Disclaimer: yah, you've heard it all before. Don't own anyone in this story, 'cept Bekki and Michelle. Budda bing, budda boom. There we go.

Chapter III

About seven o'clock Bekki was standing at her vanity table, running a hand down the sleeve of her dress.

"I can't believe I'm wearing this." She muttered under her breath. She'd put up quite a fight to not wear this gown but had been convinced to, so she pleased the King. It was marine blue, floor length and a traditional elven lady gown, with lace like sleeves. Her elf hand-maidens had been fussing over her and had put her hair into a traditional elven way.

"The Prince awaits your company, my lady." One of the hand maidens smiled opening the door and leading Bekki to it.

"I can't do this!" She groaned.

"Yes, you can Tararith. Now go." The elf maiden's smile became encouraging. Bekki nodded and walked into the corridor, where Legolas was dressed in rich garments. Mainly greens and whites.

"A little unusual for a Prince, don't you think?" Bekki smiled, trying to break the ice. She took a deep breath as Legolas turned to face her. When he had, he just stared. His mouth parted slightly in surprise and his eyes looked her up and down, and caught a gaze with hers.

"A little.... unwarrior like." He teased, regaining his composure.

"I wouldn't say I was a warrior." Bekki blushed lightly.

"I understand." Legolas nodded and offered his arm to her. Bekki smiled and accepted it as they walked along the vast corridors, until the sounds of music and laughter filled the air.

The couple entered the banquet hall and Bekki became very aware that she was showing a lot of skin front ward.

"You shall sit with Corinath, opposite me." Legolas whispered to her. She nodded and headed for her seat. Michelle, who was in deep conversation with the King, waved to her as she sat.

Soon, Bekki was in deep conversation with a few Elves around the table, including Legolas, who kept looking at her when he thought she wasn't looking at him. The food soon arrived, and conversation died a little while they ate. But as the food was taken away, Bekki noticed Legolas staring at her and blushed. She was about to say something when Thranduil stood up, with a glass in his hand.

"May dear friends." he began. "it fills me with great happiness to see you all here tonight, at the anniversary of my coronation, many years ago now." There was a loud cheer from the surrounding elves who charged their glasses to him. "It also fills me with joy, and yet sadness to say, that I will soon by passing the crown of Mirkwood to my son, Legolas, come the time he finds a suitable companion." Thranduil cast a sly glance at Michelle. "And with that, my dear friends, I ask you to enjoy this anniversary with drink, laughter and dancing. And to begin the dancing, I ask my son to choose a companion, and begin." With this, Thranduil sat and Legolas stood and start walking around the tables.

Bekki, who had been taking no notice of the last part of Thranduil's speech and was fiddling with her necklace, was surprised when she saw a hand reached out to her. She looked up at Legolas' blue eyes and cocked an eyebrow.

"May I have this dance?" He asked. She smiled and accepted his hand.

"Since you asked so nicely." She teased. he led her to the main floor as slow, romantic music began wafting through the room.

They stood in the middle of the dance floor, and although neither showed it, they were both very nervous. Bekki smiled shyly as Legolas placed his hand in hers and his other hand on her waist. She placed her hand on his shoulder and in his hand and they began to dance, totally forgetting about all the sets of eyes that were focusing on them.

"You are very light on your feet." Legolas smiled. "Almost as if you were an elf." Bekki rolled her eyes.

"Yah, right. As if I'm an elf." She looked around her as other elves took to the floor. Without realising, she rested her head on his chest and sighed with her eyes shut. Legolas looked down at her and gulp. Even if he was two thousand nine hundred and thirty one years old, girls still scared him. He looked over at Thranduil who smiled at him.

"Um... Tararith?" Legolas asked.

"Hm?" She looked up at him.

"Would you like to go out side? I wish to speak with you."

"Sure." She smiled and linked his arm. he led her out to the over hang from the banquet hall and leaned on the wall looking over the court yard.

"What's up?" Bekki asked fiddling with her necklace.

"Something has been bothering me since we spoke this morning." Legolas coughed.

"What?"
"I was wondering, what is this 'pollution' you speak of?" He looked at her, his blue eyes filled with curiosity.

