Okay, before you finish this, read what I have to say:

IT HAD TO HAPPEN! JUST TRUST ME AND DON'T GET MAD!

Vocabulary that is good to know:

l'osi- Grandmother on mother's side.

Also, don't get too upset about who the person above is. It's necessary. :)

This is a long one... should all the chapters be this long from now on? What do you think?

I would like to take the time to thank everyone who has reviewed and read and all of that jazz :) I love hearing from all of you, so keep reviewing!

Enjoy!

I do not own lotr... yup, every time :-P

XOXO

She was running in a dark place. As vague as that may seem, that's all she had to offer as a description. The floor was made of stone, for her soft leather shoes made a distinct tapping noise as she sprinted down the corridor. The air was awful, and she deduced that she was in a cave somewhere. She turned, looking desperately over her shoulder for some reason to stop running. There was no relief, however, only the ever growing orange light that seemed to be hunting her.

Calithil wasn't alone. She heard a deep commanding voice which sounded so familiar, though she could not place it to a face.

"Lead them on, Aragorn. The bridge is near. Do as I say! Swords are no more use here!"

A hand gripped her forearm and dragged her on. They jumped over a large gap missing in the stairway they were on, and made their way to a thin bridge. They crossed in haste, but one stayed behind.

"YOU, SHALL NOT PASS!" She heard the thud of a wooden object against stone, followed by the crumbling of the center of the bridge and the bright orange light fell. A whip like projection took the person on the bridge down, and he was holding on for his life. He looked up at the group, his face admitting defeat.

"Fly, you fools!"

Calithil lunged forward at an attempt to reach the figure before he fell to his death below, but someone grabbed her forearm. She turned to push the person off of her, and met a set of icy blue eyes.

"Legolas?" she whispered.

" Calithil, wake up," he said to her. "Calithil, come on."

" I have to help him! Let me go!" Calithil screamed.

His face stayed stoic, just as it always was whenever she was being stubborn. Someone just died, Calithil thought. Someone just died to save us. She raised her hand and slapped the prince across the face.

A startled grunt woke her up. Her eyes snapped open to see a cascade of blonde hair moving across a person's face, as he fell to the floor. Calithil gasped, pulling the covers up to her chest, placing her back against the wall.

"You pervert! Get out!" she screamed. The figure on the floor looked up. Oh no, she thought.

She had just slapped Legolas, and not just in her dream.

Not only did she slap the prince, but she called him a pervert. All of this, and the sun wasn't even beginning to grace the sky with its presence.

"Good morning to you, too," Legolas said getting up from the floor.

"My lord," Calithil began. "I'm so very sorry! I didn't realize who you were…"

It was still very dark in her room, so she could only see a trace of his features. "You should be more alert when you sleep."

Says the elf-prince that just got slapped, Calithil thought. She rolled her eyes, and found herself looking at an unlocked and open door which lead to her balcony.

"My lord," Calithil began. "Why would you be sneaking into my room at this hour? My lessons do not start this early, and you haven't picked me up for one in years… I usually meet you there."

She saw the dark outline of the prince shift a bit, "You're beginning early today."

Calithil's jaw dropped open just a bit. "Why didn't you use the front door?"

She heard Legolas sigh, "I didn't wish to wake your family, and I was checking to see how well you react to an unexpected attack."

Is it just me, or does he seem a bit nervous? Calithil looked at Legolas, an incredulous expression gracing her face. "Get dressed," he said. "A dress will not work for you today. I recommend a tunic and leggings. Bring your short blades and your bow."

"Yes, my lord," Calithil answered. Then they both sat there waiting. "My lord?"

"Yes?"

Calithil could feel her cheeks burning, "Will you please give me some privacy? I do not believe you watching me change is part of the lesson."

She wished the light had been better, because Calithil was sure his face would have been priceless. A small smirk graced her lips, as she heard Legolas open his mouth only to close it again.

"I'll be waiting below, Calithil. Use the balcony exit," He ordered.

She watched as Legolas made his way out to the balcony, gracefully jumping over the railing.

"As you wish, your highness," her voice thick with sarcasm. "You're such a show-off!"

"I heard that," she heard him call up from below.

Rolling her eyes, she fumbled her way around the room looking for her clothes. She came across a pair of brown leggings and a light-weight, blue tunic. The sleeves ended just below her deltoid, and the fabric clung to her body, ending at her hips. Calithil left the first clasp unbuttoned and put her soft leather boots on. Grabbing her light traveling cloak from behind the door and slinging her bow and quiver over her shoulder, she made her way to the window. Looking down, she saw Legolas calmly petting his horse's nose.

