"Breigel?" Saelhir was surprised to see her waiting patiently on a bench just outside the practice fields. She was pointedly ignoring every elf that walked by, not bothering to respond to their polite hellos or attempts at conversation. Saelhir walked towards her hesitantly, wondering if she was still mad at him. She had a rather ominous look on her face as she stared at him, lips pursed and back straight.

"Are you still mad at me?" he asked hesitantly, stopping several feet from her, just in case she lashed out. He was glad to see she did not have her bow, but he had no doubts that she was still armed. She stared at him silently.

"Why, Princess, how nice to—"

"Zip it, Barahen, or I will cut out your tongue." She was definitely still mad, Saelhir thought, shifting his feet nervously. He glanced at Barahen, who apparently noticed her fingers clutching the knife at her waist. With an evil look at Saelhir, he left, wisely choosing not to push the issue when Breigel was already in a foul mood.

"Look, Bree, can we talk about—"

"What is there to talk about?" she said stiffly. "It was not your fault."

"Yet I get the feeling I am in trouble nonetheless," Saelhir said slowly.

"Oh no, you're not in trouble. But if that twittering harpy in the bushes over there comes any closer, we are going to have issues."

Saelhir's eyes shifted in the direction Breigel indicated, watching with trepidation as Lady Triwen made herself known. She was dressed in a very well-fitted pale blue gown, and her hair hung in ringlets around her face. She smiled radiantly at Saelhir, but he did not miss the look she shot Breigel. She had obviously heard the twittering harpy comment.

"I am so glad I caught you before you went to dinner, Saelhir," she said, hips swaying as she made her way towards him. "I do hope you are still planning on joining me this eve-"

She paused, her path blocked by Breigel as she stood firmly in the middle of the path, directly in between Saelhir and Triwen. Saelhir and the rest of the recruits—unable to continue to dinner thanks to the confrontation taking place in front of them—watched with wide eyes as Breigel crossed her arms, a particularly wicked grin on her face as she glared at Triwen.

"I am terribly sorry, my lady, but Saelhir is busy. You will just have to find some other ellon to occupy the empty spot at your dinner table."

"I was asking him, not you," Lady Triwen said, straightening haughtily and raising her chin defiantly. "And last night you had no issues with me inviting him to dinner."

"That was yesterday. Today, I am telling you that Saelhir is not going with you."

"Is that a royal decree, your highness?"

"It is simply a fact. Saelhir!"

"Yes?" he asked meekly, wondering if he was going to get out of this with his dignity. But, he reasoned, it was better to sacrifice his dignity than to end up with an arrow sticking out of him.

"Would you care to explain to Lady Triwen that you have a prior engagement this evening since she seems incapable of understanding it from me?" Clearing his throat, Saelhir stepped forward until he was looking at Triwen over Breigel's shoulder, unable to get any closer as the Princess stood resolutely in his way. He was grateful he had a ready excuse to give.

"I must apologize for this, Lady Triwen, but I am actually busy this evening. I do apologize for not informing you earlier, but I forgot it is a training night and I must meet with Princess Tinwe shortly. And do forgive Breigel, she is only under orders to ensure I comply. She means no offense."

The snort Breigel gave at this quickly unraveled any attempt at smoothing things over between the two ellith, but it was in fact a training evening. So even if she did not believe the story Saelhir told, Triwen would quickly discover the truth if she insisted on following him to meet with Tinwe.

"I am sorry to hear that," Triwen said, putting on her lovely pout again. "Is there any chance you might join me some other night?"

"No," said Breigel before Saelhir could even open his mouth. "Saelhir is busy. You best find someone else to harass. Go on." She actually began shooing Triwen back down the path, forcing the elleth to back up under her assault.

Turning with a glare, Triwen took her leave, her chin held high. Saelhir felt extremely guilty about the public rejection. Especially since Breigel had been so rude about it. As soon as Triwen was gone, he determinedly steered Breigel down the path towards the palace, turning aside at the nearest opportunity to find a quiet spot to argue the issue.

"That was a bit rude, don't you think?"

"Did you want to go to dinner with her?"

"Not particularly, but there was no need to be so harsh about it."

"She wasn't going to stop pestering you otherwise."

"I get that you do not want me leaving you, Bree, but I assure you, I have no interest in Lady Triwen. Yet that was a very public place to have a confrontation with her."

"So?"

"So it reflects poorly on you." Breigel was quiet for a moment. She stared at him with an odd expression on her face.

"You are saying that you wish I hadn't done that not because of Triwen but because you think I made a bad impression?"

"Yes. You are a princess and should have more tact than that. Especially with an audience. I do not think your mother would be particularly happy to hear about your behavior."

"Are you lecturing me on etiquette, Saelhir?"

"I suppose I am. Why are you smiling like that?"

"I find it amusing that you are trying to defend my honor by lecturing me on proper behavior. How far you have come since our childhood."

Saelhir raised his eyebrow at her curiously. He was glad she no longer appeared angry with him, but he was confused by her grin. She seemed to be taking his irritation with her surprisingly well. It was not like her.

