Aerendyll grunted as she swung her sword up just in time to block a blow from Legolas, the clang of metal ringing in her ears and the impact reverberating throughout her body. The Prince smiled cheekily, which only aggravated her. He knew how much she detested these "lessons," and did whatever he could to tease her purely out of enjoyment. The more she complained, the more entertained Legolas became, hence why she did the best she could to curb her tongue.
Aerendyll narrowed her eyes and pushed away, backing up a few paces before doubling her efforts to land a blow. Legolas easily pivoted away.
"Stop moving so much!" she shouted, her frustration getting the better of her.
"You should know by now that the enemy will not stand still and allow you to run them through, Ari," he said lightly.
"And you should know by now that no amount of training will turn me into a warrior," she said dryly as she went through her options of attack, her sword posed in front of her.
"We've been over this before, you must know how to protect yourself. There are foul things in these woods," Legolas said, once again easily moving out of the way of her strike.
"Like overconfident princes?" Aerendyll quipped. Legolas only chuckled in return.
Aerendyll gritted her teeth and tried to strike, this time finally landing a blow that had them parrying back and forth at a quick speed. But then, Legolas knocked her sword out of her hands and then knocked her off her feet, Aerendyll landing with an ungraceful thud on the ground. She glowered up at the prince as he chuckled.
"It would seem that you still have a ways to go," he said, holding his hand out to her.
"Thankfully, I will always have you to save me should I venture too far into the wood and get attacked by spiders or orcs," she snapped in return, allowing Legolas to pull her up.
Aerendyll only hoped there never came a time when she would need to use these skills, but was not about to admit to Legolas that he made a fair point. The last thing she truly wanted was to stand idly by while others risked their lives because she could not properly look after herself.
She then set about to dusting off her breeches as she glanced around at the others on the training grounds. Thankfully, no one paid any heed to the beating Legolas had just given her. Sighing, she reached down and picked up her sword from the ground, thinking it far too beautiful a work to be hers as she wiped dirt from the blade. It deserved an owner who could use it with proper skill befitting of such a singular weapon.
"I cannot always be at your beck and call, Ari," Legolas replied.
"True. Someday you will fall madly in love and then I will forever lose you to its sweet embrace," she said, smirking slightly. Legolas only rolled his eyes in response.
"Your tongue will get you into trouble someday, be sure of this," he said. Aerendyll snorted softly, causing him to shake his head at her.
"Do remember that it was this tongue that got us out of a fair amount of trouble as elfings," she quipped.
Legolas opened his mouth to reply, though instead, his eyes widened slightly and he immediately dropped into a deep bow. Aerendyll spun around and dropped into her own bow, knowing that only King Thranduil could induce such a reaction in his son. The sounds of training died out around them as all the others followed suit.
"My lord," Aerendyll said as she looked up.
"Good day, Aerendyll, Legolas. How fares training?" he asked after they had both straightened, fixing his ice blue eyes on his son.
"She makes progress," Legolas said, glancing at Aerendyll.
Both remained expressionless, though she swore she saw a glint in the prince's eye. Aerendyll only hoped that the king would not ask for a demonstration.
"Good, you may be of need of it," Thranduil said, turning his gaze to the elleth. "I am sending you on a diplomatic mission, Aerendyll. I would like for you to travel to Lorien. Spend time there learning from Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn, though at the moment I am unsure just how long I wish for you to tarry."
Aerendyll forgot herself momentarily, her eyebrows rising and her mouth nearly dropping open. Leave Mirkwood indefinitely? While she was no stranger to representing Thranduil's interests in the other kingdoms, she never stayed there for too long. And never indefinitely. Just exactly what did Thranduil expect her to learn from the Lorien elves? And so suddenly?
"I beg your pardon, my lord. You wish for me to go to Lorien to learn?" she replied, frantically thinking of how to talk her way out of this.
"Yes, there are a great many things you can glean from how the Lord and Lady of the Wood govern their lands," Thranduil stated. "It will be most beneficial to you and, I believe, ultimately beneficial for Mirkwood."
