Chapter Three

Nevaeh couldn't remember ever owning so many dresses and nightgowns and other such garments. Legolas had equipped her with a very full wardrobe. She had tried to argue, but he had insisted. Now she had gowns in every colour and design. She couldn't believe this was happening to her.

She picked up the blue dress with almost no lace or bows or frills on it. It was a sapphire blue and by far her favorite gown. It had a bit of a low neckline, but no gentleman would dare look down it. She slipped the nightgown she was wearing over her head and put on the dress.

It fit as if it were made for her, and accented her every curve. It also hid her current condition very well. The bodice was short, and the skirt was full, and it looked as if she had the normal, well-toned stomach she used to have.

Thessi came bustling into the room all in a huff.

"I see that you're awake now, Miss. If you like, I will do your hair for today. Legolas said that he was going to get you your own maid some time today, but for now I am to do whatever you please."

"I do appreciate your offer, but I am capable of doing my hair, thank you. And you may tell the prince that I don't need a maid of my own. Or anybody else's for that matter."

"Now Miss, he said that if I didn't do my best by your hair, he'd have me serve Bethalei. And I wouldn't want to be doing that, Miss. That child is a horrid young girl. None of us maids want to go anywhere near her. She'll have me redo her hair a million times until she is satisfied. And, of course, I have to do whatever pleases her, as is my station."

Nevaeh blew out a breath in exasperation. "All right, but nothing too fancy. I don't want to look like a lady of the court or anything."

"But why not, Miss? You practically are one now. The prince favors you. He has never taken anybody in like this before. Oh, you should have seen the fight he had with Cerynise last night. Oh, it was just horrible. She deserved it though. I don't know what dear Legolas sees in her."

"He got into a fight with his betrothed over me?"

"Why yes. She was wicked jealous when she found out that you were here."

"Oh dear. I won't have that. I don't even want to be here. But there was no telling that to Legolas."

"Why wouldn't you want to be here?"

Nevaeh suddenly found her feet to be of great interest, and she looked at them as she mumbled something about her hair and doing it in a sort of twist. She hadn't meant to let that slip. If she weren't more careful, she would be found out. And Elbereth knew what they would do with her them. It was as if she had a big scarlet M branded on her forehead.

Unconsciously, she rubbed her forehead and looked up at Thessi again. She had a sympathetic look on her face. "Come now child, let me do your hair for breakfast in the great hall."

Nevaeh emerged into the great hall looking like a vision. She quickly espied Legolas pouring over a couple of maps, pointing to various spots and commenting. He looked up, and when he saw her, his jaw dropped a good three inches. Quickly, he straightened and walked towards her only to be cut off by Cerynise.

"Good morning, Darling. I trust you slept well?" she asked with a gleam in her eye.

"Yes. Will you excuse me though? I have a matter to attend to."

"Anything, cupcake, I'll see you later." With this, she kissed his cheek and sauntered off, purposely swinging her hips in a provocative manner for any who cared to watch.

Legolas made his way through the crowd and approached Nevaeh.

"You look absolutely . . . stunning. That dress is perfect. The colour accents your eyes so well."

"Thank you. It's as if the clothier had me in mind when she made this gown. I adore it."

"Well, the clothier didn't, but I did when I gave her my sketch."

"You drew up a dress for me?"

"Well, yes, actually, I did. And I can see that my design was perfect."

"That it is. Thank you. You have shown me such kindness these past few days, and there is nothing that I can do for you in return."

"Well, I can think of something," he said suggestively.

Nevaeh raised her eyebrows. "I thought you were betrothed?"

His entire frame sank, and he gave a loud sigh. "Ah, that I am. Maybe I will just have to think of something else then. Will you come with me for a walk in the courtyard?"

"Alright," she said a little skeptically. She still wasn't too sure of his plans.

She took the arm he offered and they walked leisurely towards the beautiful gardens in the courtyard. They stopped in front of a fountain with a rearing horse on it. Legolas turned towards her and took her hands in his.

"Nevaeh," he said. "The moment I first laid eyes on you, my heart skipped a beat. I closed my eyes and thanked heaven that I had been blessed enough to meet you."

"I was asleep in the middle of the road," she raised an eyebrow. "I must have looked like a real lady."

"That didn't matter. The truth is, I knew that you were the one for me. The one I was meant to be with. I fell in love with you the moment I laid eyes on you."

"Well that's just fine and dandy then." Nevaeh rolled her eyes and decided to play his little game. "But what about Cerynise? You're supposed to love her. She's your betrothed."

"That she is, but not by my choice. You see, my father said that if I couldn't find a suitable wife by my twenty-hundredth birthday, then I was to marry Cerynise, as it was a good way to insure good relations with Rivendell. I do not love her. I never have. I do not even really enjoy her company at all. She bores me. She is the same as every other lady at court. But you, you aren't, you are the most unique elf I have ever met."

Nevaeh could tell that he wasn't joking around anymore. He was serious. "Okay, so you've known me a grand total of three days. You're supposedly in love with me, and I'm supposed to be okay with that?"

"But don't you feel it too? We're meant to be together, I know it. Why can't you feel it too?"

"Legolas, my husband died three days ago, and I am carrying his unborn child. Do you really think that I am looking for another relationship right now? I don't want anything to do with males, so if you'll excuse me, I am going back to my room."

Just as she tried to leave, Legolas grabbed her arm and pulled her into his embrace. He bent his head down to kiss her. Panic flooded through her, sharp and thick. This was just like that horrible night five years ago. No! It couldn't be happening to her again! It wouldn't happen to her again. She kneed him in the groin and ran as if her life were dependant on it.