THE FORGOTTEN

Megil Telien

Sword Play

Author's note: The chapter in which – Lothril has sword practice and things go sideways. …If for some reason you are wanting to read/re-read this in real time, the Gregorian date for the start of this chapter would be November 30th.

Seven days after Lothril's not quite Thanksgiving, she was out on the practice fields for her usual sword practice. She had it twice a week, once with Legolas and once with other sword masters and whatever other soldiers felt like going a round or two with her. Over all, everyone thought it a pretty good arrangement because it gave her a variety of sparring partners and gave the soldiers a good deal of practice against a stronger opponent. She would not anything but her raw sword skills against the sword masters so she could better her technique, but against whatever soldiers wanted to go up against her was a different story. All of their commanding officers thought it would be good for them to have to face a more powerful opponent who could use a little magic against them. However, to make it at least somewhat fair, they could attack her in pairs, but if they did, she could use more of her strength against them.

The sparring started to grow competitive when in the practice field armory a chalk board went up that read: LOTHRIL | EVERYONE ELSE . So far the score was seven to three.

Today was a practice day with a sword master. Legolas accompanied her down to the field to watch as he usually did and left her to get ready as he waited for her down beside the field. As he was a commanding officer himself, he did not bother going over to what was frequently referred to as the "silver benches" where nobles and courtiers could sit and watch sparring sessions, drills, practices, and exhibition matches. Nobles and courtiers who hadn't ever been soldiers supposed their being set apart on the far side of the field was a special privilege and that their seating was, of course prime. However, the soldiers and any nobles or courtiers who had served and knew better, knew it was to keep them all out of the way.

To save time, Lothril went down to the field in her tunic and leggings and boots and then one of the attendants in the armory helped her put on her gambeson, chainmail, and so on. Once ready she grabbed the practice sword on the end of the rack and her shield and headed out the door.

She walked out onto the field and one of the commanders she had fought before strode up to her and gave a quick bow and said, "Milady, if you will I shall be your sparring partner today."

"Glad to fight you again, Commander Raven*," Lothril said with a grin.

"The pleasure is mine, milady," he answered. "Are you ready?"

"Actually, I think I need to readjust my cap," she answered.

A servant all but materialized out of nowhere and took her sword and shield while she threw back her chainmail hood and readjusted the padded cap beneath and retied it so it felt more comfortable then carefully replaced her chainmail hood and rolled her head around a little to see if everything felt right when she moved. Satisfied, she took back her sword and shield.

"Is there anything you want to work on today?" Commander Raven asked.

"There is, actually. Last time I really felt like I was struggling to block your high strikes. Can we practice that a little bit before we try actually sparring?" Lothril asked.

"Indeed. And good catch on your part. It shows you are aware while fighting. Shall we begin?"

"Let's!"

One thing Lothril loved about Commander Raven is that he would not just run a stock drill. He would always do a small run up to whatever it was you needed to practice, and then you would practice whatever it was you needed to work on. That way, you would not get into a mindset thinking, 'oh, if he does this then he will do this and then that'. They ran through several slow motion, light contact drills, him carefully critiquing her each time, and when he thought she was ready, they squared off and prepared to fight. He attacked and she dodged the first strike cleanly but as she brought up her sword to block his second, he brought his practice sword on hers at speed and strength and there was a sickening crack and a cry from Lothril. He threw his sword aside as she crumpled onto the ground holding her face.

Legolas, who had watched the whole thing, went flying onto the practice field along with a healer.

"Milady, are you wounded?" Raven asked, sounding a little worried as he knelt down in front of her.

She shook her head and barely forced out, "I do not know. If I am, I do not want to move my hand until the healer arrives."

"The healer is coming now as is the prince," Commander Raven replied. "Let me help you sit."

She gave a very small nod as she held her face which, if she didn't have a bleeding wound, she was going to have a very nasty mark. Thank Elbereth, it hadn't hit her eyes! Raven carefully helped her into a sitting position as the prince and the healer came running up.

"Milady, are you bleeding?" the healer asked as she knelt down beside her.

"I dunno, bu' I'm feelin' woozy," she slurred.

"Someone grab her!" the healer said as Lothril went very pale and fainted.

Legolas grabbed her and as her hand fell away allowing blood to pour out of long cut on her face as the healer whipped a cloth out of her pack and pressed it to her head while instructing the prince to lay her down. Commander Raven stood and called for a stretcher to be brought over immediately so she could be moved.

