"..Eleniel…Eleniel…Asta Eleniel!" There were so many voices around me that I could hardly focus, blinking in confusion as I slowly began to regain my senses. For a while my mind was foggy, uncertain of where I was or what I was doing, however when I looked down towards my hand I found I was holding a sharpened knife with a tight grip whilst someone restrained me with a locked grip that kept me from swinging the blade too wildly.
"What is happening? Why am I holding a knife?" I questioned in bewilderment, snapping awake as I swiftly dropped the weapon, never having held one before. "Legolas?"
"It is alright Asta, be calm." He guided as he hushed into my ear, loosening his grip to then embrace me from behind as he lowered his stance, engulfing me completely. "You were having a vision, however this time you seemed to be fighting that which you have been seeing. You picked up a knife and attacked anyone who came near you." Legolas informed me and I gasped, hands jumping to my mouth in horror as I looked around, seeing several guards and one or two attendants who were pressed back into the wall of my room.
"I am deeply sorry, I apologise from the bottom of my heart! I meant no harm, I never intended any harm, I do not know why this happened, please forgive me." I immediately apologised just as Thranduil came striding into the room. He glanced around before coming to my side, seeing my distraught expression as I began to sniffle, tears sliding down my face as I threw my arms around him. "Ada! What is happening to me? Am I losing my mind?" I questioned him, deeply disturbed by what had transpired.
Around the room I could see that I had smashed several items, including the mirror that stood upon my dressing table. It appeared I had put up an intense fight if Legolas had had to restrain me physically, it was a terrifying thought. "Hush my child, everything will be alright." Thranduil murmured, his arms winding around me to pull me against his firm chest where I buried away my fears and allowed his warmth to comfort me. "Just rest for now and leave everything to me." He guided, drawing me back to my bed where I was placed down on the covers and after a soft and musical whisper, I found myself being sent back to sleep almost as if he had simply reached out and closed my eyes shut.
If I dreamed I was not aware of it and come morning, I found myself nestled in a tangled mess of my covers and blankets, opening my eyes to see Legolas sitting in the chair in the corner of my room. "Father requested I stay to watch over you." He told me gently the moment he saw that I was awake. "You frightened me last night Asta, you looked truly terrified for your life as you wielded that blade."
"I am sorry." I whispered, pushing myself up and rubbing my eyes as I blinked myself awake. "This has never happened before."
"Do not let it frighten you. No one was injured, so we shall let it pass and learn from this incident." Legolas informed me, rising up and coming to sit upon the bed where I naturally lay my head down upon his lap as he expected me too, his hand coming up to brush through my hair. "I gave you my word I would protect you, and I shall, little starling."
"I do not wish to hurt others, Legolas." I whispered to him with a tenseness to my voice as I stared off into space. "These visions, why do they come to me? I pray every day for the Valar to take them away but they do not. If I had never had these visions, my mother would still be alive and I would not now be endangering the lives of others."
"Perhaps, but then you and I may not have ever met, and that is a fate I refuse to accept." His soft words made me turn to look at him, seeing his smile which brought an infinite number of memories of that same smile being sent my way. "Think of these visions as a gift rather than a curse, Asta. Perhaps with a different perception things might change for the better." His suggestion was wise but I doubted that it would work. Whether I saw them as a gift or a curse, the fact remains that they caused harm to others more often than they brought any good. I may not know much about these visions despite having them for many years now, but I knew well enough that this was only the beginning and my life was going to become increasingly more difficult from now on. More than that, I did not know if those closest to me were even safe. Bringing harm to Legolas or Thranduil was inconceivable, a chance that I was not willing to take. "Starling?"
"You must promise to protect yourself, Legolas, even from me." I told him quietly, turning my head away again as his fingers combed smoothly through my hair. "If you were to be injured or harmed in any way because of me, then I shall never forgive myself. You and ada are all I have left in this world, all that truly care for me. If I lost either or both of you, then I too shall be lost and I would fade away in mourning and grief." Legolas gripped my shoulder securely in his urgency which rang clear in his voice.
