Thank you readers who reviewed the last chapter: MistressofImladris, thrndlewood, the Catbird Seat, The Real FloraNocturna, Leslieer, Glassary, AutumnSparkle, Emilia Lozano, Charming Ever After, the Enchanted Stream, Lady Lindariel, and Katia 0203.
Now it's time for...Questions with Legolas!
First Question from Mistress of Imladris: What is your favorite genre of music?
Hmmm... I wish I had a more sophisticated answer for this, like "smooth jazz" or something really cool sounding. The truth is when you've been around for as long as I have, your taste in music changes like the seasons. One day it's harps and lutes in Imladris and before you know it you're driving to the club wearing a velour leisure suit singing along to the Beegees. Honestly, I'll sing along with anything on the car radio that has a catchy tune. I don't know that I have a favorite genre. But what I really do like is a good song I can sing along to, when the singer really belts it out. I DO miss Disco though, and I looked mighty fine in velour.
Second Question from Katia0203: What is your favorite childhood memory?
Oh, it's always these sort of questions that can make an elf get emotional, you know? My best childhood memories are probably rooted in spending time with my father. I remember this one time he took me out hunting—I had just advanced in my archery training to a larger recurve bow—and it was just the two of us. At the time, I thought it was just the two of us. In hindsight, he probably had at least a dozen guards staked out along our route, but at the time I thought it was just us. And I remember we stopped at this little stream, and my father picked up a rock and skipped it down the stream. It must have skipped at least six or seven times, and I was amazed. He must have looked down and seen my face and how impressed I was, because in the next moment he dropped our gear and was helping me find just the right sort of rock, flat on one side, perfect for skipping. We didn't finish our hunt. My father, you know 'King of the Realm,' took turns with me skipping rocks into the stream. It was all we did. And it was just the two of us—one of those sorts of memories when everything is sort of golden and content and good. And if you're wondering, I'm still really good at skipping rocks. Professional level, even. It's all in the wrist, baby.
Chapter Seven: I Get a Little Competitive
Preparations for the archery tournament followed the sun's slow creep over the hills. Busy hands set up seating, hung targets. Across Caras Galadhon, elves crept from flets to see the stars and moon dim in early morning rays. First one voice, then two, then numerous uncountable called to each other in ever-changing song, both joyous and as old as Cuivienen. They sang of rivers running and forests deep. A myriad of voices strong and clear, sweet and sad, blessed the dawn and the contest to come.
There was always song to be had in Lothlorien, and this morning even I lifted my voice as I checked my bow and gathered my arrows into my quiver. I dressed before dawn, choosing to represent my royal house by wearing green and brown. I also decided to rebraid my hair into the traditional Greenleaf braids. I never cared too much for pomp, but intuition told me my father would have been pleased by this gesture. In truth, my adar would be piqued to discover that I had been omitting my prince's crown from standard attire as of late. The crown was not balky, gaudy, heavy, or any of those things; it was merely a simple circlet of silver carved with leaves. I peered at the crown among my possessions. With a sigh, I picked it up and put it on. I tilted my head. The crown slid over my ear. This would never do, not for a tournament at least.
I dumped the crown back into the top drawer of the dresser, picked up my weapons and proceeded to the stables on the way to the archery fields. In the stables, I cheerfully greeted my horse, Arod, who whinnied and stamped in return.
"Easy, my friend. I do not come empty-handed." I produced an apple and offered it to Arod. While the horse munched greedily, I combed my fingers through his mane. I had owned and loved many horses in my years, but Arod one of the finest. We had become fast friends on the fields of Rohan, seeing many battles and traveling many more roads. Always, Arod had been faithful.
"You will not fail me today, will you?" I asked. "You must be fleet-footed if we want to win the race in the archery contest." In the way that all elves had with beasts, I sensed Arod understood me.
While I led Arod out of the stable, Miredhel entered to secure her horse for the race portion of the tournament.
"My lord," she said, looking distinctly uncomfortable in my presence, "I would have expected you to have been at the field nearly an hour ago!"
"The morning was too lovely to rush, Lady Miredhel," I replied, pausing a moment to study her. Dark green leggings hugged her shapely legs, and she wore a light, silvery green tunic. She had tied her golden curls back, making her face seem even more heart-shaped.
"You have not won our wager yet, Prince Legolas," she reminded me, eyes narrowing ever so slightly.
"You did not tell Eledhel or Belegil of my condition on the wager," I said blithely.
"Did you?" Miredhel replied, the corners of her mouth turning up. When I made no reply, she grinned a little. "I thought not. Besides, our business is our own." She closed the stable door behind her and threw me a look over her shoulder. "Not to mention, I fully intend to win the wager." She mounted her horse in one seamless movement and then looked down at me, "Should we go tell Eledhel right now?"
"And if we did?"
"I care not," she said and tossed her head.
"You blush, my lady." I observed.
"Only when I consider the embarrassment you will feel at losing face in front of your friends…when I win."
"And what if Eledhel wins?"
