THE FORGOTTEN

May the Games Begin

Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings. Truth be told, I own very little. But I do have a cat!

Author's Note: I realized while working on the last chapter that most of my previous Author's Notes were spent with me begging for reviews. Please do not think I "need" any more reviews. I would love hearing what people think about the changes I've made (or if you're coming to this for the first time, what you think of it). However, since I've already gotten a load of reviews for this once, I feel like it would be extremely greedy of me to beg for more. So please, review, but only if you want- because I'm not greedy. Though, if I break 500 I may buy myself a pizza. Okay, fine! Review, review, review so I can get 500 hundred reviews and buy myself a pizza as a self-congratulations. Lol!

The next morning, after the tea party, at breakfast, Elrond requested Jennifer join him in his study after asking Legolas if he minded having a morning free instead of an afternoon. Legolas said it was all one to him, and so after breakfast Legolas decided to he would do a little more reading. He had a short stack of books in his room he was working through and decided a little reading in a garden might be nice. He picked up one of the books he was half way through and headed outside. He finished it off right around noon and returned the book to the library.

Legolas was coming out of the library and was only a short ways down the passage when he saw Elrond walking towards him.

"Legolas, may I have a word with you?" Elrond said.

"Certainly, Elrond," Legolas said.

Elrond pulled him into the nearest room and after seeing it was empty said, "I think it would be best if Jennifer did not have any additional lessons this week. I deem it needful that we spend the next few days together, and I am not sure how long we shall need to take each day as we are covering some intense topics. It would best if she did not have to worry about anything else afterwards."

"I understand, Lord Elrond. It is not a problem. May I have her a little extra over the next couple of weeks to make up for it?" Legolas asked.

Elrond nodded. "Certainly. As well, if you could refrain from seeking out her company for the next few days, unless she asks you to join her of course, that would also be appreciated. I think she shall be needing time and solitude to think through things."

He looked a little surprised by this request, but he acquiesced. He almost asked what it was they were studying, but something about Elrond's manner did not invite questions. Elrond thanked him and they parted company.

Legolas wondered briefly what on earth they could be going over that was so intense as to require solitude afterwards. Perhaps it was elven philosophy and metaphysics. Goodness knows whenever he had discussed it with Elrond in the past it had a tendency to leave his mind spinning. Or maybe something with healing. He had never studied it, but from what he had observed here and there over the years it was a very complicated thing. In any event, he didn't know and was not likely to know any time soon, so he put it out of his mind. Now that he had an unexpectedly free afternoon, he decided to do a little fishing. He headed to his room and changed into his traveling clothes and then headed out towards the boathouse near the river where Elrond kept his fishing tackle. He had a particularly nice rod for fly fishing and that was what Legolas had a mind to do. Instead of taking the path that wound around the house, he decided to cut through the garden. He was strolling along and not minding his surroundings much when he heard a voice hail him.

"Hullo! Would you mind coming here a minute?"

He looked around and saw a small figure in a jacket and shawl with grey hair sitting on a bench with two books open on his lap and a pen in hand with an inkwell beside him. Immediately Legolas turned aside and went over to him. "Not at all. What do you need, Master Baggins?"

The old hobbit looked up surprised, "Oh! Legolas! I beg your pardon, I thought you were someone else."

"It is well. I am glad to see you again. It has been a while," Legolas answered.

"Yes, and I had hoped to come back to visit but I am afraid I am getting old at last," Bilbo replied.

"We understand," Legolas answered. "We were glad to see you as you passed through on your way to and from Dale, though we had hoped to host you properly."

Bilbo laughed, "Well, you were all good hosts unawares anyway."

Legolas laughed, well remembering a whole string of odd disappearances of things from the King's larders. Including a bottle of wine and an aged cheese he had been saving for the end of autumn and a little private celebration he had been planning with his cousins. So much for that. "Well, I may not have been whom you expected, but I am willing to help you with whatever it is you need."

"Oh yes, yes!" Bilbo said. "I am working on some translations you see, and I am unsure how to take a word and wanted an Elf's opinion."

Legolas sat down beside the hobbit, minding the inkwell, and said, "I shall help how I can. What is the word?"

"Probably best if you read it in context. It is this part here," Bilbo answered, pointing to a particular verse. It is 'benn' that has me tripped up. I cannot decide if should be rendered 'man' or 'husband' in this context."

Legolas read the verse a couple times then read the verses that came before and after. "It is a play on words. You see down here how it mirrors this line?" he said pointing out the lines of text. "In this case, you can render it either way and be correct. At the same time, you shall lose the word play unless you know a means of expressing both ideas at once."

