Alright. Sorry, I nearly forgot to update. I don't have the next Keeper chapter with me at the moment, so expect it either much later today or sometime tomorrow.

Thanks to all those who reviewed, but as I'm low on time again (damn those exams!), I'm only going to answer questions/confusions.

Farflung: Always nice to hear from you, even if a bit delayed. This is going to be an interesting response. Chapter 40: Yeah, you've got it. He was afraid he didn't trust her enough, and that lack of trust would only end up hurting them both more than they had already been hurt. Yeah, as for the unlikely... Legolas is confused, and just consider Aragorn with the better angle to see the tree. He also had less tied up in the conversation. Chapter 41: Yup, she has blond hair. I know I threw that in somewhere... but I can't think where and can't find it at the moment. I know it was at least in the first true flashback. As far as I know, Alyeni doesn't have a meaning. Yeah, that's what bugged me. They just weren't ready for it, and it wasn't time to end yet. Chapter 42: That may be. Baybe Arwen was more or less human. I don't know, but more importantly, Alyeni wouldn't know. Which was the only reason I haven't beaten myself up about not reading more. There is one other reason for Legolas to be a bit upset, beyond any PTSD, which must be a bit bad for an elf, considering what they are. But anyway: Sea-longing. Chapter 43: Sorry to disorient you, but it was high time they went back, and I just couldn't think of anything to make writing the journey back worth it. We're dealing with elves, so time is a bit less relevant. And lastly, Chapter 44: She doesn't notice the elves who come in and watch her work anymore. At first she was probably very aware of them, but anymore she just gets so into her work that she doesn't realize anyone besides Sarith was there, so finding all the orders is a bit disconcerting. Legolas wrote the order slip himself, and she was saying he needn't have bothered putting it on her to-do list, so to speak, because she would gladly just push his to the front. And yes, here come Joy.

And thanks to Amberle Elessedil (and sister) for the name of Joy's elf.

Chapter 45

"No, thank you," I murmured, not bothering to smile. "I have somewhere else to be."

I traveled quickly down the hall, wondering why the guards had suddenly decided smith or not, I was female—and it appeared to be hunting season.

"In a hurry?"

I smiled and slowed down. "Not especially," I murmured.

Legolas smiled and touched my back lightly, telling me where to turn with those small touches. "Lost yet?"

"Not really. I know we're headed towards the courtyard."

He sighed. "No fun."

"And if you keep showing me around through half-hidden passages, you'll never be able to get me lost."

He smiled, taking my hand to pull me sharply down a tunnel. We emerged in a small garden. "Sorry."

"I figured she would have already left."

I looked up at the voice, and offered my hand with a laugh. Our forearms crashed together. "Where have you been hiding?"

"I've been helping with the rebuilding in the village," he explained. "Leaf mentioned you have a shop again."

"Yes, he got me set up in the halls."

Joy smiled. "Well, I—"

"Malinth?"

He grimaced, but gave a true smile an instant later. "Turn left, Turiel," he called.

A relieved sigh left the elf as she spotted Joy. "There you are!"

"Here I am," Joy agreed. "And I would like to introduce to you two of the old group." He motioned at us. "This is—"

"Um… Malinth… I know you're an unobservant male, though saying that is rather redundant… but that's a female."

"Beg pardon?" Legolas lifted a brow.

Turiel's ears turned red. "Not you," she protested, her eyes dropping from Legolas's. "Her."

"Who, me?" I asked before rolling my eyes.

"We're aware of that," Joy said, smiling faintly. "But we didn't know for many years."

"How could you not?" she asked, mystified.

"Because I tried to appear as male as possible."

"Why?" She crinkled her nose.

I smiled slightly. "Because I wasn't given any other option. Shall I take it you're the one Joy hastened back to see?"

"I would hardly call it hastened," she murmured, before flushing again. "But yes."

There was silence for a moment, before Joy cleared his throat. "Anyway. Turiel, this is Wind and Leaf."

She smiled faintly at me. "Am I allowed to know your real name?"

"Alyeni, by birth."

"Oh," she looked somewhat thrown by my 'by birth' qualifier. "And who are—" She trailed off, her eyes going wide as she clearly realized just who he was. Legolas sighed softly when she flushed again, her hands flying up to cover her mouth.

She looked mortified, and on the boarder of panic. I sighed. "Relax, would you? He's not going to toss you in the dungeons, or something."

