Chapter 18
The weeks turned into months as they began to settle into a routine.
Evie would begin her day with Feren, training her body to anticipate and fight against attacks. She had been very proud the day she graduated from a wooden sword to a real one.
Legolas had laughed at her when she had accidentally cut her hand in excitement.
She always ended up with her ass on the ground after every session, but each day she got steadily better.
It started off like any other, Evie dressed in grey leggings and a dark green tunic and made her way to the training grounds.
She sat on the bench overlooking the training ring sword in her lap and waited.
And waited.
And waited.
Feeling annoyed, her ears pricked up when she heard footsteps on the gravel path.
She stretched her neck to get a better view of the newcomer and her eyebrows shot up seeing the usually well dressed elf sporting training attire similar to her own.
"I wasn't expecting you."
The dark haired elf expressed his mock hurt at her tone and clutched at his heart.
"I'm wounded, Glír ae"
She waved off his dramatics.
"you will live, Lord Galion. Where is Feren?"
"He was needed to investigate a disturbance in the woods."
"Oh. Is it bad?"
Worry coated her face.
"Nothing for you to worry your pretty little head about."
She was about to protest this, but he kept on.
"Shall we begin?"
Evie was incredulous at this suggestion.
"You? You are going to train me?"
"Don't look so surprised, I am quite capable."
"I'm sure you are, it's just…"
"I'm not as pretty as the other elf?"
He laughed at her and she bristled at the sound.
She sighed as she realised she was at a loss for an excuse.
"No. Come on then."
He smirked at her as he drew his sword.
They both walked to the gravel ring, faced each other and raised their swords.
"Let's begin."
And they did.
An hour later…
"ow."
Evie felt the sting as her hand scraped on the gravel as she fell again.
The concern was sincere as Galion spoke to her.
"Are you alright, My Lady?"
Her green eyed looked up to see a hand held out in offer to help her up.
Wincing, she took the hand and let the strength of the elf pull her to her feet.
"I will be. Enough for today though, I think."
The dark haired elf brought her hand up to leave a gentle kiss.
"As you wish."
Evie felt, not for the first time, slightly uncomfortable with this close contact with the King's adviser.
Gwenth had teased her a week past about the elf's growing affection for her and she had not had time to sit him down and have the 'friendzone' talk.
Frowning, she was about to address it, when he interrupted her thoughts.
"You did well today. Truly, you shall be a fearsome opponent before long."
"thank you."
She flushed at the praise.
"Shall we?"
The elf held out his arm and gestured to the path leading back to the King's halls.
"yes."
The walked, chatting easily and Galion had just told her a funny joke when they stopped abruptly, hearing raised voices.
The door in front of them burst open and the little Prince emerged, chest heaving and eyes blazing in fury.
"You don't let me do anything Adar!"
"I'm not going to discuss this with you anymore. You aren't going."
Evie knew the deep dark tone that belonged to and her eyes went wide when the magnificent elf exited the door.
His face was nothing but cold, hard fury, his blue eyes blazing just like his offspring.
The Prince crossed his arms and angrily stomped his foot.
"I want to go."
"And I said no. You are not a trained warrior."
"I'll show you that I am too, a warrior."
Before Evie could intervene, the young elf ran down the corridor and turned the corner, out of sight.
Furious blue eyes turned their gaze on her and Galion.
"Don't you have somewhere to be?"
She knew that the King was hurting, but inside she was mildly hurt at his cold tone.
Careful to keep her face neutral, she curtsied, pulled her arm out of Galion's and walked with purpose down the way Legolas had disappeared without a backwards glace.
She flinched when she heard the wooden door slam shut.
Hours later, having checked all the usual sulking spots, she was frustrated to come up empty, so she returned to her suite to bath and dress.
Felling refreshed, Evie exited her suite, humming and feeling pretty in her short sleeved green dress, complete with a white ribbon around her waist.
She smiled and lowered her head at the courtiers that she passed.
Spying a familiar bright pink dress, she hurried her steps.
"Haleth!"
The golden blonde she-elf turned at the voice and smiled at the woman.
"What a pleasure to see you, Evie…Tell me…have you heard?"
"Heard what?"
"the Prince and the King had a terrible quarrel."
Evie shifted, suddenly uncomfortable.
"i…ah..yes..heard something of the sort."
"You don't even know the most shocking part!"
"oh?"
"Prince Legolas hasn't been seen since."
"What do you mean?"
There were guards posted everywhere, she was at a loss how they could miss a little elf.
