Disclaimer: Nothing! I own nothing! (Cries hysterically) Tissue please?

A/N: Alright guys, Here it is, another chappie! Please forgive me for taking so long; my schedule is so crazy! But that's enough of my soap operatic (is that even a word?) life, on with the story!

**.** = thoughts

Chapter 5: Bachelorette Number Two

"Ah! How could he?!" a voice screeched through the once calm woods, "Just leads me on and then does what, starts talking about HER!"

A pair of hazel eyes continued to watch the elf maiden rant on and on in hysterics.

"That's all we talked about!" Adeliane threw her hands up into the night sky, "Neofina this and Neofina that! 'Oh Adeliane, did you know that Fina loves archery, and did you know that Fina loves to eat leaves a la berry!'" she continued in a mocking tone, "Why doesn't he go and marry her!"

And with those last words, Adeliane stormed away form the secluded spot of moss fuming like a fire unkept, with Thangulan's dancing hazel eyes watching with amusement.

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

Neofina woke up quite differently than she had the day before. Her green eyes alert and small hands working fast to change her tunic, she ran out of the door and towards the castle faster than one could say "leaves a la berry". Breathless, Neofina reached Legolas' door to ask how his little "date" went with Adeliane, when none other than Adeliane herself appeared around the corner.

"Oh, it's you," Adeliane sneered in disgust.

"Well hello to you, too," Neofina shot back brightly, "What happened to you? Too much excitement last night?"

Adeliane let out a horrible cackle, reminding Neofina of a witch with a long nose.

"Me? Too much excitement," Adeliane started, "I think not. All that was said last night was about you. All we needed was you in person."

Neofina's eyes reflected confusion in contrast to Adeliane's hateful orbs.

"What do mean 'talked about me'?" Neofina inquired.

"Exactly what I said, all we talked about was you. Legolas wouldn't shut up. It was all 'Neofina this and Neofina that'," Adeliane spat.

**Oh great,** Neofina thought in frustration. **Well, I never really liked Adeliane anyway. So I'll find someone better.**

"Ok, Adeliane," Neofina began, a smile plastered on her face, "I guess Legolas isn't your type. It's ok. You're just not princess material."

"Excuse me?" Adeliane asked offended, "Not princess material!" her voice squealed. She turned to leave, her once pale face now a lovely shade of red, but before she did, she replied darkly, "You and Legolas deserve each other. Two disgraceful peas in a pod."

**What is she talking about?** Neofina watched an infuriated Adeliane leave with a blank expression on her face. **Whatever. She has issues. Speaking of issues, its back to wife hunting for me. Yippy.** Neofina groaned as she left the castle, not wanting to face Legolas just yet.

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

After watching Adeliane's tantrum, Thangulan decided to pay a visit to his dear friend, the prince of Mirkwood. **Legolas is probably still in his room. Asleep,** Thangulan thought amusedly while rolling his eyes, **Lazy, he can be.** When he arrived at Legolas' door, he pounded on it harshly, hoping to scare the living b'jeebies out of his friend. From the girlish scream on the other side of the door, his plan succeeded. Rustling of bed sheets were heard, followed by light footsteps, and concluding with a very frazzled-looking Legolas peeping his head through the door.

"I didn't know you could still scream like that," Thangulan burst out between fits of laughter; Legolas gave him a dark look.

"Is that why you're here? To ridicule me? Some best friend you are," Legolas began to shut the door, but Thangulan held out his hand to keep the door open.

"Oh, come on. You know I'm just playing with you," he smiled sincerely, "actually, I wanted to ask you about your little "date" with a certain elf maiden last night."

"Wasn't that exciting."

"So? I want to hear about it anyway. What are best friends for?" Legolas opened his mouth to reply, but Thangulan cut him off, "Oh, right. They're job is to make a mockery of one's pre-mature shrieks." Thangulan winked.

Legolas cast him yet another dark look before chuckling and gesturing him to enter the room. Legolas began to fix his appearance while answering simple questions about last night. "Did you have fun?" Thangulan asked with interest.

"Some," Legolas replied nonchalantly, "quite frankly, she was boring. I did most of the talking."

"So I heard," Thangulan muttered under his breath, remembering the day's earlier events.

"What was that?"

"Oh nothing," Thangulan tried to steer the conversation elsewhere, "so she wasn't your type then?"

"No! Of course not," Legolas had an expression of utter shock on his face, "I never would have even taken her out if it hadn't been for that bet you made with Fina."

