XXI. Exile

            “I have not had to do this in all my years of reigning over Greenwood,” the king spoke as he paced at a snail pace before me. I kept my head bowed but my eyes focused on the Elf before me. “You are a unique incident. I let you stay here in hopes that my paranoia was all for nothing. But it was only a matter of time before something happened. From this day forth, you will be banished from Greenwood. If you should try to sneak your way back in, you will be captured and locked away until the day you die.

            “Fortunately for you, my son convinced me to allow you a horse on your journey. You should be very grateful for that.”

            “Believe me, I am,” I muttered.

            “You can go rejoin your Men and continue your trouble making elsewhere. Should you try and come onto our grounds, and should you pose a threat, the guards have the order to shoot to kill.”

            I refrained from lashing out, from showing the king how upset I was with him. I bet he wanted to see me upset, it would give him satisfaction. I kept a stone face, standing so straight my back began to hurt.

            “You are dismissed. You will be escorted to the gates where your steed will be waiting for you.”

            I felt the presence of the guards behind me. I did not fight, I did not talk back. I just merely walked in between them in silence. I could not suppress the feelings inside of me: outrage, sadness. I would truly miss not being able to return here, to never see Legolas again.

            I would never get to see Legolas and Nikita wed. I was sure the ceremony would be lovely. Still, in a way, it was better that I did not stick around. The ceremony could very well be the death of my heart and any hope I had of loving someone. Though I could never know Legolas as long as Nikita had, I still loved him. We were the unique case of knowing each other for a short time but connecting very well, almost as though we were destined to be matched from the day we were born.

            Love would have to be put on hold, because I would have to settle in a new area first. That is, if the Men did not find me or if I did not die in the wilderness.

            Thalias lifted my mood slightly upon seeing him. He looked in good health, perky, the complete opposite of how I looked and felt. At least he could provide me some company. I could never travel with Halian at my side, because I assumed she was dead by this point—that the assassin got to her.

            I held the tears back. I did not want the guards to see me cry.

            Thalias wasn’t tacked, so I assumed Legolas told the king about my bareback rides. One of the guards kept Thalias steady, though he would do so without the aid of them. I jumped onto his back, settling myself in. I did not look back as I squeezed his sides.

            It was like Thalias knew it broke my heart to leave Greenwood, or maybe he did not want to leave either, because he took the slowest gait possible out of the gates of Greenwood. We were going to be plunged back into the forest, the forest that possibly still had Giant Spiders lurking in it. The forest that would drive many insane who lost the Elven path that led to Greenwood.

            Thalias, I hope your mind is not affected by the magic in this forest, otherwise we will lose our minds and die in here. Thalias was my only hope of getting out of the forest.

            I gave him a light kick, enough for him to break out into a trot. It was only then that I let the tears fall.

*     *    *

            I should have asked Legolas to bargain for some supplies, mainly water. Thalias and I wandered aimlessly in the forest, hoping to find the way out. We did not rest, only because I worried about what horrors were around us.

            Since daylight did not peek in through the trees, it was impossible to tell time, for the most part. You could at least believe it was nighttime with how dark it got. It felt like it was always night in this forest.

            Once Thalias stopped on his own, I figured it was best if we just stopped to rest. Thalias still stood while I rested against an old tree. My face was still damp from all the tears that I had shed throughout the day. If the Men did not find me, the forest would claim a life, possibly two if Thalias could not escape after I died. I hoped he did not stay by my corpse in hopes that I would wake. As loyal as he was, I would want him to find his way out of here and live out the rest of his days in peace. Maybe he would find a new home, a new owner.

            I closed my eyes, letting my ears become my eyes. I heard Thalias’ even breathing, heard my heart beating against my ribs. The forest was eerily silent. Though silence would be welcome in some situations, this one was not one of them.

            My ears picked up new noises in the distance, some low chatter. I opened my eyes, trying to see if I could tune in more. Thalias and I were not alone. It did not sound like any creatures, so it was a being of some sort. I swallowed, getting onto my feet. I unsheathed my dagger I just remembered that Halian had slipped to me through the cell door.

            Recklessly, I let my eyes guide my legs towards the noises. Thalias did not follow me, so he assumed that I would be all right. I knew should he sense something was wrong he would come charging to my rescue like the loyal stallion he was.

