A/N: Hey guys. This chapter is shorter than usual cause I'm going through a writer's block. I HATE THEM SO MUCH. GRRRRR. So I figured I would give you something rather than having to wait for my brain to start working again.
As usual, thanks to everyone for their reviews! It makes me very, very happy. UNSPEAKABLY HAPPY!
I might have to start the Haldir X OC just to give myself a break from this story and kick my brain into gear. I've been reading a Transformer fic lately. Its very...conflicting considering I'm in such a mech mood. Maybe I should write a Optimus X Human OC...Oh, that sexy Peterbilt.
Review Responses:
Blueoceanandfire: Plot twists make my head hurt because it means I have to remember more stuff! I swear this story writes itself and I'm just taken along for the ride. Yeah I've always entertained the idea of Thrandy And Tau - just cause I think they would make an adorable couple. No, no. Braig's mother is not alive. The description clearly described her as the UNDEAD. So if we wanna be specific, yes she is alive but not ALIVE. NO YOU CANT KEEP HIM. MINE. ALL MINE. Caelu and Cheza are safe...for now...Muahahaha. Thanks, dearie!
ClaryF: Marina got a glimpse of the image in Braig's memory. Dunno if they will marry. Thanks, dearie!
Jessie: WOOOO! FANGURLING! Thanks, dearie.
ViolaPearl: Yeah, he deserves to be punished all the time by being turned into an adorable kitten. Galadriel is creepy, yeah but I'm glad that the scene between her and Celeborn worked out the way that it did. I wanted to show the audience that she is capable of being relatively normal - like any other woman with a loving husband. Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks, dearie!
HogwartsDwarfKat: Yes, Braig's mother was killed by hunters for food. But the description of her image describes her as being UNDEAD. :P Wait till you read this chapter. Gimli is such a crackfest. YOU WILL HAVE TO FIND OUT. Yeah...BRING OUT THE UNKITTYFIE MACHINE!
Guest: But I like killing people and sexually humiliating them. DONT RUIN MY FUN! Thanks, Laura. Glad you're still enjoying it. :D
Stylin'Fire: Very interesting pair. Imagine how they would contort together! Being a kitten would be awesome if you get milk all the time and fish. Oh, and mash potato. Cats dig it. :P
Abyss Prime: LOVE YOU.
Nienna Helyanwe Elf One: Yeah its hard to do though - I have to make sure it makes sense if he is going to be with someone from this story. Opps! French is important! YOU CAN SWEAR AT PEOPLE AND THEY WONT KNOW WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. Just don't get caught. :P Thanks, dearie!
A Weird Creep: You're amazing! But...but...I wanna kill main characters. D: Hahaha. Well thank you, creepy. Its awesome to know I'm someone's favourite author! 3
SNOstorm: Well he can certainly try fighting as a kitten - he'd look adorable in mini armour. George...poor George. Whatever will happen to the chicken? Thanks, dearie.
KrystylSky: Dunno. Tauriel and Thranduil pretty much write themselves. Legolas's mum? Not to my knowledge unless you know something I don't! Thanks, dearie.
LoveFoodHateFat: Gimli is a tool, fool...spool? LOVE HIM VERY MUCH. I actually didn't see Braig's mum come up either. She just sorta strolled up to me and put herself in the story. Very rude. Bad undead warg! Ouch. That sounds very gruesome. XD But I have a feeling if I wrote it, people would be sick. Bahahah. Oh, come on. Who wouldn't wanna kiss Thranduil? He's the smex. Thanks, dearie!
Mellon: Yeah, I imagine her to look pretty disgusting. Most undead do. XD Yeah hopefully. Hehehehe. Thanks, dearie! WINTER IS COMING!
Bala1989: No matter how many times people say they love Marina, and explain why I still don't fully understand it. XD Yeah I'm a fan of wolves. I felt they needed a greater role than what the books and the movies give them. They're not exactly stupid but rather intelligent. Plus Braig is adorable. Yeah, poor Legolas. He has a habit of being turned into a furball. Well considering the fact that Marina is not exactly a MAGE as such, but a druid-mage, she doesn't have the same abilities, stamine or powers as Gandalf and such. Yeah you will see Nina grow up but that is waaaaay down the track. I'm very busy but if I get the opportunity, I'll have a look at your story for you. :) Thanks, dearie!
