Part Three: The Quarrel
"Legolas," Aragorn strode into the prince's room as he always did, without knocking.
The bed curtains were still closed, which was unusual considering the hour. Normally the Mirkwood prince was up well before dawn.
"Legolas? Are you all right?"
"You seem to have a very bad habit of spoiling peoples dreams." Legolas growled at his friend, poking his disheveled blond head out of the curtains.
"Was it a good one, I hope?"
"You'd like to know that wouldn't you" The prince shot back. In fact it had been a wonderful dream. The same one he had had for the last three weeks. He felt a familiar and generally welcomed tightening just thinking about it. However, he really did not want Aragorn teasing him. The human could be unmerciful when it came to something as emotional as a budding relationship. Not that he was any better, but this time it felt different. He wasn't ready to say anything to anyone yet.
"What's her name?"
"Shut up and let me get dressed." He hissed, crawling out the other side of the bed to avoid the human laughing about the bulge in the front of his breeches. Aragorn was beginning to get on his nerves.
Aragorn tossed Legolas a fresh tunic. "Ada, was concerned that you were not at breakfast."
"Oh for heavens sake, Estel. I oversleep and you all think something's wrong." He shrugged on the pale green tunic and pulled his long blond hair from beneath the collar. Hooking the catches, he silently wished he could have worn the tunic he had on yesterday. It had Ithilin's scent on it from their lesson last night. Unfortunately, the servant attached to him had already taken it to be cleaned. She was splitting arrow shafts every other shot now, and had been for a while. With more practice, she would be nearly his equal. Maybe it was time to turn her attention to sword work. With her slight frame and small size, she might prove to be quite as deadly as he was. It was worth a thought anyway. "I thought that after you have breakfast, we could go hunting." Legolas eyed the human with a raised eyebrow. "That would be nice, so long as Arwen stays here." Aragorn looked hurt, "What do you have against her. She's done nothing to you." "Nothing except divert you attention from your guest," the prince shot back angrily. "You've barely given me the time of day since I arrived, Aragorn. I'd say that I have a pretty good reason for being upset." He picked up his doublet, tugging it on as he walked from the room. Out in the hall, he freed his hair from the collar and pulled the belt tight at his slender waist. "Are you coming, Estel? You're the one that's so hot to get going." Legolas rolled his eyes as Aragorn slid down the banister. Humans were so impulsive. "Estel!' Lord Elrond roared from the dining hall, "How many more times am I going to have to tell you to stop doing that?" "Many, many more, Ada." Aragorn answered, grinning at the elf lord. "Did you sleep well, Legolas?" "Yes, thank you, my lord." The prince said glancing around the table. Ithilin sat to Elrond's right. Her long blond hair was pulled away from her pretty face, caught in a silver clasp, but cascaded over her slim shoulders. He could see, on either side of her head, two small braids hung concealed within the thick mane. "Lady Ithilin," He said taking the seat opposite her, "Aragorn and I are going hunting today. Would you care to join us?" Aragorn shot the prince an angry look. "She can not come." "Then neither can Arwen." Legolas glared back. "As much as I would enjoy a hunting trip, Prince Legolas. I fear Lord Elrond requires my presence here today." Ithilin gazed steadily at the prince, :I will not put myself in the middle of your quarrel, Legolas. Leave me out of it.: :I'm only trying to get a point across to him, 'Lin.: :Like I said, Leave me out of it.: Her mind voice was firm. She understood that Legolas wasn't trying to put her in the middle. The fact that the prince had not told anyone about their friendship, told her that he was very shy about it. :Will you be back tonight?: :I am going to guess the answer is 'Yes'.: he thought back. :Though it might be a good idea to stay away from the waterfall and the archery field.: :Afraid we might get caught, mellon-nîn?: :By Aragorn? Yes.: Ithilin chuckled softly, eliciting an arched eyebrow from the elf lord. She shook her head imperceptibly, staving off any further questioning from him. :Does Lord Elrond know?: the prince's mind voice was tinged with panic. :He only knows that we have become friends. Do not worry, Legolas, No one knows that we can speak mind to mind.: :But he knows that