Hey all! Thank you so much for reading! I didn't expect to have people reading/reviewing so soon, but keep 'em coming! I only ask that you keep the reviews positive/constructive :) I'll try to respond to any questions/ideas that you have for me in my little notes here before the next chapters, so don't be shy!
I do not own LOTR, but Calithil and her family are all mine ;)
The white horse trotted along the woodland paths. His hooves making soft noises in the dirt below, as his two riders were transported in silence. The elven city of Mirkwood was just starting its day. Elleths of all ages released the windows from their bound state, and began to rouse their families. People greeted them as they made their way towards the archery range; this was when Calithil heard her name being called.
"Calithil! Mellon!"
Forgetting she saws not the only rider, Calithil whipped her head around, only to bonk her nose off of Legolas' bicep. With a gentle tug on the reins, Legolas brought the horse to a slower pace and turned as well. He saw an elfling with curly brown locks running to catch up with them.
Legolas rolled his eyes, "Calithil, I have told you that these lessons are for you alone, not a group of your little friends."
"I'm sorry, my lord, but she is just trying to say hello…" mumbled Calithil looking up and over her shoulder at the prince under her long eyelashes. With an exasperated sigh, Legolas turned the horse around so they could see the small elfling huffing below them.
"Oh mellon! I did not notice who you were riding with… I am sorry my lord!" Squeaked the small girl, as she curtsied politely.
"We really must be going, little elf. You can speak with Calithil after her lesson." Legolas said, with a cold and distant tone that scared the little elf.
"Norisona, I will be with you after, I promise!" Calithil said warmly to her friend.
Legolas abruptly turned the horse back in the direction they were going before, and felt Calithil slump over just a bit. He saw her small arms cross in front of her chest, and her head dip down. He took a deep breath. They traveled in an uncomfortable silence for a few more turns and bends, before the archery range came into sight.
Legolas gracefully dismounted, turning to reach up for the small elf. She allowed him to pick her up off of the saddle and set her on the ground. She turned away from him, fiddling with the soft folds of her skirt, her bottom lip pushed forward.
"Calithil, why are you pouting?" he asked, hardly understanding what could have upset the child, for she was just smiling a second ago.
She looked up at him with a furrowed brow, and even Legolas had a hard time not admitting to himself the child could probably get whatever she wanted with a face like that.
"My lord, Norisona just wanted to see me shoot. She hoped that maybe you wouldn't mind her coming along…" Calithil suddenly became fascinated with the dirt under her shoes, shuffling her feet back and forth creating a small mound between them.
Legolas sighed. By teaching Calithil how to shoot a bow, he was doing a friend a favor. He valued the support he had from her father, and owed him his life. He did not, however, agree to babysitting a whole heard of elflings, and that was exactly what he was trying to avoid. How could one explain that to a child, who cannot see past the fact the cold hearted prince shooed away her friend as if she were a pestering fly on a horse's back?
Just as he opened his mouth to explain his actions to Calithil, he found that she had already made her way to the large Oak tree and was tying back her long flowing sleeves. Adjusting his bow, he gently made his way over to Calithil and kneeled before her.
"Calithil," Legolas said cautiously, yet firmly. "You know these days are meant for you to learn the skill which is archery, not to be playing with your friends, yes?"
Calithil kept her eyes away from Legolas'; she tried to focus on the individual blades of grass, or the small insects that crawled through them. She knew her evasion wouldn't last long, as he gently tucked a stray hair behind her small pointed ears.
"Calithil, look at me."
Her sapphire almond eyes found his icy blues, and he saw the faintest trace of tears building up in them. Legolas valued how bold the child was when she had first answered him, praying that she would never lose the confidence to speak her mind; he only wished that she would gain the wisdom on when to do so, and when to not.
"I did not mean to brush your little friend aside," Legolas said gingerly, allowing the elleth before him to absorb the rare apology he was giving. "I only wish to make you the best archer in all of Mirkwood, and that would be hard if you were distracted by your peer, would it not?"
