Title: Diplomacy Part 9
Author: Arisma
Rating: R Disclaimer: Obviously I don't own LOTR, the characters, the settings, any of it. I write non-fan based fiction and this story is the product of that line being crossed with my unhealthy fixation with a certain elf. I'm making no money off this, in any way, shape or form, though feedback is better than cheesecake.
Feedback: chalice_nazarene@hotmail.com
A/N- Thanks to all who have pressed the feedback button. It's greatly appreciated. Sometimes your comments inspire my muses and change the direction of the story. Take this chapter for instance. So in that light, feel free to comment on what you think will/should happen. Enjoy!
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ~*
Kailin sat by the fire, listening halfheartedly to a humorous story told by one of the other officers. His eyes wandered to the edge of the light, to where Legolas rested. He smiled at his old friend, receiving a nod in return. //He looks tired.// he thought, unhappy that his companion was paying such a price for his dalliance with the Quel maid.
He shifted his eyes and studied her, dark hair gleaming in the firelight, eyes sad, a tiny frown playing over her lips. She was undeniably beautiful, but he had seen others who surpassed her. She moved like a cat, graceful and lithe but again it was a trait common to the elves. He shook his head, //Maybe he is merely attracted to the mystery of her// he thought, disliking the notion.
He saw her lift her head and glance at Legolas, allowing her gaze to settle when she realized he was not looking in her direction. He was startled at the look of both pain and desire that painted her fair features, he saw her hands clench and a single silvery tear slide silently down her cheek. The large elf next to her grasped her shoulders and turned her to face him, his visage angry and glaring. He spoke a few harsh words, and though he strained to make them out, Kailin could not. He watched her face crumple in sadness and then a carefully controlled look of indifference painted her features. Kallo nodded, and smiled slightly. She did not return the gesture. Instead she turned and stared into the fire, the small unhappy frown slipping through the dispassionate veneer.
He felt himself growing angry as he watched her. Angry at the large elf who seemed to stop her from returning his friends love, angry also at her for allowing him to interfere. It seemed obvious to him that she held deep feelings for Legolas, if not love than damn close. So why would she deny him? Why turn her back on the one who had already confessed his love to her? What was she thinking? He looked away from her, unable to bear the blankness in her eyes, the small sad frown haunting him even as he turned away.
He looked back to Legolas and was unsurprised to see him casting a confused stare over the flames. Love, pain and confusion all whirled within his intense blue eyes, and Kailin wished desperately for a way to ease his friends hurt. He watched as Legolas' eyes grew wider and turned to see the large elf whispering to Rhya, a look of pain and panic visible. Suddenly he wanted very badly to throttle the large elf for causing such a look to cross her face. Realizing how strong the urge was, he began, slightly, to understand how his friend must feel.
Legolas pushed himself to standing, a look of deep concern and determination upon his face. He watched as Kallo stood and blocked his friends way. They exchanged words and he saw Legolas' eyes narrow, his hands start to clench. He stood quickly, determined to defend his friend if tempers flared further. He remembered carrying his friend back to Mirkwood after the ambush. He would not allow him to be so injured again.
He had always wondered just what had happened before his arrival, but only the Quel had been present and they had of course not said anything. But Kallo had had the largest grin he had ever seen upon his face as he moved around the clearing, finishing those goblins who were not dead and carefully ignoring the area his commander lay, battered and bruised.
He shifted his attention to the matter at hand, ready to spring into action if needed. Instead he saw Rhya step between the two, speaking calmly. He watched as the large elf argued, and then conceded defeat, placing a kiss upon her cheek before allowing them to walk away.
He had never seen a gesture so intimate between the Quel commander and her second, and it angered him that it had happened so close to his friends watching eyes. He felt his ire rising, his reckless streak pushing to the fore. He crossed the distance and stood before the large elf, his body posture carefully relaxed. "What was that all about, Kallo?" he asked jovially, as though addressing an old friend.
Kallo glared down at him, and replied, "Your prince can not take a hint, little one. No doubt Rhya will set him straight."
"Oh yes, no doubt." Replied Kailin, his face breaking into a grin. "And maybe this time they will be alone AND clothed. You think?"
Kallo's eyes narrowed and he glared at the smaller elf, clenching his meaty fists. "Watch what you say, little one."
