Disclaimer: Yep, Starknight owns absolutely zip…
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And so it begins, whether it is a tale of joy or a tale of greatest sorrow, all things must begin with a single act. Here unfolds the story of those who will never be remembered, those who history has blotted from its great record. These many whose names only the dark may whisper.
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Legolas fought down his increasing irritation. For one who had lived as long as he it was still a daily struggle to be patient. To make it worse by far Gimli seemed completely satisfied merely to sit and wait. The elf's discomfort was something to be savored it seemed.
Legolas' arrival in the courtyard carrying a bloodied girl, who appeared to be some sort of street thief, had thrown the castle into an uproar. For even a court as unconventional as this did indeed have some limits of decency and propriety. His majesty's elven guest showing up with a street girl was well outside those limits.
Now there was naught to do but wait for the girl to answer the questions herself. Of course this didn't seem likely to happen in the near future. The palace healer had curtly informed him that the patient need to rest and he ought to do so as well. Legolas merely shook his head and settled once again outside the door.
The strangeness of the attack disturbed him. What could possibly motivate them to do this was as yet still a mystery. A sense of longing for the clean forests of his home filled him, but he again pushed it aside. His friends needed him here. He couldn't leave now.
As he turned the problem over and over in his mind, trying to find some sort of logic to apply to it the door swung open, nearly extinguishing the already guttering torches which lined the damp hall.
The healer frowned at him, so recently another patient of hers, before stepping aside to let him in. When Gimli tried to follow though she caught him by the shoulder, leading the protesting dwarf away. Here was one at least who had no right to enter the room.
"Only one! I am only agreeing to this because his Majesty said I must. Come with me Master Dwarf!"
"But Madam! I want to ask her questions, there was a fight in the streets you know!"
"I do, I just had to clean up the results, and she needs to sleep, not be questioned," her eyes softened, "You may speak to her later, will you not help me with these?" She hefted the heavy basket she carried. Gimli sighed, taking it from her.
"I am not unfair; in return I will show you some of the samples of rock my son collected. He believes that there is a system of caves just outside the city…"
The rest of their conversation was cut off as the door swung closed, effectively blocking out the rest of their conversation.
Legolas turned to the girl, woman actually; he corrected himself as he scanned her face, to all intents and purposes asleep on the bed. Her dark hair fanned out over the white pillow, Legolas couldn't help but shake his head as he noted that even now it remained ragged and tangled.
A few rough scars marred her face, one running just past her left eye. Legolas leaned down, almost touching her face, for a moment the world seemed frozen in time.
The stillness though was broken as her eyes snapped. The soul that stared at him from behind them was no less a warrior then the elf himself. Barely pausing to draw breath she lunched forward, catching his blade with her uninjured arm and pressing it to the elf's throat.
As her hand came up Legolas' own hands shot up catching her wrist and imprisoning her arm just short of his neck. Between the two of them the silvery length of the blade reflected the torchlight across her pale face.
"I did not believe you saved my life simply to murder me for returning the favor." Legolas spoke without lessening his grip on her wrist. "And I am sure this sort of thing is only going to cause you further harm. The healer will not be merciful if I allow you to come to harm simply because I am an elf."
She smiled grimly, "And how might you like me to do that sir?" Legolas could easily make out the heavy sarcasm in her tone. "You seem to have a good grip on my wrist."
She flexed her arm slightly to demonstrate this, Legolas smiled back in return, "Simply release my blade and I shall release you hand."
He paused, but she did not even flinch, though if possible she seemed to be growing even more pale, "Then perhaps if we both release it together?" She held his gaze for a moment then nodded.
He could feel her arm shaking ever so slightly but she did not waver. Together they released the weapon, it fell, sticking point first into the thick rugs piled on the floor.
Legolas' attacker wavered unsteadily, reaching out with her good hand for the wall, but he instead caught her by the elbow, feeling that something more gentlemanly would not be appreciated.
The slight smile tugging at the corners of her mouth told him she more than likely knew his thoughts were running along those lines. She said nothing though as she lowered herself to the bed, so she could sit on the edge of it.
