Hey guys, here's another update. Forgive me if all doesn't yield anything much in this chapter but I may be writing later from Isil's point of view which certainly could prove interesting. I know people are frustrated for their answers but there is a vital clue spoken by Isil and Glorfindel on the matter why they can't talk to Legolas outright. I'll leave you speculating on that!
A few answers to some reviews I got….
Purdurgirl – thanks that really made my day!
Dizzyduck – yes Thranduil knows Nerwen is Isil but he has his hands tied by her like she has by him – to be revealed.
KM – the little girl you noticed will play a vital part in the story but not in the way you think but close and good try!(Take note of this people!)
I don't owe anything to do with Tolkien or LOTR
Warrior code three – Keep a look out for hiding places.
The patter of the light rainfall fell against the window as Legolas laid in bed, sleeping in deliberately as he milled over his thoughts. Last night was a banquet with some dancing and he in vain looked for Isil. He should have known she wouldn't be there and from the smile on his father's face every time he caught his son out looking round the hall, he had something to do with her absence.
Ignoring the weather outside his windows, he laid on his back, staring up at the ceiling, watching the dust notes drifting in the light as outside, the sun finally peered through the clouds. Somewhere he heard the faint song of a maid, singing about the spring birds that were already making their nests, the palace was up but not its prince. He closed his eyes to try and make his thoughts clearer but opened them once again when he heard voices from the room next door.
"How can someone like you leave our scrolls in his bedroom!" came a shrill voice, of someone berating whoever fell short of him.
"Easy mistake, you know I have a lot on my mind. Just knock and go in, your troops are waiting outside for you." Came the reply, muffled by the thickness of the wall. Legolas heard faint whispers and scuffles as someone reached for the door handle. It squeaked open and Legolas closed his eyes, deciding to catch out whoever dared intrudes.
He heard the faint, quiet footsteps as the intruder tiptoed across the room then halted, as they looked around for whatever it was they were looking for.
"Glorfindel! I can't see it!" The whisper cursed and somewhere by the door came a sigh.
Legolas stirred in the bed, as if asleep but his hand slid under the pillow to grasp a small knife he kept there for security purposes.
Suddenly there came a loud crash as something shattered upon the floor. Without pausing, Legolas threw himself out of bed at the dark figure that stood in the middle of his room.
What surprised him was instead of a yell came a high pitched scream that he cut off by covering the person's mouth.
An elleth!
He looked over to the door he heard the intruder came in to find it closed and shifted his body weight off the stranger and rolled her onto her back to see it was Isil.
"Get off me!" she struggled, the faint crimson blush upon her cheeks told him she was shy at being caught in so close a contact.
"What are you doing in my room?" he asked, not yielding to her vigorous movements.
"Glorfindel, the stupid fool forgot the scrolls we need to plan our patrol routes.
He left them in here." Isil struggled still, "Get off me, your sword's hurting me."
"I'm not wearing a swo….oh." Legolas shifted uneasily as he realised what his traitorous body belied, he rose to his feet and offered a hand to Isil who refused his assistance.
"The scroll if you please." she huffed, trying to regain some dignity from being knocked out by a prince who wore only loose trousers he slept in.
"I can't recall such a scroll." Legolas replied as he shifted through the papers on his desk.
"Glorfindel says he left it here." Argued Isil but Legolas simply shrugged when his search yielded fruitlessly.
Legolas looked over at the door to spot what it was that smashed upon the floor. A shattered vase that once held water and some flowers now oozed its contents upon the richly decorated rug. With a sigh, he squatted down to pick up the pieces, "Sorry, but I think Glorfindel was mistaken."
"Thank you all the same." Isil tersely replied.
"Pass me that bowl there will you?" Legolas pointed to an empty wash bowl that Isil handed to him. Seeing what he was doing, she too bent down and began picking up pieces of the broken vase.
"Isil…." He started but was rudely interrupted by the snap of her voice, "Don't call me that!"
