Hello My dear readers,

My apologies for the wait, as always I have a million and one excuses, but I won't bore any of you with them. I hope you enjoy this instalment. I'm nowhere near the end yet, but please hang on in there with me, I will try to make it worth it, I promise.

Just to reaffirm that very little in this story actually belongs to me. The good bits are Tolkien and everything else is probably mine.

Chapter 14 - Jealousy and Closeness

Legolas looked at his pocket watch. He had asked for Thrimalia's presence over an hour ago and she had yet to appear. He hated summoning her like this but he needed to apologise for ending their practice so abruptly that morning. It was not the custom of elves to carry pocket watches, when time held no meaning the passing of it was not really something that needed noting. This had been a gift from Frodo. When the Hobbits finally returned to The Shire, he had sent gifts to all of the members of the fellowship. He hadn't been able to resist the irony of gifting an immortal with time.

The door to the Council Chambers opened and the King's butler entered. "Milord, the Lady Thrimalia is her to see you. Shall I show her in?"

"Yes, please do." He turned to the door, ready to receive her. Murdris walked back in, Thrimalia closely following. He was surprised to see that she was not dressed in her usual combat gear but a dress. It was a simple dress of green velvet, but it was a dress none the less. Suddenly he was acutely aware that she was more than the commander of his armies, she was a woman, a very beautiful woman. This was not a new thought to him. This had occurred to him on more than one occasion since he returned to the Green Wood, but never was he not disturbed by the revelation.

"Thank you ," Legolas said, dismissing the Murdris. He bowed to the Prince and left the room.

"Thank you for coming, I hope I did not drag you away from company this evening."

"No sire, I was home alone." Legolas was pleased by this. The thought that she was dressing up for a man disturbed him, even though he knew it should not.

"I wanted to apologise for this morning."

"Apologise Highness?"

"For leaving training like that. I have had a few things on my mind recently and there were some things that I needed to clear up. I am afraid that had I stayed I would have made a very bad training partner."

"I do not require an apology Sire. You are very busy, I understand that you cannot devote all your time to my training. I understand that spending so much time with a novice warrior must be tiresome when you are so experienced."

"Thrimalia, I get the feeling that you are under the impression that I am angry with you."

"No sire, of course not."

"The fact that you have started addressing me formally once more suggests that you are nervous of me. Please do not be. This morning was my fault and my fault alone."

"I am sorry Legolas. I did not think when I addressed you. I am still in the habit of thinking of you as my superior. I do not fear you in any way and I still maintain that no apology is necessary but it is gratefully received nonetheless." Legolas smiled at her. He had been worried that his behaviour would make their relationship take a step backwards. He had felt that they were now friends rather than pupil and teacher, he would hate for anything to happen which would change that.

"Was there anything else you wanted of me sire?"

"No, I should let you return to your home. I am sure you must have plans for this evening even if you did not have company." He was curious about her dress. He had never seen her in ladies clothing before. It was a little disconcerting. "I hear there are to be forest circles this night. Will you attend?"

"No, I enjoy the dancing but I seldom enter the circles. My training and studies take up much of my time and I must put them first."

"But you cannot shun the company of others for the sake of your position. I would not have you feel lonely for your work."

"Do not worry Legolas. The nature of my job means that I will always have one person to keep me from feeling alone." She looked at him intensely for a moment before blushing and looking away.

"I am pleased that you feel this way Thrimalia, for I feel the same. I am putting the fate of my Kingdom in your hands. I would not do that if I did not feel comfortable with your friendship."

"Thank you Legolas, but you needn't worry, I do maintain friendships even though it is difficult. In fact I was to receive company tonight."

"Oh I am sorry, I will not keep you. You should have said that you were expecting a friend."

"It is not important. Isál is coming to my flet for supper and then he is going to help me go over some battle strategies that I have been having difficulty with."

"Isál ? The guardsman from the second battalion?"

"Yes that is right. Do you know him?"

