Title: Double Take

Chapter: 7: Shooting Blind

Author: Alkalphiel and The Scribe

Summary: Legolas' version of "First Sight"

Feedback: Yes, please! Post reviews or email alkalphiel@yahoo.com

A/N: The Scribe: The Lord of the Rings and all its accompanying parts, characters and mythologies are not mine. This fanfiction is intended as a work of respect for and tribute to J. R. R. Tolkien's creations.

Shout out to LadyTremere and ola, my loyal two. I always appreciate your comments. Also, as I reread Chapter 7 of First Sight, I have to add a special nod of gratitude to LadyTremere. Your observations helped bring Alkalphiel into focus.

*Text* indicates thought.

Alkalphiel: Well, I spent this chapter of my version locked in internal musings. Legolas takes a . . . different tack.

~*~

I wanted to stay there all night, waiting outside her door for any hint that she'd chosen me, gathering my energy. Unfortunately, princes don't sit in hallways. They sit in royal quarters and throne rooms. After the fifth servant asked me if I was all right and should he call a healer, I stood, said no, and left.

Peace of any kind evaded me that night. I paced the halls of the palace restlessly until my father, woken by my motion for the third time, stopped.

"Legolas, perhaps you would be happier outside," he suggested somewhat tartly.

"Atar, I'm so sorry. I'll go out immediately."

His face softened a little. "No, it is I who am sorry, my son. You remind me of myself, the night your mother left for the Grey Havens. I could not be still without her by my side. I am not angry with you, Legolas. However, I am tired. Also, it occurs to me that the trees might do something to quiet your mind."

I smiled. "Thank you. Yes, I'll go out."

~*~

The gardens and courtyards of the great palace of Mirkwood are never dark. Torches keep them lit always, especially in the summer when many Elves enjoy the cool evenings. Since I was not in a fit mood for company, I went instead to the deserted and darkened archery field. Long years of habit helped me find a practice bow and arrows - they were not my own, but they would do. I fitted an arrow to the string and turned until I believed I was facing the target; then I let the arrow fly. Listening, I expected the solid thunk of my arrow hitting, if not dead center, than at least close. There was no such sound.

I'd managed not only to miss my target, but also to miss every other target! This was a story that my father would never hear, or I'd never live it down. There was nothing for it but to nock another arrow and try again, shooting blindly until I either hit the target or ran out of arrows.

~*~

Last arrow. I smiled ruefully to myself, noting how one area of my life seemed determined to imitate another. Just as I'd expended all my emotional resources on winning Alkalphiel, and with no clear indicator of success or failure, here I was in the night, using up all my arrows and again with no way to tell whether I'd hit the target. Each time I was sure that this shot had flown true, a wind had rustled the tree branches or a passing Elf had called out to a friend. I promised myself that after I fired off this arrow, I would check my possible successes. At least one of my attempts would be resolved this night, succeed or fail.

The bow sang in my hands as the final arrow took flight. As always before, something arose to distract me. This time, however, it was not external but rather internal. A great weight suddenly lifted from me, easing a few of the worry lines from my brow. Puzzled, I turned east toward the palace, as if I would see the cause. Pink light peeked over the palace roof. And yet, if I closed my eyes, I could see that same light start at the horizon and extend upward.

Alkalphiel's room faced east, I suddenly recalled. Seeing what the other saw was a part of the life bond. This cheered me; her rejection of me was no longer total. The corner of my mind that should have been in full communion with hers was still silent, however, so the battle was not yet won.

I looked back to my target. Three arrows had landed there, one of them near the center and the other two in the next ring out. Dawn continued rising. I descended to the ground, heeding the inner urge to meditate.

~*~

Alkalphiel and I must have developed some sort of partial bond, I decided, as my calming vision of candle flames turned once more to a vision of Alkalphiel, working her way through a labyrinth. Although I was encouraged by the progress I saw in this vision, I was also frustrated. Wishing that my soul mate would choose to be with me, worrying that she would not - these were not conducive to serenity. I made my mind still again, now fearing that my frustration over my attempts to meditate would drive Alkalphiel away from me.

Candle flames. Candles floating on the water. There, that was a sufficiently complicated image - certainly enough to maintain my attention. Without warning, the image dissolved into one of Alkalphiel walking into the punchbowl yesterday evening. I surrendered to the urge to chuckle. Life with Alkalphiel could never be boring.

Realizing that any sort of serenity was beyond my grasp, I rose and began the walk back to the palace. I was unsure what, exactly, I intended to do there, but it felt right to return. Feeling a little guilty about leaving arrows strewn over the practice field, I considered returning and cleaning them up. The life bond tugged at my mind, suddenly wishing me near Alkalphiel. The prince in me tugged the other way.

I compromised, hurrying back to the practice field and scooping up most, if not all, of the arrows. The tug came again. Was Alkalphiel close to her decision? Could she be leaning toward me? A quick scan revealed no more arrows on the ground. Royal upbringing fought with romantic hope, and royalty won. Never leave a mess if you can help it. I sprinted to the target, pulled out the arrows, and began my run for the palace, stopping only to drop the arrows in their quiver.

Hope was rising in my heart with every step as I settled into a ground- eating lope. I could almost feel Alkalphiel getting closer to me, a sensation I took as a sure sign that she was accepting our bond. Finally, I received the signal I'd waited for.

*I will try this.*

Alkalphiel's mental words echoed in my mind. She'd finally accepted me, and unintentionally projected her thoughts down our bond. The bond itself was coming into focus now, and I occasionally gave myself double vision, trying to see things through Alkalphiel's eyes as I ran. Giving that up as too disorienting, I began to concentrate on reaching my beloved as quickly as was possible. I had so much to teach her, so much to share!

Fear. Not crippling, but still strong. Alkalphiel's mind drew itself taut as my bowstring hours ago. She was readying for battle, weighing escapes and defenses.

I ran faster.

The strangest image of a small table echoed down the bond. A sense of desperation.

My pace was an all out sprint now, exhausting but effective. I worried momentarily that I would be too tired to be of any use by the time I reached the palace. Fortunately, I crested the last rise in the path just as I finished the thought. Yelling for guardsmen as I pounded up to the front door, I threw my mind completely open to Alkalphiel. With any luck, strong emotion would make her project again as it had before.

No air. Can't . . . no, mustn't breathe. Giving in to the need for oxygen. And then . . .

Nothing. Nothing at all. The sudden lack of Alkalphiel was as overwhelming as her presence had become. I tripped on the threshold of the door, going to both knees on the marble floor of the entryway. She was gone.