Hey I am back and I am so sorry that I have not updated in so long. School has been crazy! And well my boyfriend has been to! (LOL)(j/j) Any way I thank those who reviewed. I will get on with the story now. You have waited long enough.

Disclaimer: Don't own any!

Chapter 7

Fighting my Friend

'Well that was just wonderful,' I thought as I entered my room and slammed the door behind me. 'The king was pissed at me ,and Legolas ...well, Legolas probably hated me for lying to him, he'd been my friend, but now I'm not so sure. I was now truly alone...Again! How ironic.' I concluded as a tear ran down my cheek, I slumped back against my closed door. 'They thought that I was some pitiful, helpless child that needed protected. It's true, that while I don't have all the skills required to survive here, I could still learn. For God sakes I lived without my father and mother for years.' I was going to prove them wrong, I wouldn't and couldn't put Legolas in danger. I wiped the tears from my face and pushed myself from the door and headed strait to my wardrobe. I changed into a pair of brown leggings and a green tunic. I was going to practice fighting with or without the help of the beloved prince. I was going to get ready for leaving and ready for war. It was coming and I needed to be fully prepared. I had no weapons, but I knew where some would be. I needed a sword and bow, and the armory was the perfect place to get them, now if I only knew where that was. I growled in frustration. I walked out the door and started down the corridor.

I walked around for what seemed like hours, until finally I saw a maid leaving one of the many rooms along the hall.

"Excuse me" I called down the hall and the maid quickly came over to me.

"Yes, My Lady, what do you require?" she asked with her head bowed.

"I'm only in need of directions, I have been wondering around these endless corridors for hours." she looked up at me and smiled. "Could you please tell me where to find the armory and the training fields." I asked and her smile quickly faded into a look of disbelief.

" My lady, why are you going to the armory, woman are not usually permitted there unless invited"she said quickly and shaking her head in disapproval. She then looked me over. I was growing impatient with this maid.

"If you aren't going to answer me then I will find someone who will," I stated simply and started to walk passed her.

"Wait, I am sorry My Lady, the armory is in the training fields, you go down the hall to the left and it will lead you to two large oak doors. Once you are through the doors, you will enter a garden. Fallow the path strait in front of you. That will take you to a small black gate. That is the training fields. The armory is to the right after you enter." she finish with a sigh and stalked off down the hall.

I hadn't meant to be rude but after the day I've had, I am in no mood for people judging me, enough of that has been done already.

I followed her directions and soon arrived at my desired destination. I came through the gates and the area was surrounded by trees. To my left were many archery targets being used by many elves. Strait in front of me there was an open area, for sparing as some did now. Then to my left just as the maid said, there was the armory. I headed over to the building. The door was being guarded. The elf was about as tall as Legolas, but he had more defined muscles and was stockier. His eyes were blue and his hair was a darker blond then Legolas. I walked over and planned to enter when his hand stopped me.

"Good afternoon," I started trying to be polite.

"Good afternoon, what is it that you need," he said with a smart smile on his lips.

"I am in need of a sword and bow, may I enter?"He just shook his head and huffed slightly.

"Why would you need a sword and bow," He asked Looking me over. All I could think was ' here we go again'. "Woman have no place in here and you being a human woman definitely do not" he finished by leaning against the door frame. He wasn't about to let me go in. He clearly wanted nothing to do with me.

"Please, I need weapons, I am leaving soon", I said icily.

" No, now, please return to ...where ever you came from", he snapped waving his hand in dismissal. That was it. I was about to retort when a voice came from behind, a voice all to familiar.

"Let her enter", I blinked slowly and turned around to face the one person I was not in the mood to see...Legolas. His face was stony, like his fathers, and his voice just as commanding. He was just as happy as I was apparently. He looked at me and I quickly look to the ground.

"Yes My Lord," the other elf said quickly moving out of the way. Legolas walked up to him.

"Thalion, you needto learn respect, she is a guest here and should be treated as such." Legolas reprimanded.

"Forgive me, My Lord, I did not know" Thalion replied bowing his head.

"I am not the one that you should be apologizing to," Legolas said motioning toward me. Thalion came over and I met his eyes.

"My Lady, I am sorry for my behavior." He said, but he didn't quite sound it, after all I'd just gotten him into trouble with his Prince.

"There is nothing to be sorry for, you didn't know," I said. "My name is Gwen." I said this time trying to sound a little more polite.

"Mine is Thalion, Lady Gwen"

"Please just Gwen,' I said

"Very well then, Gwen," he started looking over at Legolas. He then bowed his head and returned to Legolas' side. I walked up to the armory door and threw it open.

"Thanks," I spat at Legolas over my shoulder. As I started to rummage through the many swords that where hanging on the wall. I found one that suited me and a matching sheath and tied it around my waist. Legolas came up behind me.

"Gwen what are you doing?" He asked laying a hand on my shoulder and I quickly shrugged it off.

"What does it look like I'm doing." I said seething.

"It looks like your running away." He said his voice remaining all to calm for my liking. I turned to him at this pointfurious with him.

"That is one thing I don't do, Legolas Greenleaf, running away is useless," I finished jabbing a finger into his chest and moved around him to a large center table, then I began to sort through the many daggers that laid upon it. By this time I think Legolas became annoyed.

"Then by the Valar what are you doing. I heard you say you were leaving, where exactly do you think you will go." he finished grabbing my shoulder and spinning me around, Which sent the dagger in my hand flying to the floor. I was shocked by what he had just done, but he was just as upset as I was.

