Chapter Sixteen - The Old Ways

"Milady Ariel." Ariel looked up from the fire she was attempting to light. The elves were making up a camp and she was doing her best to help but she knew she was probably failing miserably. She was not an outdoors type of person. She had never had to be. Everywhere she went, throughout her whole life, she had been afforded every luxury.

She squinted in the darkness to try and make out who it was stood over her. "Aniolad. Is everything alright?"

"I was about to ask you the same question milady. You have been trying to light that fire for quite some time and I wondered if you required assistance."

"I had hoped my inadequacies would not be so easily spotted by my companions," she said as she handed over the tinder box to the guardsman. "But I think I am ready to admit defeat."

"It is not an inadequacy milady. You are a lady and therefore have not had to do such things." She looked around and noticed that Thrimalia and Valmari were both climbing trees and helping the guards make safe accommodation in the trees. They were both raised as ladies of the realm of Mirkwood, yet they were perfectly at ease among the trees.

"Have you seen Prince Legolas?" She asked. At least when she was around the Prince she didn't feel so much of an outsider. The elves didn't mean to make her feel so, but she felt rather uncomfortable in their company when they were all together and enjoying nature in the way that only a wood elf can.

"I believe he was tending to his horse."

"Thank you." She took her leave of him and made her way over to where they had tethered the horses. Sure enough, there he was tending to Arod. He was deep in conversation with his steed. Had she stopped and listened to him, she would have learned an awful lot about his feelings, but she knew that it was unfair and so made her presence known to him immediately. She wanted him to open up to her because he wanted to, not because she had been eaves dropping.

"Your Highness," she said. He stopped his conversation with the horse and turned to her.

"Ariel. I was just making sure the horses were settled for the night. The warg attack was a little distressing for them. Can I help you with something?"

"No I was simply seeking out some conversation. The day's events have made me a little uneasy."

"Are you alright milady? You were not hurt were you." He instinctively took her arm and began to inspect it, as if he expected to find it half ripped off."

"No, Your Highness was most efficient in getting those of us who are unable to fight out of danger. I was glad to have you there with us." A dark look came across his face. He was still annoyed that Thrimalia had forced him to leave. He was not somebody who enjoyed fleeing a fight.

"Lady Thrimalia did what she thought was best. You are the heir to the throne of the Green Wood and she is responsible for your protection. She would not be a very good bodyguard if she did not send you away from harm."

"I know, it is just wounded male pride. I will get over it. I am sure it will not be the first time such a thing happens."

"Will you be joining the party this evening. I believe Elaviel is trying to persuade Lady Thrimalia to dance for us all." At this Legolas' eyes sparked for a moment. Thrimalia was the most beautiful dancer any of them had ever seen. She had the natural grace of her mother who had entertained kings of men and elves for over an age. Both of her daughters had inherited her talent. Thrimalia however also had the military skills of her Father.

"She is a beautiful dancer," Legolas said. "Have you ever seen her?"

"No Your Highness."

"It is poetry." Ariel could not help but see the wistful look on his face as his gaze fell on Thrimalia as she crossed the camp, stopping to chat briefly with Isàl. This threw her mind into even more confusion. Their lessons had been going well. She sensed he was coming around to the ideals of love and marriage, but who the lady would be was a different matter. One minute he is happily flirting with Lady Valmari and the next he is dreaming about Thrimalia and looking at her like she is his next breath.

"So, will you be joining us?" she asked after a few moments of silence.

"Probably not, I think I will take the first watch."

"Would you like me to keep you company highness. I am sure guard duty can be lonely."

"I will be fine. Guard duty is a solitary occupation. You cannot have any distractions. Besides, I would not have you miss the party. Have you ever seen an Elvish forest circle? I know they do not happen often in Imladris."

"No sire I have never been involved in such a party. I have seen similar gatherings of tribesmen of the North, but nothing with the Elvish flair."

