a/n: slash. yup. mild though. sorry about the long time this has taken. my muse went on strike for a while there ;) as always, please r+r.
****
Alabaster muscles flexed and rippled in the sun as Legolas reached for another finely crafted arrow. He nocked his bow and set his target, eyes narrowed and glowing with concentration. He let the arrow go, watching as it cut through the air, curving and whistling. A hit. A small victory smile played on his marble pink lips. The thirtieth direct hit of the day. But the arrow had curved too much, had taken more of a parabolic pathway than he had wanted. The smile faltered slightly. He would have to try harder.
"Beautifully done, my prince." A pair of strong hands settled on his shoulders. "A fine performance indeed. Mirkwood should be proud of its youngest and fairest."
"You flatter me too much, Haldir. Did you not see the way each curved as it sought out th' mark? I should like to improve upon this. Luck may not serve me well enough in the hour when it may most be needed."
"Do not doubt yourself, bain min. You are a skilled archer, more so than any I have seen and am yet to see. As a warrior, you move and fight with a grace and speed none other can parallel. When the time comes, you shall not fail."
Haldir had walked around him, and now looked deeply at him with an expression of admiration and loyalty. "Not yourself, nor the Fellowship."
"Are we interrupting something, little brother?" Haldir looked sharply over Legolas' bare shoulder, to see his older brothers, Rumil and Orophin, standing at the edge of the clearing with identical smirks on their faces. It was Rumil who had spoken, his arms crossed across his chest.
"I think that we are, Rumil." Orophin's smirk broadened into a grin. "Haldir is too busy with Thranduil's heir. Much too busy to receive the idle news we have for him from her Ladyship. Perhaps we should come back at a more...suitable time, to give him her words."
"Watch that mouth or I shall have to mar it with my hand or sword." Haldir snapped. "You surely jest, but in making good sport with your words you may offend either I or the company I am with and neither will take it lightly."
"Haldir, they were only teasing." Legolas soothed, placing a hand on the older elf's arm. "They did not mean anything." He turned and faced Rumil and Orophin. "What of her Ladyship Galadriel? What news does she give?"
"Oh it does not concern you, Prince of Mirkwood. The message is for Haldir, a guard of the woods, and in the service of her Ladyship. Guard..." Orophin cocked his head backwards and laughed. "Our brother is not doing a very fine job as a guard, is he? He spends his time dallying and frolicking, when he should be on patrol."
"Leave us." Haldir demanded. "Or complete your errand and deliver the message. To Legolas as well. What can her Ladyship possibly have to say to me that should not fall upon his ears? Unless you are to tell me Legolas has turned baneful and has joined with the enemy." Haldir's mood lightened slightly and he attempted a small chuckle. "But speak briefly, brothers. What DOES her Ladyship request?"
"That she have audience with you, Haldir. She wishes to speak to you in person of a matter that deeply concerns you."
"It is all right, Haldir. Go with them." Legolas said quietly. "I will continue practice. Join me perhaps, when you are done with Galadriel."
With a fleeting look back at the gold and porcelain elf, Haldir slowly walked behind his brothers out of the clearing.
****
Alabaster muscles flexed and rippled in the sun as Legolas reached for another finely crafted arrow. He nocked his bow and set his target, eyes narrowed and glowing with concentration. He let the arrow go, watching as it cut through the air, curving and whistling. A hit. A small victory smile played on his marble pink lips. The thirtieth direct hit of the day. But the arrow had curved too much, had taken more of a parabolic pathway than he had wanted. The smile faltered slightly. He would have to try harder.
"Beautifully done, my prince." A pair of strong hands settled on his shoulders. "A fine performance indeed. Mirkwood should be proud of its youngest and fairest."
"You flatter me too much, Haldir. Did you not see the way each curved as it sought out th' mark? I should like to improve upon this. Luck may not serve me well enough in the hour when it may most be needed."
"Do not doubt yourself, bain min. You are a skilled archer, more so than any I have seen and am yet to see. As a warrior, you move and fight with a grace and speed none other can parallel. When the time comes, you shall not fail."
Haldir had walked around him, and now looked deeply at him with an expression of admiration and loyalty. "Not yourself, nor the Fellowship."
"Are we interrupting something, little brother?" Haldir looked sharply over Legolas' bare shoulder, to see his older brothers, Rumil and Orophin, standing at the edge of the clearing with identical smirks on their faces. It was Rumil who had spoken, his arms crossed across his chest.
"I think that we are, Rumil." Orophin's smirk broadened into a grin. "Haldir is too busy with Thranduil's heir. Much too busy to receive the idle news we have for him from her Ladyship. Perhaps we should come back at a more...suitable time, to give him her words."
"Watch that mouth or I shall have to mar it with my hand or sword." Haldir snapped. "You surely jest, but in making good sport with your words you may offend either I or the company I am with and neither will take it lightly."
"Haldir, they were only teasing." Legolas soothed, placing a hand on the older elf's arm. "They did not mean anything." He turned and faced Rumil and Orophin. "What of her Ladyship Galadriel? What news does she give?"
"Oh it does not concern you, Prince of Mirkwood. The message is for Haldir, a guard of the woods, and in the service of her Ladyship. Guard..." Orophin cocked his head backwards and laughed. "Our brother is not doing a very fine job as a guard, is he? He spends his time dallying and frolicking, when he should be on patrol."
"Leave us." Haldir demanded. "Or complete your errand and deliver the message. To Legolas as well. What can her Ladyship possibly have to say to me that should not fall upon his ears? Unless you are to tell me Legolas has turned baneful and has joined with the enemy." Haldir's mood lightened slightly and he attempted a small chuckle. "But speak briefly, brothers. What DOES her Ladyship request?"
"That she have audience with you, Haldir. She wishes to speak to you in person of a matter that deeply concerns you."
"It is all right, Haldir. Go with them." Legolas said quietly. "I will continue practice. Join me perhaps, when you are done with Galadriel."
With a fleeting look back at the gold and porcelain elf, Haldir slowly walked behind his brothers out of the clearing.