Chapter 6
Legolas yawned and stretched. A ray of sunlight peered in through the window and shown brightly in his eyes.
Noticing this, he groaned, lazily placing his hand on his face to block out the light. Then he rolled over, burying his face deeper into his pillow and sighed, contented.
He struggled with the idea of getting out of bed. Comfort seemed to have been a long lost dream to him once he left Mirkwood. He had used one too many trees for pillows recently and he didn't want to leave the calm of Lothlorien anytime soon. Then, he smiled. The Lord and Lady both knew him and his father and agreed to take Lorelein and him with them once they left Lothlorien. He would be spending plenty of time here before he would have to start off for the Sea again.
He was just on the verge of falling back asleep when he heard something. Opening his eyes, he listened carefully. Someone was laughing. With a grunt, he pushed off the mattress and sat up. Too his inconvenience, the laughing grew louder. He waited a moment as the laughing began to subside. Making a weird face, mixed with confusion and annoyance, he began to lie back down when again, he heard laughing. This time it was a loud giggle.
Finally, with great mental struggle, Legolas got out of bed and walked to his window. Looking out, he saw Lorelein leaning over the edge of a balcony giggling uncontrollably. Rolling his eyes, Legolas opened the window.
"What on Middle Earth has you in such a giggle fit?" he asked, humored by the foolish look on her face as she tried her hardest not to laugh.
"I-um." Was all she could get out before she continued to laugh.
Legolas looked down below to where her attention was focused. Then he too began to laugh. For down below his horse, Arestel, had Halin backed into the tree and was waving his head up and down repetitively. The horse, seeming to have a grand time, shoved Halin playfully and pranced around him. Halin, never seeing anything of the sort out of the horse, stared on in fear.
"Halin! It seems that Arestel has missed you. Why are you here? Should you not be with my father?" Legolas asked, remembering their promise that seemed to be made all too long ago.
"I would explain if your foolish horse would let me be!" he replied, jumping when the horse nudged him.
"Oh come now, Halin! Can you not take a warm welcome?" Legolas continued to laugh along with Lorelein. Halin, looking up at the two then spoke to the lady.
"And you! I have heard you up there giggling for the past ten minutes. Do you not have the courtesy to help one in need? Crazy woman. Stop laughing at me!"
"Careful, Halin. My father wouldn't be pleased to hear one of his men was to speak to a Princess in such a manner."
"It was your father who sent me here to keep you in line, Prince. Not my own! It seems he doesn't trust you with such a young lady quite yet." Halin replied, winking at Legolas.
Legolas, eyes wide, blushed and shut his window, closing the curtain.
"That wasn't very nice." Lorelein stated, looking down at Halin.
"No? Then neither am I, I suppose." Halin replied, trying to find a safe way around the horse.
"He seems to be fond of you. Are you two close friends?" she asked.
"You could say that. I fought beside him in the Battle of the Wilderlands. He was very intrigued by you, you know."
"What are you talking about?" Lorelein asked, staring at him like he was the insane one now.
"You were different. He didn't understand you at all and it drove him insane. Legolas likes to always have things under control and know what's going on. You though, you." Halin began to laugh, as if remembering something funny. "You drove that boy up the wall. Every strategy he came up with you disapproved or added on to. You came up with your own unique strategies and ways of entering battle. You did things your own way no matter what. Too independent for him to put up with."
"So you're saying I drove him almost to insanity because I did things my own way." She said, getting a defensive tone.
"No, if I recall correctly, you drove me up the wall because you were the opposite of everything a lady was in my mind." Legolas' voice was suddenly heard from down below. Halin and Lorelein turned their attention to where Legolas was standing at the bottom of the ladder. Neither of them could read his expression and they felt uneasy under his stare. Walking up to Arestel, he rubbed her muzzle. Whispering a word in her ear, the horse then trotted away.
"Well, if you two are done talking about me, I'm about ready for some breakfast. Will the two of you consider joining me?" he turned, facing them both.
Halin and Lorelein looked at each other. She was the first to answer.
"If you don't mind waiting a few minutes, I'll join you. It's not as if I have anything planned today anyway." She said, walking back into her room.
"Good. That's one. Halin? I need to talk to you anyway. Do you mind coming along?"
"I'll come."
