Disclaimer: as before do not own any of the lord of the rings characters
Note: If I kind of contradict myself about things I've said earlier please ignore it (all part of the plot!) oh and thanks for the lovely reviews.
In the course of a lifetime, what does it matter?
Esmerelda scrambled agilely over the wall surrounding the perimeter of the castle, no mean feat in a nightgown that swathed her lithe limbs. She dropped gracefully to the lush grass below, landing like a cat on her feet. A huge commotion could be heard coming from the massive building behind her. She risked a moment to gaze in wonder at the almost fairytale structure that could have been her home if her uncle had had his way. As the uproar grew louder Esmerelda pulled herself together and stole into the darkness of the woods.
Legolas's father King Tharandul was pacing the length of the great dining hall. ' And you say the murderer was in the castle?' He shook his head in disbelief, 'The whole of Middle Earth has been searching for this girl for nearly five years and we let her slip through our fingers?' He shocked Legolas greatly by spitting savagely on the gray stone floor.
' Why does this murder upset you so father?' Legolas questioned curiously. The noble king's sigh was filled with a heavy sadness.' I knew her father, rest his soul, great things were planned for the young princess. The murder shocked her kingdom of Dalewood and angered them greatly. She had such a promising future. 'The king trailed off.' Find her killer Legolas, and bring her back alive.' Confused Legolas stumbled out of the hall in search of his friends to join him on his quest.
Esmerelda saddled up her horse and bade goodbye to the small cottage that had been her home for sixty years after her birth. She was torn between staying out of prison, and living in her childhood home that she had rediscovered only five years ago. She mounted her horse like the noble elf she was and galloped through the forest of Mirkwood due north, desperate to redo the wrongs of her past.
The night was dark yet mild. The stars shone down from the heavens above, and the huge full moon helped guide Esmerelda on her journey. Twigs snapped loudly beneath her mares' hooves, and it was with relief that Esmerelda emerged from the trees to the safety of the path. Even though she was half elf her sense of direction was poor, and she vowed to keep to the path so as to keep on course. When she came to the crossroads she turned right towards the great yonder. The danger of her journey and the severity of its importance were not wasted on the fugitive. She kept her ears pricked for the sounds of oncoming travelers so as to avoid confrontation and suspicion. As she traveled down the dirt road she was hit with a feeling of de ja vou. sorry I cant remember how to spell thatNot five years before she had galloped furiously down this path in the opposite direction and now she would return, and they would pay.
Legolas, Aragon and Gimli set out in the opposite direction of the other teams. They were going to head due north in hope of catching Esmerelda before she reached Dalewood, for that was where Tharandul had deduced she was going. The three friends cantered companionably along the dirt track making small talk. Aragon let out a sigh, prompting concerned looks from his two friends.' Pray tell Aragon, what bothers you?' Legolas enquired. Aragon sighed again ' I remember when the princess Lunasa was killed. The King of Dalewood was furious. He sought revenge on her killer. So. . . ' Aragon trailed off.' What man?' Gimli interrupted 'Spit it out'. Aragon shot the dwarf a steely look and continued with his story.
' The killer was often seen before the murder consorting with a young man, rumor has it that they were to be married. After Lunasa was killed and Esmerelda had fled the king took the young man and tortured him. His body was chopped to pieces'. He halted his story just then to listen to a strange sound in the near distance. 'Hurry', he snapped, and galloped off.
She had only been travelling a short time before Esmerelda realized she would have to let Toby go. The tabby cat had not taken kindly to being shoved in the saddlebag and his yowling would certainly alert any enemies of her whereabouts. She came to a standstill at the side of the path and dismounted Cherrie her horse. The saddlebag writhed about in her hands and she pulled the strings to reveal a very disgruntled cat. Toby sprang into her arms and Esmerelda hugged her tiny feline friend. Suddenly an idea occurred to her. She ran from the path and clambered with ease to the top of the tallest tree she could find. ' Sorry Toby', she whispered and pointed her index finger at the small cat. All at once the cat froze in her arms and began to omit a deafening whirring noise,' Bound to side track any enemy', she said to herself swinging from branch to branch until she reached the ground. She mounted Cherrie again and rode as fast as she could due north. She was aware she would be caught eventually, however it was all part of her plan. But first she had business to attend to.
Legolas recognized at once where the sound was coming from. He almost flew up to the top of the tree, so graceful was the handsome elf, to where the whirring tabby cat was perched. Mesmerized the elf poked the small bundle of fur that was Toby, and the cat unfurled itself and sprang to the ground. The elf let out a yell of shock, and fell from the tree landing on his rear much to Gimli's amusement. The hairy dwarf let out a loud guffaw annoying the blonde elf greatly. He wiped the dirt from his clothes and swept over to his stallion. 'That was meant to be a distraction', he observed, neither Gimli nor Aragon told him that this was already obvious to them. The two companions remounted their horses and followed Legolas as he galloped furiously ahead.
Esmerelda galloped through the night desperate to reach her destination by week's end. Even though she knew it might hinder her plans she could not help but stop when that little voice called out' Help Me'.
Legolas sensed that the gap was closing. 'Hurry', he urged. So they hurried.