**Well that's good news. My plan might still work. Wait, what bet? I don't remember a bet.** Thangulan's last thoughts had been spoken out loud.

"What do you mean 'what bet'? The bet that you made with Neofina. You know, one of your many sick schemes that always seem to involve me."

**Neofina, what are playing at, hmm? Might as well go along with it and ask her later. To play it safe.** Thangulan smiled and pretended as if he'd just remembered something, "Oh, yes that scheme. Well it seems you didn't fall for it. Oh well."

"What were you two planning exactly?" Legolas looked at him suspiciously.

"Oh nothing really," Thangulan continued in a sarcastic manner, "just thought we'd have some fun with your love life, 'tis all." He smirked with satisfaction.

"Oh, haha, very funny," Legolas replied without amusement as he studied his reflection. He was finally ready for the day ahead of him, well at least physically he was; his emotions were another story.

"Well it looks like your ready for breakfast, or rather lunch," Thangulan shook his head knowingly and started to leave the room, "so I'll be out in the woods if you need me."

"As always," Legolas smiled, "see you around."

"Bye then," Thangulan replied before swiftly leaving the castle in search for Neofina, "Neofina, what are getting yourself into?" he questioned as he left a light path behind him in the woods.

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

Neofina went back to her village to see if anyone could give her knowledge on the women in Mirkwood. They never liked her much (the women), so she never conversed with any of them, therefore, she needed to find someone who she could trust, someone with an honest opinion, someone who knew the elf maidens on more intimate terms. And the answer to her request came running through the woods in the form of Thangulan.

"Neofina!" Thangulan came running up to her, "I've been looking for you. I need to talk to you about something."

"What a coincidence. I was on my way to find you. I need your help as well," Neofina smiled. **This is perfect! Thangulan knows almost all of the women here in Mirkwood. Especially on intimate levels.**

Thangulan noticed Neofina's devilish smile, "Why are you smiling like that?"

"Because you're going to help me," Neofina grabbed his arm and drug him to a nearby tree.

"I've already been accused of that, I'm afraid."

"Accused of what?" Neofina eyed him quizzically.

"Legolas said his outing last night with Adeliane was motivated by some 'sick scheme' you and I came up with," he looked at her, his eyes seeming to see right through her, "and I don't know about you, but I don't remember being a part of a plan involving Legolas and Adeliane. So would you kindly like to explain to me the reasons for Legolas believing so?"

**Just great** Neofina sighed heavily, "Well, you see. uh.," **You're really digging a hole for yourself aren't you, Fina?** "It was the only way Legolas would go out with her." **That's truthful, at least.**

"Now why would you put those two together?!" Thangulan's face contorted to one of disgust.

"I don't know, I guess I was desperate. I just want to see Legolas with a maiden. He never goes out with them like you do. How does he ever expect to marry, if he doesn't put himself out there?"

**Maybe because his heart already belongs to someone.** Thangulan looked at Neofina in curiosity, "Now why on Middle Earth do you care about Legolas' love life, hmm?"

"I just want to see him settled and happy," Neofina quickly replied, a little too quickly to satisfy, but Thangulan wasn't going to press the matter any further, for now. **What a lie that was!** they both thought simultaneously.

"Sure," Thangulan said with sarcasm and cut Neofina off from whatever she was going to retort back by changing the subject, "What was it that you wanted from me?"

"Oh yeah," Neofina smiled, relieved that Thnagulan decided to change the subject without further persecution, "You know the maiden's of Mirkwood fairly well, am I correct?"

Thangulan laughed heartily and arrogantly replied, "Well, if that includes they're dress size, desires, and how to escape their houses quietly at night, then I'm your man."

Neofina shoved him and rolled her eyes, "Gully, I'm serious."

"I am too."

"Oh," Neofina was taken aback, "I mean I knew you were a ladies' man, but I didn't think you were. do you really know how to escape their houses at night?"

"Of course. That's the first thing I ask them," he smiled, "wouldn't want to be injured by an angry father's weapon, now would I?"

"I can't believe you!" Neofina laughed, "You're a wild one you are."

"What can I say?" he began to flutter his eyes dramatically, "women can't resist my charm, keen intellect, and good looks."

"I think that's going a little too far," Neofina snorted.

"Hey now!" Thangulan feigned hurt, "No need to be harsh. Just ask any elf maiden and she'll tell you I'm one of a kind." He grinned.

