Author's note:
Hello there peoples! Here's the fifteenth chapter!! YAY! This is good. 15 chapters. Yay!! Anyway, I don't have chamber music anymore. WOOOOOOOOO!!! Disclaimer: I do not own Legolas or LOTR, but I would if I killed New Line cinema and stole all the rights. But then I'd be jailed, so that can't be good. I give you chapter fifteen.
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Chapter 15 – Battling.
After getting over the serious shock of seeing her arch nemesis in Middle Earth Alice was more than ready to demand why she was here until Elwaeglos got to her first.
"Sister!" Elwaeglos yelled, less than impressed. "What on Middle Earth are you doing?"
"Nice to see you too Elwaeglos," Devon drawled. "Well, well, well. If it isn't Alice Bailey."
"Hi," Alice droned, a little more than a teensy bit peeved.
"What are you doing here?" She snickered. "I thought mere mortals couldn't cross the borders."
"I'm an elf," Alice
"Suuure," She sneered. "And I'm Britney Spears."
"She speaks the truth Nwalya," Legolas said from behind her.
"Why hello Legolas," Devon said in a flirty voice, one that made Alice want to empty the contents of her stomach. Preferably on to Devon's head.
"What business have you got Nwalya?" Legolas wanted to know. "What ever it seems to be, it is probably trouble." Devon took the famous innocent approach that Alice had seen the smarmy brat use on a number of occasions.
"I'm not causing trouble!" She said all too innocently, immediately making Alice suspicious. "You should get to know me better Legolas. Maybe I can get to know you better too." She sidled up to him while he tried to push her away.
"Mother would like to see you Nwalya," Elwaeglos said urgently. "You do not want to keep her waiting."
"What about-"
"He may wait." Elwaeglos left with Devon in tow. Alice turned toward Legolas the minute they were out of earshot. They sat down on the nearest seat.
"Details please?" Alice wanted to know far from peeved.
"She is part of my father's court," Legolas told her with about as much enthusiasm as a dead fish. "Unfortunately she seems to think I have hidden affections for her. How may you have the unfortunate pleasure of knowing Nwalya?"
"In my class," Alice explained. "Smarmy brat. Tried to nick half my stuff with her bosom buddy sidekicks. And the thing that grieves me the most is that I was actually nice to her without vomiting. She's such a suck up."
"I console with you bain nîn," Legolas replied.
"Burning question," Alice began. "Do you have a hidden crush on her?"
"Nay Alice," He replied and Alice saw unfeigned truth burning in his eyes. "She once held my heart, but that was before I saw her true intentions for me,"
"And those were..." She trailed off.
"She tossed me aside after she found my cousin more appealing," He explained.
"I shouldn't have asked," Alice whispered, suddenly ashamed of herself. Guilt formed tears in her eyes that she tried to hold back.
"All will be well bain nîn," He whispered softly caressing her cheek and wiping all tears that threatened to fall down her cheek and make her lose face. "Do not cry." Alice smiled letting out a small laugh. Legolas pulled her closer and kissed her. All anger that had bubbled up within her over the Devon shock suddenly disappeared. She kissed him in return. Alice could feel Devon's eyes on her and the Elven prince and for some reason, she didn't care.
Legolas escorted Alice back to her room that night and sat by her bed and soothed her into sleep. Fortunately, to the eternal happiness of readers everywhere (Unfortunately to the eternal disappointment of SICK MINDED readers everywhere) he did NOT (the author highlights NOT in fluorescent pink highlighter) climb into her bed so they could have a "good time". Legolas watched as Alice surfed through dreams, seeming to be a lot happier this time as he saw. It was late when he left. To his unfortunate pleasure he had to meet Devon toddling up the stairs in the manner of a five-year-old human being, not a god-knows-how-many-years-old elf as only Devon herself can do.
"Why hellooo Legolas," She cooed, once again sidling up to him.
"Nwalya, I request you to leave me be," He stated, uninterested.
"What?" Devon asked, seeming surprised that Legolas didn't want to pick her up in his arms and carry her away.
