i know y'all must be dying to know what happens next! sorry for not
updating in a while, but here goes.....
*** remember, disclaimer: do not own LotR or Orlando Bloom, but hands off sabriel!
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Lunch at Rivendell was always a big thing. Everyone went outside for a buffet in a meadow next to a brook. Trees towered around the clearing, offering the peace and tranquility that elves so enjoyed. Legolas was just walking around, mingling with some of the nobility, talking with a circle of his father's friends about some important current issues. Sabriel was nowhere to be seen, as Legolas noticed. However, there were plenty of other young ladies at court interested in flirting with a prince of Mirkwood.
"My land is on the outskirts of elven territory. The villages are in constant danger of being found by mortals and it takes a tough vigilance to keep everything safe. Do you have any ways to minimize this sort of thing in your land?" The question was posed by an extremely skinny man with a long face and long nose. His thin lips were pressed together most unbecomingly.
"Fortunately my lands to not encounter such problems, but perhaps Legolas here can advise you. He is a prince of Mirkwood, I'm sure you heard about his frequent traveling through the countrysides. Perhaps he picked up a few tips along the way." Everyone turned to look at Legolas, who was holding a cup of punch and smiling.
"Well, the best and most natural way is always to keep a watch by the borders, as is tradition to do. However, the dangers of the present time increase the need for safety. I am glad you are so concerned for your people. Under the circumstances, I'm sure the people would not feel imposed if you put up a reasonable curfew and advised all the families to look after their little ones. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to talk with Lord Elrond on some pressing matters."
Legolas smoothly excused himself from the circle of elders and made his way to Elrond, who was telling a story to a ring of youngsters. Only one pair of eyes noticed the way Lord Long-face-long-nose watched Legolas, shrewdness and malice in the sly eyes. Legolas whispered something in Elrond's ear and received an answer and smile before heading off into the trees. A few minutes later, Lord Long-face-long-nose excused himself and followed the prince into the woods.
Legolas strode confidently through the trees, picking his way through the underbrush with familiarity. The soft coo of a pigeon caressed Legolas's ears, causing him to freeze in his tracks. He quickly and silently climbed the nearest oak tree, as the elven sign for caution was repeated. A few seconds of silence, and then the hoot of an owl for danger. This too was repeated, the sound blending naturally into the environment and seeming very ordinary.
Legolas's attentive ears heard some thrashing in the underbrush, coming closer. As Lord Long-face-long-ears rounded the bend of the trail, a figure dropped on him from the trees above. Sabriel dragged the surprised lord to his feet with a dagger teasing his neck.
"Well, well, well, stranger. I don't believe I've had the pleasure of your name. I remember faces very well, and I sure as hell don't remember yours." Sabriel spoke calmly, and although she did not speak loud enough to make a commotion, her voice was raised slightly so Legolas could hear every word from his hiding place.
Once the initial surprise wore off, the lord sneered down his very long nose at Sabriel. "My name is none of your concern. It is not you that I am after." His imperious tone only earned him a punch in the stomach from Sabriel.
"So you admit that you are sent here to track someone, mayhap even assassinate that someone. In that case, your name if very much my concern." Legolas winced at Sabriel's cutting tone. "I demand to know your name and your superior. If you refuse, I will just have to take you to my father. He won't be as understanding as I am." The last words were laced thickly with sarcasm.
"Derfka Freewind. I work for Saran."
"Uh huh." Sabriel brought the hilt of her dagger down on his head, knocking him unconscious. With efficiency, she cut down boughs from a nearby tree to construct into a litter. "You can come out now," she remarked while binding the branches together. She didn't look up from her work until Legolas was down from the tree and the litter was completed. "If you would be so kind as to help me lift him onto the litter...?"
Legolas obligingly grasped the man's arms as Sabriel lifted his feet. Together they hauled the limp body onto the makeshift litter. Finally, Sabriel remarked "Really, Legolas, you should be more watchful of your surroundings. If I hadn't been in a tree watching Lord Phony, you could have been seriously injured."
"Seriously injured? I am hurt by your disregard for my physical abilities, Lady Sabriel!"
"Do not mock me, Leafy. I do not doubt your skills, but the element of surprise can be an overpowering factor. You of all people should understand." Legolas chuckled at her use of his childhood nickname.
"You still remember what Arwen used to call me, eh? I am truly touched by your concern, madam." He offered her a charming smile. "Thank you for being on the lookout and saving my miserable, unworthy hide. Might I show my appreciation with a kiss?" Without waiting for an answer, Legolas captured her chin in a hand and lowered his lips to hers. He smiled as her eyes widened before they closed with the contact of his lips. A chaste, sweet kiss (no action this time, sorry guys! but there will be more later, I promise).
Sabriel, having never been kissed before, was shocked by this sweet gesture, and her heart warmed towards Legolas. He drew back and held the weakened Sabriel in his arms for a moment, before pressing a kiss to her forehead and pulling away. He shouldered the litter and the still unconscious lord to drag back.
It was silent on the way back to the luncheon, but it was a comfortable silence and not strained. Legolas was surprised by Sabriel's abilities; she was no longer the little girl tagging along but a young woman with special talents and hidden depths. Sabriel was mulling over her first kiss, from a quite unexpected source. For both the experience had been a revealing one, each newly aware of the other on a whole different level than before.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ~*~ stay tuned...
