Just a short chapter this time. The action and adventure is on its way soon too. Also a little drama and angst. I hoped that I wouldn't have to resort to begging but please please please please review! My story isn't that bad is it? I am writing this when I am supposed to be studying. At least make it worth my while.* Gets on knees and offers generous bribe.*
Also, I have made several references to various books and films throughout this story so if you recognize anything, I don't own it.
I would also like to thank Oremis, Draekon, Undrentia and Fernvigiel who reviewed all those months ago and who I should have thanked then but I'm doing it now. Thanks guys!
Chapter 5
Legolas and I looked at each other knowing that he could not take on the group all on his own. He seemed to come to a decision as he strode over purposely, picked me up from the ground, threw me over his shoulder and began to run. 'Well that was unexpected' I thought. Dangling over someone's shoulder warranted a certain amount of turbulence and all I could do to stabilize myself was grasp the hem of his tunic.
I glanced up to find that the Uruk Hai were on our trail and in hot pursuit. I knew that elves were swift runners, but with my cumbersome weight, Legolas' movements were slowed and less fluid.
"Can't you pick up the pace a little?" I shouted up to him "The blood is rushing to my head, and they are gaining on us. Giddy up."
I gave him a few encouraging slaps on the bottom in the good old jockey style. His reply was an irritated growl.
"You're not exactly the lightest maiden in Middle Earth you know!" He forced through clenched teeth.
"I resent that. That is a rather disturbing thing to say considering how close my rear end is to your face. I hope you're not trying to imply anything. I know my bum isn't very aerodynamic, but you had better speed up, princess."
The creatures were only a few feet behind us now. I started to wonder whether Legolas had put me in this position to act as a sort of human shield for himself. If we were attacked from behind I was definitely the one who was going to take the most collateral damage. As if to test my theory, one of the Uruks lunged a foul hand toward me in an attempt to pull me from Legolas's shoulders. I narrowly avoided his clasping black fingers and swatted his arm away. Before he could lunge again, the elf began to move faster, leaving the Uruks lagging behind and soon after we passed into the safety of the boarders of Rivendell. Legolas did not stop running until we reached the lake.
Coming to a stop on its banks Legolas panted lightly as he rolled me off of his shoulder and deposited me on the ground in an unceremonious heap. He gracefully lowered himself to the ground beside me resting his arms on his knees.
"Next time, you get to carry me." He said between breaths.
"I thought elves were never supposed to get tired."
"Running by myself is one thing, sprinting with the weight of another on my back is quite another."
He stretched himself out on the grass, resting his head in his clasped hands. By this time he was breathing normally and the flushed cheeks he sported moments before had paled back to a smooth porcelain white.
"You're not even sweating." I stated accusingly "Have you not glands?"
"Glands?"
"Never mind. You elves are so perfect it makes my teeth ache."
He just chuckled under his breath. "You are a most peculiar being aren't you? From where do you hail? Gandalf nor Elrond ever mentioned it."
I began to silently curse Gandy for not setting me up with some kind of alibi for these kinds of emergencies, but I couldn't blame him entirely, as I had never given it much thought either. I would just have to reapply the method I used to get through high school; namely make it up as I go along and try to sound intelligent. My motto through those years of academic torture was that it is not about knowing what you are talking about, but sounding like you know what you are talking about. It really is no wonder that I was the classic example of an under achiever. Since I knew little of the geography of Middle Earth, I randomly selected a direction and hoped I was pointing to a decent nick of the woods.
"Umm.." I mused "From the... south east."
"From the Gladden Fields?"
"Further."
"Dol Guldur?"
"Err...further."
"The Brown Lands?"
"Still further." I was trying to make it as far away as possible in hope that he himself had never been there. That way I could lie through my teeth without being caught out.
"From Dagorland?"
"A little further."
His eyebrows knitted together in confusion. " Are you implying that you are from Mordor?"
