Jealousy
Rinuwe and Legolas rode side by side the next day toward Lorien. Everyone else stayed at least 20 feet behind.
"You know while we're talking, they are back there whispering." Rin said.
"Why would they be?" he asked
"Because as even yourself have pointed out, I am the strangest Elf in the whole of Middle-Earth. Listen" she said looking back briefly. Legolas seemed to hone his senses making him look quite serious.
"There go the days when the royals automatically gained such respect."
"How could he sink so low?"
"Doesn't he know anything about 'Run away' Rin?"
"Run Away Rin?" Legolas asked
"My glorified nickname in Rivendell"
"Why?"
"It's what I do"
"Do explain"
"I run away from my problems and mistakes. Once I made Elrond so mad I ran away into the wilds, and got lost. Arwen spent 2 weeks trying to find me and I was starving and nearly attacked several times while out there, but luckily my speed never fails"
"That was a long time ago"
"Oh you just need a few more examples. Hmm what's another? Oh I know. Once my friend Tyrael and I were practicing. I was horrible as usual. I accidentally missed and shot the arrow through Arwen's window. I was so ashamed I ran to the most remote part of the city until Tyrael found me and I stayed at his house for nearly a month. I didn't know Arwen hadn't even been home but she finally came to find me when she found an arrow stuck in her wall on one visit."
"I hear you talk about this Tyrael person a lot. Who is he?"
"I told you. The only person in Rivendell who will talk to me."
"I still don't see you as a run away. You're not running away now."
"Aren't I? Look at me. I'm fleeing the fight"
"Because you don't know how"
"No, because I'm afraid."
"What?"
"Not afraid to admit that though. I could easily stay in the city and be safe but I want to get away. I want to run away"
"Why?"
"Simple. Because its easy."
"I don't see you as the type to take the easy way out"
"Things aren't always how they seem."
"I can help you. In fact I insist upon it"
"Help me? Be my guest." She scoffed.
"Do you doubt me?"
"Course I do. I doubt everyone who tries. Tyrael has been trying for years."
Legolas rolled his eyes.
"He probably just wasn't teaching you right."
"There's a right way to teach someone?"
"Well yeah. You have to find the way someone wants to learn. My father tried for years until he finally found a way"
"Well, my mother tried, Arwen tried, Elrond tried, Tyrael tried and despite the many tries over nearly 250 years; I still haven't gotten any better."
"Permit me to at least try?"
"He he, you can try"
For a long time they rode and Legolas and Rin exchanged stories about themselves. Legolas liked listening more because she had such interesting stories. He also discovered that she was really only half Elf. Her grandfather was Elrond's brother and chose the life as a mortal. His only daughter was Tindomiel, who unknown by most historians, came to love an Elf and had one daughter, Rin herself.
They stopped in the forest again that night and as usual Rin went off by herself while Legolas went to speak with the rest of their party. A bit to her dismay, he didn't come over to her.
The next day they exited the south border of Mirkwood and entered the brief field from Mirkwood to Lorien. Rin stayed behind this time while everyone rode ahead. Eventually her mind wandered and she didn't even realize that Legolas was staring at her for a good while. Finally her horse hit a bump knocking her back to reality.
"Are we there yet?!" she yelled ahead. No one answered but Legolas stopped his horse so that he joined her.
"Another days worth" he answered. "I wanted to ask you. How did all your relatives and friends try and teach you anything"
"Uh, I don't know. They taught me the maneuvers and grips but I just never grasped it."
"When we stop tonight, I'm going to start teaching you. You have no choice in the matter"
"How long do you think you can really put up with me? Do you have the patience to teach me?" Rin challenged.
"I have plenty"
Rin smiled happy for once for his stubbornness. And just as he said, when she was getting ready to settle for the night he came over.
"What do you think you're doing? Stand up"
"What do you propose we fight with? You'd kill me with a sword."
He tossed her a wooden sparring sword.
"You're really serious aren't you? You mean to teach me"
"Take a stance," he said simply.
Rin stood and held her sword then held it up while Legolas had his feet spread and much more prepared. He gave her a look and dropped his stance.
"What are you doing?" he asked
"What? I've seen people stand like this"
"Like a Hobbit against a Troll?"
Rin glared. "If you're going to insult me then forget it." She said about to set the stick down.
"Oh no you don't. I said I was going to teach you but first I need to see what you know. Obviously if you don't even know the proper fighting stance, you probably don't know about grips or any sort of techniques"
"Obviously"
He smiled. "Okay, swords are going to come later then" he said thrust his into the ground. Rin mimicked and stared curiously wondering what could possibly be next.
