The Mystery of Love
410 Reviews!! YOU GUYS KICK ASS! I love you all so much!
A/N: This is the last chapter, the epilogue. The story is complete. I hope you all love this ending, I loved writing it.
The Closing of Book I
~~~Serina~~~
I had not left her body all night. I stood by her side as she lay in the bed of her lover. Legolas had quickly left; too disturbed by the undeniable fact that Reyna had passed on. Her body grew paler and paler each time I looked at her. What bothered me though, was that her Fae powers kept rising inside her.
Legolas entered silently. "Lotewen...she...survived. She has fled again."
This was something I had not expected. Suddenly, I felt a strong flicker in Reyna's powers. "She is not dead..." I put a hand to her throat and wrist, for a heartbeat. Nothing. Silently, I bit my lip and turned to Legolas. "So, she is free?"
He grew angry. "Yes! The horrid she-elf who killed my beloved has escaped!" Another flicker of power, more intense.
"Prince Legolas, I think that she is still alive..." I removed the blankets, to examine her chest, and found the wound healed. "Did you have a healer see to her?"
Legolas shook his head, "No. Is this some sort of hoax? I do not find it..." Reyna stirred. Just lightly, she shivered. "Put the blanket back over her and leave us." I did as I was told, and waited outside as I heard Legolas speak to her in Elvish, Westron and some Fae. Alas, he could not coax her from her prison. Perhaps she did not have the strength to return yet.
The Prince walked out, "She is not alive, it must have been involuntary..."
I walked back in and sat with her for a long while, Legolas went to eat.
~~~Legolas Thranduil~~~
Too much pain within me, I was going to fade. After Serina said she was alive, it was like loosing her all over again. She had not responded to me at all. My pet names, 'I love you' in five different tongues...I even tried to remind her of our times together. Not one twitch came during that time.
I pushed my plate away, having eaten nothing. Arwen walked in teary-eyed. "Is it true, what they say...is she...gone?"
With an agonizing nod, I started crying again. "That horrid she-elf used trickery to inveigle Reyna to kill herself. Then she took off anyway, leaving Reyna to bleed out. Melamin got one good shot at her back with an arrow though."
Arwen nodded meekly. "She was a light shining on all of us."
I snarled. "If she was such a lovely light, why did her very sister extinguish her?"
My childhood friend had no answers. No one had any answers. Suddenly, I heard her voice like a whisper, calling me. "Reyna?"
'Legolas, come to me. Come find me Legolas, join me...'
I stood, "Reyna!"
Arwen's blue eyes were livid with fear. "NO! Legolas, her spirit is calling you after her to the Halls of Mandos! Do not listen!"
Her voice was distant now, and Reyna's clearer. Suddenly, I saw Serina walk in and whisper to Arwen. Arwen went deathly pale. "Legolas, return!"
As if on command, I returned and stared out into the night wistfully. "Reyna was so close..."
Serina bit her lip. "I could not do anything. I must return to Glacia with the bad news in the morning."
I nodded sadly. "En rant." {Of course.} With that, I departed for my room. Reyna's body was not there any longer. I assumed Serina moved it, which was logical. Without another thought, I undressed and laid down on the large bed with a heavy sigh. "How can I do this, how can I go on without her?"
Sleep took over me quickly, and I dreamed of my lover.
~~~Change of POV~~~ (sorry, can't tell ya' who)
He looked so forlorn as he slept unknowingly. I ran my hand along his cheekbone and smiled. "How fair he is...perhaps I should...he would never know...I could just leave...and never hurt him again..."
Legolas started stirring and I dashed behind the dressing screen. He walked into the bathing chamber and I slipped out. He was crying, I could hear him. I was completely undressed, but this was not uncomfortable at all. Fae, being all female, obviously had little issues with nudity. Elves were the same, as I had also learned. I walked over to the bed and stood there. Finally, feeling weak, I lay down and stared up at the black canopy. I started to slip back into my unconscious state. A song came to my mind, I knew I would alert Legolas of my presence, but I no longer cared. I had chosen my path now.
Small rain drops started to poor outside, making soft dripping sounds, each a different note. "How can you see into my eyes like open doors?
