Chapter 3
"I am from Mirkwood." She lied, only so that the rider would not be suspicious; she felt he already was. "But I do not deny that I have never heard of you, nor any other by that name." She was already regretting have said it.
"Then you must have lived under a rock in Mirkwood, for I am the Heir of Thranduil." He would now have his doubts to where she was from.
"I am sorry, for I never meddled with that kind of news or information. I was," Think, she thought, and think quickly! "I was daughter of an Elven metal smith." She lied again; was it really lying if she did not know the truth? "Although he did not make anything special, though, only the bridles and rein bindings for the horses of the commoners."
"Ah I see." He said quickly. "You may ride my horse, and I will lead you along, because it seems as though you are, well," He paused to think. "Dishevelled and out of your right mind right now."
"Alright. My back is still hurting quite a bit actually." She walked over to the horse; Legolas offered his hand to her, and she took it, using it to steady herself as she mounted the steed. "Thank you."
"Think nothing of it."
He took the reins and lead her slowly back towards Old Forest Road, and back to Mirkwood. There were many openings in the ceiling that the topmost branches made, and Rinq stared up through them as they traveled; she stared at the many forms that the stars would make. She scorned the Evenstar; all it did was to stand in the sky alone, apart form the others. "Rhach Undomiel." She muttered under her breath, hoping that the other would not hear, but he did.
"Curse Evenstar? Why would you say that? For Undomiel is the most beautiful star in all the sky! It shines ever fair and bright, giving hope!" She looked down at Legolas from atop his horse as they walked.
"But she shines alone, apart from the others. She is on the outside, thinking only of herself, and her beauty."
"Your name means 'Alone' and it seems as though you yearn for company, for others." He looked up at her. "It is quite unusual." She decided to beat him at his own game.
"As is a prince riding out into the woods with no escort in the middle of the night." She glared down at him, wondering what he would say to her next. Now that there was light coming down from the stars and moon, she could see his face well now; he had a soft and well defined jaw, with blue eyes. Almost all the Elves had blue eyes, except for herself; but this Legolas, he had iced over blue eyes, almost radiating with their lineage, and yet they were warm, and inviting. His face was the same way, soft yet stern, demanding yet giving. Rinq could tell that he a mix of emotions. "And yet you do not want the crown that shall be handed down to you, do you?" She just let it come out of her mouth, and she did not know why. But it didn't stop her from going on. "You desire only to ride and feel the wind through your hair. With this you would be content." Legolas looked at the ground.
"Many people can tell this, and you are not the first." He shook his head. "I would be content with that, yet I love my father, and respect him very much, but I do not want to take up my place as Heir." He shook his head. "If only I did not wear my emotions so easily in my eyes."
"And why do you say that?"
"I have known you for the time since I pulled your horse off you, and yet you already know my darkest fear. You have the power of Galadriel, Enriqua." He looked up at her, the light shining in his eyes. "And yet I know so little about you."
As do I. "You know things. You know, for example, that my father was a metal smith in Mirkwood. And that that is where I am from." They neared the edge of the woods, and could see the houses beyond the edge.
"And that is a small amount." He laughed.
"For one with such worries in his mind, you are still so light hearted, Lord."
"And as one that might understand how I feel, I would ask you not to call me Lord again, please."