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Chapter Ten: Good Hair, Bad Day

"Elorelei, are you feeling all right?" Jayik asked. Her had arrow barely made it onto the bullseye and now she was staring at the ground, leaning on her bow. Her hand was wrapped around a chain on her neck and she said nothing in response to his question. He coughed, snapping her from her thoughts.

"Sorry, Jay, I'm not in the best of moods." She flumped down in the grass, hand still clasped over a chain around her neck. "I don't feel myself, if you can understand that."

Jayik tried to have a closer look at it. It was a pure silver chain that glinted in the sun with a pendant on it. The pendant being hidden by Elorelei's skilled hand, he began to ask her about it. "Just curious,"

"Curiosity will get you shot." was the immediate retort.

He'd come to learn that Elorelei's threats, though not empty, were rarely carried out in full on her friends. "What's that around your neck?" He said anyway.

"Oh," Her eyes grew sad as she showed him the sparkling necklace. "I've had this on my whole life. My father said... He said I've had it on since the day I was born." The pendant was a brilliant blue with silver writings inside of it that spelled out her name. "I want to go home."

Jayik was startled by her childish tone. "What?"

"I want to go home," she repeated. "I don't want to stay here. I've not seen my home or family in nearly 500 years. I'm almost a millienia old. My only comfort is that Filior should be coming soon. I should much like to see him."

"You may be smart, but you are still not wise," he muttered, joining her on the grass. "What did you and Legolas talk about this time that got you thinking of this?"

"Well, he-" She stopped. "It's none of your business. How did you know about that?"

"It's none of your business." snickered the elf, sitting straighter. "If you can't tell me, then perhaps Legolas deserves to be told?"

Legolas was right around the corner. Upon hearing his name, he looked for the source and saw Elorelei laying in the grass, Jayik sitting beside her obviously in deep conversation. His mind told him strictly to move on. It was a private conversation. Move. On.

Ducking behind the nearest thing, the Prince listened.

"Legolas?" A small, unimpressed sound escaped her. "I can tell Legolas nothing." She muttered, laying down her bow and turning on her side. She shifted her tightly wrapped hair so she could lay more comfortably.

Jayik frowned. "That cannot be true, all the time you two spend together."

"Legolas does the talking, I do the listening."

Immediately, these words triggered something and Legolas's mind jumped back in time to their many conversations. Him telling her his fears, his wishes, his dreams, his hopes, and his problems when he had them. She told him about... nothing. If there was a moment she did, he could have recalled it. Not one single instance of her pouring her soul into him as he did with her ever came to mind. He tried to catch more of the conversation, but his mind spun suspicions and accusations everywhere.

Jayik shook his head. "You ARE foolish."

"Don't get all high-and-mighty with me, Jayik. I am Legolas's friend, there is no doubt of that." Her voice had sharpened considerably. She thought she heard a sigh from somewhere, but ignored it. "But I cannot and I will not tell him anything."

Those words being all he could bear, Legolas stood up and walked away, focusing entirely on his steps to keep his insides from shattering.

Jayik pressed on. "Why?"

"My problems would be a burden," She mumbled, calming her tone. "I don't want to trouble him."

"If he is truly your friend, I believe he would try to help you. Friendship is not one-sided."

Clearly having had enough, Elorelei stood up and snatched up her bow and quiver. "I will handle my problems on my own. Neither Legolas, nor you, shall have to lose sleep over them." Before he could add another thought, she strode off.

*~*~*~*

Another pitiful day in advanced Elven History. Now it was more modern and learning about the old ages was through with. Yet something about today's lesson made it excruciatingly boring.

Of course, the substitute.

"Mikele, a darkling, was the second elf ever to journey to the mortal realm in the modern age. It is rumored that she was to be Queen of the East.." She droned on and on, making tense, heart-wrenching moments in history seem completely dull. Elorelei sat in very last seat in the very last row in the corner of the room. Her normal seat was right up front where she could benefit from "close-range" teaching. In other words, so the teacher could keep an eye on her. The issue with that today was Legolas sat directly next to her and Niqueran sat directly in front. No one sat where they were supposed to when a substitute was brought in, anyway, so the elves were scattered. Niqueran convienietly found a seat next to Legolas and would've talked him to death had it not been for the teacher telling her to stop or be removed.

