"If we have to go to the Shire, why are we heading northeast?" Liera asked
Relaen quietly.
Relaen shrugged. "I don't know. I'll ask, just, try to keep Legolas from noticing, ok?" Liera nodded and Relaen quickened her pace to catch up with Ereht. "Ereht, we were wondering why we are heading in the opposite direction of the Shire." She said quietly, near Ereht's ear.
"I told you that there was a great chance that orcs would attack. I know that some followed me to you and I do not doubt that some are following at a distance now. I do not want them to know where we are going, so we go out of the way before we go the proper way." Ereht explained, keeping his gaze forward.
"I see." Relaen said. She smiled. "Not a bad idea, friend." She said before retreating to Liera to inform her of what she had discovered.
Ereht shot a glance at Relaen. 'Friend? Never has one called me that.' he thought to himself as he led the group. 'Why would any even consider giving me such a title?'
Relaen rejoined Liera and Legolas. "Why are we heading in the opposite direction?" Legolas asked hotly.
"We have orcs on our tail and need to shake them, so we are creating a fox- trail of sorts." Relaen said in a claming voice.
Legolas looked his sister in the eyes. "I do not trust him."
Relaen met his gaze. "I know, but I do. I told you, you did not need to come on this mission. I will trust Ereht until he proves he cannot be trusted. He has yet to do so."
Liera sighed. "Will you two stop fighting? Legolas, if you don't trust him then leave. It's a simple thing. Relaen is gonna stay here, as am I."
Legolas sighed in frustration. "Fine. I'll stay, but that does not mean that I have to trust him. I trust both of your judgments, that's it."
Between the arguing, reasoning, and thinking, none of the group heard the orcs that came steadily closer to them. Ereht was the first to realize how close to danger they were. He stopped and looked at the area around them, but he could hear nothing due to the arguments behind him. "Be quiet." He hissed to the three elves.
"Do not tell me-" Legolas began, but was cut off by an arrow heading towards Liera. He grabbed her arm and pulled her to him, out of the arrow's path.
"That is why I told you to be quiet." Ereht said as he pulled out a sword. "Fool." He mumbled under his breath before charging an orc that was hiding behind a tree.
Relaen could now see about thirty orcs surrounding them. She pulled out her bow and began firing arrows rapidly, each hitting a target. Liera pulled out her long knives and sliced the throat of an orc that headed towards her. Legolas ran into the woods after three orcs that tried to escape.
In a matter of minutes, the orcs were all on the ground, dead. The elves piled the bodies and burned them. "Is anyone hurt?" Ereht asked after they had all regrouped. Everyone shook their head. "Good. Did any of the orcs escape?"
"None that we know of." Relaen replied.
"Good. Then let us continue." Ereht said as he began walking west. "Hurry. We have far to go and not time to linger."
Liera sheathed her knives. "He is always in a hurry isn't he?" she said as she began following the Dark Elf.
"Why? Are you already tired Liera?" Relaen said in a baby tone.
Liera punched her. "One, if I was tired, I would have a reason. I didn't just stand there and fire off arrows, I actually did something. Two, I am so not."
Relaen laughed and caught up with Ereht. "Hey, wait up." She said as she met his pace.
"Are you always this jubilant after a fight?" Ereht asked, keeping his gaze forward.
"Most of the time." Relaen said with a grin. "I just wanted to tell you thanks for catching those orcs. My friend would be a shish-ca-bob if you hadn't."
Ereht glanced at her before diverting his eyes again. "Why do you thank me? You have no reason to."
"Yeah, I do." Relaen protested. "If you weren't paying attention, then Liera would be severely injured if not dead. She is my closest friend and I am in your debt for saving her, and none of your arguing is gonna change that." She said with a wink. "Thanks again."
After Relaen left his side, Ereht rolled his eyes. "White Elves." He said. "They are always trying to be so nice."
The group walked hours without any incidents. They stopped close to midnight. Ereht stopped in a small clearing. "We will rest here for the remainder of the night." He said.
