Disclaimer: I do not own any characters, places and/or titles related to Professor J. R. R. Tolkien. Though Serminol, Lirnowen and other unrecognizable characters, along with the plot are completely based on stories sprung form my imagination. Do not sue me o_O. Enjoy.
I'm sorry it took so long to get another chapter up. Forgive my laziness and forgetfulness. Here is the new chapter.
Chapter Seven: Uncovered
Back in the cave, Lirnowen laid back down on the rag. Putting one arm under her head, she turned her eyes towards the glowing flames. She thought of her family, and her tribe. How far away were they? Had they already passed Mirkwood completely?
The thought of this made a tear trickle down her cheek. If she were left behind, she would have nothing. She feared to stay in these woods any longer. She feared this male who seemed out of his mind and unbalanced. Yet, the pain in his eyes was unbearable, and picturing them in her mind made her heart cry out with anguish.
They were both utterly alone.
Sleep started to claim her as the boulder at the cavern's entrance started to rumble out of place. Lirnowen sat up with a start, as Legolas strode into sight. He held a two, dead, wild rabbits in his hands. Without looking at Lirnowen, he went to his corner of the cave and started to strip the rabbits of their fur.
The silence between them was thick in the air. Lirnowen could no longer take the disgusting sounds that were being emitted by the tearing skins of the conies.
"Stewed rabbit I presume?" Lirnowen said.
"Do you see a pot for any type of stew?" he snapped back at her, over his right shoulder.
She looked around, just out of curiosity, "I see nothing in this cave really, but dust and rags."
"You can leave then, if these accommodations are not suitable for your standards."
His venomous remark had her biting her tongue, as hot anger flowed through her veins. "I meant no offense by my words, so you should keep such snide remarks to yourself. I only ask simple questions. As dumb as they may be to you, I did not ask for such rudeness."
He shot her a look over his right shoulder, before violently stabbing a long, wooden spike through both of the now skinned rabbits. He proceeded to cook them over the fire, avoiding Lirnowen's eyes.
"If you do not want me here, say it. I will leave."
Legolas closed his eyes, and then opened them quickly, looking directly at her.
"If you wish to commit your own death, be my guest. Venture out into these perilous woods at your own will. I care not."
"Then why did you begin to care in the first place?"
Silence. He avoided her stare.
"Why did you allow me to stay in your ratty cave, where you alone have stayed for so many years? If you are so dangerous yourself, why didn't you kill me the first moment I stepped into your 'precious' woods?"
His eyes closed once more, as he took a deep breath; teeth gritting.
"Hmmm?" Lirnowen bit back once more. Now determined to fight an answer from the resistant being.
Legolas took the cooked rabbits out of the fire, to then put one in a piece of cloth and threw it in Lirnowen's lap.
"Eat it."
Lirnowen did not look down to the cooked animal in her lap, but simply kept her eyes on his face. Expressionless though it was, she was determined to make him feel some sort of emotion besides sternness.
Legolas felt her eyes him, yet avoided her stare. He knew if he looked up to see whatever pain or sincerity that lay in her eyes, might break him right now. So he took his food and went to where the deepest spot in the back of the cave lay.
They both ate in silence. Every now and then Lirnowen would glance up to see if he returned to possibly have a word with her, yet he never did so. He stayed back there through the whole night, knowing Lirnowen was awake, and awaiting the time when sleep would claim her eyes so that he may move from his hiding place.
When sleep did feel her eyes, Lirnowen slumped, against the wall, every now and then holding herself for warmth. The fire didn't seem to keep out the coldness of the night that crept through the cave.
Seeing her shiver slightly, Legolas silently stood and walked, with graceful strides, to the sleeping girl. He knelt next to her, gently taking the ragged blanket next to her, and covering her with it.
She stirred at this, and he froze suddenly; alarmed that he might wake her. Yet Lirnowen only snuggled into the blanket, unintentionally scooting closer to where Legolas knelt to feel his warmth.
Legolas backed away quickly, yet did not disturb her slumber.
He felt his heart wrench, as he stood there with bated breathe watching her eyes rabidly move under her eyelids. He caught himself wondering what she was dreaming.
He shook this off and woke himself up, to retreat to the back of the cave. There he sat in darkness and in silence, until dawn rose outside.
--------------------------------------
Lirnowen woke to a bird's call in the distance outside of the cave. Dawn had come and she got up with a start, believing that she had over slept.
Her eyes caught movement to the left of her, as she saw Legolas emerge from the cave's mouth, with what looked like newly made arrows.
"You have over slept," he confirmed her thoughts.
She simply nodded, as he moved to the corner to fumble with his tools and weaponry.
"I know we must leave soon, but would it be too much to ask where a lake might be so that I may clean the filth from me?"
He glanced over his shoulder at her comment, "You will only attract more filth on our journey through these woods."
She gulped and stood, "Yes I understand, but you must notice that I am a girl. And human or no human, I do like to keep, somewhat, clean."
He stood as well, and gave a hint of a nod. He notioned for her to follow him out of the cave. She did so and they stood in the sunlit grove.
Pointing northeastwards, Legolas told her of a small lake where a small waterfall where a part of the Forest River trickled down.
