She nodded slowly, trying to scoot a little closer to him without his
noticing. Legolas did notice though, and his heart soared, thrilled
at having gained her trust. He smiled and thought about reaching out
to touch her, but decided not to push things. "I have some stew
there in the pot." He told her. "Would you like some?" She nodded
and her stomach gave a great rumble, causing a sweet giggle to escape
from her lips.
Legolas' heart melted at the sound of her laughter, and he laughed
too, shaking his head. "All right fiery one. You sit right there
and I will bring you a bowl. I have no spoons, so you will just have
to sip it." He told her as he got up and went to the pot that hung
over the fire. Narya watched as he got a bowl and began to spoon
some of the hot stew into the bowl with a ladle. He blew on the hot
mixture for a moment, then got up and walked over to her. "I suppose
you can use the ladle to eat with if you do not wish to drink from
the bowl." He said as he handed it to her.
"Thank you." Narya whispered, suddenly feeling shy. She sipped from
the bowl and sighed happily. "This is very good." She told him,
again scooting a very wee bit closer. She truly wanted to be held,
but would not ask.
"I'm glad you are enjoying it." Legolas said and he sat back
down. "You do not want to use the ladle?" She shook her head no.
She could have cared less whether there was utensils or not, she was
just eternally grateful for the food. It wasn't often she had been
fed at her home and hoped her ribs, which rather stuck out, had not
been noticed when she was bare and upended over the handsome Elf's
lap. She blushed as she realized she had just called him handsome.
"All right." Legolas muttered, noticing her blush and wondering what
caused it. He also noticed how she continued to scoot closer to
him. "Are you cold, fiery one?" He asked.
Narya shook her head no, not sure if that was ok or not, then
shivered as a breeze hit her. "Yes." She whispered, her slight body
shivering from the wind.
He smiled. "I have a blanket. Why don't I get it for you, and you
can wrap it around you, and after you eat I will hold you and keep
you warm." Narya eyed him for a moment. "If you would allow me too,
of course." He added quickly, not wanting to scare her.
Her face clouded over with thought, and she felt very nervous, but
slowly nodded. "Please." She said softly, watching him carefully
again.
He noticed the nervous look and his heart twinged. "Good, then I
shall." He said, trying to be careful and not frighten her. He got
up to get the blanket and approached her with it, draping it over her
shoulders and wrapping it around her. "Better?" He asked.
Narya nodded, feeling very much like a little child being lovingly
cared for. She wasn't a child of course, but it felt good this time
to rather feel like one. She hurriedly finished her soup, wanting to
be held. "May I be held now?" she asked with a questioning look,
making sure it was still all right. His eyes went wide at the way
she asked that, like she thought he would suddenly get mad and strike
her.
"Of course, little one. I would like nothing better. But let us sit
on the ground, and rest against the log here." He said, and sat down
slowly, fearing if he moved too fast he would scare her. She didn't
seem scared though, and he smiled and patted the spot beside him,
inviting her to struggle up next to him.
She slowly moved and curled up beside him, keeping pressure off her
bottom, and laid her head against his side. "It hurts." She
whispered, looking up at him.
He sighed and flinched inwardly, knowing what she meant. "I know
little one, and I am sorry. But you were being so awful. Can you
really blame me? I did not like doing it, you know."
"May I rub it?" Narya asked uncertainly, hurt filling her eyes with
tears at the word awful.
Legolas stared at her, shocked that she had asked permission to rub
her own bottom. Her uncle must have been a monster. He also noticed
the hurt look in her eyes, and he wondered what caused it. "No, you
may not. I will put more cream on it so you will not have to rub
it." She ducked her head when told she could not rub, then with a
slight wince, moved her sore body to lay across his knees again.
"I did not tell you could not rub it to be mean, Narya." He told her
as he got the jar of cream out once I again. "I suppose.....I just
felt bad that you had to rub it, and I wanted to make it easier for
you. Do you understand that?" He asked as he bared her behind once
more and began to apply the cream.
"Yes." She answered quickly, her voice riddled with urgency. She
really didn't understand it, but saying 'no' to a direct question had
never been an option for her. "Really hurts." She whimpered, tears
stinging her eyes.
"I know baby. I will rub it for you, if you want me to." He said,
having applied the cream. "Shall I?" He asked after a pause.
She nodded slowly. "Baby?" Narya repeated softly, very confused.
He heard her and frowned. "I am sorry....I....it was just a
endearment that slipped. I did not mean to offend you." Legolas
said as he began to slowly rub her cute little bottom.
"You didn't offend me.... just.." She sighed and closed her mouth,
rather leaning her small bottom into his gentle touch.
