I know, I know...it's been far too long. I feel ridiculous even updating this after so long. I've been incredibly busy - who knew college would be so much work? ;-) Anyway, I don't want anyone to think I've lost interest because I still fully plan on finishing this fanfiction - but every now and then (or...very often, really) I'll be on hiatus. Just keep an eye on it because I promise to update as often as I can. I hope you haven't forgotten what's been going on!

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That afternoon I was forced to walk myself to the archery range because Legolas never retrieved me from my room. I shook my head as I approached, coughing loudly to alert Legolas of my presence. I had coughed at the opportune moment it seemed, because Legolas had been aiming carefully before I startled him; he clumsily turned away from the target and to look back at me, letting the string go and sending the arrow in the wrong direction. I heard a colorful curse from across the range, and Legolas and I both turned to see an arrow sticking out of the ground near Malian's feet. Legolas sent him a sheepish smile and apologetic wave before putting down his bow and walking over to me briskly.

"I have nothing to show you today," Legolas growled under his breath. "Damn you Laina, I nearly shot Malian!"

"Well that's your own damn fault, isn't it? If you would have come to pick me up this afternoon I would not have had to barge onto the range like this," I replied, annoyed at his dimwittedness.

"I did not come because I have nothing to teach you," he answered, narrowing his eyes at me.

"Do you have nothing to teach me because you assume too much about Aragorn and me?" I asked.

"I assume nothing, I saw enough," Legolas spat.

"You know nothing, you idiot Prince-of-an-Elf! Honestly, how anyone could call you responsible enough to be Prince of Mirkwood is beyond me," I snarled. Legolas looked a bit taken aback, but I continued. "Aragorn and I have known each other for a very long time! He is leaving soon, and the kiss meant nothing except that we love each other—as friends! Besides, I don't see why it's any business of yours whether I'm kissing Aragorn or a snaggletoothed Orc! What's it to you?" I yelled at him.

"Aragorn has the heart of another, Laina. If I were to walk in upon Kaethe kissing another Elf—or a Man, for Varda's sake—"

"You might know her well enough to know a kiss could mean absolutely nothing!" I replied heatedly. "I should have gone with Aragorn! It was stupid of me to stay here," I concluded, turning from Legolas to stalk away, but he grabbed my wrist in protest and pulled me back.

"I apologize," he said, looking me sincerely in the eyes. I studied his honey browns for a moment before rolling my eyes at him. I was surprised at his ability to apologize so genuinely one minute when just a moment before, he was yelling. "You might be right, I suppose. If you tell me you do not love Aragorn, then I believe you."

"Honestly Leaf, try to show a bit of humility from now on. It looks good on you," I suggested, still a little rattled at his stupidity. "Of course I don't love Aragorn! Not like that anyway," I scoffed. "What do you care, though, Leaf? What if I did love Aragorn?"

"I just think love is sacred," Legolas admitted. "If I ever felt my love for Kaethe wavering…" his voice trailed off, and he was obviously lost in thought. I thumped his nose to get him back. He looked down at me, a smile on his pretty face. "I would just want you both to know for sure before breaking another Elf's heart. An Elf's heart is not easily repaired, and Arwen does not deserve such an end if she has as Aragorn says, pledged her love to him," he explained solemnly before another sly grin crept upon his face. "Besides, to let you give up your immortality for something as dirty as that?" he joked.

"As if I ever could," I laughed. "You really care that much about me?" Legolas furrowed his brow at the question, considering.

"Laina, I know we have not known each other for the last five hundred years, but I missed you every day. We were close when we were young," he answered earnestly. I smiled and nodded.

"I missed you too, Leaf," I admitted. "Can we ever be that close again? I mean, with Kaethe and you to be bound, will you have time?"

"It is yet a few years before we are bound," Legolas said. "I know that does not seem like long enough to regain a friendship we spent fifteen long years building, but I think we can try." I nodded in agreement, my heart nearly melting with all the sincerity floating around. This was ridiculous.

"On second thought," I said, grinning, "who would want to be friends with the likes of Your Denseness?" Legolas stifled at laugh, wrapping his strong, archer arms around my waist and pulling me close for a hug. "You silly Elf, let me go before Malian sees and starts his rant on 'noble blood' or whatever in Arda he's always on about," I said into Legolas' tunic, squirming in his grasp. He laughed again before letting me go, his brown eyes flashing momentarily before grabbing my hand, squeezing it, and walking back to his bow. I glanced at Malian who, it seemed, was too busy aiming to have seen Legolas and I hug. I sighed in relief and walked toward Legolas, who was motioning for me at his side.

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The next two days were spent with Aragorn. I followed him everywhere, not willing to let a moment pass in which we could be together. I rather think Aragorn found it a bit annoying after an entire day (and the night I spent in his bed, but we only cuddled, nothing more) with me at his heels, but if he was even a bit irritated, he did not let on; instead, he held my hand as we walked side-by-side, hoping never to have to let go.

His last day came upon us quickly, and, after saying his farewells to Thranduil, Legolas, Malian, and a few others he had met during his stay, Aragorn wrapped his arms around me for the last time in a while. I looked up at him, tears in my eyes.

"I wish you wouldn't go," I said pleadingly, and Aragorn kissed my forehead softly in front of at least twenty Elves (including Malian, but I avoided his glare).

