I DO NOT OWN LOTR!!!!! *sob* WHY MUST YOU CONTINUE TO DOUBT ME????
Maqueden woke with a start. The sun was just beginning to rise, casting an orangish/pinkish glow about the room. A few birds twittered outside. Sighing, she rolled out of bed and pulled on a pair of breeches and a loose shirt, pulled her hair back into a braid, laced up her brown leather boots, and scribbled a note for Elenna explaining where she was going and when she would be back. Grabbing a roll and her knife on her way out the door, she ate her breakfast happily as she walked through the woods. It took her about an hour to get to the palace, and by that time, the sun was already up and high in the sky. Legolas was waiting on her when she walked to the stables, leaning on the door.
"I was beginning to wonder if you'd forgotten to come."
"How could I forget?" Maqueden asked, blushing as his gaze caught hers. Turning away and faking a sneeze to cover it up, she turned back to Legolas. "I take it we're walking?"
"Yup."
"Great!" Maqueden cried in false desperation. "I've already walked my poor feet to death, and the sun's just barely up!"
"What? Are you up to it, or am I going to need to carry you?"
"Legolas!" Maqueden moaned. "You only had to carry me once, and that was because I was sick!"
"I was sick too!" The blond elven prince protested,
"Yeah, but you sat outside with wet hair of your own free will. You know I can never refuse a dare!"
Legolas laughed. Maqueden smiled with him, before setting off at a run. Legolas looked up to see her disappearing into a cluster of trees. "Hey!" He yelled, sprinting after her. "Wait for me!" When he caught up with her five minutes later, she was leaning against a tree with a grin on her face. "No fair!" He panted. "You had a head start!"
"And I'm not even winded." Maqueden laughed, smacking him playfully on the arm. "When will you ever learn that I always win?"
"Not at archery, you don't." Legolas panted, clutching his side.
"Only because you practice. I can't even hold a bow right, much less shoot it." Maqueden smiled.
"Then you should learn." Legolas said matter-of-factly.
Maqueden stuck her tongue out at him playfully, then started down the trail.
"I should warn you." Legolas called from behind her. "There's a couple of places where you have to climb down rocks."
"It's nothing I can't handle." Maqueden said. And so they walked, clearing away sticks and vines as they went. After a moment or two of silence, Maqueden casually brought up the subject of love. "Do you love Kyriana?"
"As a wife? No, or at least not yet. But yes, as a sister." Legolas said, knowing where this was going.
"You need yourself a girl. Is there anyone you're interested in? I can also assume the role of matchmaker." Maqueden half hoped he would say he was interested in her. But nooooo, that would be too easy.
Legolas laughed. "If I've told you once, I've told you a thousand times. I am not looking to get married yet. When -if- I do get married, it will be to a woman of my choice. There is no need for you to assume the role of matchmaker. Which I doubt you could do without cracking up.
Now it was Maqueden's turn to laugh. "I think you have feelings for someone." She said mater-of-factly as she scampered over some rocks. "And yes, I could do it. Have you forgotten who it was who got Elenna and Astoldominien together?"
"As if!" Legolas snorted in a very unprincely manner. "I told you, I don't like anyone."
"Yet." Maqueden added.
Legolas rolled his eyes and pushed away a particularly large branch. "Or ever."
"Oh, come on! There are plenty of girls out there who would give an arm to talk to you! You really should get out more."
"I'm outside with you or Elenna all the time!" Legolas cried, moving aside so that Maqueden could cut some ivy out of the way. Legolas scampered down some rocks, then helped her down.
"That's not what I meant. When was the last time you went to the marketplace?" She asked, sheathing her knife and moving on.
"Erm..." Legolas said, trying to remember that far back. "I think it was the day I met you."
"And that was over 2,000 years ago. Hence my point." Maqueden laughed in remembrance.
"Maqueden!" Legolas cried, heaving a false sigh of despair. "I'm not going back there! Just think who I could get myself stuck with this time?"
"Oh, thanks!" Maqueden answered sarcastically. "It's not like I asked to be stuck with you for all eternity either!"
Their story was common knowledge around the kingdom. Legolas had been running an errand for his nursemaid when he got lost in the marketplace. He then ran into Maqueden (literally) who helped him get out of the marketplace in time to make it home. The next day he ran into her again (literally) while at target practice. They had been friends ever since.
"That's the other side of my point." Maqueden said, clearing away some dead sticks and throwing them into the woods. "You need to learn your way around the kingdom, for the Valar's sake! You're going to rule it someday!"