"Have you spent a lot of time in the North? I noticed the saddle on your horse has some distinctive markings which I have only seen in the northern mountains."

"My people are of the far north." Legolas could tell that she was uncomfortable talking about this, but it didn't stop him from pushing the issue. He wanted to know more about her, this may be the best chance he was going to get.

"I thought you were from Rohan?"

"I was born in Rohan, in the Court of King Theoden, and raised in the court nursery with Lady Eowyn in my early life."

"You know the Shield Maiden?"

"Very well. We were playmates as children and I have returned to that land whenever I could in order to visit her. She has been a constant friend over the years when my work has taken me to so many different places."

"Were you at her wedding?"

"Yes I was, I stood as an attendant for the bride. It was the last thing did before coming here to the Green Wood. That was a good day."

"I was sorry to miss it. Eowyn and Faramir did much good in the war. The news of the ceremony did not reach me until it was already over."

"Is this why you are so determined to be at this wedding?"

"Partly yes. I made some great friends whilst travelling with the Fellowship and then with the Rohirrim. I want to be able to share in their joys and their sorrows. I know that I shall live to see all of them die. I want to be with them as much as possible before the day comes that I am the last of the Fellowship left on Arda. It will be a sad day when that happens, I do not want to regret missing anything."

"I can understand that. Not a day goes by when I don't regret that I new so little of my mother." she stopped suddenly, realising that she was telling him far more than she wanted to.

"You didn't answer my question. How come you were born in Rohan, yet are not of the Rohirrim?"

"My ancestors were from an Ancient tribe in the far north. The women of our family have wandered Middle Earth for many generations, never really settling anywhere. Our only roots stem from our tribal beginnings."

"What about your Father?" Ariel looked up at the sky which was beginning to darken.

"I should not disturb you any more Highness. You wished to be alone."

"No, I should be glad of your company a little longer."

"You said it yourself sire, guard duty is a solitary occupation. I do not want to distract you, if you need anything I will be with the others." She curtseyed to him and backed away.

Legolas' brows knitted together and a quizzical look came over his face as he watched her walk away from him. What was she hiding from them all? What was it about her father that made her so edgy, what didn't she want him to know? He was determined to get to the bottom of this before they returned to the Green Wood.

He turned and was about to climb a Beech tree so that he could begin watch when he saw Thrimalia walking through the trees. Se had changed her clothes, as the rest of the ladies had, so she was now dressed in a simple dress, rather than the guard's uniform she had been wearing during the day.

"Sire," she called out on seeing him. She quickened her pace as she walked towards him. "Aniolad and I have secured the camp perimeter and I have arranged the guard for watch duty. Glil-Ganduil is watching from the South and Numbor from the North. We will swap in a few hours."

"I should have realised that you would have this organised. I had just though that I would stand on duty for the night."

"Oh no Legolas. The circle would not be complete without you. Come," she grabbed his arm and began leading him away. As she pulled him her hand slid down his arm until she was actually walking hand in hand with him. She didn't notice the intimate contact, but he was acutely aware of it. As always when he was in such contact with her, his heart began to beat slightly faster. He could not deny his attraction to her, but he knew that it could go nowhere. He had to try and ignore it. Perhaps Valmari's close proximity would help him get past it.

They arrived in the midst of the group, everyone was eating the fruits that the sisters had collected and were just enjoying each other's company. Thrimalia let go of Legolas' hand and bade him sit. A platter was passed to them with the berries and whey bread upon it. They each took a little and sat eating and just enjoying the company they were in.

After a while, when the food was finished and everybody was relaxed, Aniolad and Herbrimbor took out a lute and pipe and began to play some music. Elaviel suddenly jumped up. "Thrimalia will you dance for us?" The other elves looked to her with great expectation.

"I thought we were to have a song," she said, trying her best to get out of it.

"We will later, but you will not deprive us of your beauty will you?" Aniolad said. "We have not seen any real dancing since your mother retired into the Southern Forest. Please do not deny our request." She looked around at the expectant faces.

