Nenya and Oleydya were lying in the treetops when the males discovered their work. It had taken them all night, and they were going to enjoy the disgust below them as long as they could.

Nenya smiled as Legolas's sharp yelp pierced the cool morning, her eyes closed to savor the sunlight. Dareklien was cursing inventively. Probably not the best way for her to learn new words, but it was still interesting. Oleydya was giggling softly, clamping her hands over her mouth so the enraged males below wouldn't hear her.

"NYA!!" Legolas's bellow disturbed a few birds flittering about the treetops.

"LEYDA!!!" Miranol's yelp made the rest fly away.

"WHERE ARE YOU TWO?!?!?!?!"

Oleydya laughed aloud, and at once they heard four elves scramble towards them. The she-elves hesitated between fleeing and seeing the results of their handiwork. They both stayed just long enough to see Dareklien and Ertelen emerge from the leaves.

If they had stayed any longer, they might have laughed themselves out of the trees, sparing the males the task of catching them.

They ran as the males tried to follow… but they were used neither to the dresses or the thin braids that hung down into their eyes.

Nenya nearly choked on her laughter as she raced through the trees, recalling the way they had looked as they slept. She heard a squeal and peals of laughter, indicating Oleydya had been caught. She wasn't going to be caught that easily.

She dropped down a few feet, running along a path she didn't take often, ducking down from a branch that hung in the way. Her not using it much meant Legolas didn't know it at all, since he usually let her lead when he insisted on walking with her through the trees. Still, he and Ertelen were behind her.

A sudden curse told her Ertelen hadn't ducked in time, leaving only Legolas on her tail. She laughed softly and ran back into the very tops of the trees, giving them more light but thinner and more flexible branches to work with.

"Nenya," he called softly, only to tell her he was far closer than she would have guessed. Turning slightly to see, she miscalculated a step and started to fall. Legolas ran on by, catching her as he went. "Got you!" He made the declaration only once they were steadily paused on the thin branch.

She looked up at him and burst out laughing. She picked up a few of the thin braids that hung into his eyes and tugged them. "Why, Legolas! A she-elf in disguise all this time?"

He growled softly and glared down at her, his eyes at once dark in anger but sparkling with laughter. "Why, Nenya. Picking up bad habits?"

She laughed harder, before primly straightening the top of the gown he was wearing. "You make a hideous she-elf. Did Eirthriel never tell you that?"

"Eirthriel?"

"Well, who else would allow you to use their gowns for such a purpose?" Nenya softly asked, her eyes wide. "I mean, it would have to be someone you trust, because you wouldn't want your little fetish to get out… What would Thranduil say?"

He shook his head and glared harder. "Are you challenging my masculinity?"

"I would never challenge any male… who was wearing a gown and had a few hundred braids in his hair. Such unstable people are likely to do something unexpected."

His eyes narrowed. "Unstable, huh?" he asked, looking her over, his eyes raking every inch of her, lingering on her normal tunic and leggings. "I'll show you unexpected." With no more warning than that, his mouth came down on hers, roughly stopping her laughter.

Nenya would have lost her footing if she had it to begin with. It took her a moment, but she succeeded in regaining it and in shoving him away. Little sparks were racing through her body, gathering where sparks were not allowed to gather. Telling herself it was anger and outrage, she glared at him. "I told you it couldn't be crossed."

She watched as realization set in, wiping out the slightly pleased and stunned look in his eyes. He paled and lowered himself until he was sitting against a tree trunk. "Oh, stars," he muttered, bringing one hand to his face. "I'm sorry, Nenya. I don't know what came over me," he murmured after a moment, rubbing his hand over his cheek and mouth in a weary gesture.

She sighed and knelt on the branch in front of him. She had to remember he didn't know why what he had done was unacceptable. As far as he knew, it was just that she didn't want any elf in such a way. And since he had succeeded in convincing her to let him in as a friend… She sighed again and shook her head. "You don't know the reason, and I cannot tell you. Think of me as another sister, and you won't go wrong."

He winced. "A sister?" He made a face. "Stars."

She smiled slightly and took a moment to decide how to let him off the hook. She laughed softly. "So. We have to call you Legolass now?"

He paused for a moment, and then chuckled instead of chasing after her. She had been prepared for either, which was probably what stopped him. She didn't wear leggings instead of dresses because they needed less material, after all. "How did you two manage this?" he asked, looking down at his gown and at his hair. "It must have taken hours."

"All night," she agreed softly.

"I noticed Miranol's hair wasn't as… fancy."

"Oleydya braided his. It was almost morning by then, so she had to hurry."

"While you were doing what?" he asked suspiciously.

She laughed and tugged one of the tiny braids again. "You do look ridiculous, Legolas."