Hi! I have decided that whenever I want a break in the story, I'll ask a random question about Middle Earth. I've found that it spices up my incredibly boring days.

-Do elves burp?-

"You're name is Legolas?" Adlanniel exclaimed with surprise. "Like, the prince?"

Legolas suddenly stopped. His grip on her wrists loosened and Adlanniel pulled her hands away from his grasp. She felt wary of this elf. She had only just met him and he had already invited her to stay with his family.

"At least find out what my name is! I barely know you and now you are dragging me to a place I have never been before!"

Legolas' eyes widened with surprise and realization. He turned to Adlanniel. "Forgive me, my lady. Would it be too late for me to ask what your name is?"

"Adlanniel. My name is Adlanniel. But how do you expect me to follow you home? Like I just said, I have only just met you. I am alone now. Everyone who was close to me is gone now! You cannot simply expect me to walk into your house and trust you as if I have known you since we were elflings!"

Adlanniel secretly trusted them. There was something about them that made her feel safe around them. She knew that Gimli and Legolas were being kind to her because everything she ever had was gone now, but she was alone to tend to herself. She had to be more wary of those around her.

"Lady Adlanniel….I know things have been going by extremely quickly for you. I cannot imagine what you must be going through right now, but I would like to help you. Yes, I am Legolas, son of our king, King Thranduil. However—

"The prince?"

"Yes. However, I would just like you to know me as the elf who you met in the forest. I want do everything I can do to help you. These next few days will be hard for you, and anyways, there is nowhere else you can go. You said so yourself. It is your choice though. Would you like to come with me?" Legolas held out his hand. He had a kind smile on his face. His smile was hard to resist. His honesty shined through eyes. Adlanniel placed her hand in his and they walked out of the forest at a more reasonable pace.

-At around what age are hobbits allowed to start drinking ale?-

By the time they reached the gates of the palace two days later, Legolas and Adlanniel were bickering over which weapon was better: swords or bows. Legolas favored bows, where as Adlanniel favored swords.

"I'm telling you! Nothing can beat a sword!" Adlanniel exclaimed, her voice echoing through the trees, causing birds to fly away all around them.

"I beg to differ!" the prince exclaimed. He paused for a moment. "Bows are much more sophisticated than swords"

"No."

"Yes."

"My lord!" The guards from the gate quickly walked up to their prince and bowed. "We were not expecting you. We would be honored to escort you to your father, however King Thranduil told us to permit anyone unfamiliar from entering."

"Let them in. I shall talk to my father once you have escorted us to him," Legolas said in his most regal voice. Adlanniel stared at him in awe. Her emerald green eyes showed admiration and shock.

The guard led them through twisting open hallways that revealed a picturesque view of the land the king ruled that was once called Mirkwood. Vines curled around beams that were covered with intricate carvings. Flowers hung from the ceiling of the hallways. The guard knocked on a door before walking in. When he came back out he waited for Legolas to enter the room.

"Daugion," said Legolas gesturing at the guard in front of him, "will lead you to your own room while I speak with my father. Someone will meet you in your rooms to help you settle in. I will see you before dinner. Until then." Legolas smiled and entered the room.

"Follow me," said Daugion. Adlanniel followed him to a room next to a waterfall.

Inside Adlanniel's room stood a tall elleth with extremely pale skin and gold hair. "Hello. I am Thenidiel." She did short curtsy before rising again. "I will be helping you during your stay in the palace." Adlanniel smiled and nodded timidly. "I have already put some spare clothes in your dresser and readied a bath for you." With that, Thenidiel pushed Adlanniel inside the bathroom to wash. The water was warm, not at all like the cold stream she always bathed in at home. It felt unfamiliar and made her feel even more alone.

Once she was done bathing, she walked back to her room to find it empty with a lilac dress and new shoes lying on her bed. Adlanniel quickly put them on. As soon as she was all ready, there was a knock at the door. Adlanniel opened the door to find Legolas changed out of all his dirty traveling clothes and into princely attire.

Adlanniel stared at him. "My lord," she said with a curtsy.

"Please, I prefer to be called Legolas," he said, smiling. "You look beautiful"

He looked different with intricate braids in his hair and a circlet placed on top of his head. He smiled at her. In his hands was a crown of pink flowers. "I noticed flowers that looked exactly like these next to your house before they were burned down," he said. He placed the crown on her head and folded the hair around ears into the back of the crown. "My father would like to meet you," he whispered.

Adlanniel's eyes widened. She suddenly felt nervous.

Legolas laughed. "There is nothing to worry about," said Legolas, "for he simply wants to know who will be living in his palace for a while." Adlanniel smiled nervously. "Would you do me the honor of allowing me to escort you to dinner?" Legolas asked, holding out his hand. Adlanniel smiled and brought her hand to his.

He smiled at Adlanniel and they started their way towards the dining hall.

As they entered the hall many elves stared at them. Adlanniel had extremely keen ears. She could hear almost anything she wanted. Her father also had keen ears. They both had acquired them from living in the forest and being on the guard all the time, making sure creatures such as enormous spiders or wargs weren't lurking around. Adlanniel could hear what those around her were whispering to each other.

"Prince Legolas is here!"

"Why is Prince Legolas with that elleth?"

"Who is that elleth?"

"Is the prince courting her?"

"She does not look like she is from Greenwood."

Adlanniel felt as if eyes were burning holes into her head. "Adar," said Legolas as they neared the head table. "Please meet my friends." An elf who looked like and older version of Legolas stood. He was of a larger build and his eyes showed much wisdom. A crown of golden leaves lay on his head.

Adlanniel looked outside the window, turning so that the back of her head faced the king. The beauty of the view from the room was breathtaking. A waterfall could be heard from the distance. Adlanniel could see water flowing elegantly over the roof of a gazebo before continuing to flow down the hill.

"Adar, this is the elleth I was talking to you about," said Legolas. Adlanniel turned to greet her king. King Thranduil's eyes widened. "Aeroniel," he whispered.

"No," she said. Legolas looked at his father in confusion as King Thranduil brushed past him. He took Adlanniel by the shoulders and engulfed her in a large hug. She stood there in shock before he grabbed her head and kissed her on the lips.

"Adar!"

-OMG! It's a cliffy-

R&R pls! :-D