Author's Note: Once again Thank you, Thank you to everybody that reviewed. Just to clear up a few things that I noticed people brought up, yes Legolas does like Raveyn. This is a Romance. Second, Raveyn's past. Yup, that is gonna be brought up later don't worry. If anybody has any other questions, please feel free to ask. The next chapter is going to be a lot of Raveyn and Legolas.

Raveyn's POV

Two days had passed, and nothing. Not a word from him. I hadn't expected that. Maybe his

highness was in the habit of kissing strangers in the middle of archery practice but I most

certainly was not. And you particularly don't kiss them in such a..a…skilled way. A very

skilled way…

Of course I didn't want to hear from him. Thank goodness he had spared us both the

embarassment. I resolved to put the issue as far from my mind as possible. Him even farther.

"Are you ok?"

I turned to stare disdainfully at the crumpled Leia. After the little incident with Lady

Cassandra, the head mistress had decided that I needed to take Leia under my wing. She had

transferred us to the west wing of the palace, and she expected me to help Leia adapt to the

difference. Me! Teach the bumbling little fool the "ways" of the palace?! Apparently the

headmistress hadn't gotten wind of just exactly what happened with Lady Cassandra. And

furthermore, I had no idea whose quarters I was supposed to clean. I did not even know who

LIVED on the bloody west end of the damn palace.

The annoyance must have showed because she had quickly resumed sweeping. I looked at her

carefully, really looked at her. She had laughter lines around her eyes and mouth, but they

looked dusted over and gray, as if time had tried to cover them with years of pain. Her eyes

were hollow and her hair fell in dirty strands around her face. When she had asked me the

question concern had flickered briefly. Other than that there had been nothing. Rumors flew

around about her, about what might have happened. Some said she had lost her family to the

orcs as they burned across the country. Others said she was too ugly to have had a husband,

and only the orcs could have seen anything to admire. Some said her mind just snapped, the

sword the weak live under. There was a very thin line between walking with the shadows, and

becoming a shadow. Leia had lost a long time ago. We never talked about it. Her and I had a

sort of unusual understanding, and while we worked together, there was a comfortable

silence. Which was why I was surprised when she spoke up.

"Fine," I clipped and turned back to sweeping the floor. The floor was sparkling gleaming

white, and the damn thing needed to be swept some three times a day. If they had been

sensible they would have covered the terrace in black marble.


"Its about the prince isn't it." Startled I turned to her. She was crouched with the dustpan

by the corner, eyes focused on the floor.


"Just because everybody thinks I am stupid doesn't mean I don't notice things. Its about the

prince," she said surely, pride in her eyes.


"And how exactly do you know that?"

She stared in surprise at my tone, before again fixing her eyes on the floor.

"I saw him leaving your quarters that one night. You've been acting strange ever since.

Becoming more noticeable like. Yesterday you actually stepped into the sun to pick flowers."


Damn flowers. Damn impulses.


"Well my dear be proud, your capacity for observation is undimmed, unlike the rest of you."


"No need to get nasty. I was just telling you." She hesitated before continuing, "There is

going to be a ball tonight."


I sighed in irritation, "Of course there is going to be a ball tonight. It is in the

Prince's honor. Everyone knows about the damn ball. We have only been preparing for it for

months. I, unfortunately, am going to be there managing the drinks."


"He will be attending with Lady Cassandra." She went back to dusting, and I stared.

He was going to the ball with Lady Cassandra. How wonderful. Not even he could resist the

pull of those melting violet eyes. She worked very fast. Barely a week and already she had

her hooks in him….They would look beautiful together I thought abstractly, both perfections

of different facets.


Leia looked at me oddly as we continued our chores. And for a while all that could be heard

was the harsh swish of the broom as it swept across the marble. The darkening afternoon sky

reflected brightly against the brilliance of the polished white floor, and I stared at yards

and yards of cornflower blue.

It was time to get ready for the ball.


