"Come on, Arnuríel!"

I shot a mock scowl at the elf who had yelled to me, before turning my attention back to the target. I sighted the bulls eye and tensed, making sure the arrow head pointed true. I took a deep steady breath, rechecked the target and held myself still for a moment, before my fingers released the tension and the arrow flew.

I stood back and cocked my head to check my accuracy. The arrow was embedded in the wood, a few short millimetres from the small round bulls eye.

There were a few sighs, and some scattered applause, as I stood back, waiting for the next elf to step forward for their turn. Small archery contests among wardens were common; a competitive opportunity to practise our skills. I was not a common victor, and I doubted today would be much different, but I enjoyed the challenge anyway. I had crept from my chambers early that morning to take part, dressed and ready, passing the closed curtains of Celebrían's rooms, from where I could hear her heavy snoring. She was yet unrecovered from the events of the previous night, I had guessed.

"You think too much," a voice suddenly.

There was a hush around us, as I turned to see Legolas standing behind me, a small crooked smile on his face.

"I'm sorry?" I asked, my head cocked.

"You think too much about your shot before you take it," he observed.

I stared at him bemusedly. No one had criticised my archery in a long while; not because I was too good, but because my technique was the same as all the other elves in Lorien. I just did not have the natural skill to make it count like my companions did.

"Perhaps the prince would like to raise the stakes of the game?" Daugion called over in challenge.

Legolas looked around. "The game?"

"Longest shot on target wins," I explained with a smile. "We haven't been shooting long, if you would like to join?"

Legoas grinned, and took the long Lorien bow Haldir was now offering him. "And what is the prize?"

"You'll have to win to find out," Haldir told him shortly with a look of amused contempt.

I raised a bemused eyebrow at Haldir and shook my head in disapproval. "Haldir!"

Haldir shrugged and stepped away. "Take your shot, my lord."

A tense silence fell around us as Legolas stepped to the shooting mark, regarded the target for a moment with a cocked head, then fired.

I blinked in surprise as Haldir whispered beside me, "By the stars…"

It was as though, in that blink, Legolas had notched his bow, raised it to his shoulder, taken his aim and let the arrow loose. And there the arrow sat, quivering in the very centre of the bull's eye.

There was a burst of surprise as I could not help but stare. I could try say I had never seen a shot like that in all my years…

Legolas stepped back to admire his shot. "Fairly clean…"

I turned my stare to him. "Fairly clean?"

"The arrow could be straighter-"

"That was the most perfectly made shot I have ever seen," I interrupted, and Legolas glanced at me. There was something of hopeful surprise in his expression.

"Really?"

I nodded.

The game continued in new, competitive earnest now that my elves had seen the prince they faced, and before long, the targets had reached a seven hundred yard distance deep into the trees and two elves remained in the contest. Unsurprisingly Legolas was one. Miraculously, I was the other; I did not even know how to explain it. A lucky streak was my only answer.

I stepped forward to take my last shot, and let out a long sigh. If this even touched the bulls eye, I would be stunned; the centre was nigh impossible.

Legolas suddenly appeared at my shoulder, and hand touching my arm gently. "Arnuríel, notch your bow. Here, raise it to the shoulder here-" He began to raise my bow arm lightly, and I glanced around at him.

He was closer than I'd realised, his impossibly blue eyes inches from mine.

"But why would you help me win?" I asked softly.

"Oh, I'm not, that would be ridiculous!"

I smiled at his words but it was in utter confusion.

Legolas grinned and continued. "Second place is not so dishonourable. Now notch your bow."

I did as he asked, notching my bow and slowly raising it to my eyes.

"Now, do not stand straight. Angle your bow, and bow your head to the arrow. And gently touch your mouth to your fingers."

Utterly intrigued, I did as he commanded, my eyes looking more behind me than in front.

"Now take your aim-"

My eyes rose and found the bull's eye.

"-and release."

At the instantaneous order, my fingers softened, the arrow flew and my head whipped up. If I had been stunned at Legolas' shooting, it was nothing compared to how shocked I was now, as I caught my breath.

It was a perfect shot. It could not have been more central.

I suddenly realised the applause that had exploded around us and I looked about to Legolas who still stood at my shoulder. He was smiling, pleased.

"See?" he grinned. I could barely get any words past my lips, but Legolas seemed to understand. "As I said, a deserved second place."

"That looks like a shot for first place, my lord," Haldir interrupted. "Though Arnuríel has never made a shot like that in all her life…" He was as bewildered as I was.

"It is a winning arrow now, but I still have my last shot to make," Legolas nodded, and in an instant he had stepped forward, not to my target, but to his own, and raised his bow, and fired off his last arrow.

Nothing, no shock or astonishment I had ever felt in all the world, suddenly compared to that moment. The tip of his arrowhead touched the feathered end of my arrow and continued on its way, splintering down the centre of the arrow, the wood dividing in three equal measures down the length of the shaft. Then Leolas' arrowhead hit mine and pushed it deep into the wood and out of sight.

