Long fingers wrestled dark curls, attempting to remove yet another feisty knot with little success.
"Lainien," Estel sighed, batting her hand away. "You're fighting a losing battle."
The elf narrowed her eyes before attacking the man's wily curls again.
Estel accepted her attempts with only minimal grumbling, recognizing the manic gleam in his guardian's eyes and resigning himself to her will. However, at a particularly painful pull, he hissed and battered her hand away again.
"Why this sudden preoccupation with my hair, Lana?" he asked, rubbing his sore scalp tenderly and glaring at his guardian. She shifted, her face carefully blank, but her eyes flickered over his shoulder and into the clearing.
Estel turned to face the gathering of elves for himself, eyeing the trail leading into the forest.
"I'm excited to see them too," he began, returning his focus to Lainien. "But Haldir won't care about the state of my hair, and the Lady Arwen won't notice me at all."
Lainien's expression flickered. Estel's eyes narrowed, suspicious. "What?" he said, taking a step closer to the elf, taking in every minute detail of her features.
His observations were met by a stony face and a lift of a brow. "Guests are arriving in celebration of your coming of age," she said, her tone carefully neutral. "You should at least attempt to look presentable."
Estel snorted. "I would have never imagined having this conversation with you, Lana," the man teased, nudging the elf in the arm. "Are you sure you're the most qualified to chastise me about my appearance?"
Lainien scowled at the man, a dangerous gleam in her sharp eyes. Estel gulped. Just as her mouth opened to begin what Estel was sure was to be a very venomous and entirely frightening threat, a long howl echoed from the forest.
His guardian's eyes widened and her head whipped around to take in the forest, no doubt listening intently to both sounds and thoughts. Estel took advantage of her distraction to observe the tightness of her mouth and the twitch of her fingers.
But as soon as he noted the elf's telltale signs of anxiety, dark blue eyes flickered to him and her features smoothed. Before he could contemplate the possible reasons for Lainien's puzzling anxiety, the first horse broke through the trees.
Estel took in the tall elven warrior leading the group with equal parts excitement and curiosity. Haldir of Lothlorien was one of the few who received praise from his guardian, and the man knew what a high honor even a praise was, coming from Lainien.
"That's Haldir?" Estel confirmed, glancing at his guardian. She nodded, eyes sparkling as she watched the elf dismount. Grey eyes turned back to the clearing, observing the lithe grace and power in the elf's stature. The elf bowed to Lord Elrond, quiet words of greeting lost to Estel's less sensitive ears.
Two more elves dismounted behind their leader, eyes bright and smiles donning their faces – each moving with a more open, easy countenance than the stern marchwarden. Estel repressed a chuckle – of course Lainien would gravitate toward the calm, stern elf.
At his thoughts, he received an eye roll from his companion. Just as Estel turned to face Lainien, however, a white horse cantered into the clearing. The figure upon the beautiful beast was cloaked in billowing purple velvet, and Estel found his eyes drawn with an intensity he couldn't quite fathom.
Delicate fingers grasped the ends of the horse's reins, the pearly white of the skin contrasting beautifully with the dark leather. Estel's eyes were transfixed upon them as the horse came to a stop, and the smooth fingers loosened their hold on the reins.
Grey eyes watched, utterly transfixed, as the rider gracefully turned in the saddle and accepted the assistance of an elven guard. Estel's eyes flickered to the long fingers now grasping the hand of the guard, and the man swore that the hand radiated a glow that outshone the soft white of the guard's skin.
Still following the movement of the glowing fingers, Estel watched as the hand moved to the cowl of the hood and slowly pulled it back.
Silence descended upon the clearing for Estel as he took his first sight of Arwen Undomiel. The excited chatter of the Imladris elves and the soft whispers of wind blowing through the clearing vanished as grey eyes widened to take in the most beautiful sight they had ever beheld.
Grey eyes traced soft cheekbones, desperately desiring to touch the glowing skin. He followed the line of shimmering black hair coiled intricately behind delicate, pointed ears, wondering vaguely what it would feel like to run his fingers over the tips.
But it was her eyes that captured his breath and sealed his fate. They sparkled with a fire that wound its way into his soul when she matched his gaze. His heart sped up as her eyes lingered on him. The rapid pounding of his heart swept a fire through his body, starting in the depths of his chest and spreading until Estel felt his entire body thrum with energy.
After seconds that lasted lifetimes in Estel's mind, all thoughts escaped him except for the soft whispers of words that rose, unbidden, in his wayward mind.
Within the shadows of her hair,
The trembling starlight of the skies
He saw there mirrored shimmering.
Tinúviel the elven-fair,
Immortal maiden elven-wise
About him cast her shadowy hair
And arms like silver glimmering.
"Tinúviel," he whispered.
Lainien pulled herself from her charge's mind with great effort. Looking away from the clearing, she glanced at the man standing at her side.
Estel's face held wonder as his bright eyes followed the graceful steps of the elf as Arwen moved to greet her father. Contrasting emotion threatened to overwhelm Lainien as she watched her charge.
