A/N Again, many thanks to Celridel for taking the time to beta this chapter

It had been three days since the event in the palace yards between Estella and Legolas. Even though Estella finally opened up to him, Legolas knew she was far from healed. She still had some long ways to go before being emotionally recovered.

On that fine summer's day, Legolas happened to come across her at the training yards, once again watching intensely the group of archers showing off their skills to one another. Haerelion allowed Estella to visit the training grounds anytime during drilling hours as he noticed it seemed to have a calming effect on her.

She had heard Legolas approaching and slightly tensed up, remembering her outburst days ago. "Hello, Legolas." She knew he was just concerned for her, but felt he was always hovering like a protective mother hen. "I told you I would be all right. You do not need to keep checking up on me." She did not mean for it to come across so harsh and blushed when she realized the curtness of her voice. "Forgive me; I did not mean to sound that way."

"No need to apologize. However, I do feel I need to keep watch on you until you are further along in your healing. I am glad you enjoy coming out here, I too find a sense of peace when I am amongst the others as they train."

Estella knew she was some ways off from being whole and she knew one way to getting closer to completeness was if she fitted in with the other Elves of Taur-nu-Fuin. Estella might be an Elf, but as she had not been raised among her kind, she did not know their ways and thus felt like an oddity amongst them. "Legolas, I wish to ask a favor of you."

Legolas had a feeling what she was going to ask for; he saw that same look of longing to fit in as he had when he was growing up. He might have been an Elf and raised amongst his kind, but as a prince, he often felt like an outcast among the regular Elves. For some reason, they thought since he was royal he had special treatment and did not need to feel the need to fit in. "What is it you wish to ask me?"

Lowering her eyes for a second, Estella mustered up the courage to ask Legolas the question she wanted to ask since shortly arriving here in Taur-nu-Fuin. "I wish to learn how to fit in with the rest of the Elves here in Mirkwood. I want to learn how to fight and to survive in the wild if I ever need to. Please, will you teach me?"

Legolas had been expecting this, but it still caught him off guard. True she would want to learn; it was in her blood. However, he did not think it wise for her to learn just yet as she was still healing and he was not sure it was a safe idea for her to be handling a sword or a bow and arrow in her present state of mind. "Estella," he started trying very hard to think of the proper words to use as to not upset or offend her. "I would love to teach you how to fight, but right now, in your present state of mind, I just do not feel it is a good idea. You are still healing." As soon as he said those words he knew it was not the best-laid plan for Legolas saw her clench her jaw, which he learned long ago was a sign she was angry.

Just as he expected, she got angrily to her feet and stormed off leaving Legolas behind. He did not want to upset her, but he was doing this for her safety and the safety of others. An emotionally distressed person handling a weapon is never a good idea. He wanted to go after her and explain to her why and once she was better he would teach her, but he thought it would be better if he just let her cool down a bit first.

Estella could not believe he would not teach her. She opened up to him and made a fool of herself, and he still thought her too weak to learn. Why could he not understand the best way for her to heal was to learn to fight and how to fend for herself. She was an Elf, and yet she was no closer to fitting in amongst her race than when she arrived two months ago! Sure, she was now able to understand them, and for the most part, her Sindarin was picking up quite nicely, but speaking in Sindarin would not help her if she ever needed to defend herself and it would not help her fit in with everyone else. Even Raiwen could use a dagger! She knew deep down Legolas was only looking out for her, but it was still very frustrating, to say the least. Somehow, she needed to convince Legolas she was okay enough to learn basic self-defense.

Legolas strolled back to the palace. Why could she not understand he was only doing what he felt was in her best interest. Why did she have to get so upset all the time? He could not understand females, and the more he tried to the more he wondered if he wanted to. As he was thinking to himself, he ran into Haerelion who was on his way to get ready for the next training session with the newer recruits. "Prince Legolas, is everything well? You seem upset."

"As a matter of fact, Haerelion I am not all right. I just upset Estella again. She asked me to teach her how to fight, and I told her I did not think it a good idea right now as she is still too emotionally upset. Am I wrong in thinking that?"

Haerelion smiled softly and sat on a nearby bench and motioned for Legolas to do the same. "Ah Legolas, I understand your desire to want to protect Lady Estella, but perhaps you are causing more damage than good." Legolas was confused, but Haerelion continued before he could ask why. "Perhaps the best way to help her is to let her learn how to handle a weapon. I seem to remember a certain prince who years ago was very distraught at his mother's death and the only way he seemed to heal was when he was shooting his bow or practicing with his blades. The point is, you cannot keep coddling her or she will never heal. You must let her grow, and perhaps by teaching her to fit in and to fight, she will begin to heal. However, if you are concerned for her safety or the safety of others, then teach her where no one is around until you feel it is safe to do so otherwise."

Legolas took a deep breath. Maybe Haerelion was right. Perhaps he was right. Perhaps he had been overprotecting Estella, and that was why she was not healing correctly. "Thank you Haerelion; I think perchance you are correct. You have been most helpful." Legolas stood up and bowed respectfully.

