Chapter 12: Comfort found in unexpected places
They had searched the village for survivors for several hours and had found none. Finally they decided to leave this place, that held nothing but death and despair. The companions climbed their horses and paid the a last silent salute to the dead fallen in this massacre. Then they turned to leave, never looking back.
In the evening they sat up a camp. They were just a few miles south of Nîn- in-Eilph, which they would reach the next morning. A heavy silence lay on the group of travellers and conversation was limited to when the necessity arose.
Selina was the first to take watch. She hadn't spoken a word since they had left the destroyed village behind, her face totally emotionless, like a polished marble mask.
Only now that she was alone she had the possibility to work through the turmoil of emotions, raging inside of her. There was indescribable horror. The images of destruction and death were flashing constantly before her mind's eye and she wasn't sure if they would ever leave her. There was pain. Pain that she couldn't protect those people, that she had been too late to save them. She felt helpless. In fact that feeling was so strong, that it seemed to choke her from inside. Selina just wanted to run away from all of this. All her confidence had been swept away, now that she really had come to experience what was at stake. Now that the reality of the extend of the danger that threatened Middle-Earth slowly began to dawn on her.
She tried to find comfort looking out at the dark that was filled with life and activity. In the distance she could see eyes gleaming in the night. It was the she-panther she had encountered the other day. Yesterday seemed already so far away, she thought ruefully. The world had changed so much in only twenty four brief hours.
Sulrahthi approached her without making any sound and sat down at her feet. "You have changed, my little kitten.", she purred out softly, nudging her head against Selina's knee. "You are wiser now, but the new found knowledge came with a high prize." "Don't hold back your tears, young one. Let them fall now, because inside of you they turn into ice crystals that stab you in your heart. Each one that is left unshedded will only turn out to hurt you later.", the panther said with compassion ringing in its velvety voice.
She blinked rapidly to keep the tears from falling that welled up inside of her, but failed miserably and her whole body shook with silent sobs.
That was how Legolas found her. From the corner of his eyes he could make out a fast movement of an huge, black animal, but that was all he got to see of Sulrathi's departure.
When Selina sensed a new presence near her, her head whipped around immediately in his direction. The fresh tears were glistening on her cheeks. He froze in position not to scare her away, like one would do when encountering a frightened animal. She decided to turn her back on him, pretending he wasn't there. He had scared away Sulrathi, her only comfort, she thought to herself angrily.
Suddenly she felt a soft touch on her shoulder. "Leave me alone!", she hissed between clenched teeth and looked up at him with fire dancing in her watery eyes. He stayed silent and just shook his head. Without waiting for an invitation he sat down next to her. She tried to fight back the tears ashamed of crying in front of him, but didn't succeed. When she turned her head to throw an angry comment at him, he was looking at her with a sad expression in his eyes, that almost equalled her own grief. The words she had intended to spit at him didn't manage to come out anymore. She just looked at him, her expression tired and exhausted.
The elf extended his hand and softly touched her cheek, to wipe away a single tear that was sitting there. It was gesture full of tenderness and affection and made all her anger dissipate within the blink of an eye. So they just sat there in unison, staring silently out in the night, comforting each other wordlessly with their mere presence.
A cool wind blew over the land and Selina shivered slightly. She rubbed her bare arms, in an attempt to keep the cold away. "You are freezing. Do you want to have my cloak?", the elf asked her gently. She shook her head stubbornly, though her skin was covered with Goosebumps. The elf sighed exasperatedly. It was beyond him why woman always had to be that headstrong. So he decided to do the only reasonable thing. Legolas scooted closer and lay an arm around her shoulder, covering her with the soft fabric of his cloak. To his surprise she didn't protest. Instead she cuddled closer to him, encouraged by the comfort and the warmth his embrace provided. The troubles and the worries that had plagued her melted away like the last snow of the winter in the warm spring sun.
She breathed in his intoxicating scent. He smelled of the forest, its trees and cool, fresh air mixed with a fragrance that was unique like him. A mixture of cinnamon and honey. Selina relaxed and let out a content sigh. Then the exhaustion of the long day overwhelmed her and she fell asleep. Selina unconsciously began to purr softly, slumbering peacefully.
