Disclaimer: This story is mine, but that's about it.
A/N: You know, I really hate how the format gets all screwed up whenever you post these stories. It drives me nuts! Anyway...I really want to thank everyone who reviewed chapter one, of my story. Thanks for your support. Read on oh brave readers and enjoy!
***Note: The town's name is actually the name of an old colonial Connecticut town that was established in 1854. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The Problem with Elves
by: Kate
ch. 2 - An Awkward Situation
There was still some light out when Legolas stepped out of the front door of the inn. He paused on the bottom step, deciding which direction to take. He noticed that it was more crowded down the street, to his right, so he stepped lightly onto the dirt road and set off. The crowd thickened as Legolas went further down the street; he figured that he was approaching the town-square. Though people bustled all around him, bumping into each other, he gracefully maneuvered the street without touching anyone. Those who took notice of him stared; those that didn't see him right away felt his presence as he swept by, and looked about for the source. He appeared angelic, compared to the coarse townspeople, with a soft glow radiating from his person. Legolas ignored the stares and busied himself with studying the booths. All around him hawkers peddled their wares, from fowls to farming supplies. Legolas came to a small fruit stand, manned by a young girl. She stared up at the elf with her eyes full of wonder and her mouth hanging open.
"Good evening," said Legolas softly.
"G-g-good evenin' sir. Ken I help ye with sommat? Would ye like to buy some fresh cherries? They're the best o' quality aroun'. A special kind too, pitless!"
"No thank you, young one. I'm just looking around. You can, however, help me. What is the name of this town?"
"Why, you be in Old Saybrook, sir. Where you be from?"
Legolas just smiled and simply said, "Someplace quite far from here."
The girl laughed. "Well I'd believe that one. You don' look or talk like anyone from 'round here, that's for certain." She brought her voice to a whisper. "Pardon my sayin' so sir, but you don' look like anyone I've ever seen afore. You're too lovely for a man, but you don' look like a woman either."
Legolas laughed; he had taken a liking to the girl. Other than Aragorn, he had never come in contact with a human child before. He bent down close to her, the fragrance of cherry blossoms filling his senses.
"Can you keep a secret?" The girl nodded vigorously, crossing her heart. "Alright. I'm not human-" the girl gasped, "- I'm an elf." Legolas tucked his hair behind one pointed ear to show her its shape and then quickly pulled his hair down again, hiding his ear. He straightened and looked at the darkening sky. A few stars had come out and a crescent moon was beginning to show. "I must be going. It's getting late and my friend wants me to return to the inn before it gets too dark. I'm glad to have met you, young one. I've never really had a conversation with a human child before. Thank you." He turned to leave when-
"Wait!" the girl called. She grabbed a small handful of cherries from a basket. "Here," she said and discretely slipped the cherries into Legolas's hand. "Please take them. It's not everyday I meet an elf." Blushing furiously, she smiled and went back to calling out to passing shoppers.
As Legolas started the walk back to the inn, he opened his hand to find four cherries. He popped one in his mouth, savoring the sweet and tangy flavors as the juice spilled over his tongue. Just then, a prickle went down his spine. Someone was following him. At this realization his senses went into overdrive. It was a man, definitely overweight by the sound of the heavy footfalls and laboured breathing. A heavy smell of cheap ale overcame Legolas and he snorted in disgust; his follower was quite intoxicated. Legolas picked up his pace, but before he could put distance between him and the man a meaty hand clamped down on his shoulder. Legolas' world spun as he was forced around and slammed into a wall, causing him to grunt in pain. As his vision refocused, he took in the large man in front of him. He was tall, even more so than Legolas. He was extremely overweight and his stained and threadbare tunic barely covered his immense belly. He had thinning hair, but what he lacked on his head he made up for on his face. His beard was thick and matted, with bits of food tangled in it. It still dripped with dribbled drink. His small eyes were bleary from the liquor and he swayed on the spot. His breath wreaked something awful. The man let out a mighty belch and Legolas turned away so as not to get the full blast. The man studied the elf a moment before speaking.
"Moi, ain't you a pretty lil' thing," he slurred. He removed his hand from Legolas' chest and placed it near his head, against the wall. Legolas eyed it warily. "You be new to these parts, arncha? I coulda sworn I knews every woman in this here town, from housewife t' whore." He laughed at his own joke, his belly bouncing.
Legolas opened his mouth to respond when the stranger's words hit him. *He thinks I'm a woman!* he thought. "I'm afraid you're mistaken. I'm not a female." He ducked under the man's trunk-like arm, but only made a few steps before he was painfully yanked backward and slammed into the brick wall, again. Sharper shots of pain ran through the elf's muscular back, as well as his arm for the drunkard had a vice-like grip above his elbow, bruising the perfect flesh. Legolas's face contorted with the aches his body was suffering.
