Chapter 12 – The Unknown Folk

Stunned by the abrupt departure of two of their companions, the rest of the party packed silently and set out eastward amid the bodies littered on the ground. The load from the first horse had been divided among themselves to carry along and thankfully, it was not much. Calegris and Vortayn had remained emotionless since the battle ended. Now that Legolas was gone, Calegris became the head and led them ahead, though he was not at all glad to do so. Vortayn was cleaning his scimitar while they moved on. Irthal and Mirgom looked anxious for Narla and Irthal shook her head disapprovingly at Legolas' actions.

"He knew not if there is living folk in that direction, yet he acted on impulse!" sighed Irthal, leading the double loaded horse beside her. "And he took the gem with him!"

"Narla's life is more important than that stone!" intercepted Oriah defensively.

Oriah was upset that she had been left behind while her friend's safety was on the edge. Worse, she remembered why Gimli sent her on this journey in the first place and now they were away where she could not watch them.

Irthal snorted absent-mindedly and kept walking. Mirgom just kept quiet seeming very absorbed with the horse he was leading. Truth was, he was thinking about his master's behavior. He could sense that his master had been different ever since the strange brunette dropped from the sky. The prince's previous action was very unlike himself. Deep in thought, Mirgom ignored the conversation going around him.

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Narla felt heavy like lead. The imp had cut the left side of her waist and the wound had burned since. The world turned blur and she felt weak. Her body was like a volcano, with lava melting her internally. She could sense Oriah beside her treating her wound, but her wound didn't feel any better. A blurred figure knelt by her and spoke gently in some language she knew not of. The voice belonged to Legolas. Though her sight was obstructed, she could still hear her surrounding. Narla's cooled down, but she still could not speak nor move. Someone picked her up and she floated for a while, but wariness washed over her and she slumbered.

During her restless sleep Narla awoke a few times only to see the world as a fast blur, with wind stinging her face and the bouncing of a horse beneath her. She was pinned between the horse and a person, she assumed, and she could feel strong arms around her and the smell of beech. Legolas? She asked mentally. As though in answer, Legolas spoke softly to the horse in Elvish so it went faster. Too weak to do anything else, Narla fell back into sleep. She woke a few times because she felt her pendant stinging her skin again, and each time she woke and dozed she could feel the gem above her breast absorbing the heat from her. Once she glanced down and though it was a blur, she could see that her sapphire's glow was brighter than before. But every time before she could think more of this matter, she was willed to sleep.

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The Elf prince urged the horse to speed on, as Narla's body took a big turn from burning to icy. She had mumbled something a few times in her sleep and her face had turned almost green. Extremely anxious, Legolas kept his eyes and ears sharper for any sign of dwelling or living folk.

The landscape had thickened with dark thick ferns and as the sun was about to take her leave, Legolas sensed a presence around him. Suddenly he stopped the horse and they almost fell off from it. The cause for the abrupt stop was right in front of the horse's hoofs. Three short darts were shot to the ground as a warning for Legolas to stop. Legolas concentrated on his surrounding and found that there were moving shapes before him, camouflaged by the tree's dark shadows. Surprised that he had not seen them earlier, Legolas dismounted, leaving Narla lying on the horse. Waiting in vain for a greeting, he spoke first, and clearly,

"We come in peace!"

Legolas tried to move forward but was halted by another dart in front of his feet. A female voice came out from among the shadows,

"Who are you, Elf? How dare you intrude onto our sacred land? Speak fast or be gone!"

Legolas tried to speculate the direction of the voice and saw a lone figure standing on a low tree branch on his right. He did not know if they were friend or foe, but looking at Narla's now purple face, he had to take the risk.

Legolas looked into the eyes of the woman who spoke,

"I am Legolas Greenleaf, son of King Thranduil of the Elves of Mirkwood, now known as Eryn Lasgalen. I have come in search of a cure for my companion who has fallen under the poison of the Imps of the North. Her life is failing at this very moment!"

