Chapter 3

Golden sunlight streamed through the windows as Legolas opened his eyes the next morning. He rose and pulled on a light blue tunic that matched the color of his eyes. Quickly looking in the mirror across from his bed he straightened up the braids that ran down either side of his head, near his ears. He grabbed his bow and swung his quiver onto his back. Kneeling in front of a light wooden chest on the floor, he turned the lock and lifted it open. Near the bottom he found what he was looking for, his old bow. Lifting the bow out, he examined it. It had been many years since he had used it, it was slightly smaller than his current bow, and was much lighter. He grabbed a quiver of arrows to go with it and closed the lid of the chest. Standing, he grabbed everything and walked to the door. He turned back and took a final look at his room.

His room wasn't too fancy, at least in the terms of elves. It fit in with the high tree branch like pathways, and the lower stony mountain halls of the kingdom. The room was fairly large, with rich brown wood that made up the walls, and stone columns that ran up into low arches in the ceiling. It had a beautiful balcony with carved wooden railings, that looked out over the forest and river to the south. There was an adjacent bathing room as well.

Furniture on the other hand he lacked. He had a fairly large bed that took up a fair amount of space, but other than that he didn't have a large amount of stuff. There was a dresser, a wash stand with a mirror directly arose from his bed, a nightstand, and a small table with two chairs that often served as both a desk and a workbench for fixing his bow and arrows. He also had the chest that he kept his old weapons in, as well as the table and hooks he kept his everyday knives and bow on.

Despite his lack of furniture and possessions, the room had always felt rather homey to him, and he wouldn't have it any other way.

With a turn Legolas closed the door and walked off down the hall. It was still fairly early in the morning, and hardly anyone else was awake. Grabbing an apple from the great hall, he left to begin setting up for Aranel's training. He knew where a few extra targets the guard didn't use were kept, and he began dragging them out one by one. The sun continued to climb up into the morning sky as he worked, and a little over an hour later he was finished and heading towards Aranel's room to wake her. When he arrived at Aranel's room, he knocked softly on her door.

"Good morning friend," he called with a smile. "Are you ready for a day of shooting?" A soft laugh came from inside, but no response. Legolas leaned against the wall beside the door, "Unless of course, your afraid to face the best archer in all of Middle-Earth" he teased. Suddenly, the door opened and her smiling face appeared next to his. "Well, we will just have to see about that."

As they stepped out into the bright sunlight a short while later, Legolas led her over to a small grassy clearing. It was slightly more secluded, and the sound of the river was only a dull roar this far away. There were 10 targets in a circle around the edges of the clearing, that he had managed to move out earlier. Each was labeled with a number. He brought her to the center of the circle and handed her a bow.

"This is my old bow and quiver of arrows. You can use them for the time being." She reached out and took them from him, taking a moment to marvel at the beautiful craftsmanship that went into making the bow.

"It's beautiful" she remarked still looking at the bow. "I have never seen such detail on a bow before."

"It was a gift from my mother when I first began my duties in the guard." She looked up at him then. Never before had she heard anything about the Queen of Greenwood, except when her death had been announced years ago. She waited patiently to hear more, but Legolas was done talking about that matter.

"Let's begin." He moved out of the circle and stood on the side of the path. "First, we will work on speed and accuracy. When I call a number, move as quickly as you can and shoot the target of that number." She pulled out an arrow and set it in the bow, turning to look at him she nodded that she was ready. He began to call out numbers, slowly at first and then more rapidly as she hit the targets faster and faster.

This was how they spent their days. They would work from early morning into the early part of the afternoon training. Then Legolas would have to go meet with his father or scouts coming back from patrols, but they always found time in the evening to shoot for fun, or just sit and talk.

Legolas found she was fascinating to watch when she shot. Her long hair twirled around her as she spun around. Each movement she made was strong and full of power, and one day Legolas found himself staring a little more deeply at her than he should have, as they were practicing in the clearing. He shook his head clearing his thoughts. These strange thoughts about how graceful and beautiful she looked, and how bright her smile was kept fogging up his mind. "Why do I keep having these thoughts about her? It's not like I feel something deeper for her." That thought made him freeze as he realized it wasn't true.

In the past he had flings with a few different female elves, just for fun. This was the first time that he felt something more, however. He couldn't say what, but something about her made his very soul sing.

He heard footsteps then, and looked over to see her walking towards him. When she was near to him she asked "So how did I do today in the terms of the 'best archer in all the lands'?" She smiled at him as she handed him his bow back.

"You did very well. Better than most." Her smile grew even wider and he smiled in return. "How are you liking the bow? It seems to work fairly well for you."

"I love it, it works very well. Makes me wish I had one like it." She stared longly at the bow as she said this. They heard footsteps then, and turned to see Lindir coming up the path behind them.

"Legolas, your father wants you to come in. He wishes to speak with the two of you at once." Legolas looked to Aranel and then began walking towards the gate while the two of them followed behind him.

As they stepped onto the cold stone floor beneath King Thranduil's throne, Thranduil stood and walked down to meet them. "Legolas. I have a task for you. We of the Woodland Realm have been chosen for the responsibility of finding and capturing the creature Gollum. You will head the search. You make take whatever troops you wish to aid you, but I ask that you take some of our Rivendell kin. Is that acceptable to you Captain?" he asked looking to Aranel for approval. She nodded and he continued, "You will leave tomorrow at mid-day then." The three elves bowed and turned to leave and begin their preparations.

"Legolas! Remain for a moment, I wish to speak to you."

He stopped in his tracks, and only after the others were gone did he turn to face his father. Thranduil began to pace slowly in front of his son. "This task is not to be taken lightly. The fate of many things rest in the capture of this creature."

"What things?" Legolas asked, moving in front of his father. The King stopped walking and looked down at his son, "Things you cannot understand. Things more horrible than any you have seen!" He then turned and started towards his throne, his red cape flowing out behind him. "Make sure you are ready, and do not fail me. A great evil is returning to Middle-Earth." Legolas looked at him questionably, but the King would say no more. He turned to go, but stopped when his father called to him a last time.

"I have seen you with that she-elf quite a bit, Legolas. You seem to be very fond of her." Legolas spun and looked up at his father seated on his throne, staring down at him with displeasure clear on his face. "Her name is Aranel, and she is an excellent fighter" he said defensivly. His father leaned forward, "Remember who you are Legolas. No son of mine will be allowed to pledge himself to a simple warrior elf. Let alone an elf from another kingdom. Remember that." He straightened up and waved his hand in a dismissive way. "Now go and gather your troops, I will see you off tomorrow."

Legolas turned and stormed off down the twisting hall. He was in such a fury that as he turned the corner to head to his room, he didn't see Aranel standing there in the shadows waiting for him. She let him go, sensing his anger.

When he reached his room, he slammed the door behind him and began to pace the room. "How arrogant he is!" It was times like these when his father and him didn't see eye to eye that Legolas wished his mother was still alive. As he thought about that the anger left him and sadness filled its place. He stopped pacing and hung his bow and arrows on their hook. He then tossed the old bow and arrows onto his bed and walked over to the window. He sat down on the cold floor and wrapped his arms around his knees. The sun had set over the trees, and the first stars of the night were beginning to shine in the sky. His mind filled with uncertainty and sadness, he sat quietly thinking into the late hours of the night, and watched the pale moon move in the sky.