~Irresistible Challenge~
Taurorn walked beside Aerlaer as they descended the open stair down into the smaller hall, which connected to the King's hall where he could already hear the cheerful voices of many people. Below them waiting was Aragon, the twins and Legolas. Without being too obvious he studied the woodland Elf, but he need not have worried for the Elf was gazing up at Aerlaer with a look of appreciative wonder upon his face. He was surprised when the Elf's eyes suddenly flickered to him and then his face suddenly became a blank canvas.
"Cousin, you look delightful!" Elrohir exclaimed, darting Taurorn a knowing look as he added casually; "Doesn't she look delightful, Legolas?" Taurorn noted the blonde Elf tensed ever so slightly.
"Yes." He replied almost begrudgingly and from the corner of his eye, Taurorn saw Aerlaer's barely noticeable, brief frown which she quickly covered with a dazzling smile. Yes? All he can say is yes?
"Legolas, I was looking for you earlier, I've not seen you once since we arrived back in Edoras. In fact, I haven't seen any of you except Taurorn, and Éomer. Surely you haven't all been sleeping this whole time?" She added playfully.
"Not all of us slept most of the ride back." Legolas replied, his tone flat. "And we were around, perhaps you weren't looking hard enough." He gave an indifferent shrug and then smirked, but Taurorn somehow felt that the smirk was an afterthought. He noticed Aragorn glance sceptically at the Elf. Something's amiss. There was the sound of chatter from above them and footsteps and he and Aerlaer turned to see the two Hobbits and Gimli, walking down the stair.
"La, you look as if you wear starlight itself." Gimli rumbled warmly.
"Thank you, Gimli." She replied kindly but with a hint of embarrassment as he went to stand next to Legolas.
"You do look lovely, Aerlaer." Merry said and Pippin nodded in agreement.
"Okay, enough with the flattery, compliment my dress makers not I." Aerlaer chuckled and her cheeks went an ever so light shade of pink. And there it is; that shy, modest elleth who doesn't see quite what the rest of us see. I bet she deflects it to the one thing she isn't modest about. Taurorn inwardly smiled.
"Besides, my fighting skills are much more impressive." She grinned. Knew it. He chuckled to himself.
"Exactly." Legolas quickly agreed, and Taurorn only just stopped himself from gaping at the Elf's thoughtless comment. "Let's go, I need a drink." He muttered and turning swiftly on his heel, walked towards the noisy hall.
Taurorn glanced at Aerlaer, but if the comment had upset her, she did not show it. In fact, she was smirking. Of course, the plot to get Legolas drunk. He glanced at the twins who had been trying to catch his eye, they looked crestfallen by the woodland Elf's words and he shrugged minutely at them as he walked beside them, following the blonde Elf into the hall.
...
Legolas had shocked himself by thoughtlessly agreeing with Aerlaer. You idiot. He didn't think that at all but he could hardly tell her what he really thought when she was with another. How could he tell her she looked like she was clothed in starlight, just as Gimli had said, and her skin was like the pale golden glow of the moon, her eyes like sapphires and her hair like cascading autumn leaves and her smile… Her smile could light up darkness itself. It seemed his days' worth of avoidance had been in vain, he could not get her out of his head. Why does Rodwen dress her so attractively? He grumbled with annoyance.
"Legolas, my friend, you look like you need a drink." He looked up startled from his thoughts to see Éomer. The man handed him a full tankard.
"I do, but what is this?" He asked as he cautiously peered at the sparkling liquid.
"Apple Cider." Éomer said and Legolas took a tentative sip. Does Éomer sound smug? No, it must have been my imagination. This is nice, really nice.
"It's a nice change from Elven wine. Thank you." Legolas replied politely and went to take another sip.
"Wait, we better hear Théoden's speech first." Éomer chuckled quietly and Legolas lowered his drink and looked up to where the King stood with Éowyn beside him.
