dislcaimer: i do not own anything.

Chapter 8

Greenwood, Third Age, year 587

The slender young elleth pulled the silk sheets around her breasts , placing her hand on the side of her head and bracing her elbow on the soft mattress under her. Lady Enyelwen looked glowing, satisfied and satiated by their earlier activities, her skin fair and smooth, one long leg left uncovered as she turned her gaze at the young handsome five hundred year old elf-prince whose back was turned to her and facing the opposite direction leaning against a tall window frame, his gaze calculatingly sweeping through the grounds from his spot. She was contented from where she was enjoying her current study, for only a few chosen elleths could get the chance to get this close to the crown prince.

The prince's skill and ruthlessness in battle was a known fact amongst the inhabitants from the Woodland Realm, most especially to the members of the court. Some would even say that the prince's cruelty surpasses the King's own when dealing with the darkness that seeped from their closest neighbor in Dol Goldur. But while the prince's obvious cunning wit and expert skills in battle have brought him a reputation a source of pride amongst his people and strike fear among the hearts of their enemies, the elleths of their race would prefer a more different kind of talent of his royal highness. Gossips fuel the endless days and nights of both young and aged elleths, gossips of the prince's dalliances and parade of elleth whenever and wherever he could. Young, naive elleths would delude themselves of love, but would soon face the harsh reality that the prince's cruelty also translated to his relationships regarding the opposite gender.

"What interests you more than I?" Enyelwen wrapped the sheets around her, fingering the emerald encrusted necklace the prince had gifted not two moons past, and proceeded to walk towards the prince.

Legolas Thrandulion, Crown Prince of Greenwood, seemed not to hear her as his gaze continued to sweep his father's large estate that would soon be his, upon his father's sailing to the Undying West. When though, he was not sure since his father has refused to give up the throne even after his mother's unfortunate passing, which would seem to irritate any other prince, but not him. For he had no desire to sit on the throne. His distaste for what people see it symbolizes clear in his decision to pour himself over his duties that would require him to leave home than surround himself with vain and vapid members of the Woodland court. His musings was cut short as his gaze fixed on as an elleth emerged from the shrubbery just outside his late mother's beloved garden. Casting a furtive glance around her as she moved to smoothed out her clothes and straightened her fine blonde hair into some semblance of order. A moment later, Filwen emerged, retying his belt and securing his sword in place. Their laughter drifted up through Legolas' open window as they walked away with arms linked.

"Apparently, your husband has acquired a new lover, " Legolas drawled sarcastically,

"Really?"peaking around Legolas to peak through the window. "Who?"

"My intended." Turning fully towards her, Legolas studied her face. Studying her for any kind of reaction, but as she remained impassive with the news, Legolas' own gaze turned colder. "You knew they where in the gardens together did you not? That explains of your sudden interest in my bed, am I right?" His gaze turned impossibly colder at the information.

Enyelwen tried to cover the shiver of fear that crawled up her spine as she held herself from looking away from Legolas' stare whose own turned a scary shade of icy blue. "I thought, it would be amusing to also have our own 'get together'." Running her hand up his bare chest, as she tried to fight wills with the crown prince. She was a lot older than him by a few hundred years but Legolas' conquests' age never seemed to matter to him, if the participant is willing than who was he to deny, which Enyelwen thought a reasonable rationale so why don't she try it for herself and look at where she is now. "But my interest is not in your bed Legolas, I have wanted you for a long time. Now that your fiancé is obviously involved with my husband, I thought to myself, is there any harm for us not to get involved too?"

Smirking at the utter stupidity of his mistress' line and reasoning, Legolas placed his finger under her chin and tipped her face to his, "Is your interest, in me? Or in my crown?" Challenging the lady with his observation. She does not differ with all the other elleths that came before her. They all wanted the same thing from him.

"Are you shocked?" Enyelwen asked, her smile coy, not even bothering to deny the prince'e accusation.

"Hardly." Moving away from her to find himself some trousers to dress himself, "I have known about her dalliances since before she was promised to me for some political gain by her family, as is every other elleth who got themselves involved with me. Nothing about your sex's actions surprises me anymore."