There was a long silence

"Unbelievable…" I whispered in near speechlessness into the quiet.

Legolas shrugged with a ruthful grin. "Practise. A lot of practise."

I shook my head in wonder. "To that, I will happily concede first. I've never seen a shot like that in-… ever! There is a lot more than practise behind that arrow."

"And what of my prize, if I may be so bold?"

Now I laughed and nodded. "Doubtless, you've earned it." I winked at Haldir. "My lord Legolas, your prize is the satisfaction of knowing that you are the best archer of all the wood elves on this earth!"

Legolas raised his eyebrows and laughed with me. "I gave up my best and secret shot for that?!"

"I am afraid so," I nodded.

"Well then, I shall take that satisfaction and pride, and wear it proudly, for what else can I do?" Legolas grinned.

I felt a polite duty to invite the prince back to Celebrían and mine's open chambers while I changed, and I was more than happy to do so. There we found Celebrían, laying upon one of the chaise's there, her dress spread across the pillows, and her eyes hidden beneath one draping sleeve.

I cleared my throat as I entered, and there was a groan from beneath the sleeve. I laughed as I crossed to my own chambers. "Too much wine, Rían?"

"Do not mention wine to me," Celebrían replied shortly, removing her sleeve and sitting up brushing her hair back. "How come you two are recovered so well, I'm sure we only just returned to bed..."

"Because we did not consume nearly as much as you nor reach such impressively astronomical levels of intoxication," I replied with a smile.

"Alright," Celebrían grumbled. "Everyone already knows you're the angel, you don't always have to prove it, Ríel."

I shrugged. "No but I like to."

Celebrían rolled her eyes and began to plait her hair slowly. "Oh, Ada came by earlier."

"Oh? Was he particularly impressed at how deep a state you had driven yourself into?"

She ignored me. "He and Thranduil are beginning treaty discussions tomorrow and he wants us both to be there. I think you're supposed to attend also, Legolas?"

"I should expect so," Legolas nodded as I sighed.

"Oh... He does know I will be of no use, doesn't he?"

Celebrían raised her eyebrows at me. "Of course he does."

"Well that's something at least," I sighed again with a helpless shrug. I was not going to be able to get out of attending I knew, as long as my father had no expectations of me other than my presence. I ducked behind the curtain into my own chamber to change, still listening for the prince's and my sister's voices.

"Of no use?" Legolas asked.

"Arnuríel is many things but an academic is absolutely not one of them," Celebrían explained with a sudden, stifled yawn. "Speaking of which, what have you two been so busy doing, even though it is not even midday?"

"An archery contest," Legolas replied.

"You got up at the break of dawn for an archery contest?!" Celebrían shouted through the curtain to me and I smiled as I straightened my white coat gown. "Oh, no, of course, idiotic question... And who won?"

"None other than his highness," I smiled as I ducked back from behind the curtain.

"Oh," Celebrían looked suddenly interested as she turned her gaze to Legolas with an expectant smile. "So you are the archer they all say you to be?"

"Undoubtedly," I replied before Legolas could say a word.

"Arnuríel pulled an impressively close second!" he protested.

Celebrían raised her eyebrows as she folded her arms. "Now that does shock me."

"You aren't the only one," I added.

"Is he being polite?" Celebrían asked me, but her narrowed eyes still regarding Legolas.

"A lucky close second would be more appropriate, yes," I agreed.

Legolas seemed bemused by the quick matter-of-fact conversation the two us shared within seconds, as though for the short moment Legolas was not even there. "I am just honoured to finally have been able to see and understand the warrior lady of Lothlorien we all hear so much of."

"The warrior?" Celebrían asked, and she shook her head fondly, taking Legolas' arm. "Oh, my good lord, you've sparred in a dual with her and beaten her in a tame archery contest. Believe me, Legolas, you have seen the gentlesest of elven ladies at some routine training tests. You haven't seen the warrior yet. You'll know when you have."

"I will?" Legolas frowned, glancing at me with a faint grin as though Celebrían were playing with him. I stared levelly back, knowing she was not.

"Oh yes," Rían nodded. "Because if you're clever, you'll be afraid. Have you been afraid of Arnuríel yet?"

"Well no, she-"

"Exactly." Celebrían grinned at him. "Be patient and wait and you will see. And speaking of waiting, what are you both up to this afternoon?"

"How is that related to waiting?" I frowned in bemusement.

"I know not but I was curious," Rían shrugged.

I smiled. "I wanted to take Alrohar for a run out to the West. I owe the rangers a trip out and he would like the run. I''ll take him a little further than borders, that Orc scare the other day may not be over yet."

"Perfect!" Celebrían exclaimed, clapping her hands, and I cocked my head. "Well, Legolas hasn't had a tour of our realm yet. He has seen the city, yes, but not the outer woods, so why don't you take him on a ride out?"

