ʙᴀᴄᴋ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪɢʜᴛ [ᴀ ᴛʜʀᴀɴᴅᴜɪʟ x ᴏᴄ]

Chapter 4- Training

We walked to the training grounds outside. There were various areas. There were some targets for archery and dummies for practising blade work and others for sparing.
"So what are we going to do first?" I asked curiously.
"Hmm, maybe a bit of target practice first. I want to see how good you are with a bow, " she smirked.
"Well, I am definitely not as good as I am with blades, " I laughed. We went over to the target and I collected a bow and some arrows before joining Laeanna. She pulled back her bow sharply before letting go and the arrow landed dead centre.
"I hope you don't expect me to do that, " I said.
"Just try Araniel, " Laeanna laughed.
I stood in front of the target and drew back the bow the arrow already in place. I took a deep breath in and lined up my shot before letting go. The arrow hit the centre which I was quite surprised about.
"See you can do it, " Laeanna said. After that, we went over to spar which we continued for a while as we were well matched in skill. We soon stopped exhausted from the training. "You know you should really join the guard. You are very skilled and I could do with another woman to talk to, " Laeanna said as we walked to a nearby wall and sat down.
"I don't think that anyone else apart from you would like that, " she frowned.
I sighed
"But I shall consider it and maybe ask your King if I am allowed, " she broke out into a wide smile
"Good,"
" I have to ask. Why me? Surely there are people you enjoy the company of other than me. I am a half-dark elf, "
I questioned
"I am not exactly your typical elf. The others think I am odd for wanting to be a part of the guard instead of doing something more feminine. But I decided a while ago to not care what they think, " I smiled
"You know I think we are going to get along just fine, " I said.
"I agree, ".
Then a guard walked up to us
"King Thranduil requests that you join him for lunch, " with that he left. I turned to Laeanna confused only to see her smirking at me.
"What!"
"Nothing. Nothing, " she replied still smirking.
"Well I shall see you later, " I said and walked in the direction of the dining hall.
"Have fun on your date!" Laeanna called after me.
"It's not a date!" I yelled back shaking my head.
I made my way to the dining hall and saw Thranduil perched in a large chair at a weird angle.
"Do you actually know how to sit in a chair properly?" I asked
He scoffed
"Of course I do, "
"Then why don't you?" I asked
"Because where's the fun in that, " he replied
I quirked an eyebrow and smiled.
"Fair point. Now, where do I sit?" Thranduil gestured to the seat beside him. People came and placed down food in front of us before excusing themselves and leaving us alone in the room.
"Is there any reason you invited me to eat with you, " I turned to face him curiously.
"I was bored and in need of company and you are far more interesting than my usual guests, " he stated before he started eating and I followed suit. We ate in silence before it was broken. "Why did you come here?" He asked
"Because you asked me to, " I joked.
"You know what I mean Araniel. Why did you come to Mirkwood?" he said seriously.
I frowned
"Do you promise you won't turn me away?"
"I promise, " he looked sincere.
"I was alone for so long and then this dark elf found me and promised me a home and people like me. She taught how to be a true dark elf. But I never really took to it fully as much as I wanted to fit in I knew I would never truly belong there. They wanted me to hurt people. Kill people but I refused every time. You must believe me. Then some stuff happened with the leader and I got blamed during the whole mess. They tracked me down when I ran but I know they will not dare hunt me here. They live in the shadows and they want it to stay that way, " I concluded
Thranduil looked focused for a moment pondering my words.
"I do believe you and I hope you are correct and they shall stay outside our borders. Thank you for telling me, "
"Well you have shown that you trust me even if it is just a little bit so I thought I would return the favour, " I smiled and he smiled back.
"Well, Thankyou for the meal. But I should be going. I don't want to keep you from your Kingly duties, " I laughed.
"You are hardly keeping me from anything. That's part of why I invited you here. Things have been slow around here recently, " he said.
"So am I just the latest interesting thing?" I asked slightly offended.
"No. Not at all. You are a delight to have around and you shall not be tossed aside, " he replied
"Why do you think I am worried about that?"
"From what you have just told me it is one of the only things you worry about, " he started.
I sighed. He already knew more about me than even I really knew.
"I like it here and I have a friend. Which is the first time that has ever happened. I don't want to lose it, "
"And you won't you can stay here as long as you want and who is this friend you refer to, "
"Laeanna she is a member of the guard, " he looked a bit hurt when I said that.
"Well it's nice to see that she has finally got someone, " He smiled although it didn't quite reach his beautiful eyes. Araniel what are you saying!
"Is that a problem?"
"No of course not. Why don't you go now and see her I am sure she will enjoy the company, " he said not looking at me.
"Come on spit it out, " I said
"Sorry, "
"Something is bothering you and I intend to find out what it is, "
"Nothing is troubling me"
"No there is certainly something, "
"I can assure you there is not, " he replied still not looking me in the eye.
"There is now just tell me or we can keep going on like this until you tell me, "
He sighed and paused for a moment. "Are we not... friends?"