Alright, I just got out of an awesome play a friend was in, so I'm in a good mood, and thought I'd go ahead and update this. A little bit of a lighter look (I think) into some inter-elf relations, and perhaps a chance for something more interesting as well.

Thanks to those who took the time to review! I really appreciate knowing someone is reading this.

LJP: Rithil and Ashes do not conflict that much. Not that this will turn into a three-some. Legolas is a prince, and acts like one (for the most part) in this fic. Having two elves enter a contest for him would be so beneath his dignity he likely wouldn'tremain in proximityto either for centuries. Much less speak to them. As for the shooting as opposed to another weapon. How ironic... LOL (read below, and you'll get it.).

Chapter 6 The tall one

Ashes tilted her head to the side, then rolled her eyes to the arched ceiling with a faint smile. "Good morning, Elleri."

He sighed, giving up on trying to walk up behind her silently. "What gave me away this time?"

"I could hear your belt."

"My belt?"

"Mm-hmm. The metal on the end keeps hitting your dagger's sheath."

He glanced at her with a frown. "But… that could be hundreds of elves."

"But there are not hundreds of elves who would do their best to sneak up on me."

With a sigh he inclined his head. "Point to you, as ever."

She laughed softly. "So, are all the groups beginning these… 'activities'?"

"I take it Legolas was pretty closed-lipped about it?"

"Well, I am the only one who joined his patrol since the last time, so…"

"Yeah, he would just leave it for you to learn with the others. You know how things are set up, right?"

"Well… only vaguely. I didn't really pay attention to the set-up before. I know Legolas's patrol can't possibly be all that he commands."

"No. If that were the case we would need dozens of captains."

"And there are… six?"

"Five. Hathien and I will be within a few years, unless we decide to remain simple leaders."

"Leaders?"

"Mmm. Each captain chooses of his soldiers those who show they have the capability to be a captain some day. To each he gives control over a decent group of soldiers for group training. Groups can take spider duty from time to time…"

"But generally leave it to the Captains?"

Elleri grinned. "It's how things are, Ash. Those who are more reckless tend to lack the qualities wanted in possible future captains, and they remain under those captains, as they don't want to pass them off to the leaders."

"So the leaders get the tamer elves."

"Generally. Sometimes people get shifted around—those with promise in the leader's groups… or with discipline problems they think the captains should deal with…"

"Are returned to the captains?"

"Yes."

"So… what about Jarthey?"

"She is the only captain to oversee the regular training of the groups that are not training directly under a captain. It works out for everyone—less work for the guys, more for her so she knows she isn't just a trainer."

Ashes laughed. "I can't imagine her being just anything."

He chuckled, nodding in agreement. "So, a few months after every trial, the new recruits are divided among the captains."

"Divided how?"

"Jarthey splits them up into lots of around four elves each—the captains can choose any of the lots, as long as they even out in the end."

"So if there's one that they know they just don't get along with…"

"That's the general idea, although sometimes that happens anyway."

"Understandable."

Elleri chuckled. "Legolas won't trade you."

She lifted a brow. "For his pride?"

"And because you're the only one he could spar with."

"Spar? He hasn't asked yet."

"He can't, yet. You aren't fully a member of the group until all the new recruits have been sorted out into their more or less final placement. As long as you don't do something he can't deal with against him, you'll stay with his patrol… and each elf trains with the others in his group."

"So… that means he can't ask?"

Elleri stilled, then shrugged and caught up with her. "Well, not really…"

"But the fact that he is a Captain, not to mention Prince, and I'm not even an official soldier…"

"More or less," he agreed.

She rolled her eyes. "Males."

He snorted. "You're rather like us, Ash."

"I am not."

"Sure you are."

"No, Elleri."

"Yes. You're strong, independent, stubborn…"

"Doesn't that also describe your sister?"

He tilted his head to the side, and then had to nod. "Well, yes, but she's also far more subtle than Legolas or I."

"She has to be."

"Why would you say that?"

She rolled her eyes. "Elleri… what do males expect of females? That they be quiet, subservient, sweet, polite, thoughtful… If they aren't, then they have to be cunning enough to hide it."

He stared at her for a long moment and then gave a shake of his head with a slightly disbelieving laugh. "Even if I agree with all of that… which I won't admit… then by your own definition you aren't very much like most females."

"Because I decided I didn't want to be cunning in that way. Every person is born with some degree of cunning. Most ladies are trained to turn theirs to a sort of superfluous deception—appearing happy or pleased even when they aren't, to soothe the feelings of those around them. Males are encouraged to develop it rather differently—excelling in a certain field."

"Like the army?"

"Mm-hmm."

"So… how does that prove you're like females, rather than males?"

"Because, even though I may seem like a female wanting to be a male, I still have untouched layers of deception."

"Really?" he asked, smiling.

"Oh, haven't you noticed?" she murmured, arching a brow as they passed under the final archway that would take them to the training field. "I don't give a real name, I wear dark colors, I don't really get close to anyone…"

"Except me, and Verine…"

"Yes, well…"

He frowned, partly smiling. "I… you like confusing me, don't you?"

With a laugh she wrapped her elbow around his neck, pulling him over to the practice weapons. "Of course. Now, you said you would help."

"And I don't see what you need help with, if Legolas and Jarthey are interested in your fighting abilities."

"Archery, El. I'm proficient—well, that's downplaying my skill. I can hunt, I can kill orcs. My aim, while better than the humans I've known, isn't up to Mirkwood standards. Not up to Lothlorien or Imladris standards, actually."

