Disclaimer: I own nothing except for Neofina; Tolkien gets all the credit
for everything else(.
**.** = thoughts
Chapter 1: Childish Games
Neofina laid sluggishly against a tall Mirkwood tree, waiting for her companion to exit King Thranduil's corridors. **Where is he?** She thought incessantly; she was becoming impatient and angered, which was not how she wanted to start her day, especially on this beautiful morn. She stood up ready to leave and give up hope of her best friend ever leaving the castle until she heard him groan in irritation as the King's door opened.
"It's high time you decided to grace us with your presence Prince Legolas," Neofina replied as she mockingly bowed her head full of long light brown curls.
"I'm in no mood to play 'your highness' today, Fina," Legolas said sharply, "I've had too many royal matters to deal with already today."
"Ooo, do tell!" Neofina's dazzling green eyes full of excitement and anticipation lit up even more.
"I wish not to at the moment."
"Please?" She begged, whining almost as bad as a little puppy.
"Maybe after I get my mind off of it," Legolas finally gave in; he just couldn't resist when she did the puppy-dog look.
"Alright then," she said, "Let's go shoot some arrows, and then we shall have a little talk."
At that, Neofina straightened her light green tunic and tugged at her leggings in angst (because they had stuck to her long legs in an uncomfortable manor). After she was finished with her "grooming", she walked pass Legolas, leaving him to stare at his strange friend in wonderment.
"Sounds great," he replied in relief, his head still pounding with the news he had just heard earlier in his father's chamber.
The summer's day turned out to be enjoyable and less stressful then Legolas had expected, but archery always drew his mind from annoying matters, especially when he did it with Neofina. She was almost as good as he now was, but only because she learned from the best (himself of course). The day was drawing close to an end and still Legolas hadn't discussed the earlier problem he had with his father to Neofina. It seemed like she had read his mind:
"So about these issues that trouble you so, what are they?" Neofina asked curiously while taking an arrow out of her quiver ready to hit the target.
After a long pause followed by a sigh, Legolas gave in, "My father wants me to marry. Very soon. I'm his only son and he wants his name to be secure by having a stable heir. He does not understand that I will not wed until I find the one I love. And I haven't found her yet and I don't know when I will."
Neofina nodded her head knowingly, "I understand completely. My parents wish me to settle down and be married to a nice, settled elf and live out my life as a homely wife. But that brings me no happiness; I want adventure, I want to live my life completely. Besides, what elf would want a feisty, tomboyish elf maiden like me?"
Legolas started to chuckle, "True, it will take a very special elf to settle you down into marriage."
"I won't let it happen!" Neofina firmly stated while she crossed her arms across her chest. At that remark, Legolas flung himself towards her, knocking her on the ground and began to frantically tickle her, causing her to scream for someone to help her in her laughing fit. She squirmed away from him dashed into woods teasingly calling for him to catch her. His bright blue eyes darted to where she had escaped and soon after he was up and after her, like a lion chasing it's prey.
"You'll never catch me! Hahaha!" Neofina's voice rang through the trees, but in truth Legolas was right behind her; her body was within his grasp. But she stopped running. Legolas ran into her in confusion of why she had stopped so suddenly; it became clear when his blue eyes flickered upward pass Neofina's wild hair to the figure standing in front of them with eyes of fire and a large frown filling his face. The figure was Legolas' father, King Thranduil, who looked displeased with Legolas and Neofina.
"Legolas, I wish to speak with you this minute, now!" King Thranduil sternly replied.
Legolas sulked his way up to the stairs where his father was waiting for him, they were about to enter the king's chamber, when Neofina opened up her big mouth.
"Oh, uh, I'll just be going then. Legolas, I'll see you morrow."
"No, you wait there Ms. Neofina, I wish to speak with you after I'm through with my son." The king emphasized disappointment when he replied the word "son".
"Good going, Neofina, just open your big mouth," she mumbled under her breath, "Might as well go and relax over there against that tree and wait to see what fate has in store for me."