"Honestly Legolas, " a laugh escaped the lady's mouth before continuing, " you are in no position to judge everyone else about their indulgences in carnal desires when you have indulged yourself in them too, quite even more so than the average elf." Feeling under dressed and completely foolish for thinking that her state of undress might interest the prince when he gave her an unappreciative once over from where he was sitting at the foot of the bed, putting on his boots. "You are no better than the rest of us." The insult flying out her mouth before she could stop herself, Enyelwen prayed to the Valar that the prince would not skewer her with his blade right then and there.

"No need to fear me," assurance coming the prince as soon as he noticed fear cross the elleth's eyes, "actually I'm quite surprised you did not conspire for the four of us to be in the same room for some 'get together'. His gaze uninterested as he finished his sentence with absolute insolence.

"Now Legolas, you have shocked me." Enyelwen looked absolutely mortified at the idea.

Snapping his gaze towards her, his eyes too cold and hard, too knowledgeable for an elf his age, "Somehow I find that hard to believe."

Suddenly embarrassed, Enyelwen moved to collect her clothes holding them by her chest as if that would make her feel more covered, "Really Legolas, I don't see why you look at the rest of your conquests with contempt", her face held her honesty and hurt. "You are not married and you're young and free and holds the second highest title in all of the realm, you honestly have no idea how insufferably dull life is for most of us. Without dalliances to take our mind of the tedium, we would all go quite mad."

Standing to his full height and forgoing his shirt, Legolas walked closer to the elleth, her gaze distracted as it moved across the wide expanse of his broad shoulders and chest, his toned arms worth of years of practice with his bow and arrow and swing of his notorious twin blades, moving in perfect synchrony of his lithe movements as he stepped closer to her, her eyes moving down to his flat abdomen and narrow hips where his trousers held on for dear life. He was sin in the flesh. A blush creeping into the apple of her cheeks.

Legolas smirked knowing the reaction he caused the poor elleth and he used every bit of it to his advantage. "Poor little Enyelwen." Unable to help himself by brushing his knuckles on her reddened cheeks, "What a miserable lot you elleths have. From the day you were born, you have done nothing but to wait to receive what is duly yours. You don't fight, or work for what you have. You simply have to be, you rely on your beauty and race to get you anything and still the world holds no joy. How unjust life is to you." Moving back to the end of the bed to grab his discarded shirt haphazardly thrown while in the throes of passion earlier in the night, he added without turning to face her, "No wonder you are all bored and petty and frivolous. Did it ever occur to you to change that?" Putting the shirt on and expertly fitting it on his frame and fastening in securely.

"No," Enyelwen answered bluntly, their conversation had turned interestingly and Legolas' casual tone made it seem like they were talking about the weather and not in a debate of the inadequacies of her gender.

"I applaud your honesty. It is a rare virtue in your sex." Tying his hair expertly in the intricate braid royals are required to wear.

"Are you coming to bed milord?" Turning her tone seductively, Enyelwen tried to changed her tactic hoping it would work on the prince.

"No." His tone bored,

"Why?"

"Because I find I am not bored enough to sleep with my intended's lover's wife."

"You don't have a very high opinion of our gender do you?" Her tone hardening at the onslaught of insults and Legolas' complete disregard of her attempts to woo him,

"Is there any reason I should?" Turning his attention to her, giving her the chance to plead her case.

"Does this opinion of yours extend towards women of different races?" It was as if she was treading on deep waters, hoping she does not drown.

"I have not had the chance to spend longer periods with other races, but I suspect not much difference at all." Boredly gathering his twin blades, Legolas moved to leave the room.

"I pity the elleth that'll have to marry you someday, " Enyelwen eyes turned cold,

"I think the key word there is 'if' and if I do, I do not think pity would be the right feeling you should have since she would be wearing the crown, that every other elleth like yourself had fought tooth and nail to achieve." A hint of laughter in his tone at the thought of marrying. Ha! Him? Marry someday? That would be the day.

"Honestly Legolas, it is your duty! You'll have to marry someday in order to have children."

"Really? Is marrying how one gets children? I honestly thought it was—?

"Sweet Elbereth! Legolas, you will need a legitimate heir." Laughing along with him completely captivated by his teasing side.

"As all of the other duties of my crown, if I am forced to pledge my hand in order to produce an heir, I shall find a naive witless chit right out of schoolroom, who'll leap to do my merest bidding."

"And when she becomes bored and seeks other diversion, what will you do then?"

