Mae stood at an open window in the hall. Elves were dancing on the floor, a band played and her father was mingling among guests who were eating snack food. She was pondering how to tell her father about the woman fighting issue. There was no way he was going to let them be archers, that was one of the most masculine things in the elvish kingdom. Maybe he would let them learn to sword fight. Yes…that would work, but only on a trial bases. If they got good enough at it then he would have to let them take it up in the elf armies. She knew some females who would be willing to give it a try, and she knew the perfect male to teach them. One who thought females should be allowed to fight. She turned back to the window. "Come on Leggie." She muttered.
Valia watched in the bushes whilst a servant of the Prince took his three friends into the castle to get changed for the ball. The Prince it seemed wanted to escort his horse back to the stables. When he was done with that he returned to the castle entrance, but this time he paused and stared right at Valia. She slunk back further into the shadows.
Legolas stared at the girl. She obviously didn't know that since the great war of the ring his senses had become extremely good and that he was way beyond any normal elf. She was wearing what looked like animal skin clothing. Dirty and ripped in some places. Her black hair, also dirty, was done up in a messy pony tail. It didn't have the shine that elvish hair usually possesses. She was crouched on the ground, her hands both touching the soft soil and one knee up by her face. This had caused her brown skirt to ride up slightly and Legolas could see her creamy white thigh. Judging by the colour of her complexion he'd say she spent most of her time in the trees. In the shade. As quick as lightning he drew an arrow and aimed it at the girl. But she was gone. This surprised him greatly. "She's fast." He muttered to himself. "Your highness." A servant called. Legolas glanced one last time at the bush, replaced his arrow and climbed the stairs to the castle. Valia stared down the tree she had climbed. How dare he draw an arrow at her! Prince or no Prince he was going to pay!
Mae stared at the door to the hall. So far the King of Gondor, a dwarf and a man she didn't know had entered the hall. They were chatting with her father and any minute her brother was going to come through those doors. No sooner had she thought this, Prince Legolas walked through the large oak doors. He was dressed in white silk, dressy, but masculine. Mae ran to her brother, holding up her dress, and gave him a big hug.
"Woow .. I didn't know you wanted me here that much, after all, who wants a big brother ruining their style?" Legolas laughed and pulled away from her. "Style…. No one here even notices me.. I needed rescuing! You like my dress?" She giggled. "It's….. you look….. for me to say how you really look wouldn't be very brotherly so I'll just blush and say you look very nice." Legolas smiled. Mae hit him lightly on the arm. "Come. " He took her by her elbow. "You must meet my friends." Legolas lead her over to where the two kings were talking. "Excuse me father." Legolas interrupted. "Aragorn this is my sister Maegvilyaien. But please call her Mae …. Everyone else does. Mae this is the King of Gondor." Aragorn took Mae's hand and kissed the back of it. "Princess." He greeted her. She bowed her head. "King." She replied. "This is Gimli son of Gloin, a dwarf Lord." Legolas introduced the dwarf. "Fair Lady." Gimli bowed. "And this, is one of the Rohan Lords, Éomer." Éomer also took her hand and kissed it. No words were exchanged this time but they stared at each other for a moment before King Thranduil returned to talking to them. "A dance?" Legolas asked Mae. She smiled up at him. "Lead the way."
When the main feast was over and both Kings had made speeches, Aragorn's being more for Mae than her own fathers, more dancing began. Mae felt a tap on her shoulder. It was Éomer. "Would the lady like to dance?" he held his hand out. Mae nodded her head and put her hand in his. He led her out onto the dance floor and put his other hand on her lower back. She wrapped both her arms around him and leant her head on his shoulder. He was perfect height and he was a good dancer. He moved with ease and grace, almost like an Elf. Opening her eyes and looking over his shoulder she could see her father sitting on his throne, watching the dancers. He was finally alone. Alone, Mae pondered to herself. He must really miss her mother. That must be why he takes all the attention at balls, because he misses her company and feels alone at any other time. She turned her thoughts back to Éomer. She could feel him breathing through the velvet clothes he wore and looking up at his face she could see he had hazel coloured eyes. The song ended and she stood away from him. "Excuse me please." She whispered. He nodded and watched her sweep across the dance floor, away from him.