Legolas blushed slightly realizing she wore only a thin gown, her other clothing having disappeared somewhere during her arrival. Legolas suspected the industrious healer had already personally seen to their burning in one of the back gardens.
He sat in the rough chair next to the bed so they could sit across from her, the knife an equal distance between them.
"Perhaps we could begin with you're name?"
She brushed her hair from her face, simply looking weary now, "And what good would that do one such as yourself? Why have you concerned yourself with me at all?"
"If my memories are not false, I believe it was you who concerned yourself with me." Legolas pointed out.
She gave a short laugh, "I concerned myself with the protection of my territory. Dorjan shouldn't be on the south streets were I've got claim, you were simply an innocent bystander my elven friend."
"I believe it was something more than that." Legolas caught the merest flash of fear in her green eyes at his words.
"It's something of the streets, not for your kind to mind." She snapped defensively.
"I doubt the King would agree." Legolas caught his own angry retort, forcing his words to be calm.
This time he couldn't decide if her tone was sad or mocking as she answered, "The King? The King fights wars, and sees evil so great that it would cover all the Earth, we, those of the streets concern ourselves with the shadows who may be found in every corner and alleyway."
"And are you one of those shadows? Thieves aren't exactly members of a city guild that I know of."
"All cities must have their backers, smiths and their thieves. It's a job that let's you eat." She shrugged. "You do not understand us, Prince Legolas of Mirkwood."
Legolas started as she said his name, "And how do you know of me?"
"You aren't one of the streets; you do not walk like a man of Gondor, bowed down by the weight of centuries that cover our stones like ancient dust, crippled before the shadows. All the people of the city have heard of the King's elven companion."
She reached out tracing the point of his ear, "Your disguise was not what I would call adequate."
Legolas turned away, embarrassed by his errors, "It appears you know enough of me, yet I known not even your name."
"And you have yet to tell me the reason for this!" She gestured to the room angrily, "Why not toss me out? Why save a thief?"
Legolas faced her, staring into her fiery green eyes, and whispered, "Because I honor my debts."
Her hand dropped to her side and again the weariness crept over her face, "Aye, but we shall see if the mettle of your honor will pass the trials your act will put it to."
She glanced up at the tiny window set deep into the thick stone wall, a few pinpricks of light shown in the sable night were all that could be seen, "I am called Sitara, named for the light of the last stars to set before the dawn. What would you have of me master elf?"
Author's Note:
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See! I'm back from my nice little, ok *long* break, as promised, though a bit late, and from now on we should be going at a pretty good pace!
Alexeika2222: Really kept you waiting didn't I? Very sorry about that.
Anon : You thought that was original, we're just getting started!
Megan: I know, I hate that too, so we'll take the romance slow, and anyway, little disagreements are so much more fun!
Roseblade22: See! I did it! I read your fic and that plus listening to the sound track inspired me to finish the chapter! Hurray!
Arete: Well, I shall do my best to live up to your standards. I agree, the friendship between the two is one of the best parts of LOTR and you'll see plenty of it in this fic. More in my other fic, but I definitely won't forget this. Please tell me if I make any mistakes with the cannon, I'm mostly a sci-fi person so occasionally I miss things but I'll do my best.
Kermy: Well, Elaine is the one who gave me the challenge, all the rules are hers, you can read her fics too under 'Roseblade22' they're very good.
itarilde-elenastar: Your screen-name is very cool. I didn't quite manage the soon part, but hopefully it will still be interesting.
a reader : I know! I had to think of a way of revealing she was in fact *not* male, and I thought that would work, I will try to revise it though, I know there are too many 'he's' but their names sound strange if repeated too often. Hopefully this chapter was better.
Just Plain Bob : I object, I haven't written a Mary Sue yet, and I *won't*. It's tough it has to be 'happy romance' so certain requirements must be met, but Sitara will have some more *charming* personality traits that will get rid of the 'Mary Sue' image you seem to have.
Chiichobi: Don't worry! I don't let my fanfics die; they just go on hiatus at times when I get distracted… This one will be back full time though now, I PROMISE.