~*~ Chapter 3 ~*~
The two continued arguing for some time, until they were deep within the forest. Legolas stopped and thought for a moment, then turned to his right and kept going with the Ranger close behind. After a while the silence was beginning to bug them both.
"So," Legolas started, trying to think of something to ask, "um… well."
"What?" Strider asked, finding the elf's loss of words quite amusing.
Legolas thought for a minute then asked, "Where do you live?" It sounded stupid but he couldn't stand the silence anymore.
"In Rivendell," the human answered calmly, wondering if the elf could think of any better questions than that.
"Rivendell?!?!" Legolas said, surprised by the humans answer, "no really, where?"
"Rivendell."
Legolas stared, "really?! I thought only elves lived there."
"Huh? Oh, yeah they do," Strider answered, thinking it was a better question then he first thought, "I was… adopted."
"By elves?!" the elf still couldn't believe it.
"Yup," he answered back, enjoying the elf's confusion, "by Elrond."
"What?!" he stared incredulously, "are you kidding me?" He added suspiciously.
"No."
Legolas continued forward, thinking this over… Elrond? For Elrond to adopt a human, he must be different. He shrugged, trying to think of a different question, "You haven't been here before, or at least you haven't been to my home."
"No, but how did you know?"
"I'd know if someone were in there," he answered, now he was enjoying the humans confusion, "I'm the prince," he added casually.
"Now it's my turn to ask if you're kidding me," Strider said, guessing what the answer would be, no one would joke about that kind of thing. There was no guilty look in the 'princes' eyes.
"Seriously."
"Must be pretty strict and mean to new people if your dad is anyone like you," the Ranger said.
That got him a glare from the elf, but this one wasn't funny, "We haven't got a liking for humans."
"Right," Strider answered.
After a while the elf lightened up a bit, "So who trained you, you've got good fighting skills and how'd you get that good, it's next to impossible to just learn talent like that."
"Well, my father and brothers, they help me with stuff, but it mainly comes naturally," Strider answered.
"Are you a Ranger?" The elf asked after a minute.
"Yes," he answered, then smiled, "how'd you guess?"
"Well, no normal human can move so quietly, and I'll admit your tracking skills are pretty good."
"Well, hey, just 'pretty good'?" he asked with a grin, "you haven't seen me in action… you're just one of those little things you run into along your journey. And thank you for the compliments."
The prince flushed angrily, realizing he'd complimented the human and because of what he said.
"Thanks," he said flatly.
"You should be thankful, if it weren't for me, you'd probably still be in that thorn-bush," he said with an evil smile.
"If it weren't for you I wouldn't have fallen in the first place," he answered.
"Maybe," he said, pretending to be thoughtful, "anyway, how much further is it?"
"Not too far, ten maybe fifteen minutes."
The Ranger nodded slowly, "Okay, let's go."
"You mean your not leaving?" Legolas asked.
"We're not there yet, and I'm going to bother you as much as I can," he said, "how's your back and arm?"
"They're fine," he hesitated when they Ranger gave him a look.
"Then why did you hesitate?" Strider asked, "Let me see your back."
Legolas sighed, "Fine," he lifted the back of his tunic and Strider unwound the cloth and took the leaves out of the wound.
"It looks fine but we can't have these healing into the wound," he laughed, waving the crushed leaves in his face and burying them in a small hole.
"So animals can't smell the blood," he explained when Legolas gave him an inquiring look. He quickly wound the wrap back around him and pulled down the back of the elf's tunic.
"I'll give you a new one if you want when we get closer," he said, "just don't want to pull stuff out of my pack right now."
Legolas nodded and walked on ahead. - I have to admit, even if I don't want to that the human is more caring than I would have thought, he'd probably do anything for a friend, - he thought, remembering what had happened with the wargs, a normal human would have left him and run off.
"What are you thinking about?" Strider asked, interrupting the elf prince's thoughts.
"What? Oh, uh, nothing," Legolas jumped and faltered at the sound of the Rangers voice.
"Right," Strider laughed, "of course it's nothing. Come on, tell me, I know something's up, it's next to impossible to make an elf jump."
"Really, I…it's nothing," the elf stumbled through his words.
"Really?" The Ranger smiled and raised his right eyebrow.
Legolas glared at Strider, which caused him to start laughing, and, much to his surprise, the elf started laughing too. Clearing his throat, Legolas,
for the first time (not including the time he didn't mean to) smiled at the Ranger.
"Hey, isn't that a gate?" Strider asked suddenly.
"Yeah, this is it, my home," Legolas answered, "so I guess you'd better go to your home before your 'father' sends out every soldier he can get."
Strider laughed again, "yeah, your probably right."
They said bye and as the Ranger turned as Legolas walked out of sight, he was jumped on. Twenty to thirty elven soldiers stood around him, one with a
knife under his chin.
"You'd better come without fuss, human," the soldier with the knife spat the last word in Strider's face.