A stretcher showed up within a minute and as soon as the healer got the wound wrapped, a pair of soldiers helped put her on the stretcher and took her to the healers, with the field healer going along beside them.

Legolas would have gone with her except the commander called to him and said, "Your highness, I think you ought to see this." Raven was holding the hilt and splintered remains of her practice sword, examining the break closely.

"What is it commander? I need to go be with her," Legolas said impatiently.

"Just this – see here along the break? There is paint inside the break. Look," Raven said, holding up part of the broken off part to the remainder attached to the hilt.

Legolas examined it closely. "How would paint get inside a fresh break?"

"The only way I know of is if there is already a crack," Raven said grimly before calling over a pair of soldiers. They came running over very quickly and saluted Legolas and Raven. "Last week, did not one of you change swords partway through?"

"I did, commander," one answered.

"Why?" Raven asked, sounding positively frightening.

"I noticed a stress fracture, sir," he answered.

"Is this the sword you used?" Raven asked, presenting the pieces to the soldier.

"It is sir," he answered, sounding a little nervous.

"Why then am I holding it in my hand?" Raven asked, his voice low and menacing.

"I do not know, sir," the soldier answered, wide eyed. "I put it in the barrel with the other broken swords."

"He did sir," the second soldier said. "I saw him do it."

"And you are certain it was the discard barrel?" Raven asked sternly.

"Absolutely certain, sir," the first soldier answered.

"As am I," said the second. "I remember commenting how drills must have been extra hard that day as there were several other broken swords inside."

"And neither of you removed it later?" Legolas asked, staring at both of them in turn.

"I did not, my lord," answered the first.

"Nor I, your highness," replied the second.

Legolas nodded. "Who was on clean up detail?"

"I can check the duty rosters, your highness," Raven answered.

"Do so," Legolas commanded and turned to the soldiers. "Were there any other swords that looked whole in the discard barrel?"

"No sir," they both answered.

"Are you both certain?" Legolas asked sternly.

"We are certain," answered the first. "It is unusual to have one still whole and catch it before it splinters."

"You are dismissed," Legolas said then turned to Commander Raven and added, "Check the duty rosters and ask whoever was on duty if they recall removing a practice sword that was yet in one piece. If they do, ask them what they did with it. If not, ask if they have any ideas what may have happened to it. I will be with Lady Lothril for the remainder of the day but I want you to report to me as soon as you have answers."

"Understood," the commander replied with a brisk nod and immediately headed off to check the duty rosters.

Legolas turned and headed quickly to the healers. As soon as he arrived one of the attendants showed him which room she was in and as soon as he entered he asked, "How bad is it, Taraves?"

"The cut is quite shallow. It split the skin on her face open, but it was shallow. We have staunched the bleeding and will make sure there is no scar," Taraves answered, holding Lothril's hand between hers. "Her worse injury is the large knot on her head which, between that and her face being split, I am not surprised she fainted."

"How long until she comes around?" Legolas asked.

"She came around before we returned back here, but we put her back to sleep until we have closed the wound and have taken care of the scar. As soon as we get that healed we will awaken her," Taraves answered. "And by the feel of things, she should be roused within an hour. She is a quick healer."

"She is," Legolas said with a slight smile.

"Would you like a chair while we wait?" Taraves asked.

He shook his head. "Nay, I shall stand."

"This poor elleth. First food poisoning from undercooked beans and then this barely over a week later," Taraves commented. "I hope this does not become a habit."

"I intend to ensure it does not," Legolas replied.

Just then Thranduil swept into the room, Taraves bowing as well as she could without letting go of Lothril's hand.

"Did Raven tell you where to find us?" Legolas asked as his father walked in.

"Raven and half the practice field," Thranduil answered. "How is she? What happened?"

Legolas conveyed the whole story including what Raven noticed in the broken sword. As soon as he was done, Thranduil, looking like a thunder cloud, demanded to be kept apprised of how she was doing and stormed out.

The moment he was out of the healer's hall he found Commander Raven waiting at the door. Thranduil ordered him to tell what news he had, which he was given in brief, and then Thranduil sent him in to tell Legolas, ordering the nearest passing servant to assemble the head of the royal guard, Galion, Estelneth, and the heads of several departments and to have them go directly to the throne room and immediately. Thranduil looked borderline furious and the servant took off at a run to complete the orders.

By the time Thranduil reached the throne room, all the pertinent personnel were assembled and waiting for him and he wasted no time in telling them what why they were there.

