Ch. 2:
The sweet smell of hay found her nose before she could round the corner to the stables. Upon entering, she stopped at Sly Fox's stall, a beautiful chestnut gelding.
"How are you today, Sly Fox? Feeling restless? Want to go for a ride?" She nuzzled his nose and scratched his ears.
"Neiiiiiiggghhh, of course I do," Nolien's voice said behind her. She turned, blushing. "One of these days, that horse is going to talk back to you."
"Only if Mithrandir is around to make him talk," she laughed. They saddled up two horses and mounted in the morning sun, which decided to stick around. They began the usual trail they took that circled around the palace, a good workout for the horses. For a while they rode in silence, taking in the morning village sights. Then Elwena spotted Legolas reading in the garden. He looked up and waved them over, which was all the invitation Elwena needed.
"Come on, let's take this path." She urged Sly Fox into a trot and posted. Nolien followed suit.
"Hello beautiful," he said in greeting to the horses. Before she could think about it any longer, she quipped, "Thank you, my liege." Her cheeks burned red. By the Valar, what was in her morning tea that made her say that?!
"I would say your honey colored-hair matches Sly Fox's chestnut complexion nearly perfectly."
She smiled again in thanks, her cheeks less red this time.
"Will you come riding with us soon? Drego misses you," Elwena said, finally more comfortable talking about horses.
"If meetings don't keep me tied up all afternoon, I'd love it," Legolas said. "How goes Firestone, Nolien?"
"Very well this morning, my prince. He seems to be over his fear of water," Nolien said.
"Terrific," Legolas said, giving Firestone a pat.
"If you'll excuse us, my prince, we must be on our way. We have a lot of horses to exercise today," Nolien said.
"Of course, of course. I'll come to the stables this afternoon," he said.
"I look forward to it," Elwena said.
"You can come too, Nolien!" Legolas called. Nolien nodded his head as he turned the bay horse around back to the trail.
The two friends did not speak for a moment after they had left the gardens, but just as nearly as Elwena could say something, Nolien said, "Ooooooh girl, you got a date with the P-R-I-N-C-E."
"It's not a date!" she shot back. "You're invited too."
"As if I'd interrupt the date of your dreams."
"I tell you entirely too much," Elwena rolled her eyes.
"Only because you trust my good opinion. I can accompany you and then conveniently get lost down the trail," Nolien said.
"That'd be fine with me."
"And if he courts you, we'll celebrate. If he rejects you, you can cry on my shoulder."
"Such a gentle-elf," Elwena teased. "This is why we're friends."
"Come on, let's them stretch their legs." They approached a large field at the end of the village and let the horses out to gallop as fast as they wanted. Elwena dug her heels down and rose up to a half-seat stance, letting Sly Fox carry her across the field. If elves could fly, it would feel just like this. Nolien and Firestone were on their heels, with Nolien whooping all the way.
After their first ride, the pair exercised two more horses each, until the other grooms came to the stables. One began to groom Drego, Legolas' horse, which meant their date was confirmed. She watched the black horse as he was groomed. He stood tall and proud. That horse knew he carried the elven prince and he did his job well.
"Middle Earth to Elwena!" a hand waved in front of her face and Tauriel came into view.
"Oh hi," Elwena said.
"You didn't show up to lunch so I figured you'd be down here, horsing around. And I wasn't wrong," she said. She held up a sack lunch. They settled atop the bales in the hay loft of the stables.
"So tell me what really happened on patrol this morning," Elwena implored her friend.
"I have no idea what you're talking about," Tauriel brushed her off.
"Oh you know, don't play coy with me. Did you get close to the key?"
The "key" was a codeword for Legolas, when they didn't want others to know who they were talking about. Elwena knew Tauriel liked Legolas, as Tauriel had explicitly told her. Elwena was not sure if Tauriel picked up on Elwena's likeness for the prince. She certainly did not want a boy, even a prince, to come between their longtime friendship. Ever since they were elflings playing together, the two cemented their friendship.
"Close enough to smell the cologne he wears," Tauriel giggled.