He suddenly looked up towards the balcony, "Jump down, Calithil."

Calithil looked down. It was a lot higher than she was used to, seeing as her room was on the third story of their home. If it was the second floor she would be fine, but this was a whole different story. She swallowed hard and called out softly, "I think I will meet you outside the front door."

Legolas left his horse's nose and walked over, directly beneath the balcony. "Do you trust me?"

Calithil's eyes grew large, "Pardon me?"

"You heard me, little bird."

Calithil's looked suspiciously at the prince below and replied hesitantly, "Yes, my lord."

"Then jump."

Calithil put one leg over the railing and shook her head. She sat there for a second, still straddling the railing. Calithil took a deep breath, bringing herself to a crouching position. "Ready?" she whispered from her perch.

"Yes, Calithil. Jump!"

With that, she pushed herself over the edge, preparing her legs for impact. It never came. She was suspended in the air, two sturdy hands gripping her waste. She looked down and found Legolas looking up at her. He brought her feet down to the earth and whispered in her ear.

"That is the last time I help you jump," he said, his words were cold. "Do you understand, Calithil?"

"Yes, my lord," Calithil mumbled, slightly embarrassed.

"Your lesson has begun, you may call me Legolas, remember?"

"I remember, Legolas," Calithil's voice said, barely a whisper.

They walked over to the horse, and Legolas turned to help her on. She cocked her head to the side, questioning his movement.

"I do not need your help getting on the horse, Legolas. I am twenty-five, you know," She said, throwing him a mischievous smile.

She placed her foot into the stirrup and swung her other leg over. She looked down at Legolas, triumphantly. He was smirking.

"And where am I supposed to ride?" He asked her, a condescending tone leaking into his voice.

She looked at him with a puzzled expression. Legolas sighed, "Like you said, Calithil, you are twenty-five years old. You are too young to be riding in front of me on a horse. Please get down."

Calithil felt the same heat rushing to her cheeks again. She swung herself off of the horses back and watched as Legolas jumped on, neglecting the stirrup entirely. Calithil assessed the situation; she could no longer use the stirrup to get on and saw the prince's outstretched hand. She reached out for it, and he quickly grabbed her forearm and flung her onto the back of the horse.

As soon as Legolas touched her hand, images of the dream surged into Calithil's brain. The bright orange light, the figure falling into darkness, a dwarf, two men, four hobbits, and an elf, they were all there in vibrant flashes. There was something else there too. An evil she had not picked up on before. A subtle hum of darkness surrounded one of the hobbits, but what was it?

A voice shook her from her thoughts, "Do you understand, Calithil?"

"Huh?" she said, not realizing the prince had been talking to her. They hadn't even begun moving yet!

"Calithil, were you not paying attention?" he heard her mumble a response behind him. Sighing, he repeated himself. "We will be riding at a fast pace, so I recommend that you hang on."

She looked around, "To where, Legolas?"

She heard him sigh, exasperated, "My waist, Calithil."

Blushing furiously, Calithil tentatively placed her hands around his waist. Keeping herself far enough away from him, so she didn't feel awkward—not that it helped much.

With a quick mumble to his horse, they were off. Calithil felt herself being flung back slightly and grasped on to Legolas a bit more tightly. She felt herself being tossed around as they flew through the woods to the archery range. They arrived at the clearing, and she gracefully dismounted. She walked over to the benches and set her bow and set her gear down.

"We start with conditioning. Follow me." He said gruffly.

Taking off her cloak, she turned to face her instructor, "Alright."

With that they were off. Calithil raced through the trees trying to keep up with her instructor. He was quick, and easily left her behind. He climbed the thinnest trees, and ran over the most unstable surfaces. Still, Calithil followed, trying to hold her footing. For the first few miles, it wasn't that bad. As they were nearing the archery range again, she thought the run was over.

She had never been so wrong.

They continued on, past the archery range and towards the river. Calithil followed Legolas as he jumped rock to rock to the other side; slipping occasionally and almost falling in twice.

Why is he taking me this way? She wondered, Is this because of my tone yesterday? He can't be that upset!

They she caught sight of Legolas turning back, and they finally ended at the archery range. She made her way to her gear, and dug her canteen. The sun was already high in the sky, telling her it was around midday. She groaned to herself, realizing that practice was far from over.

"So what now, Legolas?" she asked, turning to face her teacher.

He wasn't there.

She looked around the archery range a bit, but the prince was nowhere to be seen. "Legolas?" she called, hesitantly.

