Authors Notes: This chapter is one of my favorites that I have written, and I hope you will like it too. Just love the interactions between the characters here. =-)

Once everyone had left the counsel hall; excluding Estella, Aragorn, Legolas and Boromir. Elrond stood in the center as the others circled around, with Estella on the right side, followed by Aragorn, Boromir and then Legolas.

Looking around him, Lord Elrond began, "The Reason I have summoned you here, is on the matter of Estella's training. For she needs to learn how to defend herself in the time of …."

"My Lord, if I may," Estella interjected, and everyone turned to her. "I might not be a professional like these men here, but I do know my way around a bow and sword."

"You know how to use such weapons?" Boromir asked in shock, and she nodded. Still leery of him after his behavior towards her at the counsel, she kept her distance, and he noticed this. She was sure of it.

"Ever since I was 11, during my free time, my friend would teach me how to use them and to handle them with care," she went on. "I might consider myself pretty good, but I doubt I can consider myself an expert."

"My Lord," Aragorn spoke up and everyone turned their attention to him this time, as he continued, "We should let her show us what she has learned and then from there we took our next course of action."

"You make a valid point, Estel,"Lord Elrond agreed as he turned to the others. "You will do this, and no one will make her do more than what she cannot handle. Is that understood?"

Everyone nodded in understanding and Lord Elrond then excused himself as he left the counsel Hall. Estella saw the three men turn to her with shocked expressions. Aragorn was the first to speak up,

"You have not mentioned to me about this."

Estella laughed as she pointed out, "Yet you never once asked me about it when my bow was wrapped around my torso when we first met."

"Point taken," he said with a small laugh. Estella then raised an eyebrow as she then wondered where exactly was her bow and arrows, so she turned to him.

"Now that it has been brought to my attention. Where are my bow and arrows?" she wondered, and Aragorn shook his head.

"When we found you, only your bow was with you," he mentioned. "Your bow, however, was badly damaged that it wasn't able to be fixed."

"Oh well," she stated with a shrug. "Even though it pains me with it's destruction, there's no point in staying upset over it."Legolas and Aragorn smiled at her statement, and she then turned to them. "What are the plans of the training?"

"I can start on teaching you some archery," Legolas suggested and she nodded. "Will six in the morning suffice?"

"Six sounds good to me," she agreed with a smile. "I'm used to waking up that early anyways."

"After your archer, Boromir and I will work with you on the swordsmanship," Aragorn mentioned, and she turns to him with a nod. "Until then, enjoy the rest of your evening."

"Thank you," was all she could manage to say with a bow and hurried out of the counsel Hall. Wanting to get far away from Boromir as she could and apparently luck wasn't on her side for, she heard him call out to her. 'Oh, this is just great,' she thought sourly. 'I'm really not in the mood to mess with him right now.'

"Lady Estella, please give me a moment," he called out to her, and she stopped as she turned to look at him. When he came to a stop in front of her, he gave a bow before he continued, "I want to apologize for how I acted earlier during the counsel. I was so upset at that moment, and I took it out on you when I shouldn't have. Please forgive me."

Estella was quiet for a moment as she thought this through and then gave him a small smile of reassurance before answering, "I forgive you. As much as I would love to stay and chat, I got some Hobbits that I need to find before they cause any more trouble."

"Of course," Boromir laughed. "I've heard that they have gotten into quite some trouble since they've been here, and they need someone to keep them in line."

"Indeed," Estella agreed with a laugh of her own. "Though, I haven't been all that good as of yet on keeping them in line and maybe one day I will manage to do so."

"I'm sure you will," Boromir reassured with a smile. "I'll see you at dinner?"

"Of course," she said with a bow. "Until then."

"Until then," he replies and watches as she turns around, then makes her way towards the sound of laughter. That appeared to be the young Hobbits causing trouble. Never in his life has he met someone as beautiful as her and he's come to realize that he's falling hard for her.

The only thing standing in his way was the Elf Prince, and that is now a problem as they are now a Fellowship. They both would be around her and fighting for her affection. He would have to think of something quick, if he is to have a chance with her and he lets out a heavy sigh.

For now, he'll have to be careful. For Aragorn has been keeping a protective eye on her and he doesn't want to get in his wrath.

