I am SO SO SO sorry this took so long!! My laptop crashed, then we ended up getting a desktop. I have yet to have my computer fixed. Oh, well.
I would like to thank these for reviewing.
Donna
maggiemay
Alaskantiger
Dove6987
homie G
LadyLaura020
saiyan-girl-cheetah
Lizard lava 13
SithelfJen
len
Natalie
xoxo
Animefairy
fight_grl
Bella
rinlossien
Ayanami00
Ana Ramon
Nat
eRzuLiE109
mylin
pink-princess
You guys are the greatest!
Without further adu I give you the next part.
Chapter Three- General Faith
As the soldiers slowed to enjoy the vast beauty of Mirkwood around them, Legolas took Faith into the same chambers that housed a healing Kevin. Ever so gently he deposited his light load onto a nearby bed and turned to usher the humans inside. Leaving them to chat amongst themselves he went to talk with his father. A situation he was slightly dreading.
When he entered the throne room he found his father pacing. Not a good sign.
"Atar," he greeted wearily.
The king whirled, his golden hair flying.
"Legolas!"
The elf's gray eyes regarded his son for a moment before resuming his pacing.
"She was released so that she could find and gather her men. That is all. The injured one I can understand, but you lead the others freely through the palace. Do you have any idea how much danger you put the people in?! Yourself?! You know nothing of their intentions!"
Legolas flinched slightly, barely noticeable to human eyes, but his father caught it. Sighing he sat on his wooden throne.
"I apologize, my son. I just worry about their motives. Sauron may be gone, but evil still lingers. You have always been too trusting."
"So I noticed."
The two royals turned to see Faith and her men standing in the doorway with an elven guard Legolas left at their door. Quickly the elf bowed.
"Forgive me, your majesty. The Lady wished to be seen immediately. She said it was an emergency."
"Very well, Nostale. You may leave."
With another bow the blonde elf left, closing the door behind him. Thranduil turned and looked expectantly at Faith, who in turn cast a look at her men. They moved a little further away and stood in a line at attention. Their backs straight, heads high and eyes ahead.
Thranduil raised an eyebrow at the woman who stood tall and proud before him. She was perfectly composed, emotions unreadable.
"If you're not going to start this conversation, I will. One: You got a point about the Pretty Boy being too trusting."
Legolas shot her a look of betrayal, but all she did was shrug.
"What? It's true. We haven't done anything to be given it."
Thranduil watched the interaction between his son and the human female with amusement. It wasn't often, if ever, his son was rendered speechless.
The golden prince was confused at the feelings of betrayal. He had only just met this woman and he never before cared what a stranger thought of him. He based it on the fact that after all he did for her she was still quick to side against him. Never mind that it was with his father and that even he had to agree with what Faith said.
Still... He was a stubborn elf and he refused to give in without saying something in his defense.
"I apologize if I appear too trusting, but considering the situation I assumed..."
He never finished. The prince was cut off by the slender hand that raised.
"First and foremost, Pretty Boy, never assume anything. Assumptions can get you killed."
Sitting proud on his throne Thranduil contemplated the mortal woman.
"For one so young, you have a considerable amount of wisdom."
A shrug.
"Never judge a book by it's cover."
Legolas looked ready to speak but a quick glare from Faith stopped him. His submission did not go unnoticed.
"Don't feel too bad, Legolas," Brad called. His dark green eyes trained straight ahead and a grin on his face.
"Yeah, she broke us too."
Ivan's revelation caused chuckles from his fellow soldiers. Faith head shot in their direction and they silenced immediately.
"I did not give you permission to speak. So don't."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Back to the conversation?" Legolas prompted.
Thranduil nodded. "You do not look from anywhere around here, so I ask you... Who are you and how did you come to be here?"
"Why should I tell you? Don't get me wrong I will be forever grateful for your help and if I can be of any service to you I'll gladly do it, but just as I didn't earn your trust, you haven't earned mine."
