How Legolas Got His Braids

Chapter Two

Beautiful Stranger

Nenimë sat on the edge of the fountain and watched the sun sink lower in the West. She looked around impatiently, searching for Cara. She had told her to be there at sunset. The sun was almost completely hidden below the horizon now. Where was Cara?

Nenimë began to sing an elvish tune that her father had taught her. Her hands drifted unconsciously through the water in the fountain in time to her song. She sang softly at first, but grew louder with each verse. She sang of Varda and the creation of the stars.

Nature stopped to listen to her. Not a leaf rustled, not a star twinkled, only the fountain continued to trickle, adding to the sound. She didn't notice the golden haired elf that had moved into the clearing behind her, listening intently to her voice and song.

She hardly noticed even when the other elf joined in, matching her word for word, note for note in perfect harmony. Suddenly the song ended on a final note, long and never ending it seemed. Nenimë's voice didn't complete the note and it died on her lips. She froze at the other voice, finishing the song. As she turned she gasped and blushed, meeting an azure gaze.

The song was over, and the silence of the forest was unnerving, but neither broke the long gaze. The intensity of emotions building up made both of them look down at the same time.

"What are you doing here, young elf?" He asked, not looking up.

"I am waiting for someone."

"I see." He said softly, groping for something to say. "What is your name? I have never another elf who knows that song, nor one who sings it so beautifully¼ "

"My name is Nenimë, and of course you are Prince Legolas." She said, standing and bowing her head slightly out of respect. His words and charm were that of an older and wiser elf than he. He was just thirty-nine, only seventeen years her senior.

He held out his hand to her. "Just Legolas, if you don't mind. I don't much care for formalities." Nenimë took his hand and held it for a moment rather than shaking it. They met each other's eyes again and dropped their hands shyly.

"Why a simple name like February?"

"Greenleaf is simple too, is it not?"

"Do not answer a question with another question!" Legolas said, scowling slightly. But his gaze softened when he looked at her. He couldn't help it. She was just…there was something about her…

*Legolas! You are only thirty-nine, no need to look at someone like this yet. You don't even know her. She is just a beautiful stranger!* But beautiful was a word that Legolas rarely used. Pretty, appealing, good-looking… those words were more common. Beautiful was a word that meant everything about a person was appealing. He hadn't met anyone whom he called beautiful.

But now she was giving him an odd look and he realized the grin on his face. He suddenly stopped smiling and tried to find his voice.

"Wh-who is it that you are waiting for?"

"I am waiting for a friend, Carabrethil Redbirch¼ She told me to be here at sunset."

"Is she by any chance a short young elf with strawberry blond hair and pale skin?" Legolas asked, becoming suspicious.

"Yes¼ "

"She sent me here. She told me someone was waiting to meet me."

*"Well you can't keep it really. I mean¼ You can't wrap it up and put it in a box. But let's just say you'll fall in love with it."* Nenimë recalled Cara's earlier words.

*Legolas is my gift?*

"She set this up for my birthday. She said that I couldn't keep my gift but that I'd¼ " She broke off, blushing.

"You'd what? What did you just say?"

"Nothing." She answered quickly. Legolas looked at her suspiciously, his blue eyes trying to catch her own and draw her into his gaze. She silently refused to be lost again and sat down with her back to his.

After awhile the uncomfortable silence disappeared and both were looking at the now darkened sky. Nenimë silently counted the stars and named all that she knew. Legolas closed his eyes, bathing in the starlight on this warm night. He opened his eyes when Nenimë sighed behind him and turned to look at her.

He stifled a gasp as he stared wide-eyed at her. Her head was tossed back, silver hair falling down her back. Her eyes were opened and the grey seemed to glow. Indeed her whole body was glowing brightly as the moon itself. All the light was bright but brightest was a point on her chest that was almost painful to look at.

"Nenimë!" He breathed. Nenimë looked at him and immediately the light was gone from her body. Her eyes dulled and the point on her chest was revealed for what it was, a moonstone necklace.

She was confused by the dumbfounded look on his face and cocked her head to one side, asking an unspoken question with her eyes.

"Where did you get the necklace that holds the moonlight in its stone?"

She looked down at her necklace and smiled. "It was my father's and his mother's before that¼ Why?"

"Because it makes you glow when you look at the sky."

"I know but¼ "

"And if you come from the family that owns that necklace than you can¼ You can¼ "

"See the future?"

Legolas nodded, speechless.

"Aye, I can see the future, but only a few things. What I do see cannot be changed because it is too vague¼ But I see enough. For instance, I knew that you would be the only other one to guess, but I didn't know when."

"So you knew this night would happen?"

"In a sense…" She said, looking back up to the sky and releasing the necklace's light.

Legolas had a question burning in the back of his mind that he was aching to ask. Nenimë seemed to be waiting for something. She was waiting for the question.

"This meeting?" Tumbled finally out of his mouth. He silently cursed his curiosity.

"Pardon?"

"What will become of this meeting?" Legolas asked softly.

Nenimë blushed and looked down at her lap. She looked back to Legolas and smiled. "Only time will tell." She looked up and met his eyes again. After a short time Nenimë looked away and stood.

"I should go." Nenimë said.

"When can we meet again?" He asked.

"What about tomorrow… in the clearing outside the city?"

"I don't often go there."

"I have never seen you there... meet me in the clearing at sunrise."

Legolas nodded and smiled.

"I'll be there at sunrise." Nenimë nodded and turned to leave. When she was about twenty feet away Legolas called to her. She turned to find him still standing by the fountain, watching her walk away.

"Nenimë!" Legolas called. "Happy Birthday!"

Nenimë smiled and nodded her head. As she walked back to her house, her heart rate finally slowed back to normal. She smiled to herself as she entered her room and slipped out of her corselet and dress and into a night gown.

The smile stayed on her face as she got into bed and laid down. Thoughts of Legolas drifted through her mind. Thoughts of a piercing stare, a beautiful voice, the song that they shared… Before long thoughts melted into dreams and Nenimë drifted into a deep sleep.

Carabreth had been right. She *had* loved her gift.

****

Review!!!

Oh by the way, Legolas is seventeen years older than her. If he were mortal, he would look like he was around four years older than Nenimë, ten or eleven years old.

Underthesky- Legolas was a golden haired "sweet Prince" she was looking at so how could that be him?

Thanks also to Druidgirl and Brazgirl (who I hope might leave her email address next time she reviews.)