Love Never Expected

Chapter 6: Midnight Hunt

It was around midnight when Fleur and Legolas met each other in the mansion's library.

"Fleur, you're going to have to lead the way to Gabrielle's room since you know how to get to it," Legolas whispered to Fleur.

It may have been near midnight, but Legolas was wide-awake and alert.

"I know. Her room isn't too far away from here though, only a few minor stair cases to climb and we're there," Fleur whispered back to Legolas. She felt kind of drowsy but the thought of where her sister was and what might be done to her put Fleur on full alert.

Legolas and Fleur quietly ran up the flights of stairs. Fleur could hear her muffled steps, but heard none from Legolas. She wondered if she had gone to fast for him and turned to see if he was still behind her. To her surprise he was right beside her but was making no noise in his footsteps.

They soon reached Gabrielle's room in one of the towers.

"Alright, we have to enter quietly and swift, there may have been curses sent up against visitors," Fleur warned Legolas. Legolas looked up at her.

"I know. Believe me, I've participated in wars before on Middle Earth. I know many battle techniques."

Fleur looked up at Legolas. She hadn't known that he had been in battles. He didn't have any noticeable scars.

Legolas carefully grabbed the doorknob and turned it. Both held their breath and glanced towards the door. Then Legolas swung it open and they both jumped in.

Fleur quickly pulled out her wand, ready for any attack. None came. Fleur then realized that the room was completely empty except for her and Legolas. She turned towards Legolas and nearly jumped back in surprise.

In Legolas' hand was a long, silver knife. It had engravings on the blade that Fleur couldn't make out. She glanced up at Legolas.

"I didn't know you were carrying a sword with you." Legolas looked at her, "I was taught that one must always be ready in case of an attack." He glanced down at her wand in her hand, "I see that you were also well prepared in case any attack would have come. Now, we must search the mansion for our mysterious fake."

Fleur and Legolas quietly exited the room and began searching the many halls and rooms for the imposter.

"This is hopeless, Legolas. It will take more than one night to search the entire house," Fleur stated. She knew better than anyone how large this house really was.

As a child she had loved exploring the mansion, looking for secret rooms and passages. It had nearly taken her a month to cover the whole house.

"Sh, listen, Fleur," Legolas whispered, waving his hand to come closer to where he stood.

Fleur listened hard, but could here nothing but the wind blowing outside the window. She walked up towards Legolas and strained her hearing. She could hear a faint swishing noise coming from her father's private office.

Fleur and Legolas crept closer to the office. To Fleur's surprise the office lock was broken and a dim light flickered, casting shadows on the walls.

Fleur could hear a voice coming from inside, "Where is it? I have to find it and return to master."

The voice sent shivers down Fleur's neck and up her spine. She turned towards Legolas. He seemed disturbed, yet unafraid of the voice and what lay behind the office doors.

Fleur felt a warm hand on her own. She looked down and found Legolas holding her hand. She the realized that she had been shaking violently from her fear. The warmth of Legolas' hand made her somehow feel that she was not alone. She returned the favor by holding Legolas' hand tight with her own.

They took a deep breath and slowly entered her father's private office.

The voice apparently hadn't noticed their entrance as it kept on rambling to itself. Fleur and Legolas slipped into a darkened corner of a room where they could get a clear view of the offices interior.

There, at the office's desk sat a woman in black robes. She looked very pale and thin with long black hair around her face and long, sharp nails that resembled claws. She was going through one of Philippe's record books and was muttering to herself.

"It's got to be here. I know it has. I've got to find it and bring it back to Master," she said desperately.

Fleur sat in horror, watching the woman go through pages of all her father's record and history books.

Legolas had already taken out his sword and had it ready at his side. He turned towards Fleur.

"We're going to have to take it by surprise, Fleur." Fleur turned to him.

"What is that thing?" Legolas glanced at the woman then back at Fleur.

"It's a succubus, Fleur."

Fleur had already been shaking when they had entered the room, but as Legolas said this she slid back and accidentally knocked over a large book and stack of papers that had been next to her.

Instantly the succubus raised her head at the sudden noise. She slowly stood from her seat and began walking slowly to the spot where Legolas and Fleur lay hidden.

