A/N: Sorry I haven't updated in such a long time, but I have been swamped with school work. I even got an idea for a new story but I will try to finish this one before starting any others. Thank you for all the kind reviews, keep them coming!

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"I will be back to retrieve you shortly princess," Eowadia said as she closed the door to Melenia's chamber behind her. The princess was already bursting with excitement. Her first day in Mirkwood had just begun, and she could not wait to start exploring the palace and the woods around her. Eowadia thought back to the princess' reaction as she awakened her from her slumber; she instantly jumped from her bed and ran excitedly about the room. "Hopefully they were all lying when they said she would be handful," she said to herself as she walked down the hallway. She started to sing to herself quietly as she continued to walk until she finally reached her room. She left the door open as she rummaged for her cloak. Her singing grew louder as she danced about her room. "This will be a good morning," she thought, her singing still sounding through her room and down the hall.

"You have a beautiful voice Eowadia." She stopped mid-word and turned to the door where Téril was standing with an enormous smile plastered on his face.

"Master Téril, I did not mean to disturb you," she said as a pink blush spread over her cheeks. "I am very sorry."

"You did not disturb me at all," his smile grew wider, "in fact, you have given my day a wonderful start." The redness on her cheeks intensified at his words.

"You are too kind Master."

"I was hoping that you would let me accompany you to the breakfast hall this morning," he said hopefully. Eowadia's breath caught in her throat as the words left his mouth.

"I… I…" was all that came out. "Yes, yes, yes!" her heart shouted. "I can't my lady is waiting for me," she said. With that she brushed past him and ran down the hall to Melenia's room.

"Maybe some other time then," he yelled after her. He chuckled to himself as he walked to the breakfast hall.

"What is so funny?" asked Legolas who had seen the entire affair take place from a distance.

"I have been captivated by the shyest elf maiden in Mirkwood. It shall take me another hundred years to get her to actually talk to me," he said with a dreamy smile on his face. "But I think it shall be worth it."

Legolas laughed at his friend's facial expression. "If that is what all elves look like when they have found someone they truly like then I never want to fall in love." Téril feigned a frown and elbowed Legolas as gently as he could.

"You will look funniest of all Legolas. Mark my words, you have been able to handle every maiden that has come your way but one day you will meet your match."

"Think what you want, but I beg to differ," he said as his laugh subsided to a smile. Téril just shook his head at the prince's remark.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Eo! What was that?" Melenia shouted as she jumped out of the shadows.

Eowadia screamed in shock at the surprising appearance of the princess. "Melenia, don't ever do that again," she said after regaining her composure.

"I can not believe you! He asks you to walk with him, and what do you do? You run away!?!"

"I was scared."

"Of what?" Melenia asked with sudden concern and seriousness in her voice. "What is the matter?" she continued as different fears and concerns started to pop into her mind.

"I am just shy, that is all," Eowadia answered quietly as she saw the odd change in the princess' attitude.

"You're sure?"

"Yes, I am positive. Are you okay?"

"I am fine," Melenia answered with smile. "You have been letting your emotions show too easily," her mind almost taunted. She fought hard and finally won control of the anger that threatened to engulf her. "My wrath is the worst when it is directed toward myself," she thought.

"Melenia?" Eowadia knocked her out of her thoughts.

"I believe you owe me a tour of the palace grounds Eo," she answered returning back to her carefree guise.

"Where would you like to go first?"

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So the day passed by in harmony. Melenia and Eowadia were seen all over the palace and all around its grounds. They ran here and there mostly because Melenia had so much built up energy. They also caused several fiascos which all included Melenia opening a door she was told not to or touching something she was not supposed to touch. The worst debacle of the day was when Melenia got into a rather physical fight with one of the soldiers in the combat practice fields. Eowadia needed the help of two others to literally drag the princess away from him.

They visited all the main rooms of the palace. "Make sure you remember your way around Melenia, I will not always be here to guide you around the palace," Eowadia told her along the way, but our princess paid no attention to her words.

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Melenia mentally kicked herself in the behind as she ran up and down the palace corridors. Eowadia left her to explore on her own a while ago because she had some other matters to attend to, and now as Melenia tried to find the dining room she reprimanded herself for not listening earlier. The particular set of corridors she was running through now were very quiet and empty.

"This is just great, not one soul in sight," she said to herself. She continued to run becoming rather uneasy as the sound of her lone footsteps reached her ears. "Hello? Is anyone here?" Only an echo of her words answered her. An odd paranoia gripped her, so she looked from side to side as she ran. Paying absolutely no attention to where she was going, she ran into something that felt like wall. Her eyes shut as she sailed back through the air and landed with a loud thud. "This must be a sign. I am destined to spend the rest of my life falling to the floor." She opened her eyes as the sound of a familiar laugh reached her ears, only to find Legolas hovering over her. "Prince Legolas," she scowled.

"It seems that you are most comfortable on the ground my lady," he said with a cheeky grin on his face. He extended his hand to her, but she ignored its presence and rose from the floor on her own.

"I have been looking for you everywhere my lady," he said as he tried to wipe the grin off his face.

"Well, here I am. What do you want?" she asked harshly. The prince was pushing all the wrong buttons.

"I just wanted to thank you," he said ignoring her bleakness.

"For what?" her tone remained unchanged.

"For not telling my father about our little meeting in the woods," he paused. "For keeping our secret…"

"I have not done anything for you Prince of Mirkwood, nor do we share a secret. Haven't I warned you already? Keep your distance from me. You will regret the day you cross me again," she almost yelled. Legolas did not respond; in fact, a slight smile still lingered on his lips. She gave him an icy glare before turning and running down the closest hallway. "That should keep him away for the rest of my stay here," she said to herself with a smile as her sprint slowed into a walk. She felt content and accomplished, but Melenia did not know Prince Legolas very well. She would find out soon enough just how wrong she was that day…