Perplexities of Growing Up
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the places or characters used here except for Náriël-I did invent her, and if she resembles anyone else's character in anyway, im sorry- not done on purpose. Everything else belongs to Tolkien.
Chapter 3
With a deep and exasperated sigh, I finally began telling him of my woes. I knew I was going to sound pathetic and like a baby, but maybe, by some miracle, this elf would understand and leave me be.
"Well, I....I am the daughter or Lord Elrond..."
I saw Legolas give me a curt nod to show he was listening.
"I feel so suffocated. My father doesn't understand me, he treats me like a child and won't let me do anything. I sometimes think he hardly even notices that I'm even there, ever since my mother died that is...I was so little, I don't even remember her, yet I still miss her...you probably don't know what I'm talking about, do you?"
I expected him to shakes his head in the negative, but instead he responded quite differently.
"Actually, I know exactly what you're talking about. My mother passed away when I was a child as well."
"Oh, I see." I was slightly taken aback by that, I hadn't expected it.
"So anyway..." he prompted me to continue.
"So anyway, I decided to teach him a lesson. But truth be told, I don't think he even notices that I'm missing... although I have been gone for almost two days now." I know I was begin cross with him, but I was angry, I couldn't help it.
"It seems that the only time he notices me is when I get in trouble or do something he doesn't like! Humph."
"Well why didn't you try talking to him instead of childishly running away?"
'I can't believe he just said that to me. I should have known better than to tell him.'
"Have you not been listening to me?! You men are all the same!!! None of you ever listen to a word I say, and if I tried to talk to him about it, he'd do the same thing you just did."
"I heard every word...I'm just saying..."
"Forget it," I interrupted him, "You know, sometimes I think that he'd rather have Thranduil's son instead of me..."
POV: Legolas
What Náriël said after her rant surprised me a great deal.
"You know, sometimes I think that he'd rather have Thranduil's son instead of me..."
I looked at her with shock clearly written all over my face, and I knitted my eyebrows in confusion. She could probably see this and went on with her story to explain herself.
"Ok, well you probably know that Thranduil is the king of Mirkwood, and he has a son several centuries older than me...well I've never met him, but my father always talks about him...he says all these great things about him and is always giving out praise. It angers me because it really seems that he'd rather have this elf as a son than me as a daughter."
She angrily spat out the last part. I swallowed hard and tried my best not to seem suspicious, but somehow, I think I failed.
"So...so do you know the name of this elf?" I asked her.
She shook her head in the negative and then said, "I can't believe I've forgotten it. I hear it so many times a day...It's on the tip of my tongue. Oh well, it doesn't matter...I hate the stupid bastard."
I sighed a deep sigh of relief, and decided to ignore that last comment.
"I see..."
POV: Náriël
I glanced over at Legolas, but he was suddenly reluctant to meet my gaze... 'Something is going on. I can tell that he's hiding something from me. I'm not sure what it is, but I'll figure it out eventually. It's funny, although he's acting weird, his eyes still remain a mystery to me...'
The sun had begun to fade and set behind the towering trees. A light breeze was picking up and I shivered from its touch.
All of a sudden, a felt something warm being wrapped around my shoulders. Looking up, I saw that Legolas had removed his cloak from atop the horse and gently draped me with it.
My eyes followed his retreating back as he searched the ground for his lost tunic. Finally finding it, he put it on, to my dismay.
Without saying a word, he quietly made his way back to the horse and took out some lembas. As he sat down beside me, he handed me a piece.
"Thank you"
He nodded in acknowledgement.
"I'm sorry," I said.
"For what?"
'So he finally speaks?'
"For my delaying you. You said you were headed for Imladris, and I'm sure you would have been there by now if it hadn't been for me..." I trailed off.
"Yes well, it doesn't matter now anyway, I shall spend the night here with you, if you don't mind, and set out at first light. I do expect to take you with me, for it is evident you have some issues to work out with your father and running away is not the answer."
He stared into my eyes with a hard and somewhat distant gaze.
What was I to do now? I couldn't run away while he was sleeping because he's obviously a warrior elf, so the slightest movement and he'd be up.
I let out a small sigh and nodded my head in agreement.
'I suppose I have no other choice. It doesn't matter anyway because I don't know what point I would have proven if he hadn't even noticed I was gone in the first place.'
"Good." I heard him state.
Finishing my lembas, I settled down on the ground to sleep, still wrapped up in his warm and comforting cloak. Meanwhile, he grabbed his quiver and bow and jumped up into the branches of the old Magnolia, sitting himself on one of the large branches above me.
The next morning came quickly, and I found myself being gently nudged. Waking up, I opened my eyes to see those brilliantly blue eyes of Legolas looking down at me. He smiled warmly and my insides felt squirmy.
'Why is it that he has this effect on me?'