The King nodded his pale head in understanding. Things were getting complicated.
"Permission to speak, General?"
Faith's hazel eyes moved to Connor. After gazing at his rigid form for a few seconds she nodded.
"Permission granted, Sargent."
"This place isn't like anywhere we've ever been. We need allies. We gotta trust somebody so why not make it somebody who helped us. Perhaps..." Connor's blue eyes darted nervously from Faith back towards the hanging tapestry. "Perhaps it's better if they knew."
Faith's jaw clenched, but she kept her calm.
"Would anyone else like to add something?"
The men looked at each other before relaxing their postures. The elves were ignored as they moved towards the woman.
She seemed so small and helpless amongst men nearly twice her size. The connection between them was something of an oddity to Legolas. Like most human soldiers the men respected their leader. Feared her at times even. They obeyed her commands without much of a second thought, if any at all. Yet, it was rare to see soldiers also love and adore their superior. For that was what these men did. Faith, to them, was more than just their general. Someone who gave orders and fought by their sides; she was a sister. Someone to talk to, to protect, to comfort.
In the short time Legolas had known them, the men presented an array of emotion towards their general. He wondered...
What events caused an officer and their soldiers to become so close? How could one so young be able to invoke such feelings from them? What have they lived through? Where were they from?
So many questions.
Thranduil, meanwhile, was just as confused as his son. He gathered that the girl was the men's leader, though how that could be he had not a single idea.
The men's appearance was alien to him. One thing he knew for certain. Things weren't as they seemed and he was curious to know the truth. In fact he was in suspense and thankful for his elven qualities at hiding it.
He prayed to the Valar that the girl would tell her tale.
"Think about it Fay," Shane suggested wearily, placing a hand on her shoulder. "You gotta tell 'em. We don't know how this world works."
The hardness in her eyes and on her face softened and she sighed.
"Do all of you agree?"
A collection of their noises of affirmination sounded.
"All right, but if they use any information against us I will personally beat your asses into the ground. Hoo-ah?"
"Hoo-ah!"
"Now get your asses back in line."
Scuffling of boots on the marble floor was heard as they did as she bid.
"Why don't we take this to my study," Thranduil suggested.
"Fine by me. Men? You can chill."
Walking out of their line the soldiers once again surrounded Faith.
"Lead the way..."
"Thranduil," the king supplied.
He was looking forward to this conversation. Glancing towards his son he was slightly amused yet worried at Legolas' fascination.
As they walked the mortals admired the beauty around them, talking amongst themselves.
"Hey, Tony? You're unnaturally quiet," Faith observed. "What do you think of all this?"
"We're dreamin'."
Reaching around Legolas' front she proceeded to give the Italian man a swift slap to the face.
With a shout Tony brought a hand to his stinging cheek, rubbing gently.
"What was that for?!"
With a smirk she asked, "Does it hurt?"
"Hell yeah!"
"Then I guess you're not dreamin'."
The men snickered while Tony glared. Even the two elves allowed a grin.
"You know what?" Lance started. "I noticed somethin'."
"You? Notice somethin'? HA!" Ivan laughed mockingly, earning himself a punch in the arm.
"Knock it off, you two," Faith snapped. "Keep goin' Lance."
"As I was saying before I was *so rudely* interrupted I noticed somethin'."
Alex nodded. "I think we get that part."
Lance paid him no mind.
"Most people would be screamin' their heads off runnin' around in circles."
"Probably," Joe agreed. "But then again we're not most people. We're Marines."
Up ahead Faith threw a quick look at her men who had fallen behind her and the elves.
"There's that and the fact that your screaming would drive me insane to the point where I'd start to thinkin' that the only way to shut you up is to bash your head against a stone wall."
"Oh, yeah," Ivan chuckled. "I forgot about that."
Stopping in front of a large intricately carved door Legolas turned wide eyes to the general.
"You would do that?"
