A/N: Hey Fam! Finally finished the chappy for today, and I hope you guys enjoy reading it! I had a lot of fun writing it! Thank you to all those that added Starlight to your Favorites & Follow lists; it really means a lot! I have decided that I will be writing Starlight in Legolas' POV, but idk when I'll start uploading it. There are other stories that I have been working on that I want to upload before I get to it. Question for you guys: What kind of get-to-know-you questions would you like Legolas and Tori to ask each other? I would love to hear your ideas, so write them down in a Review to let me know(or if you have any q's). Don't forget to Favorite & Follow this story to be updated on when the next chapter is uploaded! As A reminder, I update every Sunday, unless I say so otherwise!

Lil'Sparrow7: Thank you for all your little reviews! It's wonderful to know that you find this story entertaining!

Katia0203: Isn't it just wonderful! I really enjoy writing interactions between Legolas and Tori! Thank you for noticing that sexual tension between them! It is very intentional and I'm glad that you are enjoying it :D

Maja: Thank you for your thoughts! You'll be happy to know that I have indeed decided to make a story in Legolas' POV. Still have to come up with what to call it, and plan things out that will happen in the story among other things, but I'll make sure to let everyone know when it's ready to post! Thank you for loving the story as well! It's always wonderful opening up my email to learn I have gained another reader!

Namárië,

Tasarin

Chapter 23: The Long Dark of Moria

After we had rested and another sip of miruvor to brighten our dampened and downtrodden souls, we set off again into the dark. Gandalf led at the head, followed by Gimli, with Frodo and Sam not far behind. Seeing as how elvish eyesight was more helpful to our companions in the blackness, Legolas led me further up the line where we stayed behind Sam. The rest fell in line behind us with Aragorn at the very back.

Somberly we walked the path as it twisted and turned so many times that my head spun. What once started out as a slow descent, grew more steep. Deep down into the roots and bowels of the mountain we went. The air became hot and stifling. The humid air clung to everything and little beadlets of sweat rolled down my skin.

Sometime during our journey, Legolas started to hold my hand. It seemed that the heat under the mountain was affecting him as well, because his palm slipped against mine with sweat. Not that I minded though. It was quite the comfort. I had started to feel claustrophobic in the dank and twisting tunnels that we were traversing. I was dying for just a single glimpse of the sky, and I had no doubt that Legolas felt the same; It was unnatural for an Elf to be this far under the mountain.

In the dim light of Gandalf's staff, many more paths, stairways and arches were lit. This bloody hell hole is a maze! The long dark had already affected my mood greatly-which wasn't great already due to my injury-, so of course when the trail we followed started showing signs of horrid disrepair, it was no wonder my mood turned more sour. At one point we had to jump over a 7 foot gap right in the middle of the rocky path. It took a lot of convincing to get the hobbits to jump over the cracked crevice.

The dangers on the path turned our once good progress into all but a crawl and after much travelling in such a slow manner, Gandalf stopped at three arches to sit on a boulder jutting proudly from the ground.

"I have no memory of this place at all!" The old man muttered in a hush, lifting the lighted gem to the arches as if looking for some secret clue, "I am too weary to decide, and I expect that you are all weary asI am or wearier. We had better halt here for what is left of the night." Merry and Pippin dared to send dubious looks to the Wizard. Being down in this contant deep dark was really disorienting, so I couldn't blame the hobbits for their disbelief.

"Will you join me?" Legolas whispered in my ear, ushering me over to a spot on the landing. I nodded vigorously, which earned me a dazzling smile from the elf. He helped me sit, and then took his place by my side. I watched the hobbits settle into their spots and grinned as they dug into their packs for food and water, but quickly grew bored of the continued hush that had settled over the group as Gandalf sat silently staring at the three arches. I shifted on the hard ground and grimaced as pain shot up my side; nowhere near as bad as before but still a pain in the arse...literally!

The silence was deafening on my eardrums, and even the smallest noises that would have gone on ignored, were amplified. I swear I could hear the beat of every heart in the company, including Legolas'. I peeked over at the elf in question and watched him for a little while. His eyes were squinted, looking out into the darkness for anything that might be a danger to us. I couldn't help it as my eyes travelled over his face to rest on his lips.

Again, that hollow aching hunger twisted and writhed deep in my belly. I looked down at his hands that were balled into tight fists, and looked to his pointed ears. I wonder what they feel like? My hand twitched involuntarily from their place in my lap; suspended awkwardly in the air. Of course it was right at that moment that Legolas' eyes slid to mine, completely full of curiosity. He lifted a quizzical brow at my hand.

"Yes?" He asked, as a slow smile spread across his lips. I forced my hand to fall back into my lap and I cleared my throat, looking away from his eyes back to his ear again.

"I'm curious…" My fingers ached to feel them.

"About?" He probed patiently. I almost voiced my desire to touch his ear, but lost my nerve at the last second and looked down at my hands.

"I was just...wanting to continue our discussion…," I looked back into his eyes shyly, and caught a look flash through his eyes, "The one on Caradhras?" I supplied and his eyes lighted with understanding as he chuckled.

"What more did you want to know of me?" I had already asked about his favorite color; not really much information to go on when trying to get to know someone. What else do I want to know? A part of me-somewhere deep inside-answered with the one simple word: Everything.

"Um..how about...What food would you not eat, under any circumstance?" He chuckled again and I blushed. Of all the deep things to ask, you ask what kind of food he doesn't like to eat?! I berated myself silently as I watched him think.

"I do not recall ever tasting food that I have not liked." His answer seemed too polite and agreeable to be true.

