I had a lot of fun writing this chapter, as I could just picture the type of reviews I'm going to get after you've all read this. Honestly, I think some of you are going to go mad at me!

Many of you wondered why Dolenmíl acted the way she did. The answer is in this chapter! Please review with your comments; I'm sure they shall be colourful! ^_^

~Lainfaer~

Malevolent Mystic- That is such a cool name! Guess you like the mystical stuff eh? I have absolutely no idea where the Dagnir-o Lóre originated from, it all just popped into my head! Thanks for reviewing, and I'm glad you like the story! ^_^

the counter- Same thing, please try and make more sense if you review again!

Deana- I made it up myself. Hope it was ok! ^_^

Elerrina- I decided you can slam a flap…in a way! He just, let it fall back into place really hard, and really…threw it? That make more sense? I didn't think it would! Yep, interacting with Elrohir…you're getting there! ^_^

Gwyn- This is not, I repeat…IS NOT…a Legomance! I promise you, it will not get all mushy! This chapter is a bit…soppy, maybe, but honestly, after this, it is NON-ROMANTIC! Well, for our fave blonde-haired Elf anyway…^_^

Chapter 17: Apologies, but further mistakes?

They stayed in that camp for a further week. Dolenmíl avoided Legolas whenever she could. She felt utterly embarrassed by the evenings' events. Even though he had sworn he would never tell anyone about what had occurred.

Legolas noticed she was no longer talking to him, and whenever he went near her, she would turn away, or even walk off with someone else. It aggravated him dreadfully, and he finally went to Elladan.

"I just don't understand why she is being so distant with me," he fumed. Elladan was sat on his bed, watching the Mirkwood Prince pace around his tent. Legolas said he no longer felt comfortable in his own tent.

"It's as if she doesn't trust me," he continued. He stopped pacing, and looked at Elladan. "Dan come on, help me here. What do I do? She has been avoiding me for the whole week."

"Well what happened when she went to talk to you?"

Legolas sighed. "I can't tell you. I swore that I wouldn't."

It was Elladans' turn to sigh. "Well if you don't tell me, how can I help?"
"All right, all right. She needed a shoulder to cry on, and so came to me. Then everything went…funny."

"What do you mean by 'funny'?"

"I don't know if it was something I said or did, but she suddenly decided she had to leave. I tried to find out what I had done, but she just said we all needed rest and sleep. She walked out, and has been ignoring me ever since. I have tried to talk to her, but she just turns away, or even walks off! What should I do?" He started pacing again.

Elladan smiled to himself. Legolas was normally so calm and collected about girls, but this time, he had completely lost his cool. He clearly had quite deep feelings for this Dolenmíl.

"Look, shall I have a word with her?"

"Oh no, no way, I know what you'd say. You would go off on one about my 'feelings' for her. No, I know what you and Elrohir are like with girls. I can handle it."

"Well I must say you are making a very good job of it so far."

Legolas stopped pacing again, and scowled at his grinning friend. "Look, have you just got any ideas to help me?"

"No."

"Well thanks a bunch. If I ever need help again, I know where NOT to go! I'm going back to my tent." He walked out.

Elladan scrambled to his feet and followed. "Legs, wait."

Legolas stopped and turned round. Elladan hurried up to him. "Look, I don't know this Dolenmíl as well as you do. How well do you know her actually?"

"I only really know her as the Corporal in the Army, and a bit about her past…but that's it. We have only started talking to each other on this journey."

"Does she normally act like this around other people?"
"Not that I've noticed."

Just then, Dolenmíl herself walked by. She was on her own, and didn't notice the Princes at first.

"Look, here's your chance. Go and talk to her," Elladan urged. Legolas squirmed a little. Now it had come to it, he really didn't want to talk to her again.

"Go on!"

He sighed, smartened himself up, and walked up to her. Elladan hid behind a tent so Dolenmíl wouldn't see him. He crouched down, and watched.

Dolenmíl heard Legolas approaching as he was about two feet away. She looked up, startled at his sudden, silent approach. "Oh, Legolas. You made me jump."

He raised an eyebrow. "You're not as on the ball as you normally are Dolenmíl."

"I know. I've got a few things on my mind, that's all." She gave him a quick smile, then looked back at her feet. She was wringing her hands.

Legolas sensed her nervousness. "Listen, Dolenmíl, can we talk? Somewhere private I mean." She looked back at him, not sure what to answer.   

"Well, I'm rather… busy, at the moment. How about later? This evening?"

"All you're doing, is walking around the camp like a nervous wreck. Honestly, something's happened to you this week, and I'm starting to worry. Please, just come and talk to me." She swallowed nervously. "Oh…alright then. But I haven't got long."

As they walked off together, Legolas glanced at Elladans' hiding place, and shook his head slightly. Elladan nodded. This meant he was not to follow. When they had disappeared, he went back into his tent to await Legolas' return.