"Just what?" He asked, running his hand over her rear. It was still
very hot, and he could only imagine how badly it pained her. "You
are not use to being called such names?"
Narya nodded. "Just bad things." She whispered, wishing her behind
would cool off some. "Is it supposed to be hot?" She asked,
squirming just a wee bit.
Just bad things? He thought. How terrible. "Yes, I'm afraid it
is." He said in answer to her question. "You uncle never spanked
you, or your parents?"
She shook her head no. "Never. I am sorry, is that bad?"
Legolas started, shocked at her question. "Well.....I do not know.
It would have been better if your uncle just spanked you instead of
beating you, but....."His voice trailed off, not knowing what else to
say.
Narya shivered at the thought. "Then I would not have a backside
left." She admitted seriously.
Legolas froze at that. Oh Valor. He thought. This girl has been
through so much. He squeezed his eyes shut, fury raging in his
veins. How he wished he had that uncle of hers in front of him right
now. He would show him what pain really was. "I am so sorry,
baby." He told her. He began rubbing her bottom again, thinking
about the terrible heat in it. "I have some cool water with me. I
can take a rag and soak it in that and put it on your bottom, to ease
the heat, if you wish."
"Please?" She half begged. "That is ok? You would do that?" She
felt very confused. "This is very.... difficult." She decided.
"Difficult?" Legolas repeated. "Why is it difficult?"
"I am confused." She paused. "I'm sorry!" She squeaked.
"Narya, you do not have to be sorry. I am confused too. I suppose
you are like this because of your life. No one has ever been this
nice to you before?"
"Not since I was very small, when my parents were alive." She
admitted. It was very hard to remember them anymore, as she had been
barely twenty years when they had died.
"Poor Narya. Well, things have changed. You are going to have to
start getting use to me being nice to you. Now, if you want me to
put a cool cloth on you, you need to get up and let me get it ready
for you."
She nodded and stood, beginning to look rather sleepy. "Why are you
nice?" She asked honestly.
Legolas paused, glancing at her. "Why am I nice?" He asked,
confused again. "Now that is a question. Well, I am nice because I
like to make people happy. I am nice because I want people to be
nice to me. And I am nice to you because you are sweet and
charming." He told her, and playfully tweaked her button nose before
standing up and going over to his water supply.
Narya giggled a little as he tweaked her nose. "I think I like
you." She announced softly.
Legolas smiled as he came back with a soft cloth soaked in cool
water. "I think I like you too, Narya." He told her as he sat back
down.
"Over your lap again?" She asked, blushing.
Legolas laughed. "It would be easier, don't you think? Not to
mention more comfortable for you."
She blushed once more, embarrassed and feeling stupid. She eased
down over his lap again. "I am sorry." Narya whispered.
"What are you sorry for now, baby?" He asked as he studied her pert
little bottom. Carefully he pressed the cloth against her skin,
hoping he would not cause her too much pain.
She squirmed a little, but the cold felt wonderful. "That I'm
awful." She whispered, then yawned.
Legolas sighed, remembering his earlier words. "I am sorry I said
that, Narya. I did not mean to hurt you with those words." He
paused, running the cloth over her red skin. "Do you forgive me?"
"It doesn't matter." She lied softly. It did matter, and she had no
idea why.
"Yes Narya, it does matter." Legolas insisted firmly. "How you feel
matters to me. Talk to me, baby. I will not get mad at you."
"It hurt, a lot, and I don't know why." She sniffled. "I have been
called much worse." She admitted.
"It hurt so badly because the cruel words you've heard most of your
life came from a person that did not care about your feelings. You
knew at once that I was different, didn't you?" Legolas sighed. "I
apologize, from the bottom of my heart, for hurting you in that way
Narya. I beg your forgiveness."
She nodded. "All right.... can.... can you hold me?" Narya asked,
her eyes filling with tears. It had been such a trying day and she
was so tired and sore all over, not just on her poor bottom, and she
wanted to feel safe.
"Thank you baby, for your forgiveness. And yes, I can hold you, and
I will. I take it that your bottom feels better then?"
She nodded, a few tears sliding down her face. "Thank you." She
whispered, her words very heartfelt.
"You are very welcome baby." He whispered back as he helped her sit
up again. Tossing the cloth away, he drew her into his lap and held
her tightly, cuddling her. "It is time to sleep, my fiery one."
Legolas told her softly as she yawned. "Tomorrow the sun will shine,
and you will be safe with me, forever. You will journey with me to
Rivendell, where you will see wonderful things and meet many
beautiful and kind Elves who will love you like family. How does all
that sound to you?"
