DISCLAIMER: I do not own Lord of the Rings or any of its characters. Please don't sue.
Authoress's Notes: Chappie two! Go on! Enjoy!
Legolas picked at his dinner. He didn't have much of an appetite, but he wanted to finish and hurry down to the stream. The sun was sinking low and it was almost ready to set.
"You seem fidgety, son. Is there anything troubling you?" Thranduil asked.
Fidgety. No one had called Legolas fidgety since he had been a child.
"No, Father. I suppose I'm just restless. I have almost grown accustomed to staying in a place only for meals, and to allow my companions to sleep."
Gimli frowned at that, knowing which "companion" Legolas was referring to.
Thranduil nodded. "If that is the case, perhaps you should stay longer this time."
"Perhaps." Legolas would not commit to anything. "Father, I really am not hungry, may I please be excused?"
"You could at least stay and keep us company," Thranduil suggested.
Legolas glanced out the window at the sun, which was starting to turn the sky yellow, and then glanced at Gimli. Gimli gave the slightest nod of his head, knowing Legolas wanted out. "Father, don't you think it's about time you and Gimli got to know one another personally? Really, I think I had best leave you two alone." He rose from the table. With a cocky glance toward his friend, he added, "Don't kill Gimli if he says something he shouldn't. He doesn't know any better."
Gimli growled at Legolas but held his tongue. Legolas smiled a silent thank you to him and left the room.
After he shut the door behind him, Legolas ran outside and down to the stream. He found Lalaith waiting, sitting where they had been the night before, wearing a green gown that brought out the ruddy tones in her hair.
"Lalaith."
"Legolas. I was almost afraid you weren't coming," she said. "Another few moments and I would have left."
"I'm glad I got here in time," he said. "Blame my lateness on those dreaded formalities."
She smiled. "I understand."
"Did you get in any trouble at all about last night?"
She shook her head. "No. The only person who even noticed was my friend Elen, and I tried to tell her I was there and she simply didn't see me." Lalaith glanced in the direction of the kitchen, a playful smile on her face. "She doesn't believe me, but I'm not about to tell her the truth."
Legolas smiled at that. "Good. If you ever get in any trouble, I want you to come to me."
She leaned back against the tree trunk. "That's all very good and well, but I wouldn't know where to find you."
"Just tell them to get Legolas. They'll find me for you. But hopefully things won't come to that."
She nodded. "So what about you? Were you missed?"
"No. The only person who noticed was the one I informed of my plans beforehand. After you and I parted last night I went straight to my quarters. My father came looking for me and said I disappeared quickly after the banquet, but he didn't seem to realize I missed half of it."
Lalaith smiled. "Sit down," she invited.
He took his place beside her and turned his eyes to the setting sun. "Beautiful contrast," he said. "The yellow sky with those dark clouds...it will probably rain late tonight."
"Mmm. I love rainshowers. I love getting caught in the rain and getting soaked."
He smiled, thinking of what she would look like if that happened.
She continued. "I prefer just to watch it from inside, though, if there's lightning."
"True, lightning is not something you want to tangle with," he agreed. "But, you know, I didn't come here to talk about the weather with you."
She laughed. "All right, then...tell me more about the places you've seen."
"All right..." He smiled at her and told her what he could without getting into why he'd been to all those different places. She was a wonderful listener, the kind who interrupted with questions just often enough to assure that she was genuinely interested and not so often that it got annoying.
"It must be nice," she finally concluded. "I have decided that someday, if it's ever possible, I would like to go see these places."
"Really? That's not something I hear often. Usually when I share my stories of the Shire and Gondor, people just smile and nod...they're polite but they never catch my...my..."
"Passion?" she supplied.
"Yes," he said, smiling.
"How could anyone not? Don't they ever tire of seeing nothing but green trees? Not that Mirkwood is a detestable place by any means, I do love it, but I would like to see what other places look like. I've never seen the hills off in the distance growing nothing but grass. I've never seen mountains in the distance. I've never seen a wide river rushing..." She looked down at the water flowing by them. "Just this little stream..." She pushed gravel around with the toe of her shoe.
He caught a note of sadness in her voice. "This is the place you want to come back to after going out on grand expeditions, isn't it?"
She looked up at him suddenly, almost startled at the insight. "Yes. Exactly. How do you...?"
"Because," he said, "That's exactly how I feel. This is a welcoming place to return to, but I could never spend my whole life here without at least visiting other places."
"You're lucky," she said. "You know what it's like to return to this place." She turned away from his gaze again, looking towards the sun, intently watching as its last rays faded.
He didn't have a reply for that.
At last she spoke again. "The sun is gone," she pointed out. "Elen will be wondering where I am." She was very aware of the darkness growing around them, and wasn't sure it was entirely proper for her to be there with him alone, although secretly she wanted to stay. The night before there had been a tent full of people she could run to, but tonight there was no one around. Still, somehow that didn't bother her nearly as much as the fact that it didn't bother her.
He sighed. "I hate to let you leave. When I'm in your company, it's almost like...like I'm with my mortal friends. You're not like other Elves, except in the good ways."
She raised an eyebrow at that. Funny how when he was with her he had such trouble finding the right words. Usually he spoke with eloquence and diplomacy.
"I mean...you love nature and see the beauty in it like most Elves, but you don't feel like propriety is the main thing in life. You want to travel, have adventures, see how other people live life."
