I'm sitting here waiting for another update
From our wonderful author Nea.
Her stories are always so wonderfully written
And there is so much more I can say!

I love the three: Legolas, Zai and Ang.
They were such close friends when growing up.
They met the twins in Imladris, the fun began,
Even Glorindel got caught up in the mud.

Now they are older, they're growing apart,
the royal princes we are seeing more plain.
Ang likes a girl but the girl likes Legolas
And Zai doesn't want their friendship to change

Alas, Enseir, I love that elf,
Made a mistake so to Lorien Zai has gone.
Legolas is depressed at the loss of his friend.
Angolar for Sanieth continues to long.

Yay! Zai came back from the golden wood.
The readers all cheer, sure we'll soon see
Leggy and Zai realize how they feel,
But it's Ang who makes it to matrimony!

It looks as if Enseir will court dear Zairil,
While Legolas remains content as he is.
The readers all start to squirm in their seats
Wishing instead Leggy and she would kiss.

Now Legolas is shot by an arrow of Enseir's!
The readers gasp in shock along with Zai.
Just who could it be that is after the princes?
Perhaps a younger one wishes them to die?

So here I sit, too much time on my hands,
Hoping another chapter comes soon.
How long will we wait for our elves to fall in love?
Come on Nea, we all want to swoon!

The dramas unfolding, we're holding our breath!
Patience, patience, we try to tell ourselves.
Hang on! Nea won't let us all die of curiosity,
I'm sure we'll soon all know more of our elves!

And maybe, just maybe, the effort
Of one dedicated reader with rhyme
Will sway our dear author to post more soon
Come on, give us another! we chime.
-Nieriel Raina

With incentive like this, how could I resist updating quickly?

Chapter 34: Just coming out to play

Zairil watched Legolas' eyes, while the rest of the crowded room watched his movements. As the month before, his body behaved perfectly, twisting, arching, turning—the skills and power of a warrior well trained were now upon display for the perusal of the, for the most part, openly admiring crowd.

Unlike last time, there were no faint flickers of pain nearly hidden in his eyes.

When he was done, he sheathed his blades, and looked expectantly at the elves who would judge him healthy, or not.

Tralied caught Zairil's eye as Torenth spoke. She nodded, and this time when it was his turn to pass judgment, he gave his approval for Legolas to rejoin active duty.

Legolas inclined his head and strode from the room, annoyance tightening the skin around his eyes and making his steps harsher.

Zairil rolled her eyes at seeing the signs, and followed him. "Legolas," she sighed. "What's bothering you now?"

"I was fine last time—I was ready then. There is no difference now, yet this time he accepts that I'm well." His voice hinted at anger she hadn't seen in his eyes or body.

"You were fine last time, Legolas, but you were not ready! You were still in some pain! Very little, perhaps, but enough that to let you rejoin the army would have been to invite disaster, or even death. Tralied has watched over your family too long not to know how stubborn you are when dealing with your own weakness."

"My weakness," he mused, turning sharply on his heel in the hall, facing her with intense eyes, "is simply my family." He reached up and gently drew a finger down her cheek. "And you." He turned and headed down the hall once more. "Is it weakness to want what strength I have given over to protecting my weaknesses?"

"It can be," she replied softly.

He shook his head. "I am fine."

"Physically, perhaps."

He glanced at her, and slowly inclined his head. "Nothing else can be expected of me, right now."

The call of horns rang through the corridors, diverting and speeding their steps to the throne room. Just after they arrived, Enseir entered, dismissing all save his family, Zairil, and the head of the guard along with the royal family's personal guards. He turned from watching the doors close behind the last of the dismissed to Zairil. "Did you declare him well?"

Her ears reddened. "Yes."

Legolas glanced at her sharply, and rolled his eyes. "That explains that," he muttered.

The color slipped into her cheeks.

Enseir nodded, ignoring the byplay. "Good. You are needed, little brother."

"What's happened?"

Light blue eyes closed. "The darkness forms an army, and it moves north. At the speed it now moves, it will reach the mountains in eight days."