Teddy Bear 007: George is a special little chicken. BE HAPPY, I SAY! You're not looking forward to Bessie's debu? FOR SHAME!
Counting Sinful Stars: Oh yes, he will make a reappearance and become the STAR of the fic! Muahaha!
Hikari Uzumaki-Inuzuka: Kitten Legolas. Gotta love it. Tauriel and Thranduil did it - not me! They just decided to make out, and go against my word. Volurin? It was actually one of the first names for a male vampire that I created. For my very first original story actually. It's just sort of stuck through the years. I'm very fond of it for a reason I can't explain - I guess its just a personal writer thing. XD Thanks, dearie!
Fear.
Inaccurate predictions.
Imagination running haywire.
Marina had soon discovered how to smother renegade thoughts and inklings of dread by falling back on reflection. By consuming herself with thoughts of the past, she could distract herself from those of the future. And become rather absorbed with it, too. Cowardly but effective.
What would have happened had she not been drawn into Middle-Earth? Would she have gone on to be a doctor? Slaved away as a nurse for the rest of her life, cleaning up after other people?
Hell, would it have been a possibility that she could have had kids in that world? Found a nice husband? Not that anyone could compare to Legolas, the Prince of Mirkwood, bound to her by something as complicated as a soul. Nothing could replace him. Ever. It was very doubtful that she would have found someone anyway. Not when she was destined for him. That still irked her a little but it had paid off rather nicely.
Had her father and estranged brothers discovered her absence? Did they care?
More importantly, did she?
Often had the young woman asked herself that question - even before dragging her Hello Kitty adorned self through a TV and virtually into Legolas's awaiting arms. Family was important. There were those that did not have parents or siblings to speak of, and some were exposed to physical and psychological abuse. Even then a person longed for the comfort of family. Yet did she? A father who had been abusive due to his temper. Older brothers that were too wrapped up in their own lives to care what happened in others.
No, Marina finalized, whatever family that had remained was now far beyond her reach.
Timothy, her adorable little brother. Rebecca, her beautiful, heart-of-gold mother. At least she had been able to see them one last time before finally saying goodbye.
Now she had her own family to care for. And despite how the guilt attempted to gnaw at her for dismissing her father and brothers, she pushed it aside.
Father or brothers, it didn't matter. They had made their choice. And she should not have to suffer for it.
And, more importantly, had a television not decided to suck her into a fictional world, Marina would never have met Legolas. Or Braig. Jigar. Aragorn. All these important people would never have come to mind. They would have just been passing names in the world of Tolkien's fantasy. It was a humbling thought that she was so privileged to have been chosen to live in a world such as this one.
And despite the peril, heartache and confrontations that had come with it, Marina couldn't be happier.
So deep in thought, brow furrowed, Marina was all but immune to the bustle and chatter of orders and suggestions (more like accusations and words of elvish and dwarvish that she could not decipher) being thrown about the table. Along with a few selected vegetables that had become lobbing objects of choice. Dinner had only just been served but several attendees were absent. Those being the Lady Galadriel and her esteemed husband Lord Celeborn, and King Thranduil.
Wherever Tauriel was, the woman hoped she was being disemboweled by something.
Marina had quickly grown irritated and rather embarrassed by the current conversation being flung across the table, and had retreated to the wargs plump cushions, sitting cross-legged between Braig's massive paws. The soft drum of the silver warg's heart was soothing across her back; the massive inhales gently pulling her forward and back like a soothing lullaby. Being around Braig always gave a sense of comfort that could not be achieved with any other.
Yes, she was comfortable in her husband's presence but this was different. Braig provided unwavering loyalty and a fierce friendship. Never did she hesitate to comfort the mortal or offer advice. Marina considered her the sister she had never had, and in some ways she saw shadows of her mother when Braig said something particular. Seeing as Marina was the closest thing Braig had ever had to a mother, it was not at all surprising that they shared an unbreakable bond that no other could understand. A smile stretched across her lips as the silver warg in question nuzzled the back of the mortal's neck affectionately.
Even with all the ruckus, the youngest members of the family were out of it.
