Disclaimer: LotR original characters belong to the master J.R.R. Tolkien and the other characters belong to me… this fic is just a work of a female fan… nothing else

Author's Notes: This story is slightly AU… I don't know when to place this story in the actual LotR timeline… how about if I say this fic is centuries (eek!) before the start of The Hobbit??? Nope… it won't work… okay… it's an AU then… hehehe… kinda lousy, I know…

On Green Leaves and Blue Waters

By: nagi_silvermoon

Chapter 2 Her Burning Curiosity

Arwen Evenstar led Raellyth Bluewater through seemingly endless corridors towards the room of the wounded elf. The evening breeze blew across them but it wasn't a perfect time for the latter to think of her favored element and admire it. She was here in the house of Lord Elrond Half-Elven, in behalf of her father, in a matter of serious business. How serious it was, she did not have an idea.

"He's in here," Arwen said, entering a room swiftly. Raellyth followed suit.

The mentioned elf was sleeping soundly on the bed, oblivious to everything around him. Raellyth approached his side and went right away to observing his wound.

"One of the elves near the ford saw him fall off his horse, wounded," Arwen explained. She turned to the windows and opened the curtains wide enough for sunset lights to enter the room. She turned back to Raellyth apprehensively. "He was immediately brought here for medication. We tried our best to stop the bleeding, but I think what we did was not enough. My dear friend lost too much blood for us to handle."

Raellyth nodded and turned to look at the wounded elf. "Was he this pale when you saw him last night?" She inquired, pointing at his face.

"No, but it was close to that color when I saw him," the other replied. "I think he's infected by something, but I'm not sure what."

Raellyth started to search the other parts of the elf's body. After a while, her suspicions were confirmed. She tossed her hair back and rolled up her sleeves. "I think he was poisoned by something subtle," she announced. She went to the elf's left side and started to squeeze the wound out. "I'll try to get it out. The poison didn't venture that far from his body. If I could just get the source out then his recovery will go faster."

"Then I'll leave him into your capable hands, Raellyth," Arwen said then she left the room.

~@~@~

Raellyth woke up as a fleeting touch grazed her cheek. She looked up and saw Arwen fixing the blanket that was mysteriously placed on her chilled back. She tried to shake the sleepiness away from her head as she stood up from the elf's bedside.

She found her herself staring at the window. Streaks of sunlight flowed in through the soft curtains, noting the passing of a day and announcing the coming of another. By the looks of things, she concluded that she has slept the night over in Lord Elrond's house near the elf. Arwen smiled at her, and pointed at a tray near the door.

"Eat, Raellyth," she said. "You are weary."

"Thank you," she replied, realizing that she is indeed very tired, as she made her way towards the tray to eat the delicious breakfast prepared for her. The course was made of buttered vegetables and rich cuts of meat. It was a meal befitting a maiden of high ranking and somehow, Raellyth could not have wanted it in any other way. Grateful for it, she started to eat.

Arwen, on the other hand, stayed by the elf's bedside, watching the latter breathe evenly as he recuperated from the poison. Without taking her gaze away from the man, she asked Raellyth the question that plagued her mind the night before.

"How is he? Will he be alright?"

Raellyth drank the water from the glass and nodded. "Yes," she replied when the water went down from her throat. "He will be fine. A day's rest will do it. If he is stronger than I think, he might be up by tonight."

She stared down on her plate, fighting the urge of asking the questions that kept on burning her curiosity. In the end of the silent battle, her inquisitiveness won, and she started to ask Arwen about the injured elf.

"Pardon me, Lady Arwen," she apologized, "but I have been wondering since last night. Who is this elf?"

Arwen smiled at her. "He is the elf prince Legolas Greenleaf, son of Thranduil, King of the elves of Northern Mirkwood." Arwen explained.

"What is the elf prince of Mirkwood doing here in Rivendell?" Raellyth asked, incredulous with what she heard. She had been nursing an elf prince of great prestige to health? She blushed at the thought without knowing why. "Isn't he supposed to be back in Mirkwood?"

Arwen pondered. "He visits Rivendell to fix some errands for his father. Sometimes, he does it for pleasure. This time, thought, I don't know the reason. It could be another errand for King Thranduil, but as to why he was chased towards Rivendell, that I cannot answer." She stood up and went towards the windows, opening the curtains wider to let the warm sunshine enter the room. She turned to look at the handsome face of Legolas and sighed. "Legolas better explain this to me. He owes me at least that for his life."

Raellyth just nodded in comprehension and continued to eat her breakfast without uttering another word. Silence dwelled in the room for a few moments. After a while, she finished with her meal and started to excuse herself. She still had to attend to her father and if the latter knew that she slept at Lord Elrond's place, she might get the scolding of the century.

"Excuse me, Lady Arwen. I have to be at home now. Father will be looking for me, I'm afraid."

"Before you go, Raellyth," Arwen called. She took a few, graceful strides across the room and stood in front of the addressed. She took Raellyth's hand and looked at her pleadingly. "Please do not utter a word to anyone until I say so."

"W-why?" Raellyth stuttered, feeling quite strangled and overwhelmed by the emotions Arwen showed. Arwen never really revealed emotions in front of everyone. She always had a regal demeanor that elves and even humans never fail to respect. But these instants show of feelings? Raellyth felt like she was dreaming since last night.

"I don't want to risk his life. His pursuers might have ears near here."

~@~@~

Raellyth was in the backyard garden of the Bluewater's residence collecting medical herbs planted by her father. The wind was blowing cool breezes along her way. At its touch, Raelyth felt that her exhaustion was replaced by new strength. She suddenly felt so refreshed that she could do almost anything she wanted to.

She never really understood why she found comfort with the wind, and she never tried to. There were times in her silent communion with the wind that she wanted to ask what magic it possessed that it made her so involved with it. But the wind just kept on blowing, replying silently. She never got her answers but she knew that if she did get them, she might lose her life-long admiration for the element.

Leaving another one of her windy thoughts* aside, she picked up the herbs and made her way towards the house. A smile formed on her lips after the wind blew in farewell. She turned around to bid her farewell, but something caught her eye.

A solitary green leaf came fleeting down to the soft earth. It was agonizingly slow, yet she found it so intriguing that Raellyth never let it out of her sight. Without realizing it, she mouthed two words to the element.

"Legolas Greenleaf."

To be continued

Author's Notes: Well… how was it??? I know this story is sort of slow and dragging but please… bear with me… I'm actually trying to introduce Raellyth's character first, one thing that I'm trying to really improve… I don't want her to appear like a mary sue… no way!!! Please R+R… healthy ones are greatly appreciated… thanks to all those who have submitted reviews… I'm really happy and inspired with what you said

* just a little pun I thought of… I didn't want to put an insert coz it defeats the purpose of relaying a story… hehehe…