After the initial stunned horror had worn off, it was replaced by a sickening feeling of dread in his stomach. He followed the path of the quivering arrow up to a tanned hand, an arm in forest-green material, a torso in the same, and then a face framed by long silken blonde hair. The eyes that stared at him were an amazingly bright crystal blue, far brighter than his own of dull grey. But the strangest thing were the ears. They curved up into a small point at the top, telling him that the figure who held him trapped under the aim of the bow was not a human, but an elf.
"Are you some kind of mutant house elf?"
"How dare you insult me. I am Legolas Greenleaf, Prince Of Mirkwood. A mutant house elf indeed."
Draco swallowed hard as he stared at the tip of the arrow again.
"I'm sorry...your highness. I didn't mean to insult you. I am Draco-"
"Malfoy, yes. A very long blood line, that I believe can be traced back to the time of Middle Earth. Indeed, I know you well, young master. There is no need to address me so formally. You may call me Legolas." The bow was lowered.
Draco nervously raised his eyes up, and storm grey met heaven-blue. A hand was extended, and Draco took it. As Legolas helped him to his feet, Draco couldn't help but notice that even his own beauty(which he had prided above all others while he'd been at Hogwarts), paled next to that of the Elven Prince, who was also several iches taller than him, and was built much stronger and finer. Next to Legolas Greenleaf, who had the grace, poise and elegance to challenge a Veela, Draco Malfoy felt like an insubstantial child(although he was eighteen years old).
Now they stared at each other, standing a few feet apart. As Legolas took a step forward, Draco edged back, until he felt his back scraped against the hard bark of a tree. Legolas chuckled, a soft feline purr.
"You are afraid of me, although you have no need to be." Legolas tilted his face and looked Draco square in the eye. "Why are you afraid, Draco Malfoy, son of Lucius?"
"Why am I afraid? WHY AM I AFRAID?? I'm all alone in deep dark woods, and then some guy with pointy ears shows up and starts waving sharp objects around in my face, and you expect me not to be- Agh!" Draco yelped, finding himself once again at the mercy of Legolas' steady aim.
"Do not tempt me, young one. Although we elves are of an even-tempered nature, it would be wise for you to keep...hold on." Legolas raised a hand to keep Draco from saying anything.
"What?" Draco asked in a whisper. "What is it?"
"Orcs. Quickly, behind here." Legolas pulled Draco behind a large embankment of fallen tree trunks and foliage. He put his finger up to his lips as to silence the boy, and nocked an arrow on to his bow. Drawing it back with silent stealth, he took his aim around the side of the embankment, and fired. From some distance away, they heard the strangled cry of the wounded orc.
"What was that thi-" Draco was cut off as Legolas placed a hand on his mouth.
"Not so loud. There may be more, and next time we may not be so lucky. Come, it is unsafe for us to stay here." Legolas took his hand off Draco's mouth and beckoned for Draco to follow him.
"Wait a minute there, why should I trust you??"
Suddenly an inhuman sound cut through the air; the spine-chilling bellow of an orc. Legolas gave him a questioning look. Draco nodded briskly.
"I suppose I really don't have a choice. Oh well, it's not like you're going to Avada Kedavra me."
"Elves have their own curses in Elvish far worse than Avada Kedavra." Legolas' tone was joking, and he lifted a corner of his delicate bow-shaped mouth in a smile. Nevertheless, Draco gulped nervously. Shaking his head at the thought of how many Crucio's he was going to get from his father for this, he followed the Elf further into the gloom of the woods.