Nina lay pliant in Marina's arms, asleep even in the midst of all the boisterous yelling going on. Mostly from a dwarf in particular. Even though he was now sober, he was louder than usual. Marina had switched off awhile ago so there was no telling what nonsense was spilling from that mouth of his. As much as she loved Gimli, she wouldn't be alone in saying she had thought of throttling him.
Caelu and Cheza were snuggled against their mother's warm flank, having lapped up enough milk for ten babies and were annoyingly quiet now that their parents had returned from gorging themselves. Figures. Jigar sprawled on the other plush cushion, seemingly asleep as his ears flicked occasionally with the noise but otherwise he remained still and quiet.
The same could not be said for kitten Legolas who had been indignant and rather stubborn, nipping at Marina's ankles as he had followed her and the wargs to the Dinning Hall. To which he had promptly been ignored no matter how much he mewed and squalled. Now he had just given up and was using the slippery floor of the Hall to see how far he could drift before stopping. What else was there to do as a kitten anyway? He downright refused both the milk and fish that Marina, and to his horror, the servers had offered him.
It was the start of a bad joke and he was the punch line.
Apparently the news of his kitten transformation had already spread throughout the city. And the fact was even more disturbing because elves had poked their heads in to catch a glimpse of the Prince turned kitten. Thranduil as a fur ball was one thing - nothing really fazed him. Legolas however was an entirely different kettle of fish. The form irritated him. And was quite pleasing to the eye of his followers and comrades. A great excuse to cuddle the Prince and live to tell the tale.
Not that that had lasted for long when a certain Princess had threatened the last female that dared near Legolas. Use of magic to summon the illusion of a person's greatest fear was underhanded but effective. One of the many spells in the Tome's arsenal, which had now become a particular favorite of Marina's. It had been sadly amusing to watch the she-elf flee from a rattle snake the size of a cow.
Legolas however had simply spat out a mix of meows. "Mil-nin, if you just changed me back, this possessiveness wouldn't be necessary."
Even if the language of a cat was complete gibberish to a human, Marina knew Legolas well enough to know he was being a smart ass. "Had you not been a lying ass you wouldn't be in this situation. And your elves should know better than to cuddle you even if you are a cat!"
With a dismissive flick of his tail, Legolas had quite smugly murmured in kittenish. "It is good to know you still get jealous."
Eyes narrowed in confused suspicion was the only reply he had received for his barb.
Though despite Legolas's new form, the sexual tension was still palpable.
Marina presently watched him with a small quirk to her mouth as he disappeared through a corridor only to come racing back, sprawling on his tummy to go sliding right past her seated position. It was hard to decide whether she took pleasure out of seeing him reduced to a playful kitten or wanting desperately to turn him back into his handsome self. And possibly kiss him senseless as she so ached to do. Decisions, decisions.
"Gimli, for the very last time. It is none of your business where I have hair, what colour it is, how thick it is or how frequently it grows!" Haldir barked, entirely out of patience with the dwarf's insistence. Not that he had had much to begin with given the topic.
For the past half hour, from the shared room to where they now sat, Haldir had been unable to escape Gimli's persistence on how his anatomy worked. And for the life of him, the Marchwarden couldn't decipher what brought such a question to the dwarf's head space. And he wouldn't tell him either. A very suspicious notion if ever there was one. Though Haldir could detect a distinct scent wafting from Gimli's skin. No other being on Middle-Earth had such an aroma save one.
Lady Galadriel.
As to why by Eru the Lady of the Wood would have such a conversation with a dwarf or given him the incentive to ask such a question, Haldir was at a complete loss. A frustrated loss at that.
"Oh come on, laddie. You're acting like a shy maid. Hair is not anything to be ashamed of. Here, I'll show you mine-" Gimli scrambled up on his chair, thick fingers fumbling at his belt.
Haldir reacted so fast he damn near blurred. One minute he was sitting in a chair across from the shuffling dwarf and the next he was across the hall, his back turned to the open space. "I prefer to keep my eyesight, Gimli. Do let me know when you have finished...showing me."
