Chapter 1 Beautiful Creature

Awilia was running out of her home with a big smile on her lips, the sun was rising and she was running to the stable. Her mother called from the house "Awilia don't ride to far, and please bring your brother for protection." Awilia felt frustrated over how protecting her parents could be, so she just waved her hand for dismissal and kept running. She didn't want yesterdays memories to ruin this beautiful day so she ran faster.

She saddle her black frieser Boglard quickly before her brother would find her and make her ride with him all day, because she really wanted this time alone.

Yesterday had been a hard day for Awilia and she needed some distance from the village and everything that was asked of her. A town boy named Augurt had asked for her hand in marriage and her father had agreed.

Her parents was upset of her lack of interest of being married, it confused them that she haven't found a boy yet. Awilia was far from ugly and more the contrary, her long wavy hair falling down her white flawless skin and a pair of piercing green eyes made people joke about how she was of eleven kin. She would often laugh at such a comment, she never saw the beauty they talked of.

She jumped up the big horse and talked softly to him and rode of into the forest. She had no plan of where to go but she was adventures and today felt like a good day for an adventure.

She rode fast and she loved the feeling of being free. She went further away from home, longer than she had before and she admire the chaining of the color of the leaves and the birds sining in the sky. She stopped by a river to cool herself of from the burning sun.

As she bent down and slowly lowered her fingers in the water she felt a feeling of being watched and took a sip of the cold water cooling her throat. She quickly glanced to her side without moving her head, she couldn't see anything moving by the trees so see looked to the other side without any luck of finding the source of her feeling.

She kept drinking the water and wiped her chin and slowly and carefully moving to Boglard who looked nervous. Her muscles was tens and she was moving closer to the knife she had hidden in her booth.

"Who is there?" she said loudly and her voice was strong but she felt nervous.

Not a sound was made and she start walking to the horse and sat up quickly. She kicked his sides and Boglard galloped away from the river.

The forest changed and became more dark and Awilia was thinking that this adventure might be a bad idea, she was still angry with her parents for promising her to another man. Not just another man, but a man she don't even like and that made her frustration grow. But she didn't have the urge to put herself in any danger.

She jumped down to the ground and watch the trees, she couldn't see the sky and she lost track of time, the forest was so dark it could be night.

She started to climb a tree, and as she was almost at the top when she felt the feeling of being watched again and she pushed herself against the tree. She bent down for her knife waiting for an attack and she could feel her heart pound in her chest. Her mother would always say she was reckless and to brave for her own good. But at this time she only felt reckless for riding so far away. but she would never admit that out loud.

Nothing happened and she put the knife back in her boots as she climbed the last branches to the top. When she parted the leaves and finally felt a breeze on her skin, she took a long calming breath. She opened her eyes and saw the sun slowly go down and the night sweetly embrace the sky and stars started to show in the distance.

She knew she had to find cover to sleep because the night brought out the evil and she was far from home to go back. She start to climb down the tree and started to worry about being attacked by orcs or some other evil creatures.

Her father had learned her how to use a bow and sword, but she was no warrior. She was strong with graceful muscles showing under her skin together with her feminine curves. But she had problems with her emotions and her father always scold her for being reckless and predictable.

As she touch the ground Boglard got scared and he almost ran away but she caught him before he had a chance to run of. She start walking on a path wondering over where she could rest over the night. The hair on her arms raised as the feeling of being watched crept back in her mind.

She took a slow breath as she got ready for a fight in her head, all her muscles in her body was tens. Her eyes caught movement in the trees and her heart start pounding in her chest. She had to swallow two times to distance her fear. She walked faster and faster, and with a graceful move she threw herself up on Boglards back and kicked his sides. He started to run fast threw the woods.

She lost control over the horse and she could feel his fear as he ran faster than he ever had. She hung over his mane as he flew threw the woods. The only thing she heard was the wind as she kept her eyes closed. She felt a sharp pain and the air in her lungs left her body, she felt herself falling to the ground with force. She whimpered as she laid on the ground trying to stand up, but the pain she felt made her lay back down.

