Disclaimer: I own the Undying Fish, the ranger, a sentinel, two cats and a half cold cup of coffee. JRR has all the good stuff!
A/N: 'This is thought'
This in mind speech of Fire and Briar
'This is visions'
"" This is mind to mind Far Speak ""
If anyone is interested I finally put up a BIO on the author's page.
PS: Next chapter you will understand the Ice Cream in this title, but try to figure out what it could possible be and win an elf for the weekend !
To my Lovely Readers: THANK YOU!
To My Wonderful Reviewers:
Ephona: You ARE the first one for this chapter … have another bar of chocolate! Glad you liked it! Fire opens up and reveals some of herself to Leggy! Another secret is set in motion! Enjoy!
Morwen12: Glad you liked it! Elrond has another vision !
Captain Jade Sparrow: Leggy will not be a happy elf! He plans to watch the interloper (Haldir) like a bird of prey! Sparks fly!
Black Lace 101: Oh I have big plans for a very public repeat performance! Haldir is very put upon by our resident Felines. Lol
He is pursuing one, though he has no idea she is a feline, and He is being courted by another persistent one. Which will catch him?
Celtic Cross: I am glad you found this chapter humorous! Not as much in this chapter, a bit on the serious side, but hilarity awaits all through the story! Can not help myself, I am the kind of person who sees humor in the worst situations. Lol Fire and Leggy get closer, though he is NOT happy about Haldir! Tempers fly!
Scoobygang-Alumni: Yup that elf is GREEN! Dinner should be an interesting affair with seething Leggy and smirking Haldir. Fire should just duck as the barbs fly between the to guys. I thought it only fair that Haldir suffer the same naked problem as Fire… Ok Fire thought he should and I could not stop laughing! I'm so mean!
Yes you probably have the right female! You are smart cookie!
Manwathiel: WELCOME! Yes poor Haldir! How I love to torture that elf (he is one of my favorites) and ruffle his composure. I am glad you are liking the story so far and hope that continues for the rest of the story. Briar is unmasked as to what position in Fire's world she holds. Some history revealed as well!
Crecy: Yea Briar is modeled quite a bit after my friend, Jenna. Both are fun loving and adventurous, but a bit more reserved unless they are around me! I get them both riled and wild. Lol You will now be seeing more of Briar in the coming chapters and in this one you find out how she knows Fire. Elrond's a bit worried too!
Alatarial Elf: NO NEED TO BEG! I have to update every few days or I get the glares from my characters. Elven glares do not help either! I try to update every other day or sooner, but on some harder, more serious chapters up to 3 days. Glad you are enjoying!
Hellfire and Ice Cream
What the Hell were you thinking? You ran Haldir NAKED up a tree! You are never this reckless, what has come over you? Do you know not only did I have to agree to Haldir escorting me to dinner, but he is now after your hide as a pretty rug! I may make him a present of your skin, because if I get to you first, there will not be anything left for him to shoot! Stay away from him., Fire snarled, mind to mind, to the offending Feline who had become the bane of Haldir's life. The ranger's first picnic with the Prince of Mirkwood had been rudely interrupted, by a laughing voice calling her to come see the very interesting present that was up in the tree.
Fearful of just what the present could be, Fire had asked if Legolas would like to take a short walk. He had readily agreed, not knowing that it was not because she wished to walk, but HAD to go see what scary thing the Feline was up to. The sight that had greeted them, was hilarious beyond belief. Poor Haldir had to muster the dignity of a royal and cloak himself in his arrogance to offset the lack of clothing. Fire admired the March warden's calm and control in such an embarrassing situation and the amazing physique that had been on display was beyond description. Magnificent did not do the March warden of Lothlorien justice!
Ty, the silly elf has threatened me a few times already. I am not worried. Why did you accept his offer? I thought you were not interested in Haldir! Have you changed your mind about Legolas, or do you want BOTH of them for yourself? , the sullen voice in Fire's head replied.
Legolas looked worried and confused by the ranger's sudden outburst of, "Are you NUTS? I can barely figure out what to do with one! I do not need two." The fact that they were sitting alone on a picnic blanket and had drifted off into contented silence, made the words seem more then a little strange. Slapping a hand over her mouth in shock, Fire blushed and mumbled, "Can not believe I said that aloud." The voice ricocheted around her head in bell like peals of mirth. Go away fiendish one!, the miffed ranger huffed before slamming her mind closed to the amused female and returning her concentration to her picnic.
Elrond, Lord of Imlandris, woke with a start as a hand touched his shoulder. Looking up in confusion, he saw the familiar figure of Glorfindel. The golden haired elf gazed intently at his liege lord. It was unusual to find Elrond asleep at his desk and the weary set of his shoulders bore the truth of his worried mind. A slightly self mocking smile touched the Lord of Imlandris' lips as he took in the disturbed features of one of his oldest friends. "Fear not Glorfindel, I am well. I had another vision and it disrupted my sleep last night. I guess I was much more tired then I thought. This short nap has done me wonders!", the Elven Lord declared as he rose and pour a glass of wine for both of them.
