Wow!!!!!! It'z been sooo long since i've written anything. Since February i think! Well I'm bak, cuz it'z summa 'n i've got alotta tyme on my handz. But i gotta see if i can find the writer in me again, it must be hibernating...o well, without further ado (is dat how you say/spell it?) CHP. 17!!!!!!

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Kasumi awoke to the sound of larks, twittering the melody of the rising sun. She squinted her eyes as she adjusted to all the light flooding into the room from the balcony and windows. She sat up in bed and pushed her hair away from her face. Getting out of bed, Kasumi went out to the balcony.

The streets of the city were already bustling with life and she could see many of the palace workers rushing through the palace courtyards.

"Good morning malady."

Kasumi whirled around in surprise to find Kaeliona standing there, a dress cradled in her arms. "Good morning to you as well," Kasumi replied with a smile. "When am I expected at breakfast?" she asked, assuming that their customs were alike to those of the Mirkwood elves.

Kaeliona laughed kindly. "Do not worry malady..."

"Please, call me Kasumi."

"As you wish, Kasumi," she obviously bewildered at the kindness of the guest toward servants. "Here in Gwathdore, we only gather for the dinner banquet. For breakfast and the mid-day meal we eat at our own convenience in the small gathering rooms where the kitchen has prepared laid out food. So you can go whenever you wish to."

Kasumi stood there amused, but pleased at this custom, she had wanted to do something before she ate. "Would it be acceptable if I wondered 'round the grounds Kaeliona?"

"Of course, I could even request a guide to show you around if you wish."

Kasumi shook her head. "No thank you, that will not be necessary, I only wish to explore the palace."

"Do as you wish, just do not leave the palace without informing the guards, so they know to let you back in. I will leave a dress for you on the bed and will look forward to seeing you before the dinner gathering." Kaeliona curtsied a farewell.

"As will I," Kasumi responded as she exited the her chambers.

Kasumi returned inside and held up the dress Kaeliona left on the bed. It was of a soft, light, neutral colored fabric. The sleeves were made to hang at below her shoulders and the skirt's layers ruffled out slightly. She was also given an orange sash, embroidered with designs of gold thread to tie around her waist.

After changing into the new attire, Kasumi looked at it in the mirror, pleased by the way it fit on her. It showed of her shoulders and the skirt danced around her legs as she moved. She attached her sword, Brethil, to her sash, and hid a dagger in each of her boots. She combed out her hair, and after deciding to leave it down, left the room.

Strolling down the halls of the palace, she arrived at one of the palace's many open courtyards, this one, was being used for combat training. She leaned against a column and watched as many skilled and unskilled fighters sparred against one another, and soon she could not hold back the urge to join them and show them that she was just as good if not any better.

She stepped boldly in to the courtyard, and every soldier's eye watched her amused. The captain approached her and greeted her kindly, though she could see he was fighting back his desire to laugh.

"Good morning to you. Have you come to watch us, some of the greatest warriors in Mirkwood, train?" he asked, his words drowned in mockery.

Kasumi forced herself to smile as cynically, and sweetly as she could as answered. "No good sir, I have come to show your mediocre soldiers a thing or two about swordplay," she said, her voice cheerful, so as to contradict her words.

Seeing that she was serious, the captain, humored by this determined girl, ordered one of his soldiers to fetch her a sword. He handed one to her, but she declined, and swiftly brandished Brethil from its sheath.

The soldiers chuckled as they caught sight at her choice in weapons. Her sword was thin and looked as fragile and delicate as it's wielder.

The captain ordered one of his weaker soldiers to step up and her face her, "Show her what it takes to be a warrior!" The courtyard was drowned in laughter as the soldier took a sword and stood, ready to fight their unexpected guest.

The captain circled the Kasumi and her opponent. "The rules are as such: You must use only the sword you have chosen, mortal combat is allowed, first one caught in a fatal position loses. The match starts on three! One...two...three!"

The soldier struck first and Kasumi blocked his blow easily. Their swords met high in the air, each blow sending a loud ring across the courtyard. Kasumi stooped low and kicked at his ankles, brining him down, with a strike of her sword, Kasumi sent her opponent's weapon flying from his hand. She caught it by the hilt, and pointed both swords at the neck of the disarmed soldier. Her boot pinning him to the ground. She smiled sardonically at the astonished soldier, dropped his sword next to him and helped him up.

The captain approached her, irritated that a lady had beat one of his men. "Would you care to fight a more skilled soldier?" he asked, hoping to bring her down so he could regain his dignity.

"I would love to fight your soldiers, even if it means fighting every single one of them to find a worthy opponent," she said, her voice sweet and polite.

"Very well then," he grunted at one of his higher rank soldiers, and they stepped onto the floor.

Her new opponent was heavily built, with a strong jaw and set eyebrows. His eyes gleamed and his smile was wicked, reflecting his determination to defeat her. He brandished a large, steel sword from the rack , and stood in a fighting stance as the captain circled them, announcing that the rules were the same.

"One...two...three!!!"