Leading you down into my core,
where I've become so numb. Without a soul my spirit sleeping somewhere cold,
until you find it there and lead it back home."
Legolas's face was fresh in my mind. I could see every part of him vividly. I could feel the fear within me start to mount. Like a feline on the prowl, it snuck up on me. I felt like I was drowning in all my mixed emotions. Drowning, dying inside.
"Wake me up inside.
Wake me up inside.
Call my name and save me from the dark.
Bid my blood to run,
before I come undone.
Save me from the nothing I've become."
Nothing. I was more than that. Legolas deserved more than that, so I must be more than that. Anguish overcame me. 'I cannot be anything more, for I have departed this realm. I have no blood to spill.'
"Now that I know what I'm without,
you can't just leave me.
Breathe into me and make me real.
Bring me to life."
Now, after my poor decisions, I have been separated from the one male I have ever loved. I hurt him through my actions also, and that was the strongest aching.
"Wake me up inside.
Wake me up inside.
Call my name and save me from the dark.
Bid my blood to run,
before I come undone.
Save me from the nothing I've become."
I tried to fight the surges of emotion trying to smother me. Legolas needed me, and I needed him. 'I need to survive.'
"Frozen inside without your touch without your love. Darling, only you are the life among the dead."
I had been so frozen inside before he had come and released me from my prison. I was free to feel and to love. I was free to be exposed; I was free to love him back. 'How can I let someone like Lotewen strip us of such a gift?'
"All this time I can't believe I couldn't see,
kept in the dark but you were there in front of me.
I've been sleeping a thousand years it seems,
got to open my eyes to everything.
Without a thought without a voice without a soul,
don't let me die here...
there must be something more!
Bring me to life!"
Finally, just a month or so after I realized just what I had with Legolas, this wicked sister had torn me away from my lover. 'No, this will not happen.' Something inside me started to flicker, like blood flowing through my veins again.
"Wake me up inside.
Wake me up inside.
Call my name and save me from the dark.
Bid my blood to run,
before I come undone.
Save me from the nothing I've become."
No! I wasn't nothing, I was needed by Legolas and Serina and Loraine and Arwen...I was needed. I pushed the foul black water back, watching it evaporate quickly. No longer would my emotions haunt me.
"I've been living a lie, there's nothing inside Bring me to life... (owned by Evanescence, not me)"
But I have been living a lie...I have been hiding from the love I have for my Elven Prince. Finally, my eyes opened and the bright light invaded. Blinded for a moment, I snarled at the encroaching light, which had tried to steal my sight from me. With another blink, everything was in focus and the army of sun's rays became a bright lamp illuminating the room.
I could still hear sobbing, only it was closer. With a slight turn of my head, I saw Legolas leaning over the opposite side of the bed. His beautiful blue eyes were looking at me in disbelief.
"I know this is a dream, and that is why it hurts so much. Please go away. I know you are not here."
Sadly, I looked him straight in the eye. Turquoise tears slid down my paled cheeks. "Amin na sinome, melamin." {I am here, my love.} I took his pale hands, which were shaking, in my own. "Ta na risa." {It is true.} Had I fought so hard in vain? Was I still truly dead?
He sighed. "Do not toy with my heart any longer, you are dead."
I started to cry, sobs escaping my lips brought a look of concern to his eyes. "Cathelle, please do not cry, I did not mean to be so cruel. I saw you bleed to death in my arms...you must understand why I was skeptical."
Without a word, I leaned over the bed and kissed his lips tenderly. His lips were no warmer than mine, which was a comfort. I was not dead; this was not a dream. My powers had revived me; my Fae healing had immediately taken over. I had heard rumors that for possibly fatal wounds, a Fae may go in to a dormant state until she is fully healed, that must be what had happened.
Legolas wrapped me in his arms. "Melamin!" I wanted to stay there forever, in his strong yet comfortable arms.
Suddenly, I recalled something I had heard in my coma-like state. "Where is Lotewen...?"
My prince smiled. "Let us worry about such petty matters come daylight."
