DISCLAIMER: I don't own any characters besides Aliya, Kendre and Pelanar…
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ALIYA
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Three and a half days Legolas had been gone. He had left the day after the dinner. His father had bidden him to lead a hunting party on a band of orcs seen near the borders of the Palace. He was only supposed to be gone for 2 days. It has been three and a half.
I remember that day's conversation perfectly.
~~~FLASHBACK
"I have to go, Aliya!" Legolas said, getting annoyed at my persistent disagreement.
"Legolas, I know perfectly well why you want to go," I replied, "And you know it too!"
"I know what I'm doing, Aliya, and I can take care of myself," he said, venomously, "Unlike you!"
~~~END FLASHBACK
I had run from that statement. I had run from the truth. He had been right when he said I was a coward. He was right when he said I couldn't take care of myself. And now he was gone. I had no idea where he was but I had to find out.
I ran all the way up through the Great Hall and up the stairs to the armory and stables.
"I need a bow!" I said to the weapons-master, "A longbow, strung and ready. I also need a quiver of Arrows, feather-tilled if possible."
He nodded and returned a few moments later with exactly what I had asked for. I then went to the stables and spoke to the stable manager, a young Elven girl with hair an even deeper brown than mine.
"I need a horse, fast and strong and I need you to tell me the direction Prince Legolas's hunting party went 3 days ago!" I said hurried to the girl. She looked at me approvingly and lead me to a horse stall.
"This is Lathà…" she said showing me the pure white mare, "She is a swift horse… Legolas's party left due East from this door here…"
She brought the horse out of the stall and pointed the way for me. With all that said and done, I was off.
The mist around me was thick, but with the help of my horse, I was able to go in a straight direction. It was only as we were walking slowly through and under the trees did I realize how alone I was. Memories were rushing into my mind. Memories that I thought I had forgotten over my time in the palace.
My senses seemed to be heightened as I looked from side to side through the dark forest. I strained to see or to hear anything. Finally after what seemed like 2 hours of riding swiftly through the trees, I heard shouting and screaming up ahead.
As I drew closer I could see the small battle raging. Legolas and his party were desperately trying to fight off a modest gang of orcs. Legolas was sorely out numbered, though.
His party, once numbering 15, now numbered 5. Against an orc party totaling 9.
I shuddered as a mass of hate and rage piled up inside of me. I saw Legolas and his company surrounded by orcs, unable to even make their horses run for it.
I took the bow off my back and strung an arrow. My bow sung as 4 arrows pierced four orcs. But the satisfaction was brief. Legolas's number now matched the orcs' and he charged at them.
Lathà charged through the trees, leaping over fallen bodies, and into othe center of the battle.
"This is for Kirrë!" I cried my best friend's name as I aimed an arrow and let it loose right through an orc's heart.
I aimed for another, this time shouting, "This is for my mother!"
But my vengeance was brief, as I felt an arrow pierce my shoulder. I spun around, ripping it out as I turned, and knocked the orc to the ground permanently. He was gracelessly trampled under my horse. But what I saw next was worse than any pain from an arrow.
I saw every elf fall and every orc, except 2. Legolas and Ugluk, the leader of the orcs were left. But that was fleeting, for the next thing I saw was Legolas fall to the ground, 2 orc arrows imbedded in his chest. Pure hatred pumped through my veins as Ugluk turned to me. But I was faster.
"This is for Legolas!" I screamed as the arrow went flying, "And this is for Me!" I whispered, letting one more go. It was as though they flew simultaneously in slow motion until they pierced the target.
I watched Ugluk fall to the ground, life gone from his body.
I leaped off Lathà and over Ugluk's fallen body to Legolas. His eyes were barely open, his breathing irregular and voice raspy.
"You were wonderful…" he whispered as I held him up, "But I fear you came to late… You came to see me die… You came to say goodbye…"
"Don't do this to me, Legolas!" I cried, "Don't say goodbye… You're not dying…no…"
"It's punishment…" he said, his voice fading even more, "For what I said to you… I hit your heart and now it has come back to take me…….. I'm sorry Ali…"
I sobbed to hear him say my name like that, and I spoke fast as I moved him carefully to my horse, "You are not going to die! You are not going to leave me! You told me once that to live, you have to have something to live for… I live for you, Legolas! And you are not going to let me down… Not now!"
I leaped onto my horse, draping his body in front of me, and I rode as fast as I could to the palace.
~~~
LEGOLAS
~~~
Aliya was not there when I awoke, still sore in the chest area from my wounds. My father and sister stood there, instead, on either side of the bed. They said nothing as I stirred.
"What happened?" I said softly to my father, the more composed of the two.
"Aliya brought you back. You were almost dead, two arrows had pierced your body." he said in a grave voice.
"Where is she?" I asked alarmed.