She placed her small swords back into their sheaths on her hips and gathered her bow and quiver. Calithil drew an arrow, carefully threading it on the bowstring. "Legolas, this isn't funny," she called out again.

No answer.

Calithil closed her eyes, and listened hard. She could hear the flutter of a bird's wings as it flew from branch to branch. She heard a deer walking through the woods, brushing against the branches of the lower brushes. Then, she heard it. A snap of a twig that was far too light to be anything born of the wild.

Calithil felt something watching her, and looked over her shoulder slightly. Her eyes caught sight of broken branches at the base of a tree. She allowed her gaze to go up the trunk and saw the shadow of a figure up there. Drawing back her bowstring, she aimed and shot quickly, hearing the arrow pierce the tree. The shadow of the figure moved quickly and she heard something land not more than ten feet behind her.

Before she could turn and fire another arrow, she felt an arm wrap around her neck, putting her into a headlock; a blade putting the slightest bit of pressure on her back.

"You and your brother have the same weak spot," Legolas whispered in her ear. "You forget to guard your back!"

I will not let you win so easily, Calithil thought to herself. She dug her jaw into is bicep so she could breathe a bit easier, and snuck her hand down into the crevice of his elbow, and placed the other on his hand wielding the dagger at her back. She twisted his dagger hand back and flipped him over her shoulder. The elf landed on his back, giving Calithil enough time to unsheathe her blades.

As he got up, Legolas saw Calithil crouching low, preparing for his next attack.

"It is not fair, Legolas, to begin training without telling me!" she cried indignantly. "I could have shot you!"

Legolas lunged at her, their blades clashing.

"It is not fair Calithil," Legolas said, as he dodged one of her lashes with ease and blocking a kick, "that you disrespect me in front of our kin because I am desperately trying to tell you that there is more to your life than fighting!"

She looked up at him with a blank expression, giving him time to kick her feet out from underneath her, placing a knee on her chest and holding her arms with a single hand above her head. He placed the knife to her throat.

"What do you mean?" She asked, her chest rising and falling rapidly from exhaustion.

"You know what I mean Calithil, do not act so naive!" Legolas spat. "You should have grown out of this tom-boy phase long ago! You should be learning things young elleths need to know for their futures; like cooking and sewing! You should be talking about ellons, and praying they court you when you come of age! You will have a husband someday and will be expected to be a mother, not a warrior. Leave the fighting to those who were born to do it!"

Legolas was furious, but instantly regretted the words that came out of his mouth. Truthfully, he'd love to have a thousand warriors as dedicated as Calithil. Calithil looked up at Legolas, the anger inside her finally boiling over. She opened her mouth, and then closed it inhaling deeply. She rolled her legs up, grasping Legolas' torso between them and flipped him over; using his own weight against him. She ended up on top of him, straddling his waist. One of her knees holding down his arm by his side, the other foot pushing his arm away from their bodies.

Legolas looked up at her with wide eyes. "Leave the fighting to those who were born to do it? That's what you have to say to me?"

He heard something catch in her voice, and noticed her eyes filling up with tears. The hand holding the short blade to his throat was shaking.

"If you hate me so much, why do you bother to continue teaching me?" She asked, pure loathing seeping into her voice. There was a fire in her sapphire eyes, one that he had barely seen before. It was kindled by pain instead of determination, and the pain was caused by him.

It killed him.

Legolas released the knife that was in his out stretched arm, and grabbed hold of her wrist, flinging her over onto her back once more. He knocked the swords out of her hands, holding her hands in his above her head.

"Calithil! I do not hate you!" He said, allowing his usually calm voice came close to a yell. He saw her flinch slightly as his words pierced her ears. He felt her trying to shift her weight beneath him, but it was no use. "Stop moving, Calithil, the fight is over."

"If it is over, get off of me, your highness."

He looked down at her, the bitterness of her words should not have affected him the way they did. He got up, offering a hand out to her as well. She slapped it away.

"I do not need your help!" she cried, turning her heel and running off towards her home. This is ridiculous, Legolas thought, as he ran after her. He caught her around the waist and flung her over his shoulder, carrying her back to the archery range.

"Put me down, now!" She screamed, shrilly.

"No." He replied.

She kicked and squirmed but it was no use. He brought her back to the benches and set her down. She tried to get up again, but he just pushed her back into her seat.

"Calithil," Legolas said, his voice still stern, but not as loud. "Stop acting like a child, let me speak to you."

"Any words that leave your lips at this point, I will not listen to!" She yelled, a single tear slipping down her face.

"What if those words are an apology?" He asked, tentatively.