She heard a growl coming closer and she open her eyes but she couldn't see, the dark was all around her and the tears in her eyes caused her sight to be blurry. She tried to reach the knife in her booth, it almost took all of here powers. She coughed as she bent further to reach it and the growl got closer. Adrenaline shot threw her body as she felt the danger in the air, she reached the knife and pushed herself of the ground.

She wiped tears away from her eyes as she looked up on the beast in front of her, she lost footing as she stumble back. In front of here was three large orcs, she squinted as she tried to look dangerous and growled back. The growl came out more as a whimper and she cursed herself for her action.

They came closer and she found her knife being a bit useless for this situation and she cursed herself for losing control over the horse.

The loud growl of the orc brought her back to the present and she felt panic.

"What are you waiting for? She screamed out, and she was surprised over her action once again.

"Do a lonely girl scare you so much?" her voice was full of venom as she even showed them her teeth. Her mind raced as she wonder what she was doing.

The orcs threw himself against her with a massive sword and Awilia saw her life pass before her eyes as she believed it to be her last breath, she held her knife high. She heard a swish in the wind and felt the ground vibrate under her feet as the orc fell with a arrow threw his scull.

She stood there unable to move wonder how she could be alive, and for a moment she thought it was her father who had come for her rescue. But she was soon remembered of the other two orcs who started running against her when the other orc hit the ground.

She screamed like a warrior as she found her courage but she never had the chance to show her brave move, when elves left the trees swinging their swords, killing the orc.

Awilia stood still unable to move as she watched the elves clean their swords and saw a arrow pointed between her eyes. She parted her lips and let out a breath of air she was holding. The elf who hold the bow was talking in elvish and Awilia had no idea what he was asking. She heard his voice getting annoyed of her lack of answering. She folded some of her hair behind her ear and the elf eyes got confused and a bit wider as he started talking again.

"Who are you? And what are your purpose of wandering in Mirkwood without and invitation?" The blond elf asked.

Awilia looked confused and irritated of the accusation, she took a breath too calm herself down.

"I didn't know I needed and invitation to simply walking into a wood. I lost track of time and where I was and simply looking for a place to rest." She answered as she held her head high. She was annoyed that the elf still had an arrow so close to her face. Then she looked down to her knife and the elf did the same and she heard the bow draw the arrow further back. She felt weak and her body was hurting from her fall.

She dropped the knife in hope that he would keep the bow out of her face but he did not put the arrow back in his basket. He was quiet as he studied her, she didn't mind because she studied him as well.

He had long silver hair that was glowing even if there was barely no light. His eyes was grey and she could see warmth behind the stern look. He looked young but still old, she had never seen an elf before and she was lost in the beauty of the elf before her.

After a while she opened her mouth again "I mean no harm, I was just trying to defend myself from the orcs and I have to thank you for saving me." and she surprised herself when she bow before him.

She saw a shift in his eyes as she looked up, he lowered his bow.

"Follow us, you will be brought to the King of Mirkwood, he will decide your fate." He said with a stern voice as he picked up her knife and a guard pushed her forward.

Awilia felt herself breath normally again as they escorted her threw the woods, she heard a sound of twigs cracking at her side. She reached for her knife but remembered she didn't have it anymore. She felt the panic in her chest as her heart rate increased, when she felt herself unable to protect herself.

"They found your horse, don't be afraid, human." The blonde elf smirked at her, and she saw the other guard look at her with amusement.

She didn't know why she got so annoyed by him calling her human because she was one, but it made her feel so fragile and she was stronger than he knew. So she huffed and kept on walking without saying anything.

Awilia got more and more tired after been walking for a long while. The elf noticed that she was dragging her feet behind her and that her face showed pain behind the otherwise proud face. The blond elf met her sharp words before, took the courage and asked if she didn't want to rest on the horse.

But he was curious about her, wanting to know more about why she was in the woods alone and who she was.

"What is your name human?" He asked her with a curious face.

She looked at him with tired eyes but she managed to put the wall up to hide her pain. "I will tell you mine if you tell me yours, elf." She told him boldly.

