Woo, next chapter! You guys actually seem to like this one. Goody! On with the chapter I don't wanna blabber on! Thanks for all the reviews, and replies are below as always.

Faerlain

ilihyceniwast – Ah, yawn, heard it all before and ignored it all before. You're the only one who didn't like it. Try having a name that people can actually pronounce, and I make take a bit more notice of you. Maybe that is.

Rayame325 – Nah she has not! The blue dress…wait and see melonin! Thanks for reviewing.

Orlando's Hot Chick – So YOU'RE the reason I couldn't have that pen name! Grr! Is he falling for her? Not sure yet lol! Thanks for reviewing.

Ms. Unknown – I like your name! She really DOES NOT like dresses! And I'm glad that you liked the Sunrise and Sunset thing. Thanks for reviewing.

Mesozoic Flower – You like Haldir then? Trust me; you would not be the only one! Hope you like it. Thanks for reviewing.

merrymagic26 – Forced into a dress? Hmm, well, she certainly won't like it! Lol. Thanks for reviewing.

Dark Borg Drone – Oh yeh, high 5! Lol. Of COURSE I am going to continue! It is just rude to abandon a story half way through. Or anywhere through in fact! I would NEVER do that to my faithful readers! Thanks for reviewing mellon nin, as always!

fiery hypnotic light – I am trying my best. I really do not want to make Anaróre too Mary-Sueish. But clichés can be cool, sometimes. If used in the right context I suppose. Thanks for reviewing.

ElvenStar5 – Woo, I don't like dresses either! They just DO NOT suit me at all! Glad you liked it, and thanks for reviewing.

fallenangel69711 – You really like it? Yay! Big huge ridiculous grin. I liked the sunrise and sunset thing too. And you like my other stories? Bigger huger even more ridiculous grin. This will all go to my head ya know! Don't worry about the not always reviewing thing. As long as you review sometimes, then I know you're still reading. Thanks for reviewing on this chapter! Hug.

DaydreamingTurtle – Clever/ Woo, I like that! Thanks for reviewing.

Tiara Shin – Hmm, familiar eh? I wonder why! Lol, at least you reviewed on here! Relationships always change in my stories; you should know that by now! Thanks for reviewing and say hi to Haldy for me. Leggy and Emz wave.

SilverRaiine – Fave stories? Wow, compliment! Thanks for finally sending the review lol. Keep it up please!

Chapter 2: Archery Competitions.

"Oh, you must be joking!"

"No joke, I promise."

"Is it just me, or is the world really turning against me nowadays."

Brithil smiled sympathetically at her dispirited daughter. "Anaróre, I know you would hate this, but I'm afraid you don't…"

"…really have a choice, I know," Anaróre sighed.

It had just been announced that a feast and dance was to be held in honour of the Fellowship that had recently arrived in Lothlórien, and in memory of Gandalf. And for this, Anaróre had to wear a dress.

"Wear the blue one," Brithil suggested. "It really would suit you."

"When is this dance exactly?"

"In two night's time. It will be held in the fountain clearing. It starts at dusk. I'll help you to get ready and take you down."

"Hannon lle naneth." She smiled once more at her mother, and then slid back down the rope ladder.

As she walked through the trees, she went over everything in her head. There was to be a feast and dance, held in honour of the Fellowship. She had no choice but to go, as her parents were so high in society. Her family was well favoured by the Lord and Lady, and any events that they attended; she had to go along as well. Plus, almost everyone else in Lothlórien would be there, and so it was quite a public occasion anyway.

That Elf would be there, the one who had been staring at her when Haldir brought the Fellowship along. She had discovered he was Prince of Mirkwood, and wondered what on Earth he was doing, staring at her. Surely there were hundreds of other girls who had caught his eye. Why would he want to look at her?

She started humming a soft tune to herself as she walked along. It was a song her mother had taught her years ago as a child, and it always gave her happy memories of when she was younger, and no one bothered about what she wore.

"Long, long ago,

When I was young and free.

My heart was not yet taken.

I could just be me.

I grew and grew,

Into today.

But yesterday was not forgotten,

Tomorrow is yet another day.

My heart's now taken,

And though I tried to hide it.

My love was given away,

To another, bit by bit.

Love and life,

Seem to fit so perfectly.

My love, my life,

I love you dearly."

She smiled. It hardly made any sense to her, but the words were beautiful all the same.

She was still humming as she rounded a corner, nearly crashing headfirst into Haldir. She grinned sheepishly. "Sorry."

Haldir just smiled, shaking his head. "Try looking where you are going next time Anaróre."

"I will, promise!"

They parted, and carried on walking.

Anaróre hurried on down the path, and finally arrived at a clearing where she often practised archery. She was not surprised to see Legolas there. She grinned and silently entered.