"Come on, Naneth is waiting," she said, ending the discussion by dragging him back down the path towards the palace, her previous animosity dispersed. Still confused, Saelhir followed obediently, puzzled by her odd behavior. He thought about asking her to apologize to Triwen, but thought that would be pushing his luck. He would wait to bring it up until she was in a good mood. Right now, he was not entirely sure what kind of mood she was in.

After that, Breigel rarely let Saelhir out of her sight when he was not training. Saelhir even noticed her watching training several times. He wondered why the first couple times, but when he caught her having what appeared to be a heated conversation with an elleth wearing what appeared to be a rather revealing dress, he quickly realized why. Gondram's comment about how other ellith might be find him desirable due to his relationship with Breigel seemed accurate. His suspicions were confirmed when he caught the same elleth eyeing him from across the dining hall the following day. Breigel's jealous guarding of him was flattering and somewhat amusing. He merely hoped she was attempting to be gracious when she deterred their attempts to flirt.

With Breigel always around the training grounds, she was bound to have issues of her own. Naturally, Barahen tried his luck again. And naturally, he crashed and burned.

"If I didn't know any better, I would say you are trying to get my attention," he said smoothly, leaning against a tree beside where Breigel sat, waiting for Saelhir. "Have you changed your mind, Princess?"

"I am sincerely glad you do know better, Barahen, since the last thing I am going to do is change my mind. I have been as polite as possible with you, but it will get ugly if you do not refrain from irritating me. I thought this issue was done with after our confrontation at the beach."

"It would have been had I not heard from Saelhir's own mouth that you are unattached. Forgive me for my persistence, but it is not in me to give up without a fight."

"If you wish to fight me, I will gladly oblige," Breigel said, eyeing him dangerously. "I am not as gifted with a sword as with a bow, but I am certain you are aware of my mother's prowess, and she trained me well."

"If it gives me an excuse to spend time with you, Princess, then I would not be opposed to a friendly sparring match."

"Trust me, Barahen, it would be anything but friendly."

Breigel was growing steadily more and more irritated as she spoke, but little of it had to do with Barahen. She dealt with him with resignation, accepting that he was going to be a pest and confident she could handle the annoyance. But what bothered her was that she was currently cornered between Barahen and the hedge behind her, and her incapacitation had allowed one of the harpies to descend upon Saelhir.

Saelhir was being a gentleman, politely addressing the giggling elleth in his path as he tried to subtly get her to move away so he could go rescue Breigel. He could see Barahen grinning seductively at her, and he dearly wished to take the sword in his hand and put it up to the ellon's throat. Or perhaps somewhere less honorable. Unaware that Breigel was having similar thoughts about the elleth in front of him, Saelhir smiled down at her disarmingly, wondering if maybe he had the ability to make the lady swoon long enough to squeeze past her. He had never tried such tactics before; he doubted very much that Breigel would ever swoon, and she was the only lady he had ever thought of using his charms on.

"Do forgive me, Lady Dillothel. I do not wish to be rude, but it would simply not be proper to accept such an offer from a fair maiden. One might think I was taking advantage of your generosity."

"Nonsense, Saelhir!" she simpered, making him want to roll his eyes. Instead, he just continued smiling as best he could. "No one would begrudge me a handsome guest at dinner. The only ones who might have cruel words to say are simply those jealous that I am able to have your attention to myself."

"You hardly know me. What pray tell has you wanting my undivided attention?"

"Oh Saelhir, what lady would not want to listen to your charming words?"

"You are aware what has happened to the others that have tried to gain my attention?" he said, switching tactics since she simply got more and more flirtatious as the conversation went on. So much for getting her to swoon. He supposed it was a practiced art.

"Oh, you mean the Princess?" she said, though that was as far as it got. Breigel suddenly appeared at Saelhir's shoulder, slipping her arm around his waist as she shifted his arm over her shoulders, giving Dillothel a sugary smile. Saelhir took a moment to look behind the lady to see what had become of Barahen.

Breigel had apparently had enough of the irritating elf and had taken rather drastic measures to rid herself of his attention. Saelhir fought a smug smile from taking over his features at the sight of the ellon in question doubled over in pain, leaning against the bench and sucking in air as he tried to recover. Salehir let the smug look escape as he met the elf's gaze, noting that the angry dark eyes were watering from pain. Satisfied Barahen was taken care of for the time being, he glanced back at Lady Dillothel, who was glaring at Breigel with pursed lips.

"So what are we talking about over here?" Breigel said with a false air of levity, her own eyes flashing as she looked at Dillothel. "Not bothering Saelhir, are you?"

"Of course not, Princess. I was merely inviting him to a home-cooked meal. It will be infinitely better than those meals he eats at the dining hall."

"Really? Because I think the cooks here are fabulous. But not to worry, we are eating at his house this evening, so you need not be concerned. Isn't that right, Saelhir?"

