The nights were full of uncomfortable silence, the days with tension and
snide comments. They had caught up with several small groups of orcs though
the main host, the ones they truly sought, seemed to stay just beyond their
reach. Legolas leaned against a tree, his eyes closed and his head
pounding. The constant strain of the past weeks was wearing on him. Having
her so close was. unbearable. Every time he spoke to her he made a hurtful
comment. He rejoiced when his words wounded her but his heart ached that it
was so.
He opened his eyes and watched her across the fire, sitting quietly near her troops, her hands folded and a small unhappy frown on her lips. After her initial anger she had been so calm, so distant. He wanted to shake her, to make her angry, to make her respond to him in any way. But no matter what he said, no matter how hurtful and cruel his words she never retorted, never uttered an angry word
He couldn't continue this way, they couldn't continue this way. He had to talk to her, to make a peace of sorts between them. He watched as Kallo leaned and whispered something to her, his face turned away from the prince. Suddenly her eyes met his across the fire and something very akin to pain flashed across her features. He felt his heart lurch within him and he sat up straight unable to pull his eyes from hers. The large elf turned and glared at him, malevolence in his eyes.
He stood and began to walk towards her, wanting to know the cause of such pain, wanting to settle things. The large elf stood quickly and moved between them crossing his large arms over his chest. He pulled up short and stared at the glaring elf, forced to cock his head uncomfortably to meet the giants' gaze.
"Let me pass, Kallo." He said calmly.
"She doesn't want to see you, princeling." The other replied, his eyes narrowing dangerously.
"I just want to talk to her. Let me pass." Legolas struggled to maintain his composure.
"It's not going to happen. Walk away if you know what's good for you." came the retort.
He felt his ire rising and fought to keep his hands at his side. He searched his mind for calm words, couldn't find any in the sea of his emotion. He met the large elfs eyes and struggled against his desire to hit him. He felt his fingers curl into fists. Suddenly a small hand rested lightly on his shoulder and a small body stepped between the two males.
"It's ok, Kallo." She said quietly, and Legolas was dismayed to feel his heart leap at the mere sound of her voice.
"Rhya." began the large elf, his face frozen in an angry grimace.
"No, Kallo. I said I am okay. This has to happen." She replied, resting her hands on the large elfs chest in a warding gesture. Legolas watched with dismay as the large elf put his hands over hers and nodded, bending his head to place a kiss on the maids cheek before stalking away with a glare.
She stood facing away from him as the large elf walked away, finally turning, unable to meet his eyes.
"Can we walk a bit, please?" she asked him, her voice soft and tremulous.
He nodded and gestured for her to lead, watching as she walked by, noting the anxious set of her shoulders, the way she wrung her hands behind her as she moved. They walked in silence and he was grateful. There was too much he needed to say, too much he was afraid to hear. When she finally stopped and faced him he was startled to see tears in her eyes.
"Rhya, what's wrong?" he asked, stepping closer, unable to stop himself. She shook her head and stepped back a bit and he saw she was shaking.
"Don't, please, Legolas, I can't stand it." She said, her voice barely above a whisper.
"What can't you stand, Rhya?" he asked, though within himself he knew the answer.
"I can't stand to be so close to you and if you touched me..." She replied, her voice low, the words sounding as though they were dragged form her.
He felt his jaw drop open as he groped around for something to say. Of all the things he had expected from her, anger, hate, even indifference this quiet desperation and longing confused him totally.
The silence stretched between them and finally he said, "I don't understand."
She shook her head and replied, "I know you don't. And I can't make you."
He felt anger well within him and fought to keep the edge from his voice when he said, "You could at least try, Rhya. Don't you think I deserve that much?"
She nodded, her eyes sad. "You deserve that and so much more. I thought it would be easier, for you, if you could hate me. That maybe your anger would sooth you until the pain was lessened. I was thinking of you, Legolas."
He felt the blood rush to his face, anger and hurt warring within him. "Thinking of me? At which turn? Where you waited for me to confess my love and then left me? When you bedded me and tossed me aside? How exactly when were you thinking of me, I'm hard pressed to see concern for anyone besides you in your actions." He felt his voice rise as he spoke, but was powerless to keep the emotions hidden.
