The remaining days leading up to the tournament went by fast. Elrond told
Arín that if she was to continue to practice, someone was to go with her
wherever she went. Arín agreed, of course, for she wanted to continue.
Usually Aragorn, Legolas, or Glorfindel went with her, but sometimes they
were too busy and she couldn't practice.
There goes my freedom, she thought, but at least my father chose people I know.
The day before the tournament she and Legolas went to the clearing where they had met and practiced all day. After the sun went down, Arín and Legolas went to the dining hall to eat dinner. Her entire family was there and so were Bilbo and Aragorn. She sat and ate quietly, listening to the conversations around. After she ate she bid everyone good night.
~*~
The next morning she got up early and went to practice. She was very nervous for today was the tournament, but she had some time to practice for it did not start until noon. As she let her third arrow fly her left arm started to hurt a little from yesterday's vigorous practice and she decided to stop and rest until noon. She went for a walk by the river. She was alone even though someone was supposed to be with her. She was thinking about the tournament when she heard a twig snap behind her. Faster than the blink of an eye her bow was ready. Just then someone walked out of the bushes. It was Legolas.
"Legolas, don't scare me like that. I could of."
Legolas lifted his finger to his mouth to silence her. She gave him a questioning look as he raised his notched bow. Suddenly he let go and Arín heard a defining scream behind her and then a soft thud.
".killed you," she said slowly, turning. There was another Orc-like creature, dead on the ground. Legolas' arrow had pierced it square between the eyes. She heard Legolas walk up next to her, but did not turn.
"Sorry I scared you," he said. "I knew you would be out here, but I didn't know if you were alone so I came to look for you. And I was right, you were alone."
"I am not mad at you for worrying this time. Are you going to tell my father?"
"No, not this time, but promise me that you will tell someone when you leave next time."
"Yes sir," she said in a tone like she was talking to her father. Legolas laughed. It was the first time since the first Orc attack that he had smiled. Then he became serious again.
"I mean it Arín. I don't want anything to happen to you. Promise?"
"I promise." Legolas smiled and Arín smiled back Just then Elrond entered the clearing.
"Another?" he asked. They nodded. "Well, let's go to the house and get cleaned up for the tournament. It is around 10:00 and it starts at noon." Legolas turned and pulled his arrow from the dead Orc's head. Then they all walked up to the house together. When they got to the entrance they went their separate ways. Elrond went to the field where the tournament was taking place to check on progress. Legolas went to his quarters to get ready. Arín went to clean up and change. At about ten to, the inhabitants of Rivendell started to file into the stands. The Lothlórien/Mirkwood archers went first. Arín sat in the stands with her father and Elladan, the younger of the two brothers and closest to Arín in age. Arwen, the second oldest, was with Aragorn and Elrohir, talking with Legolas. Elladan and Elrohir had also entered, but they knew Arín would beat them, though in close match. They both hoped to get second or third on the Rivendell side. Aragorn was also shooting in the contest for Rivendell. Then a horn sounded and the contest began. There were thirty contestants on both sides. Two contestants shot at a time. The winner progressed to the next round then it kept going until a contestant from that side won. Then that person would compete in a series of events against the winner from the other side.
Legolas was up first. He was against Halidir and won easily. Then Arín watched as the other contestants' go until Legolas and another Elf Arín didn't know were left.
Come on Legolas, you can do it. You can win. Arín thought. She crossed her fingers and waited. The Elf shot first. He missed the center of the target by about an inch.
Come on Legolas, you have to hit the center of the target to win. Legolas let his bow loose and it hit the center of the target. He did it. He won. Arín ran from the stands to Legolas.
"You did great Legolas," she said, running forward. Legolas didn't say anything; he just wrapped his arms around Arín. After a few seconds Arín backed out of the embrace and met Legolas' eyes and smiled. Then two Elves lifted Legolas onto their shoulders. Legolas looked down at Arín. She was standing between Elladan and Elrohir, laughing and smiling. She looked up at Legolas and smiled. He smiled back and raised his bow high in the air and looked back at Arín. She was shaking her head and laughing at the same time. She looked up at Legolas and smiled. When all of the commotion died down Arín and Legolas went to the dining hall for supper. They sat at the head of the table with Arín's family. Elrond sat at the end. Elladan, Aragorn and Elrohir sat on the left in that order. Arín, Legolas and Arwen sat on the right. After they finished, Arín and Legolas stayed in the hall, picking up on conversations. Many Elves that went by congratulated Legolas on his performance in the competition that day. Arín just sat there quietly, smiling.
"I am very sorry, Arín," Legolas said as they left.
"Why?" Arín asked.
"I didn't talk with you very much tonight."
"Oh! That's okay. I don't mind." Legolas looked at her sternly. "Really, I don't."
"Where would you like to go, Arín?" Legolas asked.
"Let's go to the gardens."
"Are you sure that you want to go there, I mean."
"Yes I do, I love the gardens."
"Fine, we'll go to the."
"Waterfall."
"The waterfall?"
"Yes, I want to go to the waterfall."
"Why do you want to go to the waterfall?"
