Chapter 14 ~ Feasting and Dancing

Fuineth was grateful when the Queen insisted she return to her chambers. She could feel her back beginning to ache a little and said as much to Lady Mirriel.

"I wonder if I might not have a bath? I am aching slightly from the fall and it might help. Otherwise I do not know I will be able to face the dance tonight."

"Don't say another word. I will arrange it," said Mirriel. Fuineth opened her mouth to protest that she was perfectly capable, but Mirriel stopped her short. "You need to rest. I can see you are tired. Go sleep a little, and I will wake you in plenty of time to get ready. Let me arrange this for you, and get water and a tub sent to your chambers."

Fuineth thanked her, relieved in truth that she didn't have to deal with it all, and headed off to her chambers.

She had just arrived in her room when there was a knock on her door and Arwen entered.

"I wanted to make sure you were quite well, my dear. You seemed tired and both I and the King were worried you had hurt yourself more than you were admitting in the company."

Fuineth smiled, "I am most grateful, your highness, but in truth you need not be concerned. It is not the first fall I have taken from a horse, nor will it be the last I dare say. I am tired, it is true, and my back aches a little where I landed, but no more than that."

Arwen nodded, "I am glad Lord Legolas was able to help you and walk back with you."

Fuineth nodded, and felt herself flushing slightly at the mention of him and turned away from the Queen's gaze.

Arwen smiled at this and moved over to the window, standing there for a moment before turning back to her. "Fuineth? Come here a moment. I wish to talk to you."

Fuineth looked up and saw the Queen holding out her hand to her and indicating a long seat against one wall nearby. "Of course, your highness," and she came over to sit next to Arwen.

"Fuineth, I have noticed you seem happier now than you have been for some few weeks. It warms my heart to see it."

Fuineth flushed once more and murmured that she was glad that her highness was pleased but was sure she did not know what she meant.

Arwen laughed softly, "Come now, Fuineth. Do you think I did not notice how quiet you became those last few weeks in Minas Tirith? Or how you are much more yourself now you are here?" She paused, "And I think I can guess the cause. It is Lord Legolas, is it not?"

Fuineth gasped and blushed furiously.

Arwen smiled, "My dear, it was clear even in Osgiliath. You both spoke with such tenderness and compassion one of the other, though I am convinced neither of you were even aware you were doing so. I am happy for you, truly I am. Lord Legolas is a fine and noble elf."

Fuineth shook her head. She could feel the tears welling now and she was not sure she would be able to speak at first, but eventually she managed to say quietly, her voice shaking a little, "No matter what my feelings may or may not be it cannot be anything more than friendship, my Queen. There is little use in my pretending otherwise nor do I indeed."

The Queen, still smiling, tilted her head to one side, "Really? Why not?"

Fuineth dropped her head and said quietly, "I am a mortal, your highness. Even if I could convince myself, I do not think Lord Legolas ever could," and she could feel the tears were close to falling now.

Arwen muttered softly, "I would not be so sure of that."

Fuineth was not sure if she had heard correctly and shot her a questioning look, but Arwen did not repeat her comment and her face gave no clue instead she continued calmly as if she had not said anything at all.

"He was most concerned by what happened today, my dear. He said as much to the King. I told you in Osgiliath, you may recall, that you have a place in his affections that I have not known him hold for many mortals." She reached out and gently held Fuineth's chin so she could look into her eyes. Her voice was filled with kindness and compassion as she spoke, "Perhaps you forget that I am an elf married to a mortal? I understand, Fuineth, more than many might, but do not say it is impossible. Am I not a proof against that?" Fuineth smiled, and the Queen, returning her smile, let Fuineth's head drop once more.

She stood and moved towards the door, "Perhaps I have said too much, I do not know. Forgive me, Fuineth, if I have spoken out of turn. I was sorry to see you so sad at his leaving us, and am glad, truly, to see you brighten once more."

Fuineth shook her head, "There is nothing to forgive, my Queen. I thank you for your kind words to me. Indeed, you are most generous and you have touched me deeply with your concern."

