Hi again!

I know it has been a long time since I have updated, but I have been working on my edits and stuff. Not religiously working on the edits, but still working on the edits. Oh yea, if you haven't already guessed I down own any of Tolkien's characters, just my own. If you haven't figured that one out yet you might want to get some help at your local mental hospital.

Thanks again for r/r!

Love ya!

Arwen

"Welcome Prince Legolas and Lady Rainia!" The joyous greeter announced their arrival into the great dinning hall of Mirkwood. He opened the sheer glass door for them, and motioned his right hand inwards. They bowed their heads a little in response, and headed in. Rainia tried to walk as gracefully as she possibly could, but in no way did it reflect the graceful walk of the other females in the room. She couldn't walk normally because of the shoes and the dress, she was forced to walk with her back straight and tall, and her toes firmly pointed. It was a rather uncomfortable way to walk compared to her normal walk.

"Rainia, are you okay?" Legolas finally whispered, Rainia smiled sarcastically, and leaned into him a little,

"Why would you say something like that?" Legolas laughed a little, but kept his composure.

"Ahh, Prince Legolas and Lady Rainia, you shall be sitting here this evening!" Another greeter flocked them over to the end of the table, next to where King Thranduil would be sitting. They took their seats, and Rainia couldn't help but stare at all the different eating utensils and plates there were in front of her. She nudged Legolas a little in his side,

"What?" He whispered,

"Unless you're planning on having three people eat from the same plate, you might want to get rid of some of the silverware!" She pointed to the numerous utensils in front of her. Legolas smiled and held back his laughter. It made sense, she wasn't really ever invited to a dinner like this, so she never had to learn what silverware went with what.

"Different utensils for different meals, just start at the end and work your way in, okay?" She nodded uneasily. She could feel the stares of the proper females around her, she felt completely out of place. She had felt more at home with the fellowship, at least with them she could relate, she was a complete stranger to this world.

"You must be Lady Rainia!" A female from across the table burst out, trying to be friendly with her.

"Err-yes, yes I am, who might you be?"

"My name is Freya, I have heard a lot about you Lady Rainia!"

"Err-thanks I guess, but you can drop the lady. I'm not really much of anything, let alone a Lady."

"Oh, well, it is nice to finally put a name with a face, Rainia," she looked at the women around her and smiled hesitantly, "besides me, on my right, is Jezebel, she is an amazing weaver. And on my left side is Maida, a splendid cook. We would love to show you around Mirkwood, it is such a beautiful city, that is if you would allow us to?"

"I would love to have you show me around," Rainia tried to sound excited, but she couldn't help the droning in her voice. A cook, a weaver, and the perky people person, what fun.

"Have fun, Rainia," Legolas whispered into her ear, and she kicked him. He grunted at the pain, but she just smiled on, happy as could be.

"The only problem is, that Boromir will be ready to go in a matter of days, I don't know if I will have time." She tried sounding disappointed, but Legolas wasn't making it any easier for her by smiling so big.

"Don't worry about that, Rainia, you shall have plenty of time, we promise."

"But you see, I was hoping to get into the practice ring, maybe try fighting a few of the students of the sword here, I have heard that there are many schools in Mirkwood."

"Can't that wait, there are more important things to do like showing you around our great city!"

"Really, I would love too, but I really need to practice, I haven't fought any one in a long time." She said sweetly, still trying to keep a smile.

"That is probably a good thing, Rainia," Legolas whispered, and she kicked him again. He jolted a bit in his seat,

"You were saying something, Legolas?" She tilted her head from side to side smiling.

"You're the devil maybe?" He said sarcastically, no longer trying to whisper. She laughed,

"That's no way to treat a lady, Legolas."

"Touché," he laughed. Of course she had him there, he had to treat her like a lady in his fathers presence. They couldn't act like they did on the trail as friends and comrades. Of course they were failing horribly at this, every so often they would slip back into their old habits, but at least they weren't beating each other up or something. But one thing they never mentioned, and that was Rainia's past. For sure she would be banished from Mirkwood if they knew the truth.

"Pardon me, but we were talking," Freya said rather snottily. Legolas and Rainia imminently stopped laughing and turned their attention back to Freya and the others besides her. Rainia cleared her throat,

"I'm sorry, Freya, we didn't realize what we were doing, right Legolas?" She nudged him uneasily.

"Of course, my deepest apologizes Lady Freya." He lied uneasily, knowing his father was watching him.