"One of a kind alright," her voice drenched in sarcasm, "So are you going to help me or not?"

"I still have no idea what you want form me."

"Oh, I forgot that little detail, didn't I?" she smiled in embarrassment. Thangulan mocked her smile, which earned him a punch in the arm. Thangulan lifted up the sleeve of his tunic to reveal a small bruise beginning to form on his tan skin.

"Remind me not to mock you anymore. That one hurt," he said while rubbing his arm.

"Oh you baby," she pushed him again, and proceeded to ask him her question, "As you know, I really don't speak with most of the maidens here."

"Most?" He raised his eyebrows in question.

"Alright, none of them. Anyway," she was getting annoyed very easily, "I need you to help me find someone. A girl with beauty, brains, some athletic ability, sense of humor, you know, good qualities like that."

"I assume this is for you? Is there something I should about you?" He began to laugh uncontrollably at Neofina's appalled face, "Sorry, I'm just playing. I know you're not like that."

"You better know! The idea! I don't even want to imagine it!"

"Then stop talking about it," he smirked. She went to punch his arm again, but he caught her hand with ease and threw it back down, "So who is this special maiden for, if not for you?" He grinned evilly.

"Oh shut up!"

"Not for Legolas, I hope."

"Precisely," she smiled smugly.

"Neofina, you have no idea what you're getting yourself into."

"I'm not interested in your lectures, Gully," she sighed in frustration, "so are you going to help me or not?" She raised an eyebrow.

"I suppose. But why are you doing this?"

"I have my reasons. You'll learn of them later on, but for now just trust me and go along with the plan, agreed?"

Thangulan sighed and shook her hand, "Agreed."

"Excellent," a determined glint reflected in her emerald eyes sent shivers down Thangulan's back.

**This girl means business. Whatever that may be.**

"Girl scouting shall commence now," Neofina whispered to Thangulan as a petite elf walked by, "Too small."

"True, but you can see in her eyes that she has a warm and kind way about her."

"You can see that in her eyes?" Neofina looked at him bewildered.

"Yep. Ever heard of the quote 'the eyes are the windows of the soul'?" Neofina nodded her head, "Well it's true."

"Oh really, now? So what do you see in me? What do my eyes say about me?" she asked in mild amusement.

Thangulan stared at her for a long while before replying, "I see a frightened girl turning into a woman. I see someone who is confused about her feelings, and insecure when it comes to relationships other than friendship," Neofina tried to interrupt him, but he kept going, "I also see a maiden who is brave and cunning, sweet yet humorous, and wise beyond her years."

Neofina was on the verge of tears; everything Thangulan had mentioned was true: she was a frightened girl growing into womanhood, she was confused about certain newfound feelings, and she certainly was insecure with relationships past friendship. But the strong will and pride inside her wouldn't allow a tear to drop, so she just sucked it up and turned away from Thangulan and watched as the next maiden passed by.

"What about her?" Neofina pointed to a fair-haired maiden walking with a book in her hand.

"She'll do fine," Thangulan replied softly, saddened by Neofina's denial. **Oh Neofina, if only you knew the pain your putting yourself through.**

"Let's go talk to her," Neofina jumped and walked over towards the pretty elf. She recognized Thangulan's disappointment of her denying what he said were true. She just didn't have the time to figure out her inner problems at the moment; finding Legolas' a wife was hard enough.

"All right, I'm coming" he placed a smile on his face and approached the oblivious girl, "Hello. My name's Thangulan and this is my friend Neofina. What's your name?"

The young woman was startled and dropped her book. Losing her page, she sighed and went to pick it up, but someone's large hand grasped it first; that someone was Thangulan.

"Why thank you," she smiled appreciatively, "My name is Eledere."

"What a lovely name," Thangulan commented.

Neofina rolled her eyes and elbowed him in the stomach. Her emerald eyes told him to remember why they were talking to her in the place.

"Stop flirting," Neofina muttered.

"What was that?" Eledere asked, her blue eyes sparkling.

"Oh, I was just going to say that I don't believe I've ever seen you around these parts of the woods before. Are you new to Mirkwood?"

"Actually, yes, I am. I recently came to live with my brother. Maybe you know him. His name is Throden."

"Oh yes!" Neofina exclaimed, "I know Throden well actually. Good archer that one is. But I'm far better." She winked and smiled with self- satisfaction.

"Oh, you play?" Eledere asked with interest.

