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.

A/N: Alrighty, one thing I wanna mention is that, I noticed quite a few ppl put me on "author alert" but about half of them don't review! That upsets me. Please take the time to review my story!! Anyhoo... on with the story!

Chapter 6


POV: Author

Early the next morning, Legolas came into Elrond's office only to find him furiously pacing. He seemed to be deep in thought and Legolas was afraid he'd pace a hole right through the wooden floor.

"My Lord?"

"(sigh) good morning Legolas." He didn't even bother to look up at the younger elf, but instead, continued his pacing.

"Lord Elrond, please! You're beginning to make me dizzy!" He let out a nervous laugh because that was obviously untrue; it would take a LOT more than watching someone pace to make him dizzy.

However, at the comment, Elrond did finally stop, and looked up at the youthful warrior before him. Legolas seemed a bit uneasy under his scrutinizing gaze, for Elrond was obviously hatching some kind of plan. Knowing him, Legolas would probably be involved.

'What could he be thinking?'

Legolas suddenly noticed a slight spark in the lord's eyes and a tiny smile appeared on his face.

'uh-oh, this can't be good,' thought Legolas.

"Legolas," he began, "Please, come with me."

With that, Elrond led him to an adjoining meeting room. It was much more comfortable and definitely less stiff. There were comfortable chairs as well as a few desks. Floor-to-ceiling, glassless and screenless 'windows' graced about half of the large, circular room.

Legolas took a seat behind a small table on which stood a large bowl of red grapes. He was very familiar with this room and knew he could be relaxed here. He eyed the grapes...

"Go ahead Legolas," Elrond gestured towards the bowl and smiled.

Legolas smiled back at him as he leaned back in his chair and put his feet up on the desk as he had done many times before when Elrond called him to these 'friendly chats.' They weren't really like meetings, for having a 'meeting' usually meant something important and was held in a different room altogether. This room, this room was different.

He grabbed a vine of grapes from the bowl and tipped his chair back slightly so that it was balancing on its two back legs.

"So...what was it that you wished to discuss with me?" Legolas raised an eyebrow as he waited for Elrond to answer him.

"Well (sigh) as I've told you before... Náriël," He paused and shook his head.

'Oh this is going to be good. Anything concerning that girl is always quite interesting for it seems she has a knack for upsetting her father and getting into mischief.'

"She," Elrond continued, "she is just getting completely out of hand and uncontrollable. I'm sure you remember what happened yesterday?"

Legolas nodded, for he had seen the 'wonderful' display of affection by Náriël and Aniolad just as Elrond had. Honestly, if he hadn't been so taken aback by the audacity of the couple to do something like that in public, Elrond probably never would have looked over and seen them himself.

'Oh well...'

"Well I forbade Náriël to ever see that elf again, but knowing her she'll go and try to see him behind my back!" Elrond scowled at this thought.

"The thing is, I need someone to teach her...well, a lot of things. For one, she needs to know how to properly defend herself...and really, proper etiquette. I mean, I know that's what I'm supposed to do. But she just will not listen to me. She refuses to pay any attention and besides that, I have been very busy of late. Therefore, I have not been able to keep a proper eye on her..."

Legolas listened intently and he was slightly confused as to where this was all leading to, but he was suddenly becoming very suspicious.

After a short pause, Elrond once again resumed, "What makes things worse is that I constantly have to leave Rivendell for business purposes and I will be having to leave to the Golden Woods in about a month's time. I simply cannot leave her alone. When I had previously done so, and for only a few days mind you, she always managed to get herself into some kind of trouble. This time I will be gone about two weeks."

"Right..."

"After the summer, things will die down here and settle back to normal for she will be back in the Elven School, but for now....well...Legolas, to cut to the chase, I have a proposition for you."

'Oh boy, here it comes...somehow, I don't think I'm going to like this one bit.'

"Legolas, how would you like to spend the rest of the summer off duty, here in Imladris?"

"What?"

"Well, you could...sort of...ummm...watch over Náriël for me and maybe help teach her some of those things I have mentioned."

"Let me get this straight, you want me to baby-sit your daughter for the summer?"

Legolas could not believe what he was hearing. This was the most odd request he had ever been given. He loved it here in Imladris and having the summer off of duties was very appealing, but he had to stick to his responsibilities. What would his father say?

"Legolas you know that you are like a son to me. I completely trust you with both my life and that of my daughter."

Legolas had to smile at this. He loved Elrond as a father too, and it was nice to hear him say that, but to baby-sit Náriël?

