A/N: Thank you ALL so much for your encouraging and helpful reviews. So, is Melenia a Mary Sue? I have been told that she is and that she isn't, but in the end I will try my hardest to make her a "real" character. Let me know if I stray off target. Now on to the business of a beta-reader… I need one, so if anyone is interested just let me know or if you know of someone who would like to beta-read, please let me know. Finally, I have decided on a time period, I know it took me long enough. This is taking place pre - War but the War is not very far off… Thank you for bearing me with me.

Fan81981: Thank you for all your pointers and suggestions. I will be doing some story maintenance later on, and I will definitely keep what you said in mind.

Melissa Greenleaf: Melenia is ¾ elf (I know it's weird, but that's the way it happened) I hope your spider bit is okay.

Now, on with the story…

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

"Melenia, are you feeling well this morning?" Eowadia asked as the pair walked to breakfast.

"Yes, I'm fine Eo. Why do you ask?" Melenia answered in a serene voice.

"You have been very quiet this morning, and although I have not known you for a long time, you just do not seem like yourself."

"I am just tired." Eowdia could hear the fatigue in her voice.

"Did you sleep well?" she asked with concern.

"Yes," Melenia lied. As soon as her head hit the pillow the night before, the nightmares began their attack. "I slept very well actually," she continued. "I will have more energy than you can handle soon enough." A smile spread across her face for the first time since her second encounter with the prince.

At breakfast the two girls ate their food in silence as the low chatter of other elves went on around them. Eowdia mainly observed Melenia who seemed to be wandering through a whole other world in her mind. "What is she thinking about?" Eowadia wondered to herself.

"Good morning princess, how are you today?" came a voice from Melenia's side. She jumped a little at the unexpected greeting from the unidentified elf, but she had a good idea of who it might be. Her suspicions were proven to be true when she turned her head to find Legolas sitting at her side.

"Good morning Prince Legolas. I am fine, thank you for your inquiry." She smiled as sincerely as she could when she completed her statement, but somehow she felt that it still looked incredibly forced. "Just be polite and he will go away," her mind repeated. When he did not say anything else, she turned back to her meal. She could feel his eyes on her as she continued to nibble on her food, so she started to fidget slightly in a subconscious attempt to get away from him. As Legolas observed her, he could see her growing discomfort in his presence, which he attributed to their meeting by the stream, but her earlier hostility toward him seemed completely unprovoked.

Melenia could not take him staring at her any longer. "Is something the matter my lord?" she said as she turned her head and looked him in the eyes.

"No princess, nothing ails me," he said as he gazed back into her eyes. Their intensity took him by surprise every time he saw them. Suddenly a thought struck him, "My lady, I would like it very much if you would accompany on a walk through the surrounding forest." As soon as the words left his mouth, he realized what her reaction would be, so he braced himself for the worst.

"I am sorry, I can not. I have some other matters to attend to. Maybe I can join you at another time," came her reply. She then got up from her chair and exited the room silently.

Needless to say, Legolas was dumbfounded by her actions. Just last night she had threatened him, but now she was more than polite. "You are a mystery indeed Melenia. A mystery that I am determined to understand," he thought as he finished off his meal.

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

As Melenia walked through the hallways that led to her room she thought of her several encounters with the prince. She turned them over and over again in her mind, only to repeat the process when she finished. Her reactions to him were quite severe, yet kind and gentle at other times. They were reactions that she herself did not understand nor did she have any control over them. That disturbed her most of all.

She felt relief as she reached her room. She almost ran to her bed and picked up the red, leather-bound book. "It's been a long time old friend…" she whispered, "a long time…" She gently opened the book when she sat on her bed.

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

Dear Dairy,

It certainly has been a while. I am sorry for neglecting you for so long, but I have not had time by myself for some time now. It seems that I have also been detained by my thoughts and emotions. The run wild and free. I have been unable to control them Diary, and I do not know what to do. If I am not being attacked by a memory, then I am being assailed by a nightmare. I lash out when I do not mean to, and I run rampant through the palace. Surely I have become a tiresome burden for Eowadia to bear. My lack of self control frightens me, and my rage boils over the edge much too often. Prince Legolas has been at the receiving end of some of my outbursts. Did he deserve it? I think he --

"Melenia?" came a voice accompanied by a loud knock at the door. "May I come in?" Melenia recognized the voice.

