Chapter 3 - A Capture

The next morning dawned happy and bright. Lianna opened her eyes to find Legolas's crystal blues memorizing her face. "Maer erin. (Good morning.)" She whispered to him. He smiled and rose to warm some breakfast.

After a comfortably silent breakfast, Lianna watched Legolas pack up some things. With no warning at all, she stood quietly and threw her arms around the back of his neck, kissing behind his ear. He turned under her arms and looked with confusion in her eyes.

"What was that for?"

Smiling sweetly, she replied, "Do I need a reason to lavish my fiancé with affection?"

"I suppose not." He growled into her ear as he sent fiery kisses down her neck.

With a giggle, Lianna pushed him away, "We must be off." She teased and headed for her horse.

"Oh no you don't." She heard Legolas say as he came up behind her and spun her quickly around. She'd have fallen over if he hadn't encircled her with his strong arms and captured her lips under his. Again, Lianna pushed him away. But this time, a mischievous glint shone in her eyes, and with a hand on his chest, she pinned him to a nearby tree. She touched her lips to his, then quickly pulled away. Legolas emitted a low growl and pulled her closer. Lianna giggled and finally gave in, letting her body relax into his.

She did not allow him the satisfaction very long. She sprung away and pranced about the doused fire like an excited child. Legolas laughed at how silly she looked and leapt after her. He chased after her for a while as she dashed behind trees and around the skittish horses. But, her agility was no match for Legolas's speed. He soon grew tired of humoring her and caught hold of her arm, slowing her enough that he managed to get a strong arm firmly around her waist.

She squealed amidst giggles within his grasp. And somewhere in the confusion of her struggle, his lips found hers. Immediately upon that touch, Lianna ceased all thoughts of trying to break free from him. Her arms wrapped about his neck, pulling him closer.

Legolas smiled impishly into the kiss, and Lianna was about to pull away and ask just what was so darn funny, when Legolas beat her to it. He drew quickly away and sprang nimbly onto his horse, saying, "We really must be going."

And he laughed heartily at the expression of annoyance on her face. She narrowed her eyes at him, but realized he was right, and climbed upon her horse as well.

But, every now and again, as they made their way deeper into the forest, Lianna would say something particularly provocative, or shoot him a glance that suggested more than the casual observer would guess. At this, Legolas growled deeply in frustration, as he could not stop their journey and take the full time in which was needed to fulfill the thoughts she had sparked in his mind.

So their game continued late into the afternoon. Legolas decided to return the favor, and made a few remarkably seductive remarks of his own. Lianna simply shot him a look of bewilderment, with a tint of lust glittering deep in her eyes.

This image of her played in Legolas's mind as the night began to set. They finally stopped to make camp. Lianna had observed the sky was no longer visible. The canopy had become too dense.

He did not allow her to build a fire, which she seemed eager to do. The night was very final, and whole. Lianna could not have seen her hand in front of her face. Luckily, Legolas had set up blankets and such as she was pining over the loss of fire. She followed his voice to his blankets, and climbed into them, with a sudden urgent need for comfort.

A sudden weariness came over the both of them, as they lay silently in the absolute darkness. To Lianna it was unnerving and frightening. Had it not been for his warm, secure arms around her, Lianna would've been scared out of her wits. She did not like this forest at all. The dark of it was dank and stuffy, and wholly unpleasant. It was a while after she felt Legolas's body relax with sleep before she could do the same.

But to Legolas, the dark silence was peaceful and serene. He had the trees around him. The trees of his beloved home. And he had his elleth in his arms. The elleth he loved, and she would never leave his side. Not if it were up to him, anyway. Which it clearly was not, as he woke in the slightly lighter morning and did not feel her in his arms.

"Lianna?" He called, but only the silence of the forest replied. Immediate panic caught his breath, and he jumped up. "Lianna!" He called again, and walked a few steps toward the forest, but stopped short as a sudden sound came to his ears.

From far and deep in the woods its seemed, a muffled cry was heard. Instantaneously, he sprinted off toward it, but in the darkness and his panic, direction was lost. He turned about, wondering where to go now.

"Lianna!" He called, louder this time. Barely had the cry left his mouth than did he hear her voice, closer and clearer yelling back

"Legolas!" Again, he sprinted in the direction from which it came, expertly dodging trees and roots. Until he came to a small clearing. From an aperture in the canopy, the sun shone in. It lit the clearing, and Legolas saw her. She was draped over the shoulder of a large and mean looking Elf. He was carrying her off into the woods away from Legolas.

In desperation and fear, Legolas tore after the Elf. Only when he reached him and shouted, "Stop!" did he realized he had left all his weapons at their camp. The Elf turned around as quickly as he could without flinging Lianna off his shoulder. Upon seeing the desperate looking Legolas in front of him, the Elf laughed. His ugly lip twisted and a glint of evil pleasure flicked through his eyes.

"Ah, just the Elf I wanted to see."

The Elf's laugh was quelled when he saw the angry fire ignite in Legolas's eyes "Release my fiancé." At this, the Elf too became angry.

"Your fiancé? Oh, you've gone too far. I won't let you be happy. You wouldn't let her be happy!" He ranted, and slung Lianna to the ground, freeing his arms to draw the sword that hung on his belt.

Legolas's hand went to his side, as second nature, forgetting he had no weapon. The Elf laughed,

"Now what will you do, my prince?"

Legolas quickly weighed his options. The Elf could undoubtedly beat him in a test of force, due to his size (which was nearly double Legolas's). A sudden glint passed by the his crystal blue eyes, and the large Elf had no time to wonder on it.

Legolas quickly flitted around the large Elf and kicked his rear with a snicker. This obviously enraged the Elf, and he lunged at his opponent with his sword. Legolas nimbly dodged it, and leapt onto a low tree branch. The large Elf was puzzled for a moment, until he heard Legolas's twinkling laugh from above him.

Just as the Elf swung his sword at the branch, Legolas jumped, and the sword sliced the large branch from the trunk. Legolas landed near the base of the tree easily, but the same could not be said for the branch he previously stood on. It landed with a crack onto the large Elf's head, bringing him down with it to the forest floor.

A string of curse words could be heard, and Legolas stepped on the blade of the sword that was still in the Elf's hand. Flicking it up with his foot, he caught the hilt and placed the point to the Elf's neck.

"Move, and rest assured I will not spare you a second time." The Elf was silent, but he bared his teeth in anger, and his eyes blazed with wrath.

Legolas turned his back to the Elf, which would later prove a very grand mistake on his part. He knelt beside Lianna's unconscious form, and brushed the hair from her eyes. They were closed, a sure sign that her unconsciousness was not of her own will.

"Lianna?" He whispered, placing a gentle kiss on her brow. She flinched, as if it hurt her, and she shrank away. "It's okay, it's okay." He reassured her, and she opened her eyes. A visible flood of relief passed over the fear on her face, and she buried her face in Legolas's tunic.

"Oh Legolas! I was just walking to the horses to pet them, I didn't even see him and…" She trailed off into tears as he stroked her hair and whispered soothing things in her ear.

She pulled away, "Please, let's go." He nodded, and was about to move to help her up, when he felt her grip tighten on him and heard her gasp. Looking into her face, he saw her gaze behind him, with absolute terror behind her eyes. He had no time to react. He knew what it was, but he was not prepared for what he felt next.

What sounded and felt like a tree branch fell hard across the back of his head, sending him instantly into black oblivion, crumpling to the forest floor.

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A/N … Reviews!

Austin B.