Disclaimer: I do not own anything Lord of the Rings-ish.

Chapter 2

Han

Rating T

Author: aknightofni
Well, thank you so much for reviewing the last chapter!

-RemydeMasterTief- I'm so glad you like this story, and I hope this update makes you happy.

Gwenneth- Thank you so much for your confidence and praise! I hope you enjoy the rest of the story! About the battle. I hadn't really thought about recounting but now that you mention it, it sounds like a very good idea and I really think I'll recount it. Thank you for your input!

Alright, here it continues:

"Don't even think about it."

Legolas jolted in surprise as he was brought from his thoughts. Looking to his left, he saw who had spoken. It was a man, with long black hair and cloudy blue eyes. He had sun kissed skin and a leathery complexion and he was quite muscular. He appeared to be about seventeen years of age.

"Think about what?" Legolas asked curiously, coughing slightly from the smoke trailing from the man's pipe.

Legolas had been leaning against a wooden fence pole in the center of the village, observing the town's activity. Children were running around, involved in simple games. Several men were feeding their livestock and an old woman was sewing beside a rather plump baby.

"I saw you, just now, watching her. Really, you act as if you are blossoming with innocence." He leaned against another fence pole and motioned toward a woman drawing water from a well. She looked to be about sixteen, with a head of long, golden curls down to her waist. She had light features and blue, dazzling eyes that gave an almost longing for the ocean when one gazed into them. Although she could only be seen from profile, it could be told that she was beautiful. Before Legolas could protest, although it was true, the man thrust out his hand. "Arlan."

Legolas stared at the hand and laughed, "What do you want me to do with it?"

The man called Arlan frowned and grasped the elf's hand for him, "It's a hand. You shake it. Perhaps it's not a habit of the elves."

"No," Legolas replied, shaking the hand, a bit too roughly. "But I'm learning your ways. I am Legolas son of Thranduil."

"Rose is taken you know. That's her name." Arlan continued abruptly. "Her engagement; it's a shame really."

The prince's eyes swiveled back to the woman. "By whom?"

"By him," he pointed toward a tall, gruff man in his late twenties who was sloppily feeding his goats across the way. "Mandon. But she doesn't love him. It's arranged. They'll be married soon."

"You say that as if it were uncommon," protested the elf. Arranged marriages were indeed not uncommon in his culture, especially for royalty. The king had already managed to present to his son several possible suitors, all of whom came from elvish families with a lot of gold.

Arlan snorted and continued smoking. He was not partial, it seemed, to that subject. "Smoke?" he asked, to break a long moment of silence.

"No," Legolas replied, slightly offended, "My people do not smoke."

The man grinned toothily. "Have you ever tried it?"
"My people do not smoke." Legolas repeated in annoyance. He decided then that he did not like Arlan, but for some reason could not force himself to leave his site. "It's a dirty habit; it spoils the body!"

However, when Arlan placed the pipe in his hand, Legolas felt somewhat pressured into trying it. He lifted the pipe to his lips before sputtering and coughing. He threw the pipe onto the ground. "I cannot believe you talked me into- that was disgusting! Terrible human habit!"

Smoking was not uncommon in those days, even within the youth. It was a human habit though, and the elves kept as far away from it as they could.

"Look, look!" Arlan changed subject, "Mandon!"

Legolas wheezed once more before looking where Arlan had pointed. Mandon had approached Rose and was putting his arms around her, whispering into her ear. Rose seemed terribly bothered, but did not budge.

"He's despicable," Arlan said, turning away. "Simply despicable. He's so cruel to her!"

Legolas's eyes flew from Mandon to Rose for several moments before he decided aloud, "I hate him."

Arlan sighed deeply, "So do I, Sprite, so do I."

"Sprite?" the elf demanded crisply.

"It's another word for elf." Arlan clapped him on the shoulder, his voice growing slightly defensive.

"I want her," Legolas said determinedly.

The two fell into thoughtful silence before Arlan announced, "I should be getting back to work. Pleasure meeting you, Sprite. I wish you luck in your endeavor."

"Alright Arlan," Legolas replied. "Thank you for the smoke." And at that, the two left the fence posts and went their separate ways, Arlan whistling a tune loudly and Legolas feeling guilty about their entire conversation, which had been completely out of his nature.

Legolas rested beside a stream, his arms wrapped about his knees. The day was at its end and dark clouds had made the air a moist, gray blanket across the land. There was a smell of wet earth, as it was raining not very far away. It was very cold, the kind of autumn cold that will chill to the bone. The only thing in site was the forest.

