A.N. The usual, only this time it's true. This really was mostly coughed up at 2AM by the fading light of a desk lamp. We have two plausible excuses as to why it's this late. The first: my internet was down. Why couldn't I post it at school? The library? The truth is, I'm lazy. The second, and most important: We've been abso-bloody-lutely euphoric for the past week and a half because: WE MET ELIJAH WOOD, DOM, SEAN A, AND GOT ANDY SERKISS TO TAKE OFF HIS JUMPER!!!!!!!! Alright, calming thoughts (SQUEE!), now that we have the Sueish and amazingly mature octoplets of exclamation marks out of the way, on to the story….

"I found the pieces in my hand
They were always there
It just took some time to understand
You gave me words I just can't say
So if nothing else
I'll hold on while you drift away
Cause everything you wanted me to hide
Is everything that makes me feel alive
Cities grow
Rivers flow
Where you are, I'll never know
But I'm still here
If you were right and I was wrong
Why are you the one that's gone
I'm still here
Still here"

Vertical Horizon ~ I'm still here

Chapter 24: Beginnings

I yawned widely. It was somewhere between twilight and dawn and already I found myself walking barefoot along the cold, stone corridors of the palace. Not five minutes before hand I had been wrapped up blissfully and sleeping like, well, for lack of a better word, a baby. Why couldn't people just understand that that wasn't a normal occurrence for me? In fact, there were far too many times when I found myself sleeping rough or in a place where not even dust mites cared to take up residence. But for one night I found myself somewhere I thought of as quite safe, with people I knew didn't completely despise me. For once I had relaxed. And now I had been wrenched out of it all by a damn horse!

I yawned again. That's right, no life threatening crisis, no end of the world scenario, just a dumb animal that didn't know how to stay out of trouble. I felt like beating someone or something senseless, but, thankfully, I'd already thought the better of it. However, when a not so bright stable hand paid me the courtesy of awakening me by briskly shaking my shoulder, strangulation was the fist thing on my mind.

"This had better be good." I said to the elf that had the air of someone in charge. Making it down to the stables in lees then two minutes had been, quite frankly, easy. But the intense cold from both the flagstones and the dew-covered grass had been at such an early hour quite a shock to the system. The fact that I could no longer feel my feet couldn't have been a good sign either. I stood waiting for a reply with a rather awkward looking man in front of me. His mouth hung slightly agape and his eyes desperately tried to stay fixed on my own instead of wondering to my upper body. I knitted my brow and looked down…and then back up. In hindsight I probably should have put on an extra layer before venturing out. I Looked™ at him and after a few moments of silence, he coughed abruptly before speaking.

"Um…Milady…" He began somewhat shakily. "We've had a problem with your-"

"Yes, yes, yes, I know that already, get to the point!"

"Well, it's just, we put him out in the paddock along with the other-"

"You didn't put him in with the mares did you?"

"Uh…no-"

"Then what's the matter? He's hardly dangerous."

"Well…you see, we didn't actually put him in with the mares, he just sort of…um, jumped the fence…"

"Oh for the love of..." I sighed, deciding to take an ounce of pity on the man seeing as it wasn't entirely his fault. "Where is he?" The elf looked down a little sheepishly.

"Right this way."

~*~

He had led me out to a spacious area, free of trees and entirely encompassed by high, sturdy looking fences. I practically choked on yet another yawn as I beheld the sight in front of me and scowled. It took me all of ten seconds to march my way across the open field to where the two horses were…well…'doing the deed' to put it rather an eloquently. Four or so stable boys were crowded around looking rather bemused. Every once in a while one of them would try to calm the pair down enough to get close enough to have some chance of stopping them. However, they would only get within a metre or so before Amroth warded them off by neighing noisily or snorting.

"You horny little bastard!" I yelled at him. His ears twitched and almost immediately his head poked up, though he by no means stopped. "Get the hell off her!" His pace slowed slightly but he didn't completely relent. "Now!" I growled. With some reluctance he got down and slowly trotted up to me, the ring of horrified onlookers breaking to let him through. "Oh no, don't try and be all remorseful now." I said as he knelt down at my feet. From the look of things, the others were taking the rather traumatised mare back to the stables. "Don't expect leniency from me." I glared. He got back up on his hooves and brought his velvety muzzle to my cheek. He nudged it softly before licking it. I sighed deeply. "Why can I never stay mad at you?" I brought my hand up to stroke his forelock, cradling his muzzle in my hands. "Fine, I'll let you off this time, besides, how can I punish you for something that's only in your nature?" I shook my head as I took my hands away from his head. "And you are far too much like your father. Now go on, get out of here." I smacked his rump as he trotted off to the fence and jumped it in one easy leap. I turned around; coming face to face with the elf that had shown me down. He looked somewhat baffled. "What?"