I stood and shook my head. "I must avenge the pain she caused you. She must pay." Slowly slipping on a pair of leggings and a tunic, I turned to him. "I will be safe. Take this." I handed him a small charm from my silver bracelet that Serina had left on my nightstand. "Each of these are charmed, you will know what mood I am in at all times." Without another thought, I limped lightly out of the room and mounted Kemi.
Kemi, sensing my urgency, took off at a gallop. I ran into the surrounding woodland, bent on revenge. Fire had never been a strong branch for me, so it was painful to use but when I let that anger inside me boil out, I could feel the fire energy swarming in my fingertips.
Silently, I let it fade. Preserving the energy for later was in my best interests; too bad they weren't Lotewen's.
~~~Lotewen Lindele~~~
Everything was clear. From what I had seen and heard of Reyna's mastery of Fae power...there was something she did not know. Something that would give me the upper hand was exactly what I needed. Her Fae Scent was heavy in the air; she was following me. I stopped quickly.
"So the kitten wants to come out and play?" I quickly focused my Fae powers...they started collecting along the middle of my shoulder blades. I could feel my skin rippling. "Yes, let us play with the little kitten. "Kyote."
~~~Reyna Lindele~~~
Nearby I heard a female speck the Fae word for 'transform'...'kyote'. I shivered, 'How can she know anything about the Fae?'
With another rush of anger, I dismounted and ran off bare-footed. Once I reached a glade, where her scent was strong enough to knock me over, I looked around. It was empty, but I was sure she was here. I drew my bow and snarled, "Come out come out wherever you are you little coward!" Holding the string tightly and scanning the forest, I was caught by surprise. I looked up when I heard a disturbance in the wind and saw her flying up above. She had long feathered wings coming from her back.
"Oh my dear little sister, it would seem you never bothered to learn much about your own potential." The wings were large and black feathered.
I snarled again. "Get down here coward." I spun my arms around, causing the clouds to form over her, creating a drizzling storm and a nice wind that knocked Lotewen to the ground. "Never underestimate the Queen of the Fae."
Lotewen smirked, "Do not underestimate your own blood my dear sister. You cannot even maximize your Fae powers."
My brow furrowed. 'Was that transformation a Fae ability?' "Kyote." {Transform} Slowly, I felt my powers attack my fingertips, my teeth, my ears, and my lower back. Once the power surge faded, I looked down at myself. I had elongated claws, and a tail. Upon examining my mouth with my tongue, I noticed that my teeth were more like fangs. My ears were even more acute, and once I touched them, I noticed they were furry.
'Cathelle'. Legolas had sensed it...he had called me 'kitten.' I smiled, "Now let us see who is more deserving of life." I lunged at the grounded vulture and slashed one of her wings.
She cried out and sent a flame at my face. Turning just in time, I felt it lightly against my shoulder. I shot an arrow through her other wing, producing another cry of pain. "It would appear you are no match for your little sister."
Lotewen laughed. "Do not be so confident." Suddenly, the ground below me started to part. My legs gave me some leeway as I tried to leap to one side. The more I tried to escape, the more worried I became. Finally, I got an idea. I wrapped my tail around the tree about a foot behind me. Now I was hanging, and not much better off. Decisively I pushed off with my toes in a backward flip. I landed firmly on solid ground. This was when I decided to fight back. Sending swarms of clouds around her and causing rain to pour so heavily that she could hardly see, I activated my final transformation power. My eyes turned to slits and I saw her clearly. A feline's vision is far superior to a raven's.
This was when I realized that my pouring rain thwarted her firepowers. I drew my elven broadsword and smirked. "Here little bird." I slashed her arm firmly, but she had heard me before I could nail her chest.
She cried out, "You little beast. You cannot steal everything from me. My lover, my father, my servant, you have already stolen, and now you desire my life! Never!" She swung her sword blindly.
My power was quickly waning and I felt my mask weakening. I had to kill her soon. Finally, I had a plan. She cannot see or hear as well as I. I sent a little spark of flame at her feet and the leaves caught fire. Using my waterpowers still, I created a boundary for the flame to go so that it would not ignite a tree. That was when I lunged at her with my sword drawn and struck her abdomen. Another cry of agony echoed through the soggy forest.
