Author's Note: Forgive me, forgive me! I think this is the longest I've ever taken to update something!! School has started and my new position at work is demanding and spring is not coming! However, enough whining from me, here's the long awaited new chapter. I promise not to take so long with the next chapters! Please stick with me, thanks!
Please review!!
Chapter 8: Forte
The sun rose over the hills that lie to the east. It is said that some can hear music in the sunrise, but it was never more than a folktale.
Right now, Legolas' life seemed like a folktale to him. One minute he is the Prince of beautiful Mirkwood, the next he is here, among men, trying to scratch out a living.
Flashes of moments from that terrible night always haunted him, images of his home burning, thoughts of his father burning with it. His dreams and nightmares would never let him forget one scene from that fated night.
Jaden knew he suffered from frequent nightmares and dark imagery. She reasoned that perhaps a normal life might provide some sense of a new routine, but how it one Elf supposed to have a normal life among mortal men?
Some would always know what he is, she knew. Some people would only need a small glance at his eyes to know him. An Elf's magical glow cannot be hidden by a simple cloak, or layers of mud, dirt or anything else she could cover him with. It would always shine through.
For now, she would do what she could for him.
"Legolas, come. You must learn the ways around here if you are going to be of help to me."
The little Elf followed her around the kitchen, learning the chores of the day. He was determined to earn his keep and not be a hindrance.
"Are you with me, Little One?"
"Yes, Miss."
"Please, call me Jaden. I can't stand formalities in my house."
Legolas smiled, she was nice and not looked upon him with respect.
Days passed and soon Legolas had the ways of the bar engrained into him. He was always quick with his chores and Jaden made sure he always had extra free time to play outside. There were some trees by a park near to the building where they worked and lived, and she wanted to make sure he still had a childhood.
The nights began to grow cold as winter approached. Soon more and more people would stay in the bar because of the warmth and the company. It was the most popular place on that side of the city and sometimes it was so packed, it would take one ages to cross from one wall to the other.
This time of year the days would also grow longer and the nights later because of people not wanting to leave. Legolas found himself cleaning up until early in the morning. It was one especially cold early morning that the Elf was returning from the bank after depositing that night's earnings. The cold was clinging to him and his breaths were a cloud of mist, but the weather never seemed to bother him as much as the humans, or so he observed.
"So, you've come out into the open without your old woman protector have you, child?"
Legolas recognized that voice instantly. It was Mog.
The streets were and the only sounds were from the horses in the stables.
He turned around slowly to see the man, impossibly huge standing in the middle of the street.
"Have you come to intimidate me?"
"No, child. I've actually come to teach Jaden a lesson. That old woman must learn what happens when she crosses me."
The large man began to come towards him, and immediately Legolas took off. The man followed, but there was no way he could keep up with an Elf. Legolas decided the best way to escape him was to lose him through the barn. He snuck through the crack in the large doors and searched for somewhere to hide. The young Elf was already under the hay when the man entered noisily into the barn, startling the four horses there.
"Come out, child! Don't make me do something desperate!"
Mog heard nothing from the barn. He knew the unruly brat was in here somewhere. He also knew that there was no other way out than the large front doors. At least without falling a great distance out the second floor window that was in back.
Still hearing nothing and beginning to feel the cold, Mog knew how to get the child out and into his custody.
He drew a match out of his pocket and lit it against the stubble of his chin, the sound of the grinding almost echoing in the night.
"You brought this on yourself, I just feel sorry for the poor horses you have doomed to this fate."
He dropped the match and closed the door. He did not wish the child to die in flames, that would be too easy, he would have no evidence to show the old hag Jaden. However, some things could not be helped. The disappearance of the boy and Jaden's worry would have to be enough.
Legolas peered from his hiding place and walked into the open, seeing the flames spread, hearing the horses in their stales.
It was that terrible night all over again.
Legolas froze, unable to move, seeing his home in Mirkwood in his mind and now his refuge before his eyes going up in flames. The smoke began to sting his eyes, blinding him and making him cough.
The horses cried as the flame's heat came ever closer, spreading like a mad wind, engulfing the doors.
There was no way out.