Watching her for a little bit longer before heading off towards his chamber and oblivious that he was being watched by Aragorn with leery eyes. Legolas then walks up beside him as he watched Boromir heading towards his room before saying,

"You are leery of him as well?"

"I just don't know of his intentions," Aragorn replied as he looked up at him. "Keep an extra eye on him. If you see anything that is a cause of concern, find me."

"Of course," Legolas says with a nod. "Does he know yet of your intensions with her? That you are her guardian?"

"If not, I will let him know when the time calls for it," Aragorn stated firmly and Legolas understood as he states,

"Until then, I will help be your eyes."

"It is time to get up, Mellon nin," Arwen's voice rang out the next morning, causing Estella to groan and cover her head with a pillow. The caused Arwen to laugh as she walked over to the bed and shook her friends form that laid under the blanket.

"It's waaaay too early in the morning," Estella mumbled groggily and buried herself deeper under the pillow.

"Who was it that said she was used to getting up early?" Arwen quipped and Estella peeked out from under the pillow with a jesting glare. Noticing the smirk in Arwen's face, she grumbled out,

"You think this is hilarious, do you?"

"Yes, quite so," Arwen replies with a chuckle as she pulls off the blanket and states, "I'm sorry to have to wake you so early, but Legolas wishes it. Even asked me personally to get you up and I was more than happy to do so."

"He did, did he? Remind me to return the favor," Estella grumbled teasingly, and Arwen had to laugh. Ever since her arrival, Arwen felt a strong bond with the young woman who had suddenly became an important member of the family. Her father had started to treat her as one of his own children and she didn't mind it at all.

She had always wanted a little sister, and Estella had fitted that role perfectly with the pillow off her head, Estella sat up with a stretch and a yawn. Giving her a warm smile, Arwen then heads towards the bathing room as she suggests,

"I'll draw your bath for you and then I have a training outfit for you to wear."

Just as she got to the bathing room, Estella calls out to her and she turns around towards her as she explains, "I would like to wait and take a bath after training, if you don't mind."

"Of course," Arwen says with a nod. Understanding her reasoning and then heads over towards the bench near the doorway. Where a pile of clothing laid and lifts them up into her arms, as she continues, "These are my old training attire and I'm sure they will fit her perfectly."

Estella slid out of bed and walks over towards her, examining them. They were a green tunic with brown leggings and brown boots. (a/n the style looks like the one Arwen wore when she saves Frodo, just a different color)

Thanking Arwen, she heads towards the adjourning room and began getting dressed. When she finally came back out and saw that Arwen was standing beside the desk, motioning for her to sit down. Which she graciously took her seat in front of her and grew a little nervous. It was a different change for someone else to do her hair, but she found herself enjoying it and watched as Arwen went straight to work.

When she was done, Estella saw that her hair was in a half ponytail braid (a/n like Tauriel's hair style), and she turned to thank Arwen who only smiled as she hurried towards the door. Estella following right behind her as they made their way down the corridors, and she saw Pippin run pass with a quick wave. Letting out a silent chuckle and a small shake of her head, she continued to follow Arwen to the archery range.

Making their way down some stairwells, Estella noticed that she never saw this area before and found it to be quite beautiful. Looking around her, she saw that many trees that seemed foreign to her lining the right side of the stairs and flowers along the left side. Down below, a good size open field sat with a bunch of targets lined up and Legolas practicing his aim. Hitting the bullseye each time.

Hitting the last step, Arwen turns to her and taking her hands in hers, she inquires, "See you at lunch." Then releasing her hands, she began to ascend back up the stairs and Estella turned her attention towards Legolas. Who was still practicing his aim, unaware of her presence. Or so she thought.

After watching him for a few moments, he quipped out, "Are you enjoying watching me practice archery?"

Jumping slightly at being caught, Estella cleared her throat and adverted her gaze to the side. Inwardly scowling about Elves having good hearing, she didn't realize that Legolas was now standing in front of her and giving her a small smirk as he tried to get her attention,

"Estella. Can you please look at me."

Turning her head further away from his, she smirked slightly to herself as he tried to get her attention and failing. Wanting nothing more than to pay him back for embarrassing her and thought she was making progress.

However, she did not expect him to poke her in the side and cause her to yelp out, while jumping sideways. Causing him to laugh at this, which resulted in her glaring at him in a jesting manner and he crossed his arms over his chest.