"There have been three attacks made against Lady Lothril and it will not be tolerated. I want the guard schedule temporarily rearranged to accommodate having guards acting as servants around her at all times. I want guards posted at the end of the royal wing and accompanying her whenever she leaves our rooms. I want outside patrols to now include surveillance outside of our wing to ensure no one tries to enter or cause mischief from the outside. Estelneth – I am putting you in charge of her room's security and her personal security when you are with her in addition to organizing and arranging guards and servants in her chambers as you best see fit. I also want you accompanying her any time she leaves the royal wing or her chambers without the Prince," Thranduil said by means of introduction. After that he issued a full and thorough search of her room to be overseen strictly by Estelneth. Then he began issuing orders to department heads, the general thrust of them being – keep a close on everything, anything coming in or going out is to be inspected thoroughly, do not let in non-staff, anything suspicious, unusual, odd, or out of the ordinary is to be reported immediately, and so on. Everyone was dismissed and a servant came in to inform him that Lothril was awake.

Thranduil hurried out of the throne room and back to the healers to find Lothril awake and sitting up with only the barest hint of a quickly fading scar on her face. Legolas was sitting beside her on the bed with an arm around her and talking to her. She looked, in a word, serious.

"Pen mell, how are you feeling?" Thranduil asked as he came in, concern written all over his face.

"I am fine. Taraves has taken excellent care of me," she answered with a slight smile.

"Good," Thranduil replied. He looked at his son and asked with ósanwe, "Have you told her about the fractured sword?"

"I have," Legolas answered in kind.

"I want to assure you Lothril, we are taking steps to ensure nothing like this happens again," Thranduil said aloud to her.

"Thank you," she said, sounding and looking a cross between distressed and overwhelmed.

"Do you have any idea at all who might hold a grudge against you besides Gormes or even Acharon?" Thranduil asked.

She shook her head. "None. I cannot imagine how either would pull this off."

"Acharon definitely has not. He has not had any visitors and has only spoken to the jailers since the trial. As for Gormes, I sent word to Lord Himben a few days ago and heard back. Gormes has not left Lord Himben's estate since she returned home from Farion's house and has not even had visitors since he returned from Farion's house," Thranduil answered.

"Worry not, melethril, we will find whoever has done these things and we will put a stop to it," Legolas reassured.

"In the meantime, I am tightening security to make sure everything that comes to you and that you use is safe," Thranduil said.

She nodded. "Am I going to be able to keep with my sparring and riding practice?"

"Sparring practice, definitely," Thranduil said. "In fact, I want you to be carrying something to defend yourself with at all times. At the moment, given the nature of the attacks, I do not see an immediate need to alter your schedule. However, if a more direct attack occurs, we may temporarily convert the badminton court and have you fight there and we will see about riding lessons at that time."

She nodded but didn't say anything.

Legolas tightened his arm around her and said, "I know this is frightening and overwhelming, but we shall do everything we can to keep you safe."

Her eyes flashed as she glanced over at him. "I do not know if I am half so frightened as I am angry. If someone has a problem with me, I would rather them come out and declare themselves openly rather than these cowardly attacks!" As soon as she said that her eyes grew wide and she gasped. "I have it! That's it! It is a woman. It is definitely a woman. I'd bet on it! A guy might drop a squirrel down a chimney as a prank, but he'd stick around for the payoff and have a good laugh. If the next thing two things would have been the same sort of silly stuff, I would bet it was maybe a friend of Legolas' having a bit of fun with him, but it wasn't. The second was meaner and this even meaner still. Someone is mad at me, and that someone is a female. I have known a few girls that would pull pranks, but it was always stupid stuff and the next one was relatively harmless as the first. So that the second one was mean and designed to be mean. Anyone who knows undercooked kidney beans are poisonous also knows they are not going to hurt anyone. Just make them miserably sick for a few hours. She wanted me sick. She wanted me miserable. That has vindictive woman written all over it. The only thing I am not sure about is if she was hoping I wouldn't notice and embarrass myself by getting sick in front of people or if she just wanted me to suffer for a few hours."

"Assuming you are correct, how do you explain today's incident?" Thranduil asked.

"Simple – whatever her objective was with the first two, she failed to produce it so she has now started to escalate it. The only real question now besides who is it is why – oooh! OOH! OOH! The jilted lover!" Lothril cried.

"The jilted lover?" Legolas repeated confused. "But you know I have never courted another; and anyone who showed interest in me in the past is now married, most of them with grandchildren. I can hardly believe it would be one of them."

