CHAPTER 4
Legolas' POV
I watched surprise and anger suffuse her face, and I took the opportunity to study this human. She was the first of her kind to ever occupy my thoughts in such a disconcerting manner, and as I studied her in the moonlight I tried to understand why. The night had melted into shades of blue, and as the dark columned shadows fell across her, it was difficult to believe that one was observing a living thing, and not a misplaced statue. But then one saw those eyes…
She dropped low into a halting and almost mocking bow.
"Majesty" And then she righted herself and stared at me unflinchingly with an unnerving stillness.
"What was Cassandra discussing with you?" I was curious, their argument had drawn the attention of quite a few guests, and I had never seen Cassandra break that elegant cool of hers.
There was a slight quirk of the lips as she calmly answered, "Flowerbeds."
"I'm sure," I replied caustically, and pursed my lips as I thought.
She had learned to read elvish, when most of the servants only learned to speak the complex language haltingly. A slave girl. She was familiar with Elrond's library, having most likely read most of the books. A slave girl. She had me consistently changing my assessment of her character. Every time we met she had somehow managed to confuse me, and upset my sense of balance. A mere slip of a slave girl. Impossible.
I started moving towards her, and saw some feeling skitter across her burning eyes.
When I stood directly in front of her and her eyes darkened but they still met mine. She was getting mad, I was pushing her into a corner. I intended to keep her there until she answered my blasted question, and left me in peace.
"Who are you?" I was going to get an answer.
Raveyn's POV
Damn. Shit. Fuck.
I was having such a good evening too. I honestly had no idea why, of all the people that had decided to notice me, it had to be the bloody nosy Prince of Mirkwood. It was all Leia's fault. All of it. If I hadn't decided to be such an idiot and intervene in matters that were none of my affair then none of this would have happened.
I was trying very very hard not to think about the disconcertingly tall, very masculine individual in front of me. He was trying to bully me into answering his damn question. Broad shoulder had blocked the light of the moon, so his face was thrown into shadow, and all I could see were two coolly angry slits of blue. What HE was upset about I had no idea. Nobody was bearing down on him.
Think Raveyn, think!
"Nobody, Majesty, really I have no idea what your talking about, I must be getting back to my-"
I pushed against his chest, for all the effect that had.
"Once again I ask, who are you?" He was speaking very quietly, enunciating each word with a biting tone.
And then all of a sudden-
"You ask too much highness! To ask a woman to reveal herself to the man she loves!" I was shocked as the words rolled out of my mouth, "Yes highness, loves! You want to know who I am? I A girl highness, who has been smitten by your unearthly beauty." I said passionately, I was desperately hoping disgust would make him recoil and leave me alone. I noted viciously that he did move back in horror.
"Its true highness. I have been fighting my feelings ever since I saw you that day you rode in, so tall and handsome. My heart leapt out of my chest to be crushed under the hooves of your mount." I clasped my bosom and swayed over to him, all the while not believing what the hell I was doing, and how the hell I got myself into these situations. I had had to invent more schemes in these past couple of days than in a….in a…..long time. Memories skipped at the edges of consciousness, and I twisted them away.
"That is why I have never spoken of my desire majesty. Oh highness I love you! I want to light the skies with our passion, oh please let it be tonight. Let us join together in such harmony the heavens would be jealous of such perfection on earth!" I couldn't believe this. I really couldn't believe I was doing this.
I ran a han6d gently down his face, trying my best to be seductive, and my fingertips burned where they touched his cool skin. He kept stepping backwards staring at me in utter confusion and horror. The situation was almost comical.
"I knew it! There is another that you love." Artistic tears rolled down my face, "Oh leave me be, highness leave me be, I cannot bear the cruelty with which you have shattered my tender love. I hate you!"
I threw that at his face, and taking in his slack jawed countenance shoved past him and barreled down the hallway the way a rejected woman I supposed barreled down a hallway. I locked myself up in my room and tried to catch my breath.
That little charade had brought back some ugly ghosts and I felt incredibly hollow. I didn't even feel triumphant. He wouldn't be so keen to know the truth if he knew exactly what I was hiding. My past…I sat on the hard bed and pain lanced through me searing and white hot. I stared unseeingly for a long while; the Seer's constellation had dipped below the horizon before I went to bed.
Legolas POV (Right after her passionate declaration of love)
I couldn't believe what I had just heard. She loved me, and the way she said it…..with such passion. Heat had trailed across my face as her fingers ran down my face. I couldn't keep the surprise and complete confusion from spilling across my features as I back away from her feverish actions.
