Hello once again faithful readers and reviewers. I hope you enjoy chapter
eleven!
I've been trying to get these chapters up asap, and soon I'll have much more free time to do so. My theater program has its final showing of our play on the last weekend of January. Don't wish me luck! *hinthint*
Just a quick note to Ailitheya: What country are you from? Erm, I know you were trying to improve my French, but you obviously need some more training before you can become a tutor yourself. 'Tu' is 'you' (informally of course, do you honestly believe Raven would speak respectfully to Kasseendra?) in French. 'Toi' is also 'you', but it is a STRESS pronoun. You need a SUBJECT PRONOUN (tu). The sentence you were trying to suggest would make no sense. 'Es' is 'are' (again, informally), and yes, 'bitch' is Frenglish, but thanks to Kittykatt, I now know that the correct form is une chienne (more closely translated to female dog). Once again, I know you were trying to help me, so don't think I'm harassing you. But I seriously think you might find it in your best interest for you to go over the proper pronoun usage.
Stress: Je veux faire une promenade avec toi. I want to take a walk with you.
Subject: Tu es une etudiante. You are a student.
Now we can get on with the good stuff.
Raven's eyelids opened slightly to expose a sliver of total blur. A groan escaped her chapped lips, causing a rustling sound and a sharp *thud* to her right.
"Raven, you're awake!" a familiar male voice met her leaf-shaped ears. A shiver shot down her spine; she liked it.
"What happened?" she asked groggily, still not recognizing the smudged image of the person by her side.
"You were wounded in the forest. You fell unconscious."
She inhaled sharply, remembering the searing pain just above her breast, "How long have I been out for?" she closed her eyes and placed her hand over her bandaged wound.
"You have been asleep for nearly four days. The poison on the arrowhead was a strong mixture; everyone feared the worst. I've been so worried," the elf closed his eyes as well and breathed in her aroma, slowly lowering his lips to her hers, but before they brushed together, the world finally came to focus for the other. . .
"YOU!" she shrieked.
"Me?" Legolas asked, almost frightened.
"GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY ROOM!"
The Prince had no idea someone in her condition could scream so loudly, "But let me at least explain!"
"What? You wanna lie to me again?" Raven was still yelling at the top of her lungs.
"No! I never lied to you-" Legolas cried.
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Arien woke with a start outside the door to the sound of Raven's hysterical yelps. 'Finally, she's alive again.' She made a move to open the door and see what was going on, but then she heard Legolas's voice. She lowered her hand and pressed an ear against the door; if he wouldn't tell her what had happened between them on his own, maybe she could use other methods for information. She grinned evilly.
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"Ts. You promised you would never hurt me. Guess what Legolas, you did," she looked away.
"Raven, please, you must let me explain!" the pain in his voice was obvious, but she wouldn't listen.
"What's to explain? I wouldn't have sex with you, so you thought you'd get some off Kasseendra. Real smooth Prince boy, real smooth."
"She tricked me, I thought she was you!"
She stopped him with a wave of her hand, "Legolas, do you remember when I told you not to trip?"
"Yes, why?" he asked, afraid of the answer.
"Well, you didn't; you took a friggin' nose dive!"
Tears brimmed his eyes, "No, you don't understand."
"- and I don't think you're ever going to get back up," she began to push back her covers and pull herself out of bed.
"No, you mustn't move, you're not well enough," he shot out a gentle yet firm hand to her chest to stop her.
The instant his fingers made contact with the area reserved for more private occasions, Raven's fist came flying out of now where and smacked down onto Legolas's face, "Don't touch me!" she shrieked, "You were one of the only two men I ever loved, but Jason's gone," tears rolled from her orbs as she looked into the other elf's eyes, "And now I know only one of them loved me back," she looked down, "The door is waiting," she pointed at the exit.
As he entered the hall where Arien waited, Legolas wasn't sure what stung more; the red outline of Raven's hand on his cheek or her words. He NEEDED her to understand, to make her know that it was all nothing more that a jealous hoax, to make her know that she was his true love. He felt light headed when he saw her, and his skin tingled when they touched. A passionate flame that he had only ever known for her burned inside his body, but now her heart was encased in an icy shell that he needed to melt. She was all he wanted.
"So, would you care to explain your conversation?" Arien looked down at the Prince.
"You were eavesdropping, weren't you?" he said more as a statement than a question.
"Not that I needed to; she was really laying it on you," she raised an eyebrow, "Was that payment for laying on Kasseendra? Would you mind explaining 'I wouldn't have sex with you so you thought you'd get some off Kasseendra'?" the exceptionally tall woman asked threateningly.
Legolas gave an exasperated sigh, "Raven and I. . . I mean I got carried away and nearly. . . did something unforgivable,"
"You mean tried to have sex with her," Arien interjected
"Yes, but she stopped me, and I'm glad she did. She wasn't ready, I couldn't have forgiven myself," he shivered as the vision of Raven's empty eyes returned to his mind.
The other nodded, "So, you were still feeling a little excited so you ran down the nearest easy female!" the other accused.
"No! Let me finish! Raven and I went to the gardens to be alone. That was when we heard you calling for Raven remember? Just a few seconds later, Kasseendra found me. I told her I was there with Raven, but all of a sudden she BECAME Raven. It was almost like magic. I kissed her, but something in my thoughts told me it was wrong, but when I finally listened to it, Raven came back. She saw us and ran off into the forest, need I go on? But still, she refuses to let me explain. Why can't she understand I only love her? I NEED her," Legolas finished with near agony in his voice.
Arien looked ever so slightly taken aback, but still not quite ready to trust him," Did you do anything before you went to the gardens?" she asked firmly.
"No, except we stopped off at the dining hall for a glass of wine," Legolas furrowed his brow.
"Yea, I remember now. . . Kasseendra was there, too. I saw her hanging around near the-" she cut herself off with a short gasp, "trays of wine!"
The other elf blinked, "-and?"
Arien's voice was excited, "Could she have tainted the wine somehow?"
"I'm not sure. . ."
"I'm going to assume you are not lying to me for the simple reason that you are my friend; I do hope you know how difficult this is for me."
Legolas smirked.
"Can you describe the emotions you had when you were with Kasseendra?"
"I remember feeling almost dizzy. I felt impaired and groggy: practically a drunken feeling. I remember as if my part mind was screaming at my body, but somehow I wasn't in control. It didn't last long, but obviously it stayed long enough to do some serious damage," the Prince lowered his eyes.
Arien's face stayed straight, "How long after you had the wine did the effects show up?
"I'm not sure. Probably somewhere between half to three quarters of an hour."