It was dark and rainy and miserable as I strode around her in circles. Occasionally, I snarled at her and watched her fear. Then, I drew my bow. "Tonight, you die." With one smooth shot, I struck her chest. Immediately, I dropped all Fae powers to conserve my magic. She was lying on the ground weakly.
"You will not win." This was when she shot an arrow at me from her own bow. It hit me in the lower torso and I fell. I looked up at the light rain that was now falling. It reminded me of a much happier time spent with Legolas. My Other.
~~~Mini Flashback~~~
"You make me feel like running barefoot in the rain with my hair down, then lay out in the sun with my hair down to dry off."
I giggled, "That sounds fun, we should try that sometime."
He nodded, "Next time it rains."
~~~End Mini Flashback~~~
It was raining now...but I would never be able to dance in it. Blood poured down my chest and I cried out. "LEGOLAS!" I had to live. I pulled the arrow from my chest and stood. Lotewen was missing again.
"Curse it all!" I started limping back to Legolas when I tripped. I cried out in surprise as I was caught in strong arms.
"Tari Reyna!" {Queen Reyna!}
I looked into the shining green of my new friend. "Edan..." {Human...}
"Come, I will escort you back to your quarters. Lotewen escaped into the forest. I lost her amidst the brush and returned to check on you. Legolas will be worried, come along."
My heart ached. "He will not be worried, he will be furious. He told me not to hunt her in my weakened condition and yet I disobeyed him. I am not worthy of his love." I glanced down at the silver band on my finger.
He smiled. "It does not matter it you think that you are not worthy, which you are, but whether he deems you worthy of his love, which he does."
I blushed; "For a human, you have a strong gift of the word."
Pilin grinned. "In my old village in Rohan, I was called the Bard."
My brow furrowed. "You are not feigning? I was called the Muse by the Fae..."
"The Bard and the Muse, what a terrific friendship it shall be." He picked me up and carried me up the stairs. I was confused at to what I was feeling, but I was also tired.
"Do not tell Legolas I am wounded..." I started to drift into sleep.
"It will be hard to conceal the blood mellonamin..." He shrugged and laid me on the bed.
~~~Legolas Thranduillion~~~
"Reyna?!" I was alarmed at the amount of blood that stained her tunic. "Is she..." I could not bear to ask.
Loraine smiled. "She is very much alive. The lady just needs her rest."
I nodded. "Of course." I leaned in and kissed her cheek before turning to Pillin'ereb. "How can I thank you?"
He shrugged. "Is there anyway I could stay here? I am no longer welcome in Rohan now that they know of my Elven blood."
With a smile, I embraced him. "Of course! It is the least I can offer!" He was startled by the embrace, but eventually returned the display of friendship.
"Reyna has brought light to so many people's lives, I owe it to her to allow her friend to live among us."
Loraine smiled. "She is waking."
I turned to Loraine. "Prepare an audience. I have a speech to give tomorrow at dawn." I turned to Ariane next. "Could you see that Pillin has a proper suit to wear?"
Ariane smiled. "En rant mellonamin." {Of course my friend.} He and Pillin left, and Loraine followed them out the door to prepare the audience.
Reyna stirred. "Legolas...I am sorry I did not listen to you."
I smiled. "That is not important. There is something important for us to discuss though."
She sat up. "Mani?"
"Tomorrow, I will be giving a speech to the whole of Mirkwood about you becoming my queen. I will also thank Pillin for aiding you and tell everyone that he deserves great respect. Lastly, I want to bond with you tomorrow, after the speech."
Reyna smiled. "Oh, of course! That sounds lovely! At dawn you said? I need a dress!" She started to stand up and I shook my head.
"No, no. I will take care of everything. You just rest for now, my love." She smiled and fell into a sweet slumber.
"I will love you forever Reyna, and there is no mystery about that."
~~~To Be Continued~~~
There will be a sequel but I cannot say when I will start it. I must finish two other stories before I can start it, you guys understand I hope...well, I may post an epilogue pt2 later on, but for now...this is the end. Thank you all and fair winds until next I post. (lol)
410 Reviews!! YOU GUYS KICK ASS! I love you all so much!
A/N: This is the last chapter, the epilogue. The story is complete. I hope you all love this ending, I loved writing it.
