Laughard72: Yeah, that one I noticed as a bit of a cliffhanger. Writing this isn't really hard for me—I've always been a bit of a tomboy, and I really don't get waking up three hours before class to do hair, make-up and nails. There's something more important, in my opinion… SLEEP!!!

Jo: I totally agree… and so does Alyeni.

Farflung: Yeah, the 'public prince' act gets him into trouble. It's not that she can't use a bow… it's that he doesn't want her to be around the other guys when he's not there. He most likely has taught her more of the arts of war in their time together at the palace. I agree—she's not like his horse. But she's upset, annoyed… and a mental rant doesn't necessarily hit the truth on the head. Thranduil can be relaxed, because he's not caught in the middle of this love-or-fade mess. He'll try and push if he can, but for the most part I think he's going to just sit back and watch them figure things out. Leaf is much like his Ada, but he's so confused right now, trying to figure things out without giving her a chance to escape (and inadvertently making her want to, by keeping her so close), that he's not very nice to be around. I think I'll let you just jump into the chapter and hate me later.

LJP: Foreseeing the future, are we?

Animir: She spends several months there. Less than a year, but several months. Welcome to my version of Tolkien's middle-earth!

To everyone else who reviewed: Thank you, I appreciated them all… and I hope you don't hate me after this chapter.

Jeeze it's cold in here! I can't feel my fingers. I am so out of here!

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"Tyran!"

I glanced up, smiling when I saw the elf calling me. I set my mask aside and dropped the iron I'd been pounding into shape into a water barrel. "What, Elrohir?" I asked as soon as the hissing water calmed.

He grinned and grasped my hand tightly in his own. "I just wanted to thank you."

I laughed softly, putting my hand on his shoulder. "I take it you like it?"

"Like it? You were overly modest in your mention of skill to father when you arrived."

I shrugged but couldn't keep a pleased smile from tilting my lips. "And Elladan?"

"Green, utterly green," he returned, still grinning recklessly. "He shall no doubt have father seek you out for his next weapon, and he has already encouraged father to have you outfit Estel with a blade for his travels. The ones men make are too poor to suit us."

I nodded, understanding that though human, they thought of Estel as their own. "One new, or pre-designed?"

"One you have now would be nice," came the familiar gruff voice. An arm wrapped around my neck, tugging me roughly to a side. "Since I'm headed to Mirkwood soon."

"Mirkwood?" Elrohir asked with a frown. "Why on Middle-Earth would you want to do that?"

"I'm supposed to meet with the royalty, see about becoming an ambassador for Imladris and for the men of the world," he answered with a straight face.

"Indeed," I murmured, jabbing his gut with my elbow.

He stumbled backwards, shaking his head. "I hope all Mirkwood elves aren't as physical as you. You wouldn't happen to know either the King or the Prince, would you?"

Very nearly intimately, I thought. "I have, in times past," I answered slowly.

"Oh," Estel's eyes lit up. "Then could you give me some pointers?"

"If you wish to fight with them, I can indeed," I agreed icily, recalling the final fight I'd had with Leaf—mostly one-sided. Annoyingly so, in fact. Once again he thought I was a bit too relaxed around the male elves in the halls and sought to limit my activities to those of the other 'ladies'… and I'd blown up at him, finally packing the things I wouldn't leave behind into a single pack, going before Thranduil while Leaf was stuck in court.

"Are you sure in this?" Thranduil had asked when I informed him of my intent to head west.

"I am," I had agreed, seeing Leaf tense, ready to say something, held silent by protocol.

"Decisions made in anger or confusion are often short-sighted, and in wiser moments would be considered folly," Thranduil continued with a frown, a flicker of a glance taking in his son, who was looking at me with eyes darkening with pain that was hidden by anger to those that didn't know him as well as we did.

"It is to avoid such foolishness that I choose to head west now, sire," I murmured in return, bowing my head slightly to him as he had no choice but to release me. Since my things were packed, I left right then, unwilling to wait until Leaf could voice all the complaints and protests building in his eyes.

Estel's confused voice brought me back to the present. "You fought with the King?"

"No. Thranduil is a kind elf, one who cares about the well-being of his subjects."

"Spoken like a true subservient wood-elf," Elrohir commented.

I glared at him, but Estel broke in as I opened my mouth to reply with a scathing comment. "Then you fought with the prince?"

"On numerous occasions, in fact," I agreed, growing a bit uneasy with the direction of the conversation. "We grew up together," I added quickly, hoping the image of small elves running through the wood with little toy swords and miniature bows would distract him from continuing.

"Oh. So you're of the nobility in Mirkwood?"