She had prepared herself for several possible reactions, but this caught her by surprise. The bright, clear space of Estel's mind seemed to flicker as a small flame kindled before suffusing his thoughts and engulfing his mind.
Gone was the calm brightness of childish thoughts, the simple clarity and tranquility of his calm mind. In its place was a driven warmth, a flickering flame lighting the bright space of his mind.
Lainien was pulled from her study of the youth's mind by the soft touch of a hand upon her wrist. Startled, the elf looked up to meet concerned blue eyes.
Legolas projected a mental note of comfort, his hand tightening slightly around her wrist. At the calming touch, Lainien took a deep breath and gave the elf a small, reassuring smile.
"Ai na vendui, Arwen," Elrond spoke, his voice rising above the sound of the crowd and capturing Legolas and Lainien's attentions. *At last, welcome, Arwen
Lainien gave a sideways glance at her charge, noting with some amusement that Estel's mouth was still parted and his eyes were wide as they stared down the gentle slope.
He is entirely smitten, Legolas' thoughts whispered, amusement flowing freely in the current of his mind. I daresay I cannot blame him, for the Lady Arwen is indeed a lovely sight.
Lainien gave Legolas a small smile, basking in the comforting flow of his mind, before turning back to the Lord of Imladris.
Elrond offered his arm to his daughter, Arwen's smile brightening the entire clearing with her radiance, and the two made their way toward the Great Hall.
Lainien felt the sudden anxiety flowing from her charge with concern, and she lifted a brow at the sudden paleness of his features.
She's coming this way, came his thoughts, flurry in their panic. Lainien rolled her eyes.
She's going to see me, he pressed, turning wide, fearful eyes to his guardian. Lainien's lip pulled up at the corner.
Estel seemed incapable of forming more coherent thought as he turned his eyes to the clearing, watching the company of elves moving toward them with fear shining in his eyes.
The fear in her charge's eyes drove Lainien's body to tense unconsciously, her eyes slipping from the elves in the clearing to observe the dark shadows of the forest in an automatic response to Estel's rising heart rate and frantic breathing.
The rising adrenaline was suddenly slowed, however, by a firm hand coming to claps her wrist again. Light blue eyes sparkled at her, thin lips forming an amused grin before calming thoughts flowed into her mind.
Legolas removed his hand after a moment and turned his attention to the panicking young man.
"Estel," Legolas called softly, smiling at the man. He received a frantic glance in response. Legolas chuckled.
"All will be well," the elf whispered, capturing the grey eyes of his friend. "You have grown much, Estel. Hold yourself with pride and the Lady Arwen will see the man you have grown to become."
Estel held Legolas' calm gaze for several moments, his shoulders relaxing and the fear leaking out of his eyes. Lainien listened to the frantic sweeping of her charge's mind slow, and she was almost overwhelmed with relief.
After a short time, the young man broke Legolas' stare and turned to face the group, his shoulders squaring and his back straightening. Lainien found herself smiling softly.
"Thank you," she breathed quietly into Legolas' ear, letting her hand rest on his elbow. She hoped all the gratitude she felt could be shown in the two simple words. The glowing smile he responded with showed her that it had.
The small group made its way up the steps, Elrond leading the group with Arwen at his arm, the two smiling brightly and nodding to elves as they passed. Finally, with a flicker of panic from her charge, Elrond stopped before them.
"Our young Estel has grown much since you have been away," Elrond said, smiling down at the man before turning to Arwen.
"Mae govannen, Estel," Arwen said softly, looking up at the youth and giving him a kind smile.
"Mae govannen," Estel repeated, shifting slightly against Lainien. The quick brush amplified his nerves, and Lainien felt her own anxiety flicker in sympathy.
"You have indeed grown," Arwen continued, her smile growing. "Though I would know your eyes anywhere." Lainien could hear Estel's mind buzzing frantically to find words in response, and as nothing solidified and the silence continued, both their anxieties heightened.
"It brings warmth to my heart to see you well, Lady Arwen," Legolas said, stepping forward to clasp the elleth's hand. Lainien breathed a sigh of relief, Estel doing the same next to her.
"And I you, dear Legolas," Arwen grinned. Her bright eyes moved over his shoulder, and the elf beamed at Lainien.
"My dearest Lainien," she whispered, moving forward. Lainien felt the familiar flames of the elf's mind and took immense comfort in her presence.
"It is good to see you," Lainien said earnestly, meeting Arwen's blinding smile with a small grin of her own. She found herself enveloped in a strong embrace, and Lainien's smile grew as she realized how much she had truly missed her friend.
Arwen stepped back, still beaming, and moved forward to welcome Gilraen, who stood behind Lainien.
As Arwen and Gilraen embraced and began chatting, Lainien turned to Estel. The man breathed a huge sigh before peaking over to his guardian.
"Perhaps I should have brushed my hair," he said, grinning weakly.
-:-
Estel laid in bed, arm flung over his head and blankets pushed down to his hips, thoughts aflutter.
He had survived the feast, despite the hours moving by sluggishly, and had excused himself to his room early. Hours later, and the man could not find sleep.
