Legolas' Found Treasure

"Is that bad?" Narya squeaked as she followed him back to camp.

"Is what bad?" He asked.

Shen'tn't answer for a moment, having suddenly noticed how soiled
his tunic was, and realizing it was from her own gown and
body! "That I am something else." She commented, trying not to
blush.

"No. It is not bad. You are just amazing, that's all." He
approached the camp and dumped the apples near the fire pit. "We'll
have the left over stew, and these apples." He said as he dug a
clean cloth out of a bag and got his water flask. He set those aside
and got thre sre started, putting the pot of stew over it. It had
been cool enough during the night so the soup had not gone bad. When
he was done he smiled at Narya and gestured to the log. "Sit, and I
will clean your wound." He told her. Narya frowned but obeyed,
sitting with a wince, tears stinging her eyes. She could not believe
how tender her backside still was! Either that or the log was just
terribly rough.

Legolas noticed the face she made as soon as her bottom made contact
with the log, and sighed. "It is still sore?" He asked as he poured
some water on to the cloth. Carefully he wiped the blood from her
lip, watching her as he did.

"No." She lied and flinchedghtlghtly as he tended to her lip.

"Hmmm. Then why did you make that face when you sat down?" He
asked, trying to be more careful as he cleaned her wound.

She said nothing, only squirming a little on her bottom. "I am
sorry, I have made your clog rag rather dirty." She pointed out,
avoiding his question.

"What?" He asked. "Oh, yes." He said, looking down at himself. "It
is not a problem. One can clean their clothes." He glanced at
Narya, smiling. "One can also clean their body. There is a stream
near by. After breakfast you may bathe in it. I have some soap for
you to use, and some clothes too. I do not know if the pants will
fit you, but if they don't, the shirt I have will be long enough to
cover you well."

"Must I?" Narya asked, thinking of how thin she was and some of the
scars she sported.

Legolas glanced at her, surprised at that. "Don't you want to?" He
asked. She shook her head no rather quickly. She did indeed feel
the need to bathe, but not where he might see her!

He blinked at her, shocked. Why did she not want tohe? he?
Odd. "Well." He said as he finished cleaning her lip and then
bringing out the jar of cream that he had used on her last night. "I
suggest you do, because we will be in Rivendell by nightfall, and you
want to look nice, do you not?" He opened the jnd and applied the
cream carefully to her lip, waiting for her answer.

"I am going there?" Narya squeaked, looking very worried. "What if
they send me back?!"

"They will do no such thing. After they hear your story, they will
do all that they can to help and protect you. Besides, I would not
let them send you back even if they wanted to. There now, all
done." He said when he finished apply the cream to her lip. "After
breakfast you will bathe, and then we will start for Rivendell." He
got up and put the cream away, then hung the cloth out to dry. He
got the food ready for them, and together they sat and ate.

Narya ate very slowly, attempting to post pone the ordered
bath. "Will you be close by?" She asked, having a feeling he would
be watching over her. She watched him as she took little sips of her
stew. He had finished eating a while ago, and was just waiting on
her.

"I will be near, yes." He said in answer to her question. "But I
will try not to look while you bathe." Legolas promised her,
grinning. "I will keep my back turned until you are in the water,
and then I will keep watch over you."

Narya looked away quickly, not believing it. He caught that, and
frowned. "Do you not believe me?" He asked. She hurriedly put a
large bite of apple in her mouth so she could avoid answering that
question. Legolas stared at her for a moment. "Do you remember what
I told you last night Narya? I am a man of my word. Remember? You
believed me then. Why do you distrust me so in the morning light?"

She sighe"I a"I am ashamed." She whispered.

"Ashamed of what? Because you are so thin?" Her eyes went wide. It
seemed that he could read her mind! "I know how thou aou are, little
one. I have held you, remember? I could feel your thin body through
your clothes. You need not be ashamed of that. It is not your fault
that you are that way. That was done to you." His eyes flashed when
he said this, and again he wished he could get his hands on her uncle.

Narya hung her head. "I just wish I was more beautiful. I am afraid
I am scared and very thin." She said, and glanced at her ribs, which
stuck out painfully looking.

"You are beautiful, Narya." Legolas told her gently, then glanced at
the sky. The sun was up now, and they needed to be going soon. "Are
you done, baby? We should be heading out soon, if we want to reach
Rivendell by nightfall."

She nodded "Where is this place to bathe?"

"Right over there." Legolas said, nodding to his right. "Let me get
your stuff ready, and I'll walk you over there." With that he got up
and dug through his bag again, pulling out another cloth for her to
use, a bar of soap, a towel, and some clothes. "You ready?" He
asked and he turned towards her. She nodded and together they walked
to the stream.