Into Love's Arms

They ran through the forest, chests heaving with each breath. Sneakers pounding on the packed dirt trail as they ran. Growls and curses echoed behind them, they were getting closer!

"Run Denise! Damn it!" Heidi cursed as she urged her best nd tnd to keep up.

"I'm trying! Damn those things run fast!" Denise panted.

"No duh!" Heidi retorted, if she had the time she'd have rolled her eyes.

Suddenly the air was filled with flying arrows, Denise screamed and pushed Heidi to the ground. They lay there as a group of beings attacked the foul things chasing them. The forest was filled with the sound of metal crashing against metal, and the screams of the dead and dying. The women managed to scramble to the edge of the fray. Clinging to each other they watched as the angel like beings slaughtered the ugly disfigured creatures. The fight didn't last long the hideous monsters never stood a chance. When it was over the beings turned and looked at the women, then they began to speak amongst each other. The language they used was soft and meliodious, it seemed to float in the air. Heidi and Denise studied the men, they were all extremely handsome. Was that theht wht word? No they were fair with an unearthly grace and self-confidence. One of them stepped forward and knelt in front of the women, he held out a pouch of some kind to them. They scooted back a bit from it, they looked at him not knowing what to think or do. The man opened the top of the pouch and tipped it over a bit. Water fell out and he extended it to them again, Heidi reached out and took it. She passed it to Denise and let her drink first then when she had had her fill Heidi drank. She tentively handed it back to him, his silence unnerved her.

"T.....Thank you. Who are you? Where are we? What are those things?" Heidi asked her voice wavering she pointed to a body on the ground. Her hand shook despite her best attempts to still it. Denise pulled her friend close as she eyed the man, fear and confusion evident in her eyes.

"My name is Haldir. You are in Lothlorien those things are Orcs. Are you injured?" He eyed the women closely but could see no evident injuries.

"I am Denise and this is my friend Heidi. Thank you Haldir for saving us. No.....no we are not injured. Tired, confused, angry, and terrified but not injured." Denise said.

Haldir nodded, "We should move on before more Orcs appear. Come follow us we will take you to our Lord and Lady you can tell them what you are doing in their realm."

"THEIR REALM???? ARE YOU INSANE?????" Heidi screamed. She just couldn't take anymore. "THIS IS NEW YORK! IT IS NOBODYS REALM! WE WERE JUST IN NEW YORK! TALK TO ME YOU.....YOU.....YOU STUPID MAN! WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?????"

Haldir stepped back a pace taken aback by Heidi's outburst, he eyed them taking in their odd clothes and speech.

"I do not know what New York is. Is it a village near here?" Haldir asked curious "and we are not men we are elves."

Denise and Heidi gaped at him, elves? Was he serious?

"Elves??? But......They are myth.....legend. Not real." Denise stammered.

Haldir and the others pulled back their hair and showed them their ears.

"Listen to me, I do not know what is going on. For you are dressed strange and you speech is odd. But we must move on, Orcs are close. My Lord and Lady are very wise and intelligent they will help you. But we must leave now!" Haldir hissed franticaly, he could smell the Orcs nearby.

Heidi and Denise scrambled to their feet and nodded.

"We will go with you." Heidi muttered "As if we have a choice."

Denise gasped at her friend, these people were being nice and she was being rude!

"Heidi...." she hissed but she was inturrpted by another elf.
He strode forward and glared at Heidi not noticing, or caring how she shrank back away from him.

"You do have a choice you can come with us or you can stay and be ravished by Orcs. They are not as kind and caring as elves. So what will it be human?" he hissed at Heidi.

"Legolas! It is ok.....she is just scared." Haldir looked at the women, he could see the fear in their eyes. "Come we must go now." Haldir turned and started walking, the others folowed him silently. Heidi and Denise followed them uncertain but not wanting to be around Orcs.

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Haldir found himself thinking about the women behind him, they were intriguing to say the least. The one called Heidi wore a tight white shirt, some odd kind of leggings they were thick and blue. Her shoes were also strange they came up to her ankles and were white. He had not seen boots like that before. The one called Denise wore similar leggings only hers were black, her shirt was blue and sleeveless, she also wore those odd boots. Both women had pale, flawless complexions and waist length hair. Heidi's was a red gold color while Denise's was midnight black, red, and was that blue? Blue hair? How in the name of the Valar was that possible? Legolas fell into step beside Haldir.

"They are an odd pair." he murmered.

"To say the least....." Haldir smiled at Legolas.

"They are tiring out. Their run from the orcs and all this." Legolas gestured at the woods. "We should camp soon as we wil not reach Lorien any time soon."

Haldir nodded as he motioned for his men to stop. "We will make camp here tonight. Menhel see to the women." Haldir said as he set out for wood, so he could make a fire.

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Heidi and Denise almost sobbed with relief when Haldir had stopped, they sank down on their knees. Menhel walked over and gestured for them to follow, they groaned and got to their feet. He led them to a small stream and handed them towels, soap, and clean clothes.

"These should fit. You are about an elf's size." Menhel satated as he turned his back to stand guard.

"You want us to bathe?" Denise asked stunned.

"Yes. You are covered in sweat and Orc blood, in the fray some got flung onto your clothes." Menhel said not turning around. "Elves have sensitive noses, now hurry the others will bathe after you are done.

Denise and Heidi shrugged as they stripped out of their clothes, they walked into the stream. The water was suprisingly warm they moaned slightly as the water soothed their tired muscles. Heidi grabbed a towel and the soap and scrubbed her body, she felt as if she couldn't get clean enough. Denise took the towel from Heidi and washed her back for her. Then Denise washed herself and Heidi washed her back. They scrubbed their hair trying to get all the dirt and grit out of it. Sighing Heidi waded to the bank and dried off, she examined the clothes Menhel had given them. Black leggings, silver colored tu, an, and black cloaks. She quickly dressed and was suprised they fit really well. She gathered up their old clothes and folded them as she waited for Denise to dress. Menhel watched them as he led them back to camp. They were both tall and slender and each walked with a silent fluid like grace. They seemed so elf like that he found it hard to believ they were human. Denise and Heidi sat down near the fire and watched as Legolas cleaned and prepared several rabbits. Haldir was slightly suprised that they did not look away from the animals. Most women would have shuddered and looked away, these women were strange indeed.

TBC.