Rolling over onto his side, Estel frowned into his pillow.
There were a great many things he should be thinking of. The hunt in just two days. The week he'd be living on his own in the wild. The possible dangers of the forest and all the lessons he'd sat through on how to survive them. The ceremony afterwards.
Instead, his thoughts were focused entirely upon soft cheekbones and full, pink lips. The image of delicate fingers grasping worn leather reigns was burned permanently on the back of his eyelids so that each time he closed them, her picture burned brightly.
He rolled onto his back, letting out a long sigh.
He needed to be grounded. He needed a reminder of the important trials ahead. He needed a strong, unwavering presence. He sighed again.
Lainien had abandoned her nightly residence in the tree outside his room several years previously, yet Estel still turned his head to gaze out the balcony, hoping…
"Lana?" he called softly.
Not a moment later, a dark shadow descended from the tree, blocking out the moonlight for a moment as it stalked toward his room.
"You should be sleeping," Lainien admonished him, coming to stand next to his bed. Estel smiled up at his guardian.
"As should you," he retorted, sitting up against his pillows. The room was too dark to be sure, but he could practically hear her eye roll.
After a second, Lainien took the final step to his bed and climbed in next to him, folding her legs up neatly and leaning against the head board. Estel smiled brightly at the invitation to talk, and so he nestled down in the blankets and closed his eyes.
You've been listening? he asked, pushing the quiet thought to his guardian.
"Mmm," she hummed quietly.
I cannot stop thinking of her, he admitted. I know it is wrong…
His thought was met with silence. Estel shifted.
There are so many reasons for why I should not be thinking of her, he continued, knowing that, despite her silence, Lainien was listening intently.
She is an elf, he thought, sadness slowly filling his heart. And I am but a man. Lainien shifted in her seat.
"Your humanity does not diminish you, Estel," Lainien said softly. "The length of life does not determine the importance of that life."
Lainien listened quietly as Estel ruminated on her words.
She is a princess, his thoughts whispered.
Lainien snorted. "Though Elrohir would have you believe otherwise, there is no King of Imladris."
"Only because Lord Elrond would not wish it," Estel grumbled lightly.
"Elrond is content with watching over the land his King gave him," Lainien corrected. (1)
Estel sighed. She is the granddaughter of the great Lady Galadriel, he retorted, morose filling his thoughts. Now it was Lainien's turn to sigh.
"Estel nin," she began, desperately wanting to make him understand his worth without breaking the promise she had made to her Lady. "There is a greatness in you. Hopefully soon you will see it."
She felt his mind stir in curiosity at the heaviness of her words, so she shifted into a more comfortable position.
"Now sleep," she ordered, resting her head against the wall again and closing her eyes. "There is much to prepare for."
Estel grumbled slightly, but turned onto his side facing her and closed his eyes. Lainien peaked open one eye to watch her charge's face smooth, and she smiled lightly.
Content now with the grounding presence of his guardian, Estel's wayward thoughts slowed and he gently fell to sleep.
-:-
"Very good, young Estel," Haldir called, his face stern, but eyes shining in approval. Estel grinned at the Marchwarden as he lowered his bow.
"I have had excellent teachers," Estel said, turning to grin at Legolas and Lainien.
"Even teachers need their practice," Haldir responded, his lip twitching as he suppressed a grin at Lainien. "Perhaps you'd care to show me how your skills have improved over the years, Lainien?"
The devilish grin on Lainien's face made every elf in the clearing shift uneasily.
Her response was to simply draw her swords with a flash of steel as she stalked toward the Marchwarden.
Haedirn chuckled as even Haldir's usually stoic face flickered at the sight of Lainien prowling toward him. "This should be interesting," he whispered to Legolas, turning to quirk a smile at his prince. The elf just grinned.
"I should hunt," Estel said, gathering his bow and strapping his scabbard onto his belt. "Erestor will need more meat than usual, what with your appetite," he continued, grinning at Haedirn. The elf snorted at him.
"I shall come with you," Legolas said, stepping forward.
"And I wouldn't miss this fight for the world," Haedirn grinned, nodding to the pair now circling each other.
The two companions shared a grin before heading out into the trees.
-:-
Legolas leaned back against a thick trunk, observing his companion's ministrations. Estel prepared his kill with methodical skill born from years of practice that belied his young age.
"You will do well tomorrow, Estel," he said, smiling softly down at the man. Estel's head came up in surprise at the words.
"I should hope so," he said, returning his eyes to his hands. "I have spent much time preparing." The man paused for a moment before adding, "And Lainien would skin me alive if I failed."
Legolas' laughter filled the clearing for a brief moment before the two fell back into companionable silence.
Estel soaked in the peaceful silence of the trees and the comfort of his watchful companion. Though the two are drastically different in outward appearances, he mused, sneaking a glance at the elf, they are, at their cores, utterly similar.
Estel continued to watch his companion thoughtfully as Legolas' eyes roamed through the trees with a steady watch.
Finished preparing his kill, Estel sat back on his heels and peered up at the sun.
The forest offers a measure of peace that cannot be found in the great halls of Imladris, Estel thought, closing his eyes and drinking in the pleasurable calm of the swaying branches.
