Aragorn had taken a seat beside the King. He was staring intently at his daughter. "You have nothing to worry about you know. Eomer is a very loyal man." King Thranduil turned to the young King. "I am well aware of that, King Aragorn. But look at her more carefully. Does she look happy to you?" He queried. Aragorn turned back to watching Éomer and Mae. Mae had her head resting on Éomer's chest, yet she did not carry a smile. "No." He whispered, quite surprised.
Legolas ran from the dance floor and out the hall. He could see Valia walking slowly down the hallway to her room. "Wait, Valia!" He called, running to her side. "What did you mean by that?" He demanded to know. Valia sighed and looked up at the Prince. "I am not fit for royalty. I belong in the wild. All of this is so alien to me" She gestured back to the dance hall. Legolas stepped closer to her. "I think," He whispered, coming within inches of her face, "That I should be the judge of that."
Before Valia could respond Legolas was kissing her lips hungrily, running his hands through her tangled raven hair. ''Follow me.'' He whispered, blindly leading her towards his room. Valia mumbled a response and let herself be led through the large mahogany doors. Legolas banged them shut behind them. He swept Valia up in his arms and carried her over to his bed where he swiftly picked up where they had left off. Valia felt Legolas' hands sliding around to the back of her dress. Her mind was telling her that this was all wrong and her body was telling her that Legolas had strong soft hands which were causing her emotions to run on high. Even though he had now started on his own clothing, Valia could still feel the heated passion in his kiss. She lifted her hands to assist Legolas with his fully unbuttoned shirt and heard him breath in sharply when she touched his bare chest. It seemed she had the same effect on him as he did on her, and, as her confidence grew, she used this to her advantage.
Mae bowed for the last time as the last guest left the castle. "Where is your brother?!" Her father hissed beside her. "I have no idea!" She hissed back. "But he's going to get it verbally when I find him!" The King shook his head. "Why couldn't I just have had a co-operative family!" He muttered to himself as he walked slowly back into the castle. Mae smiled to herself and looked up at the stars. She had never seen stars in a formation like the one they sat in now. She sensed danger approached. Something stirred deep within the earth. She stood still for a moment, listening as hard as her elf ears would let her. There was no sound. No birds chirping, no bugs clicking, no trees moving with the wind, and there was wind, as her dress licked delicately around her legs. "Strange." She whispered to herself, breaking the air of tranquillity.
Valia stood by Legolas' open window, staring out over the tops of the trees at the bushes that were once her home. She was wrapped up in a white sheet and it fluttered ever so slightly in the cool breeze. Closing her eyes she listened to the deafening silence. In all her long years in the forests and bushes of this world, she had never heard a silence like this. No birds singing their songs, no bugs playing their tunes. Turning from the sight of freedom she caught a glimpse of Legolas. He still slept, beneath a deep red velvet duvet, a smile playing across his fair face. Valia lay down once more beside him, but she did not face him. It made her feel weak to see his sleeping features. She'd never liked feeling weak. She'd never liked feeling trapped either!
Mae sat up suddenly. She was sweating and breathing hard. How could Eomer have left such a mark on her?! Her days and nights were haunted with images of the night they had spent together. She lay back and closed her eyes but was forced to open them again in order to return to reality. Whenever she shut her eyes she could see him, smell him and feel his touch and his kisses. ''AHHHH!'' She cursed herself and proceeded to cry herself to sleep.
Eomer watched as the pebble he threw skimmed across the lake. Even in the calm of the night he could not rest. He needed to see Mae. Brushing his hands off, he stood and headed towards the castle. Pausing outside Mae's closed door, he rested an ear against it. Hearing no sound, he entered. Eomer stood, gazing longingly, over Mae's sleeping form. Even in her sleep she looked angelic. He lifted her sheets and ran his hand down her arm. She shivered and he touched his hand to his cheek to see if it was cold. In feeling warmth, he grinned and touched her again. This time she rolled over and whispered his name. ''You do not sleep, young Princess.'' He laughed. She smiled and opened her eyes. ''How could you tell?'' She asked, propping herself upon her arm. ''Your eyes and lips twitched.'' He said, sitting on her bed beside her. ''Perhaps I was dreaming.'' She stated. ''You said my name.'' He smiled, leaning in towards her. ''Perhaps I was dreaming about you.'' She whispered as he kissed the corner of her mouth. ''You are teasing me.'' Mae laughed. ''Perhaps, I am not here to stay.'' Eomer grinned. Mae stuck out her bottom lip. Eomer laughed and kissed her lip, easing her backwards onto her bed. Mae ran her hand down his face, as he broke the kiss and stared at her. ''This time, you won't be able to get rid of me.'' He whispered. Mae nodded and pulled him down to her.
At the table the next night, the atmosphere was better than it had been in a long time. Conversation was flying freely between all parties and smiles could be seen on each face. Soon only Mae and her father were still at the table. "Where is your friend?" the King asked. "I don't know. I went to her quarters but she was not there. Perhaps she has gone too see the horses. I will go search for her. But first father I need to ask something of you." There was a silence and Mae felt as if she should continue. "If mother had been a mortal .. would you still have married her. Defying your father?" she muttered. The King was still silent. "Father?" she asked. He looked her in the eyes, searchingly. "Has this got something to do with that mortal male of Gondor. Éomer?"
Mae stared at her father. "Yes." She confessed. The King drew a deep breath. "But father, please listen.." she yelped as her father jumped from the table. "NO!" he yelled marching out the room and Mae wasn't sure which question he was directing that at.