Neofina slowly walked over to the tree where she had been earlier that day waiting for Legolas.
"Hello my dear friend," she said almost jokingly staring at the tree, "Yet we meet again."
Legolas stood upright, his blond hair still somewhat in shock due to earlier events. He was waiting for the harsh words and fearsome glares from his father, but King Thranduil, sat down in his chair and looked at Legolas for quite some time before asking him, "Why do you defy me?"
Legolas was taken aback by his father's ridiculous question: defy him? All Legolas ever did was help his father. Legolas cocked his head to the left a little trying to search his father's face for the reason of his silly question.
"Pardon?" was all Legolas could remark.
"You heard me," King Thranduil's anger began to rise, "After our discussion of marriage this morning, you decide to leave the castle to do what? Play with your best friend? You're supposed to be looking for a wife, not out in the dark playing silly childish games with friends."
Legolas just simply stared at his father, disbelieving the words that had escaped his father's lips. **Playing with friends? Neofina wasn't just merely his friend: she was his trusted companion, his other half, the one he can't live without. Oh dear, what am I saying? I can't love her like that! It's impossible! She's Neofina, my Fina who gets into trouble and starts more fights than any other elf I know. It's not love right?** Too many questions filled his mind; he needed to retire to his bedchamber and reflect on his unanswered questions.
"Father, if you wouldn't mind, could we finish this discussion morrow, I'm tired and would like to sleep tonight and then I'll be more clear-headed for you in the morn," Legolas said, holding onto his head, which was aching much worse than it had this morning.
"Fine, but we will finish morrow. Please ask the young Neofina to join me now, I am ready," King Thranduil stated flatly.
Legolas exited the room and walked outside to see Neofina leaning against the tree with her eyes closed, and her locks of curls dancing lightly against her soft, fair skin. She was bathed in a whole new light from Legolas' awakened eyes. Her chest slowly rising up and down, her slender fingers gracefully draped across her tiny waist, her long legs exposed due to her leggings.
**She's a jewel, waiting to be touched. This is torture.**
Legolas slowly approached the sleeping Neofina, sure not to wake her, well not just yet anyway. He had to touch her to savor her beauty.
**Why hadn't I noticed her beauty before?**
He lightly touched one of her rosy cheeks with his thumb, rubbing it soothingly. He dipped his pale face into her neck to smell the sweet scent of her hair. She suddenly awoke to a very close Legolas. Naturally, she restrained her head further from his, her emerald eyes looking bewildered.
"Uh, hi Legolas," Neofina asked uncertain, "You alright?"
Her voice broke through to his mind, forcing him to register something quick to say, "Oh, yes.well.my father wanted to speak with you and I was sent to retrieve you."
Neofina's eyes were skeptical, so Legolas panicked inside and though of a way to ease the tension in the air.
"Well, m'lady Neofina," Legolas said playfully holding out his arm for her to take it like at the royal balls and festivals, "Off we go to see the powerful, yet grumpy, King Thranduil of Mirkwood."
Neofina giggled slightly, while she brushed herself off, and gently took Legolas' arm with hers and replied with as much dignity as she could muster, "Do you think the handsome Prince of Mirkwood will be attending the meeting on this breathtaking night."
"Why, you're speaking to that very handsome prince at this moment," Legolas replied arrogantly, flashing his dazzling smile as a joke.
Now Neofina started to laugh hysterically and Legolas joined her in the fun as they casually made their way to the king's chamber. When they arrived at the doors, Legolas knocked twice, and the doors soon opened to reveal a very unhappy king waiting impatiently for Neofina. Legolas then turned to leave, but Neofina grabbed his arm.
"Where are you going?" she asked frantically, "You are not leaving me alone here with your father!" She barely whispered the last remark.
"I must leave now, but I will see you morrow. Farewell." Legolas quickly left, not allowing Neofina to protest against his leaving.
Neofina was faced with what seemed to be a doomed night, but once Legolas left the chamber and was out of sight, the king's expression changed drastically from upset to welcoming.
