Cutheniel ran excitedly into the forest and did not look back until she was deep within the trees. She stood for a moment looking back at the direction of the palace that had held her like a prisoner for the past century. But it didn't matter to her anymore she was free now and she knew that the prince loved her back. She turned away and faced the shadows of Mirkwood.

Cutheniel deeply inhaled the smell of the trees and smiled. 'I'm going to enjoy these 300 years,' she thought happily, as she wiped the remaining tears from her eyes. She turned back once again, 'But I'll miss him...no matter how short years are considered to immortal elves like us.' She sighed and walked deep into the shadows of the forest, stopping ever so often to deeply inhale the smell of the outdoors.

When she was deep in the forest she risked singing out loud, mostly songs she had heard after dinner when the elves were merry-most of them more drunk than merry. But her favorite ones were the ones Legolas sang to her, that he had heard on a trip of some important purpose. She walked under the trees lightly singing songs of sorrow or of joy or victory. All of a sudden she heard a rustle in the brush behind her.

Cutheniel whirled around and armed her bow in a matter of moments and pointed it at the bush. "Who goes there?" she asked as a shadowy figure stood up from behind the bush.

"Don't shoot," the mysterious figure said. "I mean you no harm fair maiden." Slowly the dark figure stepped into the light and she could see that he was an elf. "I am Manwein, I dwell in this part of the forest." He looked her up and down in surprise, 'What is a maiden such as this doing wandering in the forest of Mirkwood?'

As if she had read his thoughts Cutheniel answered. "I am Cu...,"she re- thought, 'I can not give out my real name; I must make a fake one. Let's see something with a meaning....hurry before he suspects something from my hesitation.........yes, Kasumi it means runaway if I remember correctly what Legolas told me of some foreign language.' "I am Kasumi," she said aloud, "I have run away."

"From where have you run away, Kasumi?" Manwein asked.

"That is none of your business," Kasumi (Cutheniel) snapped defensively.

"I am sorry," he said backing away. "Forgive me for asking, but it must have been bad for you to be so defensive about it."

"It was, except one part," Kasumi said thinking sadly of Legolas.

"Do you have anywhere to stay tonight dear maiden?" Manwein asked in hopes of bringing a visitor to his dwellings which had long remained empty except for himself.

"I have the trees to stay in," Kasumi said.

Manwein frowned disappointedly, 'I have to convince her to come with me,' he thought. "Would you care to stay at my dwelling tonight I have fresh food," Manwein asked hopefully.

For the first time Kasumi noticed the beast flung over his shoulder. 'I guess it wouldn't hurt to spend one night somewhere, he probably hasn't had any visitors in a while anyway.' "That would be nice," Kasumi answered aloud.

Manwein tried hard to conceal his smile, "Come with me." He lead her deeper into the forest.

Cutheniel followed cautiously behind him, 'You have to be careful,' she warned herself, 'You do not know him.'

As if sensing her cautiousness Manwein signaled for her to walk beside him and not behind. "There is nothing to fear from me," he said assuring, "You would arm your bow faster than I could hurt you. Or so I've seen," he said smiling at her.

Cutheniel smiled up at him too, but quickly looked away, 'You cannot make him think you're free, you have the Prince, remember?'

Soon after they came finally to Manwein's dwelling, it was a large hollowed out willow. He pulled back the leaves revealing the trunk. Kasumi walked in and he let the leaves fall back into place.

Kasumi stared at it in awe.

"Do you like it?" Manwein asked looking at her reaction to his home.

"Yes, very much," Kasumi said.

Manwein stepped over to the trunk and pulled down on a branch. The bark of the tree magically opened revealing a door. Kasumi watched as Manwein put his mouth next to the door and whispered lowly so that even she could not hear what he had whispered. It suddenly opened and he signaled for his visitor to follow him inside.

Kasumi looked inside the interior of the tree in awe. It had a carved in fireplace and the chimney was a hollow branch coming out of the side of the willow.