"Well... Anything solid would work."
Soon they had all filed into the large room and the men stood while the others sat. Thranduil behind his desk strew with parchments and Faith and Legolas in the two chair directly in front.
"We shall begin. Now, young lady, tell me about yourself."
"There's not much to tell, but I'll give you the basics."
Although her voice sounded cool and emotionless the Elven King noticed a quick flash of something in her eyes, but it was gone before he had the chance to identify it.
"I was an orphan found on the street by some government official. I'm not sure who's idea it was exactly, but I was taken in and taught the ways of war. I knew how to effectively kill a man by the time I was five and when I turned sixteen the current President gave me the title of general."
The way she said it... that's what really crawled underneath Legolas' skin. Nonchalant with a touch of bitterness. Still, she continued. Her eyes shifting from one elf to another. At times holding their gaze.
Thranduil studied her carefully. He didn't doubt her words. Her eyes shone with her loneliness and pain. She was strong. To endure so much at such a young age, even in mortal terms... One question in particular burned in his mind. Why?
"Not only that but he decided I could have my own troop. So for the next 6 months I observed every branch of government. I ended up choosing ten men all from one branch and all older than me. I'm not sure why. Maybe it's just the fact that I liked 'em at first glance. And we've been together ever since. Four years and counting."
"Do you know how you came to be here?" Legolas asked.
"Not a damn clue. One minute we were training and the next we were in the middle of a dark forest."
"I do not understand why your government would do such a thing," Thranduil admitted.
"An experiment. How useful would it be if you had a living weapon at your command? Especially if that weapon was one no one would suspect. Only the top officials knew about me. At first any way, but that's another story."
"There are something things which still confuse us," Legolas conceded.
Thranduil nodded.
"What is a President?"
The humans sighed loudly.
"This is gonna be a *long* night," Justin groaned.
*********************************************************************************************************************************************
I hope you people like it. I know it came out late and once again I am really, really sorry.
If you want the next chapter out sooner I better get a LOT of reviews!
Buh-Bye!!
I would like to thank these for reviewing.
Donna
maggiemay
Alaskantiger
Dove6987
homie G
LadyLaura020
saiyan-girl-cheetah
Lizard lava 13
SithelfJen
len
Natalie
xoxo
Animefairy
fight_grl
Bella
rinlossien
Ayanami00
Ana Ramon
Nat
eRzuLiE109
mylin
pink-princess
You guys are the greatest!
Without further adu I give you the next part.
Chapter Three- General Faith
As the soldiers slowed to enjoy the vast beauty of Mirkwood around them, Legolas took Faith into the same chambers that housed a healing Kevin. Ever so gently he deposited his light load onto a nearby bed and turned to usher the humans inside. Leaving them to chat amongst themselves he went to talk with his father. A situation he was slightly dreading.
When he entered the throne room he found his father pacing. Not a good sign.
"Atar," he greeted wearily.
The king whirled, his golden hair flying.
"Legolas!"
The elf's gray eyes regarded his son for a moment before resuming his pacing.
"She was released so that she could find and gather her men. That is all. The injured one I can understand, but you lead the others freely through the palace. Do you have any idea how much danger you put the people in?! Yourself?! You know nothing of their intentions!"
Legolas flinched slightly, barely noticeable to human eyes, but his father caught it. Sighing he sat on his wooden throne.
"I apologize, my son. I just worry about their motives. Sauron may be gone, but evil still lingers. You have always been too trusting."
"So I noticed."
The two royals turned to see Faith and her men standing in the doorway with an elven guard Legolas left at their door. Quickly the elf bowed.
"Forgive me, your majesty. The Lady wished to be seen immediately. She said it was an emergency."
"Very well, Nostale. You may leave."
With another bow the blonde elf left, closing the door behind him. Thranduil turned and looked expectantly at Faith, who in turn cast a look at her men. They moved a little further away and stood in a line at attention. Their backs straight, heads high and eyes ahead.
