The Prince's Visions

Chapter Twelve

"Ugh!" she grunts as she swings the heavy sword in her hand at Haldir who easily dodges her attack. Her red hair flickers around her shoulders like fire as she moves gracefully. Her hair is a striking contrast to the greenery around her and to the golden colored hair of her sparring partner.

"Do not give up, Eilonwy! Channel your frustration into your movements," Haldir instructs her, seeing that she is tiring quickly.

She blocks his next attack, pushing his sword away from her with all of the force she can muster. "That's easier said than done!" she says breathlessly as he swings at her yet again.

He chuckles at her sarcasm, continuing to push her.

From where I am standing, leaning against a tree unnoticed, I take the time to study her closely in the way I have only ever been able to do in my dreams. I notice the way her slightly freckled cheeks flush from exhaustion and the heat of the sun and how strands of her hair stick to her neck. She looks much the same way as she did yesterday when I first laid eyes upon her in reality, but I cannot help but think that somehow she has become even more beautiful since last night, a feat I did not know was possible. She wears an emerald green tunic that matches her eyes with a brown belt tied around her waist, showing off her womanly curves. My gaze travels lower, down to her slim legs covered in brown, tight leggings. I watch the movements of her body, becoming almost entranced by her beauty. She is the only elleth to have ever enraptured me so, and these new feelings are proving to be very difficult to contain. I feel guilty when looking at her this way. I do not mean to have ungentlemanly intentions towards her, but it is impossible to look at her and not desire her.

She is doing well with her lessons, is she not?

I turn in surprise to see Lady Galadriel walking toward me slowly. She doesn't look at me, keeping her gaze trained on Eilonwy and Haldir, but a smirk rests naturally on her lips. Her teasing makes me uncomfortable, knowing that she is very aware that I was paying very little attention to Eilonwy's fighting skills of all things. She, of course, heard every single thing I was thinking just moments before. I fight the urge to roll my eyes.

Aye.

Lady Galadriel glances at me for a moment. Are you not going to make your presence known? Admiring her from the shadows will never win you the girl.

She made it very clear last night that she does not want me to see her practicing.

I clench my jaw as I think of last night. Everything had been going smoothly, and Eilonwy was opening up to me in a way I always hoped she would. But Eloen had to show up and ruin it. How many times do I have to reject her before she finally understands that I do not like her? At all.

Then why are you here, my child? Her voice breaks me from my thoughts and dissipates my agitation.

I stare at Eilonwy for a long while before thinking of an answer. I am here simply because I wanted to see her. It will obviously take a long while for she and I to get to know one another properly, so a courtship is in the distant future for us, I think. So, if I cannot have her as my own yet, as I wish I could, then I will settle for merely being in her presence as much as I possibly can.

Galadriel nods in approval. Your love for her is very inspiring, Legolas.

We are both quiet for long moments, watching Haldir and Eilonwy spar.

"Enough," Eilonwy says tiredly, her chest moving up and down rapidly as she tries to catch her breath, "I cannot go on."

Haldir nods in acceptance and watches as she sinks onto the ground and lies on her back looking up at the sky. I am surprised when Haldir casually sits down beside her, his gaze resting easily on the beautiful features of her face. They begin to chatter quietly, but I cannot hear what is being said. Haldir says something to her and she bursts into laughter, her laugh causing a grin to form on his lips. His eyes shine with happiness, something that is rarely seen in the marchwarden's gaze. His eyes usually cut into you like knives, but this is not so with Eilonwy. No, he looks at her as if he is staring at his whole world.