A/N: Im sorry this update took so long, but my keyboard was broken and ere I had a new one, I couldnt write anything. Thank you sooo much for the nice and kind reviews, it really encourages me! WellI hope youll like this chapter. Id like you to review *g* (as usual). Wow, only 3 weeks left and Ill have holidaysfinally! I guess I will have more time to write :) .but nowenjoy and leave a review, please!
Disclaimer: Okm strongll write my first disclaimer without any theatrical blah blahat least Im gonna try*g*. WellTolkien owns it alland me poor soul doesnt earn any money with this story! *cries* Oknext time Im gonna get it*lol*
There goes the chapter .
They were already close to the palace, when Assaron dared talking to Legolas, again. For the last half an hour, the prince had ordered silence, for the little girl was sleeping tight ins his strong arms and he did not intent waking her up ere they were back at the palace. "Mylord, it will be your turn, and your turn only, to explain this to your father", he spoke quietly. "Alas, Assaron! Even Thranduil, High King of the Woodland-Elves will understand my action. But you do not seem to do", he added whispering. The small girl sighed silently, her head still resting on the Elfs broad shoulder. "She is still cold, we have to get her to the palace as fast as we can", Legolas said and walked on quicklier, pulling his coat closer around her small body. Assaron raised his arms to the sky, but said nothing, followed his master. Merely few minutes later they arrived at the Great Gate which was heavily guarded by the Elves since those terrible creatures haunted Mirkwood. Two of the guardians bowed to Legolas knees and spoke: "Mae govannen, Legolas, Thranduillion, your father is already waiting for you"
"Thank you, Irethol, I will comply with his wishes. But first I would like you to take her to a room where she will take a bath and get dressed.", Legolas requested. Irethol frowned, looking at the small human girl with suspicion. "Who is she?", he asked and watched Legolas waking her gently. Assaron shrugged, closing his eyes for a moment.
"Hey, Short-Elfwake up, little sleepyhead", Legolas whispered softly into her round ear. Almost immediately she opened her deep, brown eyes and startled, looking at the crowd of weird beings surrounding her. All she could remember was this blonde person who carried her in his arms and the other one, also with pointy ears, who had hidden the weapons. Completely in panic she tried to solve from Legolas grip, writhed in his arms to get free again, to save herself from the strangest beings she had ever seen. But Legolas won. Much stronger and taller, it was not really a problem for him to keep her in his arms. Yet, he didnt wanted to terrify her. "Hush, little girl, dont be afraidlisten", he said aloud, bowing forward then to whisper something into her ear. But instead of calming her down, it even made her struggle more dogged. Assaron sighed, but could no longer stand the view of his friend trying to hold a small human girl down. He caught her legs and made her cry out loud, so Legolas was forced to press his hand on her mouth. Swiftly, one of the confused guardians followed the Elves and joined them to the palace, secretely hidden underneith a cover of rocks and trees.
"Assaron, stop doing this, it scares her", Legolas said without paying attention to the girl he was still pressing his hand on. "You do it, either", Assaron nagged at him and let her legs go. Thrashing at Legolas chest with her elbows, he had efforts to hold her back. Without any hesitation she bit into the right hand of the prince, made him let go of her with a shout of pain. So she freed herself from the Elf, but couldnt get the next breath freely, for Assaron kept her again. The guardian was puzzled at first, he did not know where this girl came from and what reasons made his master taking her to the palace. Thranduil wouldnt be much enthusiastic about this. "Legolas, I guess this small Lady is a demon in disguise, I cant believe she slumbered in your arms, looking as peaceful as a childand now", Assaron said husky, because he still struggled with her.
"Legolas, why are you late?", suddenly a voice echoed through the huge hall, made even the small girl still for a moment. "Alas as I saidit is your turn to explain, Legolas", Assaron whispered and kneeled down next to his master. The little girl just wanted to take her chance and free herself from the Elfs tight grasp, but Assaron was faster and pushed her to the ground to still her movements in order to show respect to the king of Mirkwood.
She screamed and with tears in her bright eyes she obeyed to Assaron, just to ease the pain his grip caused. "Assaron, do not hurt her", Legolas said angrily, but his father endured no longer the inattentiveness that was given to him. "Legolas, you owe me an answer", he demanded loudly, made the human girl lower her head even more, for she was frightened by the tall and strong Elf. "Adar, Assaron and I went on a hunting-trip through the forest when we found this little girl, hidden inside a trunk, so cold that we were afraid she had to die", Legolas explained impatiently. He sensed that Thranduil would not accept any excuse, but yet he hoped that his mildness could beat his pride. Why couldnt his father just ignore his business for a single second? Why he always had to put more important things like the family or a life in second row?
Thranduils eyes didnt leave his sons, and Legolas felt like his father would look at him with suspiciousness. "I wanted you to be back here at the palace four hours ago and you tell me you wasted your time getting this being out of a hollow tree? And what made you bring her with you? Do you know her?"
"No", Legolas started but got interrupted by his father: "Noof course you do not. Humans are not our business, Legolas" The younger Elf opened his mouth to retort anything, but no sound would leave his throat. "Shouldnt we protect them? At least the weakest and youngest of them?", he whispered, trying to stay calm. The child raised her head slightly, watching Legolas from the corner of her eyes. Assaron held her still tight, his long, blonde hair covered half of his beautiful face. "Is she an Elf, Legolas?", Thranduil asked with a sharp voice. "Father, please"
"Is she, Legolas?", Thranduil merely whispered huskily and Legolas sensed the rage within his fathers heart. He knew he bothered him with his actions as Assaron remarked, but would obedience to him justify an innocents death? The Elf lowered his head with dejection and responded silently: "Noshe is not"
"Legolas, I do not mean to leave her dying in the cold, I just foresee the consequences that will follow to your selfless rescue of her. What about her parents? We will be in trouble if they get to know that we keep her imprisoned!", Thranduil reminded.
