Kasumi awoke silently and sat up in her bed, it was still early morning and the sun had not yet risen. She got up and walked to the window, looking out at the top of the vast Mirkwood forest. Now after a year she had gotten what she had wanted all a long, freedom.

She had lived in the willow with Manwein for a year and now they were like siblings, though Manwein "lost control" of himself occasionally, but recently he had acted very "controlled". She walked away from the window and sat on her dressing table chair, staring at her reflection.

It was different than before, her eyes were no longer dark and somber, instead they shined brightly, like stars. She took her comb and untangled her unruly bed hair, it now reached down to her waist, so she braided it in many strands and wrapped it around the top of her head like a bun. She was shocked at how different it made her appear, she looked more elegant and dignified, just like they had wanted her to look like in the palace.

'No this will not do,' she said grabbing several braided strands and pulling them from her bun so that they hung out from the back. 'That's better.'

She got up and swung her cloak over her shoulders, approving her look once more in the mirror before stepping out of her room and dashing quietly down to the kitchen. She browsed through the pantries searching for something to cook for breakfast. She was amazed when she found a jar of fresh honey and a sack of flour.

'I wonder when Manwein got these?' she thought holding the jar in her hands. 'He probably visited a human village,' she said dismissing the thought with a wave of her hand as she set on making some sweet bread.

After she slipped the bread into the fire-heated oven to bake she decided to take a walk outside to pick some fruit. She looked out the window, it was still a little dim, and Manwein wouldn't be up for a while, so she grabbed a sack and her knives and stepped outside.

It had been along time since the wolf attack, but she wasn't too worried. Only worried enough to bring several knives, but not worried enough to drag along her bow just for a little walk. She searched in several places for different types of edible berries, careful not to pick poisonous ones.

When she was through she rushed back to the willow, hoping that Manwein had not woken yet. He hadn't, and she sighed thankfully as she entered.

She dropped the sack of fruit on to the counter and checked on the bread. It was a perfect golden brown, like the color and texture of lembas. She pulled it out and set it on the table, hoping that the smell would not wake him too early.

She poured out the berries and glazed them with sugar water, but saved some to make some jam. The smell of the sweet bread and glazed fruit spread around the willow filling every crevice with a sweet, heavenly scent.

She had just finished glazing the loaf with warm honey when Kasumi heard Manwein step down the stairs.

"Good morning, Kasumi, what brings you up this early?" he said looking surprised at the food set out on the table.

"I just wanted to thank you," she said handing him a cup of freshly made tea.

"For what?" he asked sitting down.

"Everything, letting me stay here, providing me with food, and for being such a wonderful friend," she said, watching him turn away as his face flushed a light shade of red. Kasumi tried hard to suppress a giggle, but despite her efforts, it came out.

Manwein bowed his head and waited for it to turn back into its regular color. "You're welcome," he said turning back to face her. "It's been a pleasure to have you here."

Now it was Kasumi's turn to blush and the reaction took her by surprise. She turned away embarrassedly. 'What are you doing,' she thought to herself. 'Well whatever it is, stop it, before you lead him over the edge!' she told herself as she turned to face him again.

When they finished their meal Manwein got up and helped Kasumi get out of her chair.

"I can get myself out of my own chair!" she snapped before thinking.

Manwein backed away surprised and Kasumi thought of what she had done.

"I'm sorry," she said regretting letting her rebellious, independent side take over her.

"It's okay," he said no questions asked, even though after all these years she had never told him who she really was. She hadn't even told him of Legolas.

"Legolas," she whispered under her breath.

"What?" Manwein said staring at her confused.

Kasumi realized that she had sad the name aloud. "Nothing."

"You said a name, Legolas, what does that name mean to you?"

"Nothing, I met him before at the palace, and I just remembered him," she said quickly saving herself from telling Manwein what she really felt about Legolas, or not.

"If I'm not mistaken Legolas is the Prince of Mirkwood, is he not?" Manwein asked suspiciously.

"Last time I checked he was," Kasumi said cautiously trying not to slip into any traps.

Manwein looked her in the eyes and then dismissed the name with a wave of his hand. "Okay. Well, thank you Kasumi for that wonderful meal, it was greatly appreciated," he said stepping forward to hug her, he had learned over the year not to expect anything more, but this time he was surprised. When he put his arms around her, his cheek was met by Kasumi's warm lips. The small kiss left him standing there speechless. Though it was not her most used trait, making men speechless was one of her favorites.

She took one more look at him standing there shocked, before grabbing some parchment and an ink pen. "Manwein," she said waving her hand in front of his face. "Manwein!"

Manwein snapped back from his dreamlike trance and looked at Kasumi in star-struck awe. "Yes?" he asked.

"If you need me, I'll be outside sketching," she said walking towards the door.

Suddenly there was a knock on the door. They both stared at the door suprised.

"Who..." Manwein whispered as Kasumi walked over to the curtained window. She pulled back the drapery and looked outside.

Meanwhile…

Legolas rode into the palace courtyard with his father. They had just returned from their visit to Imladris, and he was eager to see Cutheniel again. As he halted is horse in front of the palace door, he was greeted by a very worried Maliana.

"Your highness, may I speak to you privately," she said trying to cover up the urgency in her voice.

Legolas quickly dismounted and handed his horse over to an elf standing near by. "What is it," he asked the handmaiden as he followed her into the palace. They were the only ones that knew what had really happened to Cutheniel.

"We received a letter from the King this morning."

"Yes, I saw him give it to a messenger. What did it say?"

Maliana paused to catch her breath for they were walking at a fast pace. "He ordered the captain to send out soldiers to look for Cutheniel."

"Did he send the messengers?" the Prince asked worriedly.

Maliana nodded her head, "They set off as soon as the captain received the message."

Legolas became angry, "But I told my father not to send soldiers out looking for her until I searched for her myself!"

"Well they were sent. But do you not know where she is?"

"I don't know exactly, but I have seen her once, before we went out to fight the growing orc population."

"Then maybe you can find her before they do and warn her. She would be furious if she were brought back to the palace by soldiers."

"Yes, you're right. But can you cover for me?" he asked her as they stopped in front of his quarters.

"I will. I will tell your father that you are out exploring."

"Thank you Maliana, you are a very loyal friend."

"You're welcome your Highness," she said curtsying.

Legolas dismissed her and watched her walk down the hall. He walked back out to the front of the palace and into the woods.

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Who is at the door? Will Legolas be able to warn Cutheniel/Kasumi in time? Will Manwein find out her secret? Find out in the next chapter of Jaded.

Thank you for all the reviews! I live off them! So is it good so far? I except questions, suggestions, etc. on reviews, but if they're long email them to me. Hey can anyone guess how old I am? HINT: I'm somewhere between 10-20.

Now to answer questions and comments:

Lady Rheena; Well you know that King Thranduil is like a parent, and whenever they're worried they show it by being a bit nasty (in the child's eyes of course) but the parent thinks it's for the child's on good.

Estriel Laureatinwe; Vala: is angelic power; a Valar: is a male god; a Valier: is a female goddess. Does that help?

Critic; 'Diola lle' is elfish, I think it's Sindarin, I got it from the the grey-elves if you want to see it go to http://www.grey-company.org/Language/

For your second comment; Kasumi is a japanese I got it from my favorite character on Dead or Alive 3 on Xbox, she is also a run away in that game, so I thought it would be appropriate.

Namaarie!