Arwen smiled and moved back over to her and laid one hand upon her shoulder and stroked the other down her hair, "I know it is not easy, and I cannot tell you which way to chose. But know simply this: that no door is closed to you. There. It is said. I will leave you now and we shall speak of it no more, since I can see it distresses you."

Arwen kissed Fuineth lightly on her brow and then left her for her own chambers leaving Fuineth wondering on her words.

As Fuineth lay back and relaxed in the warm water of her bath she could feel the ache in her back dissipate. She had landed hard and she knew she would have a bruise somewhere on her left side tomorrow.

She let her mind wander back through the day's events and the Queen's words; but she lingered longest on the image of Lord Legolas as he had arrived on Arod, galloping hard and fast, the anxiety clear in his features and tone of voice. He had clearly been really worried, she thought, really very worried and had hurried to her. She sighed, knowing she should not read too much into it nor look to hope. Even so it thrilled her a little to know he had been watching her at all to see her fall.

She shook her head. That was it. Enough was enough. She had to get a hold of herself. She got out and dried herself, scolding herself as she did so.

"Foolish.. unthinkable... absolutely unthinkable!"

So saying, she climbed into bed and dozed till Mirriel woke her.

---------------------------------------------------

Elves from all over Ithilien had been invited to the revelries that night, indeed many had arrived in time for the hunt earlier that day. As King Elessar, Queen Arwen, her brothers and her ladies-in-waiting entered the hall the place was full of people. While the King and Queen, Elladan and Elrohir moved off to their seats near the top of the table, Fuineth turned to find Lord Legolas walking towards her. He was dressed in a deep blue and the intricate gold embroidery on his tunic gleamed in the flickering torch light, as did his hair.

He smiled warmly, "My lady Fuineth, may I show you to your seat?"

She took his arm and she was placed near the head of the table, amongst the Galadhrim and she felt both honoured and embarrassed to be there, even though Mirriel and Gwenneth were also so placed. Her position near to him meant that throughout the feast she was very aware of Lord Legolas's glances towards her, and by the end of the meal she felt flushed and giddy.

The meal itself was full of jokes, tales, laughter and song; the food was excellent and the wine even better. As it ended, and the guests began to rise, Lord Legolas excused himself and came over to Lady Fuineth.

"My lady? Will you accompany me outside? The dancing will take place in the glade beyond the halls." She smiled and took his arm once more and let him lead her through the crowd.

The Galadhrim grinned and nudged each other. Aragorn exchanged a glance with his wife but Arwen merely smiled. Gwenneth grabbed Orophin.

"My lord, shall we accompany them? A group will attract less talk I feel."

Orophin nodded and they quickly caught up with the pair who were oblivious to their presence and now murmuring quietly to each other as Legolas assured her she would be able to follow the steps to any dance she did not know.

The glade, itself quite a size, was lit with lights hung from the trees that encircled it. At one end minstrels were already playing and cushions, benches and rugs were spread all around the edge of the glade. Wine was served from a table to one side. Already many elves were there, seated or standing in small groups, chattering and drinking. The night itself was mild, and the stars shone bright in the sky above the glade.

As Legolas and Fuineth stepped into the large clearing she gasped. "My lord, it is beautiful."

He smiled, pleased that she approved. "This is how we always have our dances here. In Eryn Lasgalen and Lorien too it is similar."

She looked up at him, "But what if it rains?"

He just laughed, and said, "It will not."

They moved over to join Aragorn, Arwen and Faramir who had already arrived while Orophin and Gwenneth followed.

Lord Faramir bowed and kissed Fuineth's hand, "I am pleased to see you once more, Lady Fuineth."

He clearly meant it, and she was touched, indeed her cheeks flushed a little. "I thank you, my lord. I too am pleased to see you here." He nodded, both understanding what the other had meant, and they smiled kindly at each other.