They walked to the outskirts of the camp in silence, neither wanting to start talking. They didn't look at each other, and each could feel the others unease. Every now and then, Legolas would glance at Dolenmíl, but she would always be staring intently at the ground, not giving him a second look. He frowned.

//What has happened to her this week?//

"Anyway, as I was saying," he started, but Dolenmíl cut him off. "No, wait Legolas. I think I should speak first." She looked at him, and he saw the look of determination on her face that he was used to seeing. "Very well."

She nodded, and stared straight ahead. The weather was fine, a gentle breeze, and the sun was shining above them. It was an hour past noon, and many Elves were out and about, grooming their horses, and preparing for the final leg of the journey ahead.

"Well, I had better start by apologising." Legolas looked up at her. "Why?"
"For the way I have been acting. I have a complete pig this week, and I'm sorry." She looked at him, hope showing all over her face.

He smiled gently. "You have nothing to apologise for. I was just confused as to why you were acting so strangely around me after all of a sudden. Was it something I said, or did?"

"No, it was me. That evening…when I talked to you about my parents, and cried, I felt weak and vulnerable. It wasn't me, you must understand that. I'm not normally that soft and silly."

"You weren't being silly. I told you then, you were being strong."

"I know what you said, but I still felt like a little child, crying like that. I feel as if I have lost all the pride and dignity I have gained over the past years. All in one fell swoop by crying on the shoulder of my Prince. I don't think you quite understand yet. Ladies like me, tough women who have never cried, or hardly ever cried, in front of a man, feel horribly embarrassed when it finally happens. And that's how I felt. Once I had realised what I was doing, I felt so embarrassed and…childlike."

"Childlike?" Legolas asked, raising the eyebrow again. "Oh Dolenmíl, that is one of the most ridiculous things I have ever heard. Of course you weren't acting like a child. Just because you are a grown woman, whom I have to add, is a very charming and strong-headed woman, cries, it doesn't mean you are suddenly a weak and feeble maiden in distress. Everyone has to cry once in a while, even us men." He smiled, and stopped walking.

She stopped beside him and looked at him. "But it felt so…awful. No, that's not quite the right word. I don't know…it just felt wrong. I don't cry over memories."

"There's a first time for everything." She smiled back. Legolas felt his heart lift at finally seeing her smile again. Then she frowned. "You cry?"

"Of course I do. And so do the twins, Elladan, and Elrohir. So does my father, and not forgetting Lord Elrond, possibly even Mithrandir. Everyone cries, its natural. Don't be so hung up about it." 

She laughed. "I can't imagine you crying though."

"I promise you, I do cry. Now, are you feeling any better?"

"Yes, thank you Legolas." He grinned. "What are friends for eh?"

She grinned back, then to his surprise, flung her arms round him, and leant her head against his chest. Once he had recovered, he held her there, his head resting on top of hers. Without even thinking about it, he softly kissed her golden head.

She felt him do it, and was more than a little shocked. She pulled away and gazed up into those deep sapphire orbs. He gazed back, into her equally deep, but brown eyes. He suddenly realised just how dark they were. Unusual for a Silvan Elf. Beautiful golden hair, yet dark, chocolate-brown eyes. A strange, yet enchanting combination.

"Dolenmíl…" he whispered, his hand reaching up to stroke her cheek.

Butterflies erupted in her stomach, and she felt a bit sick. Was her Prince…gazing at her with that look? She so desperately wanted to be out of this situation, yet she felt so comfortable in his arms.

//Her skin is so soft. Like silk.//

She swallowed nervously. She always felt nervous these days. "Legolas…" she whispered back, the words sticking in her throat. What was she to do? What was he going to do?

She quickly got her answer. Before she knew what was happening, his lips brushed hers, and she felt a shock go all through her body. He was kissing her!

His grip round her waist tightened, and she leant into the kiss, not wanting it to end. But there was a niggling though in the back of her mind.

//This is wrong! We shouldn't be doing this.//

She gently pulled away. "Legolas…I don't know…" She looked at the floor, biting her lip. She couldn't look at those eyes again. They had some sort of power over her that she couldn't control.

He tilted her chin up to look at him though. "Dolenmíl, I'm sorry. I don't know where that came from. I'll understand if you want me to go."

"No, its ok, I just wasn't expecting that." She smiled at him, and stroked his cheek.

//So soft. Like velvet or silk. Pure, perfect features.//

Her hand travelled up to brush a few stray hairs out of his face. She gently tucked them behind his ear.

//Beautiful sun-kissed golden hair. He's…perfect. No other words can describe him so…perfectly!//

"We should return to camp. People will be wondering where we are," Legolas said, releasing her. She felt a little reluctant to go back though. She felt as if she could stay with him forever, and forget the outside world completely.

"You're right," she answered though, ignoring her thoughts and wishes. "I expect Elladan is wondering where you've got to."