A derisive snort, the squeak of the chair and the rattle of Gimli's boots alerted the Marchwarden that the dwarf had decided to come and show him. Stubborn. Haldir remained as he was, hands hanging tensed by his side as he heard the gentle clop of Gimli's boots against the smooth floor. There was no chance he would call Gimli on a bluff such as this. The dwarf would be daring enough to show him what lay beneath the breeches. A shudder rippled the length of the Marchwarden's body at the thought. Now there was a horrible image forever imprinted within his mind.
Haldir's ears perked as Gimli came to a halt behind him, nary inches away. He could hear the dwarf breathing; a soft chuckle escaping his friend for a reason he did not understand. Yet. And then something brushed against the skin of his hand. Rough. Prickly. Hair. Very hairy hair. The Marchwarden reacted with a disgusted yelp and wrenched himself away, automatically wiping the side of his hand against his breeches as he spun about to face the dwarf. Consequences of ruining his sight forever be damned. You didn't go around touching people with your pubic hair-
Still in the same position as when Haldir reacted, Gimli stood slightly up on the tips of his boots, the end of his beard in his hand, a grin plastered across his face, A booming laugh escaped said dwarf. "You should have seen your face!"
Of all the annoying, distasteful, foolish creatures Middle Earth had to offer, Gimli was the worst.
Why was he friends with him again?
Red was certainly an odd colour on elven skin - particularly Haldir's. And despite how desperately he tried to hide it, short of covering his face there wasn't much he could do. Elves were not normally humiliated or embarrassed. Their society did not work the same as other races. Age had a lot to do with it. And so, Haldir was not sure what to do, standing rigid and expressionless as Gimli continued to howl with unrestrained laughter.
Though throttling the dwarf was a nice idea, he knew he would regret it later.
Seeing as the table was in the way, Marina had not seen what transpired but had a fair idea. The capability to laugh was lost at the moment. War was imminent, tip-toeing around their gates like a fleeting thought. Except it was real. Very real. And Marina was having a difficult time coming to terms with it. Even now, after almost an entire year, the idea of a battle with horses and swords seemed surreal. Though having taken part in a massive confrontation of enemies already, it could have been a relentless nightmare in the back of her mind.
Yet all she really had to do was look in a mirror and see that it was indeed real.
Running a finger tentatively over the prominent scar on her forearm, Marina was reminded that it was far from a past nightmare. And she was about to relive it again - the most dangerous fight of her life. It sent a spine-tingling surge of adrenaline straight to her heart, causing the muscle to thump erratically inside her chest. There was no escaping this fight. It was unavoidable. No matter how many times it zipped through her mind, it still made her heart clench - defeat was very possible. Alarmingly possible.
Only she, as Galadriel had proclaimed, would be able to defeat Jazorg the Conjurer. Unless the woman could defeat him with dancing sprites and swords made of flowers, she hadn't the faintest idea how such a feat was supposed to be accomplished. The hybrid was probably tens if not hundreds of years older than her with an unparamounted experience with magic. Had he wanted to, Marina knew he could have killed her that day in the Fell Beast's Den. And her husband and friends wouldn't have been able to stop him.
Sure, she was more powerful since that time but according to rumors, he was now some description of a grotesque beast. A really, terrifying thing judging by the description graced to her by scouts that had been monitoring the progression at Dol Guldur. A monster morphed into the shape of combined creatures. Thinking back now, Marina was glad she had followed the Ethereal Beast's - her soul's - advise to not let anger and a lust for power consume her heart. Because it apparently turned you into an ugly mother trucker. The hint of humor allowed a smile to stretch across her lips.
Ugly mother trucker indeed.
Forcing her eyes away from the scars trailing her skin, Marina centered herself on the warm bundle in her arms.
Nina's head rested in the curve of her elbow, her little features serene and peaceful in the midst of sleep. Leading up to the last battle, the woman had not had an infant to care for. Had not even imagined the possibility of a child within the next five years. And now she had a daughter barely two days old, and she had to face a deranged, psychopathic druid-mage. Fighting in a battle this time and leaving Nina in someone else's care would be a very hard thing to do. Legolas would certainly not sit out of the battle, and she wouldn't expect him to (not that she wouldn't plead and beg).
That being said, it was just as likely that the Prince would forbid her from being present in the battle, and send her and their daughter away to safety.
Not happening.