"Will she ever become bored?" Raising a brow in challenge at her pointless question,

"Perhaps not." muttering her answer, ultimately ending their discussion and relation as Legolas opened the door of his room without so much as a glance her way, leaving the elleth to her own thoughts and slowly rising anger and humiliation that the prince had not so much as considered her for the position.

0-0-0

Clang of swords were heard across the large expanse of the lawn they were situated in, a few members of the fellowship watched from the side as the pair was engrossed in the duel they had found themselves in.

"Good. Very good." Boromir's voice firm as he praised Alex's recent performance. It had been two weeks since they arrived in Lothlorien and another two more weeks of stay before they continue their journey towards Mordor stealthily. "You have to be careful with how high you can rise your arm to block the blow, too high and you'll strain your arm for it also carries the weight of the sword, and—"

"Too low, would mean my certain death. I got it." Alex nodded, sweat dripping from her brow. "Well, I don't know if a few weeks worth of sword fighting lessons is enough to make me feel competent, I still feel way out of my element here." Grinning as she walked towards a tree and sheathing the sword Aragorn had lent her. The monstrosity was too long for her and too heavy. Alex could already feel her shoulders strain from the constant swinging of it back and forth.

"Well, it is better than nothing milady."

Legolas stood off to the side, watching the pair in their midday sparring. His stare in Alex's lithe form in a tight fitting elven tunic and trousers, accentuating the sinful proportion of the curve of her hips and waist, the entire wardrobe was completed with elven boots that made her slim legs look impossibly longer. Shaking his head to rid himself of where his trail of thoughts had went, his attention was now focused on the light banter between the two mortals.

His gaze traveling up to her slender neck glistening with a light sheen of sweat that was clearly visible due to her current hair style, What was it the hobbits said she called it? A 'messy bun'. Huh?, he watched as Alex breathless and laughing reached behind her head to pull the invisible contraption that held her hair together. Layers of deep dark luscious mahogany waves tumbled down reaching her mid back. Suppressing a groan, Legolas was once again forced to pull his thoughts from the gutter, watching her as she returned to where the rest of her things lay, sheathing Aragorn's sword that he had lent her. Boromir must have said something for she looked behind her right shoulder and flashed the Gondorian with a smile Legolas has not seen grace her features since she arrived.

A pang of nostalgia shot through his core, suddenly he was bombarded with memories of a young Alex, with him in Mirkwood with the same innocent smile, directed at him. As soon as he shook the memory from his head, pain laced through within him knowing he might never be on the receiving end of her smiles or be able to witness her carefree attitude again, remembering the young Alex with messy short curls that flattened her appearance before comparing it to the woman before him now, Alex had definitely matured with grace. But she was always guarded around him, even when she approached the fellowship a week ago to apologize for her behavior, Alex had avoided any eye contact with him. The group was quick to forgive her and volunteered to teach her a few tricks of the blade when she voiced her interest in helping the fellowship in anyway she can. Legolas was almost on the brink of voicing out his opposition to the idea, but he soon squashed it knowing it was the most reasonable thing for her to do, for they had to keep her close and keeping her close meant she would be at risk of danger along the way.

Scoffing at his rational side over taking him, Legolas knew the younger him would have laughed at the idea of a woman learning the skills of the blade but that was thousands of years ago and life had a way of humbling some one like him down, and he knew Alex would never back down from a fight with him. Which is why, he thought she made such a perfect match for him. He'd challenge her and she would rise to the bait and he would enjoy every minute of it for Alex was not a bore to be around, even his younger self would agree to that despite his poor judgment of women then. Alex was enchanting even when she was younger, a breathe of fresh air from all the other elleths.

While the rest of fellowship busy themselves with other chores, Legolas seized the opportunity to finally have Alex alone. His steps silent as he approached the maiden who was occupied with her things, "May I have a word?" Cursing himself at his tone, he did not mean to make it sound like a reprimand.

Alex startled at his voice, whipping her head around to find him standing behind her an arms breadth away. Seeing no chance of escape, Alex tried to delay the inevitable.

"May I change first?" Gesturing to her sweaty self,

"It isn't necessary."

Having no reason to delay their dreaded conversation when she in fact had a great deal matter to confront him with, Alex acquiesced to his request with a nod. "Alright." In tense silence, she followed him to a secluded part of Lothlorien, away from the prying eyes of the fellowship and sensitive hearing of Lorien elves.