"Wonderful. While we're waiting, tell me. Did my father really send you here for the reason you spoke of earlier?"
"Yes he did. He said something told him that you two might become too close." Halin answered, his face filled with concern. King Thranduil told him of what might happen if the two became more than just friendly toward each other and he didn't like the outcome. What upset him the most was that if Legolas chose to follow his heart and fall in love, Halin was given an order not to interfere. Though Thranduil was a wise man, the command baffled Halin and he thought that maybe the King was losing his better judgement.
"What? That's crazy. I've only known Lorelein for…" Legolas paused.
"For twenty-two years." Halin reminded.
"Technically, two. I thought she was dead for twenty years." Legolas reminded Halin.
"You never thought her dead, Legolas. Don't try and fool yourself."
"I did so. I would never have abandoned her if I did not."
"Ai! Abandon? You cannot 'abandon' the dead. Caught in your own words, My Prince. I am not blind. The thought of her still living had you sleeping little ever since the Battle. You know it and I know it."
"You would sleep little too if one you knew was possibly living and you didn't do anything."
"Legolas, you are breaking defensively here. One you knew? Your slips are making you lose this argument. Tell me, for I truly want to know. Is she different than she once was? Have they corrupted her?" Halin asked, lowering his voice as so others would not overhear. He did not notice Lorelein was standing directly above them, listening to every word.
"She has lost most of her memory, Halin. They made her think she was human." Legolas said sadly. But after a short pause, he continued. "But has she changed? Not too much, no. She speaks more openly than she once did. Which surprised me. I learned much about her I did not know. She's much kinder than you would think. Much more feminine." Legolas replied, his voice softening near the end.
"Careful, Prince. I beg you, do not fall for her. It's not wise." Halin's expression was knowing. He was much older than Legolas and had watched him grow from a young child. He knew every emotion that Legolas could show and the one that he saw now scared him for he knew exactly what was going on in the young Prince's mind.
Lorelein waited a moment before climbing down the ladder. She had overheard most of the conversation and she wasn't sure what Halin meant by 'not to fall in love with her' but she didn't like him telling Legolas how to feel about her. She didn't have any intention of seducing him. All she wanted was a close friend in her new world. Someone she could trust. And Legolas didn't seem like a bad choice.
"Lorelein!" Legolas turned to see her climbing down the ladder.
"Legolas! I'm hungry. Let's go eat." She replied, walking up to him. She didn't want him to know she knew that they were speaking of her.
With a sigh of relief, Legolas followed. Walking side by side, with Lorelein in the middle, the three went off in search for somewhere to eat.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"So….what do you want to do now?" Lorelein asked, circling the tree in which Legolas leaned against.
"Oh, I don't no. What do you want to do?" his eyes were closed as he relaxed. Halin had gone off to go see Lady Galadriel and had told them 'not to wander far from this tree.'
"Well what IS there to do? You've been to Lothlorien before. What did you do for fun?"
"Lorelein, the last time I was here was when I was in The Fellowship. Those weren't exactly the happiest of times."
"Okay……well what did you do?"
"I walked around."
"That's it?"
"What did you expect? Stalking the citizens?"
"It would have been interesting." Lorelein smiled at the thought.
"You would be the one to think so." He said, his eyes still closed as he rested his hands behind his head.
Lorelein, still walking in circles around the tree, stepped on him on her way around.
"Ouch! What was that for?" Legolas sat up and rubbed his leg.
"Oops." She apologized, though her tone was very insincere.
"Come here!" Legolas began to chase after her. Running into a dead end, Lorelein cowered down, her hands covering her face. Legolas laughed.
"Some warrior you are! Scared of me? Although I am a good warrior. I can understand your fear."
Lorelein looked up at him with a disbelieving look.
"Legolas, you couldn't scare a rabbit out of the brush."
"You're just jealous."
"Jealous? Of what?"
"Of me."
"I am not."
"Yes you are."
"I am not!"
Legolas leaned down and looked her in the face.
"You are so pitiful." He said with a giggle.
"I am not pitiful."
"Let me see you use a weapon."
"I don't have a weapon."
Legolas took Halin's short sword and tossed it over to Lorelein. Lorelein looked at it like it was a snake.
"Oh my goodness, you want to kill me."
"No, no. Just a little sword lesson."
"Oh my goodness, you want to kill me!"
