As promised, the sequel to Something More and What the Heart Wants. I will do quick recaps of important plot points when they are necessary, but this will be easier to understand if you've read at least I Keep Looking For Something More. Without further ado, the adventures of Breigel, daughter of Legolas and Tinwe. Enjoy!
A small elfling ran through the giant stone halls, clutching a bow that was a bit too big for her, a quiver of arrows on her back. She tried not to trip, but the end of the bow repeatedly bounced off the stone floor. She turned a corner and promptly ran into a pair of legs, falling backwards in a heap.
"Careful, sellnin. Where are you off to so quickly?"
Breigel looked up into her father's kind eyes as he held out a hand to help her up. She took it, letting him lift her easily off the floor and back onto her feet.
"Faelon told me to get my bow while he spars with Nana," the little elleth said, adjusting the bow in her hands. "He says he will give me a lesson when he's done."
"Alright, well, be careful," Legolas said with a smile. "And tell Faelon that he better do a good job, or he is fired as your teacher and I will just have to train you myself."
"Okay, Ada!" Breigel said with a grin, hurrying away.
"And make sure your mother doesn't hurt Faelon!" Legolas called as the little blond elfling disappeared around the corner.
Legolas was one of the few elves that had not left the dark halls of Taurost, home to King Thranduil's family in Valinor. He and his father were working on preparations for spring planting, while the rest of the palace had taken advantage of the warm spring air after a harsh winter. Everyone seemed to be out around the practice fields, watching the Princess and her friend sparing.
"Watch your feet!" Balamaethor called from where he stood leaning on the fence, watching the two combatants lunge at each other.
"Leave him alone," his wife Raina said, standing to his left. "You will only distract him."
Balamaethor and Raina stood with their youngest son, Erynion, as they watched their eldest son, Faelon, sparring with Princess Tinwe with a grin on his face.
"Sure you don't want to take bets?" Erynion asked with a smirk, looking at the elf standing to his right.
"Since we didn't see a victor last time," Thorontur said with a smile. "I'd rather not waste my money." He had been one of the few to see the last bout between Tinwe and Faelon over a hundred years previous. A number of circumstances had prevented a rematch since then. Tinwe, a restless wanderer, had gone off traveling around Middle Earth not long after her marriage to Legolas, and after the loss of her first child in a orc attack while she was still pregnant, she had been too distraught to fight. Though she had trained independently after that, it wasn't until her daughter Briegel was born just over seven years previous that she had come out of her shell once more. But with the move to Valinor, the two battling elves had not had the time to really duel properly.
"I won't bet money, but if I did, I would put it on Tinwe," Thorontur's wife Icaria said with a smile. She had been Tinwe's best friend since childhood, and had also witnessed the last time the two elves sparred.
"Faelon's stronger, he'll win," Thorontur and Icaria's elder son Gelfaer confidently. He was only about sixty, and one of the younger elves present.
"You don't give Tinwe enough credit," Thorontur said evenly, looking over at his son. "She may not have the strength, but she has the speed and agility."
"Yeah, she could whip you easy," the youngest viewer, Saelhir, said, looking up at his older brother, who childishly made a face and stuck out his tongue at the elfling.
"She is looking as agile as she did when she returned from the War," Tinwe's father Rissa mused, watching his daughter spin away from Faelon's sword, his arm around his wife Isawen. "And as happy."
"Even after hearing her stories, I still marvel at her talent," Queen Ellissiel said, watching her daughter-in-law narrowly miss striking a blow on Faelon's hip.
"'Scuse me! Oh, sorry!"
The elves looked around to see Breigel squeezing through the crowd behind them. A number of other elves had come out to watch the battle curiously, wanting to see their princess in action.
"Did you get it?" Saelhir asked eagerly as his best friend climbed the fence next to him to sit and watch the match.
"Yep!" Breigel said enthusiastically. "Now I can finally learn archery!"
