Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I still do not own Legolas, or any of Tolkien's wonderful Middle Earth.

Another elf came up and led the pair away. Legolas watched Alerae as her eyes wandered from one intricate detail of the room to another, speechless. Lothlorien was certainly a lot to take in.

She looked at the elf leading them. He was attractive and had golden hair like the other elves she had met and she realized how much she would stick out among elves with her dark hair.

They walked across a glittering bridge and down a flight of stairs. They were led down a path towards a tall mallorn tree. They walked up the spiral stairs that surrounded the tree until reaching the flet. It afforded them a great deal of privacy.

"This is where you will stay." The elf said concisely before taking his leave.

Legolas turned to her and smiled, "How do you like Lorien?"

She turned around and stared at their accommodations.

"I love it; this is the most beautiful place I have ever seen. Is this really where we are to stay?"

"Of course."

"This is amazing; I have never slept in a tree before." She walked around the airy room and examined every corner.

"Are we staying in one together?"

Legolas had been wondering the same thing. He knew that Galadriel always provided appropriate accommodations and based them on her observations, which were always correct.

"I think so; we would have been shown to another if Lady Galadriel meant to give us separate places to stay."

She nodded. "Is there a bathing room?"

"Yes, but hot water has to be brought up from the spring below. Lighting a fire beneath the bath is not advised in the treetops."

"Oh, well I don't want to do all that tonight. We're tired… well at least I am."

"I will do it for you. We could always save water by bathing together."

Her head snapped up, "What?"

He laughed, "Relax, Alerae, I was only jesting."

She sighed, "I don't know if you were, but fine."

He smiled, "I will get the water for your bath. Just relax."

"Thank you Legolas." She watched him disappear down the stairs to the forest floor below. She explored the room further, looking at the beautiful elven carvings that adorned the room. It was amazing. The chilly night air that was moving through the room was refreshing, even though it made her shiver. She wondered why Galadriel had chosen to have her and Legolas share a room. It was then that she realized that the flet only had one bed, although a large one.

It was then that Legolas came back up the stairs and walked over to the corner of the room where he pulled a rope up that held a bucket of steaming hot water. He carried it to the bathtub that was partially hidden by a curtain and filled the tub, having to pull up several more buckets.

"Thank you so much, Legolas."

"Thank you for being so agreeable on our entire trip. I thought you would have complained like most maidens would have."

She smiled and walked over to the bathing room. It was separated only by a sheer curtain. Legolas sat down on the bed and pulled off his boots and started unclasping his tunic.

"Legolas… this isn't very private."

"The water is going to get cold, do you not trust me?"

She simply turned around and disappeared behind the curtain, even though her profile was still visible behind it. Legolas couldn't help but watch as she pulled off her riding dress. He shivered thinking about what she looked like. He wondered when he would finally be able to find out himself, instead of wondering.

He heard her let out an exhausted sigh as she slid into the hot water.

He pulled the rest of his clothes off and changed into a new pair of breeches before getting into the bed. About a half an hour later, Alerae emerged from behind the curtain, with dripping wet hair and a dark nightdress on.

He moved over in the bed to make room for her and she sat down next to him.

"The water cooled down. How late is it?"

"I believe it is quite late. We should get some rest."

She shivered as her cold, wet hair left water running down her back. She stood up and dried it with a towel again, though it remained damp. She lay down next to him and shivered.

He pulled her close, his exposed chest pressed up against her and one arm wrapped protectively around her waist.

Her shivering ceased and she fell asleep contentedly.

She awoke to the sound of a light voice. She looked over at Legolas. He was still asleep. She could hear beautiful voices singing through the trees, but the voice was louder. She soon recognized it as Lady Galadriel's and focused her attention to listen to what she was saying to her.

"Come, child. There is much we must discuss."

She stood up, escaping from Legolas' protective hold on her waist and changing into a more proper dress, the midnight blue one that Arwen had given her. She walked gracefully down the stairs and followed the voice down the path towards Galadriel's home in the treetops.

Galadriel was waiting by a stream at the base of the tree.

"Welcome child, sit down."

She motioned for Alerae to sit on the ornate bench carved out of mallorn wood that was placed next to the small stream. The sun was just rising, painting the sky into a beautiful mural.

Alerae sat down and Lady Galadriel took a seat next to her.

"I know why you are here, and I know what you have been through to get here."

Alerae was amazed. Seeing the lady in person was much more intense than imagining her in the book she had been reading.

"The torment you have suffered through has been great, but you must learn to put that behind you, for that time is over. Legolas cares for you very much, this you know."

"Yes, milady."

"You are safe in Lorien and safe with Legolas. You are here because you desire to know more of your lineage."

"Yes, that is correct."

Galadriel smiled, "You must determine your heritage. Both of your parents loved you very much. Your previous master plays an important part in your story but you must find out for yourself where it is that you come from."

"But, milady, how am I to do that?"

"The truth is encased in your mother's journal. That is where you shall find it."

"Thank you, milady."

"You should go and seek Legolas. Tell him of your love. Let him love you, you will find that it is worth it."

She nodded, blushing slightly and stood up.

She bowed to Galadriel before turning and disappearing down the path.

She climbed back up the stairs to her flet and found Legolas still lightly sleeping. She smiled and sat down next to him. He unconsciously reached out for her, but when his hands found the space next to him empty, his eyes opened.

"Where did you disappear to?"

"I went to talk to Lady Galadriel."

Legolas sat up, "And what did she tell you?" His curiosity was apparent.

"She told me that I must find out my lineage myself, by reading my mother's journal."

She nestled against him and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Then you should get reading, but today, I want to show you around Lorien. It is beautiful, like you."

She smiled and nuzzled against him, and then brought her face up to his and kissed him on the cheek.

"I love you, Legolas. Thank you so much."

"I love you too, Alerae." He held her close to him as the sun began to stream into the flet.

"You were telling the truth, weren't you?"

"About what, meleth?"

"About everything…"

"I always told you the truth, but what do you mean?"

"I mean, about, err... intimacy."

He smiled at her, maybe he was getting through to her.

"Yes, of course. I know what those men did to you did not feel good, but then again, they were forcing themselves on you and taking only their own pleasure. As I said, it is not supposed to be like that."

"Mmmm." She moved even closer to him, still wondering.

"Do you want to find out firsthand?" He whispered into her ear.

She moved placed her lips almost against the tip of his ear, "Not yet."

He sighed contentedly as her warm breath made his entire body shiver and he realized how long it had been since he had taken a maiden to bed. Since he had left Mirkwood, anyway. And not once had he wanted any other than Alerae.

She placed her forehead against his, continuing, "Not yet, maybe someday, but by no one but you."

Hearing this made his heart sing and he brought his lips to hers.

They stayed like this for a few more minutes, simply enjoying the morning sun and each other's affection.

"Do you wish to see all of Lorien's wonders?" Legolas looked at her eagerly, his eyes bright.

"Yes, very much."

"Well, let us get up and get ready to go."

Legolas got dressed behind the bathing curtain and then took her hand in his and led her down the steep steps to the path below.

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