He winced at her slightly sharp tone. He wanted to stay with her too, but yet that kiss…something about it had not felt right. It didn't feel that natural, not like a kiss should do. Perhaps that was why he suddenly felt so uncomfortable.

They walked back in silence, neither knowing what to talk about. Both felt sick, and if they talked, then they would be sick. Dolenmíl had felt sick anyway, and her nausea had increased somewhat.

Legolas just felt awful, yet ok about what had just happened. He kept giving Dolenmíl quick side-glances, but her eyes were fixed firmly on the floor in front of her.

//I've got to find Elladan!//

"I'll see you later Dolenmíl," he said, coming to Elladans' tent.  

"Alright, see you later." She smiled, and walked off to her tent.

He breathed a sigh of relief, and entered.

Elladan was packing his bag. "We're leaving tomorrow Legs, Adar just told me. Him and Mithrandir are…" but he stopped when he saw how pale Legolas looked.

"Legs what in Middle-Earth is wrong? You're as white as a sheet!" He walked over. "You're shaking! Here, sit down, I'll fetch you a drink." Only when Elladan said that did Legolas realise just how bad he really felt.

Elladan gave him some water, and Legolas sipped it slowly. Elladan sat beside him. "What happened?"

"The worst thing that could ever have happened. Dan, we kissed!"

Elladans' face lit up with a huge smile. "But that's a good thing!"

"No it's not. It didn't feel right, it felt all wrong. Now I don't know what to do. I feel even worse than before."
"Did you make up though?"
"Yes, then we kissed." He hung his head, the water finished.

Elladan slipped his arm round Legolas' slightly trembling shoulders. "It'll be ok Legs, don't worry. You'll both have forgotten about it by tomorrow. Everyone's packing up, ready to go. I was starting to wonder where you two had got to. You're going to have to pack your bag really quickly. There's a meeting tonight, in Adars' tent. He wants to see us both. Now go back to your tent, start packing, and try to forget about it."
"But I can't. It's stuck in my head, and…"
"Just try Legs. Do you want to see Adar? You're still really pale."

"No, I'll be fine. You're right. I'll see you later." He handed back the flask, and walked slowly back to his own tent.

Meanwhile, Dolenmíl was pacing around her tent, hands clasped behind her back.

//I'm such a fool! Why did I let him kiss me? Why oh why oh why? Ok, now calm down. Breathe, it's not that bad…yes it is! Oh why did this have to happen to me? He's my Prince!//

Her thoughts were interrupted by a small cough. She looked up at the opening to her tent. Rédethuil stood there, smiling slightly. She smiled back. "Yes Rédethuil?"
"Please my Lady, Lord Elrond wishes to see you in his tent."

"What now?"

"Yes my Lady." She sighed. "Very well, I'm coming." She tidied herself up a bit, then followed the young Elf back to Elronds' tent. She wondered what he wanted to talk to her about.

He was alone; Gandalf was nowhere to be seen. "Thank you Rédethuil, you may go now," he said, smiling gratefully at him. Rédethuil bowed, and left.

Dolenmíl swallowed nervously. Elrond looked at her, and smiled. "Right, Dolenmíl. I do not believe we have had much of an introduction. Nice to finally meet you." He shook her hand. "Please sit down." She sat on the edge of his bed, trying to look calm and collected.

"Now, as you may have found out, we are leaving tomorrow, and I need scouts to go on ahead of us. Balaremel will be going of course, but we need someone else to join him, someone reliable and efficient. He, I, and Mithrandir have talked about it for a while, and the final decision is we want you to go with him." Her eyes widened.

"Now, you must understand. The area that we will be passing through is where Legolas was last hurt. The Dagnir-o Lóre is unlikely to be patrolling that area himself, but there will be Orcs, and possibly Wargs." She grimaced at the sound of Wargs.

"It will be a dangerous job. But not as dangerous as the Pass. Are you willing to take on this role of second-in-command? You will be Balaremels' right-hand…woman."

She laughed. "Of course I will my Lord. If you think me reliable and good enough to take this on, then I am willing. I am grateful for your praise. Thank you." She bowed her head slightly.

"It also means that you will be leaving before the rest of us. Whereas we will be leaving roundabout noon, you will leave at dawn. Still all right with that?" She nodded. She was determined to see this through.

"Good. So, go and prepare, and make sure you get plenty of sleep tonight. You will need to be extra alert and vigilant tomorrow." She stood. "Yes my Lord and thank you once again." She bowed. 

He also rose. "No, thank you Dolenmíl. This is a great help to us." She smiled. "It is my honour." She bowed once again, and left the tent.

Once outside, she took a few deep breaths. This was an important assignment she had been issued with, and she was determined not to let anyone down. She walked back to her tent, and started packing again.

Ok, who's mad at me? I promise this is NOT GOING TO BE A LEGOMANCE!!!!! Like they have both been saying, it was a mistake. One which they are regretting. So, review and tell me what you think. I had to have at least one kiss in there somewhere, com on! ^_^

~Lainfaer~