Daren swung his sword outward, countering his opponent's move. The two
fought in the middle of the Great Hall, all eyes centered on the duel.
Most refused to challenge the head of the Royal Guard. After all, who in
their right mind would dare to battle against their own Captain? But there
were a few, though only enough to be counted on one hand, which agreed to
such an atrocity. Daren had all but killed the three that had already
confronted him, and the fourth looked to be doing no better. They grunted
and heaved, but in the end, Daren had won, swinging his sword high. And
that is what he did. A move so quick, Alakdaliel could barley catch it,
Daren thrust his sword forward, catching and nicking the arm of the officer
before him. Falling to the ground with a cry, he dropped his sword.
"My Captain, I should have known it was folly to affray one so mighty." Bowing his head he proceeded back to his seat, sweat laying heavily on his forehead.
"Anymore volunteers?" Daren's face was triumphant, marked with pride and, what looked to be the beginning of greed. "Shall I claim my prize now?" He turned toward Alakdaliel, grinning wickedly.
Alakdaliel felt a wave of disgust run through her veins, chilling her. She felt as if she was going to heave on the floor, so sick with hatred. She was nothing more than a prize, an object of affection that one could claim. Who next was up that could gamble her emotions so easily, careless of her own will? A feeling of loath spread quickly throughout Alakdaliel. She wanted to reach Daren and hit him. She wanted to scream, to frail, to punch him, but her small frame would not allow such a procedure. She would have to sit there and endure it. Sit there and watch her feelings be wagered with. Clenching her fists, she turned away from his face, unsure if she could hold in her abhorrence much longer. Focusing her attention on her feet, she refused to look back up at him.
"I will fight you." The voice was harsh yet gratifying, full of confidence. Alakdaliel looked up to find Legolas eyeing Daren with determination, but something else was hidden in his eyes…disbelief. Of course! He had looked up to Daren with admiration all his life. What prince wouldn't do so with the captain of their Royal Guard? His eyes clouded over with a deadly stare, concentrated solely on Daren.
"My Prince, 'tis my pleasure. Let it be known to all whom watch that when I defeat thee, I do it out of love for Mirkwood. For I would never strike my own Prince." Daren's voice dripped with venom, his eyes mirroring it.
"It is understood. Alas, when I defeat thee, it is out of hatred for those who defy a maiden's right." And with that, the two lunged at one another, swords slashing with agility and strength. It seemed that Daren had found his match, a far different approach than the weaklings that he had fought prior to the prince.
Alakdaliel could feel her heart pounding anxiously inside her chest at every movement. She cringed each time the sword came astoundingly close to extremity. The crowd's breath was held, anxiety squeezing its lungs. The King, seated at the throne clenched and unclenched his hands, knuckles growing white, though cheering on his son.
In one swift movement, Legolas was standing over Daren, sword pointed at his chest.
"Perhaps your love for Mirkwood is not as strong as I imagined. I suppose all Captains have their…weak points." And with a growl from Daren, he neatly sliced the Captain's chin, receiving a lethal glare. Legolas walked out of the Dueling Circle, but not before a small boy ran up and tugged on his leg, a smile across his broad cheeks.
"Prince Legolas! You have forgotten the most important part!" He tugged on the Prince's tunic, and a grinning Legolas bent down to his eye level. "You have forgotten your prize!"
"I suppose your right." Legolas laughed. Standing up again, he patted the elven boy on his back, and he scattered back into the crowd.
Alakdaliel cleared her throat, a smile rapidly taking over her features. "To which I would gladly grant, if His Highness agrees."
"I most certainly do, Lady." Alakdaliel stood up, ambling to were Legolas stood, breathing heavy from his fight, though he was not sure it was that alone. Grasping onto his shoulders, Alakdaliel spoke loud enough for all to here.
"You have done me a great honor tonight, My Lord. I have never met a better warrior. Let all Mirkwood know how cunning a prince they have in their midst." A tremendous cheer broke out in the crowd. Slowly, Alakdaliel moved her hands up to the Prince's neck, looking up into his eyes. Placing her lips on top of his, he gave a shudder. Aware they were in public, Alakdaliel broke away quickly. Curtseying politely, she gave a final grin, and departed from the stricken prince, standing there unmoving.