"One of the servants said they saw him run towards the west of the King's forest border, but the guards found no sight of him."
Evie froze suddenly and then gripped Haleth's arms with haste.
"What was the fight about, Haleth?"
"What? Oh, the Prince wanted to go out and investigate the sickness in the woods with the King's guard. He was most upset that his Adar denied him."
That explained the talk about warriors, Evie thought. And then she remembered a conversation she had had with Legolas the week before as they strolled around the western garden.
"Every Greenwood warrior proves himself by completing an impossible task, like crossing this."
Evie went cold all over in fear.
Abruptly, she let go of the she-elf looking at her in shock and ran down the hall as fast as her legs could carry her.
Behind her she distantly heard Haleth call for someone to alert the King.
Oh god, no, she thought, please be in time!
Evie ran and ran, coming to a breathless stop at a rocky edge in the landscape.
She heard the roar of the waterfall not far away and frantically searched the rushing water for blonde hair.
There! She spotted his huddled form, shivering on a flat rock right in the centre of the rushing water.
Evie grabbed on to the nearest branch and began descending the terrain until she landed on the bank of the river.
"Legolas!"
A blonde head looked up and spotted her.
"Naneth!"
"Stay right there, Honey, I'm coming."
Having already lost her shoes during her sprint, Evie jumped straight into the freezing water and moved slowly towards the little Prince.
She felt the cold seep into her dress instantly, pulling her whole body down, but she persisted, her only thought to get to him.
Eventually, she laid a hand on the flat rock she was aiming for, then another and heaved herself out.
She reached out with hesitating to cup the elf's face and look him over for injuries.
"Are you alright, Honey?"
She used her thumbs to wipe away the tears cascading down his cheeks.
A nod.
She gathered the little elf to her and hugged him tight as she steadied her breathing and took deep breaths.
"You're ok. It's all going to be fine."
"I'm sorry." A muffled sound coming from the little elf.
"Don't worry about it, Honey. Let's just get you safe, ok?"
She felt him nod against her chest.
"Now put you arms around my neck, legs around my waist and hold on. Whatever you do, do not let go, ok?"
"yes."
She could feel him shivering against her. She had to go.
"Ok, on the count of three. Ready?"
"one."
"Two."
She looked at the treacherous water rushing past and took a deep breath.
"Three."
Evie used her palms flat against the rock to push off and into the water.
It was slow going, but inch by inch, they got closer.
A rush of relief went through the red head when her hand touched the edge.
Moving hair out of her eyes, Evie then unlocked the hands around her neck with one hand and shifted the little elf to be on her hip.
"up you go!"
She gave his rear end a little push and then he was on the flat bank, shivering and breathing hard, but alive.
Evie went to lift herself out of the cold, but was yanked back.
She looked at the elf.
"I think my dress is stuck. Hang on."
And then she let go of the edge and put her head under the water to locate the issue.
Spying the place where her skirt was stuck under a rock, she darted forward to move it.
She pushed and pulled, but it didn't budge.
Returning to the surface, she took a gulp of air and dove again.
She tried to pull the skirt out, but the material was too thick to tear.
Frustrated, Evie began to panic.
Images of being in another water emergency rose to the surface of the red head's mind.
Fear gripped her, making her forget to use her magical ability, as she relived the horrific memories.
She opened her eyes, feeling her lungs begin to burn from the lack of air.
The hands on the skirt went slack.
Everything in front of her began to blur.
Suddenly, she felt weightless as her skirt was released and the weight of the fabric made her drift down with the strong current.
A strong, warm arm snaked around her waist and pulled her up. Up. Up.
Another arm joined it as she was lifted from the water and placed gently on the dirt bank.
She heard lots of voices all around her, but she couldn't make sense of anything specific.
She felt warm lips on her, directing air into her lungs.
Feeling like she was going to be sick, she moved her hands to shove the larger body off her, turned her body to the side and heaved up riverwater.
A large hand made soothing circular motions on her back.
She gave one last cough and then collapsed, her back on the ground, her energy well and truly spent.
"Naur emel, open your eyes. Look at me."
The pleading tone made Evie lift her heavy lids.
She blinked at the bright light invading her senses and focused on the figure leaning over her with bright blue eyes and wet platinum hair.
She reached out a hand to touch his face.
"angel mine."
Her tone was soft, barely a whisper, but it made her 'angel' smile when he heard it.
His face quickly turned frantic when she shut her eyes again.
"No, stay with me."
"Naneth!"
And then she knew no more.