He lifted a brow, disbelief clearly in his eyes until he watched her shoot a few times. The disbelief spread to his face. "Who taught you to shoot?" he asked, horror clearly in his voice.

"No one," she sighed. "Which is why I've asked."

He shook his head. "Your stance… Ash, that is the worst attempt at shooting I've ever seen. Didn't you have someone to watch to learn?"

Her eyes darkened just a bit, and her head tilted slightly down as her jaw tightened. "Not really."

With a sigh he picked up a bow, and considered her. "Will watching alone be enough, or do you want instruction?"

"I've been learning by observation and doing. I haven't ever been instructed in the arts of war."

He nodded and started to ready himself to shoot before pausing. "While learning, I'd suggest you keep in mind how you shoot right now. Worst comes to worst, it's better for you to have a horrible stance and be able to hit what you're aiming at than a good stance with horrible aim."

She rolled her eyes but refrained from commenting, and watched him as he retook his stance.

Elleri fired twice before he gave in, turning his head slightly to see her. "I've never been so intensely studied before."

With a chuckle she broke the scrutiny. "Self-conscious?"

"Oh, no, not at all."

She laughed and tied her hair back. "I would think you would be used to it."

"What, being prince and all?" He shook his head and began shooting once more. "Legolas is the prince they all know—and I wouldn't have it any other way."

"You don't think you're recognized?"

"I am," he shrugged. "Mostly because we all look so much alike."

"Not in the least."

"Same hair," he murmured.

"No," she shook her head. "Not the same hair, or the same eyes… Legolas and Verine have almost silver-blond hair, and Thranduil's sapphire eyes. You and Morsallien have slightly darker hair and bright blue eyes, with the slight shape difference you inherited from your mother. You two favor her more."

"We're also slightly shorter than our elder counterparts," he added dryly.

She smiled and nodded, biting her lip to keep from laughing. "Annoyed, are you?"

He sighed. "He's the eldest, looks more like Da—obviously even more so than Verine—" He didn't notice Ashes turn to hide her grin. "He's the Captain, the 'weapons master'… couldn't he have let me be the tall one, at least?"

Unable to help it, she laughed. "Elleri," she shook her head. "How old was he when he became Captain?"

Elleri tilted his head and began to calculate. "Around sixteen hundred, give or take a bit."

"Mm-hmm. And you're now over twenty-five hundred?"

"If this is supposed to make me feel better…"

"He always knew he wanted to be a weapons master. Ever since that spider incident when he was seven hundred. You didn't know. I'm guessing you still don't plan to be a weapons master."

"No," he shook his head. "But what has that to do with me being shorter than he is?"

"A knuckle's length!"

"I'm still shorter."

She rolled her eyes. "El," she laughed. "Of all the things to focus on, you have to pick something you had nothing to do with. Keep shooting, would you?"

"Hmm."

The gentle thunk of arrows sinking into the target had brought Legolas down the hall—all of the new recruits had today off, and all of the fully trained soldiers had the next month more or less off. They would be waiting in case of emergency, of course, but that was nothing new.

His eyes widened as he saw Ashes and Elleri holding bows.

"Now, try again."

With a lift of a dark brow, she did, and Legolas nearly choked as her arrow went extremely wide.

"Good! You've almost got it."

"Except my aim is extremely off, now," she sighed.

"Well, like I said—"

"I'm not slow, El. I know." She fired a few more times, then growled softly with exasperation, shifting her body to an extremely poor position that would put most people right off ever trying to shoot again—and her next three arrows lined up in a row in the center of the target. She shook her head and dropped her quiver, resting her bow beside it. "Start again."

Elleri chuckled and moved down to the next target, picking up a new score of arrows. He started again, pausing every now again as she shifted to a new position, slowly circling him. "Um… Ash?"

"You won't shoot me," she murmured faintly, standing nearly in front of him.

He hesitated, but adjusted just slightly before releasing his arrow.

She nodded and turned, adapting his pose. She notched and drew the arrow in moments, then released it… barely nicking the target.

It was an improvement, of course, but…

"Just practice," Elleri murmured when she turned to him with a frown.

Legolas shook his head and stepped forward, pausing for an instant when she whirled to face him. "Prepare, but don't fire," he ordered quietly.

It took her a long moment to decide, but slowly she did as commanded, eyeing him once ready. He looked up at Elleri, and motioned him around so he could see. "She isn't male, El. Her stance can't perfectly mirror yours with the same effect." He looked at her. "Your body shifts slightly to… make this position more comfortable for you." He stepped up behind her, resting his hands over and around hers. "Shift yourself just a bit more. It won't feel quite right now, compared to the one you've just learned, but soon it should work for you."

She frowned. "Shift how?"

He looked down over her shoulder, and moved his hand from her bow to her hip, shifting her slightly. He pushed lightly on her shoulder before replacing his grip around hers. "Feel the difference?" he asked, ignoring the fine tremor running through her.

She shook her head slightly. "I feel shaky. Like a slight wind would blow me over."

He glanced down and rolled his eyes. "Shift your feet, Ash."

She glanced down and did so, readapting the pose he'd forced her into. "Better."

"Alright. Fire."

They released the arrow, and she watched it land firmly not too far from the target's heart. She reached for another arrow when Legolas released her, and entered the pose again, studying how it felt without someone to steady both her and her arrow. She made a few more, slight changes, and fired again. It was a hair closer than the previous one, but she frowned.

"Now the best advice is to practice," Legolas murmured. He inclined his head slightly and left.

Ashes looked after him for a moment, frowning as she considered the ground before returning to her practice.