"Do not say such things, Asta. I am not likely to be harmed by one such delicate flower such as you, I have already proven that have I not?" I could not help but chuckle softly. It was true, I was so gentle and careful that I could not even bring myself to bend a single blade of grass without feeling guilt. All the same, I could not help but feel weighed down by the occurrence of my violent reaction to the vision. Sensing my distress Legolas gave my shoulder a little shake, making me turn to look up at him. "Come, let us find a way to return your smile, little starling." He announced before gathering me up in his powerful arms, twirling me around before placing me on my feet.
"Where are we going Legolas?" I questioned as he drew me by the hand away from my room but he only gave me a bright grin, playfully guiding me along behind him before I realised that he was taking me outside of the city and into the woods. We raced past the city guards who stood before the gates, crossing the bridge before disappearing into the wilderness, my light feet beginning to overtake Legolas as I streaked ahead, my smile once more returning as the familiar sights, sounds and smells of my home forest washed over me.
Legolas did not allow me to go far however he watched over me diligently as I danced and skipped through the trees, finding my animal friends and lifting my hand to extend my fingers towards the trees, allowing some of the birds to land upon the perch I offered them as little fawns hopped closer on unsteady legs, their mothers approaching with an agile grace that made me feel warm and bright on the inside as their wet muzzles brushed against my hair to breathe in my scent. Here I was comfortable and at peace, the animals gathering at my singsong call and I reached into my pockets to draw out nuts and berries that I always carried with me.
When a vixen appeared with her brood they scampered around, yipping loudly and I giggled as I lowered myself to the ground, stroking their fur as they clambered all over me with muddy paw prints, dirtying my dress but I was so often covered in mud, dust and had leaves protruding from my hair that it had become part of my general image. My female attendants have long since abandoned all hope for me to stay clean longer than a few hours and I told them not to bother replacing my clothes as I always tore the hems and sleeves from climbing so much.
As a young bird fluttered into my palm I stroked its feathered breast, cooing softly as it chirped, pecking at a few of the seeds I held there as Legolas stayed a little further off, not wanting to intrude. The animals were good friends of mine and they seemed to enjoy my company, possibly because I often had food for them. "Asta." Legolas spoke after a while so I looked up towards him, noticing that it was beginning to grow dark. "Come, the patrols are changing and you should be inside before dusk." He said so I nodded my head, whispering a few last words to the animals before I rose up, carefully placing the hedgehog that had curled up into my lap back on the ground for him to waddle away.
"Chase me Legolas! See if you can catch me!" I challenged with a laugh as I sprung to my feet with a rush of energy and Legolas chuckled, spreading his hands to try and block me from running away but I effortlessly danced under him, springing away like a fair footed deer and Legolas had no choice but to give chase. Soon I had disappeared into the thick underbrush of the forest, heading directly back for home as I knew that I would easily return there first, however as my hand brushed against the sticky sap of a tree, my entire body froze in place and my eyes faded into milky whiteness.
The vision was mysterious and haunting, causing me to turn slowly and walk away from the path that would take me home. I could see myself walking through ancient dwarfish halls, magnificently built and regal with the ancient stones weighed with their longevity and age. Warm torches flickered as I walked down the hall and across a bridge as I followed after a thrush, the soft wings fluttering as it led me on a chase through the dwarf halls of a place I did not know. My hand reached outwards to try and summon it, my voice calling softly but it cheekily continued to flit just out of reach, making me laugh as I chased it until suddenly the vision disappeared. Blinking myself awake I found myself standing in a part of the forest I did not recognise. Not only that but I was standing at the very edge of a tree branch that dipped towards the river, making me cry out in alarm and stumble backwards however it swayed and dipped dangerously, making me struggle to regain my balance though my arms flailed wildly.
"Legolas!" I cried out instinctively, trying to call him to me as my foot slipped and I screeched, plummeting downwards and my feet hit the water as my arms wrapped themselves awkwardly around the branch, desperately trying to cling on. "Legolas!" My voice carried and I heard a disturbance in the trees so I looked up, my fearful expression watching as several shapes dropped down from above.
