A/N: A big THANK YOU to those of you who reviewed.
Aderyn
In my thirty years, I thought I'd seen it all. The World Trade Center collapsing on live television, an eight-year war with the Middle East, my fellow countrymen slain etc.
And yet here I was, surrounded by a group of beautiful men dressed in clothing that'd been outdated for a thousand years. Their weapons pointing at an approaching hostile source as they calmly awaited for what I assumed was going to be a bloody onslaught.
I gulp.
I couldn't stay here.
Hell, I shouldn't even be here.
The roars and growls grew louder with every approach, until a dozen bear-like creatures came sprinting out into view. I bit back my scream, for astride these terrifying beasts sat the most inhuman, monstrous-looking beings I've never seen outside of a horror film. Their yellowish eyes gleaming with wicked intent as they urged their mounts towards us, swinging their weapons.
"Leitho i philinn!" the captain bellows.
One by one the arrows fly, striking both beasts and riders, yet it wasn't enough to kill them all.
My protectors draw their swords, and within seconds, a pandemonium of chaos.
Not knowing what to do, I realize that there was only one suitable option for me if I was to survive.
I fled.
~xXx~
I didn't look back, didn't stop running. The farther I was from these strange beings, the better.
This couldn't be real, I keep telling myself, avoiding every trees and foliage in my path. It can't be.
So distraught was I that I did not see the uprooted tree root within my path. With a startled yelp, I tumble into the ground. Groaning in pain, I roll onto my back. My eyes widening as one of the four-legged beasts charges towards me. Its powerful jaws snapping with hunger.
I scream.
Suddenly, an arrow strikes the monster from behind, making it skid face-first into the earth below. Within seconds, the captain rushes towards the fell beast's side. His booted foot pressing against its face. Gritting his teeth, he stabs it right through the neck with his long knife, and twists.
The creature stiffens before going limp.
Satisfied with his kill, the captain kneels before me. "Are you alright?"
"Watch out!" I cry.
The captain turns, raising his knife as a hideous, humanoid being slams into him. They tumbled over me into the foliage, my savior's knife flying out of his grasp as he wrestles with his assailant.
I stand to my feet, watching as my savior struggles to gain the upper hand.
Come on, Aderyn! My conscience screams. Help him!
Hands shaking, I quickly snatch up the knife, and with a tight grip, plunge it between the enemy's shoulder blades.
With a howl, the creature rears back, backhanding me into the ground. Stars cloud my vision, but my savior is quick to act, for he drew out a second blade, and plunges it deep within his assailant's chest. His fingers and tunic coated in black blood.
With a grunt, he kicks the carcass away before falling to his side.
I quickly kneel next to him, assessing his injuries. Aside from a dislocated shoulder, he had no other wounds that I could see.
"You're safe now," he says. His voice hoarse and laced with pain.
Words fail me once again, as my well-being should be the farthest thing from his mind. "Your shoulder's dislocated," I tell him.
"I'll be fine." He grits his teeth, though not out of irritation toward me.
"Captain!" One of the members of his company came running up to us. Truth be told, I am relieved that they had all managed to survive the battle. "How do you fair?"
"Not too good, I'm afraid." I answer in their leader's place. "I'll need to reset the bone in his shoulder. You." I gesture with my head. "Help me carry him to that tree over here."
The young man complies, and the both of us carefully sat the captain down against the base of on old sapling.
"We need to move now," another companion says. He was a handsome redheaded fellow. "Istonion!" He turns. "Retrieve the horses."
The one known as Istonion obediently rushes off to do as he was told.
"He can't ride," I tell them, hands opening the top of my patient's jerkin. "Not in his current condition."
"I'll make the decisions around here," the redhead snaps. "Not you."
I glare at him. "You will only further his discomfort and pain if you don't allow me to do something about it now."
"Listen here, you." Harnon approaches me.
"Harnon," a weak voice rasps. "Let her be."
The captain's agonized expression said it all. If he planned on riding sufficiently, I would have to fix his injury now.
Pushing off the left side of his jerkin and shirt, I pick up his knife, quickly cleaning off the blood and gore against my jacket. "Put this in between your teeth," I order.
He complies, and kneeling beside him, I carefully inclined his body forward. "Relax," I calmly instruct, grasping the wrist of of his injured arm. "Breathe."
Without warning, I slam my palm hard against the back of his shoulder, snapping the bone back into place with a satisfying pop.
Legolas groans.
"There," I sat back. "That wasn't so bad, was it?"
He gives me an incredulous look.
"Here." I tear off the hem of my dress and press his forearm against his chest, my fingers working quick to fasten the thick material around his shoulder and under his stiff arm. "It's the best I can do without a proper medical kit."
He continues to stare at me in silence. They all did.
I sigh. "No need to thank me all at once."
I stand up and held out my hand. With his good arm, the captain grasps it firmly. I pulled him to his feet. "Thank you." His voice is hoarse yet sincere.
