Chapter 5, Madmen for Bunk Mates

"You're late."

Legolas looked up, wanting to scoff at Daedhel. He didn't know where all this sass and fury was coming from, but he expected his friends, the Twins from Imladris, along with this so-called thing called "hormones" his brother had told to him about from a book, were doing this effect. Nevertheless, he felt anger, and his mood changed like the wind, that is, frequently. Oh no, I totally knew I was early. I had no idea I was late. What do you want from me now, huh? Tea and scones?

"I was in the guide's office," Legolas stated neutrally instead.

Daedhel snorted once more. Up close, Legolas saw he was still as menacing. With dark black hair tied neatly and an elegant posture befit for a noble, he looked more high-ranking than even Legolas himself! If he'd been wearing better clothes, he could've easily passed off as the prince. Nevertheless, he wasn't, and currently wore a casual outfit, with two suspenders against his sharp shoulders. He clicked his tongue impatiently as he gripped his quill with grace, glaring at him with dark eyes.

"I know that," he stated exasperately. Then he looked around at all the gaping elves, who either looked at him in awe, or were just pure terrified. "Anyways, as I said before Thranduilion, you're late. We've already assigned our cabins...but it seems you missed it all out."

"I had no idea I was going to be given a special place with the pigs," snorted Legolas. He knew there were some pigs kept for emergency food supply, in case they needed more ham or whatnot. Also, he suddenly felt confident with all his attention...even if it was negative. He suddenly felt powerful, powerful beyond anything he'd ever felt. Was this how warriors felt everyday? Because he didn't think it was so bad.

"Is that sass you're giving me?" hissed Daedhel, looking at him menacingly.

Now Legolas didn't seem so confident. "Erm...no, sir."

"It better not be, or else not only will you sleep with the pigs, you will bathe with them and you'll possibly end up like them...cooked alive for breakfast," spat out Daedhel. Then he grumbled, adjusting and scribbling furiously into his notepad. Did all instructors have one? Legolas wondered what they wrote. "Anyways, I have arranged your cabin."

He suddenly pointed at a group to his left, straight at a tall dark-haired and olive-skinned elf who almost seemed to stand out because of his enormous height. "Morinlai. You are responsible. If you are just like your father, I know that you will be able to keep this troublemaker out of making a fool of himself."

"Yes sir," the elf stated. Normally Legolas could read through people...but this one was just as enthusiastic as a stone. Fantastic. Legolas knew they would get along perfectly.

"What are you waiting for, then?" snapped Daedhel, whacking Legolas in the back of his head with his notepad, making him stumble slightly forward. "Go, you troublemaking punk! I haven't got all night."

Legolas muttered, rubbing the back of his head, that now throbbed heavily because of Daedhel's whack. He wondered if Daedhel had any of that "hormone" thing too. Grumbling under his breath even more, he went to grab his pack from a wooden box next to Daedhel and headed towards the dark-haired elf's group.

"Finally! We're done with this rubbish," sighed Daedhel, putting his notepad in his pocket. Then he glared at them all. "I want all the results and cabin information in the main office by curfew. Curfew is by nine hours after midday. Go to sleep, don't be annoying, and make sure to wake up tomorrow before the rooster's call for early examinations. Go!"

Once he turned around and left towards the far end of the camp, to his private cabin isolated near the woods, no one spent any time. The hustle started and everyone moved in throngs round, traveling about. The dark-haired elf of Legolas' cabin, the one whom was called Morinlai, turned to them. "We head out. Follow me."

They followed him with no word. Legolas took this opportunity to examine his new cabin members. He looked longingly around, wishing he'd been bunked with Meren and Than, familiar faces...but he supposed not everyone could get what they wanted. He hadn't seen the cousins anyways.

Standing next to Morinlai was a diminute elf with honey blond hair. He was even shorter than Meren! He looked nice enough though, and had a cheerful tone to his voice. He talked animatedly with Morinlai and much to his surprise, the dark-haired elf occasionally flashed the elf tiny ghost smiles back, along with the occasional affectionate mutter. It was obvious that they were close, despite the incredible physical differences between them.