Legolas turned to Fuineth and spoke quietly, "My lady, you will forgive me, I trust, but as host I must offer the first dance to the Queen."

She smiled in surprise, "Lord Legolas, I would not expect anything less! There is nothing to apologise for."

He could see she had not understood, and continued, "I hope you will reserve the *second* dance for me, however?"

She stood there, looking into his eyes, and saw, for the first time, his feelings written plainly on his face. She could feel her heart beating slightly faster and for a moment it was as if time had stood still. She could not hear the music or the chatter and laughter around her; she did not see those standing near her. She could only hear her heart thudding quietly against her breast and saw nothing but his eyes.

"My lady?"

His question broke her reverie. His tone was gentle, warm and quiet; his eyes were smiling. She smiled in her turn, never breaking away from his gaze, "Of course, my lord. You did not need to ask."

She saw the skin around the eyes crinkle into a broader smile and the warmth in that gaze deepen further, if that was possible. He bent to kiss her hand, and she could feel her skin tingle at the touch of his lips upon it.

"You have my thanks, my lady," he said, still holding her gaze with his. She nodded, still smiling.

At last he turned and asked Arwen for the first dance. As she watched them walk into the middle of the clearing, the music faded as the minstrels readied themselves to begin the first dancing tune and the chatter rose a level with excitement as slowly couples began to move forward and take their places.

Fuithen felt a hand upon her arm and turned to see Elladan smiling at her. "Lady Fuineth, may I have the honour?" and he led her out to join the rest.

Once the music for the first dance had stopped Elladan bowed and thanked her as Legolas approached.

"My lady?"

They smiled at each other, a little shyly it now seemed. They quickly took their places and Legolas held her hand.

As they moved in time to the minstrels' tune she could feel his eyes upon her even when she was turned away, and every time she turned towards him there were those green eyes once more, holding her, drawing her nearer, encouraging the hope to build within her. Just as when they had first danced in Minas Tirith she was breathless at the end.

They had not spoken once in all the dance, merely moved, and touched, and gazed at each other but now Legolas was apologising once more, "As host, my lady, I must ..."

She nodded, "It is quite alright, my lord. I understand." She smiled into his eyes once more, but before he could reply Rúmil appeared and asked for the next dance from her. As he led her away she looked back to see Legolas watching her, a smile on his face and those eyes bright with emotion.

Every two dances or so Legolas would dance with her and even when they weren't dancing together he was watching her. She looked beautiful. The elven circlet was once more on her brow, the dress she wore, of a deep red, looked extraordinary against her pale skin and the dark hair falling down her back. Soon he had given one dance to all those he should, and they had three dances together one after the other.

They were laughing as the last one ended. "Another?" he was grinning at her now.

"Oh! My lord, please! I must get my breath. You go. I shall sit this one out."

He shook his head, "No, I shall not dance while you do not. Come let us get a drink."

He led her to some cushions and bade her sit while he went to fetch two cups of wine. He returned and sat next to her, reclining back slightly on the cushions.

He looked at her. "You dance well, my lady, and you need not have feared. You picked up the steps quickly as I told you you would."

She smiled, "Thank you, my lord, but in truth I felt I was having difficulty following at times. I am sure Lord Elrohir must have thought me mad at times in our dance together."

He laughed. "Well that is about the most difficult dance of any that will be had this evening, in truth, but I thought you managed very well. No one would have noticed if you made a wrong step here or there - I certainly did not - and now you know it you will dance it again perfectly later this evening, I am sure."

She smiled at his compliment, before quietly saying, "You saw me, my lord? But you were busy dancing yourself, were you not?"

Her eyes glinting with mischief, he caught her look and laughed softly but said nothing and took a sip of wine.

A figure plonked himself by Legolas.

Rúmil.

Grinning.

"May I join you? Not disturbing you, am I?"

Thankfully Fuineth could not see the look Legolas shot him and she merely smiled graciously and said "Not at all, my lord. You are most welcome."

"Enjoying the evening, my lady?" continued Rúmil, blithely ignoring Legolas.