Muscles in Marina's arms flexed in response around her child, a protective instinct surging within. No one would harm their child. They had to win this fight.
They had to.
A concerned muzzle gently butting against her shoulder drew Marina out of her entrenched thought process, almost leaping off the damn cushion as she glanced up at Braig's bright blue gaze.
You have gone as still as stone, little one. Your heart is fluttering. Your scent is heavy with fear. What is the matter?
Marina bit her tongue in reflex. Part of this ridiculous escapade in being rushed into battle, no matter how much of a small part it was, was Braig's fault. Had the warg not surrender to pride and selfishness, they may have had more time to prepare for the onslaught. Though she dare not voice it or give the warg view of her thoughts, keeping them concealed by a layer of memory and various things to which her eyes coveted. Braig did not take blame well, and despite how it warred within her to be outspoken about it, Marina forced herself to remain silent about the issue. You didn't do that sort of a thing to a friend. For any reason.
Jazorg could have already been aware they knew he had encroached on their turf for all Marina knew. That line of thought and not wanting to offend the warg had been the only thing keeping her from chucking a temper tantrum.
Just.
Braig's move had endangered thousands of lives. Jigar was to blame as well but everyone knew who wore the pants in that relationship.
Adjusting Nina more securely into her arm, Marina feigned a unbothered shrug. "I'm fine, Braig. Just concerned about Nina." The woman winced. A half-truth if ever she had heard one.
Braig wasn't convinced if the loud snort was anything to go by. You blame me.
Damn.
And there she had been thinking that her wall of purple flowers had secured any renegade thoughts in her head. Reassuring Braig that it was not the case would be wasting her breath. Trying to salvage the situation by explaining her thoughts to the warg probably wouldn't do too much good either.
So the woman simply said, "Kind of, yeah." Though she did earn herself some brownie points by keeping the steady blue gaze.
Surprisingly Braig didn't seem all that bothered by it, humming deeply in her chest in response before she said, I understand, Mother.
"You do?" Came Marina's surprised squeak.
Inclining her massive head several times, Braig nodded. Bright blue eyes studied the pale baby within her Mother's arms, still fascinated and perturbed by how small and ugly it was. All two-legs had the same pale skin and odd patches of fur on the head, arms, legs and chest. The back too. Yet this one didn't have much to speak of on its head. How unusual. Distracted, Braig shook herself and gently pressed the very tip of her nose to the child's brow, marveling at its tiny features scrunching up in response, tiny limbs twitching in sleep.
There was only one word for the sudden emotion soaring through Marina's veins as she watched the teeth-filled muzzle tenderly touch her daughter.
Fear.
And she hated herself for it. Braig would never harm her family. But to see teeth the size of daggers so close to her baby's face was enough to make her restless, and use all her restraint to resist shifting her body so that the child was out of the warg's range. Legolas was not so inclined, having grown bored of his sliding adventure and the ruckus made by Gimli and Haldir (who still hadn't noticed the kitten) and was drawn immediately to the frightened pinch to his wife's eyes before following it to the warg very close to his daughter's face.
Well, Braig went to say before all hell broke loose.
Releasing an adorable keening yowl, Legolas charged forward, not sure what he was going to do exactly but very determined to get the giant beast away from his baby daughter. All Braig could see was white, fur tickling her nose and claws scratching furrows into her face as what smelled very close to cat latched onto her skin. Reeling back with a yelp, the silver warg tossed her head this way and that.
"Legolas! Braig!" Marina shouted in fright, tumbling off the cushion as Braig barely missed pummeling Nina with her massive head. The woman shielded Nina in her arms as she landed in a heap on the floor, staring up as her valiant husband turned kitten attacked her friend out of Marina's own stupidity. Obviously he had seen her fear. And now she was paying for the slip.
Jigar cracked an eye open to see what the fuss was about, alarmed to see a very familiar white fur ball clinging to his mate's face, the way his claws would dig into the hide of an Elk. A fierce snarl escaped from his maw as he stood, just as Braig managed to finally throw the offending feline away, pawing at the stinging cuts on her face with a confused whine. To his credit, Legolas landed on his feet, tail raised and back arched as he offered a fierce hiss at the towering black warg who had come to his mate's defense.