The elf lift a eyebrow and found this human girl amusing, she was probably in great pain and outnumbered. She was without weapon and she still had the guts to talk to him in that way.

He smiled to her "I'm Legolas Greenleaf." He said and bowed as he grated her.

Awilia looked in to his grey eyes and wondered why he was dressed differently, she wondered if he was the captain of the guard. They had saved her so she had no reason to be rude, and she felt ashamed over her words. She had always been guarded but she saw no evil in this elf.

"I'm Awilia daughter of Awony and Curcos." She tried to say as she reached her self up to look more graceful and Legolas smiled.

"Please to meet you Awilia, such a unusual and beautiful name." Legolas said with the smile still on his face.

Awilia looked into his grey eyes and smiled as she felt herself blush. She never blushed when the boys in town called her beautiful, she was confused. She looked down and kept walking as she bit on her lip.

Legolas was happy about the change in events and now felt she wasn't so guarded as before, "Awilia, you look awfully tired. I would feel happier if you rested on the horse instead of walking with the injuries you sustained."

Awilia lifted her head with surprise at the kind words, but she didn't want to seem weak in front of these strong and beautiful elves. She shook her head and smiled and kept walking the pat. Legolas lifted an eyebrow and wondered who this girl was and why she would refuse comfort. He kept walking behind her ready to catch her if she would fall.

Awilia could feel Legolas stare in her back and also the other elves stealing glances of her with wondering.

"Have you never seen a human before or is it something wrong?" She asked a bit harsh but the pain was taking over her mind, and she felt irritated.

The elves looked straight ahead without saying anything. She turned around to Legolas with an eyebrow raised.

He muffled a laughter at how ridiculous she looked all frustrated and dirty. "Some of them have some of them have not. They do not mean to be rude, My Lady."

She huffed and turned around and kept on walking.

Finally she could see the trees getting fewer and fewer and a bridge was a head of them. She took a small pause to catch her breath as she felt herself getting weaker. Legolas could see how she swayed and walked closer to her. The other elves kept on walking to the gates and entered.

Awilia was left with Legolas and she wondered how she would have strength to walk rest of the way. Legolas put his hand on her shoulder, she could see him talking to her but she was so exhausted she didn't hear anything. She felt how he start to shake her, so she lifted her eyes to him and started to walk again.

Legolas holding her arm but she could barely feel it, she looked at the guards at the gate and they spared her a small glance of disproval and she felt unwelcome. Legolas dragged her gently inside, her mouth fell open as she looked at the impressive palace she's been brought too.

She met Legolas stare again and he smiled when he saw her expression. He let go of her arm and left her standing in the hall.

Awilia was to occupied to look around to wonder were Legolas went. She soon felt him beside her and he gently tapped her shoulder. She turned around to see him holding water and a plate with food and she smiled so all of her white teeth showed. She drank fast and put the fruits in her mouth moaned as she felt the sweetness in her mouth. Legolas watched her with interest, and she looked up with a smile still full of fruits and he laughed, it shocked her how beautiful his laughter was.

He took the plate and glass and gave it to a servant as he guided her up the stairs. He was so gentle and a true gentleman, she had never met a man so gentle in her life. And she knew that he probably was like this to all of the ladies he met. But still she felt ashamed of her starring when he spared her a glance and a smile when he caught her. She blushed again and cursed herself for acting like a little girl.

She kept admiring the beautiful ceiling and walls of this palace. She felt some of her strength coming back but still she felt sore and she felt her wounds from the fall more intense now.

They stopped when the reached the platform and she was to occupied by her thoughts, and she was startled when Legolas graced her arm for her attention. She looked up to him trying to show she wasn't tired but strong. He smiled to her similar to an elderly looking at a child and she felt annoyed.

" I would recommend you to behave in front of the king, I would be careful of how you behaved in front of him." He looked at her with worry and she was confused.

Then an elven guard side spoked with a loud voice, "I precent to you, King Thranduil of Mirkwood."

Awilia almost screamed of surprise at the loud voice. she wasn't prepared for them to be so quiet and sneak up on her like that. And especially not talking so loudly. But she got interrupted in her thoughts when Legolas put some pressure on her lower back pushing her forward.

