Getting dressed for the Festival was a fiasco. I hadn't brought any clothes with me, so I took to searching the chest at the foot of my bed for a dress suitable to wear. I had thrown a few dresses aside, all rather plain, before pulling out one of the most gorgeous dresses I had ever seen. I did not usually wear white, and especially not anything as radiant as this, but from the moment I saw it my eyes wouldn't leave. The sleeves were long and ended in a scoop so extensive it threatened to hit the floor. The dress was cut perfectly; the V-neck dipped dangerously low and the dress fanned out to the ground. The white of it was so pure it was almost blinding, and if I moved it around in the sunlight, I could see the silver leaves embroidered on it from the waist down. I thought at first to throw it aside with the others; I could not possibly pull off a dress as beautiful as this one, but after laying it carefully on the floor next to me and reluctantly turning my gaze to the emptying chest the dress stayed on my mind, pressing me. Alright, I thought. I'd put it on, but just to see how it looked. I would never wear it to the Festival.

I slipped the dress on and gazed at myself in the full-length mirror in the adjoining bathroom. Was it possible that the person in the mirror was me? I could still see my signature strawberry blonde hair and blue eyes, but with the dress on, my hair seemed a slightly lighter shade of blonde and my eyes a sharper blue. I had never thought of myself as beautiful, always having given off the impression I never wanted to after growing up with countless males, but in this dress—I dared think it. Under any normal circumstances I would never have worn a dress like this. I didn't mind being noticed by males, but for Varda's sake if they were going to turn into Elven puddles or start doting on me and tripping over themselves, I would not have it. I knew that, in this dress, the doting and tripping may be unavoidable; as soon as that thought crossed my mind I felt disgusted with myself and turned away from the mirror to take the dress off immediately. However, the moment I left my own visage in the mirror, my mind forced me to turn back around. Honestly, even I was melting at the sight of myself. This was ridiculous. I had to get this thing off.

I turned to leave the bathroom and found myself gliding into the next room. I had never glided before; I was certainly not one to do so. I sat and watched, bemused as Arwen floated by in Imladris. I watched in disgust as Kaethe drifted by as if her feet were not even touching the floor, but to suggest that I was anywhere near the 'gliding' phase was ludicrous. Yet, I had felt myself gliding and, come to think of it, I did not mind too much. Oh, if just for one night I was fawned over, I would live…right? I took another look down at myself before finally deciding I was definitely attending the Festival in this dress and there was no talking myself out of it.

Though I felt beautiful (for the first time ever, let's say), I also felt a bit ashamed and awkward because I was so used to being modest about what I wore. Nothing I had ever worn was this brilliant; yes, the dress was simple but it glowed from every angle. I felt like I had fuzzy edges, but was not ready for everyone to see. Therefore, I opened my door carefully and stuck my head out, looking around for any stragglers in the halls. I was a bit late for the Festival, but I had been sure not everyone arrived exactly on time, and what with staring at myself, I had quite lost track of the hour. I saw no one in the halls, so I started off in the direction of the foyer. I prided myself on remembering the location of the Fall Festival; I had been to so many, always sitting by the fire with Legolas and Malian and laughing at all the grown-ups as they danced and drank wine.

The Festival always took place in the middle of the Wood, down near where our flet used to be. I walked down the well-worn pathway away from the castle and toward the clearing from which I heard the noise that could only be made by a few hundred Elves talking loudly, playing music, and drinking. I made it to the clearing and stepped out of the darkness, making my way to a table with wine glasses on it. A few Elves stopped and looked what they thought was inconspicuously in my direction. I nodded my head at them to let them know I had seen their jaws drop, and I smiled at the Elf who was serving the wine.

"Lovely night," I said, raising my glass in his direction before turning around.

"And an even lovelier Elf," Malian said, appearing in front of me. I rolled my eyes.

"Save it, Mal," I replied, smiling inwardly.

"I have been," he retorted smartly. I wagged my finger at him.

"Been working on the wit, hm?" I asked, taking a sip of the wine. He raised his glass to me before finishing what was left. "Anything interesting happen so far?"

"Not if you discount Thranduil's annual speech," Malian responded, deadpan. I knew what he must have meant; Thranduil was infamous for his long, boring speeches at the start of any semi-big event, and the Fall Festival included the entire Wood, so the speech promised to be extra long and dreary.

"Glad I missed it." Malian nodded. "Well, let's get this party started, shall we?"

