(A/N: IMPORTANT! Katherine has only seen the movies, and has never read any of Tolkien's books! If she had, it would interfere greatly with the story!)
DISCLAIMER: See Prologue.
Words in italics are thoughts.
Chapter 2
A Remorseful Explanation
She stared at him in utter disbelief... "Y-Your name is... Legolas?" she asked, the name sounding very foreign coming from her mouth.
He nodded.
"As in, Prince Legolas?"
Another nod.
"As in, Prince Legolas, the fictional character from a story?"
She recieved no nod, only a confused look.
"I do not understand." he said slowly, his navy eyes lightening to a sky-blue.
Realizing what she might have just done, she frantically shook her head. "Forget what I said. I must still be shocked." Her gaze came to rest on his eyes, and she stared long at him. "Are you going to try and kill me again?" she asked in a whisper.
His expression of remorse fell upon his fair face again, and he shook his head, lowering his eyes. "Nay, my lady. I pray to the Valar that you will forgive me for what I have done to you. For I now realize that you are not the one I sought."
Katherine fixed him with a gaze of confusion and curiosity. "Will you please explain to me why you meant to kill me?"
His eyes bored into her own, as though he was reading her mind again. She looked down, breaking eye contact. He let out a small sigh. "I suppose it begins with my mother, Lothiriel's, death. She had been murdered; her throat slashed-"
"Prince Legolas," she interjected, "You do not have to tell me. This is a painful subject, and I know from experience. You do not have to put yourself through pain just to explain to me."
Legolas smiled slightly at her compassion. He slowly sat down on the bed again, causing her to flinch, and move back to her spot on the farthest corner. "I will not harm you again, I swear..." he whispered. "And I do owe you an explanation. I nearly took your innocent life because of my foolishness and unbridled anger." He held out his hand, gesturing for her to take it.
With a trembling pale hand, she slowly placed hers in his. He enclosed it gently, pulling her closer. With great reluctance, she moved to the point where they were hardly a foot away. He obviously was not overly modest when it came to, what she thought of, intimate contact.
"One of the guards had seen the murderer running away." he began again, "Though they were clothed and shrouded in black, the elf managed to note that they had a marking of the Eye of Sauron on their hand; like your own. Many centuries later, a very wise confidant tells me where I can find my mother's killer. He sends me here, saying that this is where the murderer resides. You were the only one here..."
Kate's eye seemed to widen slightly as his story unfolded. She had never known what the burn signified... "I am not the only one with the mark..." she whispered, "My bastard father has it too..."
Legolas nodded, his eyes becoming darker again as he remembered the memories he had seen of her father. "Where is he now?" he asked quickly, the anger slowly returning.
She looked up at him, her own eyes glazing over. "I-I don't know. And if I did, I would kill him before you could." she said fiercely.
"What hath he done to deserve you dealing his death?" Legolas asked. He was anxious to know about his mother's killer. His weaknesses. His faults. His frailties. His fears.
"He murdered my own mother." she spat, fighting tears. "And many other reasons besides..." She didn't want to sob in front of this stranger; who looked like he had never shed a tear in his life. No matter how much she wanted to, she would bite back her grief and hold her head high...
He saw the look of restraint in her eyes, and felt compassionate. "Sometimes..." he said, his tone returning to a soft whisper, he reached out slowly and wiped away the tears that had escaped her hazel eyes. He ignored her flinch. "It is alright to cry... It is an outlet for our pain... And there is no reason to feel ashamed of it."
"I don't want to cry in front of you." she admitted. Oh, how she wanted him to touch her cheek again. It was as though he wove a spell upon her. His gentle, soft, silk-like hands left her skin burning for more. She came to herself, pushing the comforting hands away. "Please, don't do that again..." she gasped.
"Why?" he asked, real confusion in his voice.
"Because... er... it, makes me feel uncomfortable." she said, trying to back away from him. But he gently enclosed his hand around her wrist, keeping her where she was.
"What do you mean?" Legolas asked, not knowing the effects of his touch and voice on the mortal.
"Y-Your touch... it, makes me feel... emotions that I do not care to feel." she stammered, deftly trying to free her wrist.
"How is that?" he asked, feeling her hand try to escape his grip. He didn't realize he was steering into dangerous waters, continuing to press her for answers about this topic.
"I don't know!" she shouted angrily. "Just stop! Please! A few moments ago you held a blade to my throat! Do not expect me to fall sobbing into your arms just because of a few compassionate words and a soft touch!"
He released her hand slowly, letting it slip through his fingers like water. "I am sorry, milady, for making you uncomfortable..." he said sincerely. "And no, I don't expect you to trust me after I... after I treated you that way."
The innocence in his voice and face made her hardening heart begin to melt. "You need not address me with such formality." Kate said, not used to being called 'milady' as often as he used the term. "I have not earned your chivalry."
He smiled at her, making her heart flutter wildly again. Damn that smile... she thought savagely. My God! He isn't even trying to take advantage of me! Does he know how much he affects me? Or is it an accident?
"Do you want me to leave?" he asked, staring at her with that same smile.
Kate shook her head to clear out her thoughts. "Pardon?" she asked breathlessly.
"I asked if you would like me to leave. Seeing as how it is morning, I assumed you would like to change yourself out of that... rather alluring, nightdress." he said, saying the last bit with difficulty. The tight black silk nightdress was cut just above the tops of her breasts, and revealed too much skin for her comfort at the moment.
"Oh!" she suddenly pulled the blankets up to her chin. "Yes, I would very much like to change..."
He smiled again, standing up, and walking out of the room, closing the door behind him to ensure her privacy.
She quickly threw off the covers, and rushed to her closet. Dressing in light blue jeans and a soft, grey, long-sleeved shirt, she scolded herself for not realizing her attire earlier. He must think me some kind of harlot for dressing so scantily.
When she opened the door, it was to find him leaning his back against the balustrade, and staring at family pictures on the wall. He turned to look at her, and greeted her with the same dazzling grin. "You look very nice." he complimented.
She returned the grin. "Well, it's not as though I'd expect you to say anything else."
His eyes moved to her neck, and he frowned. "You're bleeding again..."
She raised a hand to her neck, and sure enough, there was blood slowly trickling from the fresh wound. "Oh..." she took to the wide stairs, him following closely, gazing around at everything he saw. His eyes were wide, like a child's on Christmas morning.
She entered one of the very large bathrooms downstairs, and pulled out a thing of gauze and tape from one of the cabinets. She began to wrap the gauze around the cut, but had difficulty because her hair was getting in the way.
As soon as Legolas entered the room however, he immediately helped.
"Here, let me milady." he offered, taking the gauze from her hands without waiting for her permission.
"What did I say about you calling me that?" she asked as she pulled up her hair.
His eyes sparkled, and he chuckled slightly, but did not say anything.
He carefully wrapped the gauze around her neck with such care, one would have thought he was afraid he might break her.
Once he finished, she turned to him, a small smile evident on her still pale face. "Thank you."
"It is the least I can do..." he answered, taking one of her hands, and placing a light kiss on it.
"Are you like this with all women? Or just me?" she asked, feeling her hand burn where his lips had touched it.
"I have not falsely accused most women of murder, and almost killed them. I want to make up for my mistakes." Legolas said, not realizing that he hadn't let go of her hand.
His touch was burning her again, making her heart beat faster.
She shook her head once again, as though it would clear it of the desirous thoughts. "Come. Let me make you some breakfast..."