She shook her head. "No, no… you are thinking Luthien and Daeron, but this is Maeglin and Idril. Except you are Idril and Maeglin never said anything. Then I showed up like Tuor out of nowhere, ruining what she thought were her chances with you and now-"

"She is trying to remove you so she can lay claim to Legolas," Thranduil said.

"Exactly!" Lothril said then smiled. "I always knew all those true crime detective shows would pay off one day."

Thranduil vaguely wondered what she was talking about, but didn't bother asking as his mind was now working in the direction she had pointed them.

"So then, we are looking for some unmarried elleth?" Legolas asked. "There are probably hundreds, if not thousands in the kingdom who may have held some secret feelings for me I would not know of and anyone from the servants to unmarried daughters of merchants and lords."

"But you are forgetting two things," Thranduil said, looking at his son. "It must also be one that could afford to buy lace trim for Megorel and one that can be in or around the palace without raising suspicion. The first point rules out servants. We pay them well, but not that well. The second rules out anyone who is not a frequenter or living in the palace."

Legolas looked thoughtful a moment. "That does rule out more than a few, but I can still think of no one."

"That is where this is going to get tricky, I am afraid. And I am out of ideas on how to narrow it down further. I have a headache all the sudden. Taraves!" Lothril called to the healer in the other room.

She came in with a quick curtsy and asked, "What is wrong, milady?"

"I have a headache from that blow, I think," Lothril answered.

She nodded. "I am not surprised. Lay back down and we will see to it."

"I shall take me leave then for now," Thranduil said.

"Why do you not go with him, Legolas," Lothril said as she laid herself down. "I need to rest without distraction."

"It would be helpful for her," Taraves confirmed.

"Very well, but I shall return for you in a little while," Legolas said.

"Give us at least two hours please, my prince," Taraves said.

Legolas nodded and left with his father.

Two hours later Legolas returned to the healers to find Taraves outside the room Lothril was in and the door to it shut.

"I am afraid I cannot let you enter just now, my lord," she said to the prince.

"Why not? What is wrong?" Legolas asked.

Taraves smiled. "Nothing, nothing at all. However, she was having trouble relaxing and so we decided to give her a hot bath while I worked on her headache. She is finishing it now. She will come out when she is dressed."

"Oh. Thank you, Taraves," Legolas said, blushing a little. He felt a little silly jumping to the conclusion something was wrong when Taraves was so relaxed.

"You are welcome. And when this is all over come see me and I will give you a tincture for your bath to help you relax," Taraves replied. "I would give it to you now, but I am certain you would refuse."

"I have to remain alert," Legolas said stoically.

"This is true, but this is also why you have a small army in palace guards. At least let your guard down for an hour or two each day or you will have a nervous breakdown. And sleep does not count," Taraves said pointedly.

"Are you speaking as a healer or my friend?"

"Both. And if you know what is good for you, you and your father will take turns worrying before I have to start administering tonics for shot nerves and upset stomachs. I understand how unnerving this must be, but your head will remain clearer and more level if you rest a little and you know it."

He nodded and said, "I do. But I am not sure I can rest while my betrothed is in danger."

"She is not in danger here. This is one of the most secure areas of the palace and we do and prepare everything ourselves. Sit and relax now for a few minutes until milady is done," Taraves said kindly, gesturing towards a large and comfortable looking padded chair.

Legolas acquiesced and sat down.

Taraves sat in another chair close to his with a cup of tea and after he declined one himself, she took a sip and said, "Shall I assume your lessons are on hold for the time being?"

"I am afraid they must be. Once all this is past we can resume," he answered.

"It is well. You are picking up on it quickly. Have you had a chance to practice since you started lessons?" Taraves asked with a subtle little smile and a wink.

Legolas raised a brow.

"Oh, do not give me that look! Everything I have taught you thus far is purely medicinal. I am saving fun stuff for spring or summer so you have time to practice a bit before you wed. And you can hardly blame me for being curious! If you had I was going to ask what she thought," Taraves replied before taking a sip of tea. "If you do, let me know what she thinks and tell me if you think there is something you need to focus on in a future lesson. That said, we are going to focus on techniques for relaxation and releasing tension particularly in the neck and shoulders when we do meet again. She carries a lot of tension in her neck and shoulders."

Just then the door opened and Lothril came out wearing a clean dress and with her hair up in a coiled braid.

"You have not been waiting long, have you?" Lothril asked upon seeing Legolas.