She smiled. "I do. And I envy you, Legolas. You can go and have your adventures, but me, I'll always be here, in Mirkwood, just dreaming of them. You know what is expected of me. I'll always have to live within those confines. I may be able to have conversations like these, and read about these faraway places, but I'll never get to live out any of the ideas I have because of how society thinks of me, as a maiden and all that."
"You feel...restrained?"
She smiled at him. "Funny how you always seem to know precisely what I'm thinking. That's exactly it." She sighed. "But that's a conversation for another day. I must get back. When shall we meet again?" She already knew that he would insist upon seeing her again, and this time she was absolutely intent on it herself.
"When will you be free next?" he asked.
"Tomorrow after the noon meal I will be in the back garden, tending to the flowers. I will be quite alone, if you'd care to join me then."
"Only if you allow me to help."
She smiled. "I can't say no to that, except it will mean I'll finish faster and make our time shorter."
He paused for a moment before the answer struck him. "But if you return early, everyone will be suspicious, so however long we spend working, we'll spend an equal amount of time sitting admiring our handiwork. All right?"
She laughed again. "You're absolutely right. So then, tomorrow in the back garden, as soon as the noon meal is eaten?"
"Of course." He rose and helped her to her feet. He kissed her hand before she left.
When Legolas got back to his room, Gimli was waiting for him, sitting in a chair by a window.
"Now, laddie, you'll tell me what was so all-fired important that you had to leave me listening to your father."
Legolas sighed. He shut the door behind him and sat on his bed, across from Gimli. "I'd rather not, Gimli."
"You will, whether you'd rather or not," Gimli said. "I won't help you run off again unless I know what's going on."
A smile tugged at the corner of Legolas's lips. "All right, my friend, but you must swear to keep it a secret, especially from my father."
"I supposed as much already. If your father knew you wouldn't have had to leave so suddenly."
Legolas nodded. "True enough. Gimli...last night when I left the celebration, I met a girl."
A light came into Gimli's eyes. "Ohh...what's she like?"
"Don't get ideas, Gimli. She's just nice to talk to, and I haven't told Father because then he'd know I missed his speeches."
Gimli nodded, chuckling. "Right, laddie. Anyway, tell me about her."
"Well, she's one of the serving-girls. Apparently she saw me outside the tent and thought I was trying to get in, instead of the other way around. I explained myself and asked her to join me, and I convinced her to slip away with me. We walked down to the stream and sat, and we had the most wonderful conversation. She's not like other Elven maidens. She's interesting. She has dreams of travel and adventure, and gets tired of all the formality we have to put up with...essentially, she's a lot like me. At any rate I made her agree to see me again before she got away, and we were supposed to meet at sunset."
"Ah." Gimli nodded. "Is she pretty?"
Legolas nodded. "Yes, actually, she's quite pretty. Her hair is...well, it's not quite red like you see in the mortals or the Hobbits, but it's not golden. It's more like...pale red. And her eyes are like the clear night, deep blue and flecked with stars..."
"You're waxing rather poetic over a girl who's just nice to talk to," Gimli pointed out.
Legolas seemed taken aback by that.
"You're also keeping secrets because of her. And, no doubt, you're planning on seeing her again."
Legolas didn't answer that immediately.
"See? Of course you are. Tomorrow, no doubt."
"After the noon meal, in the garden," Legolas confessed.
Gimli smiled. "I knew it."
Legolas looked up suddenly. "You haven't even heard the clincher yet," he said. "She doesn't know that I'm the prince. She thinks I'm a courtier named after the prince."
Gimli suddenly got very serious. "She's going to find out sooner or later."
"I know, it's just that...well, we have these conversations about how formalities are boring and how other people seem to understand that they can be done without, and what it's like to travel, and all kinds of things, but if she knew I was prince, everything would change in her eyes. She'd become embarrassed, and behave exactly like everyone I was trying to get away from in the first place."
"You need to tell her soon, laddie, before she finds out some other way. Tell her that there's something she should know, but that it shouldn't change anything."
Legolas nodded. "I will. I'll tell her. Soon. Not tomorrow, though." He wanted to hold on to the enchantment of her not knowing for just a little longer.
Once again, Elen was waiting when Lalaith returned. "Been out again, have we?"
Lalaith just frowned, pretending to be confused.
"You know what I mean, Lalaith. You know that there's something you're not telling me."
Lalaith grinned. "That's right. I'm not telling you."
"So there is something!" Elen cried. "I knew it."
"Nothing worth repeating," Lalaith said. She didn't want to tell Elen, but she wasn't sure why. Maybe the secrecy made the whole thing seem more fantastic. Plus, Elen would make it seem like Legolas was more than just a courtier who shared Lalaith's opinions and knew how to make good conversation. Elen would blow it up into a romance.
"What are you hiding?" Elen pressed. "Why won't you tell me?"
"Because that will take all the fun out of it," Lalaith said. "I'll tell you when I feel like telling you. Until then, my lips are sealed."
"But you will tell me."
"Maybe..." Lalaith laughed at Elen's glare. "The more you annoy me about it, the less I want to give it away."
Elen kept glaring. "I won't forget."
"You never do..."
The next morning passed quickly for Legolas. He and Gimli spent the time in friendly armed competition.
"The sun is waxing fast today," Gimli said, removing arrows from a target. "Surely it is nearing mealtime."
Legolas looked up, directly into the sun. "A servant will come to retrieve us any moment now."
Sure enough, mere seconds later a dark-haired serving-girl entered the courtyard Legolas and Gimli had been in. "My lord Prince, esteemed guest, the meal is being served as we speak." She bowed low and kept her eyes down.
