~*Chapter 4*~ Arrogant Prince
Leuthil went once more to the kitchen to see if Voronwer had something more for her to do. "Is there anything else Voronwer?"
"No, I will give you the rest of the day off seeing how much stress it caused you to carry a trey."
Leuthil smiled at her. "Thank you Voronwer."
"Before you leave, you should go get some new dresses dear. You have had these far too long and they cover everything. Goodness knows you will never get yourself a husband."
"I am not preoccupied with finding myself a husband in these times of tragedy, and what is wrong with my dresses?" Leuthil said looking down at what she was wearing.
Voronwer sighed. Leuthil smiled, she had always looked at Voronwer as a motherly figure, except she did not talk to her and tell her everything as she would her own mother, if her mother were with her still. Yet, she still had a soft spot for the very old elf.
She went up to her flet. She walked in and looked around 'what shall I do today?' she thought to herself. She had many books and many other blank books in which she would write. On a small table she had a sword and a bow with a quiver of arrows, she had not moved them in quite some time. She decided to stay in and clean up. Her bed was not made, and many dresses were thrown around in her room.
Leuthil was surprised at this. She was usually a very clean elf. She quickly picked up and was surprised at how quickly she had done so. Her flet was very small so it was not a big problem.
She then decided to go practice her archery. Maybe that would take her boredom away. 'Lothlorien is very beautiful but sometimes it seems dull, I suppose I can practice my weaponry skills. I have not picked up a bow in at least 25 years' she thought to herself.
She changed into her tunic, leggings and boots. Her friend Eller had given them to her. He was one of the smaller male elfs. They did not make tunics for women in Lothlorien and so he was the only one whom came even close to being Leuthil's size. Yet even though Eller was small for a male elf he was still tall and muscular. So the tunic and leggings fit her rather loosely. Still, they were more comfortable to practice in than a dress, even if she did look strange. She decided to make herself a tunic and leggings later on.
She had to fold back the sleeves and the leggings at the bottom. The leggings were easy as she wore boots, so she simply tucked the extra cloth into the high boots. The boots fit her well as they were her own. The sleeves of the tunic looked rather funny. She folded them outwards to make it look like a ¾ long sleeve. She changed quickly.
She then strapped the quiver of arrows to her back and her long but very light sword at her waste. She carried her bow.
She walked down onto the archery fields, which were open to all whom wished to use them.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Legolas was first to finish breakfast as he ate the least. He waited for the rest of them to finish. He then got up and decided to go walk among the Galadhrim.
"Where are you off to Master elf?" he heard the dwarf say.
"I shall go for a walk." Legolas and Gimli were still not getting along very well though they were both trying. It was a very slow process as the dwarf very often irritated Legolas. Legolas was still very angry about having to walk blindfolded because of the dwarf, he was glad the Leuthil had led him or else he would have missed all of the beautiful forest. Legolas was glad he had gotten the chance to mock the dwarf earlier while they ate breakfast.
"Maybe when the resentment passes of you having made me walk blindfolded through this beautiful forest I shall invite you", he said suddenly feeling bad about acting so mean towards Gimli.
"Very well, no need to be rude about it." Gimli mumbled to himself.
"I can hear what you are saying under your breath Gimli", Legolas told him.
He then took his weapons and walked into the forest. He came upon his old friend Rumil after some time of walking about alone. "Rumil! Where are you off to?"
"I came to deliver a message for my brother Haldir, but I suppose I do not have to return immediately. Are you on your way to the archery range?"
"No, I was simply walking through this beautiful wood. Though I did not know you had an archery range."
"Yes, we do have one. I will lead you there if you like, but I cannot stay long, or else Haldir will surely throw a fit."
"Very well, lead the way. So tell me Rumil, what of the elf whom you were courting." Legolas said as they walked slowly through the forest.
"I miss her so Legolas. She traveled to Rivendell with her parents. We still write to each other frequently though."
"Yes, Vanya was a very fine-looking elf. Funny, I did not see her on my last trip through Rivendell."