Next was a messy, light brown-haired elf with a mischievous grin. His eyes were humongous and a bright green hue. He looked evidently Silvan, with that nature-loving look in him and a wild, rogue aura about him. A rebellious streak. He also looked pretty athletic, probably from tons of tree-climbing and adrenaline-filled sports. He was coated with a laying of dirt, although he wore it proudly, showing his heritage boldly. Legolas tried to fight down the jealousy. He had always wanted to look more Silvan...like his mother.

Bouncing behind him and speaking rapidly to the Silvan elf was another elf, who always had an enthusiastic response. He was the one who seemed by far the nicest and had also looked at Legolas as if he were Ilúvatar when he had walked over to their group. Normal elves would be flattered, but Legolas was slightly bothered. Legolas...didn't think himself worthy to be admired. What qualities did he even have, anyways? He didn't deserve to be an idol, especially to this gentle-looking, generous rosy-cheeked elf.

Finally, trailing far behind the group, even a bit behind from Legolas, was a smart-looking elf. And it wasn't only because he was intelligent-looking. No, the elf had class. He carried himself with elegance and Legolas deduced his family must be one of the ones working and living inside the palace. It wasn't like Daedhel's natural one, but rather, more forced and taught, like it had been instilled for years and years. He also looked sort of Sindar, with darker, silvery features. His hair was black with honey brown streaks and his eyes...his eyes were unlike anything Legolas had ever saw. They were a clear, beautiful crystal gray, like diamonds crumbled to pieces or the stars spread inside him.

Legolas doubted they would all get along.

O-O-O

They stopped at their cabin and entered.

Legolas liked it. Obviously it wasn't luxurious, but it was more comfortable than he could have wished for. There was a small space with a wide rug and a table, possibly for the novices to relax. Then, behind this small area, were three collumns of simple wooden bunk beds, each with one green sheet and a pillow.

"I GET TOP BUNK!" screamed the Silvan elf, whooping at the top of his lungs and running towards the middle collumn. In no time, he was up in the top bed of the bunk and screaming even loudly, hooting and thumping his chest with what seemed to be a war cry.

Morinlai rolled his eyes at the elf, muttering a small 'immature' under his breath. He sighed, his arms crossed against his broad chest. "Rín, you would have received the top bunk anyways. There's no need to get so excited about it."

"Can I get top bunk as well, Mori?" asked the diminute blond-haired elf sweetly, grinning widely at the dark-haired elf.

Morinlai sighed once more, but didn't seem bothered at all. "Of course, Kaitsu."

"WOO HOO! TOP BUNK!" screamed out the blond-haired elf. He went to the middle collumn, clasped the arms of an equally excited Rín, and then jumped from the middle collumn bed to the right collumn bed.

From then, everything went as Legolas expected. Morinlai moved slowly towards the lower bed in the right collumn bunk bed with the elf Kaitsu, unpacking neatly, and

"All right. Focus everybody. We need to vote cabin leader. Any suggestions?" asked Morinlai.

"Oh whatever, you do it, Mori," said the Silvan-looking elf, lying flat on his back on top of his bed.

"Yes Mori! You'd do a great job," nodded Kaitsu enthusiastically.

"Put my vote anywhere you want. I don't really care," snorted the classy elf with glassy eyes.

Morinlai wrote everything down, and while he snorted every time a compliment was thrown at him, Legolas could see he was secretly pleased. He probably didn't have many opportunities to prove himself back home. Legolas felt a pang of sympathy inside of him, realizing that neither did he.

"Hey, Legolas hir-nín! Don't you want to do it?" asked Grethil suddenly, looking up with admiration at Legolas.

Legolas blushed by the proposal. Heck, bloody Mordor no! I don't want any more of this rubbish. More trouble for me, more punishment. That was what Legolas really wanted to say, but for the sake of his newfound reputation, he gave the elf a kind and reassuring smile, befit of his class. "Oh Valar, no! I'm afraid I won't be very good. Morinlai is probably more capable than I am at doing this kind of thing anyways. And please, no titles. It's just Legolas."