"I must, you know that. This is not goodbye," he replied, letting me go. I could not say anything more, and I watched him mount his horse and nod to all of us before turning his horse around and riding it into the wood. I tried not to cry as I watched him disappear.

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"You should really stop sulking, it's not a good look on you," I heard Legolas say from my doorway. I looked up sardonically at him, raising one eyebrow in protest. "Why don't you come to the archery range? I can teach you a few things before the day is out," he suggested, smiling a bit awkwardly.

"I think I would rather sit in here and sulk all day," I replied sarcastically, not moving from my bed.

"Come with me," Legolas demanded sulkily.

"Where's Kaethe?" was my dry reply. It was Legolas' turn to throw me a sarcastic look.

"She's…well, she's…um," he stuttered.

"Has she fallen off the face of Arda, then?" I asked, looking away from him and down at my book as if Kaethe actually falling off the face of Arda would not concern me in the least.

"No…well…I don't really know where she is," Legolas admitted. I looked back up at him with a rather cheeky grin on my face.

"Hm, she must be avoiding you," I proposed, closing my book and putting it down beside me on the bed before standing up and taking Legolas' arm. He did not reply, but instead smiled impertinently at me and led me to the archery range.

We reached the range to see Malian and Féoras standing next to each other, talking in low voices. I spotted Kaethe rather near them; she was pacing around trying to look inconspicuous as Legolas and I approached.

"Kaethe, I could not find you earlier," Legolas said importantly. He had long since dropped my arm.

"I was waiting for you here," she replied breathily. Malian and Féoras had stopped talking and were eyeing the three of us expectantly.

"What in Arda are you two staring at?" I yelled in their direction. They looked at one another, sharing a knowing glance, and walked over to us. I was observing them suspiciously, and was about to ask them just why in Varda's name they were looking all fishy, but Kaethe's nervous breathing interrupted me.

"Are you feeling well, Kaethe?" Legolas asked, a hint of worry in his voice. She nodded without a verbal response. Malian was looking rather red in the ears, I noticed.

"Embarrassed about something, Mal?" I questioned warily, narrowing my eyes at him. Malian shrugged but did not answer.

"Has everyone in Mirkwood forgotten how to speak, then?" Legolas wondered aloud, obviously irritated. I wanted to smile at him but I found it inappropriate at the moment, so I refrained and just looked at him proudly instead.

"How are you, Lady Laina?" Féoras asked, clearly wanting to skip over whatever suspicions Legolas and I were clearly sharing. Kaethe at the archery range without Legolas, and Malian red in the ears for no apparent reason? The situation seemed rather comical at the time.

"Just Laina, please," I answered. "And I'm fine Féoras, only a little taken aback by all the secrecy around here." I glanced at Malian and Kaethe, who were both staring at their feet interestedly, as if a hundred thousand Orcs were crawling over them. I was seriously shocked at the pink color of Malian's ears, and I cocked my head at him incredulously. I had an inkling, but it could not be…it could not have ever been. No. It was ridiculous. All that ran through my head were Malian's words, 'noble blood…'

"Secrecy?" Malian echoed, looking up from his Orc-covered toes and throwing me an almost pleading glance but there was a hint of something I did not recognize. If the glance had been any longer, I could have distinguished it, but as it were (incredibly quickly), it was unreadable. All I saw was a fleeting pleading look, but I could have been imagining it, so I let it go.

"Kaethe, it is much too cool out here, you are flushed," Legolas said after a moment. I wanted to clout him for being so dense, but thought better of it—I was always the paranoid one, and maybe I was looking too deeply into Malian's red ears and Kaethe's pink cheeks.

"I am a bit cold," Kaethe agreed, shivering slightly. I raised one eyebrow at her, for it was not nearly as cold outside as it had been recently, but again, I was much too paranoid, so I let it slide.

"Let me escort you back to the halls," Legolas suggested, reaching out for her hand. She bowed her head in his direction before taking his hand and allowing him to walk her up to the castle. Malian, Féoras, and I stood awkwardly together, watching Legolas and Kaethe return up the path to the halls.

After a while, I turned a questioning glare to Malian. "Did you and Kaethe come to the archery range together?" I asked guardedly.

"No…well, maybe…yes, she…she wanted fresh air…" Malian was stumbling over his words as if trying to come up with some sort of excuse. I was shocked.

"If I wanted a lie, Mal, I would have asked for one," I spat. "I thought you thought she was dense," I reminded him pointedly.

"I do," Malian replied unconvincingly. "I did…" he mumbled before trailing off and looking at his feet again.

"You pretended to, more like," I corrected, narrowing my eyes again. Malian's blue eyes flashed in my direction, and Féoras stood in the same place, his stance ever-steadfast.

"I don't know what you mean," Malian said, more convincingly this time. I squinted one eye at him.

"Fine, keep your secrets," I replied, admittedly shaken at the lack of trust Malian clearly had in me.

"I have no secrets to share," Malian stated, his eyes a careful shade of apathy.

"Right," I replied nastily, choosing to remain skeptical. I turned on my heel after throwing Malian another spiteful glance and stalked off in the direction of the halls. I had to take this up with Legolas. Was he really as dense as Kaethe, or was I really just so paranoid that anything from a leaf blowing to a silent tree meant Middle-earth would fall to the clutches of some evil being? Maybe I was being stupid, but then again—maybe I was right.