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Ariach, aga_xris, morwen and Iluvenis thank you all for the reviews!

Ariach, your review was slightly off subject and I was wondering if you could be at war with an inanimate object?

Chapter 2 - Differences between

After the feast Celeborn stood up and signalled for silence.

"Our brothers from the north have made a long journey to request our help." He said in a grave voice, suddenly all the noise in the hall died instantly. "There has been differences between our kingdoms, but now is a good time to forget them."

"The attacks on Mirkwood have risen dramatically in the last few years. The wood elves from the north have been finding it increasingly difficult to fight off the many creatures that have been prowling around the borders of the woodland realm since the last alliance. Only in the last several hundred years have the attacks started and are becoming worse each time.

"We intend on sending forty of our soldiers and a wood captain with the patrol from Mirkwood. Those who are chosen will be announced in two days and will leave within the week."

There were murmurs of slight surprise and strange looks towards the Mirkwood Elves as Celeborn announced these facts. He signalled to the people that the feast had ended and everyone in the hall started to rise and leave through the exits. Wondering where to go the Elves from Mirkwood stood up and began to leave the hall.

"And will the patrol from Mirkwood please make their way to the side conference room." Celeborn said, noticing them standing up and gesturing to a door at the side of the hall.

They moved towards the small side room and saw the Lady Galadriel sitting in a chair and Eledhel standing behind her. Legolas bowed and the Lady inclined her head at him slightly. He noticed Eledhel was staring at the floor and acted as if she had never met him in her life. Oh well, he thought, she might just be being polite in the Lord and Lady's company.

Celeborn signalled for them to be seated. "People now know what we intend to do. There will be some objections if someone with a rank in Lothlórien doesn't go with you."

Galadriel surprised them by suddenly beginning to speak. "I believe you have already met the Woodcaptain we wish to send with our men. Some of you have met twice," Legolas caught Eledhel flinch at these words. "Though without knowing it. I hope there are no objections to her leading the Lórien soldiers. As she is one of our best wood captains."

Legolas narrowed his eyes at then flicked them towards Eledhel. "She, as in the one we informed you we met this morning in the wood?"

They were all surprised when Eledhel spoke in a quiet voice. "Yes, you did meet me this very morning. And I hope to be the one who leads the soldiers though it is only with you agreeing that I may go."

How did she know what he was thinking? Then Celeborn's words ran through his head. "Remember, Prince. We would not choose her to go if we did not believe that she was capable of leading a group of men."

The Mirkwood elves looked to their Prince. It was his decision to make. No matter what they said, it wouldn't affect his thoughts on the matter. He was usually right when it came to things like this. He was also the one that had suffered the most at he hands of this female.

"Show me your hands." Legolas said briskly, knowing what he had just said was a surprise to his men.

Eledhel eyed him suspiciously and then without hesitation extended her hands palm up towards him.

He examined her hands unerringly. Searching for telltale marks of a fighter. There were calluses on three of her fingers from holding a bowstring back and a healed scar at the base of her palm where a bowstring had caught her hand. "Turn you hands over." Her nails were filed short and the delicate bones gave the impression that this was a noble woman, not a warrior. Appearances can always be deceptive.

He dropped her hands, looked up towards her face and met her eyes, which were staring straight at his face and regarding him with scepticism. This was one to be watched. "Will you permit me to test your skills?"

Her lips thinned slightly, she gave a curt nod and then said. "Tomorrow, then, at the archery range. Straight after the midday meal." She looked to her Lord and said, "Father, may I leave?"

"Are you on patrol now?" Galadriel asked politely, sensing the anxiety coming off her in waves.

"No, I need to be ready for tomorrow morning."

One of the Mirkwood Elves smiled and said, "What, you need to practice? If you do you'll be easily beaten!"

She walked towards him and looked up at his face and said quietly, "I need no practice. As you. . . overheard this morning, new recruits are being placed. First thing that happens is that they are tested and then placed into their new patrols, under the guidance of a Woodcaptain. Those who are not prepared go back into training. The Woodcaptain has to be present to see what training is needed for the new soldiers who are placed under their. . . care. I need to organise a few things beforehand as there will be no time tomorrow."

With a nod to her Father and Mother, she left the room. Legolas stood from his chair and rewarded the warrior who had spoken out with a look of utter contempt. "That's a good way to start things off. Thank you very much Carangaer. It is better to make friends than enemies when you are in a new place. I just hope that you haven't prejudiced her against us." He turned to Galadriel and Celeborn. "Milord, Milady, I apologise for my soldiers witless comment."

To his surprise Galadriel laughed and Celeborn permitted himself a rueful smile. Galadriel then said, "Do not fret over this matter. She has been feeling a bit stressed lately, your soldier- Carangaer was it? - Has allowed her to express herself a bit and she will be more not relaxed as such, but less tense now. But no less determined, she maybe even more determined to prove herself."

Celeborn intercepted the thread of the conversation at that moment, not missing a beat. "I admit that I should warn you about tomorrow. When she is in this state of mind she is more agile and quick-witted than you think."

"I thank you for that warning but I am only testing her, not fighting her." He reminded them emphatically.

Galadriel smiled. "We warned you. If you want to know what happened, go ask Haldir. He'll gladly tell you."

Celeborn gave his wife an unreadable look. "Go. There are no restrictions on you wandering the city, but I warn you against entering the Kitchens again."

***

Eledhel walked the short distance from the hall and the weapon store and selected the new training bows that were to be handed out to the recruits. She wrapped them in canvas and brought the to her room and stored them with her weapons.

Her hand lingered over the bow that had been given to her by her father on the day of her confirmation as captain. A tender smile crossed her face as she traced her name, rank and the royal crest of her parents that had been engraved on the bow. She suddenly realised something. She had never actually used it; she had always used the standard bow that was given to all the soldiers. She hadn't wanted to use it she realised, because she was so attached to it and didn't want to break it.

She picked it up and tested the flexibility of the Elf-hair that was the string. It was taut and strong, she knew that it wouldn't break under the strain she always put on her weapons. Her eyes fell on the quiver, which was patterned like the bow, but this time with leaves. Each arrow was also etched on the head with a single leaf.

Before she realised what she was doing she had changed from the dress and into her tunic, leggings and cloak. She folded the dress carefully in half and placed it onto a chest for it to be picked up by the maid and cleaned. She would go to the archery clearing and try out this bow. She had been wanting to for ages but she just didn't because she wanted to save it for a special occasion. Well. this trip was as good a time as any. Her bow could be enough to show her rank and her name. It might just ensure that she was recognised as an important person. Maybe. you could never really know what to expect with men.

She strapped her quiver to her back, grabbed her bow and pulled her cloak over her head. She hadn't planned this for sure but it seemed like a good idea.

***

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