The old ways

Legolas smiled "Yes, yes he was. He was the most arrogant of them all. Even while the Lord and Lady gave them a lecture, he had this smug grin in his face. He looked at me and winked. Oh, I hated him then, but on the other hand he was so handsome amartmart and that really impressed me."
"He made impression on you then, what?" Gimli grinned.
"Very much so. A few days later I met them again, somewhere in the woods. This time they didn't hear me coming. They sat together in a clearing and joked around. So I sneaked up on them and tried to listen. Rumil, the eldest was holding his sides with laughter describing the look on my face as they hauled me up the tree over and over again. Orophin giggled constantly, but Haldir was only smiling not saying a word. After some seconds, Orophin noticed it and asked his brother why he didn't think it as funny. Haldir said something then which astounded not only his brothers but me also. He looked so withdrawn, he was so absent when he said 'His eyes turned even a darker blue as he got angry. Did you notice it also?' Rumil nearly choked on a sip of wine he had just been taking 'Haldir, dear brother! Have you lost all your wits looking at the princeling?'.Haldir's head suddenly snapped up 'Don't call him that. He IS a prince by birth! It is his due to be treated like that.' With that he got up from the ground and strode away. Nearly too late I noticed he was coming right in my direction. I tried to duck and hide, but I was too slow. He had already spotted me. 'Ah, prince Legolas! Trying to improve your talents of silent approach?' Haldir grinned at me and passed me by, not once glancing back. I was totally confused. In one moment he defended my person against his brothers and in the next he mocked me. Had I just been proud and eager to talk to him, was I now angry and hurt.
I didn't know what to make of him.
I was fuming by the time I returned to the talan, we were staying in. My father shot me a glance but said nothing. For the next three days I did not leave our talan. During the day I tried to read, sitting outside on a kind of balcony. But usually my eyes left the book or scroll, only to scan the surrounding forest if by any chance I would catch a glimpse of him. Every time I thought I had spotted him, my heartbeat increased and my first intention was to run inside. But to my disappointment it usually was some other Noldor elf. At night I lay in my bed, turning and not getting much sleep. My thoughts were constantly occupied by one person. I scolded myself for my imaginings. Why did I think of him at all? I loathed him, didn't I? He was so much older, wiser, more experienced and handsome. When I did manage to fall asleep I had the most disturbing dreams. And every time he was involved."Gimli cocked his head a little "I wonder what kind of ms yms you are talking about. Were it those kind of dreams that when you wake up your breathing has increased and your heart is hammering in your chest and you have the most exquisite warmth spreading in your groin?"
Legolas blushed a little "You seem to know those dreams very well, my dwarven friend. Yes, I was talking about those kind of dreams. You can imagine how that startled me. Why should I fantasise about someone I didn't like very much and who obviously didn't like me at all.After those three days I had grown so annoyed with staying up there all by myself that I decided I join the others again. I wandered rather aimlessly through the main habitat of the Noldor elves when I suddenly found myself face to face with Lord Celeborn himself. I was totally at a loss how to behave properly, that I only managed to stutter a formal greeting. He pretended not to notice and gave me the appropriate answer. Then he smiled rather warmly 'So you still are here then. My head marchwarden was worried and has already inquired after you. He was afraid you had left, taking their rather childish prank too seriously. He is quite taken by you.' Celeborn winked at me 'Maybe you should go and see him, to relieve his conscience. He will be going to his watch soon, so you will find him at the armoury now, I think.' He walked off and left me standing there feeling like a fool. But a very hafoolfool at that."
"Oh, come on. Did you talk to him? What happened? Don't tell me you chickened out." Gimli took a more comfortable position and nodded at the elf.
"You might not believe it, but I did go to the armoury. I was very happy and bold for the first few steps, but the nearer I came the more haltingly my steps became. When I had nearly reached the small building, I was ready to turn and run, but suddenly there he was. He came out of the door and was buckling his belt, so he didn't look into my direction. I hoped he wouldn't notice my presence, but how wrong I was. All of a sudden his head jerked up and he looked directly at me. My knees felt like they were about to buckle, but I managed to stand still and pretend that I was as calm as he himself. Oh Gimli, the way he looked at me, it felt like pure bliss. I never got around to say anything, but when he walked past me, he stroke my shoulder a little and whispered 'I'm glad you haven't left, my pen-neth.' Gimli, he said MY pen-neth! I was in heaven, but believe me, I came down again with a thud. There I was standing somewhere in the middle of Lorien with weak knees, hitching breath and a heartbeat like after running. But why? I didn't even like that elf. Or so I thought. I was so scared of my own feelings and the chance that I might like him that I dreaded his reaction. Did he like me? What if he only saw a young sapling in me and nothing more. Would my feelings, I hadn't even sorted out yet, be shattered before they had the chance to evolve? I ran straight to my father, asking for permission to leave immediately and for some guards to accompany me. He didn't understand why I wanted to leave, but gave in anyhow. I left not one hour later, heading for our home as quickly as possible. Haldir later told me that he had seen us leave, and that it upset him a lot."