With a silly grin and an overstated rolling of his eyes he replied, "Aww, C'mon, Kallo. What do you think is going to happen out there? Honestly? She's in for some good Mirkwood lovin', unless I miss my guess. and I rarely do. Then maybe it won't be so easy for you to keep them separated." He prepared for a blow from the volatile elf, his eyes widening slightly as a grin broke over the others face.
"You think I am keeping them separated?" he chuckled deep in his throat, a low, unpleasant sound. "It's impossible to make Rhya do anything she doesn't want. No, little one, I have merely reminded her of what she already knows."
Kailin digested his words for a moment, trying to fit the new information to what he thought he knew of the situation. "So if you can't make her do what she doesn't want to do, then at least some part of her does want to be with him." he reasoned aloud, raising a hand to the smooth flesh of his chin.
Kallo snorted, his face full of disdain. "Rhya has always been a little spoiled, little one. She is her fathers favorite and that is why she is even in Mirkwood to begin with. There is nothing special about your prince to her. Her time is past and she knows it. She would have latched onto any male that she thought could save her."
"Save her from what, Kallo?" Kailin asked, his voice soft and full of concern.
Suddenly realizing how much he had said, Kallo looked briefly panicked, before sneering at the smaller elf and saying. "Don't worry yourself about her fate. Neither I nor you or even your princeling is going to change the cards." That said he walked away, shaking his head as he went.
Kailin stared at his broad back, briefly debating launching himself at the other and demanding the information. An image of those giant hands closing into monstrous fists formed in his mind and he decided against it. He turned back to the fire and sat back on the fallen log. The stories continued around him and he let himself fall into the chatter, distracting himself from the mystery at hand, eventually laughing at the antics of his fellows, adding a few of his own stories.
Later, he looked across the fire, at the large elf and was surprised to see a look of concern on his face. Smiling broadly, unable to resist, he crossed to stand in front of him, almost eye level, though the other was seated. "Something the matter, Kallo?" he asked, wearing a cheeky grin.
"They have been gone to long." He replied, apparently oblivious to the blasé nature of the other.
"Oh no, it takes a while for we Mirkwood elves." He replied a smile curving his lips.
Kallo stood suddenly, his speed belying his size. "Listen, little one. They have been gone too long."
Slightly daunted but unwilling to back down Kailin replied. "Well, I don't know how it goes where you are from, but we have a thing called foreplay." He cut off abruptly as the large elf advanced and glared down at him.
"Stop with your inane innuendo! Listen to the forest, think! Cease your prattle and think!" The passion in the large elfs voice put him back on his heels and he stopped talking, listening to the forest, the silence that stretched around him.
"Shit." He muttered, racing back to grab his weapons, calling for a small group of his best trackers to follow. As he left the clearing he met up with Kallo, the two walking side by side, joined in purpose.
They trailed them for some time, their footprints barely visible even to the most skilled trackers. Finally they arrived in a small clearing, and what they found made his heart sink. The two had stopped, and stood for some time, apparently speaking. Around that spot were other footprints, dozens at least. A cart had been in the clearing, though Kailin couldn't understand how one could have gotten through the dense underbrush surrounding them. He saw the drag marks in the ground, from where the two had stood to the cart tracks.
"Shit, shit!" he muttered as he followed the tracks, watching as they lightened, finally disappearing altogether. He looked wildly around, finally raising his eyes to see if perhaps they had lifted the cart to the trees to throw off pursuit. What he saw shocked him. A perfect swatch of missing branches, straight up form the spot the tracks ended. He swung into the tree and examined the ends of the missing branches. Breaking off a limb he swung back to the ground, waving the charred end in the large elfs face.
"What is this, Kallo? What does it mean? Where are they!?!" he asked, panic rising as he spoke.
Kallos shoulders slumped and he met Kailins eyes, sadness and even the beginnings of tears evident in his eyes. "It is done then. Her fate has been fulfilled and she is gone."
"Gone? Where Kallo? Where have they gone?" he asked, his face numb.
"To tir roac, from where none have ever returned." The other replied, the words slipping from his lips without thought.
"Why have they gone there, Kallo?" he asked, though he was now truly frightened.
"Because she has to go. It is her fate, and he would not release her from it."
"Who wouldn't release her?" the question was very quiet.
Kallo was silent for a moment, a look of dread upon his face. When he finally answered the words were nearly inaudible. But Kailin did hear and he felt his blood turn to ice in his veins. "Sweet Eru." was all he could say, the large elfs whisper echoing through his mind, filling him with dread.
