Chapter 11:
They must have stood embraced and lost track of time.
Finally she lifted her head off his shoulder and tilted her head backwards to look at him "Do you not need to rest?" she asked.
He smiled at her face that was full of wonderment. "I would appreciate that, my Lady." He replied her.
She signaled her hand towards the couch.
He gracefully settled onto it, but pulled her down as well to join him.
Ruby could have easily used her reflexes to deflect the invitation but could not bear to. It was so hard to get a good gripe on herself when she was with him that sometimes the cowardly option of breaking apart seemed an easier decision to make.
Maybe, just maybe, she would take the path that Edward once trod on. Except it was slightly different; Legolas was not as fragile as an ordinary human would have been. He might have trouble adapting though, she thought, as one of her hand traced the outline of his ears and she chuckled.
"What is the matter?" Legolas asked. Like a child, she was embraced in his arms while sitting across his lap.
She smiled and shook her head, not seeing the need to explai. She leaned back down on his shoulder again, feeling incredibly warm and comfortable.
Was this how the others felt like with their partners? It was such a blissful feeling that it was no wonder they never got sick of each other.
(-)
Legolas was restless and fidgety all throughout dinner.
They had maintained their dining seats. Ruby, Adam and Seth were no longer the only guests this time, and the newer guests were given the honour of being seated nearer to the Elfen King and his son, much to the displeasure of Legolas that evening.
King Thranduil shook his head. He found the compelling need to have a private talk with his wayward son soon about wearing his emotions on his sleeve.
With fork in mid-air, he paused and looked at Ruby who was playing around with the same morsel of food for most of the evening.
Ruby, of course, felt the sudden gaze of the King on her. With a composed face that did not give away the fact that she was aware, she swiftly speared the same morsel of food and plopped it to her mouth.
Her lips closed down upon the tasteless object. It was food to the Elves but it was nothing but tasteless matter to her. And a rather soft one at that.
Potatoes do not have much of a taste, even for a human.
She carefully chewed it and forced her it down her throat while staring daggers at Edward who was looking at her with a crooked smile. It was lucky that he was seated far enough and out of her leg's reach, or she would have given him a neat kick in the shin.
She dropped the idea almost immediately when the King's attention shifted with Edward starting a new conversation topic – something that the mind-reader must have picked up among Thranduil's fleeting thoughts, for he thought of a lot of things all the time, as rulers usually do, as Edward observed.
She resumed her attention on her food and picked on another morsel. Once she was certain that no one was looking, she would dump it, along with everything else, onto an awaiting plate held out by the ever hungry Seth.
(-)
He was caught up with one of the attendants, who had innocently wanted to highlight an unimportant issue regarding his tailor-made tunic.
"Tell him to take his time." Legolas said, hoping that it would bring across his message clearly that that was the end of the conversation.
The poor attendant mistook that as the Prince being upset by the slight delay and continued stammering explanations that Legolas was not even paying heed to.
He had felt a slight brush across his back, and knew who it was – he was noticing her from the corner of his eyes throughout dinner. He had expertly avoided meeting her eyes, hoping that she was desperate to make eye contact after they had painstakingly peeled themselves away from each other to prepare for dinner.
He found it an absolute nuisance to have to return to his room to take a bath and have a change of clothing just to have a meal, though this particularchore never bothered him before. Why could he not just wear what he had worn during the day?
But, of course, a Prince has got to do what a Prince has got to do, and apparently one of it included looking his best - he had to do something to show that he made an effort to dress presentably for dinner.
Oh the things he would have done in return for a good bath while he was traveling with the Fellowship! He never thought that the mere existence of a female companion would warrant such a change in mindset.
So here he was, occupied with one of the newer stammering attendants who had probably just got transferred to the tailoring department and was tasked with breaking the bad news to the Prince that one of his many clothing would be delayed. He could not help but keep an eye on Ruby's movement all the time while the poor fellow stumbled and stammered over his speech.
He was extremely tempted to snake an arm around her small waist when she is near enough but needless to say, he resisted the strong urge. It would be preposterous for their Prince to put on such a public display of affection without allowing a proper time lapse for the Mirkwood Elves to accept the one whom the Prince has chosen.
"Meet me outside." She whispered soft enough that only he could hear as she quietly walked past him.
The breath of her whisper tickled the back of his neck, making his hair stand on end, but he enjoyed the feeling immensely.
Now if only he would stop talking and let me get on my way, Legolas thought bitterly.
(-)
Ruby stepped out onto the patio. It was a cloudy night and the moonlight did not manage to illuminate the place as clearly as it usually does.
But she knew she was not alone in the darkness of the night.
Bella took a few steps towards her sister, both aware of each other's presence. "Edward said…" Bella began, but was cut off by Ruby.
"Yea, I know. I know that he knew. He always knew." Ruby said, rolling her eyes slightly in annoyance.
"You sure you want to do this?" Bella prodded.
"It's do or die, Bella." Ruby explained, her eyes looking far into the distance. "When Edward tried to show you the magnitude of the danger you were in, you didn't run away screaming."
"Because I knew he wouldn't hurt me, no matter what he did." Bella replied confidently. "Because I knew that, beneath that monster he thinks he is, there was a good and kind Edward that loved me."
"But," Bella said, "Legolas is different. He might not take to your confession the same way I had done."
Ruby was quite surprised. She had thought Bella would support her, whatever her decision.
"He might not take to you as I did to Edward. You have to reconsider this carefully." Bella emphasised. "I don't want to see you getting hurt."
"Physically? Or emotionally?" Ruby asked, not really expecting an answer.