Bilbo snorted. "As I thought – I ask an Elf and get both yes and no."

Legolas laughed, "It cannot be helped! It is very much the case in this instance. If it helps, when I first read it I thought it more 'man' than 'husband' but then I read what came before and after and saw it was a joke and meant both."

Bilbo frowned, "Well, I suppose I must give it a bit of thought. While I have you here though, I have a question – I did not start learning elvish until after the business with the dragon, and afterwards when I thought back to what I heard in your father's halls and compared what I heard to what I heard from the elves near the Shire, I began to doubt my own ears. How different is the dialect you speak in Mirkwood?"

Legolas smiled, "Some here like to tease me for speaking Sindarin rídhathren (rustic Sindarin) but we never have much trouble understanding each other. The biggest differences I notice are in pronunciation. I am sure you have noticed some here call me Laegolas but I say it Legolas. I do at times use a word in a manner that many elves here might not think to use it at first, and we have a few different names for certain creatures in Mirkwood that an elf here might not recognize, but we also have varieties of creatures in Mirkwood that they do not have here in Rivendell."

Bilbo nodded. "If you have the time while you are here, I would very much like to copy down some of the differences."

"I believe I shall have a bit of time over the next week," Legolas said.

"No sword practice with the young elf maid?" Bilbo asked with a sly look.

Legolas shook his head. "It seems Elrond has her preoccupied for a while."

"Don't I usually see her though darting to and from his study?" Bilbo asked.

"Yes, but it seems for the next several days they shall be doing some very deep study and sword practice has been suspended for the week," Legolas replied.

"Must be philosophy," Bilbo said. "Goodness knows I have made the mistake of bringing up the subject with him."

Legolas laughed, "You too?"

Bilbo chuckled then said, "Well, I am sure you were not looking for me when you walked through this garden and you have answered my question, so I shan't keep you any longer."

"Should you like to meet tomorrow and discuss our Woodland dialect?" Legolas asked as he stood.

"Yes, tomorrow would be fine. After breakfast?" Bilbo asked.

"That will be fine," Legolas answered. "Where would you like to meet?"

"The little library, I think. Much less frequented," Bilbo replied.

Legolas nodded and bade him good afternoon then continued on down to the boathouse.

The next day he spent the better part of the day with Bilbo in the little library discussing the differences between his elvish and that of the elves of Rivendell. When he had volunteered to talk Sindarin with Bilbo, he supposed it would be at least a somewhat interesting way to spend the day, but he hadn't counted on it being so much fun. The old hobbit had made a very serious study of Elvish and proved to be very knowledgeable. He was also quite the conversationalist and Legolas found himself quite regretting that Bilbo never did stay with them for an extended time; at least, not while they were aware of it. A pity that mortals live so short a time!

After supper, he decided a little music would be a nice way to end the day, and was playing a small harp in his room when there was a knock on the door leading to Jennifer's room. Legolas opened the door and was surprised. "Lord Elrond, this is unexpected."

"It is a little odd. We were wondering if you would be willing to be a part of an experiment," Elrond asked.

"Certainly. What do you need me to do?" Legolas said, feeling slightly confused.

"Jennifer, go out onto the porch and keep your back to the room. We will walk slowly towards you. As soon as you feel the presence of Legolas, raise your right hand. As soon as you feel my presence, raise your left. Legolas, come with me to the door," Elrond said.

"Has she begun to sense other's fëa?" Legolas asked.

"Yes, but it seems to be conditional, which is why we are doing this. It is mostly for my own curiosity, to be honest, but I think it might be interesting for all of us to see," Elrond answered.

"Should we have a neutral third party present?" Legolas asked.

"Perhaps another time. Depending on how things go, we may do this again," he said as they reached the door and turned around.

They walked very slowly towards the porch and Legolas had not quite reached the dividing curtain when her right hand lifted. Elrond kept walking slowly and she lowered her right hand. He was within four feet of her before she raised her left hand.

"Can I turn around?" she asked.

"Not yet," Elrond answered mentally. "I want to do this again."