Narrator POV

She went to her room and looked harshly at her appearance. Huge golden eyes dominated an

oval face. Her jaw was too strong. Her lips were too pointed and sharp. Her hair had nothing

whatsoever to recommend it. No lustrous falls, but coarse from the daily washings of soap

and water. It was an intermediate shade of brown that all her life she had appreciated her

whole life for the simple fact that it never drew attention. She should have been proud,

because this was a face that would never launch a thousand ships; it was a face that would

never enthrall a ball room. It was a face easily forgotten and easily overlooked,

particularly tonight when the crème de la crème of elvin society would gather to celebrate

one of their own, and the fairness of that gathering would make it seem as if the stars

themselves had descended to dance on earth. She smiled sadly. Nothing had changed. As she

turned to get into her black gown, the fire seemed to leap in her eyes, and heat coursed

through her as her smile broadened. Firelight shimmered along the ebony gown, glimmering

over revealed curves, and playing along a sultry smile. She sat down at her vanity table and

used the little she had to work magic. As she sauntered to the door she threw one last

glance over her shoulder and looked at the small mirror on her wall. She would be different

tonight. For one night at least. They wouldn't remember in the morning anyway. They wouldn't

connect her to the creature of tomorrow, so her anonymity wouldn't be threatened. Just for

one night.

Those in the hallway then would have heard, mingled with the strains of music from the Grand

ballroom, a soft haunting laugh.


Legolas POV

As I dressed hurriedly that evening, I couldn't help but grimace at the long hours of

festivities ahead of me. I thanked the stars Lady Cassandra was my escort. A paragon of

beauty, even by elven standards, she was an amazing archer as well, with a grace and skill

that would have made any master proud. She showed me that day on the archery course, after

the…..incident. It was strange how suddenly she arrived, all smiles and fluttering

eyelashes. She had looked magnificent, standing out against the canopied trees. Cassandra

amused me, she was a whirlwind of humor and delight. At times there was something off that I

sensed, something wrong. When she didn't see me watching there was something…. I couldn't

put a finger on it. I shook myself as I walked down the illuminated corridor to the Grand

Ballroom, and focused on the vision in white descending from the staircase. She looked

magnificent, and light radiated from her as she smiled. All thoughts of the other girl had

dimmed, and I resolved to forget her for tonight. I had been too preoccupied with shadows of

late.

"My lord," she said, and bowed low.


"You look lovely Cassandra." She preened at the compliment and locked her arm in mine. I was

Legolas Greenleaf, Prince of Mirkwood, son of King Thranduil, member of the Fellowship. We

turned in unison to greet the crowds and smattering applause.


Elrond grasped my shoulder, "It is good to have you among us again friend, Rivendell

welcomes you."


That was when I saw her.


Raveyn's POV

"There is about a scanty inch of cloth saving her from completely popping out of her dress"

I muttered under my breath. Leia grinned, one of the few expressions she exhibited. She had

been assigned with me again. Apparently they felt she didn't present a good enough

impression to open the door. So they stuck Leia with me. She made the drinks and I would put

them out and smile like an idiot.


"It's a damn shame that the beautiful get so many privileges."

"They are beautiful." Leia said simply, as if that explained it all.

I turned to her, "Very true my dear. And we all know the world needs Cassandra to save it

from," I shuddered dramatically, "ugliness. That is precisely why, Leia, you and I were put

on this lovely spot of earth. To annoy Cassandra."


We were both laughing by now, and the rest of the servants were looking at us as if we were

mad. I don't know what it was, perhaps the music, perhaps the atmosphere, but I felt

something remarkably akin to happiness. A freedom almost.


" I say Leia, do you know if that red drink stains? Because it would be so easy to just give

it a little push if she were to arrive."

Leia nodded thoughtfully, "All that white stained ugly by red. What a pity miss. What a

pity. The grape juice you know is a lovely purple color. It wouldn't be right to ignore it."

I was going to have fun today, I thought as I smiled surreptitiously again. Nobody was going

to spoil it. Not even the supreme archer himself.

"He looks good doesn't he," Leia whispered.