"Your departure would be much appreciated," He repeated, hoping she'd get the point.
"Yes I suppose you have Alice now," She whimpered in a sultry manner, rather pathetically, one might add. "Which grieves my heart. What do you SEE in her anyway? She's Alice for god's sake!"
"Alice is much blessed with talent, compassion and beauty," Legolas said dryly. "Things that you seem to be without."
"You don't have a very good idea of what talent, compassion and beauty are do you Legolas?" Devon sneered.
"Then pray tell me what talent, compassion and beauty are Nwalya," Legolas retorted. He saw her pause, obviously thrown by what he had just said.
"Not Alice," She hissed. Devon turned to leave.
"On the contrary Nwalya," Legolas replied. "Cause any more harm to my methiril nîn than you already have done and I shall personally see to it that you are banned from this court."
"Oh I'm so scared," She drawled sarcastically. "Whatcha gonna do? Shoot me with your arrows?"
Legolas's face twisted into a knowing expression. "You dance a fine line of being banned from my father's court as it is Nwalya. I would care to remember that. Being the Prince of Mirkwood it is my duty to rid the court of people unworthy of the royal family's company."
"So I'm unworthy of your company?" Devon wanted to know.
"If you continue to be disruptive and disrespectful then yes," Legolas answered looking into Devon's own eyes, which were mostly blue although with neon green around the pupil making them look decidedly polluted, sending her the coldest glare she would ever witness. "From what Alice tells me, you disrupted her education."
"Look Leggy, stop sticking up for Alice," Devon warned. "She doesn't deserve it and she's not all that like she and the world thinks she is."
"And you are not "all that" either Nwalya," Legolas replied. "Now may you depart and leave myself and my methiril nîn to ourselves."
"Not if I have anything to do about it," She muttered under her breath as she stalked away.
Alice awoke the next morning in her room in the halls of the Elven-king with sunlight streaming across her face. She didn't want to open her eyes as a soft breeze which smelt like burning Manaka wood (which smells absolutely divine) and she wanted to stay asleep for the rest of eternity. This was until there was a shrill shriek, which, with enhanced hearing, made her ears ring. She arose from her bed and took a beautifully made white almost silver dressing gown of material which resembled silk and trimmed with a sort of mantilla lace except twice as exquisite. Beads of light glided over the dressing gown in the morning sun making it look more silver. Getting away from sappy similes, Alice decided to investigate the shriek she'd heard moments before. Elwaeglos came up to her and gripped her shoulders hard.
"Lindelë!" She cried. "My sister! She has gone!"
"Hmm?" Alice mumbled, attempting to process information.
"Nwalya!" Elwaeglos reminded her.
"Really?" Alice responded, only slightly surprised.
"Are you not worried?" Elwaeglos demanded.
"Elwaeglos, please forgive me," Alice replied. "But this is your sister we're talking about. I bet you it's some attention seeking stunt to try and make Legolas fall in love with her. I know Nwalya, if she doesn't return in the next couple of hours then we go out and we look for her. Agreed?"
Elwaeglos released the grip on her shoulders. "I suppose you are right. She was not in her bed this morning, that is why I panicked." Legolas met them in the hall all of about thirty seconds later.
"Good morning ladies," He said in a sing song voice, not noticing his shirt was undone. "I trust you are well." Alice and Elwaeglos shared a look and burst into giggles. It was simply the expression on his face that did it, which a huge silly grin not noticing the fact that there was anything wrong.
"Uh Legolas..." Alice began.
"Yes bain nîn?" He regarded her with the same stupid expression.
"Your shirt... it's um... ahem, undone." Alice finished.
"Much appreciated," Legolas replied doing his shirt up.
"My presence must be withdrawn from you both," Elwaeglos remarked with a sly grin. "Love waits for no one." As Elwaeglos floated down the halls Alice turned to Legolas.
"And you are in a good mood because..." Alice supplied.
"Middle Earth is becoming a wonderful place," Legolas answered gleefully. "No orcs and no Nwalya."
