Two months of secret preparation passed with little upheaval to the kingdom. I did everything Adar asked, honestly attempted to please him, though Eru only knows if I succeeded.

Rosseth and I swapped covert smirks behind my parents' backs, and when I wasn't tolerating Adar's pathetic councilors, I could be found in the training field, voluntelling experts of various weaponry to bestow their wisdom upon me. Whenever said experts didn't have direct orders from Adar, I also voluntold them to aid me in practicing. Thus, I received my first formal training with a sword.

If I hadn't been confident that skill would be necessary in the Silven Games, I would've thrown the damn piece of metal at the annoyingly-patient ellon and stomped away like an elfling. I did improve though, and all my shirts started getting tighter around the shoulders and chest. I didn't mind, though. I liked how Rosseth paused to look whenever she thought I wouldn't notice.

Everything had gone smoothly and according to plan so far...except, the day before the Games started, I still didn't have a clue how I'd slip out for two or more days.

I paced the length of a back servants' hall, wearing my plainest shirt and trousers under my normal outer robes. Rosseth was supposed to meet me here half an hour ago, and my imagination ran wild with mortifying possibilities. Had she confessed every plot and scheme to my furious parents? Adar might just lock me in the dungeons for this...

"Sorry I took so long," came a familiar whisper as Rosseth swept around the corner, glancing over her shoulder. "Queen Laegeth asked me to do a few more chores before I left, since I'll be gone for a few days."

She told Naneth she'd be attending a traditional family gathering—which was absolutely true.

With a wicked grin, Rosseth patted her pocket and added, "And I got the supplies I need for your hair. Worry not, you'll be unrecognizable."

I folded my arms uncomfortably. "Rosseth...I don't know how I'm going to escape. I mean, without straight out running away. Which I'm not entirely opposed to, I'm just...not prepared to take such extreme measures."

Rosseth's grin widened. "Well then you are very fortunate to have me—I found a way out." She reached into another pocket and pulled out a folded paper. "The Queen asked me to deliver this to you before I leave." She handed it over.

I unfolded the paper and began to read the handwritten note.

Prince Thranduil,

I am Himdir, head of the Woodland Realm's wilderness provision team. I understand you've taken an interest in hunting recently, and I would like to personally invite you to join our team for a full day of hunting and gathering. If this letter has reached you, the King and Queen have given their approval.

Should you choose to join us, we will convene at the north gate before dawn, the day after tomorrow. Fear not for your safety, as you will be in the best of company.

With best regards, Himdir

I frowned and slowly refolded the note, shaking my head. "It's a good idea, but I don't see how we'd pull it off."

"Isn't it obvious?" She snatched the paper back and held it close, skimming the lines of writing. "It's a simple case of 'I thought he was with you'."

Shaking my head, I moved closer and wriggled a hand between her nose and the letter. "That doesn't work, see? Day after tomorrow. We have to leave today."

Rosseth gestured at the paper. "But it's a legitimate reason to leave. We just need a reason to stretch it out a bit on either end."

She had a point. "But how? Adar scarcely lets me out for an afternoon hunt—I can hardly believe he approved of this...nonetheless an indefinite leave of absence."

"He didn't," Rosseth replied with a smug grin. "Your naneth, being the kind, loving elleth that she is, handed me this the moment she read it."

That was...not a good idea. I could only imagine what Adar would have to say when he found out. "But why?"

"Because she's concerned about you." Rosseth folded the note and crossed her arms loosely about her chest. "She knows you need to get out more."

I didn't want to consider the fallout of what I was about to do. It would be big. But I wanted to compete in the Silven Games too badly to care. "So how do we do this?"

Rosseth's wicked grin returned. "Talk to your Naneth. Just tell her you want to go early to calm your feä, or something. If the Games go longer than expected, well, unexpected things happen. Just make something up."

I arched an eyebrow at her and clucked my tongue in mock disapproval, but inwardly, I was impressed...and eager to take her advice. "Rosseth, you evil little elleth, are you suggesting I lie to my loving Naneth?"

She blanched. "I...um...yes?"

Clapping a hand over my mouth so I wouldn't burst into attention-drawing laughter, I snickered through my nose. Her perplexed expression only made it harder to regain my composure. "Oh Rosseth...you are an elleth after my own heart. Meaning you are a genius."

She rolled her eyes and lightly smacked my arm. "I thought I'd spend the next decade rotting in a dungeon cell."

I gasped over-dramatically. "What would I ever do without my partner in crime?"

