Days went by the same way, Manwein went out to hunt, Kasumi explored the forest. They came back in the afternoon, ate supper, and then talked to each other outside if it was warm, or inside if it was cold.

It went on like that for quite some time, a month at least, and Kasumi hadn't told Manwein about Legolas, who had been gone since their visit earlier. She just didn't have the heart to. But one night he pushed her to the limit and she told him..........

It was Midsummer's Day and the two decided to have a feast, between the two of them at least, since they were the only ones they knew out there. Manwein had gone out hunting and Kasumi was decorating the interior of the willow. She made long strands of flower chains and hung them on the walls, then after she was finished she took the extras and braided them into her hair. She had decided not to wear a dress so this would be the formal part of her outfit. She walked outside and sat on the bench in front of the willow. Being bored she hummed to herself quietly until Manwein came back.

She smiled at him as he entered the clearing with a small beast on his shoulder and Manwein stumbled on accident. As he entered the willow Kasumi laughed to herself, it was funny how Manwein reacted to her. After they had finished dinner, they settled into chairs seated in front of the fireplace and talked to each other about their lives before.

"Manwein I never found out why you live here. Why'd you leave your family?" Kasumi asked curiously.

"My family and I lived in a small village outside the palace, but one day our village was raided by orcs. I had jumped into a tree earlier to look at the palace from far away when everyone was sleeping, then I heard a large rumble down at the village so I looked down and saw orcs raiding our houses. They took everybody, but they hadn't noticed me. Since I was all alone I ran deeper into the forest and I found the willow. So here I am," Manwein said.

"Oh," Kasumi whispered. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay. If I hadn't runaway I probably wouldn't have met you," Manwein said looking at Kasumi.

She looked away from him and stared into the fire for some seconds before he edged closer to her and put is hand on her knee. Shocked, Kasumi stared at him as he came ever closer to her. She backed away till she got to the end of her chair and watched in horror as he came ever closer. He bent down to kiss her lips, but she turned away and he kissed her cheek instead.

Manwein frowned disappointedly. As he bent down once again Kasumi tried hard to push him away but he was at an advantage because he was pushing down and she was pushing up. Finally she threw him off her and he landed with a thump on to his chair. Manwein got up and looked at her, confused.

"I love someone else Manwein," Kasumi blurted out. She regretted her words when Manwein bowed his head embarrassed and ashamed. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay," he said plopping down into his seat and staring at the fire.

"I'm going to go for a walk," Kasumi said. She couldn't stand to be in the willow right now, not when Manwein was like that.

Manwein nodded his head and Kasumi stepped out.

"I'm sorry," he said turning to her, but she had already left. He sighed and threw his head back into his chair. 'It was foolish of you to think that she would love you,' he said to himself.

Kasumi ran outside and stood there for a moment thinking of what she had done to her host. She shook her head. 'You did the right thing,' she assured herself as she walked into the forest.

"I'll go back when he's asleep," she thought. "It would be cruel to just leave......or would it hurt him more if I came back? I'll have to see."

She walked quietly through the woods for a couple of hours before she turned to go back. All of a sudden she heard a rustle behind her, she swung around and pulled out her longest knife from her back.

All was quiet, then Kasumi heard a breath behind her, she looked over her shoulder. Suddenly a large wolf jumped at her from behind the bushes. Quickly she turned around and slit its throat. She was pushed to the ground by another wolf and she struggled to get it off her back. She swung her knife around above her head hoping that it would scare off her attacker. Fortunately the wolf jumped away from her and snarled. From the bushes came another, then another, till she was surrounded by a small pack of them;7 she counted.

Cautiously she pulled out another knife so both hands were armed. Her predators stood there and Kasumi gulped nervously before she charged at them with her knives hoping to scare off half of them. She easily skewered two wolves before she began to lose her defense. She had worked to keep the wolves out in front of her so they wouldn't encompass her in a trap but while one had kept her on her guard another jumped behind her and before she could stop them the wolves had encircled her. Kasumi quickly pulled out a small dagger and threw it at a wolf trying to get near her.

She had managed to scare off two other wolves and had only two left to deal with. One was large and powerful, probably the leader she thought to herself, the other was almost as large and powerful, probably the second in command. The second wolf pushed her down and the leader grabbed Kasumi's leg with his powerful vice like jaws. Kasumi clenched her teeth in pain as she kicked off the wolf.

As she rose to her feet the second wolf swiped his large claw at her side and Kasumi threw her knife at him in reflex, it pinned him against a tree by his neck and Kasumi tried to keep her guard as she clutched her bleeding side. The last wolf jumped at her, but in anger Kasumi charged her knife through its body. She sighed as the Warg's carcass slid off her knife and to the ground.

Kasumi took a moment to catch her breath before she remembered the two wolves that had gotten away, they could be back anytime with help so she had to leave fast.

'As fast as possible at least,' Kasumi thought as she began to run but was stopped by her injured leg. She clutched her side and tried as hard as possible to move as fast as she could in the direction of the willow the only place close enough where she could get help. 'I hope Manwein has gotten over what I said,' Kasumi thought as she dragged along her leg.

After what seemed like forever Kasumi stepped into the clearing and edged toward the willow. She felt the weakest she had ever felt in her entire life, and it must of been, for she fell and could not get up before she got to the door.

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Will Cutheniel/Kasumi make it? Will Manwein be able to bear to help her? Find out in Chapter 6.Thanks for reading!!!!!!!!!!! Please review!!!! Please, please, please!!!!!!!!!

P.S.-) Dear Ice White Lady thanks for the, um, support. My first "set" of parents (my mom and my step dad) only let me see LOTR once, but my "second set" (my dad and my step mom) let me and my lil' sis watch it 2 times.

Well review, review, review, review, even if you've already reviewed. Review again!!!