"First my brother has to sail to the west. Then I have to be married." Legolas shot back, nearly tripping over a protruding tree root.
"Then for Valar's sake, do so!"
"I DON'T WANT TO!" Legolas cried, pausing in front of a curtain of ivy. He pulled out a map and opened it, then looked at the ivy. "According to the map, the end of the trail should end right... here." He pushed the ivy away and stood, frozen in his tracks. Maqueden stepped up beside him, caught in wonder at the beauty.
The two stood in a meadow. The grass danced in the wind, and a light mist hung around the waterfall. Maqueden smiled at Legolas and took off for the waterfall, halfway there before he realized she had gone. For the second time that day he was left chasing her, reaching the waterfall right after she did. Maqueden had already kicked off her boots and was ready to dive in before Legolas had time to stop her. Shielding his face with his hands, he managed to keep it dry.
That was about all of him what was dry. Maqueden had once beaten Legolas and most of his friends in one of those biggest splash contests. King Thranduil, who was sitting what he considered a "safe distance" away, was soaked. Even Glorfindel, who was there with a message from Elrond and who was standing about 5 yards behind Thranduil, was wet.
Maqueden grinned at Legolas from the water, then splashed some water at him. Legolas laughed and dove in after her, barely making a ripple on the surface of the water.
"Race you to the waterfall!" Maqueden called, propelling herself towards it. Legolas swam after her, touching the rock just before she did. Maqueden pulled herself out of the water, her waist-length hair dripping. She had lost her hair tie somewhere on the trail and her braid had come undone. She wrung the water out of her dripping hair, then clambered up the rocks until she found one sturdy enough to sit on. Legolas joined her, sitting near her and wringing water out of his hair.
For a minute or two there was silence as Maqueden and Legolas gazed out over the valley. "This reminds me so much of Rohan." Legolas murmured, allowing his thoughts to drift away to the hobbits...to Aragorn... To Eowyn...
"You never have told me much of your travels." Maqueden's voice jerked him out of his peaceful silence.
"They take a long time to tell. I do not have the time." He turned his gaze away and Maqueden knew she had hit a sore spot. Truthfully, he didn't like to talk about Haldir. The elf had been one of his good friends... Why does it seem that everything or everyone I love has left me? Astoldominien... Naneth... Haldir... Even my father is rarely here when I need him the most.
"I do." She whispered, putting a warm hand on his cheek and turning his face toward her. "Tell me."
Legolas cast his gaze down to the suddenly interesting rocks beneath his feet. "You know the story." He answered finally, avoiding her gaze. "You've heard it from Aragorn countless times."
"I know. It's always better to hear it from your point of view, though. You make it so... interesting." She finished weakly. "Maybe some other time?"
"Maybe." Legolas answered her question without much valor.
There was an uncomfortable silence for a moment.
The sun started sinking and the two wearily made their way back to the palace. Maqueden was still wet and had to wait at the door for Legolas to bring her a towel. When he did come back, two of the palace's healers were with him.
"I tell you, she's not sick! It's the middle of MAY, for Valar's sake! It's only a little water!" Legolas was saying as he tried to wave the healers away. They could not be swayed, however, and followed him until he tossed the towels to Maqueden. She caught them with a thankful smile on her face, waving the healers away.
"I'm fine, thanks." She said, her voice muffled by the towel that she was using to dry her hair. She flipped her head back upright and watched as the healers disappeared down the hall.
"It still needs some work, no?" Legolas asked.
"Hmm? Oh, the trail. It could use it, yes." She answered, taking a comb from Legolas. She tried combing the tangles from her still damp hair and growling in defeat. For every tangle she managed to get rid of, two more appeared. "Why Elenna insists I keep it so long is beyond me. She knows I hate it long."
"I like it." Legolas murmured. Taking the comb from her, he gently untangled her hair, braided it, and tied her ribbon around it. Maqueden sat, a smile frozen on her face.
"Well... Ada's going to kill me if I'm late to dinner again. I've gotta run." Legolas said, starting for the door. Maqueden nodded and walked for the door, stopping when Legolas touched her shoulder. "Maqueden... I'll see you tomorrow, right?"
"I've got to work all week." She said glumly. "I'd rather not, but it's a living. I'm still coming every night, it's a tradition! Breaking it would give me 700 years of bad luck! Did you really think you could get rid of me that easily?"
"I'll see you tomorrow." Legolas called as Maqueden walked out of the palace and headed down the steps.
Once she was out of the palace she turned, looking up at Legolas's window. There was a faint light flickering in his window and he waved to her as she walked down the path. She waved back, trying desperately to hide the love in her eyes. He'd noticed more than one thing from that distance before, and she didn't want it to happen again.
