A Horrid Twist of Fate

Chapter Three

Disclaimer: None of these characters belong to me except Ilisis and Nasaya.

            Damn my luck! Leafylegs! He gave her a smirk.

            "We have heard some elf-maidens that it was you who pummeled Legolas this afternoon," said King Thranduil, indicating Legolas's fading black eye.

            "I just happened to be there right after the elf beat him up. So when those elf-maidens saw me, I guess they thought I beat him up," said Ilisis.

            "But they say they saw you getting up from near where Legolas was lying."

            "I accidentally tripped."

            "Alright then," said King Thranduil. Her mother gave her a suspicious look.

            "Do you know who did it, then?" asked Queen Salea.

            "No, I didn't recognize him," said Ilisis.

            Queen Salea sighed. "You should really be more careful," she admonished Legolas.

            "I'm fine," said Legolas.

            "You two may leave now," said Ilisis's mother. "We have something to discuss with King Thranduil and Queen Salea."

            They walked out, careful to keep their expressions neutral. However, when they were out of earshot . . .

            "You'll be sorry you did that," said Legolas.

            "So? It was you who was too scared to say I pummeled you," retorted Ilisis.

            "I was not! I had my honor to think about!" said Legolas indignantly.

            "As if you had any honor. A dwarf has more honor than you! You were just scared."

            "I am not scared!"

            "You are too scared!" retorted Ilisis. "Leafylegs is scared, Leafylegs is scared, Leafylegs is a dwarf," she teased him repeatedly.

            "Shut up!" He clamped a hand over her mouth.

            "Leggo." She bit his hand.

            "Ow! Damn you!" he cried, coddling his hand. Ilisis laughed. Legolas shoved her. She hit a pillar. She kicked his shin.

            "Ow!"

            "That serves you right," she said as she walked away.

            She entered her chambers and changed into her nightdress and washed her face and cleaned her teeth. She blew out the candle and went to bed.

            Later that week . . .

            "Ilisis!"

            "Yes Mother?"

            "Go change into a proper dress and go down to the tree base. There is a small gathering of elf-maidens I want you to socialize with."

            "I don't want to. I'm, uh, going for a walk."

            "Ilisis. You ought to behave as a proper maiden, not a ruffian. Now go and change." She pushed Ilisis into her chambers.

            "Nasaya, make sure Ilisis changes into a proper dress and goes down to the tree base."

            "We'd better get you changed, milady," said Nasaya.

            "Mother seems to have changed in her attitude about me. She always just given up about making me into a proper elf-maiden, but she seems to have changed now. She's always making socialize with people she thinks are proper now." Ilisis said.

            "Well perhaps she thinks it is time you were wed," teased Nasaya.

            "Of course not! I shall never marry any of the elves here. They are all to arrogant and vain."

            "Well it seems like your parents are always in meetings with the King and Queen these days. Perhaps your lady mother wants to secure a union for you with the Prince," teased Nasaya.

            "They have always been in meetings with them," retorted Ilisis. "And you would more likely wed horrid Leafylegs than I."

            "If I only could," said Nasaya. "Why do you always persist in calling him that horrid name?"

            "Because he is horrid," said Ilisis. "And also annoying, vain, and arrogant."

            "Well he is the heir to Mirkwood so you can't really blame him for being that arrogant."

            "Well he need not be that annoying."

            "We're done," said Nasaya.

            Ilisis looked in the mirror with a smile of satisfaction. She was wearing a translucent ice pink dress that was embroidered with silver swirls and curlicues on the edge of the sleeves and neckline. Her raven locks had been combed back and were secured with a silver circlet. Though she would admit it to no one, she liked wearing beautiful clothes such as these. She slipped two daggers in her sleeves and walked out of her chambers.

            As she arrived at the tree base, she noticed that Legolas was surrounded by the ten or so maidens that were there and seemed to be enjoying the attention.

            "What are you doing here, Leaflegs? I was informed that it was a gathering a maidens," said Ilisis. The maidens looked up at her in surprise.

            "Well then you obviously shouldn't be here," retorted Legolas.

            "Well I suppose it does make sense that you are here, Leaflegs. After all, you do look like a maiden," said Ilisis, earning looks of shock from the maidens surrounding Legolas.

            "I do not!" snapped Legolas

            "I do not!" mocked Ilisis in a high pitched voice.

            "You're right, it's more like this," she agreed. "I do not!" she said in a high falsetto.

            Legolas, unable to restrain himself, lunged at her. Ilisis calmly stepped aside and Legolas fell with a smack on the ground, face first. Ilisis triumphantly walked away as the maidens ran to Legolas to help him up. As she neared the forest, which was quite close to the palace, she heard a cry.

            "Ilisis Ravenstar, I swear I am going to pummel you!" She turned around and saw Legolas, but it was too late. He tackled her to the ground and was about to punch her when they heard voices and footsteps coming near.

A/N: Who's coming? *Wanna know?* *He,he*