Chapter 6

The next day dawned dull and grey. She woke to someone lightly shaking her shoulder. Opening her eyes, she yawned lightly and rolled over. She looked up into Legolas' clear blue eyes, and already her heart began to quicken.

"Good morning," he said with a smile. He was kneeling beside her, and she noticed that he had his weapons already on his back.

"Did I over sleep? Are we leaving already?" She asked as she sat up quickly and looked around. Everyone else was still sleeping save for the two who sat on watch by the entrance.

"No, it's only just dawn. We won't be leaving for another hour or two."

She looked at him confused, "Then why did you wake me up?"

"It is too foggy for those on watch to really see if there is anyone out there or not. I would like to go out to take a look around, and I would be most honored if you would care to join me my Lady?" With that he stood and offered her his hand. All she could do was nod as she took it and he pulled her up.

Legolas began rolling up the sleeping mat, and out of the corner of her eye she watched him, as she picked up her weapons and strapped them on. Lifting her hand to her head she felt her hair sticking up in places and it probably looked awful. Quickly she pulled it out of the braid it had been in and shook it out.

Legolas looked up at her right in time to see her long hair fall loose. If fell in soft waves down her back, and as she shook it out he had the sudden urge to run his fingers through it. He turned away as she began to run her own fingers through it.

After she was sure all of the tangles were out, she quickly braided it back up. As she finished, a thought dawned on her. "Legolas? Will anyone else be coming with us?" She asked, trying to sound nonchalant.

"No, it will just be the two of us." When she didn't answer he looked up, "Is that alright?"

"Of course my Lord. I just thought that you might have a guard accompany us for protection, since you are the prince." As she spoke she seemed preoccupied with adjusting her belt and sword, and she didn't look down at him.

He had finished straightening up their packs and the bed roll, and stood before he answered, "I understand your concern, but we will be safe. We will not be far from the camp, and with just the two of us we can move quickly and we will have a better chance of not being seen. Besides, sometimes I think I protect my guards more than they protect me." He laughed softly, and was happy to see that she finally looked up at him and smiled, "I have no doubt my Lord."

"And if we are attacked, you can use your stunning archery skills to save me," he said with a grin. She just scowled at him in return.

They walked to the cave entrance, and Legolas nodded to the two on guard before they stepped out. The rain during the night had caused a deep fog to settle over the land. He could only slightly make out the shape of the trees off to the side. He could hear the horses there snort and stomp on the wet ground, but he could not see them. Even with his sharp elven eyesight he could only see 20 feet in front of him. Motioning for Aranel to follow, he began to pick his way to the right of the cave. They silently made their way over the rocks in a wide circle behind the camp. They had slowly starting to make their way up, and after about a half hour Legolas could tell they were now just to the left of the cave entrance. They continued on in their circle. There had been no movement so far. Not even the smallest creature could be heard moving about. Even so, he held his bow ready in his hands, ever alert.

Legolas could tell that in this area the ground was much rockier, and they often had to climb over a few rocks, and weave between others. He moved swiftly but silently, his light feet always sure and never stumbling. Aranel was the same behind him. He smiled as he realized that even though he could hardly hear her there, he could feel her presence. Because of this, he noticed very quickly when her steps became a little less even.

"Snap out of it!" She shook her head and tried to focus on the task at hand. This wasn't usually a problem for her, and she had learned long ago that being distracted while out on a hunt or scout could be deadly. Fog made it even a thousand times worse. When unable to see, an elves other senses usually made up for it, but the fog still would put her on edge. Today though, she felt strangely at ease. She would never admit it to him, but his presence made her feel safe. She watched the way the mist swirled around him as he moved. His blond hair still seemed to shin even in the dull light, and she liked how the two braids kept it from getting in his way, but yet he still allowed it to flow freely down his back. His eyes probed the fog as he looked from side to side, and she could tell his pointed ears were listening sharply for any noise. She looked back at his ears, wondering if the pointed tips of his were as sensitive as hers... "By the Valor I need to stop this line of thinking now!" Her face flushed red, and she was thankful he didn't turn around and see her. She was here to help him on this quest, and them once the creature was found she would return to Rivendell. It did not matter if he seemed interested in her, he was a prince. His father would likely pick out a nice elvish maiden from Greenwood, and she would marry Legolas, and become princess of the realm. It was the truth, yet she found that her heart hurt to think it. Holding back a sigh she continued walking after him, lost in thought.