"Jigar, stop! Leave him alone!" Marina protested, aware that Nina was now wriggling in her arms as she came back to consciousness. What a wonderful time to do so too. Mismatched brown and blue eyes slid open, blinking at the light, spotted Jigar's massive, hulking form and Braig's face, before an ear-rattling wail started from the baby's mouth.
That did it.
"You made my daughter cry!" Legolas spat in kittenish, pacing back for every step Jigar prowled forward. Though it ended up being a dozen to keep the distance between them. The black warg's muzzle quivered to reveal his dangerous teeth, ears flattened against his skull.
You hurt my mate, fur ball. Even if you are Mother's mate I'm still going to eat you. Jigar snapped, thankful that they could understand each other without a language barrier.
Legolas adopted a cheeky, self-satisfied expression on his kitten face. "Marina and Braig would never let you." Though that cockiness soon dissipated as the large male kept creeping forward, teeth bared in a menacing grin.
Understanding the impulse of the attack, Braig was not mad. But by blood, a cat scratch hurt! Blinking through a drizzle of blood, the silver warg could see Jigar intending to hurt or otherwise kill Legolas for harming her. By her side, Caelu and Cheza whined at being disturbed and wriggled restlessly against her flank. Just in front sat Marina with the baby, face pink as it squalled its displease at being awoken and seemingly scared.
Jigar- Braig barked, in direct sync with her little human.
"-Don't!"
Legolas's ears went back against his skull, blue eyes going wide and disbelieving as the scarred warg towered over him. "Uh-oh..."
Snap went Jigar's massive jaws, just inches from the place Legolas had just been. Saliva splattered the floor, creating a slippery escape path for the unfortunate kitten who was now very much in trouble. The instinct to hunt fleeing prey kicked into overdrive and Jigar was after him in a second, claws clicking against the floor as he chased the little feline about the Hall, snapping at him with a mouthful of teeth whenever he got within range.
Haldir and Gimli were now alert to the situation and watched on, having finally realised just who it was Jigar was chasing if Marina's continuous yelling was of any indication, asking them both to stop. But they didn't. Elf and dwarf glanced at each other out of their peripheral, both following with just a turn of their heads as kitten Legolas and Jigar went racing past.
And then they started laughing.
Marina glared at both of them across the Hall. "It's not funny!"
"Its hysterical!" Haldir managed through inhales.
Gimli was too choked up with laughter to manage a single syllable.
Vegetables went flying as Legolas leapt onto the table to escape Jigar's huge jaws, narrowly missing being turned into dessert. Servers who had been lined up obediently against the far wall hadn't really paid much attention to the conversations or goings on but when the scarred warg climbed onto the table (more like stepped) in pursuit of the Prince, protests and arm waving followed. Cutlery and greenery alike scattered the floor as the kitten lead the huge creature a dance across the table. In just a few moments, the once clean Dining Hall was in a mess and echoing with voices.
It was to this that Galadriel, with Celeborn by her side, and Thranduil moving into the Hall were greeted with.
Tauriel was nowhere to be seen.
"Enough." The King of Mirkwood commanded with a voice of thunder. It rose above the clamor like a great tidal wave, smothering the others with its sheer volume.
Gimli and Haldir snapped to attention, still chortling under their breath.
Servers who had been moving to try and intercept the two trashing the table immediately shuffled back against the wall.
Marina and Braig didn't pay any attention to the King's entrance. The warg was focused on the pair of idiots having it out on the table while the human woman was busy rocking her baby girl back into a calm state. Nina did not want to be quiet this time no matter what her mother did, continuing to hiccup and scream her unhappiness.
Thranduil inwardly cringed at the insistent screeching of his granddaughter but did not let it deter him (even if his fingers did itch to go and hold her) as he strode toward the table where Legolas had gained an advantage on the huge warg. Having scrambled on to Jigar's back, the warg was unable to reach the tiny kitten, running around in a circle in an attempt to shake him off. The table was creaking in protest.
"Enough." Thranduil repeated, robes settling in a majestic trail around his tall form as he halted before the trembling piece of furniture and its occupants.