"There are yet a few hours before we are needed," Legolas's voice supplied, bringing Estel's attention to his companion. The man turned to look up at the elf lounging easily against the tree. "We could stay for a time," Legolas continued, giving Estel a small smile.
Estel answered the suggestion with a bashful grin of his own, and sat back, unlacing his scabbard and laying his sword at his feet. Staring up at the canopy of trees, Estel felt the stirrings of anxiety seep into his mind.
What if I do fail? He brought him arms up to pillow the back of his head. What if I come across trouble and cannot defeat it? Doubt swirled through his thoughts.
Staring up at the trees, he didn't hear Legolas move to his side until the sharp sound of steel brought his attention to his companion.
Legolas unsheathed the sword slowly, eyes critically examining the blade. Estel sat up on his elbows, watching his friend with a brow raised.
"You have a handsome blade, Estel," Legolas said softly, eyes still traveling across the hard steel. "Perfectly balanced," he continued, swinging the sword easily in his hand. "Elegant and powerful." The soft whisper of steel cut through the air as Estel watched silently from the ground.
Legolas met Estel's eyes with a firm gaze, extending the hilt of the sword to the young man. "Trust in your weapon," he said as Estel reached forward to grasp the hilt. "And trust in yourself," Legolas whispered, not releasing the weapon until Estel nodded.
The elf grinned as Estel swung his sword neatly, a determined glint in his eye. Legolas reached back for his own weapons, drawing the twin blades with a small flourish and a smirk for his companion.
The two traded blows with easy familiarity, neither attempting to actually out-maneuver the other. After a few moments, Estel snuck passed Legolas' guard, managing to bring the tip of his sword to rest at the elf's collarbone.
"Well done," Legolas conceded, nodding as Estel beamed at him.
"You style varies from Lainien's," the man said, sheathing his sword. "But I am quite accustomed to your weapons."
Legolas hummed in agreement, eyes trained on his blades, searching for any nicks in the metal. Finding none, he stowed them neatly.
"I must admit," he said, watching the man gather his kill. "I would have thought you to prefer a dual weapon, knowing your instructor's preference."
Estel snorted. "I had desired dual swords as a child, awed as I was by Lainien's strength and prowess." The man shifted the two rabbits higher upon his shoulder, glancing back at his companion.
"But you found you could not handle the weapons?" Legolas asked. He was granted another snort from his companion.
"I never had the opportunity to try my hand," he responded, dark amusement in his tone.
"She never let you practice with her swords?" Legolas asked, perplexed.
"As far as I know, Haedirn is the only other to have wielded her weapons," Estel said, turning back to Legolas. "And that was only under dire circumstances."
Legolas remembered the time easily, the fear of losing his friend and captain still haunting, even after many years.
"Surely she would have allowed you to wield them?" Legolas pressed, his curiosity pushing him forward. Estel looked over his shoulder again, a sheepish expression on his face.
"Perhaps one day I would have been," he said slowly, the back of his ears reddening. "But as it were, I believe I ruined any chance of that when I was younger."
Legolas raised a brow, waiting for the youth to continue.
"I had known that Lainien had few personal possessions, the swords being one of them," Estel began. " Those few items were incredibly dear to her, and she guarded them with passion."
Legolas hummed, gesturing for him to continue. The sheepish grin on Estel's face only increased his curiosity. "Well, there might have been an instance where I ignored her wishes, and took it upon myself to examine her swords against her wishes."
"I would imagine that did not bode well for you," Legolas said, a small smile forming.
Estel snorted. "If looks could kill," he muttered. Legolas chuckled lightly. Estel sobered slightly, however. "She had never been so angry with me," he whispered, eyes moving to study the ground at his feet. "And I had never been frightened of her before then."
Legolas turned the information over in his mind, trying to find reason for Lainien's ire.
"I never again asked to touch them," said Estel, picking up the pace again. "And she never offered. The next day, however, she apologized for losing her temper with me and explained the importance of her weapons."
Legolas quirked a brow and Estel shifted his kill on his shoulder. "As I said, she has few possessions, and she told me then of their significance," he said, trailing off and looking out over the trees.
"And these items are…?" Legolas prompted, leaning into Estel to capture his eyes again.
"The first is a small box. Plain and simple, but infinitely dear to Lainien," Estel said, sighing lightly and turning to Legolas.
"She told me that it belonged to her Naneth," he continued, his voice lowering and his tone filling with melancholy. "She said it was the only thing left of her. The only thing she could salvage from the fires of her home."
Estel looked back and paused, watching his companion. Legolas' face was blank with surprise, his eyes wide and mouth slightly open. The man chuckled.
"I would not have painted Lainien as sentimental either," he said, turning to give the elf some privacy and continuing his march through the trees. "But I suppose she saves the emotion for a very limited number of things."
"What else?" Legolas asked, his voice soft. "What are the other items?"
"A very old book," Estel continued. "Her favorite story, actually." The man turned back to grin at his companion. "Mine as well, though perhaps only because I knew it was hers." He chuckled.
