Lossen and Legolas left the palace together out the side entrance that Veduriel would have used to enter in; Lossen now sported a black eye and a very injured ego. Legolas smiled to himself recalling how Firreiel was not at all worried about Lossen getting injured, as a matter of fact she did a good deal of injury before Lossen could lock his lady in her room.
Legolas's face however turned serious as soon as they stepped out doors. His entire being now focused on finding her. Lossen also turned seriously to find the foot markings. The two moved as a team with hundreds of years of experience having hunted together working on overtime. It took them only moments to find where she had paused in the woods and was attacked. Lossen ran ahead reading the markings in the dirt as if it was a story written out, he came to where she had collapsed from lack of air. He chocked back a cry not sure whether or not to tell Legolas. But he did not have to ponder long for it was only a few moments before Legolas came up directly behind him and saw everything just as plainly. "She collapsed here." Legolas said quietly kneeling at the spot as if searching for her in it. When he straightened again his face was set in rage, "and it was Saur who did this! Look!" He gestured to where they had just come from at the barely disturbed earth where the attacker had stood, "only and elf could do that, and only one elf would do this." Lossen wished to comfort his friend but he knew the fruitlessness of it at this time. Lossen's lips went tight and white at the ideas that crept into his mind of what happened, she had not only captured Legolas's heart but also won Lossen's friendship and loyalty as well. Lossen was dead-set on finding Saur and taking care of him from there. Lossen looked up with Legolas ready to set off again but Legolas halted him, his eyes showing his frustration and rage, for the tracks disappeared right after she had fainted. No sign at all had been left, the elf who had taken her had been very careful to not leave any other sign. It was almost mocking the two elves that now stood before her spoor that he had allowed Veduriel to make such violent markings in the earth before picking her up and disappearing. Suddenly Legolas let loose a yell of rage and frustration, the forest echoed with it and very slowly it died away as he sunk to the ground heavily.
Meanwhile:
Firreiel paced back and forth in her room furious at the elf that locked her here. She whirled around one hand clenched in a fist the other clenching what she stole from Lossen before he locked her in here. He had tried to give her a reassuring kiss goodbye and she had responded to it long enough to take it, then she bit him. He was sent on his way by a vase hurled in his direction and now the shattered pieces lay at her feet. Oh if she wasn't a lady she would have called him quite a few choice names to his face that were now flowing out of her mouth in a steady stream. Slowly however her vocabulary exhausted itself and she plopped into her chair by the cold hearth wondering how to escape. Firreiel rolled her eyes; she just would have a room in the highest portion of the palace. She went to the window for the forty-second time since she was locked in, no it was hopeless. There was nowhere to cling to and no hopes of making it down alive. Annoyed she sat down again. Oh if I weren't so high up! slowly however and advantage to her height made itself apparent in her mind and a smile crept up her face until she resembled a Cheshire cat. She sprung up and grabbed her cloak and made sure Lossen's 'gift' was safely stored in her pouch, Hang on Veduriel I'm coming!
Meanwhile:
Veduriel had been biding her time carefully trying not to make any noise at all. Saur had come and gone sporadically but always came back soon, too soon for her liking. But slowly during his absence she had been working her bonds loose. This took all night and most of the day. Finally she let a small sigh escape as she felt the coarse rope loosen enough to assure passage of her red, swollen, raw hands. Perfect timing for Saurheledion to come back, quickly she assumed the submissive position she had accustomed herself to every time he entered. Each time he entered he paid less and less attention to her. The first time he had struck her again, then he kicked her as he passed saying how if anyone was looking they would have given up by now. Finally he muttered at her as he passed; now he pretended like she didn't exist. Probably just waiting for me to curl up and die Veduriel thought with a sneer. Saur took up position at the entrance of the cave, that pointed straight upwards so one must literally climb out of it. He stood there for what seemed like an eternity to Veduriel. Finally he got bored with playing sentinel and left again. Making as little noise as possible she slipped her bonds and painfully untied her throbbing feet. After two quick rubs up and down both leg she determined she could still stand so gingerly she did so. A few seconds and she felt the blood rush back to her feet. Hoping she could run and knowing she would probably need to Veduriel crept to the cave. Her vivid blue eyes forever alert for any sign of a returning Saurheledion. She stopped right at the entrance and breathed, "please be nearby" she begged to Legolas through her cut lips. Then ever so slowly she broke through the greenery that hid the cave from sight.
Saurheledion was nowhere in sight and so she crept through the woods. At least it seemed to be familiar, neither dark nor dank like she had dreaded, nor right next to the palace like she had been hoping. Instead it was in Mirkwood, but how far out she could not tell. So slowly she began to walk, keeping as close to the ground as possible. The fact that she still wore her blue velvet evening gown did not help camouflage but she still did the best she could. She had been treading on her tired bleeding feet for only a few minutes before she heard Saur give off a shout of disbelief. She rolled her eyes, "Damn Saur you're early!" she muttered as she took off at a run. He began to run after her, she looked over her shoulder and there he was, gaining on her from a half mile away. "Shit HEEEEELLLP!!!!" Veduriel screamed as loudly as possible. She half stumbled half ran as hard as she could. She looked over her shoulder once more but then ran into something that would have knocked her down had it not reached out and caught her. Veduriel looked up and almost fainted in relief, "where'd you come from?" she murmured still not believing the presence in front of her. Firreiel smiled an ash smudged smile at her as she steadied the swaying mortal, "from the chimney actually. That will teach those two to lock me up!" That was all she got before Veduriel fainted dead away from exhaustion, pain, shock, and just plain having a shitty day.
Meanwhile:
Veduriel's cry rang clear through the forest and the two forlorn elves sitting near her last markings sprang to their feet. They looked at each other and without a word took off at a sprint towards the noise. They moved silently, faster than the fleetest deer of Mirkwood. Lossen looked ready to panic again but Legolas's face was set in stone as if mentally preparing himself for what he might find.