**Author's Note**- SO SORRY for taking so long to update. I understand
that it is completely unacceptable. However, let's cut to the chase.
Here's Chapter 5. I hope you enjoy.
Chapter 5
Mixed Emotions
Later that afternoon, Vanadil and Eledhwen made their way to the nearby village in hopes of seeking temporary refuge. Sighing, she fought to conceal the memory of this morning. Knowing she would feel better after talking to her long-time friend Kartha, she strolled through the joyful hum of the busy village.
Smiling to herself, she felt her agitation somewhat ease. Kartha would know what to do. She knew Vanadil well and always was eager to dispose clever advice. Feeling her stomach slow, she rode down the narrow path to Kartha's house. However, before she could reach the quaint abode, a jolly voice cut through her thoughts.
"Milady, what a pleasant surprise, but I know your visit did not come without reason," an older woman of about thirty-five exclaimed behind her.
Nervously crossing her arms, Vanadil half-smiled and nodded, "I'm so glad I found you, Kartha. I really need to talk to you."
Taken aback by Vanadil's somberness, Kartha frowned, "What could trouble you so? I don't believe I can recall seeing you solemn and serious. Where is the lighthearted and cheerful lass I so love to see?"
Shrugging, she replied, "She has taken a temporary leave of absence while her father and betrothed meet at home to decide her future."
Kartha looked at her thoughtfully. "Mayhap it is time for your future to take its course."
Pushing down her frustration, Vanadil shrugged and taking a deep breath, told her the whole story of Legolas' arrival. Kartha listened earnestly and nodded in understanding.
"You have conflicting emotions about him," Kartha said as soon as she finished. "You need be true to what you feel."
Looking at her in confusion, Vanadil inquired, "Mayhap you tell me what you mean?"
Smiling gently, she nodded, "On a conscious level, you seek to hate one who calls you his 'own.' However, the more his presence is felt, the more your anger weakens making way to the feeling beneath. You know of what I speak, but your stubbornness blinds you from the truth."
"I loathe him, Kartha," Vanadil replied firmly.
"I know you won't openly admit it even to yourself. Your building anger grows as your inner emotions do in need of concealing them."
Vanadil frowned but didn't reply. A part of her grew frightened. What if Kartha was right? Silently mulling over the possibility, she thanked Kartha for her advice and turned to leave.
Placing a hand on her shoulder, Kartha smiled, "Mayhap you trust me as you always have, and I feel your anger is not toward me."
Mustering a weak smile, Vanadil nodded, "Much thanks to thee, Kartha. I hope to visit again soon."
As she made her way to Eledhwen, she considered what Kartha had explained. Could she be right? Quickly mounting, she shook her head to clear her clouded mind. Impossible. She was thinking clearly and knew she was right. However, another thought invaded her mind. Why did she despise Legolas so much? He had never wronged her. It was true that she scarcely knew him, but a feeling stirred within her that startled her and made her uneasy. As she rode down the worn path through the forest, she realized that she had lost track of time. The sun was beginning to sink fast and the forest shadows were growing long. Cueing Eledhwen into a soft trot, she wondered how much trouble she caused her self by staying away for so long. Pondering her excuses to her father, she didn't notice the shadows that were following her.
Aragorn groaned inwardly to himself. His daughter was no where to be found and had not even been seen for most of the day. This would normally not trouble him so had it not been for the fact that she had eluded her intended all day. He could not even contemplate a worthy excuse to give Legolas.
"I apologize profusely for Vanadil's behavior. She'll be dealt with immediately upon her arrival." Aragorn told his friend.
"Don't trouble yourself, Aragorn. She has a will of her own and should not be chained within the barriers of royal standards." Legolas reasoned.
Aragorn shook his head in frustration, "You've not dealt with her will for as long as I."
"Aye, but I will." Legolas replied. "I do not find it as appalling as you may believe."