Legolas was quiet, his thoughts straying to decades ago in a tall tree at the edge of the forest. A small box and an old book, he thought, images forming in his mind of a secret nook tucked away from sight. I never did find them again.
"…and her father's swords," Estel continued, oblivious to his companion's musings.
"What?"
Estel turned, brow raised at the harsh tone. He peered over at Legolas, noting the frown upon his brow and the fire raging in his eyes. He gulped.
"The third treasure of Lainien's," Estel explained slowly, his tone hesitant. "Are her swords. They belonged to her father."
-:-
Lainien closed her eyes briefly, focusing on pushing out the swirling cacophony of thoughts assaulting her senses, and leaned a little further against Gilraen's arm.
"You're doing fine, Angel," Gilraen whispered, the words barely loud enough to reach Lainien's ears. Dark eyes flickered open to gaze down at her Lady, the discomfort leaking through her mask for a moment.
The two stood together at the very front of the large crowd of Imladris elves gathered in the clearing, Elrond standing proud next to Gilraen, smiling down at Estel.
"Today you embark upon a quest to earn your place among the men of your people as an adult," Elrond's sonorous voice rang out, calling Lainien's attention to him.
"As tradition among your noble ancestors, you are to prove your valor, strength, and cunning in solitary hunt for seven days," he continued. "You will return at dawn after seven days with a kill worthy of a warrior, and present it to one who holds your loyalty." Elrond looked down and smiled softly to Gilraen.
Lainien, however, was watching her charge with a frown. Grey eyes lit up with a mischievous fire for a moment, his thoughts flickering with half-formed images. At her gaze, Estel's eyes widened, and his thoughts turned to focus entirely upon the flowing fabric of Elrond's deep blue robes.
The youth received an unimpressed brow, to which he replied with a small smirk.
Mind you own thoughts, Lana, he whispered, a teasing glimmer of challenge swirling in his eyes. Lainien graced him with a roll of her eyes.
She turned her eyes to Legolas out of habit, but frowned. As it had been since the previous day, his mind was closed to her. For perhaps the hundredth time since then, she held her gaze in his direction, hoping to catch his eyes.
And as it had been, he avoided her. Frustrated, Lainien smoothed her face back to its indifferent mask and focused on keeping herself from fidgeting, feeling the stare of many upon her back.
Her fingers itched to grasp her swords and her feet ached to turn and keep the crowd within her sights. She fought both instincts, though, bottling the discomfort with her frustrations, and concentrated on her Lady's thoughts instead.
Your part is coming soon, Angel, Gilraen's thoughts floated to her, helping to further distract Lainien from her plight.
"Who here hold guardianship over this boy?" Elrond asked, his voice firm, but his eyes twinkling at Estel, who huffed lightly at the term, 'boy'.
"We do," Gilraen said, her light voice strong and clear. Not for the first time, Lainien watched her Lady with pride.
"State your titles."
"Gilraen, daughter of Ivorwen," she said, her chin coming up slightly. Lainien took a deep breath.
"Lainien Saerosiel," Lainien said, projecting her voice with pride, determined to ignore the quiet muttering and the tumultuous thoughts at her words. Unbidden, her eyes flickered to Legolas, part of her desperate for his reassurance.
The pained expression on his face nearly broke her carefully contrived concentration.
"And can you both vouch for this boy's name, preparation, and dedication to your tribe?" Elrond's commanding voice brought Lainien's focus back to him and she breathed a soft sigh.
"I do so vouch," Gilraen said, smiling softly at Estel, who returned it with one of his own.
"I do so vouch," Lainien repeated, lifting a brow at her charge. And don't make me regret it.
I'll make you proud, he projected, his smile widening.
"Then so shall it be," Elrond said, opening his arms wide and smiling brightly now. "Go now upon your quest, and should you return, you will be welcomed among your ancestors as a warrior of skill and a man in your own right."
Estel beamed up at Elrond, his thoughts swirling with excitement. He turned to nod at Legolas and Haedirn before stepping forward to embrace his mother softly.
"Come back safely, my son," she whispered, holding him tightly.
"I will return," he said, his voice serious and determined. Lainien watched as he released his mother and looked to her.
She nodded to him slowly, a slight smile pulling at her lips. Estel grinned, but a small swirl of doubt curled in his thoughts, and Lainien could see him swallow nervously.
Lainien took a step forward and rested a hand upon his shoulder, pressing lightly and gazed into grey eyes.
"You are my hope, Estel nin. I have faith in you."
The dazzling smile he gave her in return brought a prickling in her eyes, forcing Lainien to take a step back and focus her eyes upon the trees behind him. At Estel's slight chuckle, however, she gave him a rather watery glare before the youth turned and marched into the forest.
-:-
The soft footfalls of boots upon stone were the only sound in the early morning as Legolas paced his room.
Today I will speak with her, he told himself, turning on his heel sharply.
I have taken the time to control my emotions, and today I will give her the chance to explain herself. He nodded and brought his hands together.
I will calmly approach her and give her the chance to tell me her story without jumping to conclusions. He halted, partway to the grand balcony, eyes staring blankly out at the trees.
