@Sailor Elf : I'm glad the truck missed you!
@Dur En Thurin Naur : I can't wait to see Hidalgo! Maybe next weekend! But, sorry. No arrow in Legolas' back this time. But he's going to…uh…fly. Yes. Fly. You'll see what I mean. (Actually it was only over 3 years since Kel sailed over. It feels like a long time ago, doesn't it?)
@Gwyn : Kel will return in a prequel after this fic!
@Kayo : Yes. Let's gave them all a hug! (My PC is also slow when downloading something from the net! Grr!)
@Fire Breathing Ferret : Where in the world did you get the plastic fairy wings? I'm thinking of getting one for myself!
@Baby Blaize : Don't you know? Legolas+Aragorn = Disaster. Legolas+Aragorn+The Twins = The End of the World!
@Young Storyteller : Yeah, the more the merrier!
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After spending the night in Minas Tirith, Legolas and Narasene headed for Ithilien early the next morning. Concern for their guest's well being back home had caused the couple to decline Aragorn's invitation to stay longer.
"Just let me know when the twins arrive," Legolas had told his friend before leaving. "I will return here and we can start planning on what to do to help Hawkeye."
"I'm sure we will," Aragorn had responded with a false eagerness. "I just can't wait to be in a battle again, and to my have my eyeballs picked by vicious shraqs!"
Legolas narrowed his eyes at the king. "Don't tell me you don't crave for another adventure, Estel. Looking at you, I know you are bored yourself."
Aragorn had laughed out loud then. Turning to Narasene, the man said, "I don't know how you can bear living with him!"
"I can't. That's why I have to create some…err…diversions for him to entertain myself with," Narasene had candidly replied in return, causing Legolas to turn scarlet.
"All right, all right! I don't want to know more, however interesting it may sound!" Aragorn cried out, still laughing as he pushed at his friend. "Now off with the two of you then!"
From atop his mount, Legolas gazed lovingly at his wife who rode along side him. Narasene felt his eyes on her and turned. "What is it?"
"You are so lovely," Legolas stated.
Narasene smiled and inclined her head. "Thank you. So are you, my lord."
Legolas chuckled and looked around him. Their escorts were riding on each side of them, ever alert and watchful of any coming threats. Some more were riding at the front and at the end of the small procession. Ever since Legolas' party had been ambushed by a Haradrim troop last year, Aragorn had forbidden his friend to ride unguarded. Naturally, Legolas had strongly objected, saying Aragorn was being overly protective. But the king was adamant. He didn't want that horrific day to be repeated.
After several hours of riding, they came near the Lake Auset which was only a league from Ithilien keep. Legolas glanced at his wife once more and nudged his mount closer to hers. Without warning, he grabbed her around the waist, pulled and placed her in front of him.
Crying out in surprise, Narasene swiveled her head and frowned at her husband. "What exactly are you doing?" she admonished.
Instead of answering, Legolas just smiled mischievously and halted his mount by the small lake. "My lady wife and I are taking a swim," he announced to their escorts. "We would like some privacy…unless you all want to stand and watch?"
"My lord!" Narasene was aghast. She hid her blushing face against her husband's chest, moaning softly in embarrassment. The rest of the elven warriors looked knowingly at one another, trying hard to hide their smiles.
"Very well, my lord," replied the highest officer of the couple's escorts, nodding in acquiescence. "We will leave you both to your pleasure. But surely you need at least two guards to watch for any danger…?"
"Trust me. The only danger around here is my lady wife," Legolas responded amid Narasene's strangled gasp. "Go on home, all of you. And take your lady's mount with you."
The elves complied, pulling Naresene's mare along with them. As soon as they all vanished from sight, the lady of Ithilien rounded on her husband and glared. "Did you have to do that?"
"Why? Don't tell me you are mad at me for 'abducting' you?" Legolas replied, eyebrows wiggling in a roguish manner. "Besides, this might be the only private moment we will have with each other. I find it harder and harder to seduce you at the keep! There are so many people about!"
Narasene could not stay angry with her husband for long. She laughed and gave him a quick peck on his cheek. "You are impossible! That's why I love you so much!" Before her husband could stop her, she jumped of the horse and headed for the lakeshore.
Dismounting, Legolas watched with a smile as Narasene took off her slippers and dipped her feet into the water. The bright afternoon sun above reflected brilliantly against the blue-green surface, and the light rebounded to shine upon Narasene's fair face and her long raven hair.