Relaen sat on the ground, leaning her back against a tree. She pulled her cloak around her for warmth. It was a cloak from Lothlorien, so it would keep her warm. Legolas and Liera leaned against a tree near her. Soon, the three of them were asleep.
Relaen awoke. The sky was still dark and the stars still shining brightly. She looked around her. Legolas and Liera were still asleep. Liera was leaning her head on Legolas's shoulder. Relaen looked around the rest of the area. Ereht was not there. Relaen stood and began walking in the vicinity, looking for their guide. She found him sitting on a tree stump, looking at the stars. "Hey, is everything alright?" she asked, coming up behind him.
Ereht jumped slightly. "Everything is fine. You should be resting." He said coolly.
Relaen put a hand on his shoulder. "So should you." She said simply. She could feel Ereht tense under her hand and quickly removed it.
"I do not need rest. I need to plan out our journey." He said. He stood and faced Relaen, looking into her eyes for the first time since their trip began.
"You shouldn't be out here alone. You can plan the journey over there." Relaen said, nodding in the direction that she had just came from.
"You needn't worry about me. I can take care of myself, as I have for many years." He said, turning his back on Relaen.
"I have no doubt that you can, Ereht, but I also do not underestimate the orcs. They may be stupid creatures, but they have their bright moments. Besides, if you are over there than you can keep watch while you plan." She said, not fazed by Ereht's attitude.
Ereht turned to face her again. "If I return will you leave me be?" he asked with a sigh.
Relaen smiled. "Absolutely." She said. She stepped to the side. "Lead the way, sir Elf." She grinned.
Ereht rolled his eyes and walked to the clearing. Relaen followed. Legolas and Liera were still asleep. Ereht walked to the opposite side of the clearing and leaned against a tree. Relaen returned to her previous spot. "Happy now? Now sleep." He said to Relaen.
Relaen grinned proudly. "Yes, I am very happy now." She said with a small chuckle. She leaned her head against the tree and fell back to sleep.
Ereht watched her fall asleep. 'I wonder why it is that she treats me as a friend while her brother treats me as an enemy.' He thought to himself as he watched her sleep peacefully. He shook his head, as if to get the thought out of it. 'It doesn't matter. She is just like every other White Elf, thinks she's better than you.'
Liera was the first to wake in the morning. Ereht had dozed off sometime during the night and the others hadn't moved. She walked around the clearing, stretching her legs. Afterwards, she quickly climbed a few of the trees, speaking with them and gathering fruit for everyone to eat when they awoke.
As she jumped back to the ground, Legolas awoke. "Good morning." He said with a smile. Liera tossed him an apple, but he was still somewhat asleep and it hit him on the head. "Ow." He said, rubbing where it hit.
Liera laughed at him and then walked over and handed him the fruit. "Here." She said, a smile still on her face.
Legolas winked at her and took the fruit from her hand He stood and took Liera's hand and kissed it gently. "Thank you." He said with a suave smile.
Liera blushed slightly before pulling her hand from his and rolling her eyes. "Dork." She mumbled.
Legolas laughed quietly before his eyes surveyed the surrounding area. His gaze fell on Ereht, and he narrowed his eyes. He suddenly remembered where he was and why.and who was guiding him.
Ereht stirred. He could feel someone watching him. He forced his eyes open. They were met with Legolas's icy glare. Ereht matched it. Liera stepped in between the two, causing Legolas to break their eye contact. Ereht then looked around him. His eyes fell upon Relaen, who stirred slightly. As she awoke, he quickly diverted his eyes and stood.
Relaen awoke, feeling the warmth of the sun on her skin. When she opened her eyes, she saw Ereht looking at her and noticed how he looked away as she met his eyes. She smiled slightly and then stood and walked over to where Liera and Legolas were standing. Liera tossed her an apple and she caught it easily. "Thanks. How long has everyone been awake?" she asked as she took a bite of it.
"Not to long." Liera answered. She walked over to Ereht, who refused to join the group. "Want one? I got enough for everyone." She said, holding out one of the fruits.
Ereht took it cautiously. "Thank you." He said. 'I'll never figure these elves out. One minute they hate me and the next they are being decent. It doesn't make any sense.' He thought to himself as he quietly ate the apple.