I smiled. "If his highness does not object, I would be happy to."

"I'd love to go," Legolas nodded enthusiastically.

"Oh, where are we going?"

We all turned in surprise to see Tauríel leaning in our porchway. It was strange to see her in a graceful gown, rather than her ranging coat, but there she stood, tall and elegant, with a curious expression on her calculating face.

Celebrían instantly deflated. It was barely noticeable, but I saw it. I felt her irritation. While she and I had both made our peace and forged a strong friendship with Legolas, the same could not be said for Tauríel. She had not remained suspicious and aloof of our people, preffering to sit at the edge of the training arena and watch with calculating eyes, while restringing her bow and sharpening her blades.

"The lady Arurniel has offered to take us out into the realm to see more of their lands," Legolas replied eagerly.

"I don't believe it was 'us'," Celebrían muttered, soft as a breeze so only I could hear her.

Legolas was oblivious as he suddenly looked back at me with sudden concern. "That is, if Tauríel may come also?"

My unsurity of Tauríel passed with a smile as I nodded. "Of course she may. Perhaps if I met you both at the stables with your horses in a few minutes?"

"Of course," Legolas nodded, like an excited elfling, and he leapt away from our chambers, taking Tauríel with him.

Celebrían sighed dramatically as she flung herself upon her chaise, throwing her arms wide, her sleeves flying. "Really ArunRíel, you need not be so polite all the time!"

"What do you mean?" I asked bewildered.

"You know precisely what I mean," Rían raised an eyebrow. "You don't want her around anymore than I do, there's something about her, she is ever suspicious of us."

"She is in a new and unknown place, you were much the same in Greenwood-" I began.

"And I was a child!" Rían protested. "The fact of the matter is, you are too god and polite to offend a guess and so you have accepted Legolas' request to bring her along when you have no wish for her to. You need not be so nice."

"And you think telling me this will make me less nice?" I asked.

"No…" Rían admitted grumpily. "But I make the point of trying." She grinned ruefully. "Oh go on. Enjoy your ride, even if the she-warrior is with you…!"

I indeed found Tauríel and Legolas not moments later, waiting outside the stables, both horses saddled and waiting, reins in hand. I approached Legolas first and held out a flat outstretched palm to his lovely young mare. She was indeed stunning, a fine creature with a proud delicate head, slender body and long legs. Her coat was the palest cream and flecked all over with tiny specks of fawn brown. Trustingly and curiously she out stretched her nose to meet my palm, and my fingers tickled the soft hairs of her velvet muzzle.

"Hello, young lady," I whispered softly to her, her ears pricking at my voice. "You truly are fit for a prince, are you not…" She raised her muzzle to nip at the edge of my hood and I laughed. "What is your name, I wonder!"

"Azalia," Legolas smiled. "She is Azalia."

"A lovely name for a lovely mare," I nodded, before I stepped to the side to regard Tauríel's mount, a larger fine boned but muscled stallion, deep dapple grey in colour. As I laid out a flat palm again, the stallion bent his head in vague curiousity to take my scent, then raised his head again, the formality over.

"A proud one, you are," I nodded. "But good. What do you call him?"

"AfaloRían," Tauríel replied, patting his strong neck, then turned a raised eyebrow upon me. "And what of your mount, my lady. Or do you mean to run alongside us?"

Legolas frowned at Tauríel but I laughed lightly, before letting out a soft whistle and reaching inside the stable to where Alrohar's reins hung on a hook. I decided to go without a saddle today. "Oh no, Captain. My mount will be along shortly."

And along shortly he was. With a snort, Alrohar danced to my side, skidding to a quick stop and tossing his head. I laughed as I stroked the length of his face gently. "This is Alrohar. I wish I could say he was as friendly as Azalia or as passive as AfaloRían, but he has his qualities. And he has seen many adventures at my side, and I at his."

"You rode him into Greenwood when you first came to our city," Legolas said with surprise.

"I did," I nodded with a smile, slipping Alrohar's bridle over his ears, sliding the bit into his mouth and throwing his reins over his neck. "Well, my lord, Captain, shall we go?"

"You ride saddleless?" Tauríel frowned, as Legolas mounted up.

"Alrohar prefers no tack at all, but there are times a bridle is required and times a saddle also," I replied. "And for today, a bridle is necessary, a saddle is not." So saying, I leapt up, swinging over Alrohar's broad back, and throwing the train of my gown over his rump. Tauríel frowned suspiciously but followed suit, leaping into her own saddle.

Alrohar was dancing now on his toes now, and it took only the slightest touch of my heels to send him away, launching off his hind legs and powering a strong canter through the city.

I heard Tauríel's cry in susprise and Legolas' laugh and then the thunder of their own horses' hooves as they followed me, down the path and through the gates. Into the depths of our trees.