~
"Selina, wake up.", a soft and melodious voice called out to her from very close by. Sleep was still lying on her body like a warm blanket which she didn't want to shed. Selina felt protected and nothing could hurt her right now. She tried to block out the voice, but it was very insistent. "Lirimaer /Lovely one/, wake up.", it said again ever so gently, but now a bit louder.
Her eyes fluttered open lazily and she was greeted by the most amazing sight imaginable. She looked right into a pair of bright blue eyes that were only a few inches away and sparkled at her full of affection. The morning sun was already shining and illuminated the elf's handsome features. Selina stared at him in fascination, while he reciprocated her gaze. They were lost in each others eyes for what seemed to be an eternity. Then a clattering noise could be heard from the camp that ripped Selina and Legolas out of their trance. The others were awakening.
Legolas stood up slowly, feeling slightly nervous. What had just happened? He had come to experience something he had never felt before. It was one of those very rare moments, when you look into another person's eyes and know what they are thinking, what they dream of and what they wish for the most. He frowned and confusion spread over his fair face. What had that feeling been he had just experienced so intensely? He knew what being in love felt like, but this had been different. This had been uncharted territory, a new world, he had never sat foot in before. Each step was an adventure, that could turn out in the best or in the worst imaginable way.
He forced his thoughts back to the present. Selina was still sitting there motionless and looked up at him expectantly. "We should go back to the camp.", he finally said softly. For a second disappointment flashed over Selina's features, but she nodded and followed him the few steps back to where the others had slept.
Though this was just an ordinary moment seen from the outside, Selina would remember it for all time to come. It was the moment in which she discovered that she wanted to win Legolas's heart. She wanted to break down all his barriers and sweep away his caution, because there was no way he couldn't have felt the same as she had just a few minutes ago. She wanted to teach him the meaning of true love and learn what it meant to be loved by him in return. His heart was like prey, as she had said earlier, and she intended to be its huntress.
They had searched the village for survivors for several hours and had found none. Finally they decided to leave this place, that held nothing but death and despair. The companions climbed their horses and paid the a last silent salute to the dead fallen in this massacre. Then they turned to leave, never looking back.
In the evening they sat up a camp. They were just a few miles south of Nîn- in-Eilph, which they would reach the next morning. A heavy silence lay on the group of travellers and conversation was limited to when the necessity arose.
Selina was the first to take watch. She hadn't spoken a word since they had left the destroyed village behind, her face totally emotionless, like a polished marble mask.
Only now that she was alone she had the possibility to work through the turmoil of emotions, raging inside of her. There was indescribable horror. The images of destruction and death were flashing constantly before her mind's eye and she wasn't sure if they would ever leave her. There was pain. Pain that she couldn't protect those people, that she had been too late to save them. She felt helpless. In fact that feeling was so strong, that it seemed to choke her from inside. Selina just wanted to run away from all of this. All her confidence had been swept away, now that she really had come to experience what was at stake. Now that the reality of the extend of the danger that threatened Middle-Earth slowly began to dawn on her.
She tried to find comfort looking out at the dark that was filled with life and activity. In the distance she could see eyes gleaming in the night. It was the she-panther she had encountered the other day. Yesterday seemed already so far away, she thought ruefully. The world had changed so much in only twenty four brief hours.
Sulrahthi approached her without making any sound and sat down at her feet. "You have changed, my little kitten.", she purred out softly, nudging her head against Selina's knee. "You are wiser now, but the new found knowledge came with a high prize." "Don't hold back your tears, young one. Let them fall now, because inside of you they turn into ice crystals that stab you in your heart. Each one that is left unshedded will only turn out to hurt you later.", the panther said with compassion ringing in its velvety voice.
She blinked rapidly to keep the tears from falling that welled up inside of her, but failed miserably and her whole body shook with silent sobs.
That was how Legolas found her. From the corner of his eyes he could make out a fast movement of an huge, black animal, but that was all he got to see of Sulrathi's departure.
