Okay for Legolas's age, I put 5,000. I did some searching around and I was given an estimate between 3-5,000. 5 seemed more accurate so that's what I'm going with. Thank you: (decided to list everyone since it's been a while since I've been on)
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CH 3: Three Steps Back
"We will stop here for the night." The Prince announced, sliding out of the saddle as he caught Kahea by the waist. His touch was warm but also shocking. For the most part he had avoided touching her in any place, so when he did Kahea was sent in a frenzy of blushing and trying not to blush. It was quite aggravating. She still recalled her folly of calling him beautiful….to his face.
As she slid away from the elf who had turned away from her, Kahea went to dip her feet in the nearby river that was just past the trees. Clamoring over rocks and smooth boulders she traveled down to the furthest part of the river that pooled into a small pond which was pleasantly lined with boulders. Giving one last glance around Kahea dropped her clothes on the rocks, careful to make sure they did not get wet.
"Three days and not a single bath!" She muttered angrily, wading waist deep into the cool water. Kahea mouthed a sigh of relief as it soothed her chafed legs. It was easier to ride a horse, but the saddles were much smaller, leaving her legs raw from consistent riding. Legolas had been true to his word when he said it was not to be a leisure journey. Despite it all though, the princess was enjoying her time, everything so far about Middle Earth, save Mordor, which Legolas had filled her in on, Kahea loved immensely. If the wilderness held this much beauty, she was anxious to see what an actual city would be like.
She smiled, scrubbing her body with the bar of soap. This place was so strange yet so comforting. Cupping a handful of water over her breasts and dropping it over herself Kahea began to hum a tune Hama used to sing to her as a child. It was a habit developed during her bathing periods, it kept her from really feeling too lonely.
An hour had passed and Kahea had not emerged from the river yet. Worried and on edge, Legolas set out to find her. What he found was not something he had entirely expected. Kahea was lounging on the large smooth surface of a boulder. Her hair plastered to her shoulders as she leaned back to bask in the moonlight. She was humming a happy soft tune, her foot dangling in the water. With only her scarf to cover her most private regions Legolas found it hard to look away.
She was beautiful, and up until now he had been very careful to not advance on her. To his irritation, Legolas could not shake the events of their wedding night, when she stood before him in nearly nothing. Quietly he cursed himself, she was fine, he told himself. There was no need to stick around.
"Are you watching me from afar hervenn?" Kahea's voice rang playfully from the water. (husband/sindarin) Her pronunciation in his tongue surprised him.
She glanced into the trees. "You are hidden well, but in your haste you are careless." Kahea tilted her chin to the water where Legolas's reflection clearly shone.
"Are you a lecher? Or my husband? Do you feel the need to hide from me?" Legolas sauntered out of the tree-line sheepishly, feeling foolish at having been caught at peeping.
"Gi gelia lintië." Legolas mused (You learn quickly/sindarin), Kahea bobbed her head in response.
"Only a little. But nothing to applaud."
"I was worried, and did not want to disturb you." He murmured quietly, making sure to remain behind her. Kahea's lips curved, a knowing smile on her face.
"Of course hervenn." Legolas smiled as well, admiring the curve of her breasts down to the dip of her stomach and abdomen. Normally she was coy, avoiding speaking much, but tonight she was more carefree. He liked it.
"Will you join me Legolas? Or stand there?" Kahea tossed her head back to stare, eyes daring playfully. After a pregnant pause Legolas found himself shedding his armor and stepped into the shallow end, Kahea but a foot away. Sliding off the rock and back into the water she carried the bar of soap in her hands. Her lashes batting as she avoided looking directly at him, careful not to glance down at what Hama called the 'persistent poker'.
Through heavy-lidded eyes Kahea enjoyed his toned body. Legolas was lean and muscular, every part of his body well adapted to the harsh environments of his homeland. She admired his silvery hair, blue orbs of crystal, angular face and a calm that radiated off of him when he allowed it.
She hoped that he couldn't see her hands trembling, hesitating as she lathered the soap in circular motions. And even though he could he wouldn't say so, for fear of frightening her away.
Legolas still regretted turning her away without offering an explanation, that past week he had discovered it had sorely hurt her pride. It was quiet as she scrubbed, her fingers nimbly working the soap without being too rough or seeming too inattentive. Nothing but the rippling water and the song of crickets offered sound for them.
"There. All clean." Kahea grinned, tossing the soap back onto the bank. Legolas nodded his thanks, rinsing the suds as the Opren moved away, letting him have his space.
"How old are you?" She asked after some silence, her dark eyes staring at him curiously. Legolas shifted uncomfortably, humans of middle earth knew of the long life of elves, it was common knowledge. But would Kahea? How would she react?
"I am 5,000 years old." He breathed waiting for her response. And after a while she laughed, laughed.
"You are an old man!" She giggled, holding her ribs as she fought the shaking in her chest. Legolas stared for a moment, then he too started to laugh. "Yes," He grinned "I am an old man"
"You should smile more often." Kahea said, her seriousness returning, though not completely.
"It looks good on you." Legolas cocked his head to the side. He drifted closer, clasping a strand of hair between his fingers.
"Does it?" He asked, blue eyes holding her dark ones in a smoldering stare.
"I-It does." Kahea stammered, trying to move away. Days ago she had offered herself to him, and while the offer still stood, she did not want to do it outside. Not because the idea of it was not romantic (because it certainly was) but because she was afraid that someone would walk in on their 'fiasco'. She had heard of it happening to her brother who lost much face in front of his men. He did not hear the end of it from them either, to this day they still picked on him despite his high ranking.
"Do I not smile enough?" Legolas asked, a ghost smile tracing over his face.
"Well…no…I don't know. It's just that I thought you were more like your father." Legolas's hand stilled over the strands of hair.
"My father?"
"Yes, he is very cold. I thought you were the same." Kahea cocked her head, staring up at the lean elf, his face seemed lost in thought and when he spoke he breathed out in a cool indifference.
"My King Thranduil is cold because he has to be, to protect his realm from the evils that close around it. Many of those he loved has died before him and he is determined for it not to repeat." Legolas waded away, grabbing his clothes from the bank.
"I'm sure whatever offense he bought to you was unintentional."
And just like that he was gone, leaving the princess to sulk in the river a while longer before fetching her own clothes.
"We'd been doing so well." She sighed, wringing her hair out as she slowly walked to the camp. "If only I could learn to keep my big mouth shut."
As of right no I have no given schedual as to when I'll update. But if I get a more steady flow or review/fav/follow I'll set one. For now it's just random.