Content with the mature and level-headed choice, he rubbed his hands together, walked to rest of the way out to the balcony and leaned against the stone wall.
A lone figure caught his attention as it skirted through the underbrush with long, purposeful strides. He recognized the gait instantly.
Legolas jumped atop the wall and dropped down to the grass below, moving quickly to catch up to the cloaked figure. He made his way through the trees, keeping an eye on the figure far ahead, smiling lightly at the fortuitous turn of events.
He followed the figure for several long minutes, wondering if she knew he was following her yet, until the figure halted suddenly. Legolas leaned against a nearby tree, content to watch, curious at her actions.
Lainien knelt in the grass and reached out her hand, waiting. After a moment, Legolas was greeted with the beatific sight of Faegaraf's gleaming white coat in the bright sunlight.
The wolf trotted smoothly to Lainien and brushed her nose against the elf's outstretched hand, eyes closing and tail flicking. He could barely hear soft words on the air as Lainien greeted the wolf.
"What news do you bring, friend?" she asked. "How is our Estel?"
Legolas frowned and crossed his arms. She is helping Estel? He watched in silence as the two sat, the wolf undoubtedly reporting to Lainien.
She would so easily break law and tradition? he mused, his stomach twisting with a mixture of disappointment and confusion. She does not trust in Estel's skills?
"In his skills, I have no doubt, Young Prince."
Legolas flinched in surprise, instantly working on shielding his mind again, contrite that he had let it slip at all.
"Yet you send your guidance," he argued, straightening against the tree and moving a step forward. Faegaraf brought her keen yellow eyes to him for a long moment, surveying his stance. He met her gaze evenly, fighting the storm of emotions.
Yellow eyes blinked slowly and the wolf turned away from him, nodded to Lainien, and trotted away swiftly. Legolas stood in silence until the tip of the wolf's tail disappeared.
He turned his eyes then to Lainien. The elf met his gaze with the cold, indifferent façade that she wore in public, one that hadn't been directed at him for many years.
"You would disregard the long history and tradition of the Dunedain?" he asked, frowning at her.
She only lifted a challenging brow. He waited a moment longer for her rebuttal, but none came. Frustrated, he took another step toward her.
"Estel has worked to earn his place among his people, and you would risk thwarting his efforts by lending your assistance?" Unbidden, his voice rose slightly, the anger and confusion he'd been holding since the talk with Estel resurfacing.
His words did nothing to break away Lainien's icy visage, and the elf merely stood, back perfectly straight, and gazed at him with one brow lifted. Legolas felt his frustrations increase.
"You have naught to say?" he pressed, taking yet another step.
Silence.
He was unaccustomed to being ignored; anger coiled in his stomach at her continued rebuff. Still, he worked to control his temper.
"What is the meaning of your silence?" he asked, trying to keep his voice calm.
"I could ask the same of you."
Legolas blinked, surprised. He rallied again soon after, crossing his arms over his chest.
"I do believe I was just speaking," he responded stiffly.
"Now, yes," she replied evenly, no inflection or warmth in her tones. Legolas pushed away a shiver. "But that has not been so for several days."
Legolas shifted, his mind focusing on shielding his thoughts. Now would not be the time to have this discussion, he realized, noting his growing frustration and ire.
"Your attempts at misdirection will not dissuade me from desiring answers to my questions," he sniffed, frowning at her.
Her brow dropped and Lainien gazed at him for a long moment, eyes assessing quietly. It took all his lessons for Legolas to hold steady under her blue eyes.
"I care not for tradition and decorum," she said finally, her voice still cold and lifeless. "Such will not stop me from ensuring my charge is protected."
Legolas felt the anger rise in his chest again against her indifference. Laws and tradition had meaning, and without them, the importance of such activities lessened. She would know this if she spent more time among her kind, a voice in his head whispered. There lies danger with those who can so easily dismiss laws.
"Indifference to law can lead swiftly to indifference to morals," he said slowly. "If you ignore the one, the other is sure to follow."
This finally sparked something on Lainien's face.
"Why don't you tell me what this is really about, Young Prince," she spat, her eyes narrowing at him.
Legolas bristled in anger and discomfort. "This is about you deliberately breaking the laws of the hunt by assisting Estel."
"I am not assisting him," she snapped, anger flashing in her dark eyes.
It was Legolas' turn to lift a brow. "Sending Faegaraf to assist him does not circumvent the rules?"
Lainien's jaw clenched as he watched and he could see the elf take a deep breath through her nose. "I have not asked her to assist him," she said, her voice held deliberately calm. "Only to keep watch from a distance."
The measured calm in her voice only served to rankle him further, annoyed as he was that his own emotions seeped easily from him. Was it so easy for her to coldly push him away?
"And should he need assistance?" he shot back, pushing away his feelings. "You would deny giving him aid?"
She leveled him with an unimpressed brow. "No," she said simply, no contrition in her tone.
"Then my ire still stands!" Legolas practically snarled. "Though you are not currently disregarding law, you would hold no remorse over doing so!"
