I quickly returned to my quarters and gathered up my weapons. Buckling the thick belt around my stomach, my sword swayed at my side and I stopped the motion by placing a hand on it. I placed the small dagger into my boot where I normally kept it and I replaced all the remaining daggers and my short sword into their respective holsters. I tied my hair back with a piece of leather and walked out the door. Strider was patiently waiting for me and his eyes lifted from the floor when I emerged.

We walked to the sparing arena in silence and stepped inside. There were a few elves inside, most of them appearing to be extremely young. A knowing smile broke across the rangers face when he caught hold of a particular blonde elf.

"Legolas, it has been ages since I last saw you…" The ranger and elf embraced in a friendly hug. "Indeed. I see you've kept yourself out of trouble?" The blonde elf suddenly glanced over the ranger's shoulder and looked at me. Strider followed his gaze and turned to look at me. "Well, actually I think I've found myself trouble itself…" The ranger teased. I feigned injury at his words but it was halfhearted.

Dusk used to all ways tease me like that and my heart ached for his loss.

"And would it be completely terrible of me to ask for the fair maiden's name?" The elf raised a dainty eyebrow at me. "I am afraid, my lord, that I cannot give you my name… Simply reply to me as Breeze, for that is how I am known…" I explained. The elf looked puzzled for a moment before his eyes widened.

"I've only heard stories of the one they refer to as the Breeze of the North. You never remain in one place for long and travel on a large spotted Mearas! Is this true?" The elf looked at me with a delighted glint in his eye. I slowly nodded and his smile grew broader.

"It is an honor to meet you! But from the stories, everyone stated that you were of the male gender and couldn't possibly be a woman…" He mumbled the last part under his breath.

Over the years, I had developed this uncanny ability to mimic people's habits. It was how I had learned to walk like a man and how to talk like one. How to fight like one and I even learned to control my liquor by just watching men from the dark corner of taverns.

"It is alright. It was my own doing at my attempts to conceal my identity. No harm done!" I reassured him. He sent me a dazzling smile before grasping my hand in his and kissing it gently.

"Forgive me; I am Legolas of Mirkwood." The elf explained. He looked up into my hazel eyes and I blushed slightly. Scanning over his features, I took in every little detail possible.

There were two reasons for this: first, the ranger inside of me needed to keep track of all people here and establish whether or not they are friend or foe, second he was nice to look at.

He had large bright blue eyes that sparkled. His skin was pale and flawless. He had well sculpted cheek bones and thin lips. His long, blonde hair was swept back into a flawless braid and not a hair was out of place.

Once more, I rid my mind of these invading thoughts. I was slipping, not physically but mentally.

I needed to get back in the game. I had to push all that has happened away and replace the wall of solitude back up that had only recently been burned down. Masking my emotions on my face, I turned to Strider.

"So, do you wish to spar?" I asked him and he nodded slowly. Showing no emotion on my features, I stepped away from the elf. We walked out into the center of the arena and stood facing each other.

"No dirty fighting. Fight to disarm, no blood shed." Aragorn stated the rules and I nodded.

I unsheathed my sword and it rang out clearly in the forest air. Copying my actions, Strider watched me closely. He tried reading my emotions on my face but none appeared and I felt that I had him fooled. I took a quick step forward and Strider took a step back. I smirked and lowered my sword, chuckling darkly.

"Are you scared of me, Strider?" I asked him and began to circle the ranger. I was also famous for playing with my prey rather than killing it quickly. I felt Strider's gaze on me the entire time and I raised my own eyes to look up at him.

"This is our first time sparing and I'm not sure what to expect…" He explained and I nodded in understanding. I could quite possibly be underestimating this man and I might not even know it.

Finally, I took a step forward and brought up my blade. Bringing it down upon him, Strider blocked my sword with his. I smirked and stepped back. This time, Strider swung. I spun to the side and lunged at his feet. He jumped over the sword and landed easily.

We continued on for another ten minutes until we were both panting heavily. My arms grew weak under the weight of the blade in my hands but I found the will to continue. I spotted a tree nearby and decided to create some space between me and the ranger.

I sprinted across the arena and hid behind the tree, using it to keep a good distance between me and Strider. I watched him slowly advance toward me, taking cautious steps. His feet made little sound and I ducked behind another tree. I hid my own footsteps but lost track of Strider. Cursing quietly, I tightened the grip on my sword and waited patiently.

I had much experience in battle but that was mostly killing orcs while I lived in the Wild. I would run into small platoons of five or six and pick them off slowly.

Now, this was a different story.

I was facing another Ranger of the North. We were deemed elite and would carry out the most difficult of tasks. I had only ever sparred against Dusk. Not to sound full of myself, but I had always been able to beat him. After a while, it hadn't even been a challenge.

No wonder he was dead.

Sure I still missed his company but he had been substantially weaker in swordsmanship and I always saw that as a weakness.

Coming back in to reality, I heard a twig snap, followed by a quiet curse. I smirked to myself and ran towards the sound. But as I ran out from behind a tree, a sword flashed in front of my face. I skidded in the dirt and lost my footing for a moment. Falling to the ground, I let out a startled cry. Strider had the perfect chance to finish the battle right here but he stopped and looked down at me.

Feigning injury, I grabbed my knee and hissed out fake pain. The ranger knelt down next to me. "Is this where it hurts?" He asked and reached out a hand to my knee. I relaxed the muscles in my face and lay back against the ground for a moment. My hand drifted to my sword at my side and brought it up to his throat.

I smirked as he realized what he had done and his eyes sparkled. A smirk also graced his lips and he stepped back. He sheathed his sword and offered me a hand. Grasping his forearm, he pulled me from the ground. I placed my sword back in its holster and looked up at him. I straightened out my wrinkled clothing and bent down on one knee to tie the laces on my boot.

"I'm not sure what I am to do at the gathering tomorrow…" I explained and my eyes stayed focused on the task at hand. I had quickly changed the subject as to not make the ranger angry.

"As am I. Attending gatherings of all the races across the land are foreign to me as well…" he added.

"I'm afraid that my gender might lessen the views the other beings have of the Northern lands. What do you believe I should do?" I asked and rose from my kneeling position. "Be who you are. It is no use to try and hide. Also, if you did hide your identity and one of them found out the truth, a fight may occur in the counsel and no ground would be covered." He reasoned and I nodded.

His sudden wise words surprised me but I thought over his proposition. I believed that he was correct and stated that I would remain how I am now. But something tugged at the back of my mind. If these men knew that I was the fabled Breeze of the North, they would want to know my true identity.

And that wasn't a secret that I just told anyone.

Please, please, please, please, please review! I love hearing from you guys and I need constructive criticisim!