A/N: Okay, here it is guys. I really hope you like it and thank you to my two reviewers, vampire*chic and Enelya*. I will update again soon. I'm working momentarily on MMPaP so bear with me. ;) So please read and lemme know what you think!
As Legolas and Nilea walked out and onto the stone balcony, they were very aware of the many eyes that followed them out of the hall and into the moonlight. They walked across to the railing and they both leaned on it.
" Well that was interesting." Said Nilea with a smile and a sideways glance at Legolas. He laughed.
" Same old feast, same old dancing. I thought I was surely about to die until I saw you walk in."
" Yes, well I'm sure you're not the only one who recognized me."
" No, I agree that I am not, for I noticed quite a few bewildered looks and stares from many of the elder elves. It seems our mischief has not been forgotten."
Nilea laughed. " No, apparently not. But it seems that Melonir's charm has not been forgotten as well." She said, glancing over her shoulder into the hall. Legolas followed her gaze and laughed. Melonir was still surrounded by at least a dozen she-elves.
" What do you think he'll tell them when they notice the scar on his arm?" Asked Legolas, bemused. " Probably that he was slaying a dragon no doubt."
" No," Nilea sighed, " cave troll."
" I assume he's concocted a story before?" Smiled Legolas.
" Indeed he has." Smiled Nilea.
" What about the scar beside his left eye? What do you think he'll say about that?"
" That was not funny." Said Nilea her smile gone but still lingering in her eyes.
Legolas laughed. " Yes it was! If I were Alaina I would have punched him upside the head as well!"
" She didn't have to do it with that boulder of a jewel on her finger!" Retorted Nilea, her smile making its way back to the surface.
Legolas laughed again. " It's no more than he deserved!"
" I beg your pardon, Your Highness?" demanded Nilea in mock politeness as her smile was spread across her pale face once more.
" Nilea! He stole her undergarments, threaded them together and used them as a flag! She had every right to-" He was cut off by Nilea's loud laughter which he soon joined himself.
* * *
Melonir finished his tale of the cave troll and looked out onto the balcony to see his sister and best friend laughing uncontrollably. Probably catching up on the last thousand years. He watched Nilea throw a mock punch at Legolas' left eye and his hand unconsciously flew to the scar beside his own left eye. It then dawned on him what they were talking about and he shook his head with a smile. " Very funny, Nilly." He muttered to himself.
" Who's Nilly?"
Melonir looked up and saw all the females staring at him either suspiciously or curiously and realized why. He quickly gained his bearings and smiled.
" Oh! Nilly was the bar-maid from this pub in Gondor, right, and……"
* * *
" Oh! Those were the good old days." Said Legolas wistfully.
" The good OLD days?" demanded Nilea. " Old?! Legolas Greenleaf! We are immortal! We do not believe in such a thing as old! We still have many years ahead of us! The good old days… I ask you! I did not come here to watch you mope about at nearly 3000 years of age! I came here to see my best friend and re-light that little spark of mischief that I know still glows like an ember in your heart. Now as long as Melonir and myself are here, we are going to have fun and you are as well! It's about time the Masters of Mani Marte made a bit of a comeback, anyhow." At this last sentence she smiled and Legolas smiled as well.
" I'd nearly forgotten." He said quietly.
Nilea took a step toward him. " Legolas, you could never forget us, could you?" She asked quietly.
" No, I could not." He answered, still smiling. " And I won't." He added and Nilea saw that familiar spark of mischief ignite in his eyes as it once had. She remembered that look all too well.
" Legolas Greenleaf, what……" She began.
He stepped backwards, away from her and towards the stairs that led down to the gardens. " There's not much to do now, but we can still have SOME fun." He had reached the top step and sat down on the railing. Nilea's face lit up. Legolas laughed at her expression and let go of the part of the railing he was holding. Nilea ran to the top step and watched him slide all the way down and land gracefully on his feet. " Your turn!" He called happily back up to her.
Nilea quickly sat on the railing and gripped it tightly where Legolas had. She looked at him. It was a long way down. But she had ridden longer ones, she reminded herself. She let go and flew down the banister. The wind blew her long sheer locks out behind her and Legolas figure drew closer and closer. She finally reached the end and flew off, Legolas- laughing- catching her in his arms. They both laughed and he set her back down.
