"What disturbs your thoughts, young Prince of Mirkwood?" Elrond asked good-
naturedly as Legolas turned around, away from the scene unraveling below in
the garden. The half elf's gaze was steady and unwavering, and his clear
gray eyes pierced Legolas's blue ones as Legolas stared. Elrond was
standing just beyond his bed, his arms at his side and his stance relaxed.
The younger elf's eyes widened as he realized the elven lord had snuck in
without him even knowing.
He stood stock still, his back as straight as a spine as he shook his head. "Nothing, my lord." He answered smoothly, meeting Elrond's eyes with a firm gaze.
"Are you quite sure, Legolas?" Elrond pressed, taking a step closer, his eyebrow raised.
"Do you believe I would lie to you, my lord?" Legolas challenged, an unusual defiant tone in his voice. He had told Elrond he was fine; the subject should be dropped.
The mild surprise in Elrond's clear gray eyes told Legolas that his tone of voice had been disrespectful. He tore his eyes away from the searching gaze of the elf, as he should have done when first questioned.
"Forgive me, Lord Elrond. I was out of line. I am fine, I assure you." He said uttered, his voice low, his dark eyes clouding all signs of emotion.
Elrond considered him calmly for a moment before nodding tightly. "So be it."
"Was that all, my lord?" Legolas asked politely as Elrond continued to stand and stare at him.
"My apologies, young prince. I must ask you one more question."
Legolas nodded slightly, but dropped his eyes. He knew what this question was.
"If you are indeed *fine*, what gives you right to act so rude to a guest of Rivendell?"
The elf barely contained his wince, and his cheeks colored a little.
"I beg pardon, my lord. I- I did not think how my words would be taken."
Elrond raised an eyebrow, a slight smile playing on his lips.
"Oh, really? I think you knew exactly how they would be taken."
His tone was not unkind, but curious, as if he wondered what could cause the normally compassionate prince to act so cruelly. Something almost resembling laughter flickered deep in the half elf's eyes as the Prince sighed, but his voice was laced with disappointment.
Forcing his gaze to meet Elrond's, Legolas didn't say anything, but shrugged finally, unsure of what to say.
"What happened?" Elrond questioned softly. "Why do you look at her the way you do?"
Legolas's head snapped up, his gaze at once confused and irritated. "What way?"
Elrond sighed, glancing out into the garden where Elladan and Krystal were finally heading inside, laughing about something. "I cannot describe it. You look at her with regret and contempt, sadness and compassion, yet anger and scorn. And I do not know why."
"In the woods," Legolas said suddenly. "The day after she was found, she was going to leave so she wouldn't be a burden."
Elrond almost scoffed at him. "That's the cause of your contempt?"
Legolas smiled. "No sir. She took my arrows," he explained, and something flickered in his eyes, some form of understanding.
"Did she know your mother gave you the arrows?"
Legolas sighed before admitting: "No, my lord."
"Did you ever tell her?"
"No, my lord." He acknowledged, beginning to see where the half elf was going with this.
"So you hate her because she borrowed your arrows without asking?" Elrond asked gently, his brows raised.
When Legolas shot him a pointed look, Elrond raised his hands in mock surrender, a kind gaze easing the tense looks the Prince was giving him. "Just so I understand."
After a moment, Legolas nodded tightly. "I suppose you could look at it that way."
Elrond nodded back at him. "I see."
The two elves stared at each other blankly for a moment, before Elrond sighed. "Aa' lle corm kanu lle noldo, nessa er."* He whispered softly, before nodding slightly and leaving the elven prince alone with his thoughts. He could admit he was wrong, or continue spending his spare time thinking up scathing comments to cut her to pieces, as she was lost, confused and alone.
* May your heart lead you wisely, young one.
----------------------------------------
The next day
Krystal's eyes were huge as she took in every detail, staying close behind Aragorn and in front of Elladan, with Elrohir besides her as the four of them marched past the Rivendell training fields where the Royal Guards were instructed. Elven arrows, strong and true, flew in unison, landing swiftly in the middle of the miniscule red targets. Clashes of metal against metal ricocheted through the well lit clearing where the elves were practicing their fencing. Twisting, spinning, ducking and charging, it seemed almost like a strangely choreographed dance. Every elf wore the olive green training tunic, except for the instructors, who walked around correcting minor details.