"As long as your mother doesn't kill Faelon first," Gelfaer said, watching Tinwe come within millimeters of Faelon's chest.
"Nah, she won't," Breigel said confidently, eagerly watching her mother and her favorite elf sparring, sweat on both their brows as they circled each other.
"You are just lucky your mother is so odd. A normal lady would never let you touch a bow, let alone use it."
"Gelfaer!" Icaria said, glaring at her son. "Behave."
"Yes, Naneth," he said, his eyes returning to the battle as Breigel frowned. Her mother wasn't odd. She was the best Princess in all of Arda.
"How is your archery coming, young Saelhir?" Isawen asked kindly, looking down at the young elf.
"Well," he said, his face screwed up in thought. "I can hit the target."
"That's a good start," Balamaethor laughed lightly. "Don't worry, you'll get better."
"Let's just hope he doesn't get his archery skills from his mother," Icaria said with a sigh. "I am quite hopeless."
"Thank goodness for that," Thorontur said, kissing his wife's fingers with a smile. They had met by chance when Icaria had been dragged out to the practice fields one day by Tinwe, and Thorontur had found her arrow when she had overshot the target.
"I'll be a great archer!" Breigel declared happily. "Ada is the best archer ever, and Naneth is amazing too."
"We will see," Ellissiel said with a laugh, smiling at her granddaughter. "You better hope you don't get my archery skills."
"Or mine," Isawen said merrily.
"Whether you get the skills or not, your father will be sure to get you straightened out," Balamaethor said, eyes still following his son's every move. "He would never let his only child be a poor archer."
"I think Tinwe's getting tired," Erynion interrupted, returning everyone's focus to Tinwe and Faelon. Sure enough, Tinwe looked like she was slowing down. Faelon's blade was coming closer and closer to her every time she spun away from it.
"Come on Tinwe!" Icaria shouted excitedly as Tinwe blocked a blow from Faelon.
"You are welcome to come in and be my second," Tinwe called back, grunting as she deflected another blow. "Any chance you'll surrender?"
"Not when I am this close to winning," Faelon grinned, taking a step back and starting to circle again, Tinwe following his footsteps carefully.
"You haven't beaten me yet," Tinwe said, moving swiftly towards him, swinging her sword up as Faelon blocked it, spinning away and striking a series of quick blows before backing up once more, breathing hard.
"Give me five minutes," Faelon said, giving her a cheeky grin before lunging at her quickly, managing to narrowly miss her cheek as he brought his sword down at an angle towards her neck. She dodged away and took a swing at his legs, making him leap backwards out of her reach.
"Stop dancing and win already!" Erynion said loudly, teasing his brother.
"I'd like to see you in here, Erynion!" Faelon called back as Tinwe rushed towards him once more, swords clanging loudly as they met.
"Are you crazy? Tinwe would skin me alive."
Faelon didn't respond, as he was too busy carefully dodging Tinwe's sword strokes. In a daring move, she feigned up towards his ribs as she crouched down, swinging her leg behind Faelon's to knock him over. She connected, making him stumble backwards, giving her an opening to land a couple heavy blows, knocking him onto his back. Victorious, Tinwe grinned, holding her sword point to his chest.
"I told you to watch your footing," Balamaethor called, shaking his head as Faelon laid his head back with a sigh.
"I know," Faelon called back, looking up at Tinwe as she replaced her sword with a hand, which he took, letting her help him to his feet. "I guess now we know who is a better swordsman."
"I think you are just worn out from chasing my daughter around all day," Tinwe said with a smile, picking up her scabbard and sheathing her sword.
"Hey!" Breigel said, still perched on the fence.
"No, I think that just keeps me fit," Faelon said, coming over to his favorite elleth and picking her up off the fence, bow still in her hand as he placed her on the ground. "Are you ready to learn some archery?"
"Yes please!" Breigel said in a rare show of manners, making Tinwe look around at her.