"No, only a few minutes," he answered. "How are you feeling?"

She smiled. "Much better. Any progress while-"

Taraves cut her off, "No, milady. I am giving you strict orders not to worry about things for the rest of the day. I am certain the king and prince have everything very well in hand. Rest. Rest and relaxation is key. If tomorrow you wake and feel fine, you may resume your speculations."

Lothril put her hands up in surrender. "Very well! Very well! No worrying tonight."

Taraves gave Legolas a pointed look which he ignored as he took Lothril's arm and they headed out.

After a quiet though not wholly unpleasant dinner during which Thranduil assured her repeatedly she was safe and no one would be able to touch her, she decided a quiet evening in her room sounded preferable to about anything else. Legolas escorted her back and as they entered her anteroom Legolas gently pulled back on her hand so she would turn to him.

"Lothril, I think it would be best if for a little while we sleep together, or at least in the same room," Legolas said, looking dead serious and not flirty, mischievous, or romantic in the slightest.

"Okay, but I am not sure the situation strictly warrants a constant princely body guard even while I sleep, but I suppose as I am so closely connected to you, we have to take even stupid stuff like this more seriously…?"

Legolas nodded. "We cannot take threats or attacks against us, even idle ones, lightly."

"So out of curiosity, if I were to say no to you, would I have a guard patrolling my bedroom all night?" she asked.

"There would be one posted outside your bedroom door in the anteroom and one posted in your library," he answered.

"And your father agreed to this and is not worried about you getting distracted?"

"He said he reckons guards in the hallway and the servant's passages, even if we do get distracted, should be able to get to us quickly enough should another squirrel get dropped down your chimney. At this point we are not necessarily worried about a direct attack, but if another cowardly one should happen again, we want help but a call away," he answered.

She looked at him suspiciously. "Forgive me, but this does sound faintly contrived on your part."

"A little," Legolas confessed. "But mostly because I am worried. I want to protect you, Lothril. You are my betrothed and I love you. You mean more to me than anything. That you got hurt today is tearing me up inside and I cannot endure the thought of you being attacked alone, even if I had the army posted outside your room, I would not forgive myself for not being there when you needed me. Thus I beg you forgive me if I stay closer than usual until we find whoever is responsible for this?"

She nodded. "Believe it or not, I understand. So, do you sleep on the couch with a sword in hand or do you sleep during the day and patrol all night?"

"For the moment I have no intention of patrolling your room all night. However, where I sleep is up to you and I intend to stay until you awaken and Estelneth takes over," Legolas answered.

"Estelneth takes over?" Lothril repeated, knit browed.

Legolas smiled. "She used to be a guard a very, very long time ago. She still trains with Rinion on a somewhat regular basis just for fun, but the fact of the matter is, she can and will help guard you. And with her eye for detail, she is likely to catch trouble before it starts."

"Glad I like her," Lothril commented, half to herself. "Well… if you are going to be sleeping here, I am going to change into my pajamas and be comfortable."

"Might as well," he agreed with a smile. "And I may as well tell you now, everything in your room has been inspected to make sure it is safe and that nothing has been tampered with." He saw her frown and quickly added, "It is a necessary precaution and I promise nothing personal was examined. I was very strict on that point and Estelneth oversaw everything and she was the one who would have gone through your closet and nightstand and so forth."

"Well, that is appreciated, but I would have liked to have been told first. I mean, I realize I have servants in and out of all my stuff all day anyway, but still!" Lothril frowned.

"Noted, though at the time orders were issued you were unconscious. In the future you will be given as much advanced notice as can be given," Legolas said, sounding very much more like prince and commander Legolas than anything else.

Her frown was now joined by a raised brow. "I suppose I have no say in the matter."

Legolas took both her hands and his face softened a little. "I am afraid not, melethril. Not when it comes to matters of safety. You are a member of the royal house and the future wife of the crowned prince. Any attack against any one of us is considered an attack on the crown itself and a threat to the security of the kingdom. I promise, I have and will always give you as much privacy and say in all things as possible, but this is one where the safety of the kingdom must come first."

She gave a resigned sigh and said, "I understand."

"And that is why I will be sleeping in your bedroom. I will go now to fetch my things and return to your bedchamber in a few minutes," Legolas said and gave her a kiss.