Aerendyll once again resisted the urge to allow her mouth to drop open. Just the other day, Thranduil had insisted he would never call for aid from Lorien or Imladris. And now he was sending her to study the ways of Lorien. For the benefit of Mirkwood. Instantly, she was suspicious. There was most definitely some other reason for the king to send her away, though for the life of her, Aerendyll could not think why. Perhaps it was her comment about asking for aid?
Was this punishment for overstepping? Surely not. Aerendyll had said worse to the king and gotten away unscathed.
"And roughly how long do you propose I stay? Surely you must have some idea," she said, keeping her tone even, though she truly wished to express her displeasure with the sudden journey.
"Until Lady Galadriel deems it so, though I would plan to be there at least a year, likely longer," Thranduil said, already turning away from the two. "You leave the day after tomorrow."
"But, my king, why the hurry? And why now?" Aerendyll asked, stepping after him.
The few elves within earshot immediately turned their attention to the conversation. There was a hint of desperation in her voice that likely did not go unnoticed.
Aerendyll knew that she was treading upon thin ice. While Thranduil allowed her a great many liberties, they usually were not taken in view of his court. Even Legolas tensed next to her, casting a worried glance her way. But she needed to know why he was sending her to Lorien.
Thranduil stopped and turned back to her, his face void of emotion, though there was a fleeting softness in his eyes before it was exchanged for sternness.
"Because your King demands it. Would you go against my orders?" he asked, his voice like ice.
Aerendyll stared back at him, knowing she was being chastised. But rather than further the spectacle, she dropped into a bow, her eyes sliding to the ground.
"No, my lord," she said solemnly. "I will begin my preparations."
"Make all haste," Thranduil said before turning and striding off.
Aerendyll watched as he left, hearing life return to the training grounds as she clenched her fists in frustration. She could not understand why the king would send her away. Or why he thought she needed further education. She had been serving as an advisor these last 1,000 years. Was that not enough even though she was still young compared to the king's other advisors?
"Did he speak of this to you?" she asked, whirling around to look at Legolas, accusation in her eyes.
"He did not," Legolas said calmly. "And you know I speak the truth. I would have told you if he had."
She glanced towards the direction the King had disappeared in and then turned back to Legolas.
"I do not believe that this is merely an educational or diplomatic mission. He is planning something," she said, sheathing her sword.
"And you intend to find out?" Legolas asked, his lips curling up in amusement.
"Of course," she retorted, unsure why he found this entertaining. "If I am to be sent away in exile for however long, I should like to know why." Laughter burst forth from the prince. "This is no laughing matter, Legolas!"
"I highly doubt you are being sent into exile," he replied, already starting to walk towards the Halls.
"Then why else am I being sent away?" Aerendyll asked. "We know that it is not in relation to you."
"Yes, I cannot very well woo you whilst I remain here and you are off in Lorien," he replied dryly as Aerendyll caught up to him. "Perhaps Father truly believes there is more for you to learn. You have not spent all that much time in Lorien. And Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn are wise rulers. Have ably protected Lorien for a great while."
"There must be some other reason," Aerendyll insisted, not listening to the prince.
Legolas stopped abruptly and turned to face Aerendyll, causing her to stumble unnaturally.
"Does it truly matter if you discover ulterior motives? It does not change that you are leaving the day after tomorrow and we do not know when we will see each other again," he said, a sad smile appearing. "I, for one, should like to spend our last few days together in enjoyment."
"Oh," Aerendyll said in surprise.
Though she then felt guilty. So caught up was she in possible conspiracy theories, she had not yet thought about the fact that she would be leaving behind her closest and dearest friend for an unknown amount of time. She returned the smile and stepped close to Legolas, gently kissing his cheek.
"You are right," she said. "My humblest apologies. What is it that you wish to do with our remaining time together?"
The prince appeared to ponder this before grinning at her.
"Since you cannot best me at sword, perhaps you would prefer a competition in which we are more evenly matched," he replied lightly. Aerendyll could not help as his cheer infected her.
She turned and began walking towards the Halls again, a smirk firmly on her face.
"Agreed. I do so like to smite you in a horse race," she said smugly.
Legolas did not reply, only laughed as he caught up to her, happy to have successfully distracted the lady from her previous strain of thought.
"You sent for me?" Legolas said formally as he walked into his father's private chambers that evening and bowed.
