Thranduil wandered into the center of the training field where Ferdan stood staring at the far end of the woods expectantly.

The summer heat was in full effect, and so the instructor stood bare cheated and unconcerned about his labyrinthine of scars.

"When did they start?"

"An hour before sunrise."

Thranduil let out a loud, low whistle. "I hope you do not plane to train them again tomorrow, for i fear there will be nothing of the elflings left to train."

"That depends on how long they last today."

He cast his eyes around the training field once more, taking in the many complex and tiring obstacles set up to exhaust every part of their body.

"Running the north loop?" The long one that crossed rivers, up sides of cliffs and one swamp. The trail not so much a trail but a hint a deer had once come that way several years before, and Ferdan expected it to remain as such.

"Of course."

Ferdan did not train warriors for battle, he trained assassin's, rouges, and archers to survive until the bitter end of time.

Warriors were useless to him. Warriors could do only one thing. But if he managed to train them for many things all at once, the possibilities were endless.

"Poor things."

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The sky glowed in pinks and purples, lighting the faces of the elves who had come to watch now that the days work was over.

It was a common pastime in Greenwood, to watch Ferdan torture his warriors.

At the far end of the field Legolas burst from the trees, Farlen not far behind. They both started the obstical course to the music of rousing cheers from the spectators.

Not long after came Avaleina and Eloassia, their shorter legs making it difficult to keep up with the other two.

The most motivated four. The most angry. The ones who had lost the most, too young.

Ferdan got up from the chair that had been brought out for him to sit and rest his mangled left leg, the twin to the one Thranduil had settled in.

"Is that an arm I see shaking, Legolas?" He bellowed, stalking back and forth across where the four of them continued the course.

"No, Sir!"

It was.

Thranduil couldn't blame him.

"Are you tired, princling?"

"No, Sir!"

It was clear to see he was exhausted.

"Then I expect you to go faster!"

"Yes, Sir!"

Somehow, he did. And Ferdan moved to 'motivate' another.

The four has already vanished back into the trees when the next thick cluster of warriors entered, "Your Prince has already come and gone! Do you plan to never be able to keep up with him?"

Various "No, Sirs!" could be heard from the cluster.

"Then I plan to see that in your actions! Go, Go, go, go!"

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The first of the stars glowed in the sky, making Legolas look more pale and sick than he did anyways.

Thranduils own limbs felt like jelly just watching this.

"Is that a you have?"

"No!" His teeth were gritted closed with the effort of the exercise and keeping himself upright.

"Is that all the work and effort you have to give your warriors?"

"No!"

Ferdan didn't mention more than half of the other warriors had started dropping like flys the last three laps. Their tired bodies physically unable to continue.

"Good! Keeping going!"

Legolas vanished into the trees once more.

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The last five left looked on the verge of passing out. Yet Ferdan still stalked up and down the length of the training field critiquing them.

"Are you tired?"

"No, Sir!"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, sir!"

They didn't have the breath to spare more than two words.

They were getting close to finishing the course and starting another lap. "Are you going to keep running?"

"Yes, Sir!"

Like a flip has been switched Ferdans harsh and commanding voice was replaced with a more pleasant one, "I admire the commitment but there is no need, you're done. You can stop."

"Oh, thank the Valar." Legolas groaned, letting go of the bar he had been scrambling on and falling to the ground with a thud.

"I'm going to die." Avaleina groaned from where she had likewises crumpled to the ground. "No, I'm going to be sick, and then I'm going to die."

"I don't have the energy to die." Farlen groaned back.

"I'm content to die," Legolas added, "If it can lay here and not move while I do it."

What was left of the crowd quickly began to disperse and Thranduil made it over so where his son had planted himself in the dirt. "And here I thought you would be too disappointed about not going to Imladris to die."

"There is no disappointment in death," As if realizing something startling for the first time his eyes went wide, "Ada! What are you doing in the halls of Mandos! Wait, if you're here, and I'm here, then who's running Greenwood?"

Thranduil couldn't help but smile at his sons dramatics, "The same person who has been running it for centuries, Galion."

"Our people are in safe hands, then."

"The safest."

Legolas' eyes drifted closed as he continued to struggle to catch his breath, "I can't feel my legs, do I still have legs?"

"Two of them."

"Oh, good. I think I'm supposed to have that many."

"Are you coming inside to bed?"

His eyes didn't open, his limbs resting like lead, "Unless you plan to carry me, I sleep under the stars tonight."

"It's supposed to rain."

"I don't care."

Thranduil shrugged and before Legolas could register what was happening he had him hanging like a dead deer over his shoulder. "You're lucky you're my favorite son."

"I have never been so happy to be an only child."

Ferdan called out across the field, "I will see the first fifteen to fall tomorrow's sunrise." And then, softer again, "You did good, elflings. I'm proud of you."

And then with a voice like iron again, "Do not think this praise means you can start slacking off! I'm watching you!"

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Sorry It's a day late, but here you go!

Can't wait to hear your thoughts!