Kay here is chapter three I hope you like it and again reviews I crave reviews they help me write smiles sorry that this one is so short! Disclaimer: I don't anything by Tolkien only my character yada, yada, ect!

Chapter four The Ever Anticipated Ball

"So Legolas you must tell us of the trouble you've gotten into in the last two years." Gereck laughed the three had found an ideal tree to talk and push each other off the branches. "A lot of trouble I suppose, it would take to long to tell." Legolas smiled. "Well we have a couple of hours until the ball, did your father make you have one again?" Maron asked. Legolas shook his head "I think my father is ill, he actually asked me my opinion! He is being well nice." "I think a near death experience will do that to you it is like he has grown to appreciate the things around him." Gereck stated thoughtfully. "How did you become wise Gereck?" Legolas asked smirking. "Oh I try." He answered throwing a twig at Legolas; Legolas caught it and let it fall to the ground. "Don't worry you can see Laurwen tonight at the ball." Maron state stretching out on his brach. "I would have preferred to see her privately in her tent, but you to had to stop me. On second through why did you stop me you've never done anything like that before." He asked. "Well true but we have gotten to know her in the past two years, and what she has done for the army we have not lost a battle since she became commander, we have become very loyal to her. Not to mention the fact that she has saved many of our lives countless times and what she did for the King was amazing." Maron answered. "Ya and she did not want to see you because she did not want to deal with you, she told us what you did to her. Legolas you are my friend and I will give you the benefit of the doubt but what you did to her was well harsh." Gereck muttered, treading lightly. "I cannot explain myself to you two but I will tell you that I love her very much, I will do anything to get her back." He sighed looking towards the sky. "We do not doubt you my friend, if you need help let us know. You had better hurry because she cannot last in this state much longer." Maron whispered Legolas nodded in agreement. "What about Sarnnoth does he have any intentions towards her?" "Yes but you do not need to worry, she does not return the feelings." Maron reassured. "Well that is a slight relief, but do you think he will go to far?" Legolas asked. "I don't know he always gets what he wants and I know he wants Laurwen." Gereck stated hesitantly. Legolas clenched his fists "Not while I still I live." Maron and Gereck laughed. "Come on Legolas lets go to the palace and make sure they are not making a massacre of you're coming home ball." Gereck laughed, and they made their way to the palace.

*

"Arug, stop pulling my hair." Laurwen complained "Well if I want to keep it in its braids, you are going to have to put up with it." Slrya stated "Why can't I go to the ball with my hair the way it always is, I like a single braid OW." She yelped. "I am going to do your hair, and you're going to wear your new dress and be the prettiest maiden there, so stop your hollering." Slrya said finishing her hair. "There you look beautiful. Now let me help you put your dress on." Several minutes later Laurwen was standing looking at her refection in her mirror after Slrya had left to finish something in the kitchen. She sighed and studied her appearance her waist length raven hair had been put in the several braids, which were coiled on her head letting the rest hang free. Her dark colored hair was rare among the elves and made her even more sought after for her exotic beauty. But naught was more rare than her eyes they were the color of midnight blue and sliver the two colors mixed to create something extraordinary. Her high rose cheeks and pink tinted lips were accented by her dark coloring. She sighed again and looked at her dress 'I suppose it is not that bad.' She thought and spun around; it was the color of midnight blue. The dress was tight on top, with an off the shoulder neckline, the dress belled on the bottom slightly. It had a sliver sheer overlay that began at her waist and fell into a train. "You look lovely." Slrya stated "Every he-elf at the ball will fall head over heals in love with you." "Yet the one I want to love me doesn't." Laurwen muttered "What do I do if talks to me tonight." Slrya came over and hugged her "Do what your heart tells you to do, then you shall do the right thing." Laurwen nodded and broke out of her embrace "To the palace I go." And with that she took her leave.