"And what about you Legolas? Is there a lucky elf?"
"No, there is not. I do not think I shall ever find love. But tell me what news of Orophin and Haldir's love lives."
Rumil laughed. "Well you know Haldir I do not think he will ever stick to only one, and well Orophin is shy but he is very much in love, though she does not return it."
"And who is 'she'", Legolas asked.
"I do not think you know her. Her name is Leuthil. She is very strange and I am surprised Orophin has taking such a liking to her."
"Really? Tell me more of this Leuthil." Legolas told Rumil.
"Well she is very good with a sword, she is alright with the bow and arrow, but her real strength is how she runs. She may be short but she runs faster than anyone I have seen in many years."
"Then she sounds like a good match for Orophin. She sounds strong and is that not good for someone as shy as Orophin?"
"Yes, I would think so. Legolas I must leave now, but just walk straight through those trees and you will come into a large clearing. I also wanted to give you condolences on the wretched news of what happened to Mithrandir. I shall hopefully speak with you later."
"Yes, farewell Rumil, and thank you for your concern." They parted ways and Legolas walked in the direction, which Rumil had told him.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Leuthil came to the large clearing. She took an arrow and fitted it to the bow. She let it fly through the air and it did not hit the bull's-eye. She sighed in frustration. It had been too long since she had last practiced. She let another arrow go and this time it did not even hit the board at which she was aiming. She growled in frustration once more.
She then heard far off someone laughing. Who could it be? Then from behind a tree came Legolas. 'Why him?' she thought to herself.
"Rumil must have been lying to me." He said in a mocking voice.
"Of what do you speak?" said Leuthil determinedly glaring into his eyes. She would not take being laughed at.
"Well, he said you were a very good at archery and swords. I did not know Rumil to be a liar." He said still laughing. He looked at her closely now. He thought she truly did look humorous in what she was wearing. The tunic and leggings were far too large for her.
"He was not lying, but I have not picked up a bow in more than 25 years! Do not laugh at me!" she said anger growing inside her. She did not know why this elf made her angry when she was in his presence. He annoyed her for some reason. This had not happened before as Leuthil found herself to be a nice person towards others.
"Forgive me. I did not mean to anger you. It only seems odd to me that a maiden takes joy in sports of men."
"So you think because I am of the weaker gender I cannot participate in these types of things."
"No need to get angry, it is only that I did not think someone like yourself would be able to wield a sword properly", Legolas said still keeping his cool thinking she would not take it badly.
"How dare you?! What do you mean someone like me? You are nothing more than an arrogant prince! No one will laugh at me and get away with it" She then turned but not before Legolas grabbed her arm.
"Why do you become so angry?" he asked her.
"Because everyone should have respect for others. I was simply practicing and here you come laughing at me."
"I did not think you would take it badly."
"Well I did. Maybe next time you will think before you act." She then forcefully took her arm out of his grasp and walked away.
Legolas stayed behind smiling. Well, this was a first. No other maiden had spoken to him in such a way. She truly was different. Any other maiden would have most likely just started flirting with him. How strange that she had taken it so badly. Maybe that was a sensitive subject for her, he thought. Still he did not think she would have gotten so upset, all he wanted was to talk to her.
He quietly followed her. He was surprised that she did not notice him so closely behind her. He followed her for quite sometime. He supposed she was not going to go to her flet, but instead walk around.
Leuthil walked away from him. He made her so mad. 'Why do I keep meeting with him?' she thought, 'he could at least act a little nicer'. She would walk around the woods to calm down. She didn't feel like going home.
She then heard something behind her and quickly turned. He was there yet again. "How long have you been following me?" she asked him.
"Since you left the archery range." He said so confidently. ' I truly need to take listening lessons from Haldir' Leuthil thought to herself.
"Well, why do you insist on following me? Have I not made it clear that I am not fond of you?" she said.
Legolas was yet again surprised by her blunt manner of speaking. "Yes, you have. Why do you not wish to speak with me?"
