Disclaimer: See Prologue
Warning: Fluffy chapter. Don't read too much into it. The sparks are only beginning to kindle.
And to those of you who asked, YES she will get to middle-earth... eventually. I'm not saying when. -
Chapter 3
Foolish Confessions
"I have never tasted such delicacies before..." the prince admitted as he finished his scrambled eggs and bacon.
Kate smiled at him over the rim of her glass of orange juice.
The elf was absolutely fascinated about everything around him, now that he knew she was not an enemy. She had introduced him to electricity, and certain appliances in the kitchen. The phone had puzzled him at first, and he had exclaimed that it was some device of sorcery, unsheathing his long knife to ruin it. It took much coaxing and pleading, but he soon agreed not to destroy it.
She explained to him about the television as they made their way to the living room after breakfast.
"So, it is a Palantir?" he asked, his agile fingers sweeping across the blank screen. His bright blue eyes were alight with wonder.
"No - I mean, nay. It is not a Palantir. I suppose it is like one, except it is not evil. It was invented for entertainment." she explained, sitting upon the couch opposite, and watching him.
He soon stood up from before the television, and sat down beside her at ease. She had thought that he still would be wary of her, and avoid as much contact as possible. But apparently...
He turned to look at her, a warm smile upon his lips. Her heart fluttered madly when he touched her hand.
She slid her hand out from under his, and placed it upon her lap, earning a hurt look from him. Kate shook her head slightly. "You know not how you affect me." she said slowly.
He lost the look of hurt, for an expression of confused curiosity. "Will you at last explain to me?"
"You would think me a fool." she whispered, feeling his gaze upon her. She raised her eyes slightly, to see him staring straight at her. There was so much in those eyes of his... So much confusion... Compassion... Worry... Affection...? Nay, she had not seen that there...
His pale lips were in a slight frown. And how she longed to kiss them, and turn the lips upward in a joyous grin. Wait, I did not just say that! She scolded herself mentally.
"I would not think you a fool. Tell me, please." he asked, his voice holding a pleading note.
"Prince Legolas-" she began desperately, but was interrupted.
"Call me by name, not title."
She lowered her gaze again and nodded. "As you wish."
"It was a request. I will never command you to do anything. You are not my subject; I have no control over you. But, I would dearly like you to explain to me why I... affect you so." he said calmly, taking her hand again, and then caressing it gently with his thumb, sending shivers up her arms.
She closed her eye, feeling goosebumps erupt on her pale skin. "It's just that... Well, when you..." she stammered. She took a deep breathe to calm herself. "When you touch me, or look at me with a certain gaze, it sends my heart into a frenzy. I cannot control my emotions. My breath comes short, and I feel as though I am floating. I feel almost... almost sinful."
She looked to him to see his reaction. He was smiling again, his blue eyes sparkling with unrestrained amusement at her confession.
"And now you think me a fool..." she sighed in embarrassment, getting up quickly to hide in her room. She felt like such a child, speaking to him like this; spilling her emotions onto him.
He did not let go of her hand, but pulled her sharply back, deftly sticking out his leg so that she tripped and fell into his arms, facing upwards to him. He grinned as she stared up at him with a slightly open mouth, shocked that he would do such a scandalous thing.
"You mean, when I touch you like this:" He caressed the side of her smooth face. She shivered, closing her eyes, and barely nodded. "And, this..." He bent close to her, his nose gently rubbing against hers in the way of a lover, causing her to gasp.
To her, he smelled like a pine forest mingled with flowers. His touch was setting fire in her blood. She wouldn't be able to stop herself much longer...
"And, I dearly wonder what would happen if..." He placed a finger under her chin, tilting her head up and closer to him. Her eyes remained closed as her head unconsciously followed the direction it was pushed. His breath caressed her face like a soft breeze the nearer he came. His lips... His pale, beautiful, soft lips descended upon hers in a kiss so soft and gentle, it was as though hers had been caressed by the silkiest petals of a rose. He pulled her closer, one hand resting on the small of her back; holding her up, and the other behind her neck, caressing her soft skin.
She moaned aloud. He was weaving that trance upon her with his touch again... Oh sweet lord, she thought, please let him kiss me again... Gods above! What was she doing! She pulled away from him fiercely, falling onto the floor with a soft thud.
He looked at her with worry, and bent down to help her back up. She pushed his arms none to gently away, getting up by herself. "Please, just let me be..." she whispered, taking to the stairs and running up them till she reached her room. After closing the door with a soft slam, she fell onto her bed, tears cascading down her cheeks.
