A/N: One Song at a Time is a series of one-shots that are companion to Weaving a Song. Though its not necessarily required to read that one first, and no give aways will happen here until after it has happened in the other, it would be confusing to anyone who hasn't read the other. Therefore, I HIGHLY recommend reading the other first. However, there will be chapters, especially at first, that you can read without a problem. These one-shots are stories I could not put into the other due to plot, and will function as an epilogue afterword. Since they are one-shots, the chapters will be longer than in the actual story where I keep chapters from 1000-2000 words to the best of my ability.

Weaving a Song

One Song at a Time

The Prince, The Lady, and The Peasant

c.2000 TA - Mirkwood

Legolas Greenleaf, Crown Prince of Mirkwood, was nervous. He had no reason to be. He was at a simple dance, a simple feast, one of many in fact, and he had already consumed a rather large amount of wine. Not that it had affected him much. His father and mother sat beside him. Thranduil seemed not to be paying him any attention, but his mother kept throwing him amused glances when he was not looking. At least Oiolairë seemed to know what was going on.

Legolas sure did not.

His mother, however, had seen the glances he had been throwing Lady Raina whenever she came near. She had seen the rather covert peeks he gave the girl at feasts. She even noticed that he seemed to go out of his way not to dance with the girl, for every time he went up to her and thought about asking her, he would walk past her and ask another. Raina seemed amused by this, and Oiolairë only hoped she was not that offended.

So it was that it was another dance, another feast, and Legolas seemed to be contemplating whether to ask the Lady for a dance. He downed the rest of the wine in his glass and stood. The Queen, however, became quite amused as a different elleth came up to him and asked him for a dance. Quite untraditional, but Legolas being as courteous as he was could not refuse. Oiolairë then turned to the musicians and mouthed a dance at them as she nudged Thranduil to dance with her. For she had seen, though Legolas had not, that Lady Raina had been asked by another dancing partner.

When the musicians started to play, the elleth who had asked Legolas seemed rather disappointed. In this particular dance, the men exchanged partners every couple lines and many did not end up with the same partner they started with. The king and queen watched their son dance out of the corner of their eyes as they themselves danced, all three of them ending up with an assortment of partners. Thranduil, having been informed of what was going on by his ever faithful wife, was hoping Lady Raina would end up with Legolas.

However, as the song came to a close, he noticed the elleth who had started the dance with Legolas eyeing her way back to the Prince, he decided he would interfere. Oiolairë had noted that, similarly, there was a young ellon eyeing Lady Raina and hoped to dance with her. Oiolairë knew full well no one would ever reject a dance with their queen so when the time came she decided she would be in his way.

Legolas was simply leading the elleth he was dancing with at the time around, quite obliviously, as Lady Raina seemed. The music told them to switch so he smiled at the elleth and passed her off and turned to find Raina in his arms and a disgruntled elleth and ellon in the King and Queen's arms respectively. The King and Queen eyed each other triumphantly, though no one else quite knew what had happened, but Legolas and the Lady seemed quite happy while the dance finished.

"Will you stay with me for one more dance?" Legolas asked, somehow forcing the words out of his mouth. Lady Raina smiled.

"Of course, My Prince."

Legolas smiled softly, "Please, Legolas, no titles at dances." The next dance started, quite the tango as the Queen had not been entirely idle during this time, and Legolas guided her well.

"So what about when we are not at dances, would you prefer My Lord, Your Highness, Lord Legolas, Prince Legolas, or perhaps Prince Thranduilion?" Lady Raina teased.

"Well, I suppose Lord Legolas Thranduilion, Crown Prince of Mirkwood would do."

The elleth laughed. "Oh my, I will be avoiding saying your name from now on. With that mouthful is a bit of arrogance, don't you think?"

"Oh no, I merely like all my bases to be covered in case my father accuses me of any breach in etiquette." Legolas said laughing along.

"In that case, if we are not dancing, you may only call me Lady Raina Pirindëiel, Heir to the Highest Councilmen of Mirkwood."

"Oh dear, I think I shall avoid saying your name as well." Legolas said. "Though perhaps, every time we see each other we can just start dancing so that such titles will not be necessary."

"I would like to see how that works at the next court trial."

Legolas grinned. "I will look forward to it."

The dance came to an end and both glanced at each other. Then Legolas inclined his head, and Raina curtsied. "Until we dance in court." He said. The Lady grinned as well.

