I realized I have not done a disclaimer since the beginning, so here it is:

I ownz notheeng.

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Well, I do own Tawny, Ameth, and Andhoth. But I just barely own them anyway, since Andhoth is really a character based off of a friend of mine, and the other two keep vying for power of this fic anyway.

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A bird chirped outside her window, and Tawny growled to herself, then rolled over on her side. Her bed seemed rather inviting this morning. "Ungh..." She sat up sleepily, and rubbed her eyes, trying to remember why on earth she was so tired. Oh yes. Legolas had managed to convince her to stay up late as he explained the maps of her book to her.

Poor old atlas. At the moment it was laying at the foot of her bed, though she didn't remember placing it there. Come to mention it, she didn't even remember going to bed at all...

******
"Mellon, you cannot honestly tell me you have not heard of any of the places I am telling you about." Legolas stretched out across the table in the dining hall, they the only ones there. She sat directly across from him, smirking.

"I have not, mellon." She stressed the last word as he shook his head at her.

"And to think I thought you would be well-read." At that Tawny started, sitting up in her chair.

"I am well read!" she protested, and Legolas caught sight of the flush in her cheeks. "I simply prefer to read things more interesting than old atlases." With that she sat back, folding her arms across her chest.

"Oh come now, I was only joking with you."

No response.

"Tawny, you cannot keep this up all night."

Once again, there was no response, though the elven prince caught sight of a smile at the corners of her mouth.

"Aha!" He jumped up as she smiled. Tawny laughed as he stood, the chair sliding out from under him, skidding until it came to a halt some six feet away.

"That was indeed an impressive jump, oh prince." She said most solemnly, and Legolas, for all he was worth, could not help but laugh.

"You sound like one of the courtiers." Legolas came around to the other side of the table, and sat in the chair next to her.

"That was my intention, oh most humble, noble, wonderful, Prince Legolas." Tawny swooned and leaned her head on his shoulder. "Oh prince, marry me!"

Legolas laughed once again, though his laughter was slightly nervous this time. Tawny, not being of elven make, did not notice, and continued with her swooning.
"Legolas, you are the finest creature in all of Mirk—" she stopped, sat upright, and looked at him. "I do believe I've just forgotten what this place is called."

"Mirkwood." He supplied, glad to have her off his shoulder, even if it was rather enjoyable. "And are you to tell me that after all those geography lessons you have yet to even memorize the name of my realm?"

"Ehh, memories come and go." Tawny tossed her hand out as though dismissing the issue.

"I certainly cannot marry a woman who cannot even recall the name of my home." He teased her lightly, and she raised an eyebrow at him.

"And yet you could marry one of those flighty little bits of air you call courtiers?"

Legolas took a breath before speaking. "Of course not. But I certainly cannot marry a maiden, no matter how fair, that knows not even the name of my realm."

"I simply forgot it for a moment!" she replied, now giving in to the playful fight.

"How might one forgot the name of where one resides? If you can forget that, perhaps you can also forget your name... what was it again-- Fawny? Bonnie?" Legolas ducked the hand as it shot out to fwap him, and that succeeded in only making Tawny more "upset."

"Oh, shush." She finally stated, and then turned back to her book, thumbing through the pages. After a moment, she yawned. Legolas caught the yawn, and shook his head to himself.

"You should retire for now, Tawny." He said lightly, and looked about to see if anyone was even awake right now.

"Well," she yawned again, and turned to him, "if I am to go to bed, so must you." She blinked sleepily at him, and he nodded, knowing to not do so would more than likely cause him more bad than good.

"Fine then." He conceded, and stood up, pulling her chair out for her. Then she stood, and clutched her beloved book to her chest, and walked with him to the exit of the dining hall.

And suddenly, a wall came from out of nowhere, and bit the poor girl. Tawny fell back in defense as the wall attacked, and landed flat on the ground.

"Bad wall..." she spoke to it, and then noticed Legolas leaning over her.

"Tawny, are you quite alright?" He helped her to stand, she still managing to keep a firm grasp on her book.

"The wall jus' jumped-out and bit me." She spoke, her words beginning to slur together. He gave her an odd look, and glanced at the wall which had definitely not moved. The girl blinked again, and backed up from him as she noticed how close together they were standing.

