Thank you Counting Sinful stars and Borys68 for your reviews. Enjoy this chapter! i certainly did~

Chapter Ten: Realization

The evening breeze had a bit more bite to it then I had thought it would standing out in the middle of the training field, watching the moon cast wicked looking shadows on the ground. I was not sure how long I had been there, just staring at nothing, but my legs had been aching for quiet some time now.

Above and a ways away, I could hear the music of the celebration kicking into high gear. Maybe I should have just stayed up there with everyone, but I had not felt like I was really there. After the meeting with my uncle I had gone back to my father's home to meet up with Vera. We had spent the next hour getting ready as she insisted on playing with my hair, weaving it into complex braids on my scalp.

For all the work she had done, and how good I had looked, I had only stayed at the party for a little under an hour. By then Gimli was too sloshed to care and Vera was mingling with others. I had turned tail and left when the prince had been dragged off by one female elf that did not understand the word 'no.' Truly, I felt bad for just disappearing, but I had not been enjoying myself in the least and the girl had been the last straw.

I really needed to get my head on straight and figure out why it had bothered me so much.

After making my escape I had run back to the house and nearly thrown the beautiful red gown off like it had burned. Replacing it with my mended Rohan gear and slipping my knife back on had calmed my raising heart, if only a little.

And now I was here, on the forest floor, in front of archery range of the training grounds for the patrol forces. In my left hand I held the bow my father had made me loosely, yet I had not been able to will myself to bring it up and test it. No, I just kept staring at the targets and the curling shadows as if I could will them to obey me. I was not even sure of what I was asking them to do.

Taking in a deep breath, I shook my head. All of the braids Vera had done were gone now, only my normal front one fell upon my shoulder, half covered by the rest of my hair. I would probably never forget the look on the prince's face when I had walked in with Vera. He had looked startled and had wasted little time to say Vera had done quiet well. I had spent the next few minutes trying to figure out if that had been a complement to my friend or me.

Clamping my teeth together I pulled a feathered arrow from the barrel next to me and slowly slipped and notched it into the bow. With another breath I lifted the bow, pulling my right arm back and trying to find a target.

My hands would not stop shaking.

I released the arrow and sent it flying. The tip buried itself in the outer ring of the target, the shaft still vibrating from the force. I closed my eyes for a moment, trying to push down my frustration. Opening them, I grabbed another arrow and tried again.

And again.

And again.

Five more arrows flew from my shaky hold and each one flew more off course then the last. Frustrated beyond thought, I yanked another arrow out and notched it. I did not even try to aim, just pulled back hard and let it snap back.

When the string bit into my arm I almost screamed, dropping the bow in an instant, the arrow I sent off burying itself in a tree several paces to the left of the target. Frowning I pulled my sleeve up past my elbow and winced slightly. The inner soft skin at the crease of my arm was flaming red and splotchy. A small stream of blood bubbling up from a cut in the middle of a dark purple line and I wondered just how many times I had hit that spot tonight.

Feeling dejected I plopped down on the ground and glowered at the target. Of all the things my father had wanted me to do, it had to involve archery. Pinching the bridge of my nose, I groaned. My skills were so poor, there ceased to be humor in it. If anything it was ironic that someone who was half elven could not use a bow.

"Áriel?"

I almost jumped out of my skin. Snapping my head around I found Legolas at the edge of the field. He was wearing the same garb he had to the party – a silver tunic and dark leggings, which I found all too attractive on him. As he started towards me, I could see the worry on his face and groaned inwardly. It seemed all I did was worry the poor elf.

He stopped next to me, before crouching down, an eyebrow raised. "What are you doing out here?" I frowned, looking in front of me before back at him. Was it not obvious what I was doing? Or, trying to do, at least?

"Practicing." The sarcasm in my voice was hard to miss. His brows both shot up before his gaze shifted to the target and then to the places my arrows had landed.

"Were you trying to do it without looking?" His lips were lifted in a teasing manner, but I just looked at him with the same dejected face I had given the target. He seemed to think about his next words before he spoke again. "You were never taught?" I shook my head smiling slightly.