*** remember, disclaimer: do not own LotR or Orlando Bloom, but hands off sabriel!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ~*~
Lunch at Rivendell was always a big thing. Everyone went outside for a buffet in a meadow next to a brook. Trees towered around the clearing, offering the peace and tranquility that elves so enjoyed. Legolas was just walking around, mingling with some of the nobility, talking with a circle of his father's friends about some important current issues. Sabriel was nowhere to be seen, as Legolas noticed. However, there were plenty of other young ladies at court interested in flirting with a prince of Mirkwood.
"My land is on the outskirts of elven territory. The villages are in constant danger of being found by mortals and it takes a tough vigilance to keep everything safe. Do you have any ways to minimize this sort of thing in your land?" The question was posed by an extremely skinny man with a long face and long nose. His thin lips were pressed together most unbecomingly.
"Fortunately my lands to not encounter such problems, but perhaps Legolas here can advise you. He is a prince of Mirkwood, I'm sure you heard about his frequent traveling through the countrysides. Perhaps he picked up a few tips along the way." Everyone turned to look at Legolas, who was holding a cup of punch and smiling.
"Well, the best and most natural way is always to keep a watch by the borders, as is tradition to do. However, the dangers of the present time increase the need for safety. I am glad you are so concerned for your people. Under the circumstances, I'm sure the people would not feel imposed if you put up a reasonable curfew and advised all the families to look after their little ones. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to talk with Lord Elrond on some pressing matters."
Legolas smoothly excused himself from the circle of elders and made his way to Elrond, who was telling a story to a ring of youngsters. Only one pair of eyes noticed the way Lord Long-face-long-nose watched Legolas, shrewdness and malice in the sly eyes. Legolas whispered something in Elrond's ear and received an answer and smile before heading off into the trees. A few minutes later, Lord Long-face-long-nose excused himself and followed the prince into the woods.
Legolas strode confidently through the trees, picking his way through the underbrush with familiarity. The soft coo of a pigeon caressed Legolas's ears, causing him to freeze in his tracks. He quickly and silently climbed the nearest oak tree, as the elven sign for caution was repeated. A few seconds of silence, and then the hoot of an owl for danger. This too was repeated, the sound blending naturally into the environment and seeming very ordinary.
Legolas's attentive ears heard some thrashing in the underbrush, coming closer. As Lord Long-face-long-ears rounded the bend of the trail, a figure dropped on him from the trees above. Sabriel dragged the surprised lord to his feet with a dagger teasing his neck.
"Well, well, well, stranger. I don't believe I've had the pleasure of your name. I remember faces very well, and I sure as hell don't remember yours." Sabriel spoke calmly, and although she did not speak loud enough to make a commotion, her voice was raised slightly so Legolas could hear every word from his hiding place.
Once the initial surprise wore off, the lord sneered down his very long nose at Sabriel. "My name is none of your concern. It is not you that I am after." His imperious tone only earned him a punch in the stomach from Sabriel.
"So you admit that you are sent here to track someone, mayhap even assassinate that someone. In that case, your name if very much my concern." Legolas winced at Sabriel's cutting tone. "I demand to know your name and your superior. If you refuse, I will just have to take you to my father. He won't be as understanding as I am." The last words were laced thickly with sarcasm.
"Derfka Freewind. I work for Saran."
"Uh huh." Sabriel brought the hilt of her dagger down on his head, knocking him unconscious. With efficiency, she cut down boughs from a nearby tree to construct into a litter. "You can come out now," she remarked while binding the branches together. She didn't look up from her work until Legolas was down from the tree and the litter was completed. "If you would be so kind as to help me lift him onto the litter...?"
Legolas obligingly grasped the man's arms as Sabriel lifted his feet. Together they hauled the limp body onto the makeshift litter. Finally, Sabriel remarked "Really, Legolas, you should be more watchful of your surroundings. If I hadn't been in a tree watching Lord Phony, you could have been seriously injured."
"Seriously injured? I am hurt by your disregard for my physical abilities, Lady Sabriel!"
"Do not mock me, Leafy. I do not doubt your skills, but the element of surprise can be an overpowering factor. You of all people should understand." Legolas chuckled at her use of his childhood nickname.
"You still remember what Arwen used to call me, eh? I am truly touched by your concern, madam." He offered her a charming smile. "Thank you for being on the lookout and saving my miserable, unworthy hide. Might I show my appreciation with a kiss?" Without waiting for an answer, Legolas captured her chin in a hand and lowered his lips to hers. He smiled as her eyes widened before they closed with the contact of his lips. A chaste, sweet kiss (no action this time, sorry guys! but there will be more later, I promise).
Sabriel, having never been kissed before, was shocked by this sweet gesture, and her heart warmed towards Legolas. He drew back and held the weakened Sabriel in his arms for a moment, before pressing a kiss to her forehead and pulling away. He shouldered the litter and the still unconscious lord to drag back.
It was silent on the way back to the luncheon, but it was a comfortable silence and not strained. Legolas was surprised by Sabriel's abilities; she was no longer the little girl tagging along but a young woman with special talents and hidden depths. Sabriel was mulling over her first kiss, from a quite unexpected source. For both the experience had been a revealing one, each newly aware of the other on a whole different level than before.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ~*~ stay tuned...