Whisperings like a breeze spread around him and Legolas saw the woman who spoke emerged from the darkness. A dark hiss seemed to warn her of her actions, but she ignored it. The moon had come to his shift and was now glowing brightly on the land below. Under the bright moonlight, Legolas could hardly make out the figure facing him until she removed her cloak. Wonder embraced Legolas as he took in the woman's appearance.

This lady of the shadows seemed to emit a golden glow once her cloak was off. She had a small body, even smaller than a hobbit. In fact, she looked beautifully petite. As fair as an elf, this slender little female had a hunter's outfit which did not suit her graceful features. With hair as silver as a mallorn tree, her golden eyes bore into Legolas. She seemed to float down to the ground rather than jumped. Landing softly and lightly, this magnificent being moved towards Legolas.

Legolas seemed to be under a spell or some sort, for he could not take his eyes off this woman. His mind was vigorously trying to rouse his alert self for this woman may be dangerous, but his body would not listen. The glowing being floated past Legolas and headed towards Narla, but she too, held her gaze on him. Taking a look at Narla the lady knew she would not survive the night, and the lady could not be bothered to try and save this stranger. But suddenly her gaze fell on the blue glimmer, which hung by Narla's neck. Her pendant had dropped down when Legolas dismounted, and it was glowing eerily now. Interest flashed on the lady's features and she narrowed her eyes on the pendant.

Since the lady pulled her gaze away from him, Legolas came out of his trance. Now all his senses told him that this woman was dangerous, for she possessed a craft to manipulate people. However, he dared not attack her as her allies were surrounding them and they could in turn, hurt Narla. Unexpectedly, the lady's glow dissipated replaced by a familiar blue radiance. Legolas then noticed that she was eyeing Narla's pendant. Almost immediately he leapt to Narla's side and stood as a shield between them.

Legolas' sudden movement seemed to have awakened the trees around them. Slowly, tens of cloaked figures crowded around the three. They moved like leaves rustling through the wind. Though no weapon could be seen, the air was tensed with threat. Instantly Legolas knew the mistake he made. Now Narla's life was surely beyond help. But the lady glowed once more and held her hand up. The crowd paused and went silent. Then the lady spoke in a language that even Legolas looked baffled about. But her lips did not move. It seemed like she was speaking through their minds. And that woke Narla up.

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Unaware of the events around her, Narla was battling a pain of her own. Her body seemed to be the medium for a combat between two strong elements. She could vaguely feel an evil by her waist, slowly sneaking up to her heart, but was waylaid by a blue light. The battle caused her body to heat and freeze, a conflict of opposites. Narla felt like screaming inside her as she was practically torn apart. Then she heard a low whispering. The voice was soft and high-pitched. It sounded soothing where she was, in fact, it was almost hypnotic. The voice was saying something that she did not understand. Suddenly the voice became clear and dominated the body. Narla could hear the voice, a female's, commanding her,

'Awake child, come to me!'

Narla's eyes snapped open. Legolas bit back a gasp as he saw the lady floating in front of Narla with her hands on her head. You wonder why he did not stop her? He couldn't. A small group of the crowd uncloaked themselves and surrounded their lady and Narla, cutting Legolas away in a polite yet persistent manner. Legolas knew he was outnumbered, but now he mentally chided himself for letting them separate Narla from him, for she was now vulnerable to harm.

Strangely, Narla felt her body sit up though she could not find the strength which did so. Her mind knew Legolas was nearby, but her gaze was fixed onto the golden pools of this fairy-like creature in front of her. She could even imagine the creature having wings, for it was floating on air! The creature smiled and urged Narla's body to dismount. The obedient body got off the horse, but as Narla stepped on the ground, her venomous pain attacked with a new power. Struck with torture, Narla fell face first onto the ground and clutched her heart. The evil was winning.

Author's Notes: Thanks a lot for the reviews people! And yeah, the story might start to drag a little from here on, coz I'm trying to create a whole new kind of folk. Please keep reading and send in your comments~!