A warm breeze swept the training grounds. For a second, Maith was so entranced by the rippling deep green of the grass that she simply stood still and stared at it. The way the long stems formed patterns, the hypnotizing shifting shapes. The breeze stilled, and she shook her head, clearing it, and then brought out her bow and arrow.
Maith did not aim at the centre of the target every time; her training master had scolded her for splitting all her arrows. Instead her arrows spelt out an 'A' for 'Arwen', and she debated with herself whether or not to show it to her sister.
Suddenly Maith's ears caught a soft sound somewhere behind her, and she tensed. Who would approach the training fields at this time in the night? Maith thought of the giant spiders she had once encountered while picking mushrooms in the woods and shuddered. Elf or not, it was better to be safe.
Expertly, Maith turned while simultaneously notching an arrow to her bow. She aimed at the dark shape amongst the trees, and was shocked to see the glint of metal in its hands.
A soft laugh broke the silence, and Maith let out a breath when she saw Legolas step forward into the clearing, sheathing his sword.
"A pleasure to see you again, my lady," he said, "I did not recognise you in your cloak."
Maith smiled, "like the last time we met."
"Indeed. And I see you are practising." Legolas studied the perfect 'A' etched into the target, not showing any signs of being impressed, "why an 'A'?"
Maith ignored his question, feeling defensive, "not a compliment?" she teased, though secretly she approved of how he was not surprised that a women could achieve this.
"I was not expecting any less from you," he replied. "How about a contest?"
"Very well," Maith agreed instantly, "you can go first." She had heard from Larrel - and other sources involving giggling elleths - that Legolas of Mirkwood was the finest archer there. It was for her, she smirked inwardly, to test whether he would remain so in Rivendell.
Their contest ended in a draw, for both elves were flawless at archery, and equally stubborn.
"Let us count that as a draw," Legolas said finally after a long discussion over whether the state of the ground and the shifting light meant the contest was unfair, "there is no use arguing when we could still compete with a sword."
Maith was doubtful. She had loved archery since she was merely one hundred summers old, but at the sword she was less skilled. However, her competitiveness won over and she decided to agree.
The fight started off well, but soon Maith found that she was soon on the defensive side. Legolas wielded a sword with cunningness and fluidity learnt from his father, turning defense into offense with an easy grace, and soon had it at Maith's neck.
Maith was annoyed, but could not help but admire the elf's skill. "You have won," she sighed.
Legolas smiled and lowered his sword. The elleth had also won his admiration; he had rarely found anyone that matched him in archery. "It was a pleasure competing with you, my lady, we should practise more together in the future."
"Of course," Maith said, and then couldn't help but add "but one day I would beat you at this." She looked wistfully at her sword then pointed it somewhere into the darkness behind Legolas, "you can come out now, Larrel. "
Leaves ruffled, and Larrel dropped down on the ground, smirking. "It's nice to see you beaten for once, nethig (little sister)."
"Hush, do not announce that you are older than me, for it is better to believe that one is a clever one thousand year old rather than an incredibly stupid three thousand year old," she retorted.
Larrel did not bother to try to decipher the words and turned to Legolas, "I may not act wisely, but my memory serves me as well as any. Maith was a funny little elf when she was young, once…"
He did not finish his sentence for she was already clinging onto his back with a hand over his mouth, a mischievous smile on her face, "you have missed a lot, my lord, when you did not come ten years ago. The expression on his face when he woke up hanging from a tree with flowers in his hair was priceless."
At that she dropped onto the ground satisfied, and added to Larrel, "and I will do it again if I have to."
"And I equally easily to you," the elf replied stubbornly.
"You could," Maith's eyes twinkled, "if I do not wake up at the slightest of touch when I am sleeping and have a dagger at that person's neck. You have tried once, and forgotten, therefore I can draw to a conclusion that you memory doesn't serve you so well after all."
"You have come here to bring a message, though," interjected Legolas, "what is it?"
"Indeed I have. Lord Elrond wishes to see you." Larrel answered, serious once more.