Disclaimer: I don't own Lord of the Rings, J.R.R Tolkien does.

A/N: Sorry this has taken me longer than the other updates! I feel so bad! Things are starting to calm down again though so I should be able to update faster again! And thanks for reviewing: )

Chapter 8: Childish games.

Almost two weeks had past since Aranel's nightmare encounter with Legolas and his Father, and neither party had spoken to the other since the event. Aranel had gone from feeling empty and alone to just not caring about anything the Elves did, they had slowly slipped into the background of her life and she was grateful for it. Illindor had been focusing on her lessons intensely; both being glad to have something to distract them and Aranel had found that, despite her now hectic life as Illindor pushed her further into her studies, the two lone Fay had grown closer than Aranel had expected. In fact, Aranel now thought as she sat and read through a chapter of one the impossibly thick books Illindor had given her, I haven't spent this much time with a parent for ages, And it was true, the two ate together, spent most of Aranel's time off together, they even moved around the palace together, Aranel finding it difficult to be alone amongst the Elves now, most had realised that she wasn't as yet much of a threat to them, unlike her Father, and therefore an easy target.

And so Aranel sat, enjoying the sun, her father sitting a little way off reading something of his own, whilst Aranel daydreamt about a time when she wouldn't have to follow closely in her fathers wake for fear of being confronted or hurt by angry Elves, when she could finally find a path of her own….

"Aranel, daydreaming is not going to speed up you studies, focus please." Her father said to her, watching the dazed look on her face suddenly come alive as she realised someone was talking to her.

"I know," Aranel said looking back down at the book and wondering where she was up to. "It's just so long though, and I'm so tired!" she flopped back onto the grass, closing her eyes as the book fell to her side.

She heard her father get up and come to stand over her, "I know I have been working you very hard Aranel, I just want to be rid of this place as soon as possible."

Aranel nodded opening her eyes, "So do I." She agreed and then as an after thought added, "What ever happened to those peace talks or whatever it was?"

Illindor looked back up to the palace then, before turning back to Aranel, "I thought they were done with. As far as I could gather we were to leave as soon as we could, until this morning that is." Aranel sat up in interest as her father pulled a piece of parchment out from his coat. "Thranduil has called me to a council this evening. I have no idea what for but I can only assume it was for these forgotten peace talks of his." He stuffed the parchment carelessly back into his coat, grumbling under his breath as he did so. "I suppose I'll have to start thinking about going." He continued, looking into the late afternoon sun and sighing.

"Does that mean I have the rest of the afternoon off?" Aranel asked hopefully.

"I suppose, as long as you finish that chapter before tomorrow." Illindor smiled at his grinning daughter who nodded enthusiastically.

"I will, thank you."

"All right then, I best be off." Illindor said, turning to leave.

"See ya later." Aranel called after him.

"Oh, and Aranel, stay out of trouble ok?" Illindor added, waggling a finger playfully at her.

"I will!" Aranel said, laughter in her voice as she watched her father leave, and she turned back to the book, looking at it for a moment before closing it and laying back down, watching the clouds pass over her as she smiled back up at them.

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Aranel had drifted off, the warmth of the sun lulling her into a peaceful sleep, and she was woken by a warm gentle breeze blowing over her. She sighed and stretched, sitting up and running a hand through her hair. She looked around for her book, only to discover that it wasn't next to her where she had left it, but in the hands of a young man watching her with a lopsided smile on his face.

Aranel jumped up in shock and took a step back from this sudden intrusion, looking around to see if he was alone.

He laughed quietly at her reaction and said, "It's ok, I am a Fay lord like your father, I was wondering if you knew where he was, I need to have a word with him."

Bloody hell these people like showing up out of nowhere! Aranel thought as she gave him a suspicious look, taking in his appearance.

He was a head taller than her, with short, light brown hair and a handsome face, his shirt sleaves rolled up to reveal strong, tanned arms, his crystal blue eyes matching the smile on his lips as he watched her take him in. Not bad… Aranel thought as she relaxed and walked over to him to retrieve her book.

He handed it to her, still smiling, before saying "So you must be Aranel."

"Yes, " Aranel replied, extending her hand, which he took warmly in both of his.

"It's a pleasure to finally meet you! Your father has told me so much about you!"

"Really? I hadn't realised he'd told anyone about me and yet everyone seems to know me." Aranel replied, slightly confused, thinking of her strange night visitor of a few weeks earlier.

"That seems to be the way things work I'm afraid, everyone seems to know everything these days." He said, rolling his eyes playfully and letting out an exaggerated sigh.

Aranel smiled at his antics, hugging the book to herself. "I don't mean to be rude but I don't think I caught your name…"Aranel trailed off.

"Ah! Sorry! Here I am having a chat and you don't even know who I am! My name is Evandar." He said, his smile broadening.

Aranel smiled back, blushing slightly and thinking that blushing was a ridiculous reaction to have to a simple smile, making her cheeks deepen in hue even more.

Evandar chuckled slightly, "So do you know where I can find your Father or has he abandon you to this nasty book." He asked to save her from further embarrassment.

"Oh, yes, I mean, he has abandon me to the book, but he's in a council at the moment. I'm not to sure when he's going to finish, he'll probably be arguing with Thranduil for the next few years so I'm not sure if he'll be available."

"Yes, your Father was always very stubborn, I would hate to see what happens when he buts heads with Thranduil." Evandar replied, laughter chiming through his voice.