Aragorn, glancing behind him, laughed at the expression on the girl's face. "Can you do that?" she asked curiously, addressing her question to all of them as she watched the arrows fly. Aragorn shrugged and shot her a grin.
"We try."
She laughed, but her eyes continued to widen as Elladan led the way to one of the less used fields. A target stood at the far end, but there was a wide clearing that the trees stood guard over, their thick branches hiding them from the curious eyes of the guards.
Pausing, Elladan and Elrohir threw down the gear they had been carrying, while Aragorn went to adjust the target, bringing it much, much closer. The wind had a slight chill to it as the blew softly through the trees, and Kyrstal wrapped the gray cloak she had borrowed from someone tighter around herself, so only her legging- clad legs were revealed to the biting wind. Her hair whipped around her face, though she had pinned it back so she could concentrate on her tasks.
Glancing down, she clutched the smooth bow in her hand tightly. The lightly weathered wood was flat to the touch, and the arrows she held in the quiver around her back gleamed in the weak sunlight. A rush of adrenaline raced through her, and she glanced up, eager to begin.
When everything was set up, Elladan walked over to her, smirking.
"Are you ready, my lady?" he asked with a smile. She nodded. "yea- it's all good. Show me how to work this thing."
Elladan quickly picked up his own bow, demonstrating the proper way to hold it. His fingers were light as he balanced the even wood against his shoulder, measuring up were his target was.
She stared quizzically at him, before lifting her own bow and grasping it tightly with her hands. Her knuckles began to turn white as she held the bow firmly, and her hands were too far apart.
Elladan smiled gently. "No, bring your hands closer together and spread your fingertips further apart, so you feel it every time the bow moves." He explained. Elrohir studied her critically.
"Lift it a little higher," he suggested easily from the sidelines, where he was sitting next to his human brother.
"It's not straight," Aragorn objected laughing, as he eyed the confused girl.
"It is too," She disputed noisily, cocking her head to look at the bow, which of course, made it even more crooked.
Elladan laughed. "Don't listen to them- they don't know what there talking about. Have you ever seen Estel shoot an arrow? Sad really, especially considering her grew up around elves..."
"Oh, shut up Elladan. Last time we left you alone with a sword you managed to give yourself a very unfortunate looking haircut..." the human fired back good naturedly.
Elladan bristled. "It grew back!"
Krystal laughed and brushed her hair out of her eyes before turning to them. "Come on, I want to know how to do this. Am I holding it right now?" She asked, her fingers at the exact length apart, but her hands too close together. Elladan and Aragorn continued to bicker, however, so Krystal shot the youngest twin a pleading look.
"Spread your hands apart more," Elrohir instructed critically, standing up and moving behind her with a nod.
Taking his place behind her, he reached over Krystal's shoulder to steady her hands. Finally, her hands and fingers were correct and she figured out how to keep them positioned that way. Shooting Elrohir a grateful grin, she let the bow drop, then picked it up again, her hands naturally falling in the correct position.
"Okay!" She said enthusiastically, her smile wide as she finally accomplished the terrific feat of - dun dun dun - holding the bow!
"Now what?"
"Now...you get an arrow." Aragorn answered her slowly, as if talking to a three year old.
She rolled her eyes, but smiled. "Thank you, Captain Obvious. How do I hold it?"
He carefully selected an arrow and stood up, leaning over to her bow. Cautiously positioning her fingers on the correct portions of the sharp blade so it wouldn't cut her as she aimed for the target, she followed his lead. When she had it right, he nodded.
"Okay- shoot."
"Not at me," he corrected as she raised the bow hesitantly, unsure. She smiled, and turned towards the target.
She held her breath as she let her fingers release, shutting her eyes as the arrow flew out of her hands. When she heard a snicker, she opened her eyes to find the arrow flat on the forest floor, not more than a foot in front of her.
