A/N: Hey all! *prances in* I have the next chapter typed up, but I won't
post it until I get more reviews! I need at least five more. *eyes
everyone* Alright? REVIEW!!!!!
13. Heart for Heart.
Legolas didn't stop to think. If he had, he would have been a dead man, and Kalia probably wouldn't have lived either. He flung himself to the side, taking her with him, and once both hit the ground the elf jumped up. The woman could only watch in mute horror, so he dragged her away to safety. Then, he faced Tokilor, who already held another stiletto (And no, not the high heel, the weapon. :-P).
As two hawks about to compete for a meal, the two men slowly began to circle each other.
"I know who you are," the human spoke first. "And I almost pity you. You could have avoided all this, you know. But you didn't stay away."
"I will always help those who need my aid." Tokilor's sharp laughter cut through the thickness of the air.
"Aid?" He repeated in amusement. "Aid? I assure you, that she-demon doesn't want or need your assistance with handling me." Legolas raised an eyebrow. "You don't believe me? Look behind you, then." The elf nearly laughed as well.
"Sir, I am not stupid. Were I to turn around, you would take that blade in your hand and do what you just did a moment ago." He caught a glimpse of movement at his side, and Kalia stepped between them.
"Now now, settle down boys. No blood needs to be shed here." Both men looked at her.
"Go, Kalia. Get out of here while you can," the Prince told her urgently.
"I must agree with your friend on this. You needn't interfere," Tokilor put in agreeably. The Tuathe woman's own laughter ran out, and she shook her head.
"This is not the way things have to be, no one needs to die because of me." Saying this, she turned and faced Legolas. "You can help us, you know. Together, the three of us could conquer this pitiful land. I could get what I want, and you. . ." she slid a hand up his arm. "Could get what you want." The man shrugged her off, eyeing the unpredictable female warily. She was up to something.
"No," he told her. "Something strange is at work here, and I will find it. You are not yourself."
"I am completely myself," she assured him. "Now, will you join me or not?" Kalia asked, with a more impatient tone.
"I believe I gave that answer to you already." The female sighed, then drew herself up in a stiff, yet regal, position. Her voice was curt as she spoke.
"Then you may go. I will escort you out." Still uncertain and slightly confused, Legolas followed her, his keen eyes never leaving Tokilor. The human shrugged and reluctantly put away his other dagger. Once the two rounded the corner, however, he grinned. It was all going according to plan. Now if the elvish brat would just inform his father what was going on, it would be all set up. And if Legolas was going to be there when he won, his revenge would be all the sweeter. With these thoughts and incredibly high spirits, Tokilor strode off to make plans.
The walk back down the hall was in silence, until they reached the heavy doors that would see much bloodshed in a short time. At this point, Legolas continued towards them but Kalia grabbed his arm.
"Are you absolutely sure you want to do this?" She asked softly, her eyes expressing nothing of how she felt.
"Yes. I am sorry, Kalia, but if whatever is going on forces me to choose between you and my people, I must choose them." He took her hand and brought it politely to his lips. Then he nodded and turned to leave. She did not stop him. And so he strode back out into the rain, jumping on his horse and disappearing into the darkness.
*********************************
When he returned home, it was to find all the servants of this palace had already retired to their quarters. This was normal, telling him it was late. What was strange was that there were no guards around, either.
Ascending the stairs to the second floor, Legolas headed into his father's study once more, and found him waiting for his return.
"Well?" Thranduil prompted impatiently, unusual for the King. "What did you find?" There was a certain graveness about him as well, and Legolas noticed this as he answered. He told his father almost all that had happened, leaving out the part about how he had been seduced by Kalia since that had nothing to do with what was important in his tale. Thranduil listened with rapt attention, looking as though he wanted to say something as well. When the prince finished relaying everything that had happened, it was a long moment before his father spoke.
"What do you think?" The king inquired of his son. Legolas blinked, taken aback by the question. He looked thoughtful for a moment, pondering his answer.
"I think. . . There is more to this than meets the eye. We have to be careful, stay on our guard for now. In the meantime, gather together a hidden army. I fear something great and terrible is about to happen." He did not voice that he almost knew there was going to be a battle. With his father's permission, the elf departed to his rooms, where he instantly collapsed on his bed. He was exhausted, though he didn't want to rest. He was too confused to have a peaceful sleep, too troubled. But it wasn't Tokilor who haunted his thoughts; it was Kalia, and what she could make him do. He didn't know how she'd melted her way into his mind, but now she practically had him crawling on his knees.
It was what she could make him feel. Legolas was sure of that. He could go from frustration, to amusement, to sorrow, to lust, to anger just by being in her presence. She knew it, too. That was how she could manipulate him, make him do what she wished. And now he didn't know up from down, truth from lie. When the time came for the battle against Tokilor, which the prince was positive would happen, if Kalia was there. . . He didn't know what he would do.
"Maybe there won't be a battle," the elf said hopefully, aloud. The silence that answered him was reply enough. With a sigh and a mind that was still a whirlwind of thoughts, Legolas embraced the depths of darkness and drifted to sleep.
