He hid behind an old fallen tree trunk and frowned ominously at the unexpected sight.
Lilii was sitting with three men and two young girls from the village. It was autumn, so they went mushroom hunting together. She was dressed in a modest cloak, so they assumed she was new to the village. They were very friendly and kind, and she enjoyed talking to them immensely. She liked Sylvanus, even though he was mischievous and annoying, but he loved nature very much; the marshes, groves, and orchards were his little world. The villagers used to scare children with him when they played by breaking tree branches. He was handsome, despite his 30 years. Somnus, dressed in black and with dark eyes, seemed terrifying, but he had warm eyes and a sincere smile. He was the God of Sleep, a son of the Night and brother of Death. Pomona was a very beautiful nymph, the protector of fruit and flowers, as she said. Mania was a very fragile girl, reminiscent of the Erinyes, with white pupils, a fact that terrified Lilii when she began to explain her abilities. She possessed a terrible power to awaken madness in those guilty and drive them to mindless acts, murder, and sacrilege. The last was Echion, one of the five men born from dragon teeth.
She didn't even notice Ligolas striding confidently toward them. He stood beside her and replied,
"Good evening," he bowed appropriately, then added, "Lilianna, I've been looking for you... It's late, will you come back to the castle with me?"
She looked at him uncertainly. She had no intention of returning now; she had grown fond of these strange creatures, and now Ligolas had found her and her magical place. She didn't mind that he had found her, but she wanted a place where no one would easily hear about it.
"Ligolas, but I don't want to go back yet... please come sit with us..." "Is he angry with me? Again?" she thought, and after a moment, she made room on the tree stump for him to sit down.
"Thank you..." he replied dryly, then sat down next to her.
Echion lit a fire, and Somnus and Sylvanus brought in the wood. It was already dark, the stars now looking beautiful in the clear sky. As everyone settled around the fire, the unfamiliar, terrifying sounds of some creatures could be heard in the distance in the fog. She groaned at the thought, and now she regretted not going with Ligolas when he asked.
"Don't be afraid... it's just Lamia, or Cyclopes, or..." Sylvanus, who had been staring at her for a long time, replied dryly.
"I'm not afraid, well, maybe a little, but I feel safe with you," she replied with a faint, uncertain smile.
They had a very pleasant conversation, and she felt as if she had known them for a long time. They laughed a lot when Echion began to recount his childhood adventures. She learned that Pomona was engaged to Sylwen, which didn't surprise her much, as they both loved nature and were a perfect match. Somnus claimed he still had time and didn't want to marry at twenty-two. Mania loved Aragorn; he was a very brave warrior, as she said, he fought for himself, beholden to no one. When it came to her, she hesitated to answer. She felt Ligolas's gaze on her, now energetically snapping dry twigs.
"I... I don't think I can love, I don't want to hurt anyone, or love..." She looked up at the sky as if to examine something.
"And why do you think that's so?" Pomona asked, running her fingers through her shoulder-length red hair.
"Oh, well... it seems to me... I'm simply not destined to find my soulmate, and honestly, I don't want to love anyone, I want to be alone. It seems to me that a person who is alone has fewer problems...
" "I also thought that love wasn't worth it, but now... living with such a feeling is something beautiful, don't give up, my dear, anyone can love..." Mania was concerned.
"I don't know, it all makes no sense.
" "I understand you..." Somnus chimed in.
"Aj, Lilii... don't worry about the future, you have us. If your soulmate hasn't found you yet, know that we'll always be there when you need help, and as for those men, it would be difficult for you in this world without us..." Sylwen smiled.
"Blah, blah... But there's some truth in it..." Pomona gently snuggled up to him.
When Sylwen tenderly stroked her cheek, Lilia understood how much he loved her. Even though it might seem he was made of ice, without feeling, he was actually incredibly tender and gentle. She just didn't understand why he was acting so coldly.
When Echion asked Ligolas the same question, he replied hastily.