"Wonderful." She whispered, drifting off into sleep.
"Good." He whispered back. "That is what your life will be from now
on. Wonderful. Just wonderful." He watched as she slipped into
dreamland, and with one last kiss on her lips he quietly joined her.
Narya awoke early the next morning, having been disturbed from sleep
by a terrible nightmare, the kind that usually made her scream in her
sleep. Thankfully though she hadn't been loud this time, which
usually brought immediate punishment. Her stomach rumbled, and she
decided to look for something for her and Legolas to eat, not wanting
to take his food without helping. She wondered off quite a ways and
found a few wild onions and, having spotted an apple tree, climbed up
it and spent some time gathering apples, then continued looking. She
scurried up another tree, searching for more fruit.
Meanwhile, back at the camp, Legolas woke with a start, his mind
troubled somehow. He sat up, blinking the sleep out of his eyes, and
turned to where Narya lied sleeping, intending to wake her with a
gentle kiss. He froze when he eyes came upon nothing but dirt. She
was gone. His heart leaped in his throat and he sprung up, wondering
where she had gone off to and why she had left. He glanced at the
ground and caught sight of her small footprints and he followed
them. They led into the forest, and he wondered if she had run away
from him in the night. He looked at the footprints again, studying
them carefully. He saw that they were very recent, so she couldn't
have been gone long. He went further in the woods, and the soon the
prints were lost in the many leaves that littered the ground. He
looked around, trying not to become frantic. He had to be calm and
remember his tracking skills. He paused under a tree for a moment,
scanning the area around him. Propping his hands on his hips, he
muttered, "Where are you, Narya?"
All of a sudden the girls' head appeared, upside down from the tree
in which she was hanging, and gave him a slight smile. "Morning."
She said before dumping her finding on him, letting out a snicker as
she did. Legolas jumped about a mile when the little imp popped out
at him like that, and for a moment he just stared at her. Narya hung
there grinning at him, her eyes twinkling.
"What are you doing?!" He finally asked, his voice laced with
annoyance. "Why did you wander off?" He demanded sternly.
Instantly all the merriment disappeared from her face and twinkling
eyes, to be replaced by a blank unreadable expression, her eyes
empty. "Getting food." Narya said very softly. "I wanted to help."
Legolas sighed deeply. "Get out of the tree." He ordered, trying
not to sound so angry. But he was. She had scared him to death! He
watched as Narya disappeared up into the tree.....and didn't come
down.
"Narya, what are you doing?! Come down here!" Legolas called to
her, shocked that she remained in the tree. He stood there waiting
for a few moments, and he heard nothing but silence. "Narya?" He
called again. "Come down here now, please." She didn't make a
sound. She was scared to come down. She had messed up badly, she
could tell. There was no way she was leaving that tree!
"Narya!" He said again, and stepped closer to the tree and looked
up. Legolas could see her perched on a high branch, her eyes wide
and her lips trembling. She flinched when she saw him. "Narya, what
are you doing? Come down here, please."
She shook her head no very quickly. "Not gonna." Narya whimpered
out.
Legolas blinked at her, surprised by that response. "Why not?" He
asked. He glanced at all the apples piled by the tree that she had
gathered. "You have enough apples, I think." He looked at her
again. "Come down, baby. What's wrong? Why are you frightened? I--
-." Suddenly he stopped, remembering the angry tone he had used on
her when she popped out at him. He had scared her, obviously.
Idiot! He thought. His sighed and smiled at the girl. "Come down
love, I'm not mad at you."
Narya shook her head no again, and several tears trailed silently
down her ashen cheeks as she watched his every move. Shaking, she
began to bite her lower lip as she watched him. No way in hell was
she moving from where she was! She'd become a squirrel if she had to!
Legolas watched her for a moment. She seemed so very scared. How
was he going to get her down from there? He sighed. "Narya, I know
I sounded angry when I found you, and I am sorry, but you scared me,
wandering off like you did. You should not do that. It isn't safe
for you to be alone. I know you were just trying to help by getting
food. But you do not need to worry about that. I will take care of
you. I told you that last night, did I not?"
She continued to watch him, biting her lower lip, until she bit it so
hard that she drew blood. His eyes went wide when he saw the blood,
but he tried to stay calm so as not to frighten her more. "What are
you going to do, live in that tree?" He asked her gently, as he
began studying the tree and looking for the quickest way to get up to
her. She nodded, deadly serious, biting down harder. Little
droplets of blood trickled from Narya's lip. Legolas couldn't
believe what he was seeing. He had to get up there, and fast. "Okay
then. If you want to live in a tree, that's fine. But I want to be
with you, so I am coming up. Where ever you live, I will live
also." He took another step towards the tree and she wiggled a
little, looking panicked. Legolas paused. "Narya, listen to me. I
am not going to hurt you in any way, all right? I am not even going
to spank you, okay? I know you were just trying to help, and I
appreciate it. I just don't want you to wander off alone, okay? I'm
coming up now. Do not be scared, I am not going to hurt you, okay?"
