The fellowship was collectively in a terrible mood - except for Legolas who had vanished into the overhead leaves to enjoy some better company - even the Hobbits had been snappish. Aragorn was tired of it.
This journey was going to be long, and the weather for the next few days seemed to be turning for the worst. If they were going to endure it all together they might as well be in the best of moods possible.
The Ranger turned to the pile of halflings who had been whispering amongst themselves, "Did you know that Elves have a terrible concept of time?"
Sam's wide eyes, in particular, peered out at him, always thirsty to learn what he could about Elves, "Really?"
Aragorn nodded, struggling to hear if the elf was cursing him yet, "Some are worse with it than others; luckily for us, we happen to be accompanied by one of the worst with it."
Legolas thumped to the ground before his friend could call for him, obviously having been listening from the treetops, "I will never understand your obsession with this game. But nevertheless, I shall play."
The Ranger had known he would play, he would have long since guessed Aragorn would attempt to raise their spirits for its what he would do if they were his to lead. Besides, he had a soft spot for Sam in particular even if the Gardner hardly got up the courage to even speak to the Elven Prince.
Legolas sat with some flourish between Aragorn and Gandalf and immediately began weaving the long strands of grass around him, "Well get it over with."
Aragorn grinned, "How long ago did Elladan break his collarbone when he fell off his horse?"
"Oh Valar," Legolas looked up at the leaves as if they might give him the answers, "Well it was before you got here and you're 97 right?"
This time he looked to his friend who just continues to grin with mischief, "You don't get clues."
"No, you're eighty-seven. I think. Are you month seven or eight seven? I think a seven is involved. Either way less than one hundred. So I'll guess two hundred years?"
Aragorn cackled with delight and even Gandalf smiled, "Wrong! Nearly five hundred."
The hobbits gasped with humor and surprise, bright eyes urging another question, "How long ago did we last visit the town of Mistrim?"
Legolas clearly didn't know the answer to that question either, "Twenty years?"
"Over Forty."
"How long since I last spent the summer in Greenwood."
"That question would be a lot easier to answer if you told me how old you are!" Aragorn just shook his head and continued to grin, "Ugh, fine. Sixty-three."
"Shockingly close but I know it was a guess so I'm not counting it." Legolas made various noises of disgust and outrage but Aragorn just spoke over them, "How old are you? Exactly how old?"
Everyone assumed perhaps this was a way to calm the elf, give him a question he could not possibly get wrong. But Legolas just winced slightly and Pippin could not hold it in and cried out, "You don't know how old you are?"
"I know around how old I am" Legolas waved a hand vaguely in the air, "At a certain point the exact age becomes unimportant."
"And," Gandalf added with a satisfied puff of his pipe, "Your father knows exactly how old you are, possibly to the day, so there is no point in you remembering it."
Legolas turned betrayed eyes to the wizard, "That," he pointed an accusing finger, "Is not the point!"
"How could you not know hold old you are?" Pippin asked again, scandalized.
"Something that is an infinite resource is hard to keep track of, okay! Do you count the breaths you take? Or the steps you take? Time is just," he waved his hands vaguely in the air again, "Continues on for me. I have no reasons to count it in the same way as you."
Pippin narrowed his eyes, "How come your father can remember how old you are but you can't?"
Legolas shrugged, "I don't know, he's just always been good with time as far as I remember. He can keep track of all the villages that live around our forest by the names if their leaders and their families for generations. He used to correct me about it now he just groans in a way that lets me know I got it very much wrong. But then, he is better at many things than me, but perhaps I will learn with time. As mentioned before, I do have quite a lot of it."
The elf seemed to have almost been whisked away for a moment but brought himself back with a forceful clearing of his throat, "Anyways, even if I cannot keep track of time I'm aware that it is now dark, which means it's time for all of you go to sleep. I will take the first several watches."
With that Legolas vanished back into the tree branches, leaving most of the fellowship with much more cheerful moods, except perhaps the wizard who had noticed his sudden sadness.
Gandalf thought about trying to talk to him but decided that the company of the trees would be far more reassuring than he could ever be.
He knew that Legolas was counting the days since he left his father, hopefully, the young elf would not have to test his memory for very long.
The poor Greenleaf, so far from his forest and most importantly the one who waters and cares for him best.
Hopefully, he was still green by the end of this.
…..
Hey guys, I'm sorry I missed two days but real life got in the way. Anyways, here's today's!