"It covers up his sweatiness after he gets done fighting spiders," Elwena said back.
"I don't think he notices me though. He just sees me as a captain of the guard," Tauriel said, her eyes falling.
"Maybe he did once, but I think he notices you more than you know. You guys get to spend so much time together."
"Yeah, but that's just work. Everyday stuff. He won't notice him unless I do something big."
"You mean something stupid," Elwena said. Tauriel could often be bullheaded and headstrong if she wasn't careful.
"No, just like a grand gesture. Haven't you ever wanted someone to make the grand gesture?"
"Of course. That particular person just hasn't done it yet," Elwena said sheepishly.
"You mean Nolien?"
"No! Nolien and I are just friends."
"He likes you. I can see it. You just won't let him out of the friend zone."
"We are friends and that's all," Elwena said and gave her a hard look to shut her up. Tauriel put her hands up in defense. "Kidding," she said.
"It's okay. There is someone and it's not Nolien. But I'm in the same boat with you. I don't think he knows I exist."
"Oooh give me details. Maybe I can help."
Before she could connive a way to tell Tauriel it was Legolas, his voice called up, "Elwena?"
"Coming!"
Tauriel grabbed her arm, "Legolas?!" she said in a whisper. Elwena figured she was like an open book.
"We're just going for a ride. To exercise Drego," she covered. Tauriel accepted that answer for the moment and let go of her arm. Elwena curtsied to the prince and he bowed back. Tauriel did not come down. As they mounted their horses, Legolas on Drego and Elwena on Daylight, she looked back to the stables. Tauriel had a dreadfully jealous look on her face. Elwena mouthed, "Sorry."
"Where shall we go?" Legolas asked.
"Let's go across the field and then to the waterfall. Let them gallop across the field so they can stretch their legs,"Elwena said. They urged their horses into a trot along the trail. People called out to Legolas as they went by and to her as well. A life with the prince would never be one out of the spotlight. Nolien followed behind at an acceptable distance.
They approached the field and Legolas said, "Race you to the other side!"
"You're on!"
The horses covered the distance easily and settled into their gallop, whinnying and almost flying, if they had wings. Daylight was in front by a head, but Drego let out another gear and then the horses were nose and nose. Finally, they pulled the horses up into a trot and then a walk. Elwena was breathless, exhilarated after a gallop. Legolas was too. Nolien, true to his word, conveniently got lost down the trail.
"I forgot how much fun that was. I am glad you reminded me this morning, my lady," he said.
"You're welcome, my prince."
They let the horses walk through the woods and dismounted at the glittering waterfall. The horses stuck to the green grass and grazed.
"Do you suppose this is the only place in Mirkwood that's kept its originally greenery?" Elwena asked.
"It's the only place I've seen thus far that hasn't been touched," Legolas answered. The leaves were bathed in sunlight all around them while the water sparkled. The two elves shed their boots and stockings and dipped their feet in the cool water.
"Elwena?" Legolas asked.
"What? Sorry."
"Do you plan to dance with me at the Feast of Starlight?" he asked again.
"Oh. If your dance card isn't full already, then sure."
"Great," he breathed.
"How many elleths do you dance with at the feast? If I can be so bold to ask."
"Well, I am required to dance with all the noble ones, then the semi nobles, and then I can ask whoever else I want."
"Oh," her tone dropped. Was he only asking her because he was required to?
"I'd really like to dance with you more than once though," he said. She looked at him. At his pale blue eyes that matched the water.
"You flatter me," she said and smiled. Her cheeks were red hot.
"I'd do it again and again if it meant I got to spend more time with you," Legolas said. "Sorry, that was probably too bold."
"No, it wasn't. If you mean it. I mean, I know you have a lot of elleths probably lusting after you and wanting your attention and then you work with some like my friend Tauriel. And then there's ones who are just fascinated by you. And I know you have your royal duties and that means a lot to you and I understand what that means. Not that I would know that life intimately, it's just living in the palace gives you a good understanding of royal life…" she blabbed all at once. He put a finger to her lips.
"I did mean it," he winked at her. "Be my dance partner tonight."