~ AN- Hey guys! So, what's going on? Well, me, I'm like so totally board
and that's like a given. OK, I'm babbling now so I'll get on with whatever
I have to say to get to the chapter. Sorry that the last chapter was short
(Sorry Betsy!) but I did it in a rush so I could get it up before certain
reviewers* cough cough Betsy! * Came Niori hunting with pointy objects to
make me update! Anyway, here's the next chapter! ~
Oh, I have something really cute for you all! I absolutely love it! (I don't know who wrote it, so I can't give them credit, but I got it off The Orlando Bloom files!) ~ 100 sheets of glossy photo paper: 100$ 5 color cartridges: 75$ 15 rolls of scotch tape: 10$ A room full of Orlando pictures: PRICELESS! ~
Disclaimer- I as of now, do not own (I never will either!)
Chapter 7
" How did you know?" Amowiel asked finally, looking at Legolas with awe filled eyes. " Only four people knew I had gone to Mirkwood, and only two of them were Elves,"
Legolas stared at her in wonder. How had he forgotten her so easily? How had the memory of her been so easily suppressed?
" You went with your parents," Legolas spoke quietly, having the memories come back to him, " your mother and your father."
" The king of Gondor had to sent my father on a treaty mission to be settled with the Elf king of Mirkwood. My mother insisted that my father take us all along, she said it would be good for me to be exposed to a different race than just my own. She admired the Elves greatly, said they were a very important and lovely race,"
" Your mother didn't leave Mirkwood," Legolas spoke, a newfound horror settling in his heart, " she was.."
" She was murdered," Amowiel finished, her voice taking on the sound of deep remorse, " and right in front of my eyes,"
Legolas closed his eyes and let the memories flow back into his mind. There was a human woman lying on her back, blood seeping through the back of her dress where an Elvish knife penetrated the skin. Himself holding back a crying child, telling her that if she were to run to her fallen mother, that she would be killed too.
" Legolas," Amowiel asked him, making him reopen his eyes, " how do you know this?! The only people who knew I was even in Mirkwood were my parents, The Elven king and.."
" Me." Legolas whispered, looking at Amowiel.
Amowiel's eyes widened in shock, and her hand went to her mouth.
" It can't be." she managed to whisper through her shock, " you're the Elf who saved me."
Neither the human nor the Elf spoke. They just stood in silence, letting the memories of that terrible day play back in their minds.
Flashback:
Legolas walked through the great hall silently. He had just returned from another one of his "missions", this time taking the life of some human who his father wouldn't even tell who he was. Why his father hated the human race so much was beyond Legolas's mind, his mother's death had been an accident, but he did what his father told him to do. He was an assassin and had to kill, no matter how much he disagreed with it.
He continued to walk back towards his chambers, when something ran out in front of him. It was a child, a little girl.
The little girl stopped and looked up at him with wide green eyes. Legolas was shocked when he realized that this was no Elf, but a human child. Why would a human child be here, in the Elven halls?
" Hello," the little girl spoke, gazing high up at Legolas, " are you here to play with me?"
Legolas tilted his head to the side in amusement. This child seemed so innocent, so adorable.
" Because I need someone to play with me! My mommy and daddy are busy with the Elf king, and I'm really board," The little girl continued, " and my mommy said that I can't leave the halls!"
A small smile formed on Legolas's face. This little girl was quite adorable. He made it a point to ask his father why the little girl and her parents were here as soon as he first saw him.
" So," the girl asked, " Can you play with me now sir?"
With a grin, Legolas bent down until he could face the girl.
" I have things to attend to now, but I'll try to come and play with you later,"
It was a promise that really he had no intention of following through with, but how could he really turn a child, especially one that didn't know he was an assassin and didn't shudder every time they saw him, down?
" Thank you sir!" The little girl squealed happily, turned and skipped back down through the hall.
Legolas gave a little laugh and continued back to his quarters. *****
Later, after he had met with his father and informed him of how his "mission" had went, Legolas inquired about the little human girl who he had meet in the halls of the Great halls.
" She is here with her parents," Thranduil told him as they walked through the halls, " on business from Gondor,"
" What business could the king of Gondor ask from us?" Legolas asked further, knowing all he would probably get was a quick dismissal.