"Very much, my lord, and you?"

"Not bad, not bad. Considering. Nothing could hold a candle to a Lothlorien dance, of course, but even so this is a fair dance indeed. Very fair."

She could tell he was joking, of course, and said nothing but smiled broadly and waited instead for Legolas to laugh and respond in kind. Legolas heaved a weary sigh, "You will have to excuse lord Rúmil, my lady, who cannot appreciate culture if his life depended on it. He lacks both tact and good taste as he has clearly demonstrated just now."

Legolas was giving Rúmil a firm look as he said this last phrase, but that just made Rúmil's grin spread all the wider, "Indeed? Well, Lady Fuineth, there are one or two things you perhaps should now about Lord Legolas..."

He was cut off by another joining them. "Brother, you should be more courteous to your host. We are leaving in a few days after all. Would it kill you to be pleasant just for one night?" They laughed, even Rúmil.

"Well said," said Legolas, "Rúmil you should take a lesson from your elders and betters such as Orophin here."

Before Rúmil had time to respond to this the music faded once more and Legolas put his cup to one side and jumped to his feet. He held out both hands to Fuineth. "My lady? You will do me the honour, I trust?"

"But of course, my lord," she smiled, "If you will excuse me my lord Rúmil? Lord Orophin?" They nodded towards her as she took Legolas's hands and rose.

As the pair headed off into the throng of dancers Orophin nudged his brother sharply in the ribs and hissed, "You are too cruel, brother. Leave them. It is possible nothing will come of it, as well you know. Let them have this one night in peace at least." Rúmil did have the good grace to look vaguely shamefaced at his brother's words and drank deep from his cup.

The dance finished, Legolas took her to one side. "My lady, do you wish for another dance, or..." He hesitated.

"'Or', my lord?"

"Or would you care to come for a walk instead? It is a fine night and I fain would have some respite from the throng of people and the noise for a little while." She smiled and he continued, "Besides, I want to talk with you. We have had little opportunity thus far this evening."

He looked into her eyes as he said this and her smile only broadened as he did so. "If you are sure the host would not be missed, my lord, then nothing would give me greater pleasure. Of course I will walk with you."

He grinned in delight, took her hand and walked backwards leading her away from the crowd towards the trees and the shadows underneath them. Once there he stopped, offered her his arm, and together, huddled close, they walked for a little while in silence as the noise of the music, laughter and enjoyment faded gradually behind them.

"It is a beautiful night, is it not, my lord?" she said, looking up at the stars that showed themselves between the branches.

"Indeed," he agreed but he was not looking at the sky.

At last they reached a clearing and Fuineth recognised it as the same one she had been to that first night in Ithilien. She smiled.

Legolas led her down the slope towards the stream and then, stepping across its' narrowest point, turned back to her with his hand so that she might cross also. She took it, and as their fingers met she felt goosebumps travel up her arm.

"You are cold, my lady?" She shook her head, feeling suddenly shy that he had noticed.

Once across the stream, where the land rose gently once more, he led her upwards on a barely discernable path to a spinny where he sat and invited her to join him. She could still see the glade and the stream, but they were screened from prying eyes or anyone who might enter the glade after them. She sat, arms about her knees, listening to the ripple and gurgle of the stream below them. Legolas was leaning back on one elbow, simply watching her in the stillness and moonlight.

At last she moved, turning her face to look behind her slightly so she could see him. "You wanted to talk, my lord? Well, here we are. What shall we talk about?" She smiled as she spoke and was greeted with one in return.

He sat up to sit next to her and looked out over the little clearing and the stream. "In truth, I do not know, my lady. I simply wished to be alone with you and enjoy your company in solitude a while. Forgive me if I have been overbold." He turned to her, smiling, his eyes twinkling at her.

She laughed softly, "Not at all, my lord. I am glad you did." Their eyes met and she flushed slightly.

He saw that bloom upon her cheek, the look in her eyes of warmth and something more. He was pleased, thrilled indeed though he fought hard against that emotion, and yet....