"Thank you, Elen," Legolas said. "Come, Gimli." They walked through the door to inside, and headed for Thranduil's dining hall.
Legolas was fidgety again, but he tried harder to hide it. Lalaith had said after the noon meal, and she surely had to eat, too, so he had time to finish his food properly. The thought crossed his mind that she probably actually ate a little later since she helped prepare the meals. He got to wondering what, exactly, was at the table that she had cooked.
"Distracted, my son?" Thranduil asked, startling him out of his reverie.
"I apologize, Father. It seems like the smallest, strangest things can capture my attention these days."
"You have seemed rather distracted lately," Thranduil agreed. "I hear the honorable Dwarf here even beat you at a game of strategy."
"Yes, Father."
"Tell me, is something troubling you, my son?"
Legolas shook his head. "Nothing out of the ordinary, Father." He lifted the last bit of food on his plate to his mouth. He was ready to leave but decided to linger a few moments so as not to draw suspicion.
Gimli noticed that Legolas was finished, so he hurried to finish quickly as well. "Sire, I find myself full. Elvish meals are much heartier than I remembered."
"That is very gracious of you, Master Dwarf," Thranduil acknowledged.
"Not at all. Now, if I may be excused, your son has bragged much on the volumes in your library..."
"Of course," Thranduil nodded his permission for Gimli to leave.
"I shall see you at dinner, Father," Legolas said, rising. "Come, Gimli, I will show you my favorites."
The two headed to the library, and parted at its door. "The Lay of Beren and Lúthien is the best," Legolas told him. "Any of the servants can show you where it is."
Gimli nodded. "I shall see you after your tryst."
Legolas frowned. "It's not a tryst, Gimli."
"Rendezvous, then. Whatever you like to call it." There was a teasing twinkle in his eye. "You shall see, Master Elf. You shall soon see."
Legolas decided to let it pass for the moment. He was running a bit late again and he definitely did not want to miss seeing Lalaith.
He reached the back garden quickly. Lalaith was just walking in through the gate closest to the kitchen, carrying a tray of seedings and a watering can. She was wearing a dress that matched the color of her eyes, deep azure, and a white apron.
"Legolas," she said. He quickly walked over and relieved her of her burdens.
"I see I am on time today," he said, with a smile.
She smiled back. "No, it's just that we are both late at the same time. I barely convinced Elen to let me come alone. We are used to doing so many things together. She's definitely suspicious."
"Elen...she is the one with the dark hair that curls at the ends?"
Lalaith nodded. "You know her?"
"I told you. I know all of the servants by name. Now, what needs to be done?"
"Bring those seedlings over here," she directed, leading him over to a spot of earth that had recently been turned over. "They need to be planted. They are elanor seedlings."
"Elanor? They should be quite attractive here. It's been a long time since I've seen elanor in bloom...it is a pleasanter memory than some."
"Really?" Lalaith asked, kneeling beside the fresh dirt. "How long has it been?"
Legolas knelt next to her. "Since I was in Lothlórien last. That's been over a year."
"You were happier, then?"
Legolas frowned. "Not so much happier as in pleasant company. It was actually a very sad time, I was under the impression that one of my mortal friends had died."
"Under the impression?" Lalaith had started planting the seedlings, moving the earth with her hands, and Legolas joined in, planting them as she pointed out the spots for him.
"It turned out to be a false report, but the grief was very real. But today the company is also pleasant, and there is nothing grieving my heart today."
She smiled. "I'm glad."
"In fact, now that I am here, this is turning out to be quite a pleasant day."
She looked over at him. "Do I detect flattery?"
He smiled mischieviously. "Maybe. But not undeserved flattery. I doubt that I would ever tire of your company."
She smiled and rolled her eyes. "I think the same of you."
There was a short silence, but Legolas broke it. "When did we receive elanor for our gardens?"
"The representatives from Lothlórien brought it, and we decided to plant an area of it here. It is so beautiful in bloom, at least according to pictures I've seen. I wish it grew here naturally."
"It is lovely, I assure you."
"What is Lothórien like?"
Legolas tilted his head to one side. "It's like here, except the trees are bigger, and the dwellings are higher in them. The light is always soft and blue, and you lose track of time. You don't know if you were there for a few hours or a month."
"How long were you there?"
"I've been there many times. It's part of being a--courtier." He almost slipped up. "I do travel for the King as well as for pleasure."
She nodded. "Of course. Lucky, lucky you."
"You know, if you really wanted to travel, it could probably be arranged..."
She looked up at him.
"When the court ladies travel, they often take servants," he said.
She looked back down, somewhat disappointed. "I thought of that, but somehow going as a servant wouldn't be the same."
He nodded. "I understand. It was just a suggestion."
By that time they were finished planting. "Take the can over to the fountain and fill it," Lalaith ordered.
He did so and returned quickly, and they watered the seedlings. The next task was weeding in another flower bed.
"Whatever are you going to do if you have to leave the royal house?" Legolas asked.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, if you abide by your father's wishes and stop serving eventually, we won't see each other any more."
"That is a long way off yet," Lalaith said.
"You've only been here a month, and you'll be here for probably another year at least, but you're already dreading it," Legolas pointed out. "Even if we hadn't met. Admit it."
Lalaith sighed. "Yes. It's true." She looked over at him. "But what can I do about it?"
He wasn't ready to answer her directly. Not just yet.