"It is," Saelhir said, trying to look sympathetically at Dillothel. "Your concern is touching, truly, but I am well cared for. If you will excuse us, we really should not keep my mother waiting. Good evening, my lady."

Saelhir sighed a breath of relief once they were away from both Dillothel and Barahen. He grunted as Breigel poked him in the side before addressing him.

"You looked rather pleased to have her talking to you," she accused tartly.

"I assure you, I was not. I thought you would be able to tell when my smile is genuine or not by now."

"I am just checking. I have simply never seen that look on your face before."

"I was trying a different approach to get her to leave me alone, but I am not going to explain it to you as you will only laugh at me."

"If that is true, you shouldn't have said so, because now you have to tell me," Breigel said fiendishly, jabbing him hard in the ribs again. "Come on, tell me!"

"Alright fine," he said, giving in with a smile. "But I was trying to see if I have the gift to make ladies swoon. I thought if she did I could get away quicker." Breigel burst out laughing. "See! I knew you would laugh at me!"

"I guess that failed," she said snorting with laughter. Saelhir thought it was adorable.

"I should ask your father how he does it. Or maybe Elladan. He has more success than anyone."

"Don't go around making ladies swoon," Breigel warned through her laughter. "That is just asking for trouble."

"I doubt I have the capacity, anyway," Saelhir said with a shrug, turning a corner and catching sight of his house up head. "I am not a lord or a prince."

"Your mother is a Lady," Breigel pointed out. "Technically, you could have a title."

"I think I have enough flirting to deal with without one," Saelhir commented airily, opening the door and extracting himself from her grip reluctantly so they could fit through the door.

"Oh, I was not expecting you both this evening," Icaria said, looking up from her sewing in surprise. "I did not make anything for dinner since I thought it was only going to be me."

"I am feeling adventurous today," Breigel said cheerfully. "I'll make dinner." Saelhir wasn't sure if her good mood was from getting him away from Dillothel or from kicking Barahen in the crotch. The second image certainly brought a smile to his face, though he was quite pleased with the first idea, too.

"That is not necessary," Icaria said, starting to stand up. Saelhir quickly crossed the room, forcing her back onto the couch.

"I promise we will not burn down the house, Naneth. Just finish your sewing. I'm sure between the two of us we will make something edible." Icaria looked at him skeptically, but he just smiled reassuringly and followed Breigel into the kitchen, where she was busily browsing through all the cupboards, muttering to herself.

"Do you have a plan?" Saelhir asked, watching her pulling things haphazardly from the cupboard she had her head stuck in.

"When have you ever known me to have a plan?" her muffled voice replied from the cabinet.

"You have pretty elaborate plans when it comes to causing mischief."

"Touché," she said, appearing long enough to look at him with a raised eyebrow before burying herself in the cupboard again. "But right now the only plan I have is to do my best not to ruin your naneth's kitchen. Do you have any leeks?"

It took longer than it should have, but eventually the two young elves were able to put together a passable dinner. Breigel made her favorite meat pies—though they were a little watery—while Saelhir was able to throw together a salad from various leftover vegetables.

"I am impressed," Icaria said, sitting across from the two elves as they all sat around the table for dinner. "This is quite good. It almost reminds me of being back in Mirkwood."

"Thank you," Breigel said, beaming at the compliment to her cooking. "And I promise, we will clean up the kitchen."

"Oh, that is not necessary, I'll—"

"No, really Naneth, let us clean," Saelhir interjected, glancing down as the piece of venison he had been about to consume fell off his fork. "You really do not want to see the state of your kitchen right now."

Icaria glanced between the two youths, her brow furrowed. Breigel looked like she was fighting back a grin, while Saelhir looked repentant. She decided she did not want to know what they had gotten into on their own. She let it go, returning to her meal. If she was not so happy at the fact that her son was in love with the elleth next to him, she would have marched into the kitchen and given them both a stern talking to for ruining the order she fought to maintain there. If everything got put back where it belonged, she reasoned, she would not begrudge their enthusiasm. No matter how messy it made her kitchen.


I had a lot of fun writing this chapter, so I am posting it early. I'm finally getting caught up with where I have already written, so please bear with me as I try to correct some of the discrepancies. I have two more chapters complete before I have to fill in another gap, so you should not have to wait very long for an update.

I've decided to start thanking all of you lovely readers that I can't respond to directly by commenting at the end of each subsequent chapter. It seems to work well enough for other authors, and I do love having conversations with you all. So starting with Chapter 27 reviews:

WoodElfJedi: Thanks a bunch for all the reviews you've been sending my way. I'm honored that you think so highly of this story. And thank you for recommending Sauron is the Cutest Thing Ever. It's a bit too outlandish for me at this point, but it cheered me up and got me back into Silmarillion mode. It was a little tough refraining from starting a new story. For some reason, I just wanted to write about Maeglin. Maybe it had something to do with the awesome fanart I found while browsing through pictures of the Feanorians.

Beccasco: Thank you for your review! I hope you enjoy this chapter just as much!