The next day Annaliece starts to clean up camp for them to set off when Aiden comes running up to she and Legolas.
"Where are you guys going?" He asked.
"Hopefully to Erebor to get Annie home." Legolas explains to him.
"Can I come with you." Aiden asks excitedly.
Legolas laughs then replies "No silly." He messes up his hair "You're too little."
"Am not!" Aiden whines in protest.
Annaliece notices the conflict and goes over to them. "What's wrong she asks."
"He says you guys are leaving and I can't come with you…" Aiden looks upset and Annaliece gives Legolas an angry look.
"What?" Legolas asks confused. "We can't take him with us."
"Well who's going to take care of him!" Annaliece argues. "He's just a little boy." She picks him up in her arms and cuddles him. "We'll find your parents first."
"Yay!" Aiden shouts and he hugs Annaliece and she laughs and Legolas looks at them and smiles and Annaliece helps Aiden onto Arete and Legolas mounts Arod.
"So where were your parents going when you got lost?" Annaliece asks him kindly.
"A village." Aiden replies.
Annaliece laughs "Do you know where it is?" Aiden shrugs and Legolas facepalms and Annaliece looks back at him and laughs and he blushes and smiles at her and stares at her in the sunlight and thinks to himself she's flawless… "Do you have some sort of idea of where this village is Aiden?"
"I heard them say something about the North." Aiden replied excitedly.
"Well then I guess we're heading North." Annaliece replied and she gestured for Legolas to follow her. They walk North for a while then they reach a village. Aiden cheers when he sees a group of little kids and they all come running up to him and he tries to dismount Arete but Annaliece holds him back and helps him off and then all the kids crowd him and her.
All of the girls gasp when they see Annaliece and stare at her in awe."Wow she's pretty…" One little girl says looking at Annaliece.
She blushes. "Oh thank you." Annaliece smiles at the little girl and the girl runs off to hug Aiden.
"These are my siblings and friends." Aiden explains.
Annaliece's eyes widen "Wow you're popular."
"Yeah." Aiden replies and smiles.
"Well are your parents here?" She asks the kids.
"No." they reply.
"We got separated from them in the woods when the group we were traveling with got attacked by orcs." One of the older kids explains "But they should be on their way here."
"Ok. Well goodbye Aiden." Annaliece says as she turns to mount Arete but then he hugs her boot.
"Wait!" he cries and she kneels down to face him.
"What is it Aiden?" she asks.
"Our parents aren't here yet and there's no one else to take care of us. Can you?" Aiden asks looking hopeful. All the girls crowd around Annaliece and beg her to stay and look after them until their parents come.
"I guess I could stay just until your parents come." As soon as Annaliece tells them that the girls all cheer and hug her and the boys groan because they enjoyed being free without any parental supervision then Legolas walks over.
"What's going on Annie?" Legolas asks when he comes over to her. When the boys see him all of their mouths drop.
"Whoa." The boys all crowd around Legolas in awe and he smiles at them.
"A real Elvsih warrior." One boy says.
"He's also a Prince." Aiden tells his brothers and as he rambles on about how great he is Legolas kneels down next to Annaliece.
"I'm guessing we're staying here for a while." Legolas guesses.
"Just until their parents get here or we can find someone else to take care of them." Annaliece replies reassuringly and she smiles at him and it warms Legolas's heart and he smiles back and they get lost in each other's gaze and the girls notice and they start to get excited then the boys notice and they get grossed out.
"Ewwww…" They all say at once and Legolas and Annaliece snap out of it and blush.
"Oooohh… They're in love" One of the girls comments and they both blush more.
"No we're not in love." Annaliece tells her. "We're just friends." Legolas loses some of the light in his eyes when she points that out but then she smiles at him again and says "Good friends." And the llight returns and he smiles back at her and he looks into her eyes and briefly sees a small hint of love for him in them and his heart beats faster. All the girls look disappointed then a look passes them all that says we're getting them together. "Did I mention I'm a Princess." All the girls get excited again and they crowd around her and ask her girly questions and Legolas feels one of the boys tug at his shirt and he turns around and looks at them.
