Nori was up and dressed a full hour before dawn.  Legolas was taking her on a short excursion into North Ithilien, just the two of them, and they planned to leave after an early breakfast.  Nori wasn't sure of their final destination, and Legolas would only say it was 'a surprise.'

As the sun began to peak above the Ephel Duath, they finally set off.  Legolas led the way and set an easy pace.

"How long will it take us to get there?," asked Nori, a small note of impatience in her voice.

"A few hours," answered Legolas mildly.

"Couldn't we go a little faster?"

He gave her a questioning glance, but the gleam in his eyes made Nori suspicious.

'He's enjoying this,' she thought.  'Blasted Elf!'

She took a deep breath and composed herself.  Growing up with Calenmir, she'd had a lot of practice in appearing unaffected by a little teasing.  She would not be defeated by someone who had only known her a few months!



The 'few hours' passed, and before the sun had reached the middle of the sky Legolas and Nori passed out of open grassland and into cool, green forest.  This was a great relief to Nori, who despite her efforts had started to fidget in her saddle.  The sight of tall pine trees calmed her a little, and she was sure they were getting close to their destination.

They had been following a path, but now turned northwest and plunged into the wood, leaving all paths behind.  Pines gave way to ashes and oaks, ancient trees that towered far above their heads.  Soon they came to a small, shallow stream.  Crossing it, they turned and began to follow its course west to the Anduin.

The water deepened, and began to flow more swiftly as the ground sloped downward.  Turning north they left the stream for a short while, but soon began to move west again.  The trees thinned, and the light ahead grew brighter.

When they reached the end of the trees Nori gasped.  Legolas had led her to one of the most beautiful places she had ever seen.  From the place where they stopped the ground fell sharply, and then flattened out into a wide glade.  To their left the stream ran swiftly down the slope into a small lake; to the right the stream reappeared and continued on to the Anduin.  The banks of the lake were covered with heather, and clustered close to the water were anemones and rose-brambles.  On the far side the ground was steeper, and there were many olive and bay trees covered with glossy green leaves.

Legolas watched his friend closely.  Until now he had not shared this place with anyone, not even Glamren.  He was not entirely sure why he was now showing it to Nori; he only knew that he wanted her to see it and love it as he did.

As he looked at her, Nori's eyes clouded and a shadow flitted across her face, as if she were recalling something from long ago.  Then her eyes cleared, and Legolas could tell that she was pleased.

"So, do you like my surprise?," he asked.

"Very much!  It was certainly worth the wait."

Laughing, they lead their horses down into the glade.  They sat on the bank and ate their lunch, glad of a rest after their long ride.  As they rested the sun grew hot, and despite removing her light cloak Nori soon became uncomfortable.  The slope they had come down now seemed steeper and the shade of the trees farther away, and Nori glanced longingly at the lake.  Legolas noticed the look.

"Can you swim?," he asked suddenly.

"Yes, my father taught me.  Cal and I often went swimming when we were younger."

"Let's go for a swim in the lake, then.  I've been in the water many times, and it's very refreshing on a hot day."

Legolas pulled off his boots, stood, and removed the belt that held his knife.  As he began to remove the rest of his clothing he noticed that Nori hadn't moved but was simply standing there.  He looked at her expectantly.

"Don't you want to swim?"

"Huh?  Oh! yes, I mean...  Um, well yes, but...  What about my clothes?"

"Leave them on the bank.  I don't think the squirrels will take them."

Nori's eyes widened and her cheeks became bright red.  He quite clearly did not understand what she had meant.  She didn't know how to explain without making a fool of herself, and stood there trying to find the right words.  She didn't realize Legolas was still watching her, slowly coming to an understanding of her thoughts on his own.  He smiled and shook his head.  'Just another way Men differ from Elves, I suppose,' he said to himself.

"I am going for a swim," he said aloud.  "If you wish to join me, leave your clothes on the bank.  I promise I won't look at you." 

With a smile he began again to undress.

Nori hastily turned her eyes away, the blush spreading down her neck and to the tips of her ears.  She hadn't needed to explain, but she still felt foolish.  She heard Legolas drop his clothes into a pile by his boots and jump into the water.  She turned and watched him swim to the far side of the lake and then stop, pointedly keeping his back to her.  With a quick glance around she undressed, folding her clothes into a neat pile.  She undid her braid and then quickly dove into the water.  By the time she resurfaced her blush was gone, but now her stomach was full of butterflies.

"I knew you wouldn't be able to resist!," said Legolas, swimming toward her with a grin on his face.  Nori stuck her tongue out at him and then began to swim away from him.  She reached a place where water lilies bloomed and began to study them with great interest, letting the water soothe her nerves.

Finally she turned and moved toward the middle of the lake.  Suddenly she gasped and shivered as her legs hit a cold pocket.

"The water is full of surprises, isn't it?," said Legolas, laughing.

"I'm glad you find my embarrassment and discomfort so amusing," Nori answered, putting on her best pout.  This only made the Elf laugh harder.  With a cry of frustration Nori swept her arm forward as hard as she could, drenching him and cutting off his laughter.

A dangerous gleam came into his eyes.  With a giggle Nori turned and quickly swam away from him.  She felt his hand grip her ankle, and with a scream that was half a laugh she was yanked back toward him.  He placed his hands on her shoulders and pushed, dunking her head under the water.  She came up laughing and sputtering, her embarrassment completely forgotten.

They swam and played, until finally even Legolas began to feel tired.  He let Nori climb out first, again keeping his back turned until she had wrapped herself in her cloak.  He then followed, smiling at the way she averted her gaze, but noted that this time she managed not to blush.

They sat for a while in comfortable silence, simply enjoying the warmth of the sun.  Suddenly, Nori stirred and let out a sigh.

"This really is a beautiful place," she said.  It seemed to Legolas that she wished to say something else, so he sat quietly, waiting.

"It reminds me of my father," she finally said.  "It is very much like the place in Fangorn Forest where he taught me to swim."

Legolas looked at her in surprise.

"You have been to Fangorn Forest?," he asked.

"Many, many times.  I was born within a day's ride of it, and my father knew it well."

She paused and looked at him for a long moment. Finally she nodded slightly, as if making a decision. Then she opened her mouth and began to speak.

She talked for what seemed to her like hours, telling him of her parents and her childhood near Rohan.  She also told him about the dreams she sometimes had, and Legolas admitted he had suspected that she did not always sleep well.  This suspicion surprised her a little, as she had never noticed any changes in her behavior after dreaming.  But the strongest feeling she had was one of relief.

When she was done, Legolas left her alone so she could dress.  After he returned and they had eaten, it was dark and they were both pleasantly tired.  They built a small fire and decided to get some rest.

On impulse Nori grabbed Legolas' hand and, squeezing it tightly, kissed him lightly on the cheek.  Then she turned quickly and laid down on the far side of the fire.  After a moment Legolas laid down as well.  He stared at the sky, wondering at his flushed cheeks and pounding heart.  It was a long time before he fell asleep.