"Then I will leave the Golden Wood and probably be miserable for the next age or so." She started to ride from the stable, but I stepped in her way.
"What are you doing? Please move." Miredhel attempted to edge past me, but I did not budge.
"I look forward to the outcome, my lady," I said, swiftly adding "not the part about you being miserable, of course. But the terms in which we—"
Her cheeks stained pink and she cut me off. "You have not won yet."
"No, but my father taught me to believe in myself," I countered, with a knowing grin.
She shook her head. "You are an arrogant one," she told me, and despite the vinegar in her words, her tone remained matter-of-fact as if she were merely commenting on the color of my tunic or the fine weather.
"Am I?" I asked, mock doubt underscoring my words. "Is it arrogant to be hopeful of winning a kiss from a beautiful maiden?
She shook her head and laughed, not like she thought I said something humorous, but more like she thought I was completely foolhardy. "Kissing you will be the last thing I do, Prince Legolas." Then she straightened her posture and lifted her chin in the air. "Now, if you will excuse me? I have a tournament to win."
"As you wish," I said, and no sooner than I stepped out of the way, she sailed past me, not looking back.
"Point scored, Miredhel," I muttered under my breath to Arod. "She thinks I'm arrogant." I thought for a moment, did a little personal inventory. "I cannot imagine whatever gave her that idea." Arod looked down his nose at me, whinnied a long disapproving note.
And why did I make such a foolish wager? Yes, she is pretty—it had to be those green eyes—and yes, I like a challenge, but Miredhel clearly did not want to kiss me! She doesn't want to have anything to do with me. Obviously. And finds me repulsive in every aspect. Of course, no one forced her to accept the conditions of our wager...she could have said no. "Let's go, Arod. We have a tournament to win." With a determined look in my eye, I quickly mounted and was hardly out the door when stopped by Eledhel.
"Well met, Legolas and Arod," he called. "You are in a hurry to win. Wait a moment, and I will happily join you on the way over." He neatly side-stepped Arod and led his horse Firmith from the stall. I wondered...did he see Miredhel on the way out. She wouldn't have said anything to him, would she? I shifted uncomfortably atop Arod.
"Legolas, you do not look at all well," Eledhel observed quietly. "Nervous?"
"Not at all," I replied and attempted to put Miredhel's words behind me.
Eledhel mounted Firmith and rode to Arod's side. "I am not so easily fooled. What troubles you?"
"I did see your sister not long before you entered the stable," I reluctantly confessed.
"Enough said." Eledhel shook his head. "I have never seen her more shaken than this morning. Usually so calm, she is. I almost told her to consider our wager cancelled, but she never would have agreed to that."
"She seemed far from nervous to me," I said. I replayed my conversation with Miredhel in my mind from a new perspective. She was nervous?
Eledhel nodded. "Only because you do not know her as well as I. She is as constant as the northern star, just as brilliant, and just as distant to try and reach. Through a lifetime of study, I have learned to love her, but not understand her."
"Yet I have only known her a few days and would try for the same," I admitted.
"You can no more rush the rise of the sun…" said Eledhel, his voice trailing off.
We both rode silently together toward the archery field. As we reached the tree line, Eledhel spoke first.
"Best wishes and true aim, my friend."
"About the wager," I started, but Eledhel interrupted.
"Do not speak of it, friend. Let us both prove our mettle today, regardless of bets made."
We dismounted and shook hands and then led our horses to the archery field for the contest was about to start.
The warriors, both male and female, of Caras Galadhon lined up along the field. They wore the colors of their different houses and bore weapons grim and sleek. I took my place among them next to Farothin, and Eledhel stood out in front to address the spectators. The elves had quickly erected a collection of raised platforms along the green. In the middle of them all sat Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn. With a nod from her ladyship, Eledhel began.
"My lords and ladies, the warriors before you will compete in a series of challenges. The first is marksmanship. Points will be awarded on the basis of skill and accuracy on the circular targets before the green. The second contest challenges speed, accuracy, and decision-making against moving targets. Finally, the top five competitors from the previous rounds will compete against each other in an obstacle course."
The platforms were full of elves, young and ageless. They applauded and cheered for their favorites. Many laughed and traded opinions, guessing who the champion would be.
"It will be Haldir. He has been the captain of the guard for countless years!" argued one elf.
"Haldir may be the best shot, but he is not so quick on horseback as Sulindal," countered Gilgafier, Celeborn's advisor.
"No, no. Eledhel is bound to win, for he organized the whole contest!" said Gilfier, Gilgafier's son.
"Yes, but can he outshoot the Prince from Mirkwood?" asked another elf.
Even the Galadriel debated with her lady-in-waiting, Tinarien, on the outcome. "Even the wisest cannot see all ends, but the Lady Miredhel may surprise many young elves with her skill," she said knowingly.
Celeborn rose from his seat and said, "May our tournament begin."
Author's note: Please Review, Follow, and Favorite! And Don't forget to send in your questions for Legolas! ;)