"Can I help you boys with something?" Legolas asks them.
"Can you show us how you fight?" They all crowd around him excitedly and he smirks at them.
"Why not?" He replies and the boys cheer and they drag him over to the woods and Annaliece looks over her shoulder when she senses he left and she leads the girls to the woods to keep them together as group so they don't lose each other. They find a spot in the woods to take care of the kids together.
One of the girls goes over to Annaliece and tugs on her pants. "Can we try styling your hair?" she asks.
Legolas smiles at the little girl and Annaliece does too. "Of course." Annaliece agrees and she sits on the ground and the girls start fixing up her hair.
Legolas goes over to the boys. "Now who would like to see some fighting?" all the boys get excited and Legolas quickly takes out his dagger and throws it at a tree stump and all the boys praise him.
"Do it again!" Aiden shouts and Legolas looks over at Annaliece and she smiles at him and looks impressed and Legolas smiles back at her.
"Of course Aiden." Legolas replies and gets his bow ready and aims at a difficult target and shoots at it and hits it with deadly accuracy. All the boys jump around in excitement and tell Legolas how awesome he is and he looks at Annaliece and she smiles at him and looks impressed and Legolas smiles back at her and he continues to stare at her then Aiden tugs his pants.
"Can you show us some more fight stuff?" Legolas smiles at them then continues to show them how to fight.
Meanwhile Annaliece sits with the girls while they do her hair and one of them asks her "If you're a Princess why don't you wear a dress?"
"Well I've been traveling in the woods and it's hard to travel in the wilderness in my dress." Annaliece explains "Also if an event comes up where I need to defend myself then I can fight better without it on."
"Why are you traveling in the woods?" One of the girls asks and Annaliece explains the story to her. "Wait a minute!" she realizes "You have your luggage with you then you might have your dress with you!" All the girls get excited and Annaliece smiles at them.
"Yes I did bring a royal dress with me." Annaliece confesses and the girls all cheer and beg her to put it on for them and they all leave for a private area in the woods where she can change into it.
Legolas looks over his shoulder and sees that she left and looks disappointed. He wanted to show off to her some more to try to get her to start to fall in love with him. But then he returns to the boys. "So boys what do you think being a good warrior is about?"
"Being an awesome fighter and killing a lot of things!" Legolas smiles at Aiden.
"That is wrong Aiden. How many enemies a warrior has slain does not determine his greatness." Legolas explains "How a warrior gets great is by working hard and with a willing heart. You have to want to be great and be willing to risk or give up anything to protect your nation's honor as well as your own. Any warrior no matter how incredible they are is not a warrior unless they are courageous, brave, and are willing to do anything to protect their home." All the boys clap.
"Nice speech." Aiden complements "I wish I was more brave."
Legolas kneels down and looks at him eye to eye. "You were very brave yesterday when you attacked me to protect Annie."
"I was?" Aiden says realizing how brave he is and Legolas nods. "I'm brave! I'm brave!" he goes running around in triumph and Legolas smiles at him remembering what it was like when he was a child.
Meanwhile all the girls help Annaliece change. When she takes off all of her clothes except for her corset all the girls look sad. "What's wrong?" she asks.
"When are we going to be pretty like you?" They ask.
Annaliece smiles at them "All of you are already really beautiful girls. Why question that?"
"Because we don't have what you have." One of the girls replies. "And boys don't look at us and admire us like Legolas does at you?"
Annaliece goes over to the girl. "What's your name?"
"Elonwye." She replies.
"Well Elonwye what do I have that you don't have?" Annaliece asks then realizes the answer to the question and feels awkward.
Elonwye pokes her breast. "I don't have those. Or hips. Or a boy that thinks I'm pretty" She looks sad.
Legolas thinks I'm beautiful? Annaliece's heart leaps with joy for a moment and hints of love for him are the most visible they ever have been but sadly Legolas isn't there to see them. Then she comes back down to Earth and tells Elonwye "Those things aren't what make someone beautiful." Annaliece explains "What makes someone beautiful is what's on the inside. Just be yourself and you'll always be beautiful."
