Chapter Twelve: Miracles and Bad Luck
I felt myself in cool, refreshing, river water, a place I hadn't been in for many years, except for earlier today when Legolas discovered me there. I savored it for quite some time before I consciously put together the pieces to why it felt so wrong; until I figured out I should be dead. My eyes opened hesitantly and I looked around. Sure enough I was in the very familiar river Mailin used to bring me to swim in.
My first thoughts were wondering if this was the afterlife, but they were soon interrupted when my elven-trained ears picked up voices on the surface. "How long do you think she'll stay under?"
"Minutes.hours.days.weeks.who knows. She's a fish. She could stay under for all her life if she wanted to. For all we know, she may think she's dead and in fishy heaven."
Was I in the undying lands? Was this the after life? Who would it be speaking of me and my fish-like qualities? No one knew of them except me. . .and Legolas, but I know he wouldn't tell a soul. I couldn't stand not knowing, so I surfaced and immediately looked at my wound.
"I.it's." A red stain covered my shirt and I lifted it up to reveal only a white scar. Just what I was afraid of. "I'm dead." I whispered to myself.
I felt my stomach and received no pain. I reached up and felt my gills begin to disappear into my flesh. The extra skin between my fingers separated and joined with a side to have my fingers appear normal. I pinched myself and flinched. So there was still pain in the afterlife. 'This sucks,' I thought. 'Wait.' I looked around and my eyes met familiar surroundings, then laid on the two observing women. "Am I.I.I.I'm.Am I.alive?"
Smiles appeared on their faces. "Told you," the woman in black whispered to her companion, not taking her eyes from me.
"How?"
Black smiled wider. "Wouldn't you like to know?"
"Stop saying that." Red elbowed her.
"No!"
"She deserves to know!"
"No, she doesn't! What's gotten in your head?"
I was too awed. How could this have happened? How long had I been out? It must have been quite awhile for my stomach to heal like that. How was I.Oh who cares! I had to get back to Legolas so we could run off together. Ah! I was alive! I did a back flip into the water.
"B-er-great! You lost her!" Black growled.
"I lost her?"
"Yes, you lost her!"
I flipped and twisted. I was free from death and open to life. My miracle came true. I was swimming and life couldn't be any better, with the exception of a certain elf's company, but that was a minor detail which could be easily solved. I suddenly realized I should have run to the lake instead of the forest. I would have been able to stay there until the guards left and still have been with Legolas. I shrugged. I was alive. It didn't matter.
"Do you think she can hear us?"
"Doubt it. Hey! Get up here sometime this millennia!"
I smiled. 'Not a problem with me,' I thought. 'Let me know when the millennia is nearing end.'
I kicked the surface in thanks and succeeded in soaking the travelers.
"I don't think that was the wisest choice of words."
"Shut up! Blue! Get up here now!"
Blue? Was this some sort of name or curse? I had come to believe it was a color, but then again I thought red and black were colors also, but heard the women call each other that.
I came up, "What?"
"Out of the water."
"Why?"
"Now!"
"No."
"Blue."
"What?" I asked confused.
"It's your new name. Lose that elvish whatever it is you have."
"Alu--"
"Out, now!"
"May I inquire as to why?"
"No, but you can cut with the fancy crap."
"Fancy crap?"
"Never mind. We need to talk and since you are so content in staying there, stay there."
"I'll go get Green. Yeah, to get those chains off ye." Red quickly left view.
"I'll get straight to the point," Black started. "We are heading out. You have been offered to join us."
"Join you? Why?"
"Would you rather return to your dear fairy friends to be killed again?"
"They're elves," I corrected with a frown.
"Same thing. So, you can come with us, or stay here as you please."
'Stay here!' my heart told me, but my mind had another idea: go with them and escape death.
"Can I think about it?"
"Yeah." She turned away.
"Wait. Aren't you thieves?"
She turned around. "Where'd you hear that?" she asked with a slight laugh.
"Aren't you?"
"I never said that."
Red strolled in the clearing and opened her cloak. Gold of all sorts sparkled from their individual pockets. "Hey, Black. Which should I use for." She went silent at Black's glare. "I'll be getting Green now." She disappeared once more.
"So you are," I concluded.
She shrugged and started away. "Maybe. Don't think too long. We gotta book it."
"I can't join you! That'll give the elves a real reason to kill me. I'd really be guilty."
"Okay, they think you're dead and if they spot you with us, they probably wouldn't recognize you."
