A/N: Well here is chapter 8, i hope the starts good. Figured i'd introduce the new breed of evil! muahahaha lol. Anyway R&R!
Chapter 8
"Ready the army!" she yelled her blue eyes glowing ominously behind the darkness of her hood, "I shall destroy the forces of Middle Earth one by one." She looked around at her minions a cruel smile appearing on her lips, "Only those I consider worthy enough will survive and they will be put into the mines to work."
Her minions all chorused in agreement their voices like nails scraping down a rocks surface, piercing and painful. "I will not suffer defeat! My husband will learn the true value of our marriage, even if I have to kill him." She eyed her minions dangerously, her gleaming white teeth showing through the darkness, "and I will be the one to kill him. My fellow Dark Elves will be here within the month and then I will unleash my full wrath upon this pious little realm."
Aelin smirked as she surveyed her bountiful army, each and every one bred for destruction. Their eyes all cold and hard, their armour as tough as an armadillo's hide. What pleased Aelin the most about her army was the immense density they all seemed to share, none were smart. This meant she could make them do whatever she wanted them to do.
For the last eight months she had been readying her army. Her husband, Legolas, had been completely dumb enough to not notice! This pleased her as well, because she was able to do anything she wanted.
She had toyed with him until she was sure he was completely under her spell and then she persuaded him into marriage, enabling her to be the co-ruler of Ithilien and Mirkwood. 'Once I take over the elves I can have them join my army, and then I will truly be un-stoppable.'
Her smirk developed into a malicious grin as her army all bellowed in glee. Middle Erath will soon come to ruins and Aelin will be crowned the superior ruler of it all, The Dark Lord Sauron would appear as a lesser orc once she was finished.
Avarielle awoke with a start, her eyes wide. They had been travelling for five days and they were now in the forests of Ithilien, not to far from Legolas' home.
She had been shocked at first to discover she was to go on a quest with the promiscuous elf, but Eomer had sternly told her she was to go. If she didn't he felt that he would be forced to rip the hair out of his head in his frustration. Not wanting to frustrate him any more she had agreed to go.
She was more comfortable with the journey when she learnt that Pippin would be accompanying them. 'At least I know I won't be attacked suddenly.' She had thought to herself the day they had left.
She was annoyed with the fact that there would be no 'chores' for him to do. How was he going to guess her name if there was nothing to do?
This had put a spanner in her great scheme.
But of course Legolas knew that this would happen and he had a look of smugness upon his fine features for the last 5 days. She would have to think of something quick.
She sat up bleary eyed as she looked at her surroundings; everywhere she looked there were trees upon trees. Each of varying species, each daunting in their own right. She shuddered at the thought of being forced to live amongst the trees but her mind misted over in memory and she had a feeling she'd had to live amongst such trees…
"My lady Riley you are awake!" she turned around startled at the sound of Pippins excited voice, her eyes wide, "That means you will be able to cook for us right?"
He looked so hopeful she couldn't say no. "Very well Master Peregrine."
He grinned in response, he was happy when she was happy. He had noticed that for most of the journey she had been rather annoyed or even disgruntled, not towards him though, with Legolas. All his friend would have to do is say something and she would snap at him or speak snidely to him. He preferred her happy, like she was now.
She walked over to the fire they had stoked the previous night, some of the embers were still warm, and emptied the pot out onto the grass before replacing it and filling it with some more rabbit and vegetables that Peregrine and Legolas had found. She lit the fire and poured in what remained of her water and chicken stock and smiled as the fumes of the cooking food wafted up her nose.
"Legolas will have to hunt some more rabbit when he awakens." She remarked as she sat down upon a log, her legs crossed. She was glad she had opted for breeches, shirt and tunic before they left. Travelling in a dress would have annoyed her too much.
"But my lady, he is awake." Pippin responded a puzzled expression upon his round face, "He has gone off for a walk."
Avarielle looked at the little hobbit with interest, where would Legolas have to walk to? As the hobbit began to describe the events of the morning she grew more and more confused. Legolas was like a puzzle box, no wonder she disliked elves so much.
She looked towards his bedroll and saw the vacant spot where Legolas had been and she felt a slight pang on her stomach. How long had he been gone for? Shouldn't he back by now? What if an orc had found him and killed him?
Wait…
She shook her head dispelling any thought of worry she had towards the elf and tried to focus on something else.
The smell of breakfast cooking alerted her back to her senses and she sighed, "I'm sick of eating so much rabbit…"
Pippin looked at her startled, "But…"
"It's all we seem to eat now! I miss Edoras and the variety of food…" she trailed off as her mouth began to water in yearning for a nice plump roast turkey…
Roast Turkey…
She thought back to the first night Legolas had been there and she thought of his grotesque disembowelment story, where did that elf get off talking about something like that? But she smiled at the thought anyway…
Pippin watched her face and he grinned, she looked amused by something and he wondered what she was thinking about. Could it be about a certain elf? Or perhaps she was thinking of something delicious…
'Mm, food.' He thought licking his lips. He certainly was hungry. He hated waiting for food; it made him even hungrier especially when it smelt so good.
He stood up and left her to her thoughts as he walked down to the stream that was not to far from their campsite and he placed his feet in the water, enjoying the coolness of it. He enjoyed travelling with the lady; she was always filled with enlightening stories of her life at Edoras.
Some of the things she said about Eomer though, he knew he would certainly cringe. But she spoke amiably of him, and he felt that she regarded the King as an older brother. He thought of Merry when he thought of this, they were cousins, best friends, brothers…
He missed him terribly.
A tear came to his eye and he hurriedly wiped it away, he would not cry!
The last time they had been separated was when he had taken the palantir from Gandalf and Gandalf had taken him to Gondor…
"Pippin, where is Riley?"
The hobbit looked up to see Legolas striding towards him, an orc's arrow in his hand. "We must leave; the orc's are very close."