Review!!! Next chapter should have a little more of…how shall I put this? "Badness". Let's just say Alakdaliel has gotten herself into more trouble than you might imagine. Also, I plan on using a scene from WOT later on in this story if all goes well. Just want to let you know…should provide some…amusement. Thanks to all you loyal reviewers!
"My Captain, I should have known it was folly to affray one so mighty." Bowing his head he proceeded back to his seat, sweat laying heavily on his forehead.
"Anymore volunteers?" Daren's face was triumphant, marked with pride and, what looked to be the beginning of greed. "Shall I claim my prize now?" He turned toward Alakdaliel, grinning wickedly.
Alakdaliel felt a wave of disgust run through her veins, chilling her. She felt as if she was going to heave on the floor, so sick with hatred. She was nothing more than a prize, an object of affection that one could claim. Who next was up that could gamble her emotions so easily, careless of her own will? A feeling of loath spread quickly throughout Alakdaliel. She wanted to reach Daren and hit him. She wanted to scream, to frail, to punch him, but her small frame would not allow such a procedure. She would have to sit there and endure it. Sit there and watch her feelings be wagered with. Clenching her fists, she turned away from his face, unsure if she could hold in her abhorrence much longer. Focusing her attention on her feet, she refused to look back up at him.
"I will fight you." The voice was harsh yet gratifying, full of confidence. Alakdaliel looked up to find Legolas eyeing Daren with determination, but something else was hidden in his eyes…disbelief. Of course! He had looked up to Daren with admiration all his life. What prince wouldn't do so with the captain of their Royal Guard? His eyes clouded over with a deadly stare, concentrated solely on Daren.
"My Prince, 'tis my pleasure. Let it be known to all whom watch that when I defeat thee, I do it out of love for Mirkwood. For I would never strike my own Prince." Daren's voice dripped with venom, his eyes mirroring it.
"It is understood. Alas, when I defeat thee, it is out of hatred for those who defy a maiden's right." And with that, the two lunged at one another, swords slashing with agility and strength. It seemed that Daren had found his match, a far different approach than the weaklings that he had fought prior to the prince.
Alakdaliel could feel her heart pounding anxiously inside her chest at every movement. She cringed each time the sword came astoundingly close to extremity. The crowd's breath was held, anxiety squeezing its lungs. The King, seated at the throne clenched and unclenched his hands, knuckles growing white, though cheering on his son.
In one swift movement, Legolas was standing over Daren, sword pointed at his chest.
"Perhaps your love for Mirkwood is not as strong as I imagined. I suppose all Captains have their…weak points." And with a growl from Daren, he neatly sliced the Captain's chin, receiving a lethal glare. Legolas walked out of the Dueling Circle, but not before a small boy ran up and tugged on his leg, a smile across his broad cheeks.
"Prince Legolas! You have forgotten the most important part!" He tugged on the Prince's tunic, and a grinning Legolas bent down to his eye level. "You have forgotten your prize!"
"I suppose your right." Legolas laughed. Standing up again, he patted the elven boy on his back, and he scattered back into the crowd.
Alakdaliel cleared her throat, a smile rapidly taking over her features. "To which I would gladly grant, if His Highness agrees."
"I most certainly do, Lady." Alakdaliel stood up, ambling to were Legolas stood, breathing heavy from his fight, though he was not sure it was that alone. Grasping onto his shoulders, Alakdaliel spoke loud enough for all to here.
"You have done me a great honor tonight, My Lord. I have never met a better warrior. Let all Mirkwood know how cunning a prince they have in their midst." A tremendous cheer broke out in the crowd. Slowly, Alakdaliel moved her hands up to the Prince's neck, looking up into his eyes. Placing her lips on top of his, he gave a shudder. Aware they were in public, Alakdaliel broke away quickly. Curtseying politely, she gave a final grin, and departed from the stricken prince, standing there unmoving.
Review!!! Next chapter should have a little more of…how shall I put this? "Badness". Let's just say Alakdaliel has gotten herself into more trouble than you might imagine. Also, I plan on using a scene from WOT later on in this story if all goes well. Just want to let you know…should provide some…amusement. Thanks to all you loyal reviewers!