Krystal's POV
I stared at the retreating from of-- my captor, I thought furiously-'s back as his shoulder heaved from the deep breaths he was taking to calm himself, as he walked away, leaving me tied like a common criminal in the Middle Ages.
Inwardly, I was screaming as my hands fiddled tightly with the ropes that bound me. I knew I shouldn't have trusted him-- how can you trust a glowing thing anyway?
Tears of frustration and fear burned behind my eyes but I refused to show such weakness as I battled the thick cords, but no amount of tugging and pulling, biting into my wrists and scratching against the tree could loosen them. I soon gave up as I felt blood on my hand from the wrists-- I didn't want to injure myself. My head leaned back heavily against the tree and I sighed tiredly, my eyes shutting as my mind raced furiously for a plan of escape.
Legolas's POV
I leapt back into the trees, seeking solace as my body fought my will as I forced myself to walk away from her. I wanted to hit her, to scream at her, to yell and yet I knew I was in the wrong.
She had been trying to leave, to save us the burden of carrying her as dead weight, something that needed looking after. And truth to be told, I might have let her. Had she not touched my arrows, I might have let her go.
But she did. My eyes had widened and then narrowed furiously as I saw her hands finger my arrows, holding my quiver and adjusting my bow.
The arrows had been a gift from my mother. No matter where they were shot over the last thousands of years, I always got them back. To loose them to a selfish, good for nothing, human who I was trying to help was almost too much for me to handle. I hadn't seen my mother in over 2 thousand years. Hadn't heard her voice, hadn't felt her touch, hadn't looked upon her fair face in over two thousand years...
I was Prince of these woods. I did not have to explain myself, I thought determinedly as I adjusted myself in the high tree tops so I wouldn't be seen as I watched her struggle with the tight bounds. She was the one who had been wandering without leave in the fair wood. I had saved her, she owed me her allegiance. And yet, I did need to explain and I knew it.
She had not right to go through my belongings, but she wasn't stupid and knew she would have to have some way to protect herself against the shadows in my forest. Upon inspection, it was true that I carried hundreds of arrows with me. Why should a dozen or so matter one way or another? She didn't know how much they meant to me, my conscience argued in my head as I watched her struggle, eyes narrowed.
The girl is lost, and alone and terribly confused. You might have been more understanding, my conscience scolded, continuing its tirade. Imagine if that was you.
But she had no right to touch my things, my personal things, my mother's arrows! The quiver my father, my father who so seldom even laid eyes on me anymore, had made for me, with its supple leather and strong straps. My bow, a present from both of my parents when I first learned to shoot an arrow properly-- these were close to my heart! No one else had even *touched* them since I received them...and she was going to steal my arrows?! She deserved what she got?
Quiet logic began to return to me as my anger wore off, and I sighed as I saw her lean her head back against the tree in defeat. She didn't know I watched her, but I did and those barely concealed tears were not concealed anymore.
Aragorn's POV
I kept my eyes shut as I heard Legolas scream at Krystal, but my mind raced. What had angered my friend so? When he made the comment about, "watch your hands," suddenly it clicked-- she must have touched his archery equipment. Even I knew not to touch them or risk a brawl with the prince, a brawl I was not willing to fight.
As Legolas disappeared into the trees to continue his watch, I opened one eye. It appeared to be about 3 in the morning, I reasoned by the position of the sun. My eyes searched the trees until I found Legolas, crouched in a ball, making himself as small as possible until his fiery rage was consumed.
Krystal was breathing deeply as she leaned against the tree, and, watching her intently, I noticed the quick breaths she was taking and the quiet tears she tried to hide.
Sympathy broke like a wave over me, and I sat up slowly. I didn't wish to annoy Legolas, but she was not our prisoner and he had no right to bind her as one.
My dark eyes burned intently as I moved soundlessly over to her. Her eyes closed immediately as she tried to control herself and her breathing calmed.
"It's okay," I whispered sadly to her, glancing at her wrists. The ropes were not tied tightly, but her constant tugging had shortened them until she could barely move her wrists.
I decided to loosen them until they held her, but at least comfortably. Legolas had his reasons for binding her- though I knew them not- and though he could be unpredictable, he was usually right and I was not about to go around his judgment.