"Just, swing at me."
"What?"
"Swing at me. With the sword."
"No!"
"Just do it."
Lorelein took the sword and swung, closing her eyes in the process. Legolas' eyes got large and he ducked.
"For the sake of all Elves, keep your eyes open."
"Sorry."
"Now try again."
"I almost decapitated you and you want me to try again?"
"Yes."
"Your insane."
"Maybe so, try again."
Lorelein, this time watching where she was swinging, aimed for his chest. Legolas blocked and forced the sword out of her hand.
"Again."
Lorelein picked up the sword and they began again. Each time, Legolas successfully disarmed her and every try she got more and more frustrated.
Then, all the sudden Lorelein paused. Watching her, Legolas' look turned to concern. Many emotions seem to come and pass in her stare as she stood silently.
"Lorelein?" Legolas called softly, walking up silently and waving his hand in front of her face. Then suddenly, she examined the sword. Looking at Legolas, she smiled.
"Lorelein?" Fear grew in Legolas.
"I remember." She said simply.
"What?"
"I remember parts of the war. I remember. I remember Legolas!" she exclaimed, smiling.
"Good, good. Don't scare me like that! Now, again." Legolas stepped back and held his sword up. "I want you to show me a series of blocks. Ready?"
"Ready."
Legolas began to throw some sword moves and counted the blocks she did successfully.
"1, 2, 3, good, good. 4, 5. Duck. Good. 6, 7, 8, whoa. Keep your sword steady." This continued for quite some time.
"This isn't too hard." Lorelein stated, now getting the hang of sword fighting again.
"You're starting to remember your skills."
"My skills?"
"Yes, your skills. You didn't think you could pick up sword fighting that easy, could you?"
"Well, no."
"Legolas? What are you doing with a sword in your—Drop your weapon!" Calinril ordered to Lorelein when seeing the two had swords in there hands. Lorelein dropped it.
"Calinril, she was-"
"Legolas, back away. I told you she was dangerous." Calinril began to walk toward Lorelein. Lorelein backed away each time he stepped toward her. Legolas watched as if Calinril had lost his mind.
"Calinril! What are you doing? Let her be."
"She's dangerous, Legolas."
"No she's not. Have you gone mad? Let her be." Legolas grabbed Calinril by the arm and pulled him back. At about this time Halin returned.
"What is going on here?" he asked, looking at the scene.
"They were going to fight. The Mutt had your sword and was facing Legolas. They were going to kill each other." Said Calinril, still staring at Lorelein with pure hatred.
"Mutt?" Lorelein was angered by the strange insult.
But nothing else was able to be said as Halin stepped in, taking Calinril away from them both to "talk" with him.
"Okay…I think that's enough swordplay for today. What do you think?" Legolas turned to Lorelein. But Lorelein just stood staring toward where Halin had left with Calinril, no emotion could be seen on her face.
"Lorelein? Maybe we should go back." Legolas again walked up to her, this time snapping his fingers near her face to see if she was paying attention.
"Lorelein? Come on."
She just batted his hand out of the way.
"Princess?" Legolas began to get worried.
"What did he mean, Legolas?" her voice was stern and serious.
"Look. Forget him. We should head back."
"Legolas! Answer me."
"I don't know what he meant. Just ignore him."
"Legolas." She turned her attention to him.
"I don't know." Legolas said again, trying to get her to drop the subject. He wouldn't make eye contact. Lorelein walked over and put both hands on his face. Looking him eye to eye, she spoke softly and slowly.
"What did he mean, Legolas? Please. Tell me."
Legolas didn't speak immediately. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath and spoke with as much sincerity as he could put into the statement.
"I don't know."
"Are you lying? Legolas, look at me!"
Legolas opened his eyes and looked pleadingly at her. He would have told her the truth but he thought it too soon. The story of her parents wasn't just a memory lost. She never knew the truth beforehand. He didn't feel she was ready. Not now. Not yet.
"Are you lying to me, Legolas Greenleaf?"
"Yes."
"Why?" she asked, releasing her hands from his face. She backed away from him hurt.
"Lorelein, look. I'll tell you when your ready. I promise. Just not now."
She just shook her hand and began to walk away.
"Lorelein, wait. Listen to me." Legolas turned, following her.