She stumble forward and found herself staring right into stairs, she then heard a harsh, cold and low voice "Who are you and what brings you to my woods without an invitation human?"

She looked up to were the voice came from and the sight was nothing she had ever seen before. On the wooden throne with big elk horns sat the most magnificent creature she had ever laid her eyes upon. His long silver hair glowed in the light and his flawless skin was so perfect that she almost wanted to go up there and touch him to see if he was real. But the more striking was his eyes, it was like they burned right threw her. Like he was draining her power with one stare. He almost looked grim with his thick eyebrows and ice cold eyes.

She was so stunned she forgot to answer the question, she saw how his eyes shot lightings of ice and she felt scared, she started to tremble. It was like the whole room lost its warmth.

"Answer me human!" his voice shot daggers and the power and anger made her shake. She almost fell but felt Legolas strong hand holding up.

"Let the human go Legolas" Thranduil snarled as he was losing his temper over this situation. He have better things to do than to talk to this human girl.

"Tell me now why you are here and what your purpose are walking in my woods? ANSWER ME HUMAN!" He said the last part louder, he was tired of this silly human and Legolas hovering over her like she is precious to him. He stood from his throne and start walking down the stairs to Awilia.

She was still scared of the power in his voice, she was convinced the King would kill her if she provoked him. She wondered how someone so graceful and beautiful could look so grim at the same time.

She shook of her fear and took a glance to Legolas before finding her courage, she lifted her head and stretched her back.

"I'm Awilia daughter of Awony and Curcos and I had no intention of riding in to Mirkwood. I was lost in my thoughts and we stumble right in to the woods of mistake. I was trying to find cover when orcs found me." She said proudly and she took a breath to not lose her courage as she felt the king coming closer staring at her.

"I fell of my horse when three orcs attacked me, I tried to defend myself but I'm no warrior and I was saved by your guards. I was hurt and I had nowhere to rest. I'm sorry for intruding your realm my Lord." She bowed low and long in hope to not see the kings eyes on her.

He looked at here with cold hard stare, he wondered who this strange human was. Awilia, he tasted her name as he studied her. She almost looked like an elf without all the filth that was covering her. If she hadn't showed him her ears he might have thought she was an elf. He didn't see her flinch and he could see she talked the truth.

She finally came up from the unnecessary long bow, he looked at her eyes and they looked like the grass in the spring. He shook his head, why did he think of that now? He became angry by his thoughts.

"Let the healers look at her and find her a room to rest in until she is well to travel. Now leave me!" He finally said and looked at Awilia with ice cold eyes. There was no warmth in his eyes and he looked at her with a disgusted look.

Awilia got angry of the way the king looked at her, like she was a filth and nothing worth. She shoot him a look of disapproval and hate. Legolas took her arm shoving her away from the king before he would cut of her head. Legolas saw how the king reached for his sword when he noticed how the girl looked at him.

She was showed the room of the healers and Legolas talked to her in a low voice "What where you thinking looking at him that way. He could have killed you. The king have no mercy for humans, you should be happy he even helps you and not throwing you out." He looked concerned and a upset.

She felt ashamed of her behavior but she wanted to defend her actions. "He looked at me with despise, like I was worth nothing, like a dirty pig." She almost screamed out in frustration. She thought to herself she need to control her emotions better in this place. She was tired and she felt ashamed by her actions, the King had offered her a roof over her head. She shouldn't looked at him that way.

She felt Legolas lay a hand on her shoulder as he took a long breathe.

"Rest now Awilia, don't try to disturb the king and better, try not to talk to him at all during your stay. Sweet dreams my lady." Legolas said before he left and Awilia had no chance to thank him before he was gone.

The healers looked to her wounds and gave her herbs and she felt much better already. She fell asleep wondering what was wrong with the aggressive and cold king. Not knowing the king hovered over her as she slept. He touched her white skin, felt the softness and got startled when he heard her moan. He said her name "Awilia" tasting it for the first time on his tongue. She kept on sleeping unknowing of the kings touch.