Mmm. I love cranberry juice. And Legolas.
Chapter 2
With a heavy heart, Legolas tramped slowly through the slightly damp underbrush of the forest. The sun was making its way up the sky, and the reflections from streaks of golden light that glimmered past the leaves of the trees were shifting their positions on the forest floor. Several small creatures being chased by a larger animal screamed and scattered across thick, leafy branches, but Legolas paid no mind. He was too busy pondering the morning's events.
Being several thousand years old, it was just about time for him to begin courting somebody. He'd had his eye on the beautiful Creladriel for some time, but he had always been curious if she felt the same way about him. However, now, as of the way that she'd acted towards him this morning, he was quite sure that she harbored a strong dislike for him. He growled in frustration and kicked a small rock out of his path. Suddenly, his keen Elvish hearing picked up what sounded like a muffled cry coming from several hundred yards behind him. Legolas stood frozen in the woods, straining his ears to discern what exactly the sound was.
'Get away from me! Amin feuya ten' lle, don't touch me!'
'You know you want it. C'mere, lass!'
Deciding that the first voice that he'd heard came from somebody in danger, Legolas hurried towards the direction from which the sounds seemed to be coming from. Using the athletic prowess that only an Elf could possess, he leapt gracefully over upturned roots and fallen trees at a startling pace.
Shortly he arrived at an intense scene deep in the heart of the forest: A strange young Elf maiden was struggling pitifully against two brusque, filthy, roguish Men, who were shouting obscenities and tearing at her skirts.
"Somebody help! Get off of me, you rogues! Yee! Llie n'vanima ar' lle atara lanneina!" she cried as she beat furiously at their groping hands.
At the horrifying sight of an attempted rape (which Legolas had never seen before, he had never even seen a bare female arm) Legolas sprung into action, pulling out an arrow from his quiver and stabbing one of the overweight, lusty Men with it, then ripping out that same bloody arrow to shoot the second unshaven Man with his bow. The two Men fell limp to the earth with the icy chill of death at their feet, and the maiden sunk to the ground in shock and weariness.
Elf maidens were traditionally not taught the ways of battle or strength; instead they were expected to learn the fine arts of sorcery and clothes-making. This standard proved devastating when a maiden found herself alone in a dark corner or grove, and so it was completely necessary to have a lord escort his maiden at all times to all places - Legolas did not understand why this particular maiden was without her lord in the middle of a forest. He hurried towards where she was crumpled on the forest floor and knelt besides her.
"Miss? Miss, are you alright? Where is your lord?" he asked. She was curiously silent, so he gently lifted her chin so that she could face him. She was indeed as fair as Creladriel, although presently her face was streaked with dirt and blood. Her sharp emerald eyes were brimming with unshed tears, and he noticed that the skin around one of them was blackened and swollen. "I am so sorry ...," he offered, innocently caressing her cheek with his hand. At this she burst into a fit of tears, and buried her face in Legolas's shoulder to muffle her sobs. He put an arm around her, and she sunk into the security and comfort of his strong, warm body.
After a few minutes of muffled weeping, she gradually calmed down and looked up at her savior. The maiden gasped and drew back; she instantly recognized the tall blond Elf as the famous Prince Legolas of Mirkwood, who was as widely praised for his integral role in the ancient War of the Ring as he was for his fair features and virtuous nature.
"P-prince Legolas! The honor is great to behold a creature so valiant and respected- I'll be on my way- SO sorry to have troubled you, I- I- I shouldn't have been wandering alone and I drew you out of your royal duties. Oio naa elealla alasse', Lle naa curucuar." The maiden scrambled bashfully out of his comforting embrace and curtseyed deeply.
Legolas laughed and quickly brought himself to his feet. "You did not trouble me, Miss, I was happy to be of assistance. And please, don't leave; I wish to know more about you. What is your name, and why was there no Elf accompanying you?"
She blushed, and politely obliged. "I have no lord. My mother constantly hounds me to find one, but- well, I am sure that you don't care about the private life of a simple female like me. Oh, and my name is Caleninin." Legolas smiled when she said this; caleninin meant "greenest" in common Elvish, and that term certainly applied to her eyes: they held the same sparkle and hue of a finely cut emerald.
When Caleninin noticed that Legolas was gazing into her eyes as if entranced, she blushed even redder than before and cleared her throat. Legolas suddenly found himself staring at her, and hurriedly snapped his mind back to more important matters. "You are hurt, little one. I would greatly appreciate it if you came back to Rivendell with me; I know that Elrond could heal you within minutes."
Caleninin shook her head no. "I cannot bring myself to put such a burden upon you and your host. You have already done so much for me," she reasoned, shakily fingering the torn hem of her dress with bloodstained fingers.
"It would bring me no burden. Come, you will be welcome." Legolas motioned for her to follow him, but instead she stood nervously in place. "Why are you so reluctant?" asked Legolas, turning his head to one side in curiosity.
Caleninin didn't answer. "You realize that I cannot simply leave you here," reasoned Legolas.
The maiden remained silent, and Legolas began to grow frustrated. "It is too dangerous here. If you accompany me, I can protect you."
Finally Caleninin succumbed to the will of the Prince, and she held out her hand. Legolas took it and bowed, then gently pulled her towards him and placed his other hand on the small of her back (as was the appropriate way for a lord to lead his lady). He carefully led her over the large roots and heavy stones as they made their way towards the valley of Rivendell.
