Disclaimer: I am an Ai not a Tolkien so I can't possibly write Lord of the
Rings.
Author's Note: I know the end of the last chapter was kind of icky but work with me here. Some of you guessed that the figure that attacked poor Galdor was Artamir and guess what? *corny celebration music starts playing*
YOU ARE CORRECT!!!
Yay! *clap clap* Remember that. It will come up again in a few more chapters.
Bittersweet Revenge
Child's Play
'Where did that Elf run off to now?' Haldir thought with a bit of frustration. Legolas was also nowhere to be seen either. He sighed and gave up looking for them. The Mirkwood palace was so easy to get lost in. He never felt relaxed when he was in it. It was built by the Dwarves so of course, they used stone. It always reminded him of a prison, unlike the talans that he lived in when in Lothlorien, his true home.
Haldir impatiently brushed his silvery hair out of his face and started to retrace his footsteps to his room that he shared with Legolas. He was doing very well until the hallway split. 'Right or left? Right. Left. Oh, forget it.'
He chose the left side and started walking confidently down another hallway. With a small grin, he reached his quarters. He flung open his door, preparing to burst in and jump onto the soft feather bed--but then he froze.
His stormy blue eyes widened when he saw Prince Ambaril, Legolas's older brother, staring at him with equal shock. He felt his face flush and his ears got hot. Haldir stuttered an apology and was about to close the door when Ambaril called him back in.
Haldir shuffled in uncomfortably. "Yes, milord?" he asked with a slight bow.
To his surprise, Ambaril wasn't mad at him for barging in. "Stop it with the formalities, Haldir. You come to Mirkwood so often that people are starting to think you're our brother."
Haldir raised an eyebrow questioningly. "Me? I don't even know where my own room is." A faint pink tinged his pale skin when he remembered why he was there in the first place.
Ambaril laughed. "I'll show you to your room, Haldir," he said finally when he stopped laughing. Then his expression suddenly became serious. "You know," he said as if the idea just hit him. "maybe you should be our brother."
"What?!" His expression completely lost.
"I said, maybe you should become our brother. Part of the Thranduilion. Blood brothers," Ambaril said with a grin.
Haldir studied the Prince carefully to see if he was kidding but he could detect no trace of a lie in his eyes. However, he caught a small glimmer in his eye but he thought he imagined it. It disappeared almost as soon as he saw it. "Fine, 'Brother,'" he mocked. "Then that means I get to inherit the throne," he said with a grin. "I'm older than you."
"You wish," muttered Ambaril throwing a pillow at him, his mood suddenly dark.
"What?"
"Oh, nothing," replied the Prince with a wave of his hand, the cheery demeanor returned as swiftly as it had left. "So, brother?" he asked holding out a hand.
"Brother," said Haldir firmly grasping the hand. He looked up into the sky blue eyes and once again, he thought he saw something else there that looked like triumph. He quickly pushed it out of his head saying, "Let us seal it with a drink, shall we?"
Ambaril leapt up from the bed by pushing on Haldir, making the Guardian lose his balance. Throwing him a wicked grin he said, "You're slow for a Thranduilion."
Haldir growled quickly regaining his footing. "Slow eh? I'm also a Galadhon. Think you can beat me to the kitchens?"
"I can beat one of you lumbering Galadhon tree-people any day," the Prince said with a scoff.
"Fine, let us bet then. If I should win, you will be my servant for twenty- four hours, doing whatever I say. But if you win, I will run around the Mirkwood throne room acting like a crazy Dwarf in front of the king and all the guests. Ok?"
Ambaril thought for a second. "Run around like a crazy Dwarf naked," he said.
Haldir arched an eyebrow at him. "Fine. Naked," he added, very sure that he could beat the Mirkwood Elf. Even if he was a Prince, it didn't make him faster, right? He would not lose this bet. He had to win. There is no way he was going to run around Mirkwood naked.