She raised her head and he saw her eyes flash angrily. "Concern only for myself? Yes, I suppose it might look that way, to you. You assume it was so easy for me to love you, to know all that prevented it, the price I would pay. You know nothing. You come from this green place and think your world the same as mine. Our worlds couldn't be more different, Legolas. I thought for a minute to escape mine, that the love I feel for you would be strong enough to break millennia of traditions, to break the inevitable pull of fate."
He saw tears standing in her eyes and her pain joined his confusion, a ball of agony forming deep in the pit of his stomach. He took a step closer and she one back, her face twisted with sorrow. "I am sorry I have hurt you. If I could go back in time and do things differently, I would. I would never have left the camp that night, wouldn't have spoken to you in the clearing. would never have made love with you."
Her simple words were like a dagger to his heart, hearing her state so plainly her wish to change history. "So you regret me then?" he asked, his heart bare and aching.
She shook her head and the tears spilled forth leaving silver trails on her fair skin, disappearing into her dark hair. "I don't regret it. But I would take it back, if I could. All it will be in the end is a memory of what could never be mine, and a bitter footnote for you. If I could I would spare us both that."
"But what's done is done." He said, his voice soft. "You can't take it back, I wouldn't even if I could. No matter how much time passes, no matter what happens tomorrow or in a century, you will never be a footnote to me."
He took a step forward, his eyes locked with hers. "Something within me was born the moment I saw you. Something in you calls to me. Every morning I will wake from dreams of you and every night I will sleep with your name on my lips."
He reached out slowly, carefully slipping his hand behind her neck, tangling his fingers in the raven locks, nearly groaning at the electric jolt that seared him as their flesh met. He saw her jump slightly, and knew she had felt it too. He looked down into her eyes as he spoke, feeling her whole body tremble as he stepped closer still.
"If I were blind I would still see you. Please, love, don't make me blind." Slowly, he lowered his head, his lips brushing hers, terrified that she would flee, and somehow knowing she wouldn't. Her eyes fluttered closed and she melted against him, raising her arms and lacing them around his neck, pulling him closer, deepening the kiss, her tears wetting his cheeks.
Finally, desperate for air they separated. Her eyes remained closed for a minute, her breathing slowing. Finally she opened her eyes and searched his face, opened her mouth to speak. Suddenly her eyes widened and she stiffened against him. Instants later Legolas felt something invisible wrap around his body, immobilizing him. He felt the air around him hum and could feel the magic in it. He shifted his eyes, the only parts he could, and met hers. Sheer terror blazed from her and he felt his heartbeat quicken.
A slender hand, a heavy ruby ring adorning the smallest finger suddenly appeared in his vision, sliding slowly, sensuously down Rhyallas cheek. "I have waited for you, princess." Said a male voice, the owner of the hand, the elvish words twisted in a heavy accent, similar to the Quel.
"I am a not a man of patience." He said, his voice impassive, conversational. Legolas watched as his fingers closed on her lower lip, pinching, knuckles white with the pressure he applied. A strangled sound pushed past the block in her throat and he struggled vainly against the magics holding him.
"You have made me unhappy, princess. You will learn to never do it again." The hand disappeared for a second and then returned, a blur of motion, a stinging slap delivered to her pale cheek.
"And you will pay dearly for making me wait." Tears streamed unchecked down her cheeks and Legolas fought against his bonds, not so much as a single muscle twitching despite his efforts. He heard the satisfaction in the voice as it spoke again. "And you, sir, shall be a bonus prize for my enjoyment. You have sullied what is mine. I have much to discuss with you."
Legolas braced for a blow, but none fell. Instead he heard the speaker turn and say something in the Quel language, something Legolas could barely decipher. His eyes widened as he felt the hands lift him and then felt the hard wooden boards beneath him, his sight blocked by a hood.
