Quenya: I'm glad you're enjoying this; my brain works faster than I can type sometimes, which is why I try to get at least one chapter out a day! As for Ziendriel's "magic" as a Healer, you read my mind! There will be a chapter or two coming up soon, I promise!

Sanely Challenged: Thanks for letting me know on the errors; I went back through the previous chapters and found quite a few.  Guess that's what I get for letting my husband proof read! J Hey, are you a beta-reader by chance?

A/N: Okay, here is the next chapter. I am a little unsatisfied with it, so if y'all could read it and then offer a few suggestions of improvements, I will worship you all for eternity! J

Chapter 16

            Elyse Silverstream was livid.

            Not only had Legolas invited someone else to his father's ball, but he was also ignoring all the other maidens who were in attendance! So far, most of the songs Legolas had danced to had been with the older Yalith witch. Ziendriel was holding fast to him and was not giving anyone else a chance!

            She did allow him to dance with his father's sister! Her brain argued, as she watched Legolas glide Ziendriel past her. She was seething!

            His aunt does not count! She argued with herself. Her brain remained silent afterwards.

            Her eyes fixated on the dancing couple and she felt her anger return ten-fold. Who does Ziendriel think she is? She thought, bitterly, Does she not have the courtesy to allow others the opportunity to dance with their prince? She folded her arms across her chest and frowned.

            He did ask her to the ball, her brain timidly tried to reason with her, She is allowed a claim on him; at least for tonight.

            Elyse lowly growled and her brain went silent again. She glanced around and saw that some of the people within earshot were staring at her strangely. She forced a bright smile; the people smiled back, then turned away. Immediately, her frown returned.

            I will find a way to get to Legolas! She thought, determinedly, Even if it takes all night!

            Ziendriel was not dancing when she bumped into one of her sister's friends. In fact, she had not been "twirled" by Legolas in quite some time. Their last dance had been two, maybe three songs ago, and she had taken her leave to find her parents. His aunt had swooped down on him then, dragging him off, laughing.

            She had found her parents near the king's dais and had immediately been welcomed. With the exception of Ariel of course. The younger girl was still a tad bit upset with her, but Ziendriel decided not to dwell on it. Besides, she thought, the smile on her lips, She does not seem to mind the company of Lorith at the moment. After greeting her somewhat quietly, Ariel had latched back onto the elven-lord's arm, much to his delight. And when she spoke to him, she leaned her head close to his, creating quite the intimate body language.

            Ziendriel smiled, as she made her way back to her seat. I will have to 'ask' Lorith about my sister, she decided, which meant a great deal of teasing was ahead for the prince's friend.

            It was after this thought that Ziendriel had literally bumped into Elyse Silverstream.

            "Oh, Ziendriel!" Elyse exclaimed, one hand splayed delicately across her bosom, "Forgive me! I did not know it was you. You blend well with the…others in that gown of yours." She smiled then, though it did not reach her eyes.

            The older girl inwardly groaned. Here she goes with the honey-covered insults, she thought, wishing she could roll her eyes, for Elyse did aggravate her so. I have seen her and Ariel do this countless times; I am not an idiot. I know she is telling me that she thinks me to be no one of  importance. Aloud, she said, "Hello, Elyse. Having a good time?" She had decided a long time ago not to lower herself to the level of Ariel and her "friends."

            Although innocently asked, Elyse felt her blood boil. Look at her! She thought with disgust, Asking questions as if this was her ball! She is more deluded than I thought! She stopped her thoughts from going any further by answering, sweetly, "Oh, of course! I have not had my dance with the prince yet, however. Will you tell him when you dance with him next?" Her eyes were lit dangerously.

            Ziendriel, however, mentally laughed. Ah, so she is upset that the prince has not asked her to dance and she blames me, she thought, amused. "I will, Elyse," she told her, "But first, I must find him."

            "Oh, I do believe that he and his friends have disappeared off to his father's study," Elyse replied, nonchalantly, as if this was obvious news to everyone.

            "Then perhaps I will persuade them to return."

            "Oh, you wouldn't want to do that!" Elyse said, slightly shaking her head so her pretty blonde curls swirled around her, "They must be, after all, wagering their next case of charity." She winked at her then, as if they shared some sort of secret.

            Ziendriel arched an eyebrow at her. "What do you mean, Elyse?" she asked, puzzled.

            Elyse pretended to study her, then proceeded to pretend to be surprised. "You mean you really did not know?" she exclaimed, breathlessly. She lightly covered her mouth with one hand. "Oh, dear me!" she added, somewhat dramatically, "I do believe I have said something I should not have."

            "What do you speak of?" Ziendriel asked, staring at her.