"You're on!" cried Ambaril. He crouched down, ready to sprint off to the kitchens. He threw the Guardian a cocky grin. "Get ready to lose, Brother."
"Humph. You get ready to kiss my feet," he retorted.
"Go!" the Prince cried suddenly and both of their bodies lunged forward simultaneously and raced neck to neck down to the kitchens.
Haldir magnificent body flashed and he whipped around the corner, his eyes never left his target. He knew the Prince was right beside him and he urged himself to go faster. His legs moved so fast that they were a blur beneath his body and his silvery hair trailed out behind him. 'So close...' he thought, his hands reaching out towards the finishing spot.
"Beat you!" both of them yelled at the same time as they touched the cool marble wall of the kitchen. Haldir looked over at Ambaril who was panting hard from the short sprint. His golden hair was thrown messily across his face but he still managed to give off that regal air.
"No way," Haldir declared. "I so beat you. Now you're my servant!"
"Hey! We tied!" cried the younger Elf. "You didn't win."
"Yes I did! I beat you by a second. My hand touched the wall before yours so I won," he stated calmly.
"But my arm is shorter!"
"So?" he fastened the Prince with one of his infamous Guardian stares until the Prince looked away.
"We tied! I am not your servant!" he cried stubbornly like an Elfling.
"No, it wasn't a tie." Suddenly, Haldir lunged and grabbed a poor cook from the kitchen by the collar. The Elf looked at him frightened, his eyes darting like a trapped rat. "Who won?"
"I- I don't know... I wasn't paying attention," he stuttered but the Guardian started to raise him higher until the cook's toes barely brushed the floor. "You did!," he squealed. "You did, milord, you won!"
Haldir grinned. "See? Even the cook says I won."
Ambaril glared at him and sputtered but could not say anything. "Put the poor Elf down, Haldir," he ordered finally glancing at the cook whose face was readily turning purple.
"Huh? Oh yeah," he said, smiling sheepishly and he loosened his grip. The cook immediately fell into a heap on the floor and ran away from the Guardian who towered over him.
"Now, servant," he said wickedly looking at Ambaril who flinched. "First I want you to clean my boots. They're all dusty from all that running you made me do."
"But they're clean already," Ambaril protested looking at Haldir's boots. It was true. There was hardly a spot on them.
"So that will be even more easier for you to clean," said Haldir smoothly. "Next, I want you to groom my horse. It's tired from the long trip to Mirkwood and didn't have a bath yet. I want him spotless with his hooves polished and his mane and tail plaited."
Ambaril opened his mouth to protest but Haldir just ignored him. "And when you're through with cleaning her, you will muck out her stall and fill it with fresh hay and water." Haldir finished and grinned evilly before adding, "Don't miss that pile of manure in the back left corner of her stall." He laughed out loud at Ambaril's outraged expression.
"But that will take all day!"
"Good."
"Good?" he said weakly.
"You serve me for twenty four hours remember? If you finish that task, I shall put you on something much harder. Or... if you prefer..." A slow smile spread across his handsome face. "You could always do..."
"No, no," Ambaril said quickly not liking the evil look in the Guardian's eyes at all. "I shall go 'Master,'" he said with contempt. He turned and walked two steps before he was called back.
"What now?" he asked exasperated. He made a mental note never to bet with Haldir again.
"You forgot to bow to me," Haldir answered. "I AM your master for twenty four hours and..."
"Yes, yes, I know, MASTER," he said. "I will take my leave, MASTER," and bowed very stiffly at the Guardian who was howling with laughter. 'I WILL get you back for this.'
~*~*~With Legolas~*~*~
'Her mother gave her those marks,' he thought with disbelief. 'What kind of Elf, or Man, would do that to her own flesh and blood?' He realized now why she didn't trust him or Haldir in the beginning. How could she if all she knew in her life was pain and obedience? He longed to comfort her and tell her that not all Elves were like that but he knew she wouldn't want that.
"You are not weak," he told her again.