I smile, and the curve of his lips twitched.
"Ahem," someone clears their throat loudly, making us jump. Istonion had returned with their mounts. "Which one of you is riding with the lady?"
Riding?
I take a step back.
"I'll take her!" Another redhead eagerly chims in.
"Really, Balinor?" Harnon frowns. "You?"
"Why not?" Said man winks, brushing past his sullen comrade. "She's a beautiful woman. Besides, who else is going to entertain her on our journey back to the mountain? You?" He scoffed. "Galdir?"
I glance at the tall, dark-haired fellow known as Galdir. He spits at the ground in response to Balinor's jab.
"I will take her," says the captain, startling his company.
"Absolutely not!" I stand my ground.
"You were caught trespassing around the Woodland Realm," he says, as if that were reason enough. "For all we know, you could be a spy."
"And our king will have questions," says Harnon.
King? My eyes widen. There was a king in all of this madness?
"I'm not going anywhere with you," I growl, walking around the captain.
"Yes, you are." He holds out his good arm, blocking my path. "Either willingly or not, and the Valar help me, I shall knock you out and tie you to my horse should you choose the latter. Your choice."
I gape at him. Surely he wasn't serious. One glance at his companions' amused expressions, however, told me otherwise. "Fine."
With a satisfied nod, he guides me towards his ride, a beautiful grey stallion. I swing up onto the saddle, ignoring his effort to help me. He frowns, pulling himself up behind me. "Charming little thing, aren't you?"
I scoff as I adjust my balance, watching as the rest of his men mount onto their own steeds. Reaching around me, he grasps the reins. His good arm holding me close against his firm chest. "What is your name?" I ask.
"What?"
"Your name." I repeat, glancing over my shoulder. "What is it?"
"Didn't think you cared enough to know." I could practically hear the smirk in his voice.
"I don't," I promise darkly. "Just trying to break the ice, so to speak."
He still didn't answer me, not right away at least. "Legolas." he finally mutters, adjusting his knives and bow. "My name is Legolas."
"Legolas." I roll the syllables off of my tongue.
Not a bad name really, though a bit odd.
"And you?" He leans in closer.
"Aderyn," I answer, leaving out my surname.
"Mae govannen, Lady Aderyn."
My body shivers as an unexpected draft blew through the forest.
"Here," Legolas pulls out out a soft-looking cloak, awkwardly wrapping it around the both of us. "It will keep you warm enough for the ride."
I held the fabric close against me. "Thank you."
Satisfied, Legolas glances over his shoulder, shouting orders to his men. With a flick of the reins, we were galloping through the forest.
~xXx~
For several hours we ride, never once losing our pace. Tired and hungry, I force myself to stay awake. Should I fall off the horse, my handsome captor would not be able to properly catch me due to his current condition. He keeps his arm close around me, yet every now and then I would feel his grip relax, then tighten, as if startled that he was losing his hold of me.
As the sky darkens above us, we reach our destination—a beautiful fortress carved within a forested mountain.
Our mounts slow into a walk towards the back gate. Its elegantly carved doors gradually swinging open to allow us entrance into what appeared to be a courtyard stable. Dozens of people approach us as we made our way in. Their eyes staring up at me in curious wonder.
I glance over my shoulder, my eyes widening in horror as Legolas weightlessly slides off his horse and into the ground below, his body unmoving.
"Captain!" Harnon and his company quickly dismount from their rides and sprint over.
Dismounting myself, I kneel down next to Legolas and gently roll him onto his back. I press the tips of my two front fingers against his neck. His pulse is faint, but there. I examine his pale face, which was slick and cool to the touch.
"Is he...?" Istonion swallows.
"He's alive," I confirm.
The front of Legolas's tunic was smothered in black blood, making it very difficult for me to find the source of his wound.
Holding him up slightly, I pull out one of his blades.
With a growl, Harnon stalks towards me.
"Wait," Galdir said, his eyes watching me carefully.
Biting my lower lip, I carefully slice through my patient's makeshift sling and upper body attire before quickly ripping the fabric aside, my eyes narrowing at the deeply inflamed, bleeding injury on the right side of his ribcage.
Harnon pushes me aside, and together he and Balinor carry the unconscious captain into the fortress, all the while shouting in that strange language of theirs.
Thunder rumbles above me, and soon the slow, steady downpour of rain follows. I couldn't move. I couldn't speak. Although I would never admit it out loud, I was worried for Legolas.
The idiot should've said something!
"Come." A pale hand reaches out in front of me. I raise my head, recognizing Galdir's handsome countenance within the fading daylight.
Hesitant, I allow him to hoist me to my feet. "Thanks."
My gratitude soon falls short as he grabs me by the arm and pulls me towards the entrance. "Hey!" I stumble within his grasp. "Where are you taking me?"
"Where do you think?" he replies, his face impassive. "To see the king."
~xXx~
"Leitho i philinn - "release the arrows."
