I'm back! Sort of. I'm in Tahiti still, heading to New Zealand in a couple days to travel around for two weeks. You all are the lucky few who actually will get a new chapter in that time. Enjoy!


Breigel chewed on her lip, shifting in her saddle as she and Faelon drew closer and closer to Taurost. Faelon kept his eyes forward, but could see her anxious movements out of the corner of his eye.

"What do you think your mother's going to do to you? Force you into a gown and chain you in a corner to sew? You know she won't make you do anything awful, calm down."

"I have spent the last hour thinking of all the possible scenarios for how this could turn out," Breigel said, her voice betraying her frustration. "And I just know that whatever happens, this is the end of my childhood, and as soon as I set foot in Taurost again, I will have to be the princess everyone expects of me."

"After the childhood you had, I don't think anyone expects you to be anything different than you are," Faelon said comfortingly. "If you start acting like a proper princess, I think the entire palace will just be suspicious that you are planning some wild scheme that they will all be the unfortunate victims of when you enact your dastardly plot."

"Is that really why they wanted me gone this last week?" Breigel asked suddenly, dawning realization making her eyes widen. "Did they think I was going to pull some elaborate prank on them all as a farewell to my childhood?"

"I hadn't considered that," Faelon admitted with a laugh. "But knowing your mother, it is entirely possible."

"She is always one step ahead of me!" Breigel said, frowning at her missed opportunity. "You've known her for a long time, how do I beat her? How do I get her out of my head?"

"If I knew that, my life would have taken a very different direction," Faelon said, a catch in his voice that Breigel did not quite understand. "You are just going to have to figure that one out on your own. The two of you are so alike I assume that it has a lot to do with the fact you both think so similarly."

"That's irritating," Breigel muttered. "But I guess I should be grateful for that, or I might not have been raised the way I was, free to learn the arts of archery and hunting."

"Indeed," Faelon said as they broke free of the trees and entered the grounds surrounding the palace. They could see lights on in the windows as the sunlight faded behind the trees to the west, beckoning for them to come enjoy the cheer inside. But they turned away from the lights and made for the stables first.

Breigel was too nervous to continue their conversation as she took care of Thala, brushing the mare down and bringing her fresh water. Despite Faelon's reassurances, she was concerned what waited for her in Taurost. It was apparently a big deal, as her mother had been scheming with her father for much longer than just the last week. They had some big plan for her, and it worried her to no end.

"I have been instructed to take you in through the eastern door," Faelon said as she put away her tack. "I will escort you to your room and there you will change and wait for me to come and bring you down to the ballroom. No sneaking away by yourself, alright?"

"Fine," she said with an enormous sigh, throwing her travel bag over her shoulder and following Faelon towards the side door, closest to the royal wing. "I suppose Naneth has already laid out a frivolous gown for me to wear."

"If she hasn't, put on that green and blue one you wore last winter for the Solstice Festival."

"You know I hate that gown," Breigel groaned, throwing her head back in disgust. "It itches and I always step on the hem."

"You liar," Faelon said with a grin. "You only pretended that was true to irritate your mother. I noticed you only scratched your 'itches' when she was watching you, and only 'tripped' on your hem when she made you dance with Aergon."

"Spying on me the whole time, were you?" Breigel said accusingly, though she smiled widely. "Had to make sure no young elves swept me off my feet?"

"I know none of the rogues in Taurost are good enough for you," Faelon said with a shrug, though there was a distinct twinkle in his eye. "I only wanted to make sure that you didn't cause any of them to swoon."

"Sure," Breigel said, snorting with laughter in a very undignified way. "Now who is the liar?"

"Enough with your sass," Faelon said, stopping outside the door that led to the royal suite of rooms. "Go bathe and change quickly. I want you to be ready when I get back in half an hour." He opened the door and shoved her into the room, shutting it quickly behind her to prevent any immediate retaliation.

Breigel grumbled but marched to her room, noticing the quiet that filled the suite, indicating none of the royal family or the maids were waiting for her there. She entered her room, surprised to find that her mother had not actually laid out a gown. She wondered at that. She had assumed her mother would have commissioned a new dress just for the occasion. But she followed Faelon's instructions and pulled out the blue and green monstrosity she loathed so much. She laid it on the bed before going to take a quick bath, returning minutes later with a brush in her hand and a towel around her thin form.

"We meet again, my nemesis," Breigel said, brandishing the brush in her hand at the gown before her. "You must be so proud of yourself, getting to smother me twice in one year. I shall have the last laugh though. When I return to my room this evening, I will make you suffer."

She often threatened her gowns in this manner. She had only successfully shredded two before Tinwe had intervened to save all other hapless garments from her daughter's violent tendencies.

The gown just sat lifeless in front of her, innocently oblivious to the fate it might soon suffer. With another enormous sigh of resignation, Breigel began dressing. She was struggling to tie up the laces in the back by herself when there was a knock at her door. She opened it and found Faelon smiling down at her, dressed in a simple green tunic.