" That, young prince, is none of your concern," Thranduil spoke, a bit of harshness entering his voice, " they shall be leaving tomorrow to return to Gondor, so I suggest you concern yourself not with these humans,"
" I've already meet the child," Legolas spoke, not entirely sure why he was so curious.
" And I'd advice you to stay as far away from them," Thranduil said in a somewhat threatening voice, " for they are still Humans,"
" Father," Legolas stopped walking at stared at his father, " why must you keep your hate against the race of Men so fresh in mind? Mother's death was an accident, it was not the Humans' fault she died,"
Almost three hundred years ago (which was a short time in Elven standards), Legolas's mother, the queen of Mirkwood, had ventured out past the boarders of Mirkwood and came upon a camp of lost Humans late at night. The humans had thought that the queen had been an animal or Orc, so instead of waiting to see exactly what she was, they slew her in the dark. She had died from her injuries before she could arrive back at great halls for healing. The band of humans swore that they had not known it was an Elf who had approached them, and they were sincerely sorry for killing her, but still Thranduil took out his grief and anger out upon the whole race of Men. Over the years, his hatred at grown, and even spread to Legolas's older brother Delund.
With only a glare as an answer, Thranduil left his youngest son standing alone in the hallway. *~*~*~*~*
The next time he ran into the little girl, she was sitting in the middle of the hallway that lead from the dinning room back towards Legolas's quarters. She looked up at Legolas when she heard someone approaching. Her green eyes lit up when she realized that this was the same Elf who had said he would play with her earlier.
" Have you come to play with me now?" the little girl bounded up to her feet and ran to him, stopping when she was only a few inches away.
Legolas opened his mouth to reply that he was busy (he could not bring himself to tell this innocent little child that he had no want to play childish games with her), but then he heard loud voices and heavy footsteps approaching them both.
Out of pure instinct, Legolas grabbed the little girl's hand and pulled her over to where there was a crevasse split in the wall where shadows covered. The space was big enough to fit both the Elf and little girl. Legolas didn't exactly know why he hid himself and the girl, but something in his mind had told him it was necessary, and afterwards, he was glad he did.
The voices grew louder, and Legolas could distinguish them as one male, and the other female. The male's vice he picked up right away, it was that of his brother, who seemed to have anger and hatred filling is voice. The female's voice Legolas had never once heard before, and it was filled with what seemed to be suppressed fear.
Finally, the two came into view. It was Delund and a human woman, who Legolas presumed to be the girl's mother.
" That my mother!" The little girl gasped from her position beside Legolas.
Legolas placed a hand gently over her mouth and looked on in silence. Somehow, he figured that it would not be a very good passing to be found at this moment.
" I must ask," The woman turned around sharply, facing Legolas's brother, " why you insist on following me, prince,"
" Come on m'lady," Delund spoke, his voice hostile, " I only come to insure you do not get lost,"
" I'm sure I can find my way around," she replied coolly, " now if you excuse me, I must find my daughter,"
Then, the woman turned her back on Delund, making her mistake. Delund pulled out a sharp, long Elvish Knife.
Legolas caught sight of the knife, and felt his eyes widening in horror. His brother was going to kill her!
Then, before anyone really knew what was happening, the woman gave a small scream of pain and horror. She didn't stay standing very long, and then she fell forward. She lay on the ground, dead or dying, a long Elvish knife sticking out of the small of her back.
The little girl almost screamed and tried to run forward, but Legolas held her back.
" If you run or make a sound now," he told her in a whisper, " he'll kill you too!"
She nodded, but already tears were streaming down her cheeks. The girl had just seen her mother murdered before her innocent eyes, no one should have ever had to see that, Legolas thought, holding her back against himself, and it was my own brother who was the murder. I am one to talk, I'm an assassin, but he killed her in nothing but cold blood.
" A life for a life," Delund smirked as he stared down at her dead body, " my mother was killed by humans, and now I take my vengeance out upon you. If I come by your daughter, I'll make sure she joins you soon,"
Delund walked away, back down the hall in whence he came.
