Elven Secrets (The Hobbit/Legolas/LOTR) *EDITING*

The Peaceful Youth (1)

"Legolas, stop!" I squealed. My friend, and fellow elf, had caught up to me and began to tickle my sides. "Stop!" I said through my laughter. I fell to the bright green grass and Legolas was on top of me, using his weight to hold me down. My eyes were teary as I was laughing and squealing.

"Then tell me Thurinel, what is your secret? You're so bad at keeping them." The Prince of Greenwood smirked and continued tickling up and down my sides.

"I don't have one!" I screamed, giggling. Youthful innocence was such a blessing. The ability to be blissfully ignorant of the world, of the coming future, is a great thing taken for granted by all the young lives in Middle Earth.

"I've known you many years of my life. There must be one secret I don't know." He raised an eyebrow and stopped tickling me. I breathed a sigh of relief. He still sat on my hips, holding me down against the lush green grass below. His smile had disappeared only to be replaced with a frown. The atmosphere of our play changed dramatically, something troubled him.

I looked at the young elf with curiosity. His icy blue eyes filled with concern. "Legolas? What's troubling you?" I asked. He got off me, and sat next to me, his back leaning against the large tree in the gardens. I leaned up, propping myself up on my elbows.

"You've been different Thurinel." He looked up from the ground, into my eyes.

"Different?" I laughed uncomfortably. "How?!" I sat up from my relaxed position, crossing my legs, and showing Legolas more attention.

"You're more irritable. Like you need to get something out of your system, but can't." He sighed, I stayed silent, my heart tightening at his words. "If you need to share something, mellonamin, I hope I'd be the first you'd tell. I don't want you to be suffering when I cannot help." He said softly. (Mellonamin means my friend) I thought back to the recent past, reflecting on my actions and my mood. He was right, I was acting strange, but I didn't know why. Something was brewing within me, preparing to show itself to the world; something that would shape my destiny and change the course of my life.

I frowned deeply at the realization, beginning to worry for myself. "I'm sorry for being strange. I honestly did not realize my behaviour until today. I have no secret, I don't know what's wrong but I will try to be better. Please forgive my actions." I whispered, wringing my hands together nervously.

He scoffed at my apology. "There is nothing to forgive you for, mellonamin. I was just worried about you." He leaned forward and watched me for a moment, thinking of what to do next. He placed a hand on my shoulder, a wicked grin spreading across his face. "Race to the main gates?" I grinned at his successful attempt to lighten the mood, stood up, and nodded. "If I win, then a kiss from the lovely Thurinel." He smirked.

Not wanting to accept the budding feelings within me, I scrunched up my nose in a play of disgust. "And if I win?"

"Then you don't have to kiss me." He winked. I huffed in annoyance and put my hands on my hips.

"That hardly seems fair... but alright." I nodded, determined more than ever to win. "On your mark," Legolas and I bent down and got ready to sprint, "get set," we playfully glared each other down, all worrying thoughts from our previous conversation disappearing from my mind, "GO!" Legolas and I took off running through the gardens to the main gates. My long dark brown hair whipped around as we sprinted. The clean, crisp air of the Greenwood filling my lungs with air, and powering my body forward. The joy and anticipation I felt while racing Legolas that day never left my memories, even millennia later.

We leaped over hedges and shrubbery, dodged the gardeners and the tall trees, and skimmed along the shore of the palace pond. Legolas was slightly ahead; he was taller than me, therefore he had longer legs, I was at a bit of a disadvantage but I didn't let it stop me. So I willed my strong, elvish legs to go faster. I sped up just enough to catch up to him, we ran neck and neck.