Chapter Eleven: Secrets Revealed; By the Grace of the Elves
Disclaimer: I do not own the works of Lord of the Rings, this belongs to J.R.R. Tolkien, or the works of Harry Potter which belongs to J.K. Rowling. Any familiar dialogue or scenes belong to their respective owners.
A/N: I hope you enjoy this next chapter and please let me know what you think in a comment/review! I love hearing what you think of the new version of this story so far!
oOoOo
Hermione snuck through the hallways towards the library. It was late; the only light filtering through the windows was from the bright moon shining high in the sky. She looked around as she arrived in the library, making sure no one was about. Hermione lit a small oil reading lamp and moved towards the floor-to-ceiling bookcases, taking one of the books that had attracted her attention off a middle shelf. The book was a telling of history of the Elves dating back to the exile of the Noldor from Valinor to Middle-Earth. The text seemed to be an account from an Elf who lived through it.
Although Hermione had learned much from her Elvish lessons with her parents and then Gandalf from Hogwarts, she was interested to read it from the perspective of an Elvish author who was there when it happened.
Hermione placed the lamp on a table and took a seat. She opened the ancient text, running her fingers across the beautiful Elvish script in reverence. From her beaded bag, which she had taken with her to the library, Hermione pulled out a quill, an inkwell, and her notebook which had all her notes from her Elvish lessons. She opened her inkwell and dipped her quill into the ink, before moving her eyes back to the text, ready to take notes.
A few hours passed where Hermione had been reading and note-taking before a shadow fell across her table. She looked up to find Aragorn looking at her with raised eyebrows. His eyes moved to the book she was reading and the extensive notes she had taken and written in Elvish, and he frowned. Hermione opened and closed her mouth a few times, unable to get anything out.
Aragorn looked at her with curiosity. 'Unable to sleep, Lady Hermione?' he asked nonchalantly, but his eyes flitted back to her notes in interest.
'Um, no… I just wanted to do a little light reading and lost track of time,' Hermione answered, knowing Aragorn was not stupid enough to believe that.
Aragorn tilted his head. 'You did not mention you could read and write in Elvish,' he said, taking a seat at the table and glancing at the open book. 'But you are not an Elf,' he added, looking back at her.
Hermione sighed, leaning back in her chair. There was no point in hiding it now and she knew Gandalf wouldn't be pleased with anyone finding out. It was meant to be a secret for now until everyone was told the truth about Harry, Draco and herself. 'I was educated by my parents. I have no idea where they learned it, though,' Hermione answered softly, looking down at the book.
Aragorn nodded. 'Much like myself,' he told her, making her eyes move up to his in curiosity. 'I was brought to Rivendell when I was a child and raised amongst the Elves,' Aragorn clarified, smiling at her sadly.
Hermione smiled back. 'Please don't tell anyone about this,' she said, and Aragorn frowned at her. 'Gandalf asked me to keep it to myself for now. I can't say why, but please…' Hermione trailed off, looking back at the book.
Aragorn nodded slowly. 'I understand. Your secret is safe with me, Lady Hermione,' he promised, bowing his head to her.
Hermione smiled. 'Thanks, Aragorn,' she said, breathing out a sigh of relief. Hermione gathered her things and put the book back on the shelf. 'I should probably get some sleep now,' she added, walking towards the door. 'Goodnight,' she called to him as she left.
Aragorn watched her go, leaning back in his chair. 'Interesting,' he whispered to himself before dousing the lamp and leaving himself.
oOoOo
The next morning, Hermione found herself back at the fountain in the small clearing she and Harry had been sitting in the day before. Hermione had told Harry about the truce she had arranged with Draco, but he had seemed tentative about whether it would stand. Eventually, after listening to Hermione's reasoning behind it, Harry had agreed it made sense to call a truce with Draco, but he was dubious. Hermione was as well, but only time would tell.
'Concentrate on the target!' Aragorn said to the Hobbits who were already working on their skills with the Ranger and Boromir. The Elves had set up targets for them to practice against. Frodo and Sam were both using one target between them due to them being much bigger than they were.
Harry was sitting on the grass, the Sword of Gryffindor lying across his lap while he polished it with a cloth Boromir had given him. Hermione hadn't understood why it needed polishing as there was not a mark on it. When she had mentioned this, Boromir had told her it was always a good idea to keep weapons maintained irrespective of whether they looked like they needed it or not.