Without another word, the little girl broke free of Legolas's grasp and ran to her fallen mother. The little girl knelt down beside her mother's body, tears soaking her face and blood seeping through her dress.
Legolas stared down at the girl, making a decision in his mind. If his brother found her, he'd kill the child, so letting her go to wander the halls was no choice, so he'd have to watch over her, at least until her mother's body was discovered and she could safely be put into the arms of her father.
" Come on," he spoke softly, " we must get out of here.what is your name little one?" Legolas asked, realizing he had never learned it.
" Amowiel," she replied, her voice barley above a whisper.
" We must go now," Legolas continued, " in case my bro- he comes back to find you. Come on, I'll take you somewhere safe,"
" Do you promise you won't let anything bad happen to me?" she asked, looking up at the Elf prince with big, pleading green eyes.
All of the sudden, Legolas felt an enormous wave of pity for the little human, how could something this innocent be put to something like this so soon in her young life? He could never imagine ever wanting to do any harm or see any come to her.
" I promise," Legolas replied, smiling at the child for comfort.
End of Flashback:
Legolas and Amowiel stared at each other in wonder and disbelief. They had meet before, almost formed a friendship out of her grief, how had they forgotten each other?
" You took and hid with me in the forest surrounding the great hall until morning came," Amowiel spoke, reminding Legolas of that night, " and then you slipped me back to my father after my mother's body had been found without yourself being seen,"
" I believe that we have just found the true reason that our fathers are pushing for this war against the Elves and Men. They both had someone they loved taken from them, and by each other's races. They both let their hatred of the other over shadow the needs of a true alliance between our races,"
" And now Legolas," Amowiel spoke, looking Legolas straight in the eyes, " it is up to us to stop this war before it destroys both our races. Tell me though, am I still just the woman you were hired to kill but took as a hostage instead?"
Legolas opened his mouth to reply, but could not think of the answer. What was she to him? She was no longer just a woman he was supposed to kill, but what were the feeling he had for her? " I do not know," he answered at last.
Amowiel gave a slight nod, and then without another word nor glance, turned and started to walk towards the direction they were traveling in.
Legolas also started to walk, catching up to her. There was now an unspoken bound between the two, and as Legolas had promised almost twenty years ago, he would let nothing bad happen to this woman. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Shout outs!
Alida-fruit- Hey! I went on to your favorite stories list to see if I could find anything good to read (I figured that anything you thought was good would probably be awesome!) and I was totally FLOORED when I found that two of my stories were on there! I am honored to have my stories on your favs list because you are such a talented author and I so totally look up to you! Wow...I'm still in shock!
Betsy- Hey, sorry about how short the last chapter was! I tried to make this one longer AND more full of surprises just for you, my number one fan! LOL J/K!! Rock on dude!
Elfaer Giliell- Hey, I also found out that two of my stories are also on your fav story list and not to mention that I'm on your fav authors list. I cannot tell you all how honored I am that y'all enjoy my work.you'll never be able to believe how thankful I am! Thanks a bunch!
Alaskantiger- Ok, my story's on you list too! Wow! The same goes for you as it did the others, I'm completely floored that anyone would even CONSIDER anything I've written on their favs list! Much thanks dude!
Tamara- Thanks for the review! I always love to get new reviewers! Thanks! Anyway, please don't turn out to be one of those people who review once and then never comes back again! Please continue to review in the future!
ElvenRanger13- Hey! Thanks! Hope you review more than once! Glad you liked it!
*~*~*~*~*~* ~ AN- well, was it what you expected? That's why there's a potential war between the Humans and the Elves. I know it might not have been what you expected, how Legolas saved her life, but what did you expect? Legolas throwing himself over Amowiel just before his father killed her with a big stick (That one's for you Alida! LOL!!!)? Anyway, everyone, I just got back from seeing POTC, and IT WAS AWESOME! Orlando is so cool in it! If you haven't seen it yet, go watch it as soon as you get done reading this! J/k! But I highly recommend it to y'all! Oh, I'm going to do a little advertising now.but none of its for me! First, I'm telling you all to go read Alida-fruit's three stories, "Fading hope" over all! And second, go and read Elfaer Giliell's tow stories! I hope you two don't mind that I'm advertising for you both, but you're both such great authors, that I thought I'd tell EVERYONE about your wonderful stories! Rock on guys! And go see POTC it rocks! Bai bai! ~
Oh, I have something really cute for you all! I absolutely love it! (I don't know who wrote it, so I can't give them credit, but I got it off The Orlando Bloom files!) ~ 100 sheets of glossy photo paper: 100$ 5 color cartridges: 75$ 15 rolls of scotch tape: 10$ A room full of Orlando pictures: PRICELESS! ~
Disclaimer- I as of now, do not own (I never will either!)
