A/N: I do not own the works of Tolkien, I just like weaving stories in his world. All OC characters are of my own devise.

I see Ithil ahead and grin to myself. Manwë she is a pretty thing and the current elleth of my father's halls who has the honor of my company until I grow bored with her attentions. I saunter up to her.

"Greetings fair one, what might a creature as sweet as you be doing alone in these halls?" I ask with my best roguish smile and watch as her lashes flutter a little adoringly at me.

"My lord I hoped I would catch you as you left the library." She simpers to me which irks me a little as I truly do not find simpering attractive but she is pretty so I overlook it for I do enjoy basking in her attentions.

"I wondered if you would be so kind as to do me the honor of a walk through the gardens, the sunset is in all its splendor." She asks me with large, hopeful green eyes and I purposely pause to consider my options as she gazes up at me. She doesn't need to know I have nothing better to do at this moment.

"I suppose I could spare a few moments with you Lady Ithil." I finally reply and watch her face light up happily. Honestly these court elleth are so easily pleased and they do whatever they are damn well damn asked. I am sure I could find some insect and place it in their hair or better yet down the back of their dress's and they would act pleased by the gesture. Oh well, still they have their qualities. I hold my arm out gallantly to Ithil and with a light and giggly laugh, she drapes her arm over mine and turning I saunter down the hall, towards the largest garden within the palace walls.

…

I had spent nearly an hour in the gardens with Ithil and now stride back towards my own chambers to ensure I am presentable to dine for the evening meal with my father and some of his advisers. It is undoubtedly going to be a political bore of sorts and so I am glad I have the kisses I stole so boldly from Ithil to occupy my thoughts for the tedious evening ahead. My appearance is impeccable but to satisfy my father, knowing he would notice, I change into a clean pair of charcoal trousers and a pewter tunic with silver trim and admiring myself in my own mirror I grin before leaving for the King's private dining and entertaining hall, a level above our private chambers.

I was correct, it is an absolute bore. I swirl the dark Dorwinion wine distractedly in my crystal chalice as I feign interest in the topic of discussion, the re-documentation of the maps of Greenwood. Honestly why in Arda did the maps need updating? Nothing has exactly changed in the past century or so has it? Nothing has changed that I can tell of the land in the past fifty years and I am in the Greenwood more often than these old advisers from Doriath for I have been going out on patrols as a commander those past fifty years. Did not these advisers from Doriath have any semblance of fun in their lives? Maps! Ha the mundaneness of it!

"Possibly of noble descent by her imperious and snappy little attitude." He heard his father say to the other elves and he switched back curiously into the conversation. "I need to interrogate her properly, I had intended to this afternoon but she insulted me and I could not bear to hold her in my sight or let my ears listen to her possible madness a moment longer." Who is Adar talking about?

"Who is it of which you speak my Lord?" I ask politely, my curiosity getting the better of me and Adar turns to regard me.

"Our current prisoner; an elf found half drowned in the river, must have gone over the falls. Not from here, possibly a spy and a dangerous one at that or I possibly have a useless guard who are incapable of handling one slight elleth." He replies dryly and my interest truly piqued I look at him imploringly for more information. This is a much more likable conversation. "Weaponless, she maimed three members of the city guard trying to escape." A female elf in their dungeons? It sounds nearly insane to me. Truly she must be dangerous for Adar to lock her up; he was usually more accommodating to elleth, even elleth in trouble.

"May I be present when you interrogate her?" I ask trying to keep my voice nonchalant and not as eager as I felt. Watching Adar interrogate captives is always interesting for the King has perfected the art of appearing and sometimes being absolutely terrifying, something I do not even enjoy being on the receiving end of on those rare occasions I do not have his favor.

"I will think about it." Adar replies and I nod contently, that was close enough to a yes for me. I decide I might take a stroll before I retire for the night down to the dungeons, just to see this prisoner of my Adar's. The topic at the table moves onto the upcoming spring feast and dance, The Feast of Blossoms and to this I listen intently. I do love a celebration and the dancing and mirth they entail although I have found the wild parties and dances they have out in the Greenwood were the wilder, Silvan elves dwell are much more exciting and I have snuck out to many such gatherings under the cover of darkness along with Landir, my closest friend in arms and within the court. I am disappointed he is not actually invited to this discussion for we could have discussed which elleths we could consider taking to the feast although; there is far more fun in arriving alone and having the pick of the crop. I grin to myself when I remember Landir is on guard duty in the dungeons with one of the older guards. How did I forget that? He had grumbled about the punishment for failing a direct order during a border patrol! I will pay him a visit and also investigate this curious prisoner, and maybe share a drink or two with Landir if we do not get caught by anyone of importance.