"I feel no obligation to comply with any law that would risk the safety of my charge," she intoned, eyes steely and challenging.
"You cannot just pick which laws with which you comply!" he growled. "They exist for a reason!"
"I do not care for their reasons," Lainien said, eyes flashing dangerously.
"So you utterly disregard the things you do not care for?"
She scowled at him. "Yes," she said, eyes flashing again. "It is common of our people to throw away things that displease us, is it not?" she sneered.
Legolas gaped at her for a moment, his heart plummeting.
"Where was the morality of the Woodland Realm all those years ago?" she snarled, taking a step toward him. "The dismissal of tradition, decorum, and decency," she spat out, eyes feral as they burned into him, "didn't seem to be a problem all those years ago."
Legolas took a step back in the face of her vehemence, eyes wide, dark memories swirling in his mind's eye at her words. Thick silvery blood pooled upon the floor under the broken, slumped elfling. Blood from perfectly cut lines down the entirety of a smooth, pale back. The stretched line of skin, puckered and white, trailing from nape to hips.
His breath stuttered in his throat and he turned away, breathing slowly for several moments. Choking back emotion, he turned again to face his companion.
Lainien stood rigid, eyes dark and pinched in pain as she gaped at him. Legolas quickly rebuilt the shields in his mind, feeling the guilt slowly churn for showing Lainien such dark memories.
The two were silent, Legolas watching Lainien's face slowly gain back its natural color, trying to breath evenly.
"I thought we had moved passed this," he whispered quietly, more to himself than his companion.
Lainien just stood silently, body pulled tight with anxiety, breathing slowly. Branches swayed lightly, filling the silence with gentle creaking as both elves stood unmoving beneath the trees.
"I had thought so," Lainien said finally, her dark eyes hard. "But then you shielded yourself from me," she continued, turning her icy gaze to him. "You have deliberately hidden yourself from me for days. Those are not the actions of someone who holds your trust."
Legolas clenched his fist as rage flowed through him.
"It is your lack of trust in me that has brought us here, Lainien," he growled.
Confusion rippled across her features for an instant. "I have shown you the greatest degree of trust I have shown any being in over a thousand years!"
"The greatest degree does not encompass all your secrets, then," he replied dryly.
Dark eyes assessed him for a long moment. "No, I suppose not," she said quietly, her eyes lowering to the ground. The icy mask fell away swiftly, leaving a wary look in her eye. "What is it that you wish to know, Young Prince? What more is there for me to give?"
The weary acceptance on her face calmed Legolas. Guilt swirled in his chest at the resignation he saw in the slump of her shoulders and the exhaustion creeping into her gaze. He did not wish to see her so.
But the guilt was overpowered by fear. She had been hiding a secret from him for years. And worse, he thought, she would have continued to withhold her secrets had Estel not revealed them to me. Hurt wound its way through his heart once again, and he steadied himself against his feelings.
"Where did you get your swords?" he asked, squaring his shoulders and leveling her with a stern gaze.
The weariness fell from her face in a flash, the icy mask hardening once again over her sharp features. The change was disconcerting, and it made him anxious.
"I believe I know the answer already, however, I wanted to give you the opportunity to explain yourself before I made any firm assumptions," he continued, raising his chin.
Blue eyes flashed with anger. "How very magnanimous of you, Young Prince," she spat, glaring. Legolas ground his teeth together. "I suppose I should be grateful for your gracious offer. Indeed, it is without precedence. Your father did not deign to allow me such an extravagance the previous time I was interrogated before Mirkwood royalty."
Legolas flinched. "You are deliberately trying to distract me. It will not work. The longer you evade my questions, the more guilty you appear in my mind."
"Guilty?" she snarled. "Of what crime would you convict me?"
"I will know once you have told me how you came upon your swords."
"I could have made them," she said, closing down her expression again.
"You could not have. None but the King have access to such precious metal and the designs for such a unique weapon."
"I could have found them."
Legolas snorted. "No warrior would leave his swords, nor would they be allowed to be buried without them."
She paused, still surveying him sharply. "How do you believe I came upon them?" she asked, her tone soft and dangerous.
Legolas hesitated, recognizing the challenge in her words. "I see only two options," he said, trying to project a calm, rational façade. She raised a brow for him to continue.
"They are undoubtedly your father's weapons."
"You seem so very sure, yet you dared to ask?" she asked quickly, her tone harsh.
"I wanted to hear the truth from you. I had hoped you trusted me enough with your secrets."
Silence. He pressed on.
"This means," he continued. "You either engaged him in combat and killed him, taking up his swords as your own," he paused. She didn't respond. "Or you joined him in his travels and he bequeathed them to you."
Hot fire raged in her eyes and Legolas willed himself to stay in his position.
"It appears I am not the only one to lack the ability to trust," she hissed. "You would think me capable of either act? Kinslayer or betrayer?"
Guilt wormed its way into his chest again, but he pushed it back. "The more you evade answering, the darker the truth is likely to be!" he argued.
"Or perhaps I simply do not wish to speak of it!"
"You will if you desire my trust!"