He sighed. Her expression changed to one of questioning, though she said nothing.

"Lady Fuineth," he began, not sure quite how to broach what he wanted to tell her, not indeed sure that he should do so, "Lady Fuineth you gave me quite a fright today." She smiled, but her brows were still knitted together with incomprehension. "Your fall," he explained.

"Oh! I assure you, my lord, I am quite uninjured. As I told you I was winded a little, that was all."

He nodded, "Yes, I realise now. But when I saw you fall... you did not move for quite some time..."

He looked up at her now, and she was spellbound by the look upon his face: a mixture of anxiety and relief as well as a fondness of such profundity that it made her catch her breath.

Legolas looked down for her hand, found it and took it in his own. He did not look up at her, but kept his gaze upon that small white hand now lying in his. "It made me realise what was important to me, my lady."

She felt her breath stop.

In that moment, just as Legolas had discovered on their way back to the halls earlier that day, she knew what she felt for him. She admitted it to herself fully and for the first time and she felt a tear trail down her cheek before she could stop it. She turned her face away. The emotions were too strong, the feeling too great, for her to be able to bear looking at him, his beauty or the emotion she saw in his eyes.

He was talking softly once more, looking at her now, "Tell me, my lady, that you feel this too. I know you do. I have seen it in you."

She could not speak, but she nodded and as she did so she turned to look at him, in hope but also in fear.

He saw the tear wet upon her cheek and lifted his hand to wipe it away. "Do not weep, my lady. I too have long battled against myself, but I needs must now admit what is in my heart."

She could not take his eyes off his, filled as they were with a tenderness that nearly broke her.

He lifted the hand he held in his own and kissed it. "You understood full well why I said what I did in Minas Tirith that day. I know you did. You are a mortal and I an elf."

She nodded, torn in her joy and despair, and she was able to gasp out, "I know, my lord. I have always known."

He smiled sadly, "But despite that, my lady, I cannot help how I feel: how I delight in your presence, how I could watch you and never tire, how I wish for nothing to ever harm you." He looked into her eyes once more and said, "Truly, Lady Fuineth, you are beautiful."

She smiled. Smiled though she felt her heart about to break. "Oh, my lord... I have not the words. You have moved my heart greatly this night, though in truth it was moved before as you rightly guessed." She paused, and he saw the doubt pass across her face before she continued, "But, my lord..."

He stopped her with a quiet "Shhh" and then lifted his hand to lay it against her cheek, and she pressed into his hand as if by so doing all the pain she felt could be wiped away. "Avo bedo," he continued, "We both know what you would say. It cannot be and we know that. But let us have tonight. Indeed let us have this time in Ithilien while you are here. Let us at least acknowledge how we feel and enjoy these brief moments while we may. It may make the parting more painful but the memory will be that much sweeter."

She had brought her other hand up to cover the one now upon her cheek, and she smiled, even as another tear fell. She took that hand, kissed it and Lord Legolas smiled in return and then pulled her hands for her to sit a little closer to him.

And so they sat in silence for a little while, side by side, hands entwined and her head resting against his shoulder.

At last Legolas stirred and, as she straightened to look at him, he turned to her and held his hand against her face once more, his thumb tracing a line down to her jaw. "Come, my lady. We had best return. It will not do for the host to be gone long from his own dance."

She smiled, "No indeed, my lord." He stood, offering his hand to her so she might rise.

As they walked back down to the stream, this time hand in hand, and crossed over it once more, she stopped. He turned to look at her and saw a smile upon her face. "My lady?"

She shook her head, her eyes glinting in the starlight, "Nothing, my lord, only..."

He raised an eyebrow quizzically, a smile playing on his lips.

She continued, "Only that I am glad we had this walk."

He laughed softly and had to resist the urge to pull her into his arms. "Come, my lady, we must return," was all he said, and she returned his laugh, followed his lead, and they made their way back through the trees once more to the dance.

avo bedo = do not speak