"Eight days?" Tralied repeated. "That is barely enough time to gather the army and start the march."

"The mountains are problematic. Either we take them as our backs, or we give them a stronghold from which they could starve us out, if it comes to that. Our supplies could last the population only a dozen years, if that."

The debate on whether to make a stand on the northern or southern side of the mountains continued for a time. Legolas watched Enseir warily, and Enseir—noting that—soon held up a hand with a sigh. "There is… more news that should be considered."

"Kithlan," Legolas murmured into the silence, having read that much in his brother's face.

Enseir's head bowed. "He heads the march."

"Then they expect us to make a stand at the mountains."

"And will likely have another force, coming through to us from another direction."

A muscle twitched in Legolas' jaw before he turned to Zairil. "Are you willing?"

"I would prefer fighting with my back to yours as I'm used to doing, but for the greater good, I'll go a different way."

He inclined his head. "Angolar?"

"We need but ask, I'm sure, no matter her protests."

"What are you thinking?" Enseir asked, looking curiously between the two. It was rumored once—centuries ago, though it cropped up again once in a while—that the two could talk without words, to each other's minds, thanks to what power was granted to them by their blood. Enseir hadn't ever believed that—he would have been told. Still, he could understand why people would think that.

"Kithlan knows the wood as well as any hunter, the army as any guard, perhaps even as a captain would. But we know the mountains, the caves. There are ways out of these halls that the builders didn't know. We could lead you from here to the other end of the mountains without stepping above ground."

Enseir blinked. "That's possible?"

Legolas chuckled with a nod. "We have the advantage a thousand times over. We can fight from tree and cave, mountainside and hill. We can show them force in the mountains and melt away into nothing should we find ourselves trapped."

The other Captains and the Commanders considered him gravely for a moment, before Tralied nodded. "Send for your dear cousin, Lady Zairil."

Zairil stuck her head out the nearest door and sent a servant after Angolar.

While they waited, the commanders dug out the old maps of the mountains, and tried to work out the best places to defend and fight from, assuming there were accessible pathways for escape and retreat.

When Angolar arrived, he did so in obvious fine health—he was a hunter and craftsman in the village just outside the halls, his strength no longer the whip-cord power of the young warrior. He had a brow quirked in question. "A court summons? You've upset Sanieth, you know."

Legolas grimaced slightly. "She'll only be even more upset soon. Ang, how would you like to be a tactical advisor for up to a third of the Mirkwood Army in the coming war?"

Angolar studied Legolas, before looking almost incredulously at the others. "War?" he asked.

"With Kithlan at the head."

Angolar's eyes closed for a long moment, and a moment of bemused worry passed over his features. "How could I be of help?" His eyes were hard when he lifted his head.

"We intend to fight from caves, escape and hide in paths unknown to any—"

"Save the three of us," Angolar finished. He nodded shortly. "You're right—she's not going to like this."

Legolas half-smiled, and held out his hand to welcome his old friend back. "Tell her you're just coming out to play."

Angolar looked at him dryly. "As if that would put her at ease."

Zairil laughed softly and slung an arm around his neck. "We only have a few days to whip you back into shape."

"Valar spare me," he mused, looking her over. He smiled faintly, and kissed her brow. "Would you break the news to her?" he asked hopefully.

She snorted. "Not likely. I'll fetch a messenger if you'd prefer she eviscerate someone other than you."

"That would be nice."

She chuckled and left the room, leaving Legolas to quirk a brow at Angolar.

Angolar relented after a moment, and explained his pensive look. "You've taken good care of her. She fairly glows."

Legolas snorted. "Not at the moment," he drawled, making Angolar grin. He glanced at Enseir, and shook his head. "Not just me, these days, Angolar."

Angolar lifted a brow, which darted into a frown when he, too, noted Enseir was looking after her. Legolas was soon distracted, but Angolar watched the crowned prince with growing unease, especially when Zairil returned and smiled gently at him, getting a small smile in return.