The soldier swung his sword with so much force that Kasumi stumbled back as her sword blocked the blow. He pushed his blade closer to her neck as she struggled to push back. Now bending in a strenuous angle, Kasumi kicked at her opponent's knee and he stumbled back, releasing her from her dangerous position. She swung Brethil at him, but he quickly caught his balance and swung back. A ear-shattering ring resonated from both swords, and all eyes shot down as a loud bang hit the ground. Half a blade laid on the stone ground, and the other half was still clutched by the dumbstruck soldier.

Kasumi kicked the flat side of the remaining blade and it flew over her head and she smiled at her opponent as she heard it fall on the ground behind her. She slowly moved the tip of her sword in front of his chest, pressing it gently against his heart. The soldier scowled angrily, and marched out of the courtyard in embarrassment.

Whoops and cheers echoed in the courtyard as the soldiers took a liking to this new challenge. Kasumi smiled shyly, this was more fun than she had thought, and her smile grew wider as she looked around her. Every soldier was cheering and shouting, acknowledging her skill. Among them was Manwein who had stumbled upon the scene during the first fight, he smiled at her proudly and she went to greet him.

"I see you're having a enjoyable morning," he said as she approached him.

Kasumi nodded. "An enjoyable morning..." she stopped mid-sentence as he embraced he warmly. "...indeed." She finished her sentence and embraced him back.

He let her go, and smiled at her, in that boyish way he always did.

She couldn't help but smile back, but realizing she was being called back into the arena she turned to go. "Well, I think I have to go back now."

He nodded in acknowledgement, "You should hurry before they get annoyed. I'll be right here."

She rushed back into the middle of the courtyard, confused at what they wanted her to do. Suddenly, a hand touched her shoulder, and she turned her head in shock. It was Haydn.

"You are very skilled with a sword Kasumi. My companions want to see you fight some more, would you care to take on more challengers? I believe you are more than capable of defeating them all anyhow," he told her, smiling.

Kasumi politely smiled back, very much aware that Manwein was watching them closely from amidst the crowd. She turned her eyes down and brought her voice down to a whisper. "Manwein is in the crowd," she told him. "Don't look up!" she warned as his eyes began to shift upwards to scan the crowd. "Please, I beg of you, when others are around, pretend what happened last night never happened." She closed her eyes and sighed. "Please don't take it hurtfully, I just don't want him to have a grudge towards you."

She looked up at him, and he stared at her understandingly, a hint of disappointment in his eyes. "Don't fret so much, my request only applies while others around," she told him in hopes of cheering him up...it worked.

He smiled happily and nodded understandingly. "Then I eagerly await for another time I can be with you," after his reply, he set his expression into a strong, merry look, and raised her hand into the air. "Our champion accepts any and all challengers who wish to fight her! Pick a weapon of your choice and step into the arena if you wish to try your luck!"

Kasumi suddenly remembered why she was here, and smiled eagerly as another opponent approached her.

"The rules are the same!" Haydn announced. "On the count of three the match starts! One...two...three!"

Kasumi swiftly lifted Brethil to block the first blow...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Laughing happily, Kasumi plopped her exhausted body onto the bench and slumped her arms over the table. Manwein sat beside her, congratulating her on her new reputation of undefeated champion.

As they sat at a table, many others came to congratulate her, some who had watched the match and others who had heard of what had happened. Kasumi could only smile, and that too was tiring. She had spent the whole morning defending her new title, and had done it all without a bite of breakfast. Now that the mid-day meal had finally come upon them she was eagerly awaiting some nourishment for her numb muscles.

"I hardly think those fights were fair, all those soldiers were no match for you, and you knew it too!" Manwein said, praising her yet again.

Kasumi turned to face him, but suddenly groaned in pain, clutching her side. She bent over, her eyes shut tightly as a pain shot through her body.

Manwein looked at her worried. "What is it?"

Kasumi opened her eyes to look at him, and gave him a weak smile. "It is nothing, I am sure I'll be better after some rest. If you'll excuse me, I think I'll pass this meal as well." She swiftly stood up, and walked away, her face no loner showing any signs of pain.

Manwein stared as she walked away, knowing that she didn't want him to follow. Suddenly a great amount of worry struck him as he noticed that a side of her orange sash was soaked red with blood. He fought every urge in him to follow her, she was very independent, and did not liked to be the source of anyone's worry.

He sat there, gazing at his food. The feeling of hunger replaced by a great worry for Kasumi, and he forced himself to sit there, as if nothing was wrong.

Manwein began to look about him, noticing that almost everyone was talking about the she-elf warrior that was staying in Gwathdore, including the elf that had accompanied them to the Dark Realm...Haydn. Manwein stared at him heatedly, watching as he talked with his companions about this morning's events.

Manwein clutched his fists tightly, his muscles straining harder and harder as he watched him. Every time the name 'Kasumi' was mentioned the elf's eyes would light up in a way that was very familiar to Manwein himself. Soon his whole arm was shaking with strain, his hand so tightly clutched that the circulation of his blood became blocked and his hand became numb.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

As soon as Kasumi was sure that the hall was empty she broke into a run and rushed to her room. Once inside she immediately untied her sash and stared at her wound. In one of the later matched her opponent's blade had struck her so quickly that nobody noticed, and in the heat of the moment Kasumi hadn't felt it. However, now that the excitement had died down, the pain had come back, and was almost unbearable. She threw off her dress and searched for her old clothes, once she found her tunic she ripped of a strip and rushed to the bath chamber.

