Author's Note: Hmmm...I'm really, really, very, incredibly, hesitant to continue this story. I'm just not seeing my concept come to life as I had imagined it. The readers of this site, rightfully agree.
Much thanks to Snooboostoo for my two reviews. They were much appreciated.
So here is perhaps, the last chapter of my story, unless my muse decides to give me some talent, along with the misguided inspiration it's been shelling out.
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~*~CHAPTER 3~*~
"You've been staring at her from some time now, my son." Thranduil looked with thinking eyes at Legolas. "We are all curious as to her identity, her motives. However, your actions are no cataylst to her waking."
Legolas sighed. He had been staring at his elleth for at least an hour, trying to dychper, what? He did not know, but he found the situation a captivating one.
This was the girl that slaughtered orcs, by the dozens, perhaps single-handedly. What would drive her to do so? What gave her these capabilities? Were her motives driven by evil, good, or something else? Yes, there were too many questions, mostly because this elleth was the last person he, or anybody had expected to be thier mystrious hunter. Looking at her know, incapbable of even opening her eyes, it was hard to imagine her killing anything.
No, Legolas thought. He did not have to imagine her killing. He had seen it with his own eyes. He had seen the skill, and grace in the her blows in the few orcs he'd witness her kill. Even more, he had seen her injured to save his life. Maybe that was it. It was guilt that drove him to sit in this chair, staring futily.
Finally rubbing his eyes in an exhasted, and frusterated motion, the prince answered his father.
"I know Ada."
Thranduil studied his son. He too, had felt compelled to watch this peculiar maiden, and obsess over the mystery. They had finally found thier warrior, and it was this elleth who had killed so many orcs for a reason unexplained. It took a bit of his own elven self control, in order to keep from grabbing her shoulders and shaking her till she woke. They all wanted answers.
Placing his hand upon his son's shoulder, he contented himself to sit in observation of the girl for a while. It would not hurt, the king thought resoundly.
"Do you think she is beautiful my son?" Thrauduil asked, curious at his son's response.
"Her beauty is of no consequence to me." Legolas answered, but his words sounded planned. It gave away to his father, that while the prince had pondered many aspects of this girl before him, he had not overlooked her appearence. Beneath the dark and dirty clothes, and the mud coated face, the girl was very beautiful. It was somewhat expected, considering she was elven, but nevertheless, it did not seem a fighter so lethal should look so harmless. Even more than that, she did not only look harmless but nearly inviting.
"Pity to the orc that meets her blade." Legolas murmered. Thranduil only nodded, and then turned out of the room. He would not waste his energy attempting to convince his son to leave. The boy would learn on his on, the king thought, shutting the door with a resouding click.
Legolas, who ignored his fathered departure, continued to stare at the bed before him. Long, dark hair was splay upon it's white sheets, nestling a pale face with apricot lips that stayed as still as stone. The rise and fall of the girl's chest proved the only indication of her life.
Standing from his chair, Legolas walked over to the figure, knowing full well that studying the maiden closer would only intensify his curiosity. It was then that he heard a moan. Then another, loader and more pronouced, before sea blue eyes snapped open in surprised. By the time this happened, Legolas had already taken several steps away from the bed.
Was it instinct perhaps, that made him wary? Legolas was reminded of a lesson he learned when training as a child, that a cornered animal proved to be the most ferocious. This elleth, was likly to be confused, perhaps aggressive when she woke. Confronted with this moment of reckoning, the prince realized how little he truly knew about this girl.
The girl meanwhile, had not moved from where she lay, but was now examining her surroundings in a surprisingly calm manner. Her eyes finally rested on the elf that stood before her, hands clasped behind his back, staring fixedly at her.
"Hello. I am prince Legolas Greenleaf. You were injured by an orc, and my people have brough you here to heal you, but we mean no harm." Legolas proclaimed in a confident voice, that betrayed his feelings at the moment.
Lana merely sat up, and touched her right shoulder with her finger. Wincing, and then nodding her head, she decided that she was in fact, actually injured. Stupid elves, the elleth could not help thinking again.
"I remember you." She stated suddenly. "Your the blonde elf, who nearly got both of us killed."
There was no malice in her voice, but irritation was present. Legolas, taken aback at the directness of the words, could think of nothing to say. He just watched as the elleth before him swung her legs around, and stood slowly off the bed. Legolas rushed to her side.
"No, you should no attempt to stand." he started, but she brushed his hands away. She was no child.
"There is no attempt here, prince." Lana spat, and Legolas did not like the edge in her voice when she spoke her last word. "As you see, I am already standing, and desire no help from you to help me lie back down."
Backing away from the disgruntled female, Legolas could not decide if he was more insulted or impressed with her fiery attitude. Now that she was standing, Lana's limbs felt incredible similar to unbaked dough. She decided that there was little else to do, but stare at the elf before her.
