Part 8
The sounds around camp soon woke Willow. Seeing the others sitting around the fire and eating dinner she walked over to join them.
Buffy scooted over so Willow could sit next to Legolas. "Feeling better, Will?"
"Yeah, thanks. I feel almost full strength again."
"Good. I was hoping to still show you how to shoot a bow this night."
Buffy laughed when Willow's eyes glazed over at the thought of Legolas teaching her to use the bow. She gently nudged Willow's foot when she didn't answer Gimli's question.
Willow blinked a few times. "I'm sorry, Gimli. I didn't quite hear what you said."
Gimli grumbled something about stupid elves enchanting humans.
"I asked if you've used a bow before."
"Well, once in class we had to do archery. So I've tried it once." There that ought to cover her if she did okay in her lessons.
Buffy's eyes twinkled, "Willow, don't be so modest. I've seen her use some weapons against demons. She's very good."
Willow narrowed her eyes at Buffy, "You know I WAS rethinking Griselda but maybe not."
Buffy just smirked.
"What weapons have you used before?" Aragorn asked. He was curious about this slight woman who seemed to have captured his friend's heart.
She was well and truly trapped now. See she knew she shouldn't lie or evade the truth. Even after all these years she still sucked at it.
Willow turned a becoming pink before answering Aragorn, "Well, I've used the crossbow, knives and of course the normal stakes and holy water."
Legolas beamed at Willow. Without even realizing it she had used the weapons that were common among his people. They were excellent archers and very skilled with the knife.
"Your use of a crossbow should make your lessons in the bow advance quickly."
Willow gave a halfhearted smile. Great. Oh well, maybe less time for lessons but more time for Elf smoochies. She brightened at that idea.
~~~~
Willow inwardly sighed as she felt Legolas reach around her and place his hands on hers to pull back the bow. She resisted the urge to just relax back into his arms. Focus Rosenberg!
Legolas closed his eyes and breathed in Willow's essence as he resisted the temptation to drop the bow and just take Willow into his arms. After the first few awkward attempts, Willow was really quite good with the bow, which pleased Legolas.
Legolas leaned into her ear and whispered, "That's it. Hold your breath as you release the arrow."
Willow bit her lip to keep from moaning out loud when she felt his breath stir her hair by her ear. She held her breath as she released the arrow and it hit its target.
Buffy turned to Gimli who was standing next to her in the shadows watching them. "I bet only one more lesson before they stop and kiss."
"You're on, Missy. Elves are made of sterner stuff. Not much mind but sterner. I bet three more."
A voice in the darkness joined them. "I'll split the difference and say two."
Buffy and Gimli turned to see Aragron join them. "What do we bet? I don't have any of your money from here."
"Losers do the winner's morning duties."
Buffy beamed. They may think they know Legolas but she knew not many could resist Willowy charms.
"Deal!"
Gimli grumbled and turned to Aragorn, "Why do I get the feeling she knows something we don't?"
Willow went to retrieve the arrow from the tree and returned to Legolas. She just marveled at how the moonlight caused his hair to glow. God she had it bad when she was waxing poetic in her mind about moon glowing hair.
Legolas watched as Willow returned with her arrow. He watched her with awe thinking how beautiful she was and how fortunate he was that the men of her realm didn't see it. The temptation to forget about the rest of the lessons and just throw her over his shoulder and head for the shadows was getting tough to ignore.
Legolas pointed to a tree twice the distance as the last one. "See if you can hit that one."
Willow sighed when Legolas made no move to help. Oh well it was nice while it lasted. Concentrating, Willow pulled back and took aim at her target.
She squealed in delight when her arrow hit its mark. Legolas smiled at Willow's enthusiasm and knew lessons were over. He could no longer resist.
Legolas caught Willow's hand before she could move to retrieve her arrow. With curious eyes she turned to look at Legolas. He just smiled and drew her closer.
Smiling, she eagerly went into his arms.
Buffy turned to her two companions. "What I tell ya? No one can resist Willow's charms for long." Buffy smiled at the thought of sleeping in and Aragorn and Gimli doing her chores.
Aragorn smiled as he watched Legolas and Willow. They reminded him of Arwen and himself when their love was new. Maybe Legolas had found his maranwe after all.
~~~
Legolas awoke early in the morning to Gimli grumbling about stupid elves not being able to resist Willowy charms. He'd have to ask what that was all about later. He was content to just lie there with Willow in his arms. They had fallen asleep while watching the fire and talking.
Reluctantly he places a soft kiss on Willow's head, "Come, we must wake. Dawn is almost here and we have to find Merry and Pippin."
Willow's eyes popped open. It wasn't a dream she had slept in Legolas' arms. She sat up and glanced around the camp. Buffy was leaning back against a rock and smiling as she watched Aragorn and Gimli.
Buffy winked at Willow when she caught her eye. She'd tell her later about the bet. For now she was enjoying the sight of two men doing "women's work" as they called it. She'd get them out of this chauvinistic attitude if she had to beat them over the head with their Neanderthal clubs.
When their camp was cleaned of all traces of prior inhabitants they prepared for another long run. Hopefully the Orcs hadn't gotten far ahead.
Legolas glanced to the sky as they began their run, "A red sun rises. Blood has been spilled this night."
"That can't be good." Willow mumbled as she took off running behind Gimli.
