DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN LORD OF THE RINGS
I stopped myself from immediately running out the door. With a few deep breaths, I took hold of my anger long enough to sit down on the bed. I could not leave now. I would be stopped before I was two steps out the door. No. I would wait for nightfall. I would make them think that I really had just fallen ill and that nothing else was amiss.
A knock sounded on the door. Quickly, I laid down and drew the covers up. "Come in."
Imeron entered. "How are you feeling, Ondra?"
A pang of guilt struck my heart when I saw the sincerity in his eyes. "I am fine, Imeron."
He smiled and pulled a book out from behind his back. "I thought that you might get bored in here."
I smiled. "Thank you."
"I myself am not one for reading," He admitted, sitting on the foot of my bed. "But I figured that you really had nothing else to do."
There was a long stretch of silence, which was completely uncharacteristic of Imeron. Then he asked, "Are you hungry? I know that we just had breakfast, but I am starving."
I smiled again. That was the Imeron that I knew. "Very hungry. You sneaking into the kitchens?"
He grinned impishly. "But of course, my fair lady." And with an elaborate, foolish bow, he slipped out the door, humming to himself.
Still grinning to myself, I reached for the book that he had brought me. Knowing Imeron, he had probably gone to the library, stopped at the first shelf, and chosen a completely random book. As soon as I examined the book, however, I began to wonder. It was bound in deep, green leather, and there was no title on the cover or the spine. The pages were worn, and the golden tones of overuse stained them. The ink had some splotches, but the handwriting was small and neat, even elegant. Yet there was no clue, anywhere, as to who the author was. The book consisted entirely of dates and what seemed to be short memoirs. This was someone's diary!
"Tada!" Imeron bounded into the room, his arms full of food.
"Did you bring the entire kitchen with you?"
"Almost!" Again, that mischievous smirk.
"Just toss me some bread."
He handed me an entire load and resumed his seat on my bed.
"Imeron,"
"Yeah?" His mouth was full with an assortment of fruits and elvish pastries.
"Where did you find this book?"
"Well, I went into that big room…"
"The library?"
"That's what they call it? Ok. So I went to the library and there was a big stack of books on the floor by one of the tables. I just grabbed one." He popped a small, cherry tomato into his mouth.
I nodded, also taking my fill of the food and allowing the subject to drop.
Night fell quickly. I had slept most of the day away, to ready my mind and body for the journey ahead. Thanks to Imeron's haul, I did not need to go to the kitchen for supplies. I packed the most imperishable items and a few, more spoilable ones for the first few days. I had tricked Imeron into giving me a pairs of his breeches and one of his tunics. These I slipped on, along with my own pair of sturdy boots.
I looked around the room one, last time, making sure that I had packed all the necessities. My eyes fell upon the book, still lying innocently on the bed. If it had had eyes, we would have been locked in a staring contest. I knew that it would take up space, but I had never really had the opportunity to read before… It could be interesting… I tucked the book into my bag and walked towards the balcony. Peering over, I found that it wasn't an especially long way to the ground.
Trying to be as quiet as possible, I stepped over the balcony and lowered myself slowly. I was no master of stealth, but apparently, my skills were good enough that I was able to escape Rivendell without drawing any attention.
NARRATOR'S PERSPECTIVE
The sun rose over Rivendell, shining through the colored leaves and casting a golden glow.
Haldir sighed to himself as he made his way down the hall. He would not be able to enjoy the fair weather today, for Lord Elrond had requested that he tend to Ondraya. He arrived at her door with yet another sigh and rapped the thick wood with his knuckles.
"Ondraya! Ondraya! Rouse yourself!" He waited for a few moments longer, still knocking. Still, there was no answer, so he opened the door. "Ondraya?"
The room was empty. Confusion seized him and he threw the blankets off of the bed.
Nothing.
Haldir swept through the room like a storm, searching for Ondraya or some clue. There was absolutely nothing. All that remained in the room were the jewelry and dresses that she had been lent.
Haldir made for Lord Elrond's study. The door was closed, but he allowed himself in anyway.
"My lord! Ondraya is missing!"
Lord Elrond looked up from his books. "You cannot find her?"
"No, my lord, her rooms are empty! Everything is gone!"
"She ran away?"
"I assume so, my lord."
Lord Elrond sighed. "Send a search party. She needs to return to Rivendell.
Shortly, Imeron, Fionan, and Haldir were assembled together to search for Ondraya.
"Haldir!" Someone called. "Allow me to accompany you; I am skilled in tracking," Prince Legolas drove his horse beside Haldir's.
