. . . I couldn't help myself, I giggled.
One of them looked back, almost at the very spot I hid, only inches away. It didn't matter, if he investigated, I was minced meat. Laughter left me in the same way it doe's when your brother has nearly found you in hide-and-go-seek. I grinned suddenly. Maybe he couldn't see me! That would be awesome. I'd get away then.
I tried to hold it in, honest, but it was no use. Muffled peals of laughter floated past my hand where it was clasped on my mouth, and then I knew that they knew I was here. They were on me like butter on bread, and I was teasingly chastised that I should never hide where I would be trapped, should I be found.
"I could have pulled it off if you hadn't looked so confused!"
"A! Indeed, little one? I knew you were in there. I was not confused in the least."
I laughed.
It was the next day that found me lying in bed, curled up in the blankets. I was fighting the persistent dawn, refusing to get up. Why did the sun always have to come up so darned soon? Didn't it have the job of eating the moon, or something more important than waking me up? I paused, and giggled when I realized what I was thinking about.
Gotta love Greek mythology, eh? Anyway, I had a job ahead of me. I had to get ready to go down for those archery lessons I'd agreed to work on with Legolas in the first place, and later... I pushed the covers back and then, I sat up, stretching and yawning at the same time. I was so, so sore from the day before… I just groaned. I was painfully stiff. I frowned, wishing I'd paid closer attention to my karate stretching exercises. Later, Gimli would want to hack away with me in Axe practice. I grimaced. Lovely. I shouldn't have been trying so many things all at once yesterday. It was just too painful. It sounded lame, yeah, I know, but hey, what are ya gonna do? My back was stiff, my arms were made out of sting cheese, and I was still tired. I got up and looked out of my window.
I admired an unhindered sky, its sapphire blue was but a dream, and the sky was barely pink. Apparently, the windows were all angled to catch the sun… How evil. No matter 'how' pretty it was. Yawning hugely, I ambled over to the closet, trying to figure out what on Earth I was going to wear that fateful day. I was busy trying on some elf-made leggings, when suddenly, a knock on my door sent me into a bit of a jumping fit, trying to get the leggings on before the person on the other side of the door decided to come on in. No such luck. I actually got to the door just in time to nearly slam it shut.
I stood there, giggling, while trying to explain. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm just," Breath, "trying to get ready, who is it?"
I was still giggling quietly when I heard Estels voice through the wood of the door. You have to understand, I was one of those people, one of those horrible, annoying people who just 'has' to have their privacy. Even if the cost is to slam the door in an acquaintances face. Or, in this case, nearly on their nose.
"I cannot believe you did that!" But he sounded pissed, not amused. I laughed. "No worries! I meant no ill." I paused, and made a little face. Ugh, I thought, tugging on a nicely embroidered shirt I found. I'm starting to talk like them? Eek. I must be going crazy, I thought, looking behind me for the brush.
After I was completely brushed, dressed, and awake as my short time would allot for, I reopened the door, and was met with a rather flustered looking man. "I'm sorry, Estel. Are you okay? I didn't crush anything did I?"
"No. Not yet, at least."
I giggled. And with that cheerful beginning, I was out the door and following Mr. Grouchy to the dining hall. Not that he didn't have a reason to be grouchy, though. I understood how a slammed door could get on someones nerves. The walk, as always, was uneventful, and I was ready to start being down a bit. To Earth, anyway. You can't shoot arrows if you're suddenly too hyper to hold a spoon. Why? Ask the future Elf with an arrow up the wazoo.
I looked around the hall, and saw, to my delight, all four of the Hobbits sitting together. But I was hesitant to join them. I sat a table away, which wasn't far, because I was just catty corner from them. I listened as I wondered what to get to eat, and once I had my food, I was too busy eating to pay much attention to the Hobbits at all.
I really had to get the recipe for this stuff.
I mean I couldn't figure out what I liked better, the Elven bread, or the warm, almost but not quite rice, rice. But that was just on my first plate. I was almost ready for a second plate what something attracted my attention to the right of me. A few dwarves were entering, and Legolas and some other elf were telling them that they couldn't sleep all day. All day? My god, it wasn't an hour past dawn. I watched, thoughtfully taking a drink of the wine. It was calming me down, and waking me up. What a wonderful drink. Even if I was still sore from yesterday.
"You can't expect us to actually abide by this! Surely we must sleep at some point!" Rumbled a rather round dwarf, his features reddened in disbelief and anger.
"Ah, then you should not have slept so few hours, yes?" the elf beside Legolas taunted. I looked away, shaking my head. I looked to see that the hobbits were watching with open curiosity. Frodo looked away just in time for me to be almost looking away. I looked back and shrugged. He half smiled.
"We will sleep if we please!" The round dwarf hooted in displeasure. He suddenly reminded me of one of those owls that ruffle up their feathers before getting really mad. And you don't want to piss off owls. You wouldn't think so but they're pretty big and bad. Especially if you get them mad.
"How will you be stopping us?"
What? I refocused. I'd been thinking so much that I'd missed part of the conversation. I watched as the elf frowned. He seemed to be thinking it over as he looked around. I saw him glance at me, and then suddenly smile. I froze. Why was he smiling?
The elf looked back to the dwarf. "Easily," the elf said with a very real smile.