They worked in silence, but to each the presence of the other was comforting. When they got to the end of the flower bed, Lalaith stood. "Come, we can wash our hands." They went back to the fountain Legolas had brought the water from and cleaned the dirt off.
"Now," Legolas said, "We admire our work."
She laughed softly. "All right."
He led her to a stone bench from which they could see the elanor seedlings and they sat down.
"You know, Lalaith..." he started.
"Yes?"
"These past three days, since I met you...I've had more fun during our three conversations than in a lot of time I've spent before. You're not like any elf maiden I've ever known."
She smiled. "I'll take that as a compliment. You know, you're not exactly like any elf I've met. You take an interest in me and my opinions despite the fact that I'm just a maiden. No one else understands the desire I have for adventures and travel."
He smiled. "And yet you refuse to leave Mirkwood as a servant."
"If I cannot go of my own volition, is it really worth it? I want to go as I please."
He nodded. "True...travel as an ambassador is not the same as travel for pleasure."
There was a pause for a few moments.
"I don't know what I'll do when I have to leave," she said. "I admit, it's a paradox, I want to go away, see the world, and yet I don't want to leave here."
"You know that when you leave here it will mean the dream of seeing the world will have vanished," he said.
She nodded, staring him directly in the eyes. "Yes. How do you know these things? How can you express my thoughts so beautifully?"
Legolas smiled gently. "Lalaith...I think I am beginning to understand." He suddenly found himself leaning in closer to her and the next thing they knew they were entangled in a kiss. Legolas softly took her into his arms and pulled her close. Lalaith was surprised, but not unpleasantly. When at last they broke the kiss they still held close to one another.
"Lalaith?" Legolas asked in a whisper.
"Yes?"
"I think I love you." The thought was almost as shocking to him as he said it as it was to her when she heard it.
Lalaith was blushing furiously. "Legolas...I..."
"Think of it, Lalaith. It's perfect. We both admitted that we like each other's company. You could stop serving and still stay here, and your father would still be pleased. And we could travel together. But most importantly, I just like being with you. Whenever I'm not with you I'm looking forward to seeing you again. In just three short days you've completely changed my world."
She read the sincerity written in his eyes, and the fear that accompanied it. He wasn't sure if she felt the same, but what he had said was completely right. Her world had been changed in the same way, and at last she realized what she felt for him. "You're right. It is perfect." They kissed again briefly.
"I do love you," he said, ecstasy written on his face.
"I love you, too."
He held her close to him.
She sighed. "It's only been three days and somehow it feels like we've been so slow about this, like we should have known this the moment we met."
"I think we did," he said. "It just took us this long to realize it."
She relaxed in the comfortable hold of his arms for just a moment, cuddling her forehead against his neck. "I need to go back to the kitchen right now..." she said.
"I don't want to ever let you go." He smiled.
She smiled back. "And I don't want to go. But right now, I have to. I can see you again first thing tomorrow morning. We can watch the sunrise from our stream."
"Is that the soonest you can be spared?" he asked. "I want to spend every minute with you that I possibly can."
"Yes, unfortunately. Right now I have to help with dinner, and then tonight after the dishes Elen and I have been assigned to help polish silver. But I will be at our tree bench before the last star fades, all right?" She gave him one last peck on the lips before he let her go.
"All right." He helped her to her feet and walked her to the gate. "I'll be counting the moments."
She walked off, a spring in her step, laughing as she went. "So will I!"
Legolas found Gimli in the library, perusing a volume with a blue cover.
"You were right, laddie. I might just develop a taste for Elvish literature."
Legolas sat down across the table from him. "Gimli, have you ever been in love?"
Gimli tilted his head. "Of course not, save for with the Lady Galadriel."
"I didn't mean unrequited love," Legolas said. "I mean being in love with someone who loves you back."
"No, laddie. Not Gimli, son of Glóin. But what reason--ah..." A light of understanding came into Gimli's eyes. "So she IS more than just nice to talk to." He laughed deeply.
Legolas leaned back in his chair. "I realized today how much I really cared about her. And also, we had talked about how hard it is to live up to people's expectations, but then I suddenly realized that if she and I were together everyone's expectations would be satisfied, and we would both have exactly what we want."
"You need to tell her you're the prince."
Legolas sighed. "I know. I just hope that she understands."
"If you've been talking about your father's expectations, then telling her should simply make things clearer to her."
"I suppose you're right. I'll tell her the next time I see her."
"That's right, laddie." Gimli bent back over his book. "The sooner the better."
Later that afternoon, with an hour or two left before dinner, Gimli decided to take a nap. Legolas went for a walk. He ambled around the palace grounds, but ultimately found himself by the stream. He went and sat on his branch and pulled his knees up to his chest. Pleasant memories of Lalaith aside, he never tired of watching the stream, never changing, yet never the same.
As he was sitting there, he heard someone walking from the kitchen and heading his way. As whoever it was came closer, he distinguished that it was a woman, probably heading for the stream to draw water. At that thought he turned around.
"Legolas!" It was Lalaith, and as she saw him her whole face lit up with a wide smile. "I thought it was you, but I wasn't sure from behind..." By that time Legolas had gotten up and had pulled her into a hug.
"This is a nice surprise, love," he whispered.
She smiled even wider and gave him a quick peck on the lips. Then she bit her lip. "I'm not free right now," she said. "I'm fetching water."
"Well, in that case, let me help," he said, taking the tall pitcher from her hand and walking over to the stream. He lowered it into the water and let it fill, then took it to her. "I'll walk you back," he said, making no motion to hand the pitcher back to her. He held the handle in one hand and took her hand in the other.