This had happened before but I hadn't expected it from her…Poor girl. That day on the archery range must have affected her more than I thought. I felt like such a blasted idiot, harassing the poor child when the truth should have been plainly before me. I would leave her alone, and perhaps in time her wounds would heal.
Legolas POV (Ten hours after her passionate declaration of love)
When I awoke and pondered what had occurred, I realized her behavior of last night didn't actually explain away all of her unusual actions. Wouldn't a girl that madly in love try to somehow seduce me instead of running away?
All the others had done other small things…abundant flowers in the room…flirtatious glances and invitations, not glares and repeated exclamations to leave her alone… Well perhaps she handled being in love differently…
Legolas POV (12 hours after her passionate declaration of love)
The more I thought about it, the more I realized that her supposed love for me came out of nowhere, like a bolt of lightning on brilliant sunlit afternoon. Her behavior was certainly not amorous. It didn't explain any of her actions. And I sincerely doubted I was responsible for her reading techniques on How to Smash your enemies defense lines. Could she have…again….no not possible…
Legolas POV (12 hours and 3 minutes after her passionate declaration of love)
I was a fool. Member of the fellowship, I thought in disgust.
I looked at the array of weapons splayed across my living room wall, and selected a dull simple dagger. It looked out of place among the crafted elegance that graced most of the other weapons. Completely unthreatening I thought mildly as I ran my thumb lightly across the blade and watched as blood immediately ran along my hand.
It was time to turn the tables on the wench. She had so far played a game with him, a game at which she was adept. She had made all the rules, and set them in stone.
I walked swiftly to the small target range I had built in the garden adjacent to my room. She was a fool if she believed that her little stunt would detract me. It was only a matter of time before the rules would change.
Centuries of deftly playing court games wouldn't allow me to lose.
At least I hadn't been foolish enough to recall Ellivir. He should be in Isengaard by now.
Grasping the dagger surely by the tip I sent it whistling through the air, watched in satisfaction as it quivered home.
Narrator's POV
It was curious the way palace life moved; the elves moved serenely and gracefully as if they had all the time in the world, which they did. And the humans bustled like bees, carrying, cleaning, laughing, loving. They were often overlooked by their fairer superiors, and most would never notice the small individuals in drab colors, crouched cleaning. But they were always there, listening and watching.
Particularly Leia. But then again Leia knew many things. She shuffled dumbly around the palace, all the while carefully storing away tidbits and pieces. Sometimes they would fit together, and sometimes they wouldn't. She generally didn't care enough, but now she had a friend. So she watched out for that solitary friend of hers. She noted the faraway look in her eyes, and the manner she avoided all the places that He frequented. She saw Him too. She didn't know about Him, nor what he wanted with her friend. But she would find out.
What scared her though, what really frightened Leia, was the Lady. The Lady with cool lavender eyes that held hell. She never saw Leia, or anybody else, she would just sit there and rock back and forth. And sometimes she would smile, a slow cold smile, as if she were Death's daughter.
So Leia continued to watch and wait. And see perhaps if more pieces would come together. There was going to be trouble.
Raveyn's POV
"Girl what on earth are you doing here," The headmistress barked. She stood like an ox in the middle of the hallway, glaring at me with beady eyed fury.
I sighed, "On my way to cleaning Lady Evadriel's room madam. You unfortunately, are blocking my path."
"Are you a fool, is everybody around me a fool." I thought the question was rhetorical so waited patiently for her to explain.
"Did I not tell you that today it was the OAK Room you would be assigned to. The OAK room," She reiterated.
"No you did not."
"The OAK ROOM."
"Yes I heard you the first two times."
"Well then go on then"
"Where is the oak room" I asked, dispassionately.
"You don't know where the OAK ROOM IS?"
"No I don't know where the Oak Room is," I said quietly.
"LEIA! LEIA!" My eardrums were vibrating madly by now.
Leia poor thing came running faster than I had ever seen her move.
"Show this..this…GIRL where the OAK ROOM is!" And then she stormed away.
Leia looked at me with a curiously mischeivious expression on her face.
"You have to clean the Oak Room today?" She asked.
"Never ever say the name of that bloody room again. I have heard it too many times. And yes, I obviously do."
She nodded and started to walk in the opposite direction, I lost myself in thought as we went down a series of paths. We finally arrived at a pair of large beautifully chiseled Oak doors. Sometimes I thought, the Elves showed such startling bursts of imagination.
