Adult-FanFiction.org : Lord of the Rings

A Duel With Destiny	By : Mel99Moe Category: +Third Age > Het - Male/Female Views: 2358 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own any places or characters of Lord of the Rings. No money is being made. This is strictly for personal enjoyment.

Chapter List
- 1
- 2
- 3
Chapter 2

Lately, it seemed everywhere Alastegiel looked, every corner she turned there was Thranduil wearing that arrogant grin. What game was he playing? Was it not enough that she told him she was not interested? She could see what made him such a strong figure in the royal family. It seemed he did not know how to take ‘no’ for an answer. So far, he had not approached her but she knew he would soon enough. It didn’t matter. She had become quite close to Nedhudir. He was a gentle soul, not affected by war or fighting of any kind. He was refreshing to be around, especially after a day on the training grounds. She liked his company and hoped he would ask her to accompany him to the harvest dance. She was sure he would make a wonderful partner.

Alastegiel had just returned from a tough day on the archery fields. The dance was only a few days away and Nedhudir had not asked her to go yet. She decided to take matters into her own hands. It was not proper for an elleth to approach an ellon on the matter. However, nowhere did it mention manipulating the said ellon into asking. Alastegiel decided to wait by the garden gate where Nedhudir would hopefully make an appearance soon. Then she would work her magic and have him begging her to go to the dance with him. As these thoughts and plans ran through her head, she smiled. She could be very sneaky when she wanted to be. Her smile did not last long though. Strolling down the path and heading right for the garden was none other than the Prince.

‘Look at him.’ she thought to herself. ‘He absolutely reeks of royal conceit. It is one thing to be confident, but quite another to be overly so.’

Thranduil had been watching Alastegiel. He knew she had not been asked to the dance yet. He also knew who she was hoping would ask her. That was why he decided to add something new to the festivities this year. It seemed there were quite a few elves interested in poetry reading and Thranduil knew just the ellon to ask to head up this activity. The Prince himself had no interest in it. He also knew Nedhudir would jump at the chance to organize it. Perhaps this was why Alastegiel was waiting by the garden, one of Nedhudir’s favorite places to visit. He had obviously not asked her yet. Oh but it would be a shame for such a beautiful and talented elleth to arrive at the dance without a proper escort.

“Hello lady Alastegiel. Beautiful day is it not? Ah and my favorite flowers are in full bloom, just in time for the harvest.” he said in his smooth princely voice.

Alastegiel peered around Thranduil’s shoulder, hoping by some miracle that Nedhudir would show at that very moment. Nothing. She would have to speak to him.

“Good day Prince Thranduil. The flowers do seem to be fuller than normal. Perhaps a long stretch of mild weather is in store.” She stood there, waiting for him to enter the garden and leave her be. No such luck. No Nedhudir. No way was she going to spend another awkward moment in the presence of the Prince. “Well, I must be going.” she smiled. “Long day on the practice fields. If you’ll excuse me.” She started to leave.

“Must you leave so soon? I was hoping to spend some time with you. I would love to know more about your training. Archery has ever enthralled me.”

Alastegiel sighed. One did not just walk away from royalty when they addressed you. She came back to face him. “And what does the Prince know of archery?”

“I know enough.” he answered.

“Do you now? Well, we seem to be very close in age and I have been in training for quite a few years now. Yet, I have never once seen you on the field. How is it you know about archery?”

“My father of course. He is the best at his art and has told me much about it.” Thranduil answered.

“Beg your pardon my Prince, but to be told about it and to practice ones skills are two very different things.” she said as she stifled a laugh.

“Do you question my abilities?” Thranduil mocked hurt.

Alastegiel thought that maybe she was overstepping her bounds. “My apologies Prince Thranduil. I should not question you. If you say you have skill with a bow then so be it. But really, I must be going.” She could not wait any longer for Nedhudir to show and besides, she could not do what she needed to do with Thranduil there. He would certainly know what she was up to. She would look elsewhere for the poet. Where was he anyways?

“Tell me this before you go? Is there someone escorting you to the harvest dance?”

“Yes… well, no… maybe.” she stuttered.

“Ah, I see.” he said, not buying into it. No one was taking her. “Then perhaps a wager.”

“A wager? Of what do you speak?” she asked curiously.

“Well, since you seem to have already judged my archery skills to be quite slacken, I challenge you to a duel. We each fire two arrows. The one closest to the center wins.”

Alastegiel cocked her head. He was up to something. He always was. Now he had met his match. If he thought he could win against her in archery, he was sadly misguided. Besides, she never was one to pass up a challenge. “And just what does the winner receive?”

“Name your price.”

Alastegiel thought about it. What could she ask for? Then a thought occurred to her. “You say you have never been to a training session before. Well, if I win, you must endure a week of hard grueling practice with my company. You will be given no privileges due to your royal standing. I myself will see over your training.” Surely he would never agree to this. She couldn’t imagine him getting his royal robes dirty. The thought made her giggle aloud.

Thranduil already sensed her confidence of a victory. “Very well, I will be completely under your command.” Something about the sound of that made his blood race.

“And what would you ask for if victory is yours my Prince?”

