Legolas twisted around in the chair that had been set up for him in the throne room of the palace, "where is she?"

            Aragorn glanced around and noticed several MoonElves giving them disapproving looks, "shut up, she's fine," he whispered and elbowed him in the side.

            With a loud sigh, Legolas slumped back in his chair, staring fixedly at the floor, his arms crossed and his foot moving impatiently.

            Suddenly, Rayvin emerged from the double doors at the back of the room and glanced around, then opened the door all the way and announced, "Savina, heir to the throne," then moved to the side.

            Savina took a deep breath and stepped into the room, trying hard not to trip over her dress. She realized that if she took shorter steps she didn't trip over it as much. As she glanced around the room and the mass of MoonElves seated on either side of the aisle, she realized that she was going to be their queen in only a few minutes. Straightening her shoulder, she started down the aisle.

            As she passed, the MoonElves rose to their feet and turned the front of the throne room and turned to face the shining silver throne at the front.

            Legolas clutched Aragorn's arm, "look at her," he said in a barely audible voice as she passed, her skirt rustling.

            Nor stood next to the throne, dressed in resplendent silver armor with a silver box on a stool next to him. He looked so solemn and grave that Savina hesitated for a moment on the bottom of the three steps leading up to the platform on which the throne stood. When he noticed her hesitation, he smiled slightly and beckoned her foreword, "come foreword, Savina Septulinar." He reached out and took her hand to make sure she didn't fall on the stairs. Then he put his hand on top of the box, "kneel."

            Heart beating wildly, Savina knelt and lowered her head.

            Nor opened the box and took out a small silver ring, with intricate, swirling carvings of stars with a moon in the middle, "your hand," he took her hand and slid the silver ring onto her right ring finger, "the ring signifies all MoonElves united under your power."

            Next he took a simple silver chain with a tiny sword with a miniscule heart on the handle on it. He put it around her neck and closed the clasp, "the necklace signifies that you are the keeper of both love and war."

            He took the last thing from the box, a graceful, silver crown. He raised it high into the air in both hands, making it catch the light and glitter like a star, "this crown symbolizes the burdens and responsibility, as well as the benefits and joy, of ruling Moonzaar." He lowered his gaze, "do you accept the crown, Savina Septulinar?"

            Savina longed to say no, to get up and rip off the hoop skirt and ride away with the Fellowship. But she couldn't. She lowered her head, "I accept the crown."

            Nor lowered it onto her head, then stepped back and unsheathed his sword and raised it over Savina's head, "I, the King of Moonzaar, hereby pronounce Savina Septulinar Queen of Moonzaar, may she serve her people well." He tapped her lightly on each shoulder and sheathed the sword, then held out his hand, "rise, Queen of Moonzaar."

            Slowly, Savina rose and looked at him, the full impact of what was happening hitting her.

            Nor smiled, then unbuckled the sword from his belt, "this is yours, too."

            Savina took the sword and unsheathed it, turning it this way and that in the light. It was a beautiful sword, but a little too large for her to actually use, she suspected she wasn't really supposed to. Graceful letters engraved on the handle said, "Thandrian," which meant, "ruler" in MoonElf. Realizing that the room was completely silent, Savina turned and faced the crowd, who were motionless, watching her, their eyes bright with tears of joy. Savina raised the sword into the air and the whole room erupted in cheering and shouts of "long live the Queen!"

            When the cheering subsided, Rayvin swept to the front and pointed to the tables laden with food and drink situated against the wall, "let the celebration begin!"

            Before Legolas knew what was happening, MoonElves were rushing around and the chairs were whisked away and five of the MoonElves went to the corner and started playing instruments that appeared out of nowhere. Within moments the chairs were gone and the celebration had begun.

            Savina watched all of this for a moment, then Rayvin took the sword from her and set it aside and gave her a big hug, "I'm so proud of you, my cousin!" She stepped back and looked around, "now you should dance and mingle amongst your people."

            Savina stared at her in horror, "dancing? You never said…"

            Rayvin laughed, "you don't know how to dance?"

            Flushing, Savina fidgeted with lace on her dress, "well, my father and mother gave me lessons and I went to a few small dances in Dubbin but I never…" She trailed off and stared at a tall, handsome MoonElf male who appeared next to her.

            The MoonElf bowed slightly at the waist, "my name is Derrick, would you like to dance?"

            Before she could respond, Rayvin shoved her toward the Derrick and before she knew it, Savina was pulled into the center of the room and was being twirled and spun and waltzed all around the empty dance floor.

            A few moments later, other people started dancing and the floor was filled with rustling skirts that flared out when their wearers were spun and the musical laughter of the MoonElves.