"Yes Eo, please do."

She slowly opened the door to see the princess just sitting on her bed. "The king requests your presence. He wishes to speak to you about some matters regarding next week."

"Next week?" she cocked her eyebrow. "What is happening next week?"

"I am not at liberty to discuss that," Eowadia replied with a smirk.

"Then lead on Eo, lead on," she said as she got off her bed and followed Eowadia out of the room.

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

"But my lord, that is highly unnecessary!" Melenia said excitedly.

"Nonsense, it is the least that could be done princess," King Thranduil replied.

"Trust me when I tell you that your providing for me is more than enough. I will never be able to repay you for all your kindness."

"You do not have to repay a thing, just enjoy yourself," he said with a smile.

"Trust me I won't," she thought. "My lord, do not trouble your people at my expense," she said in heartfelt, concerned tone.

"It will be no trouble at all."

"I have never liked balls. It would only be waste of time," she tried desperately.

"Nothing is a waste of time for you dear lady," he replied.

"But your highness I --"

"No 'buts' about it princess. I have made up my mind. A ball will be held in you honor next week." Melenia let out an exasperated sigh at the words of the king. All her attempts to change his mind were failing horribly.

"Please, your majesty?" Thranduil just shook his head. "Well this is just wonderful!" she thought to herself. At that moment the door opened and they both turned their heads to see who had intruded upon their somewhat trivial conversation.

"Father did you want to --" Legolas stopped mid-sentence when he realized that someone else in the room. "I am sorry for interrupting. I will return later." He turned to leave the room, but Thranduil stopped him.

"You did not interrupt at all Legolas; we were just speaking of next week's ball."

"My lord, a ball is highly superfluous. I am sure that Prince Legolas agrees with me as well," she gave Legolas a pleading look.

"I am sorry my lady, but I have to disagree with you. I think a ball is a great idea." Melenia did not know what to do. She felt surrounded and overcome.

"I believe that now is as good a time as any," Legolas addressed her. "If you would consent, I would like to be your escort for the night princess?" he asked earnestly. Melenia was taken aback by his request to say the least. She knew that the prince had no interest in her, so why was he asking her? She was about to suggest that he ask someone else, but she saw the hopeful, pleading look in Thranduil's eyes.

"I will regret this later. I can feel it already," she thought. "Yes prince Legolas, I would be honored to have you as my escort," she said trying to sound as sweet as she could, but somehow it always came out forced when it came to him.

"Wonderful!" Thranduil almost threw his arms up with joy.

"If you will excuse me now my lords, I have some things to take care of with Eowadia."

"Of course princess," Thranduil answered with a beaming smile. She stood up and curtsied politely. As soon as she was out the door, her irritation took over.

"A ball and Prince Legolas, I just can't wait," she said sarcastically to herself. There was something about the prince that just irked her, something she could not place a finger upon. After a walking a little more, she felt someone's hand on her arm. Instinctively she grabbed the arm to which the hand belonged and swung the person around so that he was in front of her.

"Prince Legolas it is you again!" she said in a frustrated tone. "How many time must you sneak up on me like that?"

"I only wanted to --"

"Must I repeat my warning for you a third time? Stay away from, if you value your health!" Much to her surprise and disappointment Legolas started to laugh. "And what may I ask is so funny my lord?"

"You are quite charming when you are angry my lady." Melenia just gave him a blank look.

"What?" she finally managed to ask.

"Anger is very becoming on you," he said with smile. This only infuriated her even more. She opened her mouth to say something, but nothing came out. Instead she just shook her head, let out a deep sigh, and continued to make her way down the hallway.

Legolas watched her retreating form. She certainly wasn't his type. She was far too volatile and unpredictable for him, yet something about her still fascinated him. She was a like a mystery gift that was wrapped in layers of paper and was placed in dozens of boxes. Her eyes spoke books. She was full of secrets that almost beckoned him. It was as if he was a moth being lured in by the flame that burned within her. And like any other moth, he has no fear of getting burned by the fire. "What is underneath all those layers of ice, princess?" he thought as he turned and walked the other way.

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

A/N: Just a little heads up for the next chapter… Let the games begin!