CH:4- The Taste Of Fear

As the days passed by Isabela recovered quite well and moved around the room where she was staying. She yet to step outside of the room and explore the area around the talan that she knew the living quarters were called here in elven world which was still strange to her. At first she refused to leave the safety of her room but as the curiosity grew stronger she finally gave in and opened the door one day when Haldir was not around and that move would make her regret her actions doing this on her own. One morning when she awakened she noted that she was alone and there was no Haldir at all usually she would see him seated in the chair close by awaiting for her to wake up but this time she was on her own. The place was quiet and when she finally moved and left the bed Isabela found the chest near her bed made of the wood and that was carved in the way that no human in her world could even come close with the artistic way. Slowly she opened the lid and found that the chest was filled up with the clothes of the delicate materials that only was somehow known to elven world. At bit she felt a bit guilty for taking too much from Haldir and on the second thought it was for a good reason for she could not wander around in the clothes that she was wearing for it would only get attention in a wrong kind of the way, Picking the light blue velvet gown she put it on and realized that it matched her size so perfectly and wondered how did Haldir know. Perhaps he somehow used the size of the clothes that she worn before and to that somehow managed to request the tailor to make the clothes the right size for her and let her wear instead, Since her hair was getting a bit longer now Isabela tied up in the loose kind of the pony tail and slipped her feet into the pair of the light pale blue slippers. At least she was presentable enough and to that she took a deep breath and opened the door of her room and stepped outside into the living quarters of the talan.

Talan around her was quiet and other than that a sound of moving leaves on the tree branches gave nothing else out and give her a possible sign that after all she was standing among the tree branches that were the part of the talan. Then her ears caught the sound of the melodic kind of the laughter that could be coming from outside of the talan. Approaching the window Isabela looked outside and wondered where this laughter came from. That was when she felt that she was no longer alone. Turning around she found face to face with another elf. This one was not familiar to her and she knew well that he was not one of Haldir's brothers either. So who was he? He watched her with the slight curiosity that she could note was slowly turning into the kind of the quite uncomfortable kind of the way that she did not like being watched like she was some kind of the prize to get. His hair was blonde too but a bit darker than she had noted in Haldir's bothers and he was complete stranger to her and now he was daring to come even closer and let his hands to touch the side of her face causing Isabela to back off but she knew she was cornered for he had her trapped. He had no right to touch her and tired to use the elven tongue so he could calm her down but she knew well there was no way that she was giving in, As she tried to push him away this was a wrong move and a elf turned to be a very much so hostile to her grasped her hard by her shoulders his eyes turning icy cold and pressed her hard to the wood of the window behind her. The two arrows flew in their direction barely missed her head and it was more then enough for the elf the let go of her and turned around giving Isabela a chance to run and she did so quickly finding the cover behind Haldir's brothers.

"Leave!" Rumil spoke in harsh kind of the tone unafraid to use the bow again as he faced another elf.

"A human really Rumli when did you started to be so soft for the human maidens." Another elf spoke in a slight kind of the harsh tone. "No matter she is quite beauty for keeping around here perhaps as the pet I am sure that Haldir would not mind sharing her with me."

"She is not a play thing to you."Haldir said his tone was icy and Isabela had not even notice him approach and for a brief moment he made an eye contact with her noting that she was unharmed but a bit scared. "Orophin take her back to her room and make sure that no one is allowed to enter there."

"She could be harmed if we had not come right in the time." Rumli said and Orophin glanced back at Isabela and motioned her to follow him out the living quarters back to where the bedrooms were and to remain there as the guard not allowing anyone else to enter her room as he left Rumil, Haldir and other warden alone.

"You are keeping a human as the pet." The elf said in a such cold kind of the tone.

"She is not the pet and it is none of your business to come here and try to force yourself on her. I warning you if I see you again here and if you try something like this again you will be stripped from the rank of wardens. Is that clear?" He said and the warden knew well that he should not test the authority of his captain.

"Crystal." He spoke back and with that he simply left the talan not looking back at Halidr at all.

Seeing him leave Haldir headed back to where the bedroom was Orophin immediately stepped back and let him enter the room. Before entering Haldir lightly knocked at the door and after given the permission to enter he did so and closed the door behind himself. He saw Isabela standing by the window looking outside and her back was tuned to his eyes as he slowly approached her.

"He did not hurt you didn't he?" He asked as he slowly approached her.

"No your brothers came right in the time before he could do anything." Still the lust that she had seen in the other elf's eyes bothered her even more now noting that it might not be over just yet. He might be gone now but that did not mean that he would try something like that again when Haldir or his brothers were not there at all. " Still I fear that he would try something like this again when you are not around neither your brothers so he could catch me alone and without the protection."

"I will not let anything happen to you for you are under my protection and I had told you before I will try my best to keep you safe and unarmed from anything that might come to your way." Isabela turned around as she felt Haldir standing right there before her and reached over to touch the side of his face with her hand.

"You are doing already too much for me to keep me safe Haldir i feel so selfish for using that for my safety and yet not giving anything back to you for your kindness."

"Do not say that. for I had made a vow to keep you safe and sound and if I am not around my brothers will be looking after you so you can be sure you are not alone." That was for the first time that he could see her eyes up close that reminded him of the color of the rich brown leaves with the slight touch of the green when the light hit them.

With her hand remaining on the side of his face Isabela found herself once again lost in his eyes for a long moment and could not find right words, She could not find a right words and was not sure what had happened when she felt the slight brush of his lips across her own in the form of the light kind of the kiss that almost remind her of the brush of the butterfly wing. Haldir slowly pull back and looking down her he said. " Sleep well Bela." With that he turned around and left the room.