She smiled widely, blushing. "Thank you."
At the door to the kitchen he paused. "Here," he said, holding out the pitcher for her.
"You can come in, you know. I don't think anyone will mind if you hang around while we're cooking dinner. They keep telling us that we can talk as much as we want as long as we work while we talk."
Legolas paused. He couldn't be seen with her or everyone would know, and his secret would be out before he was ready. "Ah...well...I'm expected to be there, I mean, at dinner, you know...I really do need to dress..."
She checked over his clothes, all silks and velvets in pale blue that matched his eyes. "You're fine."
"For dinner with Thranduil? No, not really. Much as I would love to stay, Lalaith, really, I can't..."
She frowned. "We can't keep this secret forever. Sooner or later we're going to have to let everyone know about...about us," she faltered.
He smiled. "It's not that. And we will tell people, just as soon as possible. But not right this minute."
She frowned. "All right. But soon?"
"Very soon."
"Then I'll see you in the morning?"
"Of course." He quickly gave her a kiss before she walked through the door.
He ran around to another entrance and went inside the palace, and rushed towards his room. He decided that he needed to change just to keep his statements the truth. Gimli was in his room when he got back.
"I thought you weren't seeing her until tomorrow morning," Gimli said.
"How did you know that I did?" Legolas asked.
"Come, now, laddie, we traversed across half of Rohan in a matter of days and you never tired once, then you walk into your bedroom out of breath and you mean to tell me that I can't put two and two together for myself?"
Legolas smiled. "Of course." He hadn't realized he was out of breath, but now he paused to catch it. He laughed a little. "Amazing, I've never felt that before..."
"You Elves..." Gimli sighed with a smile. "Never been out of breath, indeed."
Legolas started pulling fresh clothes out of the drawers and changing, pulling his shirt over his head. "It's not just that, mellon nin," he said. "Watching her smile when she sees me, talking with her about seeing the world..." Gimli rolled his eyes, provoking Legolas to add, "The feel of her lips upon mine..."
"You kissed her?" Gimli asked. "You really need to tell her, laddie..."
"I will, when I next see her. Tomorrow morning, before the sun rises."
Gimli hmphed. "It must be very convenient to never need sleep."
Legolas laughed. "Sometimes. Come, it's nearly time for dinner."
In the kitchen, Lalaith stood by a fire, stirring a pot of stew.
"So are you going to tell me?" Elen was suddenly there.
Lalaith sighed. "You're never going to give up, are you?" Elen had been pestering her all day.
"No, I'm not." Elen smiled widely and mischeviously.
Lalaith considered it. Elen would find out, sooner or later. She wanted to wait for Legolas to give his approval, but after all, Elen was her best friend. "All right. If you will swear to keep this absolutely secret until I say otherwise, I'll tell you."
Elen squealed in delight. "I swear!"
Lalaith glanced around to make sure no one else was listening. "You remember that you missed me at the banquet the other night?"
"Yes, you said you were here."
"Well...I wasn't here the whole time."
"Where were you?"
"At the stream..." Lalaith was enjoying building up the suspense.
"Why? What's going on? Just tell me already!" Elen cried.
"I was at the stream...with a handsome young courtier."
Elen's eyes widened. "You're jesting."
Lalaith shook her head. "Elen, I...I'm in love. We're in love."
"And you met him at the banquet?"
Lalaith giggled, thinking over how it had happened. "In a way. He was trying to get away from the boring speeches and I caught him, and we went walking...and the rest is history."
"So that's where you've disappeared to all these times. Are you getting married?"
Lalaith paused. "Well...he hasn't officially asked me, but I'm sure..."
"I wouldn't worry about it, it's only been three days. Tell me about him."
Lalaith grinned. "He's tall and handsome, with flaxen hair and pale blue eyes....And he loves to travel, he said we could see the world together..."
"Oh, how perfect for you. No wonder you've fallen for him. What's his name?"
"Legolas."
Elen frowned. "There are no courtiers named Legolas," she said. "That's the prince's name."
"And he was named after the prince," Lalaith said. "I asked him."
"But that's what the prince looks like, too," Elen said. "Blonde, blue-eyed, tall, handsome..."
Lalaith frowned. "But he said he was a courtier. He couldn't be..."
"Listen, I've seen the prince. I serve him dinner. Is your Legolas' voice deep but soft?"
Lalaith nodded.
"Is he poetic and gentle?"
Lalaith nodded.
"But still brave and strong?"
Lalaith nodded.
"And he travels a lot?"
Lalaith nodded.
"And he arrived home the day of the banquet?"
"He said he'd been gone until recently when we were talking about it. But...oh! Elen! One of the first things he asked was whether or not I recognized the name Legolas...and I said that I assumed he was named for the prince...it couldn't be, do you suppose?"
Elen frowned. "He isn't the kind who would treat a girl that way, I don't think...but we'll settle it once and for all. You can serve the King with me tonight. The prince will be there and you can see for yourself."
"But why would he have any reason to lie to me like that, Elen?"
"It may be that I've missed a courtier."
Lalaith shook her head. "He said he knew all the servants by name, and when I mentioned you he recognized your name."
Elen frowned. "Well...don't worry about it until we know for sure."
Lalaith nodded. "Of course." However, she was beginning to feel sick to her stomach. Surely he couldn't be the prince. If he was, that would change everything. That was too far above her, surely the prince couldn't really be in love with her...so why the grand charade?