The woman nodded her head but stayed silent for a few seconds, "It's possible that Kasseendra drugged your drink, but I don't want to jump to conclusions," her mischievous grin resurfaced, "I've got some snooping to do."
"Where?" Darin's voice rang down the hall.
Arien's face lit up, "Darin!" she raced towards him and he caught her in his arms. Although Darin was considered tall among elves, he was no match for his lady's towering stature. Legolas snickered.
His friend pulled away from Arien, "What are you laughing at? You're the shortest one here!" his smile quickly melted away, "In the name of the Valar, what happened to your face?"
"Oh, that?" he pointed to his cheek, "Raven woke up. I've been telling you two all this time she wasn't a weakling," he sounded almost proud, but his eyes bared great pain.
Darin was very confused, "Why the hell did she slap you?"
Arien answered for him, "She walked in on him kissing Kasseendra, and she's not quite over it yet."
The newcomer's face paled, "You didn't. How could you? She was the BEST thing that ever happened to you. How could you waste that? She was in LOVE with you!" Darin was almost shaking.
Legolas knew his friend would have said different words if he knew the whole story, but somehow his talk made the Prince feel sick to his stomach with shame and grief, "For the sake of our friendship let me explain; I wasn't myself. When I looked at Kasseendra, I saw Raven.
"Oh yes, they look so much alike don't they!" Darin clenched his fists.
Arien smacked the back of his head, "Let the elf finish."
"Something was playing with my mind. Please don't turn away from me, for you are all I have left. Raven will not listen," he felt his eyes water, "I fear she will not return to me."
Darin looked at his friend with newfound sympathy and understanding, "Yes, she will," he embraced his Prince, "She must, and I am sorry for doubting you. What of Kasseendra? Surely she will be punished?"
"That's what the snooping around is for," Arien smiled at the two elves, "I need something to prove Leg's behavior wasn't his own."
"How do you plan on doing that?" Darin asked.
"Oh, I have my ways," her eyes narrowed secretively.
Legolas smiled, but he still felt the sickening emptiness welling inside his heart.
"Well, I'm going to go speak with Raven; life's been on a standstill for the past few days, and I'm in a mood to give her a piece of my mind. Coming Darin?" Arien announced and dragged the elf she had addressed into Raven's room, abandoning the Prince in the hall.
"Hey Raven, good to see you alive again!" Arien smiled brightly, but her expression quickly turned to one of terror when she saw her friend, "Raven! You're not supposed to be up yet!" she screamed and rushed over to the balcony.
Raven looked up at her friend with a raised eyebrow, "I'm doing it because HE told me not to."
"You have got to be the most stubborn stupid woman on the face of all the planets in all the space time continuums," Arien snapped, leaving Darin to blink stupidly by the door.
Raven stuck her nose up in the air and crossed her arms, but it wasn't as effective as it could have been because the woman before her was almost a foot taller than she was, "I see you've been speaking with Legolas. Tell me if you would feel any different if you saw Darin lying half-naked on the one woman who kept trying to steal him away from you?" her eyes began their transformation to the red-and-puffy stage.
Arien looked taken aback for the second time that hour and couldn't find any words to say.
"He promised me he would never hurt me. He promised me he'd always love me, but now I know they were all lies. It's like my old life all over again, and I don't think I can stand it. Would you please just leave me alone?"
"Why? So you can wallow in your own ignorant self-pity? Maybe if you gave the elf a chance to explain you would see how irrational you are being! He never left your side when you fell unconscious. He nearly DIED of grief, and you won't even give him a chance. Have you ever considered the possibility that he really does love you and speaks the truth?"
The tears barely clung to her lashes, "But how do you know he speaks the truth?"
"I can see it in his eyes. No one can act that well. You just suddenly refuse to accept the idea that people aren't perfect!"
"You don't know what happened to me; you weren't there! You don't understand."
"No, I don't! Has the thought that this could perhaps be Kasseendra's doing ever crossed your mind?"
Raven stood silently; she hoped so much that the words her friend spoke were true, but the memories and scars of her past forced her tortured brain to reject the idea.
"You're making a terrible mistake. You're throwing something away you may not be able to get back," with that, Arien made her exit, dragging the semi- confused Darin with her.
Raven sighed and collapsed on the bed; the effort of merely standing had drained it out of her. When the sound of the two elves' footfalls faded, her tears broke the dams in her eyes, rolled down her rosy cheeks, and splashed onto her sheets. She wanted to believe Arien, but visions of Jason's body lying on the floor, a crimson streak glistening from the corner of his mouth, kept haunting her. How could she ever trust anyone again? She missed the touch of Legolas's skillful hands on her body and the feel of his lips on hers, but how could she believe him? She shook in her sobs.
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Darin held the door to his room open for Arien, "Why didn't you explain Legolas's story to Raven?" he asked in confusion.
"Simple, I just wanted to set the stage for him to get it out himself. He's a big boy now; he has to handle this on his own."
"And what if she doesn't listen to him?" he asked desperately.
"Then they're going to be very miserable, aren't they?"
"How can you be so calm?"
She shrugged, "I'm using my will power to force myself to know that everything will be alright," she said with her eyes clamped shut.
Darin smirked, "I wish I had your confidence," he walked over to her and pressed his lips on hers. He felt the sudden jump of Arien's reaction and straightened up victoriously; there was a way to remove that cool composure. He pulled away to get a better view of her expression. She had a rosy tint to her cheeks, and a pleasantly surprised smile graced her lips, "Good night Arien, I um, never mind."
She beamed, "I um never mind you too, Darin," she stepped out of the room and broke into full-loaded blush.
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Legolas groaned into his pillows and rolled over to face the ceiling. He glanced over to the balcony and saw that the sun had set over the mountains as he slipped of his bed and walked out under the sky.
"Please, let her still love me," he pleaded to the heavens. When he received no reply, he sighed and looked into his room. His heart stopped for a second; there was a star on his desk. The Prince blinked and remembered his mother's ring. The ring he wanted to slip on Raven's finger. The ring he wanted Raven to wear. . . for him. Would she ever? He bowed his head and recited the words engraved in the so-called indestructible mithril, "Nothing shall hinder our undying love." The warrior's eyes suddenly became heavy with tears. He had only ever shed tears once before he met her, and that was when his mother died. Raven had done so much to him, and he could almost feel physical pain now that she had removed herself from him.
Another sigh escaped his lips; he was going to die if she didn't listen. He had to see her tomorrow afternoon.
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Legolas knocked on the door to Raven's healing quarters and was swiftly greeted by an elf with a sort of pompous-air about her, "Yes, my Prince?"
"May I speak with Lady Raven?" he asked hopefully.
