Legolas was momentarily confused. The Orc had been foolish to challenge him whilst he had been up in the safety of the tree. Before he could shoot an arrow at the Orc, he had realised that another one was behind him and had ducked to avoid the scimitar that had come flying towards him. All he had heard next were two vicious growls. Both Orcs had been rendered to the ground, one dead, the other injured. He looked afar and sighed. His father's soldiers were approaching. He had known that he was being followed by them. At first, he had been irritated. He had tried to lose them several times. Once, he had even confronted them and demanded that they return to whence they had come from. He had even threatened that it was an order. The soldiers had looked helplessly at him before nodding. He had thought that was the end of it until the Captain requested him in private and then politely informed him that their orders had come from the Commander. It could only be vetoed by the King or the Queen. There was no Queen, well,..but the King had not sent anything against it either. The Captain had even asked if he would like to send a runner to request that the King retract his Commander's orders. Legolas had just stared the Captain down and moved on. Let them follow if they were so free with their time. It was no business of his.
But, now, it appeared that he owed them his life. In his frustration, Legolas kicked the Orc carcass and bound the wounded Orc. Looking up again, he was surprised by another party of soldiers arriving. There were just three. Two wore his father's colours but they were too far off to recognize their rank. The third, Legolas did not recognize. It was an Elven maiden, an archer like himself, judging by her bow and arrows. Was she a Captain like Tauriel? It seemed unlikely that she was a soldier though. She carried herself with a pride and grace that came with power and authority. Why, she appeared to be carrying herself just like…like the King. The King, this time Legolas sighed. He did not want to admit it but he missed him, his Ada. Right after the Battle at the Lonely Mountains, it had been easy to place all blame on his Ada and then leave. Now, it felt foolish. He had thought that missing Tauriel would kill him. If he were honest with himself, he did not actually miss her now. In fact, he had been quite content with just the memories of his friendship with her. He no longer wished that things were different between him and Tauriel. He wished her well, hoped she would get over Kili's death and find happiness. But, it would not be with him, at least, he didn't think of her that way. That meant...that meant he did not really love Tauriel either, did he? Legolas sighed. He did not have time to think any further as the Mirkwood soldiers rode up to him.
"Prince Legolas," the Captain bowed before asking anxiously, "You are alright?"
"I am alright, thanks to you, Captain. I am in your debt."
"Please, Your Highness, it is my duty. Make not a stranger of me by calling it a favour."
All then turned to the approaching third party. The maiden had turned around and spoken to the soldiers who nodded and rode off. She then approached them giving Legolas a closer look. Typically tall and slender as all elves, nay not slender, she was thin as if she had not eaten well for a long time. He could not see her hair or her forehead for it seemed to be well-covered by a hood. Legolas realised that no part of her body could actually be seen. She was wearing a high neck dress and her hands were covered by gloves, made of Elven silk. She was well-dressed. And had once been beautiful. Actually, she still was but her face was pale and her eyes held a longing in them. Who was she? He had never seen her in Mirkwood before.
When those eyes fixed on him, Legolas found that he could not hold her gaze. They bore into him and Legolas felt that she could read him through. He could be wrong but she looked intelligent, shrewd too and probably could be cunning, if necessary. She held a bow and a quiver of arrows hung on her back. Somehow, Legolas felt that she would not use it on the innocent. But then again, neither would any soldier of Mirkwood unless their King or Commander ordered otherwise. Thus far, neither had. Another fact that he had never considered before he had so foolishly challenged his Ada in the battlefield.
The Mirkwood soldiers had now circled him from behind. It was Legolas who bowed first though he did not know why. "Arwen en amin," he greeted. The elven maiden appeared surprised. Returning his greeting, she said, "Glass nin le, Legolas Thranduillion. El sila nan lu e-govaded vin." Legolas was puzzled. Was the elven maiden happy to see him or not? He had thought that he had seen a spurt of joy in her eyes but then they had clouded almost immediately though her words said otherwise. And she had addressed him by name not by title.
