Chapter 21: Farewell

With her back facing the crowd that was preparing to leave, she looked up at Castril.

"Thank you so much. For everything." She said, and she sincerely meant it from the bottom of her heart.

Castril simply smiled back.

There was not much to say. And like a good friend, Castril did not want to enquire too much, like whether or not she will return.

They hugged each other and to Ruby's surprise, she even had to tiptoe in order to reach her arms over his shoulders.

"You know, Castril, I never really noticed you were that tall." She said, while still being embraced.

"My dear Ruby, I never really noticed how short you were either." He joked back, and they laughed.

However, metres away from this light exchange between two good friends, was a volcano about to erupt.

If this was what Jealousy is, he was ready to admit it. To shout it out. Scream it out. Internally, of course.

But what made him feel worse was that even if he was brutally honest with Ruby about his feelings, she would just reject or side-step around the issue.

He had held on to the fact until his tired mind drifted off to sleep, that despite last night's negative response to his confession, she did not reject him directly.

She mentioned that she could not wait, and that they both were leaving, but not in any way did she say that she did not reciprocate his feelings.

But whatever lingering threads of hope he had felt were suddenly snapped; possibly along with every blood vessel in his body.

He was mad alright, at the sight that greeted him.

It had been quite some time that Ruby laughed so outwardly.

Even when they were together going on those long walks on excuses of fetching water or sightseeing, she had only spared him a few mesmerizing smiles.

Why did it have to be Castril? Why is it always Castril?

He thought madly as he calculated on whether he should interrupt the pair who was still exchanging parting words.

Years of battle had toughened Legolas to the point that he was able to display a cool façade whenever he needed to. To not freak out or scream in terror at whoever your enemy is, and whatever your enemy throws at you.

Yet for today, the lesson learnt was that you do not need to put on this mask just to save your life, apparently you need to so as to prevent yourself from going up and killing a good friend whom you have known your entire life, over a girl whom you know less than a year… for what was a year to an Elf?

While lost in thought, Castril had already noticed Legolas standing by the corner.

He was silent. Anyone else would have thought Legolas was just politely standing at the corner so as to allow some privacy to those who were bidding farewells to each other.

But Castril could not miss the flashes of cold fury in Legolas' blue eyes.

It was a look that made him drop his arms to his sides.

Ruby was quite shocked at the sudden lack of warm arms around her. She shot Castril an inquisitive look and noticed he was staring at something in the distant.

The strong breeze was not in her favour that day; she failed to pick up his scent.

The only scent she picked up was one of the happy Elves that dwelled in the capital of Mirkwood. The sense of happiness in Mirkwood is contagious. Especially on days where the weather was good and where they do not have to hide the fact that they glittered under the sun.

Adam did discuss with her during their time there that the glitter lotion lie was so effective, they may consider using it back at Forks when they have returned. The ever-resourceful Alice would definitely be able to find something on the market that gave a similar effect.

Moreover, right now, she did not feel like being a quarrelsome bitch like she was last night. Maybe the Prince was right in trying to patch their weird relationship before they both left. It was better for the both of them to leave good memories behind rather than end on a bad note.

But that was it. That was all the intention she had in mind. To end this visit well. Not start another more complicated one.

Castril bowed and left them to rejoin the group that was still mingering around. He thought it was weird that there were far too many Elf-Maidens present during this particular sendoff though it did not take long for him to guess the reason behind it

She smiled at Legolas from afar.

There was no response. Neither did he budge from where he stood.

Her smile faded from her face.

Slowly, a slight frown appeared on her forehead. And then a very slight pout.

This finally initiated a response from him. Legolas broke into a very slight smile. Ruby would have missed it if she wasn't paying close attention.

How could he not laugh? This was the exact facial expression she gave when he thought it was amusing to splash some water at an unsuspecting Ruby.

At that point in time, he found out for himself that female Cold Ones did not really like to travel in wet boots. He was dreadfully guilty for making the lady travel without her footwear. And then this sense of guilt was multiplied another few hundred times when Adam had to carry Ruby on his back as they continued the journey.

Ruby knew there wasn't much time left, and that smiling at each other stupidly from afar only served to make both parties look silly.

She walked with great strides and at her speed, she was standing right in front of Legolas in no time.

"Hey." She greeted him cheerfully.

"I did not know of your intention to leave so early." He answered her back, but thankfully not in an accusing tone.

Ruby almost rolled her eyes but managed to control herself in time. She had not expected hostility at that moment, but she certainly did not see the sarcasm coming.

"Adam's idea. The earlier we leave, the earlier your escorts can make it back here in time. At least it'd be safer for them." She explained to him calmly.