"I'm afraid she left last night. She insisted she to return to her room. The healers recommended she stay at least another week, but she wouldn't hear of it. She's got quite-"
Legolas cut her off with a quick 'thank you' and walked briskly to the end of the hall and up a flight of stairs, and then another. When he finally arrived at her door, he lifted his fist to knock, but hesitated for a moment; this was it. He rapped on the door.
The Prince waited a few seconds before Raven's surprised face appeared, "Legolas, why are you here?" she cocked her head to one side and narrowed her eyes.
"I must speak with you," he said quickly.
"How lovely," she said sarcastically and moved to shut the door on his face, but he caught it before it could latch.
"Raven, please, for the sake of what we had, would you just hear me out?" his heart fluttered.
She looked taken aback, "Not now, Legolas, later."
He sighed with relief, "Meet me at the balcony in the library after sundown."
The elf nodded, "I'll think about it." She closed the door and sank to the floor; she still didn't have her strength back. Raven peeled the bandage over her chest back and smiled grimly. The elven healers had truly done an excellent job at fixing up her wound, but she had received a scar. She looked out over her balcony and saw the sun was burning orange-red over the mountains.
Knowing that she had little more than an hour to get out of her bedclothes and meet up with Legolas, Raven hoisted herself up and pulled open her armoire. The elf had been able to force herself to decide that Legolas deserved a chance, if only for what had happened in the past.
She pulled her green finger-less gloves that reached halfway between her elbow and shoulder and pushed her door open.
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Legolas paced back and forth across the balcony, "It's sundown; where is she? She did say she was coming, right?" he gasped, "No, she said she'd THINK about it," his steps quickened.
"Um, am I interrupting something?" Raven asked from her leaning position on the archway.
The Prince sighed with relief, "You came," he stopped pacing and jumped right on what he needed to say before she could object, "That night, it wasn't my fault. Kasseendra planned the whole thing. Arien believes she may have tainted my wine. Whatever it was, when she came, I tried to make her leave, but when I looked back at her she was you," his eyes pleaded with her to understand.
"But that doesn't make any sense. I loved you once, Legolas, but-"
He stopped her with three fingertips to her lips, causing tears to shimmer on her emerald orbs, "Please, let me finish. When I kissed her, my mind told me something wasn't right, but by the time I could stop myself," he didn't need to continue.
She wanted so hard to believe him, but all could think of was a small girl falling to her knees and clutching her arms, blood dripping from between her fingers. A boy, larger than the girl, lay next to her. He wasn't moving. Tears fell from Raven's eyes.
"Raven? What's wrong? Why are you shaking? Who's Jason? Raven!" he shot out his arms to her shoulders and shook her until she opened her eyes and looked into his, "What's going on?" he asked urgently, "Who's Jason? You where calling his name!"
"My brother," she cried.
"What HAPPENED to you?"
She tried to escape his grip, but he refused to let go, "She killed him, my mother killed him because he wouldn't let her hurt me!" she sobbed
Legolas almost lost his hold in his shock, "How could a parent harm her child?" he asked himself. The warrior looked down at the tormented girl in his arms. No wonder she was so confused; what had he done? "No matter what happened to you in your past, all wounds will heal, all scars will fade. I love you; I always have. Please," he breathed a silent prayer and placed his lips on hers. He felt Raven's muscles tense in protest, but he wouldn't let her go; he needed her like he needed air.
Raven finally rejected her complaint and let her wants and needs take over her system once more and rolled her head back, giving Legolas total control. He didn't need the invitation twice before taking advantage of the situation and intensified the kiss as he squeezed her as close to him as he could get. Before he could take it any farther though, Raven began to pull away once more, and this time she succeeded, "Legolas, I," she shook her head, turned, and rushed out the door, not knowing where to go.
The Prince remained rooted to the spot in an attempt to recover from his slight shock, but followed her exit a few moments later.
Raven rushed up a flight of stairs and without thinking, immediately took a left turn. Just as she did so, she collided with yet another elf, "Sorry, I wasn't looking where I was going. I have a lot on my mind," she apologized before her eyes could focus on the face of the other.
"I'm sure you do, my Lady Raven," Roain's grinned.
"Leave me alone," she said darkly and walked passed him.
"Sad isn't it," Roain saw Raven stop and search his face questioningly before he continued, "that our foolishness often comes back to haunt us?" his eyes narrowed secretively, as if he knew something she did not.
"What do you mean?"
"All those times we so," he paused to add a dramatic effect, "surprisingly met, of course. You should have told the Prince when you had the chance, for now it's far too late," he took a step toward her.
"What ARE you talking about? I don't need HIM, thank you," she turned to leave, but icy fingers wrapped themselves around her wrist, "Let go of me."
His grin widened and his eyes narrowed even more, "No."
Butterflies fluttered madly in her stomach in warning, "Have you any idea what you are doing? Let g-"
Roain's lips engulfed her mouth in a voracious kiss and slammed her against the wall, "Now you'll learn the meaning of misery," he growled.
Raven wasn't about to go quietly. She turned the gem on her ring to the inside of her palm and slapped him across the face, raking a trail of blood from his cheekbone to chin. In Roain's stunned shock that followed, the elf tore down the hall, raced to her unlocked door, threw it open, and collapsed on the other side. She panted for a few seconds when her heart stopped; the handle was turning.
"Oh Raven, you forgot to lock the door," Roain said with an almost musical quality from the other side.
The woman used all the strength she had ever known to fight the elf's weight on her door; if he got in there, nothing would stop him from doing anything, "HELP!" she shrieked, "Anyone! He's going to KILL me!" 'Why is no one coming?' The realization hit her like a slap on the face. 'It's nightfall; everyone is in the ballroom for dinner. . .'
With a sudden burst of energy, Roain forced the door open and leapt in the room, "There's no one to save you now, Raven. You're all alone."
The elf trembled in her terror and felt the tears well up in her eyes as he began to walk to her. She ran to the closed door, but before she could open it, Roain had caught her upper arm and dug his nails into her flesh until she bleed. She sucked in air to scream, but he quickly smothered her cry with his mouth and bruised her lips in a greedy kiss. Raven defiantly clenched her teeth when he tried to slip his tongue through her lips, only to receive a blow to the head from Roain's fist. Seizing the opportunity, he drove his tongue into her crevasses and forced her onto her bed.
Raven screamed and struggled against his invasion, but it was no use. When his tongue flicked against the inside of her cheek, she felt she was going to be sick. Instead, she did the best thing she could think of and slammed her teeth down as hard as she could. The elf took great satisfaction in the yelps she caused and spat his salty blood out of her mouth. Though she smiled with smug pride, her victim was not so amused.
