The early morning sun shone threw the window in front of Torynn's bed, she rolled over and buried her face in her blankets, feeling the rays burn her bare shoulder.

'Awake?' Torynn's eyes snapped open as she sat up in her bed, pulling the blankets up to her chin.

'Legolas!' she squeaked. He smiled at her from the windowsill, looking at one of the books that was lying on her shelf. 'W-what are you doing here?!' she asked scooting back to lean on her head board. He smiled before snapping the book shut.

'I have come for our walk.' He said standing and surveying her indifferently. She felt her cheeks burn. She was wearing a long blouse, but it was still very strange to have him in her room. She frowned.

'How did you get in?' she asked, sounding alarmed, dropping the sheets a bit. He smiled and crossed his arms over his chest.

'Your window was open.' He said. Torynn shook her head.

'But we're on the second floor!' she said incredulously. He grinned again and she frowned, stretching and yawning. 'What hour is it?' she asked as her yawn died away. He looked out at the sun and then turned back to her.

'Perhaps six.' He said with a shrug.

'SIX IN THE MORNING!' she bellowed, throwing one of her pillows at him. He caught it with ease and frowned at her. She pushed her hair back. 'Legolas Greenleaf! You have no business here at six in the morning!' she shouted again. She was just thankful Piphony went to the market early. Legolas looked surprised.

'You mean you do not rise at six each new day?' he said, finding this fascinating. Or at least he looked as if he did. Torynn glared at him as she pulled her blankets back and swung her legs over the side of her bed.

'Legolas, how often do you scale a girl's wall, climb inside, wake her at six in the morning, for a walk?' she asked standing in a challenging matter. He let out a small laugh, which made her anger fade slightly.

'I cannot say, Torynn, that I have had that pleasure before this moment.' He said flashing her a white smile. 'But perhaps I will make a practice of it.' She frowned and threw another pillow at him.

'Not if you wish to survive! Now get out!' she yelled. He nodded to her before walking toward the window. 'NO!' she shouted, before he hopped over the sill. He turned to her confused.

'I thought you ordered me to - '

'Can you not make use of the door, like most people?' she asked, exasperated by his intrusion. It was as if he were pretending to be dim on purpose. She pulled him by the arm and then pushed him out of the door into the hall.

'I must say, I have never been treated so poorly when first arriving at a hospitable home.' He said smoothing the sleeve of his shirt, looking at her with a smile. She returned it.

'Well, you are very kind and very much mistaken.' She said closing the door.

'Is that so?' he asked looking at her with amazement.

'It is. This home isn't very hospitable to anyone.' She said so that only her head was peaking around the door. She saw his look of astonishment and sighed. 'I suppose I should apologize for that comment.'

'You should.' He said with a laugh, walking nearer to the door, so that they were only a few inches apart. She shrugged.

'I suppose.' She said, before shutting the door in Legolas' face. He shook his head. She was strange. Not like anyone else he'd ever met. Rude, and sarcastic and brazen. He was fascinated by her beauty and her unique personality. He had been so taken with her, he had sat looking at her sleeping figure for nearly half an hour before she'd stirred. He stood leaning against the doorframe, thinking about everything that made her so different and special.

'You're unlike any one I have ever met, my lady.' He chuckled through the door. It swung open and she stepped out and he felt if he were any less an elf, he would have gaped. She wore her hair up, some pieces hanging down, with daisies pinned in the messy golden curls. She wore a silk white gown that pooled at her feet and fit her hourglass form perfectly. She smiled at his reaction, though he did not lose much of his collectiveness over her appearance.

'I shall take that as a compliment.' She said in a softer tone as she held out her hand. He took it and laid a gentle kiss on it, before she guided him down the stairs.

'You never fail to surprise me, Torynn of Leof.' He said as they reached the bottom and walked toward the door. 'I was growing used to seeing you in peasant like attire. And here you are.' He said surveying her again, barely able to remember to breathe. She smiled.