"What's the big idea?" she asks with a huff.

"Had to get your attention some way," he replies with smile, and she rolls her eyes. He found her quite amusing, the way she jests back and never once gets angry with anyone. It's the one thing he found that drew him to her and then her beauty. Especially with the attire she was now wearing and how it made her look more like an elf. Clearing his thoughts, he states, "Now that I finally have your attention, may we begin?"

"We shall," Estella says with a slight nod, and he lowered his arms as he made his way over towards a stand. Where bows of different styles and colors were displayed.

Grabbing one of his choosing, he turns around to her and makes his way over. Holding out the bow to her, she graciously took it and began to admire its unique design. He watched her as she looked it over, then measured its balance and weight. Never had he seen anything like this and especially from a mortal girl much less.

"You seem to understand and care for the bow like it was a part of you," he stated in shock.

"Before my father's passing, he had taught me the values of every weapon and how to check their balance," she explained, her voice full of grief and gave him a quick glance before continuing, "He even gave me this word of advice. If you take care of your weapon, they will take care of you. For if you mistreat your weapon, they will find a way to fight back."

"Your father is indeed wise," Legolas says in a proud voice and received a smile from her as she replied,

"My father grew up around weapons." Smiling sweetly at the memories of when her father would place her on his lap and show her about the weapons. Her mother, looking at them displeasingly at this and arms crossed. "I guess I took that trait from him. I'm sure my mother would have a heart attack if she saw me now."

"Heart…attack?" Legolas says in confusion, and she laughs.

"It's a figure of speech," she reassured him. "It's where you scare someone out of their mind with crazy stunts you do…. hmmm, that is hard to explain without confusing you more."

"No need to explain more. I think I got the meaning," Legolas laughs, earning a smile from her. That's when he saw the necklace hanging from under her tunic. "You might want to take that off while you train, for I don't want it to get snagged."

"Umm…I can't take it off," she said matter-of-factly as she grasped onto the necklace, and he only nodded. Before she began, she tucked the necklace inside the tunic and then notched the arrow into place when she heard a male voice from behind her,

"You're wasting your time teaching a mortal girl how to use a bow."

This caused her to look over her shoulder, to see another male elf taking his seat on a bench on the outer rim of the archery range and a jug in his hand. She then realized that it was one of the elves that Legolas was holding back at the counsel meeting and his eyes were unkind as he stared at her.

"You are not allowed here when someone is training, Gladir," Legolas sneered over at his companion, for he wasn't liking his attitude towards Estella, yet received a laugh from the elf.

"What could she possibly do? She's just a weak mortal girl with no talent," Gladir snarked and Estella fumed.

"What was that, Gladir?" She sneered his name as she quickly notched the arrow into place, twirling around and shot the arrow towards him. Making direct contact with the mug in his hands, causing it to shatter and spilling its contents all over his lap. Legolas had to stifle his laugh, as he had never seen anyone stand up to an elf before and live.

Including shooting an arrow towards one in such a manner as Estela did and found himself intrigued with her. The stern and determined look that he saw on her face proved that she wasn't going to let anyone walk over her. Gladir might think she was a weak mortal girl, but he knew better and knew how strong she was. All the lashings she had ever received were proof of that and he would not let Gladir do any harm to her.

Noticing that Gladir had jumped to his feet and was storming over towards Estella with eyes filled with menace. Legolas stood in front of her, bow raised, and arrow notched as he pointed it at his companion, he says in a firm tone,

"You shall not touch her." Behind him, Estella looked up at him in shock as she noticed that his face was full of anger, and it made her nervous. What he said next made her even more concern, "I won't hesitate to shoot if you dare lay a hand on her."

"You would shoot one of your own people to protect some mortal girl?" Gladir asks in disbelief.

"I'll shoot anyone who dares to do her harm," Legolas states firmly, his eyes ablaze with anger towards his companion and Gladir just sneered at him. "No matter…who it may be."

"Your father shall hear of this," he threatened, and Legolas's eyes grew wider, as his anger grew at the threat, which got Estella to worry. Not wanting to be the cause of this fight amongst kin and she was about to walk around when a hand laid on her shoulder. Looking up, she saw Aragorn shaking his head and she raised an eyebrow in confusion.