Relaen shrugged. "I don't know. I'll ask, just, try to keep Legolas from noticing, ok?" Liera nodded and Relaen quickened her pace to catch up with Ereht. "Ereht, we were wondering why we are heading in the opposite direction of the Shire." She said quietly, near Ereht's ear.
"I told you that there was a great chance that orcs would attack. I know that some followed me to you and I do not doubt that some are following at a distance now. I do not want them to know where we are going, so we go out of the way before we go the proper way." Ereht explained, keeping his gaze forward.
"I see." Relaen said. She smiled. "Not a bad idea, friend." She said before retreating to Liera to inform her of what she had discovered.
Ereht shot a glance at Relaen. 'Friend? Never has one called me that.' he thought to himself as he led the group. 'Why would any even consider giving me such a title?'
Relaen rejoined Liera and Legolas. "Why are we heading in the opposite direction?" Legolas asked hotly.
"We have orcs on our tail and need to shake them, so we are creating a fox- trail of sorts." Relaen said in a claming voice.
Legolas looked his sister in the eyes. "I do not trust him."
Relaen met his gaze. "I know, but I do. I told you, you did not need to come on this mission. I will trust Ereht until he proves he cannot be trusted. He has yet to do so."
Liera sighed. "Will you two stop fighting? Legolas, if you don't trust him then leave. It's a simple thing. Relaen is gonna stay here, as am I."
Legolas sighed in frustration. "Fine. I'll stay, but that does not mean that I have to trust him. I trust both of your judgments, that's it."
Between the arguing, reasoning, and thinking, none of the group heard the orcs that came steadily closer to them. Ereht was the first to realize how close to danger they were. He stopped and looked at the area around them, but he could hear nothing due to the arguments behind him. "Be quiet." He hissed to the three elves.
"Do not tell me-" Legolas began, but was cut off by an arrow heading towards Liera. He grabbed her arm and pulled her to him, out of the arrow's path.
"That is why I told you to be quiet." Ereht said as he pulled out a sword. "Fool." He mumbled under his breath before charging an orc that was hiding behind a tree.
Relaen could now see about thirty orcs surrounding them. She pulled out her bow and began firing arrows rapidly, each hitting a target. Liera pulled out her long knives and sliced the throat of an orc that headed towards her. Legolas ran into the woods after three orcs that tried to escape.
In a matter of minutes, the orcs were all on the ground, dead. The elves piled the bodies and burned them. "Is anyone hurt?" Ereht asked after they had all regrouped. Everyone shook their head. "Good. Did any of the orcs escape?"
"None that we know of." Relaen replied.
"Good. Then let us continue." Ereht said as he began walking west. "Hurry. We have far to go and not time to linger."
Liera sheathed her knives. "He is always in a hurry isn't he?" she said as she began following the Dark Elf.
"Why? Are you already tired Liera?" Relaen said in a baby tone.
Liera punched her. "One, if I was tired, I would have a reason. I didn't just stand there and fire off arrows, I actually did something. Two, I am so not."
Relaen laughed and caught up with Ereht. "Hey, wait up." She said as she met his pace.
"Are you always this jubilant after a fight?" Ereht asked, keeping his gaze forward.
"Most of the time." Relaen said with a grin. "I just wanted to tell you thanks for catching those orcs. My friend would be a shish-ca-bob if you hadn't."
Ereht glanced at her before diverting his eyes again. "Why do you thank me? You have no reason to."
"Yeah, I do." Relaen protested. "If you weren't paying attention, then Liera would be severely injured if not dead. She is my closest friend and I am in your debt for saving her, and none of your arguing is gonna change that." She said with a wink. "Thanks again."
After Relaen left his side, Ereht rolled his eyes. "White Elves." He said. "They are always trying to be so nice."
The group walked hours without any incidents. They stopped close to midnight. Ereht stopped in a small clearing. "We will rest here for the remainder of the night." He said.
Relaen sat on the ground, leaning her back against a tree. She pulled her cloak around her for warmth. It was a cloak from Lothlorien, so it would keep her warm. Legolas and Liera leaned against a tree near her. Soon, the three of them were asleep.