"What's your problem? You're Isil are you not? I will refuse to call you Nerwen." Legolas retorted. He reached out and grasped her outstretched hand, making her stop at his contact.
"Let me go." Her tone changed to one whom pleading.
"Tell me what happened please." He asked, watching her face intently as his memories of her came rushing back. In his long journey with his companions, all thoughts of Isil were never as beautiful as the vision he saw now.
Her lips quivered as her eyes dropped to the floor, she went to answer but the voices outside Legolas's bedchamber made them both stare at the wooden door with horror.
Thranduil!
"What you mean I can't wake my son up?" the king argued.
"He's already gone. Gone riding." Came Glorfindel's excuse they both knew was trying to cover them.
"Here!" Legolas urgently whispered as he grabbed Isil round the waist and rolled under the bed, the gap large enough for the pair of them to hide beneath. In that same moment the king pushed open the door after disregarding Glorfindel. Legolas looked at his father's feet from under the bed; Isil laid half on top of him as she too stared with panicking horror of the situation as Thranduil paced round the bed.
They dared not breathed when Thrnaduil sat on the bed, the bed boards creaking as they dipped lower, making Isil cuddle further into Legolas's arms without the contempt she had before. She looked up at him to see he was looking at her, with some limitations; he raised a finger to his lips to signal to be quiet.
"The bed's still warm Glorfindel so he must have just gotten up. If you see him, tell him I'm urgently looking for him." Thranduil's voice spoke then the bed seemed to exhale its baited breath as he stood up and left the room with Glorfindel closing the door.
Both elves under the bed sighed as their racing hearts slowed and they looked at each other.
"Close call." Legolas whispered, his ears straining to hear if anyone was outside the door. Isil turned her head from watching the door with caution, her lips brushed against Legolas's own and without thinking, Legolas reacted with abandon as he kissed her, the way he use to before he had to leave. She responded with equal pleasure as she opened her mouth to allow his tongue to caress her own. A small groan came from her throat as his hands explored her body beneath the tight gap between the bed and the floor.
As quick as it started, Isil pulled back abruptly, ramming her head against the underside of the bed and yelped loudly in pain.
She rolled out from under the bed, clutching her head and without waiting to Legolas or said a word, she opened the door and left the room. Legolas stared after her, cursing both her and himself, everything made no sense and it was killing him!
"Found that scroll." Came Glorfindel's voice as Isil went to aim another arrow at the already arrow laden target.
"And you know where to shove it." Isil retorted, letting the string snap with a loud twang, "Don't think me stupid for I know what you were trying to achieve. I saw you knock that vase down and I curse myself for falling for your stupid attempt."
She went to notch another arrow but found she ran out, taking a few angry paces, she started walking to the target to reclaim her arrows, Glorfindel following as he smiled, "Bet you Legolas was surprised to see you."
"This is not funny, you know that Legolas and I can't be together or they'll kill her." Isil lowered her voice to a harsh whisper, Glorfindel blanched as he realised that this mishap he helped occur almost resulted something he been trying to prevent all along.
"I'm sorry, I forgot Amilo's fate lies in our hands." He apologised as he rubbed his temple, "But I just wish you could talk to Legolas. You don't have to tell him about this but tell him something!"
"I'm not going to risk it, especially after today with Thranduil. You know he's already curious."
"Isil…..sorry, Nerwen. Legolas will find out the truth and believe me; he's already coming close to finding out things you have tried to hide. This is all going to backfire on us." Glorfindel argued but Isil raised her hand abruptly to signal him she was speaking no more of the subject.
He knew why when a member of the Estolians jogged over to them and informed her she was late for training some new recruits.
Biting back a curse, she tossed Glorfindel the bow in her hand and shot him a dark look to tell him this was his fault as she followed the soldier to the training grounds.
The golden haired elf stared after her for a while then saw a lone rider upon a white horse setting out a long a trail leading to the rest of the town nearby. Looking closer, he saw it was Legolas and looked at the sky to see it was beginning to darken with the onset of night.
