**A/N: Some of the stuff here (words, names etc.) aren't exactly on-par
with certain elements in the book, but.....I admit! I've been corrupted by
the "newer" and (perhaps?) better-known words from the movie (I realize how
much this annoys the LOTR purists). That sounds a bit confusing, but you'll
know what I mean when you stumble across something that may not go along
with the books. Don't hate me too much for it, I'm trying not to stray too
far from the books. Lep, lep, lep!**
Without giving Legolas a second glance, Raneth strode back to her horse then guided her steed to where the forest joined the grassy plains. There she sat down on the ground, stretching her legs out in front of her. This was one of the few times she could enjoy the beauty of the land around her. The sun was now high in the noon sky and revealed a vast, lonely landscape. The grassy plains beyond the edge of the forest gently ebbed and flowed with the occasional breeze. Within moments Legolas appeared beside her atop his horse, his wound still in plain sight.
The living silence of the land proved that Raneth and Legolas were alone for the time being, the only sounds coming from their steeds. Now in the full light of the sun, he noticed how her dark brown hair glinted, and how her eyes seem transfixed on some distant thought. As with many of her kind, she was dark-haired and fair of face, though her green eyes were an uncommon trait. She was by no means extraordinarily beautiful, and only her eye colour would have made her stand out from among other elves. At that moment she appeared less threatening than usual as a peacefulness seemed to blanket her.
"What is it you are thinking of?" Legolas quietly asked her.
"There is a memory from a long ago time when I..." she replied, her voice trailing to a whisper. Suddenly she stood up, her fire returning, "I have a matter to deal with in the Eastfold province of Rohan."
She went over to Legolas, glanced at his right leg where the stray arrow had cut him with little concern, knowing that the wound would heal quickly. Looking up at him she asked, "Will be you be coming with me once again?", a smirk playing on her lips.
"I should like to see the vast grasslands of Rohan again. I passed swiftly through them on my way to Gondor, and had not the chance to appreciate those lands I so rarely journey through. They are quite different from the forests of my home," he told her with a faint smile, amused at seeing how far he could go with this.
"So be it," she said with obvious frustration lacing her words, but she wasn't about to give into his little game.
They crossed the Mering Stream into Eastfold after a speedy ride through AnĂ³rien. They arrived shortly at the edge of a small town, almost a village, where Raneth slowed down and signaled for Legolas to do the same. The approaching cover of dusk painted the sky with streaks of blue, purple and orange while the sun dipped slowly beneath the mountains on the horizon. The town was like many other human habitations, where roads ran jagged throughout and dwellings were clustered together in a disoriented manner.
"You should keep out of sight, I am supposed to have come alone," she said in a low voice, "I must go see someone." She urged her horse forward into the town, making her way towards a ramshackle group of houses. She came to a stop and dismounted at an ordinary looking house and knocked on the door. It opened immediately, as though someone had been expecting her. She stepped inside and the door was shut.
Legolas had been watching this from the edge of the town where she had left him, and decided to go closer and to try get a better view. He descended from his horse and walked to where he saw she had gone. He continued on past the house, then slipped behind another with his horse. From hiding spot, he could see the front door of the house Raneth had gone in, without being seen himself. He waited there as the dark of the night swallowed up the evening and stars appeared in the deep skies. At last, the door of the house opened and out came Raneth and a stout man holding a lantern. From his angle, Legolas could only see the man's back, though Raneth was facing him.
"You did a good job, I'll be calling for your services again if I ever need to," he said in a strangely deep, crackling voice.
"I will be avoiding Gondor for the next little while since I might be in some trouble there, so I do not think I can do anything for you there," she said, "though everywhere else is fine for me."
"Maybe you can help me with my other needs. I'll pay you well for it," suggestively stroking her arm as he said this.
"No, my time with you is done for now, there are other things I must see to," she said coldly, swiping his hand away and quickly mounting her horse.
