Note: Sorry for veeeery late update!

II

Grass giving way lightly beneath his feet, Legolas walked from the halls in the fresh spring air. Only holding lightly to the apple he had taken from indoors, he could not help smiling. It would be a good day. Dew was still hanging on the grass making it glisten in the sunlight.

Resisting biting into the apple, he quickened his steps, it was not far to the practise range where he hoped to get some peace and tranquillity in the early hours of the day.

Though the hours were not so early that he was the only one wandering down that path.

"Legolas!" he heard the pleasant call from behind him, though it was no disruption to him as he recognised the voice. Turning he waved and waited for Neldorë to catch up with him. It would not matter if he were delayed by a few minutes.

"So how fares Neldorë on this pleasant morning?" he asked with a smile.

Smiling in reply, she murmured, "You know that I am fine."

"Nothing stops you smiling."

They continued along the path talking amiably, until Legolas halted Neldorë with a touch to her arm.

"It is time for to me to go, or else I may lose my focus for my practise" he told her, before reassuring, "though I shall see you in the halls for a more substantial breakfast." He gestured to the apple he was carrying, throwing it up in the air from one hand to the other. Reaching down for his knife, he neatly sliced the apple and offered her a half. Taking it from him, her fingers brushed against his own. Fearing not to bring her hand away, Neldorë felt the hand contact linger rather too long.

Then she took the apple, and the moment was over. Looking down to the slice she smiled, as Legolas crunched into his half.

Breakfast was always a noisy affair. The clatter of carved wooden bowls upon table and genial murmur of conversation filled the hall. However, Legolas seemed more attuned to the murmuring that day; somehow, it seemed that his name was being mentioned:

"It would appear that yourself and Legolas were wondering the woodlands early this morning?" said an elf sitting next to Neldorë with a small raise of his eyebrow. Seeing that Neldorë appeared to be struggling for a response Legolas swiftly stepped across to her. Setting down his porridge, he hastily smiled.

"Some of us see more than we should," he retorted. "At least some of us arrive at practise on time."

The elf was silenced with a few laughs from their surrounding friends and Legolas pondered the suggestive comment his friend had made.

"I should go," Neldorë spoke, interrupting his thoughts and had gone before he could he say farewell.

Legolas stood alone in wretched silence, he could not determine his feelings - was there any real meaning behind the words of his joking friend? Could he and Neldorë be seen as courting? And more importantly, was that what he wanted? And how many more questions could there be?


Breakfast was always a more subdued affair for Legolas now. Still with friends and his loyal followers but never the same as the well loved halls of his home and past. Apples were more so on the ground now than part of his breakfast.