That he decided to answer her using ósanwe was a little surprising to her, but she agreed and he turned around and went back to the door with Legolas. Legolas reached the same place as before when her hand went up and Elrond stopped beside him. Legolas gave him a quizzical look and Elrond winked in response then shut his eyes to focus and then opened them again. He started with trying to use his foresight and as the last vision of her future a few minutes ago came unbidden and is what caused her to feel his fëa just then, he decided to attempt looking into Jennifer's future again and saw her riding a horse next to Elrohir and Elladan and Legolas. Nothing from her, but he decided he would keep that vision in mind for later. He then began softly singing a song he had used earlier during a healing lesson which had started off this whole business of seeing if she could feel other's fëa in general, or only certain people or under certain circumstances. After singing for a minute or so there was still nothing. He was about to change up what he was doing when her hand slowly rose, as if she wasn't sure.

"You may turn around," Elrond called.

She turned and went over to them. "Well?"

"You raised your hand that you felt Legolas when he reached this point both times," Elrond said. "The first time I was almost in arm's reach of you. The second time I was singing that song that I told you about earlier and thought I was going to have to change tactics."

"Oh," she said, blushing slightly. "That's certainly interesting."

"Very interesting," Elrond said.

Legolas said nothing but looked very thoughtful.

"As a thank you for you both humoring me, I believe the kitchen has apple pie and I know there is mulled cider and I am sure we could talk them into making baked apples if pie is not to be found," Elrond said. "Are either of you interested?"

"Mulled cider and baked apple something sounds lovely," Jennifer said.

"It does sound nice at that," Legolas said with a smile.

They made their way to the kitchen and were delighted to find there was indeed pie and it was still quite warm, and the mulled cider only took a few minutes to warm up.

They talked a little about this and that, and after they finished their pie and cider and finished their conversation about the pros and cons of baking with sweet apples verses tart (Jennifer believed squarely you should use sweet apples, and Legolas and Elrond and the head baker were trying to tell her she was wrong and that you should bake with tart), Elrond asked her mentally if she wanted him to walk her back and she declined but thanked him, and they went their separate ways. Legolas escorting her back as was their custom.

She couldn't really look at him though without feeling her face grow hot, so she just kept looking ahead.

"You have been reclusive the last few days," Legolas commented.

"Yeah, we've had a few intense lessons the last few days," she said.

"He told me as much. Mind if I ask what you have been learning so intensely?" he asked.

She turned pink and answered, "I would prefer you didn't, to be honest."

"Did you really not feel Lord Elrond until you raised your hand both times?"

"Yeah. Even at that, I only just felt him the second time," she said.

"And you felt me across the room?" he asked.

She shrugged. "We were doing a healing lesson earlier and as he was singing I felt him for the first time and then I realized I have felt you all along. He reckoned we have a bond of some kind. I'm not entirely sure what he was trying to prove, but he had that subtle pleased look he gets sometimes when he's cornered you in chess."

"I know that look well," Legolas said. "And he gave you no ideas as to what he might be trying to prove?"

She shook her head. "We did have a discussion earlier about – well, I think he was trying to figure out just how elven I am at this point."

"Being able to sense the fëa of others is a means of measuring how mature an elfling is. Of course, with the rest of us, our parents could factor in height and skills, which does not truly hold for you. For your height, you should be well sensing the fëa of every elf that passes you. For your years under the sun, you should be about two feet shorter. For how old I think you feel, your years would be something like sixty-five – give or take maybe five years," he said.

She balked and looked at him surprised but then looked away.

"What?" he asked.

"That's what Elrond said. He reckoned for how mature I feel, I'm about sixty-five to seventy," she answered.

"Truly?" he asked, a grin teasing his face. "Maybe I should have been a healer," he mused.

She stared straight ahead and didn't say anything. It was off putting realizing Elrond drew his conclusion after deep concentration and examination. Legolas just guessed it from being with her. Elrond did say they shared a bond… They reached her door and she bid him good night and as soon as the door was shut behind her she pulled the bell cord and when the servant appeared she asked for a glass of wine. The servant offered to bring her a bottle. She said yes.

A few minutes later she was soaking in a hot bath with a glass of wine and her mind gloriously quiet. She didn't want to think again until morning. At the bottom of her first glass she began singing "Make the World Go Away" by Eddie Arnold.

