**Hey people, thanks for reviewing!! I hope this chapter will be better than the rest!! LoL Please R/R!! In case you didn't know, Elvish is in `'. **
Chapter 4
They had been traveling for 3 straight days towards Rivendell now. Amanda seemed to think that the days were actually growing longer. Each day of traveling was more and more challenging then the last. Amanda wasn't used to the food that they served her, it seemed everything they gave her tasted the same. And not a very good taste. Amanda had doubled up with one of Legolas' companions, on his horse. They had been riding for about 2 hours straight now and Amanda was getting tired of the silent treatment that she was getting from the elf.
"Sooo, do people in Middle-Earth ever start a conversation? It seems that whenever I'm traveling with one of you elves, you never talk." Said Amanda.
"We only talk when we are spoken to, or when we have something to say," said the elf.
"Well fine, I will talk to you. For starters, what are your names?" she asked.
"My name is Durian, loyal warrior for Mirkwood. The other three are... well you'd just better stay away from them. The one on the far left, with the dark brown hair, he is Elrohiol. He is a second cousin of Legolas and me and is a great friend of mine. You naught worry about him, he is kind. But the other two are the ones you should look out for. Their names are Hanicel and Jonciven. They only accompany us because they are great warriors, but they desire only what they do not have. They have nasty tempers and could cause harm to you if you get in their way of anything." He explained.
"So I take it that you're the normal one out of you four?" Amanda asked.
Durian laughed, "I guess you could say that my lady."
Amanda thought about what Durian had just told her, "Wait, you just said that Elrohiol is a second cousin of Legolas and yourself."
"Yes, that is right, Legolas is my older brother. I accompany him on all of his journeys to learn from him, but don't let that fool you. I am an extremely skilled warrior already." He said.
"Ah, I see now. That would explain the similarity in you two. You both have the hair and the eyes." She said.
"Yes it would. And since you've had me talking for quite some time now, I think you should explain a little more about yourself. So I know about the person that has their arms around me." He said grinning.
Amanda blushed, "The only reason I have my arms around you is because I don't want to fall off. OK? You'd better get it straight. Anyhow, what do you want to know about me?"
"Well, first you can tell me about your life," the blond elf said.
Amanda took in a deep breath, "Okkaayy. Well, I grew up in Cleveland for most of my life. I now live with my mother and brother and-" she was suddenly cut off.
"Excuse me lady, my apologies for interrupting, but do you not have a father? I find it odd that a young earthen child such as yourself should grow up with out a male dominance in the household." Durian said.
"Oh, my father died when I was 11, he died from leukemia. I had a father most of my life, but now..." her voice trailed off.
"Oh, my deepest sympathy for you and your family. I am sorry for bringing up a sore subject. Do you wish to go on?" He asked.
"It's okay, I don't mind talking about it. But what do you want to know?" She asked again.
"Well, have you had any schooling in your lifetime?" he asked.
Amanda laughed, "About 11 years of a catholic school torture chamber."
"A torture chamber?" asked Durian. "I have heard children to not like learning in schools but I did not know that they were sent to the torture chambers for their lack of learning."
"That's not what I meant," she said.
"Durian!!" Legolas called from up ahead. "We will be stopping now for the night. It is getting dark and we need to find shelter, for a great storm will be erupting soon."
"Alright brother!" he called up.
They stopped and searched for shelter from the heavy rain that was coming. They found a small cave deep in the bushes and growth of the forest.
"Ah this shall do," said Lestan. "We will camp here tonight, I suggest that you get some rest. We plan on reaching Rivendell tomorrow in the afternoon. Which means we will have to ride hard all morning."
The elves started laying out their supplies. "I am going out to gather some dry wood before the storm hits us." Said Elrohiol. He stood up and walked out of the cave.
"Hanicel, Jonciven, go out and gather up some fresh berries. We will need good food to keep up our strength for tomorrow." Said Lestan.
Legolas pulled Durian aside and spoke to him in Elvish, `Me and Lestan are going out to find some meat. Watch over the lady, she mustn't be harmed.'