            After the song was finished, which seemed like only a few seconds to Savina, Derrick bowed, kissed her hand, and disappeared into the crowd. Savina stood there for a moment, stunned, then turned and started searching for Legolas, the one person she actually wanted to dance with. Tonight was going to be the last night they would have together for a long time and she wanted to see as much of him as possible.

            But everytime she moved someone else asked her to dance, so she was obliged to dance for another few minutes and it wasn't until twenty minutes later that she broke free of her dancing partner, a middle aged MoonElf named Torro, that she had another chance to search for Legolas. She moved through the crowd, trying to see over people's heads.

            "You look absolutely beautiful, my dear," Gandalf called merrily as he brushed past her, dancing with a young, pretty MoonElf maiden.

            Savina stared for a moment, surprised, then continued her search. She spotted a flash of pale blonde hair and started making her way through the crowd. At last she emerged and found herself standing right in front of Legolas.

            Legolas spotted her and smiled hesitantly.

            She made her way over to him and pretending to be offended, "aren't you going to ask me to dance?"

            Legolas laughed and took her hand, "will you dance with me?"

            "I'll try," she grimaced and laughed, "I wonder how many toes I crushed."

            "Nonsense," Legolas led her toward the dance floor, "you dance beautifully."

            Just then the song ended and another started up, a quieter one with a definite waltz beat. Savina put her hand on his shoulder and let him lead her through the crowd, enjoying the dance that would likely be one of the few she would share with Legolas for a long time.

            After a few moments, Legolas leaned closer, "you look beautiful."

            Savina flushed, "it's this dress…I don't…"

            He laughed and twirled her, "sure you do. I remember when I met you, wearing a dress covered in tavern scum, you were beautiful then."

            She was silent for a moment, remembering what seemed like years ago but was in reality a little less then two weeks. She also remembered Legolas' desperate hunger for love; her heart lurched at the thought. "Legolas," she began, "why do you love me?"

            "Because you're you of course. Brave and beautiful, sensitive and strong," he searched her face, "what are you thinking?"

            "Nothing," she leaned her forehead against his shoulder, "I'm going to miss you so much."

            He tripped slightly, "what do you mean? I'm not going anywhere."

            Savina smiled sadly, "you can't stay here. You have obligations and responsibilities elsewhere and I cannot leave now. Besides," she glanced at Rayvin, who was dancing with her brother and watching Legolas with a somewhat cold look, "I don't think you'll be exactly welcomed to stay."

            Legolas was silent, his blue eyes dark with sadness, for he knew she was right. He sighed and pulled her closer, "will we ever be together?"

            Probably not, she thought silently, but her love for Legolas kept some small hope in her heart alive, "someday."

            "Then I will return to Rivendell with Aragorn," Legolas glanced at Aragorn, who was talking to the MoonElf General, "but I will visit frequently because my heart lies here and not even an Elf can live very long without his heart."

            His words were meant to be funny, but they brought tears to Savina's eyes and an ache to her throat. She leaned her forehead against his shoulder again and listened to the music playing in the background, determined to keep this memory exactly as it was in her heart forever.

~*~

            The celebration continued until nearly noon the next day and the tireless MoonElves, fueled by the defeat of the Dark Lord, their new freedom, and the inauguration of a new queen, danced and sang the whole time.

            Savina yawned and flopped down on her bed, too tired to look at her new room. She struggled out of the dress and slipped into her nightdress, thinking of catching a few hours of sleep.

            Then there was a knock at the door.

            Sighing and wondering why she could never seem to get to sleep, Savina sat up and called, "come in!"

            Rayvin entered, wearing a plain black dress, "sorry, your Highness, you can't sleep yet." She went to the closet and pulled out a red dress that was much less grand than the one that was slung over the chair of her dressing table, "this will be perfect."

            Yawing, Savina put it on and brushed her hair, "what am I doing?"

            Rayvin spotted the crown on the dressing table and pointed to it, "you don't need to wear the ring or necklace, or carry the sword, but you do need to wear the crown most of the time." She watched Savina put it on, then continued, "today you're seeing your friends off."

            Savina stared at her in horror, "right now?"

            Rayvin shrugged, "in a few hours, I've informed them that they need to pack and get ready." Seeing Savina's look, she continued, "we have much to do, they are welcome to visit but…"

            "Fine," Savina straightened the crown and sighed, "arrange for someone to pack a weeks worth of food for them, then arrange a nice lunch for myself and my friends, somewhere pretty."

            Rayvin nodded, "I know just the place." She rushed out, leaving Savina to realize she was in this deep and she was soon to be all alone.