"Wow hir-nín, you're so nice! I wish I could be like you! " grinned Grethil enthusiastically, clapping his hands together to make a point. He was oblivious to Legolas' discomfort towards his title. However, Legolas couldn't help but crack a small weak genuine smile back, despite the frustrating 'my lord.' The positivity radiated out of this elf naturally...and it was pretty contagious.

Unfortunately, not everyone reacted that way.

"You're right. The incapability stinks on you. Your weakness is pathetic," stated Morinlai, snorting and then turning his emotionless facade on, scribbling heavily on the parchment they had been given. His handwriting was neat, proportionate, bold and dark: downright strict. Way better than Legolas' messy scribbles.

Okay mate, okay! Excuse me, Legolas thought in disbelief, with his jaw hanging open and his eyes wide, extremely incredulous. He hadn't expected a royal ball in his honor as a welcome, but he hadn't exactly thought he'd be greeted so undecently. Where were the manners in this place? Did respect suddenly erase itself from books?

"His disbelief is justified."

Legolas frowned, turning to his right. Leaning in the corner with his arms crossed moodily against his chest was the classy dark-haired elf from before. His eyes were slim and shone with silvery wariness and hate. He was obviously analyzing the cabin. "I beg your pardon?"

"I said his disbelief was justified," sighed the elf warily, turning to Legolas. "We all expected a grand warrior. Instead, we got you. We thought maybe a prince would have a more dignified image, but you're the opposite of that. After all, anyone who must have dislocated that idiot Turen's nose must have been a wonder. But upon seeing you, everyone has become doubtful. However, I am not surprised."

"And why is that?" snapped Legolas hotly.

"Your voice itself was as Morinlai said: pathetic."

"Oí everyone!" smiled the cheerful honey blond-haired elf, trying to lighten up the movie and stop Legolas from killing the other elf. "Why can't we just sit around in a circle, tell our life stories and talk things out peacefully? Then we can become friends!"

Legolas, along with the dark-haired he'd been quarreling with, snorted.

"That's a great idea, Kaitsu!" gushed another elf, jumping up and down enthusiastically. He looked extremely hyperactive, so Legolas moved a couple steps behind. How did he ever get bunked with these madmen? Oh, yes, because of Daedhel. He glared at his memory. Legolas would get his revenge one day. Then the hyperactive elf turned to smile at Legolas with humongous green eyes flashing. "Come hír-nin! It'll be fun!"

"Thank you, but I think I might actually take a bath-"

Legolas then screamed as the elf yanked him forward and pushed him onto the floor, making him crash face-first into the wooden floor. Legolas moaned, pulling himself to sit cross-legged and watched as the other elf calmly sat across from Legolas, sending the prince a smirk. The prince glared back. The Kaitsu elf, the one close to Morinlai, was trying to persuade their newly-made cabin leader, to come down with them, and after much persuasive nagging, the leader did. He, however, continued writing intently and sat to Legolas' left, along with Kaitsu. Grethil also bounced over, sitting next to Legolas in his right flank. Rín didn't even sit down, looking like a bat as he hung upside down dangerously from the ledge of his bunk bed.

And then, they waited for something to happen.

Legolas looked around at everyone's awkward silence. Silence made him nervous, so he decided he should say something. He coughed lightly to gain some attention so that he could speak. "All right, before whatever we're doing, can someone please tell me what happened in my absence? Because I have a very bad feeling in my gut that I have missed something pretty grand."

Morinlai sighed and looked up. "Well, do you want to know about Turen?"

"I don't really care about him but I guess so," shrugged Legolas. "I never did see him after what happened in the stables."

"Víruvil," stated Morinlai plainly, pointing to the classy dark-haired elf who Legolas had spoken with earlier, the one with those analyzing crystal gray eyes. The elf, upon hearing his name, turned to look at them and after a flicker of recognition, turned to the prince.

"As I stated earlier, you dislocated his nose. You did not see him because he has spent the entire afternoon in the healing wing, heavily injured. He also has a concussion, a few broken ribs and several bruises in his face, apparently," stated Viruvil, looking at Legolas. "It is implied that he will return well tomorrow. His injuries will possibly not so grave with a night's rest and some athellas salve."