"Care to dance?" he asked, a little too hopefully. I smiled graciously despite myself and took his arm, allowing him to lead me into a smaller clearing within the bigger one, usually designated for dancers. I giggled uncharacteristically adorably as Malian put one hand on my waste and took the other in his. After a short while of dancing, a few other partners had taken their places near us and laughter and cheering ensued. I was just in the middle of a very interesting conversation (about Kaethe, mainly) with Malian when we were interrupted by a tap on Malian's shoulder.

"Mind if I cut in?" The intruder was Aragorn. Malian squinted his eyes at him, silently giving him a rude gesture with his stare. I was sure that meant 'yes, I mind very much' (plus a few colorful words), but Aragorn said, "Thanks," and took my hand in his.

"I thought he might cut off your head, Aragorn. You'll want to be careful around these Wood-elves. Dangerously violent," I said playfully.

"Dangerous teases, if it's not too bold," Aragorn replied cheekily.

"Sorry about that," I muttered, and I could feel my ears flush pink.

"You should be sorry about this dress you're wearing, Laina. I'm afraid everyone in this Wood is going to want a dance with you before the night is over."

"I will just have to oblige then, won't I?"

"Not if I can fight them off," Aragorn declared virtuously. I raised one eyebrow at him.

"You fight off this entire Wood? They'd send arrows at you from so far away you would never see them," I warned.

"If I keep dancing with you, I will never have to dance with any of those giggling idiots," Aragorn admitted shamefacedly.

"Oh, so that is why you are prepared to fight off the entire Wood, so you can avoid the Elven maidens."

"There's only one Elven maiden I am after tonight," he answered, that mischievous grin on his face.

"I think not," I laughed. "Arwen isn't here."

"You know very well that I meant you."

"You know very well I would never go off with a Man, especially not you," I replied playfully. The music ceased and Aragorn finally let me go. "I'm off to find another glass of wine. No, I do not need an escort. Find some other Elven maiden to scandalize!" I exclaimed, swatting off Aragorn's groping hands. He shrugged and winked at me before disappearing into the throng of laughing Elves. On my way to the wine table, I noticed the fire out of the corner of my eye. I picked up a glass and headed in that direction. Two bodies were sitting huddled up by the fire, and I recognized them immediately.

"Having a reunion without me?" I asked, interrupting their conversation. Malian and Legolas turned toward me and I heard the quite audible gasp from Legolas' lips. Malian had not had the gall to react as such in my presence because I probably would have clouted him on the head, but Legolas never felt as if he were overstepping his boundaries. After all, he was the Prince and had never been told not to do something when it came to females. Every eligible She-elf in Mirkwood had most likely thrown themselves at him since he had come of age, so I was not surprised when he let his eyes travel over my body carelessly. I watched as his honey browns strayed too long across my chest (I knew that dip would create just the right reaction) before I interrupted his gaping. "Honestly Leaf, you'd think I was an Orc the way you're staring." His eyes snapped up immediately, looking straight into mine. He stood clumsily, nearly falling back to the ground as he did so.

"I would never stare at an Orc like this," Legolas breathed. This was too much.

"Oh, quit your gawking," I insisted. "Kaethe might see and try to float too closely in my direction for comfort."

"But—Laina, how…" his voice trailed off as he ogled me.

"How? Is it so unbelievable that I could be pretty for one night?" I snapped. Legolas looked slightly taken aback.

"Sorry, I just never really thought of you as a—a—well…"

"What, have you never noticed I have breasts?" I was getting angry. Of all the dense things—

"No, I noticed," Legolas answered to my astonishment and minor mortification.

"What?"

"No! No, sorry, I just—I always saw you as a friend and not as—as—"

"Sexy?" Malian suggested, interrupting our banter.

"Right," Legolas replied. I was looking from one of them to the other in disbelief. First, Legolas had admitted he never thought of me as pretty, and then said he had noticed my breasts, and now agreed that I was sexy? He had been right earlier in our conversation after breakfast: something was definitely happening.

"If I didn't love the both of you I swear you would both have pairing knives stuck in your hands," I said finally. Legolas and Malian both instantly relaxed. "Now what were you two murmuring about before I so rudely interrupted?"

Malian said something under his breath that sounded quite like 'you,' but Legolas cleared his throat noisily and replied, "Just military things, you know, what with Orcs arriving every few days and such." Legolas was a terrible liar; he had not been in the least convincing.