Leaning over, he whispered in her ear, "He chose to protect you, and this is his fight, Mellon nin. Don't interfere."

With a small sigh, she nodded as she turned her attention back to what was at hand and saw that Gladir turned to leave. Legolas lowered his bow slightly as he watched his retreating form before turning his attention back to her with a small smile, which she returned.

A hearty laugh was then heard from the sidelines and everyone turned to see Gimli sitting there on one of the benches, laughing his butt off. He had heard the commotion from his favorite spot in the courtyard and came to check it out.

That's when he managed to see the incident with the elf and mug, that he had to hold back his laughter after the tension had wained. Now, here he was, laughing so hard that he fell over backwards off the bench and caused Estella to cover her gaping mouth as she tried not to laugh.

"Gimli! Are you ok?"she asks as she rushes over to his side. Aragorn and Legolas were now laughing at the helpless Dwarf as they watched him being helped up by Estella, who ended up laughing now when he began chanting,

"I'm ok! That was deliberate! I had meant to do that!"

This had earned another laugh from Aragorn and Legolas as they went to aid Estella in helping Gimli to his feet. Once he stood on his own two feet, he looks up at her with a huge smile and she smiled back down at him, as he says with a chuckle,

"You are an okay lass. Anyone who stands up to that Elf has gained favoritism in my eyes."

"I thank you, Gimli," she says with a small giggle.

"That was quite a shot," Aragorn praised in shock, and she blushed.

Legolas cleared his throat, and everyone turned their attention to him as he mentions towards Estella, "We yet have started your archery training before we were so rudely interrupted."

"Of course, I'm sorry," she apologized with a bow.

"There is no need for apologies," he informs her with a smile. "Shall we begin again with the training?"

"Yes, please," she agrees with a nod.

Once Aragorn had led Gimli out of the arena, Legolas motioned for her to continue, and she raised the bow as she notched the arrow into place. Aiming at the target, she let go, hitting the bull-eye dead on and Legolas looked towards the target stunned.

"I must say, you weren't jesting when you told us that you knew how to use a bow," he replied as he turned to look at her and she chuckled. "Your stance was even perfect. Your friend has taught you well."

"Thank you. He was taught by my father," she pointed out as Legolas then went about moving things around and she watched in confusion. When he was done, she saw that he had put the targets all around her and she turned to him, eyebrows raised.

"I want to see how many of the targets you can hit as fast as you can manage," he suggested as he walks up and hands her an arrow quiver and she wraps it around her and took a deep breath. Drawing out an arrow, she notches it in place and gets into position as she aims at one of the targets. Waiting for Legolas to give her the signal, she prepared herself and after a few moments, he says, "Begin."

In 10 seconds flat, she had hit every bulls-eye dead on and Legolas couldn't believe his eyes as he looked over at her in utter shock. If he didn't know her to be mortal, he would have mistaken her for a She-elf. In fact, she would make a wonderful Elf, and he sighed inwardly. Yet, she wasn't, and he had to well understand that.

For the next few hours, Legolas tried different activities to see how much she could do and each time, she shocked him yet again. As they did a different activity, her speed got faster, and her accuracy improved.

When he saw her breathing heavily, he suggested that she take a break, and she plopped down onto a nearby bench. Contemplating on what had just expired and was confused. She knew that she was pretty good, but didn't realize that she was this good and it shocked her. Did she not challenge herself enough back in her old world? Or was it something to do with the prophecy?

After a moment of silence, Legolas walks up to her and standing just slightly off to her right, he says with utter amusement, "You sure have intrigued me, My Lady." This caused her to look over at him as he continued, "You have handled yourself quite well and never have I seen someone pick up on archery so fast."

"I even surprised myself," she confessed in between breaths. "I was never this good back at home. I don't even know what happened."

"It's got me wondering. If you were born into this world, that you would probably been born as one of my people," he stated with a small smile, which she returned and asks,

"You really think so?"

"Every activity I had you do, you grew more confident, and your speed had greatly increased as well," he pointed out. "I am curious on how your swordsmanship will fair."

"That's got me curious as well," she replies as she rose to her feet. "How about I help you put the archery back in order before Aragorn and Boromir show up."

"I welcome the help, Le Hannon," he thanks her, and she gives him a small smile as they went to put the arena back to its proper layout.