"You are welcome, my lord. If you need any more advice, my doors are always open. And if you should need me to help in her training, I would be more than willing to teach her."

Legolas smiled and walked back to his room. When he arrived, he went to his trunk and opened it; there he found what he was looking for. A beautiful hand-carved bow which once belonged to his mother. It was a light brown with her name etched into it in elegant script. His father had given it to Legolas when she died, and he kept it in his trunk along with other memorabilia of her and his childhood. The bow was the perfect size for Estella to learn with. Once he had taught her how to shoot he would move onto teaching her how to use twin blades. "One step at a time. Now to find her." Legolas rose to his feet and went to search for her.

Estella was in her room lying on her bed thinking about her present situation when she heard a knock on her door. "Estella, are you in there? It is I, Legolas; I have something for you."

What could he possibly have that I would want right now? she thought to herself. Right now, she was not in the mood to talk to anyone, but she knew he would keep bothering her until she let him in. "Come in, Legolas."

Legolas opened the door and was carrying a carefully wrapped parcel. He handed it to Estella who opened it carefully as not to break it. When she saw what it was, she gasped. "Legolas, this is beautiful!" She stroked the smooth, well-loved curve of the bow in awe. "But I thought you were not going to teach me."

"Well, I was thinking perhaps I have been cosseting you too much. I just care about you and do not want to see you get hurt anymore, but now I see I might have been hurting you more than helping you. Haerelion has helped me to understand that, so if you want to learn still, then I will teach you."

"Of course, I want to learn still, but where did you get this bow? This is so beautiful," Estella asked while running her hand over the smooth wood.

"This used to belong to my mother. My father gave it to me after she died and I want you to have it."

Estella was shocked. Legolas was giving her his mother's bow? A part of her did not want to accept it, but she knew it would be rude if she refused. "I am honored, and I hope I will make you proud."

"I know you will. So, when did you wish to start training?"

A grin formed on her face. "What about right now?"

"Very well my lady, then shall we?" Legolas asked holding out his hand for her.

Estella laughed and took his hand, and the two went down to the training yards to practice before the other warriors arrived for training. When the two arrived, Haerelion just finished setting up targets, and Legolas led her to the closest. "Okay, so now the fun begins," Legolas smirked, helping Estella to get into the right position.

When he finished helping her into the correct position to shoot, he let her arm go slightly but was still close enough to grab her if he needed to. "All right, now breathe in and focus on the center, and when you are confident you can hit it, let the string go."

Closing her eyes for a second, Estella took a deep breath and focused all her attention on the bullseye, and a second later she let the arrow fly. With a THUD, it hit the area right outside the center. Legolas was impressed. "Not bad for a first try. Try again just like I showed you."

Estella again straightened up, pulled back the string after notching another arrow, took a deep breath and let the arrow go, this time hitting the center. For at least a good hour they practiced, with several of her arrows hitting the center and many others missing. Even so, as Legolas watched her, he could see a change come over her. She seemed much more peaceful and happy. Perhaps he had been wrong after all in thinking she was not yet ready to learn.

For several weeks the two trained, each time Estella getting better and better. During this time, Legolas also taught her how to forage and hunt, which she caught on very quickly at. It was during this period he started teaching her how to handle twin blades. Estella was not as comfortable with them as she was with the bow but she was determined to learn all she could. During one of her training sessions with the twin blades, she became very frustrated and stamped her foot in anger. "Oh, I am never going to be as good as you! You are perfect at everything!"

Legolas snorted. "I wish you would tell that to my father…trust me, Estella, I am far from perfect. I have had to learn how to fit in just like you. It is not all fun and games being the son of Thranduil. Being prince, I have to learn how to be diplomatic and to run the kingdom while my father is away and trust me when I say pleasing my father is not as easy as it sounds. On top of that, I have had to fight just to show people they do not have to treat me differently just because I am a prince. My life has not been easy."

Estella felt ashamed at her small outburst. "I am sorry. I did not know." Why she thought Legolas had it easy, she did not know, but she wanted to slap herself for thinking that way.

"No need to apologize, I know I make it look like I have it easy but that came from hundreds of years of practice. Something which you could learn as well. I can teach you if you want."

Estella smiled. "I would love that Legolas, thank you."

Legolas smiled back and picked up the blades. "I think we have had enough practice for one day. How about we go for a horseback ride? I know the perfect place to go when I need to relax and unwind."

"I think that is an excellent idea." Estella hurried and changed into her riding clothes. Life was indeed beginning to look better for her and Legolas knew she was now well on her way to being healed.

*I have had a few people tell me that Estella hitting the center of a target on her first try and being a natural at foraging was either Mary Sue or not plausible. However, I wrote this from personal experiences that those things do happen. With several members of my family and me. There is a thing known as beginner's luck and finding you are a very fast learner.