This time it was Kendre who spoke, "She won't come out of her room. She's been in there since she brought you back, over a day ago. Father is the one who healed you. Aliya told us what happened and she blames herself, Legolas, she locked the door and won't talk. All we can hear is her crying…"
My eyes dropped as I heard this statement. Aliya was wrong, it was my fault, not hers. If I hadn't gone… And she had gotten so much better… and now she was lost again…
"Legolas, the feast is in 2 days…" my father said, "I would like you to attend, fully healed… I know you want to go to Aliya, but you must remain here…"
"Father!" I exclaimed, "I can't do that! I can't leave her alone!"
The King sighed. He knew how much Aliya meant to me. He had to let me go.
"Legolas… You must remain here one more day!" He said sternly, "Then I will let you go… I know how you feel… I know how much you want to talk to her, but give it some time… Give yourself time…"
I listened to what my father said and I obeyed, but that night and the next day passed at a snail's pace to my mind, I was losing time I feared I couldn't ever gain back.
~~~
ALIYA
~~~
I did not pay attention to what they were saying. I did not move from my bed. I hated myself for what I had done. I hated myself for what Legolas had done. He had gone for me, to avenge my pain. If he had not gone… If I had not been here… None of this would have happened. He would not be lying in a bed dying. It was all my fault.
~~~
LEGOLAS
~~~
I moved swiftly down the halls to Aliya's room. I was concerned that I was too late.
"Aliya…" I called softly, knocking on the door, "Please open the door…"
I heard no movement inside. I waited a moment and still heard nothing. I was about to call again, when the door opened and in a flash I found Aliya's small form in my arms. She was crying again. I picked her up, ignoring the dull ache coming from my chest, and carried her to the bed. I went to put her down, but I found she would not let go.
"I thought you were dead…" I heard her whisper, "I thought I had killed you…"
I looked down at her, "Why would you think such a thing!" I exclaimed, "You didn't kill me, You saved me!"
"You wouldn't have been hurt if you didn't go out there, and you wouldn't have gone out there if I was not here… I almost killed you, Legolas, if not myself physically, than mentally…"
"Oh, Aliya…Ali…" I murmured, "Is that what you think? It is not your fault! It is not anyone's fault… It is just something that happened! No one caused it. If it had not been me to go out there, it would have had to have been someone else… Aliya…You saved me! You were there for me…and I love you for it!"
"I love you too…"she sobbed.
"Don't ever blame yourself again, melamin… You have saved me in more than one way… You saved me when no one else could…"
I heard nothing more from Aliya that night besides her crying. I tried desperately to calm her, but in the end, I felt tears roll down my own cheeks, and I knew how she felt.
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~~~
ALIYA
~~~
Three and a half days Legolas had been gone. He had left the day after the dinner. His father had bidden him to lead a hunting party on a band of orcs seen near the borders of the Palace. He was only supposed to be gone for 2 days. It has been three and a half.
I remember that day's conversation perfectly.
~~~FLASHBACK
"I have to go, Aliya!" Legolas said, getting annoyed at my persistent disagreement.
"Legolas, I know perfectly well why you want to go," I replied, "And you know it too!"
"I know what I'm doing, Aliya, and I can take care of myself," he said, venomously, "Unlike you!"
~~~END FLASHBACK
I had run from that statement. I had run from the truth. He had been right when he said I was a coward. He was right when he said I couldn't take care of myself. And now he was gone. I had no idea where he was but I had to find out.
I ran all the way up through the Great Hall and up the stairs to the armory and stables.
"I need a bow!" I said to the weapons-master, "A longbow, strung and ready. I also need a quiver of Arrows, feather-tilled if possible."
He nodded and returned a few moments later with exactly what I had asked for. I then went to the stables and spoke to the stable manager, a young Elven girl with hair an even deeper brown than mine.
"I need a horse, fast and strong and I need you to tell me the direction Prince Legolas's hunting party went 3 days ago!" I said hurried to the girl. She looked at me approvingly and lead me to a horse stall.
"This is Lathà…" she said showing me the pure white mare, "She is a swift horse… Legolas's party left due East from this door here…"
She brought the horse out of the stall and pointed the way for me. With all that said and done, I was off.
The mist around me was thick, but with the help of my horse, I was able to go in a straight direction. It was only as we were walking slowly through and under the trees did I realize how alone I was. Memories were rushing into my mind. Memories that I thought I had forgotten over my time in the palace.
My senses seemed to be heightened as I looked from side to side through the dark forest. I strained to see or to hear anything. Finally after what seemed like 2 hours of riding swiftly through the trees, I heard shouting and screaming up ahead.
As I drew closer I could see the small battle raging. Legolas and his party were desperately trying to fight off a modest gang of orcs. Legolas was sorely out numbered, though.
His party, once numbering 15, now numbered 5. Against an orc party totaling 9.
I shuddered as a mass of hate and rage piled up inside of me. I saw Legolas and his company surrounded by orcs, unable to even make their horses run for it.
I took the bow off my back and strung an arrow. My bow sung as 4 arrows pierced four orcs. But the satisfaction was brief. Legolas's number now matched the orcs' and he charged at them.