"Because you have acted rudely towards me when I have done nothing at all to you."
"I did not mean to be rude. I simply thought you were a more light-hearted person."
"So you expect all maidens to be the same. To giggle at any handsome elf's comments even when they do not find them amusing."
"I suppose yes, but I have come to find that you are not like other maidens. I like that. You know life becomes dull when you have seen everything there is to see."
"Yes, you are right. Life does become dull after you feel like you have seen everything."
"So why did I annoy you so easily? I did not mean to do so."
"I have been having a bad day."
"And why is that?"
"Why do you care? Leave me be. I think the response I would give would make you feel insulted."
"No, I do not think so, after being called an arrogant prince I do not think there is much worse. Tell me we shall see."
"No, I do not like being a mean person."
"Come now! I will not take it in a mean way. I promise."
"Well I was annoyed because somehow I have managed to meet you many times in the short amount of time since you arrived, and not in the best of circumstances, and then the horrible news of Mithrandir."
"And why does that annoy you? Maybe it is fate? Yet I agree, we have not met in the best of circumstances, but that was only once. The two other times were not so bad. I am also very hurt from what has happened to our friend Gandalf but I still do not act so callously." He said quickly trying to think of something else to say, "Would you like to join me for a walk?" he hoped she would say yes. For once he wished to speak with an elvin maiden who actually had a mind of her own.
"Do you think because we have talked I am no longer angry?"
"Please do not be angry. I promise not to say anything else that might offend you. Please at least give me a chance. I promise to make it up to you."
"I do not know", she said looking away.
"Do not be so stubborn!" he said trying to make her understand. "Maybe you can even show me one of your poems."
"I will walk with you", she said surprised that he remembered about her poems, "but this does not mean I am not angry. You have showed no reverence and I do not like people like that", she wasn't jesting. She really was heated and it would take a long time for him to gain her respect. Like she said no one mocked her and got away with it.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Please review!! I hope you liked it!!! Give me your opinions on what you think should happen next!!
Leuthil went once more to the kitchen to see if Voronwer had something more for her to do. "Is there anything else Voronwer?"
"No, I will give you the rest of the day off seeing how much stress it caused you to carry a trey."
Leuthil smiled at her. "Thank you Voronwer."
"Before you leave, you should go get some new dresses dear. You have had these far too long and they cover everything. Goodness knows you will never get yourself a husband."
"I am not preoccupied with finding myself a husband in these times of tragedy, and what is wrong with my dresses?" Leuthil said looking down at what she was wearing.
Voronwer sighed. Leuthil smiled, she had always looked at Voronwer as a motherly figure, except she did not talk to her and tell her everything as she would her own mother, if her mother were with her still. Yet, she still had a soft spot for the very old elf.
She went up to her flet. She walked in and looked around 'what shall I do today?' she thought to herself. She had many books and many other blank books in which she would write. On a small table she had a sword and a bow with a quiver of arrows, she had not moved them in quite some time. She decided to stay in and clean up. Her bed was not made, and many dresses were thrown around in her room.
Leuthil was surprised at this. She was usually a very clean elf. She quickly picked up and was surprised at how quickly she had done so. Her flet was very small so it was not a big problem.
She then decided to go practice her archery. Maybe that would take her boredom away. 'Lothlorien is very beautiful but sometimes it seems dull, I suppose I can practice my weaponry skills. I have not picked up a bow in at least 25 years' she thought to herself.
She changed into her tunic, leggings and boots. Her friend Eller had given them to her. He was one of the smaller male elfs. They did not make tunics for women in Lothlorien and so he was the only one whom came even close to being Leuthil's size. Yet even though Eller was small for a male elf he was still tall and muscular. So the tunic and leggings fit her rather loosely. Still, they were more comfortable to practice in than a dress, even if she did look strange. She decided to make herself a tunic and leggings later on.
