I figure out that if I post a chapter of Trial by Fire about every five days, I can get it done before graduation. There's not a chance with this one, though, so expect the normal once a week updates, and I promise I'll try to find a way to update over the summer when I can... but for a month I'm going to be in the wilds--no phone, no computer, no books, no shower, no toilet. Oddly enough, considering how much of a techno-geek I am (I go into shock when separated from my computer), I'm looking forward to it. I think all of that also managed to translate into no work, no school. By the Valar, I'm looking forward to it. More than graduation, sadly enough.

Anyway...

Thanks to those who reviewed!

Eyes of Sky: I tried to make each chapter of this story contain something that really added to the plot, instead of sort of time-biding as I've been accused of in past chapters. I'm glad it's working. ;-)

Navaer Lalaith: I've had a few other people suggest that I try writting in a more 'authentic' fashion, and I'm afraid you get the same old reply: I can't. I don't think I could do it justice without it sounding very stiff, stilted, and completely unlike what I was attempting to do. I'm sure there are some writers who can do it, but I can't. I know my shortcomings and I'm grateful to those who can overlook them to enjoy the story behind my non-Tolkien words. As for the elves appearances... In my mind, elves can have black or shades of blond hair, and silvery-grey to nearly blue-black eyes. Nothing I've read in Tolkien has dissuaded me, and I've noticed that a lot of fanauthors and fanartists have portrayed the same elf in a variety of ways. In other words, you're welcome to your opinion, but I've my own. I could point you to several Elfwood galleries who have Legolas, Gil-Galad and others with dark hair. As for their names, I used an elven name generater for all but three names. Another thing I noticed--no one seems to agree on what constitues an elven name. And nicknames, for goodness sake! Ashes is a wanderer... so she uses a wandering name.The others have been friends (or siblings) since they were very, very young. I don't call my best friend by her five-sylable name--it takes too long and slows down the conversation when we're in full flow. As for the 'mary-sue' test you insisted I look at, I kind of wonder if you've been reading the story I've been writing. Because I answered yes to about6 of those 190 (why I read that when I have four exams next week, I haven't figured out. Morbid curiosity perphaps), and they were mostly things like she is an elf, I'm not an elf (therefore, she's a different race than I am), same gender as I am, looks about 20(though a bit older), and she looks that way for a good reason(she's an elf). And now that I've responded to your review, I'm going to respond to everyone elses and try to get this up before I'm out of time and don't get any studying done.

Iluvenis: I doubt I speak your native language, but I can try and help you with questions, if you ask me questions. I can't really help if you only tell me you don't understand something.

Animir: I know what you mean. I loved archery at school (and this was three years before I read or watched LOTR, so no one bug me about that). You will know eventually, though I will say it wasn't exactly a fallen head over heels in love with Legolas kind of reason. Rather the opposite pole, really.

Chapter 7 Confused and a bit jealous

Legolas frowned as he led the group of weary new recruits back into the mountain. His leaders weren't waiting for him, as they knew they should be.

"Legolas."

The familiar commanding voice broke into his thoughts, and he turned quickly. "Yes, Ada?"

Thranduil sighed and waited for the last of the group to enter the mountain. "Elleri," he murmured, beckoning his other son from the back of the group to join him as well. "Legolas, I need a message sent to Imladris, with all speed."

"You wish me to take it?"

"I do. But in such times you will take another."

Legolas glanced at his brother, who was watching their father with conflicted eyes. He wanted to go, and Legolas knew that. "I'm sorry, Elleri. But I need you to take my place here."

Elleri's head bowed slightly, before he nodded. "An honor," he murmured, only partly soothed.

Legolas sighed and looked out at the recruits. "You know who goes where, correct?"

"Yes," Elleri agreed. After all, he'd been tested by Legolas the evening before, and the brothers had debated the merits and advantages of sending each elf to every position.

"Who would you have me take, El?" he asked softly.

Elleri considered for a long moment. "Ashes," he admitted at last. At Legolas's surprised glance, he elaborated, even as Ashes—having heard her name, moved over to join them. "She's no doubt been there more often and recently than you, knows fluently the tongue of any you might meet, and is more than adequate with her weapons. If you chose, she could be easily disguised to seem less of a danger to others."