"Oh no. Trust me, I had several people try to teach me." I sighed looking at my arm again and whipping at the blood. "I just… I am not good at it. After a while it was just decided that my swordsmanship was more then enough." I looked at the bow next to me before pulling it onto my lap. "Orophin gave me this today along with the uniform the March Wardens use. He said my father had made this as a welcome home present in case I ever ended up here. He wanted me to train to follow in his footsteps." I frowned, rubbing my thumb over the carved leaves.

"I see." He shifted slightly, taking my words in for a moment before I heard him fiddle with something. His hand touched my injured arm and I looked at him frowning. He simply smiled at me and lifted it. "You must be hyperextending your arm. You need to watch next time, see if your arm bends inward when you straighten it." As he spoke, he pulled a silken handkerchief around the minor cut and tied it shut.

I sighed giving him a small smile. "Thank you. You must be getting tired of having to cheer me up." To my surprise he let out a small laugh.

"Not at all. If anything I am happy to help. You have had to deal with a lot in the last few months, Áriel. Just because you are not good at archery, does not mean you can not get better." He gave me a playful smirk. "You are looking at one of the best archers in Middle Earth." I rolled my eyes.

"A bit cocky are you not? Even if that is true, being the best and being able to teach an incompetent girl are two very different things." He sighed and rubbed his hand over my arm.

"You should not speak like that. You survived the War of the Ring. That in itself means you are great warrior." His eyes were intense as he spoke. I felt my face grow hot under them and looked away biting my lip.

"Even so, I am not sure I want to try again tonight. My arm is a bit sore."

"I would bet it is." I heard a smile in his words and then he suddenly straightened from his crouch, pulling me up with the arm he still held. I grabbed my father's bow before it hit the ground and I gave the Mirkwood elf a disgruntled look, which he only chuckled at. "Come, I want to show you something."

I gave him a weary glance before nodding my head. With that he led me forward, but, instead of going back up into the winding paths in the air, he continued to take an unseen path on the ground. He left the clearing all together and moved through the thick trees with ease as he held foliage out of my way. He did not say anything to me as we walked, and for that I was grateful. I was too busy staring at my wrist were his hand was still locked around it gently. Had he even realized he was still holding it?

I pondered this, thinking back to Vera and her endless teasing about how I had a thing for the prince. I had told her she was being silly, that we were simply close friends and that I took comfort in his presence.

But was that not what having a 'thing' for a person was?

I had left the party partly because I was annoyed with another female taking his attention, and I had though he looked nice in his attire.

When in the world had I started thinking of him in this way?

When I glanced up again, I jerked to a sudden stop before I rammed into Legolas' back. Instead I pressed my lips and came up beside him as he gently let go of my arm. Shifting my gaze to the front I found us directly in front of a tree. Though not a tree like the others. For the ones around us had trunks that stretched on forever before sprouting limbs – they had to, seeing as elves liked to live in them. This tree must have been younger; for I could spot a thick limb only a few feet above my head. It was a pretty tree, but I fond myself at a loss for why we had stopped.

"Erm. Legolas why are we here?" The prince smiled at my confused expression, chuckling before he took a few steps forwards until he was at the base of the tree. Before I could question him on his thought process again he was suddenly gone from the forest floor. Letting out a small sound of surprise I looked up to find him stepping on to the lowest branch of the mighty tree. I scowled at him. "What are you doing?" He grinned at me, crouching on the branch.

"Climbing the tree." I rolled my eyes at him.

"Oh really? Glad you cleared that up for me." He chuckled before simply reaching a hand out as if waiting for me to take it. I glared at him, catching his intentions quickly. "You know I do not like heights Legolas."

"If I recall you said you were 'not use to them'." I continued to glower at him. "Come now Áriel, you have nothing to worry about." He smiled that stupid smile of his. "I will not let you fall, you known that."

If I were being truthful, I knew I did not even have to think on my answer. Because I did trust him, I trusted him with my life. I was not sure where I would be if not for the prince, and it was his strength I had depended on since arriving here in the Golden Woods.