"Your highness, do not worry. She is but a human girl; we will be able to find her." Fioanan replied.
"Perhaps, but she is my friend and I would like to assist you."
When neither Fioanan or Haldir could voice another objection, Legolas gave a small smile and set his horse off down the path.
They rode in silence for a short while, but a steady conversation slowly formed.
"Imeron, you were with Ondraya yesterday. What did she say?" Fioanan asked and Imeron shrugged.
"She was fine. I brought her lunch and some books and we just chatted for a while. Then she got tired and I left."
"She didn't seem upset?"
"No. She was laughing a lot. Why do you think she left?"
"Maybe she didn't feel welcome," Legolas stated, casting a look in Haldir's direction.
"Aw, Ondra couldn't care less about that," Imeron waved a hand, as though shooing a fly.
"The girl really has no manners. I doubt she would be bothered by the idea of placing a burden upon a host," Haldir glowered.
"Haldir, you have truly surprised me lately," Legolas admitted sadly, shaking his head slightly. "I know not where my friend has gone, but he would never have cast aside a person in need."
Haldir frowned. "The only help that she needs is to be beaten out of her barbaric habbits—perhaps then she could make herself into some asset to society. The girl has her tricks, however, and I am sorry that they have overtaken you, Legolas. I thought that you would have better sense than to fall for such ridiculous antics."
After an hour or so more of searching, the group decided to split up—hoping to cover more ground. Haldir and Fionan, of course, refused to admit that they were having trouble in locating Ondraya. They kept insisting that they thought the time would be good for her to reflect on her actions and decorum.
Legolas and his horse loped along quietly, Legolas still reflecting on recent events. He was greatly troubled by what Haldir had said. He knew that Haldir was not a bad person, but he was stubborn, opinionated, and, in this case, wrong. Legolas wondered how Haldir could miss the clues of depression that Ondraya so clearly emitted. She was defensive, quick to shoot down anyone who threatened to break her barriers, and she was uneasy, always glancing over her shoulder.
Legolas sighed. Haldir's shortcomings weren't the only problems, however. The biggest conundrum, at present, was that Ondraya still hadn't been located. It escaped Legolas as to how a mere human girl still managed to evade him—he had yet to find even a trace! It was as though she had simply disappeared. But then, that was what she wanted.
Sighing yet again, he dismounted from his horse and allowed it to graze on the grass underfoot. He knelt at the stream nearby and splashed water on his face. After he had blinked the liquid from his eyes, he noticed a small boot on the opposite bank. He grinned slightly and stood.
"You can come down now, Ondraya. Your shoe has betrayed you."
Indeed, a small, lithe figure descended from the tree on the stream's other edge.
"What do you want?" She growled, angrily pulling on the traitorous boot.
"Everyone is out looking for you; we are worried. Why did you leave?" In one step, he crossed the water current. She instantly backed up, her scowl deepening. "Please," He extended a hand.
"Why should I trust you?"
He frowned slightly. "Why shouldn't you?"
Her scowl faltered for a moment, then returned with even more force. "Do not toy with me, your highness," She spat the last word viciously.
"Ondraya, please. Come here. I am not trying to trick you. Please, I am just worried." He stepped closer again, slowly, as though approaching a wounded animal. When she didn't move, he stepped again. When only a few inches separated them, she attempted to dart away, but he quickly reached out and caught her small hand in his grasp. She tried to tear it away from him, and she almost succeeded for he was momentarily caught off guard by her strength. He quickly regained his focus, however, and pulled her in close, holding her to him so that she could not escape. After another bout of struggles, she finally relaxed, heaving slightly from the effort.
"Ondraya," He tried again. "Please. Why did you leave?"
"I heard you and Haldir talking," She snapped, though the venom in her voice was slowly dissipating, slowly being replaced by weariness.
"I am so sorry that you heard that," Legolas apologized.
"Sure!" She snarled and pushed him off of her, her ire suddenly refreshed. "Of course you are!"
"I am," Legolas offered again, softly.
They stood there for a long, awkward stretch of silence. Then she exhaled sharply and turned on her heel to leave.
"Just go away, Legolas. I have had enough of people and their lies."
"I am not lying!" He insisted, his frustration steadily growing.
She whipped around. "THEN MAYBE YOU SHOULD CHOOSE YOUR COMPANY MORE CAREFULLY!"
No one said anything—they were too busy attempting to glare the other into submission.
Then Legolas forced himself to take a deep breath, closing his eyes for an instant to recollect himself.
