It was passed midnight when Vanmoriel was wandering on the dark streets of Dale. She was bored and restless. Waiting wasn't her thing. It started raining again, so she turned to walk back to the inn. Soon enough it was pouring, so she started to run. Turning a corner she stumbled and went down in the mud. Luckily she managed not to go down head first. She'd stumbled on a person. Someone lying in a dark alley in mud, probably robbed and dumped there. She checked quickly, he was alive and an elf. The whole business was strange, but unimportant momentarily. She tried to lift him but it was immediately obvious it was a bad idea. She couldn't carry him all the way to the inn. She dropped him back on the ground. Some form of transport was necessary. She went up the street and came to a small square. There was a light showing at a house on the right side. She started banging on the door. Eventually the door was opened by a skinny boy, no older than 12.

"Good evening." She thought being polite was a good way to start. "Is your father home?"

The boy shook his head.

"Your mother?"
Another shake.

"Can you talk?"

A nod.

Brilliant. She found the only kid that didn't like to talk.

"I need some help. A friend of mine had an accident and I have to get him back at the Golden Goat. You know where that is?"

The boy nodded.

"Right so, do you have a wheelbarrow or something that could help me get him back."

She decided to throw in an incentive. "I'll pay."

"Alright."
Finally they were getting somewhere. The boy brushed by her, heading towards a shed.

He stopped halfway.
"Money first."
Kids were so nice. She threw him a coin. Apparently it was enough, because the kid went in the shed an came out dragging a cart behind him. It was large and looked heavy, but something was better than nothing. She reached for it, but the kid had different ideas.

"I'm coming with you."

"Afraid I'll run off with it?"

"Yes." That shut her up. "Which way?"

She pointed and the boy started that way but didn't get far. It was to heavy for him and the mud didn't help. She started pushing the cart so they wouldn't take all night getting there. The elf was still there exactly as she left him. She grabbed him under the arms, the boy grabbed him by the feet and they managed to get him on it.

"Thank you." She hadn't expected so much cooperation. "How about I pull it this time around?"

The boy went behind the cart without a word, and they started moving. Once they reached the cobbled streets things went easier but by than she was soaking wet, and was almost regretting deciding to help the elf she didn't even know. One look at the boy as wet and probably more miserable made her feel unbelievable selfish. Feeling responsible for the boy, who was likely to get sick thanks to her, she started moving faster. She sent the boy to fetch the inn keeper once the inn was in sight. She stopped in front of the door and waited. It didn't take long before Brenn's tall, bony figured loomed over her.

"My lady! What happened?" He was looking at her disapprovingly. Another person who had the impression that elves never got dirty.

"A little accident, nothing serious. Can you help me get him up to the room?"
"Of course." He turned towards the boy. "You, go wake up my boy, in the back room."

The boy ran off, while Vanmoriel and Brenn dragged the elf up the stairs. The Golden Goat was a small inn, and unfortunately so were the stairs. Too cramped for acrobatics. With a lot of bumping and swearing they made it up and dumped the elf, after exchanging meaningful looks, right on the floor. At least the floor was dry, no point in getting the bed dirty.

"We'll need a couple of buckets of warm water and something hot to drink, some food wouldn't hurt."

"Of course. Anything else you need just tell my boy. I'll send him up with everything."

An hour later they were all cleaner, she cleaned the elf's head wound and the boy was finishing the last bit of chicken. Time to take care of a few things.

"So, what's your name?"

"Why?"

"Do you like to be called boy?"

"Everyone calls me Ham."

"I'm Vanmoriel, why Ham?"

"I got caught stealing ham." The boy lifted his head looking at her with obvious challenge.

"Is that why your face is black and blue? Got caught stealing again?"

"Yeah."

"You have anyone waiting for you at home?"

"Why?"

"Because I thought it would be better if you stayed here until later, so you don't go out in the rain again. That is if you promise not to steal anything."

"Fine."

"Fine. Get in bed."

"Where will you sleep?"
"Chair." Ham gave her a long look as if wondering about her sanity, but he settled in bed anyway. She was settling at the table when she heard the boy ask: "Are you really an elf?"

"Yes, now go to sleep."

After Legolas had left he threw himself on the blessedly large bed, and sat there staring at the ceiling. His pack had been brought there, but not his weapons. It didn't really matter. The room wasn't very large but it was beautiful. And the bed was so soft, the fire was burning, no more of the wet coldness of the forest. The lack of natural light bothered him a bit, but he figured it was great for sleeping more. And the lazy beast inside of him longed for the warm, soft bed. A little while later after having cleaned himself up he was already sound asleep, buried deep under all the soft blankets he could gather.

Something bothered him. A noise. Again and again. He finally woke up enough to realize that the noise was someone knocking at the door. He dragged himself out of bed, and wrapping himself up in a blanket he went to get the door. It was a guard with clean clothes for him as well as the request to get himself ready fast because it was dinner time and the king did not like to wait. He'd actually managed to sleep the whole day. Nothing better than being lazy. The getting dressed part was easy, getting his hair to actually look like hair and not a warg's fur was a bit more difficult. Finally he gave it up, not wanting to annoy Thranduil so soon after arriving. There was plenty of time for that later. He followed the guard through endless corridors until they arrived to a room that seemed to belong to the king's private chambers. Thranduil and Legolas were already seated. He gave a small bow and at the king's sign he sat on his left. Dinner smelled wonderful, although after not eating for almost two days, he could eat anything. He started eating and was so focused on it he didn't realized Thranduil had asked him something.