Legolas heard her singing all the way in his room as he was reading. This was the first time he had heard her singing a song from her old world, and he reckoned by the fact he could actually hear her through the wall, she had had a little wine and just a touch more than was usual for her, and he found it terribly amusing. As she was still on key though and seemed to remember all the words, he wasn't worried about her being drunk just yet and reckoned she'd stop drinking soon if she hadn't already. However, if the words started sounding slurred he decided he would intervene. It did make him wonder though – hitherto she had been so very careful with wine, mead, and anything with alcohol, and all evening she had seemed a little off; flustered maybe and especially so as they walked back together. She hadn't been that flustered around him since her first day in Mirkwood. Surely, Elrond had noticed. Indeed, he seemed to be keeping an eye on her the whole time they were together, like he was ready to intervene at a moment's notice. And they had definitely been using ósanwe all evening. Then the song she was singing – if that was not a song of wanting to forget, nothing was. But forget what? He was tempted to chalk it up to whatever 'intense' lessons they had been having except for her being so flustered and Elrond being so attentive to her all evening.

It was all too great a riddle for him however, and he figured if he was to know, he would find out in due course of time and turned his attention back to his book.

It was October the tenth. Glorfindel had been sent out of Imladris yesterday. On this particular day she had no lessons as it was a Legolas lesson day and he thought she needed a break. She had spent a fair amount of the morning practicing writing on a beautiful slate Elrond had given her and then doing a little reading, which she found she was getting quite good at. She wondered sometimes if her rapid progress with reading and writing were due to the fact she had already mastered it once in English or if it was something to do with her elvenness. In any event, she had copied almost a page out of a book of poetry, and had read about twenty more when she decided that was enough for the day and decided to find Legolas.

Sometimes it was difficult to find him, as he was just as likely to be in his room reading as he was fishing, walking around, singing in the trees, or off talking with someone. Today however, when she walked out onto her balcony to enjoy the autumnal air and see if he was in the tree or larking about, found he had pulled a chair out onto his balcony and was reading in the sunshine.

"Good morning," he said, placing a ribbon in his book and then closing it. "It's a lovely day!"

"Indeed! Perfect blue sky, bright colors in the trees, nice crisp feel in the air – I love it!"

"I take it you're not devoting your day to scholarly pursuits?"

"Goodness, no. I've copied about a page of poetry and read some more and all of it was pleasant and cheerful, so I figured I ought to stop before I ran into the fall of Gondolin or something."

Legolas nodded. "I would have done the same. In fact, you may have done it for me," he said, looking down at the book in his hand.

"What is it?"

"A compilation of translations Bilbo has been working on."

Jennifer nodded then asked, "Legolas, do elves ever play games?"

"Yes, you should know that by now. We play chess and..."

"No, not that sort of game, I mean a running sort of game."

"Like a foot race?" he asked.

"Sort of. I was thinking more along the lines of capture the flag," she said with a grin.

"Oh? How do you play?" he asked.

"Well, you want a group of people to play and you want to divide them up into two teams. Preferably even ones. And you want a large space to play in that you can fairly easily divide in half. Each team has a flag they hide on their side and you try to get the flag from the other team without losing yours. Of course, if you get tagged trying to capture the flag, you go to jail and then one of your own teammates has to come tag you to get you out," she explained.

"Tagged? What do you mean by tagged?" he asked. She reached over and tapped him. "I see. And what or where is the jail?"

"It's just an area designated somewhere near the playing area. Usually on the edge, though if you've got a big enough space, I guess it could be inside too."

Legolas nodded. "Are you allowed to defend your flag?"

"You can, if you have enough people. Like, if you have a large enough group, you can have jailers, scouts, offense, defense, and everything else. Do you want to play?" she asked with a grin.

"I do not think it would be much fun with only two of us," he said with a grin.

"Do you think we could convince some other elves to play?" she clarified.

"I think we may have a hard time keeping others from playing. But before we go asking anyone, we should probably decide on where we shall play," Legolas said. She agreed and they headed out and began surveying. They decided upon a particular corner of the grounds that offered a fair amount of offensive and defensive advantages on either side of the tiny little rivulet of a stream that fairly bisected the area. "This should do very nicely. Shall we start recruiting players?" he asked.

"Yes. Should we split up?"

"It would be faster. How many should we ask?"

"Hmm… Ten each?" she suggested.

Legolas thought a moment. "I think fifteen. That allows for a bit more leeway with strategy."

"I'll take your word for it," she replied. Strategy was never her particular strong suit. "How shall we split everyone up into teams? I suppose we should work out how to pick captains."

"I assumed we were going to be on opposite teams," Legolas said.

"Oh that's not fair. I'm miserable with strategy!" she said.

"Then you can figure out how to choose one for your team," he replied.

"Very well," she said, and immediately began thinking who she would tackle first and would want for her team's captain. "Should we meet back in an hour?"

"An hour or sooner," Legolas said. "Oh, what shall we use for flags?"