She walked slowly through the woods, hand on the handle of her knife. Spiders were no longer a rarity. As she neared her house, Elenna came outside, holding a pot of something hot. "Where have you been all day?"
"It took me longer than I thought to get home. I left a note!" Maqueden cried, when Elenna gave her a skeptical glance.
"Well, I didn't see it."
"That's your problem, not mine." Maqueden playfully stuck her tongue out at her sister. "Besides, I'm older. I've got the rule of the roost for now."
Elenna glared. "You had to bring that up, didn't you?"
"Yep." Maqueden yawned, realizing just how hungry she was. "What's for dinner?"
"Soup. Get the bowls, will you?" Elenna asked, getting two spoons from the drawer and laying them out on the table. Maqueden poured the soup into the bowls.
After she thought it was cooled off, she took a rather large spoonful of her soup. "OW!" She cried after she swallowed. "It's hot!"
"Yes, it's hot." Elenna said calmly, taking a small bite of her soup. "That's why you blow on it first."
Maqueden laughed. "So..... Any trouble with Elian yet?'
"Nope."
"Did you do anything today?"
"I worked."
"That's interesting. What did you do at work?"
"I cleaned."
"Elenna! Gaaa, I feel like mother!"
Elenna laughed. "No. Nothing interesting happened today, but Kaylie came in looking for you."
"I... I wasn't supposed to work today, was I?"
"No, she said you had a load of laundry there that needed to be picked up."
Maqueden hit herself on the head. "I knew there was something I was forgetting... Oh well, I have to work tomorrow anyway, I'll get it then."
Elenna grinned. The two ate the rest of their dinner in silence.
Maqueden finished her dinner first and started on the dishes. Elenna slipped away to bed. After Maqueden put the last plate on it's stack, she closed the cupboard door and went into her room. This time, however, she grabbed a blanket and her pillow and walked outside. There she lay, watching the stars until the sun rose.
A/N: Sorry, this chapter wasn't that great... I was just trying to get Legolas and Maqueden to clear the trail before they take Kyriana swimming, which she has a fear of... DARN! You aren't supposed to know what happens next! FORGET I SAID THAT! ERASE IT FROM YOUR MEMORY! I COMMAND YOU!
Maqueden woke with a start. The sun was just beginning to rise, casting an orangish/pinkish glow about the room. A few birds twittered outside. Sighing, she rolled out of bed and pulled on a pair of breeches and a loose shirt, pulled her hair back into a braid, laced up her brown leather boots, and scribbled a note for Elenna explaining where she was going and when she would be back. Grabbing a roll and her knife on her way out the door, she ate her breakfast happily as she walked through the woods. It took her about an hour to get to the palace, and by that time, the sun was already up and high in the sky. Legolas was waiting on her when she walked to the stables, leaning on the door.
"I was beginning to wonder if you'd forgotten to come."
"How could I forget?" Maqueden asked, blushing as his gaze caught hers. Turning away and faking a sneeze to cover it up, she turned back to Legolas. "I take it we're walking?"
"Yup."
"Great!" Maqueden cried in false desperation. "I've already walked my poor feet to death, and the sun's just barely up!"
"What? Are you up to it, or am I going to need to carry you?"
"Legolas!" Maqueden moaned. "You only had to carry me once, and that was because I was sick!"
"I was sick too!" The blond elven prince protested,
"Yeah, but you sat outside with wet hair of your own free will. You know I can never refuse a dare!"
Legolas laughed. Maqueden smiled with him, before setting off at a run. Legolas looked up to see her disappearing into a cluster of trees. "Hey!" He yelled, sprinting after her. "Wait for me!" When he caught up with her five minutes later, she was leaning against a tree with a grin on her face. "No fair!" He panted. "You had a head start!"
"And I'm not even winded." Maqueden laughed, smacking him playfully on the arm. "When will you ever learn that I always win?"
"Not at archery, you don't." Legolas panted, clutching his side.
"Only because you practice. I can't even hold a bow right, much less shoot it." Maqueden smiled.
"Then you should learn." Legolas said matter-of-factly.
Maqueden stuck her tongue out at him playfully, then started down the trail.
"I should warn you." Legolas called from behind her. "There's a couple of places where you have to climb down rocks."
"It's nothing I can't handle." Maqueden said. And so they walked, clearing away sticks and vines as they went. After a moment or two of silence, Maqueden casually brought up the subject of love. "Do you love Kyriana?"