Still, I did draw out my answer, if only to make him wonder. I pulled on the braided piece of my hair, shifted my weight from foot to foot, and bit my lip. Then finally I sighed and walked to the base of the tree.

"I will hold you to that." He only chuckled in reply and I pressed my lips before setting my bow down on the ground next to the tree and looking up at his hand.

Placing one foot on the tree's trunk I rested my right hand on it, readying it to grab. After a glance at the hand still outstretched at me, I grunted and jumped, using my foot to push me up higher. Our hands linked to each other's forearms and he leaned backwards slightly before pulling me up next to him. I sat there, crouched on the limb, frozen for a few heartbeats. Then finally I tore my gaze from the ground and took in a breath.

Using the trunk I stood up, my footing slightly unsure.

Legolas stood further out on the limb, standing straight and at ease as if he were on the ground. I eyed him, wondering what he was planning before he tilted his head and looked up. I followed his gaze and grimaced as I saw a branch looming above. A sudden jolt from the branch under my feet told me without having to look that the prince had moved upward.

"Come Áriel. What I wish to show you can not be seen from such a low height." I grimaced looking up at him as he gave me a playful smile. Sighing I knew I had no reason to say no.

Stupid, bloody elf.

And so we climbed, one limb after another, and after the fifth one I found my legs to be less shaky. When we had finally reached a limb the prince liked, we left the safety of the trunk and walked a few feet out on the branch. What I saw once we had cleared the bushy leaves of the under growth was something I would never forget.

Below us, and stretching out for almost half a league, was a crystal clear lake that shimmered in the light of the moon. I wondered why I had not seen if from the ground been I realized that the tree made a wall of sorts, blocking off the view behind them. At one end of the lake I could see a waterfall roaring away, and I wondered why I had not heard it on my way up.

The view was simple, but for some reason I found it breath taking. Most of the bodies of water I had seen where streams and rivers, most of which never looked so clear. I had fought in a marshland once, and seen the shoreline of the ocean at Gondor, but that was as close to a lake as I had ever been.

"It is amazing…" I muttered, my hands falling to my sides as I found my center of balance for a moment.

"I thought you might like it. Rohan does not have many bodies of water. It is called Elin Lake." I blinked realizing he had not used common and floundered for a moment before recognizing the word.

"Star Lake?" He nodded his head.

"Yes."

I tilted my head for a moment before slowly shifting and carefully sitting down on the limb, my feet dangling in the air. After a minute or so, Legolas joined me, and we sat in pleasant silence for a good while.

"You know…" I felt his gaze shift to mine as I spoke. "It is times like these that I feel like life really is something worth truly enjoying. It is silly I know, but looking out at something breath taking, I feel like I don't have a past and I could do what ever I wanted in this moment." What I did not say was that having him there, truly made it perfect.

"It is not silly." I blinked looking at him, but his gaze had settled back out over the lake. "I wish you would feel like that all the time Áriel, because I think that is who you really are. I only see it when we are alone, or when I catch you singing." I flushed slightly looking at my lap. "You do not have to prove anything to them, you know. Your uncles are already proud of you." I felt myself smile at his words. He really did know me well. Though I am rather sure I tended to wear my emotions on my face around him, it was hard to feel like I needed to hide with him.

"It is not them I worry about, nor you, or Gimli. It is the rest here." I sighed pressing my lips together, my smile falling away as I recalled recent events. "Just today one of the patrol soldiers called me 'half-blood'. He said I was doing nothing but taking up space."

I had expected Legolas to be startled, to be annoyed, and to comfort me. What I got was something else. His entire frame tensed up, and while the wind still played with his hair, it was as if the rest of him were stone. I stared at him, bewildered. Had I done something wrong? Did my words upset him? His eyes burned like blue flames and I thought I heard him say something under his breath but could not catch it.

And then it passed just like it had come and his shoulders slumped slightly.

"You should not concern yourself with those who are so petty." He looked to me, and his eyes were alight. "Do not believe a word he said." I nodded slightly, not sure what had just transpired between us. So instead I tried to lighten the serious mood that had taken place.