"It's just that most animals respond to us well, but your horse is rather…"

"Rebellious? Stubborn? A pain in the ass?"

"…Yes, I suppose you could say that."

"Apparently he takes after his mistress." Silence, he seemed noncommittal, though I suppose it was rather obvious why. "Look, what's your name?"

"Valandil."

"Okay, Valandil, if he does that…or, for that matter, anything again, just call me straight away, and…thank you." I seemed to be saying that a lot these days. He, nodded and on the way back to the stables I learned that he was going to be an eager competitor in the oncoming tournament. You couldn't blame him for trying…could you? After making it back to the main building of the palace, I quickly found my way into the depths and comfort of sleep…

~*~

…and was so rudely awoken by an overtly soft knock at my door. 'No…not like this.' I prayed it was just my imagination and that no one had the stupid notion of entering into the land of the living. I brought the blanket over my head to try and block out the rays of light peaking through the curtains. It was best not to move any more, it would only make it harder to get back to that lovely state of unconsciousness.

"Yuna?" That voice. I knew whom it belonged to and equally so, I didn't care. No one was going to make me open my eyes. No one. The door clicked open a few inches. "Lady Yunalesca? Are you awake?" With the annoyance of knowing no matter what I did it was doubtful he would simply bugger off, I rolled over to face the doorway, opening my eyes just a crack.

"I am now…and what have I told you about calling me that."

"It is your title." He said, fully stepping into the room. Unfortunately, his comment made my brain kick into gear.

"No, don't come in, that's means I'm obligated to sit up and have a relevant conversation."

"Now when have you ever felt the need to have a relevant conversation?"

"Whatever, Mirkwood." He didn't make any other comments, good choice. Instead he walked the space between the doorframe and the double bed, standing at its edge. "Now, where were we? Ah yes, where does a naïve little elf come to know that?" I sat up and leant on the mountain of pillows at piled behind me as I hugged my knees. "There are very few people who know to call me that out of propriety instead of just a courtesy." Legolas smiled slightly, with his hands clasped behind his back he looked like some common wood captain on his first day. "You might as well sit down, somehow I get the impression we have quite a few things to talk about." He did, not far from my feet.

"First, may I apologise for waking you, it's just that I'm going to be busy later on and I know that you had desired to talk with me." I waved a hand vaguely to dismiss his apology. For some reason, it didn't seem to matter any more.

"So tell me Princey, what have you and that Ranger turned King been gossiping about?"

"Before I answer, may I ask you something? It's just that I am rather curious to know what happened between you and…Elassar" I stared at him a little confused.

"I though that he would have already told you, during the quest…"

"No, I asked him, but he said something about you being a better one to ask."

"Huh? Did he bump his head or something fighting those nasty Orcs? Forgot all about it?" Legolas shrugged.

"That was really all he would say about it."

"Fine, I can't see the harm in satisfying your curiosity, though why he wouldn't have told you I can't imagine. Let me see…" I tugged the blankets round me a little more. "It's hard to say how long ago it happened, maybe thirty five years. He was young." I chuckled mirthlessly. "Cocky. He had gone to Rohan, most probably in an attempt to escape Elrond or maybe he saw it as a chance to better himself. Though then of course, I didn't know who he was. I hadn't been to Rivendell for a while, I had no idea that Elrond was harbouring the heir to the throne of Gondor, and so when a young soldier wondered past Entwood's borders, I was in no mood to grant clemency." I breathed in deeply before carrying on. "It was easy enough to find him, he didn't have half the skills he does now. When I did find him of course, I told him to leave, assuming he didn't know any better and had wondered in there by accident, like many travellers, or, well I suppose you get the idea."

"I do believe I've been in a similar situation."

