Thranduil snuggled closer to Harune, unable to sleep as Hyrondal's yellow eyes danced in the dark; a reminder of his excitement at wielding a real blade. And the sword had moved in Hyrondal's hand like it belonged there.

Perhaps it did.

The next day Thranduil met Hyrondal again in the glen. Jailil sat with his back to the barn, matching a collection of freshly picked plants to sketches in the book open before him as he murmured under his breath.

"How goes it?" Thranduil asked.

Jailil glanced up and brushed his dark hair off his cheek. "Sometimes I am so eager for the next day, I barely sleep."

"I see Geoda gave you a new shirt."

Jailil glanced down at the pale green tunic he wore. "He made me work an extra hour for it, but I like the color."

Thranduil smiled and approached Hyrondal. He knew Hyrondal's eyes were on the sword in his belt and he offered him the weapon. "I think you should have this."

"I cannot take your weapon!" Hyrondal objected.

"I cannot use it. I hate it!"

Hyrondal shook his head and pushed the sword back at Thranduil. "A good warrior learns to use any weapon."

Thranduil stared into Hyrondal's eyes and recognized truth.

"I know it is hard to learn without two true blades," Hyrondal said. "But we will manage."

Thranduil sighed. "If I must keep the sword, at least you use it."

"No," Hyrondal said. "How can you expect to learn anything if you keep running?"

Thranduil looked at the sword in his hand. "Fair point. How do I begin to learn to like it?"

Hyrondal snatched up his wooden blade and poked Thranduil in the leg. "Stop acting like the sword is the villain. Maybe it has been used for bad things in the past, but what matters is how you use it now."

Beside the barn, Jailil nodded his head. "I never liked swords, but you have shown me weapons do not have to be the things that cause the damage healers must mend."

A glint sparked in Thranduil's blue eyes. "Let us see how you fare against a real blade!"

Thranduil and Hyrondal matched blades, their bodies moving with the swings of their arms.

"Geoda said if Jailil and I keep up our fine work, he will consider lending us horses," Hyrondal said, dropping under Thranduil's blade and swinging around behind him.

"If all else fails, you can aspire to be stable master," Thranduil teased, pirouetting to face Hyrondal.

Hyrondal's smile faded to half as his wooden sword clashed with Thranduil's. "I do not mind spending the start of the day cleaning horses and stalls, but if I did not have a sword in my hand by noon, I would soon rebel."

The silver sword flashed over Hyrondal's head and the elves circled each other shoulder to shoulder. From the ground they fought until Hyrondal stuck his legs under him first and hammered down on Thranduil still on one knee.

A deft swipe at Hyrondal's ankles with his sword gave Thranduil time to jump up and he moved to finish his leap, but a sudden pain in his ear stopped him. Thranduil tried to swing around, noticing Jailil scuttling behind the barn in the corner of his eye. Two fingers pinched his ear.

"I thought I might find you here!" Yuai hissed. He shoved Thranduil back. "Do you have any idea how grateful you should be this stupidity has not cost one of you a limb?"

Thranduil closed his eyes to hide the glare he felt for Yuai.

"This is not a game, Thranduil! You hold a real sword now and you cannot include it in your foolish games of warrior," Yuai scolded.

Thranduil's back stiffened. "It is not a foolish game of warrior! Hyrondal and I are learning—"

"You are only doing damage, Thranduil. You are learning where I cannot see you to correct the numerous mistakes you are ingraining into your body. You are done here."

Hyrondal stepped to Thranduil's side. "How can you say A Warrior's Way is riddled with mistakes when it is the greatest method of learning the art of the blade?"

Yuai glared at Hyrondal. "Do not pretend to know anything when you are nothing but a runaway soon to be sent home?"

Hyrondal hissed. Yuai grabbed Thranduil's ear and twisted it. "Sheath that sword and come with me. The king will hear of this!"

Thranduil tried to look over his shoulder at Hyrondal as Yuai marched him toward the palace but the grip on his ear made him look straight ahead. Once inside the palace, Yuai released him and strode away. Thranduil knew he walked a straight line to the king's throne and shivered as he hurried toward the family room.

As Thranduil burst through the door, Harune rose out of his armchair. "You are home early."

Thranduil blurted out his story. "The sword is not even sharp, ada, so it would be impossible to lose a limb!"

"It may seem safe on the outside," Harune said, "But I am sure Yuai has seen more accidents then he cares to admit, and he is right in saying swords are not toys. I know you wanted to help Hyrondal, but some things you have to think about."

"Oropher will be furious. I do not want him to hurt Hyrondal."

"There are times when I almost think about locking that heart of yours behind bars!" Harune exclaimed.

A knock sounded on the door before it opened and a servant bowed. "Prince Thranduil, by order of the King, please report to the throne hall alone."

Thranduil looked back at Harune as he left the family room.

"Remember to think!" Harune called after him.

The tapping of Oropher's nails against his armrests whispered down Thranduil's ears long before he bowed to the king. Oropher's red brows were drawn tight and his eyes seemed to slant with displeasure in the wrong direction. Thranduil glanced around for Yuai, but he stood alone.

"I will not stand to hear disgrace fall upon my name because of you," Oropher said. "It is not your duty to help every unwanted waif you happen across. It is even less your duty to kill yourself and leave me heirless!"

Thranduil bowed his head. "I am sorry, my king."

"You will be sorry!" Oropher exclaimed. "You will learn to think, since you obviously cannot, and you will not see Hyrondal again. From now on, you will attend meetings with me and learn where your responsibilities lie."

Thranduil looked up in dismay. "What meetings, my king?"

"Whatever meetings I deem necessary!" Oropher replied. "You will receive a daily schedule and I expect you to adhere to it."

Thranduil squeezed his eyes shut. "Please do not take my day away from me, my king."

"You will, of course, attend your lessons and have some free time," Oropher said. "There will be days, however, when the rest of your day is occupied until sundown and you will take it with a smile."

"Yes, my king," Thranduil answered. "But if there comes a day when I must spend all day at meetings—"

Oropher sliced his hand flat. "There is no room for negotiation, Thranduil. Be grateful I am so generous in your punishment."

Thranduil bowed. "Of course, my king."

"Good," Oropher said. "You are dismissed."

. . . There is nothing quite like being devastated by a teacher . . . That said, attending meetings is a wonderful way to glean a further insight into Mirkwood.

Thanks so much for reading; I love hearing from you!

Next Chapter: Hyrondal challenges Yuai. The prize? Mentorship.