The Witch of Mirkwood

Chapter 18 - Man of My Dreams

They followed the forest road for most of the day and set up camp as the sun began to fade. She felt safer now with both the men and the elves for protection, but she loathed this forest, she had spent way to much time here of late.

After they had eaten they began to settle in for the night, the sky was clear and the stars twinkled above, she set up her bed next to Neymar, for although he was an annoying tease at times. She felt safe next to him and she knew he would keep her entertained by whispering funny stories about the elves to her, she also knew Legolas would be taking watch as she had rarely seen him sleep.

"Cass, please do not keep me awake with your incessant snoring like you do at home" Neymar said loudly as he lay down. She wanted to kick him but knew it wasn't ladylike

She lay down on her side. Pushing her hands up beneath her face and resting on them, Neymar turned to face her, leaning up on his elbow

"so...have you kissed him?" he whispered

'"Neymar, you do realise that the elves have super sensitive hearing?" she whispered back

"Really? No wonder that dark haired fellow over there keeps giving me a foul look, I told our brother he reminds me of that gormless looking donkey we used to have, you remember? The one with the extra pointy ears"

"Neymar! you really should think before you speak" she giggled

He winked at her then lay back down and before long he was sleeping peacefully.

She was restless, she watched as Legolas stood at the edge of the camp staring out into the trees, she got up and walked over to him, continuing on past him

"Where are you gong?" He said curiously

"For a walk" she replied casually

"Not on your own you are not" he said following her

They walked for a while and then he quickened his pace and over took her

"What are you doing" she frowned

"Going for a walk" he looked back at her playfully

"It's not a race Legolas"

"I have no intention of racing you Nicassius, you would never win"

"Oh really" she said as she changed direction and began to run the other way through the trees. He chased after her, pretending not to be able to keep up, as she kept glancing behind her to see where he was, then he stopped running and fell to the ground clutching his chest

"Get up Legolas you fool" she said walking back towards him. There was no movement "stop messing about" she laughed reaching down towards his shoulder. Suddenly he grabbed her wrist and pulled her to the ground beneath him

"got you" he laughed "you fell for that one" and she giggled beneath him, she looked up into his handsome face, he was straddled over her holding her hands above her head, she tried to push him off but he pressed her down hard

"Let me go fool" she laughed, but he did not relent

"Let me up now?" She said kicking her legs and shaking her head, it didn't feel playful anymore, he was looking down and when she stopped struggling and looked up at him she saw green eyes staring back at her

"NO!" She screamed, as he pinned her to the ground harder, her stumach churned and her heart thumped hard

"You cannot escape me Nicassius" said the melodic voice

"Let me go" she screamed louder tears forming in her eyes

He continued to hold her down and she began to cry "please let me go"

Then he released her, and stood up, she lay on the ground speechless

"It's ok Nicassius" the voice was Legolas again, and she looked up to see his blue eyes, he held out his hand to help her up "I'm sorry I didn't mean to frighten you" he said softly, she paused and then she took hold of it and he pulled her up and into his arms "shhh"'he said as he wrapped his arms around her

"I thought you were him"

There was a long pause then he spoke "Ah so trusting....." said the melodic voice breaking into a mad laugh, she pushed herself back in horror and it was him! his dark hair, his thin lips, his chiseled face and his green eyes looking back at her as she stepped away slowly

"Who are you! Why are you doing this?" She shouted

"You know it's only a matter of time before I kill the elf" he said eerily "you can save them Nicassius, if you come willingly, you can save them all" the voice became softly melodic again

"What do you want with me?" She began walking backwards quickly as he move forwards

"To break you" his voice became deeper and more menacing "you will be mine and together we will start a new dark race, one that is all powerful, but first I have to break you and you have to break the curse"

"What curse? What are you talking about?"

"The curse.....That stupid witch of a mother of yours put on us, to stop us from being together, to stop you from becoming who you are destined to be...."

He was moving closer to her as his face became more twisted and angry and she turned on her heels and began to run, she ran fast though the trees and she could feel his presence behind her

"Nicaaaaassius" the voice sang and she looked back but all she could see was the darkness, the trees became thicker and the branches became sharper scratching her hands as she moved passed them....

"Cass, wake up" she opened her eyes to see Neymar leaning over looking concerned '"you were dreaming" she sat up pulling her knees up and pushing her hands through her hair "tell me about it? Was it a bad one"

She looked over to see Legolas standing at the edge of camp looking out through he trees

"it was nothing" she said as she lay back down "just a stupid dream about Orcs" she felt something warm and wet on the back of her hand, she looked down to see little droplets of blood forming over the small scratches that appeared on her skin.

"As long as you are ok?" Neymar said as he turned over "If you need me to pop into your dreams and slay some orcs just let me know" he said sleepily his voice trailing off

She soon heard him snoring softly as she lay wake, unable to get back to sleep, she closed her eyes tightly but it was no good, she was wide awake now.

"Hey" she heard Legolas whisper as he knelt down besides her "come and tell me about the Orcs dream?" He gestured for her to get up. She walked to the edge of the camp with him and he sat down beneath a tree pulling her down next to him

"Tell me? What was the dream really about?"

"Him. The green eyed man, it was so real, at first I thought it was you, then you became him"

He held her hand and then he noticed the scratches "how did you get these" he looked at them concerned

"In my dream, I scratched my hand on the trees running away from him"

He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close to him. "I would like to meet this man you dream of"

"It was just a stupid dream, I must have scratched my hand earlier without noticing" she replied

"I have something for you" Legolas said reaching behind him "seeing as it has passed midnight and today is now your birthday"

"Who told you?" She pushed away from him and narrowed her eyes

"Your brother, the one who likes to talk" then he handed her a beautiful elvish dagger, she took it and studied it in the moonlight, it was white, like the daggers he carried on his back, only smaller and the hilt was intricately carved and the blade smooth, she smiled and slid it back into the leather sheath "to keep you safe...from Orcs...and green eyed men" he said

"I love it, thank you" she said sincerely "I will put it to good use when I cut out my brothers tongue" she jested

It was the perfect gift she thought, Legolas did not treat her like she was a mere woman who was unable to defend herself, he made her feel brave and fearless, and she would treasure it.