Dear readers, thank you for dedicating your time to reading and review my little mixture of drabbles (or at least that's what they appear to me on the very start). Enjoy the new chapter. :)

SweetsumrRain - It is an interesting inquiry you make indeed and I don't think you're the only one with such a question. I mostly held to the movies when I wrote the part about the differences between genders because as far as I saw; the only female guard who ever made her appearance was Tauriel. Perhaps Peter Jackson simply failed to show us any other elleth as a warrior, but I truly have no clue. I did not and have no intention to undermine female value or anything of the sort. I'm simply trying to picture a practice held between elven kind. Female warriors are an exception, I never saw one described by Tolkien. The fact that they do not have the custom to fight doesn't mean that they are not capable to learn. If Tauriel is to be the first to ever fight her way through, the fight would be as twice as difficult and I am trying to show you that she is a fighter. As you were able to read through my recent chapters, guards are not opposed to the idea of training an elleth. In fact they are addiotonally motivated by the challenge. The king opposes to train a small elfling and the prince does not wish to teach his friend how to fight because he is afraid to see her in battle. Anyway, all this will be better explained if you stick with me and read on. My point is that I intentionally described such a situation without women as soliders. Thank you for your review and feel free to ask any questions. :)

CHAPTER 9

The time of the night was late when a division finally arrived back from the forest. Injuries were minor, bodies were frozen from the cold, but their spirits were high as they marched back into the palace. It all occurred around the same time when Thranduil silently walked back towards his private chambers from Tauriel's room. He intended to go to sleep, but the arrival of his son changed his mind so he stood patiently in the corridor close to his room waiting for him to come upstairs.

Legolas didn't make him wait for too long. The look of surprise on his face made it clear that he was not expecting to see his father tonight. "Ada; still awake? You weren't waiting for me were you?" he asked as he stood a step away from him.

Thranduil observed his son closely; he seemed to be undamaged as he hoped for. "No I was going to sleep when I heard you enter after placing your little restless friend in her bed; I might add." he replied rising an eyebrow at his son. "You will do well in the future not to make promises you might not be able to keep." he added while his son looked at him perplexed.

"What promises? And what was my little restless friend doing awake until this hour of the night?" he asked confused trying to place a meaning to his father's words.

The king observed him smugly. "You promised her you would be back in the evening and she sat there in the entrance hall waiting for you for who knows how long. If I hadn't spotted her while passing to my quarters, she would have stayed there all night long. Now go clean yourself up and get some rest, you look terrible. Amends can be made in the morning." he replied turning around and walking to his own chambers not giving Legolas time to answer.

The morning came soon, Tauriel slept through breakfast. When she woke up, she tried to remember how she got to bed. King's vague distant voice came to her incredulous mind. How strange; the always cold elf was worried enough for someone like her to take her to rest.

Tauriel was still wearing her cloak, but her boots were stripped. She removed the first and put the latter back on her feet rushing to fix her hair. Did Legolas arrive last night at all? Why did she have to fall asleep? She spent a great deal of time indoors during this cold season. Nobody actually forbid her to go outside, but it was freezing enough to make her wish for the warmness of the palace before too long.

She made her way to see Legolas, perhaps he was in his room. The trip there was pointless, when she knocked there was no answer and her face fell so she made her way to the library instead. A good book should keep her occupied until somebody brings her news from her friend.

It was a difficult choice, but she finally picked one about herbs trying to refresh her knowledge. Her mother knew a lot about the use of herbs, but her daughter didn't have much patience for it.

On her way back to her room while having her nose stuck in reading, which was a bad idea for she barely saw where she was going, she bumped into something or rather someone. She had hoped for Legolas, but was not disappointed to see Beleorn instead. "Goheno nin, I wasn't looking where I was going." she said apologetic.

The ellon with light brown hair just grinned, he had a kind face. "Obviously. What's so interesting that it can't wait for you to sit down before reading it?" he chuckled while she handed him the book. "Ah the secrets of herbal medicine." he commented gazing back at her, but she was observing his bow instead. Curious, how a weapon seemed to interest her more than a book.

"Can I have a closer look for a moment?" she asked hopeful. He handed her the bow without any kind of hesitation.