"You BITCH!" he slammed his elbow down on her left breast, sending pain coursing through her veins. He fought against her flailing arms and legs as he undid the clasps to her tunic, but her struggling body and cries of fright excited him as he sucked the tears off her cheeks, leaving lip marks.
Once he had torn her shirt and bandage away, he used his lips, tongue, teeth, and hands to violate and degrade her body as he pleased. When Roain's wandering mouth came to the scar above her red and swollen breast, he snickered in her weeping face, "Ah yes, I had almost forgotten my arrow. I had intended upon killing you then and there, but when I failed, I formulated a new plan. I decided there are worse things than death; I'm sure you know that by now. I'll leave your broken body at Legolas's feet. It's a shame you didn't believe him; he was telling the truth. Perhaps if you had only listened to him, I'd be holding my heart in my hands and he'd be holding you in his.
Raven growled fiercely and smashed the heel of her palm into Roain's nose. The crunching sound of bone and cartilage snapping and scrapping that followed was enough to make her vomit, but the enraged elf on top of her instantly smacked his fist into her temple, rendering her unconscious. As he continued to undress, the sick grin slowly melted off his face. He craved the feeling of her body writhing and thrashing beneath him. He hungered for the sound of her sobs. He smirked as he tore strips of cloth from her sheets and fastened her wrists to the bedposts. He hurriedly took off his shirt and struggled to remove her long skirt, but left his pants on; he wanted her to watch that part. He stared at her naked form as he tied her ankles to the posts opposite her wrists. Once he finished securing her, he noticed that he had forgotten those stupid gloves she always wore.
Roain moved to untie the knots around her wrists, but his victim moaned beneath him; she was waking up. He decided to leave the gloves.
It was a pity he was going to destroy her like this; she truly was beautiful, both in body and spirit. In fact, it was that spirit that had fascinated him in the first place. He had known ever since he first saw her that he had to have her. He wouldn't kill her, but her soul would never recover from what he had always known he was going to do.
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Legolas left the ballroom and abandoned his half-eaten dinner. He felt more like a walk than food. As he passed through the door he glanced back at Arien and saw that Raven's seat was unoccupied. He quickly dismissed it for obvious reasons and headed for his room. A sound that seemed oddly like a woman's scream met his ears as he passed one of the staircases, and he stopped for a moment and listened. When he didn't hear anything else, he put it uneasily aside as a draft of wind, but kept his senses on alert; he had a nagging sensation in the back of his mind that he couldn't identify.
He passed his father's room and furrowed his brow disapprovingly, "You," he spoke to the solitary soldier, "there are always supposed to be two guards here. Who is the other on duty?" Legolas's heart plummeted like a rock when he heard the response.
"Roain Greysky."
The Prince's legs propelled his faster than he knew possible as the pieces to the puzzle fell into place in his mind; he had been stalking her. How could he have been so blind?
He tore up the second flight of stairs when he heard Raven's voice cry out from the end of the corridor, "Please, Roain, no," he felt his blood boil as he reached for his knife and realized he was unarmed. It didn't matter now; Legolas would kill him with his bare hands.
Raven wept beneath the elf as he squeezed her breasts and dragged his tongue along her neck before he reared back and undid the fasten at the base of his pants, "Please don't do this," tears rolled down her flushed cheeks.
"Don't worry, you won't remember a thing when I'm through," he moved to the last button.
"Legolas, I'm sorry," she closed her eyes and fell limp.
At that moment Legolas kicked the door open and stood motionless for half a second to take in the scene in front of him; Roain was mounted atop Raven's naked weeping form. The image of her dull and empty eyes retuned to his mind. How could Roain want to do this? Legolas shook with rage and his orbs burned with the flame of the warrior who had been long forgotten once the Ring had been destroyed, "GET OFF HER!" he sent his entire arm crashing into Roain's face and watched him fall over backwards off the bed, "HOW DARE YOU TOUCH HER?"
The elf took the less than subtle hint and ran for his life to the balcony, "You don't think you've won, do you? You can't protect her forever, Prince. One day, when you're not looking, she won't be so lucky. I guarantee my arrows and appendages never miss twice."
Legolas thirsted for his blood. Seeing him defile Raven's body brought a fury unlike any he had never known. How could anyone taint something as pure and innocent as her like this? "I'LL RIP YOUR THROAT OUT!" but before he could get his hands near their target, Roain leapt down to the forest floor with a grin and raced off through the gloom. Fuming, the Prince turned from the railing and remembered the reason for his being there; Raven.
He raced to her side and knelt down to avoid seeing anything more than she would allow, "Are you alright?" No answer, "Raven? It's alright, I'm here now." Silence, "Raven?" he swallowed heavily and dared to look at what was forbidden to him. What he saw nearly killed him; her lips and breasts were bruised and swollen. Her body was covered in marks made by lips and scratches. Roain had shown no mercy when he ravished her. Legolas swore to himself then and there if he ever saw that miserable creature again he would kill him on sight; the way he tried to ruin his love was unforgivable. Tears fell from his eyes as he untied the cords that bound her wrists and ankles and covered her with one of the sheets, "Please wake up," he shook in his sobs as he gathered her battered body in his arms and lowered his lips to hers in a gentle kiss, "I love you."
Raven's eyes slowly fluttered open, "Legolas, I'm sorry," she breathed weakly.
The Prince sighed with relief, "Don't be."
"I never should have doubted you. Can you ever forgive me?" she hadn't moved since she awoke.
"There's nothing to forgive but my not being able to protect you. You could have been," he choked on his tears.
"Shh," she soothed softly, "You saved me," she closed her eyes, "again," her eyes glazed a bit, "Thank you."
For Raven's sake, the Prince wasn't sure if he should be in her room at this moment. He removed his arms and prepared to reluctantly leave her side, but was stopped by her voice, "Please, don't leave me," she reached out and placed her hands on his arm, "I don't want to be alone."
Legolas swallowed and lay back down, "Raven, I. . . I should go. . ."
"Hold me," she closed her eyes, "I was so scared."
The Prince's muscles tensed for a moment when he thought of what Roain had done to her and pulled her to his chest protectively, "He can't hurt you now that I'm here."
She snuggled closer to him, "What if he comes back?"
The warrior hadn't thought of that, "I won't let him hurt you ever again," he placed his hands on her back possessively.
"I love you," she breathed.
Legolas had almost forgotten how good it felt to hear those words, "I love you too."
He lay with Raven in his arms well after she fell asleep; he was too frightened to leave her. Roain's words rang through his mind, "You can't protect her forever, Prince. One day, when you're not looking, she won't be so lucky." He wasn't going to let that happen. EVER.
Review and let me know what you thought! I just had three snow days in a row so I had A LOT of time to work on it! Hope you like it!