"How come you get to dress normally and I have to wear this pile of sh—"

"Language," Faelon said, putting a finger to her lips, clearly amused at her irritation. "Time to start acting like a royal."

"Whatever," Breigel grumbled, rolling her eyes. "Since Naneth seems to have forgotten to leave a maid here to help me with this—" She caught Faelon's eye and refrained from continuing her sentence as she had intended. Amending her words, she continued. "Dress, you are going to have to tie me up."

"I hope you don't say that to all the elves that come to your door," Faelon said, grin on his face as Breigel turned, pulling her hair over her shoulder so he could start lacing up her dress.

"You are the only one who is brave enough to walk so boldly through the king's quarters to knock on my door," she said, standing up straight so he could tie the ribbons tightly. "They all run away before even knocking on the first door."

"Between King Thranduil and Tinwe, this is undoubtedly the most feared part of the palace," Faelon commented, pulling hard on the ties as he continued on Breigel's dress. She felt herself slowly being engulfed by the fabric prison. It was not a feeling she enjoyed.

"I'm sure I don't help," Breigel said as Faelon finished by tying a tight bow across the small of her back. "Not that I care. It's rather amusing to see the fear in the eyes of all the young elves around here. They all know I can beat any one of them to a pulp if I wanted."

"You are the only lady in all of Valinor who feels pride at scaring away suitors," Faelon laughed, putting his arm around Breigel and leading her away from her own room towards the exit. "Do you not find a single one pleasant to talk to or at the very least tolerable?"

"I have you," Breigel replied, putting her arm around his waist. "Why do I want some blubbering lord fawning over me? All a husband would get me is a one-way ticket to indentured servitude. I could wave goodbye to freedom and fun."

"That is scary how much that sounds like your mother," Faelon said, shaking his head. "She told me how much she feared marrying your father because she thought it meant she would be tied down. Lucky for her, Prince Legolas was not so demanding of his princess. Someday you'll find someone like that."

"For now, I really could not care less," Breigel said. "Tomorrow I become an adult, but that doesn't mean I'm going to give up my childhood just because tradition says I should."

"Good for you," Faelon said, kissing her temple as they continued down the hall.


As Breigel and Faelon entered the ballroom, Breigel felt suddenly very out of place. She had been expecting the usual fine décor, everyone dressed in their finest gowns and tunics, dancing to the soft music that filled the room. Instead, she was greeted to a sight of everyone from the palace—lords, ladies, maids, cooks, guards—all laughing and talking in a room that was filled not with elegance, but earthy tones and comfortable cushions thrown around the floor so all could mingle in comfort, titles and expectations forgotten. The food was arranged in no order, dishes not really matching. This was the kind of party Breigel always wanted. Food and drink shared by all, the only thoughts were for comfort, not propriety and sophistication. There was even a group of elves nearby that were apparently wrestling while ladies dressed in simple gowns laughed and applauded, cheering on their favorites.

"Faelon! You were supposed to bring her directly here!"

"I'm sorry, Tinwe," the elf said with a hearty laugh, glancing around to see Tinwe, dressed in a simple tunic and leggings, striding towards them, an annoyed look directed at Faelon. "I couldn't help it. She was already worried about it, I had to tease her more."

"I can't believe you!" Breigel said, punching Faelon hard in the shoulder as she let go of him. "You made me wear this for nothing!"

"Not for nothing," he said cheerfully. "For my own amusement."

Breigel made like she was going to tackle him, but Tinwe quickly stepped between them, giving her daughter a hug, which was enough to cool the elleth's anger. Breigel hugged her mother back, letting a smile grace her fair features as she met the older princess's eyes when the parted. There was no difference in their height anymore. Breigel really did feel like an adult at that moment, meeting her mother's warm eyes, feeling like an equal for the first time.

"Welcome home, Breigel," Tinwe said softly, smiling radiantly at her daughter.

"Thank you, Naneth," Breigel said, before she was pulled away into another tight hug unexpectedly. She smiled as she recognized the smell of her father and hugged him back happily.

"While I am surprised to see you in a dress, sellnin, it is always a pleasant surprise to see you put in such effort," Legolas said merrily, looking down at his daughter. "Faelon is going to pay for this, isn't he?"

"Most definitely," Breigel said with a laugh, kissing her father's cheek. "With your permission, of course."

"Why start asking for permission for things now?" Legolas said laughing with his daughter. "You never did as a child, you shouldn't start just when you become an adult."

"I thought perhaps you still valued him as an advisor. If something were to happen to him, I would hate for it to interfere with your work."

"Thank you for thinking of me," Legolas said, kissing her forehead. "But I think Faelon will have to find some other occupation for the next few years, so you need not worry about my work."