"Hmm… well, they can be anything really. We just want them to be visible and similar size and shape. I'll go ahead and get flags for both teams if you want. Just give me a little extra time."

"Very well. I trust you not to give your team an unfair advantage," he said with a grin.

"I'll let you pick your team's flag first."

"Fair enough."

They split up and recruited fifteen elves each. Jennifer had made a bee-line into the house and Legolas was only vaguely curious whom she was dashing off to recruit. An hour later Legolas had his team assembled and they were all dressed in browns, greens, and greys and standing in a circle discussing strategy. Thinhen was on his team and acting as a lookout while keeping an ear turned to the plan being laid out.

Suddenly he saw Jennifer rounding the corner and gave the signal and immediately they stopped talking and turned to see who their opponents were. Much to everyone's surprise, Elrond was walking beside her carrying one banner and she was carrying another. She and Elrond walked up to Legolas and she said, "Which banner would you like?" They unfurled them and they proved to be solid colored flags that had been used for signaling. One was bright green and the other yellow.

Legolas reached for the green one and asked, "Who is your captain, Jennifer?"

"Lord Elrond," she grinned.

"I volunteered," Elrond added.

"I see," Legolas said, his manner growing more serious. He turned to Jennifer and asked, "How long do we have to place our flags?"

"Well, we need to place flags, figure out where the jails will be, and get people into positions. Oh, and I found someone to act as judge, should we need it. He will sound the start in say, fifteen minutes?" Jennifer said.

Legolas nodded. Elrond's herald appeared with a horn but otherwise wearing his normal clothes. Jennifer nodded to the herald who then declared, "When I sound the horn, it shall be fifteen minutes until the game begins then I shall sound it again. The rules are – you must place your flag somewhere reachable and viewable from at least one direction. If you are tagged, you shall be taken to jail from which you may only be freed by being tagged by one of your own teammates. You may not move your flag during the game, except to retrieve it and then you may put it in a new location if you so wish. You must have a defined jail area that may not be moved. The area of play is this entire side garden from the falls to the river. The rivulet here that runs through the middle is the dividing line between the two territories. Any questions?"

No questions came forth and so the herald blew his horn and the two teams separated deep into their own territories. Immediately, Elrond began issuing orders for where to put the flag and telling everyone where they would be stationed and laid out a plan for defense and offense. Jennifer, who was far and away the least experienced person playing, was ordered to climb up into one of the trees within view of where their flag was hidden and the center line and relay information on movements of opposing players using ósanwe. Jennifer climbed the tree and watched as her teammates arranged themselves into position and most of them, except the jailer and two of the defenders, disappeared. The second horn sounded and dead silence fell. She carefully watched the dividing line for signs of movement. She saw two of their offense cross the line on the ground and thought she caught a glimpse of one cross the line in the tree branches then nothing. Far off in the enemy territory she heard some distant yelling then nothing. Then she saw movement. Yes, it definitely an opposing player. She quickly she relayed this to Elrond and a moment later she heard a birdcall she was sure had to be him.

The game for a long while was a game of stealth as both opposing teams were trying to figure out where the flags were, and then it seemed they were both trying to sneak the flags out. As she understood Elrond's plan, it was have scouts locate the flag and if possible, begin moving it towards their side and at a certain point give a signal. If it was too heavily guarded, then they were to either give a certain signal or come back across and a certain number of players were going to cross over with the scouts and two of them would try to sneak back to it while the rest attempted a more direct attack as a means of distracting the defenders. Wherever Legolas and his team hid their flag, it was apparently well hidden or hard to get to. But Jennifer couldn't worry about that, because she suddenly noticed a fair amount of activity near the rivulet.

It looked like Legolas was getting ready to mount a direct assault while simultaneously capturing Elrond's attack forces or driving them back before them. She counted ten and relayed it to Elrond who began shouting orders to others on the field and then to her surprise, he mentally gave a very stern command for her to stay out of sight and cross over to the other side and begin heading towards the northwest corner and relay what was going on to him. Quickly and as stealthily as possible, she climbed down the tree and began making her way across. She could see she could cross the boundary fairly safely if she veered off to the left, away from the main fray, and then she figured she could sneak along the edge then she would have to figure it out from there. Very carefully she crept along, and found where her teammates were being detained. Elrond told her to spring the prisoners, so she hid behind a large beech and observed the guards for a moment. There were only two – one further back patrolling and one pacing back and forth between the jail and the other guard. She waited until the closer one had his back turned and was at furthest point away from the jail before she crept up behind her teammates and tapped each and whispered instructions.

