Crossed Bows

Disclaimers: Same as other chapters.

VERY IMPORTANT FOR READERS!: After this chapter I will change the rating to R. So look for the story in the rated R section. THANKS! Author's Note: This chapter is written in the same time period as Chapter 3. I have decided to change the rating because of the graphic nature of the fight scene. Lynxionia is still 18 and Legolas is still 19.

Chapter 4: She Decides

~1 Day Later~

She had spoken. She had spoken to an outsider in a tongue that was not that of which was spoken among those of the forest. And not to just any outsider, this one had been an elf. A living, breathing elf who intrigued her beyond reasoning. It was unexplainable the way she had felt, suddenly calm and willing to speak about herself as if she had been "catching up" with an old acquaintance. She knew she shouldn't have let her guard down so easily, but….it had felt only right to lower her weapon to someone who meant no harm. No, she corrected herself, she had lowered her guard to someone she "inferred" meant no harm. Mentally scolding herself for her lack of judgment, she refocused her attention to the task at hand, finding and destroying the enemy.

Yesterday, she had heard the howl of her companions calling for help. And ever since that night in to the morning of today she had been tracking the creatures that attacked her woodland kin. Moving silently through the forest trees, she listened to the sounds around her trying to hear any sudden movements in the nearby bushes. Her keen eyes darted back and forth attempting to catch any sudden blurs in the trees or canopy above.

Although her senses were at work her mind was still thinking of the elf. *Why did I let him go? Back when I was still young I would have slain him on sight, but I had changed somehow. I no longer wish to be the little girl who accepted everything as simply facts. I want to know my past and why it is guarded from me. And that elf may be the one who can deliver me from my own blindness to the truth.*

With those last thoughts running through her mind, she shut down her thinking and focused. Suddenly, she heard a rustle in a nearby bush. With lighting speed, she had her bow in hand and an arrow mounted, ready to kill at any moment. Slowly, she crept up on her unsuspecting target and pulled her arrow back till it was next to her own ear. She lifted her eyes above the bush, just enough so that she could see her target, then with deadly accuracy, she let go of the arrow. With only a slight whooshing noise, the arrow sped to it's destination and landed right where it was meant to. The creature let out a horrible ear-spitting scream then limp around for a moment before it's strength failed it and death slowly set in.

She glared at it, even in death. This frightful creature she had killed was only one of the many that roamed the forest, killing off many of the species also living here. One of their favorite hobbies is hunting down the pack and torturing the animals that she relied on for food. They were terrible, and the name that they were known as by the woods was, the Demnda. But the name that the elves give them is, the Wolves of Isenguard. Whatever they were called, she despised them and she would protect the Wolves of the Seshoni for as long as she was able, but there would come a time when even she would be helpless to stop them. Every year they grow in number and become more and more fierce. They were a plague that would never vanish and a famine that they would never be rid of.

Calmly, she stood and looked around. Sighing to herself, she picks up the carcass and prepared to make the journey back to the den. But her intentions were short lived when she heard a growl from behind her and her instincts kicked in. Instantly, she dropped the carcass and pulled out an arrow then mounted it on her bow. Crouching down, her eyes scanned the area for movement. Out of the corner of her eye she spotted a blur behind a bush and turning around she spotted another off to her right. More and more appeared till she realized that something about this wasn't right. The wolves never returned after they had hunted so why had they returned now?

Out of the front bush the alpha male stepped forwards and glared at her though hellish devil eyes. Her gaze never wavered or betrayed even the slightest trace of fear. She was never afraid of these wolves. Never. They were a plague to the woods and mercenaries against her kin. Slowly she put her bow away, never letting her eyes drift, and pulled out two twin daggers each about sixteen inches in length. The handle of each dagger was carved out of white wood from the very trees she now stood amongst. Silently she waited for the wolves to make the first move.

The alpha continued to size her up adding a threatening growl here and there. Slowly, the alpha motioned to his fellow murderers and, swift as lighting, they rushed forward towards the brave girl before them. Their claws were projected and their fangs were sharp ready to pierce her skin.

Just as quickly as the wolves had rushed towards her, she jumped up into the air and pivoted to her right in midair. Then with unrealized strength she came down on top of the wolf within striking range and plunged her daggers deep within the creatures back. This action caused the wolf the cry out in agony and slump to the forest floor, blood pouring from it's back.