I glared at her as she smiled sweetly and went back to making the spiced wine.

I glanced at him, and tried to remember that air was important.


His hair was immaculate, and it was swept back to fall down his back. He was wearing a long

sleeved black silk shirt that opened at the collar, puffed out, and tied at the wrists. A

black vest edged in silver was thrown over it, emphasizing broad shoulders and a narrow flat

waist. Black leggings with calfskin boots wrapped around lean thighs like a lovers hand and

completed the ensemble. He didn't look good. Good was so bland. The man in black with pale

skin, winged black brows and blonde hair looked magnificent. And every female in that

ballroom knew it. Unfortunately.


I couldn't help noticing what a couple they made. He in black and she in white, his looks

fair, hers dark. A complement that no couple in that ballroom could come close to beating.

They looked so calm and poised and so..so…graceful. How perfect for them.


"Leia if you don't hurry up with the wine, I might do something drastic. You know what I

was thinking the other day? What if I were to let the chickens loose in the middle of the

banquet?" I smile came to my face as I thought of the havoc that would cause. Ahh the simple

joys of life.

"I'm hurrying. Why don't you do what your supposed to do. Distract them."

I turned and gaped at her. "Distract them," I heatedly whispered, "with what, my

considerable charms? My endowments perhaps? I can't distract a caterpillar much less a crowd

of elves. And this drab dress really doesn't do much."


She glanced me over and looked me straight in the eye, "You look fine dear. That 'drab'

dress does not look drab on you. You look a good deal better than you usually do. Normally

you look terrible. Now you are passable. Your eyes look pretty, the kohl makes them look

larger. Why don't you wink at them?"

Wink at them. I was with a bloody idiot. Wink at them. Ugh. When I turned back around and

glanced over the crowd, he was staring at me. I held his gaze, and I didn't looked away. I

challenged him to put his eyes down and walk away, because tonight, I wasn't going to do

anything of the sort. Not tonight. As gold burned into blue, and I got another blasted

impulse. Smiling hugely, I winked.

A little elvin boy ran up to the table and demanded spiced wine. I gave it to him. I

figured he was probably older than me, and being a little tipsy never hurt anyone. Leia tsk

tsked and I just smiled.


Narrator's POV

She looked different. Confidence had brought a glow to her face, and her eyes sparkled as

she gave the child wine. The dress hugged a body with pert breasts and snug hips. Her eyes

looked haunting, dark lining pools of honey, and her lips curved wickedly as she glanced

over her esteemed lords. He caught himself staring, when Cassandra pressed her self against

him, and whispered delicately that she needed a drink. She was swaying impressively over to

the wine fountain, but he glanced at Raveyn again. Her eyes had now met his and a frisson of

desire ran down his spine. Run away little girl, Run run run away. Their eyes held in a

silent battle of wills across a crowded ballroom, as each dared the other. Then she smiled

and winked, and just like that his concentration was skewed. He hadn't expected that, she

had thrown him off again, upset his balance twice in less than a week. He who had spent

centuries studying individuals and reading their characters. Predicting their actions. No

little upstart was about to turn the tables on him. He quickly beckoned to his old friend

Ellivir, and softly motioned towards Raveyn who remained oblivious. Ellivir looked

quizzical, but nodded swiftly and stepped away into the swirling whirlpool of dancers. It

was time to make a few inquiries.


Raveyn's POV

"So we meet again. How do you do my dear, you look so delightfully….picturesque in that

dress. Tell me, how old is it? The linen is so dreadfully faded around the seams.."


Big wide violet eyes stared at me innocently over a rim of red wine. Unfortunately I hadn't

had time to poison it before she swiveled her hips in my direction. The dress was blindingly

white and her teeth sparkled viciously as she smiled. I thanked the stars I wasn't immortal.

Living for centuries with her would have been enough to drive me stark staring mad.



"I have no idea how old it is. I pulled it off a corpse before I was clapped in chains. You

should have seen the dungeons of Isengaard my lady, ahh I am sure you would have enjoyed

them. They had all kinds of torture instruments, and the screams echoing from the cells at

the tower! I'm sure you would have fit right in." I smiled genuinely, and went on pouring

wine.


