Chapter 13

The festival of spring was in two days' time and that was the day also scheduled for the tournament. To say Leanna was not under pressure would be a joke. As of three days ago, Bard had received a letter from the woodland realm, from King Thranduil. They would be arriving tomorrow just in time for the festival.

Leanna sat by her window, looking over the faraway hills stretching beyond the lonely mountain. Training had ended earlier today as Feran and his men had to prepare for the arrival of their King. She was so deep in thought that she didn't hear the knock or the door open.

"Leya?" Leanna turned to the door at the sound of her nickname, where Sigrid, Tilda and of course Bertha.

"Hm?" she answered, her gaze fleeted from the sisters to Bertha and then the contents of her hand. a box, Bertha was holding a box in her hands.

"We came to deliver your dresses from the seamstress" Tilda said excitedly as Leanna rose from her chair and moved to the center of the room as Bertha opened the box on the table.

The girls gasped as Leanna took a dress out from its wooden containment and held it to her body. It was typical ball attire. Leanna smiled at the sight, once upon a time, you she had hated the idea of maids hovering over her person and forcing her into one of these all the name of perfection and appearances.

"It's beautiful…" Sigrid whispered as she looked the dress over. Bertha smiled at the sight of the dresses which crafted well by the new seamstresses in Dale.

"Aye tis a fine dress, very fitting to receive them elves tomorrow" Bertha complimented, to which Tilda turned to Leanna, the sparkle of excitement glittering in her eyes.

"Elves are coming tomorrow??" Leanna made to answer question but Sigrid beat her to it.

"Yes Tilda, apparently The ElvenKing wants to celebrate the spring festival with us"

"King Thranduil's coming? But I thought he didn't like coming here" Tilda looked to Leanna in question. Leanna sighed, putting the dress back into the box.

"Well I guess he doesn't have much of a choice. There is a tournament to be hosted in his honor after all"

"Yea, between men and elves, that's really ridiculous when you think about it"

"Now Sigrid-"

"But it is!"

"Even so! This is a peaceful and friendly tournament, nothing more" Leanna replied sternly. Sigrid was sharper than most girls her age, a trait she could easily see coming from her father. Which was why she was able to tell this situation they were in was neither good nor bad.

Sigrid was not stupid, with the minimal amounts of interactions between the Woodland realm and Laketown as well as her conversations with her father, she knew Thranduil had no real interest in a festival conducted in the world of men.

What was even more unnerving was the tournament to go along with the festival which was the first one to be held ever between the woodland realm and the people of Dale.

"Alright girls, c'mon time for your lessons with Master Percy" Bertha smiled at the fair woman in acknowledgement. The girls groaned as Bertha began to nudge them out the door.

"But it's past noon!"

"We hardly get to spend time with Leya!" The girls complained as Bertha dragged them out the room.

"It's alright madam Bertha, I'll see to them" Leanna intervened. The girls beamed and ran to stand by Leanna who was smiled at Bertha.

"Alright milady, but Lord Bard insists they keep up with their studies otherwise he'll be mighty unhappy" Bertha said nodding to girls who were clutching Leanna's dress.

"Yes, I will make sure they don't miss any lessons" responded Leanna. The door closed behind Bertha and they waited for a while until there was complete silence. Leanna turned to girls with a mischievous gleam in her eyes.

"Well then, I'm in the mood for a picnic" at her words, the girls squealed in excitement.

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Training had been mostly pleasant today, as today would signal the end of their three months in Dale. Feran had gathered the men and instructors for a final lesson today before dismissing them from the training field. The other men had returned to perform other tasks within the city center and yet one remained.

Bain was filled with mixed feelings. The three month training was over which meant the elves would be going back soon. He would admit that he didn't like them at first but, now he found himself wishing the training would last longer.

"Is there something wrong?" Bain turned to find an elf watching him. Nirdan had half expected the boy to jubilate at the eve of their departure and yet here he was, looking conflicted.

"It's nothing…" Bain looked away as he answered. He bowed and was about leaving when the elf called to him.

"What is your name?" at this Bain stilled. He turned around to look at the elf who had called to him, frowning in confusion as he mumbled his name out.

"Bain, son of Bard…" Bain looked up proudly at the elf and Nirdan smirked nodding his head to him.

"Well Bain, son of Bard the dragon slayer, May the skills imparted to you serve you well" Nirdan said giving Bain his blessing as a means of encouragement. The boy showed promise and were he to pursue swordsmanship, he would make a fine warrior, for a mortal at least.

" King Thranduil is set to arrive in the morning in time for the festival, after which we leave Dale for good". Feran said watching the men gather their weapons and in groups left the training grounds. Haelros stood beside him, his eyes trained on the young boy who had trained with them for the past three months.

" That much is certain though I cannot imagine your need to point it out" Haelros responded, he looked to his captain silently demanding he get to the point.

" You grow too close to the woman Haelros, I worry it may infringe on…your duties" said Feran. At this Haelros scoffed coldly, his face blank as he spoke.

" You are seeing things that are not there mellon, besides you said so yourself, didn't you? We will depart from Dale for what would most likely be the last time"

" If she were to find out, what then would become this friendship you keep with her? " Feran did not miss it, Haelros flinched at the question though it had been very subtle but Feran had caught it.

" What would it matter when she is mortal, she will fade forever from this world in a short time" Haelros said to Feran before leaving. Feran frowned at the response. It was true that the world of men was a short-looped cycle which was why unnecessary contact with them is prohibited by the laws of their kingdom and had Feran not seen his reaction, he would've believed his friend's words.

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Giggles erupted in the air, as three young women played around the small meadow. Leanna and the girls had snuck away to have a little girls time. She settled down on the cloth spread out with snacks and drinks stolen from the kitchens. It was thrilling to do this once again. Once upon a time both she and Gil would sneak out on their days of training to the forest grounds with food and bottles of wine.