"Wouldn't count on it," I mumbled, climbing out of the lake and starting off in a set direction where I hoped I'd find a certain elf.
After I met the third and final member, Green, and had my hands unshackled, I made my way slowly over to one of my favorite non-water related places in Mirkwood.
The tree came into my vision long before I reached it. Memories came flooding back. I prayed he would be there, waiting for me, but found the case unlikely. I heeded my mind's warning and searched for any signs of guards nearby. I found none so I quietly sneaked into the house. Memories hit me like a bolt of lightning when I stepped in. My eyes laid on the table.
"Legolas, I really shouldn't."
"It will be fine. No one is here to tell you wrong. It is just a few mugs of mead."
.
I gulped down more and spit out some at the humorous comment Legolas made and instantly broke into uncontrollable laughter.
I glanced at the rug lying before the fireplace and remembered the night we had shared there.
I smiled and thought of how wonderful our life would be together and stepped outside to climb the tree. The view was beautiful and I sat of my perch for hours, my mind pouring over what to do. I definitely was not joining the thieves. I wished I could somehow tell Legolas that I was alive and well. Oddly enough, the wound didn't hurt at all. I wondered how this was and if the mysterious women performed some kind of witchery on me. I drifted off to sleep pondering this, unaware of the light footsteps beneath the tree.
.
I woke to find myself engulfed in darkness; night had fallen and I had a horrible cramp in my back from lying on the tree branch for hours. Climbing down, I entered the house and grabbed some stored food. Things seemed a little out of place from that morning, but I dismissed the thought as part of my imagination.
That's when the table caught my eye. Set upon it was a single setting placed perfectly in line. The bowl was placed on the plate with the forks, spoon, and knife laid on the neatly folded napkin to the right. An empty goblet stood to the upper left. Only Legolas set his place this way and did so before he slept the night before. I smiled sadly and replaced each item in the cupboards. Legolas must have left them there when we last stayed here.
After one last look, I left the house and went for a walk.
.
By morning, I stumbled upon the thieves camp. Black sat against a tree doing an unknown task with her hands.
"Didn't expect you back so early, with your elf visiting and all," she spoke without looking up.
"My elf?"
"Yes, the one who so dearly let you go because he claimed to love you."
"Legolas? Why do you say he was visiting?"
Her hands stilled and she looked up at me. "Don't tell me you didn't see him. You were both sitting in the same tree."
My heart stopped. I fell asleep and he came? That was the reason for the place setting and his scent in the air. He was at the cottage! I had to speak to him! I turned and ran off, not saying farewell to Black.
"Humans," I heard her mutter before I was out of ear shot.
.
"Legolas!" the name echoed off the walls as I desperately called his name. I ran from room to room, looking around corners. The bed was unmade and his uneaten food still on the table. He had definitely been here. He had to still be there. I stood in the doorway, thinking there would be no way he would leave the house in this state.
'The tree,' a voice told me in my mind. I darted out the door and saw him jump down.
"Legolas!" I yelled.
He did not hear me. "Farewell, Aluhin. Until we meet again." His soft voice carried throughout the wood as a crystal tear fell down his cheek, glinting in the sun.
I was still a few hundred yards away. "Legolas!" I called again as loud as I could. "Stop!" He mounted his horse and rode hard toward the city. I ran as fast as I could, yelling his name even after he was long from my sight. I tripped and my face hit the dirt. "Legolas." My cries became muffled and tears fell.
Less than minutes later, I heard someone running toward me. The footsteps were too loud for an elf and coming from the wrong direction, but I lifted my head in hopes it would be the one I loved.
"What is it? What happened?" Red asked breathlessly, advancing slowly toward me, looking all around for danger. Black ran up behind her, not looking pleased the least bit.
"Red, you stupid id-er!" she grabbed Red by the neck of her cloak and attempted to drag her away. Red stumbled behind her.
"What? What's going on?" she asked profusely as she followed Black.
Meanwhile, I was kicking myself mentally as I buried my head in the leaves once more. I was in the same tree as he was. I was in the house that he was. At the same time! Goodness! How could I have been so blind?
"He will be back," I told myself. "He has to come back." I would wait for eternity for him to return. A sudden thought caused me to still. He thought I was dead. He said farewell because the thought I was gone. I would never see him again. Anger engulfed my grief. This was the women's fault. They caused me to be executed. They took me away from Legolas! Soon, a plan of revenge was formed. I was being too selfish for my own good, but it had to be done.