"Whadderya takin' aboot? You're a damn woman if'n I ever saw one, and I've seen plenty," he winked. He had one hand on Legolas's chest, forcing him into the wall, and the other had begun roving around Legolas's slender waist, fiddling with the ties on the side of the elf's green tunic. Legolas tried to slide away, but the drunkard wrapped a grimy hand around his throat. "Y'ain't getting' away tha' easily, girly," the man chuckled, "I ain't finished with ya's yet. I still wanna have moi bit o' fun with ye. You sure are pretty..."
Several emotions were running through Legolas at this point, including confusion. *What does this man mean by his 'bit o' fun'?* the elven prince pondered, his brow furrowed in concentration. Meanwhile, the man began playing with Legolas' hair, running his fingers through the corn-silk strands.
"Stop that!" Legolas said angrily, batting the man's hand away. How was he ever going to get out of this mess?
"Ohhhh, feisty are we? Thaas ok, girly ("Stop calling me that!") I likes it rough!" Even in his sauced state, the man was quick. He grabbed Legolas's wrist with his free hand and held it against the wall. He stepped closer to his captive, his stench overpowering Legolas. He leaned in close and sniffed the golden mane. Legolas, having zero room for movement, could do nothing to stop the disgusting act. "Mmmmmm you do smell awful nice..." He released Legolas's wrist and began pawing at the opening of his blue silk shirt, toying with its silver fastening.
By now Legolas had had much more than enough. What was he doing just standing there?! He was an elf! He had the strength to match double that of this slob's! He decided some force was needed if he was ever going to get out of this; however, he did not want to resort to violence. He was, after all, a stranger and he did not doubt that this disgusting human's fellow townsmen would come to his aid...no matter how horrid he was. He shoved the man away from him, reveling in the newly acquired breathing space. The man stared in shock.
"Now you listen to me, you drunken idiot. I'll only say this once more, but I shall speak slowly so that your wasted senses can comprehend what I'm about to tell you. I-AM-NOT-A-FEMALE. Now if you'll excuse me, I must be going. Enough of my time has been wasted on this sad excuse for a conversation." He turned to leave, but he wasn't to be so lucky.
The man had sobered up slightly and got over his shock. He forced a hand into the elf's chest, roughly pushing him back into the wall. His fist wrapped around Legolas's throat, squeezing just enough to be uncomfortable. "I don' think so, ya little slut," he growled. "Oiy! Thomas! Bronweir! I got us a lil' ennertainment, here!" Legolas' face paled as two brawny men sauntered over.
"Whatcha got there Horace?" asked one.
"Oooo, it's a plaything!" the other guffawed, stupidly.
The three men closed in around Legolas. He cringed as large, dirty hands roved over his body. He was being touched in places he had never been touched, nor had any desire to be touched, before. He began to panic, wishing they had never come to this horrid, dingy little town. He looked around, desperate to get someone's attention, but no one seemed to notice that three men were currently molesting some innocent creature; it must have been an everyday occurrence. The horrible stench of unwashed flesh and rank breath filled his nostrils and he choked, gasping for fresh air. The men continued to close in on him and he was pressed into the wall, preventing any movement on the young prince's part. Each attempt to reach his knife failed. Legolas's head swam; he was suffocating. He could feel their bodies against his, as well as a few body parts that he'd rather not concentrate on. One hand had a painful grip on his wrists, holding them above his head; another was running down his thigh; still another had unfastened his shirt was crawling inside, rough hands touching his pure skin. Suddenly, a hand (he couldn't identify who's it was anymore) snaked around his back and roughly grabbed his rump, pinching it painfully hard.
"Aiye!" Legolas yelped. He reached his breaking point. His eye color darkened in his rage and a low growl rumbled in his throat. Fists and teeth, alike, were clenched. He could feel his strength building up, his body tensing as though preparing to spring. He opened his mouth to shout, but knew it would be futile. His head swam and he felt himself sliding down the wall....
*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
The end! How did you like? Just kidding, just kidding. Sorry, I know cliffhangers are evil. Read and review everyone! Hold up though, I do have one little bone to pick. As much as I love reviews, please do not send me a review that says nothing about the story, but only points out all my grammar and spelling mistakes (I'm sure those of you who are authors can understand my irritation). I *know* there are mistakes in this thing, trust me. Mistakes tend to happen when you're writing something at 11:30 at night. So please, if you're going to send me a review, send a review of the story and not of my grammar and spelling. I hope you could be able to look beyond the little errors. This isn't my English class so please don't grade me, here. Thank you much. Ok, my little rant is over! I'll have the next chapter up soon, but maybe not as speedy as this one on account I have a busy week this week. Prom this Saturday!
