Author's Note: Uhhhh, I'm sure you're sick of my excuses, but I had a lot of homework, I hope I'll be able to make up for it though. Anyway, I'm sorry, but for now, here's the next chapter.

Legolas woke up from a dreamless night and noticed right away that Alinne was lying on her back and staring up at the ceiling. She had a sort of scared look on her face. Legolas didn't know whether to say something or somehow let her know that he was awake or not, but in a way he didn't want to. So he lay there for a bit longer and watched her. She was definitely not asleep. Her eyes would sometimes move to a different spot on the ceiling and there they would rest for a while longer until that spot got boring as well, and then she would once again let her eyes make the small journey to the next spot on the ceiling, and there they would rest for yet longer. He noticed her hair, it was swept back behind her head so that none touched her back and it completely covered the pillow so that it looked as though it was golden like her hair. Legolas didn't want to tell her he was awake yet, he was too afraid of what will happen. Well, he wasn't afraid, he just much preferred to just lay there for just a while longer, or so he told himself over and over again.

So he lay there a bit longer watching her and noticing small details about her that he never noticed before. He noticed for the first time that her hair had a tint of reddish in it so that, you couldn't tell unless you looked at it for a while. He also noticed that her hair had a sort of madness to it. It didn't stay together and instead spread itself out unlike the neat perfect hair of every other maid Legolas had ever seen. He finally realized that this girl was far from what would be considered perfect. To his father for example, a perfect maid would always have perfect hair and body, she would be able too cook, heal, and be fully elfish, not to mention fully feminine. He would not stand a woman who could beat him in a fight, or out run him.

Legolas lay there not moving and listened to the quiet in the room, occasionally hearing the soft sound of Alinne's breath.

As Alinne lay there, she tried to remember what happened. She knew that Legolas was awake, and she knew that he had been awake for a while now, but what she did not know was what happened last night. She was a little worried and a little scared because she could not remember a thing. Her biggest worry was that they might have done something that they shouldn't have. She was tearing herself inside about it. She had to know, and yet she was scared to know. She was scared to ask, and she was scared to say anything to him.

Not knowing what else to do, she kept staring at the ceiling. She already noticed every single flaw in the design. There were only 2 flaws actually, and they were so minor that somebody who hasn't been staring at the ceiling for the last 4 hours wouldn't even think were there. But Alinne did stare at the ceiling for the past 4 hours, and she did notice them, but in her mind, she was only noticing her fright and worry.

Not knowing what else to do, she finally spoke. "What happened?"

Legolas was a bit surprised that she spoke, and he felt her worry, and shared her shyness. In a less than brave voice he answered.

"I do not know, but I doubt anything but sleep actually took place."

This reassured Alinne a bit, but the worry wasn't gone. She was wondering why he stayed with her, and now she started once again hoping beyond hopes that she simply dreamt it, and that she didn't actually grab his sleeve, and ask him not to leave.

".okay."

Alinne was a bit convinced, but not at all relieved. She never wanted to admit it, not even to herself, but she liked this elf. Before she thought about it too much though, she stopped herself and focused on other matters. She quickly grabbed the blanket and looked underneath to see if she was fully clothed. She was wearing everything but the very outer garments. This convinced her that nothing happened, and she was finally relieved a bit more. She noticed her outer garments neatly folded and put on a chair near by, so she quietly got, up, got her cloak and shoes and everything else and put it on.

Legolas, who had been watching her all along as she though, turned his head shyly away as she dressed herself. When it seemed that she was done, he slowly turned his head and saw her coming closer to him. She sat down on the bed and said to him, in a very quiet voice.

"We are making the announcement tomorrow, do not forget, I will come today in the afternoon, to make the final arrangements and to make sure we know what to do. I will, now, go back to the city, and tell everyone that there will be an announcement tomorrow. I will also see Nithem and ask her if there is anything that we need to know, and if she will advise anything. Is there anything you would like me to ask for you?"

"No thank you, but I would like to talk to Nithem as well later on, if you would please ask her to give me some time and I will come to the city and talk to her. I would like for you to be there as well, if you do not mind."

The last part was said so quietly and so shyly that Alinne had to strain her ears to hear it. But she did, and a small smile brightened her face a bit.

"I would love to, thank you."

And now, a small smile appeared on Legolas' face as well, and it seemed as if finally the clouds of worry and fear moved over, and gave space for the brightness of smiles through.

Author's Note: Wow, that last part was so metaphorical. Well, hope you liked it. I think you'll like the next chapter too. Well, I hope you'll like it.