"I am sorry. I should not have lost my temper. You are right."
She still glowered, her arms crossed.
"Please," He continued. "Come back to Rivendell with me."
"No."
"Why not?"
"I have no desire to return to Rivendell—none in the slightest."
"O come now. That's now true."
"O isn't it?" She growled, fixing him with a poisonous stare.
"No," He shook his head, again taking small steps towards her, talking as he went. "You know that you would far prefer to eat their meals than hard, traveling food. You would prefer to sleep in comfortable beds than beds of rock, on the ground. And you would prefer to be with people than be by yourself."
She looked up, for he was no so close that his height prevailed. "I want nothing more to do with people!" She ground out through clenched teeth, her anger barely held in check.
His brows knitted and he looked at her in near disbelief. "It is not that bad, Ondraya. Everyone has to put up with politics, no matter where they live. But people are not as terrible as you make them out to be."
"That, Legolas, proves that you have no idea what you are talking about," With a final glare, she turned and began leave.
"O come now!" He called after her. "What, then, have people ever done to you?"
She stopped dead in her tracks, then looked over her shoulder in apparent disbelief. "I…I cannot even believe that you have the audacity to ask such a thing!"
"I do." He strode towards her. "Go on then. Go ahead and tell me."
Without hesitation, Ondraya slapped him clear across his cheek.
His eyes widened as his hand instinctively covered the red sting on his face.
"HOW DARE YOU?" She screamed. "HOW DARE YOU? YOU HAVE NO IDEA –NONE—WHAT PEOPLE HAVE DONE TO ME! YET YOU STAND THERE, SO PRESUMPTUOUS, AS IF YOU ACTUALLY HAVE ANY KNOWLEDGE OF WHERE I HAVE BEEN OR WHAT I HAVE GONE THROUGH!" Tears began to form in the corners of her eyes, and her body shook as her strength began to waver, but she continued to scream. "I HATE YOU, LEGOLAS! I HATE YOU! HOW DARE YOU DO SUCH A THING IF YOU ARE MY FRIEND?"
The tears were now flowing freely down her face and her hysterical assault continued, but lost some of its ferocity as her energy depleted.
He caught her wrists, gently, and pulled her to him. She laid her head on his chest and sobbed, incredible grief wracking her small frame. He put his arms around her, not completely sure of what had transpired, but held her that way until the weeping began to subside. Eventually, they stopped altogether, and Ondraya was silent, except for the occasional sniffle.
Some time passed, and the sun began its descent towards the horizon, basking everything in a red, golden glow. Only then did Legolas dare to speak.
"Are you alright?"
She could only nod.
He pushed her off of him slightly, so that he could see her face. "What is wrong?"
She shook her head and sighed.
"Please," He insisted soflty.
She took a few uneasy breaths, then looked directly into his eyes.
"I thought that we were friends, Legolas." Her voice was small, hoarse.
He softened instantly. "We are! I am so sorry, Ondraya. I did not realize that I was pushing you somewhere that you did not want to go… I just…I am concerned for you. I want you to come back to Rivendell."
She shook her head, though her demeanor was of defeat. "I don't want to go."
"Why?" He pried gently.
"Because no one understands."
"O. Well, I know that it is hard to be new, but Ondraya, please come. I promise that I will be there more often. I have not been as supporting as I could have…"
"No," She interrupted. "I appreciate the effort, Legolas, but really—no one can understand."
Confusion clouded his features. "What? Understand what, Ondraya?"
He watched as she examined him, looking him over. He wondered what she was searching for. Finally, she met his eyes and sighed. It was clearly the sigh of a beaten will.
She unfolded her arms and pulled down the collar of her shirt.
Legolas blinked in astonishment for a moment, then quickly turned away. "Ondraya, I…"
"No," She said quietly. "It's ok. You can look."
Still fighting some apprehension, Legolas cast his gaze towards her once more. He instantly noticed a black mark on her shoulder. Dumbfounded and intrigued, he stepped closer.
Clearly branded on the top of her arm was a crescent moon, turned so that it was shaped like a u, and in its hollow was a heart, cleanly pierced through the top by a dagger.
Legolas gaped. "What…what is it?"
"I am marked. It means that I am his property."
So there it is. I apologize for the confusing points of view, but they served the purpose that I required of them. I know that there are also several typos that I missed, because I typically proofread (and still miss things, LoL), but I do not have time. I just wanted to get this up real quick as a post-holidays treat :)
Please leave a review (in the fading spirit of the holidays)!
Life, love, and prosperity to you,
Crimson