Raising an eyebrow, Aragorn frowned, "Mayhap you know me too well."
Smiling, he nodded, "For many years we fought together. I can not help but know your thoughts. Your daughter fears a prisoned life in which she is a possession. She fails to realize that she has created her own nightmarish future, one I would never let her live."
"She is quite stubborn, that daughter of mine. She only wishes to see things her way." Aragorn explained. "I only hope the two of you will spend more time together and defeat these marriage demons."
Legolas nodded in agreement.
Vanadil suddenly snapped out of her daydream when she heard the sharp sound of a twig snapping behind her. Turning around, she saw with alarm two cloaked figures on horseback emerge from the trees. Startled, she automatically reached for her bow and gasped when she realized she'd left it in the stable that morning. Before she could react, she heard the sharpness of an arrow whistling past her. Snatching her father's elven knife from her belt, she felt the anger rise within her. Who were these people?
Her thought was answered by an intense pain ripping across her right shoulder. Out of reaction rubbed her shoulder and realized in dismay that it was soaking in blood. Knowing she was outnumbered and barely armed, she whirled Eledhwen around and kicked him into a frenzied gallop, hoping to lose them in the forest. Fear welled inside her as she fled for home. Although the hoof beats had ceased, Vanadil didn't slow until she was within the walls of the castle.
Weak from pain, she meekly cried out for help as she struggled to stay on Eledhwen, her left hand holding her shoulder. Numerous guards appeared and Vanadil barely noticed her father and Legolas among them.
Upon seeing her badly wounded shoulder, Aragorn exclaimed in alarm, "Vanadil what happened?!"
Gasping for breath, she whispered, "I think it was bandits," before slipping unconscious from her horse's back and into a startled Legolas' arms.
Author's Note- Finally! I've finished chapter five! For all those who thought I'd abandoned Heart of Fire, I'll have you know that college life has kept me EXTREMELY busy. I can't apologize enough for the length of time it took me to update. I hope this meets your expectations. As always, please read and review. No flames please, but constructive criticism is allowed. I reassure you that I've already begun chapter 6.
Chapter 5
Mixed Emotions
Later that afternoon, Vanadil and Eledhwen made their way to the nearby village in hopes of seeking temporary refuge. Sighing, she fought to conceal the memory of this morning. Knowing she would feel better after talking to her long-time friend Kartha, she strolled through the joyful hum of the busy village.
Smiling to herself, she felt her agitation somewhat ease. Kartha would know what to do. She knew Vanadil well and always was eager to dispose clever advice. Feeling her stomach slow, she rode down the narrow path to Kartha's house. However, before she could reach the quaint abode, a jolly voice cut through her thoughts.
"Milady, what a pleasant surprise, but I know your visit did not come without reason," an older woman of about thirty-five exclaimed behind her.
Nervously crossing her arms, Vanadil half-smiled and nodded, "I'm so glad I found you, Kartha. I really need to talk to you."
Taken aback by Vanadil's somberness, Kartha frowned, "What could trouble you so? I don't believe I can recall seeing you solemn and serious. Where is the lighthearted and cheerful lass I so love to see?"
Shrugging, she replied, "She has taken a temporary leave of absence while her father and betrothed meet at home to decide her future."
Kartha looked at her thoughtfully. "Mayhap it is time for your future to take its course."
Pushing down her frustration, Vanadil shrugged and taking a deep breath, told her the whole story of Legolas' arrival. Kartha listened earnestly and nodded in understanding.
"You have conflicting emotions about him," Kartha said as soon as she finished. "You need be true to what you feel."
Looking at her in confusion, Vanadil inquired, "Mayhap you tell me what you mean?"
Smiling gently, she nodded, "On a conscious level, you seek to hate one who calls you his 'own.' However, the more his presence is felt, the more your anger weakens making way to the feeling beneath. You know of what I speak, but your stubbornness blinds you from the truth."
"I loathe him, Kartha," Vanadil replied firmly.