.
Days had passed. The woman known as Black had confronted me many times, seeing how my pondering was going. She was blind to the plot I was conspiring. I must say I concealed it very well.
I watched through the trees as guards received my anonymous note and gathered the others into the castle to discuss its authenticity. A meeting of guards.I contemplated at that moment whether I could sneak into the castle or not. Somehow I wanted to get to Legolas, even if it was dropping him a note. I wanted him to be aware I was alive. Although, I knew I couldn't risk leaving written proof of my existence and I couldn't risk being seen in the castle by anyone other than Legolas. It seemed as if there was no way to get to him unless I somehow got him to come to me.
The guards flooded from the castle. Ten of them, I counted, headed to the given position and others positioned around the castle borders. There was no way the three women could outsmart ten elven guards. I paused in that thought. I had outsmarted them alone for my entire life. Why couldn't they? I cringed and headed to camp. Nothing would go wrong during my operation and I would see to it.
I walked into camp to find them all huddled together, speaking in hushed voices. Purposely, I crunched some leaves as I walked and Black's head snapped up.
"Ah, Bl-Ahinlu. Just who we were expecting. We need to talk."
I ignored the fact she slaughtered my name and felt the blood run from my face. She knew. I knew she knew. "Yes?" I asked, advancing to join them.
"You know who and what we are, to some extent anyway. You seem to be drifting away from our proposition. We would really like you to reconsider."
"Reconsider? I'm still considering in the first place!"
"Yes, yes. Well, we know how much that one elf means to you and well.what I mean to say is: he is your past. We are your future. Come with us."
"You want me to run around Middle-earth taking things that aren't mine from under their owner's noses, break every moral I have ever been taught, become a ranger? I see nothing in it for me."
"Of course you don't. You grew up with elves. Stealing is wrong, well, we don't steal."
"What else would thieves do?" I asked disbelievingly.
Black looked at me and a small smile curled her lips. "We borrow.take what others don't deserve. Give it to those who want it."
"For profit?"
"For profit," she repeated. "Look, haven't you every borrowed from someone and wished you could pay him back somehow?" I visibly froze. "Well, here's your chance."
I could hear the guards and looked up suddenly. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea. Red and Green stood and pulled out their swords.
"The elves are coming," Green said, turning in all directions.
"I'll let you think about it," Black turned and gathered a few supplies.
I ran off to my prepared place to reside. Could that work? Could they employ me for a month or so, then I could return? This would work as long as the guards didn't slaughter the women first. After a few minutes, my mind changed and I emerged from my place. I needed to get somewhere I could see the action. I followed the sounds of the rustling and found myself fairly close to where I was previously.
Red had her head thrown back, laughter rippling through her. "Ten? Ten. You must be joking. Only ten? An, I was hoping to break a sweat. I haven't worked out in ages. I need a proper fight."
"Red, I know you think this will be easy-and it will be-but you do realize these are elves?"
"Elves?"
"Yes, elves. Pointy-eared, fairly competent fighters. They're better than men."
"Well that's a blessing," Red mumbled as the first attacked.
Swords clanged as the two woman fought off three soldiers each. The other four were either climbing trees or readying their bows or looking for the opportune moment to slip in a surprise attack.
Green ran in. "Sorry, I'm late. Had a bit of a hard time concealing you- know-what." She knocked and elf unconscious with the hilt of her sword.
"You did hide it, right?"
"Yes, yes. Have no worries." Black stabbed an elf who attempted to sink his sword into her heart and the elf fell to the ground, clutching the wound.
"Hey! I liked that one!" Red yelled.
"Give it a rest. We're fighting, not picking up extras," Black growled as she twirled her sword and sunk it into another, wounding him enough to disable him.
"Stop! You're killing off all the good looking ones!" she yelled to Black. "Get off, perve!" She shoved an elf who attempted to snap her neck and bashed him in the head.
Black laughed and took out another. The battle was very close to ending. I spotted a guard, hiding in a tree, arrow carefully aimed at Black. I scurried up the tree and quietly crawled to the elf. Thankfully he did not see or hear me, being so concentrated on his target. I gave him a hearty shove and a 'whoops!' and watched him fall, landing gracefully on his feet.
"Dang, elves are like cats!" I dove for cover when he looked up. Black's back was an open target and he returned his bow to his back, drawing his sword. Black wasn't looking and I feared he would succeed.
