All that is left is collecting a prince...

[ithil]

Something told her the smile on her lady's face and the light that flickered in her lord's that her request to travel to the Woodland Realm and collect the young prince intrigued them. Their instant acceptance of the idea along with their supplying a few traveling companions proved to her that perhaps they simply wanted to cause a little trouble for the King of that realm. All knew how protective he was of Legolas, to think he might actually allow him to travel a little had both of the master of the Golden Wood amused.

It also did not surprise her when Rumil insisted on coming even if he had never ventured out of Lorien, not really. Haldir finally gave his consent and she knew even he looked as though he wanted to join them. If not for his work as March Warden, he would have likely gone along if only to see if Ithil could truly pry King Thranduil's clutches off of the prince. She did not support the jokes, neither did Haldir, but all knew that he thought it as much as the other Galadhrim said it. Instead, he waved them away and told them he would enjoy the quiet in their absence.

The entire trip had been Rumil nudging her with questions about the prince and what he was like. And how could he possibly be more fun and entertaining than himself and his brothers. Well, more so Orophin than Haldir. Poor Haldir would forever remain the target of their amusement till he finally either smiled or attempted to throttle the three of them. So when he continued to ask questions even as they engaged in fighting a nest of spiders just within the borders of Mirkwood, she wasn't surprised.

"Now really is not the time, Rumil." Her voice was cool and calm as her fingers released another arrow into the hard exoskeleton that made a sickening crunch on impact. The blonde simply laughed as he dispatched his own with a sword as he landed on top of the grotesquely jointed form. She caught sight of the sticky blood as it stained the elven blade and Rumil's boots as he drove it through the thorax and carapace, severing it from the abdomen.

"You and I both know that you can kill orcs blindfolded and still have a conversation. You like him." The laughter in his voice did not even vanish as he cleaned the blood off the blade by swiping it over the large abdomen of the corpse. She wretched her arrow out of the a spider and grimaced at the black fluid that stained the shaft. Better than answering that remark especially with the other Galadhrim were so obviously listening in on the conversation with great interest.

Glancing over at him, he sat perched on one of his conquests, heels thudding against the hard shell of the creature as though it were no more than a rock. Her forehead furrowed and it only brightened his eyes in amusement. "Tell me, Ithil, are you not a little old for him." Age never mattered to them, but Rumil had been bringing that up every so often just to see if he could get a rise out of her. Secretly, it worked every time.

"Rumil." She started to tell him she would never take him out of Lorien again if he said one more thing, but she stopped as keen ears picked up on more movement. One of the other Galadhrim looked to her and tilted his head toward the direction of the sound. "It might be more of them." Her voice went quieter at that, not wanting to draw them closer. They could not afford to be a small cleaning crew for Mirkwood. Not when they had a ways to go yet. "Which means no more talking for you." She used the arrow to point at Rumil threateningly and he just smiled at her. She knew what that smile meant. He would simply bring it up again in the near future...

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[laegelminil]

The prying eyes were not a concern for Legolas nearly as much as it was for Ithil, but that did not mean that he would breech the gap between them. Rather , he was enjoying the banter between them, the lightness in her eyes that came with their exchange of words and the promises of things to come. “Perhaps we can find something that involves fewer legs and webs to amuse ourselves, even orcs are more pleasant than the spiders.” And he does speak the truth, though there is jest in his offer to seek out orcs as a way to pass time. Surely they could find a better way.

There was enough ability between the two of them that, no matter what they came across, there was good chance they could overtake it. That was not licence for them to seek out trouble, but in these woods, trouble was not hard to find unfortunately. Legolas did not have a memory of a time when darkness did not creep along the boarders, though his father tells him that it was once different, before the shadow of Dol Goldur fell on the woods. It should worry him though, that he would leave his home so easily for her, that the thought of going out into the world did no bring him unease as it had once done. Perhaps that told him more than he ever needed to know.

Even his relationship with Tauriel, which was a fast bond indeed, could not match the intensity with which he felt for Ithil. It was exhilarating and terrifying all at once. He cannot help the laughter that springs from him so readily when she speaks of Rumil’s approval, when she hints at there being greater things, greater amusement to come. “I do not fear disappointment, not with you, Ithil.” Which was the truth indeed. Even the prospect of Rumil attempting something ridiculous with his father is not enough to discourage him. “Perhaps that would not be wisest, though there yet may still be some humour left in him, I do not know.”

Legolas holds a great love for his father, but the loss of so much has taken a toll on the being he once was. His thoughts of his father do not last long however, not with Ithil speaking and looking so radiant. “I only speak the truth, and I hope you would not think that I speak otherwise. As for my father, if you bear good tidings, there shall be little issue.” He pauses a moment, a twitch of his brows. “Though he will probably have much to say about nothing I am sure.” His father’s disdain and distrust of other elves, whilst not as bad as his father, was certainly not something that was going to make this interesting.

