A/N: Here we go, the momentous chapter 9! Okay, maybe not, but it's all about image, here. Read on!
Chapter 9-Betrayal of the Worst Sort
I wandered around, sniffing forlornly, the picture of a pitiful damsel in distress. Very pitiful, because I cannot cry and look pretty. My face gets all puffy and red, and my eyes go all nutty...I had no earthly clue where the heck I was. Nothing looked remotely familiar, no landmarks I could identify to help me find my way anywhere. Why do they always have to make these places so freaking huge? After meandering around for about ten minutes or so, I heard voices around the corner. This was welcome, as I hadn't seen another living being since high-tailing it away from Aragorn. I poked my head around, hoping to ask for directions. When I saw who was coming, I quickly changed my mind.
It was Ainaelda and Legolas. I dodged behind the nearest leafy shrub, because being seen by them was higher on my 'Things Not to Do' list than shoving a red hot iron rod into my chest. They walked over a bridge, and realization struck me so hard I almost fell out of my somewhat pathetic hiding spot. This wasn't just 'a bridge'. This was the Aragorn/Arwen love scene. Maybe I could find my way back. Ainaelda, surprise to end all surprises, was complaining.
"...doesn't get it. We totally need to go with you guys, because we could help. Does she understand? Of COURSE not! She's got such tunnel vision, and she doesn't realize what's right in her face. Which is why I gotta get up in it to tell her. She's so hard headed! And she's so stupid!" I opened my mouth in wounded dignity and anger. I do NOT have tunnel vision and I am NOT stupid! Am I...? They stopped halfway over the bridge, the exact same spot that Arwen and Aragorn stood. Except that instead of one dark-haired Elf-maiden and a tall dark Ranger, it was an auburn teenager and a blond hottie. Legolas looked grave.
"One should not speak so of her friends. Particularly after you have been through so much together. I would suggest that you make peace with her, and soon. I only say this because of pain from personal experience. Keep your friends, Lady Ainaelda."
"Just Ainaelda," she spoke up, looking down at the ground, red with shame, "Please, just call me Ainaelda." Then, to my utmost surprise, she started crying. Why the hell was SHE crying? Did she agree with him and want me and my friendship back? Well, too bad for her! She wanted it so bad, she shouldn't have practiced her right hook on my eye. Oh, who was I kidding? I wanted her back too! Legolas wrapped his arms around her shoulders, and she sobbed unashamedly into his shirt. Why did SHE get to have his arms around her? Not fair at all! Then, I felt a little niggling sense of foreboding. "Oh, I've been so idiotic! I was just, I don't know, on some mental high from being at the Council. Oh, what have I done?" He shushed her gently.
"It's all right, La- Ainaelda. It will be all right." She shook her head, still buried in his shirt.
"It won't. She hates me, and all...and now you're being so nice to me..." He laughed. It was such a rich sound. Is it possible for someone to be that heart-meltingly handsome when he's laughing?
"Not nice. Grateful. Admiring. You're getting my shirt wet." She gave a wet little laugh that didn't convince me at all.
"Sorry." She pulled away and hastily wiped her eyes. The little niggling feeling in the back of my head grew. Even though I had never felt this before, I was pretty sure I knew what it meant, too. This could only end in tears.
I was right. Curse it and damn it all, I was all too right. Legolas pulled her close to him again, and the split second before it happened, I knew what was going to happen. He kissed her. WHY THE HECK WAS HE KISSING HER? WHY?? The irony in this whole situation would have dumbfounded me if I hadn't felt like strangling someone just then.
This is why we're friends: Ainaelda mimicked my move and kicked him in the shin. But he, unlike Aragorn, caught her before she had a chance to copy me further and run off, and held her tight by the arms. She never stopped moving, trying to get free.
"Ainaelda, please-" I didn't want him to over power her, even if I had been fantasizing about pushing her off the Bridge of Khazadum a few seconds earlier. I ran up from behind and grabbed him around the neck, yanking him off balance.
Something I've learned: if someone's trying to kiss your best friend, chances are he's not paying attention to you hiding in the bushes behind him. Another thing: if you jump on him from behind, you can easily take him by surprise. And because he's not expecting it, he usually falls over on top of you. This was NOT what I had in mind when I pictured Legolas's and my "big moment", but when the situation calls... Screw that, he was trying to take advantage of my best friend! I tried to stop him from standing with me still attatched, yelling while I did:
"Ainaelda! Ainaelda, RUN!" Of course she didn't run. What else would she do but YELL at me?