"Black!" I warned loudly as the elf raised his sword. Black eliminated the elf before her and turned to the elf behind her. She hit the sword away with amazing strength and the elf's eyes went wide.
"Your weapon may be relatively useless because no matter how hard you try you can't kill me. Today is not a day I feel like cryin' a'right? So bug off or I'll sink this deep in you."
In all my days, I have never seen an elf run so fast. All my thoughts were changed about elves as I saw the last standing retreat.
"Good head on his shoulders, that one," Black commented, watching him run. Red was looking mournfully at the defeated elves. "I was hoping just one."
"Ah, shove it, Red. Aren't you attached?"
"Attached?"
"Oh yeah, you don't remember him. Keep forgetting that was before you hit your head," Black mumbled.
"What?" Red asked, suddenly not interested in the elves.
"Nothing," Black said with a smile. "Nothing at all."
I jumped down from my perch and turned to see Red drawing back her sword, over her head, to strike. . .me.
"Ah!" I yelled as I crouched and rolled away.
"Red!" Black scolded.
I saw the sword bury in the ground them emerge for a second strike.
"Red, stop! You have to be goin' and killin' everyone now?"
I sat on the ground with my arms covering my head, expecting my skull to be split open. I didn't have time to grab my sword and counter the attack. I closed my eyes only to hear. "Oh, hi, Blue."
"Great, Red. You try to prevent me from killing the enemy and then you go and attempt to kill our only ally!"
"Sorry, I forgot!"
"Of course you forgot. You always forget."
"It's not my fault! I'm sorry!"
I recovered from my near death experience and stood up. I looked at the bickering two then exchanged looks with Green who rolled her eyes, mumbling, "Here we go again." She grabbed an old cloth from her pocket and started cleaning her sword, watching the injured elves hobble away.
"Get up," she kicked one and he groaned. "Leave before we add to your pain," she hissed and immediately the elf rolled over and attempted to stand. Green proceeded to settle down against a tree, shining her sword.
"Red, you're so clumsy! You fall and hit your head all the time!"
"I'm not clumsy! Just because I have a problem with my head being magnetized to objects--"
"Yes and I think hitting your head has caused you to be drawn to elves."
"They're hot!"
"Red, when will you ever remember?" Black huffed as she turned away.
"When you tell me." Red announced hopefully.
"Well that's not happening," Black answered.
"Why not?"
"If you are waiting to speak to Black, then you have a while to wait. This will go on for quite awhile," Green told me as the other two continued to raise their voices.
"Did I cause this?"
"It would have happened anyway. They do this at least every day. Might as well get it over with."
"Well then. I shall return later." I stood and walked from the camp. I was feeling pretty good about myself being able to understand almost everything the women were saying.
"Where'd Blue go?" I heard Black ask as I walked further away.
"She left. You two were too busy fighting you ignored her," Green stated.
"You-you-you made her run away again! Er.she was so close to joining!" Black yelled at Red.
"She'll be back," Green said calmly.
"What? How do you know?"
The voices became lost in the trees. Now that Black was no longer yelling, the sound did not travel as far. I walked on, following poorly made paths and jumping over fallen logs. It seemed no matter what my mood the forest would always put me at peace. An unsettling type of peace because of the feeling of vicious eyes trained upon you, but peace nonetheless.
I unceremoniously plopped under the tree I had been spending quite some time under lately. I could almost smell him, his presence; although, I knew he was not there this time. As I sat there, I wondered if this had all been a dream. It seemed so quick, so unreal. The day I thought would be a normal day-when I had normal days-seemed so long ago. Running into Legolas was a mere month ago yet it seemed to be a year. These blessed days seemed like months. I had learned more during that time than I had ever learned.
What did my future hold? Was I making the right decision joining the thieves? Thieving is a dangerous business and I might never be able to return. Would they allow me to return or think if I did I might turn them in? So far they showed no evidence of knowing it was me who tried to have them killed. I had startled myself when I stopped the guard from killing them. Did he see me? Would he report that I was alive? Or did he just think I was another thief in the gang?
I looked into the canopy of trees. I hoped he would wait for me. I hoped he would not go off and marry a she-elf before I would return. "Namaarie, Legolas. Until we meet again."
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A/N: Thank you to my reviewers!
Katharwen: You will soon see the end, for sadly, it will be coming soon. I hope after this is all finished you and all the other reviewers will check out Elven Frog's Band of Thieves which continues the story on-and I helped write :). . .partially.