Jigar paused in his mad circle so quickly that the propulsion sent Legolas flying with a startled meow, straight onto the King of Mirkwood's head where he perched, blinking owlishly down at his father. The thorned crown that graced Thranduil's lovely locks acted as an extra defensive barrier in case Jigar decided to try his luck and pluck the kitten from his father.
Though it seemed the warg had finally relented, and sat down with a loud thump on the thoroughly ruined table, tongue lolling out of his mouth contently.
A heavy groan followed by the squeak of unhappy wood sounded before the crescendo came with a big snap!
Down went the table in several pieces, the warg following with a yelp.
Thranduil sighed. "Leave children alone for five minutes and look at the mess they have make." He slowly shook his head, frowning as a paw touched his forehead. Oh, yes, there was the said child. Reaching up a long-fingered hand, Thranduil plucked the kitten off his head and set it on his palm, staring at it with brows furrowed.
"Just because you're a kitten does not mean you may go prancing over the dining table and subsequently break it." The King scolded, feeling an uncharacteristic pull at the corner of his mouth as Legolas's ears went back and his eyes grew large and beguiling. Most people would fawn and coddle a baby animal that did that. Not Thranduil. Giving the kitten an obnoxious tap on its little nose he said, "Don't try that with me, my son. It won't work. Why did that witch of a daughter in law turn you into a cat?" Now his pale gaze slithered to where said woman stood with his loud granddaughter in her arms.
Legolas squinted at his father and hissed. "She is not a witch!"
More kitten gibberish.
"Oh and she won't let you speak the common tongue. Pity. I do so love the sound of your voice." Thranduil drawled, offering the oddly still mortal a smirk.
Past circumstances should have taught the King of Mirkwood that you did not bait Marina Greenleaf in any way, shape or form. Calling her a witch certainly did not improve his standing in her eyes. First he had tried to have her killed. Then he had looked after her child without permission (even if he was Nina's paternal grandfather, that didn't matter). And insulted her at every turn. Surely by now having already been transformed into a fur ball once it would teach a person to keep their mouth shut.
No such luck.
Temporarily blocking out the persistent wails of her daughter, Marina muttered an incantation and watched with a wry smile as Legolas dropped to the floor from his father's rapidly shrinking form. Out from under the pile of previously majestic robes, crawled Legolas , thoroughly disgruntled at being smothered by clothing a second time in a day.
Much to the amusement of those gathered (especially Celeborn and Galadriel who had remained silent and attentive) another kitten followed the smaller feline out from under the heavy robes, a familiar thorny crown sitting atop his head. Instead of the common tongue, out spewed more kitten gibberish from Thranduil's mouth. He paused, eyes going wide, staring down at himself before attempting to speak again only to find that it was the kitten language.
If looks could kill, Marina had a fair idea that she would not currently be able to stand if his gaze had that sort of power.
"You deserved that." Legolas mewed by his side, only to have the withering glare directed at him.
"Be quiet."
"Make me." Quipped his son with an obnoxious stance (as obnoxious as a kitten could get).
Thranduil yowled and arched his back, circling around the slightly smaller kitten before launching forward.
A cat fight ensued.
Ignoring the shrieking irritation of the cats and the consistent wailing of the pale baby, Braig turned her attention back to Marina and continued by saying, Yes, I understand, Mother. What I did may very well have endangered us all but I beg you to trust my judgement. Jazorg quite possibly knew we were already aware of his presence. It was too much of a coincidence to find those humans at the very end of our hunt.
Jostling the wriggling babe in her arms, Marina managed a slight smile at the honesty of her warg. Yes, Marina trusted Braig with her entire being. She always would. And although doubts swirled within her mind about Jazorg's knowledge, she trusted Braig's judgement. If the warg said he already knew, then she believed her. No matter what negative inklings in her mind were trying to tell her. Reaching out and threading her fingers through the blood mattered fur of Braig's forehead, she sighed softly as the healing injury seeped through her fingers and into the warg.
"I trust you, Braig."
Braig hummed with satisfaction, butting her head against Marina's hand before wincing as Nina's wailing kicked up a notch at her proximity. Your pup cries very loudly.
