Chapter 10
"Bob-bob, do you even know where you're going? Millie said, as they rode through dense woods.
"Do I look like I know where I'm going?" Kirsty smirked. "I can't believe I'm doing this. I'm so gonna get my arse kicked." she complained.
"So, how long till we find Lou?" Millie asked.
"If I knew that, I wouldn't be fuckin looking for her, would I?"Kirsty snapped.
"Thought you didn't know how to ride anyway?" Millie realised, sat behind Kirsty.
"Yeah, well I didn't know how to hotwire a car till I did it first time either." Kirsty muttered.
"You learn fast." Millie smiled.
"Hmm." Kirsty grumbled.
"Can you hear that?" Millie asked. Kirsty felt Millie tense.
"I can't..."
"Shh!" Millie cut her off. Kirsty heard the thudding of horses galloping.
"Go, go!" Kirsty whispered sharply as she gently kicked her heels on the horses ribs. Millie gripped on to Kirsty as tight as she could and kept checking behind her but saw no one.
The girls rode hard for days until they came to a small but pleasant cabin the size of a terrace house. Outside the house on the swinging chair were Lou and Haldir.
"Lou!" Millie yelled delightedly as she flew from the horse and ran in to her sisters arms. Lou jumped up in shock and held Millie tightly as she burst into tears.
"What's the meaning of this?" Haldir asked Kirsty as she finally strode up to the newly-weds.
"Why don't we go inside and I'll explain all." Kirsty said tiredly.
"But you cant go! Do you know what you risk if you leave?" Haldir fumed after Kirsty and Millie told them what had happened.
"What else was I supposed to do? let her go on her own? I'm human, I have a heart unlike some!" Kirsty raged back.
"Haldir could you get me some water I'm feeling light headed." Lou asked. Haldir smiled and walked out of the wooden hut.
"I've not been gone a week and its already chaos!" Lou huffed. She then reached down and picked up a loaf of lembas bread and wrapped it up. "Haldir's horse is out back. Be quiet and hurry before he comes back." she ushered them out quickly.
"Look after Marion. I promise I wont let any thing happen to Millie and as soon as we are safe I'll write to you." Kirsty said as she hugged her friend.
"go." she whispered as tears formed in her eyes. she desperately wanted to go with them but knew she had other duties now.
Haldir heard the thudding of hooves and paused as he saw two people on his horse.
"Oh no you don't!" Haldir raged as he tried to block the horse's path but Kirsty turned the horse to the side of him and missed him by mere inches.
"I'm sorry!" Kirsty yelled to him as they both rode off in to the distance.
"You just let them go!" Haldir said in shock.
"Yes, I had to." Lou replied as she threw another grape into her mouth.
"But why?" Haldir realised she was upset.
"Millie is still a child. She can't handle the stress of a marriage. I'd rather her be happy some where else than miserable with Cugedhion." Lou almost spat the name. She now wished she'd have let Kirsty say no when he asked to dance with Millie.
"You do know most of Middle Earth will be looking for them if they're not found in a week. They have run away from royalty. The king of Mirkwood will not be pleased if his sons are heartbroken." Haldir said softly.
"So they're going to be on the run forever?" Lou realised "But Kirsty is not engaged to Legolas. He does not own her!" she continued, getting more annoyed.
"He is a prince. What he wants, he mostly gets." Haldir hugged Lou tightly and she began to cry.
"I'm going to miss them so much. I want my Pookie." Lou sniffled.
"Pookie?" Haldir asked confused.
"Yeah, that's what I would call Millie when she was little." Lou smiled. Haldir smiled back.
Lou had finally got to sleep late that night. Her mind had been restless thinking about Millie. How much she wished they had mobile phone technology. The door to the cabin burst open. Haldir heard it bang, he sprung out of bed naked and grabbed his sword and flew down the stairs. He saw two figures standing at the doorway and heard others moving around in the rooms downstairs. Someone lit their torch and he swung his sword towards them. The intruder ducked.
"Haldir!" the familiar voice grumbled.
Haldir looked down to see Aragorn lay on the floor looking annoyed as he put his hand in front of his face to block out Haldir's genital parts from his eyes. Haldir cupped himself and smiled in embarrassment.
"Lou!" he shouted loudly.
"What?" came the sleepy reply.
"We have visitors! Get me my tunic." he begged. The bumping of Lou's little feet running across the floor was all you could hear. She rushed down the stairs in a long nightgown to see Aragorn and Gimli stood inside now. Legolas and Gandalf stood in the doorways. Disappointment crossed her face as she handed Haldir his tunic.