"Not only that, but you are a great warrior and patient teacher, I think you are the best to teach Náriël both the bow and the sword properly...and etiquette...well we both know that your manners most certainly befit a prince and my daughter could use a good example such as yourself."

At this point Legolas was just dumbfounded. He had been praised many times before but this was almost getting out of hand. He happened to be a fairly modest elf and hearing all of this was making him fidgety. If he didn't know Náriël he would have agreed to this in a heartbeat, but, that was not the case. "What about my father? Surely he's expecting me back in a matter of days, and my duties, I cannot just drop everything..." He trailed off.

"Yes well, as far as I know, the both of us just took care of your most important issue when you first came here. But, I will gladly send a letter to your father explaining the situation and asking for your leave, that is, if you are agreeing to this?"

"I..." he gently rocked back and forth in his chair contemplating the situation.

POV: Legolas

I was so stunned by this proposition that I was literally speechless.

'Should I agree to it? Surely training her would be easy enough for I had trained many of the soldiers that are currently in the army of Mirkwood, and they are all quite good too, if I say so myself. I rather enjoy teaching actually. But as far as etiquette goes, I think that girl is hopeless!'

I finally decided that this would just be an interesting challenge; I could use a change in my life about now. Something new and different...

"Alright, My Lord, I accept."

"Wonderful. I will send a letter to Thranduil immediately. This week is going to be quite busy then..."

"Why is that?" I questioned him.

"Well, since you have agreed to this, and since you really do not visit quite often enough, I think I will throw a ball in your honor. That's just what we need around here too, a little bit of excitement!"

I stared at him, my mouth agape.

'What next?!'

Don't get me wrong, I love balls and parties and am quite fond of dancing. But a ball in my honor?! That's hardly necessary I think. I sighed in defeat though, for I knew that once Elrond had made up his mind on something like this, there was no talking him out of it.

'Well this is going to be interesting, very interesting.'

I stood to leave but was stopped by Lord Elrond. "One more thing, Legolas."

I turned towards him, and his face was lit up in joy and excitement. It was kind of odd to see him like that, for it was not very often he expressed his emotions quite so freely. What worried me though, was the mischief sparkling in his eyes.

'And he wonders where Náriël gets it all.'

"Yes?"

"I do believe that Náriël does not have many fancy and elegant dresses, for she usually prefers to wear simpler and more of riding dresses due to her unlady-like activites. So, I would greatly appreciate it if you would take her to some of the shops to find an appropriate gown for the ball, and you might want to find something for yourself as well. I would take her myself, but I have so much to plan now, and besides, as I said, you need to get something too."

He smiled at me. A sly sly smile. He tricked me into this, I know he probably hates taking her shopping and so, since he's throwing the ball in MY honor, the least I could do was take her. So, I nodded and left, what else could I have done?

Hopefully this won't be too bad. And he was right, I did need to find something for myself. The only problem was, who was going to inform Náriël about the situation? I suddenly paused in the corridor as realization dawned at me. That dog, he knew that I would have to explain why she needed a new gown...one thing would lead to another... my question was answered. I would have to be the one.

Oh damn it.

A/N: Ok, well I hope you enjoyed that chapter...things getting a bit more interesting now huh? lol! It's all begun, Legolas has accepted, but how will Náriël take the news?

Thanks go out to all my great reviewers!

Silvermane1: : )

Myri78: its funny that you should mention that...ummm...lets just say that Aniolad isn't completely out of the picture yet .;; although, it make take me a bit till I get there, but once I do, youll know what im talking about!

Icy Lullaby: first of all, id just like to say that ur sn is pretty cool! lol. Anyway, as far as the towel goes, at least he had the decency to not be walking around naked eh? tho what a sight that woulda made (sigh).

Austin B: yay! Im glad you agree with me, im guessing you read that review and my response eh? ;; anyhoo, thanks for your idea, its actually really good and I may end up using it or a version of it anyway. Thanks for ur support! : )

The Fresh Princess: thank you SO much!

Lazydoll06: hmmm...getting bolder huh? just wait till next chapter. lol. And btw, thanks hun! ; )

Windsorceress: thank you, thank you, and yes you should go see troy wink wink and yeah, as far as Elrond just blowing up, I can soooo see a dad doing something like that! lol! When you say 'if theres something wrong with him', are you talking about Aniolad? Cause all I have to say is, you guys haven't seen the last of him!! Hehe. One question tho, you know how u always sign it with "#1 fan"? just curious, but do you always sign reviews like that or am I just special? lol!!