The Passing

Tension

Legolas looked in anticipation at the rising sun.

The party must depart soon, for their road was long and perilous.

The Prince was once again outfitted with his earth-toned tunic and breeches, elven cloak, and heavily armed with his arrows, quiver, long bow, and various knives. His chiseled features seemed focused and calm, while under his skin the wise and mature elf was aching in worry.

The burden was now all his to bear.

Legolas observed his men as they stood waiting for his command. Amroth was positioned next to him with his hands folded in a calm manner as he stared at the sky. Both siblings were in their own thoughts at this moment.

Lord Elrond had reviewed Legolas earlier on the best route in which to return home, and reminded the elf warriors that they would be escorting a woman in their party.

They would have to slow their pace.

Legolas sighed. He worried at what a vile creature he would have to endure for the next few months. Elrond had never answered his question about the witch.

Was she that retched of a monster? At the festivities the night before Legolas and Amroth had asked Elladan what he knew of the witch. Conveniently, Elladan had changed the subject and 'had pressing matters to attend to'.

How convenient.

Legolas heard footsteps approaching. His eyes caught the glimmer of a black form approaching the waiting party. The grip he held on the strap of his quiver tightened and his eyes closed in anticipation.

Here we go.

Elrond had ordered Kohana hooded, atop her horse, Amras, and to be lead by Glorfindel beyond the borders of Imladris. He did not want to cause a fuss in the perimeter of his dwelling. Kohana watched as Glorfindel talked to her horse in Elvish.

Ahhhh. The ways of elves.

She glanced toward the trail before her as the elf tensed at her side. She spotted the Mirkwood party waiting ahead with their arrows drawn. Kohana openly caught her breath. Glorfindel took her hand in his while his face remained focused on the road ahead.

"Valar tirir le." He squeezed her hand and then quickly dropped it to his side once again.

Legolas watched as the hooded figure approached his party. Amroth and he cautiously walked over to Glorfindel who stood expressionless beside the halted animal.

"Aiya Maicacano. May you have blessings for your service in this sinister trial." The prince greeted the elf lord.

"Suilannad otornonya vorima." Glorfindel bowed. "Namarie."

The elf lord left Legolas and his party to their prisoner. Legolas did not quite know how to go about getting down to business, but trained all his life to be a leader with absolute authority, he ordered elves around the perimeter of the captive.

Although he tried not to show how flustered he was, the prince approached Kohana's horse. He looked into the animals eyes, and began to sooth it in elvish. He was asking the horse to follow his party into the forest and into the depths of Mirkwood.

Although a prince would not under normal circumstances beg a horse, Legolas (like most elves) greatly respected animals and wished for the animal to cooperate.

Although the rider was an evil creature, if the bearer of the evil creature was on his side, it would make controlling the prisoner far easier.

Kohana was going to die of boredom.

Walking before her was a trail of green clad elves that all looked like elongated Ken dolls with Barbie's hair. They seemed to glide through the forest with ease. Her hood did not allow her to see many of them, just the ones walking close to her feet. Every now and again they would talk amongst themselves in some foreign elvish she didn't recognize, and change position, or laugh, or nod.

She really wanted to talk to them, too, but Kohana wasn't ignorant. These elves would just think she was casting some 'voodoo' on them or something.

She hated these Mirkwood elves.

Amroth joined Legolas toward the front of the line.

"When shall we stop, muindor nin?"

Legolas smiled at his brother. Although he had a lot on his mind, the prince tried to lighten the mood.

"What, Amroth? Are you tired?" He teased with a wide grin. Amroth punched his brother playfully in the shoulder.

"No, but I am sure the woman-creature is."

Legolas became serious once more at the mention of his prisoner. He looked to the sun above the trees. Its light was far west and twilight was fast approaching. Legolas wasn't used to stopping this early, but Elrond had warned him that things would be different with this witch-girl.

"We will stop ahead and set up camp for the night." Amroth nodded and walked toward the back of the pack to inform the other elves of the coming halt.

Kohana was counting how many trees she pasted in a minute.

Yup- she was that bored.

Suddenly her horse came to a halt and the elves around her stood in attention. She didn't know what was going on, so she did the only thing any other would do.

Kohana lifted the hood from her head to find out.

All around her stood Mirkwood elves, and to her amusement, all were wide eyed. One elf in particular stood out that was walking toward her. His hair flowed freely in the wind while his piercing blue eyes bore into her own. She stared directly into them in defiance as her heart beat quickened under his stare. He angered her with is obvious distain of her presence.

The words of Elrond rang in her ears. 'Behave yourself, Kohana!'

Alas- Kohana's temper got the best of her. She jumped off Amras with a bounce and clasped her hands together as Legolas stood before her.

More like towered over her, actually. She puffed her chest out a bit, and stuck her head up in defiance. She tried to hide the fact that her legs were shaking under her cloak.

Prince and girl stared a moment longer until he broke the silence.

"Tolo!" Prince Legolas commanded. Kohana gave him a blank stare.

'What the crap does that mean?' she wondered. Soon she found out. Two elves grabbed an arm, and ushered her to a spot beneath a tree.

"Havo dad!" one said while pointing to the ground. Kohana sat, and after some time, was given her travel bag and then left alone. The elves went about themselves starting a fire, rolling out their sleeping pallets, and gathering in groups to converse.

Kohana shrugged, took off her cloak, folded behind her back as sort of a cushion, and fished out the journal in her knapsack as well as a charcoal stick.

As the girl wrote, eyes observed her from afar.

Tension was in the air.

Notes:

Valar tirir le- Valar be with you.

Aiya Maicacano- greetings blademaster