"Tonight, we remember those who gave their blood to defend this country and we celebrate those who fought hard and are still with us. Hail the victorious dead and hail the living!" Théoden raised his chalice high in the air.
"Hail!" Cheered the people around him and Legolas raised his tankard too as they did, before taking a deep drink.
"So, what do you do at such celebrations?" Legolas asked Éomer, glad for the man's distraction from a certain other Elf.
"We drink with friends!" He said and raised his own pint mug and took a swig. "And we play games." He added mysteriously.
"What kind of games?" Legolas asked, intrigued.
"Drinking games, care to join us?"
"I am not sure." He replied hesitantly. Drinking games are pointless with the race of men. There is no challenge, I always win because they are light weights.
"Ha, scared you'll lose, Legolas?" Gimli chuckled as he came to stand by his side and he shot a scathing glare down at the Dwarf.
"No! Of course not." He replied a little annoyed. He turned back to Éomer. "What exactly do these drinking games entail? I think I should like to best a certain Dwarf." He smirked and Éomer grinned.
...
"Éowyn, you look lovely." Aerlaer said as she greeted her friend. Her full sleeved dress was white with a swirling pattern of gold.
"As do you, that dress is splendid." Éowyn replied admirably.
"I think we have the same designers and dress makers to thank." Aerlaer chuckled.
"Indeed, we do." Éowyn smiled, and then turned to look over Aerlaer's shoulder. "I have not met your companions yet; will you introduce me?" She asked a little shyly.
"Of course." Aerlaer turned and stepped to the side. "On the left are the sons of Lord Elrond of Rivendell, my mischievous cousins. Elladen on the right and Elrohir on the left. These two kind hearted rascals are Merry and Pippin, from the Shire and this tall, dark and mysteriously good-looking Ranger is my brother, Taurorn." She smirked up at the Ranger
"It's lovely to meet you all." Éowyn said, looking curiously between Aerlaer and Taurorn. "Forgive me for asking but how can you be siblings?"
"It is a rather long story but we've adopted one another." Taurorn replied, smirking back at her as Elrohir and Elladen chuckled.
"Perhaps one day when there is time for such things you can both tell me." Éowyn replied. Aerlaer nodded, before a certain blonde Elf caught her attention and she grinned.
"Oh look! Legolas and Gimli are playing a drinking game!" Aerlaer said excitedly as she also spied the Dwarf a few tables away. "Let's watch, although it's obvious who will win!"
"Who?" Éowyn asked confused.
"Legolas by a barrel easily." Taurorn chortled. "It's never wise to challenge an Elf to a drinking game, especially that particular Elf."
"Oh, don't you worry Taurorn, we'll get him intoxicated, my schemes never fail." Aerlaer laughed deviously as she dashed off to watch the action, the twins close on her heels.
"Whatever does she mean?" Aerlaer heard Éowyn ask Taurorn as they followed at a more appropriate pace, behind her and the twins.
"Another thing you need to know about Elves, if you are going to be friends with them, they are cunning and mischievous when they wish to be and it just so happens, the four most mischievous Elves of Middle Earth are all together in this very hall." Hearing this too, Aerlaer threw a smirk back over her shoulder at the Ranger.
"Should we be worried?" Éowyn murmured sounding disconcerted, much to her amusement.
Taurorn laughed. "Don't worry, no one's died yet over their antics, well unless they were an Orc or Warg… although, this is the first time all four of them have been together in one place so, maybe we should be worried. The terrible twins, an imp of an Elfhorse and, as my second-in-command Halbarad likes to call him, that woodland sprite, all together, what could go wrong?"
...
Legolas downed his ninth pint and still he felt nothing. This was going to be easy. Meanwhile Gimli was clearly feeling the effects of the ale.
"Here, here. It's the Dwarves that go swimming with little hairy women." Gimli chuckled and Legolas nearly choked on his ninth pint as he downed it. What a horrifying thought!