"I don't need you fighting my battles for me, Vinya! I'm a big girl now, okay?" I sighed, exasperated, and this close to letting him have at her.
"Look, do you want me to let him go or not? You got five seconds starting four seconds ago!" All she did was glare like fury at me. "I'll take that as a yes." So, with a shrug, I got him out of the headlock I had been half-strangling him with. He sprang up like a jack-in-the-box, unsure which one of us to jump for. Ainaelda made up his mind for him by throwing another punch at him. He caught her wrist, but I just watched. Hey, I'd given her a chance. How many more did she want? I could only bear it, though, for a few more seconds. Second chances are always deserved by everybody, right?
I leapt for him again, but he wasn't so easily caught this time. He turned when I was in mid-air and pushed me away. I fell, heavily winded, off the bridge and into the little trickling creek below, trying to sit up in the water that would probably come up to my shin if I was standing. Ainaelda had finally taken the hint and left, and I was out for the count.
"Are you going to hurt me or not?" I asked, too winded to say anything more intelligent. Instead, he just climbed over and offered me his hand.
"By all rights, I should, Lady. But I won't, for you were merely defending the honor of your friend. Though I assure you, her honor was in no danger. I was acting out of turn, it is true, so I accept myself as duly punished. May I help you up?" I shrugged.
"Well, I'm not adding to the decor just lying here." With a gentle, yet firm and strong tug, he pulled me up. I'm not kidding. I didn't do any work; he lifted me on his own. Then, when he let go, I tried to climb out, stepped on a mossy stone, and went right back into the creek, face first. "Dammit!" I screamed, spitting out water. Could this possibly get any worse? I'm soaking wet, bruised, miserable, all in front of Legolas. He helped me up, but this time he made sure I was out of the ditch before letting go. "Well, uh, thanks." He nodded. There was a brief silence, while a large puddle formed under me, and then, "Uh, I'm a little lost...where's my room? Can you give me directions, or something?" I think I took too many blows to the head, there. I was starting to sound like Katty of the 21st century, not Vinyaduriel of Middle Earth. He laughed again. Digging on my best friend or not, he was still the hottest guy I've ever seen, and laughing just made it better.
"Of course! It's not everyday I'm taken by surprise by a slip of a girl like you!" That rang a little too true in my mind. He must have known I was there; I was an Elf, but so was he.
"You knew I was there," I said, voice accusatory. He shrugged.
"I knew someone was there, but I had, ah, other things on my mind. I didn't know it was you, and I certainly didn't think an attack would ensue. Follow me." I hoped Ainaelda could find her way back. Maybe pretty-boy Aragorn could show her. I followed him. After another brief silence, he broke it again.
"I couldn't help but notice that the Lady Ainealda called you a last name during your small row. Watson? Was that it? Ah, yes, Vinya Watson. That doesn't sound like any Elvish name I'm familiar with." Crap. Ainaelda just had to point that out. I tried to act nonchalant about it.
"It isn't," I said matter-of-factly, "We just made up names for ourselves, just little private things for ourselves, because, you know we hated our parents. Vinyaduriel Watson. That's mine," I added stupidly. Hasn't he already proved that he wasn't no dummy?
"Would it be awful for me to enquire what the Lady Ainaelda's is?" I bated with the idea, then decided, hey, why not?
"Heath." That was the end of that conversation. We walked in comfortable silence the rest of the way. Finally, after a convoluted maze of different hallways, we arrived at my room. He brushed his lips against my hand, causing my pulse to soar through the roof until I was in danger of cardiac arrest.
"I sincerely apologize for any inconvienince or strain I've caused your friendship with the Lady Ainealda. Please extend my apologies to her, as well. This is where I leave you, Lady Vinyaduriel."
"Vinya," I said automatically. He smiled, and a moment later, he was gone. Dazedly, I walked into my room, my dreaminess unsuspectingly about to be torn to pieces because of the verbal onslaught that awaited me inside in the form of a VERY disgruntled Ainaelda.
