Disclaimer: Do you think I own it? No? Good.
Sorry 'bout any grammar and/or spelling mistakes.
There we go. It wouldn't let me post yesterday. Sheesh. Come back to that… that's fun stuff right there, man. -.-
The cruise was awesome. I'll post some pics when I get the CD with the pics on it. I'll give you all the link when I post them if you're interested. n.n It was a bit too touristy for my taste in the places we went to, but on the ship it was great. ..:shrugs:.. And the water, love water, man, love the ocean. n.n
But, yes, I'll shut up about that. I hope I don't let any of you down with this, especially with such a long wait. n.n Enjoy.
Hunted
Chapter Two: Scare
He felt, more than heard, the presence glide over the smooth floor, making its way into the chambers near his own.
He slowly sat up and looked around, for the sound had yet to connect with his sleep-induced mind, his dream still lingering.
The candles flickered in the hall, his open door causing the long shadow against the wall to grow and shrink creating strange shapes. The fire whispered and cackled at him, reminding him of something he should know, something important.
The sound of metal slowly being drawn from its sheath snapped his attention to the direction it had come from: across the hall.
Legolas' chambers.
"Valar," he breathed, scrambling out of bed, berating himself for his foolishness.
The covers wrapped around his legs in his haste to get up, and caused him to land on the floor, sprawled out.
Muttering a curse, he battled with the stubborn blanket, all the while pushing back his panic.
After beating the blanket, he ran to Legolas' chambers, just as the shadowed figure, indiscernible in the darkness, thrust the gleaming blade straight into the blonde elf's heart.
Legolas' eyes cleared with a gasp, only to glaze over again seconds later as his body became limp. This time the glaze over the crystalline eyes was not from elven sleep.
Aragorn was too shocked to scream, frozen in place.
He had failed his friend! He had killed him! He should have come to him as soon as he heard something!
Tears refused to show at the overwhelming despair he felt, it was too much.
He stared at the lifeless form of his now-dead friend as the killer escaped without Aragorn so much as shifting an eye to him.
Aragorn closed the distance between himself and Legolas, looking down at the archer in disbelief. The blue eyes, glazed over in death, stared back at him accusingly: how dare he not stop the killer.
The reality finally sank in and his knees buckled beneath him. He kneeled next to the bed, head hung with grief as tears cascaded down his face.
Aragorn awoke with a gasp and looked around.
He was still in the library.
Elladan and Elrohir were next to him now, their expressions mirrored worry.
Bringing his gaze straight ahead, he found a pair of blue eyes staring back at him, eyes which had been dull and listless only seconds before.
"Legolas!" he shouted in disbelief before he could help himself.
The elf blinked at the human, having no idea why the man was so shocked to see him.
"Why are you crying, mellon-nin?" he questioned, concern clearly heard in his melodious voice.
Aragorn raised a hand to his face, fingers feeling the wet trails that had appeared from his nightmare.
"I… You…" Aragorn stuttered, disoriented from the too-realistic dream. He swallowed thickly, trying to gather his thoughts. "I had a nightmare."
Legolas nodded understandingly. That had been obvious. The twins had been the first to notice their brother's distress; then Legolas had actually been awakened by the pained groans of his name mournfully said. They had tried to wake him up, but it had been to no avail.
He waited for the young man to continue.
"You… You died," Aragorn choked out, sad grey eyes piercing the shocked blue ones. The tears that he had just managed to suppress, threatened to flow again.
Legolas mentally shook himself out of his surprise and pulled his friend into a tight hug. "Everything is fine, mellon-nin. I am alive and well. I shall not leave you; I promise," he soothed the distraught man that clung to him like a life-line.
Elladan and Elrohir watched the scene before them in sadness. Neither knew what they could do to help. All they knew was that the sooner they found this killer, the sooner everything would be back to normal and they could enjoy themselves once more.
Aragorn finally pulled back from Legolas and smiled at him in appreciation.
Minutes passed in comfortable silence and, even though Aragorn was still troubled by his nightmare, he had calmed down.
None even mentioned leaving the library to go back to their chambers to sleep, for it was already well into the night. It was an unspoken request on Aragorn's part that they stay. He feared if they—mainly Legolas—retired for the night then his nightmare just might come true.
The other three were content with staying in the library in any case, surrounded by books, friends, and the warmth the fire gave them. It was truly relaxing and just what the wearied blonde needed after traveling for so long. It helped Aragorn as well.
Legolas had started to nod off again when the library doors suddenly burst open, a rattled Elrond being the cause.
The four were startled from their reprieve and turned wide eyes to the elf-lord.
"What is it, Ada?" Elladan was the first to question, voice saturated with worry and a tinge of fear. It was rare indeed for the elder elf to behave like this.
"There's been another one. Come quick," he said hurriedly, slightly breathless.
Immediately the four jumped to their feet and chased after Elrond, fear gripping their hearts, squeezing out all the contentment it had just soaked up.
Legolas could hear his blood pumping loudly in his ears, the thudding of his heart threatening to free itself of his chest. This was it. This was the reason for unwanted feeling that had greeted him upon arriving.
They stopped in front of the door. The warriors standing guard nodded at seeing their lord, allowing access. Elrond had commanded them to be there to make sure none would pass so the scene would not be disturbed. Elendur was one of the guards and he followed after the anxious elves and human.
"How is this even possible?" the elf-lord asked, controlling himself as he kept his voice leveled. He had held back most of his questions until in the company of his sons and Legolas. With the increased number of guards, he had hoped to at least have the deaths farther apart.
