3. A Useful Carving.
The smooth wood was warm beneath her fingers as she worked the carving knife through it. It was beginning to take the shape of a bird in flight, but Kalia did not want to concentrate on just anything at the moment.
The last few days had passed without event, both she and the prince too busy to think much about each other. This was the first day she had been able to get away from running so many errands for her father. Since he was a craftsman, making anything from bows, to swords, to jewelry, she often had to deliver them for him. But today was quiet. Kalia sat in one of the many trees near her home, absently carving, her thoughts well in the past. She sighed softly and paused, looking down at the block of polished wood in her hands.
"You are skilled at carving," A voice from below her said, and though it startled her, she forced herself not to jump. She did not let anyone see when she was surprised, as though she practically had the gift of foresight. She leaned to one side and looked down, now allowing confusion to be written across her face. Legolas stood on a branch below her, his eyes on the bird she held.
"What are you doing here?" Kalia asked as he climbed up to sit beside her.
"Hmm, I wasn't aware I did not live here." The comment made her blush.
"You know that isn't what I meant. Why are you even speaking to me, when you don't know but my name?" He now raised his eyes to meet hers.
"I do not know your name, true, but I do not lightly discard anyone I meet. Especially those who interest me-and you are definitely intriguing," he replied.
"I'm not sure if I should take that as a compliment or an insult."
"It is praise," he assured her, holding out his hand. She dumped the wood into it, along with the rusting knife.
"You have not come back," Legolas said carefully, beginning to cut away at the wood. She grinned.
"Can you blame me? I would not wish to arouse any suspicion. and it is partially your fault. You have not gone back to that clearing in three days, and-"
"Ah, so you have returned," he cut her off, and she blushed upon realizing the meaning of what he'd said.
"Fine, so perhaps I have. I am not one to lightly drop a person either." She glanced at him, but the prince's eyes were fixed steadily on the bird.
"I still do not understand why you can't tell me your name, or why you wish to continue following me." To Kalia, he looked as though he wished to admit something, but did not.
"I told you before, I can't answer your questions. It is. a family matter, with Asolan and myself," she replied hesitantly. His grip tightened on the dagger, and he cut harder at the wood, telling her he didn't like her answer. Oh well, it was the one she was going to give. The woman reached over and placed one hand over his, causing them to stop. With her other, she pried the wood and dagger away.
"So you are going to continue stalking me, yet I do not get to know anything." He glanced at her skeptically. "How does that I work? It does not seem fair." An impish smile worked its way onto Kalia's face.
"At least you get something. I could follow you forever and not even bother to present myself," She taunted. He raised an eyebrow, and understood what she meant as she trailed her fingers lightly up his arm. He gently placed his hand over hers, sliding it off. It would not be good for him to think more of something than what really could be. Bringing her hand up, he kissed it politely.
"I must go." She nodded and watched him climb down. "Oh and Kaila?" The woman looked down. "You should try to be home more often." She blushed, then grinned and hurled the carving down. Laughing at his yell, and knowing it had hit, she clambered away deeper into the other trees.
Legolas scowled as he rubbed his head. The little wretch. He looked down, then reached out and picked up the carving thoughtfully. He pocketed it, then began walking back to his home, wondering about what 'family matter' she had meant. The elf had been serious when he said she was intriguing. among other things. He wondered if she really had stopped by the clearing, for she was right. He knew the girl hadn't been home every time he had visited, and though Asolan was a skilled worker he didn't quite trust the man.
"But then, I should not worry about things that do not concern me," he muttered as he wandered into his room. He looked down at the carving again, pondered for a moment, then found his own dagger and began to work.
I have readers! Wow! Now if only I had a few more reviewers. but thanks to everyone who did!
Cherryfaerie: there's one of your answers. but don't worry, all will be explained later.
