Chapter Five - The First Lesson
Legolas idly speared one of the vegetables on his plate and brought it to his lips. He was sure that whatever the meal was, it had been delicious and that the kitchen staff must have spent hours preparing it, but he had never been one for the appreciation of gourmet cuisine. He usually wolfed down his food so that he could get to the serious business of drinking.
Tonight he would not be able to concentrate even if he did care what was on his plate. His head was too full of other things. He had been saddened not to see Lady Valmari at dinner that night, or indeed the night before. The Queen, his mother, had informed him that she and her parents were dining with friends, but would join then again at the palace before they returned to their home in the Western Forest.
Another thing that was bothering him was Pernella Greenacre. She was sat just a few spaces down from him on the other side of the table and her gaze hadn't left his face for the whole meal. Whenever he made the mistake of looking up in her general direction, her face instantly changed to a flirtatious smile and her eyelashes would start fluttering, making her look like she was having a fit. He knew that maybe it was unfair of him to act this way with women he had seduced, but it was best for everyone. He had never bedded a lady who he thought he could possibly love. He did not want to give them false hope by making them think that he could hold any affection for them.
Finally there was Ariel. She confused him more than anything else. She was so young, barely more than a new-born in terms of the elven world. But when she spoke or acted she had such authority in her presence that you could be fooled into believing that she was the oldest and wisest of the elves. When he was able to catch her eyes and look into them, he could see the conflict between her youth and her untimely wisdom. Whatever she did, he could see than she was determined to succeed in her duty. The problem was, Legolas wasn't sure that he wanted her to succeed. He wasn't ready for love. If he fell in love he would have to give up seducing any lady that took his fancy. Why would he want to do that?
He looked up and noticed that the party had all finished eating and were waiting for him to put down his cutlery so that they might leave. He took a last mouthful and stood. The rest of the party followed suit. He could see Pernella plotting how best to get close to him tonight. He had to get out of there quickly. He hastily asked his Father's permission to leave and made his retreat.
He ran through the corridors, knowing that if he walked, Pernella would be upon him. He knew that this was the only way of getting through to women that he was not interested in more from them than they had already given. He simply did not want to see Pernella Greenacre again. She was good, but she wasn't that good.
He burst into his chambers and slammed the door behind him. Hopefully now he was safe. The only problem was, he was also bored. Shutting yourself up in your room was all well and good, but it puts a limit on entertainment. At least Pernella would have provided him with good sport.
Suddenly there was a knock at the door. He went absolutely still. If it was Pernella, he did not want her knowing that he was in there. Even if he was in the mood, he's had her once and found her wanting.
There was another insistent rap at the door. He remained still. If he could keep up his silent stillness for a few more moments than he would be safe from her, but once again came that irksome tapping. There was no escape from that room besides the door. If she insisted on seeing him, he was going to have to face her. He was about to open the door when he heard someone speaking.
"Your Highness, are you all right?" It was Ariel. "You do not need to fear me sire, I do not bring a pack of she-elves with me who are baying for your blood." He quickly moved to the door and opened it. She was standing there with a smirk on her face. "Is this what Priam used to do for you? Keep unwanted female attention at bay?" she said, amusement present in her voice.
"I'm sorry about that Ariel, I thought you might be..."
"Pernella Greenacre? Or perhaps Aurelia or Parwend or one of the countless other ladies you have your reasons for avoiding."
"Well, yes." He stood aside and let her in. "I must admit to only being able to take their company for so long."
"Well, that is your loss I suppose. Tell me, are there any ladies here at court who you have not bedded?"
"Of course there are! Not even I could have worked my way through the whole court. Give me a few more years and I might have had a chance."
"Thank goodness I am here now and you will not have the chance." Legolas sighed. It had long since been an ambition of his to one day say that he had bedded every lady elf in the Green Wood. Of course, there would be the problem of angry husbands and fathers. Not that he didn't already have that problem.
"So do you want to begin lessons? Do you have a blackboard and chalk and will I have to copy lines?" Legolas asked dryly.
"I am afraid I left my blackboard in my chambers with my cane and mortar board." Legolas moved over to a plush settee and sat down. He motioned for Ariel to join him. She selected a seat across from him, much to his disappointment. "We will just have to do without."
"Are you sure you can mange without such vital pieces of equipment?" He smiled at her and she returned it warmly. She had to admit, she liked the Prince. She had taken to him very easily. It had never been this way with any of her other pupils. It was rare that she was with them long enough to be able to form a bond with them. She didn't understand why it had happened so quickly with Prince Legolas. Perhaps it was his easy charm or the fact that he conducted himself so jovially even when he was suffering so greatly in his mind. Ariel had observed him in his own private moments when pain had clouded his azure blue eyes, doubtless because of the memories of the pain and bloodshed he had been forced to witness in the destruction of the ring.