"Legolas, I don't put up with people lying to me." She didn't turn around.
"Please Lorelein. Just listen to me."
"Listen to you? Legolas, you won't even listen to me. I asked you a straight question and wanted a straight answer. You lied. You admit to it, you lied. Who's side are you on here?"
"Yours!"
Climbing up the ladder, she continued on to her assigned room. Legolas followed directly behind her. She began to walk into her room but Legolas stepped in front of her.
"Lorelein, please! Just listen to what I have to say."
Crossing her arms she gave him a bored look.
"What?"
Legolas opened his mouth as if to say something but nothing came out. Throwing her hands up in the air, Lorelein continued on into the room.
Legolas grabbed her hand, preventing her from continuing on. Pulling her back he looked at her pleadingly. He put both hands on her shoulders and spoke quietly. His voice was soft and gentle.
"What he was speaking about isn't of any importance at the moment. You are who you are. He only speaks of your heritage. You are different, this is true. But that's okay. You're special, Lorelein. Just know that people are going to be cruel, you just saw that. That's why you need to stick to the people who are your friends. Stay with the people who can take care of you. Who you can trust. I promise that I will never do anything to try and hurt you. You can trust me." As he spoke, Legolas held her gently, keeping her attention on him and his words.
"A friend?" She asked, so quiet, even with his Elvish ears, he could barely hear her. He smiled.
"A friend." He stated.
Lorelein embraced him, burying her face into his shoulder. It was what she wanted so bad. The one thing she had been missing for twenty years. Friendship. And now she had found it in who at first seemed to be the most unlikely person. An elf who took her from the castle on a day that seemed so long ago. Who at first seemed rude and unwelcoming now proved to be the closest friend she had.
Legolas, rubbing her back comfortingly, was thinking of things other than the moment though. Things were well between the two of them, now if he could only keep her away from Calinril.
And through this entire act, Halin stood silent and still. He watched as the beginning of a strong friendship came into be. And he silently groaned.
"That's it. He's done it. I just hope your ready, Legolas. You've chosen your road. That of which your father feared has begun. But will you be able to protect her in the end? Only time will tell." And with that, Halin walked away dreading what was to come in the near future.
Legolas yawned and stretched. A ray of sunlight peered in through the window and shown brightly in his eyes.
Noticing this, he groaned, lazily placing his hand on his face to block out the light. Then he rolled over, burying his face deeper into his pillow and sighed, contented.
He struggled with the idea of getting out of bed. Comfort seemed to have been a long lost dream to him once he left Mirkwood. He had used one too many trees for pillows recently and he didn't want to leave the calm of Lothlorien anytime soon. Then, he smiled. The Lord and Lady both knew him and his father and agreed to take Lorelein and him with them once they left Lothlorien. He would be spending plenty of time here before he would have to start off for the Sea again.
He was just on the verge of falling back asleep when he heard something. Opening his eyes, he listened carefully. Someone was laughing. With a grunt, he pushed off the mattress and sat up. Too his inconvenience, the laughing grew louder. He waited a moment as the laughing began to subside. Making a weird face, mixed with confusion and annoyance, he began to lie back down when again, he heard laughing. This time it was a loud giggle.
Finally, with great mental struggle, Legolas got out of bed and walked to his window. Looking out, he saw Lorelein leaning over the edge of a balcony giggling uncontrollably. Rolling his eyes, Legolas opened the window.
"What on Middle Earth has you in such a giggle fit?" he asked, humored by the foolish look on her face as she tried her hardest not to laugh.
"I-um." Was all she could get out before she continued to laugh.
Legolas looked down below to where her attention was focused. Then he too began to laugh. For down below his horse, Arestel, had Halin backed into the tree and was waving his head up and down repetitively. The horse, seeming to have a grand time, shoved Halin playfully and pranced around him. Halin, never seeing anything of the sort out of the horse, stared on in fear.
"Halin! It seems that Arestel has missed you. Why are you here? Should you not be with my father?" Legolas asked, remembering their promise that seemed to be made all too long ago.
"I would explain if your foolish horse would let me be!" he replied, jumping when the horse nudged him.
"Oh come now, Halin! Can you not take a warm welcome?" Legolas continued to laugh along with Lorelein. Halin, looking up at the two then spoke to the lady.