"Horse shite! Come on, I know there is something that you detest eating." He glowered at me before turning his frown to the pebbles by his feet in deep thought.

"Well...There is a dish that I had only once that was...Less than exemplar."

"You mean arse...it tasted like arse?" The corner of his lips quirked up at that, but he fought it back into a mock frown.

"Yes...It was by far the...most interesting thing I have eaten in all my millenia. What about you? Have you found any food that you dislike?" I chuckled along with him before I thought.

"I've never been fond of Haggis." I replied.

"What is Haggis?" He asked

"Oh just left over meaty bits that normally get thrown away, mixed with some oats and other ingredients, wrapped lovingly in a bladder of sheep stomach." Legolas' nose crinkled in disgust.

"Sounds…"

"Heinous?" I offered with a smile, "It's easy to figure out why I dislike it so. Unfortunately for me, it was a daily popular dish that was made during the holidays. It was tradition."

"That sounds like a tradition that I would rather not be a part of." He shuddered.

"You and me both!" We laughed together again.

"You never told me what it was you ate. What was it?" His laugh died off quietly as he glanced at me.

"Do not worry yourself over it." He brushed me off quickly. Huh...suspicious. I watched him as he squirmed under my gaze. Squirmed! Legolas Thranduilion, Prince of Mirkwood, squirming.

"What was it Legolas?"

"I wish not to say." He avoided my eyes, and I felt a thread of frustration that he refused to answer such a simple question. Unfortunately for him, I could be very persuasive if I needed to be. I scooted closer to him and sat between his legs, and looked into his eyes, also somewhat surprised when his cheeks turned a slight pink.

"Just tell me!" I pleaded in exasperation and slight fascination at the color on his face. He met my eyes for a moment before he sighed and looked away, playing with a small rock on the floor by his leg. This shy side of Legolas was enthralling!

"There was one day in Rivendell, where I happened to pass by the kitchens," I started to feel a tendril of dread, "It also happened to be the day that you almost burned down the kitchens," Uh oh, "I hid while you were chased out and then helped to clean up what I could when I came across a rather...intriguing creation in the oven."

"No!" I breathed in horror at the memory. I remembered that day very clearly. I had been trying my damndest to follow what I had thought was a simple apple pie recipe that the head cook had given to me; Oh how wrong I had been. Legolas winced at my tone but nodded.

"It didn't look that bad, so I thought to give it a try." My eyes widened in shock.

"Sweet breath of Manwë, please say you didn't!" Even as I was forced out of the kitchens, in the heat of the moment, I had caught sight of my Frankenstein's monster: One big gaping hole right in the center of the pie, frothing and bubbling apple pie filling oozing over burnt and charcoal colored crust, dripping down to the bottom of the oven to catch fire. If I had known any better, one might have assumed that I had conjured Sauron's arse-hole right there in that oven; Honestly wouldn't have surprised me.

"I did." He said simply and I covered my burning face, curling in on myself; willing that I disappear and be swallowed up by the mountain.

"No!" I breathed pitifully and shrunk further into a ball as Legolas laughed, before he pulled me closer to him.

"Calm yourself Tori, it was not that bad." I looked into his eyes dubiously.

"Legolas, it was utter shite and you know it." I groaned into his chest. He patted my back, no doubt trying to comfort me, even as he shook with silent laughter.

"Ugh, please let's talk about something else-ANYTHING ELSE!" Legolas' shaking ceased.

"Very well." His voice rumbled in his chest against my face and I sat up.

"Your turn." I turned my still tomato red face away from him and rested against his chest. We fell back into companionable silence and my face was finally cooling down, when he voiced his question.

"When is your begetting day?"

"My what?" I asked, turning to face him again.

"The day that you were conceived." He smiled and answered as if it was the most natural thing in the world to say. Somewhat disturbed, I shivered.

"What does that have to do with anything?" He frowned slightly as my response.

"Did Lord Elrond or Erestor teach you nothing of our people?" He sighed heavily, "I suppose you could say I was simply asking your birthday."

"Oh...Then why didn't you say that instead?"

"Because they are one and the same." He smiled at me before pulling me back against his chest. That answer makes no sense at all!

"Huh?" I quipped back expertly. Legolas laughed again.

"Elven pregnancies last a year. The day of conceiving is also that day of birth." He enlightened and I nodded, absorbing that fact quietly. That's an awfully long time to be pregnant, I thought. I wonder what that would be like? Maybe it wouldn't be so bad- I settled further against Legolas' sculpted chest, and a sudden mental image of me with a very round and pregnant belly formed in my mind. With strong long arms wrapped around me, silvery blond hair of Legolas' flowing down my shoulder, twisting and mixing with mine; feeling his large hands stroke the swollen skin tenderly and- Holy hell! Where did that come from?!

I sat up stiffly and grabbed a bit of my hair, twirling it absently in my nervous hands and hoping that Legolas couldn't hear my frantic heartbeat, "I don't know the day of my...begetting. On Earth, it was decided that the day I was found would be my birthday." I finally answered, desperate for anything to keep my mind off of that image.

"And that day would be...?" He asked. The sound of his voice sent a shiver of warmth down my spine as I looked back at him.

"March 25th." He laughed then and his silvery blue pools bore deeply into mine. I cleared my throat again and looked away.

"What about you? When is your begetting day?"

"Same as yours." He laughed heartily at my surprise and soon I joined him. What are the odds!

"At least we won't forget each other's birthday." He nodded in agreement.

"No we won't." He amended, meeting my eyes again as our laughter subsided. There seemed to be a question in his eyes, but his lips stayed and for the rest of the time we remained there, I wondered what it was he was wanting to ask.