"Yes, I suppose. In any case he refused, much like you, though I believe he had other intentions. So I tried to escort him rather forcefully out and somehow we both found ourselves with our swords drawn. Unfortunately for him however, he did not have a couple thousand years of practice behind him and so was rather unfairly matched. In fact, it was only really by chance that he managed to inflict this…" I ran my forefinger over the rather faded scar running down the left side of my face.

"What about Elassar?"

"Hm, what do you mean?"

"What did you do to him?" I grinned.

"Uh…well, let's just say that the Evenstar has always been annoyed that I took a chunk out of her one and only." He looked rather shocked. "A scar about a foot or so long, across his stomach up to his chest. Although it's probably been healed by that foster father of his. And you know? I'm not going to apologise even if I did leave Aragorn for dead. The fact was he should have known better, and in any case I think I thought him a valuable lesson. "

"And what's that?" Legolas asked, half disbelieving.

"Don't piss off people that could kill you in the blink of an eye unless you really have to."

"You do realise he hasn't actually kept to that?"

"Oh, I know, but at least I tried." He didn't seem too convinced, but it didn't matter.

"So, I guess that's what possessed him to hunt down exactly who you were."

"Out for revenge I suppose."

"Indeed, and guess to whom it was he inquired about you?"

"Elrond."

"The Lord of Rivendell was somewhat reluctant to divulge information as to your past, but in the end did, if only to deter Elassar in coming after you, and I suppose it worked." I sighed; it was quiet for a few moments.

"So, I guess he told you then, about who my mother was. The daughter of an Elf Lord running off with a Gondorian. How utterly scandalous. But that's how I came to be…" Quiet again, but this time the silence was awkward.

"But -- if you don't mind me asking -- did your mother give up her immortality?"

"She didn't…unlike myself, a pheredil, my mother never had that option…she was pure Elvish. She must have known when she married my father that she would have to live to see him wither and die, and yet…"

"But then…"

"How did she die? " I swallowed the lump in my throat as I finished his question for him. "Grief…grief because for so long she believed my father was coming back after he'd just run off and left us. When he never did, she left me in the care of the Ents and…that was the last time I saw her. But she must have known that someday it would take her, even if my father had stayed. I guess she was in…love. And you know what they say…love is blind." I shook my head vigorously after a moment or two, sending silvery strands spilling down my shoulders. "Anyway, how's the Ranger?"

"He has a lot of responsibility these days…you know, Kingdom to look after, people to reign."

"Poor fool."

"Hmm…" He crinkled his brow in thought. "It's taken its toll on him, giving up everything he had grown so accustomed to. The title of King was one he took upon himself with reluctance. Though it is not because he has the inability to rule wisely, it is just that there are far greater cares and worries that are put on his shoulders now that ever were in the past."

"Apart from being the one of the closest confidants of the saviour of Middle-Earth, then sure." I said, sucking my bottom lip.

"In any case, since he was forced into his destiny it is as if he has lost a part of himself. One which I fear will never return."

"What happened to you after I left? All I got were unconfirmed reports from the Rohhirm every once in a while, and I was rather busy protecting Fangorn…Sauron's forces left nowhere untouched."

"We won the war, of course." Legolas responded with what I hoped was sarcasm. I glared.

"Don't patronise me, Elf."

"It's a very long tale and one for which unfortunately at this moment, I do not have the time."

"Oh, fine." I said, feigning hurt. "Just leave a girl hanging." He raised his eyebrows playfully as a slight smirk played on his lips. I have a sound of outrage, grabbed the nearest pillow and swung it, hitting him square across the face.

"Hey!"

"Don't act like you didn't deserve that." The archer chuckled.

"Now, I must get going, Firowen and Jen have already been forced into helping with the preparations for the tournament and I fear if I leave them too long they'll rip each others' heads off."

"Fine, bugger off, blond bint, I don't need you anyway."

"Seriously, I would stay but they really do need my help." He stood up slowly.

"Never mind. I've got things to do anyway."

"If you say so." He said, definitely sarcasm this time. "I'll see you later, oh, and do remember that it's archery tomorrow." With that he ran for the door, narrowly missing the pillow I'd still had clutched in my hands.

"Wanker!"