you can.: :Aye, but he does not know that I can speak to anyone else but him.: :What else have you told him, I wonder.: A small smile played at the corners of her slender mouth, :Don't get cocky, or I might just tell . . .: The look of horror that passed across his blue eyes made it hard for her to keep a straight face. "You ready?" "How long will we be gone?" Legolas asked as he finished his breakfast "What's the hurry? You don't have to go home for six weeks yet." Aragorn said off-handedly. "I just thought your father would like to know when to expect us back." Aragorn saw the elf lord's eyebrows creep into his hairline expectantly. "Well?" "A couple of days. Maybe three or four." The human shrugged, "Depends on the game." :Well so much for seeing you this evening,: He thought glumly at her. :I'll make it up to you when you get back.: :Promise?: She sent him a mental caress and pretended to lick something from her lips. Struggling to keep control of his features, he followed Aragorn from the hall. Just as he crossed the threshold he heard her voice in his mind, tinged with mirth, :Hmmm, I wonder what elves taste like?: Much to his amazement and Aragorn's amusement, Legolas tripped falling gracelessly to the floor. Ithilin's musical laughter reached his ears. He felt the heat of a fiery blush burn his fair cheeks. :You'll pay for that, mellon-nîn.: His mind whispered with mock menace coloring his words. :I certainly hope so. Otherwise I wouldn't have said it.: The prince looked over his shoulder at her. :You might not like what I have in mind.: :We shall see, won't we?: "May I ask what just happened?" Aragorn gasped through his laughter. Legolas stood, his head held high. "I don't know what you mean, Estel."
* * * Two days into the hunting trip Legolas rounded on Aragorn. "I have been here for three weeks, Estel. So far the only person that you have acknowledged the existence of is Arwen. Why is that?" the prince said in a soft voice. "Hello. I'm in love with her." "You asked me here. I was under the impression that I was your guest." "You're jealous." Aragorn stared incredulously at his friend. "Admit it. You're jealous." "I am not!" Legolas turned toward him. He was ready to slug the human. "I just don't like being ignored by my best friend." "I have not ignored you!" "Then what have we done together in the last three weeks, hmmm?" "Uh . . ." "Thought so. Your mind has been so preoccupied with Arwen you didn't even noticed that I was around." "Well what have you been up to for the last three weeks that I have been supposedly ignoring you?" "I've gone to the archery field with your brothers, gone swimming, tried to stir up some trouble. You know, the usual stuff WE do together." The prince spat back hotly, leaving out Ithilin's archery lessons. He was really angry and did not want to have to defend his friendship with the she- elf. Aragorn had brought this on himself. He was getting tired of being treated like an uninvited guest. "You're free to go home if you don't like it here." Hissed the human. Didn't Legolas understand what it was like to be in love. The entire world ceased to exist when the object of one's affections was around. "What do you see in her anyway. She is beautiful, yes. But I just don't see it." He turned away from the human and continued, "If you ask me, she has enough arrogance for all the elves combi-" Aragorn tackled the prince, sending him to the ground. The elf twisted in Aragorn's grasp, fighting to turn over. Aragorn caught his long blond hair in one hand, yanking the prince's head back painfully. Legolas yelped in surprise. One knee was pressed into the small of the elf's back making it too painful for him to struggle. "You are suppose to be my friend. I do not want to hear anything against Arwen again. Do you understand?" "If this is how you will treat me should I speak the truth, I do not think I want to remain your friend." He growled, ignoring the pain shooting up his spine as Aragorn's knee pressed down harder. Angrily, Aragorn yanked the elf's hair again. "I asked you if you understood, Legolas." Arching his back suddenly, the prince was able to throw Aragorn off of him. "I understand perfectly." He hissed, gathering up his quiver and bow. "When Arwen is around you don't want to be bothered with a friend who doesn't share your infatuation, is that it." Legolas faced his friend, blue eyes flashing dangerously, "Well, Aragorn son of Arathorn, I will not trouble you further with my unwanted presence." With that, Legolas stalked off into the forest, heading back to Lord Elrond's house.