"Hmm, you'd sit in a council room every day and become old and boring. And sprout an ugly beard like Cìrden." She grabbed the tail of her pulled-back hair and held it up to her chin. "'Hello, I know I look like a mortal, but my name is Thranduil Cìrdenion.'"

At that, I did laugh—loud.

We both jumped and looked around guiltily. No one seemed to be in the vicinity, but these many corridors could be deceptive. Rosseth grabbed my hand and took off running, pulling me along. I let her guide me around to another back corridor—this one almost abandoned-looking.

Breathing a little heavier, we listened for footsteps, voices, anything to indicate we were about to be caught. But all I heard was her, standing tucked close to my side, still holding my hand. I met her gaze, and she stared up at me, eyebrows creeping up her brow as her eyes widened with innocence.

I cleared my throat. "I'll go talk to my naneth. Shall we meet up in the courtyard?"

Rosseth nodded jerkily. "Yes, I'll gather the rest of my things." She slipped her hand from mine and strode away, chin tucked to her chest.

As I meandered back to the royal wing, my thoughts kept straying back to Rosseth. I was grateful to have such a loyal undercover ally, and I desperately hoped that, when this was all over, she wouldn't be caught up in the aftermath.

With a shred of fortune, the only aftermath I needed to worry about was being gone for an unknown number of days. Adar would be livid...but he would know only a fraction of my wrongdoing.

That thought was remarkably satisfying.

Drawing closer to Adar and Naneth's room, I began plotting an angle...a convincing reason I needed to escape a day and a half earlier than planned. Outside her door, I paused, rehearsed the act in my mind, then knocked.

"Come in."

I pushed the door open and stalked in, raking my fingers through my hair. Naneth sat propped up in bed with a book, and she looked up at me with a concerned expression. "What's wrong, Thranduil?"

I began pacing, keeping up this act of pent-up stress. "I have to leave...I can't handle this anymore. Staring at the same four walls for hours on end...I can't be the Prince you and Adar need me to be. I'm going mad." Not the first hint of a lie there, except I wasn't presently panicking.

"Thranduil," Naneth started in a pacifying tone, but I cut her off.

"Maybe I should return to Lindon. Surely I can blend in, become a nobody and just live a free life."

"Thranduil." She took a slightly sharper tone. "Listen to me, ion. Your adar and I...we've lost many freedoms also."

I scoffed. "You're the Queen now. You tell everyone to do things. But I can't really tell anyone to do anything, not with Adar's orders superseding mine. And I still have both of you always ordering me around, telling me what I can and can't be." I scuffed my boot toe along the stone floor.

Naneth sighed and ran her fingertips over the elegant bedspread. "When I was pregnant with you, I had a garden that I tended. I had to...we ate what I grew, because we weren't wealthy. I had friends that I would go visit, big round belly and all. Now that I'm a Queen, and I can tell everyone what to do...I have to hide in my room, wait for the elfling to be born and strengthen before it's safe for me to mingle again."

"You mean too much risk according to Adar." I itched to make my escape, but I had to lead her into agreement. Which, sadly, ate up the moments I wished could be spent running pell-mell to the Silven Games.

Naneth met my gaze. "What matters is that your adar is taking care of me as best he knows how. No person is perfect, Thranduil."

"Which brings us back to the matter at hand." I crossed my arms. "I can't be perfect. I have to leave."

She shook her head. "What I'm trying to say is that we came here for a reason. The world grows dark—evil can lurk in any person without them even knowing it, and manifest itself in the worst of ways at the worst of times. Here, in the Woodland Realm, we've found a haven. We sacrifice our freedoms to allow many, many others the safety of living in a functional kingdom. If you were to leave...I would fear for you."

I ran my fingers through my hair, genuinely anxious this time. If I pushed too hard and she told me not to leave at all, Adar would probably devise some sort of torture for my inevitable disobedience.

"What about the letter I delivered you through Rosseth? You read that, yes?"

Valar be praised, this might work. "Yes...I just wish it would be sooner. I'm already on the verge of hurling myself from the top of a tall tree."

She flashed a disapproving scowl at my halfhearted jest. "Perhaps you can leave sometime tomorrow, and spend a bit of time alone before the hunt?"

Yes. "I might just leave now," I pretended to muse aloud.

Naneth hesitated, but nodded slowly. "You must promise me, though—promise that you'll remain in the Woodland Realm. I know you're adventurous and eager to escape, but Thranduil, this is a good home."

I sighed and nodded, careful not to give away how happy I was that she'd made the suggestion rather than me. "I promise. How long before you tell Adar I'm gone?"

