A/N: Sorry for the delay, this chapter was hard to write for some reason. So it is a bit short. But hopefully it turned out okay. :)
------------CHAPTER FOUR------------
The next morning was the hunt. The elves made this an annual activity to stock up on food for the upcoming seasons. In an attempt to make it fun, Elrond had long ago turned into a sort of competition. There was no prize, but the winner was highly respected, which was actually far more important than any prize.
Haldir, maybe more excited than any other elf, was busy getting ready as soon as he woke up. He slipped on a new outfit, slid the arrows into his pack, and hooked it across his chest. He beamed with pride, though no one else was awake to notice, and ran out to wait for the hunt to begin.
By the time Arwen and Legolas awoke, their other friend had been gone for awhile, and the hunt had not yet began.
Legolas yawned. "What do we do now?"
Arwen shrugged.
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Five minutes later, they both lay staring at the ceiling, obviously very bored.
Legolas tilted his head towards Arwen. "Did you know… you have a spot on your ceiling?"
Arwen shrugged. "Can you really see it, or is it just a feeling?"
The Mirkwood elf paused and giggled. "That's great!"
Arwen caught on. "No, it's fate."
"The spot?"
"The whole lot."
This went on for a few minutes until it slowly died down and the two kids went back to staring at the ceiling.
"Oh, okay," Legolas groaned, interrupting the silence. "Let's go see if the hunt has started yet."
They stood up, and ran outside where there were now a mass of elves gathering, waiting for the hunt to begin. Haldir was by far the most giddy, the most excited. He held his bow tightly, bobbing up and down, and humming a song to himself.
Legolas and Arwen watched him from the group of spectators, and cheered him on up until Elrond released them to begin.
"Go Haldir!" They cried as he, along with a large group of mostly male elves, made their way out of Rivendell to start the competition.
When all the hunters had disappeared into the outer realm of Imladris, the cheering died down, and the watchers all turned to each other and made their way back inside.
Legolas scrunched up his nose. "Where are they all going?"
"I think Daddy's going to get all the adults together to play some kind of game."
"Game?"
The darker haired elf didn't appear to care as she ran ahead of her friend. "Who cares? Let's go play in the forest until Haldy gets back!"
Legolas hung back and shot her a disgusted look. "Haldy?" Then he ran and caught up to her and the two made their way into the outer forest of Imladris.
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It was night by the time the elves on the hunt returned, weary and eager to see who won. Haldir did not look as worn out as many other elves, and he ran back to the Last Homely House faster than anyone else. He made his way to Lord Elrond and tugged at his robes.
"Everyone's home!" He pointed outside. "Judging time!"
Elrond gave a patient smile and followed the eager boy to where the hunters stood in wait.
Legolas and Arwen, upon hearing the return of everyone, ran up to their friend to greet him. They both gave him a huge hug at once, and laughed.
"Welcome back- how did you do?"
Haldir smiled big enough to show his white teeth in response.
"I see," Legolas stated, his face mirroring the eager joy of his friend's. "Maybe you'll win!"
Haldir shook his head, no less exultant. "No, but that's okay, I actually got to compete!" He shook Legolas by the shoulders. "Do you know what that means?"
Taken off guard, Legolas knitted his brows. "No, what does it mean?"
The 'Lorien elf paused. "Well… actually, I don't know what it means… but it was a good thing nonetheless!"
The other two adamantly agreed. Then they turned towards Elrond as he cleared his throat.
"It seems we have a winner," he stated proudly, looking over all of the elves in front of him.
Legolas saw that his friend was almost bouncing on the heels of his feet in anticipation. He hid a smile as he watched with slight pride for Haldir.
Next to them Elladan and Elrohir, older than the other three, waited in equal eagerness as they had also participated. Their hands were clasped and a light shone in their eyes. For once Arwen hoped that they would win.
"This year our winner is Nelleda of Mirkwood."
As Nelleda came to the front, everyone gave him a little bow of respect, even Haldir, whose face reflected a sadness almost perfectly hidden.
Legolas felt a pain for his best friend, and laid a hand on his shoulder. "You did well, and that is nothing to be ashamed of. Do not expect to win the first time. You finally got to compete! Do you know what that means?" He added, with a lopsided, reassuring grin.
Haldir seemed to cheer up a little at that. Then Elrond held up his hand.
"There is a new category, however, that I felt was appropriate: Youngest competitor, of which I am pleased to bestow upon Haldir of Lothlorien." He smiled fatherly at the surprised boy.
Haldir tried hard not to jump up and down, and Arwen and Legolas were yelling happily for him.
Celeborn gave him a thoughtful look, thinking about the talent of this boy to have received such an honorable distinction from Lord Elrond.
Haldir, oblivious to the wonderment of the Lord of 'Lorien, gripped his bow and beamed with pride.
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