"Pretty boring, huh?" said a voice next to Elorelei.

She jumped a moment, then recognized the face. It was Berloc, a Noble from the South who was just below Legolas in the archery class. His face was fair, even if his name wasn't. He was all around nice, as was the reputation of Southerners, but the teacher (who was not nice) cleared her throat and glared menacingly before he could start a conversation. Elorelei graced him with a smile for his effort, then went back to thinking about all the things she could be doing right now.

The class bell rang what seemed an age later. By that time, Elorelei had so many thoughts in her head, Berloc gave her a friendly nudge to snap her out of it.

"Class is up, Princess Elorelei." He said, picking up his books.

Elorelei picked up her books. "For the last time, call me Elorelei, Berloc. Or Lora or Lei or anything you like, except Princess. I hate being called Princess."

He laughed. "Okay, Elorelei. Hm, looks like Niqi's got her teeth in some fresh meat." The remark was casual, he didn't think it would mean anything, but as soon as the word "Niqi" escaped him, Elorelei snapped her head up.

The elf's arm had wormed it it's way into linking with Legolas's. She forcefully began to steer him from the room, though he looked like he wanted to wait for someone.

Elorelei dropped her books in shock... on Berloc's feet.

"OW!"

"Oh, I'm sorry Berloc, I just-just..." She reached over to help him, putting his arm around her neck and finding a seat for him.

"It's allright. The books are just a little heavy." He removed his arm, but took Elorelei's hair tie with it. "Oh, man, we're both really clumsy toda-" He did not finish. The whole class stopped moving. Elorelei shut her eyes tightly, hoping the world would evaporate of it's own accord.

Black waves of hair cascaded down her back, past her waist, brushed her ankles. She wanted to bend down, and pick up the tie, pretend nothing had happened. The curls framed her face, untamed and wild, just like the last time she looked at them. They weren't light and springy, or thick and winding, but wavy and elegant and everything she felt that she was not. How the hell was she "wavy" anyway?

Berloc offered her the tie, but said nothing. He merely stared in shock. Though she snatched it and pulled her hair up in the same tight ponytail bun, the class did not resume moving right away. A few moved on, but others just stared in disbelief. Very few elves had hair of such length or texture. To find one that was that did was rare... extremely rare. It was considered a very recessive genetic trait that only carried through in ONE family blood line that had been lost almost a millenia ago. Without a word, she shoved past them and ran to her dormitory. Not knowing just what she was running from.

*~*~*~*

The rain spattered on the window of the dormitory, but the only person in it didn't seem to care. Elorelei pulled the blankets over herself more, ignoring the lunch bell, ignoring the fact that she had class after lunch, ignoring her hungry stomach. Sleep would solve everything. She just needed some sleep.

The moment her head touched the pillow, Niqueran came in, followed by Fawneya and Junita, who was giggling like she might never stop. Fawneya scowled and sat away from the two. It was the first time she had seen Fawneya act in such a way.

The two sisters appeared not to notice while Junita clasped her sister's hands, trying to calm her down enough to speak.

"Come, Niqi, what did he say? What did he say?"

Niqueran fanned her flushed face, taking little gasps of breath before she spoke. "Well, first, he wouldn't talk much. I think he was just a little shy, but then that sorry excuse of a Princess came running past. I mean, it was like he suddenly got very angry. But he started talking. He asked me to go to that dance with him!" She squealed. "I can't wait to show him off in front of that... princess. I better get to know him, make her even more jealous." She picked up her delicate skirts and dashed from the room, Junita trotting behind. Fawneya sat on her bed and did not follow them.

Elorelei shut her eyes finally. That was the last thing she felt like hearing. She had forgotten about the dance, because she never went to them. The last one she attended had been at the beginning of their term. Usually, Legolas found a reasonably suitable date, not one he knew was Elorelei's clandestine adversary. Choosing not think about this, she cast a sleeping spell and fell into a deep, dreamless sleep. She was never more thankful for it.

*~*~*~*

He couldn't believe it. She didn't come to lunch. She totally ditched him and left him there looking stupid. The girl he'd asked to the dance came to sit beside him and try to get him to talk. She reminded him strongly of Celidia, whom he hadn't seen a long while. No matter what she tried, he was too angry to focus on one subject and the conversation bombed. He was used to being a trophy date, no girl he ever asked to any event ever tried to pry anything out of him. This was a new experience.