~*~

"So…where are we going again?" It was Narin strolling beside me down the cities main street. She'd decided to tag along with me, not wanting to get roped into helping with the decorations that were being put up all over the city. Already I could see multicoloured banners and flags strung between trees, above buildings and on walls. The smell of roasted chestnuts wafted through the air and everywhere the streets seemed to buzz with life. To add to that, mingling in with the usual towns folk were visitors, presumably here to take part in the tournament. There were elves that were definitely not native to Mirkwood, possibly from East Lórien or the remnants of Rivendell, if any did indeed remain. I could also pick out a few humans -not that that was in any way hard- taking in the beauty of the Elven City. So this was a mixed race competition, interesting. It made me wonder if there would be Dwarves.

"We're going to pick up something I…uh, ordered."

"What's that then?"

"Something I had specially made for the tournament."

"Oh, alright then." She replied as we stepped into a small shop just off the main street. A small bell tinkled as we entered inside. It was dark, even more so compared with the glorious sunshine. All along the walls various types of amour were mounted, faded steel glinting in the pale candlelight. The air was musty with the smell of old leather and also ash, which must have come through from the workshop in the back room. The storefront was tidy, almost overly so and on the main counter one large candle was the source of illumination for the small shop. After a few seconds the elf that was stood behind the counter the candle was placed on turned to face the two of us.

"Ah, Yunalesca, you are back just in time to-" He stopped short as his eyes came across Narin's small frame. "My Lady, welcome." Gildor said, sketching a bow.

"Please don't, just…"

"I understand, my Lady." He said, reassuringly. "Now." He turned back to me as if nothing had happened. "Your order is ready, though I have to say it was somewhat difficult to get a hold of everything you wanted." He moved over to the one window of the store and drew open the heavy wooden shutters, moving back to put out the candle.

"Did you have to substitute anything?"

"Yunalesca, don't insult me. They have been made to the exact specifications you required, I even threw in a little extra." After a shadow of a wink, he reached under the counter and brought out a large package wrapped in linen.


"How would you like your payment?" I asked, bringing out a small, velvet purse. Thankfully, I had packed it along with the other few possessions Legolas had bought. Gildor waved his hands in dismissal.

"I wouldn't dream of it. Requests for commissioned items have been rare as of late, with the disbanding of the spiders, and your items were a pleasure to make. In any case, I do not do this job for the money, I have enough of it as it is."

"It's your decision, my friend, but…thank you." He handed me the package and with a second thought reached back under the counter.


"I thought you might need these." He said, placing a pair of black slippers atop the item already in my hands. "And it was my pleasure."

"Well we must be going. Good day, Gildor."

"Good day, Yunalesca. Lady…Narin, I shall see you at the tournament no doubt." With that we left the little shop and stepped back into harsh daylight. We made our way back to the palace, but now it was far more evident what Narin had spoken of before. Everywhere people hesitated in their tasks as she passed, they said nothing but their eyes studied her every move. I couldn't help wondering if it was like that for the rest of the group, and, if it was, how they'd managed to keep as sane as they had.

~*~

"Do you mind if I…uh…" I trailed off, nodding to the package deposited on the table. We had made our way slowly back to the palace and into my room, neither of us wishing to get involved in setting up for the arrival of guests from all around Middle-Earth. I wanted to try on my clothes before the day, just in case small adjustments had to be made. Presently, Narin and I were in my room, an idle conversation having ended. It took her a moment to realise what I meant, when she did she brushed a hand dismissively.


"Go ahead." I gently eased the cloth out from the linen package, admiring the craftsmanship. I unlaced the tight knot on my bodice, slipping out of the confining article. Narin glanced up sharply as I pulled my top up over my stomach. "Wait." I stopped, looking at her, confused. Her eyes narrowed, teeth grit together, fists clenched. She strode purposely over to the door and flung it open, to reveal…

"You little pervert!" She yelled, in the most authoritative voice I'd ever heard her use. She grabbed the offender's ear between two fingers with particularly sharp nails and twisted it sharply so his head bent uncomfortably towards the floor. She dragged him in, and an eyebrow shot up. Before me, half-stood, half-hobbled yet another blond-haired, blue-eyed elf, looking as if he hadn't even come of age yet. He reminded me instantly of someone, but I couldn't quite place it. "Just what did you think you were doing, hm?"

"I…I…" twist "Ow, ow, ow, ow, okay! Sorry!" She released him, sending him scuttling out the door without a backward glance. Her look of pure bloody vengeance was replaced by one of apologetic pleasantness.

"Um…who was that, exactly?" I asked feebly.