Finally Adar dismisses me from the dining hall and I saunter my way down towards the dungeons, humming a cheery tune, gladdened for my freedom. As I pass the first guard I cease my tune and nod importantly to him as he steps aside for me and I continue downwards, crossing a bridge and then passing the guard at the main entrance with another polite nod before turning and then turning again, around the rocky corners wondering why there is an extra guard on duty, for I am sure we only have the one prisoner. Was she truly so terrifying? I stride towards Landir who looks bored out of his wits as he sits with his legs stretched out before him against the stony wall beside the gate of the third cell. He looks up as I approach quietly and gives me a relieved grin.

"Have you come to save me?" He asks quietly and I grin back at him.

"I have come to see who it is you guard." I whisper and he laughs lightly.

"Does the presence of any beautiful elleth ever escape your notice Legolas?" My eyes light up curiously at that.

"Is she truly? I did not hear that, just that she is dangerous, let me see." I whisper excitedly, hoping the prisoner in question can not hear us over the sound of the fall.

"Yes, yes fine but do be quiet, she sleeps and also know that I saw her first." Landir smirks at me deviously. I simply shrug imperiously at him and quietly approach the bared gate and peer down and I swear I feel my heart skip in my chest in what can only be surprise for truly she is a beauty. She lays upon her side; long intriguingly reddish tinged but certainly still blonde hair spilling over her bare shoulder and down her back in loose waves, slightly shorter strands falling softly against her gently angled cheek. Her lips look perfect, soft and yet not too thin or too plump and are slightly parted as she sleeps. I wonder at the colour of her eyes, hidden under closed lids and long, dark lashes. She looks tall and there is definition to her exposed right arm, it is toned tastefully, something I rarely see in ellith, especially the court ellith. I let my eyes trail along her lithe form and realize the dress she wears only reaches to her knees and with an inward grin I take in the straight and strong half exposed shape of her legs. The Valar have done everything right when they created this creature and I find myself wondering at her personality and just why she attacked the city guards; perhaps it had been in fear if she had been rescued unconscious from the river. I simply must be in attendance for her interrogation. Damn, tomorrow I am on patrol from dusk till dawn on the Southern Border; I hope Adar does not speak with her before then. I gaze appreciatively at her again and then see with dismay she shivers. It is then I notice she lies upon naught but the stone cold floor and being only the beginning days of spring, the caves are still cool near the water. She must surely be freezing. How could Adar leave her down here with no protection from the cold, her clothing was minimal, strange really and not what one would wear coming out of Winter. I spin on my heel to Landir who looks at me curiously.

"Well?" He says with a small grin which only makes me frown. Did he not see she suffered, it was a wonder she even slept!

"Why has she not been given at the very least a blanket to ward off the cold?" I ask, feeling my temper threaten to spill. Landir looks downcast by my question.

"The King and her, they had quite the disagreement, truly Legolas I have never heard anyone speak to him as she did, you know what your father is like, and he stormed off in a temper." Landir explained. I glance back at the blonde elleth.

"What did they disagree over?" I ask and he lightly chuckles.

"It was strange she argued over the fact she was an elf and then when your father indicated his ears she became all worked up and said we were but made up and that he was the Goblin King!" Landir said and I clamp my hand firmly over my mouth to hold in my laughter, my body shaking in mirth.

"Is there even such a thing as the Goblin King?" I ask and Landir shrugs with a huge grin. Oh no wonder my father was in a mood over her if she had insinuated he was a Goblin! What audacity! Still it was wrong to subject an elleth no matter how she had insulted him to the coldness of the stone.

"I shall return with a blanket for her." I declare and Landir looks relieved to hear those words as I stride swiftly from the cold dungeons and across many bridges and through countless corridors towards my chambers.

