A/N: Just a few thank you's to take care of before the next chapter can proceed.

Meggie-S: I am glad you're liking it so far. I'm having fun writing this.

Jacque: Thanks for the compliment. In the storyline, Legolas is always so mature. I thought if he had some amusing friends, a lighter side of him could be shown. Thanks for reading!

Chapter 3

The next morning found Ziendriel up with the dawn and on her way to the House of Healing once she had finished with her small breakfast. She loved waking with the sun as it always reminded her of fresh beginnings. She could put the previous day's moments aside and start anew. Thus, her encounter with the prince of Mirkwood was pushed to the back of her mind, nearly forgotten.

Until he showed up at the House.

As she did when there was a lag for Healers, Ziendriel began to organize the cupboards that housed many of their healing herbs and potions. It was a habit she had learned from Lord Elrond, who had always told her, "A healer must always know what is in his or her cupboard. And the best way to know that is to always keep it clean and tidy."

Velia and the others teased her of her tidiness, calling her somewhat obsessive about it, but Ziendriel always took it in stride. Some habits were hard to break.

And this was how Legolas found her when he arrived at the House, busily tidying the cupboards. So engrossed in her work as she had been in her thoughts the previous day, she once again did not hear him approach her. It was only after a loud cough from Velia that Ziendriel stopped and turned.

She curiously glanced at the prince. "Milord-?" she said, somewhat hesitantly. She curtseyed, quickly, then asked, "May I be of some assistance to you today?" He did not look hurt or injured in any way which puzzled her.

He smiled at her in greeting, reading her expression. "Good day, Lady Ziendriel," he said. "I thank you for your offer, but I come not to you for healing today."

She looked then to Velia, who was trying to suppress her smile. She sent her a questioningly look, but the older woman shook her head, then walked away. "Have I done something wrong, milord?" she asked, somewhat worriedly. She could think of nothing else the prince could be here for if not healing.

Legolas laughed at her worried face. "No, Ziendriel," he answered, kindly. "There is nothing amiss. You have no cause to worry."

She visibly relaxed. It would do no good to have caused trouble for the prince; her father would have her head first! "Forgive me for being so forward, your Highness," she said, "but may I ask for what purpose have you come here?"

"That is easily answered," he said. "I have just finished an audience with my father and after such an ordeal-" He pretended to be exasperated, which made her laugh. "-I took a walk in the gardens. It brought back a memory of our conversation the previous day."

She looked at him, confused. "And, what memory was that, milord?" she asked.

"You mentioned being the apprentice of Lord Elrond," he replied. "He is a great and revered Healer and I was curious to see what 'magic' he has passed on to you."

Ziendriel glanced around and smiled. "I'm afraid it will have to be some other time, milord," she announced. "There does not seem to be any patients at the moment to work my 'magic' on."

Legolas laughed. "In any event," he said, "Will you walk with me? I believe there is a certain bench in the gardens that requires our attention." He held out his hand to her.

Ziendriel looked surprised first, then puzzled. Did the prince just invite me for a walk? She thought, frowning a bit. She looked at his outstretched hand and realized it to be true. Why in the world would he ask me?

Now Ziendriel was not a vain elf. She knew she was not stunningly beautiful like Ariel and most thought her plain, but she knew she was presentable. It was just the truth and she had accepted it. But, she knew that the prince was considered handsome and constantly had leagues of fair maidens pining after him. And from what she could see and understand, he enjoyed the attention. So why was he wasting his time with her?

"Ziendriel?" Legolas became concerned when her silence stretched longer than a moment. He moved closer to her, his eyes noticing the slight frown on her face. "Ziendriel?" he repeated, placing a tentative hand on her shoulder.

That touch broke her from her thoughts. Her eyes flew to his and immediately, she blushed. "Forgive me," she apologized. "I fear my thoughts wandered off with me."

He offered her his hand. "Will you walk with me?" he asked again.

"I-I do not know if I am able to, milord," she answered, her eyes drifting towards Velia.

Legolas followed her gaze and nodded. "Do you suppose she will bite my head off if I dare ask for her permission?" he whispered, jokingly.

Ziendriel giggled. "I will try to protect you, but I make no promises," she returned, making him chuckle.

"I will not have any conspiracy in this House!" Velia called from the other side of the room, watching their exchange with an amused eye. She knew what most of the people thought of her and it amused her greatly. "Prince or not, I will not allow it!" she added, pretending to be menacing.

"Then I will have to rescue this fair maiden from your mistrusting eyes!" Legolas announced. There was laughter in his eyes as he took Ziendriel by the hand and quickly led her to the door.

Velia snorted. "Rescue, my foot!" she muttered, smiling. She watched the prince lead Ziendriel down the path. "Please return my healer when you are done 'rescuing' her!" she called after them, "Preferably before supper!"

Laughter drifted along the forest air.

They were still laughing when they reached the gardens. They quickly made their way to the bench they had met at the day before and collapsed upon it, gasping for air.

"For a moment I thought she was being serious!" Legolas gasped, holding his sides. "I do not think I have ever faced anything more frightening!"

This made Ziendriel laugh harder. "Oh, please!" she begged, gasping for air. "I cannot breathe! Stop making me laugh!" She wiped at the tears streaming down her face with one hand, while the other held her aching side.

When their laughter finally subsided, Legolas said, "You spoke the truth. Velia the Dragon does indeed have a soft side."

"She will not if you allow her to hear that name," she warned him.

Legolas tried to look repentant, but failed, causing her to smile. "We will speak no more of Velia," he announced. "We will only speak of ourselves now that we sit here on this bench."