"My lady!" It was a patrol, three archers quickly moving towards me as one gracefully crossed the branch and reached me without so much as disturbing its balance, his hands reaching down to draw me back up from the water as I shivered, both my slippers now lost to the torrential waters. "My lady are you injured? Why would you wander onto such an unstable branch like this?" He questioned though his tone was soft and full of concern rather than reprimand, his arms wrapped around me as he carried me effortlessly from the branch and lowered me to the ground to recover whilst I gasped in panic as another vision returned.
All I saw were huge jaws, snarling and wide as they snapped shut to engulf me in darkness. "Look out!" I cried, hand flying towards the direction that the wargs and riders would appear. They were returning from a scouting mission further into the forest to the infested parts which they controlled in the south. Without hesitation the three archers turned their arrows towards where I pointed and sure enough, we could hear the wargs and riders running straight for us, eerily silent as they approached until soon our eyes picked up upon their movements. Had the archers continued to be distracted by my distress, we would have not known them to be here until their arrows pierced us.
With trained precision the archers formed a ring around me as I lay on the ground, holding my breath as they shot down the wargs and their riders but they continued to approach, some arrows missing their mark due to shields or trees obscuring their targets. The forest was too dense, it was hardly ideal for a battle so the archers made a quick decision. "Come Lady Asta, follow us." The one who had pulled me from the tree ordered and suddenly I was being pulled to my feet and made to run with the scouting pack hot on our heels. Using the forest now to our advantage we raced up a tree trunk that had fallen partially over, climbing up into the trees and I began to run on my own as I found my own balance and had recovered enough from the shock in order to continue by myself, easily keeping pace with the archers as they leaped and fired, taking the remaining pack down one by one as they hunted us. I could hear their shrill shrieks and the hungered pants of the wargs, hot breath foul smelling and I felt nothing but blind fear as I ran for my life.
Considering our lightness of foot it was almost effortless to jump from branch to branch, the wargs and orcs riding beneath us as they fired their arrows up at us. They were coming dangerously close and one flew so near to me that I could feel the tickle of the black plumage as it brushed against my cheek, the arrowhead barely missing flesh. "Keep running my lady." They were so calm and at ease, continually forming a circle around me to keep me protected and when we reached a jump that was too far for me to manage alone, the two behind me politely grasped me under the arms and jumped, carrying me with them.
For a moment my heart stopped in my chest and leaped to my throat, watching as below one of the wargs leaped up and tried to snap its jaws around my foot but I snatched it upwards, barely avoiding it. Ahead the archer who had first saved me fired another arrow, striking down one of the orcs but the warg continued to run along with the pack and an arrow flew straight towards him, striking through his leg and I screeched in terror as the archer cried out, stumbling. "Save him!" I ordered without thinking and the two that ran with me took another leap, one of them managing to catch his fellow's arm and keep him above in the trees as the other rapidly fired off arrows.
I was so useless, there was nothing I could do except scramble to get higher into the trees. "Climb, all of you! Climb up, signal the others now!" At my command the horn was sounded, signalling an emergency and any nearby patrols would be able to hear it. Legolas must be nearby, I could not have wandered too far from him after all. Breathing heavily I reached down and did my best to help pull the wounded archer higher into the trees, the wargs now surrounding us with furious snarls and barks, the orcs firing arrows and I flinched as one flew between us. "Stay still, allow me to help with the bleeding." I whispered, my hands trembling as I ripped up my skirts despite the archer's protests and used it to stop the blood flow in his leg, tightly securing the wound for him.
"My lady we cannot stay here, they will pick us off one by one." I was informed and I looked at them each in turn. They were seasoned warriors and archers, meaning that their wisdom was far better than mine so I trusted their opinion over my fearful want to simply remain hidden up here in the treetops. "We should continue moving."