"You'll see," Arín said with a smile on her face. "But first I want to stop at my room." Legolas nodded. When Arín and Legolas got to Arín's room, she told Legolas to wait out side the door. When she came out she was wearing a light gown made of blue silk. She had put her hair up in a ponytail. Over her arm there were two towels. In one hand she had her bow and quiver and in the other she had her sword.
"Just in case," she said. She tossed the two towels to Legolas. He caught them and gave Arín a confused look. She just smiled. When they arrived at the waterfall Arín set her sword, bow and quiver on the ground. Then she dove into the water, splashing Legolas at the same time. When Arín surfaced, Legolas dove into the water. Arín shielded her eyes from the splash with her hands. When Legolas surfaced Arín splashed him and he splashed back. They swam for a while and then Arín suddenly stopped.
"Did you hear that, Legolas?" she asked.
"Hear what?" Just then a twig snapped in the distance.
"That," Arín whispered. The two Elves climbed out of the water and Arín tossed her bow and quiver to Legolas, who looked very surprised.
"What?" Arín whispered.
"Why did you give me your bow and quiver?"
"Because I'm better with the sword." Legolas looked at her sternly, but she didn't acknowledge him. "So here's the plan, you get up in that tree there and I'll stay down here and get the ones you miss."
"That is a good plan, but how about this; you take the bow and quiver and go up in the tree and I stay here on the ground and take care of the ones you miss."
"Hmmm, that is a good plan, but I like mine better."
"Well too bad," Legolas said as he handed Arín the bow and quiver and picked up the sword. Arín sighed and quickly climbed the nearest tree. When she was set she signaled Legolas and he hid in a nearby bush. After about ten minutes, a horde of maybe thirty or more of those Orc-like things appeared. Arín shook a little as she raised her bow and let go. She hit her mark. The others became aware of the Elves presence, but didn't know where they were.
This may play to our advantage, Arín thought as she raised her bow to fire again.
~*~
Meanwhile, Legolas was still hiding behind the bush. He looked up at the tree where Arín was. He couldn't see her, but he saw a steady stream of arrows flying from the branches. Then he looked at the Orcs. Many of them had fallen, but a group that looked like leaders were talking in hushed voices. Legolas wondered what they up to. Then he saw three or four of them walk up to the tree Arín was in.
Uh oh, Legolas thought; if they discover Arín.he didn't even want to finish the thought. He jumped out of the bushes and yelled:
"Here I am, get me if you want." He pulled Arín's sword out of its sheath and that was the last thing he remembered.
~*~
A/N: I appreciate all of you reviews. I'm glad you all like this. I took me months to be brave enough to post this. Thanks again!
~~~*Anna Sparrow*~~~
There goes my freedom, she thought, but at least my father chose people I know.
The day before the tournament she and Legolas went to the clearing where they had met and practiced all day. After the sun went down, Arín and Legolas went to the dining hall to eat dinner. Her entire family was there and so were Bilbo and Aragorn. She sat and ate quietly, listening to the conversations around. After she ate she bid everyone good night.
~*~
The next morning she got up early and went to practice. She was very nervous for today was the tournament, but she had some time to practice for it did not start until noon. As she let her third arrow fly her left arm started to hurt a little from yesterday's vigorous practice and she decided to stop and rest until noon. She went for a walk by the river. She was alone even though someone was supposed to be with her. She was thinking about the tournament when she heard a twig snap behind her. Faster than the blink of an eye her bow was ready. Just then someone walked out of the bushes. It was Legolas.
"Legolas, don't scare me like that. I could of."
Legolas lifted his finger to his mouth to silence her. She gave him a questioning look as he raised his notched bow. Suddenly he let go and Arín heard a defining scream behind her and then a soft thud.
".killed you," she said slowly, turning. There was another Orc-like creature, dead on the ground. Legolas' arrow had pierced it square between the eyes. She heard Legolas walk up next to her, but did not turn.
"Sorry I scared you," he said. "I knew you would be out here, but I didn't know if you were alone so I came to look for you. And I was right, you were alone."
"I am not mad at you for worrying this time. Are you going to tell my father?"
"No, not this time, but promise me that you will tell someone when you leave next time."
"Yes sir," she said in a tone like she was talking to her father. Legolas laughed. It was the first time since the first Orc attack that he had smiled. Then he became serious again.
"I mean it Arín. I don't want anything to happen to you. Promise?"
"I promise." Legolas smiled and Arín smiled back Just then Elrond entered the clearing.
"Another?" he asked. They nodded. "Well, let's go to the house and get cleaned up for the tournament. It is around 10:00 and it starts at noon." Legolas turned and pulled his arrow from the dead Orc's head. Then they all walked up to the house together. When they got to the entrance they went their separate ways. Elrond went to the field where the tournament was taking place to check on progress. Legolas went to his quarters to get ready. Arín went to clean up and change. At about ten to, the inhabitants of Rivendell started to file into the stands. The Lothlórien/Mirkwood archers went first. Arín sat in the stands with her father and Elladan, the younger of the two brothers and closest to Arín in age. Arwen, the second oldest, was with Aragorn and Elrohir, talking with Legolas. Elladan and Elrohir had also entered, but they knew Arín would beat them, though in close match. They both hoped to get second or third on the Rivendell side. Aragorn was also shooting in the contest for Rivendell. Then a horn sounded and the contest began. There were thirty contestants on both sides. Two contestants shot at a time. The winner progressed to the next round then it kept going until a contestant from that side won. Then that person would compete in a series of events against the winner from the other side.