"That, if anything happens to Legolas -- Valar forbid -- is the crown Prince of this entire kingdom." She scowled, closing the door.

"And why was he…?"

"Hormones."


"Ah."

"Well he's only about two hundred, so I suppose I can't really blame him."

"I thought he looked a bit like Legolas."

"Well, he uses that to his advantage, unfortunately." I thought about this for a moment.

"How…interesting."

~*~

I smoothed down the tunic before the full-length mirror.

"Twirl." Came the monosyllabic command from Narin.

"Excuse me?"

"Twirl. You know, spin around." She twiddled her finger to emphasise. I considered how many different ways I could refuse, but for some odd, deranged reason, I decided to indulge her. I pivoted on one foot as I completed a full circle, the front and back of my tunic fanning out. She grinned, cocking her head to one side in thought. "You do realise you're going to be the chief target for slander from the 'ladies' with an outfit like that."

"What's wrong with it? Am I flashing too much ankle?" I joked.


"Well…" she trailed off, a devilish glint in her eyes. I turned back to the mirror, giving myself a once-over. The entire thing was black, aside from the gold laced around the edges and running in veins throughout the top, which I took to be a little something extra from Gildor. My leggings, starting just above my hips, ending just bellow my knee, the ends patterned and ever so slightly wider. My tunic, the hem coming to mid-thigh, was supposedly modest, as the high collar suggested. This illusion was shattered, however, as one caught sight of the laced-up sides, exposing a strip of skin on either one.

"It's not that bad." I protested, feeling very strongly that the nobles from distant lands, and, indeed, from the Wood itself, could use a little shocking.

"I just hope you don't give any hormone-driven youngsters nosebleeds."

"Somehow, I doubt it."

~*~

I couldn't find anyone. It was the day of the tournament and I hadn't a clue where I was meant to go. Great.

I'd woken up after a rather broken night of sleep. There were pieces of the dreams I'd had still floating around in my head but mostly everything was sketchy. Maybe a face, a colour, a smell, but nothing that made any sense or that I knew I remembered from somewhere else. But right now it was the least of my troubles that I was slightly groggy. I'd already looked everywhere for at least one of the group or even Gem, just someone to say where it was I was supposed to be. On top of that, I was getting a rather wide range of expressions from the servants and general people inhabiting the palace. Was my outfit really that bad?

"Excuse me." I tapped a servant on his shoulder. He seemed rather busy polishing a table to the effect that one could use it as a mirror and so it was some time before he gave a slight nod towards his accomplishment and turned to face me.

"Gahh!" He voiced as I came into his field of vision. The way he reacted I might as well have been completely stark raving nude.

"There's no need to be so rude." I said, more than a little hurt.

"I'm sorry, I just didn't see you there, my apologies." It sounded sincere, best just to check.

"Are you sure there isn't something else?"

"I…um…don't believe so."

"Completely?"

"…Uh…yes?"

"Entirely?"

"Yes."

"You sure?"

"Milady," His patience seemed to be wavering "Is there something you think might be wrong?"

"What do you think of what I'm wearing?"

"Well, it's slightly unusual and perhaps a bit on the small side but the detail is quite fetching."

"So you don't think it's…slutish?"

"No."

"Okay…do you know where the beginning of the tournament is being held?"

~*~

What a nice young elf, not only did he tell me where it was he even offered to show me out to the exact spot I had to go in order to start. On top of that he seemed to be very good friends with the guards as he spent a good few minutes after talking to them and once even pointed in my direction. Probably thinks I'm going to win and was making sure that they knew he'd met me and so they'd let him through to congratulate me later on. Very good of him. Oooh, Legolas.

He was a few metres away talking to some other tall, blond haired, blue eyed elf. I was walking over to him with the intention of scolding him for not having the decency of waiting for me or even telling me where everything was taking place when the very same guards that the young elf had been talking to, came to stand in my way.

"Can I help you?" I said overly sweetly.

"I'm afraid that we cannot let you past, milady." Answered the taller of the two.

"I'm sorry? I don't believe I've done anything wrong, I just want to talk to Legolas, so I you really have no right--"

"I assure you, milady, that we have every right to stop you, if we feel that you might pose some threat to the citizens of this city. Even if you are n first name terms with the Prince."

"The only people I'll pose a threat to are you two if you don't get out of my bloody way." I said through gritted teeth. They looked at me a moment before both put a hand on one of my unclad shoulders. Bad move.