Pulling her daggers out of the dead animal she spun around and flipped her dagger around so that the blade was perturbing from the bottom of her fist and shoved it into the throat of the wolf behind her. She once again pulled her dagger out and upon doing so caused blood to splatter across her face.

She ignored the liquid and continued to slaughter the wolves around her with a vengeance. As she did so she failed to notice the alpha male behind her who brought down its claw upon her back. The claws jus grazed the surface of her delicate skin but it still pierced it and three red strips appeared on her back and she gasped slightly and fell forward. She caught herself on her knees and pounded the ground with her blood soaked fists.

Anger coursed through her as she spun around and growled angrily at the alpha behind her. She would not be beaten. The pack depended on her. >YOU WILL NOT DEFEAT ME! YOU BEAST!<

She rose from her position and screamed with hatred as she rushed forwards. The alpha male was caught off guard by her actions and staggered backwards. The anger driven girl drove her daggers forwards and with a single yell sunk her blades deep within the alpha's back. Blood splashed over her hands and face but the animal threw his paw out and caught her in the stomach. Her body flew backwards and hit a tree trunk with force. Not willing to give up, she stood and once again raised her weapons. The monster growled in anger and rushed for her. She easily sidestepped the attack and spun to her right so that she was now behind the alpha. Jumping in the air above the creature she brought her daggers down once again and with all her might she dug them into the animals neck as she landed on it's back.

The animal let out a deafening screech and fell to the blood soaked ground. Slowly the victorious girl rose from her position and pushed her daggers back into their holsters at her sides not giving any care to the blood that coated them.

Breathing heavily she picked up the carcass of the alpha and began to drag it back to the den where she would report her findings to the she-wolf.

@_@_@_@_@_@_@_@_@_@_@_@_@_@

Sun down. That was when she return coated in dried blood and heavy sweat. The she-wolf had stepped out of the den and saw her carrying the heavy carcass of what she recognized as the body of the alpha. The tired girl laid the carcass before Kionba and looked at her through emotion weighted eyes and telepathically spoke. She had not even the strength to speak in the Seshoni language so she simply spoke a language she had no name for.

*They tried to return. They are gone now. And I have brought the alpha male as proof of their death.* She lowered her head slightly and sighed attempting to relax.

Kionba looked at her with her yellow eyes and spoke the language with no name back to her. *You have done all that you can Onia. But the wolves will find another alpha and will come back in greater numbers. They have no end.*

Onia lifted her heavy head and looked at her adopted mother will care. *I know Kionba. But what can we do? We cannot let these beasts destroy us! What can be done to stop them? What can I…*

Kionba interrupted her before she could finish, *Onia, I think it's time you realized that you grown older and have come of age. You out class all of us with your fighting skills. It is time you take your place my dear. It is time you find your own path. And I am afraid that that path isn't here with us.*

Onia protested against the she-wolf's statements, *But Kionba!! What if my path is here? I won't let the Demnda destroy you!! Besides, where else will I go? I have no other place to go but here* Slowly Onia realized that she had just told a lie. In a corner of her mind she heard the words come back to her, "Why don't you come and visit it sometime? I'm sure that my father wouldn't mind having you in our house." Those had been his exact words, but she didn't really know or think that he meant forever. But what if he really did?

Kionba looked her and spoke to her adopted daughter with care, *The Demnda is something that we the Seshoni must deal with. I will not allow you to injure yourself in a fight that may never be won. I know there is more for you out there than there is here.*

*But Kionba what if…* Onia once again attempted to argue but Kionba cut in again.

*Lynxionia…you were given to me by you mother on the verge of death. She placed you before me and as she did so she entrusted you to me. I have raised you to the best of my ability and now its time you stretched your wings. The woods hold nothing for you but more pain. Leave this place for a better life. Find the answers to the questions I cannot answer. And fill the emptiness we cannot fill.* Kionba looked at her with compassionate eyes. She wanted so badly to see Onia happy where she belonged.

Onia looked at Kionba with new understanding. Kionba only wanted her to be happy. And maybe being happy meant rejoining the people she never knew. *Kionba…..I……….Do you think it's the right thing to do? Will I ever see you again?*

Kionba nodded her head and answered her, *The future will decide if we meet again. But when you leave don't feel guilt. The outside world is waiting for you, don't let it get away.*

Onia nodded with her mind made up. She would leave the Seshoni and would go to the world she had seen from a far her entire life. And for the first time she would do more than see it. She would be able to touch and feel the smooth walls of the buildings. She would smell the elvin foods and fragrances. And for the first time she would see the people she has seen but never met.