"I know!" Alice agreed. "Bliss! Hey, how about a guided celebratory tour?"
"Anything to please you bain nîn," He grinned happily.
"But one thing first..."
"Yes bain nîn?"
"Can I get dressed?"
They walked the paths of Mirkwood chatting readily. Legolas pointed out things of interest such as Long Lake Esgaroth and the Lonely Mountain in the distance. Middle Earth reminded Alice of the South Island, what it might have been thousands of years before. They walked and played along the Forest River which ran down from the Grey Mountains as well, which left them both in high spirits. At the end of the day when the sun was beginning to set, they stopped at a tree.
"I challenge you to climb this tree quicker than I can," Alice proposed.
"You have expertise in rock climbing," Legolas pointed out. "And you are a maiden. It would be a disadvantageous match."
"You're just scared," Alice teased.
"Nay, I am not scared," Legolas replied.
"Then stop whining and start climbing," Alice commanded gesturing to the tree. They both gripped the tree and began climbing until they were aloft among the branches. Evening sunlight was filtering through the branches as they viewed Mirkwood from above.
"What are your thoughts on Mirkwood?" Legolas asked.
"It's gorgeous," Alice sighed looking up at the sunset. "I could stay here until the end of eternity. Except... I feel a shadow, a darkness."
"Mirkwood was shadowed by evil in earlier centuries," Legolas explained. "When I was younger, it was called Greenwood the Great and one of the most prominent Elven colonies in Middle Earth."
"Why was it shadowed by evil Legolas?" Alice wanted to know.
His face shadowed. "It was the work of the Dark Lord Sauron." He then went on to tell of the forging of the one ring.
"Sounds interesting," Alice said, genuinely interested. Gory history interested her. Maybe she could ask Elrond when she returned home. Suddenly, as everything seemed peaceful, there was a frightened cry.
"Yrchs!" Legolas exclaimed hopping down from the tree grabbing an arrow from his quiver and bending his bow. Alice suddenly saw why.
"What the hell?!" Alice demanded following suit. "What are those things?"
"Orcs is the closest word to common tongue," Legolas replied. "Servants of Sauron," There was another cry. This time from a girl, who sounded like Devon. Alice could see her scrawny, skinny, little body go limp.
"Oh my god!" She exclaimed running toward the Orcs. She remembered what her father had said upon giving her the sword and sword hilt.
"Use it if you feel you are threatened."
Well, now she felt threatened. Of course she didn't know how to use a swing a sword, but she would have a go. She gripped the sword hilt and tugged on it with all her might drawing the long sword. It didn't feel heavy in the scabbard, but boy was it heavy in her hands. Swinging it nearly made her topple over. An Orc ran toward her and she plunged the blade into him, missing narrowly. She stumbled and picked herself up quickly and rammed the sword straight at the Orc. It fell to the ground and Alice felt like expelling the contents of her stomach. She saw an arrow being aimed at her and she dodged, the arrow scraping her leg. Only she didn't notice the pain, due to the nauseous feeling in her stomach. She glanced over to Devon who was lying flat against a tree. She was still breathing of course, but looked to have passed out. Alice seriously considered leaving her there but she decided it wouldn't be moral. Of course Devon was a skinny, self opinionated, spoiled, malicious, scrawny brat, but no one deserved a death by those horrible creatures. She had two options. To leave Devon there and face guilt for the rest of eternity or save her and be claimed as a hero with Devon having to worship her day in and day out. Alice raced in choosing the first option. Well, it would be nice having Devon in her debt for the rest of her life. It might change her.
"DEVON!" She yelled, over the clatter of swords, daggers and shields coming toward her.
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Dum da dum dum... another cliff hanger. Well. This will be up when ff.net comes back up so I can upload stuff again. Hopefully by then two chapters will be up for your perusal. My busy time is over and I'll have a lot more time on my hands! So I'll be able to pen a LOT more. Anyway I better be off, a family gathering of my parents and my 21 year old brother and his girlfriend are present. Toodles!
