HAhahahahHAHAHha I FOUND IT!!!!! Woohoo!! I was freaking out... my computer had said this file was deleted... and it wasn't!! It took forever to find it but I did, and I'm happy! SO HERE'S A NEW CHAPTER!! :)
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Later in the day, Legolas was walking beside the horse, guiding the massive creature by the reins, why Aunorey sat on top in a dazed state.
"It's cold," she finally said.
Legolas threw his cloak around her shoulders, and watched as she huddled underneath it.
"We're coming up Lethorian soon. We should stop get a meal, maybe a room for the night."
"That would be most inappropriate for us to share a room." Aunorey said quickly.
Legolas raised a brow. "Well, how would they know we aren't a 'couple'. The barmaid at Lampy's obviously did."
Aunorey quirked her own brow at him. "So what if she did?"
"Well, milady, what would you prefer? To sleep in a creature-infested, freezing forest, or a nice room with a fireplace and food?"
Aunorey sat on the horse, not replying.
"Well?" He prompted, knudging her knee with his shoulder.
"Oh, fine," she sighed, giving in. "We'll get a room."
"Well we'll have to act like we're married, then."
"We do not!" Aunorey retorded.
"We certainly do. Either that or you dress in my clothes and pretend to be a man. Like you said, it's not appropriate for us to share a room if we aren't married... Or, unless... You know, you'd rather be male to pull this off.." At the look of complete disbelief on her face, Legolas laughed and said, "Fine, fine. Do you have a ring?" Legolas looked up at her.
That was a first, she thought, him having to look up at ME for once. "No, I left all of my jewelry at home."
"Hmmm..." He looked at his hands. They held three rings. One on his thumb, a thick gold ring that had belong to his ancestors, engraved with odd Celtic designs, that had been given to him when he turned twenty. One on his left index finger that was made of pure silver with a golden flat surface on top that bore his family crest. And last, a ring on his right hand, on the third finger, made of silver also, with engravings of leaves and vines. He looked at them, decided on the one with his family crest, also his most important and beloved ring, and hoped it would fit her wedding finger. "Try this on for size."
Aunorey took it, examined it, and, seeming pleased, she tried it on. It fit perfectly. "It fits." She said, she sounded surprised.
Legolas smiled, took the leaf engraved ring and put it on his marriage finger. He looked at her, batted his black eyelashes and stared at her with adoration in his crystal clear blue eyes. "Hello, wife."
She laughed and pulled the braid above his left ear teasingly. "Arse."
"What foul language I've noticed to come out of such a lady." He twisted his face into a fierce mock scowl.
Aunorey laughed. "It seems I only use it when I am around you."
"Ah," Legolas laughed, too. "I feel blessed!" He raised his hands to the sky, as if praising the heavens. They both laughed, and continued on in a rather comfortable silence.
At 5 o'clock, they arrived in a large city called Lethorian. "How many cities have I passed on my 'run away journey'?" Aunorey asked.
"Um, well from this city to Mirkwood, I'd say about seven."
"Are you serious?" Aunorey looked upset. "I could have gotten a bed or two instead of sleeping on the ground in a wild forest!" She groaned. "How stupid I am for taking the same straight path." She smacked her forehead.
"No, how smart you are. I think it's safer in the wild forests than in some of these cities." Still guiding the horse, it seemed as if Legolas had grown half a foot. He walked with a kind of battle swagger, his shoulders seeming broader, and he turned his head slowly from side to side, taking in his surroundings. He had taken his satchel of arrows off of the horse before they entered the city and now wore it on his back. His bow was still tied to the saddle, but it was right next to his hand.
She didn't bother asking why he seemed defensive all of a sudden. She realized that a lot of men did that once they entered a large city that they rarely visited... And, being alone with a woman, and being born of royalty with a large title, you had to watch your back. As Aunorey rode with him, it seemed almost as if they truly were a couple. She rode proudly, hoping it didn't seem as if she were faking it, and watched the people around her.
