Chapter Ten:
Kayla collapsed, out of breath. She had been running ever since she left
the clearing. It was now nearing midday. She had seen no signs of Gandalf,
but her heart told her she was going the right way. She half walked, half
crawled into the shade made by a few scrawny bushes. The sun was beating
down, and Kayla was thirsty beyond belief. *What I wouldn't do for some
rain right about now,* she thought as she drank thirstily from her half
empty skin.
As Kayla caught her breath, she thought how stupid it was to run off like she did. She didn't even refill her water skin, which could turn out to be a fatal mistake. Kayla realised she was running the risk of dehydration, but she could not stop. She prayed to find a river or stream on her way. She heaved herself to her feet, and set off again. She looked up into the sky and saw heavy clouds rolling in from the south. They did not look like normal rain clouds. To Kayla, they felt wrong, somehow.
Kayla ran on. Her legs were beginning to feel like lead, and darkness was creeping up. She knew that if she didn't find shelter for the night she was in big trouble. Her breath was coming in uneven gasps and her throat felt like it was on fire. She knew she could not carry on for much longer. Suddenly, as if by magic, she saw the beginnings of the forest in the distance. She gasped in relief and set off towards it with new vigour.
Kayla collapsed on the edge of the forest. She lay, spread-eagled on the ground, wheezing for breath. Her legs felt as if they would drop off at any moment. Kayla knew that if she stayed like that, she would start cramping. She forced herself up, and started to painfully walk the lactic acid out of her system. A few minutes later, she shouldered her pack and made her way into the forest. *Maybe I'll find a place to crash for a few hours,* she thought wearily.
She wandered through the forest half-heartedly, idly comparing it to the woods of Lorien. *Lorien definitely had a better atmosphere, but this place feels as if it is alive, and not just in the tree sense.* Seeing a little valley among the trees, Kayla headed off to get some sleep. The trees around her swayed, but there was no wind. Kayla did not notice this as she curled up under her blanket and drifted off into a dreamless sleep.
A cool forest breeze woke Kayla. She lay; eyes closed, and breathed in the scents of the outdoors at night. "This is definitely what I have been missing!" Kayla exclaimed, feeling a little bit dumb talking to herself. "I wondered when you would wake up." Kayla's eyes snapped open as the voice brought her out of her musings. As Kayla's eyes cleared, Legolas' handsome face swam into focus. She sat up with a start, shocked at seeing him there. "What the hell are you doing here?" Kayla was still feeling angry about the fight before she left. "I came to make sure you do not get into harm's way." He looked slightly uncertain at what her reaction was going to be. "I assure you I am not helpless. I have my sword and my bow and I know how to use them." Kayla felt her anger beginning to rise again. *How DARE he think that I am just a helpless female.* she thought. She pushed herself off the ground, squared her shoulders, and prepared for a fight. "Prove it." Legolas pulled one of his swords from its sheath on his back. "Swords only." Kayla looked at him in disbelief. Was he serious?
Legolas just waited. Kayla chewed her bottom lip, trying to decide what to do. She was still exhausted from the day's exertions. Would she be able to prove herself an able fighter? Finally, Kayla unsheathed one of her swords. *What the hell,* she thought. She dropped into a fighting stance and waited. She did not have to wait long. Without warning Legolas brought his sword in an arc toward Kayla. Instinctively, she raised her sword to block. Legolas swung again, but once again, Kayla was there to block.
Legolas kept swinging, leaving Kayla no choice but to defend herself, leaving her time to formulate a plan. *OK, he has another sword after that, so if I get him to drop that one, it'll give me time to attack him and if he drops that one as well, he's weaponless.* And that was exactly what she did. While Legolas was preparing for another strike to Kayla, she whipped her foot up and kicked his sword away from him. Legolas reached back and pulled out his other sword in one swift, fluid motion, but by the time he had his sword in his hand Kayla was bringing her sword down in an attack. So the roles were reversed.
Her fast thinking caught Legolas by surprise. He was struggling to keep ahead of her. She had learnt a remarkable amount in a very short period of time. Kayla swung hard at Legolas and it put her off balance. He took that opportunity to kick her feet out from under her, causing her to crash to the ground and send her sword flying. Legolas held the tip of his sword at her throat. "Lle lava? " Legolas smirked down at her.