'Try to visualise your enemy as you strike the target!' Aragorn advised, pulling Hermione out of her reverie.
Harry stood and moved over to a target next to where the Hobbits were training. He knew he didn't have to train as vigorously as the Hobbits, but he still wanted to make an effort. Harry glanced over at Hermione, waving at her before getting into a fighting stance, the Sword of Gryffindor held firmly in his hand. He looked at the target, thinking back to the Basilisk which would have killed him if he had looked it in the eye. If he had gotten distracted or looked at its reflection in the water on the floor, he would have been given a one-way ticket into becoming the huge snake's dinner. Concentrating and shutting out the banter around him, Harry imagined he was back in that dark and cold chamber, the Basilisk looming over him. He walked forward briskly, swinging his sword in an overhead strike, hitting the target hard.
'Very good, Master Potter,' Aragorn said, clapping a hand on his shoulder.
Harry smiled up at him. 'Thanks,' he said, getting back into his stance and attacking again.
Draco walked into the clearing, followed by Gandalf who was eyeing the Slytherin disapprovingly, and Hermione wondered what he had done wrong. From the look of him he had only just rolled out of bed or was rudely awoken by Gandalf. Probably the latter.
Hermione shook her head, turning back to the book she had been recommended by Lady Arwen. She was already engrossed in it again when a shadow fell over her and she looked up to find Draco looking at her. 'Too good to train with the rest of us, Granger?' he asked her with a smirk and sat down on the fountain next to her.
Hermione shrugged, glancing back down at her book. 'It's not mandatory, and besides I don't think sword-fighting is my thing,' she answered honestly, looking over at the Hobbits and Harry who were still striking the targets.
Draco nodded slowly before looking around at everyone, his eyes stopping on Legolas who was examining his bow. The Elf was watching Boromir who was showing Merry and Pippin how to sharpen a sword. 'What about archery?' Draco asked, turning back to look at her.
Hermione looked at him in surprise before looking over at Legolas. 'I don't know. I had lessons when I was younger, but I was terrible at it,' she answered thoughtfully with a frown.
Draco gasped in mock surprise. 'Hermione Granger? Terrible at something? Well, except flying, of course,' he said with a chuckle, earning a light thump on the arm from Hermione.
Hermione shook her head. 'Maybe I'm just more suited to the theory of flying and archery rather than the practical aspects. I'm not perfect,' she argued, closing the book on her lap and placing it in her beaded bag.
Draco raised his eyebrows. 'No, you are not perfect, but then no one is,' he agreed, glancing back over at Legolas. 'So, you took archery lessons from some Muggle when you were a kid. Whereas, here you would be taking lessons from a pro who probably has the patience of a saint…' Draco trailed off, and held his hands out, moving them as if he were weighing the pros and cons.
'Good point,' Hermione said with a sigh. In all honesty, she had been wanting to learn the basics of archery from Legolas, but she was also trying to muster up the courage to ask him. Hermione still held the belief that Legolas strongly disliked her, and she couldn't understand why.
Draco shrugged and stood up. 'I guess I better go learn the basics of sword-fighting,' he muttered, moving over towards Boromir. After a few words were exchanged between them, Boromir handed him a sword and began talking him through it.
Hermione sighed, her eyes moving back to Legolas. The Elf was just about to shoot his own target, but his eyes moved to hers and held them as he let the arrow go.
Later that day, Gandalf began teaching Harry, Hermione, and Draco the theory of some of the spells they would be learning. Most of the spells were powerful and mainly offensive, but there were some which would be good for defence. He also mentioned the counter-curse Snape had told them about in the forest.
'I will first teach you healing and defensive spells as I deem these to be more important than offensive spells,' Gandalf explained, conjuring up a floating target wandlessly. 'We may not have time, but I will try to teach you the theory and basics of wandless magic also,' Gandalf told them, their eyes lighting up excitedly.
'First, I will teach you "Curio" which is the most powerful healing spell in existence. It can heal the worst of wounds and bring people back to their full health. It can also cure curses and poisoning. I must warn you that this spell will not work on Elves,' he told them, making them frown in confusion.
'Why?' Hermione asked, tilting her head in curiosity.
'Elves are born with a natural resistance to magic. So, spells used by ourselves would have very little effect on them or may even do more damage,' he explained, shaking his head.
Hermione found herself looking over at Legolas for a moment at this revelation. When he glanced towards her, Hermione looked away and focused on Gandalf again. Gandalf taught them the theory of the spell first and the wand movement: a figure of eight and a sharp flick down.