He paused a moment to take stock of how he felt. "I feel something." He examined his hands, keeping his face passive. "A slight tingling in my fingers." He mused curiously as he looked up at Éomer who was looking at him incredulously. Legolas smirked. "I think it's affecting me." Éomer and Aragorn nearly choked on their own drinks in mirth.
"What did I say? He can't hold his liquor!" Gimli declared and slammed his emptied, ninth tankard onto the bench and then, to Legolas's delight, toppled off his bench and onto the ground with a heavy thump.
"Game over." He smirked smugly at the snoring, passed out Dwarf as the men around them both cheered and groaned as they handed over money.
...
While they had all been watching Legolas and Gimli's game, Elladen and Elrohir had deliberately gotten into an argument over which Elf was a better fighter; Aerlaer or Legolas.
"Come Taurorn, you've seen them both fight on separate occasions, which one of them is better? Its Aerlaer isn't it? Elladen pressed the young Ranger, who had figured out quickly their intentions, although he'd tld them both they were playing fire. Elrohir just so happened to enjoy fire. Besides, he had a point to prove.
To his delight, his young cousin had heard their staged bickering, and turned towards their conversation. He shot a gaze at Taurorn, knowing the Ranger would find the right words to flare her competitive temper.
"Well its close I think but I don't know… Legolas is an incredibly skilled fighter with knives." Taurorn slowly admitted and Aerlaer shot him an indignant look.
"Are you saying he is better than me then?"
"Ha! I knew it, Legolas is the better fighter!" Elrohir chortled triumphantly, winding her up further, and Aerlaer glared at him causing him to laugh all the more. This is going splendidly! Elrohir thought gleefully.
"What in Arda, are you four yelling about?" Aragorn asked as he came up to them and Elrohir quickly composed himself and answered his friend.
"We are having a debate as to whether Legolas is a better fighter than Aerlaer or not."
"With knives." Elladen added, also resuming pretence of sensibility.
"Does it matter?" Aragorn said shaking his head in amusement.
"Yes!" Aerlaer said in an irritated tone. "Taurorn and Elrohir doubt my skills." She seethed and Elrohir shot her a smirk. Now they just needed Legolas.
"I never said that. I said he was really good with knives." Taurorn replied teasingly and received a dark look from the elleth.
"What's going on?" The blonde horseman, Éomer asked, also joining in followed by a hesitant Legolas who appeared mildly curious.
"The brothers here are discussing who fights better, Legolas or Aerlaer." Aragorn explained slightly exasperated. Oh, dear Estel, the fun has not begun yet!
"Indeed?" Éomer said with raised brows. "Well then, who is it?"
"Me, of course." Legolas said smugly beside him and Elrohir grinned excitedly, everything falling into place as he and Elladen had planned.
"Ha, do not be so quick to draw that conclusion." Aerlaer retorted regally, sending the woodland Elf a piercing look to which he returned. Elrohir could barely stop grinning, as was Elladan and Taurorn. Aragorn, on the other hand, looked perplexed, turning to the young woman, Éowyn, who seemed confused by what was happening.
"Elves." He said, as if that explained all, to which she smiled and laughed.
"Why don't you just settle it and fight each other? Like when Aerlaer fought Boromir back in Rivendell." Merry cried out and they all turned to him. "Well it would make more sense than arguing about it." The Hobbit shrugged and Elladen smirked at Elrohir. He knew there was no way his younger cousin would resist a play fight, especially with her blades. She'd beaten Elrohir plenty of times and he could see her seething that Legolas considered himself, her better.
"It wouldn't be a fair fight, I've had more to drink than Aerlaer has, and she has the advantage." Legolas said defensively and wordlessly Aerlaer downed her goblet of apple cider and Taurorn handed her another one which she began to drink. Elrohir smirked.
"Merry, Pippin, can you please retrieve both mine and Legolas's fighting knives from our chambers, while I drink until my fingers slightly tingle?" She looked up innocently at Legolas but there was a tell-tale smirk playing on her lips. "That was right, wasn't it?" Elrohir looked from one to the other as they each stared defiantly at one another, eyes blazing and he even noticed a couple strands of Aerlaer's hair sparking. This spark of a challenge is going to turn into an all-out wild fire!
