Veiled Stars » LotR [1] ✔️

Chapter One: Caught

Elle never claimed to be a good person.

She wasn't.

And she was okay with that.

But as she raced through the dark wood, Elle wished nothing more than for once to have just backed down.

And kept her big mouth shut.

The sounds of her pursuers closed in, making Elle's heart pound harder against her chest. Ignoring the striking pain in her side, she forced herself to run faster.

Suddenly the air whistled and an arrow embedded itself into the trunk where Elle had been only a second ago. Her heart leaped into her throat and she threw herself to the ground, rolling behind an old oak.

"Hells," she cursed, pressing against the rough bark. You fool Elle.

In a final act of sheer desperation, Elle yanked her cloak around her body, pulling it over her head. Holding her breath, she tried to slow her beating heart, pressing hard against the ground. Under her weight, leaves crinkled and the smell of old pine needles filled her nose.

"Over here!"

The voice of a man broke the silence, followed by heavy footsteps racing through the undergrowth. The footsteps paused a few feet away and Elle closed her eyes, trying to keep her hands from trembling.

Suddenly another voice broke the air; Elle hadn't even heard him approaching. "He wasn't hit." She faintly heard the sound of the arrow being pulled from the tree not ten feet from her hiding spot.

"You, missing your target? Are you feeling alright, mellon?" The other voice teased.

Elle caught her breath as the footsteps drew nearer. She couldn't imagine her pursuer was more than a few feet away now, wondering if her wildly pounding heart was as loud as it seemed to her ears.

"Your wit astounds me, Strider." For a moment, the footsteps stopped, the second voice dropping a notch lower. "But my purpose wasn't to kill. It was to frighten."

Suddenly, a footstep dropped next to Elle's face and she scrambled back as a hand yanked at her cloak. Shoving herself off the ground, Elle stumbled away from the hooded figure, only to whirl around as leaves crackled at her back.

Another man stood a few feet away, a gleaming sword gripped loosely in his hand. He also wore a dark cloak, the hood pulled up to cover his face.

Hells!

Without thinking, Elle yanked her dagger from its sheath by her side, retreating a step backward. She held the weapon tight, her heart beating even harder against her chest.

"Lay down your weapon," the taller figure spoke, taking a cautious step forward. She couldn't see under the shrouds of his tattered cloak, except for a stubbled chin. "No blood needs to be shed this day."

A mix of terror and panic pulsed through Elle's thoughts, but she thrust out her jaw. "You're right. Walk away and nobody gets hurt."

For a brief second, both the figures paused. Then the man who had spoken exchanged a sideways look with his companion, chuckling softly. He glanced back at her, tilting his head. "We both know I cannot do that, lad."

Lad?

Then as quick as lightning, the figure leaped forward. Panic gave Elle adrenaline and she ducked under his arms, whirling around and landing a kick with all her strength.

The man grunted and stumbled back upon connection, and Elle took the moment to make a break into the trees. Her boots pounded against the forest floor and for a moment, her senses soared.