All right… the wine was the type that the king would send out for for feasts, wine made especially for the high elves. It's the stuff the guards get drunk on in the hobbit. It's been sitting around, can evaporate, get more potent… she drinks the much less potent stuff… and I wanted to have a bit of fun with her getting drunk. To everyone who wanted a longer chapter…HERE IT IS!!! I can't promise it's totally coherent after the last week of cramming, exams and papers… but, eh… it's longer.

FarFlung: Well, part of Leaf's motive is his fear that she will start to fade again. Thranduil, being brighter than either of them, knows what would happen to his son—and kingdom—it that happens. Besides, he wants it all to work out for the best. I kind of thinks he likes her. She has spirit, and she's stronger than most to have survived her father for so long. I'm tired now. See you after break!

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

When I woke my stomach was protesting again. I sighed and got up, curling my lip at the aftertaste of wine in my mouth. I opened the door, glad to see a tray on the table with food for the morning… my smile froze halfway to my lips to see Leaf hunched in a chair, his head hanging into his hands.

"Leaf?" I asked, wincing when my voice was no more than a breath. I rounded the table to the chair, kneeling before him in an attempt to see his face. Of course, with his hands covering his face, I was unable to see anything but the ring on his hand—one I had never seen before. A quick glance was enough to tell me why. It was a ring only the royalty of Mirkwood could ever wear.

Not allowing myself a chance to think about that, I reached up and started to pull his hands away, but at the first touch he jumped, his head pulling back to stare at me, already frowning. "You're awake," he murmured softly, the frown fading.

"Yes," I agreed with a frown of my own. "Isn't that fairly obvious?"

He gave me a rueful smile as he got up, brushing past me as he moved to stand before the bookshelf, staring absently at the titles. "I suppose so," he agreed softly.

"Leaf," I hesitated, but found I was unable to let it go. "What was wrong?"

"Wrong?" he asked quietly. I thought he was going to shrug it off, and was prepared to let him, but he whirled around. "Wrong?" he repeated, his eyes flashing. "Every time I look at you I can't tell who I'm looking at—Tyran, Wind, Alyeni? Even should I have that settled for the moment, I don't even know by what name to call you—the one I've known you as longest? The name those not in our group called you for so long? The name you were given at birth?" He sighed, shook his head and turned back to the shelf. "In the same instant I find I don't know you, and that I know you better than I do myself."

I was barely aware of having gotten up until I was at his side, staring blankly at my hand as it rose of its own account to rest on his shoulder. "I don't know how to help," I finally admitted. "I don't know how to think of myself."

He turned in such a way my hand stayed in place, his coming up to touch my wrist lightly. "How do you think of me, then?"

I frowned faintly, and then shrugged. "You have long been a dear friend," I murmured softly.

"Is that all?" he asked quietly, his head tilting slightly to the side. "Was I friend to Alyeni as I was to Wind and Tyran?"

I began to pull back, but his hand closed firmly over my wrist, holding me still even as I considered using the force allowed me as Tyran to get released. For some reason I was uncomfortable with doing so, instead turning my head aside to avoid his eyes. "No."

"No?" he murmured, his other hand cupping my chin as he had often done… when I was Alyeni in his eyes. "Then what?" He lifted my head so I had nowhere else to look but at him.

"Leaf," the protest was more of a sigh than a word, but I could manage nothing else. His spell had been cast again, leaving me just as powerless against it, but with no hope of escaping on my own by thinking about his reaction if he found out the truth. This time, he already knew it.

His finger stroked down my chin to my throat and back again, before shifting so my captive hand was returned to his shoulder, his hand sliding up my arm to my nape, where he pulled the cord holding my hair back loose, sending the golden mess around my shoulders. "I think that perhaps we have been making this too difficult," he breathed, bending his head ever so slightly, coming even closer.

"How so?" I whispered, aware he was waiting for some response from me.

"I think we—"

The doors to the king's room were thrown open, and a disheveled elf appeared. He squinted at us, grunted, and reached for a plate, scooping up some food from the over stocked tray on the table. With a wordless mutter he sat down, scowling at us again.

"What is the matter, Father?" Leaf asked, some laughter in the tone.

"Who can sleep with you two arguing so loudly?"

I blinked in utter shock. That disheveled, squinting, messy elf was King Thranduil? If his tone—when he actually spoke—hadn't been much the same, I would have protested. As it was, there was no royal command in him at that moment.

"Something fascinating about me, young elf?" he growled, squinting at me.