She had to fold back the sleeves and the leggings at the bottom. The leggings were easy as she wore boots, so she simply tucked the extra cloth into the high boots. The boots fit her well as they were her own. The sleeves of the tunic looked rather funny. She folded them outwards to make it look like a ¾ long sleeve. She changed quickly.
She then strapped the quiver of arrows to her back and her long but very light sword at her waste. She carried her bow.
She walked down onto the archery fields, which were open to all whom wished to use them.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Legolas was first to finish breakfast as he ate the least. He waited for the rest of them to finish. He then got up and decided to go walk among the Galadhrim.
"Where are you off to Master elf?" he heard the dwarf say.
"I shall go for a walk." Legolas and Gimli were still not getting along very well though they were both trying. It was a very slow process as the dwarf very often irritated Legolas. Legolas was still very angry about having to walk blindfolded because of the dwarf, he was glad the Leuthil had led him or else he would have missed all of the beautiful forest. Legolas was glad he had gotten the chance to mock the dwarf earlier while they ate breakfast.
"Maybe when the resentment passes of you having made me walk blindfolded through this beautiful forest I shall invite you", he said suddenly feeling bad about acting so mean towards Gimli.
"Very well, no need to be rude about it." Gimli mumbled to himself.
"I can hear what you are saying under your breath Gimli", Legolas told him.
He then took his weapons and walked into the forest. He came upon his old friend Rumil after some time of walking about alone. "Rumil! Where are you off to?"
"I came to deliver a message for my brother Haldir, but I suppose I do not have to return immediately. Are you on your way to the archery range?"
"No, I was simply walking through this beautiful wood. Though I did not know you had an archery range."
"Yes, we do have one. I will lead you there if you like, but I cannot stay long, or else Haldir will surely throw a fit."
"Very well, lead the way. So tell me Rumil, what of the elf whom you were courting." Legolas said as they walked slowly through the forest.
"I miss her so Legolas. She traveled to Rivendell with her parents. We still write to each other frequently though."
"Yes, Vanya was a very fine-looking elf. Funny, I did not see her on my last trip through Rivendell."
"And what about you Legolas? Is there a lucky elf?"
"No, there is not. I do not think I shall ever find love. But tell me what news of Orophin and Haldir's love lives."
Rumil laughed. "Well you know Haldir I do not think he will ever stick to only one, and well Orophin is shy but he is very much in love, though she does not return it."
"And who is 'she'", Legolas asked.
"I do not think you know her. Her name is Leuthil. She is very strange and I am surprised Orophin has taking such a liking to her."
"Really? Tell me more of this Leuthil." Legolas told Rumil.
"Well she is very good with a sword, she is alright with the bow and arrow, but her real strength is how she runs. She may be short but she runs faster than anyone I have seen in many years."
"Then she sounds like a good match for Orophin. She sounds strong and is that not good for someone as shy as Orophin?"
"Yes, I would think so. Legolas I must leave now, but just walk straight through those trees and you will come into a large clearing. I also wanted to give you condolences on the wretched news of what happened to Mithrandir. I shall hopefully speak with you later."
"Yes, farewell Rumil, and thank you for your concern." They parted ways and Legolas walked in the direction, which Rumil had told him.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Leuthil came to the large clearing. She took an arrow and fitted it to the bow. She let it fly through the air and it did not hit the bull's-eye. She sighed in frustration. It had been too long since she had last practiced. She let another arrow go and this time it did not even hit the board at which she was aiming. She growled in frustration once more.
She then heard far off someone laughing. Who could it be? Then from behind a tree came Legolas. 'Why him?' she thought to herself.
"Rumil must have been lying to me." He said in a mocking voice.
"Of what do you speak?" said Leuthil determinedly glaring into his eyes. She would not take being laughed at.
"Well, he said you were a very good at archery and swords. I did not know Rumil to be a liar." He said still laughing. He looked at her closely now. He thought she truly did look humorous in what she was wearing. The tunic and leggings were far too large for her.