"Why do you look at me like that?" Legolas could not help but ask.
"No reason. I just wanted you to know how it feels."
The prince bowed his head in polite apology.
"Your pardon mylady. I was not aware I was staring. May I ask your name?"
Lana squinted her eyes. Why was she wasting her time here? If she had her wits about her, and did not feel more faint with every second she stood, she'd be out of this bedroom. Perhaps even looking for her clothes, or anything other than this infernal dress they'd put her in. The longer she stayed with these elves, despite how much they thought they were helping her, the worse off she was.
"My name," the elleth finally said "is really none of your business, but since you will probably persist in discovering it, I will put you out of your misery and tell you. It's Lana."
Legolas could not help but smile at her spiel. Just then the door open, revealing Thranduil, who smiled warmly at the pair before him. He had heard thier converstaion before entering the room, and found it most entertaining. Walking over to the girl, he took her hand, and placed a gracious kiss upon her hand.
"Lady Lana, I am King Thrauduil. I take it you found your rest her comforable?"
Lana smiled politely, hoping this king was far less foolhardly then his son.
"Yes your highness. I can not thank you enough for your graciousness, but I'm afraid I must be going."
Thraunduil smiled.
"So soon? Are you sure you have enough strength? You lost much blood during your ordeal."
"Yes, very sure. I have many," Lana paused, groping for the right word. "problems, I must see too. They are sure to worsen with every second of my absence.
Thraunduil raised a eyebrowed, but his face showed litle surprised.
"That is unfortuate. I was looking forward to speaking with you, but I admit, I expected your hasty departure. You are no prisoner here, and may leave as you choose."
Lana managed a curt nod.
"Thank you your highness."
Legolas could not hide his surpised at the scene that had unfolded before him. Here was his father's opportunity to discover more about this mysterious hunter, and he would just let her walk away? The prince could not believe it.
Lana, was also surprised as well. She hadn't expected her "escape" to be that easy. She would not waste time asking about it, however. Giving one last, small smile, the warrior took a confident step forward.
Hmm, Lana thought. This king was much smarter than his son afterall and he gained her respect in that. Turning around to face the father and son, the elleth sighed.
"Actually, I may stay for a bit more rest after all," she managed to get out, before visibly beginning to waver. Legolas was at her side in an instant, supporting her shaky form.
"I had advised you earlier mylady, that you should not be walking." Legolas reminded.
He later heard her grumble something that sounded like "stupid elf" as he lead her back to the bed. Thraunduil only smiled.
Much thanks to Snooboostoo for my two reviews. They were much appreciated.
So here is perhaps, the last chapter of my story, unless my muse decides to give me some talent, along with the misguided inspiration it's been shelling out.
---------------------------------
~*~CHAPTER 3~*~
"You've been staring at her from some time now, my son." Thranduil looked with thinking eyes at Legolas. "We are all curious as to her identity, her motives. However, your actions are no cataylst to her waking."
Legolas sighed. He had been staring at his elleth for at least an hour, trying to dychper, what? He did not know, but he found the situation a captivating one.
This was the girl that slaughtered orcs, by the dozens, perhaps single-handedly. What would drive her to do so? What gave her these capabilities? Were her motives driven by evil, good, or something else? Yes, there were too many questions, mostly because this elleth was the last person he, or anybody had expected to be thier mystrious hunter. Looking at her know, incapbable of even opening her eyes, it was hard to imagine her killing anything.
No, Legolas thought. He did not have to imagine her killing. He had seen it with his own eyes. He had seen the skill, and grace in the her blows in the few orcs he'd witness her kill. Even more, he had seen her injured to save his life. Maybe that was it. It was guilt that drove him to sit in this chair, staring futily.
Finally rubbing his eyes in an exhasted, and frusterated motion, the prince answered his father.
"I know Ada."
Thranduil studied his son. He too, had felt compelled to watch this peculiar maiden, and obsess over the mystery. They had finally found thier warrior, and it was this elleth who had killed so many orcs for a reason unexplained. It took a bit of his own elven self control, in order to keep from grabbing her shoulders and shaking her till she woke. They all wanted answers.
Placing his hand upon his son's shoulder, he contented himself to sit in observation of the girl for a while. It would not hurt, the king thought resoundly.
"Do you think she is beautiful my son?" Thrauduil asked, curious at his son's response.
"Her beauty is of no consequence to me." Legolas answered, but his words sounded planned. It gave away to his father, that while the prince had pondered many aspects of this girl before him, he had not overlooked her appearence. Beneath the dark and dirty clothes, and the mud coated face, the girl was very beautiful. It was somewhat expected, considering she was elven, but nevertheless, it did not seem a fighter so lethal should look so harmless. Even more than that, she did not only look harmless but nearly inviting.