I've been trying to get these chapters up asap, and soon I'll have much more free time to do so. My theater program has its final showing of our play on the last weekend of January. Don't wish me luck! *hinthint*
Just a quick note to Ailitheya: What country are you from? Erm, I know you were trying to improve my French, but you obviously need some more training before you can become a tutor yourself. 'Tu' is 'you' (informally of course, do you honestly believe Raven would speak respectfully to Kasseendra?) in French. 'Toi' is also 'you', but it is a STRESS pronoun. You need a SUBJECT PRONOUN (tu). The sentence you were trying to suggest would make no sense. 'Es' is 'are' (again, informally), and yes, 'bitch' is Frenglish, but thanks to Kittykatt, I now know that the correct form is une chienne (more closely translated to female dog). Once again, I know you were trying to help me, so don't think I'm harassing you. But I seriously think you might find it in your best interest for you to go over the proper pronoun usage.
Stress: Je veux faire une promenade avec toi. I want to take a walk with you.
Subject: Tu es une etudiante. You are a student.
Now we can get on with the good stuff.
Raven's eyelids opened slightly to expose a sliver of total blur. A groan escaped her chapped lips, causing a rustling sound and a sharp *thud* to her right.
"Raven, you're awake!" a familiar male voice met her leaf-shaped ears. A shiver shot down her spine; she liked it.
"What happened?" she asked groggily, still not recognizing the smudged image of the person by her side.
"You were wounded in the forest. You fell unconscious."
She inhaled sharply, remembering the searing pain just above her breast, "How long have I been out for?" she closed her eyes and placed her hand over her bandaged wound.
"You have been asleep for nearly four days. The poison on the arrowhead was a strong mixture; everyone feared the worst. I've been so worried," the elf closed his eyes as well and breathed in her aroma, slowly lowering his lips to her hers, but before they brushed together, the world finally came to focus for the other. . .
"YOU!" she shrieked.
"Me?" Legolas asked, almost frightened.
"GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY ROOM!"
The Prince had no idea someone in her condition could scream so loudly, "But let me at least explain!"
"What? You wanna lie to me again?" Raven was still yelling at the top of her lungs.
"No! I never lied to you-" Legolas cried.
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Arien woke with a start outside the door to the sound of Raven's hysterical yelps. 'Finally, she's alive again.' She made a move to open the door and see what was going on, but then she heard Legolas's voice. She lowered her hand and pressed an ear against the door; if he wouldn't tell her what had happened between them on his own, maybe she could use other methods for information. She grinned evilly.
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"Ts. You promised you would never hurt me. Guess what Legolas, you did," she looked away.
"Raven, please, you must let me explain!" the pain in his voice was obvious, but she wouldn't listen.
"What's to explain? I wouldn't have sex with you, so you thought you'd get some off Kasseendra. Real smooth Prince boy, real smooth."
"She tricked me, I thought she was you!"
She stopped him with a wave of her hand, "Legolas, do you remember when I told you not to trip?"
"Yes, why?" he asked, afraid of the answer.
"Well, you didn't; you took a friggin' nose dive!"
Tears brimmed his eyes, "No, you don't understand."
"- and I don't think you're ever going to get back up," she began to push back her covers and pull herself out of bed.
"No, you mustn't move, you're not well enough," he shot out a gentle yet firm hand to her chest to stop her.
The instant his fingers made contact with the area reserved for more private occasions, Raven's fist came flying out of now where and smacked down onto Legolas's face, "Don't touch me!" she shrieked, "You were one of the only two men I ever loved, but Jason's gone," tears rolled from her orbs as she looked into the other elf's eyes, "And now I know only one of them loved me back," she looked down, "The door is waiting," she pointed at the exit.
As he entered the hall where Arien waited, Legolas wasn't sure what stung more; the red outline of Raven's hand on his cheek or her words. He NEEDED her to understand, to make her know that it was all nothing more that a jealous hoax, to make her know that she was his true love. He felt light headed when he saw her, and his skin tingled when they touched. A passionate flame that he had only ever known for her burned inside his body, but now her heart was encased in an icy shell that he needed to melt. She was all he wanted.
"So, would you care to explain your conversation?" Arien looked down at the Prince.
"You were eavesdropping, weren't you?" he said more as a statement than a question.
"Not that I needed to; she was really laying it on you," she raised an eyebrow, "Was that payment for laying on Kasseendra? Would you mind explaining 'I wouldn't have sex with you so you thought you'd get some off Kasseendra'?" the exceptionally tall woman asked threateningly.
Legolas gave an exasperated sigh, "Raven and I. . . I mean I got carried away and nearly. . . did something unforgivable,"
"You mean tried to have sex with her," Arien interjected
"Yes, but she stopped me, and I'm glad she did. She wasn't ready, I couldn't have forgiven myself," he shivered as the vision of Raven's empty eyes returned to his mind.
The other nodded, "So, you were still feeling a little excited so you ran down the nearest easy female!" the other accused.
"No! Let me finish! Raven and I went to the gardens to be alone. That was when we heard you calling for Raven remember? Just a few seconds later, Kasseendra found me. I told her I was there with Raven, but all of a sudden she BECAME Raven. It was almost like magic. I kissed her, but something in my thoughts told me it was wrong, but when I finally listened to it, Raven came back. She saw us and ran off into the forest, need I go on? But still, she refuses to let me explain. Why can't she understand I only love her? I NEED her," Legolas finished with near agony in his voice.
Arien looked ever so slightly taken aback, but still not quite ready to trust him," Did you do anything before you went to the gardens?" she asked firmly.
"No, except we stopped off at the dining hall for a glass of wine," Legolas furrowed his brow.
"Yea, I remember now. . . Kasseendra was there, too. I saw her hanging around near the-" she cut herself off with a short gasp, "trays of wine!"
The other elf blinked, "-and?"
Arien's voice was excited, "Could she have tainted the wine somehow?"
"I'm not sure. . ."
"I'm going to assume you are not lying to me for the simple reason that you are my friend; I do hope you know how difficult this is for me."
Legolas smirked.
"Can you describe the emotions you had when you were with Kasseendra?"
"I remember feeling almost dizzy. I felt impaired and groggy: practically a drunken feeling. I remember as if my part mind was screaming at my body, but somehow I wasn't in control. It didn't last long, but obviously it stayed long enough to do some serious damage," the Prince lowered his eyes.
Arien's face stayed straight, "How long after you had the wine did the effects show up?
"I'm not sure. Probably somewhere between half to three quarters of an hour."
The woman nodded her head but stayed silent for a few seconds, "It's possible that Kasseendra drugged your drink, but I don't want to jump to conclusions," her mischievous grin resurfaced, "I've got some snooping to do."