He had been aiding - or rather, attempting to aid - Aerendyll in her packing, though neither seemed to have fared all that well from the state of her rooms currently. There were more clothes strewn about than actually in any of the trunks she was to pack for the year.
After spending the afternoon either racing or leisurely riding through the forest land surrounding the Halls - during which Aerendyll proved herself far better at riding - they returned for supper before proceeding to her rooms where a collection of trunks had been brought in by servants.
The topic of conversation this entire time was, not surprisingly, centered on Aerendyll's journey to Lorien. While she still was not pleased with the arrangement, she was beginning to come to terms with it. For both she and Legolas knew that once his father had made a decision, it was rarely, if ever, undone. Whether she liked it or not, Aerendyll was going to Lorien.
When Legolas left her to meet with his father after being summoned unexpectedly, a bevy of servants had just arrived, shocked out of their wits to find gowns and other garments strewn about Aerendyll's room in haphazard manner and a heartfelt apology on her lips.
Thranduil looked up from where he was sitting at a table, various letters spread before him along with a goblet and pitcher of wine. He put down his quill and turned to fully face Legolas. He was still dressed in his court robes, though had lost his outer robe, choosing to be more at ease within the privacy of his rooms.
"I wish for you to put together a guard to escort Aerendyll to Lorien," he said. "The best that you can spare that you trust to guard her in your stead."
Legolas frowned at the news that he would not be joining Aerendyll on her journey. It was long - roughly a fortnight - and would take them far too close to Dol Guldur for his comfort.
"Why not I?" he asked, genuinely curious why his father would not want his best guarding his ward, of which the prince was the most able fighter in Mirkwood.
"Do not test me, Legolas. You would be gone nearly a month between the journey to Caras Galadhon and back. I cannot spare you that long," Thranduil said, returning his attention to the parchments on the table. "As prince, there are things here you must attend to."
"How many?" Legolas asked with a sigh, knowing better than to argue.
"Ten should do," Thranduil replied. "That is all."
Legolas bowed and then turned to leave but stopped, glancing at his father over his shoulder. Truthfully, he too was curious as to why the king was sending Aerendyll away. For at some point in the afternoon, she had managed to convince even him that some ploy was afoot.
"What is it?" Thranduil asked, his ice blue gaze flicking over to his son in annoyance before settling down on his work again.
Legolas turned back around and cleared his throat, crossing over to stand before his father yet again.
"I am curious… what is your true reason for sending Aerendyll away?" he asked.
Thranduil did not stop writing, though he glanced over at Legolas once. His expression did not change.
"What makes you believe there is any other reason than that I have already spoken of? Aerendyll will learn many things from the elves of Lorien," Thranduil said calmly. "She has been far too sheltered within our walls. It will be a much-needed experience for her."
"But why now? You have not sent her to Imladris or even to the kingdoms of men to observe," Legolas pushed. "What could she possibly learn?"
He saw a flicker of annoyance in his father's eyes.
"My decision is final," he said, the warning heavy in his voice.
"I am not here to change your mind. Only to suggest that whatever reason you have for sending her away that you have not shared, you inform her of it," Legolas stated.
Thranduil stopped writing and put the quill down again, turning to frown at Legolas, before sighing and rubbing his forehead as though he were attempting to stave off a headache.
"She will become a thorn in my side in that regard," he said, his annoyance clear. "Too angry to see that it is for her own good."
"To leave is for her own good? How?" Legolas asked, confused.
Whatever his father was about to tell him, it seemed to be of the utmost seriousness. But what could be so dire that his father would send Aerendyll away?
"I have communicated at length with Lord Elrond and Lady Galadriel… we all feel the coming darkness," Thranduil explained. "And with your report on the encroaching spiders, I feel it best to send Aerendyll where she will be safest for a time. Until I am sure of her safety here."
"That is why you wish to send her to Lorien?" Legolas asked, his brow furrowed.
While the news of the spiders was surely troublesome, it was not that out of the ordinary. They had been fighting spiders and orcs in these woods for centuries now.
It was certainly nothing that would breach the walls of the King's Halls. As long as she remained within, she would be safe.
"Lorien is the safest of our kingdoms," Thranduil said, though he looked positively loathed to say so.
