"Narcissis, what brings you back in here?" Banside wondered.
"Why do you think I came back? To rejoin my people!" came the angry reply.
Banside gave a humph! in reply, a small smile crossing his face. He walked over to her, not noticing that all eyes were on them. He held out his hand towards her but she knocked it away.
"You left me to die with those stinking elves. You're going to have to prove your trust to me again," she snarled at him.
Banside began to growl as the two began to circle each other. Haldir glanced between the two, wondering what was going to happen next.
"It was indeed a mistake to leave you behind but it was unavoidable. If we were able to get you out, we would have," Banside told her.
Narcissis carefully watched him as she began to head towards Haldir. She studied the elf as he watched her. Haldir didn't know what to expect from this new gargoyle. Considering the actions the others had given him already, he wasn't expecting anything too pleasant from this one either.
"How'd you catch him?" she wondered.
"We found him alone near the edge of our territory. We plan to deal with him soon before someone comes to look for him," Banside replied.
Narciccis smirked as she grabbed Haldir's wrist with her tail. He cringed slightly in pain as his eyes watched her every move.
"He still has some life left in him. It would be a pleasure to take it out of him," she told him.
"Of course it will but that will happen later. Some of us should be heading out to hunt for food. Keep watch over everyone until we get back," Banside told her.
Narcissis gave a nod of her head, crossing her arms. Banside gave her a smirk, turning around as he watched her. He narrowed his eyes before fully turning away from her. Narcissis watched him leave the campsite with several others before turning towards Haldir. She cocked her head to one side and gave a small laugh once she noticed that he was trying to get away from her.
"Believe it or not elf, I'm the last one you have to worry about," she told him.
A confused look crossed Haldir's face and Narcissis laughed once she saw him. She knelt beside him, very well knowing that she would have some explaining to do.
"How can I believe you? To me, you're all just the same," Haldir told him.
Narcissis stood up and turned away from. Haldir tried to comfortably lay on the ground in order to get some rest. He watched her as she moved her head enough to look at him.
"Believe what you want right now but you'll see it my way soon enough," she told him.
Haldir gave a deep sigh as he watched her head towards the fire. He knew he wouldn't find any sleep while he was there.
00000
Legolas, Elladan and Elrohir ran into view of the guards just outside the prince's home. The elves were curious as to why the younger elves were in such a hurry.
"Prince Legolas, what is the matter?" one of them asked.
"Where is my father? We realy need to talk to him for what we bring is very urgent," Legolas replied.
"He's in his study with Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn," came the reply
They pointed the way and the three hurried in that direction, not even bothering with the guards.
"I only hope that we get back to them in time. I hated to leave her in with those things alone," Elladan muttered.
"Even though Haldir's with her, I don't think he's in the shape to help," agreed Elrohir.
Legolas didn't say anything as they hurried to see his father. He really wasn't in the mood to talk much as they found the door. They almost slammed the door open, revealing three startled elves.
"Legolas, Elladan, Elrohir, where's Nanaylia?" demanded Thranduil.
"We found the gargoyles and Haldir is indeed with them. Nanaylia stayed behind to see if she could get him out," came the reply from Elrohir.
Thranduil was stunned and he showed it on his face. He didn't want it to come to that way but it did anyway. Celeborn and Galadriel gave a glance between each other before he walked up to the three.
"Lead us to them," he told them.
Everyone stared at him, confused. Elrohir and Elladan blinked their eyes a few times as they stared at their grandfather.
"You cannot be serious," Elladan said.
"I am serious. We will take out a few guards with us. We have to get them out of there before she is found out and something serious happens to either of them," Celeborn explained.
Thranduil lowered as his eyes as he listened to what Celeborn was saying and knew he was correct: Nanaylia's ruse would only work so long.
"All right, let's go," Thranduil finally said.
The king walked out of the room, with Celebrn, Legolas and the twins following closely behind him. Galadriel remained behind, the worry growing even more within her mind.
'Please let them all come home safe,' she thought to herself.
00000
Narcissis glanced repeatedly between the few gargoyles who hadn't gone out to hunt and Haldir. The elf had barely moved since she arrived on the scene and she was greatly worried because of it. She walked over to him unnoticed and placed a hand on his shoulder. His head perked up at the movement and turned it enough to see who it was.
"How are you doing?" she barely asked.
"Like you would care," he replied.
"Yes, I do. I am not like the others Haldir," Narcissis told him.
Haldir's head perked up in interest when he heard his name. He slowly turned his body so that he was facing her.
"What did you say?" he questioned.
"I told you that I'm not like the others," she repeated.
"My name. You said my name. They didn't tell you what it is because they don't even know that," he said.
The gargoyle gave him a comforting smile. She sat down next to him, keeping an eye on the others. When she was certain that no one was watching, she leaned in closer to him.
"Believe me when I say that help is on the way. Hold on a little bit longer," she told him.
Haldir felt immense relief when he heard her say that. He watched her as she glanced over to the group of gargoyles returning to the camp. She climbed to her feet and started over to them in order to greet them back. Yancha growled once she noticed the other female walking away from Haldir.
"Welcome back. How was the hunt?" wondered Narcissis.
Banside didn't answer, carefully keeping an eye on Yancha. Narcissis' stare turned in her direction, knowing that all was not well.
"Get away from the elf! He's mine!" Yancha warned her.
"I thought he was all of ours. Who's to say that he belongs exclusively to you?" Narcissis snarled back.
Yancha growled as she stepped towards the paler gargoyle, who took a fighting stance. Narcissis narrowed her eyes as she watched Yancha stepped closer to her. Yancha soon came within inches of Narcissis' face, who remained calm and unfazed.
"I know what you're up to Narcissis. You can't hide it from me any further," Yancha quietly told her.
Narcissis gave a small gasp in surprise, hoping that they hadn't found out yet.
TBC...
Sorry for such a long update.