"Yes tingling." Legolas replied stiffly. "So, this is happening? Don't want to back out while you still can?" He asked her in an imposing manner.
"I'm not one to back out." She replied regally, eyes flashing.
"Neither am I." He replied just as imperially.
"This will be brilliant." Elrohir whispered to his brother who nodded wickedly.
...
"Thank you Merry." Legolas said as he took his two fighting knives and twirled them in his hands. He was fairly confident he could best her. At least he hoped he could. He watched Aerlaer as she took her knives from Pippin and flipped and twirled one deftly in her hand while drinking her fifth tankard of cider
He found it amusing to see how daintily she held the pint-sized tankard as she drank from it. Under all that fierceness she is still a princess. He smirked inwardly and then tried not to scowl as he watched as she handed Taurorn the drained chalice, whispering something close to his ear, and shook her hands out.
"Tingling." She declared and flashed him a smirk. She was confident. He could hear it in her voice and by the way she held herself proudly. Well then, so was he.
"About time." He quipped lazily.
Word had spread swiftly throughout the hall that they were to fight and all of the Rohirrim present, including the King, had gathered on either side of the space Éomer had asked to be cleared for them in the centre of the hall. He and Aerlaer walked into the space and stood in the middle, twelve feet apart, facing one other. He could feel his heart thudding in his chest as he gazed at her and under her cool, calculating gaze, he felt exposed. They had not even begun and already her eyes were slaying him. Can I win this? Damn my pride, why didn't I just decline!
"You both know the Rivendell rules of fighting, but I will humour our audience." Elladen announced and he felt his heart quicken in anticipation. "This is a knife and combat fight but, no seriously harming one another and no drawing blood." He said and then smirked. "Oh, and as father always likes to add, no slashing one another's clothes off, there's a time and place." He quipped cheekily and amongst the laughter from the spectators, Legolas heard the disappointed groans from a few of the younger riders and guards. Legolas glared scathingly at Elladen and noticed Aerlaer also had shot her cousin a steely look.
"What does the champion get?" Elrohir called out to Elladen, who furrowed his eyebrows in thought.
"The champion shall receive a kiss bestowed by the loser upon their cheek." Elladen said slowly a smile playing on his lips. Legolas paled at the idea and narrowed his eyes at Elladen, but the Elf merely smirked at him. What in Arda is he playing at? He glanced at Aerlaer, who was also looking at Elladen, surprised, worriedly chewing her bottom lip.
"Yes, that is a brilliant idea dear brother!" Elrohir said. "It would only be fair that only after trying to mock kill one another, both companions, as they say in the west, kiss and make up." He explained and to Legolas's annoyance, the idea was met by agreement from the half drunken crowd. I am going to kill those twins. I was trying to avoid Aerlaer and now this?
"Is that acceptable?" Elladen asked both he and Aerlaer, his eyes challenging. If he didn't accept he knew it would leave him open to the onslaught of the twins questioning. I cannot get out of this one. He realised frantically. Elladen was watching him, still smirking as if daring him to refuse so he let his face become apathetic.
"If Taurorn finds it acceptable, then I see no problem." He replied indifferently and looked towards the young Ranger, at the front of the crowd.
"Go for it." Taurorn grinned, with a non-fussed shrug of his shoulders which Legolas found odd.
"Aerlaer?" Elladen asked.
"It is fine." She nodded curtly to him and Legolas could not discern any emotion on her face. There is no way I can lose this now. Legolas decided determinedly. There is no way in Arda, I am going to allow myself to endure the torture of kissing her and potentially giving away these accursed feeling, even if it is just upon her cheek. He turned to face her in a fighter stance. I will not lose.