She sighed exasperatingly at the laughing looks on the boy's faces. "Back to the drawing board," she muttered, about to make a scathing comment about there teaching skills when she felt another pair of eyes on her.
Glancing up, she found herself staring straight into Legolas's almost smiling eyes, where the elf stood watching in the thick trees.
"That wasn't your fault, Lady." He said suddenly, stepping into the clearing, his eyes beginning to smirk.
"And whose fault was it, then, O prince?" Krystal replied, startled but trying to inject the usual sarcasm into her voice. Legolas shot a look at Elrohir, who still stood behind her.
"Never trust a Noldor elf to teach you archery." He declared, and Elladan snorted.
"Never trust a Silvian elf to try and teach you the art of healing," he answered back, laughing.
"Well- what would you rather be able to do...kill the hundreds of Orcs attack you--"
"Or heal the wounds you will surely get since no one is invincible--"
"Least of all Noldor elves." Legolas answered with a grin, the mirth that had been lacking from his warm blue eyes finally returning.
"Okay, okay." Krystal interrupted smiling, though a bit confused as Elrohir opened his mouth to contribute. Noldor? Silvian? Whatever.
"If you're so great, Sir Prince, then why don't you show me how it's done?" She replied smiling, holding up her bow again. He nodded. "Surely."
Walking around behind her, he wrapped his arms around her so he could direct the movements of her fingers. His warm breath tickled her neck, and she stiffened unconsciously at his touch, longing to pull away.
"First off," he whispered in her ear, the smile he had on his face evident in his voice. "You're holding the bow crooked."
She nodded as he straightened it out, and then lightly placed a hand on her stomach. "Breathe in," he ordered softly. She inhaled obediently, though she didn't see the point.
"Breathe out."
She exhaled, and quickly noticed the her arrow was poiting directly at the bull's eye. Taking one more deep breath, his chest moving with her back, Legolas adjusted her middle and index fingers so they didn't interfere with the natural balance of the arrow.
"On three," he breathed softly, and she nodded slightly, barely moving so as not to disturb her position.
"One...two...three."
The arrow flew past the eyes of Aragorn, Elladan and Elrohir, and pierced the red dyed wood of the bull's eye firmly, sticking out rigidly.
"That's how it's done," Legolas said smugly, shooting Elladan a triumphant smile. Aragorn laughed and rolled his eyes.
"Elves."
He stood stock still, his back as straight as a spine as he shook his head. "Nothing, my lord." He answered smoothly, meeting Elrond's eyes with a firm gaze.
"Are you quite sure, Legolas?" Elrond pressed, taking a step closer, his eyebrow raised.
"Do you believe I would lie to you, my lord?" Legolas challenged, an unusual defiant tone in his voice. He had told Elrond he was fine; the subject should be dropped.
The mild surprise in Elrond's clear gray eyes told Legolas that his tone of voice had been disrespectful. He tore his eyes away from the searching gaze of the elf, as he should have done when first questioned.
"Forgive me, Lord Elrond. I was out of line. I am fine, I assure you." He said uttered, his voice low, his dark eyes clouding all signs of emotion.
Elrond considered him calmly for a moment before nodding tightly. "So be it."
"Was that all, my lord?" Legolas asked politely as Elrond continued to stand and stare at him.
"My apologies, young prince. I must ask you one more question."
Legolas nodded slightly, but dropped his eyes. He knew what this question was.
"If you are indeed *fine*, what gives you right to act so rude to a guest of Rivendell?"
The elf barely contained his wince, and his cheeks colored a little.
"I beg pardon, my lord. I- I did not think how my words would be taken."
Elrond raised an eyebrow, a slight smile playing on his lips.
"Oh, really? I think you knew exactly how they would be taken."
His tone was not unkind, but curious, as if he wondered what could cause the normally compassionate prince to act so cruelly. Something almost resembling laughter flickered deep in the half elf's eyes as the Prince sighed, but his voice was laced with disappointment.
Forcing his gaze to meet Elrond's, Legolas didn't say anything, but shrugged finally, unsure of what to say.
"What happened?" Elrond questioned softly. "Why do you look at her the way you do?"
Legolas's head snapped up, his gaze at once confused and irritated. "What way?"
