Okay, my muse and I are rested now--next chapter up…
Chapter 29--Another Serpent In The Dark
Jaisia woke from a light sleep without knowing why. The candle had gone out and the only light was the moon. It was then she saw the door was open and someone stood by the bed. Jaisia opened her mouth to say something then saw moonlight reflect off an upraised dagger. "NO!!" she shouted and lunged.
The assassin turned to fight only to collide with an enraged Centaur. He was knocked against the wall so hard that the dagger went flying from his hand. "Interfering bitch!!" he hissed.
Jaisia loomed over him, eyes blazing. "Wrong thing to say, murderer!" she snarled. Usually Jaisia was a gentle person, but the blatant murder attempt had enraged her past control. She spun and lashed out with both hind feet.
Caught between Jaisia's hooves and the stone wall the man's skull exploded and he fell, blood was everywhere. Still maddened, Jaisia trampled the body under her hooves.
While she was doing that Aragorn burst into the room with three guards. All of them froze when they saw what was happening. The body was battered and crushed and still Jaisia was trampling it, cursing and snarling. Aragorn had never seen the mischievous Centaur act like this. He approached her cautiously. "Jaisia, stop it. He's dead, please stop," he said. "It's over now, all over."
Jaisia heard the voice and slowly her rage calmed. She looked down at the crushed and mangled--thing--under her hooves and shuddered. She backed off, noticing her legs were splattered with blood up to her knees. "He snuck in here, I saw him ready to kill Legolas. I couldn't let him hurt my brother. He had a knife, it's on the floor over there," she said.
"It's all right, Jaisia," Aragorn soothed. He spotted the dagger and picked it up. "Get rid of the body, come Jaisia, we'll take Legolas to one of the guest rooms for now."
Jaisia picked Legolas up and followed Aragorn. "He slept through the whole thing. What was in that antidote?" she asked.
"The cure for the poison plus a sleeping drought, he'll be awake tomorrow," Aragorn said. He opened the door to the guest room and stood aside so Jaisia could enter.
Jaisia laid Legolas down on the bed, brushing his hair out of his eyes tenderly. ( Rest and know that all is well, little brother ) she said.
"I'll stay with him awhile if you want to go clean up," Aragorn offered tactfully.
Jaisia gave him a grateful smile. "Thank you, I would like that. I'll be back soon," she said and left.
Aragorn pulled up a chair and sat down. "You've gained yourself quite a protector in Jaisia, my friend. Now that I've seen the consequences I wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of her wrath," he said.
It was nearly noon when Legolas opened his eyes. He felt horrible, sick to his stomach and to weak to lift his head from the pillow. "Aragorn? Jaisia?" he asked.
Jaisia leaned over him. "About time you woke up, sweet cheeks, Can't I turn my back on you for twenty minutes without you getting in trouble?" she demanded.
Legolas smiled. "Sorry, sis," he muttered.
"Well, don't let it happen again!" Jaisia said sternly.
"What happened?" Legolas asked.
Jaisia sighed and told him everything, including the assassin and what she'd done to him. "It just happened, I didn't mean to do it," she concluded miserably.
"It's all right, it happens when battle rage hits. You were protecting me and for that you have my thanks," Legolas soothed.
Someone knocked on the door. "Come in!" Jaisia called.
Aragorn came in with a tray "Awake at last? Good, we were all worried about you. I brought food for you both," he said. He handed Legolas a bowl.
Legolas frowned. "Broth?" he grumbled.
"Exactly-- if you keep that down we'll consider something more at supper. You're staying in bed until I say otherwise," Aragorn said.
"But--" Legolas began.
"Don't start--you aren't supposed to argue with your liege lord. You'll do as I say unless you want me to tie you down and let Jaisia feed you," Aragorn said. His eyes were teasing, but still serious as well.
"But--" Legolas began a second time.
This time Jaisia interrupted him. "Shush, listen to sugar, sweet cheeks, he's right," she said.
Legolas subsided, realizing he was losing this argument anyway. "Oh, all right," he muttered.
"That's better, now drink your broth, all of it, mind," Jaisia said.
"I think you've got everything under control, Jaisia. I have to go to the audience chamber for a council meeting now," Aragorn said and left the room.
There--,stubborn elf--to bad Jaisia is worse…You like? Then R/R folks!!!