I stormed through the forest of Mirkwood. My feet were carrying me over the ground without a sound. I could hear the shouts of my brothers, calling for me to slow down. Calling for me to come back. But I would not slow down nor would I come back. They had infuriated me and they could live with their guilt. They had insulted my archery skills. Sure, I was a bit inept in the archery department, but I was working on it. They had no right to rub it into my face, when I had done nothing to them! I vowed then and there I would exceed all of them with the bow, which I eventually did. But I did not know that then and I was still angry. I had run for I do not how long when I stopped. I leapt lightly up into the closest tree.
They were close. I could hear them. Lossenethir sounded concerned, Celebiathion was laughing, Guyaturion, Maikalindë and Thalionlass were conversing on how to help me, Windarion was laughing too as was Nilfacion.
"You must apologise for that, the three of you! It was rude and uncalled for!" Lossenethir said you could hear the anger in his voice.
"I know… We know," Celebiathion said.
They were coming up to my tree. Soon, they were beneath me, I stilled my breathing. I was sure Lossenethir could hear my heart by the way he stopped so abruptly. He held up his hands for his brothers to be quiet. Then, he pointed above himself, without looking up. I drew a sharp breath before I leapt from the tree and dashed further into the forest. I heard all seven of them swear and I laughed. I enjoyed making them mad. At their own expense of course.
I ran through the trees and did this big loop of sorts back toward the palace. I jumped from the last tree and dashed through the field that Guyaturion was almost born in. I dashed up the front steps and through the main entrance. I ran to the library and hid.
If they wanted to apologize they could find me and do so properly. I know it's childish, but I was nearly 1800 years old then. I felt it was perfectly fine to do so. So I waited, for quite sometime. I do not know how many times I heard them run past the door.
Then, finally, Guyaturion walked into the library. I held my breath as he passed the bookshelf I was under. He passed it numerous times. He walked by then turned back and stopped. He bent down quickly and found me.
"Plan to stay here forever, little one?" He smiled, he held out a hand for me.
"No… It's just they had no right to say that I look like an orc. Nothing justifies that!" I said taking his hand. It seemed I had not cooled down.
"Well, they are looking to apologize to you," he pointed out.
"That does not make me any less angry!" I retorted as I brushed myself off.
"Aye. That's right, it doesn't," he smiled again. "You know what you must do?"
I looked up into his eyes. "What?"
"You have got to become the best archer. Beat them at their own game. Then, give them a taste of their own medicine," he winked. I brightened at the opportunity.
"Will you help me?" I asked eagerly.
"Of course I will. How could I not?"
"Thank you!" I hugged him. After that we went to the gardens. They would find us there.
* * *
"I ask forgiveness for my earlier comment. I was just joking, I did not think you would take it quite so seriously. I truly don't feel you look like an orc," Celebiathion said. He was the last to apologize to me. I had accepted them all with a stern nod. I think this intimidated them, just a little, even if I was shorter than them.
* * *
The sun was just rising and I was on the archery field. I had hung fruit and clay pots from the trees at the far end of it. So far, I had managed to hit two. I had vowed to stay out there as long as necessary to hit every single one of the targets.
I strung my bow, notched an arrow and aimed. At the exact moment I pulled the string and a strand of my hair fell into my eyes. I sighed in exasperation as I threw my bow and the arrow to the ground and I ripped a leather string from my shirt. Then, I tied my hair back and went back to my practice.
It took me a few tries but I hit the third target. I was gaining my confidence. I tried again. It only took one shot and I hit the fourth. It was getting easy. I was happy. I was so excited. I was having fun. Who looks like an orc now? I thought. I had easily felled all of my targets by 8:30 am. I turned to leave and I ran right into another elf.
"Not bad," he said checking out my shots on the fruit and shattered pots.
"Thanks," I said as I turned to leave. He stepped into my way. I looked up into his face annoyed.
He had mischievous green eyes. Long brown, almost black, hair fell to his waist and there was a single braided strand that hung in his face. It didn't seem to bother him, hanging in his face. He wore just a white undershirt and dark brown, soft leather leggings. He looked about twenty two hundred years old. Suddenly, he grinned widely.
"You must be Legolas," he pointed out.