I felt myself in cool, refreshing, river water, a place I hadn't been in for many years, except for earlier today when Legolas discovered me there. I savored it for quite some time before I consciously put together the pieces to why it felt so wrong; until I figured out I should be dead. My eyes opened hesitantly and I looked around. Sure enough I was in the very familiar river Mailin used to bring me to swim in.
My first thoughts were wondering if this was the afterlife, but they were soon interrupted when my elven-trained ears picked up voices on the surface. "How long do you think she'll stay under?"
"Minutes.hours.days.weeks.who knows. She's a fish. She could stay under for all her life if she wanted to. For all we know, she may think she's dead and in fishy heaven."
Was I in the undying lands? Was this the after life? Who would it be speaking of me and my fish-like qualities? No one knew of them except me. . .and Legolas, but I know he wouldn't tell a soul. I couldn't stand not knowing, so I surfaced and immediately looked at my wound.
"I.it's." A red stain covered my shirt and I lifted it up to reveal only a white scar. Just what I was afraid of. "I'm dead." I whispered to myself.
I felt my stomach and received no pain. I reached up and felt my gills begin to disappear into my flesh. The extra skin between my fingers separated and joined with a side to have my fingers appear normal. I pinched myself and flinched. So there was still pain in the afterlife. 'This sucks,' I thought. 'Wait.' I looked around and my eyes met familiar surroundings, then laid on the two observing women. "Am I.I.I.I'm.Am I.alive?"
Smiles appeared on their faces. "Told you," the woman in black whispered to her companion, not taking her eyes from me.
"How?"
Black smiled wider. "Wouldn't you like to know?"
"Stop saying that." Red elbowed her.
"No!"
"She deserves to know!"
"No, she doesn't! What's gotten in your head?"
I was too awed. How could this have happened? How long had I been out? It must have been quite awhile for my stomach to heal like that. How was I.Oh who cares! I had to get back to Legolas so we could run off together. Ah! I was alive! I did a back flip into the water.
"B-er-great! You lost her!" Black growled.
"I lost her?"
"Yes, you lost her!"
I flipped and twisted. I was free from death and open to life. My miracle came true. I was swimming and life couldn't be any better, with the exception of a certain elf's company, but that was a minor detail which could be easily solved. I suddenly realized I should have run to the lake instead of the forest. I would have been able to stay there until the guards left and still have been with Legolas. I shrugged. I was alive. It didn't matter.
"Do you think she can hear us?"
"Doubt it. Hey! Get up here sometime this millennia!"
I smiled. 'Not a problem with me,' I thought. 'Let me know when the millennia is nearing end.'
I kicked the surface in thanks and succeeded in soaking the travelers.
"I don't think that was the wisest choice of words."
"Shut up! Blue! Get up here now!"
Blue? Was this some sort of name or curse? I had come to believe it was a color, but then again I thought red and black were colors also, but heard the women call each other that.
I came up, "What?"
"Out of the water."
"Why?"
"Now!"
"No."
"Blue."
"What?" I asked confused.
"It's your new name. Lose that elvish whatever it is you have."
"Alu--"
"Out, now!"
"May I inquire as to why?"
"No, but you can cut with the fancy crap."
"Fancy crap?"
"Never mind. We need to talk and since you are so content in staying there, stay there."
"I'll go get Green. Yeah, to get those chains off ye." Red quickly left view.
"I'll get straight to the point," Black started. "We are heading out. You have been offered to join us."
"Join you? Why?"
"Would you rather return to your dear fairy friends to be killed again?"
"They're elves," I corrected with a frown.
"Same thing. So, you can come with us, or stay here as you please."
'Stay here!' my heart told me, but my mind had another idea: go with them and escape death.
"Can I think about it?"
"Yeah." She turned away.
"Wait. Aren't you thieves?"
She turned around. "Where'd you hear that?" she asked with a slight laugh.
"Aren't you?"
"I never said that."
Red strolled in the clearing and opened her cloak. Gold of all sorts sparkled from their individual pockets. "Hey, Black. Which should I use for." She went silent at Black's glare. "I'll be getting Green now." She disappeared once more.
"So you are," I concluded.
She shrugged and started away. "Maybe. Don't think too long. We gotta book it."
"I can't join you! That'll give the elves a real reason to kill me. I'd really be guilty."
"Okay, they think you're dead and if they spot you with us, they probably wouldn't recognize you."