"Pity to the orc that meets her blade." Legolas murmered. Thranduil only nodded, and then turned out of the room. He would not waste his energy attempting to convince his son to leave. The boy would learn on his on, the king thought, shutting the door with a resouding click.
Legolas, who ignored his fathered departure, continued to stare at the bed before him. Long, dark hair was splay upon it's white sheets, nestling a pale face with apricot lips that stayed as still as stone. The rise and fall of the girl's chest proved the only indication of her life.
Standing from his chair, Legolas walked over to the figure, knowing full well that studying the maiden closer would only intensify his curiosity. It was then that he heard a moan. Then another, loader and more pronouced, before sea blue eyes snapped open in surprised. By the time this happened, Legolas had already taken several steps away from the bed.
Was it instinct perhaps, that made him wary? Legolas was reminded of a lesson he learned when training as a child, that a cornered animal proved to be the most ferocious. This elleth, was likly to be confused, perhaps aggressive when she woke. Confronted with this moment of reckoning, the prince realized how little he truly knew about this girl.
The girl meanwhile, had not moved from where she lay, but was now examining her surroundings in a surprisingly calm manner. Her eyes finally rested on the elf that stood before her, hands clasped behind his back, staring fixedly at her.
"Hello. I am prince Legolas Greenleaf. You were injured by an orc, and my people have brough you here to heal you, but we mean no harm." Legolas proclaimed in a confident voice, that betrayed his feelings at the moment.
Lana merely sat up, and touched her right shoulder with her finger. Wincing, and then nodding her head, she decided that she was in fact, actually injured. Stupid elves, the elleth could not help thinking again.
"I remember you." She stated suddenly. "Your the blonde elf, who nearly got both of us killed."
There was no malice in her voice, but irritation was present. Legolas, taken aback at the directness of the words, could think of nothing to say. He just watched as the elleth before him swung her legs around, and stood slowly off the bed. Legolas rushed to her side.
"No, you should no attempt to stand." he started, but she brushed his hands away. She was no child.
"There is no attempt here, prince." Lana spat, and Legolas did not like the edge in her voice when she spoke her last word. "As you see, I am already standing, and desire no help from you to help me lie back down."
Backing away from the disgruntled female, Legolas could not decide if he was more insulted or impressed with her fiery attitude. Now that she was standing, Lana's limbs felt incredible similar to unbaked dough. She decided that there was little else to do, but stare at the elf before her.
"Why do you look at me like that?" Legolas could not help but ask.
"No reason. I just wanted you to know how it feels."
The prince bowed his head in polite apology.
"Your pardon mylady. I was not aware I was staring. May I ask your name?"
Lana squinted her eyes. Why was she wasting her time here? If she had her wits about her, and did not feel more faint with every second she stood, she'd be out of this bedroom. Perhaps even looking for her clothes, or anything other than this infernal dress they'd put her in. The longer she stayed with these elves, despite how much they thought they were helping her, the worse off she was.
"My name," the elleth finally said "is really none of your business, but since you will probably persist in discovering it, I will put you out of your misery and tell you. It's Lana."
Legolas could not help but smile at her spiel. Just then the door open, revealing Thranduil, who smiled warmly at the pair before him. He had heard thier converstaion before entering the room, and found it most entertaining. Walking over to the girl, he took her hand, and placed a gracious kiss upon her hand.
"Lady Lana, I am King Thrauduil. I take it you found your rest her comforable?"
Lana smiled politely, hoping this king was far less foolhardly then his son.
"Yes your highness. I can not thank you enough for your graciousness, but I'm afraid I must be going."
Thraunduil smiled.
"So soon? Are you sure you have enough strength? You lost much blood during your ordeal."
"Yes, very sure. I have many," Lana paused, groping for the right word. "problems, I must see too. They are sure to worsen with every second of my absence.
Thraunduil raised a eyebrowed, but his face showed litle surprised.
"That is unfortuate. I was looking forward to speaking with you, but I admit, I expected your hasty departure. You are no prisoner here, and may leave as you choose."
Lana managed a curt nod.
"Thank you your highness."
Legolas could not hide his surpised at the scene that had unfolded before him. Here was his father's opportunity to discover more about this mysterious hunter, and he would just let her walk away? The prince could not believe it.
Lana, was also surprised as well. She hadn't expected her "escape" to be that easy. She would not waste time asking about it, however. Giving one last, small smile, the warrior took a confident step forward.
Hmm, Lana thought. This king was much smarter than his son afterall and he gained her respect in that. Turning around to face the father and son, the elleth sighed.
"Actually, I may stay for a bit more rest after all," she managed to get out, before visibly beginning to waver. Legolas was at her side in an instant, supporting her shaky form.
"I had advised you earlier mylady, that you should not be walking." Legolas reminded.
He later heard her grumble something that sounded like "stupid elf" as he lead her back to the bed. Thraunduil only smiled.