Following Ithil up into the trees, Legolas can nearly feel his spirit getting lighter. Soon enough, he thought he should be walking on air if this were to continue. The stolen kiss only adds to his elation, soft laughter escaping as he balances perfectly on a branch. “Is that so, well then I can hardly wait to hear what you might have to say.” He smiles again, eyes darkening slightly at the smile he receives in return.

This game they start, he knows, will only entertain them more. Will only make this feeling that is growing in the pit of his stomach grow bolder, make him grow bolder. It should terrify him that, after all this time, he should feel so much and so strongly about someone that, in all truth of the matter, he knew so little about. Their time in Imladris was brief, but it seemed like all the time he would ever need. The fact that she was here, in his realm, made things even better.

More laughter from him, eyes bright with amusement as he moved gracefully and slowly from branch to branch, working around Ithil rather than away from her. “I fear you would be right, it would be the most unfair as I can run these woods without sight at all.” And it was not a lie or exaggeration. These woods were his and he had made a point, from a young elfling, to know them inside and out. He may never rules these woods, and hoped that he did not, but that did not stop him from wanting to know them as best he could. He would protect them as well, and you cannot protect what you do not know.

“Perhaps we should just—“ He pauses, smile growing even as she tugs on one of his braids. He leans in at that, smile inches from her own, eyes just as bright. “Perhaps we should just wander amongst the trees then? I can show you some of the better views, I assure you.” There is a growing bubble of contentment at her words, the admittance of her being just as swept away as himself. “I enjoy such boldness, and it is nice to know I am not alone in this…”

[ithil]

"Your offer is accepted, fair prince. I am up for such a challenge should it arise. In either case, to bide the time, I offer a challenge of my own of either a sparring match or archery. I do believe you could teach me a thing or two." She had over an age more experience than him in all likelihood, but she knew better than to judge any by their age. In fact, some humans could use a sword with prowess she never imagined.

"Whatever the case may be, I know there is much fun to be had." And she did know it would be as long as he spent the time with her. She felt camaraderie with her fellow Galadhrim. She even enjoyed sparring with Haldir or his brothers. If she even stretched her memories and tried to dig up ones of ancient days, she could recall other Noldor or even lords that crossed blades with her. Never in fun though. Never out of joy and more out of necessity. Ages of blood and war had been gone for a while and she dare not revisit them too closely in her mind. This... this moment here with Legolas, she knew to be a gift.

Her heart told her that the prince himself was a gift... and some part of her gave into poetic notion that Eryn Lasgalen's greenest leaf stood before her this moment. Even the Mellyrn should be jealous. Dol Guldur and Ungoliant could not taint this one precious person, and the thought gave her pause. Even seeing some of the most renowned elves of their kin, she had never found it in her to praise them in such a way. The greatest seemed so small in comparison to her now.

For a moment his words stun her into a sweet profound sort of silence. "To be told I am beyond the capabilities of disappointing you... is a treasured gift indeed." Because she knew and feared that in some way she would be. Even with Noldor in her veins and ages between them, she felt like it would never be enough. "I will try my hardest, however, to keep Rumil from your father's hair. Likely... in a literal sense."

Ithil knew her lady would never send her with ill tidings when she knew what Ithil laid planned for this visit. Do not upset the king if you plan to steal his son away even for a short while. "I would listen to whatever he said and endeavor to give it import even if it be about nothing." Even if she knew that she would likely have something to say after even in jest. Ithil had to break the perfect mask of her station sometimes and hoped that Legolas would not mind. "I do respect your father a great deal." More than she let on...

After all, the brilliant light that now flashed in her deep blue eyes came from his only son. Grinning more, her keen eyes followed his graceful motions as she angled her head. "I will regale you with all my thoughts and fairly portray how I see your realm." But she knew that she loved the trees here. Where she did not see it during its time as Greenwood, she heard such marvelous stories.

"Of course, I may still challenge you, Legolas... only because I do believe I wish to be caught. Eventually." She put that last word in playfully as he came closer, balancing with ease from branch to branch. "You live and breathe these woods..." Her eyes softened as she curled his hair about her fingers. "I wish to know them as you do, one day." If Thranduil would allow it, she would stay here, in a new realm. She would even swear fealty to his father if it let her stay close to him. The Lord and Lady would hate her leaving, but they would never forbid it.

Deep blue, the hue of the night sky held his gaze as she pulled him closer with that hold on his hair. Her mouth opened before she could even stop it in response. "Beautiful views and fragmented light through the leaves... but nothing could rival that which I see right now." Ithil's eyes flicked away to the side, the flush crawling through her pale skin before she dared to meet his gaze again. No apology would chase those words, but she felt silly having fallen so deep into a moment like that. How foolish she must seem...

Her other hand released the branch and rose to cup the side of his face. "Nay, Legolas... you are not alone." Closing that tiny distance between them, the kiss she gave him lingered longer and poured sensuality and adoration into the embrace of lips. For a moment she nearly lost her balance on the branch and had to break away before he ended up having to catch her. It forced a bubbling up of laughter as she ducked her head. "But you may be carrying me if I end up falling rather ungracefully from the trees simply because you demand all of my attention."