He started for the tree again, watching her.
Narya just sat there, biting even harder now, creating a little more
blood, her face grew even more ashen and she shivered, even though
there wasn't a breeze. "Please, I'm sorry!" She shouted, her voice
full of panic and anxiety.
"Baby, please don't get upset." Legolas told her gently as he began
to climb. "I am not going to hurt you. I promise! Do you remember
me from last night? The guy that was so nice to you because you're
sweet and charming? The guy you told you think you like? Do you not
remember how gentle and loving I was?" He was half way up the tree
by now, and she was still biting her lip. "Baby, please stop doing
that. You're hurting yourself. Please."
She hung her head, and a feeling of total naughtiness swept over
her. "I'm sorry." She whispered, not bothering to dry the blood,
but at least had stopped biting her poor abused lip.
"It's okay, my little one." Legolas assured her as he finally got to
where she was. Narya watched as he pulled himself up and sat beside
her. She scooted away from him as much as she could. He looked
around the tree, then at her. "So this is your new home, huh?
Nice. Very breezy." He grinned at her.
Narya ignored his commentary. "I'm in a lot of trouble aren't I?"
She whispered, praying he wouldn't take advantage of the tree and its
resources.
"No, you're not in trouble. It's just that when I woke up and found
you gone, I got scared. I was afraid you ran away during the night.
I do not want to lose you, baby. Okay? Please do not do that again,
please. You must stay with me." He smiled and slowly reached out to
touch her face. She let him, which surprised and delighted him.
Then Narya said something that shocked them both, and that shock was
written all over her face. "I was very naughty." She
whispered. "You need to punish me or I'll be very wicked." It was a
quote from her uncle, that she would be wicked if he did
not 'discipline' her as he called it.
For a very long moment all he could do was stare at her, his mouth
hanging open. It sounded like she was reciting something that had
been pounded into her pretty head. By her uncle, no doubt. Anger
rose in him, but he fought it back so he wouldn't scare her. "No
baby, no." Legolas said softly, moving close to her. She
winced. "You have not been naughty. I will not punish you. And you
are not evil. You never have been, and you never will be. Your
uncle is the one that is evil."
Narya shivered and then melted against him, feeling incredibly
guilty, which was not a new feeling. Her head hung, making her
dirty curls spill over her face. Legolas sighed deeply and held her
tight, happy that she let him hold her. He did just that for a
while, rubbing her back and whispering soft words to her. Finally
after about a half hour he spoke.
"Do you really want to live in this tree, little one?" He
asked. "There is not much food here, and there is not much to do.
There's so much to see in this world. Would you not rather come down
with me and share in all the wonderful views?"
She nodded. "But you don't have to feed me." Narya offered.
Legolas laughed loudly, startling the girl. "I don't have to feed
you? You are very funny, Narya. Of course I have to feed you! You
must eat, right?"
She jumped at his loud laugh and nearly fell out of the tree. "I
like food." She told him.
Legolas laughed again. "I kind of figured you did. I rather like
it myself." He grinned at her and winked.
She smiled nervously. "I found food. I am sorry I ran off, I didn't
mean to make you worry. I didn't think you would." She admitted.
"Now why would you think that?" Legolas asked, puzzled.
She gulped and ducked her head again, feeling stupid. "Never mind."
She whispered.
"No, do not do that, baby." He said, catching her chin and gently
forcing her to look at him. "Tell me why you didn't think I would
worry about you." He studied her. "You are not use to someone
worrying about you?"
She nodded, then gently fingered her abused lower lip and flinched as
a little more blood oozed from her touch. "That hurts." She
whispered, shocked by the blood on her finger.
"Yes, I imagine it does." Legolas replied as he looked at her
lip. "You did try to bite it off. Well, how about we get down from
this tree and get it cleaned up, and then we'll have some breakfast?
How does that sound?"
Narya nodded. "Alright." She consenting and jumped right out of the
tree, landing on her feet with the grace of a cat.
"Be careful Narya!" Legolas called to her, and he jumped down as
well. He looked at her, shocked but amused. "Are you okay?"
"Of course." She said, an eyebrow raised at him.