Durian looked at his older brother, `What did you think I was going to do? Pour blood over her and hook her up to a stake outside for the animals to come devour? Honestly brother, do you not think that I wasn't going to protect her?"
Legolas glared at his younger brother, `I don't know what you are thinking sometimes. Most of the time I am not aware that you are capable of thinking."
`Shut up Legolas,' Durian said.
Legolas smiled and punched his brother on the arm. And left the cave with Lestan. Durian stared at his brother as he left, did Legolas always have to think of him as a worthless child?
Durian growled and slammed his bow onto the ground. "This is so typical, they leave me here, while they all go off. Even if it is to just find food." He muttered to himself.
Amanda just stood and watched the whole scene. She had seen the way that Legolas and Durian had pestered each other. It reminded her of herself and her brother at home. Constant sibling bickering. "I guess the sibling rivalry didn't skip the elves."
Durian looked at her, "So you have this problem with your brother also?"
"Oh yes, most kids these days do. My brother is only a year older than me, so we fight constantly. How much older is Legolas than you?" Asked Amanda.
"2,000 years," said Durian.
"Ouch. That's quite a gap." Said Amanda.
"Yes, he protects me most of the time, and the time when he isn't protecting me, he is either tormenting me in other ways." He said.
Amanda laughed, "Yep, sounds exactly like me and my brother."
Durian laughed. "At least someone around here knows how I feel."
"Yeah," said Amanda.
Durian looked at her. "You do not seem like the humans in Middle-Earth. You are different. Most of the female humans are quiet folk who don't like to get dirt under their nails."
"Well, most females on earth are like that too. But not all of us, there are some exceptions, like moi," Amanda said happily.
"Moi?" Durian asked.
"It means me in French, I had to take French in the first semester at school. I don't recommend it. Too hard." She said.
"Would you like to learn Elvish? I could teach it to you if you would like." Said Durian.
"Uh, not right now, I'm still trying to get over the shock of actually being here in Middle-Earth," said Amanda.
"How exactly have you heard of Middle-Earth?" Durian asked. He walked over and sat against the farthest wall, it had started raining, but it wasn't hard yet.
Amanda sat on the wall across from him, "Well, I've heard of Lord of the Rings from the movie, I haven't read the books yet. (A/N: poor deprived child!! I've read them all a couple of times! ). But there are books out there that are about Middle-Earth. The Hobbit, I've actually read that one. It was good."
"There are books in the mortal world about Middle-Earth? How odd." Said Durian.
"Yeah, I guess," said Amanda. She looked at Durian intently, and then burst out laughing.
"What is so funny?" he asked.
"I'm sorry. But I'm finding it hard to believe that I'm actually sitting here talking to an elf. I always pictured elves looking like short fat men with beards and pointy shoes." She said between laughs.
Durian looked horrified, "Oh Lord no, child!! You must have gotten us mixed up with the dwarves! Oh what a horrible thing to say."
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. But I never expected elves to be so... tall." She said.
"What else would we be?" he asked.
"Well, I dunno. Different. But you aren't, so let's drop the subject, ok?" she asked.
"Alright."
Amanda reached into her bag and pulled out her CD player.
"What is that?" Asked Durian.
"It's my CD player, it plays music-"
"Put it away!!!" Screamed Durian. "My ears received enough torture a couple of days ago, I do not need it again."
"Hey relax, I don't listen to just one kind of music. Here listen to this," she took out the old CD and places a new one in. Beethoven's Greatest.
She handed him the headphones. He looked at them, not knowing what to do with them.
"Here let me show you," she said. She took the headphones back from him. "Ok, you put the bottom part under your hair so it doesn't annoy you, then you take the little round parts and curve them around your ears. Ya see?" she demonstrated how to put the headphones on.
Durian took them back and did exactly what Amanda had told him. "Ok, now don't be scared when I turn it on. When I press this button, music is going to come out of those round things on your ears, no one else can hear it ok?"
Durian nodded and closed his eyes.
Amanda pressed the play button, and soon the sweet melodic piano concertos played into the headphones.
Durian's eyes lit up, and smiled, "Amanda, this certainly is wonderful music. It is not like the music in my Elven kingdom."