The Closing of Book I
~~~Serina~~~
I had not left her body all night. I stood by her side as she lay in the bed of her lover. Legolas had quickly left; too disturbed by the undeniable fact that Reyna had passed on. Her body grew paler and paler each time I looked at her. What bothered me though, was that her Fae powers kept rising inside her.
Legolas entered silently. "Lotewen...she...survived. She has fled again."
This was something I had not expected. Suddenly, I felt a strong flicker in Reyna's powers. "She is not dead..." I put a hand to her throat and wrist, for a heartbeat. Nothing. Silently, I bit my lip and turned to Legolas. "So, she is free?"
He grew angry. "Yes! The horrid she-elf who killed my beloved has escaped!" Another flicker of power, more intense.
"Prince Legolas, I think that she is still alive..." I removed the blankets, to examine her chest, and found the wound healed. "Did you have a healer see to her?"
Legolas shook his head, "No. Is this some sort of hoax? I do not find it..." Reyna stirred. Just lightly, she shivered. "Put the blanket back over her and leave us." I did as I was told, and waited outside as I heard Legolas speak to her in Elvish, Westron and some Fae. Alas, he could not coax her from her prison. Perhaps she did not have the strength to return yet.
The Prince walked out, "She is not alive, it must have been involuntary..."
I walked back in and sat with her for a long while, Legolas went to eat.
~~~Legolas Thranduil~~~
Too much pain within me, I was going to fade. After Serina said she was alive, it was like loosing her all over again. She had not responded to me at all. My pet names, 'I love you' in five different tongues...I even tried to remind her of our times together. Not one twitch came during that time.
I pushed my plate away, having eaten nothing. Arwen walked in teary-eyed. "Is it true, what they say...is she...gone?"
With an agonizing nod, I started crying again. "That horrid she-elf used trickery to inveigle Reyna to kill herself. Then she took off anyway, leaving Reyna to bleed out. Melamin got one good shot at her back with an arrow though."
Arwen nodded meekly. "She was a light shining on all of us."
I snarled. "If she was such a lovely light, why did her very sister extinguish her?"
My childhood friend had no answers. No one had any answers. Suddenly, I heard her voice like a whisper, calling me. "Reyna?"
'Legolas, come to me. Come find me Legolas, join me...'
I stood, "Reyna!"
Arwen's blue eyes were livid with fear. "NO! Legolas, her spirit is calling you after her to the Halls of Mandos! Do not listen!"
Her voice was distant now, and Reyna's clearer. Suddenly, I saw Serina walk in and whisper to Arwen. Arwen went deathly pale. "Legolas, return!"
As if on command, I returned and stared out into the night wistfully. "Reyna was so close..."
Serina bit her lip. "I could not do anything. I must return to Glacia with the bad news in the morning."
I nodded sadly. "En rant." {Of course.} With that, I departed for my room. Reyna's body was not there any longer. I assumed Serina moved it, which was logical. Without another thought, I undressed and laid down on the large bed with a heavy sigh. "How can I do this, how can I go on without her?"
Sleep took over me quickly, and I dreamed of my lover.
~~~Change of POV~~~ (sorry, can't tell ya' who)
He looked so forlorn as he slept unknowingly. I ran my hand along his cheekbone and smiled. "How fair he is...perhaps I should...he would never know...I could just leave...and never hurt him again..."
Legolas started stirring and I dashed behind the dressing screen. He walked into the bathing chamber and I slipped out. He was crying, I could hear him. I was completely undressed, but this was not uncomfortable at all. Fae, being all female, obviously had little issues with nudity. Elves were the same, as I had also learned. I walked over to the bed and stood there. Finally, feeling weak, I lay down and stared up at the black canopy. I started to slip back into my unconscious state. A song came to my mind, I knew I would alert Legolas of my presence, but I no longer cared. I had chosen my path now.
Small rain drops started to poor outside, making soft dripping sounds, each a different note. "How can you see into my eyes like open doors?