"Of course I do not believe him. I could easily fight circles around him." I snorted slightly crossing my arms. It worked and the prince smiled, amused.

"Are you sure? You have yet to spar with anyone. Maybe you being attacked by Orcs was not a fluke." Normally I would have been rather angry if someone had said that, but I knew Legolas. He was smirking slyly, his tone light and teasing, and I scowled playfully back at him.

"You know I could push you into the lake." He looked down for a moment at the water below our feet, and nodded.

"You could, but I would make certain to take you with me, and I doubt it would be very pleasant in the chilled night air." I thought about it, both of us walking back soaked, me shivered the entire way.

"Well… We could come back during the daylight and then I could push you in." I poked his arm for emphasis and he smiled at me.

"If you would like to, we can."

That startled me. I blinked, staring at him for a moment before I really thought about it. Swimming with Legolas… that would most likely mean he would have no shirt on. Why was that my first concern?

I was going to kill Vera later for putting such thoughts in my head.

Speaking of Vera…

I bit my lip for a moment before making a split second decision and throwing caution to the wind. "Legolas?"

"Hm?"

"Back before we got here, when I had that relapse from the war… Why did you say my hair was pretty?"

I had thought for once I could surprise him. Make him loose his balance and have him look slightly panicked the way he made me sometimes. I had thought it would be funny if he almost fell from the tree. Sadly what I thought would be funny and what really happened were two different things.

He did look a bit surprised as he turned his head to look at me again, but that was all. He gave me that smile of his – the one that seemed truly real rather then just one everyone makes. He reached out then, across the few inches between us and caught a strand of my hair, the red in my blond hair showing up more faintly in the moonlight then during the day.

"Because it is. I have never seen hair likes yours." He smiled wider at my expression. "Your elven blood is apparent, in many ways you have the blond hair and blue eyes of your father's people. Yet…" He ran his fingers through the hair he had caught looking thoughtful. "Yet they are like nothing I have seen. I can see your mother in you, for you said she had red hair, and it is like you have tamed fire embers and wear then in your hair."

I knew I was blushing. Yet as he moved his gaze to mine, I could not seem to shy away from it. It did not go unnoticed to me that I was staring at him, because I had always liked his eyes.

"Your hair is like fire and yet your eyes are like steel," he muttered, the last of my hair slipping from his fingers as the wind caught it. "They are like a freshly made sword, more silver then blue."

The world stopped for a moment. A second passed, then two as I stared at him. Then I finally took in a breath.

How in the bloody world was one supposed to respond to that?

Goddamn elf…

"I, uh… Thank you." I mumbled out the words finally looking away from him for a moment before looking back. "You are not that bad yourself." I said with a small tease, thought I meant every word.

"Hhm…" His still stretched out hand brushed the side of my face, lifting my chin. "I think coming back here for a swim is a good idea. Though… let us not tell Gilmi." I blinked and then laughed slightly. Something about seeing a dwarf swimming seemed silly. Surely all that hair got in the way.

I closed my eyes, leaning into his hand as he rubbed his thumb on the line of my chin, careful to avoid my scar. Maybe having a 'thing' for him was not that bad. Even when we had first arrived here, I had found his touch to be something comforting, something I did not want to shy from. Opening my eyes, I stared at him for a moment. He was looking upon me gently, and I wondered if he knew what I was thinking.

"Legolas, I…"

And then I saw it.

"Áriel?"

"Legolas…" My voice was hardly a whisper as I stared off behind him. He turned to follow my gaze and froze as I had. A few leagues north was a smoke pillar. It was small and wispy, that of one coming from something controlled. "What is that?" I whispered. It took him a moment to reply, though I was fairly sure I knew the answer, for we had much the same thing in Rohan near our borders.

"It is the fire signal used for distress. Something has happened at the border."

I never knew one could climb down a tree so fast, but we were down in moments and racing towards the stables. I had no idea at the time, but as our feet carried us towards our horses, they carried us towards something we had both hoped was over.