Thank you all. This story is dedicated to anyone who has written me a review, for given me so much faith and encouragement! Thanks again!J

Conversations, with a dash of dance!

                Legolas and Aragorn sat side by side, seemingly oblivious to everything around them. Legolas shifted the full mug in his hand, watching the frothing liquid splash to and fro. "So… what do you think of the Lady Joari so far, Aragorn?" he ventured, breaking the silence. Aragorn looked at his fair-headed friend. "There is obviously more to her than meets the eye, and she is unique and strange, of such that has never been seen on Middle-Earth before." He frowned. "She has great talent with the dagger, and take even greater pains to hide it well." Legolas looked at him curiously, "What do you mean?" "It's her hands," Aragorn explained, "surely you, a warrior, should know. They are neither blistered nor callused with practice, instead, they are as soft and as smooth as any lady's." Legolas thought about it, and nodded, "I see."

                Aragorn said, "Now I have a question for you. How is it the lady Joari has in her possession one of your personal daggers? Indeed, it was the sight of it in her hands that gave me start." Slowly, Legolas told him the story, beginning with their walk in the forest…

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                Joari looked around feeling thoroughly bored. She had already guzzled down at least 10 mugs of ale, and was only feeling slightly light-headed. The alcohol content here really sucks, she grumbled silently. The familiar voice in her head chuckled, there's only so much alcohol in grapes you know. She sighed inwardly, you're impossible. She leaned over to the bartender, "Sir, would you mind telling me if there's going to be any form of dancing or music here? I don't care if it's from King Arthur's time, anything will do!"

King Arthur? The bartender shrank back, (probably because of her *ahem, dress) "Well, tonight's the weekly dance night, which is why it's so crowded here," he smiled, proudly sweeping his arms around. This? Crowded? Joari snickered inwardly, but continued on, "So when does it start?" The bartender coughed uncomfortably, "Well, it's cancelled tonight, mainly because we felt that such noble blood such as yours and the Lords that you arrived with should not be bothered by such noise that we make." Obviously, he had mistaken her for some princess of some sort. She looked at his earnest face and groaned. This guy really believes in that crap. She decided to be affronted, "Noise? How is that possible? No elf I know has been able to make noise of any kind! My lord," there was a faint hint of steel in her voice, "the dance will continue on now, the people will not be denied their dancing." She stared at the elf, till he lowered his eyes, "It will be as you wish, my lady." She dropped her eyelids demurely, "Thank you, sir" she replied sweetly, startling the elf at her swift change of tone.

                The bartender left his place, quickly walking over to a small raised platform to one side. He clapped his hands, calling for attention. "Dear elves! My inn is honoured your presence tonight! As you know, tonight is the inn's weekly dance fest! (If they actually have such words…)" There was much polite clapping, and there was even some faint cheers. The hired musicians in the corner quickly started unpacking their cases.

The bartender/innkeeper bowed, "And tonight, we have the lovely lady over there to grace our dance, so please make her feel welcomed!" Eyes swerved over to where Joari was seated, and slightly louder, though doubtful, cheering ensued. "So let the dancing begin!" (Hehz… sorry, couldn't resistJJ) Joari stood up, her eyes flashing, as she gave a gracefully awkward curtsy.

Stupid dress, she thought, glaring daggers at the grinning innkeeper. (Ahh… revenge is sweet…) As the musicians struck up a light melody, couples began to dance, though some singletons, notably male, headed in her direction. So much for mingling in the crowd, she sighed, smiling ruefully at the approaching elves.