As Lirnowen was about to set off towards the lake, Legolas stopped her with a warning:
"Do not get off the small path that leads to the lake. I will have no more of rescuing from the dangers I have warned you about."
She looked down and nodded, turning around again, and again he stopped her with his words.
"There are small red flowers that grow near the lake," he gulped, "the females of my kin used them as a sort of shampoo."
Lirnowen gave a hint of a smile at this, as he lowered his eyes to the grown. It would have amused Lirnowen more if Legolas' hair had been behind his ears and she was able to view the slight blush tone that appeared at their tips.
--------------------------------------
It took Lirnowen about fifteen minutes to find the lake that Legolas spoke of. When she did she was simply breath taken by the beauty of it.
It was like an oasis in the forest; a piece of serenity in a dark part of the world. Flowers of every color bloomed here, with foliage of all sorts. The scents were combined to create a perfume that stimulated her senses to no end.
The small waterfall that drizzled down from the river that ran over a small cliff, created a whirlpool effect in the pool area. The gentle sound of the waterfall mixed with the scents and the sheer beauty of such a place, seemed to lift Lirnowen off of her feet. She didn't even notice herself stripping from her clothes to step into the cool water.
Such coldness hitting the her toes caused a hiss of shock. Though it soon faded away has she submersed herself into the water.
She swam in the oasis for what seemed like hours, until she remembered the flowers Legolas had spoke of. Bringing her head up from the water, she scanned the water's edge with her eyes, until she spotted red flowers on her right side. Swimming over, she found beautiful little red flowers with flecks of fiery orange in the petals and a yellow stamen.
Picking a few, she lifted the small bouquet to her nose and was assaulted with lovely smells. There was a hint of honey, citrus and morning dew upon the flowers. Legolas had chosen a beautiful flower for her to use.
Cupping her hand, with the flowers in her palm, and using her other hand has a sort of pestle, she ground the flowers with the lake's water and found that they seemed to soap up.
She raised the concoction to hair and started to wash the grime from her long brown locks. Opening her eyes, to survey the setting again as she did so, she was startled to see a glimpse of something duck behind a tree, to her left in the distance.
Becoming insecure and shy, she submerged herself in the water from the nose down. Her eyes searched frantically around to make sure she wasn't being watched.
Seeing no other sign of movement, she let out a breathe of relief, reminding herself that deer lived in these woods. So, passing the glance of whatever thing she saw as a deer, she continued her bathing.
As she did this, if she was listening very closely, she would have heard a small sigh of relief. And if she was watching, she would have found a set of intense indigo eyes watching her every movements.
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Remember to please review! Whether positive or negative, all comments are appreciated!
I'm sorry it took so long to get another chapter up. Forgive my laziness and forgetfulness. Here is the new chapter.
Chapter Seven: Uncovered
Back in the cave, Lirnowen laid back down on the rag. Putting one arm under her head, she turned her eyes towards the glowing flames. She thought of her family, and her tribe. How far away were they? Had they already passed Mirkwood completely?
The thought of this made a tear trickle down her cheek. If she were left behind, she would have nothing. She feared to stay in these woods any longer. She feared this male who seemed out of his mind and unbalanced. Yet, the pain in his eyes was unbearable, and picturing them in her mind made her heart cry out with anguish.
They were both utterly alone.
Sleep started to claim her as the boulder at the cavern's entrance started to rumble out of place. Lirnowen sat up with a start, as Legolas strode into sight. He held a two, dead, wild rabbits in his hands. Without looking at Lirnowen, he went to his corner of the cave and started to strip the rabbits of their fur.
The silence between them was thick in the air. Lirnowen could no longer take the disgusting sounds that were being emitted by the tearing skins of the conies.
"Stewed rabbit I presume?" Lirnowen said.
"Do you see a pot for any type of stew?" he snapped back at her, over his right shoulder.
She looked around, just out of curiosity, "I see nothing in this cave really, but dust and rags."
"You can leave then, if these accommodations are not suitable for your standards."
His venomous remark had her biting her tongue, as hot anger flowed through her veins. "I meant no offense by my words, so you should keep such snide remarks to yourself. I only ask simple questions. As dumb as they may be to you, I did not ask for such rudeness."
He shot her a look over his right shoulder, before violently stabbing a long, wooden spike through both of the now skinned rabbits. He proceeded to cook them over the fire, avoiding Lirnowen's eyes.
"If you do not want me here, say it. I will leave."
Legolas closed his eyes, and then opened them quickly, looking directly at her.
"If you wish to commit your own death, be my guest. Venture out into these perilous woods at your own will. I care not."
"Then why did you begin to care in the first place?"
Silence. He avoided her stare.
"Why did you allow me to stay in your ratty cave, where you alone have stayed for so many years? If you are so dangerous yourself, why didn't you kill me the first moment I stepped into your 'precious' woods?"
His eyes closed once more, as he took a deep breath; teeth gritting.
"Hmmm?" Lirnowen bit back once more. Now determined to fight an answer from the resistant being.
Legolas took the cooked rabbits out of the fire, to then put one in a piece of cloth and threw it in Lirnowen's lap.