Fleur felt like she would faint at any second. Legolas just gripped his sword even tighter than before.

The succubus continued to edge closer and closer to Legolas and Fleur's hiding spot, hissing along the way. Even in the dim lighting, Legolas and Fleur could see how tall and muscular she was.

Suddenly, not even two feet from where Legolas and Fleur lay, the succubus started sniffing the air. She continued this for some moments, then deciding that nobody was around turned to return back to her seat.

Legolas found his chance for an attack at that moment. He leaped from the floor and dashed towards the succubus. Suddenly she turned around and lashed at Legolas with her nails. He skillfully dodged them and landed on the desk.

It was now the succubus' turn to return Legolas' attack. She once again lashed forward with her sharp nails, aiming for Legolas' feet, hoping to knock him down to the ground.

Her aim was true and hit Legolas' left ankle, knocking him down. He lost his grip on the sword and it slid across the room, stopping at Fleur's feet.

Fleur sat frozen there watching the fight between elf and succubus, unable to make herself stand.

'Get up you fool! Go help Legolas!' Fleur mentally yelled at herself, but even though her mind told her to get up and fight, her stiff body wouldn't respond to her mind's commands.

The succubus found her chance to attack Legolas once more and jumped on him while on the ground. Her hands flew down on Legolas' throat, attempting to suffocate him.

Seeing this something in Fleur snapped. Her blood grew hot and pumped through her veins. Her hands balled into fists. She narrowed her eyes and locked them on the succubus. Fleur stood up and pounced on the succubus.

Surprised by the sudden attack the succubus let go of Legolas' throat, leaving him gasping for air.

"Fleur, be careful, she's stronger than she seems," Legolas hoarsely whispered.

Fleur kept her sights on the succubus, never taking her eyes away from her.

The succubus grinned evilly at Fleur, showing her fanged teeth. Even through this would have normally scared her, Fleur felt unafraid after her surge of anger towards the succubus after she had almost killed Legolas.

The succubus lunged towards Fleur, but Fleur dodged her attack. Seeing one of her father's golden chains she quickly unfastened it and tied it around the succubus' neck.

The succubus screamed and wailed, but Fleur would not let it loose.

Tried from the fighting and the chains burning into her the succubus collapsed to the floor, breathing heavily.

Legolas tried to stand up but slipped and fell down once again. He sat up and starred at the succubus, and angered expression on his face. "Who are you and what were you doing in here?" Legolas questioned it.

The succubus looked at Legolas, "My name is Alia. I came in here looking for Delacour bloodline history." Legolas' gaze grew even angrier.

"Why? And who put you up to this," He asked her forcefully.

Fleur was very much surprised by his behavior. She had never seen Legolas look so angry before.

"I don't know. I don't ask questions," Alia shot back at him. Legolas clenched his hands into a fist.

"That's not a good answer. Why were you disguised as Gabrielle and what have you done to the real one," The succubus narrowed her eyes at him.

"I'm not the one who disguised as her and I don't know who took her, but I do know that they were taking her to the Highlands."

Both Legolas and Fleur looked at each other, both obviously worried about Gabrielle and her safety.

All of a sudden the succubus grabbed Fleur's arm and tossed her towards Legolas. She tossed the golden chain and ran out the office door.

Getting off Legolas Fleur rushed to chase Alia but found no trace of her so she headed back to the office where Legolas lay injured.

"Legolas," Fleur sighed as she knelt down next to Legolas and examined his ankle. She could tell it was broken, and had a few minor scratches, but nothing she couldn't mend with magic.

Fleur cast a few quick spells and Legolas was back on his feet.

"Thank you." Legolas said, the warmth coming back to his voice.

Fleur wrapped her arms around his waist and laid her had on his chest.

"Why are you thanking me? You were the one who fought the succubus and almost got killed." Legolas smiled.

"Yeah, but you were the one who rescued me." Fleur looked up at him.

"I'm tired. I think I'll go to bed right now. Good night." Fleur leaned up and gave Legolas a kiss, the first kiss she'd ever given a boy, she realized with curiosity.

Both then parted to each other's rooms for the night.