Legolas took to visiting Laura, Mirkwoods 'prisoner' daily bringing her food every time he would come. They would talk for hours before he would inevitably be called away to attend to some of his seemingly endless duties as prince. Everyday she would beg the prince to be allowed outside the palace for a walk, and everyday she would be denied. She began to grow frustrated by Legolas' endless excuses, and would ask him to leave when he would visit, bringing her daily meals.
"Father, I worry for the Lady Winterbane. She no longer welcomes my company, and she has stopped accepting the food I bring for her." Legolas stopped pacing his fathers study, and took a seat in front of his father. "Legolas, she grows weary of imprisonment. I no longer have just cause to hold her. I suggest you release her." "But, father, I would worry for her. Out in Middle Earth alone." Thranduil shook his head in worry for his son. "Son, she is mortal, remember that, and let her go." Legolas sighed, and nodded. "Yes father, I shall do as you say." And he would, just not in the way his father intended.
Legolas stood and left his fathers study, and went to arrange Laura's release. He went to find a Mirkwood guard. "Falmerenar! Aaye!"(hail) Legolas called after an elf, who in turn stopped, and turned, walking towards Legolas. "Mae govannen Legolas."(well met) "Mae govannen melonamin."(well met my friend) Legolas smiled, he and Falmarnar were long time friends, and he knew he could be trusted. "Legolas? Lle anta amin tu?"(do you need help?) "Aye, I'm afraid I do." The guard nodded, and placed a hand on Legolas' shoulder. "Amin naa lle mai mellonamin."(I am yours to command my friend) "Diole lle, tula"(thank you, come)
The two elves walked off together to the palace, where Legolas explained about the mortal woman's sudden appearance in the forest. He asked Falmarenar to go and explain to the girl she had been released, and escort her from the palace. He would wait outside the main palace doors for her. The friends exchanged pleasantries for some time, and then Falmarenar took his leave, saying goodbyes, and walked to the door. Turning to Legolas he asked. "What interest have you in this girl Heraumin?"(my lord) "I do not yet know myself mellonamin."(friend) Falmaremar smiled, and left.
The elf guard Falmeremar, led Laura out of her cell, and then out of the palace. He left her near the entrance to the palace, and quickly made his way back to his post. Laura allowed herself a moment to look around her surroundings, taking in the whole of Mirkwood, and it's people. The city was absolutely stunning from the top of the hill, where the palace was set. Sighing she set off in search of something to do. She was still very confused as to why she was still in Mirkwood, and had not yet returned to her body on Earth. "Guess I don't want to go home." She said to herself.
A voice sounded behind her, it was Legolas. "I'm sorry, what was that?" The elf repeated himself. "Why would you not want to return to your home?" Frowning Laura turned and quickly walked away from the elf. Legolas looking quite confused started off after her. "I'm sorry if I have offended you Milady." Laura shook her head. "You did not offend me." "Then why did you walk away?" Laura sighed. "I don't know." And that was the truth for her, she didn't know. "Very well." Legolas said sensing from her emotions he should not pursue the matter further. "So, father has released you then." Laura looked at him and smirked. "No, I escaped this morning." Looking over her shoulder, she muttered. "I had only just lost the guards when you showed up."
Legolas smiled. He liked this girl, she had a sense of humor uncommon in Mirkwood. "So, your first evening in Mirkwood. How will you spend it Milady?" Laura thought a moment, then started walking again. Turning to glance back at a very confused elf, she called back. "Coming?" He laughed to himself, and took off in a jog after the girl. Quickly reaching her side, Legolas slowed his pace to match hers. "Where are we going? I don't imagine you would know my kingdom very well." Laura laughed. "You're right, I don't know my way around, but I think I can manage this." "You did not answer my question Milady." She glanced at Legolas checking to see he carried his bow with him, then nodded. "I know, you'll see when we get there." Legolas slowed his pace a bit. He didn't like this one bit. But the girl didn't seem to mean any harm, and she did fascinate him. So he again matched her pace, and when she turned to look at him, he nodded. "Very well Milady. Lead on."
"Stop calling me that will you. It's so informal. You act as though we have only just met, not that your family had held me captive for weeks, and you've come to visit me daily for long chats." Legolas frowned. "Then what will you have me call you?" "My name of course!" Legolas sighed. "I'm afraid Milady." Again Laura grumbled at the use of Milady. "I am afraid Winterbane, that your name bothers me. I feel it does not suit you, nor do you justice. It feels malevolent, evil to me ears, and foreign on my tongue." Laura looked at the elf confused. "Hmm, it does? Well, what do you feel suits me? Hey! How about you give me an elvish name? Like your buddy Estel, er Aragorn." Legolas grinned at the mention of his friend. "You will meet him soon if you wish. He comes for a short stay in Mirkwood soon, and that sounds like a wonderful idea. Though you must give me time to find the perfect name for you. Until then I will continue calling you Milady." Laura sighed. "Fine." The two continued on to Laura's secret destination.
The pair walked for some time, Laura in the front, trying in vain to remember where they had met. Legolas started to laugh suddenly, and turning Laura stopped. "What? What are you laughing about?" Shaking his head, he pointed to a tree. "We have passed that very tree at least three times already Milady." Laura smiled sheepishly, and nodded. "I'm afraid I've gotten a bit lost." "It's completely understandable, these woods are not easy to navigate without having any knowledge of them. Where do you wish to go?" "Well, uh, remember that waterfall we met at?"