As soon as he was gone, Lothril went into her bedroom and looked around. If he hadn't told her everything she owned had been inspected, she would have never guessed. She went into her closet and changed into her pajamas so she could be more comfortable, even though she really didn't intend on going to bed for a few hours, and then settled down on her couch with a book and a blanket. She opened the book, but stared into the fire and thrummed her fingers on her thigh. Well, she hadn't exactly thought life here would be boring, but she definitely hadn't reckoned on quite this brand of excitement. She just hoped it would be at least another week before the next incident so they had a chance to maybe figure out who it was before something else happened. Thranduil certainly seemed to be on the ball with everything and she had to admit… she felt a bit safer knowing there were going to be guards nearby. Knowing Legolas was going to be with her all night helped too. She more than well imagined if he wasn't, sleep would be fitful to impossible now that she knew someone was out to get her. As it was though, she thought she had a chance at sleep. She just hoped all these precautions would mean the next attack would be seen before it had a chance to whack her over the head or hit her in the face.

Legolas returned a few minutes later, his hair in one long braid and wearing a loose fitting pair of pants and a short tunic and carrying his long knives and a dagger. As soon as he shut the door behind himself he went to every other door in her bedroom leading to a servant's passage and locked it and then locked the doors to the library as well.

"Should we put the furniture in front of the doors?" Lothril asked sarcastically.

"Basic precaution. Estelneth and the guards have passkeys and all the other servants shall have to have the guards let them in," Legolas replied as he came over to her on the couch. "That said, where would you like me to sleep?"

"Well, as we are locked in and Commando Estelneth the Soul of Discretion is the only one shall walk in on us, I suppose I am risking very little if I allow you to sleep in my bed," Lothril answered.

Legolas chuckled. "Sometimes the way you put things amuses me to no end!" He went over to the bed and carefully arranged his weapons so he could reach them easily then sat down beside her on the couch. "What are you reading?"

"Nothing really. I do not think I have read a word since I sat down," she answered.

"Are you that worried, meleth nin?"

"Not that so much as I was thinking what I would be doing back home right now if I had decided to stay and how I reckoned this life would not be dull, but I certainly had not counted on having someone attacking me. At least, not for a few years yet. I supposed I would have to have time to make a political enemy first, not just exist. Oh well. You are worth it," she said with a teasing smile.

"It almost grieves me to hear you say that because I know I am the reason you are in danger," Legolas said with a pained expression.

"No! No! You stop that right now! You are not the reason for any of this. Not one inch of it. It all lies with the crazy elf who is doing all this. The fact that some elf chick cannot deal with the fact you are in love me with me is not your fault any more than it is mine," she replied and slid her arm around his shoulders as she crawled onto his lap.

He sighed heavily. "You are right," he conceded.

"Of course I am," she replied, very matter of fact but with a little smile.

"That is because you are circumspect and wise and shall make a wonderful princess to our people, despite what one jealous elleth may think," Legolas said before pulling her in for a kiss. "And why I love you so very much," he added in a low voice before giving her a longer, deeper kiss.

"Are you sure your father knows you are here and is fine with you getting distracted like this?" Lothril asked as soon as he broke the kiss.

Legolas got a funny little smile that reminded her strikingly of Thranduil as he replied, "In truth, when he said he wanted a guard posted at every door outside your bedroom and I suggested I stay with you all night instead, he got that subtle smug look as he does when he sets a trap in chess and his opponent falls into it. He said if I did, he supposed a guard simply nearby would be sufficient if I was with you and then told me if I come to breakfast looking exhausted or worried without a good cause he will seal my rooms shut until I look pleased and rested."

"He is incorrigible."

"He is determined, I think. He loves us both and wants us happy and he is furious you are being targeted. All along he has only wanted you to feel happy, loved, and accepted here and now this. So when he was presented with, or contrived himself, a means of restoring at least some of that for us even in the midst of this trouble, he approved it."

"Hmm… perhaps I shall have to thank him later," Lothril mused before leaning in for another kiss.

Legolas buried his fingers in her hair and asked between kisses, "How does your head feel?"

"Quite well," she answered and gave him a quick peck. "Taraves said I need only rest and take it easy and not worry and summon her if it starts hurting again, but she reckons it will not."

"Then let us get you in bed so you rest and be at ease and I will see to it you have naught to worry about," Legolas replied.

"Yes, let's!"

A/N: *Raven – what with Sindarin mutations being what they are, the elements "raw"-lion and "benn"- man come together as "Raven" (because Sindarin mutations) to create the name Lion-man. Not that it particularly matters, but in my head, this isn't his true name but rather a name given to him by his men because of his ferocity and bravery in battle and so that is what he goes by.