Where was he going?
Arod's gait rocked Legolas in a companionable rhythm as he rode into the centre of the town. Already it was darkening and the beacons were being lit to provide illumination for long into the night. He looked from under his hood and spied a tavern where he knew from court gossip was popular with much of Eryn Lasgalen's occupants. The hinged sign outside upon the building's wall creaked in the breeze as Legolas read the name, "The Red Dragon" referring to past epic battles involving one notorious dragon nearby by the name of Smaug.
Leading Arod into a small stable yard, he tied the reigns to a post and walked over to the tavern where he could hear merry voices singing and laughing. Pushing open the door, he looked around the busy place, feeling much out of sort. He realised he wasn't getting any second glances as many elves sat drinking wine with their hoods over their heads. Walking to the bar, he produced a pouch of coins and laid three upon the counter, "Dorwinion please."
The bar keeper took the coins without questions and opened a bottle and handed both it and a cup to Legolas, "Enjoy." Was his only word and Legolas bowed his head with respect.
Nearby was a card came of a complex sort and instead of the usual grimacing faces that Legolas seen upon many men's faces when they lost another hand, the elves laughed good naturedly as they chucked another coin into the growing pile and declared their lost.
Finding an unoccupied table near the back of the tavern, Legolas seated himself and poured a generous portion the wine. Taking a sip, he relished the sharp tang of the liquid as it slip down his throat with much pleasure.
Tonight he was here with one soul motive and that, he have taken to heart from the nameless maid who suggested it. Listen to what his people were saying.
But how? His ears couldn't hear everything all at once.
From under his hood, he surveyed the tavern taking in all the faces he saw and listening to anything of use.
The door opened once again to admit this time some Estolian recruits, he could tell they were new to the army due to their light green cloaks that signalled their least superior level within the highly prestigious regiment upon middle earth.
Rowdy after a hard day's training Legolas took little notice of them till he realised they have consumed a vast quantity of alcohol and their loose tongues were flapping about the very thing he listening out for.
"Did you see her?" an elleth asked as she flirted with one red haired elf who grinned as he lustfully stared at the pretty elf.
"See who?" he asked as he patted her bottom whilst she smiled, "You know who, the lady herself."
"The Lady Nerwen? Sure, we were trained by her herself." The elf bragged and his friends were quick to join in the flirtatious game.
The elleth's eyes were agog as she seated herself and asked questions.
"Is it true she's beautiful."
"Enough to make one weep." The elf replied, his voice going sober as he called some far off vision he had of Isil.
"Shame about her past, it wasn't her fault and all." Another soldier spoke up, there was a murmur of agreement and from another table spoke up another elf who eavesdropped on their conversation.
"I heard she will not see the prince."
"Thranduil won't let her more like. We all know of what he forced her to do whilst ranting that justice must be fair. Fair! Ha!" the barkeeper spat, again the crowds round the round nodded and mumbled their opinion of the subject at hand.
"I'll always remember the day I saw her lowered into the well to break the ice, I never seen someone so scared and what did the guards do? They placed the lid of the well on with her trapped inside. She cried and screamed to be let out whilst they laughed and they only let her out when she went silent. She fell through the ice and I never seen the king's guards look so worried when Glorfindel caught them out." Spoke up an elf who held his tankard of wine to his lips as he spoke, there was a hiss of disapproval and Legolas felt his stomach drop to the floor.
"Has her hair grown back from when Thranduil ordered it cut?" the elleth asked the guard but another voice interrupted, "Seen her in town today on patrol. Never seen a finer looking lady and her hair! The whitest fall of hair once could ever see!"
Her hair? Thranduil ordered her hair to be cut? But only whore and harlots….
"Oh Isil…." Legolas whispered as he forced his hands to steady round the cup he held.
"Don't mind my opinion but Lady Nerwen done more for us than what Thranduil ever has. She rebuilt our kingdom with her bare hands, seen off the orcs that ravage our lands and gives us hope no?" A young elf spoke up, Legolas looked at him from under his cloak with a sense of pride, Isil done all that?