Legolas felt slightly offended by her statement, though it was well-meaning.

He said, "We are grateful for your concern, my Lady, but our soldiers are capable enough to take care of themselves, moreover they are not burdened or obligated to ensure the safety of the guests."

She breathed in sharply as if to draw breath and retort back at his allegation, but decided to hold back whatever she intended to speak.

She exhaled, silently this time.

"Well, the bottomline is, you are here right now because you would like to send us off?" She asked.

"Would you have believed otherwise?" He said, with an arched brow.

"I'm glad you have not lost your sharp tongue." She smiled back and said.

Before Legolas could even think of how to reply her, she stepped forward and promptly reached around his neck while placing her head onto his shoulder.

It was amazingly comfortable. His height was perfect and so was his build. She had no need to stretch uncomfortably to reach him.

For the first time in days, their thoughts were the same.

Legolas automatically placed his arms around her waist and pressed his face into her neck.

It shocked him when Ruby pulled back from him.

Pulling back was an understatement. It was like she recoiled from him in terror, making him wonder if he had did anything wrong because he had obviously not spoken anything during the hug.

He stared at her in wonder but she gave nothing away about her action. Her face was still friendly and smiling back at him.

The friendly hugs were probably the closest physical encounter allowable by her standards. Anything more and it made her uncomfortable. None of the Cullens, not even Adam, had the audacity.

Sure they had always put their arms around her, though it was more for a strangulation purpose due to some smartass comments she had made, but that was about it.

The physical proximity was not just because of safety reasons (for in case she felt like succumbing to the temptation of warm human blood), but that a vampire's own neck was also something that they were protective of as well.

Basically, if you (were supposed to) go around attacking living beings by their necks, it is only natural that you are sensitive to allowing others near yours.

Seth often joked that Ruby was very anal about anything to do with her neck. Ruby's defense was that those were two very different body parts and they had nothing to do with each other, though she would be glad to offer her services if he had wanted to make any sort of body modifications to connect one to another.

But there it was that her pet peeve actually shocked Legolas.

She could not bring herself to blame the Prince for being surprised at her reaction. Yet it was not her fault for how was she to know that he would try to burrow into her neck?

The thought of it would have given her goosebumps if she was not trying so hard to act like everything was normal.

"I thought I heard Adam calling for me. I think we are about to set off already." She muttered some last-minute reason that popped into her mind.

He nodded in understanding, somehow accepting this explanation, and then proceeded to watch in amazement as Ruby walked the great distance to rejoin the crowd.

How on earth could she have heard Adam from here? He wondered.

Ruby was wrong when she thought that everyone was waiting for her to leave.

The majority of the crowd (which consisted mostly of maidens) were reluctant to leave Adam's side, such that Ruby only could see him clearly when she swiftly swung herself up on the same old horse that served her well during the journey to Mirkwood.

She had cast a look at Seth's direction and noticed that he too, had been allocated the same horse which was thankfully so used to his wolf scent that it seemed to barely notice the way the other horses shunned away from him.

She held onto the reins of the horse and patiently waited as the sun rose higher and higher into the sky, casting its lovely warmth over the group of Elves, horses, a vampire and a shape-shifter that were standing in front of her.

She was actually quite enjoying herself observing each and every one of them while they remained oblivious to her presence. Ruby knew that she ought to be feeling a tinge of sadness at this farewell parting but she was always known for her senses having this weird delay of emotions.

She would probably start feeling really sad when reality hits her that she would not be seeing Legolas or Castril again. Or rather, Castril and Legolas again.

She shook her head from side to side in an almost unnoticeable movement, refusing to admit that she was always thinking of Legolas first when it came to the two. Castril is also a good, if not, better friend!

Out of the corner of her eyes, she noticed that another group of riders joined them. Already knowing who they were, she refused to look at them and acknowledge their presence, choosing to remain ignorant of it for as long as she possibly could pretend to, trying to attribute it to her imagination.

Tried as she may, her efforts of mentally willing away the sight of the riders and hoping that they would just disappear into thin air unfortunately did not work.

On top of that, Seth just had to verbally declare the obvious "It's the Prince and his company!"

"My Lord? The King made no mention that you would be riding out with us." Dhother said.

"He does not know. Yet. But he soon will. I would guess that the stable hands would have already sent someone rushing to him." Legolas said, with a playful crooked smile.

Before Dhother could protest further, Legolas lifted up his hand to stop him.

"I will not pay any heed to further protests, dear General. For I see no reason for the Elves of Mirkwood to witness two farewells when one would do. We will leave for Rivendell early." He stated, and Dhother did as he commanded.

