"Lady Winterbane? Lady? Are you awake?" Laura heard a muffled voice through the darkness, and forced her eyes to open. She was met with a face staring down at her, as light assaulted her eyes, making her squint, she cursed under her breath. "Lady? Are you awake?" Laura groaned and rolled over. "No Sherlock, I sleep with my eyes open." Legolas cocked his head to the side, chuckled and said "You are not elfkind." Laura rolled her eyes and leaned back quicker than she had wanted, hitting her head on the ground. "Ouch, thanks for that bit of information elf. So, uh, hi." "I believe we have already said hello milady." Laura shook her head. "We did not." Legolas stared a moment, seemingly deep in thought, then smiled. "You may be right, hello I am Legolas Greenleaf." Laura grinned, and mumbled under her breath. "Elf." Legolas stood offering her his hand, she tried to stand but her shoulder was killing her, and she collapsed again to the ground. "Shiiit. That's no good." Legolas knelt down beside her. "I am sorry, I neglected to consider your injury. Allow me to assist you in standing." Laura considered that a moment then said "Alright, but touch the shoulder in any way buster, and you'll lose something close to your heart." Legolas stared a moment, almost wondering if it was worth the risk, then wrapped one arm around her waist and held her hand with the other.
Legolas helped her through the woods, eyes ever watchful for anything moving. "So, elfy, tell me something, why did you run off and leave me before that thing attacked?" Legolas looked down at Laura, observing her for a moment, then facing forward again he spoke. "I heard something approach, I asked you to hide so you would be safe. You would not have been if you came with me, or we had continued on. There were many of those creatures, those spiders, and they would have attacked us both. I would not have been able to protect you, and fight them at the same time. I am sorry." "Yea, well, uh it's okay. Where we headed elfy?" Legolas grinned. "Why do you call me that? We are going to my home, Mirkwood, to see my father. He should like to talk to you I imagine." "Uhm, elfy? Is your father a er, uhm, nice kingly type elf?" Legolas stopped and stared. "What do you mean?" Laura squirmed under his intense gaze which, she thought looked slightly irked at her question about his father. "Oh, uhm, look, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to insult your father or anything, I just, I've never met a King before and I don't know what they're like, how they act. Whether he would just say 'off with her head!' and I'd be done for. Ya know?" Legolas assured her his father would not harm her.
The elf led Laura through the forest, until they came upon a long winding path. Legolas led her down the long, narrow pathway through the village. Elves on either side of them who were before hurrying about with their business, stopped and nodded solemnly to the prince. Laura eyed them nervously, not knowing fully how to behave around elves, or how they could behave around her. She honestly had never read the books, only seen the three Peter Jackson movies, and elves were not covered very extensively. "They seem to love, and respect you greatly Legolas." Legolas nodded. "Aye, and I return the sentiment fully, they are Mirkwoods citizens, and I love them."
Soon, Laura found she and Legolas had climbed a hill, and high upon it sat what she guessed was the palace. It was a deep shade of green, that glistened in the morning sun, and absolutely huge. She stopped in her tracks to admire it, before Legolas grasped her arm, and pulled her through the doors the guards had opened for them. "We will seek out my father now Milady." Laura gulped, and nodded. She was beginning to get nervous, and began to sweat profusely. Legolas took no notice of her state, and continued walking on. Laura saw ahead a female elf push aside a curtain, and exit a room. She nodded to the prince, and walked into another room.
Laura quickly slipped through the curtain, and into the room the girl had come from, leaving the elf to walk on alone. Sighing she leaned against the wall, and took a moment to relax, and collect her thoughts. Looking around the room, she noticed other female elves standing around a large pool like cavern in the middle of the room. She guessed this was a wash room, as the elves were undressing. She started to panic, when a hand reached through the curtain, and around the wall, pulling her through the curtains. "You try to slip away from an elf unnoticed? Come, I swore everything would be fine, and it will. I will not allow anyone to cause you harm." Laura sighed, and again took up pace next to the elf, she would trust him.
Legolas led her into a large, beautifully decorated room, books lined the walls, and tapestries hung from the ceiling. "Wow, this is amazing." Legolas smiled. "It is my fathers study. As an elfling I spent hours in here, with all these books." "I can imagine, look at them all!" Laura exclaimed, craning her head back to stare up at the books, upon books, upon books lining the walls. Legolas led her to a chair in the corner of the study. "Sit, I will go and find my father, and I wouldn't try to run off again Milady. The King would not be pleased if he were pulled from his business, only to have you run off on him." Legolas winked. "Not funny elf. I'm nervous enough as it is."
Legolas then left the room, leaving Laura alone. She stood, and walked over to one of the many book shelves. She pulled one from the shelf, and flipped it open to the title page. "Hmm, what's this? 'All you wanted to know about elves, but were afraid to ask' How appropriate, my mind is playing tricks on me now." She put the book back on the shelf, and searched for another. One caught her eye, it was red, and seemed to be leather bound. "Wonder what they use to make leather here?" She thought aloud. She opened the book to the title page, and read it. It was in elvish.
