A shiver raced through Lunian's slender frame, making Legolas blink. He moved his hands quickly over hers, repositioning them where they needed to be. As quickly as he could, he changed her stance, shifting her by a hand at her hip and one on her shoulder. The tension in her body had nothing to do with the unaccustomed pose, which surprised him into forgetting his teacher attitude as he slowly stepped back, releasing the contact he had gained when he stepped against her, having used his own form to mold hers into that of an archer. He tilted his head and studied her as objectively as he could.

"All right," he murmured softly, watching in fascination as she closed her eyes before releasing the arrow. By some lucky wind it hit the target, though nowhere near the center.

She said nothing, looking blankly at the arrow. "I hit it?" she asked in shock.

He chuckled softly and handed her another arrow. "Care to try again?" he asked, a slight smile lifting the edge of his lips when she sighed and rolled her eyes.

She lined herself up, fitting the arrow with an ease that came of practice. It was after she had it in the string that the process broke down. Half the time the arrow fell off to the side when she drew it back, until one day he had finally told her to hold in it place with her finger until she was ready to shoot. She had not been happy with him after that comment, and he had felt pretty stupid himself when she let go. She had sliced her finger and nearly shot him in the foot with the same attempt.

She blew the strands of hair out of her face, but they fell back before she could start lining the shot up, so he tucked them behind her ear. She went still at the soft touch, then drew a shaky breath and opened her eyes, letting go of the arrow. She blinked quickly and frowned. When he turned his head he stared at the arrow with her. "You seem to be improving rapidly," he murmured, looking at the arrow. It was just a small distance from the center.

She shook her head and picked up another arrow without being coaxed. She went through her shaky routine, and he couldn't stop himself from testing out his interesting new theory. He brushed her hair back again, before shifting her slightly on her feet with a gentle tug at her hip. She closed her eyes and opened them for an instant before firing. Another hit.

"Maybe I should have started this method of teaching weeks ago," he teased, enjoying the blush that crawled over her cheeks.

"I would have shot you," she murmured softly.

"Intentionally? Are you sure you would have managed? Until today, the target would have been the safest thing to stand in front of out there. Or to either side," he added, enjoying the darkening of her cheeks, the slight laughter beginning to build in her eyes.

She smiled and reached up, touching his cheek. She tilted her head up and kissed his cheek before looking back at the target. "Thank you for your patience with me, Egola."

"Most elves are patient," he murmured, wondering at the seriousness in her voice. She smiled faintly and resumed her attempts, allowing him to change her around until he was bored with the pastime. "Enough," he determined. "Walk with me," he demanded, taking her hand after laying the bow aside.

"In the gardens?"

"Yes," he agreed, not feeling like worrying about the spiders or orcs today, knowing as long as she was with him his concentration would be severely damaged if it worked at all. He shifted his grip on her hand, twining their fingers together. "How do you like it here, my love?" he asked suddenly.

She frowned faintly, looking around. "It is not Rivendell," she murmured, seeing the small garden they were in, the faint sun being able to drip through the leaves of the large trees above them. "I have not Elrond, Elladan or Elrohir here," she continued. She could feel conflicting emotions coming from him through the contact of their hands. She tightened her hold. "But I have you, and it is yet new."

"You have me," he agreed, lifting her hand, brushing a light kiss along her knuckles. "Will I be enough?" he asked with a frown. The question seemed to be rhetorical, but she stopped, making him stop and look down at her as well. He shook his head as if to be rid of his murmur, but she wasn't going to let it go.

"Do you love me?"

He lifted a brow. "I thought we had this conversation already."

"Numerous times. Is it still true?"

"Will be until there is no longer a me to love you."

She nodded her head, lifting a hand to his cheek. "As long as I have you, it will be enough." She smiled faintly, brushing her thumb against his cheek. He closed his eyes to savor the touch. "So you'd best not get shot on an orc patrol."

His eyes flew open, his spine snapping straight. "What?"

She sighed softly. "Something I was considering, a while ago."

"Me being killed?" he asked dryly. "I know you don't love me the way I love you, but I will not push."

"I know that," she murmured impatiently. "I was just thinking what ifs. What if you were suddenly gone forever? How would I feel?" She looked away, releasing his hand so she could walk a bit farther down the path.

"What did you decide?" he asked softly, a brow lifting as a shudder wracked her frame, her arms lifting to wrap around her middle. "Lunian?"

"I would have faded," she admitted quietly, the words coming as if from a great distance.

Legolas blinked in shock. "Faded?"

"I am half elf," she murmured softly, still not looking at him. Tell him everything, you silly girl! No! She shook her head in denial. Fine. Then I will. She clamped her lips shut, as if daring them to so much as try.

Thankfully a servant came to the gardens then, telling them the meal was ready, stopping any conversation they could have had.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Well, getting closer!

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