She picked her head up and stared at me as I helped her, crouched over on the balls of my feet as I saw Legolas's eyes flash at me from one of the trees overhead..
"What are you doing?" she stiffened, as I raised my hand to fix the ropes. I recognized the tone in her voice as pure fear, but she hid it well with a mask of distaste.
I paused, hand in midair. "I'm just fixing them."
"Leave it alone." She ordered shakily, obviously not wanting me near her, but I ignored her, reaching and yanking on one of the knots so it came undone, then retying it so they were looser.
I fell backwards as I finished and regarded her calmly.
"My lady," I began respectively. She rolled her eyes at my polite tone. "Lady Krystal--" I amended but she sighed. "Krystal?" I tried and her eyes finally met mine.
"What." It was a statement, not a question and I knew then that we had to form some bond with this strange girl. She was lost, and if she trusted no one, not even those who had saved her life, how could she trust anyone to get her back home?
"What happened?"
"He spazzed because I touched his arrows. He has hundreds of them, and if he really *is* a Prince, I shudder to think what the King must be like if his son is this rough with girls lost in the dark woods." She spat at me, her eyes determinedly focused on Legolas and for a moment, a smile flirted across my face. I hadn't know she could spot the elf in the trees as so few could, but it seemed her crystal eyes had more purposes than lighting up her face.
"Spazzed?" I quoted back to her, my voice light as I tried to ease her tension. She shrugged, then winced as it rubbed the ropes against her sore wrists, but when her eyes met mine they were laughing.
"It means he went physco- berserk, *very* unprincely like." She informed me.
While this went on the sun began to rise in the trees, and Legolas dropped down out of his perch without a word.
"Tula," he said to me in elvish, his voice tight with indescion. "Come- we must make haste to Rivendell."
I nodded, and began to throw our belongings- save all archery equitment of Legoals's- helter skelter into our bags. I kicked dirt on the makeshift fire, and sheathed my sword back into its covering on my waste.
When Legolas approached Kystal, I caught just a glimse of his eyes, so dark they were almost black and I was reminded fericly of a thunder cloud. I didn't know why the human had such an odd effect on my older friend, but I wasn't about to ask. I did note however, that he took note of the way she tried to ease away from his touch, and the gentle way he untied her bounds.
"Where are you taking me?" She asked me, purposely ignoring the elf who stood in front of her as she rubbed her now free wrists. I hid my smirk, but answered truthfully-
"To Rivendell, my lady. To the House of Elrond, my father- he might be able to tell us more about your mysterious arrival, and at any rate will keep you safe until you can find a way home."
"So it is a human colony then? No glowy- people?" She asked with genuine curiously, her eyes bright. I smiled then as Legolas's head shot up, and even he had to smirk.
"Actually- it is a elven dwelling place." I explained. She stopped for a moment. "I thought you said it was your father."
I nodded truthfully. "He is."
She stared at me. "But you don't glow."
I laughed, and shook my head at her dumbfounded expression. "Story of my life, my lady."
She smiled at my laughter, and sighed. "Sounds like some story...but is this Elronno guy cool? Like, he isn't gunna tie me up or anything?"
Her voice had a pointed note to it, and she tossed a contempt filled glance at Legolas, who on his part, firmly ignored it and went out packing away his arrows.
I shook my head. "No, *Elrond*," I said pronouncing his name clearly for her, "is extremely kind towards strangers, especially those lost."
She nodded her approval, though there was still some hesitance in her eyes. Her hair was disheveled as she ran a nervous hand through it, and her dress was soiled, but her face had a spark of curiosity. "Okay...but how do we get there?"
"It's not far now- just out of Mirkwood, through the wastelands and over the Misty Mountains." I explained, realizing as a blank stare came over her face she had no idea where any of those things were.
"It's about a fortnight long journey on horseback," Legolas explained tightly, hoisting his shoulder on his back as he stood, speaking for the first time this morning while I was awake.
She glanced at me. "A fortnight?"
I chuckled at her lost expression. "14 days."
"two weeks." She corrected me. I shrugged. "Same thing."
"Same difference." She agreed. I shot her an odd look and she smiled.
"Okay- but that's on horseback, and I sure as hell ain't riding you- so how long is it on foot?"
"It's untold- no one does it on foot."