Aunorey saw various women, at least four a minute!, walk by and give Legolas inviting glances. He made eye contact with few, but never turned his head to follow them and he never even returned the look. A weird, strange, very, very odd feeling crept into Aunorey's chest, making it feel tight. Her heart was beating so fast it hurt, it felt as if it had been bruised by beating so hard against her ribs.
What the hell was wrong with her?
But, not that she hadn't noticed the men looking her way....
Legolas had noticed the men, too, and fierce jealousy and possessiveness swelled in his chest. 'They shall merely look... I mean, she is something to behold with awe...' He told himself silently.
When they finally came to the end of a road, Legolas stopped an elderly-gentlemen dressed in wine-coloured robes and asked where he could find a good restaurant or an inn. The man replied. "Go to the end of this street, turn right, and two buildings down on the left side of the street is Goddard's Inn, and next to that Ghallager's Restaurant, Prince." The man bowed, excused, and left.
"Wow, you're recognized everywhere."
"Not by choice." He murmured in an odd tone. Leading the horse down to the restaurant, he tethered the horse outside, then grabbed her waist and gracefully helped her down off the horse.
Still holding onto his forearms, Aunorey looked into his face, the world seemed to pause for a moment. "Thank you," She said quietly, then, feeling rather awkward, let go and shoved loose strands of hair behind her ear.
Legolas stood and stared at her for a moment, his eyes shutting off emotion and setting his mouth in a firm line, nodded, put his hand on the small of her back and led her inside Goddard's. There, he purchased their largest room, so they wouldn't have to be near each other when they slept, Aunorey figured, and then had a servant help him carry their small luggage upstairs.
After they were settled, Legolas escorted her next door to Ghallager's, where they sat on polished wooden chairs under a large, arced window with white silk curtains. A rather pretty, little human came over to take their orders, both getting fish with a side of crème of rice and vegetables. She gave Legolas a few come-hither stares, but none worked. No human, Legolas thought, could compare to the beauty of the elves. Especially the one sitting in front of me.
Brushing off his thoughts, he gave a charming, lazy smile that caused the young woman to blush and get flustered, and she chirped, "I'll be right back with yer orders, my Lord, milady." She rushed off.
Aunorey rolled her eyes. "Must you do that?"
Legolas's lazy smile turned into a little grin. His smile, still, did not reach his eyes. She was tempted to ask if he was always unhappy, or if he was fighting some inner turmoil, or what it was that always made him look so... down. But she refused to ask, the embarrassment of the question... And even asking such a thing, she knew he would never let her forget it.
She remembered a time when she was five, and the Queen and King Greenleaf's and Arrowin's, among a few other families, were all gathered at the Arrowin's for a light supper and entertainment.....
Aunorey had come out of her room, she still remember what she'd been wearing that day, too: A small, light blue dress with pink ribbons and a pink sash, her hair done up in blue and pink ribbons, also; she had come up to her mother and father and asked. "Where did I come from?"
Her parents exchanged looks. "Ah, dear.."
"Where are babies from?" She had persisited.
"Well..."
Legolas had been sitting on a chair next to his mother. "Dimwit!" He had called. "You don't know where babies come from! You are so dull-witted!" And before his mother could slap him on the back of his head like she usually did when he made a rather stupid remark, he ran off to join two other boys his age.
"Prince Legolas!" The Queen had called, giving Aunorey an apologetic look, but seeing it was no use going after him, merely raised her hands and apologized.
Aunorey's eyes had filled with tears, and she had hid under her large, canopy bed for the rest of the night.
For the next eight months, young Legolas never failed to make fun of her somehow about the question, until finally she stopped crying after every comment and eventually ignored him. He stopped bugging her for a month, until a week into the next month, he had heard her ask another question...
"Are you alright?" Legolas's face was full of concern. Aunorey had never seen him give off too much emotion, but this was one of those rare times he did.
"Huh? Oh, yes. I'm fine, thank you, I was only thinking about something."
Picking up his glass of water and taking a sip, Legolas gave her an odd look. "Alright... Since you never want to answer my questions, I won't ask."
