CHAPTER NINE – PERFECTLY PROPORTIONED PETALS
"I feel…thin. Sort of stretched, like butter scraped over too much bread. I need a holiday. A very long holiday. And I don't expect I shall return.
In fact, I mean not to,"
Kyle stared absently at the bouquet of flowers she had received. The vase could hardly hold the vivid flowers of red and orange. They were too beautiful for someone like her. They, like the elves were irritatingly perfect, each petal in perfect proportion. Kyle carefully examined the note. Dear Kyle, These reminded me of you. Kyle sighed, how could something so beautiful remind anyone of her? There had only even been one person who had been blind enough to call her beautiful. Legolas.
Kyle took a deep breath and released a long breath as she twiddled the flower longingly around in her fingers. She wanted them to be from Legolas. That would have meant that her growing feelings for him were returned. That way she would not feel like an idiot for even considering the prospect of someone like Legolas, angelic in his appearance, with someone like her...A scarred girl with a plain face.
The door carefully nudged open and Kyle listened to Legolas's footsteps. They were evenly spaced, perfect like everything else he did. He entered the living area, his face unharmed from the bitter cold outside, his eyes instantly found Kyle and a smile grew on his face. "Kyle," He breathed "It is cold outside,"
"It is," Kyle nodded still playing with the flower in her fingers.
"Where did you pick the flowers at this time of year?" He asked, smiling, "They are beautiful aren't they?"
Kyle's face blushed scarlet. It was he who had gotten them for her? Surely he knew where he had gotten them. "I thought...I thought you...picked them..." Kyle murmured, Legolas noted the redness of her face. "You did didn't you?"
"No...No I didn't," Legolas carefully examined Kyle's expression of disappointment, now she felt silly. "Did someone leave them for you?"
"Yes, and a note," Kyle shrugged, "It wasn't signed or anything,"
The elf prince took the note and studied it, turning it over a few times between his fingers. "It would appear you have a secret admirer," Legolas sighed, "I can hardly imagine who," The elf instantly realised what he had said. "I'm sorry I just meant that-"
"No it's fine, your right" Kyle snapped, "Who would leave me beautiful flowers and a note comparing me to them? Only a fool would not see the implausibility in that, there must be some catch,"
Legolas deeply regretted what he had said, but could think of no words to recover from the statement. "There is no catch Kyle. Someone wanted to give you flowers. You are beautiful-
"Don't lie," Kyle yelled, "I would rather you be honest. Liars don't make good friends,"
Legolas went silent and he carefully reached forward for Kyle's hand, she let him take it, that tiny little part of her craving any form of attention from him. She felt like a young school girl again, Legolas had been the only person to have ever said nice things about her; he had been the only person to look at her and say that her appearance made no difference to him. Over the weeks Kyle's feelings had been growing stronger, she held them back. She was being stupid. Legolas was her friend, nothing more and nothing less. Her feelings would not be returned.
"I came to ask you to the feast," Legolas smiled, "It is the anniversary of my father's coronation."
"I don't know," Kyle spoke, "I'm assuming there will be lots of people?"
"Of course," He laughed,
"I think...You know I have...stuff to do," Kyle begun frantically staring at the room, searching her mind for some excuse to get her out of the feast. She did not want the elves staring at her. She did not want to feel out of place.
"Two minutes ago you told me that liars do not make good friends," Legolas snapped, he cupped her face in his hand. "You are my friend; I won't let anyone harm you,"
"I'm not worried about that, I'm worried about them staring at me Legolas. I feel so out of place,"
"I will pick you up later tonight," He placed a kiss on her forehead. "Find something nice to wear,"
Kyle groaned. Apparently she did not have a choice in the matter.
The feast was exactly how Kyle had imagined it to be. Extravagant. The hall was draped in green, the tables lined with golden silk sheets. Upon them were plates full of green vegetables and the occasional platter of meats. Kyle couldn't help but notice the wine to elf ratio. From the stacks of filled glasses she had seen, she had judged it to be about eight glasses for every one elf.
Kyle tried hard to stay by Legolas's side, she didn't know anyone else. The prince however was circulating around guests, exchanging hugs and kind words before moving onto the next. With every elf they greeted Kyle felt even more insecure, their gazes scrutinised her.
The dress she wore had been one of Santiel's; the elf had given it to her as she had grown tired of the colour. It was a dark green and the bottom was all frayed from age. It went needless to say that Kyle's attire was rather out of place amongst the elf maidens. Legolas however had complimented her.
"You must be Kyle," One of the elf maidens whom Legolas was greeting turned her attention to Kyle. "I am Vanya,"
"It's nice to meet you," Kyle spoke lightly; Legolas put his arm carefully upon her shoulder and pulled her into the circle.
"Legolas has told me much about you," Vanya grinned, "You have made quite an impression on him,"
Legolas's face flushed with colour and Kyle gave a nervous smile. "I hope I have made a good impression,"
"Of course you have," Legolas spoke lightly, "How could you not? You're the most wonderful mortal I've ever met. I ever will meet."
"Naneth spoke highly of you as well," Vanya smiled.
"Naneth?"
"My mother, sorry forgive me, my common is not perfect," She chuckled. "My mother was Santiel."
Kyle's brow deepened. Santiel had a daughter? She had never been aware of this. Why hadn't Santiel told her? Kyle bit back the look of confusion and surprise that had already grown on her face. Vanya looked like Santiel, very much so in fact. Even her smile screamed Santiel. "I did not know Santiel was married far less...a mother,"
"My mother is very private about her personal life," Vanya shrugged, "She does not like to speak of herself, It was her plan to invite you for dinner and meet us firsthand, but alas she was not able to ask you. In her passing I hope that we can be friends, It was what my mother would have wanted, you were very dear to her. She looked to you as her own child,"
"I had no idea," Kyle smiled. She had not known Santiel viewed her as a daughter, and she felt very privileged.
"It was nice meeting you, I must go and locate my smaller brother," Vanya disappeared into the crow, once again leaving Kyle alone with Legolas.
After a further few hours of circulating through the masses of elves the music drew to a halt and the elvenking took his seat in the centre of a long table. Legolas was by his side, and somehow the prince had managed to secure a seat next to him for Kyle. There were a few, rather boring and pressing announcements and a toast, before finally the feast ended.
Kyle returned home, Legolas had offered to walk her but she had declined not wanting him to go to the trouble.
She entered her home. Something wasn't right. It felt strange. She placed her coat onto the seat and stared around curiously searching the room for anything that looked out of place. She could see nothing; finally her gaze fell upon the flowers. They had been a vibrant red when she had left. Now they had withered to blackened crisps. The once perfect leaves had dropped and lay scattered across the floor.
Kyle took a few steps forward. The smell had turned from sweet to a sickening sour and she felt her lungs burn as she breathed the air in. What was happening? She curiously picked up a flower and it disintegrated turning to a light dust that flew up her nostrils.
Kyle begun to cough uncontrollably, blood spurting out of her mouth with every loud rasping sound she made. Every breath she took caused her pain. Kyle flew towards the door, but she could not make it. She collapsed to her knees at the edge of the door as the flowers gave one large puff of toxic black smoke.