"Wouldn't count on it," I mumbled, climbing out of the lake and starting off in a set direction where I hoped I'd find a certain elf.
After I met the third and final member, Green, and had my hands unshackled, I made my way slowly over to one of my favorite non-water related places in Mirkwood.
The tree came into my vision long before I reached it. Memories came flooding back. I prayed he would be there, waiting for me, but found the case unlikely. I heeded my mind's warning and searched for any signs of guards nearby. I found none so I quietly sneaked into the house. Memories hit me like a bolt of lightning when I stepped in. My eyes laid on the table.
"Legolas, I really shouldn't."
"It will be fine. No one is here to tell you wrong. It is just a few mugs of mead."
.
I gulped down more and spit out some at the humorous comment Legolas made and instantly broke into uncontrollable laughter.
I glanced at the rug lying before the fireplace and remembered the night we had shared there.
I smiled and thought of how wonderful our life would be together and stepped outside to climb the tree. The view was beautiful and I sat of my perch for hours, my mind pouring over what to do. I definitely was not joining the thieves. I wished I could somehow tell Legolas that I was alive and well. Oddly enough, the wound didn't hurt at all. I wondered how this was and if the mysterious women performed some kind of witchery on me. I drifted off to sleep pondering this, unaware of the light footsteps beneath the tree.
.
I woke to find myself engulfed in darkness; night had fallen and I had a horrible cramp in my back from lying on the tree branch for hours. Climbing down, I entered the house and grabbed some stored food. Things seemed a little out of place from that morning, but I dismissed the thought as part of my imagination.
That's when the table caught my eye. Set upon it was a single setting placed perfectly in line. The bowl was placed on the plate with the forks, spoon, and knife laid on the neatly folded napkin to the right. An empty goblet stood to the upper left. Only Legolas set his place this way and did so before he slept the night before. I smiled sadly and replaced each item in the cupboards. Legolas must have left them there when we last stayed here.
After one last look, I left the house and went for a walk.
.
By morning, I stumbled upon the thieves camp. Black sat against a tree doing an unknown task with her hands.
"Didn't expect you back so early, with your elf visiting and all," she spoke without looking up.
"My elf?"
"Yes, the one who so dearly let you go because he claimed to love you."
"Legolas? Why do you say he was visiting?"
Her hands stilled and she looked up at me. "Don't tell me you didn't see him. You were both sitting in the same tree."
My heart stopped. I fell asleep and he came? That was the reason for the place setting and his scent in the air. He was at the cottage! I had to speak to him! I turned and ran off, not saying farewell to Black.
"Humans," I heard her mutter before I was out of ear shot.
.
"Legolas!" the name echoed off the walls as I desperately called his name. I ran from room to room, looking around corners. The bed was unmade and his uneaten food still on the table. He had definitely been here. He had to still be there. I stood in the doorway, thinking there would be no way he would leave the house in this state.
'The tree,' a voice told me in my mind. I darted out the door and saw him jump down.
"Legolas!" I yelled.
He did not hear me. "Farewell, Aluhin. Until we meet again." His soft voice carried throughout the wood as a crystal tear fell down his cheek, glinting in the sun.
I was still a few hundred yards away. "Legolas!" I called again as loud as I could. "Stop!" He mounted his horse and rode hard toward the city. I ran as fast as I could, yelling his name even after he was long from my sight. I tripped and my face hit the dirt. "Legolas." My cries became muffled and tears fell.
Less than minutes later, I heard someone running toward me. The footsteps were too loud for an elf and coming from the wrong direction, but I lifted my head in hopes it would be the one I loved.
"What is it? What happened?" Red asked breathlessly, advancing slowly toward me, looking all around for danger. Black ran up behind her, not looking pleased the least bit.
"Red, you stupid id-er!" she grabbed Red by the neck of her cloak and attempted to drag her away. Red stumbled behind her.
"What? What's going on?" she asked profusely as she followed Black.
Meanwhile, I was kicking myself mentally as I buried my head in the leaves once more. I was in the same tree as he was. I was in the house that he was. At the same time! Goodness! How could I have been so blind?
"He will be back," I told myself. "He has to come back." I would wait for eternity for him to return. A sudden thought caused me to still. He thought I was dead. He said farewell because the thought I was gone. I would never see him again. Anger engulfed my grief. This was the women's fault. They caused me to be executed. They took me away from Legolas! Soon, a plan of revenge was formed. I was being too selfish for my own good, but it had to be done.