A/N: Why indeed? In the next chappie: The big confrontation! Will it be enough to ruin a beautiful relationship? Drop me a review!
Authoress's Notes: Chappie two! Go on! Enjoy!
Legolas picked at his dinner. He didn't have much of an appetite, but he wanted to finish and hurry down to the stream. The sun was sinking low and it was almost ready to set.
"You seem fidgety, son. Is there anything troubling you?" Thranduil asked.
Fidgety. No one had called Legolas fidgety since he had been a child.
"No, Father. I suppose I'm just restless. I have almost grown accustomed to staying in a place only for meals, and to allow my companions to sleep."
Gimli frowned at that, knowing which "companion" Legolas was referring to.
Thranduil nodded. "If that is the case, perhaps you should stay longer this time."
"Perhaps." Legolas would not commit to anything. "Father, I really am not hungry, may I please be excused?"
"You could at least stay and keep us company," Thranduil suggested.
Legolas glanced out the window at the sun, which was starting to turn the sky yellow, and then glanced at Gimli. Gimli gave the slightest nod of his head, knowing Legolas wanted out. "Father, don't you think it's about time you and Gimli got to know one another personally? Really, I think I had best leave you two alone." He rose from the table. With a cocky glance toward his friend, he added, "Don't kill Gimli if he says something he shouldn't. He doesn't know any better."
Gimli growled at Legolas but held his tongue. Legolas smiled a silent thank you to him and left the room.
After he shut the door behind him, Legolas ran outside and down to the stream. He found Lalaith waiting, sitting where they had been the night before, wearing a green gown that brought out the ruddy tones in her hair.
"Lalaith."
"Legolas. I was almost afraid you weren't coming," she said. "Another few moments and I would have left."
"I'm glad I got here in time," he said. "Blame my lateness on those dreaded formalities."
She smiled. "I understand."
"Did you get in any trouble at all about last night?"
She shook her head. "No. The only person who even noticed was my friend Elen, and I tried to tell her I was there and she simply didn't see me." Lalaith glanced in the direction of the kitchen, a playful smile on her face. "She doesn't believe me, but I'm not about to tell her the truth."
Legolas smiled at that. "Good. If you ever get in any trouble, I want you to come to me."
She leaned back against the tree trunk. "That's all very good and well, but I wouldn't know where to find you."
"Just tell them to get Legolas. They'll find me for you. But hopefully things won't come to that."
She nodded. "So what about you? Were you missed?"
"No. The only person who noticed was the one I informed of my plans beforehand. After you and I parted last night I went straight to my quarters. My father came looking for me and said I disappeared quickly after the banquet, but he didn't seem to realize I missed half of it."
Lalaith smiled. "Sit down," she invited.
He took his place beside her and turned his eyes to the setting sun. "Beautiful contrast," he said. "The yellow sky with those dark clouds...it will probably rain late tonight."
"Mmm. I love rainshowers. I love getting caught in the rain and getting soaked."
He smiled, thinking of what she would look like if that happened.
She continued. "I prefer just to watch it from inside, though, if there's lightning."
"True, lightning is not something you want to tangle with," he agreed. "But, you know, I didn't come here to talk about the weather with you."
She laughed. "All right, then...tell me more about the places you've seen."
"All right..." He smiled at her and told her what he could without getting into why he'd been to all those different places. She was a wonderful listener, the kind who interrupted with questions just often enough to assure that she was genuinely interested and not so often that it got annoying.
"It must be nice," she finally concluded. "I have decided that someday, if it's ever possible, I would like to go see these places."
"Really? That's not something I hear often. Usually when I share my stories of the Shire and Gondor, people just smile and nod...they're polite but they never catch my...my..."
"Passion?" she supplied.
"Yes," he said, smiling.
"How could anyone not? Don't they ever tire of seeing nothing but green trees? Not that Mirkwood is a detestable place by any means, I do love it, but I would like to see what other places look like. I've never seen the hills off in the distance growing nothing but grass. I've never seen mountains in the distance. I've never seen a wide river rushing..." She looked down at the water flowing by them. "Just this little stream..." She pushed gravel around with the toe of her shoe.
He caught a note of sadness in her voice. "This is the place you want to come back to after going out on grand expeditions, isn't it?"
She looked up at him suddenly, almost startled at the insight. "Yes. Exactly. How do you...?"
"Because," he said, "That's exactly how I feel. This is a welcoming place to return to, but I could never spend my whole life here without at least visiting other places."
"You're lucky," she said. "You know what it's like to return to this place." She turned away from his gaze again, looking towards the sun, intently watching as its last rays faded.
He didn't have a reply for that.
At last she spoke again. "The sun is gone," she pointed out. "Elen will be wondering where I am." She was very aware of the darkness growing around them, and wasn't sure it was entirely proper for her to be there with him alone, although secretly she wanted to stay. The night before there had been a tent full of people she could run to, but tonight there was no one around. Still, somehow that didn't bother her nearly as much as the fact that it didn't bother her.
He sighed. "I hate to let you leave. When I'm in your company, it's almost like...like I'm with my mortal friends. You're not like other Elves, except in the good ways."
She raised an eyebrow at that. Funny how when he was with her he had such trouble finding the right words. Usually he spoke with eloquence and diplomacy.
"I mean...you love nature and see the beauty in it like most Elves, but you don't feel like propriety is the main thing in life. You want to travel, have adventures, see how other people live life."