She shook her head, dark hair spilling over her face. "Yes, I am. I cannot stay in Mirkwood. I came here for a reason and I will leave once my task is complete," she said in a hallowed voice.
"What task?"
"You will not understand," she said in a voice unlike her own. The words weren't like hers either. It was as if she was speaking for another person. "I cannot tell you even if I wanted to."
"Hithiel," he whispered, reaching out to her with his voice. "This is not what you want is it? It is not your task. Your mother sent you here to do her bidding, is that correct? You have nothing to do with whatever the task is, right?"
He felt her stiffen beside him and he knew he had guessed correctly. He didn't need to hear her soft 'yes' to know he was right. "You are yourself. You don't need to listen to your mother. She is not in control of you. You need not to do her bidding. Leave her. Stay with us in Mirkwood."
He had touched a part of her that had been locked away for many centuries. Her own will was always squashed beneath her mother's will and orders. It was not her fault. She had forgotten herself after being threatened and whipped countless times over the years.
In the darkness of the closet, his sharp Elven eyes could see the faint glitter in her green eyes. Hesitantly, he put one arm around her. "It's okay to cry," he whispered into one delicately pointed ear.
That was all the encouragement she needed and all the tears that she held back all those years finally came out. Without knowing it, she buried her head into the soft leather of Legolas's tunic, letting out all her frustration and pain. "Th-thank you, Legolas," she muttered in between sobs. She let out a shaky breath and tried to swallow her sobs.
"Stay in Mirkwood. Forget your past," he said softly into her raven locks. He felt her stiffen and looked down in surprise. "What's wrong?"
Hithiel let out a soft bitter laughter. "What's wrong? You make it sound so tempting. The more I linger here, the more I don't want to leave. You make it sound so simple to forget my past." She shook out her long hair. "No, that is something I cannot do. The only reason I am alive today is because my task is not yet complete."
"What is your task?" Legolas pressed hoping for a real answer this time. He didn't expect her to answer him but his blood ran cold at her frosty glare and the single word that came from her throat: "Revenge."
~*~*~*~*~*~
"Find her," the golden-masked figure growled impatiently. "I want her back by nightfall, understand?!"
Five masked Elves bowed respectful. "Yes, milady," they all said in one voice.
"Good. Failure is not an option. Go!"
All five swept down in another bow before walking out of the dimly lit chamber. Their entire face was hidden, except for their eyes – cold and merciless. Swords slung across their backs, they headed westward, towards Mirkwood.
~*~*~With Legolas~*~*~
'Revenge... revenge...' Hithiel's haunting words echoed repeatedly in his mind as he saddled up his horse. He knew about her past now but no matter what, she wouldn't tell him whom she was taking the revenge upon.
He saw her eyes back there in the dark closet. They were cold and held no pity for that Elf. She would kill that Elf, no questions asked. Now he truly understood what his old teacher had taught him many centuries ago: 'The ruthlessness of the hired killer stems from the belief that his body and mind are not his own.'
He shuddered when he thought about what Hithiel would do when she finally finds her target. He knew she was acting on her mother's accord but she was still the one who would soil her hands with the victim's blood.
He shook his head to rid himself of those thoughts as he went for his afternoon ride. Automatically, he nudged his pure white stallion into a fast canter towards the woods nearby. The Meara whinnied softly and obediently bore its master there. It knew the path well and its footsteps where swift and sure.
Legolas closed his eyes as they entered the forest, giving free rein to his horse. Without his sight, his other senses sharpened. He knew his stallion was heading for the creek in the middle of the forest. His sharp ears picked up the delicate trickle of water sliding over rocks and when he reopened his eyes, he was standing on the edge of the creek.
He sighed, letting all the tension of the day drain out of him, relaxing all his muscles completely. Lazily, he sighed and started fiddling with his mount's mane.
Without warning, a flash of brown disturbed the peaceful setting and the white horse reared up high, whinnying in fear. Legolas, caught off guard was bucked off the frightened stallion and tossed into the creek. His body jolted and he struggled to lift his head above the water.