"Where?" Darin's voice rang down the hall.
Arien's face lit up, "Darin!" she raced towards him and he caught her in his arms. Although Darin was considered tall among elves, he was no match for his lady's towering stature. Legolas snickered.
His friend pulled away from Arien, "What are you laughing at? You're the shortest one here!" his smile quickly melted away, "In the name of the Valar, what happened to your face?"
"Oh, that?" he pointed to his cheek, "Raven woke up. I've been telling you two all this time she wasn't a weakling," he sounded almost proud, but his eyes bared great pain.
Darin was very confused, "Why the hell did she slap you?"
Arien answered for him, "She walked in on him kissing Kasseendra, and she's not quite over it yet."
The newcomer's face paled, "You didn't. How could you? She was the BEST thing that ever happened to you. How could you waste that? She was in LOVE with you!" Darin was almost shaking.
Legolas knew his friend would have said different words if he knew the whole story, but somehow his talk made the Prince feel sick to his stomach with shame and grief, "For the sake of our friendship let me explain; I wasn't myself. When I looked at Kasseendra, I saw Raven.
"Oh yes, they look so much alike don't they!" Darin clenched his fists.
Arien smacked the back of his head, "Let the elf finish."
"Something was playing with my mind. Please don't turn away from me, for you are all I have left. Raven will not listen," he felt his eyes water, "I fear she will not return to me."
Darin looked at his friend with newfound sympathy and understanding, "Yes, she will," he embraced his Prince, "She must, and I am sorry for doubting you. What of Kasseendra? Surely she will be punished?"
"That's what the snooping around is for," Arien smiled at the two elves, "I need something to prove Leg's behavior wasn't his own."
"How do you plan on doing that?" Darin asked.
"Oh, I have my ways," her eyes narrowed secretively.
Legolas smiled, but he still felt the sickening emptiness welling inside his heart.
"Well, I'm going to go speak with Raven; life's been on a standstill for the past few days, and I'm in a mood to give her a piece of my mind. Coming Darin?" Arien announced and dragged the elf she had addressed into Raven's room, abandoning the Prince in the hall.
"Hey Raven, good to see you alive again!" Arien smiled brightly, but her expression quickly turned to one of terror when she saw her friend, "Raven! You're not supposed to be up yet!" she screamed and rushed over to the balcony.
Raven looked up at her friend with a raised eyebrow, "I'm doing it because HE told me not to."
"You have got to be the most stubborn stupid woman on the face of all the planets in all the space time continuums," Arien snapped, leaving Darin to blink stupidly by the door.
Raven stuck her nose up in the air and crossed her arms, but it wasn't as effective as it could have been because the woman before her was almost a foot taller than she was, "I see you've been speaking with Legolas. Tell me if you would feel any different if you saw Darin lying half-naked on the one woman who kept trying to steal him away from you?" her eyes began their transformation to the red-and-puffy stage.
Arien looked taken aback for the second time that hour and couldn't find any words to say.
"He promised me he would never hurt me. He promised me he'd always love me, but now I know they were all lies. It's like my old life all over again, and I don't think I can stand it. Would you please just leave me alone?"
"Why? So you can wallow in your own ignorant self-pity? Maybe if you gave the elf a chance to explain you would see how irrational you are being! He never left your side when you fell unconscious. He nearly DIED of grief, and you won't even give him a chance. Have you ever considered the possibility that he really does love you and speaks the truth?"
The tears barely clung to her lashes, "But how do you know he speaks the truth?"
"I can see it in his eyes. No one can act that well. You just suddenly refuse to accept the idea that people aren't perfect!"
"You don't know what happened to me; you weren't there! You don't understand."
"No, I don't! Has the thought that this could perhaps be Kasseendra's doing ever crossed your mind?"
Raven stood silently; she hoped so much that the words her friend spoke were true, but the memories and scars of her past forced her tortured brain to reject the idea.
"You're making a terrible mistake. You're throwing something away you may not be able to get back," with that, Arien made her exit, dragging the semi- confused Darin with her.
Raven sighed and collapsed on the bed; the effort of merely standing had drained it out of her. When the sound of the two elves' footfalls faded, her tears broke the dams in her eyes, rolled down her rosy cheeks, and splashed onto her sheets. She wanted to believe Arien, but visions of Jason's body lying on the floor, a crimson streak glistening from the corner of his mouth, kept haunting her. How could she ever trust anyone again? She missed the touch of Legolas's skillful hands on her body and the feel of his lips on hers, but how could she believe him? She shook in her sobs.
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Darin held the door to his room open for Arien, "Why didn't you explain Legolas's story to Raven?" he asked in confusion.
"Simple, I just wanted to set the stage for him to get it out himself. He's a big boy now; he has to handle this on his own."
"And what if she doesn't listen to him?" he asked desperately.
"Then they're going to be very miserable, aren't they?"
"How can you be so calm?"
She shrugged, "I'm using my will power to force myself to know that everything will be alright," she said with her eyes clamped shut.
Darin smirked, "I wish I had your confidence," he walked over to her and pressed his lips on hers. He felt the sudden jump of Arien's reaction and straightened up victoriously; there was a way to remove that cool composure. He pulled away to get a better view of her expression. She had a rosy tint to her cheeks, and a pleasantly surprised smile graced her lips, "Good night Arien, I um, never mind."
She beamed, "I um never mind you too, Darin," she stepped out of the room and broke into full-loaded blush.
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Legolas groaned into his pillows and rolled over to face the ceiling. He glanced over to the balcony and saw that the sun had set over the mountains as he slipped of his bed and walked out under the sky.
"Please, let her still love me," he pleaded to the heavens. When he received no reply, he sighed and looked into his room. His heart stopped for a second; there was a star on his desk. The Prince blinked and remembered his mother's ring. The ring he wanted to slip on Raven's finger. The ring he wanted Raven to wear. . . for him. Would she ever? He bowed his head and recited the words engraved in the so-called indestructible mithril, "Nothing shall hinder our undying love." The warrior's eyes suddenly became heavy with tears. He had only ever shed tears once before he met her, and that was when his mother died. Raven had done so much to him, and he could almost feel physical pain now that she had removed herself from him.
Another sigh escaped his lips; he was going to die if she didn't listen. He had to see her tomorrow afternoon.
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Legolas knocked on the door to Raven's healing quarters and was swiftly greeted by an elf with a sort of pompous-air about her, "Yes, my Prince?"
"May I speak with Lady Raven?" he asked hopefully.