"Can we carry him?" I questioned and the other two paused, glancing to one another and I read their expression clearly. "Then we must draw them away from him." I decided firmly, checking to make sure that the bleeding had lessened as more arrows rained towards us, embedding in the bark as harsh insults were flung at us from below. They would start attempting to climb the tree any moment now, we had to draw their attention away. "Are you still able to shoot?" I questioned and the wounded archer gave a heavy smile, nodding his head as he drew his bow and drew himself up ready to fire. Much to my surprise, I felt myself gradually calming as I quickly formulated my plan. "We all split off, draw their attention in multiple directions. I shall go to that tree over there where it is more sheltered, from there you should be able to shoot them with relative ease as there is less foliage." I began and they made to protest but I shook my hand. "I shall be alright. Now go!"
Before they could argue I sprung to my feet and darted across the tree, stretching my arm for balance and the flash of white from my dress caught the attention of the wargs who growled before howling, signalling to the others whilst the orcs saw the other two jump away. "After the maggots! Stick them until they bleed!" I shuddered at the crude voice, barely able to keep myself from shaking as I lunged for the safety of a tall oak tree which I then began to ascend, pulling myself high into the branches before concealing myself away. "Shoot the filthy she-elf, kill it!" With wide eyes I stole a final breath as my eyes watched the arrows come flying straight towards me, leaving me no time to blink or even move out of the way as I had nowhere else to go. Perhaps it was a mistake, this was my mistake but at least the others might be safe. Legolas, where are you?
As if sent by heavenly design his form dropped down from above with a clean sweep of his twin blades he sliced through the arrow shafts and cut them down as he stood before me, shielding me with his own body as he then traded for his bow and fired with an angered rage, more elves dropping down to surround and completely overcome the pack that had hunted us. "Legolas!" With the orcs and their beasts dead within moments Legolas whirled around to face me as I reached up for him, feeling his hands grasp my arms to lift me up close to him.
"Asta, thank Valar." He murmured into my hair, exhaling with relief as I gripped onto him tightly, still shaking from fear. "I came the moment I heard your voice, forgive me for not coming sooner, little starling." Hearing his voice was more than enough comfort for the trembling to stop, though as his hand rubbed small circles into my back I felt myself go lax against him. "Where did you run to? I lost you Asta, you ran too far from the trail."
"I…I had another vision. I knew not where I was going too." I admitted sheepishly, refusing to let go of Legolas as the others helped the injured archer down from the tree to tend to his wound as the reports were handed in. "I started to walk away and I almost fell from a branch into the river, but the three archers over there rescued me. Before we could leave, I saw another vision which forewarned me of the hunting pack, so we ran. Please do not be angry Legolas, I meant no harm, truly I did not. I am sorry for all the trouble I have caused! I shall stay within the safety of our home from now on, you have my word." I pleaded with him however his warm lips brushed against my head, reassuring me softly.
"I am not angry with you starling. We must return now, father will be worried for you." And with that Legolas swept me off my feet and easily descended to the ground, carrying me with him until he could place me back upon my feet. I was silent all the while we returned home and did not lift my head as Legolas reported all that had happened to Thranduil. He ascertained that I was alright before addressing the three archers that knelt before him, heads bowed deeply and I pleaded that they be rewarded for their bravery and he agreed, allowing them leave to visit their families for a while before dismissing them.
After that day, everything changed in my life. I was uprooted from my room and placed somewhere closer to Thranduil where I was then kept under his constant supervision, never allowing me out of his sight. Sometimes I would even end up resting near to him where I appeared to have less violent fits of my visions, his soothing voice and stoic presence seemingly calming me. It was forbidden for me to leave the city and I felt like a caged little bird, gazing longingly to the outside world which seemed vastly open and free. I was never allowed to be alone, always having someone to follow me and keep me from harm, but it began to choke me, almost starve me as I was constantly on edge with the fear that something was going to happen. It was just like before, eyes watching me with cautiousness and distance, keeping themselves apart from me but in turn, this only drew me closer to Thranduil. He looked upon me as his daughter, I knew that, yet I did my best not to stifle him too, keeping my distance from time to time even though all I wanted was to be small and insignificant once more so that I might bury myself within his robes like a blanket and disappear from sight.
