Shadow of Mirkwood

Punishment

To burn with desire and keep quiet about it is the greatest punishment we can bring on ourselves

Lytharial's grimace betrayed her unease at the notion of facing Legolas's punishment. The idea sent shivers down her spine; she had heard whispers of the prince's methods, and they often ended in bloodshed. Anxious thoughts gnawed at her, and she found herself absently picking at her cuticle in a nervous gesture.

     "You want to punish me in the literal sense?" she asked, her tone edged with apprehension as she shot Legolas a wary glance.

Legolas met her gaze with an air of nonchalance, his expression unreadable. 

     "Is there a problem?" he inquired casually, his voice betraying none of the underlying tension that coiled in the air between them.

Her heart pounding in her chest, Lytharial shook her head, blinking rapidly to dispel the rising sense of dread that threatened to overwhelm her. 

     "When can I find out what the punishment is?" she pressed, her gaze drifting past Legolas to the elves milling about the courtyard.

As if in response to her question, deep laughter echoed from nearby, the sound reverberating through the ground beneath her hands. Lytharial glanced in the direction of the laughter, feeling a pang of uncertainty grip her heart.

     "You really are a child, you want to get everything right away, hang on," Legolas remarked, his smile tinged with amusement as he offered her a reassuring nod.

Lytharial's anxiety ebbed slightly at Legolas's reassurance, though she couldn't shake the lingering sense of apprehension. She shifted uncomfortably, unsure of what to expect from his punishment.

Legolas leaned back against the tree, his gaze drifting skyward as he seemed to contemplate his next words. 

     "You'll find out soon enough," he replied cryptically, a mischievous glint dancing in his eyes.

A ripple of nervous energy coursed through Lytharial, her mind racing with possibilities of what her punishment might entail. Would it be a test of her combat skills, a grueling physical challenge, or perhaps something entirely unexpected?

Lost in her thoughts, Lytharial barely noticed as Legolas rose to his feet, extending a hand to help her up. 

     "Come," he said, his voice softening, "let's take a walk. It might help clear your mind."

Grateful for the distraction, Lytharial accepted his offer, allowing him to pull her gently to her feet. Together, they strolled through the courtyard, the gentle rustle of leaves and the distant murmur of voices providing a soothing backdrop to their conversation.

As they strolled through the courtyard, the topic of Aestiria lingered in the air, an unspoken tension between them.

     "Do you trust Aestiria?" Lytharial ventured cautiously, her voice barely above a whisper.

Legolas's expression darkened slightly, a shadow passing over his features. 

     "Trust is earned, and I've yet to see Aestiria prove herself worthy of it," he replied, his tone laced with skepticism.

Lytharial nodded in agreement, her doubts about Aestiria echoing Legolas's sentiments.

     "She seems... too eager to please, if you ask me," she remarked, casting a wary glance towards the palace.

Legolas's brow furrowed in thought as he considered her words. 

     "Indeed," he mused, "there's something about her that doesn't sit right with me. It's as if she's hiding something, but I can't quite put my finger on it."