"And you are?" I asked slightly agitated at the fact that he knew my name and I didn't know his.
"Elrohir of Imladris," he informed me matter-of-factly. My brothers had talked of the twins of Imladris often. This elf was amazing. I never imagined him looking like this.
"Nice to meet you and yes I am Legolas," I replied a little brightly.
"We had heard you were born just outside of the borders. I never imagined you'd be cuter than your brother Windarion," he smirked. I felt the embarrassment flush my cheeks crimson. This made Elrohir laugh. I had never been addressed as such and certainly not from a male.
"I'm sorry but I must return to the palace. You may accompany me if you like," I said politely, wishing he would decline.
"I would like that," he said in mock politeness. Why do my wishes always go unanswered?
"Very well," I sighed and I picked up my bow, slung it on my back and walked toward the palace. He followed silently. I should have probably tried to make some sort of conversation, but I didn't. I think his earlier comment had startled me, just a little.
The sky had suddenly gone dark. I wrapped my cloak around me. This still didn't stave off the cold. I began to shiver. A storm was coming. It was only 8:45 am, roughly. I bet all of my brothers were still asleep. No doubt Lossenethir was on the balcony, preparing to watch the storm. He loved them.
"It looks like rain," Elrohir pointed out.
"I noticed," just as I finished my sarcastic, the rain began to pour. I took off running. Elrohir was beside me. We both entered the palace through a servant's entrance.
Elrohir was soaked to the bone. His white shirt clung to him. He was quite handsome in all of his glory, standing there, soaking wet. His dark hair was wet and glistening. I must admit I was a little attracted to him. I averted my eyes from him as I went about putting my bow and things down. Once I had set my stuff down and I walked to the door.
"Would you like to dry off?" I asked. His attention snapped to my face in an instant. He was gazing slightly down when I had asked the question. I just noticed that the string I had used to tie my hair was a good chunk of the lacing for the front of my shirt and it was now hanging open. I blushed again for the millionth time. He smiled.
"Of course I would," he said. We walked to my room; I must say that was the last place I wanted to be.
"So…" I began trying to make polite conversation. "When did you get to Mirkwood?"
"Just as you began tying your targets to the trees," he said as I bustled around the room.
"Oh, that long?" I asked startled I had not noticed him. I guess I was so concentrated on my task that I was oblivious to the world around me.
"Well, I was here first. My brother and my parents will be here around noon," he said simply.
"Oh," was all I could manage. I felt a hand run across my lower back. I stood upright quickly and spun around, wide-eyed. "What are-?"
In one swift movement he had me up against the wall. We were face to face. Almost nose to nose and all I could do was stare.
"Let's cut the formalities," he whispered. And I stared. He had to have been at least 300 years older than me.
"Let's not," and with that, I ducked under his arm and was to the door of my room in an instant. "I'm sure Thalion and Maika will be happy to see you."
Elrohir sighed and we walked down the hall toward the twins' room. I occasionally pointed things out that might be of interest to the elf. Soon we were nearing the twins' room. I was just about to knock on the door when it flung open and Maika burst out of the room. He looked at me long enough for me to register he was crying, before he buried his face in his hands and ran down the hall. I ran after him. Elrohir had entered the twins' room with Thalion. 'So you both…' was the last thing I heard him say as I dashed to where Maika had gone.
I ran down the long hall in which he had turned. I was straining my ears, listening for him. I ran past Lossenethir's door when I heard him. I back tracked to his room and knocked. No answer.
"It's me, Legolas," I whispered through the door. I heard some frantic whispering and some pleading.
"Come in," Lossenethir said finally.
I entered the room to find my two brothers on the floor and Maika crying. Lossenethir held him in his arms and just let Maika cry.
Disclaimer: Tolkien owns a chunk of this. I own anything unknown.
A/N: It took me forever… But I did it a ninth time… Yet another chapter. If you want know why Maika is crying you may want to read 'It Matters, Not" in the next couple of days. Anyway, I hope you like it… So tell me what you think by reviewing… I figured something out!! Fanfiction writers don't and can't get paid so you pay them when you review!! : ) Anyway. I'm gone. Thanks for reading, Luv Gia