He sputtered and finally got back up, his golden hair was now brown from the mud and clinging to his shoulders. He grimaced as he felt a shallow cut on his arm. Finally, he looked up to see what had scared his stallion. "It's you again," the voice said before he could identify who it was.
He squinted, clearing water from his eyes, leaving a dirty mud streak on his face. He focused on the Elf perched up high on the brown gelding speaking to him. Immediately, he felt a wave of anger wash over him. "What in Middle-Earth do you think you are doing?!" he sputtered unable to control his anger. His blue eyes flashed dangerously, and his mud- splattered cheeks flushed slightly.
Uruviel, still on her horse stiffened. "I was riding. It was your fault for stopping in the middle of the path," she declared coldly.
"Riding? You were not riding! You had absolutely no control over your horse! You should watch where you're going!"
Uruviel scoffed and raised her chin. "I don't mean to boast, you Majesty, but I'm one of the best riders. I grew up with horses."
"Not boasting, eh?" Legolas snapped.
A pink tinge appeared on her pale face. "Well, it is the truth, Prince. And if you care to look at our positions, you will see that I have retained my position while you have not." As if to prove her point, she shifted in her seat up on the horse.
Blue eyes flashed angrily. "That's only because you ran into me without a warning! It was your fault, Elfling!"
"Elfling?!" she practically shrieked. "How dare you, you stupid oaf! You spoiled brat-Prince! Stupid fat oaf!"
"Ok, ok, we will insult each other later. Now, would you mind?" He was getting cold in the water and he held out a hand.
Automatically, without thinking, she reached down to help him up. Legolas flashed her a wicked grin and yanked hard on her arm. She yelped and plunged beneath the surface into the creek. Legolas laughed when she came surfacing back up, her hair a mess, and outfit completely ruined. He knew he shouldn't but he couldn't help himself. She was such a brat! She deserved it!
"Do you mean to drown me, all because you could stay on top your horse?!" she sputtered, wiping her now dark brown hair out of her face. Like, Legolas, her face was also smeared with mud.
Legolas feigned innocence. "Oh, I'm so sorry, milady. As you said earlier, I'm a big fat stupid oaf. As you know from experience, we oafs are not very graceful. I TRULY didn't mean for that to happen, milady," he beseeched mockingly.
Legolas laughed at her while she hurled random insults at him. Suddenly, a big ball of mud came flying towards him and he didn't duck fast enough. It hit him squarely in the middle of his forehead. He glanced over at Uruviel who smiled sweetly before ducking under the surface for more mud.
He too went beneath the surface to wash the mud off. When he came back up, he was prepared for the mud balls and ducked gracefully out of the way. He laughed again when Uruviel stumbled fling the mud at him.
Instead of mud, she now sprang at him like a little tigress and started pounding his chest with her small fists. He let her do it for a while until it got annoying. With one motion, he had both hands trapped in his fist and held it over her head. She was gasping for a breath and her face was red beneath the brown mud. "I hate you!" she gasped in between breaths before she toppled backwards into the water once again when Legolas tripped her.
She resurfaced quickly, treading the water. "I hate you, Legolas Greenleaf! I hate you!"
"As do I, Elfling," he replied smoothly getting out of the cold creek. He heard Uruviel following suit behind him.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw her wipe her face clean and was trying desperately to clean her dress. When she was right behind him, he nonchalantly flicked his long tresses behind him. The water and mud from the hair flew out and clung to Uruviel's face.
He heard a gasp of outrage and he guessed that he hit his target. Smirking, he turned around, pretending to be shocked. "Why Uruviel, what happened to your face?"
Her face turned a bright shade of red. "LEGOLAS!!!!"
He laughed mockingly. "Elfling, you deserved everything you got today." He was going to add 'spoiled brat' but he decided not to press his luck.