Kayla knocked his sword away from her throat with the flat of her palm. She pulled her legs into her chest and kicked out, flipping to her feet. A cartwheel round-off in Legolas' direction took him down, and Kayla pulled out the dagger she had hidden in her waistband, knelt down, and held it at his throat, mirroring his earlier actions. "N'uma. Lle lava? " Kayla laughed at his helplessness and shock. "Amin lava. I" Kayla stood, and stretched out her hand to help Legolas up, and he took it. But instead of getting up, he pulled Kayla down and rolled over, effectively pinning her under him.
"Hey that's cheating," Kayla laughed. She looked up at Legolas and stopped. He was staring hard down at her, with an intensity she had never seen before. *Jeez, this even beats a Darcy/Eliza moment,* Kayla thought stupidly, thinking briefly of the characters from one of her favourite books, Pride and Prejudice. She found herself being unable to tear her gaze from the passion stirring in his eyes. Time seemed to freeze; and all that was left in the world was the two of them in that moment.
Legolas gazed down at Kayla and all he could think about was how beautiful she looked. Her cheeks were red and flushed from exertion and her chest heaved as she caught her breath. She looked exhausted from the amount of ground she had covered that day but her eyes sparkled with life and Legolas knew, with out a doubt that he loved Kayla for her, not just as a substitute for Melian, but for her unique self. On impulse, he bent his head and pressed a soft kiss to her lips.
His lips were warm and the kiss was over almost before it began. Kayla looked up to see Legolas staring down at her uncertainly. Kayla smiled at him and he grinned at her before rolling off her and lying on his back and gazing up at the sky. Kayla lay next to him, replaying the kiss in her head. It was Kayla's first real kiss and it was as close to perfect as it could get. It even surpassed movie quality, something Kayla thought had been impossible.
They lay like that for a long time, just gazing at the forest roof, both lost in their own thoughts, Kayla regaining her breath, and Legolas playing with the pendant on the chain around his neck. Kayla's stomach rumbled, breaking the silence and reminding Kayla that she hadn't eaten since the previous night. Kayla stood and moved over to her pack, feeling her muscles protest at the movement. *What a workout,* she thought. *Better than Yoga with Geri.* She rummaged through her pack and found she only had lembas, because Sam had most of the cooking essentials. She pulled out a chunk and started to nibble on it. Legolas turned to look at her, and she held out the lump, offering him some. He shook his head, and she resumed her nibbling.
They sat in silence until morning's first light crept slowly over the horizon. Kayla had been dozing on and off all night, no longer having to keep watch with Legolas there. Legolas gently shook Kayla awake from her nap. "Kayla, we've got to move on, if we are to find Mithrandir." Kayla moaned, feeling all the stress she put on her body the previous day. She felt as if all her limbs were made of lead and then being set on fire. Legolas looked confused, and then it dawned on him. She had pushed her body to the limit, and now she was paying the penalty.
Out of a pouch on his belt, Legolas pulled out a few small leaves. He crushed them and pushed them down the neck of her water skin. He helped Kayla into a sitting position and told her to drink all the water left. "But then there'll be none left," Kayla said, mindful of the situation she had let herself get into. "I refilled my skin before I set out after you. Unlike you, I did not leave so impatiently." He cracked a small grin. Kayla smiled back before taking a sip of the water. "What did you put in it?" she wanted to know, taking another sip. It had the flavour of mint and vanilla. "Just something to lessen your muscle pain." Kayla nodded, she sipped again. Legolas moved away and started to put her things back in her pack, leaving her to rest for a few minutes. When he was done, he held out a hand, and helped Kayla to her feet. To her surprise, she could hardly feel the ache she had just a few short minutes before.
She stood dusting her clothes off and began to shoulder her pack. Legolas looked as if he wanted to protest, but Kayla silenced him with a look. She didn't want him to think that she was just a helpless female. Legolas grabbed all his belongings and handed Kayla her sword from the ground. She smiled and strapped it to her belt.
"Let's get this show on the road!" Legolas looked at her questioningly. Kayla realised he did not understand what she was saying. "That means let's go already." "Ah, I see. Well then, let's get this show on the road." They started off out of the woods.
Just as they were nearing the edge of the woods, Legolas put out his hand to stop Kayla. She looked at him questioningly but he just smiled and said, "I want to show you something." He bid her to close her eyes and then he covered them with a piece of cloth he produced from within the folds of his clothing. He then proceeded to pull Kayla up into his arms and jogged towards the opening of the forest.