Legolas was up first. He was against Halidir and won easily. Then Arín watched as the other contestants' go until Legolas and another Elf Arín didn't know were left.
Come on Legolas, you can do it. You can win. Arín thought. She crossed her fingers and waited. The Elf shot first. He missed the center of the target by about an inch.
Come on Legolas, you have to hit the center of the target to win. Legolas let his bow loose and it hit the center of the target. He did it. He won. Arín ran from the stands to Legolas.
"You did great Legolas," she said, running forward. Legolas didn't say anything; he just wrapped his arms around Arín. After a few seconds Arín backed out of the embrace and met Legolas' eyes and smiled. Then two Elves lifted Legolas onto their shoulders. Legolas looked down at Arín. She was standing between Elladan and Elrohir, laughing and smiling. She looked up at Legolas and smiled. He smiled back and raised his bow high in the air and looked back at Arín. She was shaking her head and laughing at the same time. She looked up at Legolas and smiled. When all of the commotion died down Arín and Legolas went to the dining hall for supper. They sat at the head of the table with Arín's family. Elrond sat at the end. Elladan, Aragorn and Elrohir sat on the left in that order. Arín, Legolas and Arwen sat on the right. After they finished, Arín and Legolas stayed in the hall, picking up on conversations. Many Elves that went by congratulated Legolas on his performance in the competition that day. Arín just sat there quietly, smiling.
"I am very sorry, Arín," Legolas said as they left.
"Why?" Arín asked.
"I didn't talk with you very much tonight."
"Oh! That's okay. I don't mind." Legolas looked at her sternly. "Really, I don't."
"Where would you like to go, Arín?" Legolas asked.
"Let's go to the gardens."
"Are you sure that you want to go there, I mean."
"Yes I do, I love the gardens."
"Fine, we'll go to the."
"Waterfall."
"The waterfall?"
"Yes, I want to go to the waterfall."
"Why do you want to go to the waterfall?"
"You'll see," Arín said with a smile on her face. "But first I want to stop at my room." Legolas nodded. When Arín and Legolas got to Arín's room, she told Legolas to wait out side the door. When she came out she was wearing a light gown made of blue silk. She had put her hair up in a ponytail. Over her arm there were two towels. In one hand she had her bow and quiver and in the other she had her sword.
"Just in case," she said. She tossed the two towels to Legolas. He caught them and gave Arín a confused look. She just smiled. When they arrived at the waterfall Arín set her sword, bow and quiver on the ground. Then she dove into the water, splashing Legolas at the same time. When Arín surfaced, Legolas dove into the water. Arín shielded her eyes from the splash with her hands. When Legolas surfaced Arín splashed him and he splashed back. They swam for a while and then Arín suddenly stopped.
"Did you hear that, Legolas?" she asked.
"Hear what?" Just then a twig snapped in the distance.
"That," Arín whispered. The two Elves climbed out of the water and Arín tossed her bow and quiver to Legolas, who looked very surprised.
"What?" Arín whispered.
"Why did you give me your bow and quiver?"
"Because I'm better with the sword." Legolas looked at her sternly, but she didn't acknowledge him. "So here's the plan, you get up in that tree there and I'll stay down here and get the ones you miss."
"That is a good plan, but how about this; you take the bow and quiver and go up in the tree and I stay here on the ground and take care of the ones you miss."
"Hmmm, that is a good plan, but I like mine better."
"Well too bad," Legolas said as he handed Arín the bow and quiver and picked up the sword. Arín sighed and quickly climbed the nearest tree. When she was set she signaled Legolas and he hid in a nearby bush. After about ten minutes, a horde of maybe thirty or more of those Orc-like things appeared. Arín shook a little as she raised her bow and let go. She hit her mark. The others became aware of the Elves presence, but didn't know where they were.
This may play to our advantage, Arín thought as she raised her bow to fire again.
~*~
Meanwhile, Legolas was still hiding behind the bush. He looked up at the tree where Arín was. He couldn't see her, but he saw a steady stream of arrows flying from the branches. Then he looked at the Orcs. Many of them had fallen, but a group that looked like leaders were talking in hushed voices. Legolas wondered what they up to. Then he saw three or four of them walk up to the tree Arín was in.
Uh oh, Legolas thought; if they discover Arín.he didn't even want to finish the thought. He jumped out of the bushes and yelled:
"Here I am, get me if you want." He pulled Arín's sword out of its sheath and that was the last thing he remembered.
~*~
A/N: I appreciate all of you reviews. I'm glad you all like this. I took me months to be brave enough to post this. Thanks again!
~~~*Anna Sparrow*~~~