Chapter 7
" How did you know?" Amowiel asked finally, looking at Legolas with awe filled eyes. " Only four people knew I had gone to Mirkwood, and only two of them were Elves,"
Legolas stared at her in wonder. How had he forgotten her so easily? How had the memory of her been so easily suppressed?
" You went with your parents," Legolas spoke quietly, having the memories come back to him, " your mother and your father."
" The king of Gondor had to sent my father on a treaty mission to be settled with the Elf king of Mirkwood. My mother insisted that my father take us all along, she said it would be good for me to be exposed to a different race than just my own. She admired the Elves greatly, said they were a very important and lovely race,"
" Your mother didn't leave Mirkwood," Legolas spoke, a newfound horror settling in his heart, " she was.."
" She was murdered," Amowiel finished, her voice taking on the sound of deep remorse, " and right in front of my eyes,"
Legolas closed his eyes and let the memories flow back into his mind. There was a human woman lying on her back, blood seeping through the back of her dress where an Elvish knife penetrated the skin. Himself holding back a crying child, telling her that if she were to run to her fallen mother, that she would be killed too.
" Legolas," Amowiel asked him, making him reopen his eyes, " how do you know this?! The only people who knew I was even in Mirkwood were my parents, The Elven king and.."
" Me." Legolas whispered, looking at Amowiel.
Amowiel's eyes widened in shock, and her hand went to her mouth.
" It can't be." she managed to whisper through her shock, " you're the Elf who saved me."
Neither the human nor the Elf spoke. They just stood in silence, letting the memories of that terrible day play back in their minds.
Flashback:
Legolas walked through the great hall silently. He had just returned from another one of his "missions", this time taking the life of some human who his father wouldn't even tell who he was. Why his father hated the human race so much was beyond Legolas's mind, his mother's death had been an accident, but he did what his father told him to do. He was an assassin and had to kill, no matter how much he disagreed with it.
He continued to walk back towards his chambers, when something ran out in front of him. It was a child, a little girl.
The little girl stopped and looked up at him with wide green eyes. Legolas was shocked when he realized that this was no Elf, but a human child. Why would a human child be here, in the Elven halls?
" Hello," the little girl spoke, gazing high up at Legolas, " are you here to play with me?"
Legolas tilted his head to the side in amusement. This child seemed so innocent, so adorable.
" Because I need someone to play with me! My mommy and daddy are busy with the Elf king, and I'm really board," The little girl continued, " and my mommy said that I can't leave the halls!"
A small smile formed on Legolas's face. This little girl was quite adorable. He made it a point to ask his father why the little girl and her parents were here as soon as he first saw him.
" So," the girl asked, " Can you play with me now sir?"
With a grin, Legolas bent down until he could face the girl.
" I have things to attend to now, but I'll try to come and play with you later,"
It was a promise that really he had no intention of following through with, but how could he really turn a child, especially one that didn't know he was an assassin and didn't shudder every time they saw him, down?
" Thank you sir!" The little girl squealed happily, turned and skipped back down through the hall.
Legolas gave a little laugh and continued back to his quarters. *****
Later, after he had met with his father and informed him of how his "mission" had went, Legolas inquired about the little human girl who he had meet in the halls of the Great halls.
" She is here with her parents," Thranduil told him as they walked through the halls, " on business from Gondor,"
" What business could the king of Gondor ask from us?" Legolas asked further, knowing all he would probably get was a quick dismissal.
