A/N: Howdy and hello! I know I was supposed to update on Friday, like I promised, but alas, real life has gotten in my way, once again. This is by far my favorite chapter, and I really hope you guys like it. I've been in the Bahamas for the past 5 days, and if you've never been, you need to go! It's an amazing experience! School keeps getting in the way, and, being in Pre- AP classes, I have a load of homework every night. But, I will try to update roughly every week and a half from now on. I am SO SORRY for the wait.
Please REVIEW! Oh my gosh, it makes me feel so good when I see my mailbox has reviews, it's like Christmas everyday! Haha, and, there is the consequence of getting set on fire, by me. So, which would you choose? Mwahahaha!
To those who reviewed: THANK YOU SO MUCH! YOU GUYS BRIGHTEN UP MY DAY!
And anyway, on with the chapter! I love this one!
A Stolen Love
By: Blade Eclipse
Chapter 5:And So It Begins
Numbness. Haldir, Marchwarden of Lothlorien, felt nothing. He was not frightened, but mayhap a bit surprised. Skin tingling, he glanced about himself, hoping he was not really in this situation, but in a rather unpleasant dream.
The arrow pointed in his back thought to drag him back to reality.
Women surrounded him from every possible angle, each holding deadly weapons. Haldir gulped softly, mentally berating himself for being such an idiot. How could he let some-some humans trap him? What a disgrace!
Seeing he was helpless in the situation, he lowered his weapons.
Looking straight ahead, cerulean eyes met mahogany, and Haldir slipped his mask back into place.
The Queen of Thieves glared warily at him, suspicion cast in her eyes.
Ariel openly assessed the Marchwarden. He was a fine male specimen. Golden hair was braided in the front, and hung loose in the back. Peaking out, the famed elven ears made their appearance. Eyes, a piercing blue, held no emotion. Ariel felt if she were to reach out and touch him, ice would be the only thing that greeted her fingertips. His riding tunic stretched over his form, showing every muscle and contour. Black in color, his breeches were well made. Silver leaves were embroidered into the expensive fabric, a reminder that he was from the fair land of Lorien. Ariel could find no weakness, and this only served to increase her unease.
Feeling disconcerted by her stare, Haldir cleared him throat.
Ariel glanced up at the Marchwarden, amused that he seemed uncomfortable and reveling in the feeling. Smiling, she slowly stepped toward him.
Haldir thought that the woman walking in his direction looked a bit maniacal. He was starting to worry. Standing up straighter, he lifted his chin and glared at the lady. He would not be intimidated by a human.
Stopping in front of the elf, Ariel cocked her head.
"Well, it seems as if fate actually has a sense of humor, doesn't it? Haldir, the fearless warrior and protector, pride of his people, has been caught by a mere group of women," she finished, the thieves around her chuckling.
"My Lady, what exactly makes you think you have captured me?" He growled, hoping to scare them.
A smile plastered to her face, Ariel answered, "You are surrounded by twenty trained women, and your comrades have gone on without you. And, if you even think to yell for them, you will die."
Haldir grinned. "You cannot kill me, human. Even with fifty women, you would not prevail."
The Queen of Thieves looked at the elf incredulously. Was he serious? She drew Haldir's dagger from her ankle. She lightly caressed his tunic with the blade, careful not to cause any rips in the beautiful material. Dragging it across his pale cheek, Ariel leaned in close to his pointed ear.
"You are certainly full of yourself, Marchwarden. Mayhap fifty people could not kill you, but how about just one?" she whispered dangerously.
To emphasize her point, she lightly danced the dagger across his throat.
To be truthful, Ariel was a bit surprised at her own audacity. But, I suppose, uncommon events occur in dangerous situations.
Anger blazed through Haldir's veins, rapidly dissolving his mask. He glanced at the blade that rested in the woman's hand. A gift from the Lady Of Light, it was one of his most treasured possessions. How dare this thief threaten him with it!
Reaching for his dagger, he found several swords and arrows obstructing his way.
Stepping back, Ariel flipped the blade and caught it again, smiling. "Be careful, Marchwarden, you wouldn't want anything bad to happen to this, now would you?" She quirked an eyebrow, waiting for a response.
Gaining no answer, Ariel shrugged and looked at Tiera, located to her right.
"My friend, if you could retrieve the rope and tie the hands of our guest?" she questioned.
Trying to suppress the urge to laugh, Tiera inclined her head and produced a few feet of fine-woven rope from her dress.
"Now I have nothing to use for a belt, my Queen," Tiera said, frowning at her now baggy garment.
"We shall have to remedy that situation soon then," said Ariel, making the matter seem like an important issue.
Tiera timidly approached Haldir, rope in hand.
"If you please, relinquish your weapons that you may have hidden inside your clothes, or we shall gladly do it for you," Dialan smirked, her short sword pointed at Haldir's throat.