"I, I've loved this one person close to me for a very long time, but she's terribly childish and doesn't seem to suspect anything... I made a terrible mistake a long time ago... and she... and she... forgave me... back then I thought she loved me too, but now I don't know what to think.
" "Does she have many men around her? I mean, now does..." someone asked.
"Oh yes... it angers me so much that sometimes I want to throw whatever comes to hand at everyone."
A terribly unsettling silence reigned in the forest. Lilia was terrified not so much of the forest but of the silence.
And when something hard and angular landed on her shoulder, she jumped up and sat on Ligolas's lap, doing so as skillfully as if it were a normal reflex, wrapping her arms around his neck anxiously but firmly and glancing nervously around the misty forest.
The group began to laugh at her fear, but Ligolas seemed unconcerned.
"Don't be afraid, it's just a piece of branch..." Somnus wiped tears of laughter from his beautiful black eyes.
"You're so timid... what will happen when you come face to face with Lamia..." Sylwen replied dryly, but he too was amused by the situation; he couldn't help but laugh.
"That's not funny! I was really scared!" She was so angry with herself.
As she spoke, and rage against the others, she felt warm, strong hands gripping her hips for a long time.
"Sylwen, don't be mean, don't tease her..." Pomona shouted, then immediately added, "Forgive us, Lilianna, but we have to get ready slowly. The road is long and night has long fallen...
" "Yes, you're right, it's time to go, we have to get ready too," Echion added
. After these words, everyone said goodbye, and watching them go, she was left alone with Ligolas. They stood for a moment, staring into the distance, then Ligolas replied,
"Let's go." He turned briskly and set off into the forest, not checking to see if she could keep up with his pace.
"Wait! I can't see anything!" She pushed through the bushes, trying to catch up with him.
"Aaaaah..." she fell into some bushes. "Well, I've torn my dress," she thought, and with tears in her eyes, she slowly got up and started walking.
"Ligolas..." she whispered, so afraid of being left alone.
She wandered helplessly through the forest for a while, when at the least expected moment, a hand grabbed her and began to drag her.
"Who are you, leave me alone! Ligolas! Ligolas!" she screamed, trying to wrench herself free from his strong grip.
"Ligolas..." she whispered through her tears.
"What?!" he growled, stopping.
"Ligolas?" she wiped her tears. "You! How can you do this? I thought... You monster, how can you scare me like that!" she screamed, beating his chest with all her might.
He stood frozen, not even defending himself. And as she helplessly fell to her knees, trying to control her anger and fear, she saw from the corner of her eye that he was also kneeling, reaching out for her.
She watched him, sobbing. She slowly drew her legs up and unconsciously buried her face in her hands. "How could he? I was so afraid... and now he's asking me to go with him... what have I done to him, why is he taking revenge on me?"
"Leave me alone!" she screamed as he picked her up and started toward the horse.
"No..." he replied, more calmly.
"I can't stand it anymore..." a sob interrupted her sentence.
"What...?" he replied, and he put her on his horse, then did the same himself. He set off at a trot towards the castle. After a moment of silence, he asked again:
"What can't you stand?
" "You're always taking revenge on me! And I don't even know why!
" "What can't you stand..." he repeated
. "Another humiliation..." she muttered and turned her back to him.
She felt relieved that she had finally told him, she trusted him so much... even though he took such revenge on her and treated her so harshly, she couldn't stay angry with him.
"Sit behind me, please...
" "What, am I even bothering you here? But fine..."
Soon she was sitting in the back. Ligolas sat tense, and when she wrapped her bare knees around his hips, her dress riding up slightly, and her arms wrapped around his muscular stomach, he groaned, feeling his manhood growing and that soon he wouldn't be able to contain himself. He so desperately craved her closeness to her body, he was so shocked by the rebellion of his body that he wanted to scream with anger. He had never felt such a feeling, had never been interested in a woman's body... she probably yearned to feel his warmth and closeness just as much as he did, but the thought of what might happen if he started kissing her... she would give herself to him without hesitation, and that blocked her. She didn't want to be easy, but she couldn't resist him if something came to it, and she didn't want it. She didn't want him to exploit her desire.