Chapter 2
With a heavy heart, Legolas tramped slowly through the slightly damp underbrush of the forest. The sun was making its way up the sky, and the reflections from streaks of golden light that glimmered past the leaves of the trees were shifting their positions on the forest floor. Several small creatures being chased by a larger animal screamed and scattered across thick, leafy branches, but Legolas paid no mind. He was too busy pondering the morning's events.
Being several thousand years old, it was just about time for him to begin courting somebody. He'd had his eye on the beautiful Creladriel for some time, but he had always been curious if she felt the same way about him. However, now, as of the way that she'd acted towards him this morning, he was quite sure that she harbored a strong dislike for him. He growled in frustration and kicked a small rock out of his path. Suddenly, his keen Elvish hearing picked up what sounded like a muffled cry coming from several hundred yards behind him. Legolas stood frozen in the woods, straining his ears to discern what exactly the sound was.
'Get away from me! Amin feuya ten' lle, don't touch me!'
'You know you want it. C'mere, lass!'
Deciding that the first voice that he'd heard came from somebody in danger, Legolas hurried towards the direction from which the sounds seemed to be coming from. Using the athletic prowess that only an Elf could possess, he leapt gracefully over upturned roots and fallen trees at a startling pace.
Shortly he arrived at an intense scene deep in the heart of the forest: A strange young Elf maiden was struggling pitifully against two brusque, filthy, roguish Men, who were shouting obscenities and tearing at her skirts.
"Somebody help! Get off of me, you rogues! Yee! Llie n'vanima ar' lle atara lanneina!" she cried as she beat furiously at their groping hands.
At the horrifying sight of an attempted rape (which Legolas had never seen before, he had never even seen a bare female arm) Legolas sprung into action, pulling out an arrow from his quiver and stabbing one of the overweight, lusty Men with it, then ripping out that same bloody arrow to shoot the second unshaven Man with his bow. The two Men fell limp to the earth with the icy chill of death at their feet, and the maiden sunk to the ground in shock and weariness.
Elf maidens were traditionally not taught the ways of battle or strength; instead they were expected to learn the fine arts of sorcery and clothes-making. This standard proved devastating when a maiden found herself alone in a dark corner or grove, and so it was completely necessary to have a lord escort his maiden at all times to all places - Legolas did not understand why this particular maiden was without her lord in the middle of a forest. He hurried towards where she was crumpled on the forest floor and knelt besides her.
"Miss? Miss, are you alright? Where is your lord?" he asked. She was curiously silent, so he gently lifted her chin so that she could face him. She was indeed as fair as Creladriel, although presently her face was streaked with dirt and blood. Her sharp emerald eyes were brimming with unshed tears, and he noticed that the skin around one of them was blackened and swollen. "I am so sorry ...," he offered, innocently caressing her cheek with his hand. At this she burst into a fit of tears, and buried her face in Legolas's shoulder to muffle her sobs. He put an arm around her, and she sunk into the security and comfort of his strong, warm body.
After a few minutes of muffled weeping, she gradually calmed down and looked up at her savior. The maiden gasped and drew back; she instantly recognized the tall blond Elf as the famous Prince Legolas of Mirkwood, who was as widely praised for his integral role in the ancient War of the Ring as he was for his fair features and virtuous nature.
"P-prince Legolas! The honor is great to behold a creature so valiant and respected- I'll be on my way- SO sorry to have troubled you, I- I- I shouldn't have been wandering alone and I drew you out of your royal duties. Oio naa elealla alasse', Lle naa curucuar." The maiden scrambled bashfully out of his comforting embrace and curtseyed deeply.
Legolas laughed and quickly brought himself to his feet. "You did not trouble me, Miss, I was happy to be of assistance. And please, don't leave; I wish to know more about you. What is your name, and why was there no Elf accompanying you?"
She blushed, and politely obliged. "I have no lord. My mother constantly hounds me to find one, but- well, I am sure that you don't care about the private life of a simple female like me. Oh, and my name is Caleninin." Legolas smiled when she said this; caleninin meant "greenest" in common Elvish, and that term certainly applied to her eyes: they held the same sparkle and hue of a finely cut emerald.
When Caleninin noticed that Legolas was gazing into her eyes as if entranced, she blushed even redder than before and cleared her throat. Legolas suddenly found himself staring at her, and hurriedly snapped his mind back to more important matters. "You are hurt, little one. I would greatly appreciate it if you came back to Rivendell with me; I know that Elrond could heal you within minutes."
Caleninin shook her head no. "I cannot bring myself to put such a burden upon you and your host. You have already done so much for me," she reasoned, shakily fingering the torn hem of her dress with bloodstained fingers.
"It would bring me no burden. Come, you will be welcome." Legolas motioned for her to follow him, but instead she stood nervously in place. "Why are you so reluctant?" asked Legolas, turning his head to one side in curiosity.
Caleninin didn't answer. "You realize that I cannot simply leave you here," reasoned Legolas.
The maiden remained silent, and Legolas began to grow frustrated. "It is too dangerous here. If you accompany me, I can protect you."
Finally Caleninin succumbed to the will of the Prince, and she held out her hand. Legolas took it and bowed, then gently pulled her towards him and placed his other hand on the small of her back (as was the appropriate way for a lord to lead his lady). He carefully led her over the large roots and heavy stones as they made their way towards the valley of Rivendell.