Amanda smiled back at the blond elf. She laughed quietly to herself when she saw the small points of his ears showing around the top of the headphones. She looked up when she saw a figure nearing the entrance of the cave.
Hanicel walked up to the two figures sitting side by side on the ground. `Is the little Greenleaf entertaining the child?' Hanicel sneered.
Durian stood up and took off the headphones, he glared at Hanicel, `You will address the Prince of Mirkwood with the proper respect.'
`When you seem old enough for my respect child,' Hanicel said.
Durian walked over to Hanicel and got right up in his face, `Do NOT mock me!'
"Is that a threat... Little Leaf?" Taunted Hanicel.
Durian stepped back and unsheathed his short dagger from its place on his back. "Would you like to stand up against your insults, friend?"
Hanicel unsheathed his sword, "With pleasure."
Amanda grabbed hold of Durian's arm. "Durian stop acting like a crazy person. Just leave him alone."
"I cannot let him get away with disrespecting me," said Durian.
"Let the coward fight," Hanicel taunted. "I would enjoy this match very well."
Amanda glared at Hanicel, "Fine, do whatever. But hold it off until a later date please. If you didn't notice, your sword is a little bit bigger than Durian's dagger. Wouldn't you like him to put up a better fight with a better weapon?"
Hanicel looked at her, and put his sword away, "Fine, but I will be watching you." He pointed at Durian. He gathered up the sack of berries that he had dropped in his glimpse of madness.
Amanda dragged a panting Durian to the back of the cave, "Hey man, chill."
"That mad elf makes me so angry. He's going to get what he deserves one day, I promise," he said.
"Ok, ok. But until then, stop acting crazy, ok?" Amanda asked him gently.
Durian looked at her, "I will try my lady."
Just then Legolas and Lestan appeared with the meat that they had promised. Legolas had carried the dead boar into the cave and dropped it when he saw Durian and Amanda standing in the back of the cave together.
`Durian,' he said. `Come here.'
Durian walked over to him, `Nice kill there brother, looks good.'
`Yes, I know. Durian, what were you doing with Amanda back there?' asked Legolas.
`Oh brother, it was nothing, she was just calming me down. Hanicel came in and taunted me again.' Durian explained.
`That better be all that was going on. You mustn't let Hanicel get to you like that. Try to calm yourself when you are with him." Said Legolas. "I know how he can get sometimes, and I also know how good of a warrior he is. Do not start a fight with him.'
`Legolas!! I can't believe you sometimes! Don't you know that I can take care of myself?!' exclaimed Durian.
`Durian, you're young, sometimes you don't make the right decisions. I'm just trying to help you go through the coming of age.' Legolas said calmly.
`Legolas, I'll be fine! Stop worrying!'
Legolas smiled and wiped away a fake tear, "My little boy is growing up so fast."
"Shut up."
"Remember what I said kid," Legolas said. "Stay away from him."
Durian walked outside in the rain as he saw Elrohiol nearing the camp. Elrohiol had just watched the whole scene of Durian and his brother.
"Well well well. The brother lecturing you again?" He asked as he set the wood down inside the cave.
"Yes," said Durian.
Elrohiol laughed, "Don't worry, it'll pass, it did with my brothers, it just takes time. Well, how was the time alone with the earth child? Was it pure torture?"
"No actually, I rather enjoyed it. She is an interesting person once you get to know her." Durian said smiling.
Elrohiol smiled and nodded his head slowly, "Riiight, `interesting person', sure. I know your term of interesting person." He laughed.
"Oh shut up Elrohiol," he said laughing, "she is just a child."
"And according to the elves, so are you." Pointed out Elrohiol. He patted him on the back and walked away, leaving Durian to himself. Inside he could hear Lestan talking with Amanda. He heard her laugh at something he said.