'Well, do not think this will happen often Legolas Greenleaf. I may be a lady, but I most certainly do not make a practice of wearing gowns.' She said as he opened the door for her. He smiled.

'Most women of the court wear such things all the time.' He said as they walked past the balcony, toward the steps leading to the palace gardens. She frowned at this and looked down at her garment. He put his hand on hers. 'But I think you look beautiful in anything you put on.' She blushed at his statement.

'Prince Legolas, you surly jest?' she said as they came to a huge gazebo with vines crawling and snaking their way up its sides, flowers blooming all around. Legolas frowned.

'Why would I?' he asked as they halted in the middle. Torynn looked down, unable to face him, when he asked such a question. 'Lady Torynn.' He said, her eyes snapping up to meet his. 'Why should I lie to you about something so trivial?' he asked. She let out a breath and looked out at flowers.

'They're beautiful aren't they?' She said moving towards them, cupping them in her soft and gentle hands. She touched a tiny bud and wrapped her warm hand around it, lovingly. He frowned. She obviously did not want to tell him what was pestering her. Not yet. But he knew that in time she would trust him and tell him. So he smiled.

'Yes, they are.' He said, sitting on the bench near her. 'Most races do not understand how important the earth is. They pillage and plunder its bounty. While we elves see the importance of plant life. The trees and flowers and blades of grass are all alive. The very earth we walk on has born them and we care for them when no one else will.' He said touching one of the roses. Torynn smiled.

'Are you so sure, Legolas Greenleaf?' she said, his eyes turning to meet hers. 'That you can say that all races other than elves take advantage of the earth?' she said looking back out into the open air. 'And can you say that every elf protects the earth with as much care as the others? Can you make judgment on everyone, by simply grouping them together and saying that they all want the same thing?' Legolas frowned. She turned back to look at him, and smiled weakly. 'Can you justly tell me that everything as is it seems?' Legolas opened his mouth, but for once, in all his many years of life, he could not find words.

'I did not think you could.' She said with a small sigh, releasing the bud from her hand. 'I apologize, but I must excuse myself. I am feeling slightly ill.' She said turning and walking away. And Legolas did not yield her; he merely stared at the flower she'd held. It blossomed and opened its bright colors, shining in the sun's pale light.

**************************************************************************** ****

'Torynn you know he meant no attack by his statement!' Eva said as they sat in the sunlight, eating the picnic that Eva had packed. Torynn shook her head and smiled a sad smile.

'I know that Eva, but if he cannot see that things are not always as they seem...' she trailed off pushing her food away. 'He is very kind, and oddly patient, but I do not see how we could ever be together romantically.' She said crossing her hands over her bare arms. She had changed into her usual slip and red over dress. Eva was wearing a gown of purple silks. She was slim and tall and her brown eyes and reddish brown hair shone in the light. Sometimes Torynn wished she were an elf, looked like Eva. Then she could be with Legolas and nothing else would matter to her. But her heritage always seemed to be working against her.

'Do not give up hope!' Eva said tucking their remaining food in her basket. 'At least become friends with him. He seems to like you, and believe it or not, it is not always so easy to be patient with you.' She said as they stood up. Torynn smiled.

'Your honesty is astounding.' She said sarcastically. The two began their walk back up the trail to the gates leading into the market. 'Alright.' Torynn said as they neared the silver gates. 'I shall go to visit him tomorrow. However, not without your accompaniment.' Eva nodded, smiling slightly. 'What?'

'My cousin Syren works in the palace. I really should visit her.' She said thinking out loud, as she so often did. Torynn rolled her eyes.

'Eva! This trip is for Legolas and I, so that we may be alone! I am counting on you to distract his companions so that I may talk with him in private!' she said as the gates opened before them and allowed them to pass. Eva smirked, something most elves did not do.

'Well aren't you self centered.' She said as they passed into the market. Torynn gave her friend a weak punch on the arm. She had a strange feeling she would need all the help she could get.