Chapter 20
They had left almost immediately after Draco had informed Leoglas of his choice. The other had said goodbye to the company, though Draco held back, not really bothering. He supposed it was only to be expected as he had not really formed any true connections to anyone barring Legolas. Perhaps Aragorn, but the reality stayed the same. He had not spoken much, not really bothered to do so, and honestly, he had not really cared to do so. He would not change his mind, and he had dealt with enough to not worry about the actions of his past, and focus on the ones of his future instead. There was much that he had cause to be worried over, and Draco knew that it was going to be a rough ride for them, for which he was sorry but then again, he figured that, perhaps they could handle such things. He did not know for sure, and he felt some fission of worry and compassion for what they were undoubtedly about to continue on towards. It was no laughing matter after all. This was war. An attempted invasion, and one which will not be as easy as the ones which Voldermort had had him plan.
Once they finally started on the road, they continued almost without any pauses. It was quite different to the fellowship, which paused quite often to give rest and breaks to, particularly, the hobbits who were not used to such drastic energy expension. For the two elves and Draco however, this was a common expectation, and as such it did not really bother any of them too much. Draco could not really help but smile as he watched Haldir and Legolas from a distance. They were leaving the forest soon, and Draco was simply basking in the presence of the land around. him. He really did like these trees. The forest was stunning. It was so different from any of the forests where he was from. It was better, softer, kinder. He loved it much. The gentle breeze traveled through the trees, leaves rustling slightly. Draco sighed content. He wished he did not have to leave, but he could not deny that he was incredibly curious as to what Legolas' homeland was like. He was quite excited to see it, not that it actually showed as he was careful to school his face into indifference.
Haldir and Legolas returned to join him where he was leaning against one of the many trees. He opened his eyes, his crystalline blue ice piercing theirs like shards of ice. He smiled, to take the edge of his naturally intimidating eyes. It seemed to help, a little bit. His eyes were always a bit unnatural, always fluctuating between blue and grey. He did not think to much of it, however. When he used certain magic, wandless, nonverbal, natural magic that was, his eyes turned a brilliant emerald green during the magic use. He was sort of used to it. He knew how it could cause others to become unnerved, but that was not on him. He was simply born with odd eyes. He could not ask for them to change, even if he desired it, which he did not. He quite liked his eyes.
"Are we leaving now, my lord?" Draco asked softly. Legolas nodded in answer to his question, and Draco hummed softly under his breath, sighing. He was grateful that they had allowed him this, though.
"Do you have anything you wish to say to the company before we depart?" Draco knew Legolas was asking because they probably would not see them for a long while, that is assuming both parties actually survived the impending darkness taking over the land. Not to mention, this was his last chance, before they left the forest and the company for good.
"No, my lord." He said simply. Draco elegantly pushed off the trunk of the tree and walked next to Legolas as Haldir slowly led them through the trees of Lothloríen. There were things that he knew was going to be unfortunate. After all, he would miss the hobbits. He could admit that to himself. Specifically Merry and Pippin. He was not close enough with Sam and Frodo to say such things, but he would certainly miss the two troublemakers. They reminded him just a little bit of Fred and George, the Gryffindor Weasley Twins. Still, at the same time he would be glad to be away from them. He was not usually a group person. Two or three, with a maximum of four is what he normally surrounded himself with. Anything more he did not trust, and anything less would be daring. Draco did not like going to places alone either. Never certain when his father would visit, or when some stupid Gryffindor decided they would dare to attempt to curse him. Not that they managed. But the point was that he did not like being alone. It made him an easy target, which, while he was incredibly talented at disappearing even amongst a crowd, he would prefer not to have to do such things.
Once they reached the very edge of the forest, Haldir looked back, a mere second, before bowing lightly and walking off, Legolas did not, so Draco followed the young lord's example. Draco assumed that Haldir had done so, because his lord and lady lived in the forest. It would not surprise him if they had eyes all within the place, especially since Haldir had known that they were in the forest, and where they were as well, stating that his lord and lady ahd wished to speak to the company.
"My lord," Draco said cautiously.
"Yes?" Legolas had long since given up getting the youth to stop addressing him so properly. All of his attempts have failed. He did not waste time continuing to do so. He could just order him to stop now, but that was, well that was rather cruel, and Legolas refused to do such things.
"I have questions of your homelands." Legolas smiled, eyes bright.
"Ask away."