"Yuna." It was Legolas coming up behind the two, luckily for them. "What's going on?"

"Oh, whoops, did I forget to mention I'm a friend of the princes? Must have slipped my mind." They both looked rather crestfallen and embarrassed at the same time as they turned to face the archer.

"Your majesty…we were…er…just giving this woman directions, she looked… um…lost. Pardon us, and…sorry…" With that they walked off at speed and disappeared behind one of the many pavilions. A cluster of them were all situated to our left, twenty or so all of different sizes and designs. A little beyond, there was a large hill that didn't look entirely natural but I couldn't see anywhere past that. All around us, people mingled in the sunshine, talking, laughing, training or just carrying on with some random task. I could even spot a dwarf or two, helmets glinting as they walked about, rather more relaxed then I'd seen one in a long time, at least in an Elven city.

"What was that about?" Legolas asked after they'd left. I shrugged.

"Misunderstanding."

"Hmm…" He looked me up and down and smiled. "Nice outfit."

"Thank you."

"So, you ready?"

"Always." With that he offered his arm and even though it went against everything I claimed to stand for, I took it.

~*~

It turned out that the hill wasn't a hill. In fact it actually turned out to be a massive stadium, the part that I'd seen were the outside walls of which. Inside you could see that it was a semicircular shape and the walls gently sloped down with a miniature terraced effect that I assumed served as a crewed form of seating. Set up on the stadium floor were countless targets already in place for the first stage of the competition that was due to start some time soon.

We strolled down to where a large number of competitors were stood clustering around an older elf that seemed completely overwhelmed. He was shouting something about forming an orderly line; not that anyone was listening.

"Excuse me a moment." Legolas said before detaching his arm from mine. He pushed his way into the centre of the group and politely asked for calm. It was no real surprise that he got pretty much the same reaction as the older gentleman, royalty or not. There was only one thing for it.

"Shut, up!" I bellowed at the top of my lungs. There was almost instantaneous silence. "Will you all just do as the man says and form a bloody queue or else I doubt any of you will even get a chance to compete!" I shouted after following Legolas through. It still took a while but by the time that the spectators had started pouring into the grandstands most of those around us had been numbered and sent off to their starting positions.

"Thank you, your majesty." The man bowed slightly in the Prince's direction after which he looked coyly at the list in his hands and addressed me.

"You, my dear, are number seven hundred and nine. I do believe your group are second. Good luck, the pair of you." With that he toddled off to where another group was eagerly waiting.

"Seven hundred and nine, just exactly how many people are they're competing? "

"More than you'd think."

"Well, it still doesn't matter."

"What doesn't?"

"Well even if there are that many people, there's still no doubt I'm going to win."

"I beg to differ."

"Oh yeah, and what number are you?"

"One."

"Right. Is that some tradition or something, the number one is always given to royalty."

"No. The number one is always given to last years winner."

"…Ah."

~*~

The tournament started with plenty of fanfare. Trumpets, flags, it seemed a little garish for most elves, but then again these were wood elves. The stadium was obviously full to capacity with every seat filled and those people without one merely choosing to stand. It wasn't really surprising, over the last couple of years people had had nothing to look forward to but war. This was different.

There was obviously a special area for royalty and such with proper chairs and an assortment of refreshments. I could see the three girls all sat together, Jen in emerald green, Narin in soft blue and Tengaar in brilliant white. Thranduil was there in the middle of the royal party, guards on either side of his ornately carved wooden chair that looked rather out of place in this setting. He was talking to one of his advisors but about what I couldn't tell.

"Hello crumpet." I almost jumped about a metre back as the voice came into my ear.

"Firowen, what exactly have I told you about sneaking up on people."

"Absolutely nothing."

"Really?" I crinkled my brow. "Anyway, aren't you meant to be out there." I gestured towards the playing field where the Prince of Eryn Lasgalen was staring intently at his target.

"FIRE!" The command came and not a moment after seventy or so arrows went whizzing towards their targets. Some missed, others hit and in the case of at least one archer, it hit dead centre. 'Figures.'

"I'm not on for another hour or so." He said simply. "Which leaves us with enough time to, you know." He raised his eyebrows playfully.

"Hmm, I the way I figured it you'd only last five minutes." The elf chuckled.

