Chapter 39
They began their trek into the old forest once the Dwarf had the good sense to obey Haldir without that much of a fuss. He was surprised that he had not listened to Aragorn, since the Dwarf seemed to have quite the respect for the Mortal Man. Then again, that did not mean much he supposed. Gimli did seem to have some sort of...grudge against forests as a general rule. It was not something that Loki could understand, but he did not really care that much for whether he could understand it either. Elsewise he would question the Dwarf about it, but even being in his presence more than necessary was bound to grate on his nerves, even more than Gimli already did, and he did not know if either he nor the small mortal could stand that one.
"These trees have such history." Legolas muttered, his eyes gazing through the forest with a distant look towards them. Loki moved towards the elf, letting his fingertips to lightly touch his shoulder. The youngest Elf blinked hastily, the glazed look in his eyes slowly dissipating.
"Please do not lose yourself," Loki said under his breath, his words fully bringing the Prince back into the present. He inhaled softly, exhaling with a sense of relief in his body. Haldir watched on in curiosity, not daring to interfere in something like this, but surprised at the actions of the strange magic mortal. He was getting more and more tricky as the time went on, but something that Haldir was beginning to accept was that he was not meaning Legolas any real harm. It was...hard to accept, but something that was becoming more and more obvious the more that he did actually care for the Elf, in some manner at least.
Haldir was having some difficulty accepting that, he would admit. He cared for the youngest prince quite a bit. Legolas was their youngest Elf, he was but a child, similar to what Legolas had told him Loki was, so at least mentality was not an issue. From what he could gather, Loki's people aged far slower than normal Mortals as well, which left out the idea that Loki was a mortal man, so Haldir did not even have the argument that he was going to die swiftly. Though, he had no idea what Loki's people were. Something which unnerved him still. According to Legolas, they were similar to a mix between Elves and Men....but the Elfling was not entirely sure as to how or what the exact name of them were called, and he had not had the guts to ask.
"My Lord, if you could give me a moment with our...friend..." Haldir asked gently, his voice soft, but Legolas merely nodded, a smile lighting his features as he did so.
"Of course," Legolas stated with a small laugh. "I am glad that you are wishing to spend more time with him." Haldir doubted that he wanted to spend more time with him, but he supposed if it got him time alone with the strange creature, he would allow it. He had questions, and wanted to ensure that he obtained answers to them. Legolas was the light of the Elves, he did not want to risk some random...creature, doing something to harm him in any way, it was not allowed in his mind.
"What do you want to speak to me about now, Haldir?" Loki asked, keeping his eyes away from the warrior. Haldir hummed, but did not answer immediately, not entirely sure how he should answer. He wanted information, but how to obtain it was the question. From what Haldir could gather, one had to ask the right questions, or at least, that was what his Lady was told.
"You know who Legolas is, correct?" Loki paused, glancing towards the light born elf.
"I have my own assumptions, which are more than likely correct, but nothing has been stated clearly."
"What are those assumptions?"
"You call him Lord, it is not exactly hard to assume he is of noble birth. Likely a Prince, but not of your realm of elves, of a different one. Obviously he is not Elrond's child, so that really only leaves some third kingdom, though I am uncertain as to where or what that would be."
"Why have you not told Legolas that you know this?" Haldir demanded, his eyes gaining a flinted look.
"I am sure that he has figured out that I already know, if nothing more. Besides, I doubt that he needs to know that I know where he is from. I do not intend to leak it out if that is your worry," Loki sighed out. "I already know the pains of a noble birth. And the dangers of it as well." Haldir paused his interrogation as he pondered that wording.
"You know...how?" Loki rolled his eyes, but did not answer.
"That is not the right question, Haldir," Loki said, his voice uncharacteristically quiet when he spoke this.
"How did you now Legolas was loosing himself in the aura of the trees?"
"Magic," Loki said with a small scoff and a wave of his fingers, green mist curling about them as he did so. "My magic is very...interesting, in a way. Elves such as Legolas and myself have similar magic, though not the same entirely. However, I can recognize some things to be the same."
"I..." Haldir stopped himself. It was reasonable, after all. "Never mind."
"I must ask, when will you cease these interrogations of yours? This has to be the third one of this journey. They are getting tiresome, particularly since the answers will not change. I suggest, you come up with more interesting questions if you wish for me to continue to allow them." Haldir bristled inwardly at the audacity of the strange creature, but knew that he was right. Haldir was asking the same questions, just in different ways. He would have to come up with something that threw the young one off guard, though how he was not entirely sure. He did not want to be too bold, that would likely only offend him, and the Prince.
"Haldir, are you done yet? Aragorn wishes to speak with us." Haldir grit his teeth, savouring a glare towards the young teen who merely smirked.