When Legolas and Amara broke from their kiss they sat for a moment with their foreheads pressed together, both smiling. Legolas' hand was resting on the back of Amara's neck, and Amara had one hand lightly stroking Legolas' back. Amara let out a small laugh that made Legolas smile just a little wider; he then placed a small kiss on her lips before pulling back entirely, dragging his hand down her arm and entwining their fingers.
"So, you're not going to run off and start seeing anyone else again are you?" Legolas asked, still smiling.
"What?" Amara asked.
"Well," Legolas dropped his eyes and watched himself play with Amara's fingers, "The first time we kissed, you began seeing the stable boy."
Amara thought for a moment before it came to her. "The river. You remember that?!" She asked completely shocked.
"Of course, I wasn't that drunk." He said.
"You sure seemed like you were." Amara told him, blushing madly.
Legolas just smiled, "You still haven't answered my question."
Amara looked at Legolas and smiled back, hoping that her blush was going away. "I'm not going anywhere this time."
Legolas leaned in, "Good" and kissed her again.
The two spent the rest of the day together outside, walking and talking, it was the most calm and happy day that Amara had had since arriving in this place, and the most carefree day Legolas had had in years. Both were a little miffed at having to part in order to get ready for a formal dinner, but with a quick kiss goodbye they separated for the time being.
When Amara entered her rooms she found Aara waiting for her.
"Hello Aara," Amara greeted her in a sing song way.
"Hello Amara, it seems that you've had a good day." Aara responded as Amara walked past her to put on a new dress.
"Mmmhmmm..."
Aara was clearly waiting for Amara to tell her more but Amara was too lost in thought to realize it. Not being able to take much more of not knowing Aara finally broke when Amara sat down to have her hair done. "So, what's going on with you and Legolas, you promised you'd tell me later and this is definitely later."
Amara looked at Aara face in the mirror and saw the impatient look on her face. So trying to keep her smile at a minimum Amara answered her. "The other night, at the ball Legolas and I…we kissed." Amara laughed as Aara let out an uncharacteristic squeal.
"Finally!" Aara sighed, earning herself a pointed look. "Oh come on, everyone's been waiting for it."
"True" Amara laughed.
"So it's official then, Legolas has spoken for you?" Aara asked as she went back to fixing Amara's hair.
"If by he's spoken for me you mean I'm seeing him and only him, then yes." Amara was too busy trying to keep her own smile from breaking her face to notice Aara's own gigantic smile.
Soon enough there was a knock at the door and both Amara and Aara had to keep from making overly happy noises as it opened to reveal Legolas, dressed for dinner.
"Hello Aara." He greeted her though quickly bringing his attention to Amara. "You look beautiful."
"Thank you." Amara replied as Aara quickly excused herself.
"Shall we?" Legolas asked, reaching out a hand to take Amara's. As Amara took Legolas' hand and began to walk to the door she found herself stopped and before she could even ask why she found lips pressed against her own.
Pulling back with a smile on her face Amara had to ask "What was that for?"
Legolas just smiled, "Because you'll let me."
Amara shook her head and lead them out of her room towards the dining room.
Legolas and Amara's beaming happiness was impossible to miss as the two walked into the dining room to meet the rest of Legolas' family and their group, but King Thranduil did his best to ignore it. Despite their radiating happiness the newly formed couple thankfully had the decency to keep any physical signs that something had happened between them away from the public eye. Thranduil prayed that no one would bring up the topic before he could make his announcement.
Thranduil's wishes were thankfully granted as the group of family and friends ate their meal. As the plates were cleared away and the servants began to bring out dessert he heard Wilya gather Amara's attention and from the look on his face knew his luck would soon run out, so before Wilya had time to begin asking her questions Thranduil stood up clinking his fork against his glass.
"Friends, family, I would like to thank you for joining me tonight. As most of you are by now aware, our dear King Estel and his son Prince Aenoscal are unfortunately leaving us much sooner than we had originally anticipated, and while we are sad for their departure, we will thankfully have something to celebrate, as Aenoscal begins a family of his own."
Thranduil paused for a moment as most everyone took a moment to express their congratulations.
"Yes, yes, we all wish you many happinesses in your life to come." He took a breath. "And to continue the joy, I have spoken to King Estel and he has offered to bring our dear friend Amara along with him, back to his home, so that she might visit with her people for a time." Thranduil kept his smile glued on his face, as only years of being a political figure head could allow him to do. "I will not keep you from your meals any longer, Aenoscal, congratulations, and Amara; have a wonderful and safe journey."
Amara's head snapped to look at Aragorn, who had a somewhat guilty look on his face. She couldn't believe it, Aragorn had mentioned that they were leaving in a few days; she however had not been told that she was going too. She stared at him, trying to keep her mouth from dropping to the table, but he wouldn't look back at her.