As soon as the guard turned back around, they scattered, two ran back towards their side, one made a direct charge towards the further guard, and the third along with Jennifer quickly sneaked around behind the further guard in an attempt to grab the flag. The forward guard gave a up a call which brought two of the attackers rushing back and mistakenly chasing the elves heading back towards their line. It took a minute for the guard to get their attention back and have them head back towards their own flag, but by then it was too late. The rear guard had tagged again the elf making the direct charge, but in so doing, he missed Jennifer and Ilbereth altogether. Ilbereth got the flag and began running back with it in a direct line down the right with Jennifer coming up fast behind him but more in the middle. At first she could keep up with him, but it didn't take long before he found his stride and quickly left her far behind. That didn't matter though. She successfully dodged a few attempts made at her and was able to make it across the rivulet safely. Legolas and his team had not been idle either. They had decided to do something of a mad rush towards the flag, but with everyone scattered almost the entire width of the playing field. Some went up trees and were running across branches like squirrels, others were on the ground, but running in circuitous patterns around trees, doubling back and then rushing forward, and others were more or less just zig-zagging down the field. It looked like one of Legolas' team was going to successfully get the flag when Ilbereth came flying up out of nowhere with Jennifer flanking him, tagging members of Legolas' team as she could. Legolas saw that his plan was about to fail, should Ilbereth manage to plant his flag before his team stole Elrond's, so he broke off from his own attempts at capturing it and made a run at Ilbereth with the intention of stealing his own back. Jennifer saw him break away and make a straight line for Ilbereth, so she pushed herself to go as fast as she could to catch him and was within an inch of tagging him when she tripped on something and as she fell grabbed at Legolas' belt, dragging him down to the ground with her and the two of them skidding into a heap as Ilbereth covered the last few feet of ground and planted the bright green flag next to the yellow one.

With that the horn sounded and the game was won. Cheers went up from Elrond's team who were all gathering around Ilbereth to praise his speed and getting them the victory. Legolas sat up with a grin and began brushing fallen leaves and dirt off himself as he said to Jennifer, "Well, that was a very fun game. I think I should have had him if you hadn't tripped me. We should play another round."

Jennifer rolled over and winced. "Yeah, but the price of victory is steep," she said as she gently grabbed her left wrist. "I wish I could say I tripped you intentionally, but I'm afraid I tripped and dragged you down with me and now I'm paying for it."

"Then it's a good thing Elrond decided to play today. Let me help you up," he said as he stood and carefully lifted her to her feet. She no sooner put weight on her left foot then cried out and Legolas quickly sat her down again. Of course, everyone heard it and turned to look as Elrond came quickly over.

"What happened?" Elrond asked her.

"Oh, I tripped trying to tag Legolas and managed to knock us both to the ground and managed to hurt my wrist and sprain my ankle I think," she answered.

"That should be easily mended. Let me see your wrist," he said. She held out her hurt wrist and he very gently examined it and then told her to brace herself as he firmly popped a few of the bones in her wrist back in place then held her wrist between his hands and chanted something briefly. Then he took off her boot and examined her ankle and determined it was just a muscle sprain. He chanted something again and his hands suddenly felt very warm to her and then suddenly the aching vanished and whatever swelling there had been disappeared. "There you are. As good as new."

She rolled her wrist and ankle experimentally and smiled. "Thank you!" she said as she slid her boot back on and stood up. They all stood and looked around the playing field. It seemed friendly argument had broken out about different points in the game and there was some discussion about how the rules got in the way of what they could have done otherwise. "I think maybe another game is in order," Jennifer said. "You know, so I can make sure I'm in working order."

Elrond laughed. "Though I don't think my work needs proving, I do think another game is in order. It seems our players were dissatisfied with how the game was played. Perhaps we should change a few rules?"

Legolas grinned. "Indeed, I think we should. I am certainly up for another game if you are, Lord Elrond.

"I'm not opposed. And it seems we have more players," he replied, turning to look towards where his herald stood. There were a dozen elves who had heard the commotion and decided they wanted in on the fun.