'Lindi: thankies for the compliment! If you write more of the other one, maybe I'll give you a cookie. (she's helping me write it)
The smooth wood was warm beneath her fingers as she worked the carving knife through it. It was beginning to take the shape of a bird in flight, but Kalia did not want to concentrate on just anything at the moment.
The last few days had passed without event, both she and the prince too busy to think much about each other. This was the first day she had been able to get away from running so many errands for her father. Since he was a craftsman, making anything from bows, to swords, to jewelry, she often had to deliver them for him. But today was quiet. Kalia sat in one of the many trees near her home, absently carving, her thoughts well in the past. She sighed softly and paused, looking down at the block of polished wood in her hands.
"You are skilled at carving," A voice from below her said, and though it startled her, she forced herself not to jump. She did not let anyone see when she was surprised, as though she practically had the gift of foresight. She leaned to one side and looked down, now allowing confusion to be written across her face. Legolas stood on a branch below her, his eyes on the bird she held.
"What are you doing here?" Kalia asked as he climbed up to sit beside her.
"Hmm, I wasn't aware I did not live here." The comment made her blush.
"You know that isn't what I meant. Why are you even speaking to me, when you don't know but my name?" He now raised his eyes to meet hers.
"I do not know your name, true, but I do not lightly discard anyone I meet. Especially those who interest me-and you are definitely intriguing," he replied.
"I'm not sure if I should take that as a compliment or an insult."
"It is praise," he assured her, holding out his hand. She dumped the wood into it, along with the rusting knife.
"You have not come back," Legolas said carefully, beginning to cut away at the wood. She grinned.
"Can you blame me? I would not wish to arouse any suspicion. and it is partially your fault. You have not gone back to that clearing in three days, and-"
"Ah, so you have returned," he cut her off, and she blushed upon realizing the meaning of what he'd said.
"Fine, so perhaps I have. I am not one to lightly drop a person either." She glanced at him, but the prince's eyes were fixed steadily on the bird.
"I still do not understand why you can't tell me your name, or why you wish to continue following me." To Kalia, he looked as though he wished to admit something, but did not.
"I told you before, I can't answer your questions. It is. a family matter, with Asolan and myself," she replied hesitantly. His grip tightened on the dagger, and he cut harder at the wood, telling her he didn't like her answer. Oh well, it was the one she was going to give. The woman reached over and placed one hand over his, causing them to stop. With her other, she pried the wood and dagger away.
"So you are going to continue stalking me, yet I do not get to know anything." He glanced at her skeptically. "How does that I work? It does not seem fair." An impish smile worked its way onto Kalia's face.
"At least you get something. I could follow you forever and not even bother to present myself," She taunted. He raised an eyebrow, and understood what she meant as she trailed her fingers lightly up his arm. He gently placed his hand over hers, sliding it off. It would not be good for him to think more of something than what really could be. Bringing her hand up, he kissed it politely.
"I must go." She nodded and watched him climb down. "Oh and Kaila?" The woman looked down. "You should try to be home more often." She blushed, then grinned and hurled the carving down. Laughing at his yell, and knowing it had hit, she clambered away deeper into the other trees.
Legolas scowled as he rubbed his head. The little wretch. He looked down, then reached out and picked up the carving thoughtfully. He pocketed it, then began walking back to his home, wondering about what 'family matter' she had meant. The elf had been serious when he said she was intriguing. among other things. He wondered if she really had stopped by the clearing, for she was right. He knew the girl hadn't been home every time he had visited, and though Asolan was a skilled worker he didn't quite trust the man.
"But then, I should not worry about things that do not concern me," he muttered as he wandered into his room. He looked down at the carving again, pondered for a moment, then found his own dagger and began to work.
I have readers! Wow! Now if only I had a few more reviewers. but thanks to everyone who did!
Cherryfaerie: there's one of your answers. but don't worry, all will be explained later.
'Lindi: thankies for the compliment! If you write more of the other one, maybe I'll give you a cookie. (she's helping me write it)