He stared at her for a moment, then laughed. "You are something
else, girl." He said as he stooped and picked up some
apples. "Come, let us go back to the camp." He told her, and they
began to walk back.
noticing. Legolas did notice though, and his heart soared, thrilled
at having gained her trust. He smiled and thought about reaching out
to touch her, but decided not to push things. "I have some stew
there in the pot." He told her. "Would you like some?" She nodded
and her stomach gave a great rumble, causing a sweet giggle to escape
from her lips.
Legolas' heart melted at the sound of her laughter, and he laughed
too, shaking his head. "All right fiery one. You sit right there
and I will bring you a bowl. I have no spoons, so you will just have
to sip it." He told her as he got up and went to the pot that hung
over the fire. Narya watched as he got a bowl and began to spoon
some of the hot stew into the bowl with a ladle. He blew on the hot
mixture for a moment, then got up and walked over to her. "I suppose
you can use the ladle to eat with if you do not wish to drink from
the bowl." He said as he handed it to her.
"Thank you." Narya whispered, suddenly feeling shy. She sipped from
the bowl and sighed happily. "This is very good." She told him,
again scooting a very wee bit closer. She truly wanted to be held,
but would not ask.
"I'm glad you are enjoying it." Legolas said and he sat back
down. "You do not want to use the ladle?" She shook her head no.
She could have cared less whether there was utensils or not, she was
just eternally grateful for the food. It wasn't often she had been
fed at her home and hoped her ribs, which rather stuck out, had not
been noticed when she was bare and upended over the handsome Elf's
lap. She blushed as she realized she had just called him handsome.
"All right." Legolas muttered, noticing her blush and wondering what
caused it. He also noticed how she continued to scoot closer to
him. "Are you cold, fiery one?" He asked.
Narya shook her head no, not sure if that was ok or not, then
shivered as a breeze hit her. "Yes." She whispered, her slight body
shivering from the wind.
He smiled. "I have a blanket. Why don't I get it for you, and you
can wrap it around you, and after you eat I will hold you and keep
you warm." Narya eyed him for a moment. "If you would allow me too,
of course." He added quickly, not wanting to scare her.
Her face clouded over with thought, and she felt very nervous, but
slowly nodded. "Please." She said softly, watching him carefully
again.
He noticed the nervous look and his heart twinged. "Good, then I
shall." He said, trying to be careful and not frighten her. He got
up to get the blanket and approached her with it, draping it over her
shoulders and wrapping it around her. "Better?" He asked.
Narya nodded, feeling very much like a little child being lovingly
cared for. She wasn't a child of course, but it felt good this time
to rather feel like one. She hurriedly finished her soup, wanting to
be held. "May I be held now?" she asked with a questioning look,
making sure it was still all right. His eyes went wide at the way
she asked that, like she thought he would suddenly get mad and strike
her.
"Of course, little one. I would like nothing better. But let us sit
on the ground, and rest against the log here." He said, and sat down
slowly, fearing if he moved too fast he would scare her. She didn't
seem scared though, and he smiled and patted the spot beside him,
inviting her to struggle up next to him.
She slowly moved and curled up beside him, keeping pressure off her
bottom, and laid her head against his side. "It hurts." She
whispered, looking up at him.
He sighed and flinched inwardly, knowing what she meant. "I know
little one, and I am sorry. But you were being so awful. Can you
really blame me? I did not like doing it, you know."
"May I rub it?" Narya asked uncertainly, hurt filling her eyes with
tears at the word awful.
Legolas stared at her, shocked that she had asked permission to rub
her own bottom. Her uncle must have been a monster. He also noticed
the hurt look in her eyes, and he wondered what caused it. "No, you
may not. I will put more cream on it so you will not have to rub
it." She ducked her head when told she could not rub, then with a
slight wince, moved her sore body to lay across his knees again.
"I did not tell you could not rub it to be mean, Narya." He told her
as he got the jar of cream out once I again. "I suppose.....I just
felt bad that you had to rub it, and I wanted to make it easier for
you. Do you understand that?" He asked as he bared her behind once
more and began to apply the cream.
"Yes." She answered quickly, her voice riddled with urgency. She
really didn't understand it, but saying 'no' to a direct question had
never been an option for her. "Really hurts." She whimpered, tears
stinging her eyes.
"I know baby. I will rub it for you, if you want me to." He said,
having applied the cream. "Shall I?" He asked after a pause.
She nodded slowly. "Baby?" Narya repeated softly, very confused.
He heard her and frowned. "I am sorry....I....it was just a
endearment that slipped. I did not mean to offend you." Legolas
said as he began to slowly rub her cute little bottom.
"You didn't offend me.... just.." She sighed and closed her mouth,
rather leaning her small bottom into his gentle touch.