Dashing through my heavy door, I go to my sleep chamber and to my massive cherrywood robe and pulling it it open begin searching for spare blankets. Where are they has Rystil moved them? I rip open another wooden door and frown intently at the lack of blankets before me. Idiot Legolas, they are in the wooden chest! Not bothering to close the robe doors I locate the long chest at the end of my bed and tossing my cithara onto my bed, flip the chest open and dig around for the thickest and softest blanket I have in my possession. I pull out a deep, rich blue blanket which seems to be filled with wool, its soft outer of cotton. It would fit my purpose perfectly. There was also a spare downy pillow in the chest and I take that with me too and then with a satisfied grin and feeling an entirely different kind of important than usual, I swiftly make my way back to the dungeons, taking routes I know I will not pass my Adar on, just in case he does not agree with my intentions.

…

"Legolas what if she awakens and tries to escape or even hurts you, your father will be furious; by Eru he will have my head for it, for she already nearly escaped on me once!" Landir worries as I calmly wait for him to relent and unlock the gate.

"She looks completely harmless to me and she would be mad to escape during the night, the spiders would get her or worse." I chastise Landir with a shake of my head. He worries far too much. "How did she get past you anyway?" I grin curiously as he finally pulls the key from his pocket and quietly unlocks the gate.

"She tricked me, beware Legolas, truly she may look peaceful and sweet but she is devious." Landir warns. Maybe I like devious.

Silently I enter the chamber and unfolding the blanket, kneel down and sweep it over her shivering form. She does not stir and cautiously I reach out and touch her bare shoulder and hold in a hiss of anger for she is icy cold. A blanket shielding her from the cool air will not shield her from the freezing stone floor. Glad I brought the pillow too, I gently lift her head, slightly amazed when she still does not stir, if she is as dangerous as I have been told then I am putting myself at risk but it is a risk no different I think to many of the daring acts I get up to in the woods in either my own time or on patrol. Her hair is so very soft; I cannot help but marvel as I carefully slide my hand out from beneath her head, shifting the wavy locks slightly. I then move it to her shoulders and gently lift her and tuck the excess blanket beneath her, protecting her from the stone floor and then gently follow through with the same action discreetly at her knees until I am satisfied she will undoubtedly be warm and a little more comfortable now.

"Posto vae bainloth." I whisper, touching her hair gently before I stand and quietly leave the cell and Landir locks it behind me, while looking at me with a bemused expression and a raised brow.

"Yes?" I ask with a questioning brow of my own.

"You surprise me mellon nin." He muses. "I do not think I have ever simply seen the Prince of the Woodland Realm simply care so for another." He snickers quietly and I eye him balefully.

"Yes well when she awakens I shall be the one in her good books when she finds out I have so chivalrously seen to her needs." I reply roguishly and Landir laughs quietly.

"Ah that is the Legolas I know! I thought I had lost you there." He teases and I hold myself a little prouder.

"Absolutely not." I reply scornfully. "I am the Prince of this realm; I must show compassion to those who need it." I explain my intentions and Landir nods satisfied with my answer.

"I will leave you now to your delightful, if not very quiet company." I wink at him. "I have a D-to-D tomorrow; I best retire for the evening." I add and he looks forlorn.

"Damn guard duty although tomorrow I will try talking to her perhaps." Landir cheers a little and I feign a pained expression.

"Think of me when I am out protecting the Kingdom from orc and spider while you indulge in friendly conversation with such a pretty blossom."

"Oh I will mellon nin!" He calls out cheekily and shaking my head I return to my own quarters, chuckling quietly to myself. The audacity of Landir thinking I would care for an elleth, I do hope he was teasing for he knows I shall never give my heart to another, not ever. For I never wish to feel the bitterness of a shattered heart as Adar still did and probably always will until the end of days in Middle Earth. No, I will most certainly never do something so stupid as to fall in love. As I ready for sleep however I can not help but wonder what colour eyes the imprisoned elleth has and exactly how young she was. My last thought, how annoyed I am Landir would be able to speak with her tomorrow while I killed damn spiders, formed briefly in my mind before sleep takes me in its dark and comforting embrace of peace.

...

A/N:

I do not usually ask for reviews for my stories but as this is a random piece I just decided on the spur of the moment to write a couple hours ago for the sake of still being awake, I would love to know if anyone who has got this far reading it, if I should continue or not. I said I would never do a chick falls into Middle Earth but I admit I got curious, how would an Aussie chick react to falling into Arda? And I wanted to play with a renegade Legolas with an entirely different dynamic to my Legolas from my other stories. Anyway, let me know peeps.

xx A.