The spectators were quickly divided between the two teams, who switched what side of the field they were on, and a series of new rules were implemented that everyone but Jennifer seemed very enthusiastic about. The most notable changes being – if you were tagged to go to jail, you had to be escorted there, otherwise you were allowed to escape. Once you were in jail though, you had to stay on your honor. (There had been some intense debate on this, but it was concluded though ones duty may be to escape enemy capture, as these jails were naught more than patch of ground without so much as a rope there was no honor in escaping from that.) You could also tag and take prisoners for twenty feet on either side of the rivulet. You were also allowed to tackle would-be prisoners if they refused to surrender after being tagged, and you were also allowed to use sticks and branches as weapons as long as the ends were dull and you didn't draw blood. If you did, you were out of the game and if you inflicted any serious injuries, the other team automatically won.

Jennifer, being the only participant who had never actually fought in combat, was rather mortified at these additions and had no problem saying so.

"It's good practice for you," Legolas rejoined.

"Practice for what?" she retorted.

"For next week," he replied with a grin.

"What?!" she cried, ignoring the smattering of chuckles from the other players.

"Begin the game," Elrond called to his herald.

"At my first sounding you shall twenty minutes to hide your flag and find your weapons. At the second sounding the game shall begin!" And with that he gave a short note on his trumpet and the two teams scattered. The sounds of branches being snapped and calls and shouts between teammates filled the air and then silence fell as strategy was quickly discussed before the second horn sounded. The strategy Elrond laid out this time seemed more militaristic. Jennifer was assigned to guarding the flag along with two others and she rather hoped nobody made it that far back.

The second horn sounded and immediately orders were being shouted and Jennifer heard the sound of branches thudding against each other and shouts going up. Almost immediately she saw someone being hauled off to the jail, escaping his would be captor, and then being tackled and then tossed over his captor's shoulder, both of them laughing until he was unceremoniously dumped on the ground.

Jennifer shook her head and chuckled. For a while she was able to watch the game at a distance until three of Legolas's team broke through. Three of her own team gave chase and tried to tag them, but the others were too quick and made it all the way back to where Jennifer and the other two guards stood. She moved to get in the way of the advancing players and all at once she realized one of them was Legolas and he was coming right for her. She readjusted her grip on the oak branch she had and braced herself. He swung and to her surprised, she parried. They exchanged blows until one of her teammate came up behind him and tackled him to the ground. Three times he was hauled to jail and three times he was set free by a teammate, and each time he came right for Jennifer or had one of his teammates join him in attacking her. Consequently, she completely missed the end of the game.

As one of the opposing players got their flag and was heading back towards his own side, one of Elrond's team had captured the other flag and charged back with it. There was a brief melee and Elrond's team ended up with both flags and was able to get both of them planted in their designated spot, ending the game. Opposing sides gathered and shook hands, laughing and rubbing bruises.

"I think I shall concede the game and not request a rematch. At least not today," Legolas said to Elrond who laughed in reply.

"Indeed, I could not give it you today if you wished it. I am afraid I have things I must now attend to. Good game, Legolas." He clapped the elven prince on the shoulder and headed inside.

Jennifer walked up and smacked Legolas on the arm (lightly) with her stick. "What was all that about?! Charging at me with two people! Really!"

"Such is battle," Legolas replied. "I wanted to see how well you would handle it. You did not do badly, but if it were a real fight, you would not have come out so well. But these things come with experience. And now you have had some. Tomorrow, you shall have more."

She frowned. "Well, I suppose, but I really don't have any plans of going into battle."

He grew a little more serious and replied, "That does not always matter. But come, we should go back inside and make ourselves presentable." They headed back towards the house, but Legolas stopped her just shy of going in.

"What are you doing?" she asked as he spun her around. She could feel him messing with her hair.

"I'm pulling out bits of tree. Now hold still," he answered.

"I'm sure I could have managed on my own, but thanks," she replied.

He laughed, "So you think, but you are a mess. All your climbing in trees and bushes has left you in a frightful state. There, much better. I'm sure you shall still have a bit to get out yourself, but that is the better part of it."

As they went inside they talked about the game, then Legolas left her at the door to her room. Jennifer headed straight to the bathroom and took one look at herself in the mirror and laughed. There were indeed still bits of tree bark and leaves in her hair, leaves everywhere actually. At one point she had been knocked into some rather wet leaves that stuck to her like cat hair on a wool coat. She went to the wardrobe and fetched a clean outfit and set about getting herself clean.

It took a while, and she brushed her hair four times before bathing and still there were little bits of moss and things she missed and didn't come out until she washed her hair.

Jennifer had no sooner changed into a plum colored dress when there was a knock on her door.

"Come in!" Jennifer cheerily called.

The door opened and in walked Legolas. She looked over and noticed he was wearing a silvery robe, and a silver circlet.