There she washed out her wound and tightly tied the cloth around her. She went back inside the room, and threw on her cloak, tying it tightly around her, so it could serve as a temporary garment. Soon, the pain from her wound died down, thanks to the tightness of the makeshift bandage, and Kasumi cleaned up the clothes she had hurriedly threw on the ground. She tied attached Brethil to her cloak's cord, and headed to the door, to find Kaeliona and request a new pair of clothes. She swung open the door, and jumped when she found Haydn on the other side.

"I saw you leave the gathering room rather quickly. You looked distressed, are you feeling troubled?" he asked concerned.

"Oh, don't worry. I was merely tired and needed some rest," she assured him. "Oh! Where are my manners? Come in, please!" she said, apologizing for being so rude.

"Your manner is in no way rude. You worry too much Kasumi, you should relax," he said as he followed her in. He looked at her closely, and noticed that she limped slightly, and was lightly tilted to relieve some weight from her left side. "Kasumi! You're wounded!"

She turned around as quickly as her burden would let her and stared at him, pretending to be perplexed. "Whatever made you think that? My legs are simply sore from all that movement."

He raised his brow amused at her attempt to hide it from him. "Do not think you can fool me, I know a wounded elf when I see one," he said, rushing towards her. He placed her left arm over his shoulder to relieve her of more weight and guided her to a seat. After he laid her onto a heavily stuffed chair, he pulled a seat closer to hers and satin front of her.

"Now tell me what happened."

Kasumi sighed, smiling she decided that there was no convincing him otherwise and told how she acquired her wound.

"Ah, it takes a strong warrior indeed to keep fighting with a straight face when hurt," he told her, and she smiled at his praise. "By the way, I could not help but wondering how you learned how to fight with such skill. Only if you don't mind telling me of course."

Kasumi turned to look out the window, then looked back at him. "I always used to travel near the palace of Mirkwood, and I would often hide and watch the soldiers train," she lied.

Haydn nodded, then thought. "I have seen many of the warriors of Mirkwood fight, and they are very skilled, no doubt about that. However, your skill seems to surpass that of those soldiers."

"I would also watch the Prince of Mirkwood train, his skill greatly surpasses that of the army," she explained.

"Ahh, yes. I have heard that Prince Legolas is a very skilled swordsman, a challenge I presume you would be eager to take on if you were ever given the chance."

"Yes, it would be a great joy to see the Prince face to face, a challenge he will undoubtedly be," she said, and this time, she spoke the truth.

Haydn stood abruptly. "I fear I have to leave, I'm expected to help train the troops. The events today have brought to our attention that are soldiers are not as strong as we had wished," he laughed at the irony that one she-elf could defeat their best warriors.

Kasumi stood as well. "Haydn, I am curious, what position do you hold in the army?"

"I'm a captain...I'm very close to moving up to lieutenant, and I'm working very hard to do so," he replied. "But thanks to you I see that I need to train my soldiers harder, and myself as well. A troop is only as good as its captain," he admitted humbly.

Kasumi stepped nearer to him and looked him in the eye. "I believe you will make a great lieutenant, and I know you are a great captain."

Haydn smiled and thanked her for her kindness. "You are too kind Kasumi, and I am amazed that despite that you are still strong."

"You do not what you are talking about. I am not as stro..." her words were cut off as he swept her into his arms and kissed her gently.

Kasumi didn't struggle, she just stood there, and kissed him back, thoughts of Manwein and Legolas drifting to the farthest corner of her mind. When their lips unlocked, Haydn smiled at her and left.

Kasumi stood there, still smiling. When suddenly reality struck her once more and she scolded herself. 'Why am I like this? One moment I miss Legolas with every ounce of my soul, then I run into Manwein and become trapped in his boyish charms, and now this. I'm kissing a captain of the Dark Realm, who in fact does not seem as dark as any other elf here. How did I get myself stuck in this crisis? I'm hopeless aren't I? Will I keep getting attached to every kind elf I meet? Why can't I control my feelings? I just know my feelings will land me in an unwelcome predicament! Why?!'

She threw herself into a chair and held her head in her hands. Thinking about all the trouble she had caused herself. She became so asphyxiated in her grief and stress that she found herself sobbing, her head pounding with pain. All her grief escaped right then and there, and swallowed her soul whole, drowning her in all her grief and troubles, until finally she tired and dropped into a deep troubled slumber...

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Okay, okay. I know a lot of you must be thinking: What the heck kinda fic is diz?! She likez three different guys! But you hafta try 'n understand, Cuth/Kas has this inner dilemma that i'll explain later on, soplease just bare with me and if u wanna tell me any of your questions, comments, complaints, etc...by reviewing, thnx!! I just want to know how you guyz like it so far, and if i need to change anything or not.