"Alright then, Rainia I guess I will meet you tomorrow in the center of town so that we can show you around?" Rainia looked to Legolas for some help in anyway,

"Umm, umm, well, umm, you see, umm"

"She is teaching classes at the weaponry school tomorrow all day," he lied again.

"Oh yes, all day, my deepest apologies Freya. And the Healers said that by the day after tomorrow Boromir would be healed and we could be on our way. I would have loved to take the tour with you, but it seems my schedule has gotten the better of me. Damn." She tried to look as sad as possible, but Legolas wasn't helping by smiling as big as he was. She grabbed her cup and started drinking it to hide her laughter.

"Well I wish you the best in your travels, and next time you are in Mirkwood I would be happy to give you the tour." She said sweetly, glancing at the king uneasily. Legolas leaned over to Rainia,

"How much do you want to bet that was all set up?" He whispered in her ear, and she smiled.

"I guess I failed his little test then?" She laughed to herself silently.

"Guess so." Legolas smiled as he noted the king's displeased face. "Guess so, Rainia." He repeated quietly to himself.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"I don't know what it is about that she-elf, but there is something about her I don't like," King Thranduil said to his guards as he watched Rainia and Legolas talking after dinner in the garden. "She seems like she is hiding something, I want you to find out what it is."

"Yes my lord," one of his guards said.

"I'm leaving my faith in you, Lady Freya has already tried to find information about her, but she could find out nothing out of the ordinary. We only have a matter of days, I wish you hurry."

"Yes my lord," the same guard promised and walked off to spy on Legolas and Rainia. King Thranduil shook his head, 'what is it about her? What is she hiding?' He thought to himself as he walked himself to his chambers.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"What are we supposed to do tomorrow, and please don't say your taking me on a tour, cause if you do I will not hesitate to kill you." Rainia smiled sweetly as Legolas laughed,

"Oh really? I would like to see you try and kill me," he joked. Rainia laughed,

"Do not underestimate me, Legolas." She smiled wickedly, "but anyways what are we doing? If we see any of those women we were talking to, no doubt they will take me on their little tour and drive me to insanity."

"You mean you're not really insane? Oh well that changes everything!"

"Ha, ha, very funny Legolas. Now will you please tell me?" She pleaded with the laughing elf.

"And ruin the surprise? Never."

"I hate you."

"I know," Legolas smiled and pulled her into an embrace. Rainia smiled and her cheeks became a little red, but she welcomed it. She put her head on his shoulder,

"Thanks Legolas," she said sweetly.

"For what? So far all I have done is mistrusted you, insulted you, and mocked you, I really think that deserves more of a slap then a thank-you." Rainia smiled,

"You took a chance on me, I only wish Gandalf could see me now." Legolas and Rainia both fell silent at this. Sure it had been months since Gandalf had fallen, but the pain was still fresh.

"He is probably looking down on you right now, beaming with delight. He's the real hero, he deserves the thank-you more than anyone, yet he is the one that is forgotten more times than not." Rainia hugged him a little tighter, seeking his protection from the world.

"I miss him so much."

"You are not alone, Rainia, the rest of Middle Earth morns with you." With that thought she smiled, she wasn't as alone as she thought she was. She finally had Middle Earth rooting for her, she was finally doing something right.

The guard stood in silence behind the cover of some near by bushes, listening intensely to what Rainia and Legolas were saying. The only problem was that they spoke vaguely, which is not what the king would want. He wanted answers, not guesses.

Legolas and Rainia released from the embrace only moments later, much to both of their disappointments. But Legolas was the prince of Mirkwood, and Rainia was, or well used to be a bounty hunter, and is still a peasant. Seeing both of the elves becoming close would bring great disappointment to the king, even if he did not know of Rainia's past.

"Rainia," Legolas said softly, "are you going to be alright?" She smiled, for the first time in her life someone besides Gandalf was showing her kindness.

"This has been by far one of the best days of my life, Legolas, why wouldn't I be okay?" She smiled.

"How so?"

"I have been welcomed in Mirkwood, I have eaten so much good food I think my stomach is going to burst, and someone besides Gandalf is showing me kindness. I have never had so many good things happen to me in one day!" Legolas laughed a little,

"So you didn't mind the dress?"

"Oh, don't worry, Legolas, revenge will come in good time." She laughed and Legolas smiled.

"We'd better get going, I'll meet you at your room again tomorrow morning?" She nodded,

"Well good night then."

"Good night."