"I'm really trying... but your closeness is driving me crazy." "God help me, I wouldn't do anything to her beyond her will!" he thought.
"I see..." So I bother him so much, does he dislike me so much that he has to say such things?" "I'm sure I won't be happy in one place, you or I should split up... I'll ask my aunt to do something about it.
" "Maybe... but I don't want to! If I were someone more important to some count, and I asked you to marry me, Lilianna... what would you answer me?" After these words, he galloped away, as if trying to escape from himself and his stupidity.
"I don't know, please don't ask me, I really like you, but it's not love... I don't want to marry someone I don't love." "How can he ask me something like that? I don't know what life is, I don't know what love is, I don't know who he is."
A week passed, Ligolas didn't show up at the castle after their last conversation, and then he left without even saying goodbye, leaving sometime in the middle of the week. She resented him, she'd been so angry with him at the time. Two days later, she learned that orcs had attacked Zuiden, a powerful elven nation in the human lands, and that Ligolas had gone there to defend their lands; she was so afraid for him. Bran and Taranis took over her care, but they didn't become guardians, but brothers. She was so happy when they were with her; when she was sad, they helped her, and God forbid anyone did anything to her; they were truly like older brothers.
Two years passed, she was nineteen, and everyone told her she had grown very beautiful and had become a woman in appearance. She wasn't particularly thrilled by their compliments, but she wasn't angry either. Kiara had taught her many things; she was amazed at how much she'd learned in those two years. Angitia taught her the art of making poisons and antidotes, and taught her snake charms. She wasn't sure if she fully understood them, but she knew the magic words that repelled demons. Sylvan and Pomona had two children, a boy, Alson, and a girl, Frasa. She was very fond of them, and they often met on the swing, where they taught her how to communicate with nature, how to sense anxiety, fear, pain, and how to use the hidden powers of the forest. It was, how should I put it, a very interesting yet also very painful experience. She had never realized how much a broken branch hurt a tree.
One day, as was her custom after dinner, she went for a walk. She was running with the young wolf, Ner, whom Sylvan had given her, through meadows full of flowers. She ran into a dense garden, unaware when a figure suddenly blocked her path. She was so frightened that she jumped back and fell on her butt. The man seemed familiar, but at the same time, she couldn't remember where she knew him from. He leaned over her and offered her his hand so she could stand. He had a slashed scar on his cheek; it was clear he'd been in a knife fight with someone. His figure was very masculine, and his black eyes, peeking out from behind his dark fringe, stared at her with a mixture of regret and anger, a sense of resentment.
"Tari nifat ni pelianneni bad na dail lin si buiad udhan a thar... (I apologize, sir, I was careless. I apologize.)" She curtsied, and as she was about to leave the scene, he grabbed her hand and pulled her to him.
"Don't you know who I am? Don't you recognize me?" He stared at her face, his hands gripping her waist tightly.
- And I will be happy, I will be happy, I will be happy, I will be happy... (You seem familiar to me, sir, and you even remind me of someone, but he left a long time ago and...)
- Ligolas? - he asked and smiled to himself.
"Iono, benitchno Ligolas hon btlin? Sanadej ni nara dejoni mina salisi siboj kojano mi asanalej..." (Yes. Ligolas, do you know him? He gives no sign of life, I'm so worried, is he..." The mere thought that he might be dead made her dizzy.
"No, he's alive..." he said, pulling his hood from his head.
"No, no... it's Ligolas! It's my Ligolas!" she thought.
"Ligolas!" She hugged him as tightly as she could, tears streaming down her face. She missed him so much, wanted to see him, talk to him, and now he stood before her.
"Yes, unfortunately, it's me..." He pushed the girl away and looked into her face again.