            I took cover behind different trees, all while getting closer.

            “Why did we get stuck with babysitting?” groaned a low voice. My blood froze. No Elf had a voice so rough. Impossible. They are here?

            “We couldn’t do anything about it, it was a vote,” growled another voice.

I peeked from behind my cover to see the backs of two Men. Their figures were more prominent thanks to the fire that they hovered around. I swallowed. Did they track me here?

            They were not the only two in this forest, there had to be more of them. Are they just watching their camp? Where are the others? Searching for me?

            “It’s not all that bad anyway,” continued the other voice. “We get to keep watch over her. Shame we can’t have some fun with her. Nobody would know.”

            “She’d get us into trouble,” spat the first voice. “I don’t know about you, but I don’t fancy dying today or being hurt because of her.”

            Her? I tilted my head. They had a hostage with them? I felt a sudden urge to find their hostage and free her. Another woman, whatever race she was, did not need to endure what I went through. She did not deserve to be in their care. She was most likely innocent, like I had been when they had taken me away from everything I had come to know and love.

            Using the trees, I edged around their camp, hoping to spot this hostage of theirs. It wasn’t until I saw the long, blonde hair that I found her. Her back was to me, as though she were sleeping, or feigning to. Her hair looked unkempt and greasy; debris was caught in her curls. If she was facing me, I could see who she really was.

            A burst of adrenaline raced through my veins. This girl, whoever she was, needed to be saved. Why not rescue her? But where can I take her? To Greenwood? I would be jailed the moment I would get inside the gates. But there is no other choice if I can save her. I gritted my teeth. I guess I was going to spend my life in prison in order to save another’s life.

            I nearly blew my cover stepping on a twig. I held my breath, fearing that the Men had their heads turned towards the tree I was hiding behind.

            “You hear that?” one asked.

            “Probably an animal.”

            “There aren’t any. We haven’t seen anything since we got here.”

            I closed my eyes. Now or never. The forest better not echo their screams.

            I came out, dagger at the ready. I was about a foot away from the Men, when they simultaneously got to their feet and spun around to face me. I froze; wolfish grins were on their faces.

            “Well, well, we thought we’d never find you again,” the one with shaggy hair crooned. “We thought you’d died off somewhere. Now we don’t have to look for your body anymore.”

            “Release her, now,” I threatened.

            “What will you do, She-Elf? What are you going to do with that?”

            “You will see soon enough.” I held it in a fighting position. “If you do not let her go, I will use this.”

            “You wouldn’t.”

            “Nim!”

            My head snapped towards the hostage. She was facing the tense situation, the fire enhanced her features. I lost my breath at seeing her. She was no ghost if the Men could see her as well and talk about her.

            Halian. She was alive, and the Men had found her.

            “Look out!” she cried, just as I focused on the Men again.

            They both launched themselves at me, wolves trying to take their prey. I swiped my dagger at them, they backed off. One brandished a whip, another brandished rope. Though I was slightly terrified of my opponents, I had to not run off, for Halian’s sake. She would not endure the horrors that I had to.

            They circled me, trying to split my focus. The one cracked the whip loudly, making it bounce off the trees. Halian cringed at the noise, whimpering. Her reaction set me off. I lunged for the one who held the rope. He blocked my arms with his, shoving me away. I dove back in, and eventually got a slice into his forearm. He howled, and I did in the next second as a sharp sting exploded in my back.

            “Nim!” Halian cried.

            I spun around to face the one who held the whip. He cracked it again, hoping to make me flinch. I danced anxiously before him, hoping to make him slip up so I could strike at him. His eyes were alight with mischief and hunger.

            Halian screamed as the thick rope lassoed itself around my neck. I dropped my dagger, focusing on the rope. It tightened quickly, making me sputter. I dropped to my knees as the one who held the whip came to stand before me. He struck me across the face; my scream reverberated against the trees.

            “We should kill you right now,” Whip snarled. I felt a light trickle of blood fall down my cheek. “You escaped, and we don’t take that lightly.”

            I coughed as the rope constricted my neck more. I could not get enough air. Lightheadedness was starting to take effect. My eyes downcast to my dagger on the ground. I tried to reach for it, but Whip struck at me. I cried out, feeling a white-hot pain on my hand.

