Disclaimer: I don't own Lord of the Rings

Authors note: this isn't too bad is it? Well, it's good for saying I was doing this during my English lesson. Thank god my teacher had left the room.

Chapter 3

Saving Legolas

Sky awoke the next morning, her eyes red from crying. She felt disgusted with what she had allowed Suiadan to do. She always told herself not to but she just couldn't resist him. He seemed to hold some sort of power over her, one that she could not escape. When he got angry he took it out on her. That was the reason she bore the scar on the back of her leg. Now he was angry at Legolas. If he wanted it, Suiadan would kill Legolas. Sky didn't want this to happen. She heaved herself out of bed. She reached for some clean clothes and washed her face with the water that was in a bowl on her desk. She felt refreshed afterwards. She left her room and went to the hall. Her father was sat down, eating as were her sisters and their guests. But Legolas was missing. He was no where to be seen. "Father?" she said, "Where is Legolas?" Beorn looked up at Sky then looked round the hall. "He said something about going up to the Carrock today," he said, "Why?" Sky realised that this would be an ample opportunity for Suiadan to attack Legolas and make it look like it had been an orc attack that had overwhelmed the elf. Not thinking clearly, Sky blurted out, "You let him go out alone! He's in danger!" She ran from the hall and into the courtyard. She gave a sharp whistle. A chestnut horse came trotting up. She swung herself up onto the beast and urged it forward. The horse was Quill and the only horse she had ever ridden. She had never felt safe on another. It had been Quill whom she had confided in when Suiadan had made demands. The horse had an intelligent face and sometimes Sky believed he could actually understand her. Quill galloped up the path and leaped over the gate. Sky rode elf-like with no saddle or reins. She turned Quill west and headed for the Carrock. She heard orcs nearby. They were shouting something about an elf in their own foul language. Quill stopped. He refused to go any further. Sky reluctantly climbed down. She did not want to follow alone but she was less likely to get caught. There was a way she could get close without them noticing her. Faster than a blink she morphed into her animal form, a small black vixen. She quickly darted around in the shadows. She passed the orcs easily. They paid no attention to the black fox. She saw Legolas, on his own, looking west. She ran up to him and yapped, as she couldn't talk as a fox. Legolas turned. A small black vixen was sat behind him. "Hello," he said, "You are unusual." Sky yapped again. She grabbed the end of his cloak with her mouth and tried to pull him away. "What are you doing!" said Legolas, pulling back his cloak. Sky yapped a little louder and gave his cloak another tug. As a fox, she avoided awkward questions. Legolas just pulled his cloak back again. Sky began to lose patience with the elf. She jumped up and bit him on the hand. "Ouch!" said Legolas, muttering a curse under his breath. Sky yapped again and pulled on his cloak. Legolas ignored her desperate pleas with him. He turned away from her. "Fine, be like that!" said a sharp voice. Legolas turned and found himself face to face with Sky.

"Sky?" he said, "Where is that black fox?"

"It was me," snapped Sky, "Don't elves know when an animal is trying to warn them?"

"Warn me?" said Legolas, "Of what?" Sky took a quick glance over her shoulder.

"Get down!" she said, pushing Legolas down to the ground and landing on top of him. Several orc arrows flew past them. Sky rolled off him. Legolas quickly stood up and sent an arrow back towards the source of the orc arrows. Sky changed back into her vixen form. She gave a sharp bark and began to run for the cover of a small wood. Legolas got the hint this time and followed. Sky led him into the trees, along a winding path, crisscrossing her path sometimes so as to confuse the orcs. Legolas tried to remember the way but soon got lost. Eventually they came to a clearing. Sky had changed back into her human form. "Oh, he is going to be mad with me," she was muttering.

"Who's going to be mad?" asked Legolas, "Your father?"

"No, not my father," said Sky, "Suia… never mind."

"Who?"

"I can't say," said Sky, "I've already said too much. I shouldn't have come to save you. He's going to kill me."

"Who is?" said Legolas, striding up to her, "Sky, I can protect you." He reached out to touch her. But she brushed his hand away. "No!" said Sky, firmly, "Don't touch me. He'll be able to tell and you can't protect me, Legolas. Trust me on that."

"How can I if I don't know who you're talking about?" said Legolas, "Sky, how did you know I was in danger." Sky sat down on a log. Legolas got a good look at her face.

