AN: Here is the promised chapter! I feel so productive this weekend! Go me! Thanks to everyone who reviewed! (way to many exclamation points....)
Disclaimer: See previous chapters
Haldir stared at his young friend, his mind working in overdrive. He had expected something like this, but he was still unsure of how to answer. After all, he loved Legolas, but the boy was so young and inexperienced. 'But what better way for him to get experience? Legolas could do much worse than with having Haldir as his patron,' part of his mind argued. There was no denying the fact that he would gladly welcome Legolas into his home, but it was the getting there that was the problem. Traveling was still quite dangerous, perhaps even more dangerous with the evil fleeing from Dol Guldur. 'Yet Gandalf will be with us, could Legolas have any safer traveling circumstances?'
"Legolas, this isn't going to be a pleasure trip; traveling is dangerous and there is work to be done." Haldir decided to let Legolas know what he would be getting into.
"I know, but I am tired of here. I want to go places, I want to see Lothlorien, maybe Rivendell. I want to visit all my relatives, and meet those that have never come here. I can help you with your work, and I am not helpless. My archery is better than that of elves twice my age, and I have been learning to defend myself for as long as I have been walking. Mirkwood is not safe either," Legolas obviously had anticipated Haldir's objections.
"But here you are surrounded by many elves, not a single elf and a wizard. And what would you do once we got there? I have no idea when the next group of elves will be coming here, you may be stuck in Lothlorien for a year or more." Haldir didn't think the king and queen would like that idea.
"What do I do here? There is nothing I do here that I can't do there. I don't care if I am gone for a thousand years! I want to learn, Haldir, and I want to meet everyone! My parents won't miss me that much, I'm just the poor middle child," Legolas looked hopefully into Haldir's eyes, his little face full of determination.
'Poor my butt, Legolas is anything but a poor middle child, his parents might welcome the relief from his antics, but would Galadriel and Celeborn welcome them?' Haldir grinned at the thought, 'home could use another young troublemaker, we are all too old and stuffy.' Haldir sighed, he had known from the beginning that he wouldn't be able to deny Legolas' company. The little elf had a place deep in Haldir's heart, a place no one else had ever been able to come close to reaching.
"If your parents agree, you may come with me," Haldir consented and Legolas' face lit up with a huge grin. "But, you will be expected to do your share on the trip, there will be no one to help you like there is here. You will have to learn how to do everything yourself." Haldir knew that, like all of Thranduil's children, Legolas was slightly spoiled; but not too much.
"Thank you Haldir, come on, let's go tell Ada!" Legolas murmured to his horse and took off through the trees at a gallop. Haldir shook his head, what had he gotten into?
AN: I know, I know, another short chapter, but two shorts equals one long, right? Right. :)