She gave him a queer look as she picked up a spoon and delicately loaded it with the crème.
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Later in the day, Legolas was walking beside the horse, guiding the massive creature by the reins, why Aunorey sat on top in a dazed state.
"It's cold," she finally said.
Legolas threw his cloak around her shoulders, and watched as she huddled underneath it.
"We're coming up Lethorian soon. We should stop get a meal, maybe a room for the night."
"That would be most inappropriate for us to share a room." Aunorey said quickly.
Legolas raised a brow. "Well, how would they know we aren't a 'couple'. The barmaid at Lampy's obviously did."
Aunorey quirked her own brow at him. "So what if she did?"
"Well, milady, what would you prefer? To sleep in a creature-infested, freezing forest, or a nice room with a fireplace and food?"
Aunorey sat on the horse, not replying.
"Well?" He prompted, knudging her knee with his shoulder.
"Oh, fine," she sighed, giving in. "We'll get a room."
"Well we'll have to act like we're married, then."
"We do not!" Aunorey retorded.
"We certainly do. Either that or you dress in my clothes and pretend to be a man. Like you said, it's not appropriate for us to share a room if we aren't married... Or, unless... You know, you'd rather be male to pull this off.." At the look of complete disbelief on her face, Legolas laughed and said, "Fine, fine. Do you have a ring?" Legolas looked up at her.
That was a first, she thought, him having to look up at ME for once. "No, I left all of my jewelry at home."
"Hmmm..." He looked at his hands. They held three rings. One on his thumb, a thick gold ring that had belong to his ancestors, engraved with odd Celtic designs, that had been given to him when he turned twenty. One on his left index finger that was made of pure silver with a golden flat surface on top that bore his family crest. And last, a ring on his right hand, on the third finger, made of silver also, with engravings of leaves and vines. He looked at them, decided on the one with his family crest, also his most important and beloved ring, and hoped it would fit her wedding finger. "Try this on for size."
Aunorey took it, examined it, and, seeming pleased, she tried it on. It fit perfectly. "It fits." She said, she sounded surprised.
Legolas smiled, took the leaf engraved ring and put it on his marriage finger. He looked at her, batted his black eyelashes and stared at her with adoration in his crystal clear blue eyes. "Hello, wife."
She laughed and pulled the braid above his left ear teasingly. "Arse."
"What foul language I've noticed to come out of such a lady." He twisted his face into a fierce mock scowl.
Aunorey laughed. "It seems I only use it when I am around you."
"Ah," Legolas laughed, too. "I feel blessed!" He raised his hands to the sky, as if praising the heavens. They both laughed, and continued on in a rather comfortable silence.
At 5 o'clock, they arrived in a large city called Lethorian. "How many cities have I passed on my 'run away journey'?" Aunorey asked.
"Um, well from this city to Mirkwood, I'd say about seven."
"Are you serious?" Aunorey looked upset. "I could have gotten a bed or two instead of sleeping on the ground in a wild forest!" She groaned. "How stupid I am for taking the same straight path." She smacked her forehead.
"No, how smart you are. I think it's safer in the wild forests than in some of these cities." Still guiding the horse, it seemed as if Legolas had grown half a foot. He walked with a kind of battle swagger, his shoulders seeming broader, and he turned his head slowly from side to side, taking in his surroundings. He had taken his satchel of arrows off of the horse before they entered the city and now wore it on his back. His bow was still tied to the saddle, but it was right next to his hand.
She didn't bother asking why he seemed defensive all of a sudden. She realized that a lot of men did that once they entered a large city that they rarely visited... And, being alone with a woman, and being born of royalty with a large title, you had to watch your back. As Aunorey rode with him, it seemed almost as if they truly were a couple. She rode proudly, hoping it didn't seem as if she were faking it, and watched the people around her.