"Do you know who lives here?" I asked her.
"No miss I have no idea." She said too steadfastly. I looked at her suspiciously.
"I have to go" And then she started walking very rapidly, right before she turned the corner she looked at me and said, "Good luck."
I was normal compared to Leia. Pushing open the doors, I found myself in a living room, and stared in horror at the weapons arrayed across the far wall. Bows of every design and shape, swords and daggers stared mockingly at me. It couldn't be his room. No way. Many elves had weapons. Of course they did.
No I did not have this much bad luck.
Yes I did.
Distantly I heard, the sounds of water running, and thought rapidly. If I could clean very quickly…
I moved around the living room dusting like mad, and nearly impaling myself when I accidentally shouldered one of the swords. It tumbled off and fell by a long, wide black colored satchel. Replacing the sharp weapon, I turned to see if it had done any damage, and I opened the case. Paintings and sketches of all variety floated out, all drawn expertly. I saw pictures of palaces, deer, trees, and forest scenes drawn so beautifully that it was almost as if the scene came to life before your eyes. I was amazed at the skill evident in every fluid brush of the canvas. I turned to a portrait of Elrond.
It was technically perfect, with every detail mapped out precisely. Who would have thought it? To be able to kill with such deadly accuracy, and then turn those death dealing hands to painting beauty, with equal exactness…But then again I supposed millennia with nothing to do..
Catching myself, I replaced all of the paintings, quickly putting the satchel back I turned and promptly slammed into something very broad and very wet.
I saw a very damp very amused, half naked Legolas, and I screamed.
"What the HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE" I screeched.
He merely raised on eyebrow and leaned against the doorjamb to the bedroom. He had just taken a shower, and only had a towel wrapped around his slim waist. Muscle, muscle after gleaming muscle stared at me. Beautifully sculpted arms melded into broad shoulders. Lean whipcord strength delineated his chest and stomach, and water dripped teasingly down his body from his soaked loose hair.
I was in such big trouble.
I forced myself to pull my eyes up to his face.
"Sorry majesty you..ummm…you startled me…and you aren't wearing any clothes and you look different. Well obviously you look different you just took a bath. Its just that I wasn't ummm I wasn't uh expecting you to be living here because I thought you were living somewhere else. Uhhh Ok I am going to clean now."
That was fantastic. Suave Raveyn, real suave. I started dusting all the furniture. I didn't realize I had already dusted it. He kept watching me. I started picking up any bits of trash that I saw, which wasn't much. He was still watching me, following my movements with a lazy calculation.
"Did you mean what you said that night?"
It was on the tip of my tongue to say which night, before I caught myself.
"Of course" I said with a trace of nervousness and darted around him into the bedroom, where I started to pick up clothes that had been strewn around the room.
He moved swiftly behind me, "Then show me."
I gaped.
He moved one step closer and I took one step back. This wasn't supposed to happen.
"Wh-What?"
He had backed me into a corner and carefully placed both hands around either side of my head
and breathed into my ear, "Show me."
It was becoming increasingly difficult to formulate any clear coherent thoughts.
"If you want me, Show me. I am right here in front of you. Do what you will."
"Umm. Haha," I laughed weakly, "I have to go."
"Your shy. I know that's whats stopping you from 'lighting the skies with our passion'. Well then my dear, let me show you how elves seduce their chosen."
And then I stopped thinking as his damp body pressed hard against mine. His hands pushed roughly into my hair as he pulled my head back and then so softly, and so gently brushed a kiss against my mouth. Once. Then twice. And then the third time my mouth was coaxed open of its own accord as his hands ran down the sides of my body and grasped the top of my thighs. He pulled me up hard then, and my legs instinctively wrapped around his flat waist. All the while his kiss remained coaxing and persuasive; and his tongue twined with mine. My gray uniform dress had been pushed up to my waist, as my hands cupped the back of his head and I pushed into him achingly.
Mint enveloped me and I lost myself to the coolness, and burned up with heat. I hadn't realized he had been moving before he brought me down to the bed and tumbled on to it, his lower body pressing joltingly against mine. And then his hands were everywhere tracing passion across my skin as his mouth teased kisses down the line of my neck. As my head fell to the side I caught a glimpse of us in the small mirror that ornamented the far side of his bedroom.
My arms were flung out to the sides, my eyes were glazed in ecstasy, and my dress was half unbuttoned. His towel was starting to unravel and his head was pressed against the curve of my neck.
WHAT WAS I DOING.