He was silent for a while, seeming to gather his thoughts not sparring a glance at Alex who was standing only a mere feet away. Finding that a diplomatic approach was the way to go, he started, "We've had three beginnings— you and I. First was during my brief stay with the Dunedin and you were but a mere child then," his face contemplative as he continued " the second one was surprisingly in my home, you were a bit older then, a young lady by standards of mortal men." Standing straight and facing Alex directly now, he finished. "Because of the circumstances, neither of them are particularly auspicious, and thirdly—and the last—for this a new beginning for us, a few weeks ago when our paths had somehow crossed again. I will decide what is the best course of action for us in the future, but before I do that I would like to hear what you have to say about us."

Alex was almost at the brink of punching Legolas in the face. Fury boiled up inside of her, standing close to the elf, despising their obvious difference in height and her decision to stand so close to him as to give him reason to look her down, Alex seethed, "What makes you think I want any kind of future with you?"

Legolas continued on, quickly dismissing her question and any idiotic idea she may have of continuing her life without him in it, "Before I decide on the course of our future, I deemed it only fair to grant you the platform to explain yourself and your actions years ago when you left without a word and no goodbye."

"You egotistical, self-centered, pompous—"

"You left me Alex. If there is anyone who should be furious, it should be me." Legolas was utterly enjoying himself. Studying Alex's flushed face as she regarded him with her icy glare.

Raw fury and rage battled inside Alex that sent her turning abruptly around, fists clenched at her sides. Never in her wildest dreams did she expect he had the gall to criticize her behavior. Why, next to the life he had led, she was within reason to leave his ass behind.

"Of all the loathsome, hypocritical, arrogant—" slowly halting her steps, and turning around to face the elf-prince, Alex lifted her chin up and followed, "I am guilty." Heaving a breathe she needed she looked at Legolas' smug face as she admitted her guilt, "I am guilty of leaving everything I hold dear behind. But I will not regret leaving you." Turning swiftly around and walking away from the elf.

"Where are you going? We are not finished here!" Missing Alex's arm by a hairs breadth when she expertly with grace turned from him and walked into the other direction. He had every intention of following her when he was stopped in his tracks as he watched her twirl around, her hair falling like dark chocolate waves over one shoulder, her eyes blazed in fiery green fury, cheeks flushed in anger. She was a sight to behold.

"I'll be back!" She assured wrathfully, "Give me a few minutes." And with that she left the elf standing alone—again.

Legolas let her go, his brow furrowing as he watched her retreating form get further away from him. He was not expecting her to react so violently at his offer, he only wanted to know what she had been up to while she was gone. The only one he wanted to know, needed to know, is if there was someone that held her dear at the present, it may have been fifteen years in her time, but it was a fifty years for him, and the possibilities of someone sharing her intimately has been nagging in his mind.

It was indeed a few minutes later when Alex came back with a paper in hand, her angry handwriting visible in the parchment, her hand shook with uncontrollable rage as she almost threw the paper at him.

"What is this?" Turning the paper around and seeing it was a list of names.

"Before I decide on the course of our future, I deemed it only necessary to grant you the same courtesy you have graciously bestowed upon me." Alex drawled out, sarcasm dripping from every word,

Legolas turned the parchment in his hand and studied the twenty six names written in single order. Understanding dawned on his features at what the list contained.

"It is an account of all your paramours acquired over the years. Some of them I believe are even in cahoots with each other to push a few candidates out of the running." Folding her arms across her chest as she waited for Legolas to get out of this one.

Laughter almost bubbled out of him. By the Valar how he missed this and how he missed her! Their banter and battle of wits was always something he found solace in. Her ability to meet him toe to toe and argue with him made some of the brightest days he could remember. And if her physical beauty had aged with grace as he so noted earlier, so has her fire. And he was like a moth to a flame.

Seeing shock and then amusement flicker in his blue eyes, Alex added, "Is the list up to date or should I make a few additions, seeing as I am a few years behind."

Legolas looked up from the list and casually folded it and place it on his left pocket, "There are a few corrections. I am not acquainted with an 'Ewelfen'?" His tone amused and intrigued at the awful elven name.

"I am quite certain you are familiar with her, for she had been one of your most promising talents."