She smiled. "I do. And I envy you, Legolas. You can go and have your adventures, but me, I'll always be here, in Mirkwood, just dreaming of them. You know what is expected of me. I'll always have to live within those confines. I may be able to have conversations like these, and read about these faraway places, but I'll never get to live out any of the ideas I have because of how society thinks of me, as a maiden and all that."
"You feel...restrained?"
She smiled at him. "Funny how you always seem to know precisely what I'm thinking. That's exactly it." She sighed. "But that's a conversation for another day. I must get back. When shall we meet again?" She already knew that he would insist upon seeing her again, and this time she was absolutely intent on it herself.
"When will you be free next?" he asked.
"Tomorrow after the noon meal I will be in the back garden, tending to the flowers. I will be quite alone, if you'd care to join me then."
"Only if you allow me to help."
She smiled. "I can't say no to that, except it will mean I'll finish faster and make our time shorter."
He paused for a moment before the answer struck him. "But if you return early, everyone will be suspicious, so however long we spend working, we'll spend an equal amount of time sitting admiring our handiwork. All right?"
She laughed again. "You're absolutely right. So then, tomorrow in the back garden, as soon as the noon meal is eaten?"
"Of course." He rose and helped her to her feet. He kissed her hand before she left.
When Legolas got back to his room, Gimli was waiting for him, sitting in a chair by a window.
"Now, laddie, you'll tell me what was so all-fired important that you had to leave me listening to your father."
Legolas sighed. He shut the door behind him and sat on his bed, across from Gimli. "I'd rather not, Gimli."
"You will, whether you'd rather or not," Gimli said. "I won't help you run off again unless I know what's going on."
A smile tugged at the corner of Legolas's lips. "All right, my friend, but you must swear to keep it a secret, especially from my father."
"I supposed as much already. If your father knew you wouldn't have had to leave so suddenly."
Legolas nodded. "True enough. Gimli...last night when I left the celebration, I met a girl."
A light came into Gimli's eyes. "Ohh...what's she like?"
"Don't get ideas, Gimli. She's just nice to talk to, and I haven't told Father because then he'd know I missed his speeches."
Gimli nodded, chuckling. "Right, laddie. Anyway, tell me about her."
"Well, she's one of the serving-girls. Apparently she saw me outside the tent and thought I was trying to get in, instead of the other way around. I explained myself and asked her to join me, and I convinced her to slip away with me. We walked down to the stream and sat, and we had the most wonderful conversation. She's not like other Elven maidens. She's interesting. She has dreams of travel and adventure, and gets tired of all the formality we have to put up with...essentially, she's a lot like me. At any rate I made her agree to see me again before she got away, and we were supposed to meet at sunset."
"Ah." Gimli nodded. "Is she pretty?"
Legolas nodded. "Yes, actually, she's quite pretty. Her hair is...well, it's not quite red like you see in the mortals or the Hobbits, but it's not golden. It's more like...pale red. And her eyes are like the clear night, deep blue and flecked with stars..."
"You're waxing rather poetic over a girl who's just nice to talk to," Gimli pointed out.
Legolas seemed taken aback by that.
"You're also keeping secrets because of her. And, no doubt, you're planning on seeing her again."
Legolas didn't answer that immediately.
"See? Of course you are. Tomorrow, no doubt."
"After the noon meal, in the garden," Legolas confessed.
Gimli smiled. "I knew it."
Legolas looked up suddenly. "You haven't even heard the clincher yet," he said. "She doesn't know that I'm the prince. She thinks I'm a courtier named after the prince."
Gimli suddenly got very serious. "She's going to find out sooner or later."
"I know, it's just that...well, we have these conversations about how formalities are boring and how other people seem to understand that they can be done without, and what it's like to travel, and all kinds of things, but if she knew I was prince, everything would change in her eyes. She'd become embarrassed, and behave exactly like everyone I was trying to get away from in the first place."
"You need to tell her soon, laddie, before she finds out some other way. Tell her that there's something she should know, but that it shouldn't change anything."
Legolas nodded. "I will. I'll tell her. Soon. Not tomorrow, though." He wanted to hold on to the enchantment of her not knowing for just a little longer.
Once again, Elen was waiting when Lalaith returned. "Been out again, have we?"
Lalaith just frowned, pretending to be confused.
"You know what I mean, Lalaith. You know that there's something you're not telling me."
Lalaith grinned. "That's right. I'm not telling you."
"So there is something!" Elen cried. "I knew it."
"Nothing worth repeating," Lalaith said. She didn't want to tell Elen, but she wasn't sure why. Maybe the secrecy made the whole thing seem more fantastic. Plus, Elen would make it seem like Legolas was more than just a courtier who shared Lalaith's opinions and knew how to make good conversation. Elen would blow it up into a romance.
"What are you hiding?" Elen pressed. "Why won't you tell me?"
"Because that will take all the fun out of it," Lalaith said. "I'll tell you when I feel like telling you. Until then, my lips are sealed."
"But you will tell me."
"Maybe..." Lalaith laughed at Elen's glare. "The more you annoy me about it, the less I want to give it away."
Elen kept glaring. "I won't forget."
"You never do..."
The next morning passed quickly for Legolas. He and Gimli spent the time in friendly armed competition.
"The sun is waxing fast today," Gimli said, removing arrows from a target. "Surely it is nearing mealtime."
Legolas looked up, directly into the sun. "A servant will come to retrieve us any moment now."
Sure enough, mere seconds later a dark-haired serving-girl entered the courtyard Legolas and Gimli had been in. "My lord Prince, esteemed guest, the meal is being served as we speak." She bowed low and kept her eyes down.