With that, she bade her horse forward and left the house. The man watched her leave, then turned and entered his house closing the door behind him. As soon as he was sure no one was watching, Legolas leapt on to his horse and went after Raneth. He didn't know what secret dealings with men she was involved in, though he was now intent on finding out after this encounter.
**A/N: I might not be updating as often, seeing as how bloody school is starting again.**
Without giving Legolas a second glance, Raneth strode back to her horse then guided her steed to where the forest joined the grassy plains. There she sat down on the ground, stretching her legs out in front of her. This was one of the few times she could enjoy the beauty of the land around her. The sun was now high in the noon sky and revealed a vast, lonely landscape. The grassy plains beyond the edge of the forest gently ebbed and flowed with the occasional breeze. Within moments Legolas appeared beside her atop his horse, his wound still in plain sight.
The living silence of the land proved that Raneth and Legolas were alone for the time being, the only sounds coming from their steeds. Now in the full light of the sun, he noticed how her dark brown hair glinted, and how her eyes seem transfixed on some distant thought. As with many of her kind, she was dark-haired and fair of face, though her green eyes were an uncommon trait. She was by no means extraordinarily beautiful, and only her eye colour would have made her stand out from among other elves. At that moment she appeared less threatening than usual as a peacefulness seemed to blanket her.
"What is it you are thinking of?" Legolas quietly asked her.
"There is a memory from a long ago time when I..." she replied, her voice trailing to a whisper. Suddenly she stood up, her fire returning, "I have a matter to deal with in the Eastfold province of Rohan."
She went over to Legolas, glanced at his right leg where the stray arrow had cut him with little concern, knowing that the wound would heal quickly. Looking up at him she asked, "Will be you be coming with me once again?", a smirk playing on her lips.
"I should like to see the vast grasslands of Rohan again. I passed swiftly through them on my way to Gondor, and had not the chance to appreciate those lands I so rarely journey through. They are quite different from the forests of my home," he told her with a faint smile, amused at seeing how far he could go with this.
"So be it," she said with obvious frustration lacing her words, but she wasn't about to give into his little game.
They crossed the Mering Stream into Eastfold after a speedy ride through AnĂ³rien. They arrived shortly at the edge of a small town, almost a village, where Raneth slowed down and signaled for Legolas to do the same. The approaching cover of dusk painted the sky with streaks of blue, purple and orange while the sun dipped slowly beneath the mountains on the horizon. The town was like many other human habitations, where roads ran jagged throughout and dwellings were clustered together in a disoriented manner.
"You should keep out of sight, I am supposed to have come alone," she said in a low voice, "I must go see someone." She urged her horse forward into the town, making her way towards a ramshackle group of houses. She came to a stop and dismounted at an ordinary looking house and knocked on the door. It opened immediately, as though someone had been expecting her. She stepped inside and the door was shut.
Legolas had been watching this from the edge of the town where she had left him, and decided to go closer and to try get a better view. He descended from his horse and walked to where he saw she had gone. He continued on past the house, then slipped behind another with his horse. From hiding spot, he could see the front door of the house Raneth had gone in, without being seen himself. He waited there as the dark of the night swallowed up the evening and stars appeared in the deep skies. At last, the door of the house opened and out came Raneth and a stout man holding a lantern. From his angle, Legolas could only see the man's back, though Raneth was facing him.
"You did a good job, I'll be calling for your services again if I ever need to," he said in a strangely deep, crackling voice.
"I will be avoiding Gondor for the next little while since I might be in some trouble there, so I do not think I can do anything for you there," she said, "though everywhere else is fine for me."
"Maybe you can help me with my other needs. I'll pay you well for it," suggestively stroking her arm as he said this.
"No, my time with you is done for now, there are other things I must see to," she said coldly, swiping his hand away and quickly mounting her horse.
With that, she bade her horse forward and left the house. The man watched her leave, then turned and entered his house closing the door behind him. As soon as he was sure no one was watching, Legolas leapt on to his horse and went after Raneth. He didn't know what secret dealings with men she was involved in, though he was now intent on finding out after this encounter.
**A/N: I might not be updating as often, seeing as how bloody school is starting again.**
