A/N: Here we are again! Hope you guys are still enjoying the story. Love to you all.

The sun rose that morning, greeting Kalen at the window where she had stood for most of the night. Thranduil's palace was full of pleasant surprises: rivers, skies, and windows looking out into the forest. It was all quite impressive for a kingdom concealed within a cave. Still, all these pleasantries failed to bring comfort to her.

Wanting to feel something at that moment besides the painful twisting of her insides, she began thinking of remedies to aid her nausea. She would need a strong constitution if she were to do her duty and present a strong case to Thranduil. It might prove an easy task to accomplish without his son present. The look in his eyes and the tone of his voice had been an assurance that he would be absent from her meetings with his father. His elvish pride would keep him far away from her proximity.

So much thinking began to make her head ring, and she could feel the stinging of the tears that were forming in the corners of her eyes. She would be glad when she could ride from this place and seek her healing in peace. Alas, the pain would not release her so easily.

Thoughts of the previous night played over and over in her head. Had Thranduil known of his son's declaration of love? Had Silinde? Like a thatch of wood over the head, it hit her. Numerius! He had known all along the kingdom to which they traveled was the very realm of Legolas' father. The messenger of Rivendell had been fortunate in his absence from the feast, else she would have slain him before the horrified guests. Sighing loudly, she slumped onto the bed. Numerius was a master of all weapons and could kill her with a single blow. She was only fooling herself to think otherwise, even in jest.

A soft rapping came from the door and startled her, causing her heart to leap from her chest. Kalen rose and took a deep breath. Who would be calling for her at such an early hour? The only answer that came forth caused a sharp pain in the middle of her chest, but she knew she would live through the confrontation. Opening the door, she released the breath she had been holding. Numerius had been exactly on cue.

"Ah, I see the coward returns to show his face."

Numerius smiled slyly and silently requested entrance to her room with a nod. She stepped back and opened the door wide enough for him to enter.

"Forgive me, Kalen. Yes, I knew we rode to Legolas' home and I knew of the event in Rivendell, but do not forget that we are here on a serious errand. It was simply hoped that whilst here, things could be mended between you and Prince Legolas."

Kalen dropped her head and sighed loudly. She knew that everyone had only the best of intentions, besides how were they to know that she had very practical reasons for doing what she did? No one would ever understand. At times, even she had a hard time comprehending the methods to her madness.

"Let us take some nourishment. I'm famished, having not eaten last night. What is the itinerary for today? Have you spoken to Thranduil?"

The two elves walked from the room and entered the hallway. The sound of footsteps as they came to a halt caused them to turn their heads simultaneously. From the other end of the hall Silinde waved and ran to meet them.

"Numerius! What a divine sight to mine eyes. Kalen, you look horrid. Did sleep not find you well?"

"Ever the sweet tongued serpent, I see." Kalen said with a smirk.

Silinde simply smiled and slapped a flat palm to her back. The three companions strolled the hallway and finally came to the doors of the feasting hall. The frown found itself once more upon her face, and she stepped back.

'I cannot go in there again.' "Would the two of you mind if we took our breakfast outside?"

The two males shrugged and nodded their agreement. Silinde walked inside and a few moments later exited the room, carrying a basket filled with delicious fare.

"Perhaps we can have those lessons we spoke of last night, Kalen. I will retrieve my bow and you, your swords. Here Numerius, we will meet you outside."

Silinde and Kalen retreated to their rooms and returned carrying their weapons. It was a fine day for sparring and learning, and they were both thrilled at the chance for exercise. When they met Numerius outside, he had chosen a beautiful spot near some already committed archers.

"I thought you could do with some visual aid, Kalen. Calanagariel had told me your archery is less than desirable." Numerius snorted a laugh at his own remark, and Kalen simply glared at him.

When their dining had concluded, Silinde urged Kalen toward the other practicing students and began to show her how to hold the bow and arrow together. She grimaced as she imagined how her form looked to the others. Archery was simply not her sport.

"You will never master the weapon if you continue to stand like a troll that has been hit by the sunlight."

The words froze her in place and she realized that Legolas had made his way to the very spot she thought him likely to avoid: near her.

"I am an inexperienced archer, my lord. How is it you would have me stand with so little knowledge of the bow?"

She thought her comeback would make him uncomfortable enough to leave, but instead he marched towards her and proceeded to pose her as he would a statue. Satisfied with his work, he gestured toward a mark and challenged her to hit it. She knew she would never be accurate, but released the arrow anyway, sending it to the ground in front of her with a whiz and a plunk. Gritting her teeth she turned to him and growled.

"As I said, I am an inexperienced archer. Besides, I am much more skilled at my swords than I am a simple bow."

"Simple bow? Let us have a look at your form and your skill. Here!"

Legolas threw one of her swords and it landed near her boot. Snapping it up, she motioned for its twin, and Numerius carried it to her.

"Are you sure you know what you're doing?" he queried with a hint of worry in his voice.

Kalen nodded and with a sword in each hand, swung them around and forward to where their points aimed at the elven prince. Legolas grinned and in a single swoop had grasped his own twin blades and held them out before her.

"Do you really want to do this, or shall I give you the chance to yield?"

"Yield? I'm sorry my lord, but I don't know that word."

Before the words were completely off of her tongue she lunged forward. The sound of the clashing blades caused all that were near to stop what they had been doing and watch with interest. It was a rare treat to see the prince engaged in battle with anyone, least of all a woman.

Try as she might, she could not defeat him. He was much too skilled to allow her to beat him, and there were times it seemed he was toying with her, withholding his full potential. When he could see that she was tiring after such a long battle, he made his final attack. The force of his blow sent her flying into the dirt, and leaning down he brought his face near to hers so that he could speak and be heard clearly.

"Next time, do not be so eager to do battle with an opponent until you know the full potential of his skill. I have seen the birth and passing of hundreds of skilled warriors, and all before you came into being. I would also be certain that you are as skilled as you claim before you announce it to others."

His tone was even and relaxed, yet his words were biting and cold. It seemed he had returned to the elf she had despised at the very beginning of this entire fiasco, only now she knew for certain that she had good reason for her loathing.