Chapter 11

As Legolas and Aéneth travelled deeper and deeper into the forest, the scenery started to change. The atmosphere became dark and oppressing and Aéneth found herself moving closer to Legolas, holding him tighter out of fear.

Lucrio was moving more cautiously in front of them, seemingly plotting the safest path ahead. He would stop and snarl at something unseen, before moving on. His posture was taught and stiff, as if ready to pounce at any sign of movement.

There was a russling sound in the trees and Aéneth froze. She clung on to Legolas like a child would a parent and her breathing quickened.

Legolas bent down and kissed her forehead.

"Do not fret my Lady," He told her, " 'Tis just the wind in the leaves. You are safe so long as I'm with you."

"What happened here?" She asked, still wary of her surroundings.

"Evil things once lived here, terrible things. They sought refuge in the trees, and food from our people. They would prey on us like an owl preys on mice. Those were terrible times. Evil still lingers here, hidden in the shadows, afraid to show itself to those around. But it has been long since it has left its place in the darkness. There is nothing left to fear."

"I'm sorry, but when you way 'our people'…"

Legolas chuckled, "You are one of us now, Lady Aéneth. Surely you knew that already?"

Their gazes met and suddenly Aéneth felt safe. Safer than she had ever felt. It was as if her whole body was at peace. She smiled at him and he smiled back. She didn't even have the heart to tell him not to call her 'Lady Aéneth', she just gazed into his eyes.

An owl hooted somewhere in the distance, but rather than ominous, it sounded strangely inviting, welcoming even.

They reached a clearing and made a small fire.

As they sat around it, the blissfull heat warming their spirits, Aéneth sang and played her harp and the atmosphere turned calm and peacefull once more.

Legolas told many stories of old, stories of his youth, and they laughed and smiled well into the night.

When the fire was just glowing embers and the moon cast a pale light around them, they lay back on the leafy ground and gazed up at the stars. More stories were told in the starlight and Lucrio relaxed at last. He stopped prowling around the fire and lay next to Aéneth, purring softly.

The breeze rustled through the trees again and only Lucrio looked up. The two elves were too relaxed to notice.

Lucrio rested his head on Aénth's stomach as he had that morning, and she stroked his fur idoly.

Legolas finally suggested she get some sleep and she briefly pressed her lips to his before closing her eyes.

He pulled her in closer and encircled her in his arms. She breathed in his familiar scent of pine and dew covered grass that had become so comforting and fell asleep almost instantly.

~x~

"Lady Aénth. Lady Aéneth! Wake up my Lady!"

Aéneth awoke to the sound of a soothing voice.

Legolas's voice.

Her eyelids fluttered open to find Legolas kneeling beside her, gently shaking her.

She could tell it was nowhere near morning, it was far too dark for starters, but the forest was also deadly silent.

"What's wrong?" She asked sitting bold upright.

"Nothing my Lady, I just want to show you something."

She smiled, "I've told you, it's just Aéneth," Then she stood and followed him through the forest, her bow and quiver slung on her back.

It wasn't very far until they reached another clearing.

But this one was different.

Legolas took the lead and took Aéneth with him.

Then she saw what was in the clearing.

And let out a small gasp.

There in the clearing were two shimmering silver forms.

A wolf and stag. Aéneth vaguely remembered being called a wolf in her own world, but the memory was foggy, as if a cloud had passed in front of them.

Legolas saw her awed expression and led her further into the clearing.

She could see the silver forms more clearly now and could see that they were dancing, twisting and spinning around eachother in an elegant way. The stag pranced around the wolf and the wolf and the wolf gambolled around the stag.

It was delightful. It was elegant. It was wonderful.

Aéneth sighed and Legolas looked at her with a smile.

"Beautiful," She said, still gazing at the dancing forms.

"Yes, you are," Legolas said, his eyes locked onto her.

Aéneth spun round to look at him. She smiled as their gazes met and he bent down to kiss her.

They broke apart and she looked back to the middle of the clearing.

"What are they?" She asked.

"They are spirits," Legolas replied, finally looking at the twirling figures, "It is very rare to see themin this form. You are very lucky."

The animals continued their dance and Aéneth could start to hear a soft music.

The music of the spirit realm.

"Can you hear that?" She asked, but Legolas simply smiled and held out his hand.

She took it and he led her to the centre of the clearing. He spun her round and place her free hand on his shoulder before placing his own on her waist.

She had never been very good at dancing in her world, but here, she had the gracefull air of an elf. Her feet were light on the ground and she was just as elegant as the wolf. Legolas moved with the same gentle authority of the stag and soon Aéneth had wrapped both her arms aroung his neck. They swayed gently to the soft music and she burried her face in his chest and closed her eyes. She wanted to stay like this forever.

Suddenly the calming silence was shattered as an ear-splitting crack echoed around the clearing.

The silvery animals scattered and raced into the trees, the gentle music no longer playing.

Legolas let go of Aéneth and reached behind him.

His hands came up empty.

He'd left his bow by the fireside.

He took out his silver daggers instead and held them up protectively. He went to stand infront of Aéneth, but she gently nudged him aside, her bow already knocked with an arrow.

More crashing noises sounded, closer to the clearing this time.

Then out of the trees came three monstrously large spiders.

Suddenly there was a thunderous roar and Lucrio leapt out of the trees.

He pounced on the middle spider and sank his teeth into its neck. It let out a piercing shriek and Aéneth loosed an arrow on the farthest right spider. It too made a deafening shriek as the shaft made contact with it's eye.

Then it began.

The spiders reared and lurched forward, each had its own opponent.

Aéneth had her bow, Legolas his daggers and Lucrio had tooth and claw.

Aéneth fired arrow after arrow at the beast she faced and soon blood ran down its face. It was already blind from her first shot but now it was dripping with scarlet. She loosed one more arrow and it sunk deep into its lower abdomen. Into its heart.

It collapsed to the ground with a sickening thud, and she glanced at Lucrio.

The spider was covered in cuts and gashes, and had lost one of its legs. Lucrio leapt into the air once more and came diving back down, sinking his teeth into its neck.

Its head thudded to the ground.

Blood poured from its neck where its head had once been attached. Then the body collapsed.

Legolas cried out and before Aéneth could think about her actions, she released an arrow.

It struck the spider that was attacking Legolas and it fell to the floor, its legs splayed and bent at odd angles.

She looked up.

And Legolas crumpled to the ground.