"So typical of your people. They use such gauche and low language." She leaned in towards

me, "Tell me, did you really think he would glance twice at you? That one afternoon was a

simple lustful mistake. He had after all been on a long journey, and you were there. So

willing, so delightfully willing to….serve his majesty in any way possible. Ah well lust

overrides good judgment. So they piddle with little disgusting creatures such as yourself.

Look at you. Hahaha.." Her laughter sang towards the ceiling, sounding like a glass

chandelier touched by wind.


She walked around the table to look me carefully from the scuffed worn black shoes, and the

slightly frayed ends of my mother's old black dress which reached up to mid calf, to my

mussed upswept hair.

"Sticks like legs, ridiculously small breasts. I could go on and on. Let me tell you

something human. The Prince would never involve himself with a slave. He reassured me

himself after I came upon him. He seemed to be in such a shock." He reassured her. Of what?

That he hadn't touched me more than necessary? No diseases from the little slave girl,

heaven only knows what kind of orgies she's participated in. Well fuck him. Shocked. HE was

SHOCKED. Well if that doesn't beat all. Who kissed who here? I looked at her calmly, and ice

froze my veins.


"Madam we all attempt to serve his majesty in our different ways, but I am absolutely

certain that you undoubtedly have been his best subject. The status of bed warmer has been

achieved by a select few. And you have been warming so many beds for so many years, I am

sure your skill in that area is unsurpassable. Now if you will excuse me, my shift is over."

I moved around the table and she blocked my path. Her chest was heaving , and her eyes were

glazed with anger. Her face had turned an astonishing shade of purple, and I idly wondered

if I would need smelling salts. For some odd reason a picture of a mad heifer floated to

mind.

"Nobody dismisses me. You stupid little fool, I could have you destroyed with a single

command. Nothing would remain but ashes fertilizing my garden, and I would gladly go out

each day and look lovingly at each of my roses knowing that it is your rotting corpse that

has-"

I started to laugh. I started to seriously full out laugh out loud as I thought about my

bones fertilizing her garden. I told everybody she was crazy, but nobody ever believes me. I

think there is bad blood somewhere in her family ancestry. What I couldn't understand was

how nobody else saw it.


"Yes madam, you will cut my body into pieces and watch lovingly as the blood seeped into the

rich earth. You would have my feet fertilize the roses, and my arms the orchids. I

understand, believe me I do. I am going to go to my room now to fatten up. Good evening."

And then I walked away with a smile on my face.


Narrator's POV

She didn't notice that there were more than a few eyes on her as she quietly slipped out the

back way. But as she herself had ironically noted, they wouldn't recognize her by morning.

The laughing red lipped vixen of tonight would once again be replaced by the dull and silent

silhouette of a girl with an eerie ability to dance nimbly in shadow land. Cassandra stood

there, shoulders squared and back straight. Her eyes stared unseeingly, and someone looking

would notice with a shiver that they were empty. She turned with enough poise and grace to

rival the evenstar, and looked for her escort. He could not be found, and her fist

tightened. She would not be humiliated. She had bet too much on this, put too much of her

life into it. The Prince was hers, and no little slave girl was about to change that. She

would crush her. Blood dripped from her fist, and she opened her palm to stare at the

crescent shaped indentations scarring her palm. Blood welled and flowed smoothly across the

pristine white hand to drip on the immaculate tablecloth. Cassandra turned and smiled at a

cowering Leia.


"Shhhh….." And then she left all flutters and smiles.


Back in the hallway, as Raveyn hurried back to her room, stepping lightly across the moonlit

marble, she found herself enjoying the night. She had always loved the coolness of darkness,

the respite of shade. She stood and listened as the wind curled its fingers across the

trees, and swept across the marble, when a figure shrouded in black sudden blocked her path.

As fair hair was blown into disarray, she felt the smile slide off her face.