He was firing arrow after arrow after arrow. Anaróre could sense he was agitated. She stood on the edge of the clearing, and watched slightly in awe. He was good. Hit centre almost every time.

"My Lady, if you wish to watch someone do archery, isn't there a contest you could go and see somewhere?" His sudden comment startled her. She had not realised he knew she was there.

"I merely came down here to practise archery myself my Lord. When I saw you were here, I decided to watch, just out of curiosity. People say that you are the best archer in Middle-Earth. I needed proof was all."

"And do you have that proof?" He turned to her, eyes glittering.

She smiled slightly. "Aye, I do."

"Care to join me? We could have a little contest of our own."

"Don't mind if I do. Don't you need new arrows though? Those will surely be blunt."

"I have plenty." He stepped aside, and she saw a neat pile of arrows on the floor beside him.

"Came prepared I see."

"Of course." He went and pulled all the used arrows out, chucking them down on the ground.

"Something on your mind my Lord?" she asked as he returned.

"Why do you ask?"

"I can sense your uneasiness. And you are wearing a constant frown, not to mention the way you were ruthlessly firing arrow after arrow into that poor target."

He smiled, and she came to the conclusion that, when he did smile, it changed his expression completely. He looked so different. Almost… friendly.

"I just have a few things on my mind. Archery helps me to clear it a little."

"I can understand that. That is why I do it so often."

"How long have you been doing archery?"

"As long as I can remember. I have faint memories of bugging my parents for my first bow."

"Same. Adar would get so mad at me. You can go first."

She smiled, and lined up. Notching an arrow to the string, she let her body relax. Getting in line as best she could with the target, she fired. It hit centre.

"Nice shot," Legolas complimented.

"Now please don't go and get me all downhearted by splitting my arrow in two," she told him "Haldir always does that to me, and it isn't fair."

"I'll see," he replied, smiling mysteriously. He lined up, and Anaróre couldn't help noticing just how good he looked with a bow and arrow. She could tell he was well toned.

He fired, and it landed neatly beside hers. She grinned. "My turn again!"

They competed all afternoon, with Legolas ending up the winner. But it was only a friendly, and Anaróre was not too disappointed. "I think I did quite well personally," she said as they removed their arrows.

"You did do very well. Apart from that one arrow…"

"I was distracted!"

"Distractions happen. It was only a bird, and there was no need for the arrow to end up at the top of a tree, about fifty yards to the right of the target!"

She scowled. "Yeah, well. If I'm ever in battle, I might get distracted, fire the arrow that way by mistake, and if luck is on my side, it will hit an enemy who is advancing from that direction."

Legolas laughed, and she grinned. She had managed to make him laugh a couple of times, and she was pleased about it. He had such a nice laugh; so gentle and full of pure happiness. But there was a tinge of sorrow behind the joy, and she knew what it was about.

"Head clearer now?" she asked as they left the clearing together.

"Much more so. You?"

"Yep. But mines always full of thoughts and memories anyway. Mostly useless stuff that I've forgotten by the next day. But I like to have a clear head. Otherwise it feels…heavy."

"You say the funniest things," he told her.

"I'm just different."

"I can see that."

"It's good to be different. I don't want to do what everyone else does, look how everyone else looks. I want to be me, Anaróre, an individual. That's my favourite word."

"Individual?"

"Yes. Because it describes me just about perfectly."

"You can say that again. But I like you like that. You're right; it is good to be yourself, have your own mind. I'll stand by that."

"Thank you. Now, I have to go this way, and you that way." They had come to a fork in their path.

"I guess I'll be seeing you around then," he said softly.

"Yeah. Are you going to the feast and dance thing the day after tomorrow?"

He nodded. "You?"

She screwed her nose up. "Haven't got a choice, I have to go. My parents are so bloody high up in Elven society, they have to attend all these public balls and feasts and stuff. So naturally, I have to be dragged along as well."

"It'll be fine."

"No it won't. It never is for me. I have been to so many, I'm sick to death of them."

"Hello, I'm a Prince, remember? Think how many I've been to."

She winced. "Ooh, nasty thought there."

"So…you'll be wearing a dress?"

She pulled a face. "Unfortunately. And please don't make fun of me."

"Of course I won't. Why would I?"

"Because everyone else seems to. When I turn up in a dress, it's the perfect excuse for them to mock me. Its not nasty mocking of course, it's just so…"

"Unfair?"

"I guess that's the word. Anyway, I'll see you there then."

"Ok." He smiled once more, then set off down the path back to the Fellowship's camp.

She grinned at his retreating back. Her first thoughts about him had been wrong. He wasn't just another stuck-up, snotty-nosed Prince who thought he was better than everyone else was. He was a genuinely nice person. And she felt she wanted to get to know him better. She made her way back home.

Ah, another chapter done and dusted. See y'all soon for chapter 3!

Faerlain.