"Forget it," she snapped. "I will not be put into a dress and then on a horse for anything."

"Short of fleeing the land, would you have a choice?" Legolas asked mildly. "Of course, you've done that before."

Her eyes narrowed, burning him with furious anger. "I will go. But I will not be someone I am not."

"Fine," he declared, turning back to his father. "When do we leave?"

"Get yourselves and your horses fed. You will leave by mid-afternoon."

Legolas inclined his head shortly. "I will find you when we are prepared."

"I will be in my study," Thranduil agreed.

Legolas motioned one of the elves over, giving care of the horses over to him. "Come along," he ordered Ashes, sweeping quickly down the halls to the room his patrol had long ago claimed for its meals. "The King has chosen me and Ashes to carry out a task for him. I don't know how long it will take, but we leave shortly. Elleri is in command until my return. Understood?"

A quick, hard look from him stilled any questions, and he and Ashes were allowed to sit down in peace, eating quickly. He walked with her to her room. "Meet me outside Ada's study when you're prepared. Be quick about it."

"Of course," she agreed shortly, entering her room.

Legolas frowned faintly as he moved silently down the halls to his own room. He stripped himself quickly, setting his weapons aside and tossing his clothing in a ball at the corner, moving through to the bathing and dressing room he shared with Elleri.

"Done eating already?"

"Mm-hmm," Legolas agreed, easing himself into the large pool of water. He ducked down, wetting himself entirely. Elleri tossed the soap at him, and was watching him with a thoughtful, considering look when Legolas glanced up again. "What?"

"Are you angry with me or her?"

Legolas frowned, and tilted his head back so the suds wouldn't get into his eyes. "Neither."

"Then why do you seem to be angry?"

"I am in haste, El."

"You are angry."

With a sigh Legolas paused, then ducked under the water of the pool. "I'm not angry," he said slowly when he resurfaced, absently wringing the water from his hair. "I suppose…" He shook his head and stepped out of the water, grabbing a large cloth to dry himself with before dressing. "I suppose I wish I could get along with her. All my life I've gotten along with people, with few exceptions. Even the exceptions respected me, trusted me, for who I am. She… doesn't."

"I think she—"

Legolas shook his head, cutting him off. "No, Elleri. She doesn't trust me. Sometimes I rather get the feeling that she hates me, that she's mocking me for a fool. I don't know why… and it upsets me, admittedly."

"So you are angry to be stuck with her for possibly weeks or months."

Legolas's eyes darkened slightly, before he moved to gather some clothing to use in Imladris, and another set for the road. With a sigh he moved back into his room for his circlet. "No," he answered at last, glancing back at Elleri, who was only partially dressed. "Just confused… and a bit jealous of you," he crooked a smile at his shocked brother, and picked up the bag, slinging it over his shoulder as he returned to his room.

He had stepped into his boots and fastened most of his weapons before Elleri recovered enough to follow. "What?"

"You heard."

"I heard. I don't understand."

"You have her trust, her friendship. She looks at you with mostly happy eyes. She looks at me as if she can see through my body into my soul, and finds me lacking. I am the one who doesn't understand." He paused for a moment more, then shook his head and opened his door, grabbing the bag of clothing on the way. He caught a passing servant and requested waybread, along with some bread and dried meat and fruits to be brought to his father's study—more than enough for two to travel to Imladris. The servant bowed and changed course.

"I don't know why she allowed me to become her friend, Legolas. I don't really know that I am. She hides much, elder brother. Sometimes I wonder if she hides because of who I am, rather than whatever it is she keeps secret."

"I have never gotten the feeling that our titles have any sway over her," Legolas replied dryly, glancing back at his brother.

"They do… it's just very little." Elleri sighed when Legolas rolled his eyes. "Legolas," he protested. "Try not to make her get defensive."

"I never try, Elleri."

"You manage very well, then."

He sighed. "I know. Another thing I don't understand—it is almost as if merely by being we hurt each other, and lash out to restore our own equilibrium. I do not mean to do so. I do not consciously decide to snap, to snarl, to sneer… I just do. I haven't had such a time keeping myself in check since I was yet a child."