My jaw had dropped open. I blinked and found myself speaking without thinking—a rather common malady among elves who spent their youth in the wood. "I would never have dreamed any King could ever appear as if he woke in a gutter."

Beside me Leaf snorted and turned, hiding the laughter I had caught lightening his bright eyes. One of Thranduil's brows lifted imperially, and I was reminded for a moment of who he really was—and then he chuckled and I lost sight of that image of an elf. "She's something else, I'll grant you, Legolas."

Leaf laughed aloud, turning with a smile to eye his father. "You must have come in rather late," he murmured, some concern flickering behind his smile.

"Business, as ever," the elf answered. Then he looked at the tray. "Not eaten yet?"

"No," Leaf agreed, pulling me over to the table. He lifted a brow at me when I remained standing. "Come on," he murmured softly, frowning faintly. "Not getting shy now, are you?"

I blushed, then tilted my head so my hair hide it.

"Come on," Thranduil murmured, his voice coaxing but not commanding. "I can hear your stomach from here."

I took a deep breath and then the chair closest to Leaf—and farthest from his father. Leaf handed me a plate, sitting back with his own. I picked at my food for a while, as Leaf and Thranduil began discussing something or other that had to do with some elf in the court—probably a noble. As their discussion more or less excluded me, I found myself a bit more comfortable, and able to finish my food. Once I had I laid my plate aside, I tried sitting still for a while, but soon was unable to as the boring conversation continued.

Getting up as quietly as I could, I began exploring the room I had only glanced at before, testing the water in the pond as I passed, finding it cool and sweet to drink. A painting hung between the doors used by the current royal family, of a she-elf. Something in her eyes caught my attention, made me study her for a while longer than was strictly expected of someone just looking through things.

I realized what it was, and blinked. She had Leaf's eyes… or he had hers, more likely. Bright and watchful, with a hint of both laughter and pain lurking in their depths. Looking at the rest of her features, I again could see parts of Leaf, but also parts that had been given to him from another source. Her ears were more prominently tipped than the two males sitting behind me, more as mine were—as were the ears of many wood-elves. Her hair was darker, too. I tilted my head and stepped back a bit to look at the rest of her, frowned to see a dagger half-hidden behind a handful of flowers.

I started to ask Leaf, turning to look at him over my shoulder, but found him in deep conversation with Thranduil… using the language of the elves reserved for special, more ceremonial events. Few elves spoke it anymore… at least in Mirkwood. None who were not related to the halls in some way did at all. I could catch a probable word here and there, since it was related to the common language of elves, but not enough to say I got anything out of their conversation.

I turned back around, staring bleakly at the painting as they argued. My ears flamed, knowing they must be speaking about me—why else would they speak in a language I would have no way of knowing?

"Father," Leaf said sharply. His tone made me glance back, which he noticed as he chanced a look at me. His ears flamed as he turned to his father again. "No."

"What I've said is truth—or you would not be so affected." Thranduil shook his head slightly and put his own plate down, getting to his feet with a slight groan. "I suppose I should be getting to the throne room, before they start panicking."

"Yes you should," Leaf agreed, his tone still unyieldingly sure of his own point. Thranduil sent him a glare—one that still held the love I'd seen between them—before moving past me into his room. "She seems to fascinate you," Leaf murmured quietly a moment later.

I jumped—I hadn't heard him approach. I closed my eyes and let out a sigh. "Your mother?"

"Yes," he agreed softly, with something of a frown on his brow and resignation in his eyes. He shook his head and moved away, turning his back on her picture.

"You blame her, don't you?"

At once he turned to face me, but his eyes slid past me to hers. He turned again. "Yes." When I said nothing, he stared resolutely at me. "Nothing to say?"

"Is there anything?"

"You could say how you dealt with it."

"I never blamed my mother for dying. It wasn't her choice."

"But weren't you ever angry? Upset that she left?"

"I was often angry," I agreed softly, looking back at the painting. "Every night I went to bed sore because he had struck me for not being a good enough son I wished she was there to remind him I wasn't his son… But I was never mad at her for dying, for leaving. It hurts, even now… but that will always be."

"Always?" he asked, a quiet despair in his voice.

"Losing someone you love will always hurt," I murmured softly, tightening my arms over my chest.

"I'm rather surprised you admit that," he grumbled.

I turned in shock, found him staring unseeingly at the stone floor, one hand wrapped around the back of his neck. "Why wouldn't I?" I asked cautiously.

"You tried to keep me away from Alyeni."