"Ahhh...Ummm.." I was really winging it now. "Yeah that's the place. Lovely little area. Have you been there?"
"Yes.. I have actually. But it wasn't quite so lovely when I was there."
I inwardly cringed at his words. I could tell from the confused and troubled look on his face that I had definitely chosen the wrong direction to weave my lies together with. I made a mental note to myself about doing some research about this place so that I could at least be an educated liar, instead of the babbling idiot I was in my cultural ineptitude.
With that, we fell into a comfortable silence as we left each other to enjoy the beauty of the gardens and the warmth of the afternoon sun.
After a while of companionable daydreaming, Legolas rose from his seat on the grass and promptly began to remove his tunic and shirts.
"What are you doing?" I asked.
"Going for a swim," he stated simply "Aren't you going to join me? The cold water will help your injury."
"I left my togs back in my room."
"Your what?" his voice muffled by his shirt as he slipped it over his head.
"My swim suit."
"You don't need it."
"I don't need it? Then what am I going to..." my voice trailed off as realization dawned on me. "You're going to swim in your birthday suit? I thought that this was a conservative culture."
"It is natural. Is nudity a taboo to you?"
"When you're talking about skinny dipping with a naked elf prince I have known for less than forty eight hours, then yes, it is. I ain't sticking around for this show. Besides, those Uruk thingy's were after ME and I want to know why. I'm going to find Gandalf."
"Suit yourself." He smirked as he continued to undo his trousers.
Before he could disrobe any further I turned to hide the deep blush that had darkened my cheeks and began the slow hobble back to the palace, trying to dispel the images of a naked Legolas from my mind. I knew he was doing it to get to me, stir me up, and it was working. I had not had much experience with guys in the past. I had been too busy fighting them to even think about kissing them. Any other girl would have kept her cool and acted non-chalet and uber casual. I seized up, turned into a tomato and retreated.
It wasn't that I would have minded to see Legolas naked, but considering the nature of our current relationship I doubt that if I had stayed, I would ever have been able to look him in the eye again. Without laughing hysterically in embarrassment that is. Legolas had won himself a point in the war of wits, a point that I was determined to steal back.
Also, I have made several references to various books and films throughout this story so if you recognize anything, I don't own it.
I would also like to thank Oremis, Draekon, Undrentia and Fernvigiel who reviewed all those months ago and who I should have thanked then but I'm doing it now. Thanks guys!
Chapter 5
Legolas and I looked at each other knowing that he could not take on the group all on his own. He seemed to come to a decision as he strode over purposely, picked me up from the ground, threw me over his shoulder and began to run. 'Well that was unexpected' I thought. Dangling over someone's shoulder warranted a certain amount of turbulence and all I could do to stabilize myself was grasp the hem of his tunic.
I glanced up to find that the Uruk Hai were on our trail and in hot pursuit. I knew that elves were swift runners, but with my cumbersome weight, Legolas' movements were slowed and less fluid.
"Can't you pick up the pace a little?" I shouted up to him "The blood is rushing to my head, and they are gaining on us. Giddy up."
I gave him a few encouraging slaps on the bottom in the good old jockey style. His reply was an irritated growl.
"You're not exactly the lightest maiden in Middle Earth you know!" He forced through clenched teeth.
"I resent that. That is a rather disturbing thing to say considering how close my rear end is to your face. I hope you're not trying to imply anything. I know my bum isn't very aerodynamic, but you had better speed up, princess."
The creatures were only a few feet behind us now. I started to wonder whether Legolas had put me in this position to act as a sort of human shield for himself. If we were attacked from behind I was definitely the one who was going to take the most collateral damage. As if to test my theory, one of the Uruks lunged a foul hand toward me in an attempt to pull me from Legolas's shoulders. I narrowly avoided his clasping black fingers and swatted his arm away. Before he could lunge again, the elf began to move faster, leaving the Uruks lagging behind and soon after we passed into the safety of the boarders of Rivendell. Legolas did not stop running until we reached the lake.
