Lady of Rivendell

Chapter 2

"I can swim faster than you." Legolas teased, grinning.

"Nuh-uh! Stop- stop, Leggy, I don't wanna swim right now!" Aelin cried as her friend pulled her towards the water. He gave her a disappointed look.

"But I wanted to play with you."

The little prince started to sulk out of the garden, when Aelin burst out, "Let's get Findel and make him give us pony rides!" This proposition was met with a giggle. The two little elves chased each other inside, noisily looking for their playmate. It did not take long to find him, as he was searching for them as well.

Elrond and Thranduil watched with amusement as the two argued over who got the first ride, finally climbing on together and riding on the laughing and crawling Glorfindel, one's raven and the other's blond hair tangling together in their excitement.

"They've become rather close in the year you've been here. Must you leave so soon?" Thranduil questioned.

Elrond raised an eyebrow. "I'm not leaving for another six months, Thranduil."

"But that is such a short time for them to remain together. You were right; they're the only elves of their age still in Middle Earth. Must you separate them?"

"Glorfindel has mentioned wanting to travel a bit, see the realms he has yet to visit. He could perhaps be persuaded to stay here another couple decades- with Aelin."

"How did you persuade him to become your daughter's guard?"

Elrond glanced at Glorfindel and his daughter, the latter of which was now climbing Thranduil's antler throne with a boost from her young companion. "I did not. He became very fond of Aelin in the last few years, and has slowly taken on the role of his own free will. She reminds him, apparently, of his sister, killed in Gondolin, and he has adopted her as a surrogate daughter. I think he wants to enjoy the time he has with her before Galadriel sends for her-"

Aelin fell on top of Legolas, him having been distracted from supporting her climb by a rabbit hopping through the palace. Both bounced up, apparently unhurt, though the three adults raced to their side anyways. The rabbit was in Legolas's arms.

"Ada!" his little voice called. He squeezed the bunny in a way that couldn't possibly have been good for it, but it didn't struggle, simply curled up in his arms. "Ada, can I keep him?" Aelin petted it, similarly entranced by the animal, while Glorfindel simply seemed amused by the whole scenario.

"Oh- all right- You've got to keep him in a box or something though-" Thranduil stammered, clearly caught off guard. Elrond turned to his friend in surprise.

Glorfindel smiled, and took the rabbit from Legolas. "I'll help you build it, mellon. Come, both of you."

Elrond turned to Thranduil with a grudging smile on his face. "Better you than me."

***

"Legolas, you've spent the last week exploring. You have to teach me how to shoot a bow now. Please? You promised."

Legolas glanced at the young girl by his side, half running to keep up with his long strides. "Aelin, I thought you wanted me to show you the lake I found.'

"I do- I do, but I want you to teach me this first. Please, Leggy, it's my birthday."

He raised an eyebrow. "Yeah. In a week."

She gave him a pleading look. "I'll lend you my history notes and I won't tell your father I did- if you show me." That was, indeed, a tempting offer. Thranduil quizzed the two of them relentlessly, claiming to be preparing them for their roles as royalty. They both suspected he was instead trying to keep them inside.

"Fine." Legolas looked annoyed that he had been cheated out of exploring, but the expression soon disappeared when she threw her arms around him in a hug. "Oh, come on. Let's go and get this over with."

In the garden, Legolas had long ago set up crude targets. Glorfindel was technically supposed to supervise his use of them, but had long ago forgotten this objective in favor of egging Legolas on- "Hit that tree! Can you hit that apple? Try and shoot my knife out of the air."

"Take an arrow." He handed her one of his, then watched her string the bow and ready the arrow. He stood behind her and carefully corrected her position. "Now," he ordered, already very much a leader. Aelin shot, landing in the ring around the bull's eye.

"I missed."

"That's alright." Legolas had already forgotten his initial hesitation in his eagerness to show off his skill. "Watch." In one swift move, he readied his bow, aimed, and fired, hitting the exact center. "Try again."

For the rest of the afternoon, they stood there, shooting at the targets until nightfall. By then, Aelin had practically mastered her bow. They sat leaning against a tree, tired, once the sun had gone down.

"Thank you for teaching me, mellon. Tomorrow, will you show me the lake?" Aelin rested her head against Legolas's shoulder, yawning.

Legolas smiled and wrapped his arm around her. "Of course."

Glorfindel watched from the doorway, where unnoticed by the two young elves, he had been since noon. After a time, he slipped over and scooped up the two sleeping children. They woke up in the morning in their own beds, unsure how they'd gotten there, but eager to begin their quest to the lake.