“You will accompany me to the dance. Not only that, you must be by my side every second and fulfill the duties of being escorted by royalty. You will be prepped and pampered so that you may be presentable to the court. I believe you will find it just as grueling as your practice fields.” There the offer was on the table, so to speak.

Alastegiel couldn’t stand the thought of being pampered by a bunch of maids and servants. They would feed her, wash her, dress her. She would not have a moment alone. She would be forced to wear some stuffy dress and drink only the finest tea, which she found quite bitter. Her hair would be brushed and teased, pulled here and there until it was perfect. Then she would be stuck by Thranduil’s side for the entire evening, never being allowed to join friends or dance with Nedhudir or even taste the fine delicacies that were often the talk of the woods the day after. She would be like a prisoner under the watchful eye of the Prince, not to mention the other nobles of the court. It sounded absolutely horrid. BUT… Alastegiel was never one to turn down a challenge. And besides, she was confident that she would win and Thranduil was the one who would be tortured.

“Very well. I agree to you terms. Two shots, closest to the center wins. Sounds easy enough. Be prepared to get your hands dirty my Prince.”

Thranduil gave her a devilish grin and huffed. “Likewise my lady.”

* * *

They met the next day at the archery fields. Thranduil held in his hands, the finest bow ever crafted in Greenwood. ‘What a shame it has never been fired properly, if at all.’ Alastegiel thought to herself.

Thranduil smiled as he approached her. “I see you did not back out of our deal.”

“Never.” she stated simply. “So, this is the practice field. Take a good look around you as you will see more of it.” she teased. Why she was behaving so carefree with the Prince was beyond her. Usually she was very respectful. But there was something about him that made her feistiness bubble forth. It was as if they had some understanding that made it alright to behave in this manner. Actually, she was quite enjoying herself in his presence, though that would surely change after she won the challenge.

They agreed to a few practice shots before the challenge got underway. Each took their own target and released a few arrows. Alastegiel noticed how his always landed just left of center. Not bad but not good enough.

“Are you ready my Prince?” she called after a while.

“Ladies first.” he said gesturing for her to line up.

Alastegiel got into position. She did a quick check of her weapon and picked out the two best and straightest arrows. She took the first one, notched it, starred down the shaft and fired. It hit very close to the center, maybe half an inch to the left. She smiled at her accuracy. There was no way he could come any closer than this. She moved away to give Thranduil his turn.

“Excellent shot.” he said in an impressive voice. Thranduil took his first arrow, notched it, starred down the shaft and fired. It did not even hit the center circle as it imbedded into the surrounding ring.

Alastegiel was holding her composure, but on the inside, she was gloating, thinking of the Prince being hammered in basic training for a week. “Oh too bad.” she said mocking pity. She got into position again, raised her bow with the arrow already notched, aimed and released it. Like a mirror image, the arrow landed about half of an inch to the right of center. She felt she had already won. Both shots had taken up most of dead center. There was no hope of him winning at all. She backed away and smiled. “Last chance my lord.”

This time when Thranduil lined up, he took his time. Alastegiel could not help but notice how his muscles suddenly came alive. Had she not noticed his toned arms before, or his slim waist, or his tight leggings that contoured to his muscled thighs? She allowed herself a moment to examine every part of his being. Actually, Thranduil was very handsome. His golden hair was braided perfectly and it shown bright in the sunlight. Smooth straight hair that probably felt like the finest silk as it slipped through her fingers. And then she allowed herself the thought of having those strong arms wrapped around her waist, holding her tight. Then she thought of his thighs without the leggings and how she could almost feel his smooth flesh beneath her fingertips.

Before she had time to focus and get her thoughts back to the duel, she heard the thwack of an arrow punching into the target. She was still smiling before she looked to see how far away it landed from his first. She could not believe her eyes at first and her jaw dropped. She looked at Thranduil. “How in the name of the Valar were you able to do that?”

It seems Thranduil’s arrow landed right between both of hers hitting dead center within the inch of space left by her two shots. “Oh.” he said surprised. “Would you look at that? There was room between them after all.”

Alastegiel was in shock. “But… but… you said you had never been to the training fields before. You‘ve never fired a bow.”

“Well now, that is where you are mistaken, my lady. It is true that I have never been to the training fields before. However, I did not say I’ve not fired a bow. I have fired one many times. I have been trained by only the best archers in Greenwood… at my own personal archery field.” he said and let out a quiet laugh.

“You have tricked me. You manipulated me into thinking you had no skill.” she said as if in a daze.

“Just as you were thinking of manipulating your poet friend into taking you to the dance. It seems we have more in common than you thought.” Thranduil laid his bow on a bench and went to Alastegiel. He took her hand and raised it to his lips, kissing it with a gentle touch. Alastegiel seemed not to notice. “I am honored to have you accompany me to the dance.” he said honestly and she noticed no tone of gloating. He really did want this, duel or no.

Something about his touch sparked an inner light within her. She tried to smother this flame but it was there. Could it be that Thranduil actually was interested in her and not looking for just another plaything? And was it possible that she too might have an interest in him?

“Very well my Prince. You won the duel and now I will do your bidding. I will see you at the dance then.” Her voice seemed distant to her. She wasn’t sure if she was disappointed or excited. Oh this was going to be a long night after all.
- 1
- 2
- 3
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

A Duel With Destiny