"As a wife? No, or at least not yet. But yes, as a sister." Legolas said, knowing where this was going.
"You need yourself a girl. Is there anyone you're interested in? I can also assume the role of matchmaker." Maqueden half hoped he would say he was interested in her. But nooooo, that would be too easy.
Legolas laughed. "If I've told you once, I've told you a thousand times. I am not looking to get married yet. When -if- I do get married, it will be to a woman of my choice. There is no need for you to assume the role of matchmaker. Which I doubt you could do without cracking up.
Now it was Maqueden's turn to laugh. "I think you have feelings for someone." She said mater-of-factly as she scampered over some rocks. "And yes, I could do it. Have you forgotten who it was who got Elenna and Astoldominien together?"
"As if!" Legolas snorted in a very unprincely manner. "I told you, I don't like anyone."
"Yet." Maqueden added.
Legolas rolled his eyes and pushed away a particularly large branch. "Or ever."
"Oh, come on! There are plenty of girls out there who would give an arm to talk to you! You really should get out more."
"I'm outside with you or Elenna all the time!" Legolas cried, moving aside so that Maqueden could cut some ivy out of the way. Legolas scampered down some rocks, then helped her down.
"That's not what I meant. When was the last time you went to the marketplace?" She asked, sheathing her knife and moving on.
"Erm..." Legolas said, trying to remember that far back. "I think it was the day I met you."
"And that was over 2,000 years ago. Hence my point." Maqueden laughed in remembrance.
"Maqueden!" Legolas cried, heaving a false sigh of despair. "I'm not going back there! Just think who I could get myself stuck with this time?"
"Oh, thanks!" Maqueden answered sarcastically. "It's not like I asked to be stuck with you for all eternity either!"
Their story was common knowledge around the kingdom. Legolas had been running an errand for his nursemaid when he got lost in the marketplace. He then ran into Maqueden (literally) who helped him get out of the marketplace in time to make it home. The next day he ran into her again (literally) while at target practice. They had been friends ever since.
"That's the other side of my point." Maqueden said, clearing away some dead sticks and throwing them into the woods. "You need to learn your way around the kingdom, for the Valar's sake! You're going to rule it someday!"
"First my brother has to sail to the west. Then I have to be married." Legolas shot back, nearly tripping over a protruding tree root.
"Then for Valar's sake, do so!"
"I DON'T WANT TO!" Legolas cried, pausing in front of a curtain of ivy. He pulled out a map and opened it, then looked at the ivy. "According to the map, the end of the trail should end right... here." He pushed the ivy away and stood, frozen in his tracks. Maqueden stepped up beside him, caught in wonder at the beauty.
The two stood in a meadow. The grass danced in the wind, and a light mist hung around the waterfall. Maqueden smiled at Legolas and took off for the waterfall, halfway there before he realized she had gone. For the second time that day he was left chasing her, reaching the waterfall right after she did. Maqueden had already kicked off her boots and was ready to dive in before Legolas had time to stop her. Shielding his face with his hands, he managed to keep it dry.
That was about all of him what was dry. Maqueden had once beaten Legolas and most of his friends in one of those biggest splash contests. King Thranduil, who was sitting what he considered a "safe distance" away, was soaked. Even Glorfindel, who was there with a message from Elrond and who was standing about 5 yards behind Thranduil, was wet.
Maqueden grinned at Legolas from the water, then splashed some water at him. Legolas laughed and dove in after her, barely making a ripple on the surface of the water.
"Race you to the waterfall!" Maqueden called, propelling herself towards it. Legolas swam after her, touching the rock just before she did. Maqueden pulled herself out of the water, her waist-length hair dripping. She had lost her hair tie somewhere on the trail and her braid had come undone. She wrung the water out of her dripping hair, then clambered up the rocks until she found one sturdy enough to sit on. Legolas joined her, sitting near her and wringing water out of his hair.
For a minute or two there was silence as Maqueden and Legolas gazed out over the valley. "This reminds me so much of Rohan." Legolas murmured, allowing his thoughts to drift away to the hobbits...to Aragorn... To Eowyn...
"You never have told me much of your travels." Maqueden's voice jerked him out of his peaceful silence.
"They take a long time to tell. I do not have the time." He turned his gaze away and Maqueden knew she had hit a sore spot. Truthfully, he didn't like to talk about Haldir. The elf had been one of his good friends... Why does it seem that everything or everyone I love has left me? Astoldominien... Naneth... Haldir... Even my father is rarely here when I need him the most.