"So you are sending her away because you think she is not safe in Mirkwood," Legolas said, his tone skeptical. "You have so little faith in our guard. And Aerendyll will be most displeased when she discovers the truth. You know that she will eventually, Father."
"Which is why you will not speak of this to her," he said, shooting his son a sharp look.
"Understood," Legolas said, already deciding he would return with all haste to Aerendyll's rooms to inform her of the news.
"Mark my words, Legolas, there will be consequences if you inform her of the truth," Thranduil said, stepping towards him as his eyes narrowed slightly.
"Or, you could inform Aerendyll of your motives yourself," Legolas said, tense and more than a bit frustrated. "Again, it is only a matter of time before she pieces it together whether or not I say anything."
"Yes, and then she will fight me tooth and nail," Thranduil replied, the annoyance clear in his voice. "I have neither the patience nor the time to deal with Aerendyll in a mood."
"She is already in a mood," Legolas said blandly.
"My mind is made," Thranduil said, raising his voice slightly. "I have lost much in my long life, and I will not risk losing more. Aerendyll became a bright light after the death of your mother. A beacon of hope. She is far too precious to stay here, where darkness and evil lurk upon our borders. She will go where she is safe. Better protected."
Legolas fought not to react. While his relationship with his father was more often strained than not, and he, too, loved Aerendyll dearly, it stung to hear his own father refer to her as a bright light over his own son. To be so concerned for her safety that he would send her away, though Legolas was of the mind that the danger was not so great as he was making it to be.
Whatever danger lingered here, surely Legolas and his guard were enough to protect her.
"I know what you are thinking. You think I am overreacting," Thranduil said, turning and gliding back to the table, reaching for his goblet.
Legolas started to speak then stopped, looking to the floor. He remembered what Aerendyll had said before the feast about feeling a coming darkness. That great change was upon them. He also remembered what they had found on patrol - far more spiders than they had thought existed. The foreboding that seemed to pulse from Dol Guldur itself. He looked up, meeting his father's eyes, the two of them instantly understanding the other.
Something was coming. And no one would be safe. But other than taking to the sea, Lorien was indeed the safest among the kingdoms, its borders protected by far more magic than their own.
"Perhaps you are not," Legolas admitted reluctantly. Thranduil gave him a short nod before looking down at the parchments again.
"Again, it is in your best interest to keep this from her… for now," Thranduil said as he sat down.
"Yes, Father," Legolas said.
"You may go."
Legolas turned and left without another word, quickly making his way through the halls. In short order, he found himself nearing Aerendyll's rooms, voices floating out through the slightly opened door along with laughter. He stopped, peering in.
Aerendyll stood, holding a dress up with a frown on her face as one of her maids gushed that she simply had to take the gown with her. Sighing, Aerendyll handed it to the maid, telling her to pack it, though there was a slight smile on her face.
Legolas intended to go in and continue "helping," but paused as a frown came over his face. His father had sworn him to secrecy on the true reason Aerendyll was leaving. And he knew it would be near impossible to keep such a secret in her presence. He did not wish to ruin her evening, nor was he in the mood to face his father's wrath this night.
So instead, he turned and left, allowing his feet to carry him all the way to his own rooms where he remained until morning.
I'm back! I know, I left everyone hanging for a long time on this one, and I'm sorry. I was writing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" at the same time, and well, damn, it's hard to write in proper, slightly antiquated language all the time, so I veered more towards that one. And well, then I got caught up in writing an original novel (which is up on Wattpad if you like crime/murder mystery/drama stories. It's called "Something Wicked" under my username Rubberduckiez84, though fair warning – it's pretty mature). That one is set in a college town in Northwest Arkansas and was a ride to write.
Anyway, I am back writing this one. I'm up to Chapter 6 as of now, but I've posted through Chapter 3 on AO3, so thought I would catch up these chapters. As always, thank you for reading, following and commenting!
Ponytail Goddess - I feel like you follow me on both platforms, haha. Finally catching up here.
ladyville - Yep! Another, more traditional Haldir fic. ^_^
SissyGoldenHaired - Sorry for the wait! Hope you enjoy the rest of the story!
Ten Duel Commandments - Sorry for the wait! I am back to writing this, so won't be long spans between updates anymore. Or at least months-long ones.
cyrilalbar06 - Thanks! I'll look into it...