A Century of Green Leaves

by Sixty-four K

I have officially joined the challenge! One hundred drabbles and short stories, all taking place in Mirkwood. Has all the usual Mirkwood suspects, including Legolas, Thranduil, Galion, Elros the guard, Feren and Lethuin. Some humour, mostly angst(thanks to Galion). Takes place at various times throughout Thranduil's life, starting from when Oropher arrived in the Greenwood.

1. 67- Failed Attempt(On Galion)

It's all NirCele's fault, as usual. ;-) Seeing her collection of one hundred drabbles(READ THEM, PEOPLES! They're seriously amazing, if they inspired me;-) has inspired me to try my hand at some as well, using the same collection of prompts as she did. These are mostly to do with the Greenwood, rather than Imladris, as hers are. A few to do with Imladris may slip in here, though. So... I'm dedicating these to her. You're allowed to feel very special, NirCele.

It's also her fault because, for the last while, she's been 'nagging'(in a good way) me to write some Galion angst. So, I hope this is good for now! Enjoy!

Oh, and the word 'century' can be used to describe things besides years. Just so you know!

---

#67 Failed Attempt(Note: takes place before Galion is a butler, when he's just a cute little 40-or-so year old.)

"Good luck, Galion."

Galion dipped his head, acknowledging his father's words, but he didn't look up from his bow. It lay in his lap, the wood still shiny, the finish not worn away.

It wasn't from lack of practice. He'd practised. But somehow, it never showed. His bow never wore down, and he never got any stronger.

He heard footsteps approaching. It wasn't his father returning- he knew his footsteps. It was Lethuin, as he soon saw. The younger elf stood before him, weight on the left leg, as was his custom. Lethuin pretended to examine his fingernails, but looked at Galion out of the corner of his eye. "So, it's trial day, today, is it?"

"You know very well that it is," said Galion quietly.

"Ah, yes!" exclaimed Lethuin. "I'd forgotten. Do you think you'll pass?"

At getting no answer from Galion, Lethuin continued. "It would be wonderful if you did. You'd finally get to join your own age group." Then, he grinned. "How many times have you attempted? Ten? Twenty? How many years?"

"Go away, Lethuin."

Shaking his head condescendingly, Lethuin walked away, leaving Galion alone with newly refreshed doubts, and a vague realization of something that he had known long ago- there was no use in trying again, being humiliated again. He would never pass.