"Well, maybe if you give me a little incentive."

"Shut up, you poncey twat."

"That's a little harsh, don't you think? I mean, it's not as if your little boy-toy over there would last any longer." He cocked his head over to where Legolas had struck another dead accurate bull's eye. The breath was almost knocked out of me.

"Excuse me?" I responded, shocked. "Are you sure you want to be talking about someone who's happily betrothed like that?"

"Well, I wouldn't put it like that, but why not?" I was formulating a reply, when his gaze slipped past me. Jen was making frantic hand signals from the royal box to the two of us. "Our plans have sadly been discovered, my dear. Another time?"

"You wish."

"Yes, and?" I sighed.

"Come on." I said and started pulling him in the direction of the others.

When we got there, Jen explained that she didn't really want anything, she just thought that since we weren't up for another hour or so, we might as well be saved from each other. Those weren't her exact words of course, but that was the general feeling we got.

"So what number are you?" I enquired of Firowen, who was standing there watching Legolas with an air of graceful arrogance.

"Two." Jen replied as he opened his mouth. "Every year. Some think it's staged, but I can tell you for a fact it's not. They are, sadly, the best we have in this Valar-forsaken kingdom."

"Cer's always either third or fifth, depending on if the sons of Elrond decide to give it a go." Firowen added with a look in her direction. I smirked. I had met the infamous twins on many a grand occasion. I wondered how the epitome of innocence and sweetness, i.e. Tengaar, could be the product of one of their mischievous and cunning personas. "However, he and the twins -- Nolad and Celoril, I mean -- have decided to forgo their places this year, in favour of a more enjoyable position."

"Being?"

"In the coming events, more than a little outside help is required. Usually, this task is put to off-duty members of the army who are not competing, but it is not uncommon for others to aid them. I remember doing it the first time Legolas won the tournament the year he came of age." He sighed wistfully, sounding almost like a proud father.

"I'm guessing this was not the first victory on his part?"

"Well, many of our more experienced warriors were unable to compete for one reason or another, and he had the best training in the kingdom since a very early age, much like myself."

"And you haven't beat him ever since?" It was more of a statement than an actual question.

"Well, no…" He searched for a comeback. "But that was back when it was only held once every yén, but of course we had to change that because a lot of the mortals were, well, dying, and we were adamant on letting the humans, particularly from Laketown, prove their worth on more than one occasion."

Idle conversation flitted back and forth between the group for a while, passing the time until our group number was called up, and I was mortified, to say the least, to find that I was in the same group as Firowen, whom of course had known all along. I asked him how this could have happened, and he readily explained yet another aspect of this event.

"You see, it wouldn't be fair to divide the groups up so that the best from the previous tournament were all in one, so instead, the twelve groups have the skill divided equally between them. Legolas is in group one, I, in two with you, and if Cer was competing, he'd be in the third group. Understand?" I nodded, my expression almost humorously deadpan.

"Anyone I should watch out for?" I nodded towards the groups assembled as we made our way towards them.

"See the creature in the brown tunic to the right? Name's [insert]. Nasty piece of work." I scanned the crowd in the direction he was looking.

"Where? Practically all of them are wearing brown tunics."

"The man over there, with breasts." My eyes widened at the comment, and I indeed took notice of a -- it pained me to say it -- woman whom I'd overlooked as a rather plain man beforehand. My jaw must have hung open ever so slightly, for I felt Firowen's finger push it back up.

"I know."

"That's a woman? I've known some nasty-looking Men, but Valar, that's not right."

"I know that too."

"Look at her arms! They're covered in muscles. And that face…"

"Aright, that's quite enough now."

"But--"

"I know."


"Is she a good fighter?"

"Decent, by Men's standards. But she's one of those who believe that by acting, dressing and speaking like a man, she'll somehow become better." He sighed dramatically and shook his head. "At least you try to act slightly feminine at times, and I'm ever so glad you don't look like that--ow!"

"As always, you deserved that."

"I'm not sure I did, but in any case, s/he's one to steer clear of, generally because I could barely contain my laughter the first time I spoke with her."

"Do tell."

"I know Men are arrogant, but she seemed to think she was not only the best Man around but also that she could beat the Elves. Needless to say, the ensuing round did not end in her favour." Our group name was bellowed again by an announcer, telling us to take our places. I followed Firowen to collect a bow, and watched the others as they lined up.