"NO! No No" And twisting from under him I tumbled to the ground and started to back away.
Legolas POV
I had had a plan. At the beginning at least, I thought as I gazed at her, as she slowly crawled away backwards, keeping her eyes on mine the whole time. But then when I leaned in, and saw those honey shades mist over in uncertainty, I yielded for just a few moments. To just taste her again, this woman, this intriguing golden eyed mystery.
Those few moments had stretched longer as her mouth, soft and pliant beneath mine coaxed open like a flower from the heat of the sun. I remembered the pleasure that ran through my body as she had unwillingly let a soft moan slip from her lips. I remembered the feel of her body beneath my hands, and the roughness of her hair as my hands tangled in it. And when I lifted her above me, and stared up into those glittering, glowing, cat like eyes, I knew I was lost.
Hellcat I thought as I stared at her.
Mussed tangled hair that haloed wildly around her face, swollen soft lips, and eyes that had begun to regain their clarity, and which only moments ago had been hooded with desire's haze. I was surprised to feel regret.
"What, you don't love me anymore?" Sarcasm curdled my tone. Why you, I wanted to ask. Why of all I have ever seen, of all I have encountered, of all the beautiful elven women I have conversed with, does my soul resonate so strongly near you. A human. A servant.
She stared at me, and for the first time I saw hesitation and confusion flash across her eyes. She stayed silent.
"Come here," I ordered. She was trapped and she knew it. I could see her thinking ticking away all the possibilities, the escapes, the excuses, the schemes. But every route was closed, and now she didn't know what to expect. Her eyes darted to the door.
"You will not make it. Now come here."
She stiffly unwound herself, and smoothing her uniform, head held high, she walked over to me.
I stood up and tilted her chin upwards.
"You have held your own very well. I'm sure that throughout your life, you could only rely on yourself. This most likely led to your remarkable ability to be overlooked even among the keenest individuals. But you have drawn my attention. You have twice deceived me, which is more than only a handful of people can say. And you are severely mistaken if you think that I will let that go by. I know you will not tell me what I seek to know. Consequently I will find other means."
She cut me off sharply anger flaring hot and bright.
"There are no other means…Highness"
It was there in her eyes, and I smiled, "Your conviction is shattering."
And then in the silence I delivered the coup de grace, "Three days from now, I will be going hunting with a party of my friends. We are going to be riding and camping far from here. You will be my attendant. Pack warm clothes. We leave at dawn's light." And with that I turned away
Raveyn's POV
We are going to be riding and camping far from here. You will be my attendant. Pack warm
clothes because hell has just frozen over.
"I am not going," I said before thinking.
He stood very still, and I hurried to make amends, "Because I am…am not qualified, and I-"
"Enough," he said, "I will brook no argument. You are dismissed." And then the bastard walked away damn his eyes.
You are dismissed? He certainly wasn't saying that a few moments ago.
And now I was booked on a bloody camping trip, hunting! ME! I couldn't even shoot a damn arrow, and I was going as his attendant on a hunting trip.
I surveyed what had happened since Greenleaf arrived.
I had been kissed thoroughly on the archery grounds.
I had my privacy invaded.
I had my past pried into.
I had to pretend to be a giggling idiot, and an infatuated moron.
I had acted like a brazen woman, virtually falling apart in his arms.
And I was going to ride out on a camping trip.
Oh yes and how could I forget catching the attention of a psychotic, crazed bitch with a passion for unusual fertilizer.
Yes, the stars were shining on me.
And why? Because it seemed every time I was around blue eyes, I couldn't control myself.
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Author's Note
Ok I am going to address a few comments and concerns.
Trini: Hehe. I looked back at the chapter and I guess it was sort of random. I was trying to create an atmosphere where although he did not yet have feelings for her, he kind of just got pulled in to her and into the moment.
Kathryn Mason-Sykes: I tried to lengthen Legolas' POV, and later on I am hoping to put in a Cassandra POV. It is just rather difficult, maintaining all those strands of thought and giving each character their distinct voice.
To Everybody:
The spacing is weird for this chapter, and I hope it wasn't too hard to read. My computer messed up and kept playing games with me. It is going to take me longer to update, I have just recently returned to university, and have been welcomed with open arms into the Hellish realm of homework, nasty professors and everything else. So i am sorry about how long it took.
And now I just want to say thank you. You guys are wonderful, and I am so happy that you all like the story so far. It means a lot to me. And I sincerely hope that you all like this chapter. Once again, any suggestions, critiques, or concerns are welcome. Thank you.
