Yeah, ffnet isn't working at the moment, so if the didn't e-mail me someone's review, I can't respond at the moment.
Shimmering Omens: I needed that. It's been another one of those weeks.
Kelsey: Yes, Alyeni/Wind/Tyran loves Leaf. It's just going to take them a while.
Unnamed: Yay! I made it a chapter! Wahoo! (Now watch, something will be screwy in this one. Sigh. Oh well.) Since I'm working from one point of view, I've found the body language is a must to help figure out what the other characters are doing/thinking. Glad you like it! In this instance, at least, Leaf is the one with a clue. He understands what happened, knows that he and Alyeni did find themselves in love, but like her he's gotten stuck on Wind being Alyeni. He has to get through having fallen for his best friend, and she just has to get over everyone knowing she's female. He's a bit more focused on them, she's a bit more focused on her. *shrugs* What can ya do?
Farflung: I loved the Pot. Kettle. Black. Part. It was great. I think Leaf's a bit closer to understanding, but he could have a major relapse into macho-elfism. Boy, that sounds weird. Is there such a thing as macho elves?
Iluvien: Sorry, since I know what's coming next (for the most part) I don't see them as tense spots. I think this one might be better, though.
LilAznElfLuver: Did the other chapters work for you? If not, let me know.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Tyran?" a voice I didn't recognize called up the ladder of my flet.
With a frown, thinking the entire world was uncomfortable with what name to call me, I glanced down. Four guards were there. "Yes?" I asked cautiously, my voice lowering unthinkingly.
"You are to accompany us to the King."
"To what end?"
"We do not question the King's orders," the guard snapped. "Shall you join us willingly, or shall we climb up and carry you back?"
"Give me a minute," I sighed. I braided my hair and changed in a flash, appearing as Tyran at the door in the minute asked. On the ground with them, they said nothing, two heading off to the halls as the other two were apparently waiting for me to go. My guess was confirmed when they fell in line behind me.
For whatever reason, the street was deserted as we walked through the village, but I had little cause to consider the possible reason as the hall gates swung open, before slamming shut behind us so decisively they seemed to declare I would never hear them open again.
I pushed the fanciful thought aside and lifted my chin as we all trooped into the throne room. King Thranduil looked up, glancing over my hidden form for an instant. He motioned for an elf near him to come closer. "Tell the prince he is to come here."
The elf bowed and left, before the guards around me moved back to their places. I crossed my arms tightly over my chest, waiting for whatever was coming. Leaf entered the room, looking a bit downcast. "Father?" he asked softly.
"You have a guest."
Leaf looked up, saw me and frowned for an instant, before glancing at the guards. His eyes paused on my companions, finding them out because they alone wore their cloaks. "Father?"
"Tyran, come forward."
I moved slowly, stopping when I didn't feel any closer was wise. "Yes, Sire?"
"Legolas, you will deal with your guest."
"Yes, Father," he agreed softly, bowing his head slightly before looking at me. "Come." He turned and disappeared through a small door, halfway down the hall before I reached the door.
After a few quick steps I was beside him, uncertain why. I started to ask what was going on, but he hastened his pace, drawing away in an instant. I rolled my eyes and followed at a slow jog, half aware of the halls we passed, of the decorations lining the walls.
As we approached wherever I guessed we were heading, Leaf slowed—which was why I guessed we were close to being done wandering the endless halls—and lifted a brow at the guards posted before the door. Without a word they opened the doors for him, and through the heavy stone arch we passed.
The doors opened to a large room, with several very plush looking places for sitting, a wall filled with books, several plants, a small waterfall which trickled from the roof on one corner and fell along rough rocks until it disappeared from a small pond in the floor, and other such impressive things one wouldn't expect to find in the middle of a cave. "Leaf?"
He glanced back at me, frowned for an instant and then looked around the room. "What?" he asked, sounding confused.
"Where are we?"
"Oh," he laughed a bit self-consciously, rubbing the back of his neck with one hand. "This room leads to those set aside as royal quarters," he explained. He nodded at the most obvious set of doors. "That is Father's room. Mine is the one to the left of it."
"What of the others?"
"Should they have had any more children, or should I have married and produced children of my own, the rooms wait." He frowned slightly for a moment, then shook his head and crossed his arms over his chest. "Pick one."
"What?" I asked, sure I had misheard.
"Pick one to use for your stay."
"Um… who said I was staying?"
"Your King and the Prince," he stated calmly, but the look he sent me warned me clearly that he meant it in all seriousness—if I protested it would be akin to treason.
"Why?" I figured that was safe enough to ask.
"For the reason I was not allowed to return to your flet," he answered absently.
"Which would be what?"
He turned and stared at me, then shook his head in disbelief. "Do you ever hear what goes on in these woods? Orcs have again been spotted, in greater numbers than before. All elves have been warned not to stray from their homes unarmed… and Father forbid me to leave the halls."
"A bit over—"
"He is my father," he bit out, "and I am his only child. All of his family that remains. Can you truly blame him?"
"Not to mention that should you be killed there would be no heir to the throne."
His head tilted slightly to the side, and he let a small smile touch his lips. "And so the bitterness comes out," he muttered, sounding far from sweet himself.
"You never hinted to me—either way I've ever appeared."
"Why should I have?" he snapped, his arms uncrossing so he could send one through his hair. "So that I could question if you—either one—were only close to me because of my title as I must do with every other elf I know?"
A sound caught my ears, turning my head before I could think to reply. A guard stuck his head in the door, looking nervously between us. "Is all well, your highness?"
"Indeed," Leaf grumbled. "Fear not for raised voices between us. No harm shall befall my person."
The guard frowned, dubious, but bowed his head and pulled it out of the way before the door was pushed back into place, leaving us with a silence stretching. Leaf scowled for a while, then shook his head and motioned absently at the doors around us, striding quickly to his own. The door nearly slammed behind him.
I sighed, reached up and absently released the braids from my hair, pulling it back at my nape, tying it in place before I considered my options. There were three doors on either side of Thranduil's. Five to choose from. I went to the one farthest on the right, stuck my head in and pulled back in disgust. It had obviously been decorated for a she-elf… and probably a pretty young one at that. The next room was a bit more mature, but once again for a she-elf, as was the one nearest his room.
After hesitating for a while, I decided it wouldn't hurt to look at what I figured was the male half of the room. My first glance into the far room confirmed it. I felt more comfortable just looking into that room than even the nicest of the she-elf rooms. But it was a bit young for me, so I tried the next one, deciding on it before the door had entirely opened. It was decorated as sparsely as was my flet, but with a rich elegance my flet could never claim.
The weariness of the day caught up with me, coaxing me to test the bed which stood waiting, the covers smoothed beyond wrinkles until I crawled to the center of the bed and laid down. Sleep unfocused my eyes in an instant, drawing me into dreams rather than waking nightmares.