Sighing imperceptibly, Haldir dropped his sword and reached inside his tunic, revealing two matching daggers, both plain in design. He dropped these as well, signaling that he was finished.
Lowering her blade, Dialan reattached it to her waist. Three other swords replaced her position at Haldir's neck. Standing in front of him, Dialan started to pat his clothing.
Haldir was, to say the least, a little taken aback.
He froze, trying to put his mask back in place. Twenty pairs of eyes stared at him, each looking for a weakness, one he would not give.
Dialan glanced up at him. "I am checking for more weapons, if you were curious, my Lord. One can never be too careful." She winked and continued her search.
Stopping at his boots, Dialan withdrew one small dagger from his right heel, depositing it with his other weapons.
Content with her findings, the thief stood up and bowed to Ariel. "I am finished with the search, my Lady. He possesses no other blades."
Ariel nodded to Dialan and glanced back at Tiera, who still clutched at the rope.
"You are free to bind his hands now Tiera," she said. "And remember, Marchwarden, if you try to harm any of these women, you will die, make no mistake," Ariel warned.
Haldir looked at her, showing no feelings. He could only hope that his soldiers would find him in time before these humans did anything to him.
Tiera approached him, swinging around to settle behind him. She expertly tied his hands, looping and twisting for a good five minutes. Finally, she tugged at his wrists, making sure he would not break free, and took her place among the other thieves again.
"My soldiers will come for me soon, it is futile to outrun your capture," Haldir said haughtily, the confidence he had in his elves visible. Trying to evade notice, his hands tried to untie the rope that imprisoned his wrists.
He was having trouble putting coherent thoughts together as swords pressed into his neck.
Puffing out her chest, a determined expression alighting her face, Ariel snarled, "Even if we cannot escape your elves, Marchwarden, we will not sit idly by and wait for our deaths. We are a proud people, and we are willing to fight for our lives."
Haldir kept silent, instead opting to stare at this interesting creature, his expression unreadable.
The Queen of Thieves glanced about, trying to formulate some sort of plan. Chewing her bottom lip, she met Tiera's eyes.
Worry consumed her friend, that much Ariel could tell. Sighing loudly, Ariel addressed the group of women:
"I am calling a meeting," she spoke, looking everyone in the eyes, trying to ignore the unnerving glare of the Marchwarden.
"Dialan, you and five others will stay and watch the elf, we will not be gone long," Ariel stated.
"As you wish, my Queen," whispered Dialan, head slightly bowed. She pointed to some of her comrades, body language telling them to stay behind with her and guard the elf.
Not even bothering to reprimand her friend for use of the formal title, Ariel spun on heel, the others following behind.
After walking a good distance away from the golden-haired elf, the Thief Queen stopped. She was aware of the acute hearing that the eldar possessed, and was not going to take any chances.
Facing the company, she spoke softly, "I know not what to do. We certainly cannot outrun the elves, especially if we have their Captain slowing us down. We are veritably trapped, ladies."
Eyes widened in shock at this news. Their leader did not have a solution. All hope was lost.
Clearing her throat, Rarill addressed Ariel.
"Can we not still go to Minas Tirith, my Lady? You said before that it was possible to hide in the city, if we were careful."
The others nodded in agreement, hope sparking in their stomach.
Ariel dismally shook her head. "They will surely be looking for us at the gates, now that they have the knowledge of what we look like. And, I do not think we could get to the White City before the elves. Do not forget, my friends, we are without horses. We travel with too many disadvantages."
The group lapsed into silence, each swimming in their own melancholy.
Taking a deep breath, Ariel looked past the women, eyes resting on the Marchwarden. What else could the Thieves do? Eventually, they would fall to the elves, and slowly, the women were realizing this.
Glancing back at the company, Ariel managed a weak smile.
"We shall go to the falls. At least there we can find peace before our fate is so cruelly decided."
Estella, a scout, spoke up. "There is only one exit from the falls, we will have no option of running if the elves find us. It is a foolish place to go to."
Defending her Queen, Kayla, a rival scout, glared at Estella. "Then where do you suggest we go? At least at the falls, we are safe from being heard. The water creates such a loud sound when it crashes against the rocks that any person, human of elf, is unable to hear what happens in the cave behind the falls."
Estella nodded her head in submission, turning to Ariel.
"We shall have to hurry, we are lucky that it is a short distance away," remarked Ariel.
With that, the company headed back over to the elf and the women diligently watching him.
"It has been decided that we are going to the falls," the Thief Queen announced, looking at Dialan.
Ariel glanced at Haldir. "You will come willingly Marchwarden, or suffer the consequences.
Haldir almost scoffed. Pathetic humans, always thinking they had unlimited power over any creature. It sickened him.