Relaen awoke. The sky was still dark and the stars still shining brightly. She looked around her. Legolas and Liera were still asleep. Liera was leaning her head on Legolas's shoulder. Relaen looked around the rest of the area. Ereht was not there. Relaen stood and began walking in the vicinity, looking for their guide. She found him sitting on a tree stump, looking at the stars. "Hey, is everything alright?" she asked, coming up behind him.
Ereht jumped slightly. "Everything is fine. You should be resting." He said coolly.
Relaen put a hand on his shoulder. "So should you." She said simply. She could feel Ereht tense under her hand and quickly removed it.
"I do not need rest. I need to plan out our journey." He said. He stood and faced Relaen, looking into her eyes for the first time since their trip began.
"You shouldn't be out here alone. You can plan the journey over there." Relaen said, nodding in the direction that she had just came from.
"You needn't worry about me. I can take care of myself, as I have for many years." He said, turning his back on Relaen.
"I have no doubt that you can, Ereht, but I also do not underestimate the orcs. They may be stupid creatures, but they have their bright moments. Besides, if you are over there than you can keep watch while you plan." She said, not fazed by Ereht's attitude.
Ereht turned to face her again. "If I return will you leave me be?" he asked with a sigh.
Relaen smiled. "Absolutely." She said. She stepped to the side. "Lead the way, sir Elf." She grinned.
Ereht rolled his eyes and walked to the clearing. Relaen followed. Legolas and Liera were still asleep. Ereht walked to the opposite side of the clearing and leaned against a tree. Relaen returned to her previous spot. "Happy now? Now sleep." He said to Relaen.
Relaen grinned proudly. "Yes, I am very happy now." She said with a small chuckle. She leaned her head against the tree and fell back to sleep.
Ereht watched her fall asleep. 'I wonder why it is that she treats me as a friend while her brother treats me as an enemy.' He thought to himself as he watched her sleep peacefully. He shook his head, as if to get the thought out of it. 'It doesn't matter. She is just like every other White Elf, thinks she's better than you.'
Liera was the first to wake in the morning. Ereht had dozed off sometime during the night and the others hadn't moved. She walked around the clearing, stretching her legs. Afterwards, she quickly climbed a few of the trees, speaking with them and gathering fruit for everyone to eat when they awoke.
As she jumped back to the ground, Legolas awoke. "Good morning." He said with a smile. Liera tossed him an apple, but he was still somewhat asleep and it hit him on the head. "Ow." He said, rubbing where it hit.
Liera laughed at him and then walked over and handed him the fruit. "Here." She said, a smile still on her face.
Legolas winked at her and took the fruit from her hand He stood and took Liera's hand and kissed it gently. "Thank you." He said with a suave smile.
Liera blushed slightly before pulling her hand from his and rolling her eyes. "Dork." She mumbled.
Legolas laughed quietly before his eyes surveyed the surrounding area. His gaze fell on Ereht, and he narrowed his eyes. He suddenly remembered where he was and why.and who was guiding him.
Ereht stirred. He could feel someone watching him. He forced his eyes open. They were met with Legolas's icy glare. Ereht matched it. Liera stepped in between the two, causing Legolas to break their eye contact. Ereht then looked around him. His eyes fell upon Relaen, who stirred slightly. As she awoke, he quickly diverted his eyes and stood.
Relaen awoke, feeling the warmth of the sun on her skin. When she opened her eyes, she saw Ereht looking at her and noticed how he looked away as she met his eyes. She smiled slightly and then stood and walked over to where Liera and Legolas were standing. Liera tossed her an apple and she caught it easily. "Thanks. How long has everyone been awake?" she asked as she took a bite of it.
"Not to long." Liera answered. She walked over to Ereht, who refused to join the group. "Want one? I got enough for everyone." She said, holding out one of the fruits.
Ereht took it cautiously. "Thank you." He said. 'I'll never figure these elves out. One minute they hate me and the next they are being decent. It doesn't make any sense.' He thought to himself as he quietly ate the apple.