Again, before the boy could continue further with his self-criticism, his mentor spoke. "It is as I thought then; they never taught you the basic stance in shooting. Elves are natural at archery, so your instructors probably did not even realize they needed to teach you the basics. Tell me, what were your archery lessons like?"

"My lessons were very short since my instructors were always busy. I would shoot arrows and they would give me some advice. I would try their suggestions; and when my aim did not improve, they told me ‘practice makes perfect' and asked me to practice more on my own. But no matter how time I spent on the field, I still could not hit my targets, even when it was only 20 yards away."

The Elf laughed, "I suppose they didn't tell you that you are facing the wrong way?"

Estel stared at him, astonished. "What?"

Legolas explained while demonstrating the proper way to draw a bow for the boy. "A novice should always square the target. Then, bow in hand, hold your left arm up to shoulder level and point your index finger at the target; see how my bow and my body is in a straight line perpendicular to the target with only my head is turned towards it. This position gives you the longest pull length and thus maximum power in your shot. It also let you draw without using too much strength in your right arm. If you pull too hard with the right, your left arm moves - that makes your arrow fly right. For now, you want to hold your bow straight; it makes your shots easily to reproduce. You should always hold your bow up before you draw. Retract your finger to get a firm grip on the bow and pull like this. Now you try."

Estel tried to imitate his mentor's motions. This new stance made drawing the bow much easier. Shadow smiling in encouragement and said, "Try it again."

The boy tried again and again and again at Shadow's insistence. After twenty pulls, Estel could barely feel his arms anymore, not to mention his right elbow was aching. It was already an improvement for he used to be tired only after shooting 5 arrows, but still……

"Tired already? An average quiver carries 20 arrows, you would only have emptied one quiver at this point if you were really shooting," the Elf teased gently.

Startled out of his thoughts, Estel lowered his bow and turned towards his mentor. It was uncanny how Shadow always knew when he was mentally reprimanding himself and would interrupt his thoughts with something. Estel wondered if his mentor could read his mind.

"I think my drawing arm is about to fall out, Shadow. Maybe I am just not strong enough to do this even with the proper technique," the boy answered.

Shadow laughed, "Who said you have the proper technique? You shoulders were too tight and your right elbow was too high. If you do not keep it below your forearm, you will hurt it. Not to mention you were pulling only with your arm. You want to use the muscles in the back of your shoulders. You should rotate your right shoulder to pull your arm up and over. I showed it to you during my demonstration. I just did not point it out in words. You must always watch and listen carefully and learn to see the things unsaid, Estel. That is more important than any physical training; it will take you a long way in life. Now try again. "

Estel did not know to be angry with his mentor or to thank him. While he did learn something important, he was certain there was an easier way to teach him the same thing. It was a most irritating trend in Shadow's lessons. The Elf would let him continue down a wrong track and not correct him until he realized something was not right or started belittling himself. His foster family was always quick to point out his faults during classes. Though it hurt to know that he was unable to do anything correctly, the child agreed with his instructors that it was the quickest and best way to learn what was right. Yet, despite the tortuousness of his mentor's lessons, his skills were definitely improving.

After grumbling about sadistic mentors who enjoy abusing boys, Estel began his practice again. The Elf must have heard his mumble, for his mentor seemed very amused and was laughing softly at him. Estel was seething now, but he suspected his mentor wanted to annoy him deliberately for some reason. After the way Shadow had treated him today, he refused to give the Elf that satisfaction. With a determination he did not know he had, he shut out the sound of Shadow's laughter and concentrated on drawing his bow.

*****

Legolas was amazed at how gullible his apprentice could be at times. Once again, his plan had worked and the boy was well on his way to learning one of the most important lessons in becoming a great warrior. When he found out that Estel did not approve of his teaching style, he had blatantly tried to irk the boy further. He knew his apprentice would see that as a trick and try his best not to fall for it. Instead of giving in to his anger, the boy forced himself to focus intensely on the task at hand. Which, in truth, was what Legolas had wanted him to do all along.

The Prince did not like tricking Estel in this manner, but one could not teach a lesson in focus and self-control with words alone. Legolas knew that when the boy grew up and assumed his name as Aragorn, he would face countless challenges and hardships. If he were to survive through them, Estel must learn to maintain his focus on the present situation, regardless of the circumstances. He would rather his apprentice learn that now from his ploys and gentle teasing than in the harshness of the world.

*****

Estel did not shoot another arrow on the first day of his archery practice. All he did was repeatedly draw his bow; he did not even get to touch an arrow after his first shot. After another hour of training, Shadow had told him to stop and wash up for dinner. The Elf had then gone to hunt for dinner.

However, in his mentor's absence, instead of going to bathe as he was told, Estel decided that he needed more practice. He wanted to be good enough so that his mentor would let him shoot arrows tomorrow. He continued training until he could no longer lift his arms. The pain in his arms and shoulders were excruciating. Even the rough treatment from the slave traders did not hurt so much physically.

As Estel knew Shadow would return soon, he tried to make haste with his bath in the lake. However, with his aching arms and shoulders, he could barely undress himself properly. Since he did not want his disobedience known, the boy forced him arms into motion and gave himself a proper bath. When he was done, his soft skin was spotless and he smelled of sweet mallow flower. Their price, however, was the worst pain Estel had ever experienced.