She frowned. "I'm not keeping any secrets, Oropherion. If he hasn't noticed your absence by dinnertime, I'll tell him then."

A few hours. Not terribly long to hide myself. But of all the places he could search for me, Rosseth's family wasn't too obvious...was it? "Thank you Naneth." I went over to her and left a kiss on her forehead. "When I return, I'll do my very best to be what you want me to be."

Naneth laid a hand on my shoulder. "You are, Thranduil. I love you dearly, precisely the way you are. You just need to mature some more."

I flushed a little, unsure what to say.

She smiled and let me go. "Run along, then. Have a good trip."

Yes! It took a great deal of effort not to bolt for the door. I nodded and strode out of the room, shutting the door behind me. Heading down the stairs, I walked as fast as I could without breaking into a jog.

As I walked, I plotted. If I only had a few hours before Adar possibly came looking for me, the fewer of those hours I spent walking with Rosseth, the better. That meant a short detour to the stable...a worthwhile investment of time. I'd originally planned to simply walk with her, if nothing else to prove that I could. But that could wait.

I finally made it out to the courtyard, where I spotted Rosseth loitering near the outer gate, a single spot of stillness amongst the elves bustling around the open space. I sped up, dodging clusters of people, a smile of freedom stretching across my face. She turned and smiled at me...

"Prince Thranduil?" An ellon stepped out of seemingly nowhere and partially into my path, forcing me to either stop or walk around him. Not a chance of pretending I hadn't heard or seen him.

I sighed and pulled a calm, cool smile to my face. "Yes?"

He extended his hand. "I am Himdir. Did you receive my letter?"

I froze. How far did my web of lies extend? What should I say? "I did," I answered smoothly. I paused to wrack my brain for what to say, but I couldn't think about it for too long. "In fact, I was just on my way to—"

A bloodcurdling scream cut me off.

Rosseth.

She dropped her satchel and batted at the air frantically, the other hand covering her head.

I ran to her and gripped her by the shoulders, pulling her away from...whatever it was. "Rosseth? What's wrong?"

"A bee," she shrieked. Thrashing her hand even more, she lowered her voice and muttered, "You're stuck in meetings, dawn to dusk, every day."

Oh...what a foolish mistake. I retrieved her satchel and handed it back, keeping an appropriate distance between us. "Take comfort, the bee is gone. Where did it sting you?"

"It didn't," she sobbed loudly, clutching the strap and covering her eyes. "It just attacked me and left...I don't understand..."

"Is all well?" Himdir approached us, hands clasped behind his back.

"Yes." I patted Rosseth's shoulder and stepped back. "I'm afraid my naneth's maid is desperately frightened of bees. Traumatizing experience as an elfling, if I understand correctly."

Rosseth nodded miserably.

I continued. "As I was saying, Himdir, I'm just on my way to a meeting...the first of many in the next few days, I'm afraid. As heir apparent, I am obligated to attend every one."

Himdir bowed his head. "I deeply respect your dedication to your responsibilities, Prince Thranduil. Should you ever run across a few spare hours and wish to hunt in a group, do let me know."

Guilt stung my conscience, but my wild heart rejoiced. "Thank you Himdir. I will remember that."

With a tight smile, he bowed from the waist, then turned and walked away. When I was sure he wouldn't peek back, I snagged Rosseth's hand and pulled her toward the stable.

"Where are we going?" she hissed.

"Stables," I murmured, lengthening my stride before anyone else got chatty.

Rosseth broke into a run to keep up, tightening her grip on my hand. "We could just walk...unless your royal legs can't handle it." The tease saturated her tone.

I sent her a nonplussed frown. "My legs can handle it just fine. But I don't want word going around that I'm walking places with an elleth."

Her shoulders sank a little, and she watched the ground in front of her feet. "Of course. I just...well, I'd hoped we could stop before arrival to darken your hair. I don't know how much my family would approve of...what we're doing. And Rirosdir would literally swoon if he knew it was you he was meeting...nonetheless fighting with. I don't think my family could handle his boasting."

We made it to the barn, and Rosseth went in to see if anyone was inside. A moment later, she motioned me inside.

Our only company was the horses, who watched us with ears forward. I led Rosseth down the aisle to Barien's stall. Working together, we got Barien brushed, saddled, and bridled. As I led the horse out, Rosseth pulled a plain brown cloak out of her satchel. "Put this on. You'll be less recognizable with your hair covered."

Admittedly, that was some good forethought on her part. I followed her suggestion, pulling the hood up to cover my beacon-like hair. When she gave a nod of approval, we ventured back outdoors. I swung up into the saddle, then held a hand out to Rosseth. "Take my wrist."