"My pardon, my lady but do I know you?" His question was answered with a smile, whether amused or sad he could not decide. "You might have known me a very long time ago…but it matters not now. We are on our way back to Mirkwood. Would you care to come with us? These areas are not safe." Legolas looked away. He did not know what to say. He wanted to go back but how? His Ada…okay, he was being unreasonable. His Ada would definitely welcome him. But Commander Aradan….would probably scowl him down. As Prince of Mirkwood, the Commander might be below him in rank but as far as loyalties went, the commander would die for his Ada, something he had failed to do and by sheer experience and military skill, the commander clearly surpassed him, which was why he was the commander…"Come on, Legolas! You are being childish now. You did something wrong. Go back, own up and apologise."
"Aye, my lady. I am on my way there too," he said. She appeared pleased. "It is not safe here. Let us make haste then. The night sky is cloaked with clouds," she said and turned towards Mirkwood. None of them had horses and thus all made their way on foot up the slopes, dragging the wounded Orc along. Legolas wondered why the archer had not bothered to just kill it. None spoke during the journey. The archer, Legolas decided to call her just that, seemed to be constantly on guard. She held a dagger in her hands and Legolas could see that she looked around constantly, though her movements did not betray her. And she was fast. Legolas had always prided himself on being quick but this archer almost equalled him though she was much older. As darkness fell, she quickened her pace until they reached a field bordered by a stretch of rocks, where she called a halt. "Are you hungry, ionin?" she asked him. Legolas shook his head, confused by her alternating tenderness and aloofness. He was not really hungry, having feasted on fruits earlier. Why did she call him ionin? Only his Ada called him that and sometimes, Commander Aradan.
Legolas noticed the archer looking at him and shook himself out his thoughts again. "My pardon, my lady, I was not listening." She merely smiled and continued, "You will pardon us, then? I am sure the soldiers are hungry?" she said turning to the soldiers, all of whom shook their heads. "Well, then, I am hungry. You wouldn't mind if I had a bite to eat, would you?" she asked. The soldiers looked undecided. This elven maiden was no ordinary soldier, that much was obvious. Anyway, no soldier would make such suggestions unless he or she was in command.
Not that the archer was awaiting their response. She ordered the Orc to be tied to a tree and had already settled on the soft grass and from her satchel had taken out a water bag, some elven bread and was that strawberry tarts? Legolas felt his mouth water. He had missed Elda's strawberry tarts. She would bake them for him whenever he asked. Technically, he joined his Ada and Commander Aradan at dinner but more often than not, he would have packed off his own food and gone to eat them with his friends near the stream, sometimes with Tauriel. He did eat with his Ada at least thrice a week but it had just been that his Ada had often been worried and brooding, never carefree. As was the Commander. Why, he had never seen the two smile.
"What are you thinking of, ionin?" the archer's voice interrupted his thoughts. She had an unforgettable voice, gentle yet authoritative. "Nothing, my lady. I..If you don't mind, may I have a tart?"
The archer smiled and waved her hands to the humble spread of food as she helped herself to a bite of bread. "I would suggest that the rest of you eat as well. We might not reach Mirkwood soon and need to keep our energy up." She looked at the soldiers who immediately complied though the archer had not issued it as a command. Legolas nodded and added, "The strawberry tarts are delicious. Elda does not usually cook so well." The archer looked up at him. She appeared pleased, happy or was she amused again? Legolas shrugged and continued with his tart. He had not eaten well in a while.
As everyone ate, the archer stood and walked about beginning to look slightly anxious. "Something wrong, my lady?" asked Legolas. She shook her head. "All will be well. I am just awaiting the return of my two companions. We should be ready to move soon."
As she spoke, a spark of light appeared in the sky. "A flare signal. Pack the food and draw your weapons." It was an order and everyone complied, including Legolas.
Elven phrases (Pardon me if I have made a mistake with them.)
Arwen en amin – My lady (non familiar)
Glass nin le, Legolas Thranduillion. El sila nan lu e-govaded vin –It is my joy to meet you, Legolas Thranduillion. A star shines on the occasion of our meeting.