Chapter 11
The cool breeze felt good against his face but he did not yet wish to wake. Instead he turned to find that there too the wind found him. No, the wind should not be able to find all of him on one side. He came awake.
Hi eyes took in the rumpled sheets where she had lain. A chill breeze now occupied the space, swirling with a mocking taunt you have lost her again. He closed his eyes for a moment, denying that she had fled for disgust of him, for her hate of him, because she loathed him. The gods would have not willed them to be together if she was so. They would not have willed it so!
Aragorn was angry to be disturbed at such an early hour but quickly took action once Legolas explained the situation. They headed for the armory where her sword had been carefully hidden while the guard searched the palace grounds and through the city. Guards were already searching through the room when they arrived. The lock had been shorn clear off the door. His fingers traced the cut metal, a clean slice as well.
They swept past the guards. One of the high windows was open, the gray sky dimly illuminated the stone room. The rack of swords was clearly missing one.
"She retrieved her weapon before she left."
"We must find her, even with such a weapon she has no defenses against arrows, or crossbow bolts."
"What about magic? Does she have all three of the southern spells."
"I don't know."
"."
She is probably heading south, if on horses we would have enough speed to reach her before she reached the wood. Turning on his heel he strode for the pasture, whistling for his horse as he strode through the hall.
A guard of twelve and Aragorn himself rode with him to the southern boarder. They patrolled back and forth for hours, keeping constant watch over the small section of forest that was accessible after one crossed the river. Hours later elven scouts swept over every inch of the terrain, finding nothing. He had waited into the night until the last of the scouts had reported, that she had not been found. There was too much foot traffic to scout where she had entered the wood and the miles of forest was simply to great a job to search. Three days later he returned to his forest to resume his responsibility of a hunter. But when their cycle had ended he had every intention of going straight to his father to discuss ways to retrieve her from the warmer climate. Every elf had only one soulmate and now that he had found her, he would not relinquish his pursuit for anything. Culture, governmental differences and geographical boundaries included.
He didn't have much to remember her by, except for his memories. Her face was constantly at the back of his mind, his fighting was swifter and more deadly now that he had a goal. Orcs falling to his every arrow As the week wore by, he memorized every aspect of her. He spent the nights recalling the feel of her body, the texture of her hair and the scent of sage that floated in her wake. How her eyes shone in the shadows during the full moon.
Such deep thoughts eventually attracted the attention of his hunting party who pointed out a very disturbing possibility. They were sitting on one of the hunting platforms, all of them talking quietly and leaning back against the tree while they watched the stars above, or felt the breezes when the conversation started up.
~Legolas, what are you going to do now?~ The subject was obvious. ~Indeed, now that your lady has apparently disappeared back into her lands.of her own will too.~ ~In my opinion, such a thankless lady wouldn't make such a good wife, perhaps you should leave her.~ ~Be silent, you have not found your lady and have no right to speak of such matters. Ignore him legolas, he knows not of what he speaks. I cannot imagine my life without my lady.~ ~Thank you Fathiel, as for what I shall do I believe I shall go to my father, and try to work out some sort of marriage. Being from the south we could probably base it on a diplomatic marriage, like the southerners are susceptible to.~ ~I wish I had the crown backing me.~ ~What if your father can't work out a diplomatic arrangement?~ ~The southerners are known for their stubbornness.~ ~They can be worse than men!~ Such a possibility had not yet struck him, but there was only one answer. ~I shall go and get her.~ ~Just charge into the southern lands? That could start a war!~ ~Of course not! He shall sneak in and liberate her without public knowledge of his presence.~ ~Show those southern saplings what a real hunter is like.~ ~Sneak right in and right out, a lady the richer.~ ~What will the king say to that?~ ~The crown is completely supportive of the will of the gods.~ Legolas confirmed. ~Besides, how will the south be able to prove that it is the fault of the north at all?~ They all contemplated this for a moment. ~Want help?~
The cool breeze felt good against his face but he did not yet wish to wake. Instead he turned to find that there too the wind found him. No, the wind should not be able to find all of him on one side. He came awake.