She followed my instruction, grabbing my wrist and I grabbed hers, pulling her up behind me. She settled in behind me and rested her hands on my waist, so lightly that I couldn't even feel it through the thick cloak.

I guided Barien along the less-populated streets and slipped out one of the side gates. Glancing back at my passenger, I said, "Which way?"

She pointed, and I dug my heels into Barien's sides. The fiery mare launched into a full gallop. Rosseth squeaked and threw her arms around my waist, clutching her body tight to my back.

I couldn't help my grin of exhilaration. This was freedom.

After a few minutes, as the homesteads became fewer and farther between, I reined Barien in to a relaxed canter. Rosseth's hold on me loosened, and we shared a comfortable, companionable silence.

Time passed—whether hours or mere minutes, I didn't bother to keep track. But finally, many miles later and well into the sparser area of the southern forest, Rosseth lifted her head. "Hmm, let's stop by that river. We're almost to my parents' home, and we'll need water to color your hair properly."

I guided Barien over to the river, and the mare willingly plodded toward the water. "How are we going to darken my hair? The idea is brilliant, but it seems a bit abstract."

"I learned it from a trader passing through. He told me I'd look much better if my hair were pure black instead of this dull brown, and he told me how to do it."

When Barien stopped at the bank and plunged her nose into the stream, I swung a leg over her neck and slid down. As I helped Rosseth down, I checked to see if her hair was indeed a dull brown. Brown, yes. Dull, no.

She went fishing through her satchel and began pulling out various wrapped items, and a glass jar of something dark and goopy. "The sooner we can finish this, the better. We'll need a full night's rest before the Games, and we'll have to get up before sunrise to have your and Rirosdir's hair ready before leaving for the Games. So if you would, please start a small campfire?"

A surprised smile stretched across my face. "Anything to be helpful," I teased, bending down to snag some fallen sticks and small branches.

Rosseth glanced back, as though just realizing she'd ordered a prince to start a fire for her. "Sorry," she said with a soft laugh, cheeks tinging pink.

I shook my head, grinning. "No need to apologize."

Before long, I'd started a small campfire, and Rosseth nestled a small iron pot, filled halfway with water, into the embers. Then she began unwrapping various ingredients of concerning variety, dropping them in, and alternately crushing and stirring. The water darkened to the color of pitch, and thickened to a heavy liquid.

I watched with growing anxiety. "Are you sure you're doing this right?"

She flashed me a frown. "Do you want to compete like a normal person, or like a prince?"

"Like a normal person." I sighed and dropped my chin into my palm.

"Good." Rosseth lifted a spoonful of the disturbing mixture and sniffed at it delicately. She couldn't quite mask her cringe. "Would you please fetch the comb from my satchel?"

I went through her collection of things until I found a simple wood comb. "Here." I handed it to her.

She frowned and glanced between the pot and me. "Okay...take off whatever you don't want stained black. Though, if you aren't attached to that tunic, it might be wise to keep it on. This might stain your skin, too."

With an increasingly bad feeling, I took off the borrowed cloak and my nicer outer robe, leaving me in my worn tunic and leggings. Per Rosseth's direction, I sat down in front of her so that she faced my back. After a short hesitation, I felt her working with my hair and heard her combing the heavy goop into my long locks.

"How does it look?" I asked, uneasy.

"Terrible," she answered, sounding entirely unconcerned. "But I'm not done yet."

I rubbed my forehead, trying to work some of the tension from those muscles. "If I have to shave my head as a result of this, it's your responsibility to find me a believable wig."

She snickered. "Calm down, Thranduil, it's not going to be that bad."

Grunting in disbelief, I closed my eyes. After a few minutes, she shifted around, coming in front of me and combing the goop into the hair at my scalp. Once completing that, she began just combing my hair—combing out all excess coloring, she explained. As she did, my hair grew lighter and began to dry. She continued to comb, even as some of the clumps began sticking together. Rosseth patiently separated every strand, and after a while, my hair was mostly dry. A little sticky to the touch, but not bad.

"How does it look now?" I asked, studying the ends of what little I could see.

She studied it for a moment. "Not as good as your normal color. But it isn't terribly obvious that it isn't natural. So as long as it doesn't get soaked, we have nothing to worry about."

I only ever got soaked in my bathing chambers, and those were a long way from here. Nodding my approval, I said, "In that case, excellent job."

Rosseth grinned and shrugged off the compliment. "Come on, help me clean up so we can get home."