Translation:
"Aiye!" = Oh!
A/N: You know, I really hate how the format gets all screwed up whenever you post these stories. It drives me nuts! Anyway...I really want to thank everyone who reviewed chapter one, of my story. Thanks for your support. Read on oh brave readers and enjoy!
***Note: The town's name is actually the name of an old colonial Connecticut town that was established in 1854. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The Problem with Elves
by: Kate
ch. 2 - An Awkward Situation
There was still some light out when Legolas stepped out of the front door of the inn. He paused on the bottom step, deciding which direction to take. He noticed that it was more crowded down the street, to his right, so he stepped lightly onto the dirt road and set off. The crowd thickened as Legolas went further down the street; he figured that he was approaching the town-square. Though people bustled all around him, bumping into each other, he gracefully maneuvered the street without touching anyone. Those who took notice of him stared; those that didn't see him right away felt his presence as he swept by, and looked about for the source. He appeared angelic, compared to the coarse townspeople, with a soft glow radiating from his person. Legolas ignored the stares and busied himself with studying the booths. All around him hawkers peddled their wares, from fowls to farming supplies. Legolas came to a small fruit stand, manned by a young girl. She stared up at the elf with her eyes full of wonder and her mouth hanging open.
"Good evening," said Legolas softly.
"G-g-good evenin' sir. Ken I help ye with sommat? Would ye like to buy some fresh cherries? They're the best o' quality aroun'. A special kind too, pitless!"
"No thank you, young one. I'm just looking around. You can, however, help me. What is the name of this town?"
"Why, you be in Old Saybrook, sir. Where you be from?"
Legolas just smiled and simply said, "Someplace quite far from here."
The girl laughed. "Well I'd believe that one. You don' look or talk like anyone from 'round here, that's for certain." She brought her voice to a whisper. "Pardon my sayin' so sir, but you don' look like anyone I've ever seen afore. You're too lovely for a man, but you don' look like a woman either."
Legolas laughed; he had taken a liking to the girl. Other than Aragorn, he had never come in contact with a human child before. He bent down close to her, the fragrance of cherry blossoms filling his senses.
"Can you keep a secret?" The girl nodded vigorously, crossing her heart. "Alright. I'm not human-" the girl gasped, "- I'm an elf." Legolas tucked his hair behind one pointed ear to show her its shape and then quickly pulled his hair down again, hiding his ear. He straightened and looked at the darkening sky. A few stars had come out and a crescent moon was beginning to show. "I must be going. It's getting late and my friend wants me to return to the inn before it gets too dark. I'm glad to have met you, young one. I've never really had a conversation with a human child before. Thank you." He turned to leave when-
"Wait!" the girl called. She grabbed a small handful of cherries from a basket. "Here," she said and discretely slipped the cherries into Legolas's hand. "Please take them. It's not everyday I meet an elf." Blushing furiously, she smiled and went back to calling out to passing shoppers.
As Legolas started the walk back to the inn, he opened his hand to find four cherries. He popped one in his mouth, savoring the sweet and tangy flavors as the juice spilled over his tongue. Just then, a prickle went down his spine. Someone was following him. At this realization his senses went into overdrive. It was a man, definitely overweight by the sound of the heavy footfalls and laboured breathing. A heavy smell of cheap ale overcame Legolas and he snorted in disgust; his follower was quite intoxicated. Legolas picked up his pace, but before he could put distance between him and the man a meaty hand clamped down on his shoulder. Legolas' world spun as he was forced around and slammed into a wall, causing him to grunt in pain. As his vision refocused, he took in the large man in front of him. He was tall, even more so than Legolas. He was extremely overweight and his stained and threadbare tunic barely covered his immense belly. He had thinning hair, but what he lacked on his head he made up for on his face. His beard was thick and matted, with bits of food tangled in it. It still dripped with dribbled drink. His small eyes were bleary from the liquor and he swayed on the spot. His breath wreaked something awful. The man let out a mighty belch and Legolas turned away so as not to get the full blast. The man studied the elf a moment before speaking.
"Moi, ain't you a pretty lil' thing," he slurred. He removed his hand from Legolas' chest and placed it near his head, against the wall. Legolas eyed it warily. "You be new to these parts, arncha? I coulda sworn I knews every woman in this here town, from housewife t' whore." He laughed at his own joke, his belly bouncing.
Legolas opened his mouth to respond when the stranger's words hit him. *He thinks I'm a woman!* he thought. "I'm afraid you're mistaken. I'm not a female." He ducked under the man's trunk-like arm, but only made a few steps before he was painfully yanked backward and slammed into the brick wall, again. Sharper shots of pain ran through the elf's muscular back, as well as his arm for the drunkard had a vice-like grip above his elbow, bruising the perfect flesh. Legolas's face contorted with the aches his body was suffering.