"Okay," he said, then with out warning, flipped the elf over his head and drew his sword. With that, the other elves closed in on him, drawing hidden blades, some un-slinging bows from their backs. With about fifteen arrows pointed at him, the Ranger re-sheathed his blade and put his hands above his head to show he was surrendering.
- I can't believe I'm surrendering, but it's not like I have a choice, - he thought, looking around him, - now, where did this come from? -
"Come on now," a second one said, "let's get moving, now."
"Okay," the Ranger jerked his arm away from the elf, "I'll come easier if you don't touch me."
The Ranger walked angrily between a few of the elves. He didn't understand what was going on. He felt like asking what was going on, in a way. The human part, the normal part, wanted to know what was up, wanted to ask. On the other hand, the Ranger part, his instincts, told him to stay quiet and wait it out. In the end, as usual, his fears were all overcome by his instinct. The fact that he didn't want them to know his fear, made him swallow it and appear fine, just nnoyed, yet inside, he was worried.
- If they saw me with their prince, why would they take me in? – He wondered, - this is making no sense… unless Legolas set me up… but I know that's not right… I hope. -
~*~*~*~*~*~
"This is it, human," the first elf said, "in you go."
They had made it into the elves prison but they were having trouble getting the human into his cell. He had given them his sword easily enough, but he was unwilling to go into the cell. When backup came he walked right in, realizing it was one-sided, on their side. He sat back and scowled at them as they closed the door.
"Well," he whispered to himself, "this should be fun." He smiled. Standing up he walked to the door and looked out through the small peephole, you might call it, and waited until the guards were well on their way to the doors.
"Didn't expect trouble from the inside, did you," he said quietly, "I thought elves were smarter than you, didn't even take my overcoat, checked it, but didn't take it." Putting his hand into his side pocket, he pulled out a small pin, looking through the small hole in the door he realized if he went fast, he could maybe reach the lock and pick it open.
~*~*~*~*~*~
"That is the last time you are put in there with out getting hurt even worse," one of the guards said. They couldn't figure out how the human kept getting out, but it had happened five times in the last week and they were getting sick of it. When he was first put in, he met up with the King, he was asked a few questions… none of which he answered. Strider was a stubborn one, no matter how many times he failed, he kept trying. Pulling out the pin again, he picked the lock open and crept down the corridor. He stopped at the first corner; he'd found out the hard way that they stood there. Taking a deep breath he jumped around the corner and punched the first one in the face. He almost felt sorry for them, they were only doing their job, but he had to get back home. He punched the second in the stomach making him double over. There, two, now to the next corner. Suddenly, he had another elf in front of him and a fist in the face. Not expecting another one, he fell back with a cry. Shaking his head he brought his foot behind the elf and tripped him backwards. He quickly ran over to the next corner, taking another deep breath, he jumped around and took out the first in one hit, same with the second, but not without a scratch running up his arm, obviously they heard his cry and were ready for him. He got around five corners, all of them.
- Finally! – He thought, - it only took me five tries. -
He carefully stepped out into the light, he had blood running all down his arms and face, mainly from one particularly large gash he got from that first punch in the face. Blinded by the sudden light, he stepped back and felt strong hands grab him.
"Okay, we've been expecting you, come on, it's time for your trial," a deep voice said.
"M-my trial?" He asked, trying to shield his eyes.
"Yes, including the hurt of the guards, I'd say you were looking at…
say…two hundred years."
"Two hundred years!?!?!?!?" He yelped, "humans don't even live that long!"
"Well that's not my problem," the elf answered and led him next door into
the palace.
majorlakerfan22- thanx 4 da' review and yes, ya' gotta luv humor. :)
Sky12- Yes, searching can be a drag... I know when I was looking 4 RITS...,
and, Kat? You scare me...
Lomiothiel- Thank u soooooooooo much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You make me happy, Daeman totally brought down my spirits but u brought um back up! Thanx! I'm glad u like it so much! And picky people bug me too... I think ur my fav. reviewer!!!!!!!! (No offence to the others... you're in a close
2nd...) :)
Thank u MicroChips, my Editor/Beta Reader for the help, wit' out u I wouldn't have anything up! (Ur a fav. too :)) Thanx 4 postin' 4 me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)
Oracle10-Thanx 4 the review, I'm liking the NICE ones for that last chapter.
:)
leggylover03-Thanx 4 continuing to review, means a lot to me.
feanen-Thanx to u as well 4 continuing... still interesting!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yay!!!!!!!!!! *dances around the room* :)
Still not mine (unfortunetly) :'(but I can borrow them... ARAGORN'S
MINE!!!!!!!!!!!! (At least I want him to be)
Sorry 4 taking' so long, let's just say my computer is still being mean and
my friend 4got to post 4 me. :)
R/R!!!!!!!!!!!!! PWEASE?????????????????????????????????? *makes puppy-dog
eyes*
A quick note from the editor: Sorry for taking so long with the last one guys! I promise from now on I'll be faster! Sorry about that mistake… my computer saved it twice so I clicked the wrong one… grrr…. Next one up soon!