Leaving his mount grazing in a field nearby, Legolas approached his wife. Sensing him coming, Narasene whirled around and dashed away, running for the trees.
"Hey! Come back here!" he loudly complained.
"No. You come here and get me, my lord!" Narasene playfully responded as she settled herself comfortably under a big maple tree.
"But we are suppose to take a swim," Legolas grumbled, staring at her with his arms akimbo.
"I didn't say I would take a swim. You did," she easily replied.
"But surely I can persuade you to join me?"
"Really? And how is that, my husband?"
Smiling impishly back at her, Legolas took his weapons off his back and slowly began to undress. Narasene's eyes widened at the languid way his long tapered fingers unclasped the row of buttons on his tunic. Her throat went dry when he finally peeled the shirt off his shoulders and let it drop to the ground, revealing his lean and well-sculpted torso solely for her eyes.
Legolas then leaned down to pull off his boots as his wife gazed unblinking at his every move. He nearly laughed at the dazed expression on her face. Maybe I should do this striptease maneuver more often! he thought, totally enjoying his wife's rapt attention.
Tossing his boots onto her lap, the prince quirked his brows. "Aren't you persuaded yet?"
Narasene had to clear her throat repeatedly before replying, "Hmm…maybe. What else can you offer, my lord?"
Legolas laughed out loud. He turned and headed for the lake, offering his wife the full view of his muscular thighs and backside encased in a pair of snug fitting leggings. His body looked deliciously hard and firm from centuries of battle training. He heard her groan.
"Come in here, my lady wife," Legolas called out. As the water lapped at his waist, he turned and grinned devilishly at her. "I'll let you see more if you join me."
Narasene was instantly on her feet. But then she suddenly saw him stiffen. Puzzled, she asked, "Legolas? What's wrong?"
"Take cover," came his short reply, his eyes wild as he frantically looked around him.
"Why? What's going on?"
"Get behind those trees, Nara! Hurry!"
Obeying him even though she was still puzzled by his sudden urgency, Narasene ran back towards the safety of the maple tree. She watched anxiously as her husband pushed his way for the shore, glancing repeatedly over his shoulder for the threat that he knew was approaching.
And then she sensed it. The strange presence that had caught Legolas' attention was coming ever closer. From her position, Narasene couldn't clearly see the three huge ravens that were swooping down directly from above, but her keen ears finally caught their wild cries and shrieks.
"Legolas!" Narasene cried out, terrified for her husband's safety.
The prince was rushing for his weapons on the ground, already feeling the ravens breathing down his neck. "Stay there!" he shouted back to his wife. "And I mean it this time!"
Legolas had just managed grabbing his dagger when one of the ravens came slamming against his back. The impact knocked him off his feet, sending him sprawling onto the sandy ground. With the blade still in his grip, he instantly rolled and turned to face his assailants, slashing at the next attacking ravens.
All the while, Narasene watched with intense fear and anxiety. She wanted to help her husband but she had no weapon on her. Legolas' bow and full quiver lay at his feet, too far and too dangerous for her to retrieve. The size of the ravens alone had scared her immensely. They were much bigger than normal ravens, as big as humans. Immediately she knew that they were the shraqs that Gallard had spoken about.
One raven shrieked in pain when Legolas' blade struck its chest. But the other two ravens were quick to aid their comrade. Legolas was fast on his feet, but not quick enough to avoid the attack from his two vile winged assailants. A blow knocked his blade from his hand, while the other struck his left side, leaving lines of vicious claw marks on his bare skin.
Narasene covered her mouth to keep herself from screaming when she saw the shraqs injure her husband. But she couldn't stop herself from crying out next when the ravens seized Legolas' arms before they flew off, higher and higher into the sky.
"No! Legolas! Legolas!" Narasene screamed as she ran out of her hiding space, staring in horror at her husband who was trapped in the clutches of the evil shraqs. She bent and grabbed Legolas' abandoned bow. After expertly notching an arrow, she took aim and released.
But the three ravens—and her husband—were already far out of her shot range.
Stumbling to her knees on the sand, Narasene started to tremble in shock and fear. "Ai, Legolas…Elbereth, help him…Legolas…"
TBC…
Cliffies coming up!
And the game begins.