Elonwye hugs Annaliece. "Thank you. I have another question though."
"What is it?" Annaliece asks.
"When am I going to get what you have?" Annaliece blushes and all the other girls ask her the same question.
"When you're older." Annaliece replies. "You'll get them don't worry." Annaliece takes out her dress and all the girls stare at it in awe of how pretty it is.
"This technique will get your opponent off guard for you to strike." Legolas explains while showing them a technique. "It's important to do it as quick as possible so you don't spend too much time on one person." Legolas stands in front of one of the older boys. "Come at me." Legolas tells him. The boy runs at Legolas and Legolas quickly moves aside with his dagger out to protect himself from any other incoming attack and he holds out his foot and the boy falls over it and then turns around and Legolas holds a dagger to his throat and the boy looks scared then Legolas laughs and helps him up. "You had a nice charge. But be sure that in a battle you never get distracted by…..the most beautiful thing I have ever seen…" Legolas manages to stay as he stares at Annaliece in her royal gown.
The boy turns around and sees Annaliece "Wow she's beautiful…no wonder you were staring at her so much all day." Legolas turns bright red and Annaliece smiles at him. She looked so beautiful with the setting sun at her back that all the boys couldn't help but stare in awe.
"Isn't she pretty?" Elonwye proudly says looking at Annaliece.
"Can I marry you?" Aiden asks and Annaliece laughs and messes up his hair.
"No silly you're too young." Annaliece tells Aiden and he laughs.
Elonwye looks Aiden thoughtfully for a moment. "Aiden do you think I'm pretty?"
Aiden blushes. "You're a pretty good friend."
Elonwye looks annoyed at Aiden and touches his hand. "Ew!" Aiden shouts and Legolas and Annaliece turn away from each other's gaze and look at Aiden and Elonwye. "She has cooties!" As soon as he screams that all the boys run away and the girls chase them.
Annaliece giggles and touches Legolas's shoulder. "Do I have cooties?"
"The only thing you're infected with is everything perfect in this world." Legolas replies and moves closer to her.
All of the boys get touched by the girls. "Oh no we're sick!" Aiden panics. "How do we get rid of the cooties!"
Elonwye looks at Annaliece's hand on Legolas's shoulder and smiles as she gets an idea. "One of you has to kiss a girl and you'll all be cured!"
All of the boys get nervous then they look at Legolas. "You're up." One boy tells him.
"What?" Legolas asks.
"Kiss the girl." He gestures the Annaliece and her eyes go wide and she turns bright red.
"Why does he have to kiss me?" Annaliece asks nervously.
"To cure our cooties!" Aiden tells him.
Legolas looks at Annaliece and she sees excitement and longing in his eyes and notices the uncertainty in hers. I have to respect her He decides and gets on one knee "Fair maiden." He addresses her and sweetly kisses her hand.
Elonwye looks annoyed "That doesn't count!"
Legolas laughs and notices Annaliece has calmed down and they both smile at Elonwye. "Why doesn't it count?" Legolas asks her.
"It has to be on her face!" Elonwye replies.
Legolas laughs. "You didn't say that it had to be on her face."
"Well it does!" Elonwye says and pouts.
Legolas shakes his head and moves in close to Annaliece's face and holds her hands. Her uncertainty returns as their noses touch and he breathes on her lips "Fair maiden…" and his lips touch her cheek and he hugs her and she closes her eyes and embraces his warmth. The corner of his mouth touches hers and she feels a sort of magic and she feels happy and content and she lets out a soft groan. Then Legolas slowly pulls back and she feels sad that it's over and he looks into her eyes and sees those hints of love true and clear and his heart leaps with joy and all the boys cheer because their cooties are cured and Legolas smiles and leans into her lips but she puts her finger on them and stops him.
"You only had to do it once." Annaliece tells him and smiles at him then kisses his cheek sweetly and walks away from him and towards the other kids.
Legolas watches her walk away and smiles as the happiest moment of his life ends. She loves me… Legolas thinks happily as the sun goes down more and Annaliece rounds up the kids.