A/N: Gotta get back into the swing of updating again...things don't seem to be looking up for them, do they?
Chapter 9-Betrayal of the Worst Sort
I wandered around, sniffing forlornly, the picture of a pitiful damsel in distress. Very pitiful, because I cannot cry and look pretty. My face gets all puffy and red, and my eyes go all nutty...I had no earthly clue where the heck I was. Nothing looked remotely familiar, no landmarks I could identify to help me find my way anywhere. Why do they always have to make these places so freaking huge? After meandering around for about ten minutes or so, I heard voices around the corner. This was welcome, as I hadn't seen another living being since high-tailing it away from Aragorn. I poked my head around, hoping to ask for directions. When I saw who was coming, I quickly changed my mind.
It was Ainaelda and Legolas. I dodged behind the nearest leafy shrub, because being seen by them was higher on my 'Things Not to Do' list than shoving a red hot iron rod into my chest. They walked over a bridge, and realization struck me so hard I almost fell out of my somewhat pathetic hiding spot. This wasn't just 'a bridge'. This was the Aragorn/Arwen love scene. Maybe I could find my way back. Ainaelda, surprise to end all surprises, was complaining.
"...doesn't get it. We totally need to go with you guys, because we could help. Does she understand? Of COURSE not! She's got such tunnel vision, and she doesn't realize what's right in her face. Which is why I gotta get up in it to tell her. She's so hard headed! And she's so stupid!" I opened my mouth in wounded dignity and anger. I do NOT have tunnel vision and I am NOT stupid! Am I...? They stopped halfway over the bridge, the exact same spot that Arwen and Aragorn stood. Except that instead of one dark-haired Elf-maiden and a tall dark Ranger, it was an auburn teenager and a blond hottie. Legolas looked grave.
"One should not speak so of her friends. Particularly after you have been through so much together. I would suggest that you make peace with her, and soon. I only say this because of pain from personal experience. Keep your friends, Lady Ainaelda."
"Just Ainaelda," she spoke up, looking down at the ground, red with shame, "Please, just call me Ainaelda." Then, to my utmost surprise, she started crying. Why the hell was SHE crying? Did she agree with him and want me and my friendship back? Well, too bad for her! She wanted it so bad, she shouldn't have practiced her right hook on my eye. Oh, who was I kidding? I wanted her back too! Legolas wrapped his arms around her shoulders, and she sobbed unashamedly into his shirt. Why did SHE get to have his arms around her? Not fair at all! Then, I felt a little niggling sense of foreboding. "Oh, I've been so idiotic! I was just, I don't know, on some mental high from being at the Council. Oh, what have I done?" He shushed her gently.
"It's all right, La- Ainaelda. It will be all right." She shook her head, still buried in his shirt.
"It won't. She hates me, and all...and now you're being so nice to me..." He laughed. It was such a rich sound. Is it possible for someone to be that heart-meltingly handsome when he's laughing?
"Not nice. Grateful. Admiring. You're getting my shirt wet." She gave a wet little laugh that didn't convince me at all.
"Sorry." She pulled away and hastily wiped her eyes. The little niggling feeling in the back of my head grew. Even though I had never felt this before, I was pretty sure I knew what it meant, too. This could only end in tears.
I was right. Curse it and damn it all, I was all too right. Legolas pulled her close to him again, and the split second before it happened, I knew what was going to happen. He kissed her. WHY THE HECK WAS HE KISSING HER? WHY?? The irony in this whole situation would have dumbfounded me if I hadn't felt like strangling someone just then.
This is why we're friends: Ainaelda mimicked my move and kicked him in the shin. But he, unlike Aragorn, caught her before she had a chance to copy me further and run off, and held her tight by the arms. She never stopped moving, trying to get free.
"Ainaelda, please-" I didn't want him to over power her, even if I had been fantasizing about pushing her off the Bridge of Khazadum a few seconds earlier. I ran up from behind and grabbed him around the neck, yanking him off balance.
Something I've learned: if someone's trying to kiss your best friend, chances are he's not paying attention to you hiding in the bushes behind him. Another thing: if you jump on him from behind, you can easily take him by surprise. And because he's not expecting it, he usually falls over on top of you. This was NOT what I had in mind when I pictured Legolas's and my "big moment", but when the situation calls... Screw that, he was trying to take advantage of my best friend! I tried to stop him from standing with me still attatched, yelling while I did:
"Ainaelda! Ainaelda, RUN!" Of course she didn't run. What else would she do but YELL at me?
