Stars (A Legolas Love Story and Lord of the Rings Fanfiction)

"Cry."

Katherine's Point of View

I woke up to the sun shining in through the window.
Immediately, I felt a headache coming.
Oh, the side effects of drinking never failed to displease.

I sat back on the bed with my eyes open, trying to remember the night before.

Ah yes, drinking. I remembered that.
Then I had danced with the hobbits....a little unexpected.

And then....ohhhhh no.
I had blurted out my secret to him, hadn't I.

I ran my fingers nervously through my hair.
This couldn't be happening. He shouldn't know. Maybe he forgot? Or he didn't hear? Doubtful.
Elves heard everything.

I decided to go to breakfast and find out.

I changed my clothes and braided my hair in a long braid down my back.
I walked into the empty Great Hall and got my breakfast, which basically consisted of porridge, and sat down at a long table by myself.

Legolas walked in a few moments later and got his own breakfast.
He looked around and saw me, but chose to sit at a table across the entire hall from me.
He faced me so that he could stare at me as I ate.
He seemed wary of me, as if I were about to do something surprising.
I kept my eyes down as I gulped my food down. I could feel his brilliant azure eyes burning into me, looking into my soul. I couldn't take it anymore. I bolted.

I ran out of the hall, towards the stables.
As I did, I heard that familiar voice. The one that haunted me from my childhood.

Dernwyn did her usual mockery, but I stepped up in front of her.

She looked uneasy because I was five feet, five inches tall and she was only five feet, three inches. I looked even more intimidating to her with my new scar, which I loved so much.

"Go ahead. Test me." I urged her in a low and raspy voice.
I wanted a fight.
In fact, I needed a fight.

Her face twisted into a sneer again and said what I thought she would.
"Oh, you trying to act all tough now? Too late, I already know you're a coward!"

That was it. Calm and collected Katherine was gone.

My left fist flew up and struck her straight and true on the nose, knocking her back a few steps.

I didn't stop.
My fists kept flying, not once resorting to the classic girl-fighting, like clawing and biting like the way Dernwyn always did.
No, I was fighting like a woman, a woman who could stand up for herself.

Dernwyn hopelessly tried to block my blows, but I was in a fury.
Finally, she was knocked to the ground. I began to kick her in the stomach, over and over again, giving her what she deserved.

A crowd was beginning to gather, but no one could muster the courage to stop me. Everyone knew our history, the village had always gossiped about it.

My vision began to turn red and I started to lose control. I couldn't stop beating the girl at my feet.
Could I kill a human being?
I had killed many things, but I had never done this sort of thing before.

"Katherine!"

The thundering voice stopped me at once.
I hadn't known that Legolas could speak that loudly or harshly.

I stepped back, but I leaned over and hissed, "If you ever speak to me that way again, I'll finish the job."
Dernwyn just whimpered and scurried back home.
The crowd dispersed as quickly as it had formed.

As Legolas slowly walked towards me, ice pierced my heart in fear. He knew my secret. He wanted to talk about it right now.

I began to hyperventilate, panic setting in.