Legolas' POV
I watched surprise and anger suffuse her face, and I took the opportunity to study this human. She was the first of her kind to ever occupy my thoughts in such a disconcerting manner, and as I studied her in the moonlight I tried to understand why. The night had melted into shades of blue, and as the dark columned shadows fell across her, it was difficult to believe that one was observing a living thing, and not a misplaced statue. But then one saw those eyes…
She dropped low into a halting and almost mocking bow.
"Majesty" And then she righted herself and stared at me unflinchingly with an unnerving stillness.
"What was Cassandra discussing with you?" I was curious, their argument had drawn the attention of quite a few guests, and I had never seen Cassandra break that elegant cool of hers.
There was a slight quirk of the lips as she calmly answered, "Flowerbeds."
"I'm sure," I replied caustically, and pursed my lips as I thought.
She had learned to read elvish, when most of the servants only learned to speak the complex language haltingly. A slave girl. She was familiar with Elrond's library, having most likely read most of the books. A slave girl. She had me consistently changing my assessment of her character. Every time we met she had somehow managed to confuse me, and upset my sense of balance. A mere slip of a slave girl. Impossible.
I started moving towards her, and saw some feeling skitter across her burning eyes.
When I stood directly in front of her and her eyes darkened but they still met mine. She was getting mad, I was pushing her into a corner. I intended to keep her there until she answered my blasted question, and left me in peace.
"Who are you?" I was going to get an answer.
Raveyn's POV
Damn. Shit. Fuck.
I was having such a good evening too. I honestly had no idea why, of all the people that had decided to notice me, it had to be the bloody nosy Prince of Mirkwood. It was all Leia's fault. All of it. If I hadn't decided to be such an idiot and intervene in matters that were none of my affair then none of this would have happened.
I was trying very very hard not to think about the disconcertingly tall, very masculine individual in front of me. He was trying to bully me into answering his damn question. Broad shoulder had blocked the light of the moon, so his face was thrown into shadow, and all I could see were two coolly angry slits of blue. What HE was upset about I had no idea. Nobody was bearing down on him.
Think Raveyn, think!
"Nobody, Majesty, really I have no idea what your talking about, I must be getting back to my-"
I pushed against his chest, for all the effect that had.
"Once again I ask, who are you?" He was speaking very quietly, enunciating each word with a biting tone.
And then all of a sudden-
"You ask too much highness! To ask a woman to reveal herself to the man she loves!" I was shocked as the words rolled out of my mouth, "Yes highness, loves! You want to know who I am? I A girl highness, who has been smitten by your unearthly beauty." I said passionately, I was desperately hoping disgust would make him recoil and leave me alone. I noted viciously that he did move back in horror.
"Its true highness. I have been fighting my feelings ever since I saw you that day you rode in, so tall and handsome. My heart leapt out of my chest to be crushed under the hooves of your mount." I clasped my bosom and swayed over to him, all the while not believing what the hell I was doing, and how the hell I got myself into these situations. I had had to invent more schemes in these past couple of days than in a….in a…..long time. Memories skipped at the edges of consciousness, and I twisted them away.
"That is why I have never spoken of my desire majesty. Oh highness I love you! I want to light the skies with our passion, oh please let it be tonight. Let us join together in such harmony the heavens would be jealous of such perfection on earth!" I couldn't believe this. I really couldn't believe I was doing this.
I ran a han6d gently down his face, trying my best to be seductive, and my fingertips burned where they touched his cool skin. He kept stepping backwards staring at me in utter confusion and horror. The situation was almost comical.
"I knew it! There is another that you love." Artistic tears rolled down my face, "Oh leave me be, highness leave me be, I cannot bear the cruelty with which you have shattered my tender love. I hate you!"
I threw that at his face, and taking in his slack jawed countenance shoved past him and barreled down the hallway the way a rejected woman I supposed barreled down a hallway. I locked myself up in my room and tried to catch my breath.
That little charade had brought back some ugly ghosts and I felt incredibly hollow. I didn't even feel triumphant. He wouldn't be so keen to know the truth if he knew exactly what I was hiding. My past…I sat on the hard bed and pain lanced through me searing and white hot. I stared unseeingly for a long while; the Seer's constellation had dipped below the horizon before I went to bed.
Legolas POV (Right after her passionate declaration of love)
I couldn't believe what I had just heard. She loved me, and the way she said it…..with such passion. Heat had trailed across my face as her fingers ran down my face. I couldn't keep the surprise and complete confusion from spilling across my features as I back away from her feverish actions.
