Alright, I'm sorry for the day-delay, but things have been absolutely nuts! And they say this is a break... HA!

juvinile delinquent: Starting now.

LJP: See the end of chapter 33, then chapter 34. Joy leaves Alyeni in Gondor because he wants to get back.

Chapter 46

"Well?"

Legolas grinned at my enthusiasm. "Four." He pushed my jaws gently together with a knuckle under my chin. "Saying five will be here."

"Brothers?"

"Mm-hmm," he agreed, still smiling. "And there is still time for the other one to come in."

"If he bothers to reply," I countered, grinning so wide my face was beginning to hurt.

"That's true. He was never big on pleasantries."

"I can't believe it worked!"

He laughed at my exclamation, and pulled me into a hug which belayed his own excitement. "Had you no faith?"

"I have all the faith I need… But I am not totally unrealistic! Who would have thought such an announcement would work?"

He chuckled. "I've considered doing such, on occasion. I figured it would draw a few out."

"But not as many as it did?"

He shook his head. "No. I'm glad, though. If we're to regroup, we should truly regroup."

"Agreed."

"What has you two so happy?" Thranduil grumbled as he came in.

Legolas shook his head. "Father—"

"Go relax for a while," I interjected, stopping the words on Legolas's lips.

"Will you be here?" Thranduil asked, lifting a brow.

"Yes," I sighed. "Until it's quite late." I glanced over him. "Now go on. Take the crown off and put your leggings on right."

He grumbled half-heartedly under his breath, but went through to his room.

Legolas chuckled softly and caught me around the waist, pulling me down with him as he sat. He left his arm around me and stared at the fire for a long time… Long enough for me to drift off.

I came back to awareness in time to know I had missed something that was said as Thranduil sat down. He and Legolas then began discussing the progress of the rebuilding. Thranduil asked me for any news I'd heard that I trusted… and then he declared he was off to rest.

I blinked after him—he wasn't usually so quick to bid a goodnight. "What's with him?"

Legolas offered an absent humming noise in response, so I let it go, leaning against him. I was nearly back in dreams when he tilted his head down, brushing a light kiss over my lips.

I was fully conscious, then. "Legolas?"

He tilted his head, watching my expression carefully. Long fingers gently stroked my cheek, before moving to run along my jaw-line. "Hmm?"

It was clear then, and I merely shrugged the shoulder not pressed against him. "Nothing." I certainly wasn't going to protest if he felt he could handle something more than simple friendship.

He offered me a small smile, shifting us both so I was truly cradled against him, rather than leaning on his shoulder. It felt wonderful. Peaceful. Every now and then a light kiss befell me, sometimes rousing me, but I was pretty well out of it until the large outer doors were opened and a maid walked in with a tray of food.

"Oh," I murmured, stirring a bit. "I should—"

"Stay right here," he interrupted, holding me a bit tighter, forestalling any farther movement on my part. "Eat, and then meet me for some practice."

"But what about—"

"No," he interrupted. He smiled faintly, softening the demand. "Trust me, it's best not to dwell on it. I'll explain that they are to be sent to us."

I considered protesting, but since I had nothing better to do than try and pretend I wasn't waiting, I decided to just give in. I ate, escaped to my room, cleaned up quickly—wondering why I bothered, as I was only going to get dirty again—and dressed in sparring clothes which made me look rather like Tyran once more.

Legolas was already waiting, a sword in hand. I still had trouble blocking his sword with both blades, so he was still taking pity on me and sparing me his daggers.

He nodded after one rather quick block on my part. "Very good. You may graduate to a sword and dagger soon."

Translation: You're doing better, but still not good enough to handle me with my weapons of choice.

I grunted a reply, trying to turn into his swing to cut it short. He let out a small approving noise, before swiftly dropping a kiss to my neck even as he turned so he was once again on the offensive.

That kiss threw me off. It took several minutes for me to concentrate again. I only managed then because he was smiling ever so slightly.

I was so annoyed at that masculine little smirk that I was soon so focused on his movements I was doing better than I ever had against him. He was much harder to read than Eomer, but I could still do it, if I tried, if I focused. I managed to tap him four times before he relieved my blades from my grasp.

He gave me a faint smile, about to say something when a few cheers burst out from the sidelines.

"Very nice."

"I think we can safely guess what they do."

"You know, being focused so intently on a single opponent could be hazardous to your health."

We laughed, our eyes feasting hungrily on those before us. There was Goat—as lanky as ever, though maybe a bit taller, leaning confidently against a wall. Smudge—momentarily immaculate. Trip and Fall… who had grown through the years to look so much alike it took Fall's nervous toe scuffling for me to know him. Hare's ears were tilted that slight bit back, as if listening to something behind him. When Twig walked in his ears returned to normal. Twig lifted a brow before crossing his arms over his chest.

"Well?"

Legolas chuckled softly, sheathing his sword. "Well," he murmured. "Joy is getting married tomorrow. Thought you might want to be here."

"Is Joy the first to fall?" Smudge asked, looking around. When no one replied, Twig shook his head.

"Figures." The statement came from at least three different directions.

"What's he do?" Fall cringed at the looks given him, before straightening. "Well, we're going to stick around, right? So, we're going to find out what we went into."

I had to admit, it made sense to me. I would have told him… if I knew.

Legolas sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "He's a carpenter."

"Helped with a lot of the construction, then?"

Legolas nodded. "A very large portion was overseen by him."

Trip and Fall nodded, and looked at each other. "We're wine makers… family business." Trip added the last part when we all stared at them. Fall scuffed his toe against the stone tiles again.