Note: If I kind of contradict myself about things I've said earlier please ignore it (all part of the plot!) oh and thanks for the lovely reviews.
In the course of a lifetime, what does it matter?
Esmerelda scrambled agilely over the wall surrounding the perimeter of the castle, no mean feat in a nightgown that swathed her lithe limbs. She dropped gracefully to the lush grass below, landing like a cat on her feet. A huge commotion could be heard coming from the massive building behind her. She risked a moment to gaze in wonder at the almost fairytale structure that could have been her home if her uncle had had his way. As the uproar grew louder Esmerelda pulled herself together and stole into the darkness of the woods.
Legolas's father King Tharandul was pacing the length of the great dining hall. ' And you say the murderer was in the castle?' He shook his head in disbelief, 'The whole of Middle Earth has been searching for this girl for nearly five years and we let her slip through our fingers?' He shocked Legolas greatly by spitting savagely on the gray stone floor.
' Why does this murder upset you so father?' Legolas questioned curiously. The noble king's sigh was filled with a heavy sadness.' I knew her father, rest his soul, great things were planned for the young princess. The murder shocked her kingdom of Dalewood and angered them greatly. She had such a promising future. 'The king trailed off.' Find her killer Legolas, and bring her back alive.' Confused Legolas stumbled out of the hall in search of his friends to join him on his quest.
Esmerelda saddled up her horse and bade goodbye to the small cottage that had been her home for sixty years after her birth. She was torn between staying out of prison, and living in her childhood home that she had rediscovered only five years ago. She mounted her horse like the noble elf she was and galloped through the forest of Mirkwood due north, desperate to redo the wrongs of her past.
The night was dark yet mild. The stars shone down from the heavens above, and the huge full moon helped guide Esmerelda on her journey. Twigs snapped loudly beneath her mares' hooves, and it was with relief that Esmerelda emerged from the trees to the safety of the path. Even though she was half elf her sense of direction was poor, and she vowed to keep to the path so as to keep on course. When she came to the crossroads she turned right towards the great yonder. The danger of her journey and the severity of its importance were not wasted on the fugitive. She kept her ears pricked for the sounds of oncoming travelers so as to avoid confrontation and suspicion. As she traveled down the dirt road she was hit with a feeling of de ja vou. sorry I cant remember how to spell thatNot five years before she had galloped furiously down this path in the opposite direction and now she would return, and they would pay.
Legolas, Aragon and Gimli set out in the opposite direction of the other teams. They were going to head due north in hope of catching Esmerelda before she reached Dalewood, for that was where Tharandul had deduced she was going. The three friends cantered companionably along the dirt track making small talk. Aragon let out a sigh, prompting concerned looks from his two friends.' Pray tell Aragon, what bothers you?' Legolas enquired. Aragon sighed again ' I remember when the princess Lunasa was killed. The King of Dalewood was furious. He sought revenge on her killer. So. . . ' Aragon trailed off.' What man?' Gimli interrupted 'Spit it out'. Aragon shot the dwarf a steely look and continued with his story.
' The killer was often seen before the murder consorting with a young man, rumor has it that they were to be married. After Lunasa was killed and Esmerelda had fled the king took the young man and tortured him. His body was chopped to pieces'. He halted his story just then to listen to a strange sound in the near distance. 'Hurry', he snapped, and galloped off.
She had only been travelling a short time before Esmerelda realized she would have to let Toby go. The tabby cat had not taken kindly to being shoved in the saddlebag and his yowling would certainly alert any enemies of her whereabouts. She came to a standstill at the side of the path and dismounted Cherrie her horse. The saddlebag writhed about in her hands and she pulled the strings to reveal a very disgruntled cat. Toby sprang into her arms and Esmerelda hugged her tiny feline friend. Suddenly an idea occurred to her. She ran from the path and clambered with ease to the top of the tallest tree she could find. ' Sorry Toby', she whispered and pointed her index finger at the small cat. All at once the cat froze in her arms and began to omit a deafening whirring noise,' Bound to side track any enemy', she said to herself swinging from branch to branch until she reached the ground. She mounted Cherrie again and rode as fast as she could due north. She was aware she would be caught eventually, however it was all part of her plan. But first she had business to attend to.
Legolas recognized at once where the sound was coming from. He almost flew up to the top of the tree, so graceful was the handsome elf, to where the whirring tabby cat was perched. Mesmerized the elf poked the small bundle of fur that was Toby, and the cat unfurled itself and sprang to the ground. The elf let out a yell of shock, and fell from the tree landing on his rear much to Gimli's amusement. The hairy dwarf let out a loud guffaw annoying the blonde elf greatly. He wiped the dirt from his clothes and swept over to his stallion. 'That was meant to be a distraction', he observed, neither Gimli nor Aragon told him that this was already obvious to them. The two companions remounted their horses and followed Legolas as he galloped furiously ahead.
Esmerelda galloped through the night desperate to reach her destination by week's end. Even though she knew it might hinder her plans she could not help but stop when that little voice called out' Help Me'.
Legolas sensed that the gap was closing. 'Hurry', he urged. So they hurried.