Elendur had been dreading the moment he had to tell his lord of this new death on his watch. He swallowed thickly, and then replied, "I know not, my lord. We neither saw nor heard anything." Just like the others.
Elrond sighed heavily, placing a hand over his eyes. He could already feel the start of a headache.
"Forgive me, Hir Elrond," the light brown haired elf said contritely. He should have been able to catch the murderer already.
The elder elf waved his hand, dismissing the apology; there was no need for it after all.
He then turned from Elendur and took a look at the chambers again, this time a lot more closely. Legolas and Aragorn had done the same.
It was left exactly how it had been; the only thing that had been changed was that the young maiden's bloody corpse had been removed upon his permission; after he had taken note. He had already thoroughly checked it before getting his sons; no clues had been there. Besides, he didn't want her body left for display.
Looking at the bed, the maroon covers were untouched, still made as if the victim hadn't even lain in it the night before.
The candle still had smoke emitting in fine tendrils, having burnt out some time that morning, still refusing to be forgotten.
Blood was only found in the area the body had been, in one small puddle of crimson that would soon be cleaned by some unfortunate maid when they finished. The blood was to be found nowhere else, no weapon or anything left behind to connect to the mysterious killer of blonde elves.
Bringing his wearied gaze to the balcony, he found the curtains blowing listlessly with the would-be calming breeze if not for the situation. That, too, hadn't been changed. The balcony doors had been wide open upon first entering the chambers.
He figured that, either the maiden had been enjoying the fresh air, or the assailant had entered though there and that she had had no time to close the doors.
The killer could also just be getting cocky and was mocking them now, showing that he could give things away, like his point of entry, and they still would have no idea.
The best bet was that the mad elf had gotten into the victim's chambers through the balcony.
Did that mean that that was what he had done the in the other cases as well…? The other victims' chambers had balconies too, so it was possible. They had, of course, already taken this into consideration, but nothing had turned up before. There had been no evidence. He didn't know what to think anymore.
Repressing a growl of frustration, he walked onto the balcony.
Here, Legolas and Aragorn now stood, overlooking the railing, down at the twins who had decided they should check outside.
"Anything?" Elrond asked, feigning calmness.
Surprisingly, both friends jumped at the sound.
"It is not wise for you to be so unaware, especially you, Legolas," he warned.
The archer nodded solemnly.
"Have you found anything?" the elf-lord reiterated the forgotten question.
Both shook their heads sadly, the weariness of all this easily seen in their features.
"I do not understand how he can continue to kill and leave no traces," the blonde suddenly said puzzled.
Silence answered his question.
The three (the twins were still outside) continued to search the chambers for any signs, scuffs on the railing, something knocked over, anything to show of the ghostly murderer.
Elrond had sent Elendur to strengthen the warriors' defenses, to heighten their protection and to have some posted at the balconies. He knew they hadn't been slacking, for they wouldn't dare, especially not under the circumstances, but he needed to make sure there were no more deaths.
He was going to inspect every victim's chambers and balconies again… dragging Legolas and his sons with him, though they would probably want to go with. He had to be sure he hadn't missed anything and perhaps one of them would see something he hadn't noticed.
"Have they found anything?" the elder elf asked the two friends, who had been speaking to Elladan and Elrohir.
"Not yet," Aragorn answered with a sigh.
Elrond echoed the sigh. Then he went back into the chambers, hoping that another look would turn something up.
After a very thorough search, nothing was found, not one hint. Legolas and Aragorn were also empty-handed.
"Ada!" the twins suddenly shouted, startling the three inside.
Elrond, Aragorn and Legolas flew to the balcony to look below.
Each let out a breath of relief when they saw that neither was being attacked. In fact, it seemed like they were excited about something.
"Come down here!" the elder twin yelled while the younger inspected something he held in his hands.
Legolas and Aragorn pushed off the railing and ran out of the chambers; down to Elladan and Elrohir. Elrond was not far behind.
Once they got there they were breathing heavily, mostly from anticipation.
"What is it?" Legolas quickly asked. He had been the first one there.
"This," Elrohir stated, opening his hand.
In the hand was a small silver chain with a white and sapphire gem hanging from it; silver lined the delicate piece, making intricate designs.
"Where did you find it?" Elrond queried, looking at the necklace in a mixture of awe and disbelief. This could be the thing they were looking for.
"On that tree," the younger twin answered, pointing below the balcony to the left.
Elrond picked the necklace up, letting it dangle on a couple fingers as he examined it closely. After a moment, he asked, "Whose is it?"
"No idea," the twins both replied.
"It looks familiar," Legolas said slowly as he tried to recall. Aragorn agreed with him, but neither could place it.
Elrond suddenly looked up with wide eyes at Legolas.
"What's wrong? Do you know whose it is?" the blonde inquired worriedly, the look the elder elf gave him looked almost fearful.
"If you think you have seen it before then its owner knows you…"
Well, there you have it: the second chapter. Woohoo. -.- I hope you all enjoyed it. Let me know, alright? I'm very interested in knowing what you all think. I hope I did not disappoint and that the wait was worth it. n.n;;
But… yeah. The next chapter should be out fairly quickly. This week some time for sure. Already have it written, just need to type it up, which shouldn't be a problem. I have Mid-Winter Break right now, also known as An-excuse-for-teachers-to-get-away-from-students-for-a-week Break, (XDD) so I have plenty of time.
Yup, sick again, so we shall see how well writing the next chapter goes. I have through four written already, btw. I wrote quite a bit on the plane and the ship so… yeah. No worries. n.n Not that it wasn't fun, just that, when you need to write, you need to write. XD;;
Don't forget to let me know what you think and thanks for reading. n.n
Ja ne