Author's Note: Please forgive my lack of updating this story! I also must thank the people who have written me telling me to updating this or face certain consequences. My mind had wondered away from this piece, but upon revisiting it, I find that I indeed like it and want to continue it. I have a feeling it might turn out to be my longest since I don't want to cheat and jump ahead too quickly. Again, thanks for getting me off my lazy streak and I truly hope you enjoy this new chapter, hopefully more will come soon.
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Chapter 10: Growing Older, yet not Up
In the blink of an eye, and a moment in an eternity for an Elf, five years had passed and Legolas was twenty, but still appearing as a child to most humans.
People very rarely took notice of the child working at Jaden's bar. She had many children that came and went throughout the years. They did not notice how slowly the child aged. Legolas stayed by his habit of wearing a hood and not looking at anyone in the eye.
It was early afternoon when a familiar figure walked through the door of the quiet bar. He eyed the child and stood in his way.
"I think we have some things to discuss."
Legolas looked up, wide-eyed and reluctantly followed the man into the back room.
"Now, Legolas, you need to focus on your tasks, I don't come here for your mind to wonder to other things than the task at hand."
"Yes, sir."
"Now, you call this a report of the formation of the clans of the Dwarf lands?"
"I'm sorry."
The man sighed. He had been teaching the young Elf for nearly five years and still sometimes he amazed him. Most of the time the little one was very quick and easy to remember the facts he taught. However, there were times when he could be much more difficult than any of the human pupils he had schooled over the years.
"Legolas…"
"The Dwarves don't interest me!"
"Legolas…"
"Can't you tell me more about the dragons that fought and exiled the Dwarfs from their own mountain?"
"Legolas! Don't give me that old 'I'm an Elf and don't care about a Dwarf' routine! You used that one up last term!"
A sigh was his only response.
"Legolas, stop harassing you teacher!" Jaden walked through with a bucket of soapy water.
Jaden knew Katari from many years ago when he was the headmaster of the children's school. He had retired years ago, but would often come by and give lessons to the runaways she would take in. When she told him of the small Elf prince he could not turn her down. The chance to teach an Elf was something he had never had, and he had heard rumors of their incredible memories. Every now and then Legolas would demonstrate it, but usually he was just a child, like any other child of any race he had taught in the past.
Still, there were times when he would be very Elvish and fascinate his teacher. Moments when the glow from him could illuminate the darkest of places and the quickness of his wit left him speechless.
Legolas' innocence was still present, but he had overcome his stage of being clumsy. It took quite a while since it seemed as if his legs would never stop growing and his body would never catch up. His beauty, though, was growing by leaps and bounds and girls were already steals glances of him, the poor bar child with the golden hair, pure skin and powerful eyes that shone through all dirt he may get all over him.
Luckily for him, few in that town had seen an Elf so none suspected him of being anything except an exceptionally beautiful child. People felt that was why Jaden hung on to him longer than any other child she had taken in.
"You can learn more about dragons, once you finish all your reading for tonight."
"Dragons!" Legolas smiled wide, and Katari had to bite his lip to keep from laughing.
Legolas was beginning to loose his teeth. One thing he had learned about the Elves from his young student is that Elvish children loose their teeth later than human children. Perhaps because they grow up so much slower than human children. Either way, Legolas had lost his first tooth and he knew the rest would soon follow. The young Elf was trying to keep from having a lisp, but soon that fight would soon prove impossible to win.
Secretly, he couldn't wait to find out what Legolas would do to overcome this new challenge. Legolas did not like the obstacles that came with growing up and would try to fight them every step of the way.