"Yes, she does," Thangulan spoke up, "and mighty well I must admit. Only one elf has beaten her skills and that was by her teacher, Prince Legolas."

"Prince Legolas! As in the Prince of Mirkwood, Prince Legolas?"

"The one and the same, sweetheart," Thangulan smiled good-naturedly, making Eledere blush slightly.

"Oh, how wonderful it would be to meet the prince," Eledere's eyes became dreamy.

"You can you know," Neofina's voice was tainted with a mischievous air.

"I'm afraid that wouldn't be possible," the fair-haired elf's eyes saddened.

"Now why do you say that?" Thangulan inquired.

"Because I would never be allowed near him."

"What if we arranged something?" Neofina's eyes lit up.

"Could you?" Eledere's eyes mirrored Neofina's.

"It's not that hard really. Especially considering we're his best friends and all."

"Oh my. I had no idea," she replied, shocked.

"It's quite alright. It's really not a big deal," Thangulan said, "the prince is just like you and me. He just has a royal title in his name 'tis all." He chuckled lightly.

"I suppose you're right," Eledere giggled.

Neofina was the only one who seemed to notice the connection between the two elves in front of her. **They're so cute together. Hey, if Eledere doesn't work out for Legolas, I'll have one more chance left, and then maybe Thangulan and Eledere could hook-up. Just a thought. But one matchmaking job at a time, please!**

Neofina broke into their giddy moment, "How about tomorrow night? You can come to the palace and have dinner with us. You'll be able to meet Legolas and maybe get to know him better." She winked.

"That would be wonderful!"

"Fantastic! I have to go and do some things, but Thangulan will give you the details and everything for tomorrow night. See you then. Bye!"

"Bye Neofina!" Thangulan and Eledere yelled simultaneously. He then preceded to tell Eledere about the plans for tomorrow night.

A/N: And yet another chapter of this story has been told. I promise that I will update faster. This summer has been hectic, but it's calmed down now. I know Legolas was hardly in this chapter, but he will be in almost all of the next chapter. I just wanted to thank all of you who reviewed my story so far. Special thanks to:

BashirXena- You're reviews are always encouraging! I love your enthusiasm!

Yuki-Ciara- You're questions will be answered as the story continues on. I will try to update much faster so you won't have to think about it for too long.

Cute-Kitty- Thank you so much for the web site! It's a cool site.

Quacked Jimbob- So what if you have a twisted mind. Twisted minds are awesome! After you mentioned the idea with Thangulan, I thought about it, but I have different plans for him in the future. You'll see later on.

flaming-amber- Nice assumptions. I'm not going to tell you if they're wrong or right. All I have to say is, you'll have to read the story.

Queen of Shadows- Thank you for your suggestion.

allafricannirish- I hadn't lost my steam; I just didn't have any time. I'm sorry to keep you waiting. Thanks for trying to help with the elven names.

lil-nic-2004- I must say, you seemed to have read my mind, but not fully. I still have my twists. You'll just have to wait and find out!

Nebulae- First off, I love your sign-in name. Second, thank you for the review. I'm trying to develop her character a little more. Thank you for bringing it to my attention.

Aerin9- I'll take that as a complement.

XxDarkGoddessxX- I thank you for your patience and I appreciate your excitement with my story.

Jemma8- Thank you for reviewing. Never really was one for standards. * wink wink *

Lioness3- Thanx for the review.

elvish-queen- Yeah, I thought I'd make the father a bad guy. But you never know what'll happen in the end.

Winter's Roar- Your reviews are awesome! You mix praise with criticism, which really allows me to realize how I can make the story better. Keep on reviewing. You're suggestions are great!

TigerLily713- I thank you for your eagerness, and I'm sorry for not updating sooner. I'll try to keep updates more consistent (and much faster) from now on.

Merenwen Luinwel- "COOKIES TO YOU!" I love that comment! I'll have to use it sometime. Thanx for reviewing!

icy878- I'm glad you loved that. Hopefully you'll love the rest as well.

Alyde11- Thank you for your review!

SilverWinter- I didn't even realize it was a cliffhanger. But hey, if you think it's a cliffhanger, I'll except that. * smiles*

rusty5- Thank you for reviewing!

Canon Police- Even though you flamed me, you were my first reviewer, so I thank you for reviewing. I know that it goes against elven law and such, but it's the way my story works, so I'm sticking with it. But thank you for reviewing anyway.

That's all for now. Keep reviewing please!

Daytona44