I dislocated his nose? Yes! Legolas was secretly glad yet guilty for Turen's sudden stay at the healing wing. He tried everything to restrain himself from cheering right then. Perhaps he would do so with Meren and Thangurion. "Thank you. What about the cabin? Why do we need to elect a leader?"

"Víruvil," stated Morinlai once again. He was busy writing. One of the many responsibilities Legolas was glad he didn't have as cabin leader.

Víruvil looked annoyed, but surprisingly didn't argue. He turned to Legolas again. "Each cabin is assigned six people, which are your team. Each team collects points throughout this year of novice training and in the end, the novice masters count up the points. The one with the biggest sum wins the prize. However, at the end of the novice training, there is also a small championship, a display of our achieved skills. This competition serves as an extra way to gain more points and gain the lead to win against other teams."

"What is the prize?"

"Honor, mainly. And a whole day's worth of rations of food from the masters' private reserves."

"No wonder why they serve such terrible unhygienic food here," muttered Rín, sighing and rolling his eyes, still upside down from the bed's railing. "They think it'll encourage us to participate in their silly motivational event."

"It is, however, a smart tactic," Legolas pointed out.

"Sure I'll give them that," sighed Rín once more. "That is, if we survive their food poisoning to be in it."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

"Anyways everyone, I think we should all present ourselves to each other," said Kaitsu, clapping enthusiastically. "I know most of us already know each other from school, but I think Legolas would really benefit from this. Besides, there are things we don't really know about each other. For example, Mori likes blond ellyths."

Even as everyone gave a small laugh while Morinlai turned around scowling at Kaitsu, barking indignant insults, Legolas inwardly winced. He knew Kaitsu had good motives, but the way he said it made Legolas seemed more like a stranger than before.

"Are you two related?" asked Legolas suddenly, gesturing Morinlai and Kaitsu. "You two seem very close."

"We aren't, but we will be soon," said Kaitsu, flashing Legolas a smile. Then, childish-looking Kaitsu looked so much older than he hinted and his eyes were far away, looking at something beautiful by the way he smiled unconsciously. His dark brown eyes were dreamy and then he snapped back, his smile turning into a full-blown grin. "Mori's family and mine have always been close friends, and so have we. We have known each other since childhood. Our fathers are both commanders in the army. And...I'm bethrothed to Mori's sister, so we'll soon be brothers-in-law!" The last part was particularly enthusiastic.

Bethrothed? Legolas didn't even know what color of shirt he was wearing tomorrow! He gaped at Kaitsu, a weak smile on his face. "Wow...a bethrothal! Congratulations. But aren't you too young? I mean-"

"It's a bethrothal. They're not getting married tomorrow. They're simply engaged for the future, not eloping to some foreign land to start living together secretly...right?" said Mori, suddenly glaring menacingly at Kaitsu and shedding all signs of affection.

Kaitsu had also suddenly shed his enthusiasm. He looked nervous. "R-Right."

"I'll start!" piped up Grethil smiling. He turned to everyone cheerfully. "Anyways, as you may all know, I'm Grethil. I actually wanted to become a healer, but I ended up here instead. Not because I thought it was fun, but because I thought that if there were more healers in patrols, less people could get killed. More lives would be saved, including local lives. If there had been more healers in the patrols surrounding my village, my family wouldn't have succumbed to their wounds during the orc slaughtering. I think I would have a much greater effect out there than in the palace, exploring and spreading my skills all across Mirkwood! Helping people has always been a natural to me. After all, if each of my family members hadn't sacrificed their lives for me to help me survive the attack, I would never have been here with you all!"

The room was silent.

Legolas swallowed a gulp. His throat was dry. Here he was, weak and pathetic because of his mother's death, when this cheerful elf had lost everyone and still had a big smile on his face. The prince was speechless. "Grethil..." he whispered.

"Well, if we're all going to do this, let's get this over with," snapped Rín, trying to improve the mood. He turned to look at Legolas. "I'm Rín and I really didn't want to be here either. My entire family is made up of farmers. I have a huge family, so the entire village are basically all of my relatives in some crazy way. I came here...I don't know! I think I just came for thefun."