"Except for us?" She questioned darkly, expecting to be made to walk endless miles in completely inadequate shoes.
I chuckled at her expression of expectant doom and shook my head. "No, no. We're going on horseback too."
"I've never ridden before."
"You'll ride on back with one of us." I informed her.
She shot Legolas a apprehensive look, before turning and whispering confidentially to me, "If it's all the same, I'd rather ride with you- just so he doesn't drag me by my hair or accidentally toss me off a cliff or something."
I nodded once before Legolas began to walk through the forest, and I began to follow him, as he broke a safe path for us, his keen senses picking up on no imeadite danger in the area.
"and where are these horses, by the way?" She asked curiously behind me as we began our walk.
"Not to far away- they should be grazing now. We let them roam free until we need them, then Legolas calls them." I explained patiently.
"He can talk to animals? What is he, Dr. Doolittle?" she asked doubtfully.
I raised my eyebrow. "Doolittle?"
She shot me an incredulous look. "Dr. Doolittle- you know- old man, talks to a alligator, lives in a giant snail or something-- haven't you ever seen the movie?"
When I said nothing, she sighed. "You know the song- 'If I could talk with the animals, walk with the animals, talk and speak and be with the animaaaals...and they could...talk...to...me!" she sang dramatically, waving her hands about. She glanced at my politely blank face and rolled her eyes. "Guess you've never seen the movie, huh?"
"Movie?" I asked curiously.
She sighed and rolled her eyes. "I defiantly feel like Marky Marks in Plant of the Apes."
"Let me guess- another movie?"
She nodded. "Yeah, I guess 'tis the way of my people to speak none stop about movies."
I laughed. "If you say so."
"I do. And even if I didn't, who's going to contradict me? Its not as thought anyone who even knows what a movie *is* is around here. It's just me." She tried to keep her voice cheerful but I detected the note of panic and fear and tossed her a reassuring look.
"Fear not...Legolas and I will make sure you arrive home safely." I whispered to her in reassurance. She rolled her eyes and nodded towards Legolas's still form as he stood perched on a fallen log, head cocked as he listened to some inaudible sound.
"Yeah okay-- If he doesn't kill me first."
I stared at the retreating from of-- my captor, I thought furiously-'s back as his shoulder heaved from the deep breaths he was taking to calm himself, as he walked away, leaving me tied like a common criminal in the Middle Ages.
Inwardly, I was screaming as my hands fiddled tightly with the ropes that bound me. I knew I shouldn't have trusted him-- how can you trust a glowing thing anyway?
Tears of frustration and fear burned behind my eyes but I refused to show such weakness as I battled the thick cords, but no amount of tugging and pulling, biting into my wrists and scratching against the tree could loosen them. I soon gave up as I felt blood on my hand from the wrists-- I didn't want to injure myself. My head leaned back heavily against the tree and I sighed tiredly, my eyes shutting as my mind raced furiously for a plan of escape.
Legolas's POV
I leapt back into the trees, seeking solace as my body fought my will as I forced myself to walk away from her. I wanted to hit her, to scream at her, to yell and yet I knew I was in the wrong.
She had been trying to leave, to save us the burden of carrying her as dead weight, something that needed looking after. And truth to be told, I might have let her. Had she not touched my arrows, I might have let her go.
But she did. My eyes had widened and then narrowed furiously as I saw her hands finger my arrows, holding my quiver and adjusting my bow.
The arrows had been a gift from my mother. No matter where they were shot over the last thousands of years, I always got them back. To loose them to a selfish, good for nothing, human who I was trying to help was almost too much for me to handle. I hadn't seen my mother in over 2 thousand years. Hadn't heard her voice, hadn't felt her touch, hadn't looked upon her fair face in over two thousand years...
I was Prince of these woods. I did not have to explain myself, I thought determinedly as I adjusted myself in the high tree tops so I wouldn't be seen as I watched her struggle with the tight bounds. She was the one who had been wandering without leave in the fair wood. I had saved her, she owed me her allegiance. And yet, I did need to explain and I knew it.
She had not right to go through my belongings, but she wasn't stupid and knew she would have to have some way to protect herself against the shadows in my forest. Upon inspection, it was true that I carried hundreds of arrows with me. Why should a dozen or so matter one way or another? She didn't know how much they meant to me, my conscience argued in my head as I watched her struggle, eyes narrowed.
