| Chapter Three: As it turned out, Kahl heard all about it the next day. The elven writing that had appeared on Narya had actually been a small trap set on the ring. Sure enough, the moment an elf had taken it from the fire in the Hearth, illusions of beasts and orcs had filled the room, taken care of only when Mithrandir had murmured a counter spell coldly. Merry and Pippin were receiving a bitter talk about the responsibilities of holding a ring, a chat that had included a former ringbearer, nodding solemnly in the corner. Gandalf was not amused. Nor was Elrond who now looked on Kahl with a rather strange gleam in his eye. Twice Kahl had him murmur Galadriel and her water mirror. Things could not bode well with that course of action. “It was nothing, really,” Kahl sighed, the hobbits shaking beside her. “Just a small joke. They all had quite a laugh at my expense and quite frankly, I-“ “Took the ring right off Gandalf’s finger…” Elrond murmured. “We know it. And I’m quite disappointed in you. Imagine the horror in the room when it was discovered to be the true ring!” He shook his head. “I am not surprised this house is empty now…” Kahl sighed once more, positively bored. She slanted a glance toward Merry and Pippin and they were unnaturally quite. Looking toward Gandalf, she saw Narya back on his finger and she pouted for a moment. “Out of my sight, Kahelumien,” Elrond commanded. “I have not the strength to deal with you at the moment. Off with you.” Kahl frowned. “Off with me? And what of the hobbits? This was hardly my fault-“ “I will deal with them,” Gandalf said ominously, and the hobbits shrank in terror. He looked at them with a twitching eye, which made even Kahl a bit wary. Turning, Kahl left the hall, wondering when Elrond would deal out punishment. Gandalf was torturing the hobbits. Their cries of pain echoed in the hallways, reverberated throughout the house. Kahl did not know Gandalf was such a cruel man. By the sounds of the screams he was worse than Saruman. Kahl waited. Elenuviel did not return to the room often, which made her all the more fearful. Elrond was planning something big if he was treating her kindly. By the end of this punishment he would probably have talked her into giving up her immortality so as to spare him a few peaceful years on Middle Earth. Kahl waited. On the third day the hobbits reappeared, looking pale and sickly. They came to her room and knocked politely. And upon seeing their death pallor she asked them what had happened and if they were all right. It was for naught. “He starved us, Kahl! Starved! We had a measly three meals a day! Three! He would show us food and then take it away! My life flashed before my eyes, over and over again!” Merry cried on the verge of hysterics. Kahl blinked. “Huh,” she stated. “And then!” Pippin quickly added. “And then! The fireworks-“0he ghispered painfully. “Oh, by the Gods,” Kahl growled and she loomed over the hobbits, effectively bringing them up short. “I can’t believe you two went off and got yourselves in trouble! What about my plan? What about my needs?” The hobbits stared at her, eyes glazing over. “Here I was, worried over the both of you and you two are off fooling around!” Her eyes narrowed. “Don’t look at me like that! Now, come on, we still have far to go before we rest!” The hobbits blinked at her and then blinked at each other. “But-“ Merry began. “We’re hungry…” Pippin whimpered. “No, you’re not,” Kahl said flippantly. And she spun on her heel and stormed off. “Let’s be off. We’ve wasted enough time as it is and I’m not getting any younger.” Pippin looked at Merry once more. “But…food…” he whispered. Merry shrugged and went off, following after the elven maiden. “We will eat first, won’t we?” “Trust me,” Merry said now and he spoke quickly, looking about warily. “He was out taking a walk. My spies informed me of this.” He glanced down the deserted path and from behind a nearby tree Pippin giggled, peering out slowly. Kahl found herself seated in the middle of the path, one leg twisted under her. The plan was to pretend she had hurt herself and was waiting for aid. Hopefully a knight in shining armor. Or an elf in a green tunic. “Your spies. So finally you call them by their rightful title.” No doubt those spies were two more hobbits, one former Ringbearer and his trusting friend. “They are as trustworthy as I am, I guarantee,” Merry said firmly. And then, “Hey…” as she threw him a sardonic glare. “I’m trustworthy…” “Someone’s coming!” hissed Pippin and he pulled back behind the tree. Merry immediately patted Kahl on the head. “Start moaning!” he instructed and he quickly raced to another tree to hide. Kahl straightened herself, fixing her hair and her dress, before clutching her leg. “Oh! My ankle! My ankle! Oh, the pain! It