"Expecting someone else?" Gimli asked.
"No." Lou turned and went back to bed.
"So, have you seen them?" Gandalf asked.
"Well, do you think I'd have his horse outside my HONEYMOON home if I hadn't seen them?" Haldir snapped, staring at Legolas.
"There is no need for you to raise your voice." Legolas said calmly.
"My wife is upset because you made her sister and friend run away with your short temper and childish antics Legolas. I don't appreciate any man upsetting Lou. I don't care if you're the Prince of Mirkwood. I will not stand here and let you get away with it. Make this your only warning because I will not tell you again." Haldir said quietly but firmly.
"I did not mean to upset anyone. I wish to know where they went for we are all worried about them and would like to take them back home where they will be safe again. I am truly sorry for my actions today Haldir. I was out of line." Legolas clasped Haldir's arm.
"Ok so I think we should set up camp. It's getting late and cold." Kirsty realised as she looked around. The flame to her torch only just pierced the dark a foot in front of her.
"Yeah, I'm tired." Millie rubbed her eyes sleepily.
After they both ate, the girls set up their camp and fell to sleep instantly.
Kirsty woke to a sharp pain in her side she tried to sit up but couldn't. An Elf was sat next to her with an arrow to her forehead.
"Jesus. Not this again!" she grumbled to her self.
"You are trespassing." the elf said authoritatively.
"Sorry I'll just pack up and go with my friend and get out of your way." Kirsty pushed the arrow out of her face and stood. The Elf looked her up and down.
"Where have you come from?" he asked suspiciously.
"Rivendell." Millie replied sleepily.
"I'm afraid I can't let you leave so easily. The King will want to see you." the Elf raised his bow and arrow again more elves came out of hiding with there weapons raised.
"Come on... there's no need for this guys. We've just got lost." Millie said softly.
The Elves didn't listen and instead marched the girls in to the castle cut into the rock. Kirsty realised it was some kind of city; an Elf city. Kirsty and Millie's hands got tied behind their backs and each had a handler so they did not try to escape. The Elves came to two very large oak doors and they burst open. An Elf sat on a throne looked up and then carried on talking to his advisor. Both girls were made to bow and stay on their knees in front of the King.
"Do you know where you are?" the King asked, looking at Millie. She shook her head. A guard elf whacked her around the back of the head hard.
"Speak when you are spoken to!" he yelled.
"Oi!" Kirsty screamed and threw her body at the guard, knocking him off his feet. Kirsty's guard dragged her away, then slapped her around the face.
"Do not hit a woman with child!" the King raged. His guards stepped away.
'"Who have you been with?" Millie asked shocked.
"Mate it ain't me. He means you, you numpty!" Kirsty said offended.
"Yes, you young one. You are with child." the King said gently. 'And you! Stop attacking my guards!" the king warned Kirsty. Millie looked at Kirsty in shock.
"I am Thranduil; the king of Mirkwood. You may know my sons, Legolas and Cugedhion." the King said with authority.
"That's the understatement of the century mate." Kirsty said, trying not to laugh.
The King nodded at one of his guards who then slapped Kirsty on the back of the neck with the flat of his sword. Kirsty yelped and threw the guard a dirty look.
"Why are you running away from Rivendell?" the King asked.
"I messed up." Kirsty answered before Millie.
"And what was it you did?" the King asked.
"I kind of really pissed a lot of people off and they don't really like me any more." Kirsty lied.
"I see. And now you are running away from your problems instead of facing them? Are you a soldier?" he asked more tense now.
"Yes Your Majesty." Kirsty replied. The King began to laugh.
"You know, you almost had me there. But unfortunately for you, my eldest son came to me last night and told me he was looking for two girls and he explained why they had ran away. My slave boy told me he had seen you. Maybe next time you can tell me you got chased by unicorns." he said sarcastically.
The King turned to his right and Legolas burst through the doors with Aragorn, Gimli and Gandalf behind him. He strode past the girls not looking at them once. He knelt in front of his father before he embraced him. There was something odd about the way they looked at each other, almost like they hated one another but loved each other out of respect.
"I hope you have both learnt your lesson!" Gandalf warned the girls.
"Yeh never trust Haldir again!" Kirsty shook her head annoyed.