"I do." She whispered, putting a warm hand on his cheek and turning his face toward her. "Tell me."
Legolas cast his gaze down to the suddenly interesting rocks beneath his feet. "You know the story." He answered finally, avoiding her gaze. "You've heard it from Aragorn countless times."
"I know. It's always better to hear it from your point of view, though. You make it so... interesting." She finished weakly. "Maybe some other time?"
"Maybe." Legolas answered her question without much valor.
There was an uncomfortable silence for a moment.
The sun started sinking and the two wearily made their way back to the palace. Maqueden was still wet and had to wait at the door for Legolas to bring her a towel. When he did come back, two of the palace's healers were with him.
"I tell you, she's not sick! It's the middle of MAY, for Valar's sake! It's only a little water!" Legolas was saying as he tried to wave the healers away. They could not be swayed, however, and followed him until he tossed the towels to Maqueden. She caught them with a thankful smile on her face, waving the healers away.
"I'm fine, thanks." She said, her voice muffled by the towel that she was using to dry her hair. She flipped her head back upright and watched as the healers disappeared down the hall.
"It still needs some work, no?" Legolas asked.
"Hmm? Oh, the trail. It could use it, yes." She answered, taking a comb from Legolas. She tried combing the tangles from her still damp hair and growling in defeat. For every tangle she managed to get rid of, two more appeared. "Why Elenna insists I keep it so long is beyond me. She knows I hate it long."
"I like it." Legolas murmured. Taking the comb from her, he gently untangled her hair, braided it, and tied her ribbon around it. Maqueden sat, a smile frozen on her face.
"Well... Ada's going to kill me if I'm late to dinner again. I've gotta run." Legolas said, starting for the door. Maqueden nodded and walked for the door, stopping when Legolas touched her shoulder. "Maqueden... I'll see you tomorrow, right?"
"I've got to work all week." She said glumly. "I'd rather not, but it's a living. I'm still coming every night, it's a tradition! Breaking it would give me 700 years of bad luck! Did you really think you could get rid of me that easily?"
"I'll see you tomorrow." Legolas called as Maqueden walked out of the palace and headed down the steps.
Once she was out of the palace she turned, looking up at Legolas's window. There was a faint light flickering in his window and he waved to her as she walked down the path. She waved back, trying desperately to hide the love in her eyes. He'd noticed more than one thing from that distance before, and she didn't want it to happen again.
She walked slowly through the woods, hand on the handle of her knife. Spiders were no longer a rarity. As she neared her house, Elenna came outside, holding a pot of something hot. "Where have you been all day?"
"It took me longer than I thought to get home. I left a note!" Maqueden cried, when Elenna gave her a skeptical glance.
"Well, I didn't see it."
"That's your problem, not mine." Maqueden playfully stuck her tongue out at her sister. "Besides, I'm older. I've got the rule of the roost for now."
Elenna glared. "You had to bring that up, didn't you?"
"Yep." Maqueden yawned, realizing just how hungry she was. "What's for dinner?"
"Soup. Get the bowls, will you?" Elenna asked, getting two spoons from the drawer and laying them out on the table. Maqueden poured the soup into the bowls.
After she thought it was cooled off, she took a rather large spoonful of her soup. "OW!" She cried after she swallowed. "It's hot!"
"Yes, it's hot." Elenna said calmly, taking a small bite of her soup. "That's why you blow on it first."
Maqueden laughed. "So..... Any trouble with Elian yet?'
"Nope."
"Did you do anything today?"
"I worked."
"That's interesting. What did you do at work?"
"I cleaned."
"Elenna! Gaaa, I feel like mother!"
Elenna laughed. "No. Nothing interesting happened today, but Kaylie came in looking for you."
"I... I wasn't supposed to work today, was I?"
"No, she said you had a load of laundry there that needed to be picked up."
Maqueden hit herself on the head. "I knew there was something I was forgetting... Oh well, I have to work tomorrow anyway, I'll get it then."
Elenna grinned. The two ate the rest of their dinner in silence.
Maqueden finished her dinner first and started on the dishes. Elenna slipped away to bed. After Maqueden put the last plate on it's stack, she closed the cupboard door and went into her room. This time, however, she grabbed a blanket and her pillow and walked outside. There she lay, watching the stars until the sun rose.
A/N: Sorry, this chapter wasn't that great... I was just trying to get Legolas and Maqueden to clear the trail before they take Kyriana swimming, which she has a fear of... DARN! You aren't supposed to know what happens next! FORGET I SAID THAT! ERASE IT FROM YOUR MEMORY! I COMMAND YOU!