"Eat it."
Lirnowen did not look down to the cooked animal in her lap, but simply kept her eyes on his face. Expressionless though it was, she was determined to make him feel some sort of emotion besides sternness.
Legolas felt her eyes him, yet avoided her stare. He knew if he looked up to see whatever pain or sincerity that lay in her eyes, might break him right now. So he took his food and went to where the deepest spot in the back of the cave lay.
They both ate in silence. Every now and then Lirnowen would glance up to see if he returned to possibly have a word with her, yet he never did so. He stayed back there through the whole night, knowing Lirnowen was awake, and awaiting the time when sleep would claim her eyes so that he may move from his hiding place.
When sleep did feel her eyes, Lirnowen slumped, against the wall, every now and then holding herself for warmth. The fire didn't seem to keep out the coldness of the night that crept through the cave.
Seeing her shiver slightly, Legolas silently stood and walked, with graceful strides, to the sleeping girl. He knelt next to her, gently taking the ragged blanket next to her, and covering her with it.
She stirred at this, and he froze suddenly; alarmed that he might wake her. Yet Lirnowen only snuggled into the blanket, unintentionally scooting closer to where Legolas knelt to feel his warmth.
Legolas backed away quickly, yet did not disturb her slumber.
He felt his heart wrench, as he stood there with bated breathe watching her eyes rabidly move under her eyelids. He caught himself wondering what she was dreaming.
He shook this off and woke himself up, to retreat to the back of the cave. There he sat in darkness and in silence, until dawn rose outside.
--------------------------------------
Lirnowen woke to a bird's call in the distance outside of the cave. Dawn had come and she got up with a start, believing that she had over slept.
Her eyes caught movement to the left of her, as she saw Legolas emerge from the cave's mouth, with what looked like newly made arrows.
"You have over slept," he confirmed her thoughts.
She simply nodded, as he moved to the corner to fumble with his tools and weaponry.
"I know we must leave soon, but would it be too much to ask where a lake might be so that I may clean the filth from me?"
He glanced over his shoulder at her comment, "You will only attract more filth on our journey through these woods."
She gulped and stood, "Yes I understand, but you must notice that I am a girl. And human or no human, I do like to keep, somewhat, clean."
He stood as well, and gave a hint of a nod. He notioned for her to follow him out of the cave. She did so and they stood in the sunlit grove.
Pointing northeastwards, Legolas told her of a small lake where a small waterfall where a part of the Forest River trickled down.
As Lirnowen was about to set off towards the lake, Legolas stopped her with a warning:
"Do not get off the small path that leads to the lake. I will have no more of rescuing from the dangers I have warned you about."
She looked down and nodded, turning around again, and again he stopped her with his words.
"There are small red flowers that grow near the lake," he gulped, "the females of my kin used them as a sort of shampoo."
Lirnowen gave a hint of a smile at this, as he lowered his eyes to the grown. It would have amused Lirnowen more if Legolas' hair had been behind his ears and she was able to view the slight blush tone that appeared at their tips.
--------------------------------------
It took Lirnowen about fifteen minutes to find the lake that Legolas spoke of. When she did she was simply breath taken by the beauty of it.
It was like an oasis in the forest; a piece of serenity in a dark part of the world. Flowers of every color bloomed here, with foliage of all sorts. The scents were combined to create a perfume that stimulated her senses to no end.
The small waterfall that drizzled down from the river that ran over a small cliff, created a whirlpool effect in the pool area. The gentle sound of the waterfall mixed with the scents and the sheer beauty of such a place, seemed to lift Lirnowen off of her feet. She didn't even notice herself stripping from her clothes to step into the cool water.
Such coldness hitting the her toes caused a hiss of shock. Though it soon faded away has she submersed herself into the water.
She swam in the oasis for what seemed like hours, until she remembered the flowers Legolas had spoke of. Bringing her head up from the water, she scanned the water's edge with her eyes, until she spotted red flowers on her right side. Swimming over, she found beautiful little red flowers with flecks of fiery orange in the petals and a yellow stamen.
Picking a few, she lifted the small bouquet to her nose and was assaulted with lovely smells. There was a hint of honey, citrus and morning dew upon the flowers. Legolas had chosen a beautiful flower for her to use.
Cupping her hand, with the flowers in her palm, and using her other hand has a sort of pestle, she ground the flowers with the lake's water and found that they seemed to soap up.
She raised the concoction to hair and started to wash the grime from her long brown locks. Opening her eyes, to survey the setting again as she did so, she was startled to see a glimpse of something duck behind a tree, to her left in the distance.
Becoming insecure and shy, she submerged herself in the water from the nose down. Her eyes searched frantically around to make sure she wasn't being watched.
Seeing no other sign of movement, she let out a breathe of relief, reminding herself that deer lived in these woods. So, passing the glance of whatever thing she saw as a deer, she continued her bathing.
As she did this, if she was listening very closely, she would have heard a small sigh of relief. And if she was watching, she would have found a set of intense indigo eyes watching her every movements.
-------------------------
Remember to please review! Whether positive or negative, all comments are appreciated!