Gandalf's Apprentice

Chapter Fifteen: Legolas

***Leandra's POV***

I was outside Beorn's home, working with him while he cut firewood.

Gandalf was trying to negotiate, I kept up pace with Beorn, cutting log after log in half. "I have already talked to Little Miss! The dwarves are her friends and you're being hunted by orcs! I have agreed to loaning ponies as well as returning Steel to her. Why must you pester me!?" He shouted and I smiled as I cut the next log.

"Really...? How did she manage that?" Bilbo asked.

"The fastest way to a man's heart is through his stomach...if you're not trying to kill him, in which case you would stab them under the left arm!" I shouted the last word, swinging again on a stubborn log.

"She is a good cook, with a brave heart. She has my respect." Beorn bowed his head to me.

"Never ceases to amaze." Gandalf chuckled...

***

I sent Steel around the forest to wait near Dale. I scouted ahead of the dwarves and found myself hearing branches cracking in the trees above me...I'm deathly afraid of spiders...

I walked faster, and faster, until I was running down the path. My heart began to race, my breath quickened. "Don't look back, don't look back...!" I repeated and heard several legs hit the ground, now charging after me...a sharp hiss followed.

I began to sprint and didn't see the drop off ahead of me. I fell and screamed, rolling down the steep drop harshly. I hissed at the pain in my left ankle and got back up, hobbling as far as I could, only about ten yards before the pain was too intense.

I fell and looked behind me. A great huge spider was coming down the hill. I screamed and tried to drag myself away from it. I screamed as it was nearly upon me...then an arrow pierced its head.

I froze and turned to the direction where the shot came from. "Thank the Valar..." I mumbled and watched as none other that Legolas Greenleaf pointed a bow in my face as he approached me.

He asked me something in elvish, I didn't understand. "I-I-...I don't-...u-understand." I stammered, my eyes still wide in fear...knowing him, he would never miss.

"Do you not speak elvish?" He asked with venom in his voice. I only shook my head, terrified that he was angry with me.

He narrowed his eyes. "You carry a sword, yet you did not fight the insect, why?" He asked, adjusting his hold on his bow.

"I-I'm afraid of spiders, alright...? Petrified actually! Do you see that thing!? It's unnatural!" I panicked and he tilted his head to the side.

"What is your name? State your business." He said sternly.

"My name i-is Princess Leandra Black of Lothlorien, m-my adoptive mother is the Lady Galadriel. Gandalf the Grey is my mentor. I-..." I paused to take a deep breath. "I just want to get out of these woods...they're sick and the air itself is in pain to be here....the trees don't talk like the used to, do they, Legolas?" I said cautiously and he wavered a bit.

"How do you know me?" He asked with caution in his own voice now.

"Because I'm not from this world, Legolas! I'm only sixteen! I used to be human! Then the Valar brought me to this world and left me in the ocean! Gandalf said that the mermaids refused to drown me! A-and I still don't know why I was taken from my old home, but I know that I am never going back. Legolas, please? Just let me go?" I pleaded with fear blatant in my tone...why did I tell him all of that...?

His eyes widened and he lowered his bow, like turning on a dime, his hate turned to concern...what? "You are the Princess...? Every elvish kingdom has heard of your story, my Lady." He stepped closer to me and I blushed.

I tried to move, but yelped at the intense pain in my left ankle and knee. "Damn..." I hissed.

In a split second, Legolas was on my left side, kneeling, looking at my ankle. "Your ankle is sprained and your knee is dislocated. You can't walk like this, I'll take you to the royal healer." He moved to pick me up and out of anxiety I recoiled.

"Legolas, my teacher is Gandalf the Grey. I can heal this myself-" He picked me up like a princess anyway and began walking.

"We cannot linger here and magical use is suppressed. You will have to wait until we get to the palace. My father will want to meet you." He said plainly.

I sighed in embarrassment. "It will be easier to carry you if you wrap your arms around me." He suggested...I sheepishly did so.

He's very blunt, isn't he?!