"Just what?" He asked, running his hand over her rear. It was still
very hot, and he could only imagine how badly it pained her. "You
are not use to being called such names?"
Narya nodded. "Just bad things." She whispered, wishing her behind
would cool off some. "Is it supposed to be hot?" She asked,
squirming just a wee bit.
Just bad things? He thought. How terrible. "Yes, I'm afraid it
is." He said in answer to her question. "You uncle never spanked
you, or your parents?"
She shook her head no. "Never. I am sorry, is that bad?"
Legolas started, shocked at her question. "Well.....I do not know.
It would have been better if your uncle just spanked you instead of
beating you, but....."His voice trailed off, not knowing what else to
say.
Narya shivered at the thought. "Then I would not have a backside
left." She admitted seriously.
Legolas froze at that. Oh Valor. He thought. This girl has been
through so much. He squeezed his eyes shut, fury raging in his
veins. How he wished he had that uncle of hers in front of him right
now. He would show him what pain really was. "I am so sorry,
baby." He told her. He began rubbing her bottom again, thinking
about the terrible heat in it. "I have some cool water with me. I
can take a rag and soak it in that and put it on your bottom, to ease
the heat, if you wish."
"Please?" She half begged. "That is ok? You would do that?" She
felt very confused. "This is very.... difficult." She decided.
"Difficult?" Legolas repeated. "Why is it difficult?"
"I am confused." She paused. "I'm sorry!" She squeaked.
"Narya, you do not have to be sorry. I am confused too. I suppose
you are like this because of your life. No one has ever been this
nice to you before?"
"Not since I was very small, when my parents were alive." She
admitted. It was very hard to remember them anymore, as she had been
barely twenty years when they had died.
"Poor Narya. Well, things have changed. You are going to have to
start getting use to me being nice to you. Now, if you want me to
put a cool cloth on you, you need to get up and let me get it ready
for you."
She nodded and stood, beginning to look rather sleepy. "Why are you
nice?" She asked honestly.
Legolas paused, glancing at her. "Why am I nice?" He asked,
confused again. "Now that is a question. Well, I am nice because I
like to make people happy. I am nice because I want people to be
nice to me. And I am nice to you because you are sweet and
charming." He told her, and playfully tweaked her button nose before
standing up and going over to his water supply.
Narya giggled a little as he tweaked her nose. "I think I like
you." She announced softly.
Legolas smiled as he came back with a soft cloth soaked in cool
water. "I think I like you too, Narya." He told her as he sat back
down.
"Over your lap again?" She asked, blushing.
Legolas laughed. "It would be easier, don't you think? Not to
mention more comfortable for you."
She blushed once more, embarrassed and feeling stupid. She eased
down over his lap again. "I am sorry." Narya whispered.
"What are you sorry for now, baby?" He asked as he studied her pert
little bottom. Carefully he pressed the cloth against her skin,
hoping he would not cause her too much pain.
She squirmed a little, but the cold felt wonderful. "That I'm
awful." She whispered, then yawned.
Legolas sighed, remembering his earlier words. "I am sorry I said
that, Narya. I did not mean to hurt you with those words." He
paused, running the cloth over her red skin. "Do you forgive me?"
"It doesn't matter." She lied softly. It did matter, and she had no
idea why.
"Yes Narya, it does matter." Legolas insisted firmly. "How you feel
matters to me. Talk to me, baby. I will not get mad at you."
"It hurt, a lot, and I don't know why." She sniffled. "I have been
called much worse." She admitted.
"It hurt so badly because the cruel words you've heard most of your
life came from a person that did not care about your feelings. You
knew at once that I was different, didn't you?" Legolas sighed. "I
apologize, from the bottom of my heart, for hurting you in that way
Narya. I beg your forgiveness."
She nodded. "All right.... can.... can you hold me?" Narya asked,
her eyes filling with tears. It had been such a trying day and she
was so tired and sore all over, not just on her poor bottom, and she
wanted to feel safe.
"Thank you baby, for your forgiveness. And yes, I can hold you, and
I will. I take it that your bottom feels better then?"
She nodded, a few tears sliding down her face. "Thank you." She
whispered, her words very heartfelt.
"You are very welcome baby." He whispered back as he helped her sit
up again. Tossing the cloth away, he drew her into his lap and held
her tightly, cuddling her. "It is time to sleep, my fiery one."
Legolas told her softly as she yawned. "Tomorrow the sun will shine,
and you will be safe with me, forever. You will journey with me to
Rivendell, where you will see wonderful things and meet many
beautiful and kind Elves who will love you like family. How does all
that sound to you?"
"Wonderful." She whispered, drifting off into sleep.