Coming to a stop on its banks Legolas panted lightly as he rolled me off of his shoulder and deposited me on the ground in an unceremonious heap. He gracefully lowered himself to the ground beside me resting his arms on his knees.
"Next time, you get to carry me." He said between breaths.
"I thought elves were never supposed to get tired."
"Running by myself is one thing, sprinting with the weight of another on my back is quite another."
He stretched himself out on the grass, resting his head in his clasped hands. By this time he was breathing normally and the flushed cheeks he sported moments before had paled back to a smooth porcelain white.
"You're not even sweating." I stated accusingly "Have you not glands?"
"Glands?"
"Never mind. You elves are so perfect it makes my teeth ache."
He just chuckled under his breath. "You are a most peculiar being aren't you? From where do you hail? Gandalf nor Elrond ever mentioned it."
I began to silently curse Gandy for not setting me up with some kind of alibi for these kinds of emergencies, but I couldn't blame him entirely, as I had never given it much thought either. I would just have to reapply the method I used to get through high school; namely make it up as I go along and try to sound intelligent. My motto through those years of academic torture was that it is not about knowing what you are talking about, but sounding like you know what you are talking about. It really is no wonder that I was the classic example of an under achiever. Since I knew little of the geography of Middle Earth, I randomly selected a direction and hoped I was pointing to a decent nick of the woods.
"Umm.." I mused "From the... south east."
"From the Gladden Fields?"
"Further."
"Dol Guldur?"
"Err...further."
"The Brown Lands?"
"Still further." I was trying to make it as far away as possible in hope that he himself had never been there. That way I could lie through my teeth without being caught out.
"From Dagorland?"
"A little further."
His eyebrows knitted together in confusion. " Are you implying that you are from Mordor?"
"Ahhh...Ummm.." I was really winging it now. "Yeah that's the place. Lovely little area. Have you been there?"
"Yes.. I have actually. But it wasn't quite so lovely when I was there."
I inwardly cringed at his words. I could tell from the confused and troubled look on his face that I had definitely chosen the wrong direction to weave my lies together with. I made a mental note to myself about doing some research about this place so that I could at least be an educated liar, instead of the babbling idiot I was in my cultural ineptitude.
With that, we fell into a comfortable silence as we left each other to enjoy the beauty of the gardens and the warmth of the afternoon sun.
After a while of companionable daydreaming, Legolas rose from his seat on the grass and promptly began to remove his tunic and shirts.
"What are you doing?" I asked.
"Going for a swim," he stated simply "Aren't you going to join me? The cold water will help your injury."
"I left my togs back in my room."
"Your what?" his voice muffled by his shirt as he slipped it over his head.
"My swim suit."
"You don't need it."
"I don't need it? Then what am I going to..." my voice trailed off as realization dawned on me. "You're going to swim in your birthday suit? I thought that this was a conservative culture."
"It is natural. Is nudity a taboo to you?"
"When you're talking about skinny dipping with a naked elf prince I have known for less than forty eight hours, then yes, it is. I ain't sticking around for this show. Besides, those Uruk thingy's were after ME and I want to know why. I'm going to find Gandalf."
"Suit yourself." He smirked as he continued to undo his trousers.
Before he could disrobe any further I turned to hide the deep blush that had darkened my cheeks and began the slow hobble back to the palace, trying to dispel the images of a naked Legolas from my mind. I knew he was doing it to get to me, stir me up, and it was working. I had not had much experience with guys in the past. I had been too busy fighting them to even think about kissing them. Any other girl would have kept her cool and acted non-chalet and uber casual. I seized up, turned into a tomato and retreated.
It wasn't that I would have minded to see Legolas naked, but considering the nature of our current relationship I doubt that if I had stayed, I would ever have been able to look him in the eye again. Without laughing hysterically in embarrassment that is. Legolas had won himself a point in the war of wits, a point that I was determined to steal back.