Author: Arisma
Rating: R Disclaimer: Obviously I don't own LOTR, the characters, the settings, any of it. I write non-fan based fiction and this story is the product of that line being crossed with my unhealthy fixation with a certain elf. I'm making no money off this, in any way, shape or form, though feedback is better than cheesecake.
Feedback: chalice_nazarene@hotmail.com
A/N- Thanks to all who have pressed the feedback button. It's greatly appreciated. Sometimes your comments inspire my muses and change the direction of the story. Take this chapter for instance. So in that light, feel free to comment on what you think will/should happen. Enjoy!
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ~*
Kailin sat by the fire, listening halfheartedly to a humorous story told by one of the other officers. His eyes wandered to the edge of the light, to where Legolas rested. He smiled at his old friend, receiving a nod in return. //He looks tired.// he thought, unhappy that his companion was paying such a price for his dalliance with the Quel maid.
He shifted his eyes and studied her, dark hair gleaming in the firelight, eyes sad, a tiny frown playing over her lips. She was undeniably beautiful, but he had seen others who surpassed her. She moved like a cat, graceful and lithe but again it was a trait common to the elves. He shook his head, //Maybe he is merely attracted to the mystery of her// he thought, disliking the notion.
He saw her lift her head and glance at Legolas, allowing her gaze to settle when she realized he was not looking in her direction. He was startled at the look of both pain and desire that painted her fair features, he saw her hands clench and a single silvery tear slide silently down her cheek. The large elf next to her grasped her shoulders and turned her to face him, his visage angry and glaring. He spoke a few harsh words, and though he strained to make them out, Kailin could not. He watched her face crumple in sadness and then a carefully controlled look of indifference painted her features. Kallo nodded, and smiled slightly. She did not return the gesture. Instead she turned and stared into the fire, the small unhappy frown slipping through the dispassionate veneer.
He felt himself growing angry as he watched her. Angry at the large elf who seemed to stop her from returning his friends love, angry also at her for allowing him to interfere. It seemed obvious to him that she held deep feelings for Legolas, if not love than damn close. So why would she deny him? Why turn her back on the one who had already confessed his love to her? What was she thinking? He looked away from her, unable to bear the blankness in her eyes, the small sad frown haunting him even as he turned away.
He looked back to Legolas and was unsurprised to see him casting a confused stare over the flames. Love, pain and confusion all whirled within his intense blue eyes, and Kailin wished desperately for a way to ease his friends hurt. He watched as Legolas' eyes grew wider and turned to see the large elf whispering to Rhya, a look of pain and panic visible. Suddenly he wanted very badly to throttle the large elf for causing such a look to cross her face. Realizing how strong the urge was, he began, slightly, to understand how his friend must feel.
Legolas pushed himself to standing, a look of deep concern and determination upon his face. He watched as Kallo stood and blocked his friends way. They exchanged words and he saw Legolas' eyes narrow, his hands start to clench. He stood quickly, determined to defend his friend if tempers flared further. He remembered carrying his friend back to Mirkwood after the ambush. He would not allow him to be so injured again.
He had always wondered just what had happened before his arrival, but only the Quel had been present and they had of course not said anything. But Kallo had had the largest grin he had ever seen upon his face as he moved around the clearing, finishing those goblins who were not dead and carefully ignoring the area his commander lay, battered and bruised.
He shifted his attention to the matter at hand, ready to spring into action if needed. Instead he saw Rhya step between the two, speaking calmly. He watched as the large elf argued, and then conceded defeat, placing a kiss upon her cheek before allowing them to walk away.
He had never seen a gesture so intimate between the Quel commander and her second, and it angered him that it had happened so close to his friends watching eyes. He felt his ire rising, his reckless streak pushing to the fore. He crossed the distance and stood before the large elf, his body posture carefully relaxed. "What was that all about, Kallo?" he asked jovially, as though addressing an old friend.
Kallo glared down at him, and replied, "Your prince can not take a hint, little one. No doubt Rhya will set him straight."
"Oh yes, no doubt." Replied Kailin, his face breaking into a grin. "And maybe this time they will be alone AND clothed. You think?"
Kallo's eyes narrowed and he glared at the smaller elf, clenching his meaty fists. "Watch what you say, little one."
