It was still dark outside when the young elleth awoke. The moonlight was still gleaming upon her golden hair, which was mussed from a night full of innocent dreams of chasing butterflies and racing up endless trees. Though she had stayed up far too late, her mind was far too stimulated to sleep any longer.
Slipping out of her small bed, she walked with careful steps to the gown her mother had laid out on her chair the night before. It was a sky blue with silver vines embroidered around the drooping sleeves, the hem and around the waist. This elleth was never fond of gowns, for she preferred the comfort of leggings and a tunic. Yet, she couldn't help but be fascinated her mother's needle work and baffled by the dedication she put into her projects.
"Now, what are you doing up, my dear Calithil?"
A small gasp escaped the child's lips as she turned to face her mother, who smiled at her with knowing eyes. She placed her hands on her daughter's shoulders, fixing the misguided folds of her dress and smoothing out the fine fabric.
"I could not sleep, nana! I did try! I counted backwards from 1,000 and everything!" the indignation in Calithil's chime-like voice tempted a chuckle to escape her mother's lips. A pout found its way to Calithil's face, showing she was clearly upset that her efforts to be patient had failed, though she followed her parents' advice.
"Ah, my dear, maybe we should tell Prince Legolas these end of the week rides are not good for you! I'm sure he will understand if you cannot handle them!" Her mother said with a gleam in her eye.
Calithil's sapphire eyes grew large, "No, Nana! I can handle it!" The determination in her daughter's voice brought forth a small chuckle from Aurora. She inherited this from her father, thought Aurora as she rolled her eyes ever so slightly.
These rides came every seven days, and were the highlight of Calithil's week. She was given the honor of going for little outings with the prince because her desire to learn to use a bow. On her birthday, she told her Ada, Thorontur, that she would like nothing more than to be the best archer in Mirkwood. With proud eyes, her father said that in order to be the best, she would have to learn from the best. Together, they crafted a small bow for her to use, with delicate vines wrapping around it. He had given her an old quiver of her brothers, and told her he would have to find her a teacher.
"But Ada, are you not the best archer in Mirkwood?" she had asked him.
"Ah, my daughter, there is one of equal talent (if not more) that I'm sure would teach you if I ask politely." Thorontur responded gently.
Upon asking King Thranduil, who Thorontur was the personal guard of at the time, he then passed the message on to his son. Hesitant at first, Legolas did not know what to expect from the elfling; not many children had the patients to learn the art of archery, let alone female children. Finally, however, he agreed.
"Come along then, lellig. I will make you an early breakfast, and nay, we will not be cancelling your ride today." A soft smile traced Calithil's lips, "However, you must let me fix your hair after you eat. You do not want to be a mess for your special day!"
With a small skip in her step, Calithil followed her mother down the branch-like stairs of their home. As she finished her breakfast, her mother called her over to one of the cushions with a brush in her hands. They sat in the open air, as they watched the sun appear making the dew on the grass and trees sparkle like precious jewels. The sun's early morning rays painted the sky delicate colors of pink, orange, and began chasing away the dark navy of the night sky. Her mother hummed ancient songs as her fingers twisted and folded her daughters hair into delicate braids which crowned her head, connecting in a v, allowing most of her hair to cascade down her back.
"Who is this woman, sitting with my wife?" A baritone voice said from the doorway of their veranda.
"Ada! It's me!" Calithil said, giggling as she ran towards her father who lifted her, placing a gentle kiss on her nose.
"Ah! I suppose it is!" Thorontur said, with his brow furrowed. Aurora walked up to him placing a gentle kiss on his cheek, before he let Calithil down on the floor.
"Nana, when will he be here?"
"In a few hours, my love. I doubt he has even been woken up yet!"
After a few excruciating hours, Calithil heard the sound of hooves gently hitting the grass outside. Her mother and father looked at each other with puzzled faces, "My love, were we expecting any guests today?"
"I do not remember, Aurora. I did not believe so…" Thorontur responded, with just the slightest glance to his now scowling daughter. "Calithil, do you know who would be coming to our home this early in the morning?"
"Ada!" she pouted. "It is Prince Legolas! He's come for our weekly ride, remember?"
Before Thorontur could respond, there was the soft chime of bells at their door. Calithil's sapphire eyes grew large, and she suddenly became fascinated with her sleeve.
"Will you not answer the door, Calithil?" Aurora asked.
The little girl mumbled her answer, so quietly that her mother could not establish the beginning of a word from the end. With a gentle sigh, Aurora glided to the door and opened it slightly.
"Good morning Lady Aurora," said a confident, but gentle voice from the door.
"Good morning, Prince Legolas. Please, come in," Aurora opened the door a bit wider, and welcomed the prince into their home. "Calithil, are you rea- Calithil?"
An empty chair was replaced by the one that was once filled with the young elleth. Legolas became aware of a muffled child's voice coming from the upstairs. He watched as Aurora took in a deep breath, and turned gently to him, "Please, my lord, give me one moment."
With quick, but ever graceful steps, Aurora made her way up the stairs to one of the closets of their home. She turned the nob, quickly opening the door only to have two bodies crash out of it. Legolas looked up to see Calithil struggling to lift her brother off of her small frame.
"Gondien! Get off!" Calithil groaned underneath her brother's weight.
"Sorry, little one, but I can't hear you. Your speech seems to be garbled by the lack of air in your lungs. Annunciate!" Gondien teased as she squirmed beneath him.
With a roll of her eyes, Aurora grabbed hold of Gondien's ear. The ellon yelped as he rose slightly for just a long enough time for Calithil to slip away and hide behind her mother's gown. "Gondien, you should really only challenge people who are your own size," Thorontur said calmly from his place in the kitchen.
Thorontur, walked up to Legolas, placing their hands on each other's shoulders in greating. "I apologize for my son's behavior. I hope he takes his training a bit more seriously, though I know he probably does not."
"You know your son best, Lord Thorontur," said Legolas with a hint of a smirk on his face. He turned his attention to the young elleth coming down the stairs, still hiding behind her mother's skirts. "Calithil, are you ready to go?"
Her sapphire eyes met his, as she slowly stepped out from behind he mother. Legolas walked over to her with soft steps and kneeled to be eye level with her. He reached out his hand to the golden haired elleth with a gentle look in his eyes. "Come on, Calithil. We have a big day ahead of us, and we have to head out now!"
With a small grin she placed her small hand in his, while receiving a gentle kiss from her mother. She walked out the door finding her face to face with a brilliant white horse. Calithil stepped back in surprise, into Legolas' legs.
"He can sense that you are nervous Calithil, you must not be afraid of him." Legolas said placing his hands on her small shoulders. Calithil swallowed her fear, and took a tentative step forward. She stretched out her hand to the large animal, but instead of bringing its head to her hand, it nudged her lightly with its nose. Calithil staggered back a bit, but soon found herself with a giant grin plastered on her face.
Legolas walked over to the girl, scooping her up into the air and placing her on the horses back. He gracefully mounted the beast behind her, reaching around her small frame to take hold of the reins. "Are you ready?" He asked her gently.
Calithil looked up over her shoulder with a warm, glowing smile, "Yes, Legolas! I am ready!"
With that they rode into the woods, with her small bow in hand and her quiver on her back.