A/N Edited~
Nelde (3)
"I cannot believe you! How could you tell them that?" Sárie yelled at her brother for the hundredth time and tugging on the end of her long plait in frustration.
"I thought you would be pleased! Besides, you've got such a good shot when you concentrate." Mehtar protested.
"How can I concentrate in an archery competition when I have that poor excuse of an Elven prince watching my every move?"
"Since when have you cared who watches and who doesn't? Do you fancy him or something?" Mehtar asked, a smirk slowly crossing his face, folding his arms slyly across his chest.
Sárie, on the other hand, looked as though she were about to retch. "That is absolutely disgusting." She spat out. "Who would ever fancy that... that oaf, I'll never know." She shuddered at the thought. "And besides, you know I am not particularly fond of going into the city, let alone being in front of a big group of people!"
"You're not public speaking, by Valor, you're shooting a blasted arrow!"
"In a contest judged by Lord Elrond himself!"
"You should be honoured that he would even think of coming to ask our family to enter!" Mehtar said, now beginning to get angry. "You've got the best shot of anyone. No one's asking you to go and win the entire thing."
"I don't want to! I'd rather just stay here in the forest. I don't fit in with the people in the city!" Sárie protested, though by now it was beginning to look like there was no way this side of the Bruinen River that she had a chance of winning.
"That's not what you're being asked, no, told to do. You don't have to speak to anyone if you wish to do so. You are being told to shoot a blasted arrow at a target, nothing life threatening." Mehtar said, throwing up his hands in dissatisfaction. "Must you be so indignant?"
Sárie spun around, folding her arms tightly scowling. "Hmph!"
"You are going to be in this competition whether you like it or not, so you best get over whatever is going on inside that little head of yours!" Mehtar said. He put his hand gently on his sister's shoulders. "This will be good for you. I wouldn't agree to anything that would harm you in any way. You know that." He felt his sister's muscles tense, and the shiver with apparent anger and then wrenched her shoulder out of his grasp.
"I don't care! You didn't have my consent. You cannot make decisions for me!" She stormed out of the cottage, grabbing her bow and quiver. If she was going to have to compete in this rash competition, she may as well practice.
A thin smile crossed Mehtar's face, for he had gotten his way.
Sárie sat down with a huff between the roots of a fairly ancient looking oak, careful of her bow and quiver. She puffed out her cheeks, leaning against the mossy bark. This is awful she thought. I get to make a fool of myself in front of the entire city. This will give Ailin and her party more reason to torment me with. She shuddered, remembering the last time she was forced to stand within 100 meters of the awful maiden.
"Sárie!" The petite blonde elf said, a snarl on her lips as she glided over to where Sárie had been standing quietly. "How nice it is to see you and out of that rat-hole you call home, no less."
"Good morning to you as well, Ailin." Sárie said as pleasantly as she possible could.
"My goodness, does something smell awful! Sárie, how long has it been since you bathed? A fortnight?" Ailin said, her lovely face scrunching up. "That ensemble you have on, might you wash it before wearing it in public? And your hair, can't say enough about that. Someone missed out when it came to the family good looks in general! One would hope that you at least try to put more effort into your appearance before gracing us with your presence! Of course, with someone like you, one can only do so much, and still fail."
"I will keep that in mind next time." Sárie mumbled, in complete and total shame. Her cheeks were burning with embarrassment. She wanted to yell at the girl, tell her to go torment someone else. She wanted to slap her hard across the face. Instead, she merely clenched a fish and shifted her weight.
Ailin lowered her voice to a whisper. "How does it feel?" she said, her voice sickly sweet and full of hatred. "How does it feel to wake up each morning, knowing that you have been forsaken the elegance of your kin?" She smiled, the kind of wicked smile that makes one just want to vomit, and then turned on her heals, walking back to her group of friends who were now giggling madly.
Sárie's blush grew darker and into the roots of her hair. She wanted more than anything to be able to say something, anything that would cause the other elf to bow her head in shame. She couldn't though. She opened her mouth, but no word escaped her lips.
Sárie banged a fist against the tree.
"I'm not going to let that happen again."
"What happen again?" a voice asked from behind her.
Sárie whipped her head around, only to find herself starting into the face of the elven prince she wanted most to avoid.
"You! Are you stalking me or something!?"
Legolas chuckled. "Absolutely not. I just happened to be practicing for the archery competition, when I heard something. You aren't exactly quiet, you know."
"So you just came here to insult me. Lovely. Well, excuse me if I'm not in the mood at the moment." Sárie snapped, pulling her knees close and facing away from him. Legolas pulled an arrow out of his quiver, strung it, and shot it so it landed next to Sárie, just brushing her arm.
"What in the name of Elbereth do you think you're doing?"
"If you hadn't moved a little to the right, I would have gotten you back for my arm."
"I think I liked you better when you were lame."
Legolas chuckled again, a smile across his face. Sárie could not for the life of her figure out what was so amusing. She merely scowled.
"I'm going to beat you, just thought you may care to know."
"Is that so?" Legolas asked, the smile quickly whipped off his face. "I do hope you can support that claim with your bow."
"Not to worry, I bet I'll do even better with you as a moving target!" she said, a fake smile plastered across her face, and she jumped to her feet. Legolas let out a snort. "I propose a little wager. If I win, you let me..." Sárie thought long and hard for a moment, looking Legolas over from head to toe. "You let me do your hair like a girl."
Legolas paled. "You actually know how to do that?" he spat out, standing stiffly.
"I'm more feminine than I look."
"That's not saying much."
Sárie huffed.
"And if I win," Legolas said, a smirk crossing his visage, "Than you have to wear a gown, and walk around Rivendell in it."
Sárie thought for a moment, swallowing hard. "Agreed. I hope you're ready to be pretty."
"The same goes for you." Legolas said, his voice cold and stern. With that, he turned and disappeared back into the forest.
Sárie sighed, sitting back down against the tree. That was unintelligent of me, she thought, I best not lose this, and give Ailin another reason to ridicule me.
A/N As always, don't forget to flame!
