Chapter Two

"Here," Legolas offered Nevaeh his hand. She graciously took it and thanked him.

"What was your name again? I'm terribly sorry, but I've already forgotten." She blushed profusely at this.

"Legolas. Legolas Greenleaf."

Nevaeh's mouth dropped open at this. Legolas Greenleaf, son of King Thranduil? The prince of Mirkwood had found her on the road? That was just rich.

"Pardon me, your highness, but I must ask. Why are you showing such kindness to a- a- a," Nevaeh searched for the right word. "A commoner?"

Legolas only grinned at her comment and shook his head. He started to guide her towards his horse.

"Commoner or not, you are quite clearly in need of aid. And since I happen to be the only one around, I must be the one to aid you." He made it sound so simple.

"Oh, well, you see, I don't really need much help. I just need to get to the nearest town and I should be alright."

At this point he had her up and sitting on the horse and was climbing up behind her. He gracefully swung up onto his horse and took the reins.

"And where, exactly are you planning on staying once you get to town?"

"I can work for my keep. But I do thank you for the ride into town."

"Oh you will have more to thank me for by the time I am done."

A deep panic swept over her at this. Was he planning on taking advantage of her too? He very well could, she was rather pregnant, and he was extremely lean and strong. He had a good archer's body, capable of holding her still while he had his way with her.

"What do you mean?" Her voice was barely more than a whisper.

"I am going to set up a room at the palace for you to stay in. You can be my honored guest for as long as you need to stay. In fact, I have more than enough room for you and your child to stay with me indefinitely."

Nevaeh's mouth dropped for the second time that day. He was offering her a place to stay? She couldn't believe it. But, of course, she couldn't stay with him. Word of the prince having taken in a girl from the road would spread in Mirkwood like wildfire, and surely the elf that had taken her would find her. There was no doubting it.

"That is very kind of you, but I don't want to impose. I can earn my keep at any flet in the village. Thank you anyways though."

"Oh no you don't. I can tell you right now that not a single elf in the village is going to hire a pregnant maid. Not when they're clearly going to have to supply you and your child with a flet of your own. No, you can stay at the palace. And believe me, it's not imposing."

"No, you don't understand. I can't stay at the palace." She was almost begging him not to have her stay with him. How ridiculous was that?

Legolas raised an eyebrow at her. "And just why not? You're not a thief are you?"

"No, I'm not. But I wouldn't fit in at all with the ladies of the court. I'm too plain."

"Don't you ever say that again. You are anything but plain, and all you need to fit in with those so called 'ladies' is a nice dress, which, I assure you, I can provide for you."

"Do you ever give up?"

"Not when I want something." Valar! He hadn't meant to say that. He wasn't even sure why he thought it. Why on Middle Earth did he want her to live at the palace so badly? It was simply because he felt badly for her. He had always worn his heart on his sleeve, and it was showing right now. That had to be it. He loved Cerynise, and he was not thinking about this girl.

However, she was quite exquisite . . . Her cheeks were very defined, and her mouth was full. Her hair was the colour of chocolate almost. It was a rich, dark brown, but it carried a hint of gold throughout. It was fascinating. No! He absolutely was not thinking about how beautiful this girl was!

"Alright," Nevaeh gave in, "I will stay with you for a while. But once I am able to, I shall find my own flet."

"If you so desire it, I can have one built for you. Just call it sympathy for what you have been through."

"What I have been through?" She was confused for a moment before she remembered her story.

"The fire."

"Right, the fire."

"Did you forget?"

"No, it's just that . . . so much has happened in such a short period of time . . . I drew a blank for a moment."

"You look rather pale. Here, lean back on me, and go back to sleep. You are safe now. It will do you more good than bad."

"Thank you."

Nevaeh woke up several hours later when Legolas was trying to lift her off of the horse without waking her. If she weren't sure a light sleeper, he would have been successful, considering how much care he was taking not to disturb her. She wondered at his kindness and hoped that he did not have an ulterior motive. No, a prince wouldn't be that horrible. Still, the only male she had ever met worth trusting was her father. And Legolas was by no means her father.

Indeed, Legolas Greenleaf looked much more marvelous than any father could. His hair was a long platinum blond, and his features were well defined and accented by his mild manner. Nevaeh's mother had once told her that if you were beautiful on the inside, then it showed through. If that were the case, then Legolas was an angel. He was the singular most gorgeous elf she had ever laid eyes on.

She caught herself before her thoughts turned to more explicit situations involving Legolas. She was not going to daydream about the betrothed prince of Mirkwood. That was exactly what she needed to think of him as: Prince Legolas. Not Legolas, the kind elf that had helped her when she was the most in need of his aid.

"I'm sorry to have woken you. I tried to be as gentle as possible. I guess I wasn't as gentle as I thought I was."

"No, I'm just a really light sleeper. Anything would have woken me up." Why was she trying to reassure him? He wasn't going to be offended by thinking that he had woken her up by being a little bit rough.

"I am the same way. Sometimes Cerynise's snores keep me up all night. Alas! I will not speak of that now! We have arrived at the palace. I will show you to your room and have Thessi bring up some dresses for you to try on. You'll be in need of a nightgown as well. I shall have to remember when I talk to Thessi."

"Really, you don't have to get me any clothes. I have what I am wearing, that is enough."

"It certainly is not! I will not have you wearing the same dress every day of your stay here. Now be a good girl and let me get you a wardrobe."

Nevaeh grumbled her consent. She decided it was wiser to just let him do whatever he wanted for her. That way she wouldn't have to waste her breath arguing with him.