Legolas, who had watched his sister dance with Éomer, turned back to the window he was standing beside. So far he had refused every dance he had been offered and he had no idea why. Aragorn joined him. "You look a bit on edge. What do you see down there?" Aragorn looked also, at a spot in the bush. "Nothing, but I saw something earlier, I was just checking it wasn't there anymore." Legolas whispered, still scouring the grounds. "What?" Aragorn asked him. "Not what, who. I saw a girl, an elf girl, a wild elf. She was crouching in the bushes and staring up at the castle. There was something about her, I drew an arrow ….." Legolas trailed off. "And?" Aragorn asked. Legolas looked up at Aragorn. "And she was gone." "Well, she was fast then." Aragorn said sipping his drink. "This isn't funny. I had a feeling about her and she was faster than me." Legolas got closer to his face. "And I am the fastest drawer this city has. Probably in all of middle-earth." He hissed. Aragorn nodded. "Not funny."
Valia stood in the Princes room. The window she had come in was wide open and a cool wind blew in. An unconscious guard lay at her feet. There was a cut on his arm and a gash on his forehead. Valia looked around the room for a brief moment, thinking about what she could do to punish the Prince. She spotted his golden bow lying in the corner. It looked expensive so she grabbed it. The carvings down the side looked intricate and well worn. It was old too. "Great." She grinned.
"Father?" Mae asked, crouching by his feet. "Oh hello dear. Happy Birthday by the way." He sounded tired. "Would you like to dance?" She asked. He looked a little surprised. "Of course!" He jumped up and took her hand. She smiled at him as he led her out onto the dance floor. "She's pretty, isn't she." Someone whispered in Éomer's ear. "She's beautiful." He sighed, not looking away from Mae and her father who were dancing gracefully and laughing with one another over a private joke. "Would you ever, take her out?" The voice asked. "I think I might. Depends on whether or not she already has a boyfriend." Eomer said almost to himself. Suddenly Éomer found himself spun round and the neck of his shirt dragged upward. "And it will stay that way." Prince Legolas hissed in his face. Eomer didn't get the chance to defend himself as Legolas marched away.
The night came to an end and all of the guests were given rooms for the night. Mae was in the process of making her way back to hers when she heard a piercing scream up ahead of her. One of the maids came running from her brothers' room. "What is it?" Mae asked her as she passed. "Out cold." The maid stuttered, before fainting into a watching maids arms. Mae, fearing for her brother, ran down the hall to his room. Her brother was already in the room, standing by the window. On the floor by his feet was one of the castle guards. Blood on his arm and on his head. An abandoned and broken lamp lying by his body. Mae felt for a pulse and sighed in relief when she found a steady one. "He'll live." Her brother said. Mae was stunned by the sound in his voice. It was the sound her father made when he spoke after the death of their mother. "Legolas?" She whispered as she made her way towards him. "What! I said he would live! Did you not hear me?!" He yelled. Mae was taken aback. Her brother had never yelled at her before. She put a hand on his shoulder and felt him quivering. Turning him towards her she could see tears stained his face and still flowed. "Legolas…." She trailed off. Aragorn appeared in the door way. "What is it? What is wrong? Why do you shed tears?" He panicked. Mae noticed that he held his bow in his arms. She pulled it from him, although he was almost reluctant to let it go, and stared down at the gold in her hand. "Oh no." Aragorn sighed in a whisper. The delicate writing had been carved over, the twine frayed and the tips on both ends broken off. It looked useless. "What does it say?" Aragorn asked Mae, but Legolas spoke. He turned to Aragorn as he did so. "It says, You should have thought before you drew your arrow, Prince"