I know, I know... it's been ages. But hey, here's an update! Look for another one rather soon. :) This one's kinda short but the next one should be longer.
One Year Later – Year 3010
"That's five for me," I called to Legolas, grinning and wiping my brow.
"Seven," Legolas replied smugly, hurrying over to me. Killing Orcs had become a game for us now, with attacks nearly every day. It was strange and everyone in Mirkwood was well aware that something was happening. Every day the Orcs were moving across our land and without much word from the outside world (save an appearance from Gandalf every now and then), and if that was not out of the ordinary, neither was a Balrog in my flet.
I had been training for a year now and was getting pretty skilled at archery. I was still no good with a sword, but Aragorn had not been around to be upset at the fact. I had not heard from Aragorn since he left, but intuition told me he was alright.
"Legolas," came an authoritative voice from behind us. Legolas and I spun around, arrows knocked in our bows as we aimed at the intruder. The Elf who came into view was a complete idiot to come here in the middle of the wood with only Legolas and I to witness if an arrow 'accidentally' pierced his foot; but then, he had been doing a lot of moronic things as of late. I guessed it was a result of his company of choice.
"What are you doing here?" Legolas snarled, still aiming his bow menacingly. I hurriedly dropped my bow and placed a hand on his, forcing it downward safely.
"Leaf," I whispered urgently. Legolas was still glaring but agreed to keep his bow at a safe distance. "Malian, what do you want?" I asked tiredly, looking up at him again. Malian's blue eyes clouded over.
"I was sent to retrieve Legolas," Malian answered, eyeing us a bit nervously. Dolt.
"By whom?" Legolas hissed, threatening to raise his bow again.
"Leaf, for Varda's sake," I said, rolling my eyes and elbowing him gently. I thought he was going to cut off my ears.
"King Thranduil," Malian replied. "He says he needs to talk to you about patrols. We need more Elves on the lookout. The number of Orcs crossing through here doubles every day—"
"You think I don't know that? Tell him it's out of the question. You're banned from patrol," Legolas said stonily. I rolled my eyes again.
"But Leaf—" I began, but Legolas cut me off with a sharp glance.
"It's out of the question."
"Fine," Malian replied angrily. "King Thranduil would like to see you," he finished, turning on his heel and stalking off into the woods.
"I hope an Orc sticks an arrow in his arm," Legolas whispered crossly, watching Malian suspiciously until he was no longer in view.
"You know that was a year ago, Legolas, and you still haven't gotten over it," I tried to say soothingly but it came out a bit more impatiently than it should have.
"Gotten over it, Laina? I was to marry her! Malian was my best—"
"You think I don't realize that, Leaf? I knew before you did and you wouldn't take my word on it! It's time to give it up. Kaethe's heart doesn't belong to you and it never did," I spat. I did not give Legolas time to reply; instead, I followed Malian hurriedly toward the halls, leaving Legolas in a pool of self pity. The time had come for someone to say that to him, and I had to be the only one not too scared of Legolas' wrath to say it.
"I'm back on patrol," I heard Malian's voice say rather nonchalantly from above me. I had been sitting underneath a tree just outside the halls, reading a rather interesting book on the history of archery when he approached. I looked up to see his dark head hovering over me, his blue eyes shining with satisfaction.
"Good for you," I replied. "Now can you get out of my sunlight?" Malian said nothing, but stepped slightly out of my way so as not to cast a shadow on my book. I had expected him to give up and go almost immediately, but after a moment or two of him standing there, looking down on me, I decided to say something else. "Can I help you?"
"I just miss you," Malian admitted, looking rather sincere and pathetic. It was all I could do to keep myself from rolling my eyes at him. I was not generally prone to falling for the apologetic, pitiful Malian.
"Oh hush, you," I insisted, patting the ground next to me. Malian obliged whole-heartedly, sitting down enthusiastically next to me and slinging one strong arm around my shoulder.
"I knew you would understand," he said, smiling down at me.
"Understand?" I echoed quizzically.
"I just mean, I knew you would forgive me eventually."
"Now how in Arda did you know that?" I asked. Malian shot me some sort of knowing glance, the same one I had seen before when he and I had been fighting the first time I caught him and Kaethe together. Again, I could not decipher it and instead decided to demand an explanation. "I really don't know what that look means, Mal," I said.
"Well, if you don't know…" Malian smiled and winked at me before standing and taking his leave. I watched him with one eyebrow raised as he walked cheerily into the woods, bow and arrow in hand.