Thranduil raised an eyebrow at the woman who stood tall and proud before him. She was perfectly composed, emotions unreadable.
"If you're not going to start this conversation, I will. One: You got a point about the Pretty Boy being too trusting."
Legolas shot her a look of betrayal, but all she did was shrug.
"What? It's true. We haven't done anything to be given it."
Thranduil watched the interaction between his son and the human female with amusement. It wasn't often, if ever, his son was rendered speechless.
The golden prince was confused at the feelings of betrayal. He had only just met this woman and he never before cared what a stranger thought of him. He based it on the fact that after all he did for her she was still quick to side against him. Never mind that it was with his father and that even he had to agree with what Faith said.
Still... He was a stubborn elf and he refused to give in without saying something in his defense.
"I apologize if I appear too trusting, but considering the situation I assumed..."
He never finished. The prince was cut off by the slender hand that raised.
"First and foremost, Pretty Boy, never assume anything. Assumptions can get you killed."
Sitting proud on his throne Thranduil contemplated the mortal woman.
"For one so young, you have a considerable amount of wisdom."
A shrug.
"Never judge a book by it's cover."
Legolas looked ready to speak but a quick glare from Faith stopped him. His submission did not go unnoticed.
"Don't feel too bad, Legolas," Brad called. His dark green eyes trained straight ahead and a grin on his face.
"Yeah, she broke us too."
Ivan's revelation caused chuckles from his fellow soldiers. Faith head shot in their direction and they silenced immediately.
"I did not give you permission to speak. So don't."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Back to the conversation?" Legolas prompted.
Thranduil nodded. "You do not look from anywhere around here, so I ask you... Who are you and how did you come to be here?"
"Why should I tell you? Don't get me wrong I will be forever grateful for your help and if I can be of any service to you I'll gladly do it, but just as I didn't earn your trust, you haven't earned mine."
The King nodded his pale head in understanding. Things were getting complicated.
"Permission to speak, General?"
Faith's hazel eyes moved to Connor. After gazing at his rigid form for a few seconds she nodded.
"Permission granted, Sargent."
"This place isn't like anywhere we've ever been. We need allies. We gotta trust somebody so why not make it somebody who helped us. Perhaps..." Connor's blue eyes darted nervously from Faith back towards the hanging tapestry. "Perhaps it's better if they knew."
Faith's jaw clenched, but she kept her calm.
"Would anyone else like to add something?"
The men looked at each other before relaxing their postures. The elves were ignored as they moved towards the woman.
She seemed so small and helpless amongst men nearly twice her size. The connection between them was something of an oddity to Legolas. Like most human soldiers the men respected their leader. Feared her at times even. They obeyed her commands without much of a second thought, if any at all. Yet, it was rare to see soldiers also love and adore their superior. For that was what these men did. Faith, to them, was more than just their general. Someone who gave orders and fought by their sides; she was a sister. Someone to talk to, to protect, to comfort.
In the short time Legolas had known them, the men presented an array of emotion towards their general. He wondered...
What events caused an officer and their soldiers to become so close? How could one so young be able to invoke such feelings from them? What have they lived through? Where were they from?
So many questions.
Thranduil, meanwhile, was just as confused as his son. He gathered that the girl was the men's leader, though how that could be he had not a single idea.
The men's appearance was alien to him. One thing he knew for certain. Things weren't as they seemed and he was curious to know the truth. In fact he was in suspense and thankful for his elven qualities at hiding it.
He prayed to the Valar that the girl would tell her tale.
"Think about it Fay," Shane suggested wearily, placing a hand on her shoulder. "You gotta tell 'em. We don't know how this world works."
The hardness in her eyes and on her face softened and she sighed.
"Do all of you agree?"
A collection of their noises of affirmination sounded.
"All right, but if they use any information against us I will personally beat your asses into the ground. Hoo-ah?"