"Do you think this is a joke? There is no fun in having to witness what we'll witness in our novice training." Legolas tried to control himself, but he couldn't help replying quickly, his voice twisted in a tight frown and his fists clenching unwillingly. Rín looked at him strangely when he said those words. "We're all supposed to be here for honor. For duty. For-"

"Please prince, why do you think everyone is here?" Legolas turned around to watch Viruvill stand up. "Nobody had a choice. We came here either because of our families, because we wanted military privileges, or because we were afraid. Only a fool would want to do this job willingly."

"Then I must be the biggest fool of them all because I did!" growled Legolas back. "I came here because I wanted to do my duty and protect the land-"

"Don't try to trick us, prince," Viruvil stepped forward, his empty glassy eyes boring into Legolas' light blue ones. "You may trick everyone else here in this room but not me. You are only here because you want to avenge your dead mother, the late Queen. You are only here because you want to please your father and stop having to look up at your older brother, the Crown Prince, with jealousy. Behind those gray eyes of yours, you are just as selfish as any of us."

Legolas stood there frozen, boiling with anger. How dare he accuse him of such a thing! His fists now red, Legolas was ready to punch him, barely able to contain his anger. But his main reason for being angry...was that all Viruvil had said, had been true.

It seemed the entire cabin was frozen as well. Morinlai, stacking his couple of papers, was looking at the scene with solemn interest, Grethil was nervously shaking in place and watching the scene worriedly unfold, and Kaitsu simply looked sad, as if he had expected better from them all.

Suddenly, a realization hit him.

"But..." Legolas frowned at Viruvil, as he quietly spoke up after some while of thinking. His concern, much to his surprise, was genuine. "My eyes aren't gray. They're blue. You can easily see that. I'm the only one who didn't inherit my mother's eyes. Are you all right? Are your eyes all right? I don't know why you hate me so, but maybe you should rest a while."

The room felt into silence, everyone looking at each other as if they knew some sort of deep secret. However, suddenly, much to everyone's surprise, Viruvil burst out laughing. It was a cold laugh, devoid of the warmth and merriness a normal one would have, and it was almost bitter, longing. After he finished, he suddenly grabbed Legolas' chin and pulled him further until their faces were centimeters away from each other.

"No matter what rest I have, prince, my eyes will never be all right," he hissed at him, while Legolas was still too shocked to move, even against Viruvil's surprisingly frail form. "It is a condition I was born with, because I am blind, prince."

The blond-haired prince's jaw hung open, as he staggered back in shock, gaping at Víruvil. "What?" Then he paused, looking at everyone whose eyes begged for him to be gentle with Viruvil. "I mean, I do not mean to be insulting, you merely did not seem to hold such a thing. You seemed to function so normally, I would never have realized it by myself. I-"

Viruvil laughed, cackling in front of Legolas' face bitterly. "'Such a thing?' If you are going to say disability, say it. I'm a cripple and I know it. Besides, you would be surprised by the things cripples have to do daily to make themselves be seen equally, prince."

The room was perhaps the third time in that night, in silence. Legolas opened his mouth, to apologize for his bluntness and to insist that Viruvil was certainly not a cripple, when suddenly, Morinlai stood up, his timing impeccable. It was obvious he was a born leader, and knew when to do things right. Legolas envied that.

"Legolas, I am Morinlai. Those are Kaitsuran, Rín, Viruvil and Grethil. We are your cabin mates, you are our cabin mate, there is nothing else we should know about each other, other than the fact that we should work together and follow the rules to beat the other teams," stated Morinlai coldly. Then he turned to look at Kaitsu, who suddenly looked guilty for proposing the idea in the first place. "Personal things are kept to ourselves."

"Fine with me!" snorted Rín, flipping backwards and landing on his bed. He soon disappeared under the sheets. "It's very tiring to hear old Noldo ladies bickering amongst themselves. I'm going to sleep, if you all don't mind." Nobody laughed at the well-meant joke.

"Everyone, do that," snapped Morinlai. "Go to sleep. Curfew is coming soon and they'll come to check. I will go to deliver these papers to the main office and when I come back, I expect everyone to either be asleep or preparing to do so. Nothing else. Is that understood?"