"Sky?" he said, "Have you been crying?"

"No," replied Sky, "Yes. I don't know. I don't know anything anymore."

"Sky, tell me," said Legolas, lifting her chin up so she looked at him, "I can help." Sky opened her mouth to speak but looked in the direction they had come. "We have to leave," she said and stood up. She started to leave the clearing. Legolas got hold of Sky by putting his arm around her waist and pulling her back. "Legolas," said Sky, uncomfortable with being that close to him, "The orcs…"

"Won't be here for a few minutes," said Legolas, "Now, tell me Sky, who is going to kill you."

"I can't," said Sky, "He'd kill you too. He's already angry with you."

"For what?" asked Legolas

"For touching me," said Sky, "For touching my cheek last night."

"For doing this?" said Legolas, gently touching her face. Sky stiffened.

"Don't!" said Sky softly, "Please don't." She looked up at his eyes. "Please don't," was all she could say before his lips came down and met hers. Legolas was surprised to find Sky unresponsive to his kiss, as if she didn't know how. He pulled away. "You shouldn't have done that," whimpered Sky, fear in her eyes, "Now he will kill you or worse."

"I do not fear death," said Legolas.

"Death," said Sky, "Is not the worst he has planned for you." Legolas was about to question her again when an orc arrow hit a tree near them. He lost his grip on Sky and she ran. He followed her, finding it much easier to see her as a human. Her black hair was flying out behind her and her long legs were easily covering the distance. When he came out of the woods, he saw Sky on a chestnut horse. "Come on," she called, "We have to get out of here." Legolas ran up to her and jumped onto the horse. The orcs emerged from the forest. "Sky of Beorn!" one cried, "The boss ordered the elf dead! You'll pay with your life for saving him!" Sky turned the horse and started back towards home.

"They knew you," said Legolas when he couldn't bear the silence no longer, "How?" Sky stayed silent. "Sky?" he said. She stayed silent. He gently dug his heels into the horse's side. Quill came to a stop. "Sky, tell me how did that orc know you?" his voice held command, it was an order. "I can't tell you," Said Sky, "I've already said too much." She swung her legs over the side of the horse and jumped down. "Sky!" called Legolas as she walked to look at the horse's face. Sky ignored him. She stroked Quill's nose. "Quill, take him home," she said quietly. She walked back towards Quill's hind legs. She gently slapped him. Quill snorted and began to walk away. Legolas turned to watch as Sky walked away. "Sky!" he called, "Where are you going?"

"Leave me alone," she whimpered. Legolas heard her plea and allowed Quill to carry him back to Beorn's house.

Sky walked slowly back to the forest and back to the clearing. She moved some bushes to one side. A circle of stones marked a grave. Her mother's grave. She remembered dragging the bones from the mountains to this spot, digging the grave and burying them. She had chosen this spot. She could vaguely remember her mother carrying her here as a baby. Star and Serena toddling just ahead. Her mother had sat down on the log and sang to the girls and told them stories. She dropped to her knees before the grave. "Oh Ma," she said, "What have I done? Why did I give in to him? There is good in this world, I know that now. Sauron is gone and the king has returned to Gondor. Yet I continue to help Suiadan. Why? I don't love him. I know that. Why am I doing this when there are men like Legolas?" She sighed.

"Please, Ma, I need your help!" she sobbed. An evil chuckle sounded behind her. Sky turned. Several orcs were stood behind her. "The boss wants a word with you," sneered the leader.

Sky fell to the ground, clutching the side of her face. "You ungrateful little whore!" shouted Suiadan. The moment she had arrived, Suiadan had hit her. He was angry. He knew everything. Sky felt tears fall from her eyes as pain shot through her when Suiadan hit her. "I give you everything!" shouted Suiadan, "I protect your family from the orcs. I let you use your talents and for what? You start going around with that elf!"

"I have done nothing with him!" protested Sky. Suiadan grabbed the front of Sky's tunic and pulled her up. "Liar," he snarled, "He's touched you. He's even kissed you. And you say you have done nothing!"

"Suiadan," sobbed Sky. He punched her and threw her down on the floor.

"I have no time for you!" snarled Suiadan. He waved his hand and Sky was returned to her room.