Classes started up again but he saw no sign of Elorelei. She did not attend Hunting and Tracking, or Arithmetic. When she missed Targeting, Legolas finally became worried. It was by far her favorite and best class. They put their archery skills to use and sometimes taught younger ones. He ran in from the training area, his feet leading the way to her room.

The moment his foot touched the ground in the dormitory, two elven girls leapt into his face, both talking so fast he couldn't catch more than a word.

"Please- please- will you get off my foot? Look, that's great but- I'm here to see- Can you just-"

"Niqi! Niqueran, Legolas wants to see you!" Junita screamed, faning herself and continually reaching out to touch the Prince's arm.

He spent the next couple of minutes trying to get the girls off him and explain he didn't know who Niqueran was and he wanted to see someone else. Niqueran walked in from the dressing room, and opened her mouth to speak.

Legolas didn't let her get a step further. "WILL YOU ALL LISTEN TO ME? I JUST WANT TO SEE ELORELEI!" He shouted, seconds before recognizing Niqueran as the girl he'd asked to the dance. "I need to improve my memory." he thought, letting out a sigh.

"That's simply lovely, Legoldenlocks. Do you mind not yelling? I'm not feeling so hot." came a grumbly voice.

Niqueran whirled around and scowled at Elorelei, who politely told her to "cram that lovely little scowl" someplace that Legolas didn't want to think about. The elf's breathing increased as she looked to the Prince for some defense but found only polite indifference. Junita stared very firmly at the ground and Fawneya giggled quietly. That was the last straw, and the afronted lady elf shoved her way out the door.

The Princess grumbled some more and curled up, her whole body was aching. She felt trapped inside it. She barely even felt it when Legolas sat next to her on the bed.

"Are you alright?" he asked, he had come up here to yell at her, but it didn't seem like that would be happening soon. Her ears could pick up every slight sound and she winced as he talked.

"Not so loud," her voice rasped, like she needed a good, long shout. "I'm sleepy," she continued mumbling, sounding as if she wasn't talking to anyone at all. "Let me sleep. I will land later." She sounded so far off, and she was talking nonsense now. "Need the wing. Trapped. Must be free."

That was all he could take. "I'm taking you to the infirmary." said Legolas, putting his bag under her bed.

"NO!" She cried, her voice was hissing but it made the walls tremble. "NO! Leave me free!" She struggled to get up out of the bed, but Legolas wrapped her tightly. Fawneya backed away into a corner, pulling Junita's arm so she wouldn't be in the way either. Elorelei wasn't screaming but she was struggling wildly against Legolas, who held her. He was grateful for his training classes now, the developed muscles in his arms were stronger than he thought. Still, he couldn't do much with her while she struggled. He would have to wait until she tired herself out.

Fawneya looked on shocked, while Junita tried to get out of the room. Just as she broke free and ran to the door, another elf came though. His hair was long, and brown like autumn leaves. Before Legolas could stop him, he put something stiff and blue inside her mouth and made her swallow it. She dropped asleep in very few seconds.

Legolas stood up, anger creasing his face. Then he realized who it was. "Eli! Where'd you come from? I mean- She- How did-" He felt like he was stuttering for the fifth time that day.

"Pure luck, Legolas. I was on my way up here and I heard her yell." said Eli, turning her on her back so he would be able to pick her up. He managed to get his arms around her, but she was heavier than he anticipated. "Uh, would you mind? She's a bit heavy and I'm a healer, not a warrior."

Legolas obligingly lifted her. She would've hit them both if she woke up and saw Legolas holding her like she was a child. He followed Eli down to the infirmary, looking quite a sight. He felt sure of what would happen once she woke up. "You CARRIED me? I'm not an infant! Why didn't you just leave me there? Or wake me up!"

Eli glanced back to see the Prince laughing to himself. "Do I need to knock you out, too?"

"No," He muttered, laughing some more. "She's just incorrigible."

"Really? Right now she looks unconscious..." said Eli uncertainly. Privately he thought that Legolas was just a little off-center.