Goat straightened slightly. "Guard—western village."

"You moved?" I asked, knowing he had lived on the eastern edge of the forest before.

He shook his head. "Just reassigned there until things are normal again. Then I'll be back home."

Smudge shrugged. "Musician." He blushed as we all laughed. Smudge as a musician… well, as long as he didn't sing. His is still the worst voice I've ever heard… The thought of Gimli's drunken dwarven drinking songs made an amendment necessary. Worst elven voice I've ever heard.

Hare and Twig glanced at each other. Several brows lifted, waiting for an explanation. "We're cousins," Hare finally murmured. "We're hunters for the halls, now that the village population has swelled."

They turned to look at me and Legolas. I mentally winced, knowing he was not likely happy with this. "I'm a smith," I stated finally.

"Oh?" Goat asked. "Well known?"

I shrugged.

Legolas rolled his eyes. "Wind does most of the weapon work for the halls, now. Including these." He motioned at our weapons with one hand.

Everyone waited for a moment. Hare was the first one to buckle. "Well?"

Legolas lifted a brow. "Well what?"

"What's your job?" Hare asked in exasperation.

"Oh. I haven't one." Legolas's calm announcement didn't have time to sink in as a messenger arrived.

"My lord?"

Legolas sighed, lifting a hand. "Over here."

The boy spotted him and scrambled to face him, bowing low. "The King would like to speak with you, your highness. A matter of some urgency, he said."

"Urgency?" Legolas's slight annoyance for the interruption vanished, as did his relaxation. He drew himself fully upright, the ease leaving for a more… forceful attitude. He was every inch the prince… save for the lack of title-declaring markers. "Where is Father?"

"Awaiting you in his study, your highness," the boy told the floor.

I could almost feel Legolas mentally rolling his eyes, before he turned to me. "Sorry, but you'll have to get everyone settled. The rooms should be ready any time they're wanted." Even as he spoke, he was frowning, his eyes clouding slightly, already trying to work out what his father would be urgently calling him for on the eve of a friend's wedding. "I'll see you later," he murmured to me, catching my chin in his palm, lifting my face slightly for an absent kiss.

"Alright. Go on, don't keep him."

The faintest smile touched the corner of his lips before he left, moving quickly enough the lad was scrambling to keep up.

"Well," I started, turning to look at the group. "You can…" They were all staring at me in shock. "What?"

"You… he…"

"Oh, someone spit it out," I muttered, glaring around the room.

"He… kissed you!" Hare spluttered.

"Yeah, and?"

They just stared at me, beginning to look increasingly uncomfortable.

The reason hit me suddenly, and I couldn't help but laugh. "Oh, my," I finally managed, as the confusion and annoyance around me grew. "Sorry," I chuckled, "but you're a bit off the mark."

"Alye?"

"Turn left, Turiel," I called.

She came out, shaking her head with a sigh. "I still don't know how he finds his way around here." She glanced around the room, then frowned. "Where's the prince? Malinth wanted me to ask him something."

"Thranduil called for him."

"He does that a lot, doesn't he?"

"Not usually," I shrugged. "Something must be going on."

She sighed. "Which means I have little chance of catching him." She looked around again. "Am I interrupting something?"

"Only a boring explanation," I dismissed it with a wave of my hand. "Guys, this is Turiel. Turiel, meet Smudge, Hare, Twig, Goat, Trip, and Fall."

Her eyes went wide. "You found them all?"

Her excitement made several brows lift. "Mm-hmm. Legolas sent out a message."

She laughed, then stepped back and looked me over. After a moment, she nodded. "Okay, you do make a passable imitation."

"Gee, thanks," I muttered, rolling my eyes.

"I still can't believe they never figured it out."

"Figured what out?" Goat asked, straightening up. He was taller.

"That the boy you called Wind was actually a girl named—"

"Alyeni?" Goat broke in.

I nodded, lifting a brow.

"Oh come on, everyone has heard the story," he muttered. "And you are a very well known smith. My brother ordered a sword from you a few days ago."

I shrugged. "I don't really care if I'm known, as long as I can keep working."

"Wait a minute…" Smudge blinked. "You're the one Legolas… Leaf almost faded over?"

I winced. "My father—"

Twig growled. "Enough said."

"Shall we take it… yes, we heard about it, didn't we? The girl who was forced to be a guy? Your father was told to leave." Hare looked from Twig to me.

"Yes. Several… interesting years ago."

Goat pushed away from the wall, and lifted my chin with two fingers. "I used to think your features were unfortunate, as they would have made a beautiful she-elf." He stepped back, before smirking. "Wind and Leaf. That must be… interesting."

"You could say that," I agreed, slightly annoyed they found our relationship more fascinating than his title.

Just as I was thinking that, Twig tilted his head. "Wow." He shook his head. "We know the Prince."

I almost opened my mouth to say 'You know Leaf', but I managed not to. Instead I led them to the rooms Legolas had ordered readied for them for the next few days.

"So… you live here?"

"I have rooms not far from here," I answered, somewhat evasive.

"With Leaf?"

Good grief! What happened to subtleties? Then I remembered—there would be none, not in this group. "No, not with Leaf." Or Legolas, for that matter.

"I always figured you would have your own flet somewhere in the wood."

"I did. Until it burnt down." They started to offer the normal phrases, but I waved them away. "I was living in Imladris at the time. All I lost was the structure and the tree, and a few things I didn't care enough about to take with me. Thranduil offered me rooms here before I left for Gondor."

They all looked like they had questions, but I was done! I ducked down a hall and was soon shut safely in my rooms, hoping they would run into Legolas before I saw them again.