"At least something is rubbing off on you," Tinwe said, watching her daughter come closer, hand happily held by Faelon's. Tinwe removed her gloves as the crowd slowly dispersed.
"Are you going to stay and watch, Nana?"
"If you would like me to, I can stay," Tinwe said with a smile, brushing her braid back over her shoulder. "We will have to see if you have your father's natural talent."
"What is Prince Legolas up to today?" Faelon asked curiously, starting towards the archery fields. Tinwe walked next to him glancing over at Saelhir as he raced towards them.
"He and Thranduil are getting ready for planting. The king is a little anxious about it."
"I don't blame him, since it is his first season planting in Valinor. Surely the Queen can offer some assistance?"
"Ellissiel has tried to assure him that the soil is good and with some proper irrigation it will all be fine," Tinwe said, taking a seat on a wooden bench as Faelon set up a target only about five yards from Breigel. Saelhir quietly sat next to her, folding his hands in his lap as he watched. "He is just nervous that something will go wrong. I know he would have liked to have given up ruling once we reached Valinor, but he still feels responsible for all his people that have come west."
"Hold up there, El," Faelon said, stopping Breigel from shooting an arrow she had just nocked to her bow. "Let me at least teach you something first."
"Okay," the elfling said, smile still on her face. She was willing to listen to anything she was taught, as long as it was Faelon doing the teaching.
"Now, give me an archer's stance." Breigel stood with her feet spread wide, her body perpendicular to the target. She held her bow up in her left hand with difficulty, her left elbow straight and her chest puffed out proudly. Saelhir giggled at the sight, earning a glare from his friend.
"That needs a little work, I think," Faelon said pleasantly. He started by moving her feet closer together so they were shoulder-width apart. "Now, do you know why I moved your feet?"
"Because she was doing a split!" Saelhir said with a laugh, earning another glare as Breigel stuck her tongue out.
"No," Faelon said evenly. "Your archery begins with a nice strong stance. With your legs that wide, you are unbalanced."
"But Ada can shoot a rabbit at a hundred yards from a moving horse," Breigel countered, looking up at Faelon. "He doesn't have a good stance then."
"Your ada has had a great many years to practice archery. It was only after getting down the proper stance that he could move on to other things."
"Alright," Breigel said with a huff. "What next?"
"Don't have your arm so straight, or your chest out like that. You'll hurt yourself when you release the bowstring. Bend this elbow a little bit," he said, tapping Breigel's left elbow. She complied, but her face screwed up as she held it like that.
"It feels weird," she said, lowering her arm.
"I know, but you'll get used to it. Here, if you adjust your grip like this," Faelon said, gently adjusting her fingers around the bow. "It won't be so weird."
"What now?" Breigel asked eagerly, eying the target in front of her.
"Let's try it with an arrow now. Remember to just use your fingertips. I'll adjust your form as we go," he said, knowing that Breigel was going to start getting impatient if she didn't get to shoot soon. "I'll help."
"Can you even draw that back?" Saelhir asked as she nocked her arrow again, tongue sticking out of the side of her mouth as she concentrated.
"Yes I can!" she said, straining as she pulled the bow back slowly. Faelon knelt down behind her, putting a finger on the string to help her pull it back.
"Keep your elbow up," Tinwe offered, since Faelon was concentrating on adjusting her grip. Breigel lifted her elbow up, finding the right position largely because Faelon's arm kept her from putting her elbow too high.
"Now line up the nock with the corner of your mouth," Faelon said, smiling as the little elleth made a face, bringing the string back to her mouth. "Line the string up with your nose so you can keep your shot consistent." Breigel obeyed, biting her lip as she struggled to do everything she was told. "Now aim the tip of the arrow at the center of the target. Are you ready? One, two, three, go!"
The arrow flew from the bow, hitting several inches below the center. Breigel frowned.
"I missed."