The girl is lost, and alone and terribly confused. You might have been more understanding, my conscience scolded, continuing its tirade. Imagine if that was you.
But she had no right to touch my things, my personal things, my mother's arrows! The quiver my father, my father who so seldom even laid eyes on me anymore, had made for me, with its supple leather and strong straps. My bow, a present from both of my parents when I first learned to shoot an arrow properly-- these were close to my heart! No one else had even *touched* them since I received them...and she was going to steal my arrows?! She deserved what she got?
Quiet logic began to return to me as my anger wore off, and I sighed as I saw her lean her head back against the tree in defeat. She didn't know I watched her, but I did and those barely concealed tears were not concealed anymore.
Aragorn's POV
I kept my eyes shut as I heard Legolas scream at Krystal, but my mind raced. What had angered my friend so? When he made the comment about, "watch your hands," suddenly it clicked-- she must have touched his archery equipment. Even I knew not to touch them or risk a brawl with the prince, a brawl I was not willing to fight.
As Legolas disappeared into the trees to continue his watch, I opened one eye. It appeared to be about 3 in the morning, I reasoned by the position of the sun. My eyes searched the trees until I found Legolas, crouched in a ball, making himself as small as possible until his fiery rage was consumed.
Krystal was breathing deeply as she leaned against the tree, and, watching her intently, I noticed the quick breaths she was taking and the quiet tears she tried to hide.
Sympathy broke like a wave over me, and I sat up slowly. I didn't wish to annoy Legolas, but she was not our prisoner and he had no right to bind her as one.
My dark eyes burned intently as I moved soundlessly over to her. Her eyes closed immediately as she tried to control herself and her breathing calmed.
"It's okay," I whispered sadly to her, glancing at her wrists. The ropes were not tied tightly, but her constant tugging had shortened them until she could barely move her wrists.
I decided to loosen them until they held her, but at least comfortably. Legolas had his reasons for binding her- though I knew them not- and though he could be unpredictable, he was usually right and I was not about to go around his judgment.
She picked her head up and stared at me as I helped her, crouched over on the balls of my feet as I saw Legolas's eyes flash at me from one of the trees overhead..
"What are you doing?" she stiffened, as I raised my hand to fix the ropes. I recognized the tone in her voice as pure fear, but she hid it well with a mask of distaste.
I paused, hand in midair. "I'm just fixing them."
"Leave it alone." She ordered shakily, obviously not wanting me near her, but I ignored her, reaching and yanking on one of the knots so it came undone, then retying it so they were looser.
I fell backwards as I finished and regarded her calmly.
"My lady," I began respectively. She rolled her eyes at my polite tone. "Lady Krystal--" I amended but she sighed. "Krystal?" I tried and her eyes finally met mine.
"What." It was a statement, not a question and I knew then that we had to form some bond with this strange girl. She was lost, and if she trusted no one, not even those who had saved her life, how could she trust anyone to get her back home?
"What happened?"
"He spazzed because I touched his arrows. He has hundreds of them, and if he really *is* a Prince, I shudder to think what the King must be like if his son is this rough with girls lost in the dark woods." She spat at me, her eyes determinedly focused on Legolas and for a moment, a smile flirted across my face. I hadn't know she could spot the elf in the trees as so few could, but it seemed her crystal eyes had more purposes than lighting up her face.
"Spazzed?" I quoted back to her, my voice light as I tried to ease her tension. She shrugged, then winced as it rubbed the ropes against her sore wrists, but when her eyes met mine they were laughing.
"It means he went physco- berserk, *very* unprincely like." She informed me.
While this went on the sun began to rise in the trees, and Legolas dropped down out of his perch without a word.
"Tula," he said to me in elvish, his voice tight with indescion. "Come- we must make haste to Rivendell."
I nodded, and began to throw our belongings- save all archery equitment of Legoals's- helter skelter into our bags. I kicked dirt on the makeshift fire, and sheathed my sword back into its covering on my waste.
When Legolas approached Kystal, I caught just a glimse of his eyes, so dark they were almost black and I was reminded fericly of a thunder cloud. I didn't know why the human had such an odd effect on my older friend, but I wasn't about to ask. I did note however, that he took note of the way she tried to ease away from his touch, and the gentle way he untied her bounds.