He felt movement as they slid her prone form into the cart beside him, heard the laughter of many men around him as the man with the ring shouted, "Onward, now, time to make for home. I hope my guests will enjoy it." Cruel laughter echoed around him as the words to another spell floated on the air, ending with a sharp hiss, taking his consciousness with it.
He opened his eyes and watched her across the fire, sitting quietly near her troops, her hands folded and a small unhappy frown on her lips. After her initial anger she had been so calm, so distant. He wanted to shake her, to make her angry, to make her respond to him in any way. But no matter what he said, no matter how hurtful and cruel his words she never retorted, never uttered an angry word
He couldn't continue this way, they couldn't continue this way. He had to talk to her, to make a peace of sorts between them. He watched as Kallo leaned and whispered something to her, his face turned away from the prince. Suddenly her eyes met his across the fire and something very akin to pain flashed across her features. He felt his heart lurch within him and he sat up straight unable to pull his eyes from hers. The large elf turned and glared at him, malevolence in his eyes.
He stood and began to walk towards her, wanting to know the cause of such pain, wanting to settle things. The large elf stood quickly and moved between them crossing his large arms over his chest. He pulled up short and stared at the glaring elf, forced to cock his head uncomfortably to meet the giants' gaze.
"Let me pass, Kallo." He said calmly.
"She doesn't want to see you, princeling." The other replied, his eyes narrowing dangerously.
"I just want to talk to her. Let me pass." Legolas struggled to maintain his composure.
"It's not going to happen. Walk away if you know what's good for you." came the retort.
He felt his ire rising and fought to keep his hands at his side. He searched his mind for calm words, couldn't find any in the sea of his emotion. He met the large elfs eyes and struggled against his desire to hit him. He felt his fingers curl into fists. Suddenly a small hand rested lightly on his shoulder and a small body stepped between the two males.
"It's ok, Kallo." She said quietly, and Legolas was dismayed to feel his heart leap at the mere sound of her voice.
"Rhya." began the large elf, his face frozen in an angry grimace.
"No, Kallo. I said I am okay. This has to happen." She replied, resting her hands on the large elfs chest in a warding gesture. Legolas watched with dismay as the large elf put his hands over hers and nodded, bending his head to place a kiss on the maids cheek before stalking away with a glare.
She stood facing away from him as the large elf walked away, finally turning, unable to meet his eyes.
"Can we walk a bit, please?" she asked him, her voice soft and tremulous.
He nodded and gestured for her to lead, watching as she walked by, noting the anxious set of her shoulders, the way she wrung her hands behind her as she moved. They walked in silence and he was grateful. There was too much he needed to say, too much he was afraid to hear. When she finally stopped and faced him he was startled to see tears in her eyes.
"Rhya, what's wrong?" he asked, stepping closer, unable to stop himself. She shook her head and stepped back a bit and he saw she was shaking.
"Don't, please, Legolas, I can't stand it." She said, her voice barely above a whisper.
"What can't you stand, Rhya?" he asked, though within himself he knew the answer.
"I can't stand to be so close to you and if you touched me..." She replied, her voice low, the words sounding as though they were dragged form her.
He felt his jaw drop open as he groped around for something to say. Of all the things he had expected from her, anger, hate, even indifference this quiet desperation and longing confused him totally.
The silence stretched between them and finally he said, "I don't understand."
She shook her head and replied, "I know you don't. And I can't make you."
He felt anger well within him and fought to keep the edge from his voice when he said, "You could at least try, Rhya. Don't you think I deserve that much?"
She nodded, her eyes sad. "You deserve that and so much more. I thought it would be easier, for you, if you could hate me. That maybe your anger would sooth you until the pain was lessened. I was thinking of you, Legolas."
He felt the blood rush to his face, anger and hurt warring within him. "Thinking of me? At which turn? Where you waited for me to confess my love and then left me? When you bedded me and tossed me aside? How exactly when were you thinking of me, I'm hard pressed to see concern for anyone besides you in your actions." He felt his voice rise as he spoke, but was powerless to keep the emotions hidden.