"And you! I have heard you up there giggling for the past ten minutes. Do you not have the courtesy to help one in need? Crazy woman. Stop laughing at me!"
"Careful, Halin. My father wouldn't be pleased to hear one of his men was to speak to a Princess in such a manner."
"It was your father who sent me here to keep you in line, Prince. Not my own! It seems he doesn't trust you with such a young lady quite yet." Halin replied, winking at Legolas.
Legolas, eyes wide, blushed and shut his window, closing the curtain.
"That wasn't very nice." Lorelein stated, looking down at Halin.
"No? Then neither am I, I suppose." Halin replied, trying to find a safe way around the horse.
"He seems to be fond of you. Are you two close friends?" she asked.
"You could say that. I fought beside him in the Battle of the Wilderlands. He was very intrigued by you, you know."
"What are you talking about?" Lorelein asked, staring at him like he was the insane one now.
"You were different. He didn't understand you at all and it drove him insane. Legolas likes to always have things under control and know what's going on. You though, you." Halin began to laugh, as if remembering something funny. "You drove that boy up the wall. Every strategy he came up with you disapproved or added on to. You came up with your own unique strategies and ways of entering battle. You did things your own way no matter what. Too independent for him to put up with."
"So you're saying I drove him almost to insanity because I did things my own way." She said, getting a defensive tone.
"No, if I recall correctly, you drove me up the wall because you were the opposite of everything a lady was in my mind." Legolas' voice was suddenly heard from down below. Halin and Lorelein turned their attention to where Legolas was standing at the bottom of the ladder. Neither of them could read his expression and they felt uneasy under his stare. Walking up to Arestel, he rubbed her muzzle. Whispering a word in her ear, the horse then trotted away.
"Well, if you two are done talking about me, I'm about ready for some breakfast. Will the two of you consider joining me?" he turned, facing them both.
Halin and Lorelein looked at each other. She was the first to answer.
"If you don't mind waiting a few minutes, I'll join you. It's not as if I have anything planned today anyway." She said, walking back into her room.
"Good. That's one. Halin? I need to talk to you anyway. Do you mind coming along?"
"I'll come."
"Wonderful. While we're waiting, tell me. Did my father really send you here for the reason you spoke of earlier?"
"Yes he did. He said something told him that you two might become too close." Halin answered, his face filled with concern. King Thranduil told him of what might happen if the two became more than just friendly toward each other and he didn't like the outcome. What upset him the most was that if Legolas chose to follow his heart and fall in love, Halin was given an order not to interfere. Though Thranduil was a wise man, the command baffled Halin and he thought that maybe the King was losing his better judgement.
"What? That's crazy. I've only known Lorelein for…" Legolas paused.
"For twenty-two years." Halin reminded.
"Technically, two. I thought she was dead for twenty years." Legolas reminded Halin.
"You never thought her dead, Legolas. Don't try and fool yourself."
"I did so. I would never have abandoned her if I did not."
"Ai! Abandon? You cannot 'abandon' the dead. Caught in your own words, My Prince. I am not blind. The thought of her still living had you sleeping little ever since the Battle. You know it and I know it."
"You would sleep little too if one you knew was possibly living and you didn't do anything."
"Legolas, you are breaking defensively here. One you knew? Your slips are making you lose this argument. Tell me, for I truly want to know. Is she different than she once was? Have they corrupted her?" Halin asked, lowering his voice as so others would not overhear. He did not notice Lorelein was standing directly above them, listening to every word.
"She has lost most of her memory, Halin. They made her think she was human." Legolas said sadly. But after a short pause, he continued. "But has she changed? Not too much, no. She speaks more openly than she once did. Which surprised me. I learned much about her I did not know. She's much kinder than you would think. Much more feminine." Legolas replied, his voice softening near the end.
"Careful, Prince. I beg you, do not fall for her. It's not wise." Halin's expression was knowing. He was much older than Legolas and had watched him grow from a young child. He knew every emotion that Legolas could show and the one that he saw now scared him for he knew exactly what was going on in the young Prince's mind.
Lorelein waited a moment before climbing down the ladder. She had overheard most of the conversation and she wasn't sure what Halin meant by 'not to fall in love with her' but she didn't like him telling Legolas how to feel about her. She didn't have any intention of seducing him. All she wanted was a close friend in her new world. Someone she could trust. And Legolas didn't seem like a bad choice.