Wanting to put her out of her misery and save himself a drawled out argument, "Her name in 'Enyelwen'." Legolas corrected, enunciating every syllable.

"Thank you for that useless piece of information." Alex countered, her spunk having not run out, "If I ever decide to give her a bracelet to match that abhorrent emerald encrusted necklace everybody says you gave her, I'll be sure to spell her name correctly on the card."

There was no doubting the mirth that danced across his features and the pull of a smile at the corners of his lips, Alex stood her ground, a raven haired goddess dwarfed by the Eru's first born —"Now that you have admitted your guilt, I will decide on the course of our future." Spitting the last word out. Pausing to draw an infuriated breath, Alex announced triumphantly, "We are done. There is no 'us', there was no 'us' and there never will be."

The harsh words bounded off the trees surrounding them. Even the wildlife that settled in Lorien was silenced by Alex's announcement. But Legolas was unperturbed. "And how do you suppose you can accomplish that?" His tone indicating as if he was a teacher teaching a rhetorical theory to a student, "Are you forgetting the fact that you bound yourself to me?" Legolas stated the fact, the minute detail that seemed to have fled Alex's mind made by the obvious widening of her eyes at the realization.

Scrambling her thoughts to form a dispute Alex spouted the first thing that came to her mind, "it did not mean anything. I was young and stupid and misinformed about elven rituals. It does not count." Seemingly proud of herself for her reasoning. Of course any elf will know it does not count, since Legolas never returned the sentiment.

"You will be hard pressed to find an elf or any elf-lord that will find that dispute the least bit reasonable."

Her ire at his condescending superiority was almost more than Alex could bare, his statement was an obvious insult to her intelligence that Alex felt tears sting her eyes, her fight leaving her for a moment, Alex's shoulders slumped and she whispered softly, "Was I such a gullible fool over you years ago?" Pain lacing her tone, " Am I that still gullible fool to you now that I can't even escape you?"

Legolas faltered seeing defeat cover Alex's frame. Alex was a fighter and seeing the fight leave her made Legolas want to reprimand himself.

Legolas' brows furrowed deeper as multiple realizations hit him all at once— first, despite her magnificent show of courage and unconcern, Alex is at the brink of tears. Second, the brave innocent girl he had befriended and bonded all those years ago had morphed into a gorgeous creature of exotic beauty and spirit, but along the way she had acquired a desirable fiery streak of rebellion, and lastly and one the would haunt him forever should he lose her again, was the discovery that he was every bit attracted to her now than he had been years ago. Much more. So much more.

Calming his tone, he answered "I was simply saving you the embarrassment and humiliation from this futile attempt of going to an elf-lord, or elf-king in our situation to plead your case."

"If I get your father to concede then it will not be futile." Alex's counter was firm, laying her last card down, she added, "It will not be futile, for you have never returned the sentiment and I am now engaged."

Legolas brain scrambled to gather his wits at the multitude of emotions and information that bombarded him at that one single statement, his next action to thwart her accusation that he never returned her sentiment was eliminated at the information that she was engaged?

"I beg you pardon?" He choked out, walking impossibly closer to her.

"I am engaged. Betrothed. Intended. Affianced." Alex enumerated, a tinge of fear creeping into her system as she watch the elf-prince slowly transform into a beast right before her very eyes.

"To who?" His gaze turning a dark shade of blue,

"His identity is of no concern of yours seeing as you both will never meet each other, ever."

"Is that why you want separation? To be with this dimwit mortal you deemed worthy of you?"

"I think you are missing the point, that I want a separation because I don't want to be your wife." Somehow in the midst of her declaration her strength and fire had returned,

A humorless laugh escaped him at the announcement, "Forgive me for being dense, but I find it hard to believe to want to be separated from me."

"I think you are hard pressed to have found at least one female in middle earth who find you resistible."

"is that what you are trying to prove? A separation because you found me resistible?" Disbelief and irritation evident on his face,

"I want a separation," looking him right in the eye with a calm tone that belied her inner turmoil, "because I don't like you."

"You don't know me well enough to like me."

"Oh yes I do! And I refuse to be your wife." Alex declared her tone dark,

"You have no choice, meleth nin." Alex face flushed in anger at the haphazardly thrown endearment. Legolas stalked even closer to her, trapping her between a tree and his lithe form leaving no room for her to escape.