"What are they planning?" Pippin asked Merry in a quiet voice.
"I don't know, Pip. But I'm not thinkin' she'll be appreciating the thought."
She? What thought? What was-?
"My lady?" A voice behind me asked. I looked.
Oh. It was him. It was that elf. And I must have looked suspicious, because he laughed.
"Why don't you come with me and the Dwarves?"
"Am I needed?" I asked, going for politeness, yet being stand-offish.
"Why, what is a group of Dwarves and an Elf, without a feminine voice?"
I glowered at him. "I think I'll stay here, instead. I'm not decoration."
The elves blue eyes widened. Then narrowed, just slightly, just this side of a glare. I think he thought I was making a fool of him. I
turned back to my food and took a drink of my wine. I looked up just in time to see the Hobbits looking at us. Silence reigned, before a bellow of laughter echoed through the dining hall.
"Aye, I like a woman with spirit! She knows just where you are, Master Elf, and there isn't a doubt that your not her idea of close by."
Just then, another dwarf was being ushered in. "Are there no justices here?" he demanded, but saw the rest and laughed. "At least I am not alone in my misery! Oh, that they had woken you, as well!"
Gimli! I brightened and looked. Yeah, it was him, alright, but he looked like someone had tied his beard in a knot, and fluffed his hair. I laughed as little as I could, but when Gimli saw me, and the Hobbits too, his smile faded into one of surprise.
"Why have you brought us all down so early?" He asked the elves, appearing angry.
"He wants to set us out to the yards with the girl and the hobbits," harrumphed the owlish dwarf that had spoken before. "And why? I see no use to it!" hooted the dwarf again, looking grouchy.
I looked around in defeat, shrugging. "What do you guys mean by, 'out to the yards'? As in you have work for us, or what?"
"I would not call it work, as much as practice. You, Lady Jessica, seem to wish to learn, and so you will. The Dwarves, of course have their own things to do, and the Hobbits could join you in a bit of training up as well, I'd imagine," The elf that was by me stated with a smile. It was the kind of self-satisfied smile someone gave you when that didn't think you could turn them down.
I shrugged. Trying to look indifferent. "Sounds okay to me, I was gonna go train today anyway. But the Dwarves don't need training. Why are you bringing them?"
"Because, who else is here whom is of the right stature to adequately teach a Hobbit to defend himself? And with such appropriate numbers?"
Surprised by the logic, I nodded. "I guess your right. But you could let them choose their own times, rest and eat first, if not in that order. Where is your hospitality?" I asked, baiting the elf who'd glared at me before.
'My hospitality is in check… lady." He said with an added pause. "I dare say that there is not enough time as it is! Please, Lady, Dwarves and Hobbits, I hope you are ready soon. We must practice for what lies ahead."
I wasn't sure how to respond to that, but I finished my food quickly anyway. My second helping would have to wait, it seemed. As I finished my breakfast, and sipped the last of the wine, I thought about the Karate I'd had at home. How much more taxing would this be? Shaking thoughts of Karate and food from my head, I stood and went to find Legolas. I was hoping I could do the archery first. I knew other lessons might be more painless, but I wanted to do this, first.
I looked up at the sky as I walked outside. Legolas had wandered off, so I went to look for him in the Archery grounds, which were littered with a few pinecones. I stepped over them or kicked them aside. Eventually, I found him, but he was talking to Aragorn, who looked upset. I felt myself get anxious. Why was I always bumping into private conversations? I turned and started to move away. I could wait. Sure. Hell, why not? I could find Elrond, or that dude with the grey-white beard.
Then it happened.
I stepped on a pinecone.
…damn.
And just after I had been so carefully avoiding them, too.
The sound stopped the conversation so quickly; I had to look up to see what had happened, careful not to look suspicious. When I looked over to them, I blinked, and sighed inwardly. Aragorn was looking at me with an expression that said clearly that he didn't like how I kept turning up, especially if I wasn't even trying to sneak up. Legolas looked expertly indifferent. I tried for a smile. It wasn't quite as effective as it might've been.
"Lady, Pray tell me, why is it that you keep finding me when I desire to speak alone with a comrade?"
I looked to the ground, not knowing what to say. I knew that I had to try, but it was hard to think of anything to come up with, even with the truth in the palm of my hand. I looked up again. "I finished eating, and I went to find Legolas, s-so we could, um, do archery. Or, I mean, learn it? I mean, he could teach me some. Archery."
Legolas smiled softly. Aragorns suspicious look softened, but his eyes still preened mine for hidden information. I suddenly remembered Aragorn with that big, badass blade he called a sword. It was much more like a stretched out machete, as far as I was concerned. A big one. A big, long, sharp, threatening machete. I took a step back, and turned. I felt threatened by the memory.
"Come on, what are we waiting for?" I tossed back, trying for humor.
"My lady?"
"Yeah?" I said quickly.
"You do of course know that there is nothing behind you but the forest? There is naught for archery there," said Aragorn, smiling and obviously amused.
Oh, yeah. I turned back, smiling. "I knew that," I bluffed, and walked over to them, looking at them both with what I hoped was a hopeful look. Legolas was the one who nodded, and moved his hand in a sweeping motion, pointing to some place beyond a small, but well traveled path between two large oaks…