"A little. I did not realise that you were so well acquainted with him." He tried to hide the twang of jealousy that snapped at him but he had the feeling he didn't do a very good job.

"Yes, I have known Isál for many years." He noticed a small smile gracing her lips as she spoke his name. "He was with me at the storming of the tower and he has been by my side ever since." The small twang of jealousy within became a wave which he struggled to prevent from becoming visible. "He has been to see me often since I left my family to live near the city." The idea of her entertaining elves in her flet didn't sit well with him. He tried to tell himself that it was a brotherly instinct. That her parents had entrusted her to his care. It was not a notion that he could convince himself of though. He couldn't pretend that he was surprised that other men had an interest in her. She was beautiful. He just worried that these men would not act towards her with honour. He knew little of Isál , but tomorrow he was going to set about learning everything. If he had anything to hide, Legolas would find it.

"I should go, if there is nothing else you want from me sire." In that moment he couldn't stop the thought the was a lot more that he wanted of her, but he was able to bury it quickly, before any hint of it could be presented to her.

"No there is nothing. You don't want to keep your guest waiting."

"Thank you Legolas." She bowed to him and was about to turn to leave when, on impulse, he grabbed her hand. "Sire?"

"Thank you for coming tonight. Seeing you is always a pleasure." He raised her hand and gently brushed his lips across the back of it, before releasing it quickly and letting go. He turned away from her and she left the Council Chambers, feeling confused, yet oddly gratified by the whole encounter.

He looked to the window above him which opened out into the forest. The sun was just creeping into the glade that lay above the city of Thranduil which told him that the sun was setting for another day on the Greenwood. At this time of the day his thoughts traditionally strayed to the delights of the forest circle which awaited him that night, however he was suddenly compelled to do something a little more constructive. He turned to the door and began to make his way to the archery range.

As he neared the practice arena he became aware of someone else there. This was odd. The arena was nearly always empty at that time. Soldiers were too busy thinking about more intimate pleasures than a perfect bull. He could definitely hear the unmistakable sound of a bow being strung. He hoped Thrimalia had not decided to go straight there for extra practice. As much as he had his reservations about her spending time alone with Isál , he did not want her to spend her every waking hour in training.

He came to the gate and looked in to see who was showing such dedication in pursuit of their vocation. He was surprised to see that it was not a young warrior who felt themselves in need of extra practice, it was Ariel. He smiled to himself and quietly walked over to where she was concentrating intensely on the target in front of her. He let her finish off the shot she was making before making his presence known.

"You were right when you said you have little skill with weaponry. Whoever taught you to shoot a bow like that?" She jumped at the sound of his voice and turned to see who was speaking to her.

"Sire, you startled me. I did not realise there was anybody here."

"I am sorry I was just going to practice a little myself. I had not expected you to be here. I thought you had no patience with weapons."

"I do not, but if I am to own such a fine weapon as that longbow you carry on your back right now, then I should really learn how to use it." Legolas looked puzzled for a moment and Ariel laughed. "I know it was made a while ago but surely you have not forgotten the terms of our wager already?"

"Of course not. I just never expected you to use it. You are still very sure that you will win."

"Not very sure Sire. But I still think it likely that it will be another She-elf who will find a permanent place in your heart. As lovely a girl as the Lady Valmari is, I do not believe that she is the one you will spend your immortality with." As she was saying this, she made another shot, and like the others it valiantly flew a few feet before tiredly giving up and landing on the same patch of Earth where several others had chosen to stop. Legolas laughed.

"You have never received any formal archery training have you?"

"No Sire. Elladan offered to teach me once, but I was more interested in learning to dance."

"An occupation which you do beautifully. String your bow," he ordered. She followed the command and took up an arrow. Legolas couldn't help but laugh at her. He had never seen anybody so uncomfortable with a bow.

"Might I ask what is so funny sire? She tried to look annoyed but could not. She knew that at this one pursuit, she was useless.

