Disclaimer: See Prologue and Chapter One page


Chapter Two: Cold Beginning


Legolas saw the orcs coming and wasn't a bit surprised. He threw his dagger in the air catching the blade, he aimed and threw it into one of the orcs heads. He turned around worried about Netasa and saw that she had readied her bow and was actually pointing it at his head. He froze for a second.

"Get down!" she shouted.

He fell to his knees at her words. He heard the arrow just above his head and turned around to see what damage she had done. She had struck an orc right in the head. He looked back at her stringing another arrow. 'What a piece of work she is' he thought. He pushed his thoughts of her aside, stood up and ran towards the orcs with daggers, he had concealed on his back, in his hands.

'Focus!' Netasa thought. Her bow was ready yet again but now Legolas was in there with the targets. 'This isn't supposed to be hard' she continued. She had fought many battles even with people she loved dearly and was never afraid but she could feel nervousness rising in her.

She shot another arrow at an orc running towards Legolas with a sword in its hand. The orc fell to the ground screeching in pain. She was about to string another arrow when she saw that Legolas was kicked to the ground. Three to one was definitely not fair to him. He was still defending himself sufficiently but Netasa felt an ache in her as an old memory surfaced. She yelled "No!" and ran towards the orcs surrounding Legolas.

With her special dagger in hand, she stabbed the first orc she came to in the back and threw him to the ground a good bit away from Legolas. This was an unusual move for her and it made her feel good. She was washing the evil thoughts from her mind. She was in control here and now. No one could take this from her.

The orc she had stabbed staggered back up and she slit its throat for even thinking about retaliating. She looked back at Legolas to see how he was and saw him standing between two dead orcs. He looked very fatigued.

Legolas looked around and found Netasa staring at him. 'Thank you, Valar. She is fine' he thought with a smile on his face. She had seemed so worried about him and he was glad she had come to help. 'Those orcs fought as if they were Uruk-hai' he thought.

Netasa noticed Legolas smiling and he started to walk towards her. She didn't know if this was a good thing or not.

"That was a close one. Do you think?" he asked catching his breath and walking closer to her.

When he stopped in front of her about one foot away, she didn't know if she wanted to answer or just go ahead and kiss him to get it over with. She was getting so lost looking into his eyes and he wasn't going to look away, not in a million years. She knew it.

"Yes, too close" she replied. She looked him up and down searching his body for scars (like any mother would do) she asked "Are you all right?"

Legolas looked at her searching him and made a mental note on how protective she is. "I am fine, if it were not for your help" Legolas laughed "I should be asking if you are alright."

She turned her head and looked around them. "I am fine" she replied. She started backing away from him slowly pretending to assess their position even though she knew they were fine. There needed to be distance between them. Yes, that would make her feel better.

Legolas noticed her backing away from him and he closed the distance between them by walking forward. "Why do you run when you have no control?" he asked with a smirk on his face.

She was startled by Legolas' actions and bluntly replied "Because I do not have control is the reason I run. And I wish you not to have control over me."

This time, Legolas allowed her to back away from him. He frowned at her reply hoping he had not made her dispise him with his forwardness. "Amin hiraetha[I'm sorry], Netasa. I did not mean to make you uncomfortable" he said hoping to soothe her a bit.

Netasa forced a smile and said "It is fine, Legolas. I know you meant no harm." She turned around and searched for her arrows and daggers. She wanted to leave right now. There was no way she wanted Legolas to take over her. 'I will not give him an inch' she thought.

Legolas watched her for a second. He wanted to know something but didn't know how to approach it. "What is your business in Rohan?" he asked trying not to give away his thoughts.

"It is exactly that, Legolas" she replied "my business."

"Why will you not tell me?" he asked. This was starting to sound like he thought she was lying. He hoped she hadn't noticed.

"Are you suggesting that I am lying to you, my prince?" she asked staring straight at him with an eyebrow raised.

'Damn!' he thought wildly. He looked down at the ground trying to think of what to say. Nothing was coming to him. He was ashamed.

Netasa saw him looking at the ground, fidgeting, and knew he thought she was lying. 'What am I talking about?' she thought 'I was lying.' He continued to look at the ground and said nothing. She thought she might as well put him out of his misery because 'this is stupid!'

"It is alright, Legolas" she quickly said "I was lying. I have no business in Rohan but I could definitely make some if it is necessary." She picked up her bow and started walking away. "Go home to your palace, my lord. You must be needed there" she continued as she walked.

Legolas watched as she picked up her bow and started to walk away. His body screamed at this. She couldn't just leave. They had just fought together, 'In more ways than one' he thought. He ran in front of her and stopped her with his hands on her shoulders. "Please do not leave, Netasa" he said desperately. He stared into her eyes and never once looked away. He brought his hand to her face and traced her jaw with his thumb. She pulled away just as quick as he had stopped her.

"Move aside" she said coldly "you do not want me to remove you myself."

Legolas gave a sly smile. "Is that a challenge?"

Annoyed, Netasa attempted walking around him. Legolas swiftly grabbed her by the arm but she pulled away almost slapping him in the process, if he had not moved.

"My lady, I am afraid I cannot leave you alone" he said in a very serious tone.

"And why is that?" Netasa asked a bit too tired to play games.

"We were just attacked. I cannot just leave you alone. It is too dangerous" he resolved.

Netasa sighed heavily and started walking away "I think I can take care of myself."

"Where are you to go?" Legolas asked worried for her safety. He wanted to know if her intentions on leaving and her destination were of his doing, which he should have known by now. But many know him as being quite a stubborn elf.

Netasa didn't turn around or even answer. This lead Legolas to follow once again. He was worried, but didn't know why. When he had first spotted her in the forest, he felt a connection and in trying to keep himself from being completely frozen, he caused this she-elf distress. He cursed at himself for ever making Netasa angry at him. "If you are only going to Rohan because I have made you angry then I am more sorry than you know" he vowed.

At this, Netasa turned around. She almost knocked into him, he was following so close now. "I am not angry because of you" she admitted pausing for a second "though your persistence is very exhausting." This time, when she paused, she found his eyes in the attempt to read them but to no avail. She continued "What do you want of me?"

Legolas met her gaze completely. He knew she was searching for something and it made him believe she was reading his very soul. "Come with me to Mirkwood" he pleaded.

Netasa lowered her eyes and said "I cannot. You may not be able to understand but there are reasons for my being a...wanderer, as you say." Seeing that the elf was deep in thought she continued "I wish you well, Legolas. Do not ask for me...ever."

She turned and started walking again. This time, Legolas did not follow but just stared. Sadness crept into every part of his being but he had pushed enough. They had just met and seeing her walk away with this thought in mind was not settling but he had to give in. She was so mysterious and her ways were much different than the common she-elf.

Even though she told him never to ask for her, he knew that he had to. There was no way of getting around it, he had made his decision. Legolas would meet this she-elf again.