"Indeed, Lord Legolas Thranduilion, Crown Prince of Mirkwood." The corner of Legolas' mouth raised. The Lady was then taken by some new partner, and Legolas turned to find the elleth who had asked him the last time standing conveniently behind him. Luckily, his mother seemed to appear out of nowhere and curtsied in front of him. Legolas smiled at her, holding out his hand for her.

"Where did you leave Ada?"

"Oh, he's probably going to get wine." Oiolairë said. "There's no one he cares to dance with beside me, but I told him I wanted to dance with my son and he seemed annoyed."

"I will give you back if he insists next time."

Oiolairë laughed. "As if you need to, I do think he has danced with me enough times to last a decade at least."

"Yes, but he is a rather insistent King."

"That he is, but maybe I shall find him a new partner someday soon… just for dances. Any other time… he is most definitely mine." Legolas laughed as well, spinning his mother out and pulling her back in.

What neither of them knew exactly was that, in just twenty years time, there would be a new partner for Thranduil, an innocent little Princess, named Almiel.

It was a few weeks later when the next court trial took place. Legolas smiled at Lady Raina, who stood next to her father who was the leader of the Council. Thranduil relied on him quite heavily, and Legolas and Raina had known each other practically since birth. The Lady smiled back before glancing around and then swaying in place, mouthing "Legolas" at him.

He made sure no one was looking at him, especially his father, and he grinned at her. He swayed a tiny bit and then mouthed her name back at her. She nodded at him after that and then continued to pay attention to the court trial. Little did either of them know, the Queen had seen all of it.

After the court trial was over, Legolas approached Lady Raina who smiled at him. "How fare you today?" Legolas asked her.

"Well, though I was distracted during the trial, someone was dancing during the middle of it."

"Strange, I thought the same." Legolas said. The Lady smiled at him.

"So, how does My… you fare today?" She said, decided against having to say his entire title.

"Better now that the trial is over." Legolas said.

"Court really does weigh on you, does it not?"

"Yes," Legolas agreed.

"Strange for the King to have an only child who detests court and would much rather be flying through the trees shooting arrows." She teased.

Legolas grinned apologetically. "Well… I am more a warrior than a Prince. I have told my father that on many occasions."

"Indeed he has," Thranduil said walking up to them. Lady Raina curtsied quickly toward him, but he stopped her. "That is not necessary in private. Our families have known each other too long."

She smiled at Legolas. "Perhaps you are more like your father than you give yourself credit for. Both of you have given me permission to be lazy at different times. You at dances, and your father in private." Legolas blushed slightly while Thranduil laughed.

"Such is the life of Kings and Princes, we cannot always be formal." He said. "Anyway, your mothers have collaborated quite viciously, and both I and your father have been informed to inform you both that our families will be eating together at the Palace tonight. It seems none of us have a choice in the matter." The two heirs laughed at gesture.

"Well, it seems I must go home to prepare to eat at the Palace." The elleth said. "I will see you both later." She made to curtsy, but Thranduil held up a finger to her to stop her. "Ah yes, of course My King." She said nodding at him. He smiled warmly at her, and then she turned to Legolas. "Ah… well, good-day to you." She said winking. Legolas smiled.

"To you as well." He said.

Thranduil waited until she left before turning to his son. "Why in the world do you never say each other's names anymore?"

Legolas grinned. "That, O King, is a very long story." Thranduil raised an eyebrow and Legolas only laughed.

Dinner that night found the two families quite content, and also quite full. Thranduil and Oiolairë both noticed that their son's eyes never left the Lady Raina's. I hope he moves faster than you did, my dear. The Queen said to a now slightly embarrassed King.

My love, I do believe it was you who never responded to my prompting.

I do believe I did, you just never saw it, you blind thing.

(aggrieved silence)

Never worry, you have me now… you just probably could have had me sooner.

Thank you my dearest love, but what is this I hear about finding me a dancing partner?

I do believe I said that to your son, and it is only for those times when I want to dance with my son.

Oh? And who do I get to dance with? We have no family here, nor any close enough female friends for it to be appropriate for me to dance with. I suppose I could invite Celebrian or Galadriel to every single dance we have.

Perhaps there will soon be a new princess.

Only if Legolas is not anything like me.

Your right… I suppose you will remain partnerless.

Once again… I thank you My Love.

Always. She replied.

It turned out Legolas was exactly like his father. Though he did begin seeing more and more of the Lady, he said nothing to her of courting or marriage. Not until ten years later.