"Both!" Bella cried. "What would they do to you if they find out what you were? Charlie and Thranduil are completely different. Charlie would not meddle in our affairs as long as we do not break the law or put up a disappearing act. But what about King Thranduil? He would see us as a threat, one that can potentially destroy his entire kingdom if we desire to. And the King is not a fool, he is not unaware to how Legolas looks at you all the time."
"Bella, relax!" Ruby said.
"How can I?" She exclaimed. Ruby looked around nervously. The conversation was getting abit loud. "You are about to do something that will get yourself in danger! All of us, in danger, including Edward! You should have at least warned us so that we may leave at the slightest notice if anything were to go awry!"
"I would not!" Ruby hissed through her teeth. It was a raw nerve Bella had picked on. "I may be the newest and youngest Cullen to join the family, but I would not risk any of you if I see the situation as such!" Ruby started to pace around. "You're sounding more and more like Rose." She accused Bella.
Bella's jaw dropped when she realized her mistake. Edward had mentioned to her many times of how he had read Ruby's insecurities amidst the strong bonds she had developed with her newly adopted family. How could she have so carelessly accused Ruby of endangering them?
"I'm s.."
"Don't be!" Ruby snapped. She took a few deep breaths and replied her with much more composure. "You are right. Perhaps you can help me pass the word along to the others that they should be ready to leave at short notice if Legolas shows any discomfort towards my confession."
Bella nodded her head in compliance and walked towards Ruby.
The sisters hugged each other tightly and all was forgiven.
Ruby could not bring herself to blame Bella. She sympathized with Bella's worry and concern for the safety of their group, especially Seth's. But most of all, of Edward's, though why Bella even had to worry about Edward was something that Ruby would never understand.
He could run faster than any of them (with the exception of Seth, of course), not that Edward would leave them in the lurch, but speed was an especially powerful offensive advantage. Moreover, it was not as if the Elves or any of the horses in Middle Earth could have caught up with them if they truly intended to outrun them.
They parted ways; Bella back into the dining area, and Ruby continued out into the dark garden. A distance away, she could spot one of the palace attendants lighting up the garden lamps.
(-)
The flames flickered and licked around the wax. Ruby stared at it, transfixed.
"My Lady." A familiar voice greeted her and she smiled and whirled around to face him.
(-)
She ran in front of him, leading the way.
He did not understand the eagerness in her steps as he tried his best to keep up with her.
She was fast - all the Cold Ones were, though he could also sense her limiting her speed so that he could catch up.
"Ruby," he called out to her when he could not take the silence while travelling anymore. "We should stop."
There was no way she could have misheard what he said, but she did not respond. Her body form was transfixed on the darkness that lay ahead of them.
Except for the mild illumination from the full moon that night, there was no other light source to guide them, except for their keen senses.
"Ruby." He slowed down, hoping she would follow suit. "The paths here are treacherous."
She knew what he meant. He was referring to the spiders, for the Orcs would never have dared to camp so near to the main city.
She slowed, but her pace never stopped. He found himself having to follow suit. Clearly knowing the danger, he still felt compelled to prove himself to the opposite sex that he was no coward. A few spiders were not going to discourage him from letting his beloved travel alone in the forest, which would have been much more dangerous – though the fact was clear that if they ever had to flee, she would probably be able to outrun them while he succumbs into a tasty spider snack.
She came to a halt. And sighed. It shocked him, for he himself could never do the same, as he stopped too, but in an extremely breathless.
As she turned around to face him again, he could tell she was being her solemn and serious self.
"Legolas," she closed her eyes as she said. And just when he thought she was not going to continue, she did, "There is something that I have to show you. If we were to really… try to… be together."
He stared back at her, not understanding at all but wanting her to continue.
The very soft thuds on the floor was loud enough for him to hear. He was certain she must have noticed it too. Spiders do not bother about being discreet when they are extremely hungry, and especially when two snacks were so easily within reach.
He got into a ready stance, feet apart and slightly bent at the knees, ready to leap or pounce in defense if he has to.
He sized up the enemy and relaxed a little. He was not too worried for her. 5 mere spiders were nothing compared to the group of Orcs that had attacked them before.
"Don't move." She asked of him, and she leaped into the air.
It was a terrific leap. Even if she had not asked him to, he would have been transfixed.
She landed swiftly on the back of one of the first spiders that broke out from the camouflage of the trees and swiftly brought down the spiders, tearing apart the limbs of some, rendering them handicapped and struggling in pain.
It was a cruel sight to witness, but the spiders did deserve some of it though – Orcs were not necessarily the culprits accountable for the missing Elves that traveled through the forests.
The next scene that greeted him was unimaginable as he watched with shock as she sunk her razor sharp teeth into the spider. Not a single drop of blood was spilt on the ground as he observed the way her throat moved as she swallowed the blood, her eyes not moving from his the whole time.
(-)
She allowed her natural predator instincts to take over – it was easier to show him this way. She knew he was not enticing enough for the hunter instincts in her to lose control and attack him as well.
But it seemed like even the monstrous side of was also equally curious to his response towards her. Did he matter so much to her scary side too?
She took in his every move and every breath - the flicker of terror that flashed across his eyes, and the way his lips moved apart in shock did not escape her attention.
To add on to the whole situation, a flash of lightning lit up the dark woods. The suddenness of bright light still to make him blink. He was that transfixed on her.A fixation which she was sure was fueled by disgust.
He moved, finally, but only to bring down the other spiders that trickled into the clearing from behind the trees. She had finished with the one, void it of all its blood, and moved on to the second.
She had not even had much appetite for a second, but decided to overeat a little, foreseeing a possible long conversation with him. Maybe she should have done it in a more considerate way of telling him first instead of launching directly into a live demonstration.
But it was all too late.