"My but you do clean up nicely," she teased. "You look very handsome this evening Prince Legolas," she added with a curtsy.

"You are looking quite lovely this evening yourself Lady Jennifer," he replied with a bow.

"Lady Jennifer?" she asked with a grin.

"What else?" He grinned then asked, "Have you thought about having your name changed?"

Her brows knit together. "Changing my name? Whatever for?" she asked.

Legolas frowned slightly. "I thought perhaps Lord Elrond had broached this subject with you, but I can see he has not. I am not entirely sure I should be the one to do so."

"Why not?"

Legolas looked at her questioningly, "Is it not a matter of some significance who names children in your world?"

"I suppose it is of some significance. Most of the time it's the parents that name the child at birth."

"Then you should see why I am perhaps not the person to be discussing this with you."

"I don't know about that. There isn't much protocol in my world for someone my age turning into an elf and getting a new first name. I mean, a woman taking on her husband's last name, family name, when she gets married, sure, but most people don't change their first name so as a society we have very little opinion on the matter."

Legolas thought a moment. "Then what of the naming of children in your world. Are the names significant?"

"To a degree. Some people give their children a name that has been in the family, some name their child after a friend, some after a historical figure, some pick a name based on its significance, others because they like how it sounds. Some people even make up names by blending two existing names or just make up something without much of a meaning that they think sounds nice."

"Hmm. So then many people may have the same name?"

"Oh yes. Take Jennifer – it was an extremely popular name when I was born. There are thousands, if not millions of girls named Jennifer where I'm from."

"That is not the way of it with elves at all. I suppose I may as well explain it," he said and gestured to the couch in front of the fireplace. They sat down and he continued. "Though now there are some repetitions, generally speaking an elf is given a unique name soon after birth. That is the public name and is often the most recognized name. It is considered a true-name and no matter how many other names one may acquire in life, that one is always listed first by most of our kin," Legolas explained.

"What do you mean by 'other names one may acquire'? Like nicknames?"

"Those would be included, but there is more to it than just those. Amongst the Eldar, and the Noldor especially, an elf usually has two true-names – one given at birth and one chosen by himself. Or herself, as the case may be," he added with a smile. "That name though is private and use of it is typically reserved for family and those whom the person chooses to share it with. Use of it, especially by itself, is a token of the closest intimacy and love and to use it without that person's permission is insulting and presumptuous."

She could see he had more he was going to say, but she wanted to make sure she understood what he was saying before he went on, so she interjected, "So what you're saying is when an elf is born he or she is given a name by his or her parents and that is a true-name and it's public and the one they're going to be known by. And then when they're older they can choose a name for themselves and that is also a true-name but only to be used or given out to close family and people they are very, very close to."

"Yes. And as far as these two names are concerned, the other thing you should understand is that the chosen name is only chosen by the elf once he is old enough to have a mastery and awareness of the language. So though you may wish to have an elven name, I would urge you to have someone who knows you well to choose it for you, and not to choose your own name for some time yet. You are still changing and everything is new, and though you are learning our language quickly, you have by no means mastered it."

Jennifer was quiet for a moment, thinking, then said, "We should head to supper." Legolas agreed. They were but a few paces from her door when she said, "I think I should like you to name me."

"Me?"

"Who better? You have known me since I arrived here nearly two months ago and we have spent every day together. Of everyone in Middle-earth I can't think of anyone who knows me better."

"What of Lord Elrond? He has been training you and is very insightful. I think he may know you better than you think and could name you better. At the very least, I think you and possibly me as well, need to discuss this matter with him before any decisions are made," he said as he closed her door behind them.

She walked beside him for a few feet in silence then said, "I will consider it, but I still want you thinking of one in case I decide on you."

"Fair enough," Legolas said.

Authors note: Fun fact – Ilbereth is an elf Tolkien created! Don't recognize him? It's because he lives with Father Christmas up at the North Pole. I am not kidding. While re-writing this, I stumbled across the "Letters From Father Christmas" which is a series of letters Tolkien wrote to his children as Santa. Absolutely charming read and I thoroughly recommend it. Also…had not intended on giving a lecture in elvish naming traditions when I started re-writing this chapter… Though, the more I thought about it and researched it, the more I realized just having her change her name flippantly would never work, given the three solid pages Tolkien dedicated to the subject. Trust me, I gave you all the short version. The very short version. And in case you're wondering where I got this information, it can be found in "Morgoth's Ring" under the section, "Laws and Customs of the Eldar…". And I don't own that property either.