Chapter 4

The barrage of orc's stopped as they approached the edges of the forest. They were afraid, they hated the trees and they feared them. The trees had slaughtered thousands at Helms deep as they had fled into the forest. They snarled and hissed at the great trees that groaned into the wind. They dare not enter the forest. They must find other way to capture the elf, but they knew the wrath of Souron would be immense, but with great unease they drew away from the woodland and back up the mountains.

"Let us rest here" said Legolas as he slowed his horse and dismounted.

They were in a small clearing in the dense trees. A tiny spring bubble down through the centre of the clearing, and there was grass underfoot. Raeya was exhausted and collapsed onto the soft grass. She looked uncomfortable with her surroundings and uneasy.

"There were so many, how could they have got to the mountain in that time?"

Legolas looked puzzled, "I thought you could see the future. How could you not know what was coming to get you?"

"To gaze into the future is a gift." She said, "However to gaze into your own future is dangerous. Many wise people have been consumed by the knowledge of their own fate. I try not to foresee what will happen to me as I cannot say whether or not it will consume me as it has so many others." She looked up, "And besides what would be the point in existing if you knew everything that would happen to you. "

Legolas looked deep into her wild eyes; there was something there, a fear of her environment that shook him with its force.

"Why are you so afraid of the forest?" Legolas asked.

"I am not afraid, just anxious." She answered.

"Of what?"

"My people come from the mountains, we do not dwell in forests, this is as alien to me as my mountain home was for you." She smiled at him, and studied him quietly.

"You have many questions Master Elf; what is it you wish to know about me?" Legolas looked startled.

"Can you read minds also?"

"Read minds no. See into minds yes, but not many beings are as open as you."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean Legolas, that you are hiding nothing. I can see your mind as clearly as I can see you face now. Most people shield their minds keep dark secrets and thoughts locked away. But yours is like an open book waiting to be read." She looked at him bemused by his shocked expression. "But if you wish I shall pry no longer."

Legolas looked away. "You are very wise. Why did you never seek out the other elves and live among your people?"

"Because I am my people, I am the last of my blood line. I could never live among the Woodland elves, I belong to the mountain, it is my home." She sighed, "Look at me Legolas; I would never fit in with your people. We are too different to live along side each other. Your people would never accept me."

Legolas started to protest. "Yes they would! If they knew that you were alive, they would gladly take you in as one of them."

"I do not wish to become one of them!" Raeya snapped. "I am Raeya of Evatrel! I can be no other! I would not wear your maiden's clothes and I would not chant your woodland songs, I am content to live on the mountains and watch over Middle Earth!" She looked angrily into his face.

"I am sorry Raeya. I did not mean to upset you." Legolas looked ashamed.

"No," Raeya sighed, "I am sorry. I did not mean to yell, but the pride of my people is most important to me, as I'm sure it is to you."

"Yes, it is important." He cleared his throat. "We must keep moving, it is not long now until we reach Edoras." He packed up his things and mounted his horse. Raeya looked down at her mare, it was wounded an orc arrow was buried deep in its shoulder.

"My horse is wounded, and I do not have time to heal her."

"Set her loose in the forest, she will be safe here." Said Legolas, "The wound is not serious, pull out the arrow and the forest will help her to heal." She did as Legolas had said and watch her mare limp deep into the forest; she had a feeling that she would be okay. Raeya looked up at Legolas again, he held out his hand and she sung upwards onto the horse and sat tightly behind him. They set off at a gallop through the forest; Raeya hoped that they would reach Edoras before nightfall.