"Legolas," Aragorn strode into the prince's room as he always did, without knocking.
The bed curtains were still closed, which was unusual considering the hour. Normally the Mirkwood prince was up well before dawn.
"Legolas? Are you all right?"
"You seem to have a very bad habit of spoiling peoples dreams." Legolas growled at his friend, poking his disheveled blond head out of the curtains.
"Was it a good one, I hope?"
"You'd like to know that wouldn't you" The prince shot back. In fact it had been a wonderful dream. The same one he had had for the last three weeks. He felt a familiar and generally welcomed tightening just thinking about it. However, he really did not want Aragorn teasing him. The human could be unmerciful when it came to something as emotional as a budding relationship. Not that he was any better, but this time it felt different. He wasn't ready to say anything to anyone yet.
"What's her name?"
"Shut up and let me get dressed." He hissed, crawling out the other side of the bed to avoid the human laughing about the bulge in the front of his breeches. Aragorn was beginning to get on his nerves.
Aragorn tossed Legolas a fresh tunic. "Ada, was concerned that you were not at breakfast."
"Oh for heavens sake, Estel. I oversleep and you all think something's wrong." He shrugged on the pale green tunic and pulled his long blond hair from beneath the collar. Hooking the catches, he silently wished he could have worn the tunic he had on yesterday. It had Ithilin's scent on it from their lesson last night. Unfortunately, the servant attached to him had already taken it to be cleaned. She was splitting arrow shafts every other shot now, and had been for a while. With more practice, she would be nearly his equal. Maybe it was time to turn her attention to sword work. With her slight frame and small size, she might prove to be quite as deadly as he was. It was worth a thought anyway. "I thought that after you have breakfast, we could go hunting." Legolas eyed the human with a raised eyebrow. "That would be nice, so long as Arwen stays here." Aragorn looked hurt, "What do you have against her. She's done nothing to you." "Nothing except divert you attention from your guest," the prince shot back angrily. "You've barely given me the time of day since I arrived, Aragorn. I'd say that I have a pretty good reason for being upset." He picked up his doublet, tugging it on as he walked from the room. Out in the hall, he freed his hair from the collar and pulled the belt tight at his slender waist. "Are you coming, Estel? You're the one that's so hot to get going." Legolas rolled his eyes as Aragorn slid down the banister. Humans were so impulsive. "Estel!' Lord Elrond roared from the dining hall, "How many more times am I going to have to tell you to stop doing that?" "Many, many more, Ada." Aragorn answered, grinning at the elf lord. "Did you sleep well, Legolas?" "Yes, thank you, my lord." The prince said glancing around the table. Ithilin sat to Elrond's right. Her long blond hair was pulled away from her pretty face, caught in a silver clasp, but cascaded over her slim shoulders. He could see, on either side of her head, two small braids hung concealed within the thick mane. "Lady Ithilin," He said taking the seat opposite her, "Aragorn and I are going hunting today. Would you care to join us?" Aragorn shot the prince an angry look. "She can not come." "Then neither can Arwen." Legolas glared back. "As much as I would enjoy a hunting trip, Prince Legolas. I fear Lord Elrond requires my presence here today." Ithilin gazed steadily at the prince, :I will not put myself in the middle of your quarrel, Legolas. Leave me out of it.: :I'm only trying to get a point across to him, 'Lin.: :Like I said, Leave me out of it.: Her mind voice was firm. She understood that Legolas wasn't trying to put her in the middle. The fact that the prince had not told anyone about their friendship, told her that he was very shy about it. :Will you be back tonight?: :I am going to guess the answer is 'Yes'.: he thought back. :Though it might be a good idea to stay away from the waterfall and the archery field.: :Afraid we might get caught, mellon-nîn?: :By Aragorn? Yes.: Ithilin chuckled softly, eliciting an arched eyebrow from the elf lord. She shook her head imperceptibly, staving off any further questioning from him. :Does Lord Elrond know?: the prince's mind voice was tinged with panic. :He only knows that we have become friends. Do not worry, Legolas, No one knows that we can speak mind to mind.: :But he knows that you can.: :Aye, but he does not know that I can speak to anyone else but him.: :What else have you told him, I wonder.: A small smile played at the corners of her slender mouth, :Don't get cocky, or I might just tell . . .: The look of horror that passed across his blue eyes made it hard for her to keep a straight face. "You ready?" "How long will we be gone?" Legolas asked as he finished his breakfast "What's the hurry? You don't have to go home for six weeks yet." Aragorn said off-handedly. "I just thought your father would like to know when to expect us back." Aragorn saw the elf lord's eyebrows creep into his hairline expectantly. "Well?" "A couple of days. Maybe three or four." The human shrugged, "Depends on the game." :Well so much for seeing you this evening,: He thought glumly at her. :I'll make it up to you when you get back.: :Promise?: She sent him a mental caress and pretended to lick something from her lips. Struggling to keep control of his features, he followed Aragorn from the hall. Just as he crossed the threshold he heard her voice in his mind, tinged with mirth, :Hmmm, I wonder what elves taste like?: Much to his amazement and Aragorn's amusement, Legolas tripped falling gracelessly to the floor. Ithilin's musical laughter reached his ears. He felt the heat of a fiery blush burn his fair cheeks. :You'll pay for that, mellon-nîn.: His mind whispered with mock menace coloring his words. :I certainly hope so. Otherwise I wouldn't have said it.: The prince looked over his shoulder at her. :You might not like what I have in mind.: :We shall see, won't we?: "May I ask what just happened?" Aragorn gasped through his laughter. Legolas stood, his head held high. "I don't know what you mean, Estel."
* * * Two days into the hunting trip Legolas rounded on Aragorn. "I have been here for three weeks, Estel. So far the only person that you have acknowledged the existence of is Arwen. Why is that?" the prince said in a soft voice. "Hello. I'm in love with her." "You asked me here. I was under the impression that I was your guest." "You're jealous." Aragorn stared incredulously at his friend. "Admit it. You're jealous." "I am not!" Legolas turned toward him. He was ready to slug the human. "I just don't like being ignored by my best friend." "I have not ignored you!" "Then what have we done together in the last three weeks, hmmm?" "Uh . . ." "Thought so. Your mind has been so preoccupied with Arwen you didn't even noticed that I was around." "Well what have you been up to for the last three weeks that I have been supposedly ignoring you?" "I've gone to the archery field with your brothers, gone swimming, tried to stir up some trouble. You know, the usual stuff WE do together." The prince spat back hotly, leaving out Ithilin's archery lessons. He was really angry and did not want to have to defend his friendship with the she- elf. Aragorn had brought this on himself. He was getting tired of being treated like an uninvited guest. "You're free to go home if you don't like it here." Hissed the human. Didn't Legolas understand what it was like to be in love. The entire world ceased to exist when the object of one's affections was around. "What do you see in her anyway. She is beautiful, yes. But I just don't see it." He turned away from the human and continued, "If you ask me, she has enough arrogance for all the elves combi-" Aragorn tackled the prince, sending him to the ground. The elf twisted in Aragorn's grasp, fighting to turn over. Aragorn caught his long blond hair in one hand, yanking the prince's head back painfully. Legolas yelped in surprise. One knee was pressed into the small of the elf's back making it too painful for him to struggle. "You are suppose to be my friend. I do not want to hear anything against Arwen again. Do you understand?" "If this is how you will treat me should I speak the truth, I do not think I want to remain your friend." He growled, ignoring the pain shooting up his spine as Aragorn's knee pressed down harder. Angrily, Aragorn yanked the elf's hair again. "I asked you if you understood, Legolas." Arching his back suddenly, the prince was able to throw Aragorn off of him. "I understand perfectly." He hissed, gathering up his quiver and bow. "When Arwen is around you don't want to be bothered with a friend who doesn't share your infatuation, is that it." Legolas faced his friend, blue eyes flashing dangerously, "Well, Aragorn son of Arathorn, I will not trouble you further with my unwanted presence." With that, Legolas stalked off into the forest, heading back to Lord Elrond's house.