"Whadderya takin' aboot? You're a damn woman if'n I ever saw one, and I've seen plenty," he winked. He had one hand on Legolas's chest, forcing him into the wall, and the other had begun roving around Legolas's slender waist, fiddling with the ties on the side of the elf's green tunic. Legolas tried to slide away, but the drunkard wrapped a grimy hand around his throat. "Y'ain't getting' away tha' easily, girly," the man chuckled, "I ain't finished with ya's yet. I still wanna have moi bit o' fun with ye. You sure are pretty..."
Several emotions were running through Legolas at this point, including confusion. *What does this man mean by his 'bit o' fun'?* the elven prince pondered, his brow furrowed in concentration. Meanwhile, the man began playing with Legolas' hair, running his fingers through the corn-silk strands.
"Stop that!" Legolas said angrily, batting the man's hand away. How was he ever going to get out of this mess?
"Ohhhh, feisty are we? Thaas ok, girly ("Stop calling me that!") I likes it rough!" Even in his sauced state, the man was quick. He grabbed Legolas's wrist with his free hand and held it against the wall. He stepped closer to his captive, his stench overpowering Legolas. He leaned in close and sniffed the golden mane. Legolas, having zero room for movement, could do nothing to stop the disgusting act. "Mmmmmm you do smell awful nice..." He released Legolas's wrist and began pawing at the opening of his blue silk shirt, toying with its silver fastening.
By now Legolas had had much more than enough. What was he doing just standing there?! He was an elf! He had the strength to match double that of this slob's! He decided some force was needed if he was ever going to get out of this; however, he did not want to resort to violence. He was, after all, a stranger and he did not doubt that this disgusting human's fellow townsmen would come to his aid...no matter how horrid he was. He shoved the man away from him, reveling in the newly acquired breathing space. The man stared in shock.
"Now you listen to me, you drunken idiot. I'll only say this once more, but I shall speak slowly so that your wasted senses can comprehend what I'm about to tell you. I-AM-NOT-A-FEMALE. Now if you'll excuse me, I must be going. Enough of my time has been wasted on this sad excuse for a conversation." He turned to leave, but he wasn't to be so lucky.
The man had sobered up slightly and got over his shock. He forced a hand into the elf's chest, roughly pushing him back into the wall. His fist wrapped around Legolas's throat, squeezing just enough to be uncomfortable. "I don' think so, ya little slut," he growled. "Oiy! Thomas! Bronweir! I got us a lil' ennertainment, here!" Legolas' face paled as two brawny men sauntered over.
"Whatcha got there Horace?" asked one.
"Oooo, it's a plaything!" the other guffawed, stupidly.
The three men closed in around Legolas. He cringed as large, dirty hands roved over his body. He was being touched in places he had never been touched, nor had any desire to be touched, before. He began to panic, wishing they had never come to this horrid, dingy little town. He looked around, desperate to get someone's attention, but no one seemed to notice that three men were currently molesting some innocent creature; it must have been an everyday occurrence. The horrible stench of unwashed flesh and rank breath filled his nostrils and he choked, gasping for fresh air. The men continued to close in on him and he was pressed into the wall, preventing any movement on the young prince's part. Each attempt to reach his knife failed. Legolas's head swam; he was suffocating. He could feel their bodies against his, as well as a few body parts that he'd rather not concentrate on. One hand had a painful grip on his wrists, holding them above his head; another was running down his thigh; still another had unfastened his shirt was crawling inside, rough hands touching his pure skin. Suddenly, a hand (he couldn't identify who's it was anymore) snaked around his back and roughly grabbed his rump, pinching it painfully hard.
"Aiye!" Legolas yelped. He reached his breaking point. His eye color darkened in his rage and a low growl rumbled in his throat. Fists and teeth, alike, were clenched. He could feel his strength building up, his body tensing as though preparing to spring. He opened his mouth to shout, but knew it would be futile. His head swam and he felt himself sliding down the wall....
*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
The end! How did you like? Just kidding, just kidding. Sorry, I know cliffhangers are evil. Read and review everyone! Hold up though, I do have one little bone to pick. As much as I love reviews, please do not send me a review that says nothing about the story, but only points out all my grammar and spelling mistakes (I'm sure those of you who are authors can understand my irritation). I *know* there are mistakes in this thing, trust me. Mistakes tend to happen when you're writing something at 11:30 at night. So please, if you're going to send me a review, send a review of the story and not of my grammar and spelling. I hope you could be able to look beyond the little errors. This isn't my English class so please don't grade me, here. Thank you much. Ok, my little rant is over! I'll have the next chapter up soon, but maybe not as speedy as this one on account I have a busy week this week. Prom this Saturday!
Translation:
"Aiye!" = Oh!