Elrond sighed, glancing out into the garden where Elladan and Krystal were finally heading inside, laughing about something. "I cannot describe it. You look at her with regret and contempt, sadness and compassion, yet anger and scorn. And I do not know why."
"In the woods," Legolas said suddenly. "The day after she was found, she was going to leave so she wouldn't be a burden."
Elrond almost scoffed at him. "That's the cause of your contempt?"
Legolas smiled. "No sir. She took my arrows," he explained, and something flickered in his eyes, some form of understanding.
"Did she know your mother gave you the arrows?"
Legolas sighed before admitting: "No, my lord."
"Did you ever tell her?"
"No, my lord." He acknowledged, beginning to see where the half elf was going with this.
"So you hate her because she borrowed your arrows without asking?" Elrond asked gently, his brows raised.
When Legolas shot him a pointed look, Elrond raised his hands in mock surrender, a kind gaze easing the tense looks the Prince was giving him. "Just so I understand."
After a moment, Legolas nodded tightly. "I suppose you could look at it that way."
Elrond nodded back at him. "I see."
The two elves stared at each other blankly for a moment, before Elrond sighed. "Aa' lle corm kanu lle noldo, nessa er."* He whispered softly, before nodding slightly and leaving the elven prince alone with his thoughts. He could admit he was wrong, or continue spending his spare time thinking up scathing comments to cut her to pieces, as she was lost, confused and alone.
* May your heart lead you wisely, young one.
----------------------------------------
The next day
Krystal's eyes were huge as she took in every detail, staying close behind Aragorn and in front of Elladan, with Elrohir besides her as the four of them marched past the Rivendell training fields where the Royal Guards were instructed. Elven arrows, strong and true, flew in unison, landing swiftly in the middle of the miniscule red targets. Clashes of metal against metal ricocheted through the well lit clearing where the elves were practicing their fencing. Twisting, spinning, ducking and charging, it seemed almost like a strangely choreographed dance. Every elf wore the olive green training tunic, except for the instructors, who walked around correcting minor details.
Aragorn, glancing behind him, laughed at the expression on the girl's face. "Can you do that?" she asked curiously, addressing her question to all of them as she watched the arrows fly. Aragorn shrugged and shot her a grin.
"We try."
She laughed, but her eyes continued to widen as Elladan led the way to one of the less used fields. A target stood at the far end, but there was a wide clearing that the trees stood guard over, their thick branches hiding them from the curious eyes of the guards.
Pausing, Elladan and Elrohir threw down the gear they had been carrying, while Aragorn went to adjust the target, bringing it much, much closer. The wind had a slight chill to it as the blew softly through the trees, and Kyrstal wrapped the gray cloak she had borrowed from someone tighter around herself, so only her legging- clad legs were revealed to the biting wind. Her hair whipped around her face, though she had pinned it back so she could concentrate on her tasks.
Glancing down, she clutched the smooth bow in her hand tightly. The lightly weathered wood was flat to the touch, and the arrows she held in the quiver around her back gleamed in the weak sunlight. A rush of adrenaline raced through her, and she glanced up, eager to begin.
When everything was set up, Elladan walked over to her, smirking.
"Are you ready, my lady?" he asked with a smile. She nodded. "yea- it's all good. Show me how to work this thing."
Elladan quickly picked up his own bow, demonstrating the proper way to hold it. His fingers were light as he balanced the even wood against his shoulder, measuring up were his target was.
She stared quizzically at him, before lifting her own bow and grasping it tightly with her hands. Her knuckles began to turn white as she held the bow firmly, and her hands were too far apart.
Elladan smiled gently. "No, bring your hands closer together and spread your fingertips further apart, so you feel it every time the bow moves." He explained. Elrohir studied her critically.
"Lift it a little higher," he suggested easily from the sidelines, where he was sitting next to his human brother.
"It's not straight," Aragorn objected laughing, as he eyed the confused girl.
"It is too," She disputed noisily, cocking her head to look at the bow, which of course, made it even more crooked.
Elladan laughed. "Don't listen to them- they don't know what there talking about. Have you ever seen Estel shoot an arrow? Sad really, especially considering her grew up around elves..."
