Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings sadly.

Here is my new chapter. Sorry for taking so long to update!

"Is Tezra okay?" Merry asks me, a concerned look on his face.

"She's fine. Just not used to walking this far." I answer, ruffling his hair affectionately with a smile on my lips.

"She isn't?" He asks.

"No. She's not very athletic. She spends most of her time reading, not working out like me." I reply with a giggle. "Why are you so worried about her?" I wonder curiously. Merry looks at his feet and shifts nervously.

"Will you tell anyone?" Merry asks.

"Merry, you can talk to me about anything. I won't tell anyone unless you want me to." I promise him.

"Not even Tezra?" Merry asks as the two of us walk away from the eavesdroppers.

"Legolas might hear, but he won't tell anyone. If he does, well he'll regret opening his mouth." I chuckle darkly, gripping my daggers tightly.

"You won't tell Tezra?" Merry repeats.

"Not unless you want me to tell her anything." I say seriously, kneeling down so I am face to face with him.

"I'm worried about Tezra because I don't have anyone but Pippin to worry about. Well, I have Frodo now, too. And Sam. But I don't have anyone to worry about me." Merry admits shyly.

"Well, you have me that worries about you. I will not let any harm come to you, Pippin, Tezra, anyone. I don't want anyone hurt." I say, clapping my hand on Merry's shoulder. "And you can come to me if you ever need to talk about anything, unless it has to do with your body. If it's an injury, I can handle that, but anything else related to your body, go to Aragorn or Legolas. Or Gandalf. Wait, no not Gandalf. That old coot may not know what to say..." I shrug.

"Alright." Merry laughs at me, probably for my rambling.

"Are you alright, now, Merry?" I ask. He nods his head and hugs me.

"Thank you." He says.

"You do not have to thank me, Merry. It's what I'm here for." I reply. Walking back to the group, Merry begins telling me of some of the pranks that he and Pippin have pulled, making me laugh more often than not.

"Missa?" I hear Tezra whine. Looks like she woke up without me there. Not good.

"I'm here, Tezra." I call. "I was just talking to Merry about something. Nothing to worry about."

"What were you talking about?" She asks as she walks into our sight.

"He was asking me if I could give him a few lessons in archery." I reply quickly. I notice Legolas frowning at me, and I give him a pointed look to not say anything.

"Oh. Okay!" Tezra smiles before she skips off to help Sam cook.

"Thank you." Merry says again.

"I said I wouldn't say anything unless you said I could and I'm sticking to that." I smile at him before walking off towards Legolas.

"What're you doing?" Tezra asks.

"I'm going to go set up a small archery range. Legolas would you mind helping me?" I ask, hinting in my tone that I wanted to talk to him without prying ears.

"Very well." Legolas nods, before I leave and he follows me.

"Why did you lie to your friend?" He asks once we are out of earshot.

"Merry doesn't want anyone to know. I promised him I wouldn't say anything unless he said I could. I know you could hear everything." I say.

"Yes, but I don't know why you would lie." Legolas says.

"I'm not. I am going to teach Merry archery. And Pippin if he wants to learn as well." I reply.

"Does Pippin know?" Legolas asks.

"No, but he will." I reply, turning around. "Are you going to help me set this up, or will I have to do it on my own?" I pout.

"I will help you." Legolas smiles at me, making my knees go weak. 'Curious.' I think, before shaking it off and setting everything up before making two bows for Merry and Pippin, and some arrows.

"Would you like me to help you teach them?" Legolas asks.

"I should have it under control, but if you want to, you can." I reply with a small smile to him. If it affects him at all, he doesn't show it. Whatever.

"Shall we go retrieve our students?" He asks.

"Sounds like a good idea to me." I reply, before leading the way back to the rocks, smiling when I see Merry and Pippin rough-housing. "Merry, Pippin." I call, gaining the two hobits attention. I bring the bows out and present them to the two wide-eyed hobits. "Are you two ready for your archery lessons?" I ask.

"You mean it?" Pippin asks excitedly.

"Would I have bows and arrows made for you two if I weren't?" I ask, cocking my hip to the left, with my hands on my hips, both bows in both hands.

"No?" Pippin asks.

"Exactly. Now let's go. Legolas and I have a lot to teach you before we leave here." I smile as the two hobits cheer and follow me and Legolas to the little field, chattering excitedly as the rest of the Fellowship follows, making me roll my eyes.

"Looks like we have an audience." Legolas comments.

"Looks like we get to show off." I counter with a smirk on my lips, a small giggle escaping my lips when Legolas trips over a root. "I've never seen an elf so distracted to the point that he looses his balance." I comment, jumping from root to root.

"You would show off." Tezra giggles.

"Of course. I don't loose focus easily when moving." I reply.

"Suuuure." Tezra grins. "Is that why..."

"Shut up." I reply, notching an arrow and shooting it just above her head in warning.

"Alright. Alright. We can talk later." Tezra sighs.

"Legolas, do you want to instruct or demonstrate?" I wonder.

"You can demonstrate." Legolas smiles as I grin. As Legolas tells them how to hold the bow and the stance for them to use, I move into the said positions, before closing my eyes and shooting an arrow.

"If you get really good, you can do this." I say, as I grab five different arrows and shoot them at one target, the arrows falling in a straight line.

"Wow." Merry and Pippin breath.

"You showoff." Tezra mutters. "I'm still only able to do that one arrow at a time."

"I've practiced for years." I shrug. Time passes as Merry and Pippin learn, rather quickly to my surprise, how to shoot the arrows.

"Boromir and Aragorn can give you your swords lessons." I say. "I'm going for a walk. Tezra, do you want to join me?" I wonder.

"Yes!" Tezra cheers. "Legolas, don't listen in on our conversation." Tezra demands.

"Okay." He replies, holding his hands up in surrender.

"Is he going to listen?" Tezra asks me.

"I don't know. He may hear everything, but he'll tune it out." I reply. "At least I hope he will. I'm really not so sure..."

"That's good enough for me. So do you want him to be your mate?" Tezra asks curiously.

"I-I'm not sure." I sigh as she and I sit on a fallen log side by side.

"What do you mean, you aren't sure?" Tezra wonders as she inspects my face.

"Exactly that." I mumble, turning my face away to hide the blush that begins to darken my face.

"Do you want him to be your mate?" Tezra asks. "Do you want to be bound to him for as long as you exsist?"

"I think I wouldn't mind it, but at the same time, I don't know if I could handle it. Not being bound to him, that is. But loosing my freedom. That's what I would worry about." I reply.

"I don't think he'd take your freedom away, Missa." Tezra says, placing her hand on my shoulder comfortingly.

"We don't know that." I say, looking at her, my eyes wide and begging her to understand.

"You scared, aren't you?" Tezra asks. "You've always been scared of rejection. That's why you never let yourself get close to someone."

"You've picked up on that?" I ask, turning to face the ground with a long sigh.

"Missa, I've always paid attention to you. That's how I know you really do like him. Maybe we'll give it some time, see how things turn out." Tezra hugs me. "You don't have to push yourself."

"Thanks. Glad you understand. Now what about you? Any hobits catch your attention?" I snicker as she blushes.

"Maybe. I'm not sure." Tezra shifts in her seat uncomfortably.

"Who?" I wonder, taken aback at her response.

"Well..." Tezra mumbles the name, catching me off guard.

"Merry?" I ask in surprise, falling off the log, landing on my rear with a grunt.

"I'm not sure!" Tezra squeaks, hiding her face from her best friend.

"T, you don't have to hide from me." I grin. "I've seen you at your worst and best."

"Yeah that's true." Tezra mumbles, a small smile on her lips.