Gandalf instructed them to try the spell against the target and none of them successfully performed it on their first go. Gandalf chuckled. 'It is a challenging spell to master, but keep practising,' he told them, receiving nods from them. 'Miss Granger, if you would come over here for a moment,' he requested, and Hermione moved over to him while Draco and Harry continued practising the Curio spell. 'I have no illusions you will learn the spell quickly, so I want to go over some of the Elvish spells I taught you,' he said, walking away from the group until they couldn't be seen by anyone. Gandalf conjured another target and Hermione readied herself for exhaustive training. Elvish magic was one of the areas she struggled most with as it didn't just strain her magical energy, but her mental and physical energy as well.
oOoOo
'You are very formal in stance, Master Malfoy,' Boromir said, observing the way Draco held himself while in his fighting stance. 'Have you trained before?' he asked as the Slytherin struck the target.
Draco stopped and relaxed his stance, turning to look at Boromir. 'My father put me through fencing lessons as a child, so I know a little,' he answered with a shrug.
'It is a good discipline,' Boromir told him, crossing his arms. 'But used more for duels,' he added, shaking his head.
Draco nodded slowly. 'Is that a bad thing?' he asked, tilting his head and looking at the target.
Boromir shook his head. 'No, it is not, but it will not save you against the armies of Mordor,' he answered, gesturing to the target. 'Loosen your shoulders and arms,' he instructed, and Draco did as he was told. 'Now, try to think of your target as your worst enemy and then strike,' he said, taking a few steps back to observe Draco's new stance.
Draco smirked bitterly, envisioning the target to be his father. He walked forward quickly, bringing forth the rage he felt towards his father, and struck the target harder than he intended. Draco glared at the target before hitting it again and again until he fell to his knees in exhaustion, his mother's face swimming in front of his eyes and his father's cynical laughter echoed in his mind.
'Draco, you are a disappointment.'
'Draco, your swordsmanship is amateur at best.'
'Draco, you will never live up to the name Malfoy.'
'Pathetic. I am ashamed to call you my son.'
'Draco…'
Draco stood up quickly at a hand on his shoulder and pointed his sword at the one who dared to touch him. After a moment, the fury he felt cleared, and he grasped he had almost struck Boromir. 'I…' Draco trailed off, swallowing quickly before sprinting out of the clearing.
Boromir watched him go in astonishment as Gandalf came over to him. 'What happened, Boromir?' the old wizard asked, looking at where Draco had disappeared.
'I advised him to think of the target as his worst enemy and strike,' Boromir answered, still dumbfounded by what he witnessed. 'But his eyes, Gandalf…' he trailed off, shaking his head.
Gandalf frowned. 'What about his eyes?' he asked interestedly, grasping Boromir's shoulder.
Boromir shook his head. 'No, it must have been the light, but I could have sworn his eyes were glowing…' he answered, a chill going down his spine.
Gandalf nodded, his frown deepening as he looked at where Draco had disappeared from the clearing, and his eyes narrowed marginally in interest as he tried to ascertain what this could mean.
oOoOo
Draco had apologised to Boromir for what happened, but the elder man was still wary of him. In the two weeks following this, Draco had not picked up a sword, not wanting the incident to occur again. Instead, he took to meditating with Gandalf and tried to relieve some of the pent up rage inside him.
The Hobbits continued to train with Aragorn and Boromir, while Harry, Hermione, and Draco learned more spells and were still trying to master them. Hermione was still struggling with the Elvish magic, but Gandalf had told her it was difficult to master, but she would with time and practice.
Hermione had still been deliberating on whether to ask Legolas to teach her the basics of archery, but every time she thought she had mustered up the courage to go over to him he would give her a look that made her shy away. It was nerve-wracking for her, and she didn't know how to approach him.
Late one night, Hermione was staring down at a beautiful waterfall flowing into a vast lake below the House of Elrond. The Elf Lord approached her, standing silently by her side for a while, watching her.
Hermione reminded Elrond of Arwen with her stubborn nature, her looks and her smile, which was the most shocking of all. She looked like a mixture of Arwen and his wife, Celebrían. Elrond had to know where she came from and if she was an Elf or a relative, even a daughter he never knew about.
When Gandalf had explained her heritage, Elrond had far more understanding of the girl who now stood before him, oblivious to his presence. He also appreciated why Hermione necessitated the reverence Gandalf had told him she deserved.