            "Well, Ariel has always told me of your good humor," the younger lady explained, "So when I heard of the wager Legolas and his friends had made, I naturally assumed you knew and were playing along."

            "What wager?" Ziendriel asked. She did not know of what this girl spoke of, but the pit in her stomach told her she would not like it.

            "Why, the wager to befriend you of course," Elyse answered, "There is more to it that I do not know, but from what I do, the others wagered that Legolas could not befriend you without you falling in love with him."

            Ziendriel felt the blood drain from her face. She stood there for a moment, her body frozen with shock. A wager?! Her mind screamed at her. She felt sick at the moment, worse than when she was when nervousness settled upon her. "Um, excuse me, Elyse," she said, pushing past her. I have to find Legolas and the others, she thought, I must know what is going on!

            Elyse smiled as she watched Ziendriel rush off. "I do apologize!" she called after her, then burst into a fit of giggles.

            Ziendriel roamed the halls of the palace, trying to remember her way to the king's study. As was expected, the halls were completely empty, but were brightly lit by the torches strategically placed. She finally recognized the hall and purposely walked towards the door she knew would lead to Thranduil's private study.

            She was about to knock when she noticed the door slightly ajar, a sliver of light from inside peeking out. She put her hand to the door, meaning to walk in, when she stopped at Legolas' voice:

            "I kissed her."

            She felt her body stop and her head lean closer. She was truly curious as to what the prince would say.

            Inside the room, Legolas was nervously pacing the floor while his friends smiled knowingly. He knew the jesting would not be far behind.

            "And?" Jhad prompted.

            Legolas shook his head. "I will tell you no more!" he replied, "That would not be an appropriate action for a prince to take."

            Gragoc snorted. "As if you have not done worse!" he said. Legolas punched him in the arm.

            Lorith noticed the prince's pacing. "If this is a good thing, my friend," he said, "Then why are you troubled?"

            "When I first sought her, it was with intrigue only," he explained, "What made her so different than the other maidens I have been with? Why did she not swoon or babble when she was near me? I tried to find answers to her puzzle, but instead I only caused more questions. And now…now I think I am in love with her." This was greeted by great cheers and yells. "Quiet, you fools!" he hissed.

            Lorith and Jhad began dancing around the room, looking very much the fools, while singing, "The prince is in love! The prince is in love!"

            Gragoc laughed. "Only you would be troubled by this, my prince!" he jested, clapping him hard on the shoulder, "Why?"

            "Because it means you win, Gragoc."

            The answer came so quietly, that despite being inside the room, the three friends strained to hear him. Jhad and Lorith immediately stopped dancing, while Gragoc frowned.

            "Tell me you have not forgotten of our wager!" Legolas demanded, startling them, "If not, I will remind you: Gragoc, you wagered kissing, so that means you won! Jhad, you were for handholding, I suppose you will benefit also. You, Lorith, lost because you wagered I would bed Ziendriel! Bed her!" He sounded so horrified, that Lorith cringed.

            "Why are you so angry?" Gragoc exclaimed, trying to calm him, "We made a foolish wager, but Ziendriel has no knowledge of it. You are in love with her, correct?"

            Legolas miserably nodded. "Yes," he mumbled.

            Jhad stepped forward. "Then we will never tell Ziendriel," he said. He glanced at Lorith, pointedly.

            "Of course!" he answered, knowing Jhad referred to the many times his big mouth had gotten them into trouble, "Never!"

            "We will keep quiet and no one will be the wiser," Gragoc assured him. Jhad and Lorith nodded their heads in agreement.

            Outside, Ziendriel bit down on her bottom lip, preventing her sobs from escaping. Tears coursed down her cheeks as she slowly backed away from the door. Fool! Idiot! Her mind taunted, Ariel was right; you are a fool to ever think the prince would have willingly sought you out!

            She shook her head wildly, still staring at the door. How could he? She thought, How could all of them…? Her thoughts broke off as a noise sounded from within the room. She saw their shadows through the small opening, heard their footsteps and murmurs coming towards her.

            With a slight gasp, Ziendriel turned and ran down the hall. It was the fastest she had ever run in her life, but she was not about to stop and congratulate herself. She did not stop even when she reached the main floor. Instead, she bypassed the Great Hall and the ball and ran along the tunnel that led to her home.

            Meanwhile, in the hallway that held the private chambers of the king and his counselors, the prince and his three friends stood in the doorway of the king's private study.

            "Did you hear something?" Legolas asked, peering out into the hall.

            Tiri stared down through the tunnel, where Lady Ziendriel had run through just a few moments ago, a smirk on her face. She laughed, her eyes malicious and hard. "This will please the mistress," she murmured, then laughed again, walking away.