She raised her head and he saw her eyes flash angrily. "Concern only for myself? Yes, I suppose it might look that way, to you. You assume it was so easy for me to love you, to know all that prevented it, the price I would pay. You know nothing. You come from this green place and think your world the same as mine. Our worlds couldn't be more different, Legolas. I thought for a minute to escape mine, that the love I feel for you would be strong enough to break millennia of traditions, to break the inevitable pull of fate."
He saw tears standing in her eyes and her pain joined his confusion, a ball of agony forming deep in the pit of his stomach. He took a step closer and she one back, her face twisted with sorrow. "I am sorry I have hurt you. If I could go back in time and do things differently, I would. I would never have left the camp that night, wouldn't have spoken to you in the clearing. would never have made love with you."
Her simple words were like a dagger to his heart, hearing her state so plainly her wish to change history. "So you regret me then?" he asked, his heart bare and aching.
She shook her head and the tears spilled forth leaving silver trails on her fair skin, disappearing into her dark hair. "I don't regret it. But I would take it back, if I could. All it will be in the end is a memory of what could never be mine, and a bitter footnote for you. If I could I would spare us both that."
"But what's done is done." He said, his voice soft. "You can't take it back, I wouldn't even if I could. No matter how much time passes, no matter what happens tomorrow or in a century, you will never be a footnote to me."
He took a step forward, his eyes locked with hers. "Something within me was born the moment I saw you. Something in you calls to me. Every morning I will wake from dreams of you and every night I will sleep with your name on my lips."
He reached out slowly, carefully slipping his hand behind her neck, tangling his fingers in the raven locks, nearly groaning at the electric jolt that seared him as their flesh met. He saw her jump slightly, and knew she had felt it too. He looked down into her eyes as he spoke, feeling her whole body tremble as he stepped closer still.
"If I were blind I would still see you. Please, love, don't make me blind." Slowly, he lowered his head, his lips brushing hers, terrified that she would flee, and somehow knowing she wouldn't. Her eyes fluttered closed and she melted against him, raising her arms and lacing them around his neck, pulling him closer, deepening the kiss, her tears wetting his cheeks.
Finally, desperate for air they separated. Her eyes remained closed for a minute, her breathing slowing. Finally she opened her eyes and searched his face, opened her mouth to speak. Suddenly her eyes widened and she stiffened against him. Instants later Legolas felt something invisible wrap around his body, immobilizing him. He felt the air around him hum and could feel the magic in it. He shifted his eyes, the only parts he could, and met hers. Sheer terror blazed from her and he felt his heartbeat quicken.
A slender hand, a heavy ruby ring adorning the smallest finger suddenly appeared in his vision, sliding slowly, sensuously down Rhyallas cheek. "I have waited for you, princess." Said a male voice, the owner of the hand, the elvish words twisted in a heavy accent, similar to the Quel.
"I am a not a man of patience." He said, his voice impassive, conversational. Legolas watched as his fingers closed on her lower lip, pinching, knuckles white with the pressure he applied. A strangled sound pushed past the block in her throat and he struggled vainly against the magics holding him.
"You have made me unhappy, princess. You will learn to never do it again." The hand disappeared for a second and then returned, a blur of motion, a stinging slap delivered to her pale cheek.
"And you will pay dearly for making me wait." Tears streamed unchecked down her cheeks and Legolas fought against his bonds, not so much as a single muscle twitching despite his efforts. He heard the satisfaction in the voice as it spoke again. "And you, sir, shall be a bonus prize for my enjoyment. You have sullied what is mine. I have much to discuss with you."
Legolas braced for a blow, but none fell. Instead he heard the speaker turn and say something in the Quel language, something Legolas could barely decipher. His eyes widened as he felt the hands lift him and then felt the hard wooden boards beneath him, his sight blocked by a hood.
He felt movement as they slid her prone form into the cart beside him, heard the laughter of many men around him as the man with the ring shouted, "Onward, now, time to make for home. I hope my guests will enjoy it." Cruel laughter echoed around him as the words to another spell floated on the air, ending with a sharp hiss, taking his consciousness with it.