Elleri lifted a brow. "She destroys over two thousand years of practice?"

Legolas made an annoyed sound and pushed open the door of their father's study. He blinked to find Ashes already there, leaning against a bare bit of wall, arms crossed over her chest. He inclined his head shortly, then looked expectantly at his father.

"This is to go only to Lord Elrond, Legolas. Wait for a reply. If it is negative, return at once. A positive answer… needs no haste. You may spend what time there you wish."

Legolas nodded slightly and accepted the letter, tucking it into an inner pocket sewn into his tunics specifically for documents. They would remain more or less flat, and as clean as he did… which wasn't necessarily saying much. The main purpose of it, though, was that he couldn't lose it—there was no way for it to simply 'fall out', as many messengers had claimed had happened when a message was delivered too late or not at all. A slight knock on the door from Elleri—a triple tap, indicating a waiting servant which required only slight acknowledgment. "Then we are ready to leave, Ada."

"Good. Have a safe journey, Legolas. Ashes…"

She turned, glancing at him over her shoulder. "Yes, Thranduil?"

"You know the path. You know its dangers. Do not bring more to it."

She stilled for a moment, and then nodded. "I will do my best, my lord," she murmured, inclining her head before passing Legolas to leave. She quirked a brow when she saw Elleri. "In that big a hurry, were you?" she asked after he handed their supplies to Legolas.

He glanced down, realizing for the first time he wasn't exactly attired to wander the castle. It was passable—even common enough among the soldiers in the wing of the halls reserved entirely for them—but hardly princely. He shifted uncomfortably on his bare feet. "Well, yes, actually," he admitted.

She chuckled softly and started to leave when she saw a small bit of silver resting against his chest. She tilted her head at it. "That is not the house's symbol," she murmured, frowning up at him.

His ears darkened a bit farther, his fingers closing over the mithril. "No… my chain broke a while back. It's probably been repaired by now, but…"

"A replacement, then?" she suggested.

He shook his head. "No. A gift from a dear friend."

She looked into his eyes, seeing clearly that which Legolas could tell from the tension of his back. "A friend who pains you?"

"Only her lack pains me, Ash."

After a moment she inclined her head slightly. "Do you expect her back, then?"

"I don't know. She never said goodbye."

"Then maybe it wasn't meant to be goodbye."

Before Elleri could find a response to that, Legolas had taken Ashes by the shoulder and pulled her away, nodding at Elleri. "Leave well enough alone," he murmured when she started to protest his treatment. "He has spent centuries wondering if she yet lives—don't make him think she was abducted, rather than simply having decided to gallivant off somewhere."

"Such a decision is never 'simple', prince."

At her tone for the final word he stopped in the middle of the hall, sighed and closed his eyes, running his hand over them. "Look, Ashes. We have to deal with each other practically daily for the rest of our service careers. Whatever the reason is that you hate me, could you please set it aside?" He had looked up at her, and to his shock saw an unguarded moment pass in her eyes—a deep fear. "Ash?" he asked, reaching out to turn her head back when she turned away. She started trembling again—very disconcerting. "Why do you fear me so?" he asked, stunned and horrified by this unintended and unexpected revelation.

She broke away and turned, her head bowed for a long moment as she took calming breaths. "Because you have power over me," she finally answered.

Finding that answer rather more confusing than enlightening, he frowned. "My title? You and Elleri are quite good friends," he half-grumbled. It had pained him to see the elf who avoided and despised him so much rest with her head on Elleri's chest, or keep watch sitting at his shoulder as he slept.

She didn't answer, didn't look at him… didn't even move.

With a sigh, he shook his head. "I don't intend to hurt you," he offered at last.

"Of course not," she agreed.

He wasn't sure if he was relieved or not that she had recovered from her momentary inability to control her voice, keeping emotion from it. With her back turned, he couldn't tell if she meant it, was being sarcastic, or perhaps accusing him of having already done so… or perhaps of doing so.

The thought made him far from comfortable, and he shifted his weight onto his left leg, watching her for a bit longer. "Ashes… we should go."

She nodded once and began walking quickly to the main gate, her cape hanging almost limply behind her, as if too worn out to flare or billow.