She raised a dark eyebrow at him. "When was this rule decreed?" she asked, defiantly.

"From this moment on," he told her. "I am prince, after all."

Ziendriel rolled her eyes. "Your abuse of power is overwhelming," she said, sarcastically.

"You would do well to be pleasant to your prince," he mockingly warned her, "for it is at my discretion to return such pleasantries."

She tried to return the gesture but soon found herself laughing. "You are incorrigible, my prince!" she laughed, pushing him away.

Legolas smiled. "I aim to please," he said, bowing with a flourish.

She rolled her eyes. "Enough of that!" she exclaimed. "And let us follow the rules. Now talk!" She pointed a finger at him.

Legolas was amused by her. Never had another maiden talked to him like this before, as if they were old friends. She was relaxed and poised, but more importantly, her true form shone through clearly. He knew that the maiden that sat next to him held no secrets from him, nor played mind games that most desired to play. He found it strangely refreshing.

"I believe I should be urging you to talk, milady," he said. "It is apparent that I know nothing of you."

She shrugged. "What would you like to know?" she asked.

"Tell me of your time in Rivendell," he requested. "You lived there for many years, away from your family. I would like to know of it."

"Rivendell was my home for most of my young life," she began, "and, I loved it. Lord Elrond bestowed me with a lovely room near the waterfalls. Those were the sounds I awoke and fell asleep to. It soothed me when I missed my family." She paused for a moment, as if remembering, and sure enough, a smile found its way across her lips. "I think the sun shines brighter on Rivendell than Mirkwood. Each day that I awoke, the sun made it appeared as if it was the day Rivendell was born. As if everything had bloomed for the first time."

"It sounds wonderful," Legolas said, softly.

She smiled. "It was," she agreed. "And, I will forever treasure Rivendell and Lord Elrond in my heart. But always, in the back of my mind, there was something missing. I felt incomplete even though I was happy."

"You missed your family," Legolas realized. He knew the feeling. While traveling with the Fellowship he had often felt the tug homewards.

She nodded. "Rivendell will always be a home for me," she said, "but, my true home is here in Mirkwood. My family is here and that is what makes it so." She said it so simply, but he could hear the conviction in her voice.

Legolas smiled at her, touched by her sentiments. It was then that he remembered something. "Were you at Rivendell at the time of Elrond's Council concerning the One Ring?" he asked.

"Yes," she answered, nodding her head. "Unfortunately, I was preoccupied with an ailing elder to have taken part in the events of that time."

"Then I apologize for not meeting you then," he told her, solemnly.

She laughed. "It is alright, my prince," she assured him. "I was in the background of things, where I belong and prefer." She smiled at him, letting him know that she said this with no malice. "Now, it is your turn," she added. "What of this great gift I have heard of from the Lady of the Wood. The fair Lady Galadriel?"

At this, his eyes sparkled with life. "'Twas a bow unlike any in Mirkwood!" Legolas answered, proudly. "And a quiver of arrows as straight and true as I have ever beheld! 'Tis stronger and strung with elf hair. It truly is a grand gift."

"It sounds wonderful!" Ziendriel murmured, trying to imagine it.

When he glanced at her, it was as if he read her mind. "Would you like to see it?" he offered, then smiled at the hopeful twinkle in her eyes. He stood and told her, "I will be but a moment!" He left her quickly, making his way through the halls of his father's house.

When he returned, she was just where he had left her, waiting patiently. He placed the bow into her hands and smiled at the careful way she handled it. She ran her slender fingers over the carvings in the wood and gently pulled on the string. "Beautiful," she murmured, a small smile on her lips.

It was then that Legolas noticed her handlings of the bow. She held as one who was quite familiar with the workings of one. "Are you an archer?" he asked.

She looked up at him, surprised. "No," she answered, giggling. "I am merely a healer wishing to be an archer." Prompted by his look of confusion, she explained, "My grandfather once told me of archery. Unfortunately, he was not able to give me formal training." She carefully handed the bow back to him.

A sudden thought came to Legolas' mind. "Would you like to learn?" he asked. "I will be more than happy to help you."

Hope leapt to her eyes. "I would be honored, milord!" she exclaimed, her excitement evident. "Although I do admit to being a slow learner. You may find yourself frustrated before the end of our first lesson."

"No one excels at an art without making mistakes," he assured her. "Even I was not good until well after I begun my training."

Ziendriel pretended to be surprised. "You?!" she exclaimed, mockingly. "No! Surely you jest, milord!"

Legolas smirked. "You are amusing, Ziendriel," he told her. "And I do not jest about this." He paused for a moment. "I do have some business to attend to for my father, but if you will give me a few days time, I will prepare for your lessons."

"That is very kind of you, milord," she said, sincerely. "And, I accept your offer."

"Legolas." He told her, causing her to pause. "Call me 'Legolas' if we are to continue with your lessons." When he saw she was about to protest, he added, "I command it, Ziendriel." It was his best imitation of his father that he could muster, but only succeeded in making her laugh.

"Very well, mi- I mean, Legolas," she agreed. He smiled at her. "Well, if that is settled, I should return to Velia," she announced. "I don't dare speculate what she will do to you if I am not back before supper."

Legolas pretended to be horrified. "We must hurry!" he exclaimed with a comical face of fear. He grabbed her hand and pulled her along, laughing all the way.

From the shadows of the balcony overlooking the gardens, a pair of elven eyes watched the young couple run along the path. It studied them for quite some time before turning away. "Hmm," the mysterious figure said, thoughtfully, "Interesting."