*****

As an Elf, Legolas only eat for sustenance. He would be content with having the old bread and dried meat in their cave as his dinner, but Estel was Human and would probably find that unsatisfactory. The Prince wanted to reward his apprentice with some good food after a hard day's practice. He remembered that his previous love was rather fond of rabbit stew, so he decided he would go hunt and collect herbs for the dish.

When Legolas returned, he was surprised to find Estel sitting quiet on his bed in the dark. He had taught his apprentice how to build a fire a few days ago. He would have suspected something was amiss if he had not been so distracted by the boy's sweet scent. His apprentice used the mallow flower soap he bought from Bree. The Elf had always found that fragrance pleasing, but now mixed with the boy's own scent, it was downright intoxicating.

Legolas screamed at himself in his mind.

Having regained some of his composure, the Elf turned away from Estel and started to prepare dinner. Soon, the aroma of rabbit stew permeated their cave. Though the food smelled delicious, Legolas found himself missing his apprentice's scent sorely. When the food was ready, the Elf mage turned and placed a bowl of steaming stew in front of his apprentice. He could barely stop himself from staring at the boy, who looked both resolute and vulnerable by the soft light of the fire. With every ounce of resolve he possessed, Legolas forced himself back to his seat opposite to the boy and started eating.

However, when he noticed Estel had not touched his plate, he asked with concern, "What's wrong? Why are you not eating?"

Estel's arms hurt so much that he could not hold his bowl and spoon properly when his mentor served dinner. As he did not want his mentor to know about his secret, he bowed his head and remained silent. Besides, it would be too embarrassing to say he could not eat by his own strength.

The Elf studied the boy for a long while before realizing what had happened.

Slowly, Legolas moved in front of his apprentice and filled his spoon with a mouthful of steaming stew. He blew gently at it to make sure it was cool enough to eat and lifted it to Estel's mouth.

The boy just glared at him, refusing to be fed.

"Not cooperating, are we? I guess I will just have to tickle you so when you laugh, I can stuff this into your mouth," the Elf teased.

Estel opened his mouth to begin an indignant retort, only to be stopped by a spoon and the feel of warm stew filling his mouth. He could not believe he fell for that trick!! But now that the spoon-feeding had began, the child could see no reason to fight any longer, especially when he was very hungry and the stew was delicious. He continued glaring at his mentor, expecting another taunt as he swallowed and open his mouth to be fed again.

But the Elf didn't tease him again. He just smiled and continued with his task, slowly and gently putting spoonfuls of warm rabbit stew into Estel's mouth. The boy was beginning to find this experience strangely sensual. The way his mentor moved so graceful, the way the Elf looked at him so gently with exquisite azure eyes, and the way Shadow's soft breath created tendrils of steam from each spoonful of stew - they gave him a strange warm sensation he had never known. Estel soon began to wonder how it would feel to have Shadow's gentle touch or soft breath on his skin.

Estel was of an age where boys began to become interested in those things. But because he grew up among Elves bent on making his life hell, he never had the chance to become attracted to anyone, least say wonder about pleasures of the flesh. Distracted by the strange direction his thoughts were going, Estel failed to close his mouth properly in time after a spoonful and some stew had trickled down its side. After he swallowed, the boy tried to use his tongue to remove the traces of his embarrassing little blunder, but could not reached the spot below the corner of his mouth. His mentor shook his head slightly at him with a sigh. Smiling, the Elf swiped it for him with one long, slender finger. Unconsciously, Estel licked his lips as a strange shiver ran down his spine.

*****

Estel had been looking at him strangely for a while now. It reminded him of how others used to look at him, when he was still the Golden Prince of Greenwood…….as if he was still beautiful and desirable, a price whom any Man or Elf would give anything to take to bed. And there was the way Estel licked his lips at his touch; it almost likened a subtle invitation for him to taste the boy's warm soft lips.

Despite his firm silent rebuttal, part of his heart could not help but wonder if Estel might be the one who could break his curse after all these years.

*****

After putting their dishes away, Shadow returned and sat once again in front of the boy. The Elf smiled as he took one of Estel's arms into his hands and began gently massaging it. As his mentor's smooth skilled fingers apply gentle pressure, the Human could feel the tension in his muscles release, making him feel warm and relaxed.

After an hour, his mentor had finished with his arms and moved behind him to rub his shoulders. When the Elf started work on a particular tight knot in his right shoulder, Estel could not stifle the moans of pleasure that escaped from his lips. Without thought, he closed his eyes and leaned back to get closer to Shadow.

*****

Legolas tensed as he heard the boy moan. When his apprentice leaned against him, he could feel his body react in desire and need, something the Elf had thought he would never experience. He had to get away now, before he did something he would regret. Estel needed his training, maybe even his friendship, but not his love. With all his will power, Legolas forced himself to stop his administration and move away.

*****

When the Elf withdrew, Estel felt a sense of loss so strong that he could cry. He was not so naïve that he did not understand what just happened. Though he did not know why he did it, he knew he had offered himself to Shadow and was rejected. He should be glad that his mentor did not take advantage, yet it hurt to know that the Elf did not want him. His mentor wished for his companionship, maybe even his friendship; but he did not want that sort of intimacy.

*****

"Sleep, Estel. Tomorrow, we begin training early," said the elf, from the entrance of the cave.

Estel laid down on his bed and closed his eyes, for once glad of the distance between himself and his mentor. He did not want Shadow to see the silent tears rolling down his cheeks.

*****

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