CHAPTER TWO

Umbothel parried to Elladan's attack.

"Good, good. Now focus-!"

Umbothel took Elladan by surprise by slicing her sword into the leather wrap on his hilt. It sliced in two.

Elladan leaped back, attempting to regain his composure, but it was too late. He had given her an opening, and-

SPLASH! Elladan fell back into the shallow pool.

Umbothel smiled sweetly and tossed her dark hair out of her eyes, leaning on the hilt of her sword and driving the point into the ground. "Am I improving?"

"Not by much, if you are still ruining your point by driving it into the ground!"

"ESTEL!!"

She ran over to hug him, deserting Elladan in the pool, wedged between two rocks.

"You are improving, Umbothel, but your courtesy leaves something to be desired." Elladan deadpanned.

Shooting him an irritated look, she released Aragorn from her bear-hug and offered Elladan her hand. "Hurry up then. I'm wasting time with you that I could be spending with my best friend."

Elladan shot her a hurt look. "I'm a waste of time?"

Aragorn laughed. "Of course you are! That's why Um and I always tried to stay away from you. Either that or it was all the pranks and blaming we took for things you did!"

Elladan snorted. "That was Elrohir I'm sure of it."

~*~*~*~

"Aim a little to the left of the target, Lorintal. NOT AT THE PRINCE!!!"

With that, Lorintal released the arrow.

Legolas moved just a hair but enough for the arrow to miss. "Ha! I knew you couldn't hit your target!" he teased.

"Legolas," Lorintal said grimly, "Never ever pick on a girl with a bow in her hands. You just might make her lose her concentration. And if you had been paying attention, you would have known that I didn't miss."

Legolas laughed and tried to step forward. Tried because Lorintal's arrow had him pinned by his tunic to the tree! He growled and moved to release himself.

Lorintal turned and walked off into the forest. *That's enough target practice for one day* she thought to herself. She smiled recalling the prince's face when he had found himself pinned to the tree. She climbed up her favorite tree, her hiding place since she first came to Mirkwood. Pulling out a scrap of parchment, she proceeded to draw the prince's frantic expression.

It was nearly suppertime when Lorintal emerged. She crept back into Lasgalen as silently as possible. She could hear Legolas ranting about wanting an adventure. She smirked. *So that's why he has taken to picking on me. He's bored!* She shook her head. *I had my fill of adventure before I was a millennia old. Poor kid. He's never really spent that much time out of his father's house.*

~*~*~*~

"Father, I realize I am only twenty, but...well, I....You see,..."

The ever-patient Elrond lost his patience. "Estel, what do you want?"

"Could Umbothel come with me when I leave to meet the Rangers?"

"Umbothel?"

"Yes, sir..."

"Why not Elladan and Elrohir? Why do you want your cousin to go with you? Speak up, boy."

Aragorn swallowed. "I want support, not harrassment. Umbothel is capable of defending herself and she is my friend. Elrohir and Elladan are, well, Elladan and Elrohir."

Elrond nodded sagely. "I understand. When would you be leaving?"

"The end of the week with your permission."

Elrond frowned. "I'm afraid Umbothel won't be back from Mirkwood by then-"

"MIRKWOOD!!!"

"Yes, Mirkwood. I sent her to visit with another elfmaid her age and deliver a message to Thranduil. She will be back early next week if she leaves on schedule."

"When does she leave?"

"Tomorrow, at first light..."

"May I escort her? I've never been to Mirkwood."

Elrond sighed. "I suppose..."

Will Umbothel and Aragorn make it to Mirkwood safely? Will Lorintal still be there? And what about Nileth?