"It is only your first shot!" Faelon said with a laugh, pulling another arrow from her quiver. "I don't care how much of your father you have in you, you weren't going to get it dead center on the first shot."
"How about the second one?" she asked eagerly, looking up at him with a grin. He just smiled back down at her, handing her the second arrow.
"Let's see."
After her lesson, Breigel and Saelhir ran off towards the palace, looking forward to dinner which was going to start soon. Tinwe and Faelon walked behind them, carrying their sparring gear, and in the case of Tinwe, her daughter's bow and quiver.
"Thank you for giving her a lesson, Faelon," Tinwe said with a smile, hoisting the bow and quiver over her shoulder. "Between your lessons and her father's talent, she is going to be outshooting all of us in a few short years."
"You know I am happy to do it," Faelon said, putting his arm around Tinwe's shoulders. "I just wish it was after a victorious sparring match."
"Next time, perhaps," Tinwe said with a laugh. "I won't be able to get away with the same trick twice."
"Yes, I'm onto you now," Faelon said, laughing with her. "When are you going to let me give Breigel sparring lessons?"
"One dangerous activity at a time. She's got all the time in the world to learn."
"But she won't be your little elfling forever," Faelon pointed out. "She's already grown so much just since we arrived in Valinor."
"Believe me, I know," Tinwe said with a sigh. "Soon she'll be riding from one end of the continent to the other, her bow strapped on her back and a knife in her belt."
"Just like her mother," Faelon said, smiling down at her. "At least here she will be safe."
"Except from herself. It really does mean the world to me how much time you spend with her. I know how much Legolas regrets being busy all the time, and he appreciates it as well."
"I feel I must confess," Faelon said, looking down at the ground with a sigh. "It is not entirely out of selflessness. You know I love Breigel, but when I look at her, I sometimes wonder what it would have been like if you hadn't married Legolas."
"I can't blame you for thinking that way, Faelon," Tinwe said sympathetically. She remembered all too well the day Faelon had confessed his love for her. It was a secret only they shared. Tinwe hadn't even shared it with Legolas, knowing the prince's tendency for jealousy. "I just hope that someday soon you will meet your soul mate and you can have your own children."
"I've been looking for a long time, Tinwe. Right now, I am content just stealing your child every once in a while."
"As long as you bring her back in one piece, I am happy to let you take her," Tinwe said, taking her friend's arm with a smile.
"So how did the first lesson go?"
"I hit the target every time!" Breigel said eagerly, watching her father sit on the end of her bed. Earning a look from her mother, however, she revised her statement. "Well, almost every time."
"She did very well," Tinwe said with a smile, kissing her daughter's forehead.
"I wish I could be the one to teach you, sellnin," Legolas said, his voice full of regret as he stroked his daughters blond hair. "I promise, I will take you out shooting soon."
"Thanks, Ada," Breigel said, settling down under her covers. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight," Legolas said, turning off the oil lamp and following Tinwe into the next room, shutting the door behind him.
"Be honest with me, Legolas," Tinwe said, watching him walk across the room to his desk. "Does it bother you that Faelon got to give Breigel her first lesson?"
"Yes and no," Legolas said softly, looking down at the papers on his desk. "Yes, I wish I had the time to take her out every day to shoot. No, because I know she would rather learn from Faelon."
"Don't say that, you know she would love to have you take her out," Tinwe said, coming up behind Legolas and wrapping her arms around his waist, resting her cheek on his back. "She brags about how great you are at archery all the time."
"Does she?" Legolas said, humor in his voice.
"Several times today alone," Tinwe said with a smile. "Do you want me to sweet-talk Thranduil into giving you a day off so you can take her out? I am sure between your mother and I we can get him to relent."
"We will call that plan B," Legolas said, prying his wife's arms off of him gently so he could turn and look at her properly. "If he tries to make me work the day after we finish planting, I will send the two of you in to make him see reason."
"Deal," Tinwe said with a smile before kissing her husband gently.