"Welcome, my child," he replied catching Neofina off guard, " I have a proposal for you."
**.** = thoughts
Chapter 1: Childish Games
Neofina laid sluggishly against a tall Mirkwood tree, waiting for her companion to exit King Thranduil's corridors. **Where is he?** She thought incessantly; she was becoming impatient and angered, which was not how she wanted to start her day, especially on this beautiful morn. She stood up ready to leave and give up hope of her best friend ever leaving the castle until she heard him groan in irritation as the King's door opened.
"It's high time you decided to grace us with your presence Prince Legolas," Neofina replied as she mockingly bowed her head full of long light brown curls.
"I'm in no mood to play 'your highness' today, Fina," Legolas said sharply, "I've had too many royal matters to deal with already today."
"Ooo, do tell!" Neofina's dazzling green eyes full of excitement and anticipation lit up even more.
"I wish not to at the moment."
"Please?" She begged, whining almost as bad as a little puppy.
"Maybe after I get my mind off of it," Legolas finally gave in; he just couldn't resist when she did the puppy-dog look.
"Alright then," she said, "Let's go shoot some arrows, and then we shall have a little talk."
At that, Neofina straightened her light green tunic and tugged at her leggings in angst (because they had stuck to her long legs in an uncomfortable manor). After she was finished with her "grooming", she walked pass Legolas, leaving him to stare at his strange friend in wonderment.
"Sounds great," he replied in relief, his head still pounding with the news he had just heard earlier in his father's chamber.
The summer's day turned out to be enjoyable and less stressful then Legolas had expected, but archery always drew his mind from annoying matters, especially when he did it with Neofina. She was almost as good as he now was, but only because she learned from the best (himself of course). The day was drawing close to an end and still Legolas hadn't discussed the earlier problem he had with his father to Neofina. It seemed like she had read his mind:
"So about these issues that trouble you so, what are they?" Neofina asked curiously while taking an arrow out of her quiver ready to hit the target.
After a long pause followed by a sigh, Legolas gave in, "My father wants me to marry. Very soon. I'm his only son and he wants his name to be secure by having a stable heir. He does not understand that I will not wed until I find the one I love. And I haven't found her yet and I don't know when I will."
Neofina nodded her head knowingly, "I understand completely. My parents wish me to settle down and be married to a nice, settled elf and live out my life as a homely wife. But that brings me no happiness; I want adventure, I want to live my life completely. Besides, what elf would want a feisty, tomboyish elf maiden like me?"
Legolas started to chuckle, "True, it will take a very special elf to settle you down into marriage."
"I won't let it happen!" Neofina firmly stated while she crossed her arms across her chest. At that remark, Legolas flung himself towards her, knocking her on the ground and began to frantically tickle her, causing her to scream for someone to help her in her laughing fit. She squirmed away from him dashed into woods teasingly calling for him to catch her. His bright blue eyes darted to where she had escaped and soon after he was up and after her, like a lion chasing it's prey.
"You'll never catch me! Hahaha!" Neofina's voice rang through the trees, but in truth Legolas was right behind her; her body was within his grasp. But she stopped running. Legolas ran into her in confusion of why she had stopped so suddenly; it became clear when his blue eyes flickered upward pass Neofina's wild hair to the figure standing in front of them with eyes of fire and a large frown filling his face. The figure was Legolas' father, King Thranduil, who looked displeased with Legolas and Neofina.
"Legolas, I wish to speak with you this minute, now!" King Thranduil sternly replied.
Legolas sulked his way up to the stairs where his father was waiting for him, they were about to enter the king's chamber, when Neofina opened up her big mouth.
"Oh, uh, I'll just be going then. Legolas, I'll see you morrow."
"No, you wait there Ms. Neofina, I wish to speak with you after I'm through with my son." The king emphasized disappointment when he replied the word "son".
"Good going, Neofina, just open your big mouth," she mumbled under her breath, "Might as well go and relax over there against that tree and wait to see what fate has in store for me."
Neofina slowly walked over to the tree where she had been earlier that day waiting for Legolas.