"Denisa? Lini naj kibina jeguna, a nu? Baradi laste, nis!" Giko misu nije werbli ni lubi... (Unfortunately? I was so worried, and you! No letter, nothing! For two years in uncertainty and fear... - she turned on the pole as was her habit and started walking towards the palace.
- Lili... - he took a deep breath - Your parents, they are dead... the evil forces are not idle, we have to leave this place as soon as possible... they will be here soon, I came for you with my people.
- My parents are dead? Will the evil forces come here? - she started speaking in human language now she stood frozen, not understanding, she was sad because her parents died... but she didn't cry, she hardly knew them, but they were so kind and understanding to her.
- My people are getting ready to go, the horses are surely ready for poultry and equipped with food, weapons and blankets. You too go, dress appropriately for the journey, pack warm clothes, autumn is coming and we have a long way home Immortals to our elven land.
After these words, he pulled her towards the castle. There, preparations for the journey were underway. Three wagons stood side by side, loaded with essentials, and countless horses. A moment later, she ran to my chamber, where Saya was already packing her clothes, soap, a brush, and a box of herbs. She changed into her armor and threw a cloak over it. Then she grabbed her bag and armor and set off with Saya, who was carrying her suitcase, sobbing to herself. Outside, everyone was ready to go. Aunt Albunea and Uncle Boreas were also ready. They had already known about her parents' deaths, as Albunea was a nymph with the gift of prophecy and was one of the most famous oracles in the Maenads, the elven forests. So they decided to take over her parents' role and care for her and ensure her future.
Ligolas decided to split up, as if they all rode together, they would quickly catch the eye of invisible beings and others. So Boreas, his wife, and his guards, numbering about fifty, and three wagons, set off. Ligolas and his guards stayed overnight at the castle, wanting to maintain a safe distance between the two groups of riders. So, before noon the next day, a large group of riders left Tara. Ligolas, Bran, Taranis, Lilianna, Saya, Lana, Mania, Echion, Kiara, fifteen guards, and, of course, Nero. The procession looked impressive, even though they had left the carriage at home. It seemed they would travel faster and easier without it. After all, no one knew what roads awaited them in the southwest. They traveled far in the first few days. The girls were brave; by evening they seemed tired, but none of them complained. Even Mania, who always managed to make a scene for the slightest reason. She could dramatically relive an insect bite for hours, for example, was now afraid, afraid of what awaited her. Ligolas was worse; she worried about Lilia. He'd barely managed to get some sleep after one long and dangerous expedition, and another was already beginning. Deep down, she was very happy to be riding with them; with him, she felt safe. Taranis rode up to Lilia on his bay horse.
"So, how's the ride?" he asked tenderly.
"Nothing hurts yet, so I guess it's good." She smiled.
"That's good ," he praised
. He looked around and called to those riding ahead,
"Aren't we somewhere near the river in Elis?"
"Yes, we're getting there," replied Daran and Ligolas, who had traveled this route many times recently.
"Taranis, you know what... I don't want to interrupt our journey, but I'm terribly hungry, and..."
"I understand, to be honest, I'm hungry too..." he called, placing his hand on her wound. "Could we stop here? We're starving!"
It soon turned out that everyone was starving, so when they heard the suggestion to stop for something to eat, everyone was happy. They settled down under a tree and began unpacking their backpacks. Everyone sat down with relief on the grass and began eating. They had no time to think about hunger, and now they were practically swallowing their food instead of chewing it. It was getting dark, but despite that, the group of riders didn't want to spend the night in the forest. And they were right to be afraid; the forest was full of creatures, just waiting for someone to stray from the path. Dark rain clouds stretched across the sky; the mere fact that they would have to ride in the rain didn't bode well; they would have to stop. And just as they thought, it began to rain. With no shelter, they had to seek shelter under large trees in the forest. Not the best place, as the thunderstorm was drawing closer and closer...
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