"You and your ridiculous ideas! You should leave well alone. It was none of your concern! You're lucky we found you when we did! Only the Valar know what kind of trouble you'd have gotten her into! You were very foolish!" Legolas got in Kirsty face as he said it.
Kirsty did not move like he wanted her to, instead she held her ground.
"Do you know the penalty for stealing not only a horse but a prince's horse?" Legolas asked fuming. Kirsty just stood and looked at him, he could see the fire in her eyes.
"Of course you don't. You don't know anything about this place! So why would you take off with a pregnant woman who is soon to be my sister-in-law? This is the last straw! We will decide what to do with you when we get back to Rivendell. I hope you're ready for hard work Kirsty because there's going to be a load coming your way!" he snapped one last time.
Millie did not like how Legolas was making Kirsty look small in front of every one. Her anger brewed at the pit off her stomach.
The journey back to Rivendell was a very quiet and tense one. Kirsty was made to keep the ropes that held her hands together behind her back. The only time she was allowed them loose was when she either needed the toilet or to eat. Millie had to hold the cigarette for her when she needed a smoke.
As the group approached Rivendell Elrond dragged Kirsty off the horse and into his office. Millie followed them. He forced Kirsty into a seat.
"Please tell me you suffered a stroke of madness! What were you doing! You could have been killed! Thank the Valar you are unharmed!" Elrond said annoyed but relieved they were both safe. He waited for a cocky reply but it never came, instead he saw Kirsty just sit staring at the wall, chewing on her lip.
"Can I go to bed please?" she finally asked.
"Of course." he sighed. Kirsty got up and walked down the hall with her hands still tied around her back.
Millie finally plucked up the courage to talk to Cugedhion. She knocked on the door lightly but no-one answered. She turned to go to her room when she saw him leaning against the door way of her bedroom. He smiled softly at her. She smiled back and approached him.
"So, you enjoy your road trip?" he asked.
"Was fascinating." she said sarcastically then smiled.
"I was wondering if you want to come with me on a walk around Rivendell? I've already got permission from Legolas." he asked her nervously.
"Yeah that would be nice." she agreed.
Kirsty was still fast asleep when Millie burst through the door singing and all happy. Kirsty fell out of bed.
"For fuck sake!" she growled as she tried to get up then realised she slept with her hands tied up still. Millie quickly undid them and helped her up.
"I need a favour." she said her smile from ear to ear.
"What?" Kirsty grumbled.
"Can I go for a walk with Cugedhion around Rivendell? Please?" she asked.
"What you bloody askin me for?" Kirsty asked confused.
"I need permission from a guardian." Millie pouted.
"Yeh I don't see why not, you are goin to be havin a baby and gettin married." Kirsty shrugged.
"Thank you!" Millie chimed.
"Don't stray to far from Rivendell! And stay where people can see you!" Kirsty shouted after Millie but she was already skipping down the hallway.
Kirsty flapped back down on to her bed grumbling.
"Now you act like an adult! Funny, I never thought you had it in you." came a voice from the doorway. Kirsty sat up and saw Legolas. She then pulled the covers over her head and ignored him.
"Very mature." he huffed as he sat at the end of the bed. Legolas sat there for over an hour and Kirsty did not utter a single word to him.
"Food should be ready. Hurry and get ready for dinner." he said as he finally left her alone. As he shut the door Kirsty threw a vase and it smashed off the door. She then hid back under her covers.
In the dinner hall, Marion sat down next to Rúmil and across from Millie.
"Where's Kirsty?" Gimli asked.
"She isn't feeling too well so she is getting an early night." Marion replied smiling.
She then glared at Legolas and shook her head. Kirsty wasn't ill, she had told Marion what had happened. Marion was not impressed with how Legolas treated her. She was determined to give him a piece of her mind when she could catch him on his own. Legolas looked at Marion and swallowed hard as he realised he was in for it.
"I've never known Kirsty to have an early night in all the time she has been here." Aragorn laughed.
"Well, being tied up on a horse sure does take it out of you! You also have to remember we get rope burns and bleed and hurt and take longer to recover." Marion raised her voice slightly. Everyone just looked down at the table.
"I understand why you came after us but I don't understand why you treated us like dog shit. It was out of order and very hurtful." Millie added.
"Do you know what, I've lost my appetite." Marion said as she threw her napkin on her plate and left the table. Millie did the same when she realised she was not going to get an apology. Everyone looked at Elrond for advice, instead of acknowledging them he tucked into his dinner.