With a silly grin and an overstated rolling of his eyes he replied, "Aww, C'mon, Kallo. What do you think is going to happen out there? Honestly? She's in for some good Mirkwood lovin', unless I miss my guess. and I rarely do. Then maybe it won't be so easy for you to keep them separated." He prepared for a blow from the volatile elf, his eyes widening slightly as a grin broke over the others face.
"You think I am keeping them separated?" he chuckled deep in his throat, a low, unpleasant sound. "It's impossible to make Rhya do anything she doesn't want. No, little one, I have merely reminded her of what she already knows."
Kailin digested his words for a moment, trying to fit the new information to what he thought he knew of the situation. "So if you can't make her do what she doesn't want to do, then at least some part of her does want to be with him." he reasoned aloud, raising a hand to the smooth flesh of his chin.
Kallo snorted, his face full of disdain. "Rhya has always been a little spoiled, little one. She is her fathers favorite and that is why she is even in Mirkwood to begin with. There is nothing special about your prince to her. Her time is past and she knows it. She would have latched onto any male that she thought could save her."
"Save her from what, Kallo?" Kailin asked, his voice soft and full of concern.
Suddenly realizing how much he had said, Kallo looked briefly panicked, before sneering at the smaller elf and saying. "Don't worry yourself about her fate. Neither I nor you or even your princeling is going to change the cards." That said he walked away, shaking his head as he went.
Kailin stared at his broad back, briefly debating launching himself at the other and demanding the information. An image of those giant hands closing into monstrous fists formed in his mind and he decided against it. He turned back to the fire and sat back on the fallen log. The stories continued around him and he let himself fall into the chatter, distracting himself from the mystery at hand, eventually laughing at the antics of his fellows, adding a few of his own stories.
Later, he looked across the fire, at the large elf and was surprised to see a look of concern on his face. Smiling broadly, unable to resist, he crossed to stand in front of him, almost eye level, though the other was seated. "Something the matter, Kallo?" he asked, wearing a cheeky grin.
"They have been gone to long." He replied, apparently oblivious to the blasé nature of the other.
"Oh no, it takes a while for we Mirkwood elves." He replied a smile curving his lips.
Kallo stood suddenly, his speed belying his size. "Listen, little one. They have been gone too long."
Slightly daunted but unwilling to back down Kailin replied. "Well, I don't know how it goes where you are from, but we have a thing called foreplay." He cut off abruptly as the large elf advanced and glared down at him.
"Stop with your inane innuendo! Listen to the forest, think! Cease your prattle and think!" The passion in the large elfs voice put him back on his heels and he stopped talking, listening to the forest, the silence that stretched around him.
"Shit." He muttered, racing back to grab his weapons, calling for a small group of his best trackers to follow. As he left the clearing he met up with Kallo, the two walking side by side, joined in purpose.
They trailed them for some time, their footprints barely visible even to the most skilled trackers. Finally they arrived in a small clearing, and what they found made his heart sink. The two had stopped, and stood for some time, apparently speaking. Around that spot were other footprints, dozens at least. A cart had been in the clearing, though Kailin couldn't understand how one could have gotten through the dense underbrush surrounding them. He saw the drag marks in the ground, from where the two had stood to the cart tracks.
"Shit, shit!" he muttered as he followed the tracks, watching as they lightened, finally disappearing altogether. He looked wildly around, finally raising his eyes to see if perhaps they had lifted the cart to the trees to throw off pursuit. What he saw shocked him. A perfect swatch of missing branches, straight up form the spot the tracks ended. He swung into the tree and examined the ends of the missing branches. Breaking off a limb he swung back to the ground, waving the charred end in the large elfs face.
"What is this, Kallo? What does it mean? Where are they!?!" he asked, panic rising as he spoke.
Kallos shoulders slumped and he met Kailins eyes, sadness and even the beginnings of tears evident in his eyes. "It is done then. Her fate has been fulfilled and she is gone."
"Gone? Where Kallo? Where have they gone?" he asked, his face numb.
"To tir roac, from where none have ever returned." The other replied, the words slipping from his lips without thought.
"Why have they gone there, Kallo?" he asked, though he was now truly frightened.
"Because she has to go. It is her fate, and he would not release her from it."
"Who wouldn't release her?" the question was very quiet.
Kallo was silent for a moment, a look of dread upon his face. When he finally answered the words were nearly inaudible. But Kailin did hear and he felt his blood turn to ice in his veins. "Sweet Eru." was all he could say, the large elfs whisper echoing through his mind, filling him with dread.