"He was not lying, but I have not picked up a bow in more than 25 years! Do not laugh at me!" she said anger growing inside her. She did not know why this elf made her angry when she was in his presence. He annoyed her for some reason. This had not happened before as Leuthil found herself to be a nice person towards others.
"Forgive me. I did not mean to anger you. It only seems odd to me that a maiden takes joy in sports of men."
"So you think because I am of the weaker gender I cannot participate in these types of things."
"No need to get angry, it is only that I did not think someone like yourself would be able to wield a sword properly", Legolas said still keeping his cool thinking she would not take it badly.
"How dare you?! What do you mean someone like me? You are nothing more than an arrogant prince! No one will laugh at me and get away with it" She then turned but not before Legolas grabbed her arm.
"Why do you become so angry?" he asked her.
"Because everyone should have respect for others. I was simply practicing and here you come laughing at me."
"I did not think you would take it badly."
"Well I did. Maybe next time you will think before you act." She then forcefully took her arm out of his grasp and walked away.
Legolas stayed behind smiling. Well, this was a first. No other maiden had spoken to him in such a way. She truly was different. Any other maiden would have most likely just started flirting with him. How strange that she had taken it so badly. Maybe that was a sensitive subject for her, he thought. Still he did not think she would have gotten so upset, all he wanted was to talk to her.
He quietly followed her. He was surprised that she did not notice him so closely behind her. He followed her for quite sometime. He supposed she was not going to go to her flet, but instead walk around.
Leuthil walked away from him. He made her so mad. 'Why do I keep meeting with him?' she thought, 'he could at least act a little nicer'. She would walk around the woods to calm down. She didn't feel like going home.
She then heard something behind her and quickly turned. He was there yet again. "How long have you been following me?" she asked him.
"Since you left the archery range." He said so confidently. ' I truly need to take listening lessons from Haldir' Leuthil thought to herself.
"Well, why do you insist on following me? Have I not made it clear that I am not fond of you?" she said.
Legolas was yet again surprised by her blunt manner of speaking. "Yes, you have. Why do you not wish to speak with me?"
"Because you have acted rudely towards me when I have done nothing at all to you."
"I did not mean to be rude. I simply thought you were a more light-hearted person."
"So you expect all maidens to be the same. To giggle at any handsome elf's comments even when they do not find them amusing."
"I suppose yes, but I have come to find that you are not like other maidens. I like that. You know life becomes dull when you have seen everything there is to see."
"Yes, you are right. Life does become dull after you feel like you have seen everything."
"So why did I annoy you so easily? I did not mean to do so."
"I have been having a bad day."
"And why is that?"
"Why do you care? Leave me be. I think the response I would give would make you feel insulted."
"No, I do not think so, after being called an arrogant prince I do not think there is much worse. Tell me we shall see."
"No, I do not like being a mean person."
"Come now! I will not take it in a mean way. I promise."
"Well I was annoyed because somehow I have managed to meet you many times in the short amount of time since you arrived, and not in the best of circumstances, and then the horrible news of Mithrandir."
"And why does that annoy you? Maybe it is fate? Yet I agree, we have not met in the best of circumstances, but that was only once. The two other times were not so bad. I am also very hurt from what has happened to our friend Gandalf but I still do not act so callously." He said quickly trying to think of something else to say, "Would you like to join me for a walk?" he hoped she would say yes. For once he wished to speak with an elvin maiden who actually had a mind of her own.
"Do you think because we have talked I am no longer angry?"
"Please do not be angry. I promise not to say anything else that might offend you. Please at least give me a chance. I promise to make it up to you."
"I do not know", she said looking away.
"Do not be so stubborn!" he said trying to make her understand. "Maybe you can even show me one of your poems."
"I will walk with you", she said surprised that he remembered about her poems, "but this does not mean I am not angry. You have showed no reverence and I do not like people like that", she wasn't jesting. She really was heated and it would take a long time for him to gain her respect. Like she said no one mocked her and got away with it.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Please review!! I hope you liked it!!! Give me your opinions on what you think should happen next!!