"Yeah, if you'll all excuse me I think I've had enough for one night." Marina stepped over the brawling kittens and continued out the hall despite the fact that her stomach was growling for food, and her soul desperately ached for Legolas's true presence. As an afterthought (considering the battle teetering on their doorstep) Marina muttered the counter incantation for the elves transformation. Knowing they would change back without any clothes on was a hard thing to resist, so she hurried away. As much as she would like to perve on her husband, the last thing she wanted to see was Thranduil naked again.
A peek over her shoulder gave a delightful view of Legolas's backside, her face dusting pink before she forced herself to continue on.
Thranduil was pinned beneath his son, immediately pushing him off when he found he had hands again.
"So you really don't have hair there. How...odd." Gimli observed with his head tilted to the side, eyes squinted.
Haldir cupped his face in his palm in mortification for the other elves.
Thranduil wasn't bothered and unhurriedly went about getting back into his fallen robes.
Legolas, being more polite than his father, picked up two plates and used them to shield his behind and crotch from view. There was after all, a lady present. Not that he really minded being naked in public as most elves didn't but his body was not a sight for any other female save Marina.
Galadriel and Celeborn were wearing matching smirks, utterly amused before the Lady turned her attention to the still servers, authority sinking into her tone despite the fact they were not hers to command. "If you please, clean this mess up. I suspect we will have guests shortly."
Like ants, the servers scuttled to do as she requested, cleaning up the scattered food and utensils efficiently and quickly. Jigar moved back to his mate's side, looking a little sheepish as the elves removed the splintered, broken table from the Dining Hall and swept up any wood chippings that remained. A new table, similar to the like of the broken one was brought in and set in place, the chairs being organised and the surface once again layered with nutrition and clean plates.
I didn't mean to break the...wood-slab. Jigar told his mate softly as he came to sit by her side.
Braig shot him a 'sure-you-didn't' look.
"You certainly know how to greet a guest." Came a mysterious voice from one the corridors.
All eyes turned to the hallway as Lord Elrond and a handful of his elves stepped into the Hall, observing and calculating. Dressed in riding garments that were meant for comfort but also to aid in battle, Elrond was looking forward to resting and discussing the battle plans. To get to Mirkwood as quickly as they had had been taxing on not only his warriors but their loyal steeds, too. More would be asked of them in the comings days. Perhaps more than some of them would like to give. Elrond hadn't forced any of his kin to go but he suspected that the majority of them accompanied him not only for their loyalty to him but also because they had seen Marina and her kind-hearted nature. Word travelled swiftly in Middle-Earth. Many of them had heard of the mortal's skill with healing and her friendship with wargs.
And they would do their utmost to assist her, and the land itself.
"Lord Elrond, I had not expected you so soon. Please," Thranduil extended a hand towards the table after greeting the elf with a touch to the shoulder.
Ignoring the offer of seating, Elrond shook his head. "Thank you, King Thranduil but I ask your pardon. I would first like to speak with Lady Galadriel, and Marina if she is available." He was quite eager to see the child born of Legolas Greenleaf and his lovely mortal wife.
"Marina has retired for the night, my Lord. It is good to see you again. I would greet you properly...but I fear I would lose my 'clothing'." Legolas, who had been inching back towards a corridor discreetly, decided to inform the Lord of her location. Really he would have rather just escaped the hall and adorned himself with clothes again. But legalities came first.
Elrond cocked his eyebrow in an expression that people knew of very well. It was one he often used when something amused or baffled him. "Ah, Legolas. You seem to be short of said clothing. Well I will not hinder you. It is good to see you again, as well."
Bowing his head, Legolas smiled, genuinely pleased to see the Lord of Rivendell. "My Lady. My Lords." The Prince inclined his head to Gimli and Haldir (who were still giggling under their breath) before retreating from the Hall, clutching his 'clothing' quite firmly to his assets.
Elrond smiled and shook his head. "Well then. May we get down to business?" His expression and tone became stern. "What news of this Conjurer?"
Like it? Hate it? TELL MEEEEEE. Maybe I can kick my game up a bit and start writing like a PRO. *flex* Yeah I wish.
Action really starts moving along in the next chapter along with a bit of fluffiness with Marina, Legolas and Nina. Smex? Not sure just yet. Depends what the lovebirds moods are like. XD
I'm aiming to have the next chapter out in a week but you know me...I get distracted easily.
See you soon! Ciao, dearies!