"Good." He whispered back. "That is what your life will be from now
on. Wonderful. Just wonderful." He watched as she slipped into
dreamland, and with one last kiss on her lips he quietly joined her.
Narya awoke early the next morning, having been disturbed from sleep
by a terrible nightmare, the kind that usually made her scream in her
sleep. Thankfully though she hadn't been loud this time, which
usually brought immediate punishment. Her stomach rumbled, and she
decided to look for something for her and Legolas to eat, not wanting
to take his food without helping. She wondered off quite a ways and
found a few wild onions and, having spotted an apple tree, climbed up
it and spent some time gathering apples, then continued looking. She
scurried up another tree, searching for more fruit.
Meanwhile, back at the camp, Legolas woke with a start, his mind
troubled somehow. He sat up, blinking the sleep out of his eyes, and
turned to where Narya lied sleeping, intending to wake her with a
gentle kiss. He froze when he eyes came upon nothing but dirt. She
was gone. His heart leaped in his throat and he sprung up, wondering
where she had gone off to and why she had left. He glanced at the
ground and caught sight of her small footprints and he followed
them. They led into the forest, and he wondered if she had run away
from him in the night. He looked at the footprints again, studying
them carefully. He saw that they were very recent, so she couldn't
have been gone long. He went further in the woods, and the soon the
prints were lost in the many leaves that littered the ground. He
looked around, trying not to become frantic. He had to be calm and
remember his tracking skills. He paused under a tree for a moment,
scanning the area around him. Propping his hands on his hips, he
muttered, "Where are you, Narya?"
All of a sudden the girls' head appeared, upside down from the tree
in which she was hanging, and gave him a slight smile. "Morning."
She said before dumping her finding on him, letting out a snicker as
she did. Legolas jumped about a mile when the little imp popped out
at him like that, and for a moment he just stared at her. Narya hung
there grinning at him, her eyes twinkling.
"What are you doing?!" He finally asked, his voice laced with
annoyance. "Why did you wander off?" He demanded sternly.
Instantly all the merriment disappeared from her face and twinkling
eyes, to be replaced by a blank unreadable expression, her eyes
empty. "Getting food." Narya said very softly. "I wanted to help."
Legolas sighed deeply. "Get out of the tree." He ordered, trying
not to sound so angry. But he was. She had scared him to death! He
watched as Narya disappeared up into the tree.....and didn't come
down.
"Narya, what are you doing?! Come down here!" Legolas called to
her, shocked that she remained in the tree. He stood there waiting
for a few moments, and he heard nothing but silence. "Narya?" He
called again. "Come down here now, please." She didn't make a
sound. She was scared to come down. She had messed up badly, she
could tell. There was no way she was leaving that tree!
"Narya!" He said again, and stepped closer to the tree and looked
up. Legolas could see her perched on a high branch, her eyes wide
and her lips trembling. She flinched when she saw him. "Narya, what
are you doing? Come down here, please."
She shook her head no very quickly. "Not gonna." Narya whimpered
out.
Legolas blinked at her, surprised by that response. "Why not?" He
asked. He glanced at all the apples piled by the tree that she had
gathered. "You have enough apples, I think." He looked at her
again. "Come down, baby. What's wrong? Why are you frightened? I--
-." Suddenly he stopped, remembering the angry tone he had used on
her when she popped out at him. He had scared her, obviously.
Idiot! He thought. His sighed and smiled at the girl. "Come down
love, I'm not mad at you."
Narya shook her head no again, and several tears trailed silently
down her ashen cheeks as she watched his every move. Shaking, she
began to bite her lower lip as she watched him. No way in hell was
she moving from where she was! She'd become a squirrel if she had to!
Legolas watched her for a moment. She seemed so very scared. How
was he going to get her down from there? He sighed. "Narya, I know
I sounded angry when I found you, and I am sorry, but you scared me,
wandering off like you did. You should not do that. It isn't safe
for you to be alone. I know you were just trying to help by getting
food. But you do not need to worry about that. I will take care of
you. I told you that last night, did I not?"
She continued to watch him, biting her lower lip, until she bit it so
hard that she drew blood. His eyes went wide when he saw the blood,
but he tried to stay calm so as not to frighten her more. "What are
you going to do, live in that tree?" He asked her gently, as he
began studying the tree and looking for the quickest way to get up to
her. She nodded, deadly serious, biting down harder. Little
droplets of blood trickled from Narya's lip. Legolas couldn't
believe what he was seeing. He had to get up there, and fast. "Okay
then. If you want to live in a tree, that's fine. But I want to be
with you, so I am coming up. Where ever you live, I will live
also." He took another step towards the tree and she wiggled a
little, looking panicked. Legolas paused. "Narya, listen to me. I
am not going to hurt you in any way, all right? I am not even going
to spank you, okay? I know you were just trying to help, and I
appreciate it. I just don't want you to wander off alone, okay? I'm
coming up now. Do not be scared, I am not going to hurt you, okay?"