Elrond's lips twitched when Hermione sighed and leaned against the railing, with her arms crossed and her head resting on them. It was so unladylike it was rather amusing to him. Elrond coughed lightly, gaining her attention and she stood immediately, turning her attention to him.
Hermione smiled when she realised who was there. 'Lord Elrond,' she greeted, bowing her head to him.
Elrond frowned, placing a hand under her chin to tilt her head back up. 'You bow to no one, Lady Hermione,' he told her earnestly.
Hermione frowned and nodded, a little puzzled by his statement, but thought it better not to question the Elf Lord. 'Is there something I can help with, Lord Elrond?' she asked in curiosity.
Elrond smiled faintly, tilting his head. 'It has come to my attention that you wish to learn the basics of archery, Lady Hermione,' Elrond answered gently, coming to stand next to her.
'How do you know that?' Hermione asked softly, looking back down at the waterfall.
Elrond chuckled lightly, making Hermione look up at him. 'I have eyes and ears everywhere in Rivendell. Also, you have a rather entertaining companion who was very forthcoming when asked,' Elrond answered in amusement.
Hermione sighed in frustration. Trust Malfoy to blab about what she wanted to do. No doubt he told everyone who listened that she was afraid to approach Legolas. 'It is what I want to do, I just haven't really had an opportunity to get started,' Hermione answered, and it sounded weak even to her ears. She knew Elrond wouldn't believe her and from his raised eyebrows she gathered she was right.
'Legolas would be more than happy to teach you the basics of archery, Lady Hermione,' Elrond stated, placing a hand on her shoulder gently.
Hermione sighed. 'To be honest, I don't know how to ask Legolas. I feel like he doesn't like me very much,' she whispered, looking down and frowning.
Another chuckle from Elrond made Hermione look up at him in surprise. 'Legolas does not dislike anything or anyone. He has a cold disposition, but he is not unkind. Do not be afraid of him,' he answered, grinning at her.
'I'm not afraid,' Hermione argued, a little too quickly.
Elrond raised his eyebrows. 'Then I believe you should have no trouble in speaking to him about it on the morrow,' he told her, and Hermione's eyes widened slightly at this. She opened her mouth to argue or make some excuse, but Elrond held up his hand to stop her. 'Do not worry, Lady Hermione. Legolas is an extraordinary Elf with many skills. He will help, you have only to ask,' he assured her with a small smile.
Hermione let out a breath before smiling at him. 'Okay, I will,' she promised.
Elrond and Hermione stood in comfortable silence for a while as Hermione revelled in the majestic beauty held within Rivendell and hidden from those who did know it was there.
oOoOo
Hermione wandered into the clearing very early the next day. She was surprised to find Draco already there with Gandalf who was showing him some defensive techniques with a sword. Boromir, Gimli, and the Hobbits hadn't arrived yet from what she could tell. Aragorn and Harry were sitting on the grass next to the fountain talking. The Ranger looked like he was telling Harry about the Elven knife he always carried on him.
Hermione looked around the clearing, her eyes finding Legolas maintaining his bow and checking his arrows like he did every day. She swallowed as she watched him, her throat becoming dry, as she realised she was going to talk to him today. Taking a deep breath, Hermione slowly made her way towards him. She paused when he moved suddenly into his stance and shot the target quicker than she could blink. With lightning speed, he pulled out another arrow, shooting it at the target and hitting the dead centre again.
Hermione shivered as she got closer to him, and glanced up into the trees where a raven was watching her. She flinched as she looked it in the eyes. 'Never look a raven in the eye for too long. It might steal your soul and fly away with it,' came a silky voice to her left and she jumped.
Hermione turned towards the voice, looking up into those beautiful blue eyes which seemed to hold her captive. Hermione couldn't speak, she couldn't move, she couldn't even blink. She felt like she had been caught in a spider's web, and he was the spider.
Legolas tilted his head, his expression betraying no emotion. 'Can I help you, Lady Hermione?' he asked quietly, his tone polite.
'I… uh…' Hermione mumbled nervously, struggling to find her voice. Legolas raised his eyebrows at her, and she mentally slapped herself. Well done, Granger. Your grasp of the English language is truly astounding, she chastised herself. 'Sorry, I was just a little startled…' she trailed off, closing her eyes in mortification. She looked back up at him, realising his expression hadn't changed and she took a deep breath. 'I want to learn the basics of archery and I was wondering if you would show me?' she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.