This had happened before but I hadn't expected it from her…Poor girl. That day on the archery range must have affected her more than I thought. I felt like such a blasted idiot, harassing the poor child when the truth should have been plainly before me. I would leave her alone, and perhaps in time her wounds would heal.
Legolas POV (Ten hours after her passionate declaration of love)
When I awoke and pondered what had occurred, I realized her behavior of last night didn't actually explain away all of her unusual actions. Wouldn't a girl that madly in love try to somehow seduce me instead of running away?
All the others had done other small things…abundant flowers in the room…flirtatious glances and invitations, not glares and repeated exclamations to leave her alone… Well perhaps she handled being in love differently…
Legolas POV (12 hours after her passionate declaration of love)
The more I thought about it, the more I realized that her supposed love for me came out of nowhere, like a bolt of lightning on brilliant sunlit afternoon. Her behavior was certainly not amorous. It didn't explain any of her actions. And I sincerely doubted I was responsible for her reading techniques on How to Smash your enemies defense lines. Could she have…again….no not possible…
Legolas POV (12 hours and 3 minutes after her passionate declaration of love)
I was a fool. Member of the fellowship, I thought in disgust.
I looked at the array of weapons splayed across my living room wall, and selected a dull simple dagger. It looked out of place among the crafted elegance that graced most of the other weapons. Completely unthreatening I thought mildly as I ran my thumb lightly across the blade and watched as blood immediately ran along my hand.
It was time to turn the tables on the wench. She had so far played a game with him, a game at which she was adept. She had made all the rules, and set them in stone.
I walked swiftly to the small target range I had built in the garden adjacent to my room. She was a fool if she believed that her little stunt would detract me. It was only a matter of time before the rules would change.
Centuries of deftly playing court games wouldn't allow me to lose.
At least I hadn't been foolish enough to recall Ellivir. He should be in Isengaard by now.
Grasping the dagger surely by the tip I sent it whistling through the air, watched in satisfaction as it quivered home.
Narrator's POV
It was curious the way palace life moved; the elves moved serenely and gracefully as if they had all the time in the world, which they did. And the humans bustled like bees, carrying, cleaning, laughing, loving. They were often overlooked by their fairer superiors, and most would never notice the small individuals in drab colors, crouched cleaning. But they were always there, listening and watching.
Particularly Leia. But then again Leia knew many things. She shuffled dumbly around the palace, all the while carefully storing away tidbits and pieces. Sometimes they would fit together, and sometimes they wouldn't. She generally didn't care enough, but now she had a friend. So she watched out for that solitary friend of hers. She noted the faraway look in her eyes, and the manner she avoided all the places that He frequented. She saw Him too. She didn't know about Him, nor what he wanted with her friend. But she would find out.
What scared her though, what really frightened Leia, was the Lady. The Lady with cool lavender eyes that held hell. She never saw Leia, or anybody else, she would just sit there and rock back and forth. And sometimes she would smile, a slow cold smile, as if she were Death's daughter.
So Leia continued to watch and wait. And see perhaps if more pieces would come together. There was going to be trouble.
Raveyn's POV
"Girl what on earth are you doing here," The headmistress barked. She stood like an ox in the middle of the hallway, glaring at me with beady eyed fury.
I sighed, "On my way to cleaning Lady Evadriel's room madam. You unfortunately, are blocking my path."
"Are you a fool, is everybody around me a fool." I thought the question was rhetorical so waited patiently for her to explain.
"Did I not tell you that today it was the OAK Room you would be assigned to. The OAK room," She reiterated.
"No you did not."
"The OAK ROOM."
"Yes I heard you the first two times."
"Well then go on then"
"Where is the oak room" I asked, dispassionately.
"You don't know where the OAK ROOM IS?"
"No I don't know where the Oak Room is," I said quietly.
"LEIA! LEIA!" My eardrums were vibrating madly by now.
Leia poor thing came running faster than I had ever seen her move.
"Show this..this…GIRL where the OAK ROOM is!" And then she stormed away.
Leia looked at me with a curiously mischeivious expression on her face.
"You have to clean the Oak Room today?" She asked.
"Never ever say the name of that bloody room again. I have heard it too many times. And yes, I obviously do."
She nodded and started to walk in the opposite direction, I lost myself in thought as we went down a series of paths. We finally arrived at a pair of large beautifully chiseled Oak doors. Sometimes I thought, the Elves showed such startling bursts of imagination.