…
The entire hall was hushed, waiting. Aerlaer allowed her body and mind to shift into hunt mode and her focus was solely on the tall Elf before her. He began to circle and she circled him too, her senses hyper alert to any movement he might make. His action was graceful yet thought out and she couldn't help but admire him. Now she had the time to study him she noticed just how well the light, silvery tunic he wore fitted him, hinting at the muscle which lay beneath it.
"You cannot circle me all evening, Aerlaer." He said in a bored tone and she snapped her eyes back to his. Stupid Elf, concentrate. She smiled sweetly at him.
"I like to play with my prey." She said lightly. "Find its weakness." She was surprised to see his eyes darken and she felt her heart quicken at the predatory look in them.
"Sorry Princess, I have no weaknesses, so to speak." Legolas replied in a menacing voice as he swiftly stepped towards her, blades spinning. She easily deflected his attack and spun behind him to attack back, but he spun too and caught her blades in his. For a moment, they were locked by their knives in a battle of strength.
Aerlaer had to begrudgingly admit to herself, he would always be the stronger Elf but she had fleetness on her side she was sure he could not rival. As his blades forced her arms down, she ducked sideway and rolled out of the way, before spinning and leaping to her feet just in time to deflect another blow from him. He is quicker than I thought, I am glad I am not an Orc.
She dropped to the ground and spun her legs out trying to trip him and he leapt back not expecting her manoeuvre. Quickly she leapt up and flew at him with her blades blurring. He was caught slightly off guard and stepped back as he deflected each of her attacks. She realised too late she had backed him towards a table and he leapt back onto it before leaping over her and grabbing her arms. She was just quick enough to hook her right leg around behind his left, knowing it would be the weaker of the two, and pulled his balance from him, causing him to let her go.
She spun on him and he leapt back and again began to circle her warily. I've rattled him. She smirked.
…
She was force of nature, dangerous, wild and beautiful. He circled her trying to plan his next move. She had countered everything he had so far thrown at her and her own attacks had been swift and fierce. He had to try and get her off her feet, her advantage lay in her swiftness and while he too was swift, she had an edge on him and she knew it. Damn her.
He leapt forward, knowing she would raise her blades to deflect him and at the last second, he turned and spun so he was behind her and this time he grabbed her wrists. Yes, I've got her! Before he had time to register, he felt himself being thrown forward as she pulled down on his arms and ducking, flipped him onto his back. The air was slightly knocked from his lungs and he barely managed to get his blades up to deflect her onslaught.
I've met my match. He thought and realising the double meaning in his own words, felt the ache which had remained in his heart , flare, and angered with himself for how he felt and with her for being too proud and challenging him to this fight, he leapt up with renewed determination. She may have started this but I will finish it.
He advanced on her and she grinned impishly at him. "Decided to finally wake up have you, Legolas?" She taunted him as he slowly pushed her towards the pillars, hoping to corner her.
"I like to observe my prey, see how much of a fight it will put up before I take it down." He replied nonchalantly and her eyes glimmered with that hint of wildness which had not quite left them since Helms Deep as she deftly fought off each parry he made with his blades.
…
Just before she hit the pillar behind her, Aerlaer threw her arm out and leaping sideways, swung around it, intent on rounding on Legolas and knocking him to the ground. He moved just before she made contact and as she landed back on the ground, once again advanced on her with knives spinning. She leapt and spun, her blades extended out and he stepped back.
Landing she brought her next attack swiftly to him and he ducked and blocked each of her movements. He is more skilled even than, Aerthor, was. By now, she would have bested her brother but still she fought Legolas, unsure how to overpower him. She could not simply exhaust him. He only just gave her enough time to try and plan her next move. He is truly incredible and formidable, I have never fought like this before; been so equally matched, but I'm still going to beat him.
She smirked and made to dash to his side, trying to catch him unguarded and he turned with her, blades cutting through the air. There was the nearly musical sound of one of his blades cutting through hair and a collective gasp sounded through the hall as a small lock off the end of Aerlaer's hair fell to the floor.