" That, young prince, is none of your concern," Thranduil spoke, a bit of harshness entering his voice, " they shall be leaving tomorrow to return to Gondor, so I suggest you concern yourself not with these humans,"
" I've already meet the child," Legolas spoke, not entirely sure why he was so curious.
" And I'd advice you to stay as far away from them," Thranduil said in a somewhat threatening voice, " for they are still Humans,"
" Father," Legolas stopped walking at stared at his father, " why must you keep your hate against the race of Men so fresh in mind? Mother's death was an accident, it was not the Humans' fault she died,"
Almost three hundred years ago (which was a short time in Elven standards), Legolas's mother, the queen of Mirkwood, had ventured out past the boarders of Mirkwood and came upon a camp of lost Humans late at night. The humans had thought that the queen had been an animal or Orc, so instead of waiting to see exactly what she was, they slew her in the dark. She had died from her injuries before she could arrive back at great halls for healing. The band of humans swore that they had not known it was an Elf who had approached them, and they were sincerely sorry for killing her, but still Thranduil took out his grief and anger out upon the whole race of Men. Over the years, his hatred at grown, and even spread to Legolas's older brother Delund.
With only a glare as an answer, Thranduil left his youngest son standing alone in the hallway. *~*~*~*~*
The next time he ran into the little girl, she was sitting in the middle of the hallway that lead from the dinning room back towards Legolas's quarters. She looked up at Legolas when she heard someone approaching. Her green eyes lit up when she realized that this was the same Elf who had said he would play with her earlier.
" Have you come to play with me now?" the little girl bounded up to her feet and ran to him, stopping when she was only a few inches away.
Legolas opened his mouth to reply that he was busy (he could not bring himself to tell this innocent little child that he had no want to play childish games with her), but then he heard loud voices and heavy footsteps approaching them both.
Out of pure instinct, Legolas grabbed the little girl's hand and pulled her over to where there was a crevasse split in the wall where shadows covered. The space was big enough to fit both the Elf and little girl. Legolas didn't exactly know why he hid himself and the girl, but something in his mind had told him it was necessary, and afterwards, he was glad he did.
The voices grew louder, and Legolas could distinguish them as one male, and the other female. The male's vice he picked up right away, it was that of his brother, who seemed to have anger and hatred filling is voice. The female's voice Legolas had never once heard before, and it was filled with what seemed to be suppressed fear.
Finally, the two came into view. It was Delund and a human woman, who Legolas presumed to be the girl's mother.
" That my mother!" The little girl gasped from her position beside Legolas.
Legolas placed a hand gently over her mouth and looked on in silence. Somehow, he figured that it would not be a very good passing to be found at this moment.
" I must ask," The woman turned around sharply, facing Legolas's brother, " why you insist on following me, prince,"
" Come on m'lady," Delund spoke, his voice hostile, " I only come to insure you do not get lost,"
" I'm sure I can find my way around," she replied coolly, " now if you excuse me, I must find my daughter,"
Then, the woman turned her back on Delund, making her mistake. Delund pulled out a sharp, long Elvish Knife.
Legolas caught sight of the knife, and felt his eyes widening in horror. His brother was going to kill her!
Then, before anyone really knew what was happening, the woman gave a small scream of pain and horror. She didn't stay standing very long, and then she fell forward. She lay on the ground, dead or dying, a long Elvish knife sticking out of the small of her back.
The little girl almost screamed and tried to run forward, but Legolas held her back.
" If you run or make a sound now," he told her in a whisper, " he'll kill you too!"
She nodded, but already tears were streaming down her cheeks. The girl had just seen her mother murdered before her innocent eyes, no one should have ever had to see that, Legolas thought, holding her back against himself, and it was my own brother who was the murder. I am one to talk, I'm an assassin, but he killed her in nothing but cold blood.
" A life for a life," Delund smirked as he stared down at her dead body, " my mother was killed by humans, and now I take my vengeance out upon you. If I come by your daughter, I'll make sure she joins you soon,"
Delund walked away, back down the hall in whence he came.
Without another word, the little girl broke free of Legolas's grasp and ran to her fallen mother. The little girl knelt down beside her mother's body, tears soaking her face and blood seeping through her dress.