.
Days had passed. The woman known as Black had confronted me many times, seeing how my pondering was going. She was blind to the plot I was conspiring. I must say I concealed it very well.
I watched through the trees as guards received my anonymous note and gathered the others into the castle to discuss its authenticity. A meeting of guards.I contemplated at that moment whether I could sneak into the castle or not. Somehow I wanted to get to Legolas, even if it was dropping him a note. I wanted him to be aware I was alive. Although, I knew I couldn't risk leaving written proof of my existence and I couldn't risk being seen in the castle by anyone other than Legolas. It seemed as if there was no way to get to him unless I somehow got him to come to me.
The guards flooded from the castle. Ten of them, I counted, headed to the given position and others positioned around the castle borders. There was no way the three women could outsmart ten elven guards. I paused in that thought. I had outsmarted them alone for my entire life. Why couldn't they? I cringed and headed to camp. Nothing would go wrong during my operation and I would see to it.
I walked into camp to find them all huddled together, speaking in hushed voices. Purposely, I crunched some leaves as I walked and Black's head snapped up.
"Ah, Bl-Ahinlu. Just who we were expecting. We need to talk."
I ignored the fact she slaughtered my name and felt the blood run from my face. She knew. I knew she knew. "Yes?" I asked, advancing to join them.
"You know who and what we are, to some extent anyway. You seem to be drifting away from our proposition. We would really like you to reconsider."
"Reconsider? I'm still considering in the first place!"
"Yes, yes. Well, we know how much that one elf means to you and well.what I mean to say is: he is your past. We are your future. Come with us."
"You want me to run around Middle-earth taking things that aren't mine from under their owner's noses, break every moral I have ever been taught, become a ranger? I see nothing in it for me."
"Of course you don't. You grew up with elves. Stealing is wrong, well, we don't steal."
"What else would thieves do?" I asked disbelievingly.
Black looked at me and a small smile curled her lips. "We borrow.take what others don't deserve. Give it to those who want it."
"For profit?"
"For profit," she repeated. "Look, haven't you every borrowed from someone and wished you could pay him back somehow?" I visibly froze. "Well, here's your chance."
I could hear the guards and looked up suddenly. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea. Red and Green stood and pulled out their swords.
"The elves are coming," Green said, turning in all directions.
"I'll let you think about it," Black turned and gathered a few supplies.
I ran off to my prepared place to reside. Could that work? Could they employ me for a month or so, then I could return? This would work as long as the guards didn't slaughter the women first. After a few minutes, my mind changed and I emerged from my place. I needed to get somewhere I could see the action. I followed the sounds of the rustling and found myself fairly close to where I was previously.
Red had her head thrown back, laughter rippling through her. "Ten? Ten. You must be joking. Only ten? An, I was hoping to break a sweat. I haven't worked out in ages. I need a proper fight."
"Red, I know you think this will be easy-and it will be-but you do realize these are elves?"
"Elves?"
"Yes, elves. Pointy-eared, fairly competent fighters. They're better than men."
"Well that's a blessing," Red mumbled as the first attacked.
Swords clanged as the two woman fought off three soldiers each. The other four were either climbing trees or readying their bows or looking for the opportune moment to slip in a surprise attack.
Green ran in. "Sorry, I'm late. Had a bit of a hard time concealing you- know-what." She knocked and elf unconscious with the hilt of her sword.
"You did hide it, right?"
"Yes, yes. Have no worries." Black stabbed an elf who attempted to sink his sword into her heart and the elf fell to the ground, clutching the wound.
"Hey! I liked that one!" Red yelled.
"Give it a rest. We're fighting, not picking up extras," Black growled as she twirled her sword and sunk it into another, wounding him enough to disable him.
"Stop! You're killing off all the good looking ones!" she yelled to Black. "Get off, perve!" She shoved an elf who attempted to snap her neck and bashed him in the head.
Black laughed and took out another. The battle was very close to ending. I spotted a guard, hiding in a tree, arrow carefully aimed at Black. I scurried up the tree and quietly crawled to the elf. Thankfully he did not see or hear me, being so concentrated on his target. I gave him a hearty shove and a 'whoops!' and watched him fall, landing gracefully on his feet.
"Dang, elves are like cats!" I dove for cover when he looked up. Black's back was an open target and he returned his bow to his back, drawing his sword. Black wasn't looking and I feared he would succeed.
