Chapter 10

Sitting on the back porch steps, Evie impatiently tapped her foot.

"stop naneth!" cried the little elf sitting next to her. He reached his arm around her middle and leaned into her side. Giving him an apologetic smile, she said "Sorry, honey, I'm just nervous about this."

"I know. But it will be ok."

"how can you know that?"

"I just have a feeling."

Evie scoffed at that. Almost always calm and a logical thinker, but she didn't share his optimism. The truth was that she had come to love this little being so fiercely, that she was very reluctant to let him go. But she knew he wasn't hers to keep. He had to go home and it crushed her. She had to let him go.

She looked up at the moon for the thousandth time. She could feel the energy around her surging. "it's almost time."

Legolas absently nodded, his thoughts elsewhere at that moment. Hit suddenly by the enormity of this situation and that the fact that she was never going to see him again, she turned suddenly and cupped his face with both hand like she had so many times in the last year they'd spent together.

"promise me you will look after yourself. Don't forget me and don't forget to always have courage and be kind."

"even to mortals." Was the loving response she received from him. It made her laugh softly.

"yes, even mortals. Your father is going to hate me for that influence."

"no, he's going to be thankful for you taking care of me… You can change your mind, you know" came with a pleading look. She sighed heavily but didn't respond.

" Sing for me naneth."

Evie smiled at this request and once again tucked him into her side and began softly. Legolas joined in for the chorus.

" Caterpillar in the tree
How you wonder who you'll be
Cant go far but you can always dream
Wish you may and wish you might
Don't you worry hold in tight
I promise you there will come a day
Butterfly fly away"

She was interrupted from continuing when Malthen started to bark as the air by the barn began to shimmer. Quickly they both stood and walked toward the emerging portal. Evie turned to face Legolas and took stock of his long brown pants, grey undershirt, deep green vest, brown sturdy boots that went up his calf and the black pack on his back, packed with all the necessary items for his journey, as well as a few photos of them together. Tears ran down her cheeks as she bent forward to kiss his forehead, a sob stuck in her throat. Her green eyes met his blue ones and she said " I love you, honey. Farewell"

She promptly pushed him toward the portal and home to his father. With her vision blurring, she turned her back and didn't see the small hands that reached for hers and with a mighty pull, brought them both through the shimmering portal together.

With a cry, she snapped her eyes shut from the bright light and felt the energy zapping around them. It felt like they'd been falling for hours, when they were both ripped from the poral opening and fell to the ground in a heap of limbs.

"ow." That was enough for Evie to snap her eyes open and look for her little elf. Hurriedly, she got up, ignoring the ache in her joints and ran towards Legolas.

"are you alright?"

"yes, I think so. Are you ok naneth?"

"yes. My god Legolas, what on earth were you thinking?!" she reprimanded, her lips forming a tight line.

"I will not apologise. Now we can say with me forever."

"but Legolas, I don't belong here. What is your father going to think of this?"

"I don't care, it's what I want."

She found that when Legolas gets in these stubborn moods it wasn't worth arguing with him. But still, she thought, he hasn't thought through the consequences of this.

"fine. But you're explaining it to him. Do you know how we get to the Greenwood?"

"we're already in it."

"oh. But where do you live?"

"I think I know the way. Come."

He gently grasped her hand in his and pulled her along. They took only a few steps when Legolas stopped.

"what is is?"

"I can hear something coming towards us. Shhh"

Evie stopped and listened, but couldn't hear anything unusual. She shivered as the colder temperature finally registered in her brain. This Greenwood is not a place for jean shorts and a cami, she thought. All of a sudden she saw a golden form leap out of the bushes towards her and land squarely on her chest, the impact enough to make her fall on her back. The fluffy golden beast began to lick Evie's face.

"oh Mal!" cried Legolas in relief

"off mal! Come on." She sat up and pushed the dog off her. It went straight to plant a big lick on Legolas' face. She stood up and brushed herself off.

"Let's keep going."

And so the three beings started off on their journey to the great elven city.

Not long after, Legolas stopped again, turned to Evie in a panic, his face pale.

"orcs"

"what? What do you mean orcs?"

"I can hear orcs coming!"

"well how are we going to kill them?"

"your magic Naneth" said Legolas like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Evie felt her magic and tried to shift the tree branches around them as a test. Nothing happened.

Panic began to fill her. "how many do you hear?"

"only one I think, but still, they are awful."

"yes, I believe you. Think, Evie, think. I have it! do you still have the knife I gave you?"

"yes, it's in my pack."

"quickly now, give it to me." Legolas did just that.

"now get behind me. Mal, that means you too." She said to the canine that that had begun to growl softly.

Evie swallowed thickly and concentrated on her breathing while they waited for the enemy.

Her eyes scanned the bushes and all of a sudden, she saw a small and shrivelled black and grey savage and horrific body charge out of the forest with an old, rusty sword lifted at the ready and making a screeching war cry.

Her eyes widened at the sight, for it was one thing to be told about them and quite another to see it firsthand. She raised the medium sized knife in front of her and stood her ground.

"You are not going to touch him." She declared before she launched herself towards the foul creature. It was relentless in it's attack of her, but it was sloppy and ill trained. She, fortunately, had some training, thanks to Legolas, and she was quick.

Mal barked and Evie flicked her eyes to Legolas for a moment to make sure he was ok. That momentary distraction cost her though, as she felt a cold cut along her side. The effect was instant, with adrenaline surging through her body as her fierce protectiveness took hold, she the tackled the orc to the ground, wrestled the weapon from its hand and quickly drove the sword home into it's chest, the impact vibrating up her arm. With the lifeless body under her, she got up and hung onto the sword just in case.

She dropped into a crouch in front of Legolas and search his person desperately to make sure he wasn't hurt.

"Are you ok honey?"

"yes naneth, but you aren't"

"yes, I know. I just need something to stop the bleeding…" She was interrupted by Legolas quickly turning his head to the right to listen. Something was coming. She just hoped it was a good guy this time.

She turned her body and stood protectively in front of her charge once again. Her left hand was pressed to the right side of her cotton clad middle to try and stop the bleeding as her right hand held the blade up in defence.

Her breathing was ragged and her vision was beginning to blur, but she caught sight of a very tall, platinum haired and heavily weapon clad male coming toward her, accompanied by a few others, similarly dressed. She saw pointed ears, like Legolas, and sagged in relief just a little. Hopefully they could help find Legolas' father.

Fir! What are cin doing with mui réd!

She struggled with trying to keep her eyes open and couldn't find the energy to form a response. The imposing male with face like thunder issued a command she could hear and felt as she was bodily lifted by her arms away from Legolas. The sword dropped from her hand as she lost the energy to hold it anymore, the red liquid staining more of her white cami.

Baw! Naneth! Cin must help hen, he will bel-. Please adar, he saved nin.

Shock laced the male's face at the words coming out of his son's mouth. Naneth? This mortal was not his mother? A glance at the woman confirmed that she did need aid or she would die, and his son was very distressed at the idea of this. Before he could say anything in response, he raised his eyebrows as heard the mortal speak in elvish.

Im mel cin honeui. Don't forget what im taught cin.

Just before she lost consciousness, Evie felt her body being lifted and young voice cry out to her, as he was restrained by his father.

Baw! Naneth im mel cin

*Mortal! What are you doing with my son?!

*No! Mother! You must help her, she will die. Please Father, she saved me!

*I love you honey, don't forget what I taught you.

*No! Mother, I love you!