"Do you know who lives here?" I asked her.
"No miss I have no idea." She said too steadfastly. I looked at her suspiciously.
"I have to go" And then she started walking very rapidly, right before she turned the corner she looked at me and said, "Good luck."
I was normal compared to Leia. Pushing open the doors, I found myself in a living room, and stared in horror at the weapons arrayed across the far wall. Bows of every design and shape, swords and daggers stared mockingly at me. It couldn't be his room. No way. Many elves had weapons. Of course they did.
No I did not have this much bad luck.
Yes I did.
Distantly I heard, the sounds of water running, and thought rapidly. If I could clean very quickly…
I moved around the living room dusting like mad, and nearly impaling myself when I accidentally shouldered one of the swords. It tumbled off and fell by a long, wide black colored satchel. Replacing the sharp weapon, I turned to see if it had done any damage, and I opened the case. Paintings and sketches of all variety floated out, all drawn expertly. I saw pictures of palaces, deer, trees, and forest scenes drawn so beautifully that it was almost as if the scene came to life before your eyes. I was amazed at the skill evident in every fluid brush of the canvas. I turned to a portrait of Elrond.
It was technically perfect, with every detail mapped out precisely. Who would have thought it? To be able to kill with such deadly accuracy, and then turn those death dealing hands to painting beauty, with equal exactness…But then again I supposed millennia with nothing to do..
Catching myself, I replaced all of the paintings, quickly putting the satchel back I turned and promptly slammed into something very broad and very wet.
I saw a very damp very amused, half naked Legolas, and I screamed.
"What the HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE" I screeched.
He merely raised on eyebrow and leaned against the doorjamb to the bedroom. He had just taken a shower, and only had a towel wrapped around his slim waist. Muscle, muscle after gleaming muscle stared at me. Beautifully sculpted arms melded into broad shoulders. Lean whipcord strength delineated his chest and stomach, and water dripped teasingly down his body from his soaked loose hair.
I was in such big trouble.
I forced myself to pull my eyes up to his face.
"Sorry majesty you..ummm…you startled me…and you aren't wearing any clothes and you look different. Well obviously you look different you just took a bath. Its just that I wasn't ummm I wasn't uh expecting you to be living here because I thought you were living somewhere else. Uhhh Ok I am going to clean now."
That was fantastic. Suave Raveyn, real suave. I started dusting all the furniture. I didn't realize I had already dusted it. He kept watching me. I started picking up any bits of trash that I saw, which wasn't much. He was still watching me, following my movements with a lazy calculation.
"Did you mean what you said that night?"
It was on the tip of my tongue to say which night, before I caught myself.
"Of course" I said with a trace of nervousness and darted around him into the bedroom, where I started to pick up clothes that had been strewn around the room.
He moved swiftly behind me, "Then show me."
I gaped.
He moved one step closer and I took one step back. This wasn't supposed to happen.
"Wh-What?"
He had backed me into a corner and carefully placed both hands around either side of my head
and breathed into my ear, "Show me."
It was becoming increasingly difficult to formulate any clear coherent thoughts.
"If you want me, Show me. I am right here in front of you. Do what you will."
"Umm. Haha," I laughed weakly, "I have to go."
"Your shy. I know that's whats stopping you from 'lighting the skies with our passion'. Well then my dear, let me show you how elves seduce their chosen."
And then I stopped thinking as his damp body pressed hard against mine. His hands pushed roughly into my hair as he pulled my head back and then so softly, and so gently brushed a kiss against my mouth. Once. Then twice. And then the third time my mouth was coaxed open of its own accord as his hands ran down the sides of my body and grasped the top of my thighs. He pulled me up hard then, and my legs instinctively wrapped around his flat waist. All the while his kiss remained coaxing and persuasive; and his tongue twined with mine. My gray uniform dress had been pushed up to my waist, as my hands cupped the back of his head and I pushed into him achingly.
Mint enveloped me and I lost myself to the coolness, and burned up with heat. I hadn't realized he had been moving before he brought me down to the bed and tumbled on to it, his lower body pressing joltingly against mine. And then his hands were everywhere tracing passion across my skin as his mouth teased kisses down the line of my neck. As my head fell to the side I caught a glimpse of us in the small mirror that ornamented the far side of his bedroom.
My arms were flung out to the sides, my eyes were glazed in ecstasy, and my dress was half unbuttoned. His towel was starting to unravel and his head was pressed against the curve of my neck.
WHAT WAS I DOING.