There had to be at least seventy or so in my group alone. Over half would leave disappointed, as only four hundred would make it through to the next round, which was as of yet unknown to me.

I spotted Valandil some way to the side, picking nervously at his bow. I grinned, but the look left my face entirely as my eyes passed directly over another group. I pulled my gaze down to inspect the bushel of Dwarves. I wondered how they coped being around so many elves. Personally, I despised Dwarves in the same way I despised Elves. They were at two extremes of culture, but I could easily say I preferred Elves, no matter how aloof to the common people they seemed.

When it was my turn, I received my bow, and my mouth hung open in anguish. To make the contest fair, all the bows were exactly the same. And to make it even fairer on the more microscopic competitors, they were short bows. I only knew how to shoot with deadly accuracy with a crossbow, I only knew how to shoot straight with a longbow, and I only knew how to make things spontaneously combust using a short bow. I mentally and prematurely lamented my loss of the round.

"Don't worry," I heard a familiar voice in my ear, "No one was told they'd be using short bows, even me, and hardly anyone here is proficient enough to knock you out." I glared at Legolas.

"And what score did you get, oh Prince?"

"Ten."

"Doomed." I muttered. "I'm doomed."

"You'll be fine, just concentrate and remember: a short bow is just like a longbow, just smaller. Don't apply as much pressure and aim slightly higher than you normally would, and you will be fine."


"Bah."

"It's your turn in any case." He grasped the tip of my bow and guided me along to the target range, where ten others were setting up. "Seven, zero, nine." He casually said to a man carrying a scribe as we mounted the platform.


"Why are you here?"

"Because firstly, I can, and secondly, for moral support."

"Great…" I almost felt self-conscious as I readied my bow, before I reminded myself that one as shameless as I should never feel self-conscious.

"Concentrate…" He said, his voice low as he leant unnecessarily close to my ear. I pulled the string taut and concentrated on hitting that one target as close as was physically possible to the centre. And then, things took a rather odd turn for the worst. Just as my brain registered the order to fire, I felt a spurt of warm air dart across the tip of my ear as Legolas blew. I stopped myself from shrieking, but I couldn't stop the involuntary jerk of my muscles, and watched with a half-outraged, half-humiliated expression as the arrow struck the outermost circle.

"You…!" My oh-so-eloquent array of vocabulary was throwing so many random insults, rude names and entirely inappropriate things to say, that I was spoilt for choice, and ended up with nothing but a strong urge to slap away the smug look on his Princely features. I decided, however, that the guards were already keeping a close enough eye on me, and I was better off not sinking to his level and doing something so low as to seek revenge.

On second thought…

"Just you wait." I said, leaning nearer. "Just wait. Now why don't you use your authority and sod off?" I smiled as evilly as I could manage without frightening the children from Laketown, and turned back round, notching another arrow. He grinned as he did, indeed, sod off. To about a foot behind me. It would have to do.

The next few minutes passed rather sulkily. My skill with the short bow, as has already been stated and proved on a number of occasions, was not only something not to be shouted about, but more like something to sweep under the proverbial rug of death threats to anything that endangered what shattered reputation I had. I miserably watched as the others up with me hit the centre target time and time again while my arrows skirted around the outside. The crowd had started to murmur amongst themselves. I knew exactly what they were talking about. You always hear of these technicolored visions, with their strange clothes, and strange hair, and strange habits, who came along and stole the entire show from the others. Now, why wasn't I one of them? The people around probably expected some kind of song and dance by the way they were looking at me as I took up the formation.

Pity they would see no such thing.

My last arrow flew majestically through the air, before lading squarely in the third circle. None of my arrows were even close to the centre. I felt like the incredible failure I was. The crowd was still murmuring. I could hear Legolas grinning. What happened next was pure impulsive genius on my part.

I turned to leave, but as soon as I caught sight of the dagger at Legolas' belt, I changed my mind. In one movement, I grabbed it, spun round and threw. Without even looking, I resumed my voyage off the platform, my expression stoic at the crowd's silence after the faint thwack. I knew exactly where it had hit, so it came as no surprise when I briefly glanced to see it buried in the dead centre of the target.

A.N. Cookies and Kudos to everyone who reviewed. Where are you people?! Come on! We need support! It's hard enough to churn out a chapter every week or so without you lovely people giving us feedback!