"This new vision, is it the same as the one before or is it entirely different? Will you share or do you wish not to speak of it?", Glorfindel asked as he accepted the glass from Elrond's out stretched hand. Waiting patiently, the golden haired elf watched his Lord pace in front of the fire, before turning back to his desk and resuming his seat. "It was somewhat the same, but there was a part that disturbed me greatly. I saw the white cat with gold eyes and it was poised to attack Haldir. The sound it made curdled my blood and the sight of it baring down on the March warden with such ferocity worries me greatly. It then proceeded to blur and shift, showing me Haldir face down with Fire crouching over him with blood running down onto the March warden's back from her wrist. He was covered in a bluish, green flame and he was screaming as she knelt over him. What devilry is this? That one who should defend the light turns to the darkness. Being Gandalf's daughter, I had high hopes that she would not fall prey to Sauron's treachery. Galadriel told me of her visions. She has seen two possible futures; one with Haldir and one with Legolas. Yet my vision contradicts that possibility, and shows a third end to the ranger's fate: Sauron's minion.", Lord Elrond cried out in despair for the woman he had grown as close to as his own children.
The two Elven Lords sat, quietly watching the flames flicker and dance in the hearth before them. Each mulled over their own thoughts, neither one able to find a solution to the uncertainty of the ranger's destiny nor a way to console the other. So they sat, drew what comfort they could from each other's presence, both praying that Fire would turn away from the dark and the ring to be destroyed before all was lost.
"Will you tell me why you said that?", Legolas' soft voice brought Fire back from her mind to mind conversation. Turning to face his gentle blue eyes, Fire felt something give way. What it was or why it gave way at that moment, Fire would never be able to tell the elf in front of her. Drowning in his eyes, she instinctively leaned forward and laid a hand against his cheek. Tilting her head in bafflement, the ranger made a decision. She would trust him with her secrets, or at least most of them.
In a low, slightly husky voice, "I was speaking to another of my kind, Legolas. There are only five of us left, outside of the Undying Lands . She can speak to me mind to mind and I to her. It was the Lothlorien sentinel, Briar, that I was speaking to. She is my chief advisor here in Arda and I am her protector. I know what I am and what you saw me do, disturbed you greatly, but you need not fear me or mine. I am one of the Kindred.
We were once part of Morgoth's allies, the Cat People. When my forbearers were sent to destroy those of the light, they revolted and turned away from the Darkness. We fought along side the Elven realms and gave our lives and souls to ERU. We were called the Deceivers by our own kind, but to ignore the light would have made us truly the deceivers of our own souls. The Valar granted my people immortality for our deeds and allowed us to travel to Aman if we wished. There are yet some of my people in the Undying Lands.
Nearly two thousand years ago the last of the Royal House of Anorak, King Tygerian, was murdered defending his people and his home from Morgoth's remaining Cat People. The myths and legends call my people the Forgotten Ones, but ERU had not forsaken us. What I tell you now must not be known to others. The Darkness would come for me if they knew I existed.
My true name is Tygera, of Anorak. I am the oldest daughter of a forbidden match between the Istari Wizard, Gandalf the Grey and Dorressia, Princess of Anorak and only child of King Tygerian. My twin and I are the heirs to the throne of Anorak. If we die so do our race."
Legolas was stunned. Here before him sat not just one of the Kindred, but a Princess and Heir to the throne of Anorak. He thought back to all the stories he used to read about, the myths and legends of the Cat People that seemed so distant and unreal. Now he was faced with a living myth and he was unsure how to respond. Three times the elf tried to open his mouth with no sound escaping, before he suddenly started to laugh.
"I am sorry, little one, I do not mean to laugh, but I have never been so relieved as I am now. I had resigned myself to the fact that my heart was stolen by one of Morgoth's Cat People. I had, all but forgotten, those of the Kindred that had chosen the light of ERU over the Darkness. My heart is yours; even if you had been of the Cat People it would still have been yours."
Bringing Fire into the circle of his arms, Legolas kissed her softly. Fire hesitated a moment, before relaxing into the elf's embrace. Pulling back from the kiss, Legolas leaned back against the tree's trunk and snuggled Fire to his side. Stiffening at first, Fire sighed and let the tension flow out of her body, leaving her plaint form plastered against a very happy Prince of Mirkwood.
Neither saw the deep rose colored glow that surrounded them. Nobody that is, but Galadriel who stood at her mirror with an exceedingly pleased smile upon her face. "It is almost complete.", she murmured to herself, before heading back to her talan and waiting mate.