"Where are you taking me?" She asked me, purposely ignoring the elf who stood in front of her as she rubbed her now free wrists. I hid my smirk, but answered truthfully-
"To Rivendell, my lady. To the House of Elrond, my father- he might be able to tell us more about your mysterious arrival, and at any rate will keep you safe until you can find a way home."
"So it is a human colony then? No glowy- people?" She asked with genuine curiously, her eyes bright. I smiled then as Legolas's head shot up, and even he had to smirk.
"Actually- it is a elven dwelling place." I explained. She stopped for a moment. "I thought you said it was your father."
I nodded truthfully. "He is."
She stared at me. "But you don't glow."
I laughed, and shook my head at her dumbfounded expression. "Story of my life, my lady."
She smiled at my laughter, and sighed. "Sounds like some story...but is this Elronno guy cool? Like, he isn't gunna tie me up or anything?"
Her voice had a pointed note to it, and she tossed a contempt filled glance at Legolas, who on his part, firmly ignored it and went out packing away his arrows.
I shook my head. "No, *Elrond*," I said pronouncing his name clearly for her, "is extremely kind towards strangers, especially those lost."
She nodded her approval, though there was still some hesitance in her eyes. Her hair was disheveled as she ran a nervous hand through it, and her dress was soiled, but her face had a spark of curiosity. "Okay...but how do we get there?"
"It's not far now- just out of Mirkwood, through the wastelands and over the Misty Mountains." I explained, realizing as a blank stare came over her face she had no idea where any of those things were.
"It's about a fortnight long journey on horseback," Legolas explained tightly, hoisting his shoulder on his back as he stood, speaking for the first time this morning while I was awake.
She glanced at me. "A fortnight?"
I chuckled at her lost expression. "14 days."
"two weeks." She corrected me. I shrugged. "Same thing."
"Same difference." She agreed. I shot her an odd look and she smiled.
"Okay- but that's on horseback, and I sure as hell ain't riding you- so how long is it on foot?"
"It's untold- no one does it on foot."
"Except for us?" She questioned darkly, expecting to be made to walk endless miles in completely inadequate shoes.
I chuckled at her expression of expectant doom and shook my head. "No, no. We're going on horseback too."
"I've never ridden before."
"You'll ride on back with one of us." I informed her.
She shot Legolas a apprehensive look, before turning and whispering confidentially to me, "If it's all the same, I'd rather ride with you- just so he doesn't drag me by my hair or accidentally toss me off a cliff or something."
I nodded once before Legolas began to walk through the forest, and I began to follow him, as he broke a safe path for us, his keen senses picking up on no imeadite danger in the area.
"and where are these horses, by the way?" She asked curiously behind me as we began our walk.
"Not to far away- they should be grazing now. We let them roam free until we need them, then Legolas calls them." I explained patiently.
"He can talk to animals? What is he, Dr. Doolittle?" she asked doubtfully.
I raised my eyebrow. "Doolittle?"
She shot me an incredulous look. "Dr. Doolittle- you know- old man, talks to a alligator, lives in a giant snail or something-- haven't you ever seen the movie?"
When I said nothing, she sighed. "You know the song- 'If I could talk with the animals, walk with the animals, talk and speak and be with the animaaaals...and they could...talk...to...me!" she sang dramatically, waving her hands about. She glanced at my politely blank face and rolled her eyes. "Guess you've never seen the movie, huh?"
"Movie?" I asked curiously.
She sighed and rolled her eyes. "I defiantly feel like Marky Marks in Plant of the Apes."
"Let me guess- another movie?"
She nodded. "Yeah, I guess 'tis the way of my people to speak none stop about movies."
I laughed. "If you say so."
"I do. And even if I didn't, who's going to contradict me? Its not as thought anyone who even knows what a movie *is* is around here. It's just me." She tried to keep her voice cheerful but I detected the note of panic and fear and tossed her a reassuring look.
"Fear not...Legolas and I will make sure you arrive home safely." I whispered to her in reassurance. She rolled her eyes and nodded towards Legolas's still form as he stood perched on a fallen log, head cocked as he listened to some inaudible sound.
"Yeah okay-- If he doesn't kill me first."