…
"Oh no! Not the hair." Taurorn groaned, suddenly feeling immensely sorry for Legolas. If there was one thing Aerlaer was proud of above all else and, the one thing she was truly vain about, it was her glorious hair.
"He's done it now." Elladen snickered beside him.
"He's a dead Elf." Added Elrohir.
"Aerlaer, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to." Legolas stuttered, surprised as he stepped hastily away from the elleth, who had at first glanced at the lock of hair now on the ground as if someone had murdered her lifemate, and then glared at him, twirling her blades threateningly.
"I didn't mean it." Legolas said again and Elrohir chuckled.
"Listen! Even he knows he is a dead Elf!"
"Will she really hurt him?" Éowyn asked worriedly.
"Unlikely said Aragorn; I think she is using it to her advantage."
"Bluffing." Éomer realised and grinned. "Well played."
…
It was only a few strands of hair really, she would not even notice it missing but it had just given her an advantage. Legolas looked horrified by what he had done. She confidently sauntered up to him, blades twirling and he stepped back, his eyes wary.
"Shall I deliver your hair the same fate?" She mused as she advanced and swiped a blade towards him as if to get his hair. He blocked it, taking another step back. I truly do have the upper hand now.
"Or maybe, I should have your head for such a misdeed." She said and thrust both knives towards his neck which he met with his own and once again their blades were locked. For a moment neither of them moved and Aerlaer held the other Elf's eyes in her gaze.
"It is only a few strands, I won't even miss them." she whispered to him and let a smirk quirk the corners of her lips.
"You imp." He growled at her and Aerlaer felt a thrill of excitement as his eyes grew even darker.
"I did warn you I like to play with my prey." She replied and he grinned at her wolfishly.
"And I did warn you I like to observe my prey, see how much of a fight she will put up..." He swiftly stepped closer to her, and put pressure on her blades. She stepped back and suddenly her other leg had been swept out from under her and she felt herself falling back. "…before I take her down."
…
Legolas swiftly dropped down over Aerlaer, as she hit the ground and grabbed her right arm and pinned her by the wrist to the floor. He could feel the swift beat of her pulse through the knife he now held against her bare throat. Her eyes were of the darkest, wildest blue as he gazed into them triumphantly.
I have beaten her. He realised, suddenly shocked his manoeuvre had worked. He was vaguely aware the hall was deathly silent but for the sound of his fast and shallow breathing. She too breathed quickly, her lips slightly parted and she had that strange warm but wild look in her eyes as she gazed up at him, strands of her hair glowing softly upon the stone floor. Why is her hair sparking? He stared wonderingly at her.
He was so close to her, all he had to do was lean down a little and he could brush his lips against hers. Those lips slowly curved up into a smile and he became aware of a firm pressure against his chest which was not his pounding heart trying to break through his ribs.
"I'm still playing, Legolas." She said simply to him and before he could register what was happening, she had flexed her pinned wrist up and swiftly ripped it from his grip, swinging her hand to his side and using her momentum to roll him off her. Then she was half straddling him, her knee pinning him down at his torso and then swiftly, leaning over him, she pinned his arms above his head with one of her own and her other hand she held her blade poised over his heart which beat frantically, as his mind scrambled to comprehend the turn in events and her proximity.
…
"You owe me ten gold coins." Elrohir grinned gleefully to his brother.
"But we don't know if they've finished yet." Éomer chuckled.
"Oh, we weren't betting on who would win." Elladen snickered and received a dark look form Aragorn.
"You set this up." He hissed.
"We don't know what you are talking about." Elrohir said innocently, secretly delighting in the obvious revelation before them. Legolas was one of the best fighters he knew, never letting a distraction be his downfall, and yet with Aerlaer, he had crumbled, completely at her mercy.
"What are they doing?" Éowyn asked him.
"Who can say? Perhaps they are commenting on the weather? Maybe they are whispering sweet nothings into one another's ears." He replied, grinning wickedly.