"I'm afraid she left last night. She insisted she to return to her room. The healers recommended she stay at least another week, but she wouldn't hear of it. She's got quite-"
Legolas cut her off with a quick 'thank you' and walked briskly to the end of the hall and up a flight of stairs, and then another. When he finally arrived at her door, he lifted his fist to knock, but hesitated for a moment; this was it. He rapped on the door.
The Prince waited a few seconds before Raven's surprised face appeared, "Legolas, why are you here?" she cocked her head to one side and narrowed her eyes.
"I must speak with you," he said quickly.
"How lovely," she said sarcastically and moved to shut the door on his face, but he caught it before it could latch.
"Raven, please, for the sake of what we had, would you just hear me out?" his heart fluttered.
She looked taken aback, "Not now, Legolas, later."
He sighed with relief, "Meet me at the balcony in the library after sundown."
The elf nodded, "I'll think about it." She closed the door and sank to the floor; she still didn't have her strength back. Raven peeled the bandage over her chest back and smiled grimly. The elven healers had truly done an excellent job at fixing up her wound, but she had received a scar. She looked out over her balcony and saw the sun was burning orange-red over the mountains.
Knowing that she had little more than an hour to get out of her bedclothes and meet up with Legolas, Raven hoisted herself up and pulled open her armoire. The elf had been able to force herself to decide that Legolas deserved a chance, if only for what had happened in the past.
She pulled her green finger-less gloves that reached halfway between her elbow and shoulder and pushed her door open.
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Legolas paced back and forth across the balcony, "It's sundown; where is she? She did say she was coming, right?" he gasped, "No, she said she'd THINK about it," his steps quickened.
"Um, am I interrupting something?" Raven asked from her leaning position on the archway.
The Prince sighed with relief, "You came," he stopped pacing and jumped right on what he needed to say before she could object, "That night, it wasn't my fault. Kasseendra planned the whole thing. Arien believes she may have tainted my wine. Whatever it was, when she came, I tried to make her leave, but when I looked back at her she was you," his eyes pleaded with her to understand.
"But that doesn't make any sense. I loved you once, Legolas, but-"
He stopped her with three fingertips to her lips, causing tears to shimmer on her emerald orbs, "Please, let me finish. When I kissed her, my mind told me something wasn't right, but by the time I could stop myself," he didn't need to continue.
She wanted so hard to believe him, but all could think of was a small girl falling to her knees and clutching her arms, blood dripping from between her fingers. A boy, larger than the girl, lay next to her. He wasn't moving. Tears fell from Raven's eyes.
"Raven? What's wrong? Why are you shaking? Who's Jason? Raven!" he shot out his arms to her shoulders and shook her until she opened her eyes and looked into his, "What's going on?" he asked urgently, "Who's Jason? You where calling his name!"
"My brother," she cried.
"What HAPPENED to you?"
She tried to escape his grip, but he refused to let go, "She killed him, my mother killed him because he wouldn't let her hurt me!" she sobbed
Legolas almost lost his hold in his shock, "How could a parent harm her child?" he asked himself. The warrior looked down at the tormented girl in his arms. No wonder she was so confused; what had he done? "No matter what happened to you in your past, all wounds will heal, all scars will fade. I love you; I always have. Please," he breathed a silent prayer and placed his lips on hers. He felt Raven's muscles tense in protest, but he wouldn't let her go; he needed her like he needed air.
Raven finally rejected her complaint and let her wants and needs take over her system once more and rolled her head back, giving Legolas total control. He didn't need the invitation twice before taking advantage of the situation and intensified the kiss as he squeezed her as close to him as he could get. Before he could take it any farther though, Raven began to pull away once more, and this time she succeeded, "Legolas, I," she shook her head, turned, and rushed out the door, not knowing where to go.
The Prince remained rooted to the spot in an attempt to recover from his slight shock, but followed her exit a few moments later.
Raven rushed up a flight of stairs and without thinking, immediately took a left turn. Just as she did so, she collided with yet another elf, "Sorry, I wasn't looking where I was going. I have a lot on my mind," she apologized before her eyes could focus on the face of the other.
"I'm sure you do, my Lady Raven," Roain's grinned.
"Leave me alone," she said darkly and walked passed him.
"Sad isn't it," Roain saw Raven stop and search his face questioningly before he continued, "that our foolishness often comes back to haunt us?" his eyes narrowed secretively, as if he knew something she did not.
"What do you mean?"
"All those times we so," he paused to add a dramatic effect, "surprisingly met, of course. You should have told the Prince when you had the chance, for now it's far too late," he took a step toward her.
"What ARE you talking about? I don't need HIM, thank you," she turned to leave, but icy fingers wrapped themselves around her wrist, "Let go of me."
His grin widened and his eyes narrowed even more, "No."
Butterflies fluttered madly in her stomach in warning, "Have you any idea what you are doing? Let g-"
Roain's lips engulfed her mouth in a voracious kiss and slammed her against the wall, "Now you'll learn the meaning of misery," he growled.
Raven wasn't about to go quietly. She turned the gem on her ring to the inside of her palm and slapped him across the face, raking a trail of blood from his cheekbone to chin. In Roain's stunned shock that followed, the elf tore down the hall, raced to her unlocked door, threw it open, and collapsed on the other side. She panted for a few seconds when her heart stopped; the handle was turning.
"Oh Raven, you forgot to lock the door," Roain said with an almost musical quality from the other side.
The woman used all the strength she had ever known to fight the elf's weight on her door; if he got in there, nothing would stop him from doing anything, "HELP!" she shrieked, "Anyone! He's going to KILL me!" 'Why is no one coming?' The realization hit her like a slap on the face. 'It's nightfall; everyone is in the ballroom for dinner. . .'
With a sudden burst of energy, Roain forced the door open and leapt in the room, "There's no one to save you now, Raven. You're all alone."
The elf trembled in her terror and felt the tears well up in her eyes as he began to walk to her. She ran to the closed door, but before she could open it, Roain had caught her upper arm and dug his nails into her flesh until she bleed. She sucked in air to scream, but he quickly smothered her cry with his mouth and bruised her lips in a greedy kiss. Raven defiantly clenched her teeth when he tried to slip his tongue through her lips, only to receive a blow to the head from Roain's fist. Seizing the opportunity, he drove his tongue into her crevasses and forced her onto her bed.
Raven screamed and struggled against his invasion, but it was no use. When his tongue flicked against the inside of her cheek, she felt she was going to be sick. Instead, she did the best thing she could think of and slammed her teeth down as hard as she could. The elf took great satisfaction in the yelps she caused and spat his salty blood out of her mouth. Though she smiled with smug pride, her victim was not so amused.