So deep in her thoughts she was, that she paid little attention to her surroundings. They were walking along the edge of a cropping of rock. If she had been paying attention, she might have noticed that the rock she was about to step on was not entirely stable. As her foot stepped down she felt it slide out from underneath her, and she fell. Legolas heard the rock slip, and turned and ran to her just as she fell. Legolas watched her fall, and reached out to grab her but it was too late. She tumbled over the edge, and disappeared into the fog.

She only fell for a moment before she hit the hard ground with a thud. It hadn't been that far of a drop, but it was enough to take her breath away for a moment. She lay there on her back, and listened to see if her landing had been heard by any goblin or orc nearby. Silence greeted her ears. She sighed in relief, she had been lucky. Her relief quickly turned to anger though and she could have kicked herself for being so stupid. She had been distracted and could have gotten herself and Legolas killed. "It won't happen again," she told herself.

Suddenly there was a soft thud off to her right. She reached for her sword, but stopped when she saw it was Legolas. He ran over to her and knelt down beside her.

"Are you alright?" He asked, as his eyes scanned the area. They were in a small gorge, and sharp rock faces rose up on either side of them. When he saw that it was all clear his eyes returned to her, and he glanced up and down on her to make sure she was ok.

"I'm fine," she replied. "My Lord I am sorry, I was not paying attention as I should have been. It will not happen again." His bow still rested in his left hand, but he gently placed his right hand on her arm as he quickly looked her again to make sure she was not injured, and then met her eyes.

"There is nothing to forgive." He smiled at her, "And you can stop calling me your Lord, Legolas will be fine."

"Then you must call me Aranel, and not 'My Lady.'"

He laughed softly, "Very well, my Lady." His tone became a little husky at the end, and she could feel her heart pounding in her chest. He was so close to her, and she could smell his sweet scent, and feel the warmth of his breath as it washed over her face. His eyes sparkled like blue crystals as they bore into hers. She looked at his perfect face. "What it would be like to kiss his lips."

The same thoughts raced through his mind as he leaned over her. It would be so easy to lean in and kiss her, to taste her sweet lips. Oh how he wanted to.

He was just about to lean in when he heard it. His head snapped up. Off to his left he heard footsteps on the rocks. They were loud and uneven, he recognized them immediately as an orc. Looking down at Aranel, he raised a finger to his lips, signaling her to be silent. In the blink of an eye he had grabbed an arrow and knocked it. He stood and silently made his way along the gorge, staying close the wall of rock.

Aranel sat up, and moved so her back was against the wall. She was hidden from sight behind another large rock. She drew her sword, and waited. Over the rock she could see Legolas moving. Just as he was about to disappear into the fog he stopped. He became still as a statue, and she could tell he was listening. In a flash of movement he raised his bow, and the arrow flew from his fingers. She heard a light groan and then the thump of a body hitting the ground. Legolas disappeared into the fog as he went to retrieved the arrow, and make sure the orc was dead.

She leaned her head back against the wall as she waited. She was sore from the fall, but it would serve as a good reminder for next time. Looking up, she saw Legolas coming back, and stood slowly to meet him, her back aching terribly in the process.

"There was just the one, but he was on foot so a camp can't be too far away. We best be getting back. The others will be awake by now, and if we take the path to the south, we can avoid these orcs." He saw her then standing slightly hunched over, and went to help her. She waved him away though, and with a groan straightened all the way and stretched out her back.

Then, slipping her sword back in its case, she gestured for him to lead the way, and they jogged back towards the camp, leaving the mist swirling behind them.