sweeps through my body like a tongue of flames wishing to devour my soul!” Pippin snorted with sudden laughter, loud enough to be heard, Merry dropping his head into his hand. Perhaps it was a bit melodramatic. She toned it down a bit, instead putting more into the action of clutching her ankle. She massaged it and patted it. And massaged it some more. And a bit more. And when she realized she was still alone she glanced over her shoulder critically. No one came. “Someone’s coming?” she echoed him in a hiss at Pippin and Merry. “When?!” At that moment a figure in white rounded the bend in the path, long blond hair falling down the sides of his face. He paused upon noticing her and quickly came to her in worry. “Dearest Kahelumien! Are you all right? Did you fall-“ “Keep walking, Glorfindel, I’m waiting for someone,” she said in a low voice that came close to sounding threatening. The elf blinked at her. “I…beg your pardon?” he asked faintly. Kahl fixed hard eyes on him. “I am a damsel in distress and if you think for one moment I am going to let your ruin my-“ Legolas suddenly rounded the bend in the path, a serene expression on his face. “My ankle!” she cried and at the same time, glaring at Glorfindel, she hissed, “Go away!” Legolas frowned at the two of them, hesitating. Glorfindel rose to his feet, looking down at Kahl in bemusement. Kahl swatted at his feet under the cover of reaching for help. “Oh, it hurts. It hurts, Glorfindel! Go get some help! I’ll wait here!” The elf was hesitant as well, only now she saw a small glimmer of mischievousness in his eyes. “Well, of course you will,” he said, glancing toward Legolas and suddenly smiling impishly. “I dare say you can’t go anywhere-“ “Glorfindel!” “And off I go. Good day to you, Legolas! Please watch over Kahl as I resume my pleasant stroll.” And with a direct glance at the hobbits hiding in the trees he continued his walk, vanishing moments later. “Are you all right?” as Legolas, and he came to stand before her, bending into a crouch. Kahl stared at him as stars exploded around him, blinding her until all she saw was white. She suddenly saw the two of them, running through a meadow, their hair flowing, laughing at everything, especially those stupid little mortals. Or under a full moon in each other’s arms. Married and with dozens of children, each of them looking like him. Or her, if they were girls. Or in bed, doing…things. “My lady,” Legolas said, and it did not sound like the first time he had said it. She blinked, realizing she was blushing and for a moment she even worried she had drooled a bit. Swiping herself right quick, just in case, she nodded. “I am fine. Now. Thank you,” she said quietly, and for a moment she questioned why she sat on the ground, in the middle of the Autumn Path. “You are fine? Did you fall?” he continued and he reached out slowly, hand closing around her ankle. “It doesn’t seem too bad…” “Oh, it’s bad. Believe me, the pain is…it’s-“ “Ah, now I remember,” he murmured and he lifted his gaze back to her face, studying her for a moment. She stared back, eyes wide, and he smiled at her. “You were the maiden at the celebration held in the Hall of Fire,” he answered. Kahl straightened, her own smile twitching a bit. “Eh?” Legolas’ smile grew wider. “The girl Gandalf wanted me to shoot.” Kahl could only smile back in stunned silence. Legolas nodded to himself, his hand massaging her ankle gently. “Was Narya ever returned to him? He did not seem happy to find it gone from his finger. Nearly sent out another Fellowship just to find it-“ “Oh, dear, my, how your hands heal,” Kahl suddenly said quickly and she practically yanked her ankle from his grip. “That’s quite a talent you have there, good Elf. Quite a healing touch-“ she flew to her feet and Legolas look up at her, his expression one of innocent confusion. She didn’t bother returning the look. “Well, I really must be going now. Can’t trust that Glorfindel for nothing. He’ll probably leave me here to die from the pain-“ “Are you certain?” Legolas asked, sitting back on his haunches. “I can easily bring you to Gandalf. I’m sure he has a few healing-“ “No, no!” Kahl cried and she shook her hands at him. “I’m fine, thank you very kindly. But I must be on my way now.” She backed away, fighting to keep her wavering smile. “Perhaps I will see you again?” Legolas nodded, his smile soft. “I hope so. Until then.” She returned the nod and went off, practically flinging herself into the forest. Legolas was sure he heard another voice once she was gone but he merely rose to his feet, his smile growing once more, and with a song in his heart, he continued on the road. |
| All images and works done/altered by ShiNoFuriko and TasogareBan. Please do not steal and always give credit to where it is due. |