"What do you mean?" Breigel asked, confused. "Is he that lousy of an advisor you are letting him go?"

"I can hear you, you know!" Faelon called from where he stood several paces behind the royals, leaning against a marble pillar. Breigel just stuck her tongue out at him before returning her gaze to her father.

"Not exactly," the prince said, glancing up at his wife. Tinwe moved closer, standing next to Legolas and taking his arm. Breigel knew something was up as her parents smiled at her with the same mischievous light they had been wearing for weeks before her trip into the forest.

"What's going on?" she asked suspiciously, narrowing her eyes and putting her hands on her hips. This just increased her parent's amusement, and made Faelon chuckle from his position nearby.

"Your mother and I have been thinking long and hard about what to do to celebrate you coming of age," Legolas began calmly. "And we believe we have come up with something that you will be most pleased about."

"What's that?" Breigel asked warily.

"If you are willing, we would like to take you on an extended trip across Aman. Your mother and I agreed that you need a good adventure, and we both would like to travel as well, so we have made the arrangements to leave tomorrow. We will spend the next five years or so exploring the continent, like we did back in Middle Earth."

Breigel stared at them, stunned. She could not believe her ears. She had been rather restless lately, reading her mother's old stories late at night, dreaming of seeing the things Tinwe had before she left Middle Earth. But she had not in any of her many musings believed her parents would let her go on such a journey. Her mother had repeatedly told her that her own journeys had not started until she was several hundred years old, which Breigel had taken as a refusal to let her travel until she was more mature. But now, here they were, telling her that not only were they going to let her have some adventures, but they would be gone for years on end. No more princess of Taurost. Just an elleth enjoying a wild journey with her parents. The thought of her parents joining her did not bother her in the slightest. They were well traveled and would be the best teachers to show her some of the great wonders that the world held. It was a dream come true.

"You're serious?" she choked out eventually, still staring at them in shock. They both grinned at her.

"Absolutely," Tinwe said cheerfully. "Your grandfather has already agreed, so we are free to see the far ends of Aman, just the three of us. As you can imagine, we are as eager as you. Though if you don't want to go, I am sure you can stay here and we will just go by ourselves."

"No!" Breigel said loudly. "I want to go!" It was then her mother's words hit her fully. "The three of us?" She frowned, glancing around at Faelon. "Faelon isn't coming?"

"I'm sorry, El," Faelon said, coming forward and putting a hand on her shoulder. "But this is your parents' gift to you. And I am not as adventurous as you three. I am content to stay here in Taurost. Don't worry. I am sure you'll have fun without me."

"But we'll be gone for years!" Breigel said anxiously, looking between her parents and her friend. "It just won't be the same without you around."

"Ah, you won't even be thinking about me, you will be having so much fun," Faelon assured her with a smile, kissing her temple. "Why do you think I was the one to entertain you for the last week? It is the last time we will get to have our own adventure for a while, and I thought maybe dealing with me for a week would make you sick of me."

"You may be irritating, but I will never be sick of your company," Breigel scoffed.

"We will be back before you know it, sellnin," Legolas said sympathetically. "I hope your mother and I will be able to give you enough entertainment until then."

Breigel sighed, but smiled at her father. She loved her parents dearly, and in reality, she would never be tired of their company any more than Faelon's. They had treated her in a way few others would have in their situation, and she loved them more than words can say. "Alright, I guess I will have to live with it. I just wish you had told me sooner so I could have tormented him more while I had the chance."

All four elves broke into laughter at that. It was with renewed joy that they returned to the rest of the festivities, Breigel thanking elves endlessly for wishing her a happy begetting day and a pleasant journey ahead. She was so pleased with her good fortune that she did not once complain about her dress. She was even civil to her cousin Norui, the daughter of Tinwe's elder brother. The cousins had never got along very well, as Norui was prim and proper and looked down on her royal relative with haughty distain. Breigel didn't help matters by making Norui the victim of many pranks over the years. When Norui wished her a pleasant trip, Breigel refrained from making a sarcastic reply and just thanked her with a smile.

"Are you really going to be gone for five years?" Aergon asked anxiously after wishing the princess luck on her trip.

"Yes, and I'm not even sure that will be long enough," Breigel responded with a laugh. Aergon looked a little downhearted after that, so in her good mood, Breigel took pity on him and let him join her as she watched the wrestling match continue into the night.

"Will you manage?" Faelon asked, watching Breigel laugh with the young elves around her. He turned to Tinwe and Legolas with a smile. "You won't be able to pawn her off on others if she gets on your nerves now."

"We will just have to take turns escaping for some peace and quiet," Legolas mused with a smile. "I'm more concerned about Tinwe. You know how she gets when she travels."

"Don't start with me, Legolas," she replied, pulling on one of his braids in amused annoyance. "Keep it up and I will go out of my way to drive you crazy."

"I know you will, melamin," Legolas said, kissing her fingers. "I know you will."