'As you wish,' Legolas answered instantly and giving her a quick nod.
'Thanks,' she replied, smiling nervously.
Legolas walked over to a rock, placing his own bow and arrows down before picking up a spare one and handing it to her. Hermione realised Legolas had had a spare one there all along and wondered if he was expecting to teach her archery. Maybe Elrond said something to him? Hermione thought, swallowing thickly as he came back over to her with the bow and a quiver of arrows.
Legolas placed the bow against a tree before turning back to her. He undid the strap on the quiver and stood in front of her. He quickly placed the strap over her left shoulder and pulled the other one under her right arm. Before she could think about it, the quiver was tied securely to her back.
Picking up the bow, Legolas moved back over to her and handed it to her. Hermione took it with shaking fingers and tried to remember how to hold it correctly. She got into the stance she remembered vaguely while Legolas observed her figure. After a brief shake of his head, Legolas moved over to her and placed his hand on hers, adjusting the way she held the spine of the bow. Hermione's mouth went dry, and her fingers tingled at his touch.
Legolas stepped away from her again and Hermione felt a blush come to her cheeks as his eyes moved down her figure. She knew he was looking at her stance and not checking her out, but it was still embarrassing. Unfazed, Legolas tilted his head. 'Shoulders down, back straight. Keep your eyes on your target,' he instructed quietly, and Hermione did as he said. 'Which hand do you write with?' he asked her.
'Um… my right hand,' she answered, fumbling over her words.
Legolas nodded, moving back over to her. He took her left hand and placed it on the spine of the bow. His eyes moved to hers fleetingly as he held his hand over hers for a second longer than needed before he let go. 'Now, use your right hand to pull back the bow string,' he instructed, moving away again to study her frame while he worked out the most comfortable stance for her.
After a moment, he came over to her again and took hold of her right elbow. Hermione jumped a little when his other hand came to rest on her waist, and she gulped. Legolas turned her a little to the left and straightened her right elbow. 'Now, release the string,' he whispered into her ear, his breath fanning her cheek.
Hermione gasped slightly and released the string, hurting her wrist in the process. 'Ouch!' she yelped, looking down at her grazed wrist.
Legolas took her hand, examining the graze for a moment. 'Wait here,' he said quietly, walking over to a small bag sitting next to his own bow and arrows. He pulled out a small vial of clear liquid and a clean rag before walking back over to her. Legolas tipped a little of the liquid onto the rag and pressed it down gently on Hermione's hand. She flinched at the stinging pain as he cleaned the wound. 'It is called Nebra,' he explained at her questioning gaze. 'It will prevent infection and your wrist will be as good as new by dusk,' he told her, glancing up into her eyes.
Hermione smiled up at him, but he didn't smile back at her. She found herself wondering what it would be like to see him smile. It took her a moment to grasp she was downright staring at him, and she looked away, blushing in embarrassment. Legolas retrieved her bow and handed it back to her.
Legolas pulled his right bracer glove off and stepped up to her. 'Give me your hand,' he whispered, and she did, letting him put the bracer on. Legolas tied it, hesitating for a moment before letting her hand go. He looked at her, tilting his head. 'The bracer will stop the string from catching your wrist. You will no longer feel it. My bracer is too big for you, but I will have a pair made for you,' he said, and Hermione nodded slowly. 'Now, into position,' he said in a commanding tone and Hermione did as he asked.
'Now, you will fire an arrow at the target,' Legolas instructed, receiving a fearful glance in return. 'Do not be afraid, Lady Hermione,' he said gently, his eyes softening.
'It's just been so long and the last time I did it I…' Hermione trailed off, shaking her head. 'Let's just say I never went back,' she muttered, blushing as she remembered her last catastrophe in archery lessons as a child. Her parents had been rather disappointed when the instructor had marched their daughter home and explained how she managed to hit one of the other students in the leg.
Legolas watched the array of emotions flit across her face. 'How many years has it been?' he asked quietly, his eyes roaming over her face.
Hermione sighed. 'Too many,' she answered, shaking her head.
Legolas nodded, frowning at her vague answer. 'Then there is nothing to be afraid of. It is not as hard as it may seem,' he explained gently, taking an arrow from the quiver on her back and handing it to her.