"So that is the price, Prince?" she asked, sneering. "You speak of trust, yet you offer none."
He held her dark gaze evenly despite the remorse now swirling in his stomach. Pushing away the guilt, he set his chin and crossed his arms, determined to hear the truth.
Lainien narrowed her eyes at him, assessing him for several long moments. Her eyes pieced him and Legolas had to once again draw upon his reserves of courage to match the intense gaze.
The fight in her eyes faded after a moment, and she closed them, resignation coloring her face. The change made something in Legolas' chest ache.
"In the winter after my one hundredth year I began hunting my father."
Legolas' eyes widened slightly, surprised that she would divulge her secrets after such protest. Nevertheless, he listened intently.
"It took many years," she continued, opening her eyes finally and leveling him with a hard look. "But in the end, my certain skills," she hissed, "Allowed me to accomplish that which your father could not."
The dark coldness in her eyes flickered for a moment with an emotion he couldn't quite describe, and he leaned forward.
"I attacked quickly, using surprise to my advantage." At this, she closed her eyes again, frowning. "We battled intensely for some time."
Legolas listened keenly, wishing he could see the detail he knew she was leaving out.
"In the end, I overcame him," she said softly.
"You killed him?" he whispered.
She leveled him a cold, blank stare for several long moments. He held her gaze, stomach tight with anticipation. Was the Great Traitor felled? Is the bringer of death and destruction such that the Great Wood had never before seen, dead and gone?
"I did not."
Legolas' stomach plummeted. If he is not dead, and she has his swords… His thoughts swirled with dark possibilities.
Lainien's eyes flashed darkly with anger. "How quick you are to presume me capable of such atrocities," she hissed, glaring daggers at Legolas from across the small clearing. "Though I suppose it's not a far jump from patricide to traitor," she added, sneering. "And you think me so capable of the first, I am not surprised you would also think me capable of the second."
Flustered at her words, Legolas scrambled to shield his thoughts again.
"As surprising as it may be for you to hear, I do not wish to be anything like my father," she spat, her face contorted with a fierce rage. Legolas, however, knew her eyes well enough to see the shadow of grief and the flicker of despair hidden there.
"I took away the weapons he used to destroy my family, wreck havoc on my home, and cut into my back and swore to never again let them be tarnished with the blood of the innocent.
"I cut the thumbs from his hands, forever rendering them useless with another blade, and cursed him to walk through the lands of Middle Earth in bitter loneliness and despair, barred from ever beholding the shores of Valinor.
"Then I washed the blades, so drenched with blood, in the water of the Argonath, and turned my back on my only remaining family member for the life of a lonely wanderer."
At the last word, her voice broke, the fire in her eyes wavering, and she blinked hard, turning away. Legolas stood silently, his heart heavy and mind spinning over her words. He felt numb. His stomach, once churning in a complicated mixture of anger, grief, and remorse, felt empty. His heart, though still beating firmly in his breast, felt bereft and cold.
"Perhaps now I have given you your fill of information, Young Prince," she said finally, her tone cold and indifferent once again. "Though I daresay I no longer desire the trust you would offer for divulging my secrets."
Legolas blinked, the words penetrating the numb void of his thoughts slowly.
"Indeed, I no longer desire anything of you at all."
A tendril of pain climbed through the barren wasteland of his chest, gripping slowly around his heart. Don't go…
Whether she heard his quiet mental plea, he would never know. Lainien's face didn't move from its icy indifference as she turned and strode deeper into the forest, her steps silent over the green grass, now mockingly bright in the face of Legolas' despair.
I'm so sorry…what have I done?
Legolas stayed in the forest in absolute stillness as the sun traveled slowly across the sky, the strange silence reflecting the numb emptiness inside his chest.
-:-
Lord Elrond of Imladris:
At the end of the First Age, Elrond and his twin brother, Elros, were forced to choose between their elven blood, or their human blood, as the twins were half-elven. Elrond chose to follow his elven heritage, and his twin chose the life of a mortal.
Shortly thereafter, Elrond was promoted to Captain for Gil-Galad, the High King of the Noldor – the highest race of the elves. During a time of great war, Gil-Galad sent Elrond to Eregion to defend the city from Sauron's forces. Elrond's troops were defeated, and he moved north, settling in the land that would become Imladris. After the death of Gil-Galad, Elrond founded Imladris as a haven for elves whose homes were destroyed.
He was claimed to be forever loyal to his King, Gil-Galad, and refused the right to call himself King of Imladris. Rather, he considered himself still indebted to his King, and therefore only used the title 'Lord' Elrond.
-:-
Author's note: Hello everyone! Thanks to all who waited patiently for the update – it's been quite some time, and I apologize! The delay was caused by several factors, least of which was my move to Australia!
Special thanks to a new reader, guest Amsim, who's exuberant comments kept me smiling! It was a joy to read each comment as you moved through the story. Thank you for brightening my days.
Another shout-out to reviewers SinfullyOffensive, MsRose91, jcwhale2380, and especially Hannah Joy and the wonderful Starkidheather – whose comments were particularly lovely and encouraging.