He started for the tree again, watching her.
Narya just sat there, biting even harder now, creating a little more
blood, her face grew even more ashen and she shivered, even though
there wasn't a breeze. "Please, I'm sorry!" She shouted, her voice
full of panic and anxiety.
"Baby, please don't get upset." Legolas told her gently as he began
to climb. "I am not going to hurt you. I promise! Do you remember
me from last night? The guy that was so nice to you because you're
sweet and charming? The guy you told you think you like? Do you not
remember how gentle and loving I was?" He was half way up the tree
by now, and she was still biting her lip. "Baby, please stop doing
that. You're hurting yourself. Please."
She hung her head, and a feeling of total naughtiness swept over
her. "I'm sorry." She whispered, not bothering to dry the blood,
but at least had stopped biting her poor abused lip.
"It's okay, my little one." Legolas assured her as he finally got to
where she was. Narya watched as he pulled himself up and sat beside
her. She scooted away from him as much as she could. He looked
around the tree, then at her. "So this is your new home, huh?
Nice. Very breezy." He grinned at her.
Narya ignored his commentary. "I'm in a lot of trouble aren't I?"
She whispered, praying he wouldn't take advantage of the tree and its
resources.
"No, you're not in trouble. It's just that when I woke up and found
you gone, I got scared. I was afraid you ran away during the night.
I do not want to lose you, baby. Okay? Please do not do that again,
please. You must stay with me." He smiled and slowly reached out to
touch her face. She let him, which surprised and delighted him.
Then Narya said something that shocked them both, and that shock was
written all over her face. "I was very naughty." She
whispered. "You need to punish me or I'll be very wicked." It was a
quote from her uncle, that she would be wicked if he did
not 'discipline' her as he called it.
For a very long moment all he could do was stare at her, his mouth
hanging open. It sounded like she was reciting something that had
been pounded into her pretty head. By her uncle, no doubt. Anger
rose in him, but he fought it back so he wouldn't scare her. "No
baby, no." Legolas said softly, moving close to her. She
winced. "You have not been naughty. I will not punish you. And you
are not evil. You never have been, and you never will be. Your
uncle is the one that is evil."
Narya shivered and then melted against him, feeling incredibly
guilty, which was not a new feeling. Her head hung, making her
dirty curls spill over her face. Legolas sighed deeply and held her
tight, happy that she let him hold her. He did just that for a
while, rubbing her back and whispering soft words to her. Finally
after about a half hour he spoke.
"Do you really want to live in this tree, little one?" He
asked. "There is not much food here, and there is not much to do.
There's so much to see in this world. Would you not rather come down
with me and share in all the wonderful views?"
She nodded. "But you don't have to feed me." Narya offered.
Legolas laughed loudly, startling the girl. "I don't have to feed
you? You are very funny, Narya. Of course I have to feed you! You
must eat, right?"
She jumped at his loud laugh and nearly fell out of the tree. "I
like food." She told him.
Legolas laughed again. "I kind of figured you did. I rather like
it myself." He grinned at her and winked.
She smiled nervously. "I found food. I am sorry I ran off, I didn't
mean to make you worry. I didn't think you would." She admitted.
"Now why would you think that?" Legolas asked, puzzled.
She gulped and ducked her head again, feeling stupid. "Never mind."
She whispered.
"No, do not do that, baby." He said, catching her chin and gently
forcing her to look at him. "Tell me why you didn't think I would
worry about you." He studied her. "You are not use to someone
worrying about you?"
She nodded, then gently fingered her abused lower lip and flinched as
a little more blood oozed from her touch. "That hurts." She
whispered, shocked by the blood on her finger.
"Yes, I imagine it does." Legolas replied as he looked at her
lip. "You did try to bite it off. Well, how about we get down from
this tree and get it cleaned up, and then we'll have some breakfast?
How does that sound?"
Narya nodded. "Alright." She consenting and jumped right out of the
tree, landing on her feet with the grace of a cat.
"Be careful Narya!" Legolas called to her, and he jumped down as
well. He looked at her, shocked but amused. "Are you okay?"
"Of course." She said, an eyebrow raised at him.
He stared at her for a moment, then laughed. "You are something
else, girl." He said as he stooped and picked up some
apples. "Come, let us go back to the camp." He told her, and they
began to walk back.