"Have you ever seen one before?" he asked merely curious.

Tauriel observed every inch of it before she replied. "I did. My father made his bows from different kind of wood, oak I believe and they were longer and heavier. He made one for me as a gift for my last birthday, it was small, for my use only." she replied surprising him beyond measure even though he was trained to keep his astonishment at bay.

"Why don't you go grab it and we can see how good you are?" he asked trying to cheer her up, but when a strange shadow of grief passed through her features, he wished he hadn't spoken.

"I wish I could, but it probably burned down with our house. My bedroom was first in flames." Tauriel replied sadly handing him back his weapon and taking back her book. "Anyway I should get going, I'll talk to you some other time." she replied trying to lift her spirits while walking away. "I'll be looking forward to it." he called after her, she just turned around, waved and disappeared around the corner.

Somewhere half the way between the stairs and her room, the book stopped being amusing enough for her liking. She started to consider her alternatives, they weren't numerous. It was not surprising when she decided to take her book outside and search for the herbs in the pictures. It was cold, but the sun was warming her up a little so she managed to stay a full hour before it became too cold.

What exactly was she trying to find anyway? All the plants have withered in the cold; she would have to try in the spring when they started growing again.

Her energy didn't seem diminished by the exercise, furthermore it seemed refilled. She was bored beyond measure so she made her way to the stables.

She stood outside for a few moments longer admiring the scenery, but the cold made her turn around faster than she wished for. Before she made half a step she came face to face with a noble white steed's head. How did he sneak up on her? "By the Valar!" she exclaimed loudly placing a hand on her chest to steady her frantic breathing instinctively taking a step back. Her book fell to the grass floor and fortunately stood undamaged for the ground was frozen not muddy.

Legolas just finished feeding his horse. He only turned his back for a moment when he heard him gallop outside puffing contently. "Adulen." he called though not forcefully. Where did he go? His answer was given when he heard Tauriel's loud exclamation from outside. So that's why he ran out so eagerly. She must have been spoiling him while he was away. She should have known better.

He eagerly made his way to her; he couldn't find her anywhere. "So this is where you reside little mellon?" he said when she was in view though breathless. Her face was full of shock before she heard his voice, then it turned to joy. Before he realized what happened she had jumped into his open arms excitedly. "Hello my little restless mellon." he said kissing her cheek softly while holding her tight.

"You are freezing, how long were you outside?" he asked disapproving when he sensed her frozen skin, but she just chuckled.

"A couple of hours; at the very most. Before we enter can I retrieve my book? It has fallen upon my close encounter with your furry mellon over there." she replied cheerfully. The entire bad mood was gone once she spotted him.

He made no move to let go however. He reached for the book himself before he made his way back inside catching his steed's jealous stare with a grin. On his surprise, Tauriel didn't protest when he carried her inside.

"So have you missed me?" she asked innocently smiling from ear to ear. Legolas couldn't help, but laugh at her constant eagerness.

"Yes I did actually. There was no one to ask me a million and one questions, some of which I would never know how to answer probably. "he replied cheerfully while he made his way towards the library.

Tauriel didn't seem offended at all. "Did you kill all the spiders? Who killed the most?" she continued her line of fire while Legolas just chuckled for himself.

"I did actually and yes they are all dead." he replied feeling another question coming up.

"What are they like?" she asked curiously, she was always curious.

"Who; the spiders? They are black, with a lot of legs and most of them are twice your size. Disgusting creatures if you ask me." he replied trying to be brief, but descriptive enough for his little friend. "So what trouble did you get into while I was away?" he asked not wishing to pursue this topic further.

Tauriel seemed to have something to tell him. "I met your father's elk. He is adorable and strong and has very big horns. I asked the king if he would get him a mate, but he probably won't." she chatted excitedly while being put down at her desk as they reached the library.

"He truly is one of a kind." Legolas replied grinning despite himself at her clear fascination.

Before she could distract him any further, he sat down next to her. "Alright enough of distractions, we missed a couple of lessons. Where was it that I stopped at last time?" he asked thinking out loud feeling quite content now that his little friend was beside him.

Translations:

Mellon - Friend

Goheno nin - Forgive me

Ada - Father