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"I had just taught her how to shoot an arrow. And the next thing I knew, a dagger was headed my way. The sight of her throwing the dagger at me was enough to make my hair stand on the end! Luckily, I wasn't her intended target, but an orc behind me receive the full benefit of her dagger. I guess she must have retrieved it afterwards…" Legolas trailed off, as Aragorn started laughing. "My friend," he chuckled in between, "Never have I thought that you would ever be fearful of anything! Being shot at with both arrow and dagger must have really been…" he couldn't help but laugh, falling short of clutching the table and rolling around. Legolas stared at his normally sedate friend in wonder. "Why Aragorn, you're in high spirits. Earlier, you looked like a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders, yet now, you seem so carefree!" Legolas remarked, as Aragorn's laughter subsided.

"Hmm… I did, didn't I?" Aragorn mused soberly. His dark mood seemed back, making Legolas immediately regret his words. "I'm sorry Aragorn. If you want to talk about it…" Strider looked at the elf, "I guess I will talk about it." He fell silent, and Legolas motioned him to speak. He started, his voice bearing no trace of his earlier humour. "Legolas, it is not easy. You know of the sacrifice Arwen has made out of her love for me. Yet…" he sighed. "They are happy for us, all of them. But deep inside, I can feel their condemnation and bitterness at the fact that I will take away their Evenstar from them. That because of me, she too will fade and die, like a flower in the summer time." He shook his head, a wry smile forming on his lips. "It was stifling to say the least. They were sincere… yet disappointed in a way…" he sighed, and not a word passed between them.

In the distance, a cheering erupted, breaking them out of their reverie. Numbly, Legolas looked in the general direction of the noise. He saw Joari curtsy as a crowd slowly surrounded her. He just stared… (HehzJ, I'm gonna trip him up…)

Aragorn looked up at his friend and followed his gaze to the now dancing girl. Inwardly, he couldn't help but smile at his friend's behaviour. "Legolas, are you alright?" he asked, *faking* concern. Legolas turned aside with a half-smile, "I should be the one asking you that question." However, he elapsed into silence. Aragorn looked on thoughtfully.

 "So Legolas, what do you feel of the Lady Joari?" he asked, trying to be as offhand as possible. Legolas shifted, a bit off balanced at the sudden change in topic. "Well, like you, I agree there is more to her than meets the eye. She seems… childlike, no that's not the word…innocent, yet wise, as if she had experience much in the world. There is…" he searched for a word, "a kind of… wariness to her. Like she's afraid to show her inner being." He laughed. "She has what we elves call a 'light front with a deep thoughts beneath it', if I can really measure her up to elvan standards. She seems almost magical, like a dream. Insubstantial, but there." He lapsed back into silence, his eyes once again drawn to the girl. Aragorn eyes twinkled (Hey, can you imagine that? Twinkle?J) "So what do you feel about her?" he asked slowly, placing more emphasis on his words.

Legolas totally lost it. A thousand different thoughts passed through his head, and his cheeks showed slight beginnings of red. "Well…I don't know" he stammered, unable to continue. Aragorn looked at him a little more gravely. "My friend, I know what you mean. She is indeed a confusing, intriguing woman" Of course, Legolas knew exactly what Aragorn meant. "Feelings are borne over time. You'll have an impression of her soon enough" He looked over at the girl, "I do not know of her feelings, nor would I profess to." (Good thing too…) "So why don't you go up to her and ask for a dance." "I couldn't possibly… and leave you here?" Aragorn stood up, and Legolas followed. "Why not? I'll go join our friends over there." He turned and began walking. "Just do it, you'll never know till you do, perhaps this could all be just a dream for you and I," he called from over his shoulder, and took his place beside Sam.

Legolas didn't know how to deal with the unnatural desertion of his friend. He just stood there, as Aragorn's words slowly sank in. I might as well, he sighed, before slowly making his way to the center of the dance floor. To Joari.

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Arg…. I'm tired… so how is it? I know, I was in a pretty much whacked up mood when I wrote this…*snicker… resulting in the rather strange behavior of the charactersJ Does it seem intense enough? BTW, should I continue their dance in this chapt, Or should do the dance in chapt. 8? So far, do your think it's too long and tedious? Tell me!!! Review!!!