Hi eyes took in the rumpled sheets where she had lain. A chill breeze now occupied the space, swirling with a mocking taunt you have lost her again. He closed his eyes for a moment, denying that she had fled for disgust of him, for her hate of him, because she loathed him. The gods would have not willed them to be together if she was so. They would not have willed it so!
Aragorn was angry to be disturbed at such an early hour but quickly took action once Legolas explained the situation. They headed for the armory where her sword had been carefully hidden while the guard searched the palace grounds and through the city. Guards were already searching through the room when they arrived. The lock had been shorn clear off the door. His fingers traced the cut metal, a clean slice as well.
They swept past the guards. One of the high windows was open, the gray sky dimly illuminated the stone room. The rack of swords was clearly missing one.
"She retrieved her weapon before she left."
"We must find her, even with such a weapon she has no defenses against arrows, or crossbow bolts."
"What about magic? Does she have all three of the southern spells."
"I don't know."
"."
She is probably heading south, if on horses we would have enough speed to reach her before she reached the wood. Turning on his heel he strode for the pasture, whistling for his horse as he strode through the hall.
A guard of twelve and Aragorn himself rode with him to the southern boarder. They patrolled back and forth for hours, keeping constant watch over the small section of forest that was accessible after one crossed the river. Hours later elven scouts swept over every inch of the terrain, finding nothing. He had waited into the night until the last of the scouts had reported, that she had not been found. There was too much foot traffic to scout where she had entered the wood and the miles of forest was simply to great a job to search. Three days later he returned to his forest to resume his responsibility of a hunter. But when their cycle had ended he had every intention of going straight to his father to discuss ways to retrieve her from the warmer climate. Every elf had only one soulmate and now that he had found her, he would not relinquish his pursuit for anything. Culture, governmental differences and geographical boundaries included.
He didn't have much to remember her by, except for his memories. Her face was constantly at the back of his mind, his fighting was swifter and more deadly now that he had a goal. Orcs falling to his every arrow As the week wore by, he memorized every aspect of her. He spent the nights recalling the feel of her body, the texture of her hair and the scent of sage that floated in her wake. How her eyes shone in the shadows during the full moon.
Such deep thoughts eventually attracted the attention of his hunting party who pointed out a very disturbing possibility. They were sitting on one of the hunting platforms, all of them talking quietly and leaning back against the tree while they watched the stars above, or felt the breezes when the conversation started up.
~Legolas, what are you going to do now?~ The subject was obvious. ~Indeed, now that your lady has apparently disappeared back into her lands.of her own will too.~ ~In my opinion, such a thankless lady wouldn't make such a good wife, perhaps you should leave her.~ ~Be silent, you have not found your lady and have no right to speak of such matters. Ignore him legolas, he knows not of what he speaks. I cannot imagine my life without my lady.~ ~Thank you Fathiel, as for what I shall do I believe I shall go to my father, and try to work out some sort of marriage. Being from the south we could probably base it on a diplomatic marriage, like the southerners are susceptible to.~ ~I wish I had the crown backing me.~ ~What if your father can't work out a diplomatic arrangement?~ ~The southerners are known for their stubbornness.~ ~They can be worse than men!~ Such a possibility had not yet struck him, but there was only one answer. ~I shall go and get her.~ ~Just charge into the southern lands? That could start a war!~ ~Of course not! He shall sneak in and liberate her without public knowledge of his presence.~ ~Show those southern saplings what a real hunter is like.~ ~Sneak right in and right out, a lady the richer.~ ~What will the king say to that?~ ~The crown is completely supportive of the will of the gods.~ Legolas confirmed. ~Besides, how will the south be able to prove that it is the fault of the north at all?~ They all contemplated this for a moment. ~Want help?~