Leading you down into my core,
where I've become so numb. Without a soul my spirit sleeping somewhere cold,
until you find it there and lead it back home."
Legolas's face was fresh in my mind. I could see every part of him vividly. I could feel the fear within me start to mount. Like a feline on the prowl, it snuck up on me. I felt like I was drowning in all my mixed emotions. Drowning, dying inside.
"Wake me up inside.
Wake me up inside.
Call my name and save me from the dark.
Bid my blood to run,
before I come undone.
Save me from the nothing I've become."
Nothing. I was more than that. Legolas deserved more than that, so I must be more than that. Anguish overcame me. 'I cannot be anything more, for I have departed this realm. I have no blood to spill.'
"Now that I know what I'm without,
you can't just leave me.
Breathe into me and make me real.
Bring me to life."
Now, after my poor decisions, I have been separated from the one male I have ever loved. I hurt him through my actions also, and that was the strongest aching.
"Wake me up inside.
Wake me up inside.
Call my name and save me from the dark.
Bid my blood to run,
before I come undone.
Save me from the nothing I've become."
I tried to fight the surges of emotion trying to smother me. Legolas needed me, and I needed him. 'I need to survive.'
"Frozen inside without your touch without your love. Darling, only you are the life among the dead."
I had been so frozen inside before he had come and released me from my prison. I was free to feel and to love. I was free to be exposed; I was free to love him back. 'How can I let someone like Lotewen strip us of such a gift?'
"All this time I can't believe I couldn't see,
kept in the dark but you were there in front of me.
I've been sleeping a thousand years it seems,
got to open my eyes to everything.
Without a thought without a voice without a soul,
don't let me die here...
there must be something more!
Bring me to life!"
Finally, just a month or so after I realized just what I had with Legolas, this wicked sister had torn me away from my lover. 'No, this will not happen.' Something inside me started to flicker, like blood flowing through my veins again.
"Wake me up inside.
Wake me up inside.
Call my name and save me from the dark.
Bid my blood to run,
before I come undone.
Save me from the nothing I've become."
No! I wasn't nothing, I was needed by Legolas and Serina and Loraine and Arwen...I was needed. I pushed the foul black water back, watching it evaporate quickly. No longer would my emotions haunt me.
"I've been living a lie, there's nothing inside Bring me to life... (owned by Evanescence, not me)"
But I have been living a lie...I have been hiding from the love I have for my Elven Prince. Finally, my eyes opened and the bright light invaded. Blinded for a moment, I snarled at the encroaching light, which had tried to steal my sight from me. With another blink, everything was in focus and the army of sun's rays became a bright lamp illuminating the room.
I could still hear sobbing, only it was closer. With a slight turn of my head, I saw Legolas leaning over the opposite side of the bed. His beautiful blue eyes were looking at me in disbelief.
"I know this is a dream, and that is why it hurts so much. Please go away. I know you are not here."
Sadly, I looked him straight in the eye. Turquoise tears slid down my paled cheeks. "Amin na sinome, melamin." {I am here, my love.} I took his pale hands, which were shaking, in my own. "Ta na risa." {It is true.} Had I fought so hard in vain? Was I still truly dead?
He sighed. "Do not toy with my heart any longer, you are dead."
I started to cry, sobs escaping my lips brought a look of concern to his eyes. "Cathelle, please do not cry, I did not mean to be so cruel. I saw you bleed to death in my arms...you must understand why I was skeptical."
Without a word, I leaned over the bed and kissed his lips tenderly. His lips were no warmer than mine, which was a comfort. I was not dead; this was not a dream. My powers had revived me; my Fae healing had immediately taken over. I had heard rumors that for possibly fatal wounds, a Fae may go in to a dormant state until she is fully healed, that must be what had happened.
Legolas wrapped me in his arms. "Melamin!" I wanted to stay there forever, in his strong yet comfortable arms.
Suddenly, I recalled something I had heard in my coma-like state. "Where is Lotewen...?"
My prince smiled. "Let us worry about such petty matters come daylight."