Hermione took a deep breath, knocking the arrow against the groove in the spine like she remembered from her lessons all those years ago. For a moment, all Hermione could hear was the disappointed comments of her instructor and she froze. Legolas waited for a few moments before frowning as she closed her eyes against the taunting from the other students.
Legolas moved over to her, placing his left hand on her waist and his right hand over the one holding the string in a death-grip. 'Relax,' he whispered into her ear and Hermione took a deep breath, releasing the arrow. She watched in amazement as the arrow hit the target on the outside line. 'Well done, Lady Hermione,' Legolas whispered, and Hermione realised his hand was still on her waist and his other hand was still holding her other hand.
After a moment, Legolas moved away from her. 'We will wrap this up for now, but feel free to come practice at any time,' he told her, walking over to his own bow and picking it up. He took out a rag from his pouch, wiping it over the wood.
Hermione walked over to him and placed the bow she was using against the rock. Legolas picked it up, affording it the same treatment. Hermione watched him for a moment, suddenly feeling awkward and nervous again. 'Um… thank you,' she whispered, receiving a distracted nod from him in return.
Hermione turned to walk away, but Legolas' voice stopped her. 'What do you know of the Elves, Lady Hermione?' he asked, stopping the ministrations on his bow and looking at her.
Hermione turned back to him, surprised he wanted to have a normal conversation with her. 'Not much,' Hermione said, although this wasn't entirely true. She actually knew much about the Elves, but she found herself wanting to speak to Legolas so she played dumb.
Legolas nodded. 'Is there anything you wish to know?' he asked her, placing the spare bow down next to his own and leaning casually against the rock, giving Hermione his full attention which she was surprised at. Maybe she had been wrong thinking he didn't like her.
Hermione smiled a little. 'I want to know everything. I love learning and discovering new things,' she told him, her tone becoming excited.
Legolas eyed her curiously for a moment, before looking away into the trees with a thoughtful expression. After a few moments, his eyes flitted back to hers. 'Would you like to hear a story about my people?' he asked quietly, his eyes searching hers for a moment.
'Yes,' Hermione answered instantly, moving over to stand next to him.
Legolas's lips twitched at her eagerness. 'I am sure you witnessed the anger and hatred between the Dwarves and the Elves?' he asked her.
Hermione nodded. 'Yes, I noticed it at the Council of Elrond.'
'Our two races were not always like this,' he whispered with a frown and shaking his head. 'The Elves once traded with the Dwarves in harmony. This continued for thousands of years until just over 3 thousand years ago. My father, in an intense argument with one of the Dwarf Kings, killed him when the Dwarf took up his axe to attack him,' he told her, his lips twitching again when her eyes widened in shock.
'3 thousand years!?' Hermione gasped in shock, staring at him in disbelief. Hermione had learned of the longevity of Elves from her parents, but they never told her they could live for thousands of years.
Legolas nodded slowly. 'Elves live for many thousands of years, Lady Hermione. Therefore, we have been given the name "ɑlfirin", meaning "immortal". I just turned 2931 years old this past Spring, so I was not around during the war, but my father told me the story. My mother has always desired harmony to return amongst our two races, but she is the only one willing to voice her opinion about it,' he said, shaking his head lightly. 'I do not like the Dwarves, but if our two peoples were to put aside our feud, I would accept it,' he added, looking down at her.
Hermione was staring at him in awe. 'You're 2931 years old?' she asked in a small voice.
Legolas almost smiled at her reaction; he was expecting it. 'Yes,' he confirmed with a short nod.
'But you look so young! How is that possible?'
'How old are you, Lady Hermione?' he asked, his question snapping her out of her shock.
Hermione's eyes widened at the audacity of his question, but she shook her feelings on the matter aside. 'I turned 18 in September,' Hermione answered softly.
Legolas nodded thoughtfully, his eyes searching hers for a moment. 'Human's grow immediately in a short time. 100 years for an Elf is the equivalent of 1 year of a human's life,' he explained, and she nodded, but the frown was still present on her face. 'If I were to equal my age to a human… I would be 29 years old. Do you understand?' he asked her softly, tilting his head.
'Yes, I get it now,' Hermione answered, looking up at the striking Elf. 'I feel so young,' she whispered in disbelief and shook her head. To Hermione's shock, Legolas smiled at her response. It was only a small smile, but his entire face lit up and she couldn't help smiling back at him.
oOoOo
A/N: So, what did you all think? Hermione's first proper interaction with Legolas. Please let me know in a review if you're enjoying it!