The Prince's Visions

Chapter Twenty

        "Ah," Eilonwy says as she sits down on her bed and I sit down in a chair in front of her, "I did not know." She looks down, her cheeks darkening in mortification.

        "It is perfectly alright," I tell her, trying to lessen her embarrassment, "I was just a bit... surprised."

        She nods silently, still not looking at me.

     I am silent for a moment, as well, searching for something to say. "Are your bruises gone now?"

    Eilonwy looks up at me in surprise then looks down at her wrists. "Not yet, but they are becoming lighter in color."

    I hold out my hand to her and pull my chair up to where it is right beside her bed. "May I see them?"

    She nods and places her hand lightly in my own. I turn her hand over, inspecting the dark bruises on her wrist that are formed in the shape of the man's fingers. Anger pulses through me as I look at the marks he left on my Eilonwy's delicate, soft skin. I brush my fingers lightly over her wrist.

    "I will never let this happen again," I promise her, looking up into her brilliant green eyes. Her face is dangerously close to mine, but my resolve does not waver. I want to touch the soft skin of her cheeks and feel her lips against my own, but I stay where I am sitting, holding her hand in my own and staring into her innocent eyes.

    She looks down after a moment and says, "I did not tell anyone, but the man left bruises on my waist and my hips. His grip on me was strong and painful. Lady Galadriel knew because she read my mind. That is why she asked Lord Elrond to give me the entire jar of cream, but I forgot to put some on my bruises last night before going to bed."

    I look at her in shock. "Why did you not tell anyone? Are you in pain?" I ask her frantically.

    She laughs lightly. "I am fine, Legolas. They are only bruises," she says with a soft smile.

    I hesitate to ask her my next question, but my concern for her overrides any sense of propriety. "Stand up for a moment, please," I tell her, taking her hand and pulling her up with me. She stands close to me, considering there is barely any room between the bed and my chair. "You do not mind if I check your bruises do you?"

    She blushes immediately. "W-What? Wouldn't that be improper?"

    I grin at her shyness. "Believe me, I do not have ungentlemanly intentions with you, Eilonwy. I just want to make sure you are alright."

    She stares at me in bewilderment for a long while before she sighs. "Fine," she mumbles.

    I take the bottom of her silky tunic in my fingers and lift it slowly until the bruises come into view. The situation causes flashes of some of my visions to come to mind, and I do not dare to look at her expression. Her skin is unbearably soft underneath my fingertips, and I fight for control of my thoughts and emotions. Eilonwy's shaky breath fans across the side of my face as I look at the bruises in horror. "Eilonwy! Why did you not tell anyone of this?" I ask her sternly, my ungentlemanly thoughts fleeing from my mind for a moment.

    I look at the bruises once again. They are much darker than the ones on her wrists and the shape of fingers is more prominent. I push the hem of her pants down slightly, just enough to see the marks on her hips. I look back up at her and meet her gaze.

    "Where is the medicinal cream?" I ask her quietly as she continues to stare into my eyes. My face is mere inches from hers, and the way she is looking at me does not help me to contain my urge to take her into my arms and kiss her.