With one smooth movement, he flung his legs over his white stallion and started galloping back to the palace.
Author's Note: I know the end of the last chapter was kind of icky but work with me here. Some of you guessed that the figure that attacked poor Galdor was Artamir and guess what? *corny celebration music starts playing*
YOU ARE CORRECT!!!
Yay! *clap clap* Remember that. It will come up again in a few more chapters.
Bittersweet Revenge
Child's Play
'Where did that Elf run off to now?' Haldir thought with a bit of frustration. Legolas was also nowhere to be seen either. He sighed and gave up looking for them. The Mirkwood palace was so easy to get lost in. He never felt relaxed when he was in it. It was built by the Dwarves so of course, they used stone. It always reminded him of a prison, unlike the talans that he lived in when in Lothlorien, his true home.
Haldir impatiently brushed his silvery hair out of his face and started to retrace his footsteps to his room that he shared with Legolas. He was doing very well until the hallway split. 'Right or left? Right. Left. Oh, forget it.'
He chose the left side and started walking confidently down another hallway. With a small grin, he reached his quarters. He flung open his door, preparing to burst in and jump onto the soft feather bed--but then he froze.
His stormy blue eyes widened when he saw Prince Ambaril, Legolas's older brother, staring at him with equal shock. He felt his face flush and his ears got hot. Haldir stuttered an apology and was about to close the door when Ambaril called him back in.
Haldir shuffled in uncomfortably. "Yes, milord?" he asked with a slight bow.
To his surprise, Ambaril wasn't mad at him for barging in. "Stop it with the formalities, Haldir. You come to Mirkwood so often that people are starting to think you're our brother."
Haldir raised an eyebrow questioningly. "Me? I don't even know where my own room is." A faint pink tinged his pale skin when he remembered why he was there in the first place.
Ambaril laughed. "I'll show you to your room, Haldir," he said finally when he stopped laughing. Then his expression suddenly became serious. "You know," he said as if the idea just hit him. "maybe you should be our brother."
"What?!" His expression completely lost.
"I said, maybe you should become our brother. Part of the Thranduilion. Blood brothers," Ambaril said with a grin.
Haldir studied the Prince carefully to see if he was kidding but he could detect no trace of a lie in his eyes. However, he caught a small glimmer in his eye but he thought he imagined it. It disappeared almost as soon as he saw it. "Fine, 'Brother,'" he mocked. "Then that means I get to inherit the throne," he said with a grin. "I'm older than you."
"You wish," muttered Ambaril throwing a pillow at him, his mood suddenly dark.
"What?"
"Oh, nothing," replied the Prince with a wave of his hand, the cheery demeanor returned as swiftly as it had left. "So, brother?" he asked holding out a hand.
"Brother," said Haldir firmly grasping the hand. He looked up into the sky blue eyes and once again, he thought he saw something else there that looked like triumph. He quickly pushed it out of his head saying, "Let us seal it with a drink, shall we?"
Ambaril leapt up from the bed by pushing on Haldir, making the Guardian lose his balance. Throwing him a wicked grin he said, "You're slow for a Thranduilion."
Haldir growled quickly regaining his footing. "Slow eh? I'm also a Galadhon. Think you can beat me to the kitchens?"
"I can beat one of you lumbering Galadhon tree-people any day," the Prince said with a scoff.
"Fine, let us bet then. If I should win, you will be my servant for twenty- four hours, doing whatever I say. But if you win, I will run around the Mirkwood throne room acting like a crazy Dwarf in front of the king and all the guests. Ok?"
Ambaril thought for a second. "Run around like a crazy Dwarf naked," he said.
Haldir arched an eyebrow at him. "Fine. Naked," he added, very sure that he could beat the Mirkwood Elf. Even if he was a Prince, it didn't make him faster, right? He would not lose this bet. He had to win. There is no way he was going to run around Mirkwood naked.
"You're on!" cried Ambaril. He crouched down, ready to sprint off to the kitchens. He threw the Guardian a cocky grin. "Get ready to lose, Brother."