An all unquenching feeling to possess her consumed him as he stared down into those green pools that haunted him for years, she fitted him perfectly. Literally and figuratively.

"Have you no shame? I am engaged to be married." Alarm and a warmth battling inside of her, warmth seeming to win the battle each moment that passed that she was trapped between his form and the tree.

"Seeing as you are legally bonded to me, and was and is in every sense of the word 'my wife', I do believe your betrothed should be scandalized if he ever was to know he is engaged to a married woman, no?"

Horror crossed Alex's features at the realization, "in that case I should say we are quite even now, in our sins of paramours, am I right my wife?" Legolas whispered deadly, his forehead resting on hers, his nose dangerously brushing her own.

"You are wasting your time. I was a naive child, I am a grown woman now." Suddenly realizing their current position, Alex couldn't resist goading Legolas into a fit of rage "and I have been kissed by many other men before. Other men who do it even better than you!"

A muscle ticked on Legolas' jaw at the obvious bait, but nevertheless sent him into a mad fury he refuse to give into. In retaliation, Legolas held her head, one hand snaking by her jaw and neck, his other holding her firmly in place by the waist, "How many had there been?" Came his whispered question,

"Dozens. A hundred!" She choked, her body refusing to cooperate to her will, as it responded oh so deliciously to Legolas' heat.

"In that case," he gazed into her eyes, his admiration in her foolish attempt at a tease, mixed in with lust that his body knew all too well, "you ought to have learned enough by now to make me burn."

Alex gasped to respond but instead she was met with Legolas' lips locking with her own. Her eyes closing on their own accord at the sudden contact. Her body reacting on its own, leaving her reeling in the wake. Legolas was and will always be an exceptional kisser, but it wasn't until she was older that she had fully experienced the potency of his kiss. How unbelievably incompetent she was to his tricks and skills to refuse him before. His lips continued to caress her, coaxing her lips to part, and no sooner had she gasp for breath had he plunged his tongue to battle with hers.

Alex's hands seemed to have moved with their own free will, for it slid around his slender waist, her earlier resolve to push him away seemed distant now. Pulling up to her tiptoes and moving her head to an angle to reach him and unknowingly give him better access.

Legolas almost let out a growl at the sudden contact of her soft curves seeming to fit perfectly with his hard planes. Years in isolation from the opposite gender after Alex disappeared, is finally catching up to him. His body responding to her in ways it never had responded to any of his paramours before her.

This kiss was unlike any of the other kisses she had shared with a few other suitors before, while Tom's was soft and gentle, this kiss left her reeling for it was passion incarnate, but underneath it all it held a possessiveness that electrified her all the way to her toes, passion that only this elf-prince can coax out of her.

A moan escaped her that seemed to bring them back to reality, slowly pulling apart but not entirely, Alex leaned into his shoulder and sobbed uncontrollably into his shoulder. Burying her face in his neck as she hugged herself to him. Multitude of emotions battling for dominance within her. How can fifteen years worth of walls just come crumbling down in one simple kiss?

Legolas felt unadulterated joy that Alex was in his arms again, hearing her sobs broke his heart at the years of hurt and resentment buried deep within her that she had to nurse alone. Tightening his hold on her, and kissing whatever part of her head he could reach, from her temple to her neck and shoulder, listening to her pour out all her frustration at him. He has so much to make up for, his years of foolishness and gallivanting had definitely left a scar on his mate that he prayed to the Valar he could erase.

Composing herself, Alex steeled herself for the snarky and smug remark that would surely come from the elf at her obvious weakness, but instead found herself on the brink of tears again at the soft and almost pleading expression on his face. His face that was still leaned into hers , his blue eyes peering into her green ones.

Moving one of her hands from behind his back and move it towards his chest over his heart, "I am right here, love. I am real and I will never leave you again." His tone pleading but sure, enunciating every word to make her listen to his plea.

Feeling more confused than ever at the sudden change of his tone, Alex felt for the second time that day, completely out of her element. This is a different Legolas she is seeing. Tears fell in streams down her face at once again finding herself completely lost at this Legolas that she is seeing once again reminding her how out of depth she was of his true self, she slowly pushed herself from his hold and utter the only word that would leave a gaping wound in his already bleeding heart, "I am sorry."

Turning around and leaving him alone to wallow in his thoughts.