"Legolas, do help me up." He got up and took my uninjured hand and helped me to my feet.

"Please, I wish to speak to you." I started stretching my legs. I led Legolas to the balcony that was connected to the room and sat down on a bench.

"Legolas, do you have feelings for my sister? Tell me the truth."

He looked up, his pale blue eyes bore into me, "Why do you care so much for your sister's affairs?"

"I do not know," I sighed, "She is very close to me. I care for her greatly- more than anyone else. I do not wish to see her getting hurt, yet- " my voice trailed off.

"Yet what?"

"She is all I have, yet she is the source of my misery. Oh, you would never understand!" I said, getting up to leave. He did not ask what I meant, yet I felt disappointed.

"Do you have any siblings?" I asked, turning around.

"No, I do not. I do not even know my mother." I walked back and sat down next to him.

"At least you have a father that you know and get along with. My father has passed long ago- he was the only one who understood me. My mother thinks I am quite unladylike and favors Calwaiel over me."

"Is that what you meant? Source of your misery?" I looked away for a moment.

"Legolas," I said, not facing him, and my eyes watering, "Do you know what it is like to always be second? You have archery, you are good at something. What am I good at? Sword-fighting? That is not something a maiden is supposed to be good at. My sister, she is beautiful. That is all maidens are to do- sit around and look pretty. I am not in the least bit pretty. Alas, I hate sitting around feeling piteous of myself. I hate going home, it is bad enough I must live with the most perfect Elf-maiden, but even when I leave, I can not escape the speaking of her loveliness," I paused.

"Please forgive me. I just thought- I just wanted, oh do disregard anything that I have said- I have rambled on. I am terribly sorry," I said, tears spilling. I walked out into the frame of the door.

"Canyaiel, do you mean everything you speak of?" he asked. I turned around slowly. Knowing my fortune, he would be waiting right there and I would hit my nose, again.

"What do you mean? Do you think I am a liar?" I asked, annoyed. I was glad though- I did not hurt my nose.

He looked away for a moment, "You are the strangest Elf I have ever seen." Then, he seemed to realize what he said, "Oh, no, do not- I mean-"

"Thank you," I replied, "And if you do not mind me saying so, you are the strangest Elf I have ever seen."

He smiled, "Then I fear we shall get along dreadfully well."

I let out a fake laugh, "Do not toy with me; I know you would rather spend much more time with Calwaiel. You would be good for her, I think," he did not respond to this, just stared at me for a moment with his exceedingly pale eyes, "Come on. Do not tell me you have not noticed!" I smiled, "She and you are perfect for one another. You, the warrior prince of Greenwood, and her, the pretty maiden of Imladris. Come on! You shall be wonderful for each other!" I said. I was truly happy for her- and for me, too. This way, I would never have to deal with Calwaiel's annoying perfect-ness or her beauty- I would have no one to be compared to, and that was how I liked it.

He looked away, embarrassed, "No! We are too young-"

"If you were older, would you?"

He looked back at me, his cheeks tinged slightly, "I do not know what path the Valar have laid out for me." He paused for a moment, "And what of you? You and Elrohir?" Me and Elrohir? I started laughing, the first time I had really laughed in at least three hundred years. Legolas looked a little surprised then laughed, also.

"Oh, Legolas," I said in between laughs, "Lencundu should be your name! Elrohir is like a brother to me; do not think of it as anything more!"

Legolas feigned hurt, "Lencundu? Slow prince? I am not! At least I did not fall from a tree right into the path of an arrow!"

I gave him a dirty look then laughed again, "Yes. That shall be your name, Lencundu! But I did not fall from the tree on purpose; you were the one who shot the arrow, on purpose!" I added.

"I am truly sorry," he said, "How is your arm?"

I shook my head a little, "In the same condition as it was a mere hour ago. Still, I will hold you to your word, I won the dual fairly, and-"

"What is this dual I hear of?" came a voice from the room. No. No! Not her! I turned around slowly.