She looked at him with teary eyes, realizing that things would never be the same with him again. "Do you not think I could be a great warrior?"

"Calithil, I did not say that. I said that it is not your duty to fight. You have many other talents, or so I've heard. Your healing skills are unmatched by your peers, and even some of your superiors," Legolas said, trying to calm himself down. "I have heard that you are an amazing cook, and that you can even cast intermediate spells. Not elven magic either. Mithrandir has taught you, has he not?"

"My spell casting has nothing to do with this," Calithil whispered. "How do you even know about that? It is not something my parents discuss lightly."

"They discussed it with my father, and I was present," Legolas explained. "This is beside the point, Calithil. I just think it's time that you start considering your furture as an elle—"

"I believe our lesson is done," Calithil interrupted, standing as she finished speaking.

"Pardon me?" Legolas questioned, rising with her trying to keep a grip on her hands.

"I have learned all I can from you, my lord. I no longer wish to be your student."

The words hit him as if they were arrows piercing his chest. He looked at her as his mouth opened slightly in protest, but she placed her finger to his lips.

"Thank you, Legolas," She said, her words icy and her stare cold. "but your right. It's time that I moved on. I believe it's time to visit my l'osi, for a long, long while."

Legolas dropped her hands, "Calithil, no."

Calithil gathered her belongings, and pulled her cloak over her shoulders. She took a deep breath, and began walking home.

"At least let me bring you home!" Legolas called out.

Calithil turned and faced him, "No, my lord. You have done enough."

She left him, standing there in the clearing utterly dumfounded. She had a bit of a limp as she walked away, and he noticed that the side of her leggings were ripped, and tinged red. He looked at his blades that were cast away on the ground. I cut her? When? He thought.

Cursing himself, he collected his gear, and hurried back to his home. Gondien was waiting outside for him, and Gondien greeted him.

"Hello, Legolas! How tired is my sister?" he asked suspiciously.

"Have you not seen her yet?" Legolas asked.

Gondien quirked his eyebrow, "What troubles you, Legolas?"

"I told your sister that she should start worrying about her future as an elleth," Legolas answered.

"Oh," Gondien said, a certain understanding in his voice. "My lord, you know your shoulder is bleeding, correct?"

Legolas looked at his shoulder. It was strange, he hadn't noticed the pain before now. He swore under his breath, making Gondien raise his eyebrows in response.

"Did Calithil do this to you?"

Legolas nodded, "We were sparring when I told her my concern."

Gondien looked shocked, "Is she okay?"

"She wants to go to Lothlorien. She wants to live with the Lady Galadriel," Legolas answered quietly, "and it's because of me."

Gondien's eyes got wide, as he looked at his friend. "She was asked to go a while ago, but not for another year. L'osi wants her to develop her gift."

Legolas nodded, turning his head away from his friend.

"I'm going to see her, Legolas," Gondien said. Legolas nodded in response.

Calithil tore through the front door, startling her mother who was sewing in the chair just outside of the walkway.

"Calithil? What is wrong?" Aurora asked, a worried tone was thick in her voice.

Calithil walked over to her mother, tears stained trails all down her face.

"Nana, I wish to live with L'osi," she said, her whole frame beginning to shake.

"Why, my love? What happened at your practice?"

Calithil told her mother every word that was said, and her mother's blank expression worried her.

"My daughter, if this is what you need, it will be done," she said slowly, "but are you sure you want to leave because of a thing an ellon said? Even if he is the prince of Mirkwood… what you want to do is for you to decide."

Her father entered the sitting room from the backyard after hearing every word that was said, followed by Gondien bursting through the door. They all looked at the young elleth kneeling in front of her mother's lap.

"I will go to Lorien, Nana," Calithil said, confidently. "I will live with the Lady Galadriel."

Calithil packed her room up into leather bags, dresses outweighing the leggings. She walked down the stairs and ate a final breakfast with her family. It was silent, except for the requesting of certain items that were out of reach. Gondien reached under the table and squeezed his sister's knee. She looked at him, squinting her eyes in response.

"I love you, Calithil," he mouthed, a single tear leaving dripped down his face. Gondien quickly brushed it away and stood up. He walked over to Calithil and kissed her on the forheard. "Tell l'osi I said hello, and give Haldir hell for me."

Calithil stood up and hugged her brother kissing his cheek, "I love you, Gondien. And Haldir won't know what hit him!"

Gondien smiled and ruffled her hair, "That's my girl!" And he walked out the door.