I took a deep breath and tried to think. He had loved me? I shook my head, unconsciously answering myself. No, he had loved her… not all of the little twists and turns to the mystery she had presented him. At any rate, it was obvious he no longer cared so deeply about her. I looked up at him, noting a frown. "You survived."

The frown deepened. "If I had never known, I would have faded."

"And now you know. And you're fine."

"You wouldn't know the difference, would you?" he snapped, storming into his room, slamming the door as Thranduil came out of his.

He rolled his eyes. "Now what have you two been arguing about?"

I blinked at seeing the King roll his eyes. Then his question sunk in. "I'm not entirely sure… We started talking about her," I nodded at the painting, "and then about losing those you love… and then he was angry with me for not understanding why he isn't happy being well after nearly fading."

"You are Alyeni, are you not?"

I frowned at the painting, then shrugged, half shaking my head. "I was given that name at birth… but I don't really know who I am."

"But you do know he loves you."

"I am his friend," I answered softly.

He sighed heavily. "Now I know why our elders insisted on raising males and females mostly separate. Otherwise, they think alike—and in this case, it's too alike. Can't you consider things like a she-elf?"

"I have never really—"

"Oh, stop!" He held up a hand, bringing it to his temple. "Just… try not to spend all of your time fighting. You should at least have him show you the palace."

I tilted my head at him in some confusion.

He lifted a brow at me, and then smiled rather kindly. "In these rooms I am simply an elf, father to the elf you call a friend. It is one reason no one else has been invited here," he added absently, rubbing the back of his neck. "Legolas? Coming or staying?"

Leaf's door opened and he leaned out, his shirt half unbuttoned and his hair unbraided. "What? Did you say something, Father?"

Amusement shown in Thranduil's eyes. "I asked if you were coming or staying."

"Oh." Leaf frowned faintly and then stepped back from the door, leaving it open. He pulled his shirt off and cast it to a pile in one corner, taking another from the foot of his bed to put on before running his hands through his hair, smoothing it some. "Is there need for me?"

"Not that I'm aware of," Thranduil murmured softly, leaning against the doorframe. "Would you rather show Alyeni around?"

Leaf paused, frowning slightly as he looked at me. "If Tyran wishes to go," he answered after a moment.

I lifted a brow, and noticed Thranduil had done the same as he backed from the door as Leaf came out, quickly pulling all of his hair to his nape. Thranduil's brow lifted again at this casual attitude. "Going unmarked?"

"If possible," Leaf agreed, a muscle twitching in his jaw.

"Very well," Thranduil agreed. He bowed his head slightly at his son, which was returned before the King of Mirkwood left the room with his leggings on inside out and backwards.

"Let him go," Leaf murmured, having caught me about to open my mouth. "He does it on purpose, from time to time."

"Why?"

"Partly to find out which elf is bold enough to tell him in the throne room, but mostly for the amusement." He emerged from his room and glanced at me. "Well?"

"Well what?"

He sighed and shook his head. "Right now I can't deal with figuring out who you are to be to me, so if you would appear as Tyran I would be more comfortable showing you around."

I looked down at myself, and sighed, leaving for my new room. In the closet were clothes of all sizes, even those to fit me. I changed quickly, keeping only the confining vest that I wore beneath my shirt of those things I had been wearing. I pulled all of my hair back as Leaf had his, and then joined him, lifting a brow in a sarcastic 'is this better?'

He nodded once and led me out, showing me quickly around the palace. There were a few libraries, all extremely large, a music room, a room filled with plants of all sorts, a few indoor gardens, the kitchens, the great hall, the throne room, Thranduil's study, the 'war room' where the king and his advisors met with the head captains as needed, the guard rooms, armory, herb store room, healing rooms, multiple caverns filled with food, the servants quarters, the smith shop, laundry room, one filled with she-elves laughing and sewing clothing for the all those who lived in the halls, a carpenter's workshop, an art room, several rooms full of treasures which Leaf passed by with brief mention, a school, and then what we came to stopped me from worrying about remembering where all the previous was, or caring that we would undoubtedly go elsewhere as well.

We stepped into a little-used area, if the dust on the floor leading to this section of the halls was any indication, and I could hear running water. A small waterfall, like the one in the royal room, trickled its way merrily down to a large pool of water, the depth a deep blue like the sky just before night takes over the sky. Mist rose from the water, promising another joy to this place.

"Where does the water go?"