*

Laughter and music exploded from the Great Hall of the Palace of Mirkwood, as the elves rejoiced in the return of their prince. Legolas was seated at the high table beside his mother and father watching the guest's arrivals. He noted the high seat at the army general's table was not yet filled 'That must be where Laurwen sits' he thought. His attention was soon fixed on the entrance as the herald announced the next guest. "High General Lieutenant Commander Lady Laurwen SilverBark." He stated. Legolas gasped as he saw her properly for the first time in two years, she had grown even more beautiful. Her hair done perfectly and lovely dress showed off her beautiful figure, she was the most gorgeous elf maiden that had ever graced his eyes. Thranduil leaned over to him "She looks well tonight I see Slrya even got her still long enough to do her hair, and put a dress on her." He whispered. Legolas smiled "I do remember how she hated going to balls, why is she here anyway." "Maybe to see her Prince, though you must catch her quickly because she will leave early and work at the keep if I do not know any better." Thranduil explained. Legolas's eyes followed Laurwen as she moved towards her seat and sat down. It was a strange sight to see, as the generals all stood at attention until she sat in her seat. When the generals were seated themselves, it was an even stranger sight to see, as she seemed to converse with them as if they were all old friends. He couldn't help but notice Laurwen was very relaxed around her army men, and that she had not raised an eye to him yet. The supper passed quickly despite the ten courses. The whole duration Legolas would watch her when he was not looking and a few times he caught her watching him. He also noticed her thin appearance and that she hardly ate a bite during supper. Legolas longed to get closer to her to say what he needed to say, he found himself longing for the dancing to begin so he could have a chance to talk to her, which was odd because dancing only meant drooling she elves. Legolas turned looked to his left and smiled it seemed Gimli had a few drooling she elves himself Legolas was surprised at how Gimli had fit in. He moved his eyes farther left and spied Aragorn and Arwen, he was happy they had found each other again. Though he found himself jealous when watching there display of love, he wanted to see himself in that picture with Laurwen. He sighed again and stared at his food. Finally his wish had come true as his father sat up and announced the dancing. Legolas moved toward her table but was stopped by a she-elf, "Your Highness a dance?" She asked. "I will later in the evening lady right now I have something very important to attend to." Legolas answered the lady looked disappointed but she curtsied and moved aside, but with that distraction he had lost Laurwen and could not pick her out in the crowd. He moved over to her table Maron was still seated talking with another general, Legolas approached him. "Maron have you seen Laurwen." He asked. "She left for the keep, she only ever stays for dinner." Maron commented smiling "If you hurry you won't have to look for her forever in that dam place." He laughed. Legolas nodded "If father asks tell him where I have gone." And with that he slipped out of the ball and headed for the keep.

Laurwen walked into one of the many scroll rooms and headed for the table littered with scrolls. She had been working on rewriting an entire section of history, the scrolls were faded and falling apart she wanted to ensure that they were preserved. She sat down and open the one she was working on she glanced at the title "The First Age Wars" it was a long undertaking but it keep her busy. She had just finished the second half of the scroll when she heard the heavy doors of the keep open and close. 'Who could that possibly be' she thought, and she stealthily moved towards the entrance. She reached the entrance hall she blended into the shadows, and silently gasped when she saw who is was. "Laurwen I know you are here." He called when he received no response he began to ascend one of the staircases in search of her. "Laurwen." He called again; unbeknown to him Laurwen was right behind him debuting if she should let her presence be known. Legolas wandered into the courtyard and sighed sitting down on the edge of the fountain he held his head in his hands. She wanted to go to him but her broken heart stopped her, but when he muttered something about being everything being hopeless she could not resist. She moved out into the courtyard "Can I help you with something, your Majesty?" she asked softly still partly in the shadows. Legolas looked up "I am looking for someone, someone I have wronged, someone I love, the lighthearted Lady elf Laurwen." He stated. "You will find no such she elf here, she left a long time ago, you will only find me." She commented turning her back to him. "What if I said you are I one I seek." He asked moving toward her slowly. "Than I shall tell you that you are wrong for you do not love me." She whispered her eyes downcast. "No you are the one I am looking for, for I do love you Laurwen SilverBark." He cried and he reached out to bring her from the shadows, only to gasp in shock at seeing her for the first time up close. Her eyes were filled with tears but that was not what was bothering him it was her eyes themselves. They used to be full of light, laughter but now they were empty. Her eyes were lifeless and devoid of any light and for the first time he full realized what he had done. She looked up at him "No you do not love me you cannot love me." "I love you more than anything I have loved, anything I will ever love and I cannot make condense for what I have done. But I come asking you for a second chance to prove to you that I love you." Legolas pleaded his hands cupped her chin as he waited for her response. She looked him in his eyes, she began to shake and her knees gave way Legolas sank to the floor with her. "I . . .I cannot . . . I do not know how . . . I am sorry." She cried and with that she stood up and fled before Legolas's could catch her. "Laurwen." He cried, "Come back please come back." He yelled and wept in the darkness.

She fled from him until she could no longer find the strength to run and she collapsed onto the forest floor. She had never cried so much in her life; her body was wracked with sob after sob as she cried the last of her heart out. He had said the things she had always wanted him to say, Legolas said that he loved her, he looked her in the eyes and said he loved her. In her heart she believed him, but the small voice in her mind reminding her of what he had done would not go away and it was only causing her more pain. It would not leave her alone and she found that she could not say yes to Legolas. She was also very afraid what would happen if she had said yes. Her heart was so battered she did not know if she could ever love again. She did not remember how to love her heart could only remember pain. All these conflicting emotions were tarring her apart, to sides of her fighting and she knew she could not stand this much longer. If she didn't make a decision soon she feared the consequences. To make matters worries he grief for her brother was ever present and she felt that burning in her heart, that and Sarnnoth would not leave her alone. She could not bear this load much longer and she was going to break down if she did not lighten her burden. She knew all this and did nothing to lighten her burden; she was to void of hope and too tired to fight. She cried her sharp sobs filling the forest as the night creep away fleeing from dawn, and she remained there on the forest floor and cried until she ran out of tears.

Te he and the plot thickens! Oh well reviews please