Durian turned around and walked back into the cave to help his brother skin the boar.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
** Hey, I had to get this chapter outta the way! I wanted to emphasize Durian's relationship with Legolas, for it will be a big point in the end. PLEASE REVIEW!!! Tell me what you think, should I have Durian get together with Amanda? Cuz I'm kinda debating with that right now, let me know what you guys want!! Thanks!! PeAcE!**
Chapter 4
They had been traveling for 3 straight days towards Rivendell now. Amanda seemed to think that the days were actually growing longer. Each day of traveling was more and more challenging then the last. Amanda wasn't used to the food that they served her, it seemed everything they gave her tasted the same. And not a very good taste. Amanda had doubled up with one of Legolas' companions, on his horse. They had been riding for about 2 hours straight now and Amanda was getting tired of the silent treatment that she was getting from the elf.
"Sooo, do people in Middle-Earth ever start a conversation? It seems that whenever I'm traveling with one of you elves, you never talk." Said Amanda.
"We only talk when we are spoken to, or when we have something to say," said the elf.
"Well fine, I will talk to you. For starters, what are your names?" she asked.
"My name is Durian, loyal warrior for Mirkwood. The other three are... well you'd just better stay away from them. The one on the far left, with the dark brown hair, he is Elrohiol. He is a second cousin of Legolas and me and is a great friend of mine. You naught worry about him, he is kind. But the other two are the ones you should look out for. Their names are Hanicel and Jonciven. They only accompany us because they are great warriors, but they desire only what they do not have. They have nasty tempers and could cause harm to you if you get in their way of anything." He explained.
"So I take it that you're the normal one out of you four?" Amanda asked.
Durian laughed, "I guess you could say that my lady."
Amanda thought about what Durian had just told her, "Wait, you just said that Elrohiol is a second cousin of Legolas and yourself."
"Yes, that is right, Legolas is my older brother. I accompany him on all of his journeys to learn from him, but don't let that fool you. I am an extremely skilled warrior already." He said.
"Ah, I see now. That would explain the similarity in you two. You both have the hair and the eyes." She said.
"Yes it would. And since you've had me talking for quite some time now, I think you should explain a little more about yourself. So I know about the person that has their arms around me." He said grinning.
Amanda blushed, "The only reason I have my arms around you is because I don't want to fall off. OK? You'd better get it straight. Anyhow, what do you want to know about me?"
"Well, first you can tell me about your life," the blond elf said.
Amanda took in a deep breath, "Okkaayy. Well, I grew up in Cleveland for most of my life. I now live with my mother and brother and-" she was suddenly cut off.
"Excuse me lady, my apologies for interrupting, but do you not have a father? I find it odd that a young earthen child such as yourself should grow up with out a male dominance in the household." Durian said.
"Oh, my father died when I was 11, he died from leukemia. I had a father most of my life, but now..." her voice trailed off.
"Oh, my deepest sympathy for you and your family. I am sorry for bringing up a sore subject. Do you wish to go on?" He asked.
"It's okay, I don't mind talking about it. But what do you want to know?" She asked again.
"Well, have you had any schooling in your lifetime?" he asked.
Amanda laughed, "About 11 years of a catholic school torture chamber."
"A torture chamber?" asked Durian. "I have heard children to not like learning in schools but I did not know that they were sent to the torture chambers for their lack of learning."
"That's not what I meant," she said.
"Durian!!" Legolas called from up ahead. "We will be stopping now for the night. It is getting dark and we need to find shelter, for a great storm will be erupting soon."
"Alright brother!" he called up.
They stopped and searched for shelter from the heavy rain that was coming. They found a small cave deep in the bushes and growth of the forest.
"Ah this shall do," said Lestan. "We will camp here tonight, I suggest that you get some rest. We plan on reaching Rivendell tomorrow in the afternoon. Which means we will have to ride hard all morning."
The elves started laying out their supplies. "I am going out to gather some dry wood before the storm hits us." Said Elrohiol. He stood up and walked out of the cave.
"Hanicel, Jonciven, go out and gather up some fresh berries. We will need good food to keep up our strength for tomorrow." Said Lestan.
Legolas pulled Durian aside and spoke to him in Elvish, `Me and Lestan are going out to find some meat. Watch over the lady, she mustn't be harmed.'
Durian looked at his older brother, `What did you think I was going to do? Pour blood over her and hook her up to a stake outside for the animals to come devour? Honestly brother, do you not think that I wasn't going to protect her?"