Aragorn kept his eyes glued to the plate before him. When Thranduil had suggested he take Amara to meet other humans it had seemed like a good idea. Legolas hadn't made much progress on the solution to his problem, and Aragorn had thought that this would give him some more time to investigate. He hadn't thought that anything would have happened between Legolas and Amara before they would leave, but the second the two had walked in the door he, like everyone else in the room could tell that something had changed. Aragorn couldn't bear to look at his friend or the woman he loved, he knew how fragile things would be now, and how this news would do nothing to help.
Though Aragorn held his head down and Amara searched for answers in the faces of those she knew Legolas did what he had been breed to do. He kept calm in the face of what could easily become a hostile situation. Under the table, so that no one would see, Legolas took Amara's hand in his own causing her focus to shift to him.
"It looks as though you will be going somewhere after all." He tried to joke. His joke only caused Amara's face to fall further.
"I had no idea. I'm so sorry." She tried to tell him.
"Don't worry. " Legolas told her as he squeezed her hand. "It's only for a short while I'm sure."
Because of Legolas' calm demeanor and assuring words and actions Amara seemed to breathe slightly deeper and begin to relax. But although Legolas seemed calm on the outside he was raging on the inside, determined to speak with his father as soon as possible. He could see the false smile on his father's face, the smile he gave when he had to tell the public something and assure them that it would all be alright. Legolas hated that smile when it was used on him.
As the meal finished up Amara was soon swept up by Wilya and a myriad of other well wishers who were desperate to talk to her, so after a quick promise to find her later when things had calmed, Legolas made a bee-line for his father who was clearly trying to escape a conversation with an advisor so that he could avoid his son. Lucky for Legolas that did not happen.
"Father, if I might have a word?" He interrupted politely, and before his father could claim that the conversation he was currently having was too important for him to end, the man he was talking to had quickly slunk away.
"Yes, my son?" Thranduil asked hesitantly.
"I think it would be best to speak about this outside." Legolas said motioning for his father to lead the way out of the hall.
Once out in the hall Legolas dispensed with all pleasantries. "What exactly is so important in Gondor, that Amara must go and see it?"
Thranduil sighed, he had known Legolas would not take this well, but he hoped that when he explained himself things would be easier. "I know you are very fond of Amara son," he paused as Legolas shot him a look, but held his tongue, "We all are. But we must not forget, she is not an elf, I'm sure she is aware of it more than we are at most times, and I just thought she might enjoy not standing out for once."
Thranduil waited for Legolas to say something. Legolas had been prepared to be angry he had not been prepared to see reason, and because of this he had nothing to say.
"It won't be for long, plans for Aenoscal's wedding are already being put in place. She will stay with them until then, and we will of course join them for the wedding, and afterward, she may come home with us." Thranduil paused to wait for a reaction, and could see the wheels turning in Legolas' head. "You were once so keen on seeing the world." Here Thranduil tread lightly, "Does she not deserve the ability to do so as well? To see more of this world than just what we can offer?"
They sat silent for a moment more before Legolas finally spoke. "I admit that this has not come at an opportune time, but I understand. It is for the best." Though Legolas fully believed in what his father had said his heart still weighed heavy with the thought of Amara leaving, so without another word Legolas left his father who breathed a small sign of relief, at least this part had gone well.
Legolas stayed true to his promise of finding Amara when things had calmed and most had left. He found her sitting just outside the dining room sitting on a railing and plucking at a branch from a rather tall bush. A smile found its way to his lips as he snuck up on her. Swiftly he wrapped his arms around her and landed a kiss on her cheek. Amara who had not heard him coming gasped at the sudden contact and would have lost her balance and fallen if Legolas' arms had not been holding her steady. Once Amara's balance was restored Legolas helped her off the railing and the two began walking.
"Everyone's really excited for me to go. Almost makes me think they don't want me here." Amara joked.
Legolas smiled. "They just know it's a good opportunity for you." He said.
"So you're not upset that I'm going?" Amara asked, only slightly worried about his answer.
"I don't want you to leave." Legolas stated, "But you'll Gondor, and it is a good idea for you to spend some time around more humans."
The word humans threw Amara for a loop. She was about to protest the word when she looked back at Legolas and saw the hair pulled back in braids behind his ears, his tall pointed ears, that lead to sharp cheek bones that fell under eyes far too old to belong to the young body that possessed them. She quickly stopped any response she had originally had at that. "I guess." She said instead.
Legolas stopped walking and took Amara's hands. "You're not going forever. I'll see you at the wedding."
"I know." Amara said, "It's just that this is so ridiculous. Last night and today, we've been together not even a full 24 hours and I've got a departure date."
"Yes but one that's not for a few days, and then you'll only be gone a few weeks at most, and you're not going alone. You and Aenoscal can get to know each other better on the trip."
Amara wanted to growl in frustration. At first because she was leaving but then, because she realized how she sounded. She was getting this upset over leaving a guy that only a few days ago she wasn't even sure she liked. She sounded like a stupid teenage girl in a book, not like herself at all, but looking back up at Legolas, she figured if she could date an elf, she'd allow herself to be a romance novel character for a little while longer, so she smiled let go of one of Legolas' hands and continued their walk, quickly changing their topic of conversation.