How could he do that to her? How could he lead her on like that? As though he actually cared for her? She cried even more when she realized that she hadn't really wanted the kiss to end, realized that she had wanted his lips upon hers again.
Legolas stared after her as she ran up the stairs, tears falling down her face. He took a step forward to go and comfort her, but stopped. He realized what he had done, and felt even more guilty. He had made her very uncomfortable... How could he have forgotten what the elven touch can do to people; how they could so easily seduce others? But he didn't want her to think his intentions were vile... He had truly wanted to kiss her. And he'd enjoyed every second of that kiss too.
He sighed deeply, dejectedly, and made for the stairs. He was going to make her see that he was sorry, no matter how much it took.
Legolas knocked on her door, but recieved no answer. After the third try, he gave up, and opened it slowly, peering around.
Apparently, she had cried herself to sleep, and was now lying upon the bed, breathing deeply. Her dark gold hair was tousled, covering her face. He stepped closer to her, knowing that she would not hear his light footfalls. Sitting down beside her on the edge of the bed, he reached out and carefully pulled back the strands that obscured her pale tear-stained face. The moment his fingers brushed over her skin, she jerked in her sleep.
"Mama!" she cried, real tears slipping out from under her eyes. She reached out into the air, as though groping for something.
Tentatively, Legolas reached out and let her grasp his own hand, her long fingers curling around his much larger hand in a shaking grip. She was scared.
"Don't hurt mama!" she sobbed, writhing. "Leave her alone daddy! Please!"
She squirmed as though trying to get to something. Legolas held both her hands now. He pulled her up into his lap as she cried and screamed in her nightmares.
"Shh..." he soothed, kissing her cheek. She was like a child in his arms. But was she a child in his eyes? "Wake from you fears, penneth." (little one) he whispered, a hand running through her hair.
She continued to writhe, screaming and crying like she was being murdered. He couldn't stand to see her like this! He needed to change her dreams before she hurt herself.
Legolas laid a hand over her eyes and concentrated hard upon her inner being, looking for her dreams...
As he tried to place happier dreams and thoughts there, he was being sucked into the nightmare...
He found himself standing beside a cowering girl, who was looking at a man before the fire in fright. Legolas turned to follow where her gaze fell, and saw the man from the pictures in the house. It was her father.
A woman lay upon the floor in front of the young Katherine, apparently knocked unconscious. Legolas could only guess that this was her mother, and that she had been hurt while trying to protect her daughter.
She looked so... ageless. And she was so beautiful too... Legolas could have sworn to the Valar that this woman was an elf. And yet, something different. A half elf? No, she was much too attractive to only be half an Eldar... But her rounded ears quashed his speculations. Her long golden hair so much like her daughter's, was stained with dots of blood from a deep gash above her brow. Tall, long and lithe limbs clad in green, creamy skin unmarred by scars.
But her father... He had straight white hair that fell just below his shoulders. His dark, cold grey eyes were fixed upon the cowering girl before him. He was quite tall, and had a strong build. His face was not deeply lined with age, yet was sternly carved and weathered to that of a middle-aged mortal. (A/N: Think Lucius Malfoy from the movies) He reached out toward the girl, and Legolas saw the blackened mark on his hand. It had obviously been there a long time.
Her father was holding a long prod, or brander. He slowly approached her, still holding the glowing red metal, which was twisted into the shape of the eye of Sauron. It radiated with immense heat, steam issuing from the end. She cowered back farther in fear.
Legolas stepped forward in front of the small child who was no older than ten, to protect the one he knew was asleep and dreaming. But the man just walked right through him, still advancing on the girl. Legolas watched in horror as he dragged her to her knees, forcing one struggling arm behind her back with a crack that told the elf it had broken. The other arm he held out at length.
She was crying now. "Please daddy, no... Let me go..." she sobbed.
But the man apparently paid no heed. For, with an insanely evil grin, he pressed the brand against the back of her hand, burning the flesh. She let out a terrible scream that nearly tore the prince's heart out. He could almost smell her fair flesh as it was burned...
"Now you know who you belong to..." he hissed, pulling the brand away, leaving an angry red burn. He threw her down against the hard cold floor beside her mother. She fell unconscious immediately.
As he tried to move toward the unconscious girl, Legolas suddenly felt like he was being forcefully pulled away. His sight was clouded in inky blackness. Then suddenly, his vision was restored to the room where he had been sitting. He was still holding her, and she was still fast asleep, the tears streaming down her face.
Legolas held her closer, as though he could protect her from the evil in her dreams...