"I'm going with you." I said grabbing the bridge of my nose. "Were else would I go, you and this wood are the only things I truly know here". I finished as I chocked a sob back. He paused not quite knowing what to say.

"Gwen... I 'm worried about you, it will be dangerous, and with your knowledge"

I cut him off and slammed my fist down on the table, and glared down at the floor.

"Damn it Legolas, you don't think I don't know that... you don't get it do you. I know exactly what is going to happen, to you and to this world. I can't say that I'm not scarred at what's going to happen because frankly I'm down right terrified. I don't know anyone who wouldn't be. But if we let this fear stop us from doing what is right, then evil has already won and the war hasn't even started yet. I came here from a different world in the midst of war and I have to learn to protect myself so I don't get my ass killed. And it would be easy to quit, but I'm no quitter. There are risks I will have to take and I am more than willing to take them." I finished and looked up at him.

I expected to see rage or even resentment, but what I really saw surprised me, understanding, he actually understood me.He swallowed hard.

"Gwen ... I was not implying that you were weak or someone to give up or even someone who is foolish, what I meant is I'm...we... are people, this world for that matter, are not used to women such as yourself," he started and I raised an eyebrow at him and he quickly continued. " A woman that is willing to go to war and can defend themselves in battle is almost unheard of here. you are different Gwen. I am sorry that I doubted you, I am sorry.' he finished.

The pleading look on his face that simply begged for forgiveness almost made me cry, I had caused that look. I shook my head. These people had bought a stranger into there land without much question and fed me and all I did is cause them trouble and I angered them. This argument was of my making, because I didn't think for one minute, that I had been different from woman here and that maybe they just didn't understand me. That realization hurt more then anything.

"No Legolas it's me that should apologize, I should have told all of you sooner about who I really was. You have taken me into your home and all I have done is cause you grief. I have acted rashly without any thoughtI'm sorry." I said as a tears finally escaped eyes.

"There is nothing to forgive my friend," he said simply wiping the tears from my face. He was still my friend and I smiled slightly and he grasped my shoulder. "Now " he started. " Lets go see what you can do with that thing." he said laughing pointing at my sword.

"Yeah" I said as we began to walk toward the exit. "Pointy end at the bad guy right" I said suppressing the laugh that came when he turned and looked at me. The look on his face was priceless. "Legolas, I was kidding" I finished letting out the laugh I'd been holding he sighed and started laughing as well. I rushed past him and out the door.

Soon we stood, swords drawn facing each other.

"Ready," he asked.

"As I'll ever be" I fished as I noticed the crowed gathering around us.

He swung his sword toward the left side of my head, I blocked it easily. Then he sent another to the opposite side, which I also blocked.

"Good" he said simply and he did a few more in the same manner, I blocked all of them too.

"Come on Legolas, even I'm more advanced then this," I said still holding my position. He just smiled.

"You certainly know the basics, but how is you footwork?" He asked as he began to circle me and I moved as he did. He lunged suddenly and made 2 vigorous strokes toward my head. I moved back as he advanced and blocked both blows. The force he used though was strong and it made my hands shake. I countered and struck back pushing him back about 3 or 4 steps. But he also countered and I was back on the defensive. He advanced forward pushing me back with each blow, but I blocked each blow. He was moving so swiftly now that stopping the blows became even more difficult. I countered one more time and pushed him back again only a few steps. He then struck and his strength sent the sword flying from my hands and I landed on the ground with an "oouff". He then stood before me his hand extended toward me. I took his hand and instead of getting up I pulled him down and flipped him over my head and I went with landing on his chest. His eyes here wide with shock as a cheer erupted from the crowed that had gathered around us.

" I win" I stated

"I demand a rematch," he groaned.

"I don't think so," I said.

"Oh really" He said and he flipped me off of him and it sent up apart quickly I got up and he came at me. But with no sword. He intended to go into hand to hand combat. He came low and went for my waist intending to take me down in a tackle. I ran at him and vaulted over his and landed behind him. He obviously wasn't expecting my move and I used his moment of stupor to my advantage. I dropped low and swept his feet out from under neath him. This was only to easy I thought, and it was. He hit the ground but caught himself on his arms. He flipped back up. He came at me again, and before I could react he had me in a head lock pinned to his side. I struggled but couldn't seem to break free. I went for his feet and wrapped my foot around his and pulled it out from under him. The move sent us both sprawling on to the ground and then he had me pinned. I couldn't move. He had his hands pinning down my arms and his legs pinning down my own. There was nothing I could do. Cheers erupted threw the croud, their prince was the victor.

" do you yield?" He asked and I could hear the barley contained laughter in his voice.

" don't have much of a choice now do I." I said trying to laugh threw my heavy breathing. He still didn't let me up. I laughed a little more.

" I yield." I said finally, he got up to his feet and pulled my up with him and clapped my shoulder. " Nicely done, I must say who ever taught you how to do hand to hand combat, did a wonderful job...You almost bested and elf." he said.

"Yeah almost, Well that was fun" I said trying to catch my breath. "So what's the verdict on my sword fighting." I asked

" Your defense is good, but we will need to work on your offence ,I could work wonders on you in the time before we leave."

"Wonders, huh? Well I didn't think I was that bad" I said in Mock horror.

"Your not, but you can be better," He said. "But for now, lets get back to the palace for dinner." I smiled

"Sounds good to me." I finished as he offered me his arm and we headed back to the palace.