ʙᴀᴄᴋ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪɢʜᴛ [ᴀ ᴛʜʀᴀɴᴅᴜɪʟ x ᴏᴄ]

Chapter 19 - Training

"Legolas! Where are you?" I called wandering through the treeline trying to find my young son. He was often off in the trees but he knew not to wander too far because of the spiders.

"Nanith!" He cried swinging down from a branch in an attempt to scare me.
"Nice try Legolas but you know it takes far more than that to scare me," I laughed as he pouted with his arms crossed upside down.

"You need to go for your lessons Legolas,"
There was a groan of disapproval.
"And afterwards you can come watch me and the others train if you actually behave," I smirked. Legolas' bright blue eyes managed to glow even brighter.

"Really Nanith?" The elfling questioned excitedly.

"Yes Legolas, but you must go to your lessons first. As much as you may dislike some of them they are important," I said taking his hand and also wondering when I had become so responsible. I believe Thranduil's ways were beginning to rub off on me.

I left Legolas to his lessons and went to the gate to meet Laeanna for our usual expedition every week. We would go out and scout the surrounding lands checking and noting any areas with spiders. The joy of having your best friend as the Captain of the guard meant we had the freedom of choosing when we went.

"Care to tell me why you're late?" Laeanna teased putting her hands on her hips. "I am the Captain of the guard you know. I could have your positioned free very quickly," she added with a grin.

"You could but may I remind you of who I am married to." I challenged. "And as I recall marrying a King makes me the Queen."

"Yes alright so maybe you might marginally outrank me," Laeanna conceded sliding her sais into their sheaths.

"Oh yes just marginally," I laughed as we set off. Into the thick darkness of Mirkwood we went. Darting through the treeline racing each other to different points on our route. For once everything was calm though there was a thick disorienting haze beginning to grow around the place but it had little effect on elven folk for the most part, thankfully.

"Did you find Legolas this morning," Laeanna questioned slowly down to a walk as we reached the halfway point.
"Yes, I did," I laughed recalling the morning's events. "He was in his usual place. Away from where he should be."

"Sounds like he takes after his mother," Laeanna commented scanning the area.

"Yes, but I see his father in him also," I added and Laeanna rolled her eyes slightly."I know you do not see eye to eye with my husband but-"

"Ara you don't need to defend him. He's your husband and as long as he makes you happy I'm happy though his desire to stay completely out of any other lives outside of our kingdom still frustrates me." Laeanna explained though she needn't do so. I didn't know where to stand on the matter that had been a source of great tension between my best friend and my love.

I saw both sides of the argument and I would not be taking a side on it. I couldn't betray either one of them and I had insisted they respect my wishes. From there, their relationship is mostly built on tolerance for my sake.

"Come on we best be getting back soon," Laeanna promoted and so we began our return journey looping around and scanning the area as we did.

"I can't remember the last time we had a clear run," Laeanna said jumping over a fallen tree.

Just as she said it I caught something out of the corner of my eye.
"You just had to say it didn't you L?" I commented coming to a stop and drawing my sword.

"What do you mean?" Her eyebrows furrowed as she looked at me.

"Didn't you see it?" I whipped my head around in the direction and was surprised when there were no spiders in sight. This whole thing had been strange. Sure we normally came across a few dead spiders but usually countless live ones but this time anyone we had seen had been killed.

"You're probably just tired, Ara. I don't think you realise how much you work yourself between Legolas, being Queen and a member of the guard." She readings putting a hand on my arm.

I looked around one more unhappy when I didn't find anything. Just the usual sick trees and dim light.

"I dont trust it,"

"No one trusts this forest Ara, not since it became Mirkwood," Laeanna pointed out.

I let out a large sigh.
"Fine. I guess you're probably right."

"I always am," she laughed setting off again.

"No, you're really not!' I called back laughing and chasing after her.

As it usually did the journey back began a race. Diving under gnarled branches and vaulting over the strange rocky formation often in our path. We reached the bridge before the gate and Laeanna cheered in triumph but she didn't see me coming up from the side launching myself over her from higher up and blocking her path ultimately taking the victory.

"Naneth! Laeanna!" We heard a small voice cry. Once I finally found the direction of the voice Legolas was already jumping at me.

"Hey, Legolas," I laughed wrapping my arms around him and putting him on my hip. "How were your lessons with Ada today?"

"Boring," The small boy cried. He was smart and skilled but the intricacies of politics and ruling were yet to pique his interest.

"Well, we should do something fun then shouldn't we Laeanna?" I turned to my best friend.

"Oh definitely," Laeanna grinned. "Tell me Legolas how much work have you done with a bow?"

Immediately the young elf's eyes lit up.

Another race ensued on our way to the training ground. Creating a small amount of chaos but nothing the people weren't used to at this point.

A little while later I was sat back on pale stone wall basking in the sun as Laeanna helped Legolas with his archery. The small bow still looked large in his small hands but the concentration plastered on his face was priceless. I'm certain I had been simply watching for well over an hour but I was still content to do so.

I hand suddenly came to rest on my shoulder causing a smile to break out over my face.
"Hello Melamin," I smiled arching my head back to look up at my husband who stood on the rise behind me. "You know you never have managed to scare me no matter how many times you try."

"And yet I still do," he replied circling around the wall to come stand by me. His robes we long and a reddish-brown colour to match the season and my clothes as well. He placed my own crown of circled branches on my head.

"You know as Queen you should always wear this as a symbol of your status in these lands as should Legolas," he reminded leaning in close to adjust the crown.

"Well I shall try to remind him more often," I smiled closing the gap between us to kiss him softly.

"I see you have Laeanna training him again," his expression unreadable.

"You cannot deny that Laeanna is the best archer around. Who better is there to teach our son?"

As if on cue the next arrow Legolas let fly whipped through the air and sunk dead centre into the target. He and Laeanna began to celebrate before he ran over to us.

"It seems we have an excellent archer on our hands, my dear." He smiled.

"Indeed we do, my love."