"So is there a book I must read?" Legolas asked. Obviously he was well accustomed to the ways of tutors. He had doubtless had to endure their cheerless tones for over 1000 years. For the most part it had bored her to tears when she had been stuck with them for a little over ten years.
"Your Highness, you must understand that I am not an ordinary tutor and my lessons will not be those of conventional wisdom. As you have said yourself, how do you teach love? I cannot give you a book to read and an essay to write and you will suddenly understand it all. Love is a mysterious, shapeless thing which nobody can hope to understand."
"Not even you?"
"Especially not me." This comment puzzled the Prince, but Ariel moved on quickly before he was able to query it. "By my influence and presence, I hope that you will learn to open your heart and let others into your soul. Guardedness is the lovers greatest enemy. Before I do anything else, I must help you overcome this first foe."
"And how do you propose to do that? Getting a man to drop his guard is not an easy task."
"I know. You are not the first warrior I have come across and I assure you, you will not be the last. You are used to being mistrusted by people and therefore find it difficult to trust them yourself. My first task is to find a way to make you trust people."
"That is easier said than done milady."
"I know, but if I can make you trust me, then you will be part of the way to being more receptive to the emotions you deny yourself."
"Ariel I..."
"You need not explain yourself to me Your Highness. I know you do not trust me. It is not your fault. I have done nothing worthy of your bestowing it on me. I have been both sneaky and secretive in my dealings with you thus far and I know that a lot of work is required on my part to make you change in the way you must. I would not have you apologise. Trust is not an easy thing to give at the best of times. Nonetheless it is important. It is the first thing you must give to the one you love. If you learn to trust me then you have an important weapon in your arsenal."
"Of course you are right," Legolas said, willing to give her this perfectly reasonable concession. "Trust is important, but surely there is more to falling in love."
"Learning to trust me is simply the first step. Once that has been established we can work on friendship. Even the most passionate of lovers must have a strong bond of friendship or their love is doomed to perish."
Legolas knew that she was right. Priam had always told him, that his wife was also his best friend. He had been told stories of his parents before they were married. Since infancy they had been friends. When they got older this friendship became the deepest of loves for one another.
"I agree with you milady, but why must I learn how to build friendships? I have strong bonds with many people who I consider friends."
"No you highness, you have comrades not friends. Fellow men of action with whom you have forged bonds through spilt blood. You were in a war. You had to pull together to survive. This situation does not create friends, it creates soldiers. What I am saying is you must learn is how to form friendships through will, not necessity for these chosen friendships are the ones that create a lasting love." She moved forwards a little, so that she was sitting closer to him. "Do not think that what we are about to embark on will be easy. Opening your heart is a long and difficult process and I cannot guarantee that I will even be able to help you, but I will try my best."
"That is all I can ask of you milady and I promise that I will respond to your teachings as best I can." Ariel smiled at the Prince.
"Thank you Your Highness, I am most grateful." She stood and walked over to his bookcases which lined the room. "Your personal collection is impressive sire. I have only seen it bettered in the halls of learning at Rivendell."
"You have been to Imladris?" Legolas was a little surprised at this.
"When I was young. My mother was called there several times to instruct different people. She was an old friend of Lord Elrond." She turned away from the Prince, not wishing to take this conversation any further.
She looked over the shelves and pulled out a tatty yet obviously well read and well loved volume. She glanced at the cover. It had been written by the Prince's late aide, Priam. It was probably a gift and one of a kind. She saw an opportunity to show the Prince that what she proposed wasn't as easy as he thought.
"I have never come across this scribe before," she said. "May I borrow this?" Legolas tensed up, not entirely sure of what to say. He knew that there would be no harm in her taking it, but what if? He hardly knew her after all, and this was the only copy of Priam's verse in existence. He couldn't bear it if something were to happen to it.
He looked up and saw Ariel replacing the book on the shelf. She was smiling in a knowing way. Legolas realised that he had been tested and he had failed. This hesitation showed that even though he wanted to, he did not trust her.
"I am sorry Ariel," he said, looking down at the floor.
"Do not be Your Highness, I told you that it would be a long and difficult process. You must not be too hard on yourself. You have already made progress through agreeing to at least listen to what I have to say." She walked over to the door. "I think we have done enough for today Your Highness. I shall see you tomorrow and we will talk some more." She opened the door and began to leave.
"Ariel," Legolas said as she was walking out.
"Yes, Your Highness?"
"Thank you." She smiled at him,
"You are welcome Sire. Until tomorrow." With a final exchange of smiles, she closed the door, leaving Legolas more confused than he had ever been in his life.