"I'm sorry I didn't get that." He noticed Legolas was smiling.

"And there I thought you were ignoring me." Thranduil seemed in an awfully good mood. "I asked what happened to your hair?"

"Oh.." Everyone wanted to know that. "It caught on fire... and my sister isn't particularly talented with the scissors."

"I see."

"What is your sister talented at ?" inquired Legolas.

"Many things: sword fighting, getting in trouble and the best one screaming her lungs out at the sight of spiders."

They both started laughing.

"You wouldn't find it amusing if you were in the middle of nowhere and her screaming would bring all the orcs running."

"No. It's not possible!" Legolas looked like he couldn't believe it.

"Sure it is."

"So what do you do then?"

"Run for our lives obviously, not much else you can do. We got really good at that." He was joking, mostly anyway. The screaming at the sight of spiders only happened once, Vanmoriel learned her lesson . She became more quiet than the Galadhrim after that one incident.

"Have any other Noldo been traveling through Mirkwood?" asked Legolas.

"Not that I know of, I think they know better" he said, his most charming smile in place as he looked at Thranduil. That proved to be a mistake. Because Thranduil was looking at him in a way that made him uneasy. He felt his hands shaking a bit so he turned to the wine goblet grateful to have something to hold on to. He looked at Legolas.

"But why do you ask of Noldo's?"

"We think one passed through Mirkwood, perhaps two months ago."

"Oh..." To lie or not to lie. Avoid. "Well, I don't think that any elf from Imladris or the Grey Havens would have come this way."

"We think he was heading to Imladris not coming from there."

"Ah. Coming from where? Dale? It isn't exactly a place Noldo go to."

"We don't know anything for sure, but we were curios anyway."

"Do you have a mate?" Legolas cut in.

"Yes. Why?" It was so good to be able to lie on the spot and without blinking.

"I just thought you might stay here for a while, but you must be anxious to go back if you have someone waiting for you."

"Of course." He plastered a smile on his face hoping it didn't look forced.

"But perhaps you could spar with me tomorrow."

Thranduil was leaning back, watching them carefully.

"I'm sure you can find better sparing partners, prince Legolas."

"Maybe. However I'm sure that you are more than competent, otherwise Lord Elrond would not have sent you here alone, without an escort."

It was a good point, not that he'd admit it.

"I think the fact that I'm a fast rider, had more of an influence in that decision."

"I did not think Elrond was such a simpleton. Actually I know he isn't a simpleton, whatever else he may be." Thranduil cut in. "But you don't have to spar, if you'd rather rest for the journey back."

He had no choice but to look back at Thranduil. Who was filling his goblet. Again. He took a sip. He'd have to slow down with the wine. He was starting to feel a bit cornered. Thranduil's interest wasn't openly showed, yet he could feel it. And he was definitely interested in the king. Thranduil was handsome, his sister would probably call him bloody gorgeous. He was smart too, and courageous ...And he'd been staring at him. The wine was definitely getting to him, or Thranduil was. He snapped out of it. Attack.

"Do you have an answer for Lord Elrond, my lord?"

"Not yet. Do you know what the message contains?"
"No one told me and I didn't ask."

Legolas started laughing. "You don't care the message contains?"
"No, not really. First of all because I can make an educated guess on it's contents, and second of all because Lord Elrond's business is his own, not mine."

"And what do you think it contains?" asked Thranduil.

"The possibility of an alliance, I doubt he sent an apple pie recipe." Apparently he was extremely amusing tonight. Both the king and his son where grinning.

"Well, this was the best dinner I've had in a while. Thank you Daechir."Legolas stood. "I'm afraid I have to leave you, I have an early morning. If you change your mind about sparing come find me tomorrow. Good night."

"I should probably retire as well, I did not realize how late it is." Thranduil looked like he was about to argue with that.

"Of course, you must be tired." Not really, since he'd been sleeping all day long, but he felt it was better not to be alone with Thranduil for too long.

"Come, I'll show you to your room." That was bad. So,so bad. Walking to his room with Thranduil.. He knew what followed. They'd end up in bed together, and he would mess things up, and Elrond would murder him. Or his father would. Or Thranduil would.

"Thank you, but you don't have to, my lord." He emphasized that. "I remember the way, my lord."

"If you're sure."

"Quite sure my lord." If he'd say my lord one more time he'd gag. He got up and turned to leave and managed walk right into Thranduil. He stopped breathing. And stepped back right into the table. Thranduil stepped forward and held a bottle up.

"I thought you might like to have a drink before going to sleep." He took the bottle.

"Thank you." He squeezed past Thranduil careful not to touch him. And straight for the door he went.

"Good night, my lord." He was out the door and didn't stop until he closed the door behind him.