Lathà charged through the trees, leaping over fallen bodies, and into othe center of the battle.
"This is for Kirrë!" I cried my best friend's name as I aimed an arrow and let it loose right through an orc's heart.
I aimed for another, this time shouting, "This is for my mother!"
But my vengeance was brief, as I felt an arrow pierce my shoulder. I spun around, ripping it out as I turned, and knocked the orc to the ground permanently. He was gracelessly trampled under my horse. But what I saw next was worse than any pain from an arrow.
I saw every elf fall and every orc, except 2. Legolas and Ugluk, the leader of the orcs were left. But that was fleeting, for the next thing I saw was Legolas fall to the ground, 2 orc arrows imbedded in his chest. Pure hatred pumped through my veins as Ugluk turned to me. But I was faster.
"This is for Legolas!" I screamed as the arrow went flying, "And this is for Me!" I whispered, letting one more go. It was as though they flew simultaneously in slow motion until they pierced the target.
I watched Ugluk fall to the ground, life gone from his body.
I leaped off Lathà and over Ugluk's fallen body to Legolas. His eyes were barely open, his breathing irregular and voice raspy.
"You were wonderful…" he whispered as I held him up, "But I fear you came to late… You came to see me die… You came to say goodbye…"
"Don't do this to me, Legolas!" I cried, "Don't say goodbye… You're not dying…no…"
"It's punishment…" he said, his voice fading even more, "For what I said to you… I hit your heart and now it has come back to take me…….. I'm sorry Ali…"
I sobbed to hear him say my name like that, and I spoke fast as I moved him carefully to my horse, "You are not going to die! You are not going to leave me! You told me once that to live, you have to have something to live for… I live for you, Legolas! And you are not going to let me down… Not now!"
I leaped onto my horse, draping his body in front of me, and I rode as fast as I could to the palace.
~~~
LEGOLAS
~~~
Aliya was not there when I awoke, still sore in the chest area from my wounds. My father and sister stood there, instead, on either side of the bed. They said nothing as I stirred.
"What happened?" I said softly to my father, the more composed of the two.
"Aliya brought you back. You were almost dead, two arrows had pierced your body." he said in a grave voice.
"Where is she?" I asked alarmed.
This time it was Kendre who spoke, "She won't come out of her room. She's been in there since she brought you back, over a day ago. Father is the one who healed you. Aliya told us what happened and she blames herself, Legolas, she locked the door and won't talk. All we can hear is her crying…"
My eyes dropped as I heard this statement. Aliya was wrong, it was my fault, not hers. If I hadn't gone… And she had gotten so much better… and now she was lost again…
"Legolas, the feast is in 2 days…" my father said, "I would like you to attend, fully healed… I know you want to go to Aliya, but you must remain here…"
"Father!" I exclaimed, "I can't do that! I can't leave her alone!"
The King sighed. He knew how much Aliya meant to me. He had to let me go.
"Legolas… You must remain here one more day!" He said sternly, "Then I will let you go… I know how you feel… I know how much you want to talk to her, but give it some time… Give yourself time…"
I listened to what my father said and I obeyed, but that night and the next day passed at a snail's pace to my mind, I was losing time I feared I couldn't ever gain back.
~~~
ALIYA
~~~
I did not pay attention to what they were saying. I did not move from my bed. I hated myself for what I had done. I hated myself for what Legolas had done. He had gone for me, to avenge my pain. If he had not gone… If I had not been here… None of this would have happened. He would not be lying in a bed dying. It was all my fault.
~~~
LEGOLAS
~~~
I moved swiftly down the halls to Aliya's room. I was concerned that I was too late.
"Aliya…" I called softly, knocking on the door, "Please open the door…"
I heard no movement inside. I waited a moment and still heard nothing. I was about to call again, when the door opened and in a flash I found Aliya's small form in my arms. She was crying again. I picked her up, ignoring the dull ache coming from my chest, and carried her to the bed. I went to put her down, but I found she would not let go.
"I thought you were dead…" I heard her whisper, "I thought I had killed you…"
I looked down at her, "Why would you think such a thing!" I exclaimed, "You didn't kill me, You saved me!"
"You wouldn't have been hurt if you didn't go out there, and you wouldn't have gone out there if I was not here… I almost killed you, Legolas, if not myself physically, than mentally…"
"Oh, Aliya…Ali…" I murmured, "Is that what you think? It is not your fault! It is not anyone's fault… It is just something that happened! No one caused it. If it had not been me to go out there, it would have had to have been someone else… Aliya…You saved me! You were there for me…and I love you for it!"
"I love you too…"she sobbed.
"Don't ever blame yourself again, melamin… You have saved me in more than one way… You saved me when no one else could…"
I heard nothing more from Aliya that night besides her crying. I tried desperately to calm her, but in the end, I felt tears roll down my own cheeks, and I knew how she felt.
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