When Selina sensed a new presence near her, her head whipped around immediately in his direction. The fresh tears were glistening on her cheeks. He froze in position not to scare her away, like one would do when encountering a frightened animal. She decided to turn her back on him, pretending he wasn't there. He had scared away Sulrathi, her only comfort, she thought to herself angrily.
Suddenly she felt a soft touch on her shoulder. "Leave me alone!", she hissed between clenched teeth and looked up at him with fire dancing in her watery eyes. He stayed silent and just shook his head. Without waiting for an invitation he sat down next to her. She tried to fight back the tears ashamed of crying in front of him, but didn't succeed. When she turned her head to throw an angry comment at him, he was looking at her with a sad expression in his eyes, that almost equalled her own grief. The words she had intended to spit at him didn't manage to come out anymore. She just looked at him, her expression tired and exhausted.
The elf extended his hand and softly touched her cheek, to wipe away a single tear that was sitting there. It was gesture full of tenderness and affection and made all her anger dissipate within the blink of an eye. So they just sat there in unison, staring silently out in the night, comforting each other wordlessly with their mere presence.
A cool wind blew over the land and Selina shivered slightly. She rubbed her bare arms, in an attempt to keep the cold away. "You are freezing. Do you want to have my cloak?", the elf asked her gently. She shook her head stubbornly, though her skin was covered with Goosebumps. The elf sighed exasperatedly. It was beyond him why woman always had to be that headstrong. So he decided to do the only reasonable thing. Legolas scooted closer and lay an arm around her shoulder, covering her with the soft fabric of his cloak. To his surprise she didn't protest. Instead she cuddled closer to him, encouraged by the comfort and the warmth his embrace provided. The troubles and the worries that had plagued her melted away like the last snow of the winter in the warm spring sun.
She breathed in his intoxicating scent. He smelled of the forest, its trees and cool, fresh air mixed with a fragrance that was unique like him. A mixture of cinnamon and honey. Selina relaxed and let out a content sigh. Then the exhaustion of the long day overwhelmed her and she fell asleep. Selina unconsciously began to purr softly, slumbering peacefully.
~
"Selina, wake up.", a soft and melodious voice called out to her from very close by. Sleep was still lying on her body like a warm blanket which she didn't want to shed. Selina felt protected and nothing could hurt her right now. She tried to block out the voice, but it was very insistent. "Lirimaer /Lovely one/, wake up.", it said again ever so gently, but now a bit louder.
Her eyes fluttered open lazily and she was greeted by the most amazing sight imaginable. She looked right into a pair of bright blue eyes that were only a few inches away and sparkled at her full of affection. The morning sun was already shining and illuminated the elf's handsome features. Selina stared at him in fascination, while he reciprocated her gaze. They were lost in each others eyes for what seemed to be an eternity. Then a clattering noise could be heard from the camp that ripped Selina and Legolas out of their trance. The others were awakening.
Legolas stood up slowly, feeling slightly nervous. What had just happened? He had come to experience something he had never felt before. It was one of those very rare moments, when you look into another person's eyes and know what they are thinking, what they dream of and what they wish for the most. He frowned and confusion spread over his fair face. What had that feeling been he had just experienced so intensely? He knew what being in love felt like, but this had been different. This had been uncharted territory, a new world, he had never sat foot in before. Each step was an adventure, that could turn out in the best or in the worst imaginable way.
He forced his thoughts back to the present. Selina was still sitting there motionless and looked up at him expectantly. "We should go back to the camp.", he finally said softly. For a second disappointment flashed over Selina's features, but she nodded and followed him the few steps back to where the others had slept.
Though this was just an ordinary moment seen from the outside, Selina would remember it for all time to come. It was the moment in which she discovered that she wanted to win Legolas's heart. She wanted to break down all his barriers and sweep away his caution, because there was no way he couldn't have felt the same as she had just a few minutes ago. She wanted to teach him the meaning of true love and learn what it meant to be loved by him in return. His heart was like prey, as she had said earlier, and she intended to be its huntress.