"Hello my dear friend," she said almost jokingly staring at the tree, "Yet we meet again."
Legolas stood upright, his blond hair still somewhat in shock due to earlier events. He was waiting for the harsh words and fearsome glares from his father, but King Thranduil, sat down in his chair and looked at Legolas for quite some time before asking him, "Why do you defy me?"
Legolas was taken aback by his father's ridiculous question: defy him? All Legolas ever did was help his father. Legolas cocked his head to the left a little trying to search his father's face for the reason of his silly question.
"Pardon?" was all Legolas could remark.
"You heard me," King Thranduil's anger began to rise, "After our discussion of marriage this morning, you decide to leave the castle to do what? Play with your best friend? You're supposed to be looking for a wife, not out in the dark playing silly childish games with friends."
Legolas just simply stared at his father, disbelieving the words that had escaped his father's lips. **Playing with friends? Neofina wasn't just merely his friend: she was his trusted companion, his other half, the one he can't live without. Oh dear, what am I saying? I can't love her like that! It's impossible! She's Neofina, my Fina who gets into trouble and starts more fights than any other elf I know. It's not love right?** Too many questions filled his mind; he needed to retire to his bedchamber and reflect on his unanswered questions.
"Father, if you wouldn't mind, could we finish this discussion morrow, I'm tired and would like to sleep tonight and then I'll be more clear-headed for you in the morn," Legolas said, holding onto his head, which was aching much worse than it had this morning.
"Fine, but we will finish morrow. Please ask the young Neofina to join me now, I am ready," King Thranduil stated flatly.
Legolas exited the room and walked outside to see Neofina leaning against the tree with her eyes closed, and her locks of curls dancing lightly against her soft, fair skin. She was bathed in a whole new light from Legolas' awakened eyes. Her chest slowly rising up and down, her slender fingers gracefully draped across her tiny waist, her long legs exposed due to her leggings.
**She's a jewel, waiting to be touched. This is torture.**
Legolas slowly approached the sleeping Neofina, sure not to wake her, well not just yet anyway. He had to touch her to savor her beauty.
**Why hadn't I noticed her beauty before?**
He lightly touched one of her rosy cheeks with his thumb, rubbing it soothingly. He dipped his pale face into her neck to smell the sweet scent of her hair. She suddenly awoke to a very close Legolas. Naturally, she restrained her head further from his, her emerald eyes looking bewildered.
"Uh, hi Legolas," Neofina asked uncertain, "You alright?"
Her voice broke through to his mind, forcing him to register something quick to say, "Oh, yes.well.my father wanted to speak with you and I was sent to retrieve you."
Neofina's eyes were skeptical, so Legolas panicked inside and though of a way to ease the tension in the air.
"Well, m'lady Neofina," Legolas said playfully holding out his arm for her to take it like at the royal balls and festivals, "Off we go to see the powerful, yet grumpy, King Thranduil of Mirkwood."
Neofina giggled slightly, while she brushed herself off, and gently took Legolas' arm with hers and replied with as much dignity as she could muster, "Do you think the handsome Prince of Mirkwood will be attending the meeting on this breathtaking night."
"Why, you're speaking to that very handsome prince at this moment," Legolas replied arrogantly, flashing his dazzling smile as a joke.
Now Neofina started to laugh hysterically and Legolas joined her in the fun as they casually made their way to the king's chamber. When they arrived at the doors, Legolas knocked twice, and the doors soon opened to reveal a very unhappy king waiting impatiently for Neofina. Legolas then turned to leave, but Neofina grabbed his arm.
"Where are you going?" she asked frantically, "You are not leaving me alone here with your father!" She barely whispered the last remark.
"I must leave now, but I will see you morrow. Farewell." Legolas quickly left, not allowing Neofina to protest against his leaving.
Neofina was faced with what seemed to be a doomed night, but once Legolas left the chamber and was out of sight, the king's expression changed drastically from upset to welcoming.
"Welcome, my child," he replied catching Neofina off guard, " I have a proposal for you."