They heard the sound of horses coming up to her home, followed by a knock at the door. Thorontur welcomed Haldir himself into their home. Calithil gathered her bags and brought them out to the carriages. Thranduil walked over from his place beside Legolas, and placed a hand on Calithil's shoulder.

"We hope your journey is a safe one, Calithil of Mirkwood," Thranduil said, gently, "and that you will find it in your heart to return home someday."

Calithil nodded, and bowed politely to the king.

"Mellon!"

Calithil turned in time to catch Norisona in a hug. She felt the elleth crying into her shoulder.

"You will write to me, will you?"

"Every day, mellon," Calithil said gently pulling away. Calithil then scolded her playfully, "Do not get bound to a man while I'm away!"

They laughed and shared a tearful goodbye. She turned to Legolas who approached her with a package.

"I do not want your charity, my lord," she said, cooly.

"It is a gift that would have found its way to you on your birthday next month," Legolas said, the formality in his voice made Calithil's heart clench. "Use it well, it was crafted by hand."

My hand, Legolas thought.

"Thank you, my lord," Calithil said, bowing. This was not what she needed right now, but wouldn't dare to turn a gift away and embarrass her family.

She walked up to the horse Haldir had brought for her and mounted on her own. She turned and looked at her family, and blew them a kiss.

"I will return, Nana, Ada," She said, her voice as gentle as the summer winds. "And when I get back," a mischievous glint appearing in her eye, " I will be one of the fiercest she-elves you ever laid eyes on!"

Earning a smile from her mother, her father came with a leather bound gift. "These were mine once," he said gently. "I forged them when I was just a bit older than you, may they bring you safely home to us."

She pulled back the leather to reveal two short blades with a fine silver hilt. She looked down at her father from the horse, bent over and kissed his head, "Thank you, Ada."

With that, the company moved out. Legolas watched as the small warrior he once knew left the woods she once called home. He saw that her hair was tied just as those days long ago; a braid crowning her forehead, connecting in a v on the back of her skull. He watched as she rode away without a single glance back at the world she was leaving behind.

He was about to turn away when he felt a sharp pain just behind his ears. "I am angry with you, Legolas. There is no denying that," Calithil's voice said to him. He turned to see why she had come back, but saw that she was staring at him from her horse too far away to be speaking so calmly. He could tell her lips were not moving, and soon realized it was all in his head. "I need time to grow up my own way. I am not the same little elleth you once knew, my lord. Do not blame yourself entirely. It was bound to happen. I just wish it wasn't your words that drove me to leave."

He looked at her with wide eyes, and swallowed hard. "Legolas," he heard her sweet voice say. "Goodbye."

Legolas stood there, watching as the young elleth he once knew rode away. He wished more than anything that she was ten years old again, riding in front of him on his horse to the archery range. He wished to see the happiness in her eyes when she succeeded in shooting his bow. Legolas waited until he could no longer see her, then walked slowly back to his horse and rode home.

Calithil was welcomed in Lorien with open arms. She began unpacking her belongings in her new room when she came across Legolas' package. She sat with it on her bed, contemplating whether or not she should open it. She lifted it up, shaking it gently. The object moved against the wrapping inside.

"Open it, Calithil," a calm voice said from the doorway.

"l'osi," Calithils said. "I did not hear you come in!"

The lady Galadriel smiled at her, "Open it, little bird. I will see you down at dinner."

With that, the lady of the wood glided down the hallway and out of earshot.

Calithil looked at the box, and sighed. Fine, she thought, I will open the damn box!

She pulled off the thin ribbon used to bind the package, and lifted the lid. A wrapping obstructed her view of the object; shuffling through the paper she found a small note. The handwriting was delicate, and she rolled her eyes. It was from Legolas.

Calithil,

I know you leave because I have angered you. I do not beg for your forgiveness, for I know I do not deserve it. Truth is, I would love to have a thousand more warriors like you. Your determination is admirable, and your ability to learn is outstanding. I have enjoyed teaching you. Lorien has gained a skilled warrior.

I give you this gift, not out of the hope you will forgive me after you open this, but out of the hope that you will continue to use it. You have learned so much since our first ride, and I would hate to see you return lacking the skills you have worked so hard to obtain.

I believe you will recognize the object as soon as you get over your stubbornness and decide to open the package. Do me a favor and if you hate it, do not burn it. Give it to Haldir, or someone else who can utilize it.

Regards,

Legolas

Calithil looked down at the wrappings in front of her, and delicately removed them. She gasped; her hand flying to cover her mouth. A single tear ran down her face.

Legolas had given her his bow.

Don't worry :)

Legolas is in for a big surprise when she comes back ;)