Not waiting for a reply, Ariel grasped his dagger and poked him in the lower back, forcing a reaction.
"Walk," she ordered.
Not wanting to quarrel with an unstable female, Haldir moved his feet.
His soldiers would find him soon.
The rope that bound his wrists still refused to give way, and the Marchwarden was starting to get minimally vexed.
Turning off the main path, Ariel led the company, with Haldir in front of her.
Trees leaned menacingly over the group, threatening to grasp them in their brittle branches.
Haldir stayed silent, memorizing the route they were taking.
Within a short time, the Marchwarden's sensitive ears heard the sound of running water. After a few moments, the company came upon a beautiful sight.
A massive waterfall poured down from the heavens, hitting the water so hard that it created a mist around the area, giving the illusion of enchantment.
The water, a light green in color, changed to navy when the sun skipped over it. Flower- bearing trees surrounded the pond, releasing blooms that gently cascaded into the water.
Keeping his nonchalant expression, Haldir acquiesced to being led around the water until Ariel reached the falls.
Cold blade met subtle skin as the Thief Queen forced the Marchwarden to enter the falls from the side, brushing by the rushing water.
The company of women followed, knowing the path all too well.
Glancing at his surroundings, Haldir was impressed. Staring coldly around, he inspected the surroundings.
They were in a cave of some sort, and even his elven ears could not hear beyond the roar of the falls.
Paintings littered the walls, getting moldy from the condensation of the water. Supplies were found at random intervals and he watched as a girl as a girl lit a torch.
As they went further on into the depths of the cave, Haldir's hearing slowly increased until he could clearly listen to his own footsteps.
Finally stopping, Ariel managed a meager smile.
"Gather what food we left here on our last trip. Bring all the ale you can find, this will be a night to remember."
Nodding, the women fulfilled her request, arms full of dried meats and murky beverage.
Turning to Haldir, Ariel pushed him down into a sitting position, knowing he could easily overtake her.
"Don't move," she commanded.
The Marchwarden quirked a golden eyebrow, his only sign of feeling.
Ariel glanced at the women, all having the same expression of lost hope alight on their rugged features.
"I suppose this is the end, my friends. It's been an incredible journey, and I couldn't think of anyone else I would rather spend my last day of freedom with," Ariel murmured, her voice echoing around the cave. Tears jumped into her eyes, fighting for reprieve.
The company agreed, each inclining their heads, tears freely making a slippery path down their puffy cheeks.
Taking a deep breath, Ariel continued, "Well, we shouldn't be sitting around crying about the situation. We should be celebrating!" She yelled, mustering up enough energy to laugh. "Grab a bottle of ale and share stories like old times! We still have time before the elves come, surely they will not find us for a while." At this, she snuck a glance at Haldir, who's expression revealed nothing.
None of the women moved. Faces were hard to see as the torches played tricks with the light.
"Go! Be merry!" Ariel laughed. She pointed to a girl. "Orien! Kindle us a fire, if you would."
Smiling, Orien went about her task and, slowly, the others followed suit, each going about their own devices.
Happily sighing, Ariel sunk down next to Haldir. Hopefully, the ale would erase the concerns of the Thieves and take away from their sorrows.
The Marchwarden was impressed with Ariel. She had amazing leadership potential, and it was unfortunate that she committed so many crimes against Denethor.
Haldir mentally slapped himself. Complementing a human?! Surely, the closed conditions must be affecting his mind.
The lady at his right stayed silent, and he looked at her from the side, still trying to free himself from the rope.
Stealthily, Haldir studied Ariel.
Deep brown locks were abruptly cut off a little past her shoulders. She seemed taller than an average women, but still most probably only came up to Haldir's chin. Muscular arms met scarred hands and nimble fingers. Her chest was broad for a lady, which gave her an almost masculine appearance. Retaining some delicate features, her face was also fierce. Her legs remained hidden from view under her dress. She was not horrible to look at, but all the same she simply did not compare with the eldar.
Feeling a stare, Ariel glanced at Haldir, only to be greeted with an icy exterior.
The Marchwarden once again try to undo his bindings.
Noticing his activities, Ariel smiled.
"I wouldn't bother with trying, dear sir, those ropes are of elvish craft," she laughed. "We stole them from a trader who refused to pay the toll."
Breaking his silence, Haldir turned to her.
"Lady Taliwen, I suggest you do not admit to your crimes, as it only incriminates you further," he said haughtily.
Ariel scoffed. "Who cares?" she asked, sounding like a rebellious child running away from home.
"Indeed," answered Haldir.
"You speak in riddles master elf! Please, instruct me on how I should act!" she yelled, capturing the attention of every person in the cave. She was becoming hysterical.
The Marchwarden chose not to answer, which was a wise decision.
"Ha! At a loss for words are we?" she questioned, momentarily noticing the stares of the other women.