"I don't need you fighting my battles for me, Vinya! I'm a big girl now, okay?" I sighed, exasperated, and this close to letting him have at her.
"Look, do you want me to let him go or not? You got five seconds starting four seconds ago!" All she did was glare like fury at me. "I'll take that as a yes." So, with a shrug, I got him out of the headlock I had been half-strangling him with. He sprang up like a jack-in-the-box, unsure which one of us to jump for. Ainaelda made up his mind for him by throwing another punch at him. He caught her wrist, but I just watched. Hey, I'd given her a chance. How many more did she want? I could only bear it, though, for a few more seconds. Second chances are always deserved by everybody, right?
I leapt for him again, but he wasn't so easily caught this time. He turned when I was in mid-air and pushed me away. I fell, heavily winded, off the bridge and into the little trickling creek below, trying to sit up in the water that would probably come up to my shin if I was standing. Ainaelda had finally taken the hint and left, and I was out for the count.
"Are you going to hurt me or not?" I asked, too winded to say anything more intelligent. Instead, he just climbed over and offered me his hand.
"By all rights, I should, Lady. But I won't, for you were merely defending the honor of your friend. Though I assure you, her honor was in no danger. I was acting out of turn, it is true, so I accept myself as duly punished. May I help you up?" I shrugged.
"Well, I'm not adding to the decor just lying here." With a gentle, yet firm and strong tug, he pulled me up. I'm not kidding. I didn't do any work; he lifted me on his own. Then, when he let go, I tried to climb out, stepped on a mossy stone, and went right back into the creek, face first. "Dammit!" I screamed, spitting out water. Could this possibly get any worse? I'm soaking wet, bruised, miserable, all in front of Legolas. He helped me up, but this time he made sure I was out of the ditch before letting go. "Well, uh, thanks." He nodded. There was a brief silence, while a large puddle formed under me, and then, "Uh, I'm a little lost...where's my room? Can you give me directions, or something?" I think I took too many blows to the head, there. I was starting to sound like Katty of the 21st century, not Vinyaduriel of Middle Earth. He laughed again. Digging on my best friend or not, he was still the hottest guy I've ever seen, and laughing just made it better.
"Of course! It's not everyday I'm taken by surprise by a slip of a girl like you!" That rang a little too true in my mind. He must have known I was there; I was an Elf, but so was he.
"You knew I was there," I said, voice accusatory. He shrugged.
"I knew someone was there, but I had, ah, other things on my mind. I didn't know it was you, and I certainly didn't think an attack would ensue. Follow me." I hoped Ainaelda could find her way back. Maybe pretty-boy Aragorn could show her. I followed him. After another brief silence, he broke it again.
"I couldn't help but notice that the Lady Ainealda called you a last name during your small row. Watson? Was that it? Ah, yes, Vinya Watson. That doesn't sound like any Elvish name I'm familiar with." Crap. Ainaelda just had to point that out. I tried to act nonchalant about it.
"It isn't," I said matter-of-factly, "We just made up names for ourselves, just little private things for ourselves, because, you know we hated our parents. Vinyaduriel Watson. That's mine," I added stupidly. Hasn't he already proved that he wasn't no dummy?
"Would it be awful for me to enquire what the Lady Ainaelda's is?" I bated with the idea, then decided, hey, why not?
"Heath." That was the end of that conversation. We walked in comfortable silence the rest of the way. Finally, after a convoluted maze of different hallways, we arrived at my room. He brushed his lips against my hand, causing my pulse to soar through the roof until I was in danger of cardiac arrest.
"I sincerely apologize for any inconvienince or strain I've caused your friendship with the Lady Ainealda. Please extend my apologies to her, as well. This is where I leave you, Lady Vinyaduriel."
"Vinya," I said automatically. He smiled, and a moment later, he was gone. Dazedly, I walked into my room, my dreaminess unsuspectingly about to be torn to pieces because of the verbal onslaught that awaited me inside in the form of a VERY disgruntled Ainaelda.
A/N: Gotta get back into the swing of updating again...things don't seem to be looking up for them, do they?