"Humph. You get ready to kiss my feet," he retorted.
"Go!" the Prince cried suddenly and both of their bodies lunged forward simultaneously and raced neck to neck down to the kitchens.
Haldir magnificent body flashed and he whipped around the corner, his eyes never left his target. He knew the Prince was right beside him and he urged himself to go faster. His legs moved so fast that they were a blur beneath his body and his silvery hair trailed out behind him. 'So close...' he thought, his hands reaching out towards the finishing spot.
"Beat you!" both of them yelled at the same time as they touched the cool marble wall of the kitchen. Haldir looked over at Ambaril who was panting hard from the short sprint. His golden hair was thrown messily across his face but he still managed to give off that regal air.
"No way," Haldir declared. "I so beat you. Now you're my servant!"
"Hey! We tied!" cried the younger Elf. "You didn't win."
"Yes I did! I beat you by a second. My hand touched the wall before yours so I won," he stated calmly.
"But my arm is shorter!"
"So?" he fastened the Prince with one of his infamous Guardian stares until the Prince looked away.
"We tied! I am not your servant!" he cried stubbornly like an Elfling.
"No, it wasn't a tie." Suddenly, Haldir lunged and grabbed a poor cook from the kitchen by the collar. The Elf looked at him frightened, his eyes darting like a trapped rat. "Who won?"
"I- I don't know... I wasn't paying attention," he stuttered but the Guardian started to raise him higher until the cook's toes barely brushed the floor. "You did!," he squealed. "You did, milord, you won!"
Haldir grinned. "See? Even the cook says I won."
Ambaril glared at him and sputtered but could not say anything. "Put the poor Elf down, Haldir," he ordered finally glancing at the cook whose face was readily turning purple.
"Huh? Oh yeah," he said, smiling sheepishly and he loosened his grip. The cook immediately fell into a heap on the floor and ran away from the Guardian who towered over him.
"Now, servant," he said wickedly looking at Ambaril who flinched. "First I want you to clean my boots. They're all dusty from all that running you made me do."
"But they're clean already," Ambaril protested looking at Haldir's boots. It was true. There was hardly a spot on them.
"So that will be even more easier for you to clean," said Haldir smoothly. "Next, I want you to groom my horse. It's tired from the long trip to Mirkwood and didn't have a bath yet. I want him spotless with his hooves polished and his mane and tail plaited."
Ambaril opened his mouth to protest but Haldir just ignored him. "And when you're through with cleaning her, you will muck out her stall and fill it with fresh hay and water." Haldir finished and grinned evilly before adding, "Don't miss that pile of manure in the back left corner of her stall." He laughed out loud at Ambaril's outraged expression.
"But that will take all day!"
"Good."
"Good?" he said weakly.
"You serve me for twenty four hours remember? If you finish that task, I shall put you on something much harder. Or... if you prefer..." A slow smile spread across his handsome face. "You could always do..."
"No, no," Ambaril said quickly not liking the evil look in the Guardian's eyes at all. "I shall go 'Master,'" he said with contempt. He turned and walked two steps before he was called back.
"What now?" he asked exasperated. He made a mental note never to bet with Haldir again.
"You forgot to bow to me," Haldir answered. "I AM your master for twenty four hours and..."
"Yes, yes, I know, MASTER," he said. "I will take my leave, MASTER," and bowed very stiffly at the Guardian who was howling with laughter. 'I WILL get you back for this.'
~*~*~With Legolas~*~*~
'Her mother gave her those marks,' he thought with disbelief. 'What kind of Elf, or Man, would do that to her own flesh and blood?' He realized now why she didn't trust him or Haldir in the beginning. How could she if all she knew in her life was pain and obedience? He longed to comfort her and tell her that not all Elves were like that but he knew she wouldn't want that.
"You are not weak," he told her again.