"Oh, shut up Elladan. Last time we left you alone with a sword you managed to give yourself a very unfortunate looking haircut..." the human fired back good naturedly.
Elladan bristled. "It grew back!"
Krystal laughed and brushed her hair out of her eyes before turning to them. "Come on, I want to know how to do this. Am I holding it right now?" She asked, her fingers at the exact length apart, but her hands too close together. Elladan and Aragorn continued to bicker, however, so Krystal shot the youngest twin a pleading look.
"Spread your hands apart more," Elrohir instructed critically, standing up and moving behind her with a nod.
Taking his place behind her, he reached over Krystal's shoulder to steady her hands. Finally, her hands and fingers were correct and she figured out how to keep them positioned that way. Shooting Elrohir a grateful grin, she let the bow drop, then picked it up again, her hands naturally falling in the correct position.
"Okay!" She said enthusiastically, her smile wide as she finally accomplished the terrific feat of - dun dun dun - holding the bow!
"Now what?"
"Now...you get an arrow." Aragorn answered her slowly, as if talking to a three year old.
She rolled her eyes, but smiled. "Thank you, Captain Obvious. How do I hold it?"
He carefully selected an arrow and stood up, leaning over to her bow. Cautiously positioning her fingers on the correct portions of the sharp blade so it wouldn't cut her as she aimed for the target, she followed his lead. When she had it right, he nodded.
"Okay- shoot."
"Not at me," he corrected as she raised the bow hesitantly, unsure. She smiled, and turned towards the target.
She held her breath as she let her fingers release, shutting her eyes as the arrow flew out of her hands. When she heard a snicker, she opened her eyes to find the arrow flat on the forest floor, not more than a foot in front of her.
She sighed exasperatingly at the laughing looks on the boy's faces. "Back to the drawing board," she muttered, about to make a scathing comment about there teaching skills when she felt another pair of eyes on her.
Glancing up, she found herself staring straight into Legolas's almost smiling eyes, where the elf stood watching in the thick trees.
"That wasn't your fault, Lady." He said suddenly, stepping into the clearing, his eyes beginning to smirk.
"And whose fault was it, then, O prince?" Krystal replied, startled but trying to inject the usual sarcasm into her voice. Legolas shot a look at Elrohir, who still stood behind her.
"Never trust a Noldor elf to teach you archery." He declared, and Elladan snorted.
"Never trust a Silvian elf to try and teach you the art of healing," he answered back, laughing.
"Well- what would you rather be able to do...kill the hundreds of Orcs attack you--"
"Or heal the wounds you will surely get since no one is invincible--"
"Least of all Noldor elves." Legolas answered with a grin, the mirth that had been lacking from his warm blue eyes finally returning.
"Okay, okay." Krystal interrupted smiling, though a bit confused as Elrohir opened his mouth to contribute. Noldor? Silvian? Whatever.
"If you're so great, Sir Prince, then why don't you show me how it's done?" She replied smiling, holding up her bow again. He nodded. "Surely."
Walking around behind her, he wrapped his arms around her so he could direct the movements of her fingers. His warm breath tickled her neck, and she stiffened unconsciously at his touch, longing to pull away.
"First off," he whispered in her ear, the smile he had on his face evident in his voice. "You're holding the bow crooked."
She nodded as he straightened it out, and then lightly placed a hand on her stomach. "Breathe in," he ordered softly. She inhaled obediently, though she didn't see the point.
"Breathe out."
She exhaled, and quickly noticed the her arrow was poiting directly at the bull's eye. Taking one more deep breath, his chest moving with her back, Legolas adjusted her middle and index fingers so they didn't interfere with the natural balance of the arrow.
"On three," he breathed softly, and she nodded slightly, barely moving so as not to disturb her position.
"One...two...three."
The arrow flew past the eyes of Aragorn, Elladan and Elrohir, and pierced the red dyed wood of the bull's eye firmly, sticking out rigidly.
"That's how it's done," Legolas said smugly, shooting Elladan a triumphant smile. Aragorn laughed and rolled his eyes.
"Elves."