*Where the heck is he taking me?* Kayla was not worried, merely curious. She knew that he wouldn't do anything to endanger their safety, so she just lay back and enjoyed the feel of his arms. She didn't get to enjoy his touch for very long, because they had arrived at their location. He set her gently on the ground and removed the blindfold. Kayla opened her eyes and her hand flew to her mouth in utter shock.
As Kayla caught her breath, she thought how stupid it was to run off like she did. She didn't even refill her water skin, which could turn out to be a fatal mistake. Kayla realised she was running the risk of dehydration, but she could not stop. She prayed to find a river or stream on her way. She heaved herself to her feet, and set off again. She looked up into the sky and saw heavy clouds rolling in from the south. They did not look like normal rain clouds. To Kayla, they felt wrong, somehow.
Kayla ran on. Her legs were beginning to feel like lead, and darkness was creeping up. She knew that if she didn't find shelter for the night she was in big trouble. Her breath was coming in uneven gasps and her throat felt like it was on fire. She knew she could not carry on for much longer. Suddenly, as if by magic, she saw the beginnings of the forest in the distance. She gasped in relief and set off towards it with new vigour.
Kayla collapsed on the edge of the forest. She lay, spread-eagled on the ground, wheezing for breath. Her legs felt as if they would drop off at any moment. Kayla knew that if she stayed like that, she would start cramping. She forced herself up, and started to painfully walk the lactic acid out of her system. A few minutes later, she shouldered her pack and made her way into the forest. *Maybe I'll find a place to crash for a few hours,* she thought wearily.
She wandered through the forest half-heartedly, idly comparing it to the woods of Lorien. *Lorien definitely had a better atmosphere, but this place feels as if it is alive, and not just in the tree sense.* Seeing a little valley among the trees, Kayla headed off to get some sleep. The trees around her swayed, but there was no wind. Kayla did not notice this as she curled up under her blanket and drifted off into a dreamless sleep.
A cool forest breeze woke Kayla. She lay; eyes closed, and breathed in the scents of the outdoors at night. "This is definitely what I have been missing!" Kayla exclaimed, feeling a little bit dumb talking to herself. "I wondered when you would wake up." Kayla's eyes snapped open as the voice brought her out of her musings. As Kayla's eyes cleared, Legolas' handsome face swam into focus. She sat up with a start, shocked at seeing him there. "What the hell are you doing here?" Kayla was still feeling angry about the fight before she left. "I came to make sure you do not get into harm's way." He looked slightly uncertain at what her reaction was going to be. "I assure you I am not helpless. I have my sword and my bow and I know how to use them." Kayla felt her anger beginning to rise again. *How DARE he think that I am just a helpless female.* she thought. She pushed herself off the ground, squared her shoulders, and prepared for a fight. "Prove it." Legolas pulled one of his swords from its sheath on his back. "Swords only." Kayla looked at him in disbelief. Was he serious?
Legolas just waited. Kayla chewed her bottom lip, trying to decide what to do. She was still exhausted from the day's exertions. Would she be able to prove herself an able fighter? Finally, Kayla unsheathed one of her swords. *What the hell,* she thought. She dropped into a fighting stance and waited. She did not have to wait long. Without warning Legolas brought his sword in an arc toward Kayla. Instinctively, she raised her sword to block. Legolas swung again, but once again, Kayla was there to block.
Legolas kept swinging, leaving Kayla no choice but to defend herself, leaving her time to formulate a plan. *OK, he has another sword after that, so if I get him to drop that one, it'll give me time to attack him and if he drops that one as well, he's weaponless.* And that was exactly what she did. While Legolas was preparing for another strike to Kayla, she whipped her foot up and kicked his sword away from him. Legolas reached back and pulled out his other sword in one swift, fluid motion, but by the time he had his sword in his hand Kayla was bringing her sword down in an attack. So the roles were reversed.
Her fast thinking caught Legolas by surprise. He was struggling to keep ahead of her. She had learnt a remarkable amount in a very short period of time. Kayla swung hard at Legolas and it put her off balance. He took that opportunity to kick her feet out from under her, causing her to crash to the ground and send her sword flying. Legolas held the tip of his sword at her throat. "Lle lava? " Legolas smirked down at her.
Kayla knocked his sword away from her throat with the flat of her palm. She pulled her legs into her chest and kicked out, flipping to her feet. A cartwheel round-off in Legolas' direction took him down, and Kayla pulled out the dagger she had hidden in her waistband, knelt down, and held it at his throat, mirroring his earlier actions. "N'uma. Lle lava? " Kayla laughed at his helplessness and shock. "Amin lava. I" Kayla stood, and stretched out her hand to help Legolas up, and he took it. But instead of getting up, he pulled Kayla down and rolled over, effectively pinning her under him.