"Sure," I said guardedly. "Well I will leave you two to it, then." I made to walk away but my elbow was caught by what felt like a strong archer's hand.

"Can I have a dance?" Legolas asked. I raised one eyebrow at him as if to ask whether or not he were joking, but he seemed solemn enough.

"Um, alright," I agreed, polishing off the last of my second glass of wine and setting it down on another table before following Legolas into the crowd of dancing Elves.

"Where did that dirty ranger get off to, I wonder," Legolas said after a moment of dancing.

"Probably off frisking some unsuspecting Elven maiden," I replied, which was probably not far from the truth, though I thought the 'frisking' bit too much; he was usually not very aggressive when it came to females besides me. I wondered why that was. Was I just that easy to talk to? I guess I wasn't as intimidating as most females. Like I said, I had never been 'the beautiful one,' and I was definitely not very feminine, so I guessed wit and homeliness was easier to approach than density and gorgeousness.

"Why do you say that?" Legolas asked, interrupting my thoughts.

"He doesn't exactly keep his hands to himself all of the time, does he?"

"I hadn't noticed," Legolas laughed. "Has he, er—has he ever touched you?"

A mental picture of earlier that day flashed before my eyes. I wanted to deny the encounter completely, but I did not see the harm in confiding in my best friend. I had no girl friends to confide in, and Legolas was the next best thing. I had no reason to hide it, anyway. "To be honest, yes." Legolas' reaction was not the one I expected. He stopped briefly in shock before I led him back into the dance.

"How? When? Do you want me to—"

"Don't be silly, Greenleaf," I chuckled. "He meant no harm, and I daresay I rather encouraged it. Well, today anyway." I suddenly remembered a certain night we had spent together in Imladris before Aragorn had met Arwen and fallen in love with her.

"It has happened more than once? And you encouraged it? It happened today?" Legolas was incredulous.

"Yes on all counts," I answered. I could tell Legolas would prod me until I explained, so I saved him the trouble and said, "It happened once a long time ago, when Aragorn was much younger and we were both inexperienced with breaking hearts."

"You mean you gave yourself to him first, and he you?" I thought I heard Legolas' heart breaking a bit, but brushed it off as my imagination.

"It was a long time ago," I repeated. "I just so happened to remind him of the experience today in my quest to gain information."

"What?"

"Don't go jumping to conclusions, we didn't sleep together…today," I added. "I just wanted to know exactly what was going on, and seeing as I had gained all the information from you that I could, I had only to fill in the missing pieces with Aragorn's knowledge."

"You temptress," Legolas said accusatorily. "Why didn't you use those methods on me?"

"You are far too easy to pry information from," I replied. "It's not as much fun, I will admit, but easy."

"I will remember to only accept favors in return for information from now on, then," Legolas said, a rather suggestive smile playing on his lips.

"Don't let Kaethe catch you saying that," I warned.

"Must you always do that?" Legolas nearly snapped. I cocked my head at him. "I just like teasing you like old times," he admitted.

"Sorry then," I apologized, hearing the sincerity in his voice.

"Besides, even if she had overheard anything I say to you, what makes you think she would be angry?" I raised one eyebrow. "As if she doesn't know every female Elf in this Wood would give their brothers or sisters to be in her place. She would not give it up for all the gold in Middle-earth."

"That is the most pompous thing you have ever said," I replied, stunned by his sudden vanity.

"I admittedly hate being the center of attention all the time," Legolas explained. "I could do without those tittering fools following me around—"

"But in the back of your mind you know you could have any Elf woman you wanted," I finished. It was Legolas' turn to raise his eyebrow. "Well, you could."

"Any Elf woman?"

"Besides me," I grinned in response. Legolas nodded in a mocking manner. "You really think you could win me over?" I challenged.

"You really think I would want to?" Legolas replied, but his face betrayed him because his eyes were wandering down my dress again. Was it my imagination or did I see a hint of longing in his expression? But just as soon as I had seen it, it vanished and he smiled warmly. "Of course I could win you over."

"You just try then," I said, but my voice faltered. I was embarrassing myself. I took a deep breath before adding, "As if it would do any good. You are getting married." Legolas' eyes glazed over for a split second before he replied.

"I know. I do want you to be there. Maybe you could be the ringbearer?" As the title ran through my head I resented it, and at the time, I was unaware that it was also a title someone else would be resenting in years to come.