of Orcs was too small for Sauron to notice, and if he had noticed, he obviously did not care because defeating them then would have been effortless. I believe Sauron did know about them, however – but the timing was just right for them, because Sauron's attention was too focused on rumors of the discovery of the Ring and Its whereabouts to worry about a group of rebels," Aragorn concluded.
"But, like you said, the number of this group was too small for Sauron to notice or care," I said. "Why should they pose a problem?"
"I said the group was too small for Sauron to notice or care," Aragorn corrected. "Sauron had an army of tens of thousands of Orcs. A small group could be as much as a few hundred," Aragorn counted in his head. "The group that attacked Mirkwood this morning was small, a group of only twenty or so, but I am sure they were only a very minute part of the larger group."
"Wait, Aragorn – how did you get here so fast? You must have only left a day or two after us," I furrowed my brow.
"Right," Aragorn mumbled. "I must admit I had heard of this group from Thranduil right after the wedding by way of message," he explained. "I had a feeling I would be needed soon."
"Why did Legolas not inform me of this?" I wondered out loud, angrily.
"Legolas did not know," Aragorn admitted. "Thranduil did not wish to disturb his son when he has just returned."
"Is anyone hurt?" I softened immediately.
"A few minor injuries, but the Orcs only burned down a number of trees," Aragorn said with a grateful sigh. I was upset. "They were able to fend off the twenty Orcs early this morning."
"Is Legolas alright?" I blurted. Shit. Aragorn threw a curious glance my way. "I mean, he is a good friend of mine and I would hate to see him hurt."
"Oh, he's a good friend now, is he?" Aragorn teased. "He's fine. He only got hit with an arrow in the arm."
"What?"
"I am only kidding! Goodness, someone is protective," Aragorn said. "And the day Orcs learn how to aim is the day I tell Arwen I do not love her." I giggled, and Aragorn grinned. "Look, I just came to say good morning. I figured you would have already heard the news, but it seems I woke you." I shook my head.
"No, I was awake…just debating the whole getting out of bed part," I replied, yawning.
"Is it not a little late?" Aragorn asked, indicating the window through which sun was pouring. I glanced at the window, back at Aragorn, and shrugged. He laughed.
"So what do we plan on doing with this little Orc problem?" I asked, almost disinterested.
"It is far from a little problem," Aragorn retorted. "They could have made more Orcs, or gotten a few traitorous Men on their side."
"But there is nothing to fight for anymore!" I laughed. "They cannot believe they could gain control, not against all the Men, Elves, and Dwarves in Middle-earth!"
"No, but perhaps there is something worth fighting for, to them," Aragorn replied. "They may have an alliance we know nothing of. They may have a powerful leader that has remained hidden during the War. This group of Orcs could prove to be very dangerous," he warned. I smirked.
"For the fearless defeaters of Sauron? Doubtful," I replied. Aragorn shrugged.
"Well, I will leave you to get dressed," he said, walking out of the door. I had not had time to ask him where he could be found later, but I did not have to ask. When I finally was dressed and had cautiously left my room, I saw a group of Elves standing in the entrance hall, all of them looking quite worried. Thranduil and Legolas were standing before them, the former whispering in the latter's ear.
"Listen, listen," Thranduil said finally, as I found a place among the Elves to stand and hear what the King had to say. "I know you are all worried, but we have done our research on the Orcs and have found that they are not a problem. No need to worry." The Elves around me started whispering to one another, a look of uncertainty in their eyes. "If there was any cause for concern, you would all know," Thranduil said.
"We do all know," one rather forward Elf cried. A nodding of head ensued.
"Kinsman, fellow Elves of Mirkwood," I heard rather than saw Legolas say. "I assure you there is no cause for alarm," he said with a very powerful voice. He was almost perfectly believable. "My love for you all prevents me from making the situation seem less harmful than it is. I would not tell you we are not in danger if we were." Eru, he really was a pro at lying. Brilliant, I almost had sex with a professional liar.
Eventually, the group of Elves dispersed and the room was empty except for a few stragglers, King Thranduil, Legolas, Aragorn and me. To avoid any conversation with Legolas at all, I hurried up to where Aragorn was standing.
"Tialyn." Oh damn it all, someone was always saying my name, and for some reason it was always the person who I absolutely did not want to say it.
"Yes?" I said innocently, turning around. Legolas stiffened.
"I…I just wanted to say hello," he said pitifully. I had to mentally stop myself from rolling my eyes.
"Well, hello, and nice lying," I remarked impolitely. Why was I acting like he had rejected me last night? I had no reason to be so biting. Legolas gulped.
"I just could not stand to worry anyone," Legolas replied under his breath but loud enough for me to hear. "Listen," he began, but I knew what he was going to say. It would be something along the lines of 'I'm sorry,' and I was sick of being apologized to, especially by him.
"Please do not apologize," I snapped. "There is nothing to be sorry for." I think he tried to stop himself, but Legolas actually smiled. The pretentious git. To my chagrin, I realized Aragorn could hear every word we had said.
"What was he trying to apologize for?" Aragorn asked after Legolas had moved out of earshot.
"He was…he was really intoxicated last night," I said quickly. Aragorn nodded knowingly.
"Right," he said sarcastically. "You think I am an idiot."
"Aragorn!" I laughed, and though he knew I was lying, he did not push me to explain any further.