"My, my," Lady Raina tisked at him. "You are a poor excuse for a Prince. Cannot even remember your circlet for formal occasions." She said. They were about to attend her younger brother's wedding. Though he and his wife, by tradition, were already married, Mirkwood usually threw celebrations to celebrate this union. By the standards of Men, this was the closest they ever had to a true wedding. Lady Raina had showed up to the Palace early. As a Councilmen, her father was close enough to the King for Thranduil to be able to let his celebration be in the Palace.

"That's why you are here." Legolas said. "And why I asked you to accompany me tonight. I have too much to remember, and you certainly help remind me."

"At least I am useful for something." Lady Raina said. "Come, it is starting."

After the celebration, there was, of course, a feast and dance. Everything was well and as they were dancing, Legolas finally grew bolder than he normally was. "So, have you ever thought about marriage yourself?" He asked.

"What elleth has not?" Raina replied. "But we all know we have to wait for the one we are meant for, and so wait I shall."

"When will you know?" Legolas asked.

"I know not." The Lady said, and Legolas dropped the subject there. During the same dance that he had first danced with her so long ago, the ellon who had been turned aside by the Queen before managed to dance with Raina for quite a long stretch of time. Legolas did not notice at first, but when she never returned to him for that song or the next, he did.

He found her and when she saw him, she immediately apologized to the ellon and returned to him. "Who was he?" Legolas asked curiously, somewhat jealous.

"An ellon I have known for a little while. He is no noble in situation, but he is kind and gentle, and has a noble heart at the least. He simply wanted to catch up with me. I am sorry."

"No need to apologize." Legolas said. "I only wondered where you went."

"Yes well, here I am." She said smiling.

Legolas, however, had a sinking feeling in his chest.

It was the next week that he found, to his surprise, Lady Raina sitting on the bank of the river near the Palace. "Whatever are you doing here?"

"Legolas!" She said standing quickly, as she had been surprised.

"Raina!" Legolas yelled back and then they both smiled. "I am sorry to have bothered you." He said softly.

"It is no worry, I am fine. I actually wanted to talk to you." The Lady Raina said.

"Indeed?" Legolas inquired.

"Yes," Raina said. "I have been thinking… about what you said at the dance." Legolas' chest began pounding.

"Yes?"

"Is it possible that… that you are thinking of courting me?" She asked, blunter than he was expecting.

"Well…" Legolas started.

"Oh Legolas! I am so sorry, I thought…" She started. She bit her lip and then continued. "I thought that might be the case after the dance but I was not sure… so I kept my peace. But yesterday, you know the ellon who danced with me?" Legolas nodded, already knowing where this was going, after all, he was not a Prince for absolutely nothing. "Well, we spoke yesterday and… well, we are courting now. I personally think that, well, that he is the one I am meant for, and I would not find it incredulous that we would be married within the decade." Legolas stared at her for a minute before he sighed.

"Well… I suppose I cannot begrudge you that. I swear if he ever mistreats you I am going to personally beat him up."

"That is good but unnecessary." Raina replied. "I am truly sorry Legolas."

He sighed, "One cannot always prevent such things. I will leave you to your thoughts." He said, inclining his head toward her. "I wish you well."

"Legolas," He turned back toward her, one brow raised. "I do hope you find someone of your own."

"Someday," Legolas said before turning again and leaving.

"What do you mean she already has someone?" His mother asked incredulously. Thranduil just sat there silently, trying hard not to look amused. His experience as King helped him greatly.

"I mean exactly as I say." Legolas said, looking sad but unwilling to be angry. The three of them sat in the family room, where a small fire blazed in the fireplace.

The Elvenking sighed. His arm around Oiolairë, who still appeared disbelieving, his fingers stroked the Queen's arm gently. "I suppose I shall live a little longer without grandchildren. I was really hoping you would marry soon, but I guess even a King cannot always get what he wants." Legolas blinked at his father's words, but then Thranduil winked at him. Legolas sighed.

"Don't do that to me."

Thranduil laughed. "Well, look on the bright side, if you ever do have kids, this will be a story to tell. How the Crown Prince got rejected for a mere peasant."

Legolas growled, which only made his parents laugh harder. "Why do I get the feeling you will never let this go?"

Thranduil became quite serious, and raised one eyebrow. He then answered, in a most matter-of-fact way. "Because I won't."

A/N: It was Aranel Mereneth that wanted this scene expanded. :)