"Come, we must be setting off." I heard his melodious voice say.
Suddenly, I picked up the sound of hooves.
Legolas, it seems, had heard the same, for he had this bow drawn taut with an arrow ready on the string, and pointed at the road from which the sound emanated.
"There are about ten horsemen," he said to me.
'How does he know that? From what I can tell, there are maybe three...'
I shrugged and hid behind a tree so as not to be seen.
Several moments later, I saw that he had been right. Ten beautiful white elvish horses came galloping through the brush, bearing ten Elven riders.
Peaking out from the tree I saw that they were from Rivendell guard.
'So he HAD noticed after all' I thought bitterly.
The company stopped and the leader dismounted.
He came up to Legolas, who had by now lowered his weapon.
"Hail! Prince Legolas of Mirkwood!"
I heard him exclaim this happily, and I felt my blood turn cold.
'Prince Legolas...of MIRKWOOD?! It can't be! NO! No way!!! How could he...it was him all along, that's what he had been hiding!!'
I felt like I was going to cry. I felt so betrayed... 'Maybe this rider was mistaken?'
This hopeful thought quickly faded as I heard Legolas respond.
"Aaye! Nae saian luume', Thorongil." "Aye, that it has my Lord!"
'Thorongil, that is the captain of our army...'
Legolas's voice interrupted my thoughts
"What are you doing out here?"
I heard Thorongil sigh.
"Well, it would seem that Lord Elrond's young daughter has run off. She's been missing for two days now and we have been unable to find her."
His voice sounded bitter. I wouldn't be surprised if he hated me. After all, he could be at home with his family now, but instead, he has search for me.
"Oh I see, well your search is over then, for I have found her, and was planning on returning her to the Lord today."
Legolas looked over to me. Right now, I hated him with a passion and suddenly, I really didn't want to go back peacefully. He had lied to me. That little bastard. No, that word is too good for him.
I snorted in response to him and nimbly stepped our from behind the tree. Thorongil's face was set and his eyes were cold. He was very angry.
"My lady," his voice was as cold as his eyes "Come with me, we must head back to your father, he has been very worried about you."
I sneered at him.
"I'm not going anywhere."
I whipped my head around and stared at Legolas who narrowed his eyes at me.
'Oh no, no that look again...'
That look...it made my knees wobble and no matter the great urge to run, my feet would not move, once again.
He swiftly walked over to me, anger radiating from every step.
He was so close to me...we were just inches apart and he dipped his head down so that his mouth was by my ear, his hot breath tickling my sensitive spot.
"You promised me last night that you would come back with me. And you will NOT break that promise to me, now will you?"
His voice sounded gruff and it sent shivers down my spine. The only thing I could do was dumbly shake my head in the negative.
"Good."
His suddenly booming voice startled me out of my trance. Grabbing my hand, he pulled me to his horse. His grip was tight, yet gentle.
I had no desire what so ever to get on that horse. Turning around I came face to face with the muscled chest of Legolas.
'Damn it'
"Do you need any help my Lady?" he questioned.
Although on the surface, his question was proper and polite, I could hear the dangerous undertone just challenging me to be difficult.
"No, I'm fine."
I climbed on to his horse, and for the first time I noticed how different it was from the rest. Most Elvish horses were slivery/grey or white...a few were brown, but his horse...his horse was jet black. The dark coat shone majestically in the early morning sun seemed to almost give off a mystical aura. He was gorgeous.
I suddenly felt a strong arm wrap around my middle, and I sensed myself blush. Grabbing the reins, Legolas commanded his horse forward to Rivendell.
With a snort, he leapt forward and ran like the wind. It was the most exhilarating feeling I had ever had, not even my horse was this fast. Glancing back, I could see a few small specks that was most likely the company trying to keep up to the swift raven colored horse.
I let my eyes wander...they fell on the chiseled face of Legolas.
'I'm not going to let him get away with betraying me like that...he'll pay'
As that thought flitted through my head, I managed to finally pull my eyes away from that unreadable, stoic expression on the handsome elf's face.
A/N: Wow, I updated a lot faster than I thought I would...anyway, what do u guys think of it so far? You like where it's going, or cant really tell yet? Please review and give me your opinions, as I said before, criticism is welcome!
Aaye = hail
Nae saian luume' = it has been too long
Sarah: thanks, I'm glad you like it. And I think that it's good that it's different b/c u don't wanna read the same basic plot line just different versions over and over, right?
Myri78: yeah, they are sorta supposed to hate each other at first, but I mean, it's more like Legolas is very amused by Náriël and slightly annoyed sometimes, and Náriël just doesn't like him. LOL! But don't worry, they'll work things out eventually.
In The Deep End: thank you, and yes I am going to keep writing it.
m4ever: im glad you like it!