Legolas' arm shot out to steady her as she backed up, and was grateful he had done so as Tawny's knees came out from under her. Legolas caught one shoulder, causing her to now stand slightly sideways. Tawny looked up at him meekly.

"Bedtime?" she asked, and he nodded. The prince bent down and picked her up, recalling when he had done this the day before.

"This should not become a daily thing, fair one, or my back will eventually give out." Legolas spoke to her as he scooped her into his arms. For her part, Tawny gave him a look of mock-horror before leaning her head against his chest.

"That's not really somethin' you should tell a lady.... prince." The Prince looked down to find her asleep, and so chose not to reply. After making it to her room, he found her covers already turned down, and laid her on the bed.

"Sleep well, fair one." He spoke to her, and then kissed her forehead and pulled the covers up about her protectively. Then Prince Legolas walked out of her room, but not before making sure he took the old atlas out of her hands and laid it at the foot of her bed.

******

"Good morn' fair one."

Tawny turned to the sound of the voice, and caught sight of Legolas, walking briskly down the hall, in what seemed to be a very good mood. "Good morning to you as well, oh Prince of Mirkwood."

"You've remembered." He spoke as he began to walk with her.

"That seems to be the only thing I can remember about last night, though" A hint was given in that sentence, and she hoped he would catch on.

"Well then, I suppose I have an advantage over you, as I can remember it all." That made Tawny sigh in annoyance. "Though I suppose I could tell you, if you wished to know."

"No, I do not." With that spoken to him she walked off on her own, Legolas going at his own graceful pace behind her.

Tawny arrived at the dining hall somewhat upset with herself. But when she caught sight of Hamasen, her spirits lifted. She made her way to him quickly, and was surprised to find that he seemed to have reserved the spot for someone.

"Oh..." she spoke softly, and looked to the seat, then at him. "You were expecting someone?"

Hamasen stood out of respect and walked to her, guiding her to the chair. "Yes, milady. You." The girl blushed as she lowered herself into the seat and as he helped her move it forward, then turned to face him as he sat.

"Thank you for saving me a seat." She said directly, and smiled.

Thranduil chose that moment to walk up, just as Hamasen had opened his mouth, and of course the elven king demanded respect. Thus, Hamasen shut his mouth quickly. "My lord?" he asked, and Thranduil acknowledged the Gondorian with a nod.

"I was hoping to have a word with you, Hamasen, but it seems you are busy at the moment. I shall come back another time."

A bemused expression crossed over Tawny's face and she turned to look at Hamasen. "What could that have been about?" She asked curiously, and Hamasen merely shrugged.

"I know him even less than you, milady." ******

Indeed, Thranduil's strange behavior was confusing even his own son. Legolas walked up to him after hesitating for a moment at the door. He had seen the exchange and was wavering between being upset and confused. Well, the confusion won over and the clueless prince tapped his father politely on the shoulder. "I pray you, what are you about?"

Thranduil smiled at his elven son, and spoke almost in secret. "I am about, son, arranging a marriage for Lady Tawny and Hamasen of Gondor."

Legolas, having had millennia to practice appearing reserved, merely stood there contemplating what to say next. The words finally came to him, though they were not as hopeful as he had wished them to be. "Ah, yes. And then an alliance would be formed. An excellent idea, father." Legolas paused for a moment. "But do you not think she might be suited for marriage to another person?"

"Whom would that be, son? All others here are not of her race. To suggest she marry another would be to seal his fate with that of this world."

Legolas had not really thought about this before. Then again, he was young, so it was understandable. The elf nodded slowly, and then turned about, and walked out of the dining hall. He had much to think about.

******

I know you guys hate cliff-hangers, but it's the best way to write stuff like this. *grin*

Um... to my would-be betas: I've decided to give up on the whole idea, as I have absolutely NO TIME to write, and I hate having to be kept on a schedule.

By the way: I'm sorry to all my readers. I had said in my author's note the next chappie would be up by (St.) Valentine's Day. Yes, Andhoth, I added the St. part for you. Now... go away.

~Mioni