"Leya, is something wrong?" Sigrid asked as the girls finally settled down.

"Hm, no I'm perfect why?" Leanna smiled looking at the girls softly. They both looked at each other.

"Well we know the tournament is the day after tomorrow"

"Yes, yes it is"

"And then we get to see the elf King again!" Tilda squealed excitedly and though Leanna understood her enthusiasm, she could not share in it. "Oh come off it Tilda, he probably won't want to see us as much you do" Sigrid scoffed and sat down.

"Plus everyone knows its Leya he's interested in". At this Leanna arched her brow.

"Oh? And how did you come to this…interesting theory?" Leanna folded her arms and looked at Sigrid who smirked.

"Well the maids at the halls said so, they say the last time he came visiting he wouldn't stop staring at you"

"Well, I don't exactly look like most people in your world and he did see me use magic. I'm sure he was just curious about my magic and nothing more" Leanna smiled, she personally did not enjoy unnecessary attention which she received daily. But it would be nothing compared to the scrutiny The Elven King had placed on her.

"No one would believe us anyway if we told them you weren't from around here"

"And I would rather it remained a secret"

"Da says after you and him beat the dragon and fought in the battle, you won't have to use magic anymore" Tilda said.

"I hope so too Tilda" Leanna responded.

"But how do you do it though?" Sigrid leaned forward with a spark of curiosity in her eyes. Leanna let out a giggle as both girls waited eagerly for her like excited puppies.

"Well when Alvara taught me how to wield magic, he told me that magic existed in all life but in different strengths. Most of my magic is drawn from the life around me and because I am of royal blood I am able to do it"

"Wow, I wish I could use magic" Tilda said pouting. Leanna touched her cheek softly and smiled softly.

"You don't need magic to be strong or to live meaningfully, you're special enough already, the both of you" Leanna looked straight at Sigrid who bashfully looked away. Sigrid stilled with a look of fear and Leanna followed her line of sight to find the elf she had become acquainted with recently standing not too far off.

Leanna frowned as she watched Haelros bow in greeting. She had wondered how she had not heard him approach at all, but her greatest concern was how long he had been standing there and how much he had heard. Rising up from her spot, she waved at the girls to pack up immediately, it was time to return.

"Leanna…good day to you"

"Hael" Leanna greeted in return. They walked together while the girls walked in front, peeping back every now and then to make sure she was alright and each time she smiled to ease their worries.

"What were you doing here?" Leanna asked him, she had decided to ask him directly.

"I was patrolling the perimeter when I came across your little setup" Haelros said as they walked.

"Did you…did you hear anything?" Leanna asked tensely. She knew elves had sharp hearing and could pick the slightest sounds, she knew this yet she wanted to hope there was nothing to worry about.

"You mean if I heard what your discussions were about?" Haelros asked looking ahead to watch the girls walk up the higher levels of the city.

"Whatever you may have heard might be misunderstood for-" Haelros stopped and looked at the woman before him. His face concealed the turmoil he felt within while it remained blank.

"Is it true? The things you said to them?" Haelros looked at her sharply, he would not pretend to lie for her sake and there were already enough pretenses in their friendship. Leanna felt fear grip her heart and tried to remain calm whilst she looked for a sensible explanation to give.

"Is it true that you are of royal blood?" Haelros asked her, he folded his arms and waited for whatever explanation she intended to conjure up. Leanna breathed out and answered.

"Yes…I am"

"There has never been a mortal of royal blood who could wield magic, let alone one as strong as yours" Leanna looked down, it was clear he did not believe her story.

She clenched her teeth and thought of what could she reveal. Haelros watched her and he could see the wheels turning in her mind.

"If you are indeed of royal blood, why are you here and not in your kingdom?" Haerlos questioned, his eyes narrowed at her. It was clear enough this woman was hiding something. Leanna swallowed.

"I can't… I can't ever return back there again even if I tried… this is my home now" Leanna looked at the elf standing in front of her.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean even if I wanted to, I can't go back!" Leanna cried out to the confused elf. Haelros did not understand what she was telling him, why was she unable to return home, had she committed some grievous crime to make her leave? Or perhaps was her magic the cause of this? Either way she was surrounded by secrets.

"One wonders how one of noble blood would be cast out of their own kingdom…Perhaps the people of Rohan are more ruthless in their ways than I thought" Leanna did not deny or confirm his words and merely remained silent. Haelros began to walk away but Leanna grabbed his arm stopping his movements.

"Please...Hael" Leanna whispered and Haelros frowned at the look in her eyes, it was fear. What was she so afraid of? Haelros thought as he stared at her, he sighed.

"Your secret is yours to keep and to give away my lady" the elf said as he walked away from her, catching the whisper escaping her lips.

"Thank you"

It was evening and Haelros walked up to his room, the words Feran uttered earlier in the training field echoed in his mind. As he sat on his desk, he scribbled away on a fresh parchment, his mind drifting to the woman in his thoughts.

Leanna even for elven standard would be considered very beautiful and he wondered if she was aware of the way she affected people around her, namely the men. Whatever he thought of her did not change what he had discovered today.

He knew of the kingdoms amongst the Edain, Gondor did not have any ruling monarchs currently in power which left Rohan. However, the only blood relatives of the ruling King of Rohan were Prince Theoden and his sister Ellarwyn, none of which had magical power of any sort.

The tip of his quill ceased and a blotch of ink fell on the paper. She was not from Rohan, she couldn't be, he finally surmised. Lady Leanna of Dale was a strange woman he had been tasked to unravel and while he had had no hindrances so far, he found it harder to fulfill his current tasks.

Who are you, Lady Leanna?