"Pollution is classed in loads of different ways. I mean, there's physical pollution, mental pollution and emotional pollution." Bekki began. "Physical pollution is like with those Orcs. They had been polluted with evil and changed physically. Mental pollution is like what Michelle used to do in High School. She polluted peoples minds with crap like that you couldn't be in the 'in' crowd if you were fat or something like that. That's mental pollution." She sighed and looked out over the forest.

"And emotional pollution." Legolas asked, placing his and on hers without realising.

"Emotional pollution is the worst type of pollution. It's when something happens to you and your emotions and feelings go totally crazy! And when you have almost no idea about what's going on. Like, when someone close to you dies, your main feelings polluted are sadness, anguish... anger. Ya geddit?" She looked at Legolas who nodded.

"Yes.... I see why you would class emotional pollution as the worst type. It seems terrible." He said.

"Well, it's not always terrible. I mean, if you fall in love or something like that, it isn't bad, but if something really bad happens, then it is.... it's kinda complicated." Bekki laughed at herself.

"I seem to understand." Legolas smiled. "I suppose when you are happy, it is good emotional pollution."

"Yeah!" Bekki smiled rubbing her arms as she shivered.

"Are you cold?" Legolas asked, taking his cape off and placing it around her shoulders.

"Oh, well... I wasn't too cold, but thanks." Bekki smiled, brushing her hair behind her eyes.

Legolas watched her looking over the court yard. he'd never seen someone like her before. She was like a different spirit. She was nothing like what she thought she was. He knew she wasn't just a human, she was something far more enchanting. And elf. But he needed more proof than the necklace. He watched her brushing her hair behind her eyes and then noticed it.

"What was that?" He asked.

"What was what?" Bekki looked at him worriedly.

"Your ears." Legolas stared at her.

"Oh no! Please, don't laugh!" Bekki recovered her ears with her hair and hands.

"I will not laugh. Please, let me see." Legolas coaxed removing one of her hands. He moved some of her hair off her ears and smiled at what he saw. "I thought as much." He stroked her face as he moved his hand.

"You knew what?!" Bekki asked worriedly.

"I just knew you were not a mere mortal human. When I watched you fighting four days ago, you were graceful and you were able to fight hand to hand easily with Orcs, and you reacted to the elven healing much the same way an elf would. That was what first made me suspicious." Legolas breathed excitedly.

"Suspicious of what?!" Bekki demanded.

"That you were an elf!!" Legolas' eyes twinkled. Bekki gasped and gripped the wall. "The next thing that made my suspicions grow was your necklace. Each elf has a necklace which is their name meaning, and gives them immortality. Mine is the Greenleaf, and the one you told me you were left with when you were orphaned, is your own. Although I do not know what it means." Legolas inhaled deeply. "I needed only one more thing to prove your elfhood, and your ears have done that. They are pointed, like mine, like an elves. You are an elf, Tararith!"

Bekki breathed deeply, trying to take all that Legolas had told her in.

"And elf.... me?" She questioned, raising her eyes brows at Legolas who was smiling. His smile was beautiful, and soft. It gave her a quiet confidence. "That would be wonderful. But it isn't possible. I couldn't be an elf. I'm only nineteen."

"In your human years, yes." Legolas smiled knowingly.

"Well, how old would I be in elven years?" Bekki cocked an eye brow.

"I suppose a little younger than myself. It would hard to pin point your age." Legolas replied. "But I have no doubt of your elf hood."

"It's almost to good to be true. Like this isn't real, like it's a dream!" Bekki sighed and looking into the banquet hall.

"You are sad my lady?" Legolas looked at her, concern readable on his fair face.

"Not dad. Tired. Thrown. Surprised. But not sad." Bekki stifled a yawn.

"Would you care to sleep?"

"Yeah, but it'd be rude to leave your party."

!Father will not mind. He is most concerned when we have guests at the Palace. What ever you wish, is given." Legolas smiled. "I would like to escort you to your room, if I am permitted."

"Uhh.... Okay... I don't have a problem with that. But shouldn't we announce we're leaving?" Bekki asked linking his arm.

"As you wish. Follow my lead." Legolas uttered as they walked in.

"You've been spending way to much time with me!" Bekki giggled and she and Legolas stopped in front of the top table.

"Lady Tararith is in need of rest Father. So I will escort her to her room." Legolas bowed to his father, and Bekki did the same.

"Good, good. As is your will." Thranduil smiled as they rose. The walked out of the banquet hall and started to Bekki's room.