"You speak of her as if she was a prisoner. She needs our help, her parents are probably deadthere was nothing but a small track of blood in the snow. What do you suggest we should do? Take her back to the trunk we found her in? Or set her out like an orphan?", Legolas almost shouted and Assaron whispered a prayer that Thranduil would beappeased, though his son dared to argue with him. "Mother would not have been as nasty as you are", Legolas added with a lower voice, looking straight into his fathers eyes. Assaron closed his eyes. If Legolas would not get killed after that, perhaps he would just be hung up on an oak-tree. Legolas could see the pain in Thranduils eyes his words had caused and he was immediately sorry for what he said. "Father", he tried to utter his regret. "Go", Thranduil said and turned his back on the Elves, "Go and prepare a bath for her, she truly needs one"
When Thranduil left the hall, Assaron breathed out loudly: "Alas, Legolas, I said you should explain to him and not fight him. He almost ripped our heads off."
"But he did not", Legolas said calmly, but his friend could see the sadness and regret in the princes blue eyes. Slowly, Legolas walked over towards Assaron and the child he kept to the marble ground. Then he kneeled down in front of her, gently taking her chin, because she was still looking down.
"Look at me, Short-Elf", Legolas softly commanded, seeking her eyes. "Mabe she does not want you to call her like that", Assaron uttered shrugging, "Or she is deaf and dumb"
Legolas gave Assaron a wicked look, so he stopped talking like this at once. Still holding her chin in his hand, his thumb brushed slightly her cheek, wiping away the mixture of tears and mud that was clinging right to her skin. He noticed that she was trembling, her small body was weakened and her mind confused. She didnt move in anxiety. "What is your name, little girl?", the Elf asked patiently, sitting down on his heels in order to meet her eyes with his, to ease her nervousness a little. She slowly looked up into his face and Legolas was deeply worried when he saw the pain in the deep brown of her eyes. "What did your parents call you?", he asked again, not really expecting an answer. Assaron shook his head and sighed. "Mylord, you waste your time if she is really deaf and dumb"
Legolas needed anything but Assarons ironical comments. "You like her more than you love your father, Legolas. At least sometimes it seems to beis it because she does not speak? Because she cannot contradict you?"
The Elf did not move, staring at the girl in front of him, clenching his fingers in the cloth of his coat with anger. "Or is she just a device to rebel against your father?"
When Assaron spoke those words, Legolas eyes reflected the rage inside his heart and he rose to his feet, turning to his servant. "Neither, Im afraid. My father does not care for anything instead of his throne", he said, but Assaron responded: "You hurt him, Legolas. You truly did. The sooner you recognize that, the earlier the situation will relax"
Legolas knew that Assaron spoke wise words, but his pride urged him to stay cold. "Perhaps I do not want the condition to unwind", he whispered coldly, and walking back to the human girl, he said: "You listened to my fathers words? She needs a bath and some new clothes" With this words, he took her by the arm and pulled her to her feet again, calling for some maid servants to come and care for her. When they took her with them, although she wriggled beneath their hands, Legolas was alone with his friend for a moment. "I beg you to wake up, dear friend", Assaron started, his hand rested on Legolas shoulder, "There is no time to dream left. Your father needs you, for you are his bravest and smartest son. You cannot ignore that, no matter how hard you try"
"I am not dreaming, Assaronbut if Id do it lately would seem to turn into a nightmare."
"Did I utter that you are stubborn?"
"Assaron"
"What?"
"Cant you be serious?"
"I am."
"No, you are not"
"Alright, then, my prince, but at least I tell the truth and do not try to hide my mind behind a wall of stone"
"I"
"Oh, yes, Legolas, you do nothow could I forget?", Assaron said sarcastically. The younger Elf sighed, raised his arms over his head and mumbled: "You are a very different species of an Elf, Assarondid someone already tell you?"
"Yes, you, exactly at this moment", Assaron teased, but made Legolas smile, "Promise you will be more obliging to the king and I will help you to tame this beast of a girl"
"Who said I need your help to tame her?", Legolas questioned, raising his brow.
"Look at your hand", Assaron simply murmured, pointing at the trace of the bite she caused him. Legolas sighed a second time, but nodded. "I fear you are right, my friend", he said and passed the hall with Assaron.
"And again, Assaron, the bravest of the brave, the fairest of the fair and smartest of the smart, succeeded!", the Elf said with the head held up high and Legolas merely grinned.
"Mylord, please", suddenly a voice sounded and made the Elves turn around. A maiden stood in front of them, her pinafore was black with dirt, blood was dripping down from her finger, "She bit me when I wanted to undress and wash her. She thrashes wildly like an animal and no one dares to touch her", the woman almost cried. "Are you sure that she is a human girl and no weasel or something like that?", Assaron whispered into Legolas ear.
The prince laid a hand on the maidens shoulder and said: "I will look after her, leave some clothes for her, I care for her"
The maidens eyes widened as Assarons. But she bowed forward and whispered: "According to your wishes" and left the hall. "Legolas, are you mad? You will go there and care for her bath? She will tear you into pieces!"
"Assaron, you take things too far. Andmay youll allow me to remind youyou offered me to help me with the girl", Legolas smirked.
"AlasI dont like promises", he sighed, but was dragged with Legolas out of the hall toward the bathroom .