"There is not one thing that you did just there that was correct."

"Well Sire I think that when it comes to the art of combat it is you who should be the teacher."

"Very well." He put down his own bow and walked up to her. "May I?" he asked, indicating that he would like to change some things about her grip etc. She nodded in agreement. He began the task of correcting the numerous flaws in the way she stood and how she held the bow. "Where did you get the bow from?"

"I borrowed it from Isál ." This made Legolas stutter over his movement for a second.

"Isál . I seem to be hearing that name a lot today," he muttered.

"Do you know him Sire?"

"I wouldn't exactly say that. He is friends with Thrimalia is he not?"

"Yes Sire he is. They are the best of friends in fact." She could detect that he was jealous about this. A fact which she intended to exploit once they returned to their lessons.

Eventually he finished making all of his alterations to the way she stood. "Now attempt a shot." He stepped back and allowed her space to shoot again. This time the arrow flew straight and quick. It did however miss the target by about twenty feet.

"Oops," she said, giggling. "I think I may need to work on my aim a little."

"I think you might be right," he said looking at where the arrow had embedded itself in an unfortunate oak tree, somewhere to the left of the target. He stepped towards her and gently began to prepare her to take another shot, only this time once he had her in position he did not step back. Instead he put his arms around hers and helped her to pull back the bow string. "You are aiming too far to the left. Open both of your eyes. You will not focus properly otherwise." He felt her head, which was almost touching his chest, nod in agreement. "Are you ready to shoot?" he said, almost whispering. She nodded again. They let the arrow go together and flew straight into the heart of the target.

"By the Valar!" she said quietly to herself, as if she had just achieved the most wonderful thing imaginable. "I did it." She turned to face him, not noticing that he still had his arms around her. "I did it."

"You did well." His voice was quiet. He was distracted by her closeness. For the second time in less than an hour the proximity of a beautiful pair of eyes and full, pert lips caused him to forget what he was going to say. He did not know what was happening to him. He was a womaniser, he did not let females, elvish or human, get under his skin. In the past month he had allowed three to get into his head.

He was drawn away from his study of her features by the presence of somebody else in the arena. He turned to see that Thrimalia was there. Why was she not with Isál ? Had he done something to her? If he had Legolas would kill him.

"Thrimalia what is it? Are you alright?" He moved away from Ariel and towards Thrimalia.

"Yes Sire, all is well, I bring a message for you. It was delivered to the city as I was about to leave. I thought I should deliver it to you myself, it could be important."

"Thank you." He took the parchment from her and turned it over in his in hands. He caught his breath at the sight of the pattern which was pressed into the wax. It was the seal of the King Elessar Telecontar. He feared that it brought ill tidings, for Aragorn seldom took up his pen unless there was a pressing need to do so.

"Is everything alright Legolas?" Thrimalia asked, noticing the worried look that had overcome the Prince's fine features.

"I hope it is." He broke the wax seal and unfolded the parchment. His eyes scanned the words, which were not written by his old friend Strider, but by the graceful hand of Queen Arwen. His frown turned to a smile and his creased brow smoothed as he read the words on the page.

"It would seem that I have brought you glad tidings." Thrimalia said to him.

"Indeed you have. Queen Arwen Evenstar of Gondor writes to inform me of the marriage of my dear friend Samwise Gamgee."

"A wedding!" Ariel said, joining the conversation. "What joyous news that is. You must send a gift from Eryn Lasgalen Sire. Would you like me to arrange for something suitable to be dispatched?"

He was about to nod in agreement. However something stopped him. An idea had entered his head and the more he thought about it, the more he realised that it was indeed, a good idea. "No thank you Ariel. I have a better idea. Gather together a party of the Greenwood's finest. We leave for the Shire at first light on the morrow."

So, the wood elves will be seen in The Shire once more. Here's hoping that the road West will not be too bumpy for our party of intrepid travellers. Keep checking the boards for updates.