"Probably plotting to murder the two of you." Taurorn chuckled to his left.
"If I don't murder them first." Aragorn muttered darkly, to which Elrohir shot him an innocent look.
"Why, Aragorn, why ever would you do such a thing?" The Ranger simply shook his head in exasperation and Elrohir smirked once more.
…
Oh Manwë, I am done for! Aerlaer's hair fell across Legolas, as she leaned towards him and, for one fleeting, hopeful moment he thought she was going to kiss him. Instead she whispered into his ear and he shuddered as her soft breath tickled his skin.
"Pride is your weakness, but it is also your strength just as it is my weakness and strength." She pulled back and searched his eyes and he gazed hopelessly into hers, heart racing frantically. He felt her grasp release from his wrist and then her arm slid off his arms. She sat up, and removing her knee from his chest, stood and offered him her hand. He became aware of voices cheering loudly around the hall and people clapping and the clear notes of an Elf whistle, followed by a Hobbits. He took her hand and got slowly to his feet, feeling shaken to his very core.
"Well fought." He managed to say. "I have never had such a challenging opponent." He gave her a small smile as he tried to compose himself.
"Neither have I, you are truly a force to be reckoned with." She grinned at him as they went to walk from the space.
"Aren't you forgetting something, Legolas?" Elrohir called out to him. Oh Manwë! That damn kiss! He shot Elrohir a look he hoped conveyed just how much he wanted to strangle him, and turned to Aerlaer nervously. I can do this, just as long as I don't look at her lips.
"I believe, as I was the one who lost this fight, I owe you something." Trying not to think about it and deliberately not looking at her mouth, he gently grasped both her shoulders and leant in, feeling intoxicated by her scent of violets and the vanilla scent of her hair which had tortured his senses since they had begun their fight. Gently, he placed kiss upon her left cheek, pulling back as he began to register just how soft her skin was against his lips. He looked at her nervously. Her tresses are glowing again. Glowing in triumph perhaps?
"I don't think you lost, you very nearly beat me you know, and it was more luck that I overpowered you." He held his breath as she reached up, and brushed her lips lightly against his right cheek. "This is also my thank you." She murmured against his cheek and a small sigh escaped his lips, the feeling like that of a butterfly's light wings, wild and fleeting but warming like the sun. She withdrew and took a step back and turned to their hushed onlookers which Legolas had momentarily forgotten about, too enraptured by her.
"We both won and we both lost to each other, therefore we are equals." Aerlaer announced and the hall erupted unquestioningly into cheers again.
"But you beat me." He said, confused by her statement. She shrugged.
"Do you really think I would hurt your pride so or leave you to the mercy of my twin cousins, taunts for the next millennia? I could not put you through that, but be warned, if you ever harm another hair upon my head again you will want to have a very good hiding place because I will hunt you down and I will get you." She smirked before turning and then Taurorn was by her side grabbing her by the arm, whispering urgently to her and dragging her away. He watched feeling the painful ache creep back into his heart as he led her from the hall. Merry ran up to him.
"That was incredible! You were both incredible." He gushed in awe.
"Thanks." He distractedly replied.
"Here, I'll take your blades back to your chamber." He offered and Legolas gratefully handed them over.
"Thank you, Merry." He smiled to him and watched as he dashed away.
"Legolas! You look like you need a drink after that performance." Éomer said, laughing as he walked up to him, a pint in his hand.
"Is that the apple cider?" He asked, desperately hoping it was the stronger liquor.
"Yes, here drink up." Legolas took the tankard gratefully and drank down half of it before lowering it.
"Thank you. I needed that." He said to Éomer who just grinned at him.
"If you want, we can resume our drinking game? Haddon thinks he could out drink you now you've already had a few already."
"Does he now?" Legolas mused. "Maybe we should find out." He smirked. I will drink their cellar dry if it dulls this pain in my heart. He decided, following the Captain of the Mark through the rowdy celebrators.