"Lorelein!" Legolas turned to see her climbing down the ladder.
"Legolas! I'm hungry. Let's go eat." She replied, walking up to him. She didn't want him to know she knew that they were speaking of her.
With a sigh of relief, Legolas followed. Walking side by side, with Lorelein in the middle, the three went off in search for somewhere to eat.
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"So….what do you want to do now?" Lorelein asked, circling the tree in which Legolas leaned against.
"Oh, I don't no. What do you want to do?" his eyes were closed as he relaxed. Halin had gone off to go see Lady Galadriel and had told them 'not to wander far from this tree.'
"Well what IS there to do? You've been to Lothlorien before. What did you do for fun?"
"Lorelein, the last time I was here was when I was in The Fellowship. Those weren't exactly the happiest of times."
"Okay……well what did you do?"
"I walked around."
"That's it?"
"What did you expect? Stalking the citizens?"
"It would have been interesting." Lorelein smiled at the thought.
"You would be the one to think so." He said, his eyes still closed as he rested his hands behind his head.
Lorelein, still walking in circles around the tree, stepped on him on her way around.
"Ouch! What was that for?" Legolas sat up and rubbed his leg.
"Oops." She apologized, though her tone was very insincere.
"Come here!" Legolas began to chase after her. Running into a dead end, Lorelein cowered down, her hands covering her face. Legolas laughed.
"Some warrior you are! Scared of me? Although I am a good warrior. I can understand your fear."
Lorelein looked up at him with a disbelieving look.
"Legolas, you couldn't scare a rabbit out of the brush."
"You're just jealous."
"Jealous? Of what?"
"Of me."
"I am not."
"Yes you are."
"I am not!"
Legolas leaned down and looked her in the face.
"You are so pitiful." He said with a giggle.
"I am not pitiful."
"Let me see you use a weapon."
"I don't have a weapon."
Legolas took Halin's short sword and tossed it over to Lorelein. Lorelein looked at it like it was a snake.
"Oh my goodness, you want to kill me."
"No, no. Just a little sword lesson."
"Oh my goodness, you want to kill me!"
"Just, swing at me."
"What?"
"Swing at me. With the sword."
"No!"
"Just do it."
Lorelein took the sword and swung, closing her eyes in the process. Legolas' eyes got large and he ducked.
"For the sake of all Elves, keep your eyes open."
"Sorry."
"Now try again."
"I almost decapitated you and you want me to try again?"
"Yes."
"Your insane."
"Maybe so, try again."
Lorelein, this time watching where she was swinging, aimed for his chest. Legolas blocked and forced the sword out of her hand.
"Again."
Lorelein picked up the sword and they began again. Each time, Legolas successfully disarmed her and every try she got more and more frustrated.
Then, all the sudden Lorelein paused. Watching her, Legolas' look turned to concern. Many emotions seem to come and pass in her stare as she stood silently.
"Lorelein?" Legolas called softly, walking up silently and waving his hand in front of her face. Then suddenly, she examined the sword. Looking at Legolas, she smiled.
"Lorelein?" Fear grew in Legolas.
"I remember." She said simply.
"What?"
"I remember parts of the war. I remember. I remember Legolas!" she exclaimed, smiling.
"Good, good. Don't scare me like that! Now, again." Legolas stepped back and held his sword up. "I want you to show me a series of blocks. Ready?"
"Ready."
Legolas began to throw some sword moves and counted the blocks she did successfully.
"1, 2, 3, good, good. 4, 5. Duck. Good. 6, 7, 8, whoa. Keep your sword steady." This continued for quite some time.
"This isn't too hard." Lorelein stated, now getting the hang of sword fighting again.
"You're starting to remember your skills."
"My skills?"
"Yes, your skills. You didn't think you could pick up sword fighting that easy, could you?"
"Well, no."
"Legolas? What are you doing with a sword in your—Drop your weapon!" Calinril ordered to Lorelein when seeing the two had swords in there hands. Lorelein dropped it.
"Calinril, she was-"
"Legolas, back away. I told you she was dangerous." Calinril began to walk toward Lorelein. Lorelein backed away each time he stepped toward her. Legolas watched as if Calinril had lost his mind.
"Calinril! What are you doing? Let her be."