13. Heart for Heart.
Legolas didn't stop to think. If he had, he would have been a dead man, and Kalia probably wouldn't have lived either. He flung himself to the side, taking her with him, and once both hit the ground the elf jumped up. The woman could only watch in mute horror, so he dragged her away to safety. Then, he faced Tokilor, who already held another stiletto (And no, not the high heel, the weapon. :-P).
As two hawks about to compete for a meal, the two men slowly began to circle each other.
"I know who you are," the human spoke first. "And I almost pity you. You could have avoided all this, you know. But you didn't stay away."
"I will always help those who need my aid." Tokilor's sharp laughter cut through the thickness of the air.
"Aid?" He repeated in amusement. "Aid? I assure you, that she-demon doesn't want or need your assistance with handling me." Legolas raised an eyebrow. "You don't believe me? Look behind you, then." The elf nearly laughed as well.
"Sir, I am not stupid. Were I to turn around, you would take that blade in your hand and do what you just did a moment ago." He caught a glimpse of movement at his side, and Kalia stepped between them.
"Now now, settle down boys. No blood needs to be shed here." Both men looked at her.
"Go, Kalia. Get out of here while you can," the Prince told her urgently.
"I must agree with your friend on this. You needn't interfere," Tokilor put in agreeably. The Tuathe woman's own laughter ran out, and she shook her head.
"This is not the way things have to be, no one needs to die because of me." Saying this, she turned and faced Legolas. "You can help us, you know. Together, the three of us could conquer this pitiful land. I could get what I want, and you. . ." she slid a hand up his arm. "Could get what you want." The man shrugged her off, eyeing the unpredictable female warily. She was up to something.
"No," he told her. "Something strange is at work here, and I will find it. You are not yourself."
"I am completely myself," she assured him. "Now, will you join me or not?" Kalia asked, with a more impatient tone.
"I believe I gave that answer to you already." The female sighed, then drew herself up in a stiff, yet regal, position. Her voice was curt as she spoke.
"Then you may go. I will escort you out." Still uncertain and slightly confused, Legolas followed her, his keen eyes never leaving Tokilor. The human shrugged and reluctantly put away his other dagger. Once the two rounded the corner, however, he grinned. It was all going according to plan. Now if the elvish brat would just inform his father what was going on, it would be all set up. And if Legolas was going to be there when he won, his revenge would be all the sweeter. With these thoughts and incredibly high spirits, Tokilor strode off to make plans.
The walk back down the hall was in silence, until they reached the heavy doors that would see much bloodshed in a short time. At this point, Legolas continued towards them but Kalia grabbed his arm.
"Are you absolutely sure you want to do this?" She asked softly, her eyes expressing nothing of how she felt.
"Yes. I am sorry, Kalia, but if whatever is going on forces me to choose between you and my people, I must choose them." He took her hand and brought it politely to his lips. Then he nodded and turned to leave. She did not stop him. And so he strode back out into the rain, jumping on his horse and disappearing into the darkness.
*********************************
When he returned home, it was to find all the servants of this palace had already retired to their quarters. This was normal, telling him it was late. What was strange was that there were no guards around, either.
Ascending the stairs to the second floor, Legolas headed into his father's study once more, and found him waiting for his return.
"Well?" Thranduil prompted impatiently, unusual for the King. "What did you find?" There was a certain graveness about him as well, and Legolas noticed this as he answered. He told his father almost all that had happened, leaving out the part about how he had been seduced by Kalia since that had nothing to do with what was important in his tale. Thranduil listened with rapt attention, looking as though he wanted to say something as well. When the prince finished relaying everything that had happened, it was a long moment before his father spoke.
"What do you think?" The king inquired of his son. Legolas blinked, taken aback by the question. He looked thoughtful for a moment, pondering his answer.
"I think. . . There is more to this than meets the eye. We have to be careful, stay on our guard for now. In the meantime, gather together a hidden army. I fear something great and terrible is about to happen." He did not voice that he almost knew there was going to be a battle. With his father's permission, the elf departed to his rooms, where he instantly collapsed on his bed. He was exhausted, though he didn't want to rest. He was too confused to have a peaceful sleep, too troubled. But it wasn't Tokilor who haunted his thoughts; it was Kalia, and what she could make him do. He didn't know how she'd melted her way into his mind, but now she practically had him crawling on his knees.
It was what she could make him feel. Legolas was sure of that. He could go from frustration, to amusement, to sorrow, to lust, to anger just by being in her presence. She knew it, too. That was how she could manipulate him, make him do what she wished. And now he didn't know up from down, truth from lie. When the time came for the battle against Tokilor, which the prince was positive would happen, if Kalia was there. . . He didn't know what he would do.
"Maybe there won't be a battle," the elf said hopefully, aloud. The silence that answered him was reply enough. With a sigh and a mind that was still a whirlwind of thoughts, Legolas embraced the depths of darkness and drifted to sleep.