Kionba looked at the creature that had been give to her as a child and that had now grown into a women. *Let's clean up your wounds and prepare you to leave tomorrow. You will need to be at your best.*

Onia was lead into the deep caverns of the den she had always called home. Kionba motioned for her to remove her shirt and called for the other wolves to come into the den. Three wolves walked up to Onia as she pulled off her shirt to reveal the three thin claw marks across her tan back. With no hesitation the three wolves began to lick the dried blood from her blood. The saliva from their mouths slowly cleaned the wounds enough so that Onia could wrap bandages around the wounds. After her wounds were treated, she joined the other wolves to eat her last meal with the Wolves of the Seshoni.

She ate slow and chewed every bite. She wanted to remember her Seshoni kin forever. Now that she add come to her decision she was thinking about the only elf she had ever met. He had been kind to her despite the fact that she had been prepared to kill him when they met. He didn't yell at her or call her a demon. He simply saw a girl who was surviving on her own. He had even asked her to come to the city to meet his father. He was…kind.

After dinner was over, Onia lay in her bed of furs she made with the pelts of animals she had killed. Slowly she started to sing a song for the forest. Thoughts flooded her mind. Thoughts about the Demnda, the Seshoni, the elvin city, Mirkwood, her leaving tomorrow, and of him. Legolas of Mirkwood.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ *~*~*~*~

Morning. It was now the morning after he had met the most intriguing women he had ever seen. She was the "mistress" archer of the Seshoni. The voice of the Seshoni hymn that soothed his soul each night he heard its smooth melody. He let out a sigh of calmness and rose from his bed. He pulled on some clothes and headed for the dining room where his father was waiting for him as usual. He sat down at the huge oak table and began to eat his lukewarm breakfast. For a long time, no words pasted between him and his father. It was almost always like this at the table. There were few things they needed to say and far lass things they needed to discuss. But as Legolas's father sipped his tea, he found himself asking questions.

>Father…When will I be called to Rivendell?< It was a subject he could tell his father had been avoiding. Legolas didn't much like the subject either, but he knew it had to be discussed.

His father stared into his tea thinking of what to say to his son. It was so strange how his son was better at these kinds of talks then he was. He guessed that he got it from his mother. Slowly he set his tea cup down and looked up at his son. He spoke slow and calmly so that he would get every word out without any sort of fight or argument. Somehow these kinds of discussions seemed to always start up disagreements between him and his son. >You will be called when you are needed.<

Legolas had had enough of his father avoiding important matters that needed discussing. Making the journey to Rivendell was a serious possibility and if he were to leave Legolas knew that he would be gone for quite a while. He wanted to know that he had his father's approval of his actions before he needed to leave. Legolas calmly took a breath and tried again, >I know that Father, but if I am called to Rivendell it will be a long time before I return here again. I want your approval before I leave.<

Legolas's father once again picked up his tea cup and took a sip from it before answering his son. >My approval? You want my approval for you to go off and get yourself killed? If you are called to Rivendell, you will go as I did when I was a foolish young boy and find out just how terrible the ring of power is. I don't want you to see what I saw in those times.< His father bowed his head and stared into his tea cup.

This was never a easy topic to discuss, but Legolas knew that his father would be apprehensive to let him go. Yet it was his duty to keep the ring of power from falling into the dark lord's hands.

Taking a deep breath, Legolas tried to reason with his father, >I understand that father and I am prepared for the consequences of my actions. It is my duty to protect middle earth as it was once yours. Please father, you must give me your approval. I miss to protect us from the threat.<

Slowly, his father raised his head and look at his young son. It was so hard for him to let him go. Yet, as hard as he try, he knew he could not keep Legolas from this fate. With a sad look and a heavy voice Legolas's father answered his son's plea. >Legolas……I can see how much you want to protect us from this evil…it's just…hard to let you go. After your mother died I had hoped I could hold onto you forever…you are right. When you are called to Rivendell I will let you go and you will leave with my approval.<

Legolas's face lit up and a smile came across his face, >Thanks you father, that means a lot to me.<

>But if I let you go I want you to come back alive.< His father's face was serious and hard, but suddenly changed to a smile and a hardy chuckle as he added, >And when you get back you better settle down and get a wife for god sakes!<

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I actually updated!! I'm sorry it took so long to update. But I'm already working on chapter 5 so hang in there!

Thank You to the reviewers and your comments! I appreciate it!!

Next Chapter: The Crossroads That Meet