* * *
Melonir had now finished with his story about Nilly, the troll-woman barmaid, and snuck a look out at the balcony again. He looked in time to see his little sister sit on the banister and disappear from sight. He quickly jumped out of his seat, apologizing to the girls and asking them to excuse him for a moment, before jogging across the hall toward the balcony, muttering under his breath, " How DARE they banister-slide without me?!" And he stepped onto the balcony with a smile.
* * *
Legolas and Nilea laughed together like they hadn't laughed together in a thousand years. It was just a simple slide down a marble and stone banister, but it had been fun all the same. They both bent forwards laughing and there was a sudden rush of wind over their heads and they both looked up in time to see Melonir fly into the bushes beside which they stood.
Both Nilea and Legolas stared at the bushes, speechless, but amused. Melonir stood quickly, covered in twigs, leaves, brambles, grass and dirt. He stepped out of the bushes, brushing himself off. He jogged past them and back up the steps calling over his shoulder, " Sorry! Couldn't pass up the opportunity! Namarie!" (Goodbye!) And he was soon at the top of the steps and lost from sight as he re-entered the hall.
Legolas and Nilea looked at each other in silence. Which was abruptly ended with a snort from Nilea as she burst out laughing once more. Legolas couldn't help it and joined in himself.
" Come," he said as he took her hand and led her, still giggling, into the gardens. They walked along the pathways in content silence until they came to a small spring. They sat down side by side on the stone bench at its edge. Nilea sighed.
" Do you remember," she smiled, " the time when Melonir tried archery for the first time and thought he was so high and mighty as to shoot three at a time?" She looked sideways at Legolas. The tops of his defined cheekbones she could see were pink. " If you hadn't have told him you could shoot two, he never would have attempted it, and Lady Amathol would still have Ramaro."
Legolas spluttered. " Name one person who wasn't happy to see that bloody bird go!"
Nilea opened her mouth wide in shock, and tried not to laugh. " Lady Amathol for a start! That bird was her best-friend!"
" That bird was her only friend!"
" All the more reason not to skewer the poor thing!"
" Why are you freaking out on me anyway? It was Melonir who did it! Not me!"
Nilea sighed. " Oh, I suppose you're right." She looked out over the spring, a thoughtful look on her face.
* * *
A/N: Eruantane!!!! You should be ashamed of yourself!!!! LMAO!!!! Anywho……
* * *
Nilea sighed. " Oh, I suppose you're right." She looked out over the spring, a thoughtful look on her face.
" Didn't she have a mustache anyway?" Legolas wondered quietly.
" Oh, I think she had more than a mustache."
Legolas looked at her in shock. " Nilea Lest!"
" Hey!" Nilea looked at him seriously, her arms folded across her chest. " YOU didn't have to go to her for dress fittings."
She noticed the bemused look on Legolas' face. " Legolas Greenleaf!"
He burst out laughing once more, and Nilea stood, smiling and shaking her head, pulled him to his feet and the two young mischief-makers walked out of the gardens and back up the stairs to the hall.
When they arrived, they noticed that the hall was for the most part empty, spare a few she-elves who were chatting excitedly in the spot where Melonir had been sitting earlier that night. He had, evidently, retired for the night.
" Excuse me," Legolas called to a passing servant. " What is the time?"
" T'is well past midnight, your highness." He answered and continued on his way.
Neither Legolas nor Nilea had really known how long they had been outside, but now that they did, it was starting to kick in. " Shall we?" Yawned Nilea. Legolas nodded and the two left the hall. Once outside the double doors, each said their goodnights, and went their separate ways.
* * *
Legolas lie in his bed and looked once more at the scar that ran the length of his pale palm. It appeared to turn silver in the moonlight. He traced it with his finger and sighed as the memory of that morning came back to him.
" Legolas!"
He looked up and saw Nilea running towards him at full speed. Her cheeks were shiny with fresh tears.
" Legolas!" She called again.
" Nilea what is it?" He asked urgently.
" He said we have to go! Melonir and me! He said we have to leave now!"
" Your father?"
" Yes!"
" But why?"
" I don't know Legolas!" She threw herself at his chest and he wrapped his arms around her. " I don't want to go!"
" I don't want you to go either, Nilly." He said sadly.
" Wait!" She said suddenly, pulling away. " I have an idea!"