"Why are we all just standing around?" Tiera said, trying to lighten the mood. "C'mon! Let's dance! Laurelin, I believe you have an extra instrument that you keep in the cave?"
The girl in question nodded, retrieving her instrument. Soon, a flow of notes was present and, hesitantly, the women began to move around the fire, hoping to dance away their problems.
Ariel stayed seated with Haldir, trying to calm herself down and keep her composure.
After a while, Laurelin picked up the pace of the rhythm, making the company move faster.
Ariel smiled at the sight, they were always happy when they danced.
Ale was poured freely around the women, and even Ariel started to partake of the beverage.
Haldir gave her a look, and she gave him a curious expression.
"What? They shouldn't be the only ones to enjoy themselves before your companions get here, Marchwarden," she said, swigging a mug of ale.
Soon, most of the women were drunk, including the Queen of Thieves.
Instead of dancing around the fire, now it mostly consisted of stumbles and hops. Laurelin grinned as she watched Kayla collide with Merna, both laughing at the act.
Dialan was up to her old habits, trying to loudly seek everyone's attention by telling a rude joke about a dwarf and orc. Some things never changed.
Ariel was freely laughing with the group, but still had refused to leave her place beside Haldir, even though the alcohol in her system desperately wanted her to leap around the fire naked.
Taking another sip of ale, Ariel slapped Haldir on the shoulder. He didn't even flich.
"Ha! They are d- dancing part- particularly well, for be- being drunk, don't you think, my Lord?" she questioned, her words slurring together.
Haldir scoffed in response.
Ignoring him, Ariel went on. "I 'spose it's because you're here, m- master elf. We seldom con- converse with the- the male species. Well, so- sometimes when former friends ven- venture outside of the city we- we will keep them company."
Haldir raised an eyebrow in curiosity.
Ariel coughed, choking on ale and jerky.
"Now, they- they never come, 'cause of the orcs and all," she whispered in his ear, as if it was a secret.
Humans did strange things when ale was in their bodies.
Suddenly, Ariel's expression grew melancholy.
"They- they shouldn't have to- to live without the prospect of love. So- so many of them left be- behind lovers, you know. Dam Denethor!" her words were muffled by the laughter of the women around her. She hiccoughed a few times and looked at Haldir through lidded eyes.
"They d- dance beautifully," she remarked.
Haldir laughed outright. He glanced at the women around the fire.
"That is not dancing. That looks like rabid animals hopping around a kill. Humans possess no grace nor style. They are disgusting creatures," he said, anger seeping through his words.
"That is you- your opinion? You do not think that that dan- dancing is seductive at all?" Ariel questioned.
"Humans do not know the meaning of 'seductive,' Lady Taliwen," Hadir stated, still trying to free himself from the rope at the same time.
Dropping her ale, Ariel stood up. "Is that sooo, Marchwarden? Hm, perhaps I sh- shall have to teach you a le- lesson," she said, stuttering.
Breatjing deeply, she found the rhythm of the music fairly easily, as Laurelin always played loudly.
She started moving her feet, and her hips swayed to the beat.
The fire glittered in her eyes and her bare feet kicked up the dirt. Her face was submerged in darkness one moment but alight the next.
Haldir became intoxicated with her form. Even drunk, she evoked a strong emotion within him. The Marchwarden remained seated, content to just watch the mystifying performance.
Ariel danced closer to him, feet moving in a timeless rhythm.
Soon, she started touching him. First a careless touch on the shoulder, then a hand placed on his chest that made him ache with a strange sickness that he could not name. She was so close to him that he could smell the ale on her breath, and to his horror he was not disgusted.
Still swaying to the beat, Ariel watched Haldir through misty eyes, not really knowing what she was doing. She felt extremely liberated dancing in front of an elf that she barely even knew.
Bending down, her face became inches from Haldir's. She subconsciously licked her lips and the Marchwarden widened his eyes. Something strange was taking hold of him.
They both started leaning in, the fire roaring around them and music echoing throughout the cave. Ariel closed her eyes and waited for the kiss...
Suddenly, Haldir heard a noise and turned away, almost touching Ariel's soft, compliant lips.
Abruptly, the music subsided as elven warriors surrounded the women.
The Queen of Thieves stood, dumbfounded, as she all of the sudden felt very cold, even with the fire at her back.
-----------------------------------------------------------End Chapter
Hope you guys liked it! It's about 12:06 midnight right now, so I'm sorry if there are a couple mistakes I missed, I just hate keeping you guys waiting!
PLEASE REVIEW! I will set you on fire! Mwahahaha!
Personal reviews will be answered next chappie, because you guys deserve some recegnition! Next chapter is actually my favorite now! Hahaha. I have most of it typed, so expect it soon. Lots more tension now, believe me.
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--Blade Eclipse