The stream slithered past delicately, about two feet wide from all of the rain. Above, trees canopied it in shadows. Little brown leaves and pine needles floated upon it, through its algae covered rocks and across its shallow sands. At this point, it was several feet deep, as a result of a slight slope. It flowed rather slowly, in its straight line, in its quiet beauty.

The elf frowned deeply, staring into the water, watching his outline with intrigue. He had changed, in simply one conversation. He had been staring at an engaged woman. He had hated someone, felt an anger he had never felt before. He had broken one of his people's values. Before he had spoken with Arlan, such things would have been away from his mind, in someone else's. Perhaps his father was right about humans, about their traditions, their disregard for everything the elves held sacred.

There was a crackling of dry leaves and pine needles across the stream from him, on the side that the village rested on. His muscles tensed and he waited for the approaching creature to appear. He was fascinated, however, with whom emerged.

The woman Rose kneeled by the water, humming a tune sweetly. Her hair was parted into long, golden braids. She began to untie them and let her hair swish delicately to its full length. She was still for several moments, doing nothing but thinking, before she saw the reflection of the elf in the water. She jumped to her feet in surprise.

"Apologies," Legolas said, gathering himself to a standing position. "I did not mean to frighten you."

She watched him for a moment, with wide eyes like a deer's and furiously blushing cheeks. Her lips were parted delicately as she stood there. When she finally did speak words, Legolas felt more intrigued than he had before. Her voice was soft and smooth, as soothing as the smile that formed upon her face. "Quite alright."

Legolas, however, turned away. He found himself feeling guilty from speaking to her, as she was engaged and if they somehow were to know each other he knew that he would court her.

She frowned and asked softly, "Is there something the matter? You seem troubled." She moved closer to the stream and held out her hand.

"I should be going. I'll leave you to your thinking," he turned to leave, but she stopped him.

"You don't need to. There is no reason why I have to think alone." She smiled gently and blushed delicately.

"We should not be speaking," Legolas begged in a quiet voice, turning his head to face her.

"Well, why not?" asked Rose curiously, unused to such an unfriendly attitude.

Legolas wished after he said what he did that he had not: "Because it is so scandalous for a woman to be with a male other than her affianced!"

Her face grew beet red, and her mien darkened in anger. "Scandalous?" Her eyes narrowed like those of a very venomous snake. "Aren't you a haughty one? Did you

really think that I was the slightest bit interested in you romantically?"

She leaned forward and lost her footing, tumbling into the freezing waters. Legolas was shocked for a moment, but once recovered, gave her his hand and pulled her out onto the forest floor. "Are you alright?" He leaned over her shivering body.

Rose was completely soaked, from head to toe and the cold air was beginning to overwhelm her. "Yes, I-I just need to return to the village. I'll be fine."

"I will take you," Legolas replied, leading her by her arm through the woods toward Han, which lied not far from them.

As they left, however, Legolas began shaking from Rose's movements. Although it was a short walk, Legolas worried deeply for her health. He removed his tunic shirt generously from his torso and wrapped it around her. "I apologize for my earlier words. They were wrong."

He should have felt cold, but he was too self-conscious to notice. His bare torso was covered in scars and bruises from battles recent and long ago. His body was muscular, but somewhat gnarled from so early an exposure to war.
She smiled in forgiveness and took the tunic gratefully. Her eyes lit up, he noticed, when she was feeling slightly warmer. "I should apologize also. Ah well, friends?"
"Friends." Legolas answered. "I am Legolas." He held out his hand, tardy in returning the earlier handshake.

She replied with a bow, "I am Rose."

Large, fat raindrops began to fall as they walked, huddling somewhat close together for warmth. They were silent, until Rose stated, "You know me."

Legolas let his eyes fall on her curiously, "Why do you say?"
"You knew I was engaged," said she, goose bumps crawling up her skin from the weather.

"That," the elf smiled and answered casually. "When I was exploring the village, I saw you and asked who you were. I'd like to know the village better, and a village is made up of people, correct?"
Rose smiled back, but suspiciously. "Oh."

When they had reached the end of the village, Rose returned the tunic shirt and said, "Thank you for this, Legolas. It was a wonder meeting you." She scooped her wet dresses into her hands as she tramped through the mud puddles and waved goodnight.

….

Alright… end of chapter 2. I hope you enjoyed it also!

In the next chapter, there will be more of the other elves in the village and some more of Renlan.

Please, please review.

Thank you for reading!