" What?"
" Do you have your little dagger that Melonir gave you for your birthday
yesterday?"
" Of course," he said, and produced it from his belt.
" Let me see it!" And she snatched it from his hands.
" Nilea!" They could hear her father bellowing for her.
" Oh no!" She quickly pressed the blade to her small palm and slid it down her hand.
" Nilea! Wh-" Legolas was cut off as she grabbed his hand and did the same. She then clasped his wounded hand tightly with her own.
" There. Now your blood is in mine and mine and Melonir's is in yours. Now no matter how far apart he pulls us, we'll always be together." She said quietly as new tears sprang to her blue eyes.
Legolas embraced her tightly as tears stung his own eyes of ice. " You're my best-friend." He whispered. " You and Melonir both."
" You're our best-friend too, Legolas."
They walked together to where her father's horses stood waiting. Melonir was already sitting atop one, his head bowed sadly.
" What took you so long, you stupid girl?" Her father demanded.
" I'm s-sorry, Father." She answered quietly.
" Stop blubbering, and get up there with your brother." He lifted her roughly off the ground and sat her down hard behind Melonir. Both Melonir and Legolas heard her wince, but neither spoke a word.
The angry Lord swung himself up onto his own steed, and cast a quick glance at Thranduil, who stood to the side of the dirt road that led out of the kingdom, six servants at his side as well as his advisor. " Your Highness." He said gruffly with a barely noticeable nod, and rode out of the kingdom, Melonir and Nilea's horse not far behind. Legolas ran after them waving his arm frantically. Nilea turned and looked back at him, waving as well. And then they were gone.
Nilea's sad face from that morning stood clear in his mind. At 1,973 years of age, she had looked twelve. Legolas sighed. He hoped she stayed a little longer this time. He ran his finger down his palm one last time before closing his eyes and drifting off into a sleep filled with childhood memories.
* * *
Nilea slid into her bed, yawning, the moonlight from the open window pouring over the silver sheets. She lied down on her back and lifted her palm to the moonlight. She ran a slender finger down the scar that she had placed there a thousand years ago. She sighed, remembering. Well I'm not going anywhere this time, she thought defiantly. She rolled onto her side and let sleep take her, Melonir's snores sounding from the next room.
* * *
The morning dawned bright and clear, golden sunlight pouring in through every window and door. Melonir stood over his sister, smiling. She was lying on her side with her hand under her pillow, her dark locks splayed out behind her head. He knelt down and gently shook her shoulder. Her eyes slowly fluttered open and she let them focus before turning them to Melonir. " What is it?" She asked. Then her eyes widened and she sat up quickly. Melonir quickly laid a hand on her shoulder.
" Don't worry. It's not what you think." He smiled.
" Then Ramaro's bloody ghost, what are you doing waking me up at this ungodly hour?"
" Ramaro? Wasn't that-"
" Not now, Melonir."
He smiled. " C'mon, get up."
" What for?"
" Just do it. You'll see."
She sighed and he left the room to return to his own. She slid out of the bed and walked out onto her balcony. It was a beautiful morning. She closed her eyes and smiled as a warm breeze passed over her, sending her hair billowing out behind her. She opened her eyes and took one last look before returning inside to get washed and dressed. She went into her bathroom and washed and then went to her wardrobe and pulled out a dress. She quickly pulled it on and walked over to her full-length mirror. The dress was a dark emerald green and the bell sleeves were rimmed with thick bands of gold, as well as the neck and bottom. It was like most of her other dresses: well fitted on her upper torso and loose and flowing at the skirt. She brushed her hair and pulled half of it up into a messy bun, leaving the rest down with two thin strands on either side of her face and two thick pieces in front of her ears. She smiled at her reflection and slipped on matching slippers just as someone knocked on her door. " Come in," she called. Melonir entered the room and smiled.
" Ready?" he asked excitedly.
" Ready." She smiled. She noticed that he stood with one hand behind his back. She folded her arms across her chest. " Melonir……"
He grinned evilly ear-to-ear as he brought his hand forward, producing a large silver bucket.
A/N: And there's chapter two! Yay! Please review and let me know what you guys think. K? K! :D What has Melonir got in mind for that bucket? I wonder… Lolz. Please review!!!! Thanx!!!!