The tavern murmured their approval.
"And what of the prince?" ask the elleth who started all this.
"What of him? He's as clueless as to what happened and going insane with many a thoughts so I hear, couldn't blame him. Nerwen must still be in love with him, one can't switch off their emotions." The soldier replied.
In the far corner of the tavern, started singing an elf a song Legolas didn't recognise but after listening to its lyrics which were quickly joined by the other elves as they sang good naturedly, the song was about the Lady Nerwen and himself.
Legolas went to pour another cup of wine to realise the bottle was now empty, his anger was dangerously simmering and equally broken about Isil and what he had learnt. His father ordered her to do the most heart breaking of jobs and ordered her hair to be cut as a sign she was a whore. But there must be more to it, why would one stay after all one's mistreatment? What was his father and Isil hiding that made up a bigger part of the picture.
The door opened to admit another hooded figure who was garbed in the clothes of an Estolian, the figure walked over to the bar and asked the barkeeper, "Any trouble sir?"
"Nay my lord, routine check?" the barkeeper offered a drink but the stranger declined, "I'm also searching for three recruits who snuck out the barracks when they were suppose to be on patrol."
"That's them there?" the bar keeper pointed to the rowdy, drunken guards wailing along with the last chorus of the song.
The stranger nodded, "That's them."
The drunken recruits ignored the stranger who loomed over them, with a snap of a gloved hand, the stranger waved away the elleth who was drunkenly kissing one soldier. Wondering what was the cause of her leaving, they turned their heads to see a hooded, Estolian looming over their table.
"Welcome brother, don't tell me you came all this way to claim us? Sit down, rest your bones!" the red haired elf, clumsily poured a drink that missed much of its target.
"Get up!" the stranger snapped. "I have to send out another patrol because of your stupidity."
"Ooh, who you think you are? Lady Nerwen?" the three elves drunkenly sniggered as the stranger bristled.
What happened next came so fast, Legolas almost missed it. The stranger swiped his foot under the chair of the red haired elf, sending him with a crunch to the floor then pulled another off their seat, the third rose to his feet and tried to pull out his sword but his alcohol-infused limbs wouldn't work and he received a punch that measured his body to the floor.
"Call the guards!" yelled the bar keeper but the stranger spoke over him, "It's alright."
With a hand, the stranger swept back the black hood to reveal cascading, white hair and a beautiful face that could only belong to….
"Lady Nerwen!" came a gasp and almost immediately, the elves rose to their feet in respect.
"Seat yourselves and forgive me for my uncalled arrival." Nerwen smiled as she drew her sword, she poked one soldier still sprawled on the floor and snapped, "Get up!"
they fearfully complied and scrambled to the door where awaited another Estolian who shouted at them outside.
Legolas looked at the scene with surprise, and what broke him from it was the smash of the empty wine bottle that smashed on the floor when his foot hit the table leg.
Nerwen spun around and before he could blink, he felt the sharp edge of her sword against his neck.
"Dorwinion? That's a noble man's drink. This tavern doesn't usually sell these unless your someone with many coins lining his pockets. You must be a member of Thranduil's court and if so, who are you?" Nerwen looked from the broken bottle to his hooded face.
When he didn't reply, she smirked, "Wife doesn't know you're here? Too bad, take off your hood."
Legolas slowly raised his hands and brought back the cover of his hood, if before the tavern's atmosphere was tense when Nerwen revealed her identity, it was now oppressed as many jaws dropped as many eyes watched Nerwen take a step back with a face that could only be pure horror.
"You!" she breathed, she blinked and grabbed his arm, "Come back to the palace." she pulled him out the tavern and barked an order at the waiting Estolians to ride back to the palace. In the shadows, she turned back and looked at Legolas, "What you think you're playing at?"
without waiting for an answer, she pulled his arm to make him walk along side her as she lead them down a dark alley, away from eyes and ears.
