Disclaimer: I'm not making money and I don't think you're a money-sucking lawyer, so leave me alone.
A/N: in response to WaterShadow- Irreverent… big word… she doesn't fawn over him for…. Well, she NEVER fawns over him. Thanks for the review. More reviews? Hello? Anyone else reading this? *crickets chirp* Guess not.
Chapter Three: Long Trips Happen in Short Chapters
Legolas sat next to Celidia in the jolting box. Elorelei sat opposite them, ignoring Legolas's glowers and tossing Iledian bits of the apple she was eating out of the window.
Celidia looked appalled. "Why do you handle the knife that way?" She asked with a sharp prick of spite and looked at the knife with dislike. It was a regular hunting knife, though Elorelei used it to cut her apple.
She looked up at Celidia and sighed. "Do you know another way of handling a knife?" She said irritably.
"You appeared to know what you were doing when you nearly killed me with it." Legolas interjected. Celidia gave a start then looked at Elorelei in confusion and surprise.
She gave him a dirty look. "I wouldn't have killed you," She murmured, looking out of the window at Iledian and tossing her more apple. "I was just defending myself."
Celidia looked thoughtful and she kept looking at the knife as if it would attack her of it's own accord. Elorelei soon put the knife away and Legolas stared mindlessly at her, thinking of a revenge.
Much later in the trip, Elorelei was considering leaping out of the carriage and drowning herself for a bit of excitement. Legolas and Celidia were talking about all the things he could do as a prince, or rather Celidia was asking questions and batting her eyes and Legolas was answering and trying to make himself look more princely. Out of nowhere, they both fell forward onto the floor as the carriage gave a sudden halt.
"SHUT UP YOUR WINDOWS, HIGHNESS!" screamed a man that appeared in Elorelei's window, half-stunning her. She reluctantly shut it as she heard the sound of swords being drawn and bowstrings being taut.
"Oh dear, I hope it's not a irugu." Celidia huddled close to Legolas, who became near ecstatic with such a development.
Elorelei felt her stomach turn. "I think I'm going be sick." She moaned.
There was a horrible, loud screeching noise outside the small compartment. Unable to resist, Elorelei peeked out from between the shutters. She heard Celidia shriek but didn't acknowledge her. It was a terrific battle scene, she thought, as a guard brought his dagger into the chest of a irugu. Irugu were foul-smelling animals that walked on two legs but had the mind set of a murderous wild boar; that was as close to sentience as they would get. They roared and screamed through gnashing sharp teeth and had tusks growing out the corners of their mouths, but they were no match for the elven guards, sending arrows through the air and through the coal-black hearts of the irugus. Soon they departed, and everything was gathered up and the journey resumed. Elorelei sat back in her seat, astounded at the skill of the archers. She had been practicing with the weapon since she was able to hold a bow but she could never be that good, could she?
Celidia crawled back into her seat, much to the disappointment of Legolas, who did the same. They were becoming rather fond of each other and Elorelei was growing rather disgusted with it. Celidia's giggling made her want to tear her ears out and seemed they would never reach a rest stop.
It seemed ages later when the bouncing trot of the horses stopped and all was quiet. Elorelei was getting tired of hearing many ways her dress could be improved and watching Legolas smirk.
"You've reached the city of Willowglade," said a voice outside the carriage. Elorelei became still instead of fidgeting and making gagging faces and listened. "You may rest here until it's time for your journey to continue. Please follow me to the inn."
She sighed. An inn, sleep, quiet, and practice time for her archery and fighting. All these things presented themselves as promising as they rolled into the town. Willowglade, originally called Willow's Glade after a she-elf lord of the second age, was a small city, tucked away in a corner of the land. A small pocket between mountains, many willow trees were planted there and there was no place more serene. Unfortunately, Celidia was giggling again and Elorelei insisted that it be put down somewhere as a world record for the most annoying sound on the planet.
"Why don't you be quiet?" Legolas barked, trying to keep his temper under control.
"I have been quiet and if it weren't for certain people insulting at my dress, criticizing my knife, and giggling until I feel I will suffocate myself to end the torture, I would still be being quiet." she said coolly and quickly but the small, compacted area was growing thick with tension. A sure fight may have broken out when a cheery face opened the door.
"Hello there. Welcome to... Oh dear." The elf, an innkeeper, noticed the furious glare between Legolas and Elorelei. Slowly he reached out and tapped Elorelei's arm. She narrowed her eyes at Legolas, then hopped out of the carriage.
*~*~*~*
The escort watched helplessly as Elorelei came out of her room, dressed in her usual attire. A moss green tunic, with leggings, and a brown cloak as her clothing, she headed off into the deeper parts of the glade, she wanted to explore as much as possible before the next day when they would leave. Glancing back, she saw Legolas escorting Celidia to her room. Elorelei pushed through a wall of leaves, suddenly feeling the need to throw up. Iledian came close behind her, often shaking her tail and mane to get rid of all their adornments.
Legolas watched Elorelei disappear into the forest and made a mental note to track her once he saw Celidia to her room.
Iledian stood quietly, drinking water from a stream while Elorelei whittled something with her knife. It was exceedingly quiet except for the soft lapping of the water and the slick slicing of the knife. Elorelei was absorbed in her carvings and didn't notice. The tree she sat in was a willow, like most of the others except with stronger branches. She had chosen one of the higher branches for the privacy, then moved lower when Iledian being to neigh with worry. The knife she used was different from her previous one. It's handle was made of pure white ivory and mahogany. The blade was of an enchanted silver that Eli had brought her back from his first trip away from the valley. It was sharp and good for carving, cutting through soft wood like butter and easily snicking the flesh if not handled carefully. Elorelei had many accidents with it when she was smaller, but now she had mastered the basic skill of it and it served as good as any weapon. When she was done, Iledian neighed and reared back on her haunches, inviting her to come down. Swinging down, Elorelei blew on her new pipe, it made a clear ringing sound like wind through caves. On the side she had carved iirima lidele for "beautiful music". Elorelei put her knife and pipe in her pockets, then went to clear up the shavings when someone knocked her flat on her back.