"I know you won't openly admit it even to yourself. Your building anger grows as your inner emotions do in need of concealing them."
Vanadil frowned but didn't reply. A part of her grew frightened. What if Kartha was right? Silently mulling over the possibility, she thanked Kartha for her advice and turned to leave.
Placing a hand on her shoulder, Kartha smiled, "Mayhap you trust me as you always have, and I feel your anger is not toward me."
Mustering a weak smile, Vanadil nodded, "Much thanks to thee, Kartha. I hope to visit again soon."
As she made her way to Eledhwen, she considered what Kartha had explained. Could she be right? Quickly mounting, she shook her head to clear her clouded mind. Impossible. She was thinking clearly and knew she was right. However, another thought invaded her mind. Why did she despise Legolas so much? He had never wronged her. It was true that she scarcely knew him, but a feeling stirred within her that startled her and made her uneasy. As she rode down the worn path through the forest, she realized that she had lost track of time. The sun was beginning to sink fast and the forest shadows were growing long. Cueing Eledhwen into a soft trot, she wondered how much trouble she caused her self by staying away for so long. Pondering her excuses to her father, she didn't notice the shadows that were following her.
Aragorn groaned inwardly to himself. His daughter was no where to be found and had not even been seen for most of the day. This would normally not trouble him so had it not been for the fact that she had eluded her intended all day. He could not even contemplate a worthy excuse to give Legolas.
"I apologize profusely for Vanadil's behavior. She'll be dealt with immediately upon her arrival." Aragorn told his friend.
"Don't trouble yourself, Aragorn. She has a will of her own and should not be chained within the barriers of royal standards." Legolas reasoned.
Aragorn shook his head in frustration, "You've not dealt with her will for as long as I."
"Aye, but I will." Legolas replied. "I do not find it as appalling as you may believe."
Raising an eyebrow, Aragorn frowned, "Mayhap you know me too well."
Smiling, he nodded, "For many years we fought together. I can not help but know your thoughts. Your daughter fears a prisoned life in which she is a possession. She fails to realize that she has created her own nightmarish future, one I would never let her live."
"She is quite stubborn, that daughter of mine. She only wishes to see things her way." Aragorn explained. "I only hope the two of you will spend more time together and defeat these marriage demons."
Legolas nodded in agreement.
Vanadil suddenly snapped out of her daydream when she heard the sharp sound of a twig snapping behind her. Turning around, she saw with alarm two cloaked figures on horseback emerge from the trees. Startled, she automatically reached for her bow and gasped when she realized she'd left it in the stable that morning. Before she could react, she heard the sharpness of an arrow whistling past her. Snatching her father's elven knife from her belt, she felt the anger rise within her. Who were these people?
Her thought was answered by an intense pain ripping across her right shoulder. Out of reaction rubbed her shoulder and realized in dismay that it was soaking in blood. Knowing she was outnumbered and barely armed, she whirled Eledhwen around and kicked him into a frenzied gallop, hoping to lose them in the forest. Fear welled inside her as she fled for home. Although the hoof beats had ceased, Vanadil didn't slow until she was within the walls of the castle.
Weak from pain, she meekly cried out for help as she struggled to stay on Eledhwen, her left hand holding her shoulder. Numerous guards appeared and Vanadil barely noticed her father and Legolas among them.
Upon seeing her badly wounded shoulder, Aragorn exclaimed in alarm, "Vanadil what happened?!"
Gasping for breath, she whispered, "I think it was bandits," before slipping unconscious from her horse's back and into a startled Legolas' arms.
Author's Note- Finally! I've finished chapter five! For all those who thought I'd abandoned Heart of Fire, I'll have you know that college life has kept me EXTREMELY busy. I can't apologize enough for the length of time it took me to update. I hope this meets your expectations. As always, please read and review. No flames please, but constructive criticism is allowed. I reassure you that I've already begun chapter 6.