"NO! No No" And twisting from under him I tumbled to the ground and started to back away.
Legolas POV
I had had a plan. At the beginning at least, I thought as I gazed at her, as she slowly crawled away backwards, keeping her eyes on mine the whole time. But then when I leaned in, and saw those honey shades mist over in uncertainty, I yielded for just a few moments. To just taste her again, this woman, this intriguing golden eyed mystery.
Those few moments had stretched longer as her mouth, soft and pliant beneath mine coaxed open like a flower from the heat of the sun. I remembered the pleasure that ran through my body as she had unwillingly let a soft moan slip from her lips. I remembered the feel of her body beneath my hands, and the roughness of her hair as my hands tangled in it. And when I lifted her above me, and stared up into those glittering, glowing, cat like eyes, I knew I was lost.
Hellcat I thought as I stared at her.
Mussed tangled hair that haloed wildly around her face, swollen soft lips, and eyes that had begun to regain their clarity, and which only moments ago had been hooded with desire's haze. I was surprised to feel regret.
"What, you don't love me anymore?" Sarcasm curdled my tone. Why you, I wanted to ask. Why of all I have ever seen, of all I have encountered, of all the beautiful elven women I have conversed with, does my soul resonate so strongly near you. A human. A servant.
She stared at me, and for the first time I saw hesitation and confusion flash across her eyes. She stayed silent.
"Come here," I ordered. She was trapped and she knew it. I could see her thinking ticking away all the possibilities, the escapes, the excuses, the schemes. But every route was closed, and now she didn't know what to expect. Her eyes darted to the door.
"You will not make it. Now come here."
She stiffly unwound herself, and smoothing her uniform, head held high, she walked over to me.
I stood up and tilted her chin upwards.
"You have held your own very well. I'm sure that throughout your life, you could only rely on yourself. This most likely led to your remarkable ability to be overlooked even among the keenest individuals. But you have drawn my attention. You have twice deceived me, which is more than only a handful of people can say. And you are severely mistaken if you think that I will let that go by. I know you will not tell me what I seek to know. Consequently I will find other means."
She cut me off sharply anger flaring hot and bright.
"There are no other means…Highness"
It was there in her eyes, and I smiled, "Your conviction is shattering."
And then in the silence I delivered the coup de grace, "Three days from now, I will be going hunting with a party of my friends. We are going to be riding and camping far from here. You will be my attendant. Pack warm clothes. We leave at dawn's light." And with that I turned away
Raveyn's POV
We are going to be riding and camping far from here. You will be my attendant. Pack warm
clothes because hell has just frozen over.
"I am not going," I said before thinking.
He stood very still, and I hurried to make amends, "Because I am…am not qualified, and I-"
"Enough," he said, "I will brook no argument. You are dismissed." And then the bastard walked away damn his eyes.
You are dismissed? He certainly wasn't saying that a few moments ago.
And now I was booked on a bloody camping trip, hunting! ME! I couldn't even shoot a damn arrow, and I was going as his attendant on a hunting trip.
I surveyed what had happened since Greenleaf arrived.
I had been kissed thoroughly on the archery grounds.
I had my privacy invaded.
I had my past pried into.
I had to pretend to be a giggling idiot, and an infatuated moron.
I had acted like a brazen woman, virtually falling apart in his arms.
And I was going to ride out on a camping trip.
Oh yes and how could I forget catching the attention of a psychotic, crazed bitch with a passion for unusual fertilizer.
Yes, the stars were shining on me.
And why? Because it seemed every time I was around blue eyes, I couldn't control myself.
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Author's Note
Ok I am going to address a few comments and concerns.
Trini: Hehe. I looked back at the chapter and I guess it was sort of random. I was trying to create an atmosphere where although he did not yet have feelings for her, he kind of just got pulled in to her and into the moment.
Kathryn Mason-Sykes: I tried to lengthen Legolas' POV, and later on I am hoping to put in a Cassandra POV. It is just rather difficult, maintaining all those strands of thought and giving each character their distinct voice.
To Everybody:
The spacing is weird for this chapter, and I hope it wasn't too hard to read. My computer messed up and kept playing games with me. It is going to take me longer to update, I have just recently returned to university, and have been welcomed with open arms into the Hellish realm of homework, nasty professors and everything else. So i am sorry about how long it took.
And now I just want to say thank you. You guys are wonderful, and I am so happy that you all like the story so far. It means a lot to me. And I sincerely hope that you all like this chapter. Once again, any suggestions, critiques, or concerns are welcome. Thank you.