Chapter 8
Much to be Told, Much to be Learned
Morning came at long last, and Legolas carefully unlocked the door to Katherine's room, praying that she would not be too upset with him.
She shouldn't be. I was only trying to protect her... He reasoned with himself.
Upon entering, his heart sank. She was sitting right in front of the door, not having changed or moved since their encounter the evening before.
Looking pale and angry, Katherine looked to him as he entered.
"Will you tell me now?" was the first thing she asked.
With a deep sigh, Legolas went to her bed, snatching up her pack. "Come. We must leave now." he said curtly, making for the door again.
With speed she did not know was in her possession, she bolted to the door, blocking his path.
"I-want-to-know..." she said with cold malice in her voice. Her eyes glared at him, showing him her determination.
"As do I." Legolas said, gently prying her from the doorway. "But I cannot tell you something if I myself do not rightly know the answer."
"You know something!" she yelled at him, her hands clenched into fists. Tears of frustration pooled in her eyes. "Damn it Legolas! I need to know! Do you have any idea what-so-ever of what I'm going through? To have hope flicker, thinking that you will receive an answer to questions that have burned in your soul forever, but then be locked away in your own room with nothing?"
"I understand your pain, Katherine, I really do, but-" he began, but was cut off when she yelled again.
"No you don't! You don't care at all! You just want to drag me back to Mirkwood like a prize you've won, letting your people mock and torture me while you sit upon your pretty little throne!"
"Stop this Katherine!" he bellowed, dropping his things and grabbing her by the shoulders roughly. "Do you not see? I am bringing you with me to protect you! I am not your enemy. I am anything but! I do care! I care enough that I lie away awake at night worrying over your safety and welfare. I care so much, that I dream and wish that I could find the man who has caused all this hurt to you!"
"More like you want to find him only to kill for your revenge! I am nothing to you! I wish you had finished what you started and killed me with your blade so I didn't have to suffer this anymore! I want to die Legolas! I want my mother!"
"Don't say that!" he shouted at her, "Don't ever say that!"
"Why not! I don't care anymore Legolas! There is nothing left for me now! My mother, the only one who ever cared and loved me is dead! I've lived a lie my entire life with a bastard posing as my father! There is nothing left! No one!"
"You have me!" Legolas said without thinking.
She glared at him, her pearl-like tears finally coursing down her flushed cheeks. "No I don't, Legolas. I'd never have you..." she whispered, jerking away from him. "What will it take for you to realize that? If you take me back, I will be loathed by your father. He'd wish day and night that he could kill me to get his wife back."
"No he wouldn't!" Legolas protested fiercely. "He would never do that..."
Silence fell between them for many minutes; as though time had frozen to allow them to mull over their own thoughts. Her seething, him frustrated and torn.
"We have tarried too long. We must make haste and leave." Legolas said at last, picking up their things. He acted as though their shouting match had never happened.
He grabbed her firmly by the wrist, pulling her behind him. She protested vehemently, but to no avail. Her words fell on deaf ears as he dragged her down the stairs, out of the lavish house, and closer to the edge of the darkened forest.
Making his own trail, Legolas led her along, gently pushing aside bushes and saplings that were in their path.
An hour went by... then two... Her head ached with tiredness and anger, but she bit back her complaints so as not to sound like a whining child. She had just shouted at him; she was not about to forget all that because of a headache and sleepiness.
Legolas stopped at last, slinging his bow and quiver over his shoulder. He turned and set the straps of her brown pack upon her shoulders. "Come here..." he commanded gently, pulling her closer, and gripping her hands firmly.
"What is going to happen?" she asked, trying to ignore how close she was to him.
"The Istari are very wise and powerful. Mithrandir's powers are far beyond my complete comprehension, but I understand that his enchantments will send us back to the place in Mirkwood where I departed."
She said no more, but closed her eyes, trying to find an inner peace that would calm her overly troubled mind. But try as she might, all she could feel was Legolas's hands on her own, and her body held tightly against his.
A flash of light illuminated through her closed eyes, and she instinctively opened them. Immediately, she wanted to close them again and hope that she ended up back in her warm, safe room.
Her surroundings were much the same, save for the leaves were darker and more full of life. It was raining lightly; the water clinging to the leaves of the numerous trees. It might have been peaceful. But, there were at least half a dozen elves with their strung bows trained on her.
"Daro!" (Stop) Legolas called sharply, raising a hand against them. The elves gave each other strange glances, before lowering their bows. To her, they looked foreboding; clad in dark greens and silver-greys, standing tall, stoic, and alert. Their hardened cold eyes scared her. It frightened her to see so much hate being directed at her through something as innocent as their beautiful eyes.
Two strode forward to tear her from Legolas's arms, and she gave a whimper of fear. (A/N: Remember, they were told that when Legolas returned, he would have the murderer with him. So, they obviously think that she is the killer)
"DARO!" Legolas said louder, causing the two elves to halt and stare at their prince with confusion.
"But, my prince-?" began one, bewildered.
"She is not the one you seek." Legolas answered swiftly, knowing their intentions. "She hath committed no crime, and is to be treated as my guest."
A voice raspy with age, yet filled with unmatchable wisdom spoke from behind Legolas. "My dear prince Legolas... I sent you to another world to bring back your mother's killer. Yet instead, you bring back an attractive elleth? There are plenty here in the kingdom if that is what you truly sought."
Legolas turned with a wide smile. "Your amusement lightens my heart, Mithrandir." he said, embracing the wizard who had ever been like a grand-father to him.
The old man with haggard grey hair and beard chuckled appreciatively, his bright blue eyes twinkling. His face was deeply lined, yet withheld the stern expression of a hardened soul. His smile reassured them though.
"Well now, would you care to enlighten me as to who this young lady is, and why she is here?" The Grey Pilgrim asked, eyeing Katherine with great care.
"I would prefer to discuss it in a more private climate within safer boundaries, if it is not too troublesome." Legolas said pointedly, resting his arm around her shoulders with reassurance as she gazed at the wizard with fear.
Gandalf nodded. "Yes, yes... I have a feeling that there is much to be told, and much yet to be learned..."
His words left Katherine feeling very ill at ease as they walked the long path that would lead them to Legolas's home...
