Chapter 3

Even though you were not allowed in battle you went to practice everyday. It felt good to have the bow in your hands. You loved feeling active and having other things to do apart from standing next to the king.

The king had made no efforts to engage you in conversation after that time where he came dangerously closer to you, but he still looked at you in that way that made you feel self-conscious. His day consisted in sitting in his throne and drinking, sometimes he would give some orders if necessary but that was it, he also loved to take baths in the pond but there you did not follow.

You often wondered how was he like when he was younger, how did he looked in battle. Did he looked as mighty as he looks now even when he does nothing? No, he must have looked even better.

You imagined him in battle and you couldn't help but to feel a little attracted. He must have looked terrifying as well, at least that was the way he looked when he was enraged.

Again you feel distressed at the thoughts you have of him but being in his presence made almost impossible not to think of him.

You kept practicing even though you were not allowed in battle anymore. It felt so good to have that little time for yourself, it kept the strange thoughts away. The feeling of betrayal was forgotten at least for a while.

Why did you felt such a thing? Betrayal to Laegnir? You were just friends. He made things difficult when he confessed himself to you, well it wasn't exactly a confession but it was implied that there was sentiment. Ever since that moment you had avoided him, it just didn't feel good to be at his presence.

What did you feel for him though? Why was it so uncomfortable for you that he made that implication…perhaps you were not so indifferent towards him.

Again it was time for you to go back to the king's hall, you feel a little annoyed as it was time to be the king's servant again. Watching him drink his life away (though he's immortal) made you so mad. Often the one that solved the realm problems was Legolas, he was in charge of the safety of Mirkwood and he did a great job. But the king…he just sat in his throne absent of the problems of Arda, he didn't care about anything except for his brandy.

How you wish you were wrong but there he was with the bottle on his hand, sometimes you wondered if he was born with a bottle.

"At last, what kept you?"

"I was training my lord, I am sorry if I made you wait long"

"Training? I must remind you, you are not allowed into the guard until I say you are"

"I do remember your command my lord but still I needed to practice for when I am allowed again"

"I'd be delighted to observe your skills with the bow one day"

You blush

"Whenever you wish my lord"

"The red on your face highlights your beauty" he says with a smirk on his face

"…"

"Can you at least make a sound so I don't made such a fool of myself"

"Er…thank you for the compliment my lord, my beauty is nothing compared to the one that you possess"

"Oh, that's quite interesting. Do you find me pleasing to your eyes?"

Great look at what you got yourself into

"Everyone speaks of it my lord, no one is as well favored as you are and no one possess the majesty that you have"

He chuckles

"Aeneth…that's pleasant to my ears but I didn't ask to hear the judgments of the others, I asked to hear yours, now…answer the question"

"Is my judgment that important?"

That was somehow rude but you are stressed at his question

"It is to me"

Did he just said your opinion of him was important, how can that be, you're just a common elf, he must be playing games with you.

"I find you…"

You can't find the right answer (actually you don't want to answer at all) so it takes a long time before you can give him his answer

"Yes?"

"I find you quite…magnificent"

He looks at you somewhat frustrated

"Do you find me good-looking?"

"I do my lord"

What did he expect from this? If his purpose was to humiliate you he was succeeding.

He didn't say a word after but he didn't stop looking at you. There over his throne he looked every movement you made, so there was nowhere to hide. Again he lost himself into his brandy and his thoughts.

What were his thoughts? What did he think about? You wished you could submerge into his thoughts as well. What were his memories? You remembered he told you that you were a mystery but he was a mystery as well, at least to you.