She blinked at me, then turned to Joy. Seeing how calm we were seemed to help her. "Sorry," she murmured, dropping into a curtsey.

Legolas sighed again. "It's fine," he motioned her back up. He shook his head and glanced at me. "I forgot."

"Mm-hmm. Bit late now. But you could still do it."

"Yes," he agreed thoughtfully. With a short nod, he removed the signs of his title, then loosened the braids, reaching up to filch the tie from my hair to bind back his own. When he was done, he lifted a questioning brow at me.

"Your cloak."

"Oh, yes," he agreed, taking it off, folding it inside out over his arm. "Did you have anything planned, Joy?"

"Nothing beyond introductions. Oh, Wind—" he turned to me. "How is Tara feeling about the changes that had to be made on her flet?"

"Just glad it's still there," I answered softly. "Well, unless Turiel has rooms here—or you do—perhaps we should ask for dinner and carry it up to my rooms?"

"Rooms? Since when do you—oh yeah. Didn't think you had accepted them."

"If my flet hadn't burned down, I probably wouldn't have." I lifted a brow, and Joy moved back, bowing gallantly and sweeping an arm out towards the exit. I rolled my eyes but led the way, first to the kitchen, where a few quick words from Legolas got us trays of food, and then to my rooms.

Joy looked around curiously, chuckling when he noticed a few things that were obviously of human make. "Looks a lot like your flet," he observed when he sat.

"A disorganized mess?" I asked.

Legolas snorted. "Well… sort of, but no. It's very…"

"Comfortable, relaxed." Turiel smiled and moved to sit down. "You're a smith?"

"Yes," I agreed.

"What do you make?"

"Whatever I'm asked to make," I shrugged.

"Have any examples? My grandfather is a sword smith."

"I…" I paused, glancing around. I picked up the weapons I had traveled with to Gondor, presenting her the blades. Legolas had removed his sword and the dagger he always wore, presenting them as well.

"What, not you?" Turiel asked, turning to Joy.

"I don't generally carry weapons, unlike Leaf."

Turiel gave him a reproachful look. Whether it was because he called Legolas by such a name, or because of some other reason I wouldn't know…

The conversation was fairly mundane, after that. We got to know Turiel while she got to know us. A bit before we would have bid each other good night, a very tentative knock sounded on my door.

The boy swallowed hard when Joy answered. "I…Is the prince here?"

"And if he is?"

He gulped. "The King wants him."

"Did he give a reason?" Legolas asked, getting to his feet.

As frightened as the lad had been before he found out the prince was there… well, Legolas didn't get an answer.

"Legolas, you're terrifying him. Just go see what the old boy wants."

He chuckled softly. "I can guess one thing he wants." He stretched his shoulders before bending to drop a kiss on my cheek. "He keeps asking when I'll talk you into eating with us."

"Asking is the first step."

"I just did," he countered, smiling softly.

"Whenever. I've kind of missed him."

Legolas chuckled, shaking his head. "Someday one of you is going to tell me."

"Says who?" I challenged.

He smiled. "Me." He dropped my hair tie onto the dresser.

"Oh. Well, in that case… no."

He laughed, tousling my hair affectionately before motioning the boy out in front of him.

"I suppose I should go," Joy murmured. "Turiel?"

"I'll catch up in a moment." Joy lifted a brow at that, but left as he was supposed to. "Alyeni… I… just wanted to wish you luck," she finally stated.

"Luck?"

"I'm sure the prince can be extremely intense and forceful when he wants to be."

"Yes… and?"

"And he's interested in you. It's obvious," she continued, misjudging my expression as one of shocked disbelief. "By the way he watches you, uses any excuse to touch you."

I shook my head.

"Well, if you refuse to see it—" She got up in something of a huff.

I laughed softly. "It's not that," I managed, stopping her. "I know he is. I just couldn't believe you were wishing me luck."

"Well… you weren't acting overly interested in return…"

"Legolas and I are trying something—trusting each other before we dive in again."

"Again?"

"Yes," I agreed, stretching.

She frowned. "But, surely after having nearly faded he would have waited a while…"

I grimaced. "Yes, well… I was the reason he nearly faded. My father insisted I appear male, so when Leaf became interested in Alyeni…"

"So they only recently figured it out?"

I half-shrugged. "Joy found out a few years before we left the woods, but he didn't tell anyone."

She blinked, before crinkling her nose. "Guys are so dense," she muttered, turning to leave. "Good night… Wind."

I smiled at her, shaking my head as the door closed.