They stopped in a dark doorway which looked to be the backdoor entrance to the tavern, over looked by trees as she turned and faced him, her eyes a shining with fury in the moonlight.
"I'm getting answers I can't get from you." Legolas spoke, he reached out and brushed her cheek, his heart stung with hurt to see her back away from his touch.
"What answers would they be?"
"That my father had you doing jobs fit for a human slave and shorn your hair. Yet why do you remain? Is it because of me?" Legolas asked with the smallest flame of hope.
"Do you still love me?" he asked again when she lowered her head without speaking an answer.
"What's holding us apart now that you're a lady of the Estolians, no longer a servant of my father?"
"Enough with the questions!" She snapped, her eyes flared with barely concealed anger then she became quiet again.
"Isil?" Legolas asked once more, the elleth he loved raised her head and looked at him, her eyes shadows by many thoughts she won't share and he sighed. "Talk to me."
The tweet of nearby night birds sang in the night air and the moon shone its divine light that made Isil's hair seem to glow.
"I love you Isil, from the first day I met you, throughout my journey with the fellowship and even now. And you have nothing to say?" Legolas snapped, his eyes sharpened in his anger to glisten in the cold light of night.
"Nothing at all?" His voice switched from anger to plead as he watched her bit her lip.
She went to move when something shimmered in the dark, he knew what it was and grasped her shoulders and pushed her against the wall, ignoring her gasp of surprise.
"If you don't love me, then why do you still wear this?" he spoke, without any thoughts to her modesty since he seen it all before, he swiped his hand down the buttons of her shirt causing them to pop and reveal the flesh they once hid. There against her pale skin shone innocently in the moonlight, the necklace that belonged to Legolas with its gold chain and emerald leaf.
"Then take it." Isil cursed, her voice betraying her emotions as she saw Legolas smile a smile she knew couldn't be trusted.
"Oh I will."
His fingers caught the edge of her shirt and he pulled them gently aside, his eyes watching the sight he undressed, the flesh he ached to caress and taste all those years unravelling before him, the rapid rise and fall of her breasts told him she was nervous and her eyes revealed the hidden battle within herself she was trying to fight.
"I forgot I was still wearing it." She whispered, a once last attempt to restore her dignity and win the fight but this was one fight she wasn't to win and Legolas took advantage of that.
"Liar." He whispered into her sensitive ear as he pressed himself against her. She stood stiffly against him as he lowered his lips to her exposed shoulder and kissed the creamy skin he yearned for so long, at the merest touch his desire made his body betray his lust and he knew she could feel his erection through their clothes.
Another kiss followed at the nape of her neck then to her ear where she released a startled groan. Her limp arms now grasped his shirt as if to hang on to him whilst he teased her body.
"I can't!" she moaned as he nipped her neck once more, he saw her eyes were blissfully closed as she wantonly pushed her body against him, yearning to feel all of him all at once.
His hands cupped her breasts then wandered over her torso as his lips took advantage of her own, feeling her passion rewarding him as her fingers slid under his shirt and downwards below his belt where he groaned and instinctively bucked against her hand.
She gasped as his own hand touched her through her own breeches as he kissed her harder, feeling her fingers dig deeper into his scalp as he gyrated against her.
"Isil?" cried a voice.
Legolas halted and looked over his shoulder towards where the front of the tavern was situated.
"They're looking for me, I told them I would be back after the midnight bell." Isil whispered.
"Send them away." He whispered back, leaning forward to kiss her but she shoved him away, "And make your father come out here? No, I must join them before they send out search parties."
"But Isil….." he objected but she looked up from buttoning up the few buttons she had on her shirt, "I do love you, but bear with me. There's more going on than I can say.
"When can I see you?" Legolas asked.
"Not again." She started walking to where the voices were calling for her. She never looked back over her shoulder once to see Legolas leaning his forehead against the cold, damp wall in what one could describe as a storm of emotions.