Legolas stared down at the girl, making a decision in his mind. If his brother found her, he'd kill the child, so letting her go to wander the halls was no choice, so he'd have to watch over her, at least until her mother's body was discovered and she could safely be put into the arms of her father.
" Come on," he spoke softly, " we must get out of here.what is your name little one?" Legolas asked, realizing he had never learned it.
" Amowiel," she replied, her voice barley above a whisper.
" We must go now," Legolas continued, " in case my bro- he comes back to find you. Come on, I'll take you somewhere safe,"
" Do you promise you won't let anything bad happen to me?" she asked, looking up at the Elf prince with big, pleading green eyes.
All of the sudden, Legolas felt an enormous wave of pity for the little human, how could something this innocent be put to something like this so soon in her young life? He could never imagine ever wanting to do any harm or see any come to her.
" I promise," Legolas replied, smiling at the child for comfort.
End of Flashback:
Legolas and Amowiel stared at each other in wonder and disbelief. They had meet before, almost formed a friendship out of her grief, how had they forgotten each other?
" You took and hid with me in the forest surrounding the great hall until morning came," Amowiel spoke, reminding Legolas of that night, " and then you slipped me back to my father after my mother's body had been found without yourself being seen,"
" I believe that we have just found the true reason that our fathers are pushing for this war against the Elves and Men. They both had someone they loved taken from them, and by each other's races. They both let their hatred of the other over shadow the needs of a true alliance between our races,"
" And now Legolas," Amowiel spoke, looking Legolas straight in the eyes, " it is up to us to stop this war before it destroys both our races. Tell me though, am I still just the woman you were hired to kill but took as a hostage instead?"
Legolas opened his mouth to reply, but could not think of the answer. What was she to him? She was no longer just a woman he was supposed to kill, but what were the feeling he had for her? " I do not know," he answered at last.
Amowiel gave a slight nod, and then without another word nor glance, turned and started to walk towards the direction they were traveling in.
Legolas also started to walk, catching up to her. There was now an unspoken bound between the two, and as Legolas had promised almost twenty years ago, he would let nothing bad happen to this woman. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Shout outs!
Alida-fruit- Hey! I went on to your favorite stories list to see if I could find anything good to read (I figured that anything you thought was good would probably be awesome!) and I was totally FLOORED when I found that two of my stories were on there! I am honored to have my stories on your favs list because you are such a talented author and I so totally look up to you! Wow...I'm still in shock!
Betsy- Hey, sorry about how short the last chapter was! I tried to make this one longer AND more full of surprises just for you, my number one fan! LOL J/K!! Rock on dude!
Elfaer Giliell- Hey, I also found out that two of my stories are also on your fav story list and not to mention that I'm on your fav authors list. I cannot tell you all how honored I am that y'all enjoy my work.you'll never be able to believe how thankful I am! Thanks a bunch!
Alaskantiger- Ok, my story's on you list too! Wow! The same goes for you as it did the others, I'm completely floored that anyone would even CONSIDER anything I've written on their favs list! Much thanks dude!
Tamara- Thanks for the review! I always love to get new reviewers! Thanks! Anyway, please don't turn out to be one of those people who review once and then never comes back again! Please continue to review in the future!
ElvenRanger13- Hey! Thanks! Hope you review more than once! Glad you liked it!
*~*~*~*~*~* ~ AN- well, was it what you expected? That's why there's a potential war between the Humans and the Elves. I know it might not have been what you expected, how Legolas saved her life, but what did you expect? Legolas throwing himself over Amowiel just before his father killed her with a big stick (That one's for you Alida! LOL!!!)? Anyway, everyone, I just got back from seeing POTC, and IT WAS AWESOME! Orlando is so cool in it! If you haven't seen it yet, go watch it as soon as you get done reading this! J/k! But I highly recommend it to y'all! Oh, I'm going to do a little advertising now.but none of its for me! First, I'm telling you all to go read Alida-fruit's three stories, "Fading hope" over all! And second, go and read Elfaer Giliell's tow stories! I hope you two don't mind that I'm advertising for you both, but you're both such great authors, that I thought I'd tell EVERYONE about your wonderful stories! Rock on guys! And go see POTC it rocks! Bai bai! ~