"Hoo-ah!"
"Now get your asses back in line."
Scuffling of boots on the marble floor was heard as they did as she bid.
"Why don't we take this to my study," Thranduil suggested.
"Fine by me. Men? You can chill."
Walking out of their line the soldiers once again surrounded Faith.
"Lead the way..."
"Thranduil," the king supplied.
He was looking forward to this conversation. Glancing towards his son he was slightly amused yet worried at Legolas' fascination.
As they walked the mortals admired the beauty around them, talking amongst themselves.
"Hey, Tony? You're unnaturally quiet," Faith observed. "What do you think of all this?"
"We're dreamin'."
Reaching around Legolas' front she proceeded to give the Italian man a swift slap to the face.
With a shout Tony brought a hand to his stinging cheek, rubbing gently.
"What was that for?!"
With a smirk she asked, "Does it hurt?"
"Hell yeah!"
"Then I guess you're not dreamin'."
The men snickered while Tony glared. Even the two elves allowed a grin.
"You know what?" Lance started. "I noticed somethin'."
"You? Notice somethin'? HA!" Ivan laughed mockingly, earning himself a punch in the arm.
"Knock it off, you two," Faith snapped. "Keep goin' Lance."
"As I was saying before I was *so rudely* interrupted I noticed somethin'."
Alex nodded. "I think we get that part."
Lance paid him no mind.
"Most people would be screamin' their heads off runnin' around in circles."
"Probably," Joe agreed. "But then again we're not most people. We're Marines."
Up ahead Faith threw a quick look at her men who had fallen behind her and the elves.
"There's that and the fact that your screaming would drive me insane to the point where I'd start to thinkin' that the only way to shut you up is to bash your head against a stone wall."
"Oh, yeah," Ivan chuckled. "I forgot about that."
Stopping in front of a large intricately carved door Legolas turned wide eyes to the general.
"You would do that?"
"Well... Anything solid would work."
Soon they had all filed into the large room and the men stood while the others sat. Thranduil behind his desk strew with parchments and Faith and Legolas in the two chair directly in front.
"We shall begin. Now, young lady, tell me about yourself."
"There's not much to tell, but I'll give you the basics."
Although her voice sounded cool and emotionless the Elven King noticed a quick flash of something in her eyes, but it was gone before he had the chance to identify it.
"I was an orphan found on the street by some government official. I'm not sure who's idea it was exactly, but I was taken in and taught the ways of war. I knew how to effectively kill a man by the time I was five and when I turned sixteen the current President gave me the title of general."
The way she said it... that's what really crawled underneath Legolas' skin. Nonchalant with a touch of bitterness. Still, she continued. Her eyes shifting from one elf to another. At times holding their gaze.
Thranduil studied her carefully. He didn't doubt her words. Her eyes shone with her loneliness and pain. She was strong. To endure so much at such a young age, even in mortal terms... One question in particular burned in his mind. Why?
"Not only that but he decided I could have my own troop. So for the next 6 months I observed every branch of government. I ended up choosing ten men all from one branch and all older than me. I'm not sure why. Maybe it's just the fact that I liked 'em at first glance. And we've been together ever since. Four years and counting."
"Do you know how you came to be here?" Legolas asked.
"Not a damn clue. One minute we were training and the next we were in the middle of a dark forest."
"I do not understand why your government would do such a thing," Thranduil admitted.
"An experiment. How useful would it be if you had a living weapon at your command? Especially if that weapon was one no one would suspect. Only the top officials knew about me. At first any way, but that's another story."
"There are something things which still confuse us," Legolas conceded.
Thranduil nodded.
"What is a President?"
The humans sighed loudly.
"This is gonna be a *long* night," Justin groaned.
*********************************************************************************************************************************************
I hope you people like it. I know it came out late and once again I am really, really sorry.
If you want the next chapter out sooner I better get a LOT of reviews!
Buh-Bye!!