Legolas glared at his younger brother, `I don't know what you are thinking sometimes. Most of the time I am not aware that you are capable of thinking."
`Shut up Legolas,' Durian said.
Legolas smiled and punched his brother on the arm. And left the cave with Lestan. Durian stared at his brother as he left, did Legolas always have to think of him as a worthless child?
Durian growled and slammed his bow onto the ground. "This is so typical, they leave me here, while they all go off. Even if it is to just find food." He muttered to himself.
Amanda just stood and watched the whole scene. She had seen the way that Legolas and Durian had pestered each other. It reminded her of herself and her brother at home. Constant sibling bickering. "I guess the sibling rivalry didn't skip the elves."
Durian looked at her, "So you have this problem with your brother also?"
"Oh yes, most kids these days do. My brother is only a year older than me, so we fight constantly. How much older is Legolas than you?" Asked Amanda.
"2,000 years," said Durian.
"Ouch. That's quite a gap." Said Amanda.
"Yes, he protects me most of the time, and the time when he isn't protecting me, he is either tormenting me in other ways." He said.
Amanda laughed, "Yep, sounds exactly like me and my brother."
Durian laughed. "At least someone around here knows how I feel."
"Yeah," said Amanda.
Durian looked at her. "You do not seem like the humans in Middle-Earth. You are different. Most of the female humans are quiet folk who don't like to get dirt under their nails."
"Well, most females on earth are like that too. But not all of us, there are some exceptions, like moi," Amanda said happily.
"Moi?" Durian asked.
"It means me in French, I had to take French in the first semester at school. I don't recommend it. Too hard." She said.
"Would you like to learn Elvish? I could teach it to you if you would like." Said Durian.
"Uh, not right now, I'm still trying to get over the shock of actually being here in Middle-Earth," said Amanda.
"How exactly have you heard of Middle-Earth?" Durian asked. He walked over and sat against the farthest wall, it had started raining, but it wasn't hard yet.
Amanda sat on the wall across from him, "Well, I've heard of Lord of the Rings from the movie, I haven't read the books yet. (A/N: poor deprived child!! I've read them all a couple of times! ). But there are books out there that are about Middle-Earth. The Hobbit, I've actually read that one. It was good."
"There are books in the mortal world about Middle-Earth? How odd." Said Durian.
"Yeah, I guess," said Amanda. She looked at Durian intently, and then burst out laughing.
"What is so funny?" he asked.
"I'm sorry. But I'm finding it hard to believe that I'm actually sitting here talking to an elf. I always pictured elves looking like short fat men with beards and pointy shoes." She said between laughs.
Durian looked horrified, "Oh Lord no, child!! You must have gotten us mixed up with the dwarves! Oh what a horrible thing to say."
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. But I never expected elves to be so... tall." She said.
"What else would we be?" he asked.
"Well, I dunno. Different. But you aren't, so let's drop the subject, ok?" she asked.
"Alright."
Amanda reached into her bag and pulled out her CD player.
"What is that?" Asked Durian.
"It's my CD player, it plays music-"
"Put it away!!!" Screamed Durian. "My ears received enough torture a couple of days ago, I do not need it again."
"Hey relax, I don't listen to just one kind of music. Here listen to this," she took out the old CD and places a new one in. Beethoven's Greatest.
She handed him the headphones. He looked at them, not knowing what to do with them.
"Here let me show you," she said. She took the headphones back from him. "Ok, you put the bottom part under your hair so it doesn't annoy you, then you take the little round parts and curve them around your ears. Ya see?" she demonstrated how to put the headphones on.
Durian took them back and did exactly what Amanda had told him. "Ok, now don't be scared when I turn it on. When I press this button, music is going to come out of those round things on your ears, no one else can hear it ok?"
Durian nodded and closed his eyes.
Amanda pressed the play button, and soon the sweet melodic piano concertos played into the headphones.
Durian's eyes lit up, and smiled, "Amanda, this certainly is wonderful music. It is not like the music in my Elven kingdom."