"I guess so, my lord…" she mumbled, trying not to show the small glistening tear threatening to fall down her cheek.
With a sudden flash of green, Calithil found herself being lifted up into the air. A small gasp escaped her lips as the elven prince spun her around a few times until she began to giggle. He perched her up on his shoulder, gathered her bow and quiver, and paraded her to her shooting place.
"Alright, little bird, show me what you remember."
After half an hour of correcting her stance, reminding her for the thousandth time to bring her thumb to her chin and to place three fingers on the string instead of two, they finally began making progress. She would stand on a shooting platform and go through a mental checklist. She was hitting the target more consistently today, and was quite proud of herself. She drew back the bowstring, inhaling as she touched her thumb to her chin. She found her target and released the arrow while exhaling. She heard the arrow pierce the target, in the layer just outside of the bulls-eye.
"Well done, Calithil," Legolas said from behind his student. He walked up to her carrying his own bow, taking an arrow from his quiver and shooting at the same target she had. First, he hit the center, earning a small cheer from his pupil. Then, he drew back another, and split her last arrow in two.
The elfling stood with her mouth open, in utter amazement. Legolas nonchalantly placed two fingers under her chin and closed her mouth playfully. She pursed her lips at him, when she saw him smirking.
"Someday, when I'm big, I'll do that to one of your arrows and we'll see how you like it!" Calithil threatened, a determined glint reaching her eyes.
Legolas raised his eyebrows at Calithil, taken aback by the sudden boldness of the girl before him. This girl had a certain fire burning within her, and he could only imagine it growing as she did. Legolas realized that the elfling before him would reach adulthood far sooner than he would like. He would miss the carefree soul running through the woods, and climbing trees; the one who tumbled out of the closet, wrestling with her brother.
A chime-like voice broke him from his thoughts. "What now, my lord?"
A trace of a smirk found his way to his face, "First of all we must address that when we are out here during your lessons, you must call me Legolas. You make me feel much older than I am!"
Calithil's eyes lit up as he spoke, "Yes, my lo- Legolas!"
Legolas then looked around the woods surrounding them, "Next, I shall race you to that tree. Your father says you are quick, but I have a hard time believing him. I think me may have mistaken you for someone else…"
"I'm fast!" Calithil cried indignantly.
"Prove it, little bird!" Legolas chided as he ruffled her hair darting off towards the tree.
With a small skip, Calithil ran off after Legolas only to find he had climbed up the tree. "Come on, little bird. Climb up!"
They spent the rest of the day climbing the trees of Mirkwood until they rested upon one of the branches of the oak tree. It was one of the oldest trees in the area, and had branches that put the other trees to shame; they were thick and sturdy, wide enough for the elven prince and the young elleth to sit together on one branch.
They watched as birds perched on the branches and how the clouds moved across the sky. He loved the way her face would light up when she saw a hawk, or watched as a baby bird flew for the first time. Soon though, he felt her head fall back against his shoulder, her eyes lids closing slowly. Using this as his cue, he picked up Calithil and jumped lightly down from the branch. She nuzzled her head into the shoulder of Legolas' tunic, and he carefully placed her up on the horse. Mounting quietly behind her, he placed her head back to his chest, cradling her as he made the way back to her home.
When they returned to her home, Legolas brought her up to the front door, gently jingling the chimes at the door. Aurora smiled as she welcomed them back into her home.
"Thorontur is out, my lord," Aurora whispered. "Would you mind bringing her up the stairs to her room?"
"No, Lady Aurora, I do not mind." Legolas said softly. Calithil nuzzled her face his chest as they made their way up the stairs and into her small bedroom.
Legolas pulled back the covers of her bed and gently placed her down. He pulled off her leather boots, and placed them below her bed. When the covers were gently tucked around the sleeping elleth, he sat down on the edge of the bed. Looking upon the sleeping child, he silently prayed that she would not grow up too fast. She was far too innocent, too free to be subjected to the world's cruel twists of fate. He leaned forward and placed his lips to Calithil's forehead.
"Sleep well, little bird," he whispered, and left the room.