"There's a small channel out at the far end. The waterfall itself is as cold as ice, but a spring makes its way to the surface here, making the water warm year round. Combined they keep the pool filled, and bearable to the touch." Leaf was watching the mist with his arms crossed over his chest.

"Why does no one come here?"

"Few know it exists. My mother kept it to herself for many years, so it is only known to those who have stumbled upon it. Most find the chill of the air and the darkness of the cave enough cause to leave it be."

I shook my head and crouched by the water's edge, letting my fingers dip into the still pool. The warmth was inviting, reminding me I hadn't bathed in a while.

Even as I contemplated the water, I heard a snort. "I'll bring you some things in a few minutes, then leave you to enjoy yourself," he murmured softly, shaking his head as he walked out.

He was going to let me have my bath… and a good swim, as well. I had always enjoyed swimming nearly as much as running, but the small pond that was near enough to my flet was cold all the time, and absolutely frigid in any season not summer. One could stand it for quick dips, but a leisurely swim was out of the question, and reserved for those few places where the rivers were calm enough to allow caution and safety. Of course, those places were always full of merry elves, and I was afraid of being found out.

I pulled my fingers from the water and rose, yanking the fastenings on my tunic free before discarding the thick cloth, letting my shirt and vest fall with it before stepping free of my remaining clothes. Walking into the water was absolute heaven, the warmth seeping around, rising higher and higher until I was swimming across the pool.

After swimming around a bit I started towards the place I had left my clothes, planning to wear something when Leaf came, only to find the supplies needed for a bath resting at the pool's edge with a large absorbent cloth. I hadn't heard him come in or leave.

I winced but shoved the mental image away, taking my time to wash out my hair, to wash myself before swimming the suds away, finding the place the water escaped by loosing the cord I had tied my hair back with to its pull.

When I had tired of the water I emerged, wrapping myself against the chilly air as I stared at my clothes without understanding for a long moment. My vest was gone. Uneasily I dressed and backtracked the path Leaf had brought me on, finally standing before the guards. They looked at me, one moving to open the door as the other took his time looking me over, frowning faintly at my dripping hair and the way I clutched the supplies Leaf had brought me to my chest like a shield. Eventually he opened the door, and I passed through, finding Leaf lying indolently in a chair, a book dangling from his fingers.

He looked up at me and frowned, setting the book aside before sitting up properly. "I thought you would be in a better mood after a bath and a swim."

"I was—until I noticed you'd taken my clothes!"

"To be cleaned," he countered with a frown. "They were from the closet up here anyway."

"Not all of them," I snapped, glaring at him.

"What does it matter? They shall be returned."

I rolled my eyes and threw the things down onto a chair, spreading my arms to plainly show him the problem before crossing my arms over my chest so I wouldn't feel quite so exposed. His eyes widened, a flicker of something coming into his eyes before he got up, going into his room. "Hey!" I protested, expecting the door to slam yet again.

"I was just going to look for a replacement," he muttered, hidden from sight by the open door of his wardrobe. "I never really thought about what steps you had to go to to hide the truth from everyone."

"Well, I'm used to it. I feel naked without my vest," I muttered, before realizing who I was saying it to. If he had never known Alyeni, it wouldn't have been a problem… but he had, and it was. My ears flushed, the color running down my cheeks and probably farther when he stiffened for a moment, thinking along the same lines I was, no doubt.

He cleared his throat and turned to his dresser, passing me without looking at me. But I looked at his eyes and ears as he slipped by.

"Leaf!"

His blush deepened, sending color into his cheeks. "What?" he asked, turning aside. I could still see his neck since his hair was still bound back, and it had darkened as well.

"How long did you watch me in the pool?"

His hands stilled over the clothing he was sorting through, before starting again jerkily. "I just dropped your things off."

"Liar," I accused, before realizing it would be less embarrassing—for us both—if I just left it alone.

He stopped again and let out a sigh, rubbing at the back of his neck. "I… I just miss her sometimes," he finally murmured, staring down at the clothes he had rumpled in his search.

She misses you too, I thought, but thankfully my tongue knew prudence for once.

"Wind… Is… is she ever there?" He was still turned away, his head bowed.

"All the time."

He looked up at me slowly, searching my face. "You don't show it."

"I've been hiding her from everyone—even myself—for so long it's become habit." I crossed my arms over my chest against the chill.

"You don't have to hide anymore," he murmured, frowning slightly.

"No," I agreed with a sigh, "but I don't know how to let her out."

His head bowed for a while, and then his lips tightened and he fixed me with a determined look. "Then you will learn."