"It's horrible, I thought I might suffocate from the tension in the room last time."

"You've been privileged to a show down then?"

"Unfortunately." Aranel replied, both smiling broadly at each other.

A comfortable silence fell between the two Aranel still smiling as she looked back up at the clouds.

"Well, I don't know what I'm suppose to do now then, I came a long way to speak with Illindor and he isn't even around." Evandar said playfully.

"Where do you live?" Aranel asked, curiosity leaking into her voice.

"A long way from here."

Aranel gave him a puzzled look, tilting her head slightly in interest. "Oh yes, A Long Way From Here, beautiful place I here, especially at this time of year." She teased.

Evandar smiled, shaking his head in amusement. "It's called Fionarva, and it is very beautiful, especially at this time of the year!"

"I'm sure it is, and I'm sure my Father will be around sometime this evening, even if it is because he's throttled Thranduil."

"Well, until that time perhaps we could take a look at the place, see what everyone raves about the Elven towns for." Evandar suggested.

"I'd love to but I'm not allowed." Aranel said, disappointment echoing in her voice.

"Why, has Illindor piled to much work on you?"

"No, Thranduil has banned us from leaving the grounds. I can't be seen in the town in case I loose control and attack someone or something." Aranel replied, sarcasm lacing her voice.

"Well then, I'll just have to keep you in check. Come on!" Evandar took the book off her, placing it on the bench Illindor had been sitting on earlier, and held out his hand to her. Aranel hesitated for only a moment before placing her hand gently in his. "Have you ever done this before?" he asked suddenly.

"Done what" Aranel asked, slightly alarmed.

'Disappeared and appeared somewhere else?"

"Oh, yes, once by accident." Aranel replied, not feeling to confident about the situation any more.

"Oh, good than! This should be fun." And with that he disappeared, a second later Aranel felt a strange sensation wash over her, as if she had been dunked into warm water, and they were gone, the book sitting on the bench as the only sign anyone had been there.

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Mingled laughter rang out as Aranel and Evandar collapsed onto the grass, both dripping wet and Aranel clutching her stomach as she gasped for breath.

"Did you see his face?" Evandar managed to get out in between breaths.

"I know. He looked so shocked!" Aranel said, her smile broadening as she thought about what they had done.

Upon arriving the two had explored the town, looking through the markets and wondering from shop to shop as they watched the Elves go about their business, talking and laughing, completely at ease with each other as they went. They had grabbed a quick dinner from a stall in the markets and had managed to keep a low profile until Aranel's curious nature had got the better of her. They had been heading back to the palace, hoping that no one had noticed Aranel's absence when she had spotted a gate in a wall, leading to a secluded court yard. She had wondered over to it and poked her head in to see if anyone was there.

"Do you think it's private?" she had wondered out loud.

"Don't know, but they shouldn't leave the door open if it is." Evandar had replied as he slipped past her and into the garden.

They had explored it for a while, and had found a beautiful fountain spilling into a shallow pool. Aranel, perhaps childishly, had dipped her toe in and splashed Evandar, and Evandar, reacting in kind had splashed her back. This, of course, had lead to a large and rather noisy water fight, Evandar taking advantage of his superior power to completely drench Aranel. Their games had come to an abrupt end when the owner of the fine gardens had emerged, looking shocked and confused as to what was going on and Aranel and Evandar had made a hasty retreat.

Aranel's laughter had now died down to the occasional giggle as she asked, "So what exactly are you Lord of anyway?"

"The Skies, well, that's what they call me anyway, Ruler of the Skies."

"What! You're a King!" Aranel asked, sitting up and looking at him in shock.

"Of sorts, I suppose. Why? Is that a problem?" Evandar replied, sitting up and looking at her in turn.

"Well…I don't know, you just seem so…real!" Aranel finished lamely, at a loss for words.

"Well that's a relief then, I thought I might be figment of my imagination for a minute there!"

"You know what I mean! You don't act like one! I mean, you just snuck into someone's garden and had a water fight with me! How childish is that!"
"Just because I'm a King doesn't mean I've forgotten how to live. Besides, you're a Princess and you started it." He replied, smiling cheekily.

"That's different! And if you hadn't have gone in there in the first place it never would have happened!"

"I'm glad I did then, it's nice to finally find someone who will let me have a bit of fun! And besides, how is you being a Princess any different from me being a King?"

"I don't know, it just is." Aranel replied, not entirely sure herself.
"It will come to you one day you know. You were thrown into the deep end when you arrived here but one day it will fall into place." Evandar said, suddenly serious.

"It's frustrating, I'm suppose to be this powerful Fay and I can hardly do anything, and than they want me to be a Princess on top of that!" She complained, letting out the frustration that had been building in her for days now. "I don't know if I want to be Princess, Illindor expects so much of me, I don't think I can live up to it."

"You will, and you'll be more than anyone ever imagined." Evandar replied, briefly stroking her cheek. Aranel eyes locked with his, leaning into his touch slightly and he gave her one of his warming smiles that she had started to become so accustomed to.
"Come on, let's get you back to the palace." Evandar said, standing and helping her up, letting the moment pass. Aranel nodded, their hands still linked as she felt the sensation of warm water run over her and they disappeared into the night.

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Ok, there it is. Again I am sorry this took me so long! I just wanted to add that the names Fionarva and Evandar have been in my head for a while, and I can't remember if I've read them somewhere before or if they just popped in there one day, so if you recognise them let me know! And as always, please please please review: P