She shook her head, dark hair spilling over her face. "Yes, I am. I cannot stay in Mirkwood. I came here for a reason and I will leave once my task is complete," she said in a hallowed voice.
"What task?"
"You will not understand," she said in a voice unlike her own. The words weren't like hers either. It was as if she was speaking for another person. "I cannot tell you even if I wanted to."
"Hithiel," he whispered, reaching out to her with his voice. "This is not what you want is it? It is not your task. Your mother sent you here to do her bidding, is that correct? You have nothing to do with whatever the task is, right?"
He felt her stiffen beside him and he knew he had guessed correctly. He didn't need to hear her soft 'yes' to know he was right. "You are yourself. You don't need to listen to your mother. She is not in control of you. You need not to do her bidding. Leave her. Stay with us in Mirkwood."
He had touched a part of her that had been locked away for many centuries. Her own will was always squashed beneath her mother's will and orders. It was not her fault. She had forgotten herself after being threatened and whipped countless times over the years.
In the darkness of the closet, his sharp Elven eyes could see the faint glitter in her green eyes. Hesitantly, he put one arm around her. "It's okay to cry," he whispered into one delicately pointed ear.
That was all the encouragement she needed and all the tears that she held back all those years finally came out. Without knowing it, she buried her head into the soft leather of Legolas's tunic, letting out all her frustration and pain. "Th-thank you, Legolas," she muttered in between sobs. She let out a shaky breath and tried to swallow her sobs.
"Stay in Mirkwood. Forget your past," he said softly into her raven locks. He felt her stiffen and looked down in surprise. "What's wrong?"
Hithiel let out a soft bitter laughter. "What's wrong? You make it sound so tempting. The more I linger here, the more I don't want to leave. You make it sound so simple to forget my past." She shook out her long hair. "No, that is something I cannot do. The only reason I am alive today is because my task is not yet complete."
"What is your task?" Legolas pressed hoping for a real answer this time. He didn't expect her to answer him but his blood ran cold at her frosty glare and the single word that came from her throat: "Revenge."
~*~*~*~*~*~
"Find her," the golden-masked figure growled impatiently. "I want her back by nightfall, understand?!"
Five masked Elves bowed respectful. "Yes, milady," they all said in one voice.
"Good. Failure is not an option. Go!"
All five swept down in another bow before walking out of the dimly lit chamber. Their entire face was hidden, except for their eyes – cold and merciless. Swords slung across their backs, they headed westward, towards Mirkwood.
~*~*~With Legolas~*~*~
'Revenge... revenge...' Hithiel's haunting words echoed repeatedly in his mind as he saddled up his horse. He knew about her past now but no matter what, she wouldn't tell him whom she was taking the revenge upon.
He saw her eyes back there in the dark closet. They were cold and held no pity for that Elf. She would kill that Elf, no questions asked. Now he truly understood what his old teacher had taught him many centuries ago: 'The ruthlessness of the hired killer stems from the belief that his body and mind are not his own.'
He shuddered when he thought about what Hithiel would do when she finally finds her target. He knew she was acting on her mother's accord but she was still the one who would soil her hands with the victim's blood.
He shook his head to rid himself of those thoughts as he went for his afternoon ride. Automatically, he nudged his pure white stallion into a fast canter towards the woods nearby. The Meara whinnied softly and obediently bore its master there. It knew the path well and its footsteps where swift and sure.
Legolas closed his eyes as they entered the forest, giving free rein to his horse. Without his sight, his other senses sharpened. He knew his stallion was heading for the creek in the middle of the forest. His sharp ears picked up the delicate trickle of water sliding over rocks and when he reopened his eyes, he was standing on the edge of the creek.
He sighed, letting all the tension of the day drain out of him, relaxing all his muscles completely. Lazily, he sighed and started fiddling with his mount's mane.
Without warning, a flash of brown disturbed the peaceful setting and the white horse reared up high, whinnying in fear. Legolas, caught off guard was bucked off the frightened stallion and tossed into the creek. His body jolted and he struggled to lift his head above the water.