Amanda smiled back at the blond elf. She laughed quietly to herself when she saw the small points of his ears showing around the top of the headphones. She looked up when she saw a figure nearing the entrance of the cave.
Hanicel walked up to the two figures sitting side by side on the ground. `Is the little Greenleaf entertaining the child?' Hanicel sneered.
Durian stood up and took off the headphones, he glared at Hanicel, `You will address the Prince of Mirkwood with the proper respect.'
`When you seem old enough for my respect child,' Hanicel said.
Durian walked over to Hanicel and got right up in his face, `Do NOT mock me!'
"Is that a threat... Little Leaf?" Taunted Hanicel.
Durian stepped back and unsheathed his short dagger from its place on his back. "Would you like to stand up against your insults, friend?"
Hanicel unsheathed his sword, "With pleasure."
Amanda grabbed hold of Durian's arm. "Durian stop acting like a crazy person. Just leave him alone."
"I cannot let him get away with disrespecting me," said Durian.
"Let the coward fight," Hanicel taunted. "I would enjoy this match very well."
Amanda glared at Hanicel, "Fine, do whatever. But hold it off until a later date please. If you didn't notice, your sword is a little bit bigger than Durian's dagger. Wouldn't you like him to put up a better fight with a better weapon?"
Hanicel looked at her, and put his sword away, "Fine, but I will be watching you." He pointed at Durian. He gathered up the sack of berries that he had dropped in his glimpse of madness.
Amanda dragged a panting Durian to the back of the cave, "Hey man, chill."
"That mad elf makes me so angry. He's going to get what he deserves one day, I promise," he said.
"Ok, ok. But until then, stop acting crazy, ok?" Amanda asked him gently.
Durian looked at her, "I will try my lady."
Just then Legolas and Lestan appeared with the meat that they had promised. Legolas had carried the dead boar into the cave and dropped it when he saw Durian and Amanda standing in the back of the cave together.
`Durian,' he said. `Come here.'
Durian walked over to him, `Nice kill there brother, looks good.'
`Yes, I know. Durian, what were you doing with Amanda back there?' asked Legolas.
`Oh brother, it was nothing, she was just calming me down. Hanicel came in and taunted me again.' Durian explained.
`That better be all that was going on. You mustn't let Hanicel get to you like that. Try to calm yourself when you are with him." Said Legolas. "I know how he can get sometimes, and I also know how good of a warrior he is. Do not start a fight with him.'
`Legolas!! I can't believe you sometimes! Don't you know that I can take care of myself?!' exclaimed Durian.
`Durian, you're young, sometimes you don't make the right decisions. I'm just trying to help you go through the coming of age.' Legolas said calmly.
`Legolas, I'll be fine! Stop worrying!'
Legolas smiled and wiped away a fake tear, "My little boy is growing up so fast."
"Shut up."
"Remember what I said kid," Legolas said. "Stay away from him."
Durian walked outside in the rain as he saw Elrohiol nearing the camp. Elrohiol had just watched the whole scene of Durian and his brother.
"Well well well. The brother lecturing you again?" He asked as he set the wood down inside the cave.
"Yes," said Durian.
Elrohiol laughed, "Don't worry, it'll pass, it did with my brothers, it just takes time. Well, how was the time alone with the earth child? Was it pure torture?"
"No actually, I rather enjoyed it. She is an interesting person once you get to know her." Durian said smiling.
Elrohiol smiled and nodded his head slowly, "Riiight, `interesting person', sure. I know your term of interesting person." He laughed.
"Oh shut up Elrohiol," he said laughing, "she is just a child."
"And according to the elves, so are you." Pointed out Elrohiol. He patted him on the back and walked away, leaving Durian to himself. Inside he could hear Lestan talking with Amanda. He heard her laugh at something he said.
Durian turned around and walked back into the cave to help his brother skin the boar.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
** Hey, I had to get this chapter outta the way! I wanted to emphasize Durian's relationship with Legolas, for it will be a big point in the end. PLEASE REVIEW!!! Tell me what you think, should I have Durian get together with Amanda? Cuz I'm kinda debating with that right now, let me know what you guys want!! Thanks!! PeAcE!**