Aunorey saw various women, at least four a minute!, walk by and give Legolas inviting glances. He made eye contact with few, but never turned his head to follow them and he never even returned the look. A weird, strange, very, very odd feeling crept into Aunorey's chest, making it feel tight. Her heart was beating so fast it hurt, it felt as if it had been bruised by beating so hard against her ribs.
What the hell was wrong with her?
But, not that she hadn't noticed the men looking her way....
Legolas had noticed the men, too, and fierce jealousy and possessiveness swelled in his chest. 'They shall merely look... I mean, she is something to behold with awe...' He told himself silently.
When they finally came to the end of a road, Legolas stopped an elderly-gentlemen dressed in wine-coloured robes and asked where he could find a good restaurant or an inn. The man replied. "Go to the end of this street, turn right, and two buildings down on the left side of the street is Goddard's Inn, and next to that Ghallager's Restaurant, Prince." The man bowed, excused, and left.
"Wow, you're recognized everywhere."
"Not by choice." He murmured in an odd tone. Leading the horse down to the restaurant, he tethered the horse outside, then grabbed her waist and gracefully helped her down off the horse.
Still holding onto his forearms, Aunorey looked into his face, the world seemed to pause for a moment. "Thank you," She said quietly, then, feeling rather awkward, let go and shoved loose strands of hair behind her ear.
Legolas stood and stared at her for a moment, his eyes shutting off emotion and setting his mouth in a firm line, nodded, put his hand on the small of her back and led her inside Goddard's. There, he purchased their largest room, so they wouldn't have to be near each other when they slept, Aunorey figured, and then had a servant help him carry their small luggage upstairs.
After they were settled, Legolas escorted her next door to Ghallager's, where they sat on polished wooden chairs under a large, arced window with white silk curtains. A rather pretty, little human came over to take their orders, both getting fish with a side of crème of rice and vegetables. She gave Legolas a few come-hither stares, but none worked. No human, Legolas thought, could compare to the beauty of the elves. Especially the one sitting in front of me.
Brushing off his thoughts, he gave a charming, lazy smile that caused the young woman to blush and get flustered, and she chirped, "I'll be right back with yer orders, my Lord, milady." She rushed off.
Aunorey rolled her eyes. "Must you do that?"
Legolas's lazy smile turned into a little grin. His smile, still, did not reach his eyes. She was tempted to ask if he was always unhappy, or if he was fighting some inner turmoil, or what it was that always made him look so... down. But she refused to ask, the embarrassment of the question... And even asking such a thing, she knew he would never let her forget it.
She remembered a time when she was five, and the Queen and King Greenleaf's and Arrowin's, among a few other families, were all gathered at the Arrowin's for a light supper and entertainment.....
Aunorey had come out of her room, she still remember what she'd been wearing that day, too: A small, light blue dress with pink ribbons and a pink sash, her hair done up in blue and pink ribbons, also; she had come up to her mother and father and asked. "Where did I come from?"
Her parents exchanged looks. "Ah, dear.."
"Where are babies from?" She had persisited.
"Well..."
Legolas had been sitting on a chair next to his mother. "Dimwit!" He had called. "You don't know where babies come from! You are so dull-witted!" And before his mother could slap him on the back of his head like she usually did when he made a rather stupid remark, he ran off to join two other boys his age.
"Prince Legolas!" The Queen had called, giving Aunorey an apologetic look, but seeing it was no use going after him, merely raised her hands and apologized.
Aunorey's eyes had filled with tears, and she had hid under her large, canopy bed for the rest of the night.
For the next eight months, young Legolas never failed to make fun of her somehow about the question, until finally she stopped crying after every comment and eventually ignored him. He stopped bugging her for a month, until a week into the next month, he had heard her ask another question...
"Are you alright?" Legolas's face was full of concern. Aunorey had never seen him give off too much emotion, but this was one of those rare times he did.
"Huh? Oh, yes. I'm fine, thank you, I was only thinking about something."
Picking up his glass of water and taking a sip, Legolas gave her an odd look. "Alright... Since you never want to answer my questions, I won't ask."
She gave him a queer look as she picked up a spoon and delicately loaded it with the crème.