AUTHOR'S NOTE:
This is a really short chapter but it's good so don't worry. Please remember to review!

Coming Completely Clean:

Kika agreed, curious and slightly worried. After Legolas had gotten them both chairs, he could not make himself come right out and say what he needed to, and there was an uncomfortable silence for several moments.

"So have you enjoyed your stay so far?" he finally said when he could bear the silence no longer.

"Yes, everyone is so kind and it is beautiful. Thank you for allowing me to stay here, and especially in this room! I still cannot believe that such beautiful accommodations were offered to me. And these dresses," she said, "They are beautiful! Even when you invited me to come, never did I expect to be wearing such attire!" Legolas grinned at her enthusiasm.

"I had Kuline bring some more for you; they should have been delivered to your room by now. She has an eye for beautiful clothing."

Legolas was unable to keep his eyes off of her. There was an addictive sparkle in her eyes when she smiled that made him want to keep her smiling all the time, no matter what the cost. "If you find that you need anything, do not hesitate to ask. As long as you are here, Anything you want is yours."

"But what more could I want?" she asked. "I have a beautiful room, beautiful dresses, and I have met the nicest elves I could ever wish to meet. It is more than I have ever hoped for! And I have you to thank for it. Thank you! If you ever need anything that I can help you with, though I cannot think of what that could be." she stopped short, for this reminded her of the prize that he had yet to claim. Legolas was reminded of this, too, but he acted as if his skin had not tingled at the very thought. He smiled at her.

"No, the fact that you are happy is plenty enough to settle the score." He hesitated. "What are your future plans? Are you going to continue to travel, or." Kika caught the underlying meaning of the meaning, but answered as if she had not.

"I suppose I will continue doing what I was doing when we met. I really do not plan to return to Lorien any time in the near future. I have been away too long." Legolas rushed hastily and said what he had meant to say to begin with, before he lost his nerve.

"You can stay here as long as you wish; you do not have to leave any time soon." With more bravery than he thought he possessed, he continued, "Of course it is your choice, but I would like for you to stay. You have been great to have around. Being with you is a nice break from the monotony around here."

"Really?" Kika felt her face growing warm. "I thought I was just being a inconvenience to you."

"No! Just the opposite; I have really loved having you here. You are easy to talk to, much better than the other nobles around here." Kika was surprised at this.

"But you seem so at ease with them! It was apparent that you did not like the crowd at dinner, but-"

"O no, no, no," he laughed. "Do not mistake composure for ease. I am composed around them, yes, but I am at ease with very few people here. You and Gimli most of all. You are much easier on the eyes, though." By this time Kika believed that her face could not turn any deeper shade of red.

"You are easy to be with, too," she said sincerely. "You have accepted me despite my. problem, which is more than I can say for most other elves."

He responded with a laugh, "I am known to be very accepting. I was the first elf to befriend a dwarf since. well since before I was even born, I suppose. Your 'problem', as you have called it, though I do not see as such, is easy to overlook in comparison to your beauty and personality." He had thought that Kika's face was red before, but that was nothing compared to what it was now. "I do not mean to embarrass you," he said quickly. "I was talking to Gimli earlier, and he insisted that I tell you some things that I had been telling him.

What is this? Have I done something wrong? She swayed on her feet unexpectedly and Legolas instinctively reached out to support her. "Do you want to sit?"

"Actually, some fresh air might be better. Can we go out to the balcony?"

"Of course." He opened the skillfully wrought doors out to the crisp night air. Kika breathed in deeply and leaned against the railing.

"What I have been wanting to tell you is. I am going to tell you!" he laughed. "I have been nervous about this all day." Now he took a deep breath and continued. "I have had many maidens introduced to me, for my father has long wished for me to marry. I have never met any maiden that I liked well enough to even consider that, though, until recently. I have met a maiden who is charming, beautiful, amiable, shares my interests, and she, I hope, likes me nearly as much as I like her." Kika found that she could neither move nor speak. Could he possibly be speaking of her?

"I have only known you two days," he continued, "but I feel like I have known you much longer. Like I have said, you are unbelievably easy to be with. Strangely enough, though, I also always find myself in a daze and I end up awkward around you, and I have been able to think of nothing else." He fell silent as he tried to gauge Kika's reaction. She was finally able to speak.

"I thought I was only imagining that you were being so kind to me because I feel the same way." Legolas did not know what he had expected, but certainly not this.

"Really? You are not just saying that so I will not seem like a fool?"

"I would not do that! I really do like you, and I have since I first met you in the woods, though attempting to capture me like a criminal was not the best way to introduce yourself," she laughed. "And I am glad that you found the courage to say something, because I know that I never would have."

"It was unimaginably difficult for me to say anything," he said. "But now that I have, and you have said what you have, I would now like to claim my prize for my victory earlier today." He moved in closer and Kika was strongly aware of his hands as he placed them on her shoulders. It seemed as if everything was moving in slow motion until his lips were on hers. Everything went blank and both Kika and Legolas were aware of nothing except for each other. Slow and tender, the one kiss turned into many, and neither was willing to pull away. When they finally eased apart, Legolas was the first to be able to speak.

"Since we are both coming completely clean, you might want to know that I believe that I am falling in love with you, Kikania. I thought it was too soon, but I cannot deny what my heart is saying anymore."

As Kika settled into his arms, her mind which had been numbed by his loving kiss was just beginning to function again. Is this really happening? What have I ever done to deserve someone like him? For a long time, neither knew how long, they just stood out on the balcony, content to simply be with each other.
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Ah, finally. But no, this is not the end. Could I really make things so easy for them? Keep looking for updates to find out what happens!