Legolas nodded to Laura, and he offered her his hand. "Come Milady, I know where it can be found." Laura smiled, and took his hand, and he led her on through the woods. Laura stayed quiet, still embarrassed by her getting lost, and Legolas sensed it, and made an attempt to break the tension. "Milady, tell me of your family?" Laura's eyes grew large, and she looked to the ground. "Um, what about them?" "Do you have brothers or sisters? What of your parents?" Sighing Laura answered his questions. "Well, I have a little half brother, and a little half sister. My father and mother are divorced, and my mother married a real jerk. I hate him. My father is rarely around, and when he is, all he does is fight with my mother, because he still loves her, and she doesn't love him."
Legolas turned to look at Laura, sadness evident in his eyes. "You are unhappy in your home then?" She nodded and leaned against a nearby tree. "I am, very. Derek, he's my stepfather, is always drunk, and when he's not, he's still a mean bastard. But he's far worse when he is drunk, I just spend most of my time in my bedroom on my computer, or writing in my notebooks." Legolas placed a hand on her shoulder. "I am sorry, but you are here now. No longer with your family. I hope life will prove more enjoyable for you here, with all my heart." Laura smiled, and a single tear fell, which Legolas quickly stopped with his finger, wiping it away tenderly.
Legolas and Laura walked together for some time, conversing between themselves. They stayed clear of Laura's life back with her family, and where she really was from. Legolas knew she was holding back about something, and he sensed her sadness. He wished he knew what haunted her so, but he didn't want to push her into telling him something if she was not ready. Before they knew it, they had arrived at the lovely waterfall they had met at. Laura giggled to herself, and ran to the water, kicking off her loaned shoes along the way. "Lady, do you bathe?" "Nooo, I swim, come on in!" Legolas smiled, and quickly began to disrobe.
Laura dove down to the bottom of the small pool, looking around the pond floor, she found a beautiful ruby red colored stone. She slipped it into her pocket, and swam towards the waterfall. Resurfacing under the waterfall, she ran her hands through her hair. It had been a long time since she had a real shower, and washed her hair. Laura looked around the small pool searching the area for the elf. "Legolas?" She called out. "Where are you?" Feeling a hand on her shoulder, startled she turned, and found Legolas inches from her, wearing nothing. Looking down towards the water she confirmed it. "Wow, could have kept some clothes on elfy." Legolas smiled, his eyes gleamed with merriment. "I had nothing under my breeches, lady. What would you have me wear?" Laura shook her head, and waded back a little. "Okay, just keep that thing away from me eh?" She winked, and dove into the water.
Soon enough, Laura had, had enough of swimming, and made her way onto shore. Turning to search for Legolas, she saw him by the waterfall. "Elfy, I'm heading in. Getting a bit dark, and chilly." Legolas smiled. "Ahh, I didn't notice. I'll join you." Laura's eyes went wide, and she turned around. "Um, okay!" She called back. She felt her cheeks go hot, and she knew she was blushing. She soon felt Legolas' presence at her side. Turning to see if he was decent, she coughed, and started laughing to herself. Legolas looked to her confusion written all over his face. "Why do you laugh?" She coughed again, and turned. "Oh nothing." Legolas studied her face, she was blushing, and trying to hide her face from his, and this made him all the more curious. "What is it? I should very much like to know milady." Suddenly she was on the floor, and rolling around in the sand laughing. Legolas couldn't help but chuckle, and went to sit by the water. If she wasn't going to tell him, there was no point encouraging it. She was laughing at him after all.
After Laura had had her laugh, she noticed he had skulked off. She crawled over to him, and nudged him with her head. "Are you sulking elfy?" He wouldn't look at her, looked in the opposite direction. "Excuse me?" He asked. She nudged him again with her head. "Look at me you. Sulking, being angry, being childish, or in your case, acting like an elfling who hasn't gotten his way." He turned to look at her, his face stone, and cold. She almost backed away, but she saw his eyes, and they didn't appear angry with her. She rolled over onto her back, like a puppy, and put on a sad face. "Forgive me? I wasn't laughing at you, or at least not the way you think. I only was remembering a conversation between a friend and I." Legolas smiled. "Now who is acting like an elfling?" Laura laughed, and rolled back over and sat next to the elf.
"So what conversation were you remembering?" Legolas asked after she had settled down next to him. She started giggling uncontrollably again. "Uhm, how do I start. Well, see I have this pet, well. Pet, it's sort of like a horse, an animal that you keep, only you wouldn't know that really, cause you don't 'keep' your horses right? Anyway, there's this pet of mine, he's a rat, and where I'm from, we have this sort of club, or group of people who also keep these rat creatures. These people have really bad humor, I mean really bad. Like, they talk about the rats, erm, family jewels all the time. You know what family jewels are right?" The elf stared at her, confused, and shook his head no. "Uhm, they're balls, testicles, uh, goolies? They call them goolies ya see. Anyway, I had this conversation with her, and I told her I'd kill her if I ever was with a guy, and he was naked, and I looked down at his goolies and laughed. I just did, so I will have to kill her if I ever see her, and I make no sense, you're utterly confused, and I'm out of breath." She sighed, and slumped back on the grass.
Legolas laughed, and followed her, falling back onto the grass, to stare up at the stars. "It's so wonderful here. I love it" Laura said after some time of silence. "Aye, it is a beautiful place." Legolas replied. Laura took his hand in hers, and looked over at him. "No, I meant in Mirkwood." He smiled, and looked down at their hands entwined together. She noticed, and quickly pulled her hand back, and onto her stomach. "Uh, sorry." She mumbled. Legolas smiled, and reached over, taking her hand from her stomach, and held it. "As am I. Though there is nothing to be sorry for." He grinned, and she giggled.