"Did you make it yourself?" she asked in wonder.

"No, I would never be able to do this. It's an abandoned wood-pixie home. I just re-furnished it to fit my size." he said smiling at her reaction once again.

"This is so much homier than the palace," Kasumi said aloud, soon realizing what she had let slip.

"You lived in the palace?" he asked in surprise, "So you are royalty?"

"No, I am of no royal heritage," she replied calmly. And it was the truth, nobody saw her as royal, just very special.

Manwein stared suspiciously at her for a moment then said, "Here I'll show you to your room."

He went up the stairs and she eagerly followed. Three doors down the hall he opened up a room and let her enter first. Amazed once more Kasumi looked around the room, it was beautiful yet homey. There was a large bed with white sheets and vases of flowers everywhere. The frame of the bed was elegantly carved with fields of flowers on the skirt of a forest and through the meadow flowed a stream, it was done so skillfully that in the candlelight it seemed to be real, the flowers and grass swayed in the breeze and the stream bubbled and flowed. She blinked suddenly and the scene was still.

"Who use to stay here?" she asked for it seemed to be made for someone special.

"No one I just decided to make this room like this. Do you like it?" he asked looking at the beautiful elf walking about the room. Kasumi walked to the window which let in the moonlight and peered outside. It was amazingly still dark. She turned back to Manwein who was still awaiting her answer.

"Yes," she said smiling at him. Manwein smiled back and they stood there and stared at each other. Then Kasumi grew cautious and looked quickly away. 'He is attracted to me,' she thought to herself, 'I most tell him soon that I have a love. Before he hopes too much.'

She looked once again at her host who was staring confused at her reaction. 'But it will hurt him. So I must tell him soon before it hurts him more.'

"I will go make you some dinner," he said walking toward the door, "You must be hungry."

Kasumi watched as he left the room and shut the door. When he was gone she sat on the bed and took off her pack.

'I wonder what they will do when they find that I'm gone,' she thought to herself, 'I hope Legolas does not meet someone else. I hope he will be fine.' She frowned as she thought sadly of her friend and lover that she had left behind. She thought for some time about the many people she had left and was surprised when there was a knock on the door. She got up and let Manwein in.

He was carrying a tray of food consisting of a goblet of wine, a plate of the fresh meat he had carried on his shoulder, and a bowl of sweet berries for dessert. Kasumi frowned secretly when she saw a small vase with a single rose also on the tray.

'I must tell him now,' she thought.

"Manwein I have...,"she stared into his happy face wondering how she would break it to him.

He tilted his head to the side, confused.

"Manwein I have no idea how I can repay you for your kindness," Kasumi said smiling. Manwein once again smiled at his fair guest. 'No I have not the heart to tell him yet.'

"You do not need to," Manwein said trying to hide that his ankles were going weak at her smile. 'I need to leave before she can sense my feelings. It might intimidate her for we have only just met a few hours ago.' "I'm sorry, but I must leave now dear Lady. But if you want anything just ask. My room is at the end of the hall."

Kasumi watched amusedly as the elf exited shakily from her room.

'He is not much older than me is he? I wonder why he is here and not in a village?' she thought as she took a bite from her meat. She was surprised when it turned out to be very good, juicy and flavorful. Everything else from her meal was good as well, but she drank little of the wine, not that it was bad, just that she did not enjoy wine much in the first place even though must elves did.

When she was done she set the tray on her cabinet but placed the vase with the rose on her bedside table. 'Just as a friendly gesture,' she told herself as she put out the lantern and crawled into bed. Probably because of all those years in the palace, Kasumi felt filthy. 'I will ask if I can take a bath tomorrow,' she said before she slowly fell into dream.

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Good so far? Thanks all of you that reviewed I'll be sure to get done with the next chapter soon!

And please more reviews!!!!!!!!!!!! I enjoy reading them and if you have any questions or suggestions just e-mail me: Chichikat90@aol.com. Thanks for reading!