"Hey that's cheating," Kayla laughed. She looked up at Legolas and stopped. He was staring hard down at her, with an intensity she had never seen before. *Jeez, this even beats a Darcy/Eliza moment,* Kayla thought stupidly, thinking briefly of the characters from one of her favourite books, Pride and Prejudice. She found herself being unable to tear her gaze from the passion stirring in his eyes. Time seemed to freeze; and all that was left in the world was the two of them in that moment.
Legolas gazed down at Kayla and all he could think about was how beautiful she looked. Her cheeks were red and flushed from exertion and her chest heaved as she caught her breath. She looked exhausted from the amount of ground she had covered that day but her eyes sparkled with life and Legolas knew, with out a doubt that he loved Kayla for her, not just as a substitute for Melian, but for her unique self. On impulse, he bent his head and pressed a soft kiss to her lips.
His lips were warm and the kiss was over almost before it began. Kayla looked up to see Legolas staring down at her uncertainly. Kayla smiled at him and he grinned at her before rolling off her and lying on his back and gazing up at the sky. Kayla lay next to him, replaying the kiss in her head. It was Kayla's first real kiss and it was as close to perfect as it could get. It even surpassed movie quality, something Kayla thought had been impossible.
They lay like that for a long time, just gazing at the forest roof, both lost in their own thoughts, Kayla regaining her breath, and Legolas playing with the pendant on the chain around his neck. Kayla's stomach rumbled, breaking the silence and reminding Kayla that she hadn't eaten since the previous night. Kayla stood and moved over to her pack, feeling her muscles protest at the movement. *What a workout,* she thought. *Better than Yoga with Geri.* She rummaged through her pack and found she only had lembas, because Sam had most of the cooking essentials. She pulled out a chunk and started to nibble on it. Legolas turned to look at her, and she held out the lump, offering him some. He shook his head, and she resumed her nibbling.
They sat in silence until morning's first light crept slowly over the horizon. Kayla had been dozing on and off all night, no longer having to keep watch with Legolas there. Legolas gently shook Kayla awake from her nap. "Kayla, we've got to move on, if we are to find Mithrandir." Kayla moaned, feeling all the stress she put on her body the previous day. She felt as if all her limbs were made of lead and then being set on fire. Legolas looked confused, and then it dawned on him. She had pushed her body to the limit, and now she was paying the penalty.
Out of a pouch on his belt, Legolas pulled out a few small leaves. He crushed them and pushed them down the neck of her water skin. He helped Kayla into a sitting position and told her to drink all the water left. "But then there'll be none left," Kayla said, mindful of the situation she had let herself get into. "I refilled my skin before I set out after you. Unlike you, I did not leave so impatiently." He cracked a small grin. Kayla smiled back before taking a sip of the water. "What did you put in it?" she wanted to know, taking another sip. It had the flavour of mint and vanilla. "Just something to lessen your muscle pain." Kayla nodded, she sipped again. Legolas moved away and started to put her things back in her pack, leaving her to rest for a few minutes. When he was done, he held out a hand, and helped Kayla to her feet. To her surprise, she could hardly feel the ache she had just a few short minutes before.
She stood dusting her clothes off and began to shoulder her pack. Legolas looked as if he wanted to protest, but Kayla silenced him with a look. She didn't want him to think that she was just a helpless female. Legolas grabbed all his belongings and handed Kayla her sword from the ground. She smiled and strapped it to her belt.
"Let's get this show on the road!" Legolas looked at her questioningly. Kayla realised he did not understand what she was saying. "That means let's go already." "Ah, I see. Well then, let's get this show on the road." They started off out of the woods.
Just as they were nearing the edge of the woods, Legolas put out his hand to stop Kayla. She looked at him questioningly but he just smiled and said, "I want to show you something." He bid her to close her eyes and then he covered them with a piece of cloth he produced from within the folds of his clothing. He then proceeded to pull Kayla up into his arms and jogged towards the opening of the forest.
*Where the heck is he taking me?* Kayla was not worried, merely curious. She knew that he wouldn't do anything to endanger their safety, so she just lay back and enjoyed the feel of his arms. She didn't get to enjoy his touch for very long, because they had arrived at their location. He set her gently on the ground and removed the blindfold. Kayla opened her eyes and her hand flew to her mouth in utter shock.