Legolas opened contented, lazy eyes and watched Govon making preparations for the journey.

'It's far too early to get up,' he said.

His fëa-mate stopped his packing and turned to smile at Legolas.

'Don't get up, then, melleth. You've plenty of time, after all; I have my command to order around.'

'Have you time to bathe with me, at least?'

'I've time for more than that. I was but making best use of the time until you woke.' Govon came back over to the bed and climbed in, pulling Legolas against his chest. 'And now we should make best use of the time before I leave. It will be difficult when once we're on the way, you know this?'

'Yes. More so for you, perhaps; you will have your command constantly about you.'

Govon paused to kiss him softly.

'And I thought for you it would be worse, for I will be busy, after all, my working hours full, while you will have to make small-talk with the rest of the court.' He smiled. 'But we may find a way. And your father did not quite have a fit about our avowing.'

Legolas touched the plaited band on his arm with wondering fingers, still unable to really believe it had happened.

'I think it has much to do with the fact that you so roundly trounced him in the sparring chamber…'

'Melleth-nin! Where did you get that idea from? It was a draw!'

'Was it so? From where I was watching, it did not look like a draw…'

'That mouth of yours!' Govon rolled on top of him, his nose inches away from Legolas'. 'It is doing the talking-thing again when it would be much better employed otherwise…'

Legolas smiled as he slid his hands over Govon's strong back and down to his waist.

'Otherwise, melleth?'

'…elsewhere, perhaps…'

'Elsewhere?' His lips worked on Govon's throat and he tightened his arms around him to roll the captain over and put himself on top, taking his mouth down Govon's chest, down towards his hips. 'I think I can manage that for you, melleth…'

It was some time later that Legolas kissed Govon and saw him out of their chambers. He had wanted to walk with him to the barracks, but realised that it would not be wise.

'And so, Govon, when I next see you, I must call you Commander, not melleth.'

'You will have your honoured father there to remind you. And so, I will see you at the gates with the rest of the court, my fair elf.' He smiled suddenly. 'My prince, that is.'

Although Govon was not a noisy elf, the rooms seemed very quiet after he'd gone. He didn't take up much room, either, he and his weapons trunk and his clothes chest, but the chambers echoed, suddenly empty. Legolas finished the last of his own packing, slung his bow and knives over his shoulder and picked up his saddlebags, making his way to Tharmeduil's rooms were the brothers had agreed to meet for breakfast.

It was a relief to have company, even if Iauron did make sly comments about how Legolas had been spending his time since the night of his avowing, and it did not help that Tharmeduil had told him not to bother his brother.

'For I can probably tell you,' he said. 'And, I have pictures…'

'Tharmeduil, it is entirely possible to stop liking one's brother, you know…' Legolas protested.

'Yes, but you won't.' Tharmeduil grinned.

King Thranduil sat for an hour in his study receiving a succession of visitors, eating a hurried breakfast in between knocks at the door. Arveldir's assistant, reporting the handover of all the important matters… Over-Captain Rawon to reprise the latest reports and assure the king that the sorties after the spiders would continue while the Royal Court was on the move… Healer Nestoril to say that the healer halls were properly stocked, that all the medical supplies she needed were packed, that she herself was ready, and finally, Arveldir himself arrived.

'Are we ready, Arveldir?'

'As ready as we can be, my king. Word has gone to the stables to have the horses readied. Your elk is also being saddled, sire. We can get underway as soon as you are ready.'

'Then I will see you outside shortly.'

Taking this as dismissal, Arveldir bowed his way out and went to collar his assistant with a few last-minute suggestions while Thranduil reached for the remains of his much-interrupted breakfast.

'This is ridiculous! Why do we have to have horses?' Iauron grumbled. 'Mirkwood is no place for horses!'

Legolas glanced across from where he'd been stroking the nose of his own mount, a chestnut with a white blaze and socks.

'If we were all on horseback, I'd agree with you; finding feed for sixty horses daily in Mirkwood is not practical. And the supply lines will get very long. But you can't expect Adar to walk all the way to a meeting with Imladris, can you?' he said.

'Well, no. But he has an elk. Why can't we just march?'

Legolas raised an eyebrow. 'You? March?'

'It's better than being saddle sore… talking of which, littlest brother. I'm surprised you're not more worried about being in the saddle all day yourself!'

'Which, oldest brother, just goes to show how uninformed you are on some matters.' Legolas swung up into the saddle with apparent ease and brought his mount round to join Tharmeduil's. 'Here's Nestoril.'

The healer was dressed in sombre browns and greens, a knee length tunic over boots and leggings with her hair for once uncovered. The only sign of her office was a blue armband around her shoulder. She smiled as she joined the group, and greeted the horse that had been readied for her, a fine grey. She scratched its neck while a servant attached her saddlebags.

'Really, I don't know why I bother!' she said. 'Here am I dressed to blend against the trees and the shadows, and they find me a shining bright beauty like this one!'

The horse whiffled at her, and she jumped up into the saddle.

'I hope you've packed plenty of embrocation, Nestoril,' Tharmeduil said.

'Oh? I thought you rode often?'

'I do. I was thinking of Iauron. He's already complaining and he's only been in the saddle five minutes!'

A little bustle behind them and King Thranduil rode up on his elk, Arveldir on a black horse following behind. The elk dwarfed the horses, making them look like ponies by comparison.

'Ai, look at the spread of the beast!' Iauron muttered

'Do you think Nelleron has grown since you last saw him?' Thranduil said, the edges of his mouth lifting in the slightest of pleased smiles.

'Adar, I think the antlers on him are so wide, he'll have to turn his head sideways to get down parts of the trail!'

From the direction of the barracks, a horn rang out and a shout went up. Soon, Captain Esgaron and his troop came into sight, closely followed by the honour guard led by Captain Bregon. The two leaders were both on horseback and they reined in and halted their command.

The sound of hooves and the Court Guard cantered round the corner to pull up, Govon at their head. He waited for Bregon and Esgaron to push their mounts forward and together the three approached the court.

'Commanders, how do we proceed?' the king asked.

'The Court Guard around you, my king, and the honour guard around them. Half my command in the van with the supply train and half at the head so that the court will be at the centre of our defence.'

'Very good. When you are ready, proceed.'

Esgaron gave the order and the company began to move out. Govon organised his command to keep Canadion away from both Legolas and the king and, with much restraint, put himself at the back where he rode close to Nestoril and Tharmeduil and could at least admire how straight and true his fëa-mate sat in the saddle, how bright his shining hair.

They crossed the bridge in narrow cavalcade watched by the rest of the household. Legolas spotted Merlinith in the crowd, beaming and waving and her face brimming with pride. He knew why, of course; even though he was presently denied the sight, the prince had seen Govon looking every inch the Commander on his tall piebald horse and new uniform, and he found himself smiling as he rode beside a still-grumbling Iauron into the shadows of Mirkwood.