Illegal love ~ the skinchanger book 1 *under construction*

Part 11

The gate shut hard and loudly behind Aspect, who pushed herself up from the floor. The guard who had thrown her into the prison cell locked it with a big key. Aspect dried her tears. She knew this was coming, but she had hoped the dwarves would have been free before the time had come.

"Aspect?," Fili asked from across the hall. "Aspect?!" She took a deep breath before she got up at her feet.

"I am sorry, everyone," she said with a small, sad smile. "I am sorry I failed."

"No, no Aspect," Kili started, but Fili continued.

"We know you did all you could do. We are sorry you had to end up in this situation," he said, giving her a comforting smile, but it didn't win over Thorin's deep-thinking-and-judging-face.

Suddenly a voice from up the stairs could be heard. "Aspect." Down the stairs came Legolas. Aspect stepped away from the gate, hoping to hide herself in the darkness of the cell so that Legolas could not see her. "Aspect," he repeated, stepping up to her cell. "You are not a wounded pup anymore, come out of the darkness." His voice was soft, but it was still a command. She took a few, small steps closer. "Aspect I want to speak to you," he said.

"There is nothing you can tell me, that cannot be said in front of the dwarves," Aspect said, trying to sound confident.

"I was hoping to talk to you in private, but I do not think my dad would let you out for a walk with me," Legolas said, not convinced of her fake confidence.

"You going to take her for a walk? Like a dog with a collar? What even are you, elf?," Fili yelled out, disgusted.

Legolas turned around, staring at Fili. Aspect smiled a small, grateful smile to Fili, but she was also afraid of what Legolas could do. "I am more than you are, and more than you could ever be, dwarf," Legolas shot back. He turned around, softly. "Aspect, I am sorry. I just want an explanation."

"I do not understand what I am going to explain to you? Your dad found out of my plan, humiliated me with that leather cap over my snout and threw me in here. I do not think there is so much more to this than that. He seemed to have figured it all out, so why not talk to King Thranduil, the greatest, all-knowing and handsomest elf in the whole universe?," Aspect replied hurt, putting on a sarcastic, stupid voice as she talked about Thranduil.

"No," Legolas said, laying his hand on the gate. "I just need your explanation for everything. Everything before you came here, and after. The explanation before this." They locked eyes. They stood silent for a while.

"Please," Legolas pleaded.

So Aspect explained. She explained how she had met The Company, and how both Gandalf and Beorn had talked her into following The Company on their quest. She explained how she actually had grown really fond of all these weird looking dwarves, and how she had decided to follow them into the forest, knowing she could be in deep trouble. She explained how she had lost them, and how she had been found by the elves. She then explained to Legolas the despair and anguish she had felt the first few weeks, knowing they were out there, lost. She explained how she had given up all hope, and needed acceptance somewhere - and therefore ended up staying in Mirkwood. She ended by explaining the happiness and joy she had felt when they found them - but also how the dark that threw itself over her when she saw them getting captured and thrown into the dark cells.

Legolas stood quiet for a moment, nodding slowly. "So the feelings you expressed to me... It was all an act?," he asked hurt.

"No, no Legolas you need to listen closely," Aspect said, lowering her voice before stepping closer to him, putting her hand on his. "The feelings were real right there and then, and I still hold you close and dear, it is just a little hard for me. It is complicated - I have a lot of thoughts in my head right now." She casted a quick glance over at Fili, who sat and leaned his back to one of the walls of his cell, by the gate.

"I... I understand," Legolas said, taking a step back. "Thank you." He turned and stepped lightly up the stairs in a hurry.

Aspect took a deep breath before she sat down, just like Fili, leaning against the wall. "Well that was a mouthful," Thorin murmured, just loud enough for Aspect to hear. She shot a glance at him.

"Thank you for an explanation, Aspect," Balin said. "I understand that it was not only for the elf, but also for the rest of us. I think we all needed to hear your thoughts and feelings. You have, just like us, experienced a lot - maybe even more. Some of us was a bit too quick to judge." Aspect smiled at him, and he returned the smile after looking at Thorin, who stepped away from the gate.

"I have had some problems throughout the years, and I have no problem talking about them, but only if you ask me. I can gladly explain them to you all later, but I think we need a little better surroundings first," she said, smiling.