"You BITCH!" he slammed his elbow down on her left breast, sending pain coursing through her veins. He fought against her flailing arms and legs as he undid the clasps to her tunic, but her struggling body and cries of fright excited him as he sucked the tears off her cheeks, leaving lip marks.
Once he had torn her shirt and bandage away, he used his lips, tongue, teeth, and hands to violate and degrade her body as he pleased. When Roain's wandering mouth came to the scar above her red and swollen breast, he snickered in her weeping face, "Ah yes, I had almost forgotten my arrow. I had intended upon killing you then and there, but when I failed, I formulated a new plan. I decided there are worse things than death; I'm sure you know that by now. I'll leave your broken body at Legolas's feet. It's a shame you didn't believe him; he was telling the truth. Perhaps if you had only listened to him, I'd be holding my heart in my hands and he'd be holding you in his.
Raven growled fiercely and smashed the heel of her palm into Roain's nose. The crunching sound of bone and cartilage snapping and scrapping that followed was enough to make her vomit, but the enraged elf on top of her instantly smacked his fist into her temple, rendering her unconscious. As he continued to undress, the sick grin slowly melted off his face. He craved the feeling of her body writhing and thrashing beneath him. He hungered for the sound of her sobs. He smirked as he tore strips of cloth from her sheets and fastened her wrists to the bedposts. He hurriedly took off his shirt and struggled to remove her long skirt, but left his pants on; he wanted her to watch that part. He stared at her naked form as he tied her ankles to the posts opposite her wrists. Once he finished securing her, he noticed that he had forgotten those stupid gloves she always wore.
Roain moved to untie the knots around her wrists, but his victim moaned beneath him; she was waking up. He decided to leave the gloves.
It was a pity he was going to destroy her like this; she truly was beautiful, both in body and spirit. In fact, it was that spirit that had fascinated him in the first place. He had known ever since he first saw her that he had to have her. He wouldn't kill her, but her soul would never recover from what he had always known he was going to do.
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Legolas left the ballroom and abandoned his half-eaten dinner. He felt more like a walk than food. As he passed through the door he glanced back at Arien and saw that Raven's seat was unoccupied. He quickly dismissed it for obvious reasons and headed for his room. A sound that seemed oddly like a woman's scream met his ears as he passed one of the staircases, and he stopped for a moment and listened. When he didn't hear anything else, he put it uneasily aside as a draft of wind, but kept his senses on alert; he had a nagging sensation in the back of his mind that he couldn't identify.
He passed his father's room and furrowed his brow disapprovingly, "You," he spoke to the solitary soldier, "there are always supposed to be two guards here. Who is the other on duty?" Legolas's heart plummeted like a rock when he heard the response.
"Roain Greysky."
The Prince's legs propelled his faster than he knew possible as the pieces to the puzzle fell into place in his mind; he had been stalking her. How could he have been so blind?
He tore up the second flight of stairs when he heard Raven's voice cry out from the end of the corridor, "Please, Roain, no," he felt his blood boil as he reached for his knife and realized he was unarmed. It didn't matter now; Legolas would kill him with his bare hands.
Raven wept beneath the elf as he squeezed her breasts and dragged his tongue along her neck before he reared back and undid the fasten at the base of his pants, "Please don't do this," tears rolled down her flushed cheeks.
"Don't worry, you won't remember a thing when I'm through," he moved to the last button.
"Legolas, I'm sorry," she closed her eyes and fell limp.
At that moment Legolas kicked the door open and stood motionless for half a second to take in the scene in front of him; Roain was mounted atop Raven's naked weeping form. The image of her dull and empty eyes retuned to his mind. How could Roain want to do this? Legolas shook with rage and his orbs burned with the flame of the warrior who had been long forgotten once the Ring had been destroyed, "GET OFF HER!" he sent his entire arm crashing into Roain's face and watched him fall over backwards off the bed, "HOW DARE YOU TOUCH HER?"
The elf took the less than subtle hint and ran for his life to the balcony, "You don't think you've won, do you? You can't protect her forever, Prince. One day, when you're not looking, she won't be so lucky. I guarantee my arrows and appendages never miss twice."
Legolas thirsted for his blood. Seeing him defile Raven's body brought a fury unlike any he had never known. How could anyone taint something as pure and innocent as her like this? "I'LL RIP YOUR THROAT OUT!" but before he could get his hands near their target, Roain leapt down to the forest floor with a grin and raced off through the gloom. Fuming, the Prince turned from the railing and remembered the reason for his being there; Raven.
He raced to her side and knelt down to avoid seeing anything more than she would allow, "Are you alright?" No answer, "Raven? It's alright, I'm here now." Silence, "Raven?" he swallowed heavily and dared to look at what was forbidden to him. What he saw nearly killed him; her lips and breasts were bruised and swollen. Her body was covered in marks made by lips and scratches. Roain had shown no mercy when he ravished her. Legolas swore to himself then and there if he ever saw that miserable creature again he would kill him on sight; the way he tried to ruin his love was unforgivable. Tears fell from his eyes as he untied the cords that bound her wrists and ankles and covered her with one of the sheets, "Please wake up," he shook in his sobs as he gathered her battered body in his arms and lowered his lips to hers in a gentle kiss, "I love you."
Raven's eyes slowly fluttered open, "Legolas, I'm sorry," she breathed weakly.
The Prince sighed with relief, "Don't be."
"I never should have doubted you. Can you ever forgive me?" she hadn't moved since she awoke.
"There's nothing to forgive but my not being able to protect you. You could have been," he choked on his tears.
"Shh," she soothed softly, "You saved me," she closed her eyes, "again," her eyes glazed a bit, "Thank you."
For Raven's sake, the Prince wasn't sure if he should be in her room at this moment. He removed his arms and prepared to reluctantly leave her side, but was stopped by her voice, "Please, don't leave me," she reached out and placed her hands on his arm, "I don't want to be alone."
Legolas swallowed and lay back down, "Raven, I. . . I should go. . ."
"Hold me," she closed her eyes, "I was so scared."
The Prince's muscles tensed for a moment when he thought of what Roain had done to her and pulled her to his chest protectively, "He can't hurt you now that I'm here."
She snuggled closer to him, "What if he comes back?"
The warrior hadn't thought of that, "I won't let him hurt you ever again," he placed his hands on her back possessively.
"I love you," she breathed.
Legolas had almost forgotten how good it felt to hear those words, "I love you too."
He lay with Raven in his arms well after she fell asleep; he was too frightened to leave her. Roain's words rang through his mind, "You can't protect her forever, Prince. One day, when you're not looking, she won't be so lucky." He wasn't going to let that happen. EVER.
Review and let me know what you thought! I just had three snow days in a row so I had A LOT of time to work on it! Hope you like it!