I stood and shook my head. "I must avenge the pain she caused you. She must pay." Slowly slipping on a pair of leggings and a tunic, I turned to him. "I will be safe. Take this." I handed him a small charm from my silver bracelet that Serina had left on my nightstand. "Each of these are charmed, you will know what mood I am in at all times." Without another thought, I limped lightly out of the room and mounted Kemi.
Kemi, sensing my urgency, took off at a gallop. I ran into the surrounding woodland, bent on revenge. Fire had never been a strong branch for me, so it was painful to use but when I let that anger inside me boil out, I could feel the fire energy swarming in my fingertips.
Silently, I let it fade. Preserving the energy for later was in my best interests; too bad they weren't Lotewen's.
~~~Lotewen Lindele~~~
Everything was clear. From what I had seen and heard of Reyna's mastery of Fae power...there was something she did not know. Something that would give me the upper hand was exactly what I needed. Her Fae Scent was heavy in the air; she was following me. I stopped quickly.
"So the kitten wants to come out and play?" I quickly focused my Fae powers...they started collecting along the middle of my shoulder blades. I could feel my skin rippling. "Yes, let us play with the little kitten. "Kyote."
~~~Reyna Lindele~~~
Nearby I heard a female speck the Fae word for 'transform'...'kyote'. I shivered, 'How can she know anything about the Fae?'
With another rush of anger, I dismounted and ran off bare-footed. Once I reached a glade, where her scent was strong enough to knock me over, I looked around. It was empty, but I was sure she was here. I drew my bow and snarled, "Come out come out wherever you are you little coward!" Holding the string tightly and scanning the forest, I was caught by surprise. I looked up when I heard a disturbance in the wind and saw her flying up above. She had long feathered wings coming from her back.
"Oh my dear little sister, it would seem you never bothered to learn much about your own potential." The wings were large and black feathered.
I snarled again. "Get down here coward." I spun my arms around, causing the clouds to form over her, creating a drizzling storm and a nice wind that knocked Lotewen to the ground. "Never underestimate the Queen of the Fae."
Lotewen smirked, "Do not underestimate your own blood my dear sister. You cannot even maximize your Fae powers."
My brow furrowed. 'Was that transformation a Fae ability?' "Kyote." {Transform} Slowly, I felt my powers attack my fingertips, my teeth, my ears, and my lower back. Once the power surge faded, I looked down at myself. I had elongated claws, and a tail. Upon examining my mouth with my tongue, I noticed that my teeth were more like fangs. My ears were even more acute, and once I touched them, I noticed they were furry.
'Cathelle'. Legolas had sensed it...he had called me 'kitten.' I smiled, "Now let us see who is more deserving of life." I lunged at the grounded vulture and slashed one of her wings.
She cried out and sent a flame at my face. Turning just in time, I felt it lightly against my shoulder. I shot an arrow through her other wing, producing another cry of pain. "It would appear you are no match for your little sister."
Lotewen laughed. "Do not be so confident." Suddenly, the ground below me started to part. My legs gave me some leeway as I tried to leap to one side. The more I tried to escape, the more worried I became. Finally, I got an idea. I wrapped my tail around the tree about a foot behind me. Now I was hanging, and not much better off. Decisively I pushed off with my toes in a backward flip. I landed firmly on solid ground. This was when I decided to fight back. Sending swarms of clouds around her and causing rain to pour so heavily that she could hardly see, I activated my final transformation power. My eyes turned to slits and I saw her clearly. A feline's vision is far superior to a raven's.
This was when I realized that my pouring rain thwarted her firepowers. I drew my elven broadsword and smirked. "Here little bird." I slashed her arm firmly, but she had heard me before I could nail her chest.
She cried out, "You little beast. You cannot steal everything from me. My lover, my father, my servant, you have already stolen, and now you desire my life! Never!" She swung her sword blindly.
My power was quickly waning and I felt my mask weakening. I had to kill her soon. Finally, I had a plan. She cannot see or hear as well as I. I sent a little spark of flame at her feet and the leaves caught fire. Using my waterpowers still, I created a boundary for the flame to go so that it would not ignite a tree. That was when I lunged at her with my sword drawn and struck her abdomen. Another cry of agony echoed through the soggy forest.