He sputtered and finally got back up, his golden hair was now brown from the mud and clinging to his shoulders. He grimaced as he felt a shallow cut on his arm. Finally, he looked up to see what had scared his stallion. "It's you again," the voice said before he could identify who it was.
He squinted, clearing water from his eyes, leaving a dirty mud streak on his face. He focused on the Elf perched up high on the brown gelding speaking to him. Immediately, he felt a wave of anger wash over him. "What in Middle-Earth do you think you are doing?!" he sputtered unable to control his anger. His blue eyes flashed dangerously, and his mud- splattered cheeks flushed slightly.
Uruviel, still on her horse stiffened. "I was riding. It was your fault for stopping in the middle of the path," she declared coldly.
"Riding? You were not riding! You had absolutely no control over your horse! You should watch where you're going!"
Uruviel scoffed and raised her chin. "I don't mean to boast, you Majesty, but I'm one of the best riders. I grew up with horses."
"Not boasting, eh?" Legolas snapped.
A pink tinge appeared on her pale face. "Well, it is the truth, Prince. And if you care to look at our positions, you will see that I have retained my position while you have not." As if to prove her point, she shifted in her seat up on the horse.
Blue eyes flashed angrily. "That's only because you ran into me without a warning! It was your fault, Elfling!"
"Elfling?!" she practically shrieked. "How dare you, you stupid oaf! You spoiled brat-Prince! Stupid fat oaf!"
"Ok, ok, we will insult each other later. Now, would you mind?" He was getting cold in the water and he held out a hand.
Automatically, without thinking, she reached down to help him up. Legolas flashed her a wicked grin and yanked hard on her arm. She yelped and plunged beneath the surface into the creek. Legolas laughed when she came surfacing back up, her hair a mess, and outfit completely ruined. He knew he shouldn't but he couldn't help himself. She was such a brat! She deserved it!
"Do you mean to drown me, all because you could stay on top your horse?!" she sputtered, wiping her now dark brown hair out of her face. Like, Legolas, her face was also smeared with mud.
Legolas feigned innocence. "Oh, I'm so sorry, milady. As you said earlier, I'm a big fat stupid oaf. As you know from experience, we oafs are not very graceful. I TRULY didn't mean for that to happen, milady," he beseeched mockingly.
Legolas laughed at her while she hurled random insults at him. Suddenly, a big ball of mud came flying towards him and he didn't duck fast enough. It hit him squarely in the middle of his forehead. He glanced over at Uruviel who smiled sweetly before ducking under the surface for more mud.
He too went beneath the surface to wash the mud off. When he came back up, he was prepared for the mud balls and ducked gracefully out of the way. He laughed again when Uruviel stumbled fling the mud at him.
Instead of mud, she now sprang at him like a little tigress and started pounding his chest with her small fists. He let her do it for a while until it got annoying. With one motion, he had both hands trapped in his fist and held it over her head. She was gasping for a breath and her face was red beneath the brown mud. "I hate you!" she gasped in between breaths before she toppled backwards into the water once again when Legolas tripped her.
She resurfaced quickly, treading the water. "I hate you, Legolas Greenleaf! I hate you!"
"As do I, Elfling," he replied smoothly getting out of the cold creek. He heard Uruviel following suit behind him.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw her wipe her face clean and was trying desperately to clean her dress. When she was right behind him, he nonchalantly flicked his long tresses behind him. The water and mud from the hair flew out and clung to Uruviel's face.
He heard a gasp of outrage and he guessed that he hit his target. Smirking, he turned around, pretending to be shocked. "Why Uruviel, what happened to your face?"
Her face turned a bright shade of red. "LEGOLAS!!!!"
He laughed mockingly. "Elfling, you deserved everything you got today." He was going to add 'spoiled brat' but he decided not to press his luck.
With one smooth movement, he flung his legs over his white stallion and started galloping back to the palace.