"The proper stances are as such. You want to make sure you have enough space between your legs in order to keep balance." He shoved Rin slightly and she tripped over her feet and nearly fell if Legolas hadn't caught her. "See?"
"Okay, okay" she said stubbornly.
He brought her upright and she took a stance. This time when he shoved her though she kept up.
"Now, you're right handed?"
"Left" she said holding her right hand up to confuse him. And confuse him it did. "Kidding" she said quickly putting up her left hand.
"Okay that will be your offensive hand but also your defensive. Your right will help with balance and defensive action. You use that arm to parry a blow and protect yourself. Getting all this?"
"Yeah. One arm fights and defends, the other arm balances and defends. Got it"
"Okay" he picked up a stick. He proceeded to show Rin the different ways to hold the sword depending on the type of fighting you were to use. "Now let's learn some maneuvers. No swords yet"
In slow motion he began showing her ways to fight from different parts of the world. After a bit though she was biting her tongue trying so hard not to laugh at some of his attempts.
"It's kind of like dancing" she commented.
"What? No its not"
"Sure it is. Dancing is just a bit more fluid like. Well except tap dancing and select other sorts. But take a couple dance, for example. You have to know exactly how to move with your partner. Just like this"
Legolas scoffed but allowed Rin to have her fantasy. "I think that's all for tonight."
"What? We didn't even fight at all"
"You can't learn it overnight, Rin. It takes time. Little by little. I think maybe the reason you haven't learned is because you expect to learn it all in one shot. It's your lack of patience that's the problem, not anyone else's'"
"Hmph. Wait until you really start."
He smiled knowing he was right.
"You better hope I don't tell Tyrael about you" she said sitting down against the tree. Just as Rin wanted Legolas stopped in his tracks.
"He couldn't do anything"
"Wanna bet? Tyrael is one of the best fights I've ever seen. And a hell of an archer. He could wipe the floor with you"
Legolas looked down at her jealousy clearly on his face.
"He seems to take a lot of your attention. Is that why?"
"Oh no. Tyrael is the sweetest Elf I've ever met. Treats me right and always there for me no matter what." Rin said coyly trying to get on Legolas' nerves.
"Wh-Wha-What? I'm not like that?" he couldn't get out any more words and just turned his back and walked off.
"Tyrael wouldn't walk off either!" she yelled after him. He stopped in his tracks but didn't turn around. "Dum da dum dum dum" she said humming to herself as she waited for him to come back.
"You're messing with me, I know you are."
"You know I am? I'm not doing anything. You're jealous all on your own"
"Jealous!? What do I have to be jealous of?"
"Tyrael"
Legolas opened his mouth about to retaliate, hands raised and all but suddenly he grinned almost angry and put his hand down.
"I am not jealous," he said in the calmest voice he could muster. "Besides how do you know I don't have anyone already. Maybe you're the jealous one and just to make yourself feel better you're trying to make me jealous"
"So you are jealous?"
"No!"
"He he, and I know for a fact you don't 'have' anybody because I would have been introduced. Royal parents love showing off their betrothed children."
Legolas slumped down with Rin. "Against you I cannot win. I try and I cannot win. Why do I let you get the best of me?"
"Because I never settle for the worst."
Legolas set his head on his knees looking at the grass between his legs. He closed his eyes and then put his arms on the side of his head covering his ears and letting his arms hang over his knees. Rin smiled and got up and sat right in front of him before lying down. She then scooted up so that she was right under his stressed out expression face. He didn't even notice she was lying there.
"I mean I really don't get it," he said with his head still down.
"You think way too much"
He opened his eyes and cried out backing up quickly only to be stopped the tree. Rin laughed and stretched her arms up before propping them under her head. Legolas legs were spread out on either side of her and he didn't understand how she could be so fine with this.
"Jealous or not before I'm pretty sure you are now"
"Why do you say that?"
"Because you don't like me talking about Tyrael"
Legolas sighed and Rin heard the faint thud of him hitting his head against the tree. Rin reached back and patted his leg.
"You are far too tense. Do I make you uncomfortable?" she asked jokingly.
"No, sitting between my legs isn't uncomfortable at all" he said with his voice cracking a bit. "I'm a Prince. None of this should bother me, you least of all"
"Me least of all? I'm flattered you think so."
Rin refused to move and it seemed Legolas was too scared to so they stayed that way until both fell asleep.