There was no arguing with the Prince when he starts speaking like one. Young as he may be, he was still Mirkwood's Prince. His Prince. And one whom every soldier including himself was entrusted to respect and protect with their very own lives. It was not a one-sided sacrfice though, because he knew that Legolas would not hesitate to lay his own life down for his kin as well.

Soon, the horses were ready to move off as the last of the riders mounted their respective horses.

Legolas, who stood at the forefront of the party raised an arm and signaled them to move out, while Thranduil stood from the window of the study, observing them. There was a faint smile upon Thranduil's lips despite the seriousness of this journey that his only son had to make to Rivendell.

He was unusually glad at this opportunity for his son to forge diplomatic ties with Rivendell in his place. Orc-slaying aside (he had long knew of Legolas' skills and proficiency in this area already), the King saw it as a part of training for the next ruler of Mirkwood that he had not been able to provide for adequately.

After days of hike, the trio came chanced upon a formation of rocks. It was one that they were too familiar with because it was Adam's own artistic creation entitled 'the subtlety of Mother Nature'. Ruby could only roll her eyes when Adam named it whereas Seth threatened to turn into his wolf form and pee on every rock that made up the formation.

Those were happier times because at that very exact moment, they were in an opposite situation. The difference was that right behind them was a horde of orcs that had decided to make these weirdly strong yet human-like creatures their next meal.

"Seth! Get the Elves away!" Adam shouted at Seth's general direction.

Even Ruby could sense the reluctance in her currently-canine friend as the beast hesitated from its stand and ran the other direction where the clanging sound of weapons could be heard from where Adam and Ruby stood.

"Follow me!" Seth shouted in desperation at the Elves who were withstanding the attacks.

:"Hold!" Legolas shouted at his men to defy the orders of the young shape-shifter.

"We will not be able to run from them for long!" Legolas shouted over his shoulder while engaged in battle, to a surprised-looking Seth.

Seth was defenceless in his fragile human form in nothing but his versatile tights, the only piece of garment that kept him clothed whenever he morphed back into his human form. All this, while pathetically trying to avoid the paths of swinging axe that a maniacal orc was repeatedly swinging towards his head.

Seth looked around taking in the surroundings and calculated the risks involved. Legolas was right. Half the elves had their horses severely injured and were locked in battle while on their feet.

There was no way he could move all of them safely and quickly to the lake.

Seth had already guessed what Adam's plans were: to move the Elves beyond the two vampires so that the immortals would meet head on with the Orcs while the Elves moved to safety.

And there they would disappear into the lake immediately after the fight in exactly the same way they came by; without a trace.

They finished off the 5 careless orcs that had chased after them, carefully laying their heavy smelly bodies further away from the water.

Ruby casually swept off some dirt from her palms as she looked up.

"Why is Seth taking such a long time?" She called out to Adam.

Adam looked up towards the direction where the sounds of battle continued. "We should go take a look." He suggested, but before he moved an inch, he raised his right hand quickly to catch an arrow that was flying straight for his face.

The archer responsible for the arrow was soon taken care of by a flying boulder courtesy of Ruby. The beast gave a loud grunt before landing motionless on the floor, weighed down by the huge rock.

She stuck her tongue out as Adam looked at her, and then they both turned their concentration back on their enemy, each trying to outrun each other to reach the Elves first.

It did not take very long for them to reach for the Elves and Seth were not too far off in the first place. As Seth had also observed earlier, most of the Elves were only on their feet, with the horses having already fled in terror at the brutal attacks of the enemy. The orcs attacked blindly for they were too barbaric to be able to ride horses to travel and thus had no need to spare any in battle.

To the vampires, it was easy to pick a fight with Orcs. Despite the clear advantage in strength and size, they were still no match for the steely vampires who were only too glad to put an end to the misery of these creatures. But what was difficult, as Ruby and Adam came to learn, was how to properly interfere into a fight between an Elf and an Orc in order to not get wounded by accident.

It was never easy to block off an attack from both an Orc and an Elf together. It was not due to issues of safety for vampires are indestructible (almost). They just did not want to make any Elf guilty of trying to stab their guest.

They had no choice but to wait for an opportune timing to intercept the fights between Elf and Orc while getting rid of those extra Orcs who entered the battle.

So it was during this that Ruby picked up something Dhother had whispered in a harsh and urgent tone. She did not understand a word of it for he spoke it in the mystical Elf language that she stayed around long enough to learn; but it was clear that it was some sort of instruction to the Elves.

Her mind quickly deciphered the only possible meaning to what Dhother had commanded.