            “I should make you pay though, before the others come back.” Whip laid the harsh part of his weapon against my stinging cheek.

            The Man behind me suddenly cried out. The rope suddenly slacked around my neck, and I went falling on all fours. I heard a body fall behind me and a startled female gasp. I coughed heavily, only to receive a kick to the face. I reeled backwards, lying on the ground.

            Whip towered above me, his arm raised. A flash of something flew in my vision, and the next thing I knew, Whip had a dagger buried in his chest. His eyes went to something eye level with him before looking at me. Like a tree, he fell backwards, his body making a dull thud against the ground.

            I sat up, looking around dazedly to see Halian, who shook as though the ground trembled under her feet. Her lower lip quivered, and silent tears ran down her face. With what strength I could gather, I got on my feet and went to her. She collapsed into me, sobbing.

            “Thank the Valar!” she moaned into my shoulder.

            “Halian,” I breathed, smoothing her dirty hair out. “It’s all right, I’m here. It is over.”

            “No, it is not.” She sniffled. “The danger may end for us but not for others. You are bleeding.”

Sure enough, I did feel something trickling from my nose. I kept a hand under there to help myself. “It is nothing serious.”

“Nim, Greenwood is in danger.” Halian sat before me on her knees. She hiccupped. “I learned a lot while being in their capture.” Her eyes fell to one of the bodies.

            “Do not look at them, Halian, focus on me.” I grabbed her face delicately with my free hand. “How long have you been with them?”

“A few days.”

That explains why she disappeared. “What have they done to you?”

            “They have only whipped me a few times. My back still stings.” She flinched. “Aside from that, I am fine.” She tenderly touched my cheek. “The whip is a harsh weapon.”

            “You said Greenwood is in danger?” She nodded. “From what?”

            “From the Men…and Nikita.”

            I blinked mutely at Halian. Did I hear her correctly? I did not get a blow to the head, did I?

            “What did you say?” I asked slowly. I took my hand away from my nose and tried to rub what blood I could off it.

            “Nikita, Nim. Nikita is the mastermind behind all of this.”

            “How can you be sure?”

            “She is the one who made me disappear from Greenwood. I know it sounds strange, but, I did some digging like I promised I would. I kept an especially close eye on her, because I figured she was the best suspect.”

            “It does not make sense, though, Halian. Why would Nikita be behind the attacks if she was one of the victims?”

            “She is clever, Nim. She did it to throw suspicion off of her!” She wrung her hands on her lap. “You know I cannot lie about this, as ridiculous as this may sound.”

            “Explain everything to me.” I whistled. Thalias replied with a piercing neigh.

            “They gave you him?”

            “Legolas negotiated with the king.” I shrugged. “I asked it of him. What proof do you have that Nikita is behind this aside from your kidnapping?”

            “I would have thought you would have made the connection since I was watched by them and from what I said before.”

            “You mean to say that Nikita is in an alliance with the Men?” I stammered.

            Halian nodded feverishly. “Yes. Though I did not see her when I woke up, they did talk about her. They were saying how she promised them protection once she took a hold of Greenwood. T-they were dreaming up absurd things, like how they would transform the place into their own!”

            “That would be impossible; the king would never allow Men into his kingdom, surely. They would not be able to get past the guards.”

            “Nim, I do not believe you understand how she will take Greenwood.”

“Then tell me since I do not!”

“She plans to get rid of the king. How else will she be able to become Queen of Greenwood?”

That held a ring of truth to it. In order to rule any kingdom, the original ruler had to be out of the picture.

“Wherever the Men are, the guards have to see them coming.”

“There are ways in besides the main gate, Nim. I am sure Nikita has done some exploring since you arrived here. If she has done the said exploring, I think I may know which way she is letting them sneak in.”

            “Direct me, all right?”

            Thalias’ hooves alerted us to his coming. I greeted him with a smile before helping Halian onto his back. I climbed in front of her; she grabbed a hold of my waist. With an urgent kick, Thalias took off under us.

**And now we're heading back to Greenwood! Who's ready for some serious drama? Who's grateful Halian isn't dead? I couldn't find it in me to kill the poor dear off.**