This story is rated M for a reason - mature content in this chapter.
Disclaimer: See prologue.
Chapter 5
The Greatest Crime
Legolas watched Katherine with curiosity as she set all her attention on her 'homework', as she called it. She had flat out refused to let him attend with her, leaving him alone in the large house for at least seven hours a day.
His hands were occupied with sharpening his blades, of which had begun to dull during his lessons with her.
She was not exactly the best fighter, but she could at least hold her own. Kate was far better with his long knives than she was with his extravagant Mirkwood bow.
She gave a small growl, crumpling up a sixth piece of paper, and hurling it across the room with the rest. Her forehead now rested upon her open Anatomy book.
"What ails you?" he asked, sheathing his knives, and now looking at her with concern. "Are you ill?"
"Nay..." came her muffled answer, her head remaining where it was.
"You are stressed then?" he continued, thinking that the problem might stem from this 'school' place that she attended. She didn't seem to like it at all. Apparently, it was the people there that bothered her, not the subjects she had to study.
She gave a small groan. "...perhaps..."
"You are not being very specific, young one. What is it that causes you such distress?" he asked, getting up from his seat at the table, and kneeling down next to her.
"Tis none of your concern, and nor should you trouble yourself over it..." the girl answered shortly.
"I shouldn't, but that does not mean that I am not going to..." he said. "Look at me, tell me what is wrong." he asked of her.
"Legolas, please..." she began, slowly raising her head off the thick book, and rubbing her red forhead. "Don't worry about me..." She turned her head to look at him, as he had requested.
Legolas saw that her eyes had begun to redden, as though with tears. As he thought this, a small drop of moisture fell upon his hands.
"Why do you shed these tears?" he asked, genuine worry and compassion in his voice.
He had become quite attached to her over the past week. Yes, she was mortal, but she had a certain aura about her that made her oddly unique and alluring. He was shocked to find himself having such emotions for one of her kind. Perhaps friendship. The only other mortal he shared such ease with was Estel, and even they were not that close.
Kate raised her hand to her eyes, feigning as if to rub sleep from them. "I do not cry." she stated coldly.
"Katherine," he began again, but was interrupted by a sharp knock on the front door.
"Stay here, please..." she requested lazily, getting up from her chair and going quickly to the door.
Legolas stood up, watching her go. She was indeed very distressed, and it was hard for him to ignore. He didn't want to ignore it either.
Curiosity getting the better of him, he silently made his way out of the kitchen, and towards the foyer. Peering around the doorframe, he saw her standing by the front doorway, one hand upon the door. She was speaking to a boy of her age, who was not that bad in looks. His short, dark blonde hair hung elegantly in his olive green eyes, which had a pleading and almost sympathetic look in them. He was taller than her too, and as muscular as the elf that eavesdropped.
"I told you," Kate spat at him, "There is no way in Hell I would consider it!"
The teen placed his arms on either side of the doorframe, making him look bold. "You've gone through a hard time. I just wanna' make you feel better." he said with innocence that Legolas knew was not at all sincere.
"You want to do more than that! Don't you dare think that I am some simple-minded slut like the rest of your tramp girlfriends." she yelled at him, failing to close the door on him. He held it at bay, a fire burning in his eyes.
"Don't deny me what I want, Kate... You're all alone with no one to protect you. If you force me to take what I desire, you won't like it very much..." he said in a husky whisper, his eyes glaring at her.
"Don't make me call the cops, because your parents wouldn't like that very much either..." Kate hissed at him.
"You'd be on the floor before you could reach the phone bitch..." he growled, advancing on her, and forcing his lips upon hers, as his foot slammed the door shut, and his hand closed around her throat.
Legolas leapt from behind the door, rushing forward. He grabbed Kate by the waist, pulling her backwards and away from the man. She stumbled and fell when he let go, coughing as she gulped in fresh air.
Legolas's first blow fell upon the man's stomach, causing him to keel forward, clutching at his abdomen. His knee found the man's jaw, nearly breaking it. He struggled to fight against Legolas, but to no avail, resulting in numerous bruises and cuts. Pulling the door open, Legolas grabbed the man by the back of the neck, hurling him many feet from the door and onto the pavement outside.
"Come near her again, and I'll kill you!" he yelled at the retreating back in elvish.
Slamming the door with uncharacteristic elven poise, he walked over to the girl who had rested her back against the wall, her knees drawn up, and her head resting on them as she hid her face from him. He calmed his anger quickly before it caused even more damage.
Kneeling down beside her, he cautiously laid a hand upon her arm.
She jerked away from him. "Leave me alone..." she said, her voice choked with tears.
He didn't say anything, but pushed back her hair behind her ear, gazing at her neck. It was colored with purple bruises. As he reached out to lay one hand upon the soft skin of her contused neck, she pulled away again.
"Leave-me-alone." she said louder, getting up hastily and leaving Legolas on the floor. He saw the many tears falling down her face, the humiliation that reflected out of her eyes, and the determination to stay away from him.
As she ran to the stairs, strong arms caught her around the waist, pulling her back.
"LET ME GO!" she yelled at him, turning around and raising a hand to slap him.
He caught her wrist as it was a mere inch away from his cheek, feeling it shaking beneath his grip. His eyes spoke in great volumes as they bored into her own.
She struggled in his arms, trying to push herself away from him. "Release me!" she pleaded again.
"Is this why you were upset? Why you wouldn't let me come with you?" he asked quietly, ignoring her command.
She didn't answer him, continuing to try and extricate herself from his iron grip. "Legolas please let me go!" she cried.
"No..." he whispered. "Don't do this. Don't run. Answer me, Katherine. Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I was afraid!" she yelled, tears returning to their paths down her cheeks.
"Why were you afraid to tell me?" he asked, his arms still held firmly in place around her waist.
"I was ashamed of what you'd think of me! And now... now that he tried..." her choked voice dissolved into tears as she slumped against him, to tired and weak to fight anymore.
"Shh..." he soothed, rubbing her back in a comforting way. "It is alright, young one..." he said softly, letting her cry out her troubles softly upon his shoulder. He felt blessed that she trusted him enough to at least hold her, and comfort her. "It is not your fault, what he did... And I think no less of you for it..."
"I'm sorry..." she whispered, wrapping her arms around him, feeling utterly safe and at peace being held by him. "For bringing you into this... And to have you defend me like that..."
"There is nothing for me to forgive, Katherine... I could not stand by idly and let him do that. It is one of the greatest crimes among my people... If he were my subject, he would have been banished or killed." he said, feeling her smaller arms wrap around him.
"It's a crime here too... Save for it is much too common, and rarely is it able to be stopped."
"All the more reason for you to come back with me..." he said, letting their embrace end.
She kept her eyes downcast. He raised her chin with his hand, peering into her eyes with an encouraging smile. She forced herself to return it, now feeling the weight of his last words fall upon her shoulders...