"Black!" I warned loudly as the elf raised his sword. Black eliminated the elf before her and turned to the elf behind her. She hit the sword away with amazing strength and the elf's eyes went wide.
"Your weapon may be relatively useless because no matter how hard you try you can't kill me. Today is not a day I feel like cryin' a'right? So bug off or I'll sink this deep in you."
In all my days, I have never seen an elf run so fast. All my thoughts were changed about elves as I saw the last standing retreat.
"Good head on his shoulders, that one," Black commented, watching him run. Red was looking mournfully at the defeated elves. "I was hoping just one."
"Ah, shove it, Red. Aren't you attached?"
"Attached?"
"Oh yeah, you don't remember him. Keep forgetting that was before you hit your head," Black mumbled.
"What?" Red asked, suddenly not interested in the elves.
"Nothing," Black said with a smile. "Nothing at all."
I jumped down from my perch and turned to see Red drawing back her sword, over her head, to strike. . .me.
"Ah!" I yelled as I crouched and rolled away.
"Red!" Black scolded.
I saw the sword bury in the ground them emerge for a second strike.
"Red, stop! You have to be goin' and killin' everyone now?"
I sat on the ground with my arms covering my head, expecting my skull to be split open. I didn't have time to grab my sword and counter the attack. I closed my eyes only to hear. "Oh, hi, Blue."
"Great, Red. You try to prevent me from killing the enemy and then you go and attempt to kill our only ally!"
"Sorry, I forgot!"
"Of course you forgot. You always forget."
"It's not my fault! I'm sorry!"
I recovered from my near death experience and stood up. I looked at the bickering two then exchanged looks with Green who rolled her eyes, mumbling, "Here we go again." She grabbed an old cloth from her pocket and started cleaning her sword, watching the injured elves hobble away.
"Get up," she kicked one and he groaned. "Leave before we add to your pain," she hissed and immediately the elf rolled over and attempted to stand. Green proceeded to settle down against a tree, shining her sword.
"Red, you're so clumsy! You fall and hit your head all the time!"
"I'm not clumsy! Just because I have a problem with my head being magnetized to objects--"
"Yes and I think hitting your head has caused you to be drawn to elves."
"They're hot!"
"Red, when will you ever remember?" Black huffed as she turned away.
"When you tell me." Red announced hopefully.
"Well that's not happening," Black answered.
"Why not?"
"If you are waiting to speak to Black, then you have a while to wait. This will go on for quite awhile," Green told me as the other two continued to raise their voices.
"Did I cause this?"
"It would have happened anyway. They do this at least every day. Might as well get it over with."
"Well then. I shall return later." I stood and walked from the camp. I was feeling pretty good about myself being able to understand almost everything the women were saying.
"Where'd Blue go?" I heard Black ask as I walked further away.
"She left. You two were too busy fighting you ignored her," Green stated.
"You-you-you made her run away again! Er.she was so close to joining!" Black yelled at Red.
"She'll be back," Green said calmly.
"What? How do you know?"
The voices became lost in the trees. Now that Black was no longer yelling, the sound did not travel as far. I walked on, following poorly made paths and jumping over fallen logs. It seemed no matter what my mood the forest would always put me at peace. An unsettling type of peace because of the feeling of vicious eyes trained upon you, but peace nonetheless.
I unceremoniously plopped under the tree I had been spending quite some time under lately. I could almost smell him, his presence; although, I knew he was not there this time. As I sat there, I wondered if this had all been a dream. It seemed so quick, so unreal. The day I thought would be a normal day-when I had normal days-seemed so long ago. Running into Legolas was a mere month ago yet it seemed to be a year. These blessed days seemed like months. I had learned more during that time than I had ever learned.
What did my future hold? Was I making the right decision joining the thieves? Thieving is a dangerous business and I might never be able to return. Would they allow me to return or think if I did I might turn them in? So far they showed no evidence of knowing it was me who tried to have them killed. I had startled myself when I stopped the guard from killing them. Did he see me? Would he report that I was alive? Or did he just think I was another thief in the gang?
I looked into the canopy of trees. I hoped he would wait for me. I hoped he would not go off and marry a she-elf before I would return. "Namaarie, Legolas. Until we meet again."
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A/N: Thank you to my reviewers!
Katharwen: You will soon see the end, for sadly, it will be coming soon. I hope after this is all finished you and all the other reviewers will check out Elven Frog's Band of Thieves which continues the story on-and I helped write :). . .partially.