I hadn't counted on his ignorance where the Wood was concerned. With a roll of my eyes I shook my head. "Things must indeed be backwards here," I muttered, before turning to face him truly. "When young male elves come to a certain age when they would begin to venture from their mothers normally they are sent into the woods to play with other elves of about their age. My group totaled nine, and Legolas was among them."

"And you still fought with him, knowing he was the prince?"

"I didn't know he was the prince until but two years ago," I returned, waving the comment away. "And we had long since left the wood to join the adult world."

"Then why didn't you know it was him?" Estel persisted. Elrohir was grinning in amusement, obviously aware I was growing impatient with the never-ending questions.

"Because we all used different names, ones that either we chose or that were given to us."

"Oh." He fell silent for a minute. "Then what were your names? His and yours?"

I shook my head. "If I told you, I'd have to kill you… and I rather doubt Lord Elrond intends to lose a son today."

Estel tilted his head to the side and frowned. "Oh… What else should I know of Mirkwood before I go?"

"Never head into the patches of wood where the paths have been overgrown, for they are no longer ours. Do not head to the river outside the main village at sunrise unless you wish to be beheaded or worse—"

"Worse?"

"Imagine a hundred she-elves armed with only sharp cooking implements and anger at you for walking in on their bathing time."

He visibly paled, then flushed, and nodded while looking down at his scruffy boots. "Anything else?"

I let out a breath, frowning slightly as I thought about it. "Don't drink the wine offered at the feasts by servants—only that already on the tables."

"Why?"

"You'd be drunk in a matter of swallows."

"Oh. That stuff."

"Yes," I agreed. Finally I shrugged. "I would say not to get any weapons from Torrei, but I don't know who to recommend you to, should you need something."

"Professional jealousy?" Estel mocked, shaking his head while crossing his arms.

I rolled my eyes and shook my head. "Torrei is not a weapon smith. I am. Several others are as well, but Torrei—the hall smith—is not. The guards have gotten in the habit of leaving the halls for their weapons." Mentioning Leaf and I were the cause was something I bit my tongue to prevent.

"Oh." Estel was about to ask something else when Elladan entered. "Hey."

"Good morning, Estel," Elladan murmured in return. "I see you already heard the news. Have you picked out a blade yet?"

"No. Just talking about Mirkwood with an elf who would know."

Elladan huffed, crossing his arms over his chest. "Meaning I wouldn't? I've been to Mirkwood."

"Not in the last hundred years or so, and even then was probably just for a feast or something, right?" Estel shook his head before grinning. "While Tyran lived there for all but a few years of his life… and knew the prince."

"I know him too," Elladan muttered, glaring at Estel.

"So? What are you going to tell me about him?"

The challenge was clear, and Elladan rose to it, even though he knew he was being baited. "He's one of the best archers of Mirkwood, an experienced guard and one of his father's head captains. Despite that, his blood keeps him much more cordial to outsiders than are most wood-elves—who would tend to be paranoid about strangers."

"Only because the strangers who would be stupid enough to go through the wood to reach us are orcs, trolls, men, and dwarves."

"What's wrong with men?" Estel asked, scowling.

"Nothing… but they do tend to be rather crude, especially when they have just themselves and their dogs for company."

Estel grunted but turned to Elladan. "Anything else?"

"What else is there?" Elladan murmured with a shrug. "Oh," his eyes sparkled with a smile. "I suppose I should add that though he has all the ladies falling at his feet he hasn't yet chosen one as his wife… though there was some speculation a while ago that he would marry." Elladan turned to me with a faint smile. "I suppose you heard all about it?"

"The entire wood knew he nearly faded," I murmured quietly. "He has recovered."

"He's strong," Elladan agreed. "Did you hear anything of the lady?"

"Not much. She wasn't well known… in fact, she was said to be visiting a friend and ended up having to stay for the winter festival." I looked around my shop, saw the orders I had yet to fill. "Now, Estel, if you would choose a blade so I can shove you all out the door and get to work, I'd appreciate it."

The three sons of Elrond shared amused glances, but began searching out a blade that was fine enough without any ornate qualities that would set Estel apart from his true kin when he joined them. As had every other buyer who entered my shop, they paused at the set of double daggers I had first made when I arrived in Imladris. I suppose I'd been a bit homesick at the time, because I'd made them without realizing what I was doing. The elves here didn't use them, but appreciated them, all studying the set with interest.

Soon they had settled on a blade and removed it from the wall, saying their farewells to me. After a few minutes Estel came back in. "Do you want me to take a message to the prince for you?"

I stared at him for a long moment, a thousand answers battling for the first instant, before I began wording my response as I should. "I want you to forget you know anything of me once you leave Imladris," I replied.

"But—" Estel frowned.

"But we used to fight all the time?" I finished for him. "Leave it be. We shall meet in the undying lands. That will be soon enough."