It was dark and rainy and miserable as I strode around her in circles. Occasionally, I snarled at her and watched her fear. Then, I drew my bow. "Tonight, you die." With one smooth shot, I struck her chest. Immediately, I dropped all Fae powers to conserve my magic. She was lying on the ground weakly.
"You will not win." This was when she shot an arrow at me from her own bow. It hit me in the lower torso and I fell. I looked up at the light rain that was now falling. It reminded me of a much happier time spent with Legolas. My Other.
~~~Mini Flashback~~~
"You make me feel like running barefoot in the rain with my hair down, then lay out in the sun with my hair down to dry off."
I giggled, "That sounds fun, we should try that sometime."
He nodded, "Next time it rains."
~~~End Mini Flashback~~~
It was raining now...but I would never be able to dance in it. Blood poured down my chest and I cried out. "LEGOLAS!" I had to live. I pulled the arrow from my chest and stood. Lotewen was missing again.
"Curse it all!" I started limping back to Legolas when I tripped. I cried out in surprise as I was caught in strong arms.
"Tari Reyna!" {Queen Reyna!}
I looked into the shining green of my new friend. "Edan..." {Human...}
"Come, I will escort you back to your quarters. Lotewen escaped into the forest. I lost her amidst the brush and returned to check on you. Legolas will be worried, come along."
My heart ached. "He will not be worried, he will be furious. He told me not to hunt her in my weakened condition and yet I disobeyed him. I am not worthy of his love." I glanced down at the silver band on my finger.
He smiled. "It does not matter it you think that you are not worthy, which you are, but whether he deems you worthy of his love, which he does."
I blushed; "For a human, you have a strong gift of the word."
Pilin grinned. "In my old village in Rohan, I was called the Bard."
My brow furrowed. "You are not feigning? I was called the Muse by the Fae..."
"The Bard and the Muse, what a terrific friendship it shall be." He picked me up and carried me up the stairs. I was confused at to what I was feeling, but I was also tired.
"Do not tell Legolas I am wounded..." I started to drift into sleep.
"It will be hard to conceal the blood mellonamin..." He shrugged and laid me on the bed.
~~~Legolas Thranduillion~~~
"Reyna?!" I was alarmed at the amount of blood that stained her tunic. "Is she..." I could not bear to ask.
Loraine smiled. "She is very much alive. The lady just needs her rest."
I nodded. "Of course." I leaned in and kissed her cheek before turning to Pillin'ereb. "How can I thank you?"
He shrugged. "Is there anyway I could stay here? I am no longer welcome in Rohan now that they know of my Elven blood."
With a smile, I embraced him. "Of course! It is the least I can offer!" He was startled by the embrace, but eventually returned the display of friendship.
"Reyna has brought light to so many people's lives, I owe it to her to allow her friend to live among us."
Loraine smiled. "She is waking."
I turned to Loraine. "Prepare an audience. I have a speech to give tomorrow at dawn." I turned to Ariane next. "Could you see that Pillin has a proper suit to wear?"
Ariane smiled. "En rant mellonamin." {Of course my friend.} He and Pillin left, and Loraine followed them out the door to prepare the audience.
Reyna stirred. "Legolas...I am sorry I did not listen to you."
I smiled. "That is not important. There is something important for us to discuss though."
She sat up. "Mani?"
"Tomorrow, I will be giving a speech to the whole of Mirkwood about you becoming my queen. I will also thank Pillin for aiding you and tell everyone that he deserves great respect. Lastly, I want to bond with you tomorrow, after the speech."
Reyna smiled. "Oh, of course! That sounds lovely! At dawn you said? I need a dress!" She started to stand up and I shook my head.
"No, no. I will take care of everything. You just rest for now, my love." She smiled and fell into a sweet slumber.
"I will love you forever Reyna, and there is no mystery about that."
~~~To Be Continued~~~
There will be a sequel but I cannot say when I will start it. I must finish two other stories before I can start it, you guys understand I hope...well, I may post an epilogue pt2 later on, but for now...this is the end. Thank you all and fair winds until next I post. (lol)