She cocked her head to the side, and flipped through the book, when she heard footsteps. She slipped the book under her shirt, and made her way back to her chair. 'Remember to ask the elf about this book later' she thought to herself. A moment later, a tall elf, who looked much like Legolas walked into the room. He nodded to Laura, as he passed by her chair. Laura studied the man, he must be Legolas' father, he looks so much like him. Same blonde hair, same eyes, same nose, same everything. But this man looked harder, more experienced in life, and at the same time wearied from it. Just a minute or two later Legolas quickly made his way into the study, stopping to stand next to Laura.
"Child, my son tells me you have not explained your presence in Mirkwood, and he has told me of your strange garb." The king said eyeing her pajamas curiously. "I've never seen clothes such as those Milady." The room fell silent, and Laura figured they expected her to speak. "Yes sir, er your highness, majesty, er what should I call you?" "Your highness will be fine child." Laura nodded and cast her eyes to the floor. "I uh, I make my own clothes your highness. This is of my own creation." The king nodded. "And what are you doing in my Kingdom child?" Laura looked up to search Legolas' face, then faced the king again.
"Um, I don't know, I didn't mean to come here your highness. I was lost, my family and I were traveling to Gondor, and were attacked. I fled, and found my way here." Laura shrugged internally. 'A lie, yes, but believable, and far less dangerous that the truth I guess.' The kings eyes widened in surprise. "You were attacked? Where?" Laura's eyes darted about the room, nervously. "I, uh, I don't know. Somewhere not far from here. Two days walk I would guess." The king looked to his son. "Were you injured? What attacked you?" "Orcs your highness, a small band of orcs, maybe fifteen or twenty." The king nodded, and motioned for his son to join him in the room, he walked towards. "Excuse us Milady." Legolas and the King were not gone long, the King entered the room wearily looking at his son, who stared down at the girl.
"Legolas will lead you to your accommodations, where there will be a guard posted at all hours of the day. I hope you find them satisfactory. Good day Milady." Laura nodded to the king. "Thank you your highness." The king retreated from the room, and suddenly, without even having noticed, Legolas stood in front of her, offering her his hand. She took it, and he led her out of the kings study. "Legolas?" "Yes Milady?" "Are my accommodations your kingdoms version of a cell?" Legolas stopped walking, and stared down at Laura in question. "A cell Milady?" Laura thought for a moment, then explained. "Umm, a prison, a place where you hold elves who commit crime?"
Legolas began walking again. "No." He stated simply, and flatly. "Then why the guard at all hours of the day?" "For your protection Milady." "From?" "Everything." "In the middle of a forest full of elves, and within a heavily guarded palace? Please elf, I am not an idiot." Legolas said nothing, only continued walking to her room. After some time of walking in complete silence, Laura let out a low growl. "He doesn't trust me does he? Wants to keep an eye on me until he does. That's it isn't it?" Legolas glanced over his shoulder, and stopped. "Your room Milady. You are not permitted to leave this place, unless accompanied by myself, one of our Mirkwood guards, or a servant. Have a pleasant evening."
Laura peeked into the room. 'Okay, definitely not a cell' she thought to herself. "Legolas? Are you leaving?" "I am, I have duties that require my attention." Laura nodded her head, and thought to herself 'hot and cold this guy.' "Umm, Legolas, not to sound attached or anything, but when I see you again, if at all. There's something I wish to ask you about." Legolas turned to face Laura. "Ask it then." Laura shook her head. "NO!" and motioned to the guard posted at her door. Legolas grinned, and nodded to the elf guard, who quickly left his post. "Now you may ask it."
Laura walked into the room given to her, and called for him to enter as well. Sitting down, she patted the place beside her on the bed. She pulled the book out from under her shirt, and handed it to him. "While I was alone in your fathers study, I had a look at his books. This one caught my eye, but it's all in elvish. Can you tell me the title Legolas?" "Why could you not ask me this in front of the guard?" Legolas asked without looking at the book he held. "I don't know, I guess because I took it without asking?"
Legolas smiled, and opened the book to it's cover page, and handing it back to her he began to laugh. "What? What are you laughing about?" Legolas shook his head, and tried to stop his laughter. "Milady, this was a favorite book of mine as an elfling. This is 'The Elvin Kama Sutra' It's a book of, uhm well, sexual positions. It's a sort of guide book, or study." Laura's mouth dropped. "Uh, I know what a Kama Sutra is. I didn't know elves had one." Legolas nodded and smiled. "So, this was your favorite book then?" "Yes." Laura grinned. "I think I'll call you the Tantric Elf from now on then. That's so cute! A little elfling flipping through a sex guide book."
"Tantric Elf Milady?" Laura grinned. "I'll tell you about it another time, that is if I see you again. You never answered my question." Legolas put his hand over hers. "Do not worry, you will see me again, and if I have anything to say about it, often." Laura grinned. "Yay. Hey, is there a bath around here?" Legolas stood up from the bed, and walked towards the door, pulling it opened, he stopped. "A servant will help you with everything you need Milady. I shall send one in." "Thank you Legolas, my Tantric Elf buddy." Legolas looked at her in confusion, but merely smiled, and nodded. Walking through the door, he shut it behind him, and left Laura alone in her 'cell'.