"Please do," Legolas said to her. "I have not seen you dance in such a long time."

"Very well, I shall." She stood up and moved into the middle of the circle. The two guards began to play an old Silvan melody and she began to do the movements her mother had taught her so many years ago. Suddenly everyone forgot that she was to be a general in their army and just saw a beautiful girl, dancing for them. Legolas saw only her beauty. Her hair was flying about her and her dress swirled around. He was mesmerised by her. All he could think of was the idea that she was dancing for him, that when she was finished he would be able to lead her into the forest and make love to her on a bed of flower petals. He was so engrossed, that he failed to notice Thriwien, the oldest of the sisters, sit beside him.

"She is beautiful is she not?" she whispered in his ear.

"Very," he replied.

"It is like watching her mother."

"No, it is not, she is something else, even her mother could not compete with her."

"So how long has she been your lover?"

"She is not my lover. She is a pupil," he said, looking at her sharply.

"And that is why you look at her like a starving man looks at an apple. I have never seen you look at a person like that before, ever. You are the most notorious philanderer in this forest, possibly in Arda, but something has changed since you returned, you are not who you once was."

"I am still the same Legolas who you took to your bed. I still enjoy the company of a beautiful woman. I am not under the thumb."

"So you are not jealous that it is Isàl and not you who dances with her now." His head snapped up just in time to see Isàl put his hand around her waist and twirl her around. His eyes narrowed and thoughts of himself running the guardsman through with his sword flooded into his mind. He heard Thriwien laughing behind him.

"If that is the look of an indifferent man I would hate to see you when you do fall in love. Or perhaps you look upon Thrimalia as a brother. I noticed you staring at Herdrin's sister. Perhaps she is the reason for the change in you. You were certainly enjoying her company at the ball." Legolas' eyes moved over to where Valmari and Herdrin sat chatting with Gebririand as they watched Thrimalia. The wager he had made with Ariel suddenly came into his head and the all too familiar feeling of his heart speeding up overcame him as he gazed upon her face. She was so beautiful. She looked every inch the future Queen of Eryn Lasgalen. At that moment, he had no doubt that she was the one he would make his bride, no matter what his feelings for Thrimalia were.

Thriwien could not help but see his face soften as he looked at Valmari, but then wrinkle with confusion as his eyes travelled back to the dancing Thrimalia. "You do not know what you want do you? You feel for them both, but you cannot be sure which one your heart tells you to choose. Your head, no doubt, warns you off of your pupil, but your heart cannot be so easily dissuaded."

"What do you want Thriwien, are you simply here to torture me?"

"Not at all, I thought I might be able to be of some help. I heard about your Father's decree regarding your imminent marriage. I thought I might be able to put some things into perspective, after all, I have taught you much in the past." She looked over at the two ladies in question and then back at him. "I must say, they are both very young, even for you."

"I do not recall age being such an issue for you, I do not believe I was even of age when you first took me to your bed."

"You were old enough. Somebody had to teach you. Besides, you were an excellent pupil if I remember rightly." At this she placed her hand on his thigh and left it to rest there, just a moment longer than was necessary. "From what I hear though the student has surpassed the master."

He looked at her with the old flirtatious grin he used on all of his conquests, and suddenly he was the old Legolas again. "There is only one way to find out," he said, forcing out his previous thoughts of Thrimalia and Valmari. She looked around her, making sure that nobody was watching them, and stood up.

"I think I would enjoy a little stroll. Would you care to join me?" He did not need to be asked twice. He jumped up and began to walk with her, away from the party and into the forest.

Only Ariel watched them as they left. She let out a heavy sigh. She had hoped that he was past that now, that she had made progress with him. It was with a heavy heart that she realised that he had a long way to go before he would become the elf that his future bride, whether it be Thrimalia, Valmari or any other lady who happened to capture his heart, deserved.