"She's dangerous, Legolas."
"No she's not. Have you gone mad? Let her be." Legolas grabbed Calinril by the arm and pulled him back. At about this time Halin returned.
"What is going on here?" he asked, looking at the scene.
"They were going to fight. The Mutt had your sword and was facing Legolas. They were going to kill each other." Said Calinril, still staring at Lorelein with pure hatred.
"Mutt?" Lorelein was angered by the strange insult.
But nothing else was able to be said as Halin stepped in, taking Calinril away from them both to "talk" with him.
"Okay…I think that's enough swordplay for today. What do you think?" Legolas turned to Lorelein. But Lorelein just stood staring toward where Halin had left with Calinril, no emotion could be seen on her face.
"Lorelein? Maybe we should go back." Legolas again walked up to her, this time snapping his fingers near her face to see if she was paying attention.
"Lorelein? Come on."
She just batted his hand out of the way.
"Princess?" Legolas began to get worried.
"What did he mean, Legolas?" her voice was stern and serious.
"Look. Forget him. We should head back."
"Legolas! Answer me."
"I don't know what he meant. Just ignore him."
"Legolas." She turned her attention to him.
"I don't know." Legolas said again, trying to get her to drop the subject. He wouldn't make eye contact. Lorelein walked over and put both hands on his face. Looking him eye to eye, she spoke softly and slowly.
"What did he mean, Legolas? Please. Tell me."
Legolas didn't speak immediately. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath and spoke with as much sincerity as he could put into the statement.
"I don't know."
"Are you lying? Legolas, look at me!"
Legolas opened his eyes and looked pleadingly at her. He would have told her the truth but he thought it too soon. The story of her parents wasn't just a memory lost. She never knew the truth beforehand. He didn't feel she was ready. Not now. Not yet.
"Are you lying to me, Legolas Greenleaf?"
"Yes."
"Why?" she asked, releasing her hands from his face. She backed away from him hurt.
"Lorelein, look. I'll tell you when your ready. I promise. Just not now."
She just shook her hand and began to walk away.
"Lorelein, wait. Listen to me." Legolas turned, following her.
"Legolas, I don't put up with people lying to me." She didn't turn around.
"Please Lorelein. Just listen to me."
"Listen to you? Legolas, you won't even listen to me. I asked you a straight question and wanted a straight answer. You lied. You admit to it, you lied. Who's side are you on here?"
"Yours!"
Climbing up the ladder, she continued on to her assigned room. Legolas followed directly behind her. She began to walk into her room but Legolas stepped in front of her.
"Lorelein, please! Just listen to what I have to say."
Crossing her arms she gave him a bored look.
"What?"
Legolas opened his mouth as if to say something but nothing came out. Throwing her hands up in the air, Lorelein continued on into the room.
Legolas grabbed her hand, preventing her from continuing on. Pulling her back he looked at her pleadingly. He put both hands on her shoulders and spoke quietly. His voice was soft and gentle.
"What he was speaking about isn't of any importance at the moment. You are who you are. He only speaks of your heritage. You are different, this is true. But that's okay. You're special, Lorelein. Just know that people are going to be cruel, you just saw that. That's why you need to stick to the people who are your friends. Stay with the people who can take care of you. Who you can trust. I promise that I will never do anything to try and hurt you. You can trust me." As he spoke, Legolas held her gently, keeping her attention on him and his words.
"A friend?" She asked, so quiet, even with his Elvish ears, he could barely hear her. He smiled.
"A friend." He stated.
Lorelein embraced him, burying her face into his shoulder. It was what she wanted so bad. The one thing she had been missing for twenty years. Friendship. And now she had found it in who at first seemed to be the most unlikely person. An elf who took her from the castle on a day that seemed so long ago. Who at first seemed rude and unwelcoming now proved to be the closest friend she had.
Legolas, rubbing her back comfortingly, was thinking of things other than the moment though. Things were well between the two of them, now if he could only keep her away from Calinril.
And through this entire act, Halin stood silent and still. He watched as the beginning of a strong friendship came into be. And he silently groaned.
"That's it. He's done it. I just hope your ready, Legolas. You've chosen your road. That of which your father feared has begun. But will you be able to protect her in the end? Only time will tell." And with that, Halin walked away dreading what was to come in the near future.