This time, no one said a word against him.

O-O-O

Legolas took a bath and reflected.

He felt significantly nicer since he didn't smell, but also because as he rinsed his hair, his mind seemed clearer. He sighed, rolling his eyes and musing on his situation. Out of so many other teams, Legolas had to be assigned to this one. He secretly thought Daedhel must have done it on purpose to punish him, but tried to think of it otherwise. After all, his brother had always said that challenges were the exercise of the heart and mind.

But really, if he had been told this would happen a long time ago during his youth, would Legolas himself have believed it? That he would be with a blind elf, an overly enthusiastic one, a downright Silvan and two future but drastically different brothers-in-law stuck in a cabin for the rest of his first novice year?

He would have laughed.

O-O-O

By the time Morinlai came back, Legolas and the others were already fully-prepared and in their had all recovered from the previous ordeal. Rín was sleeping peacefully in a wild position, his sheet half-in, half-out, the bed and his pillow lopsided. He snored loudly, but Legolas didn't want to be rude to say it out loud. Below him, Viruvil had also fallen asleep. Legolas was surprised on how silent the classy elf looked while sleeping, almost as if he were dead, and suddenly...those captivatingly beautiful crystal eyes weren't so innocent to watch. Kaitsu was also asleep, his eyes wide open and dreamily looking at the ceiling, with his sheet obediently tucked up to his chin and his head curled up in the pillow. Legolas shook his head. Sometimes, Kaitsu seemed twice his age, but sometimes he just looked childish. Morinlai looked around, making sure everything was in order, sighed and then fell like a rock as soon as he hit the bed.

He must have been exhausted. Legolas envied him. He was having trouble sleeping, as was Grethil, apparently. He moved a lot, and his movement shook the entire bunk bed. Legolas was thankful Grethil was scared of heights. These bunk beds didn't seem very stable and guiltily, Legolas was thankful he wouldn't be crushed in his sleep. Suddenly, after some more minutes of blissful silence, there was a soft familiar whisper from below.

"Legolas hir-nín?"

"Yes, Grethil? And I told you it was just Legolas, please. No titles."

"Will do hir-I mean, Legolas. Anyways..."

"Yes?"

"G-Goodnight, Legolas."

Legolas, perhaps for the first time the entire day, flashed a genuine smile, ones he rarely gave out since his mother's incident. He crawled a bit and then poked his head down, smiling at Grethil, who held his sheets tightly in his hands. "Goodnight, Grethil." Then he crawled back into his bed and lay there, his smile widening as Grethil's obvious excitement oozed out of him beneath him.

"Do you really mean it? That's amazing! Goodnight to you again, Legolas! GOODNIGHT EVERYBODY!" The last part was particularly annoying, since it was basically screamed out loud to top volume. Legolas had no idea what Grethil's lungs were made of, but they made Legolas' ears wince. He hissed out loud, as if he were a cat in water. And it was particularly annoying, since fatigue had already started to play with Legolas' mind. The reactions, similar ones to Legolas', were immediate.

"Bloody Mandos!"

"Goodnight to you too Grethil!"

"Argh! I didn't just need to be blind, didn't I? It seems I will also be deaf."

"Everyone - just shut up."

Legolas laughed quietly to himself and looked up to the skies as the nagging continued. Maybe he was wrong about this group. Maybe...maybe they weren't so bad at all.

O-O-O

AN: A bit of a long chapter, I know, but I hope you guys liked it! It was also more angsty than I thought. I never actually did plan to make Viruvil blind...

AND I AM SO SORRY for not putting Daedhel much. I thought I would put some of the examinations here, but it seems that I couldn't. I'm so sorry, I'm absolutely sure that he'll be a major character next chapter. Promise it on Eru and all of the Valar.

By the way, a question for the next chapter: out of Legolas' five other bunk mates, who is/are by far your favorite/s?

Also, a little off-topic note. This entire chapter is dedicated to Leonard Nimoy, who sadly passed away. It is so surreal. During the original Star Trek show, he had the role of Spock and acted beautifully. This loss has been taken deeply into my heart and I know that in many hearts across the globe, they are in the same state. #LLAP

Reviews!