"Thank you, Elen," Legolas said. "Come, Gimli." They walked through the door to inside, and headed for Thranduil's dining hall.
Legolas was fidgety again, but he tried harder to hide it. Lalaith had said after the noon meal, and she surely had to eat, too, so he had time to finish his food properly. The thought crossed his mind that she probably actually ate a little later since she helped prepare the meals. He got to wondering what, exactly, was at the table that she had cooked.
"Distracted, my son?" Thranduil asked, startling him out of his reverie.
"I apologize, Father. It seems like the smallest, strangest things can capture my attention these days."
"You have seemed rather distracted lately," Thranduil agreed. "I hear the honorable Dwarf here even beat you at a game of strategy."
"Yes, Father."
"Tell me, is something troubling you, my son?"
Legolas shook his head. "Nothing out of the ordinary, Father." He lifted the last bit of food on his plate to his mouth. He was ready to leave but decided to linger a few moments so as not to draw suspicion.
Gimli noticed that Legolas was finished, so he hurried to finish quickly as well. "Sire, I find myself full. Elvish meals are much heartier than I remembered."
"That is very gracious of you, Master Dwarf," Thranduil acknowledged.
"Not at all. Now, if I may be excused, your son has bragged much on the volumes in your library..."
"Of course," Thranduil nodded his permission for Gimli to leave.
"I shall see you at dinner, Father," Legolas said, rising. "Come, Gimli, I will show you my favorites."
The two headed to the library, and parted at its door. "The Lay of Beren and Lúthien is the best," Legolas told him. "Any of the servants can show you where it is."
Gimli nodded. "I shall see you after your tryst."
Legolas frowned. "It's not a tryst, Gimli."
"Rendezvous, then. Whatever you like to call it." There was a teasing twinkle in his eye. "You shall see, Master Elf. You shall soon see."
Legolas decided to let it pass for the moment. He was running a bit late again and he definitely did not want to miss seeing Lalaith.
He reached the back garden quickly. Lalaith was just walking in through the gate closest to the kitchen, carrying a tray of seedings and a watering can. She was wearing a dress that matched the color of her eyes, deep azure, and a white apron.
"Legolas," she said. He quickly walked over and relieved her of her burdens.
"I see I am on time today," he said, with a smile.
She smiled back. "No, it's just that we are both late at the same time. I barely convinced Elen to let me come alone. We are used to doing so many things together. She's definitely suspicious."
"Elen...she is the one with the dark hair that curls at the ends?"
Lalaith nodded. "You know her?"
"I told you. I know all of the servants by name. Now, what needs to be done?"
"Bring those seedlings over here," she directed, leading him over to a spot of earth that had recently been turned over. "They need to be planted. They are elanor seedlings."
"Elanor? They should be quite attractive here. It's been a long time since I've seen elanor in bloom...it is a pleasanter memory than some."
"Really?" Lalaith asked, kneeling beside the fresh dirt. "How long has it been?"
Legolas knelt next to her. "Since I was in Lothlórien last. That's been over a year."
"You were happier, then?"
Legolas frowned. "Not so much happier as in pleasant company. It was actually a very sad time, I was under the impression that one of my mortal friends had died."
"Under the impression?" Lalaith had started planting the seedlings, moving the earth with her hands, and Legolas joined in, planting them as she pointed out the spots for him.
"It turned out to be a false report, but the grief was very real. But today the company is also pleasant, and there is nothing grieving my heart today."
She smiled. "I'm glad."
"In fact, now that I am here, this is turning out to be quite a pleasant day."
She looked over at him. "Do I detect flattery?"
He smiled mischieviously. "Maybe. But not undeserved flattery. I doubt that I would ever tire of your company."
She smiled and rolled her eyes. "I think the same of you."
There was a short silence, but Legolas broke it. "When did we receive elanor for our gardens?"
"The representatives from Lothlórien brought it, and we decided to plant an area of it here. It is so beautiful in bloom, at least according to pictures I've seen. I wish it grew here naturally."
"It is lovely, I assure you."
"What is Lothórien like?"
Legolas tilted his head to one side. "It's like here, except the trees are bigger, and the dwellings are higher in them. The light is always soft and blue, and you lose track of time. You don't know if you were there for a few hours or a month."
"How long were you there?"
"I've been there many times. It's part of being a--courtier." He almost slipped up. "I do travel for the King as well as for pleasure."
She nodded. "Of course. Lucky, lucky you."
"You know, if you really wanted to travel, it could probably be arranged..."
She looked up at him.
"When the court ladies travel, they often take servants," he said.
She looked back down, somewhat disappointed. "I thought of that, but somehow going as a servant wouldn't be the same."
He nodded. "I understand. It was just a suggestion."
By that time they were finished planting. "Take the can over to the fountain and fill it," Lalaith ordered.
He did so and returned quickly, and they watered the seedlings. The next task was weeding in another flower bed.
"Whatever are you going to do if you have to leave the royal house?" Legolas asked.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, if you abide by your father's wishes and stop serving eventually, we won't see each other any more."
"That is a long way off yet," Lalaith said.
"You've only been here a month, and you'll be here for probably another year at least, but you're already dreading it," Legolas pointed out. "Even if we hadn't met. Admit it."
Lalaith sighed. "Yes. It's true." She looked over at him. "But what can I do about it?"
He wasn't ready to answer her directly. Not just yet.
They worked in silence, but to each the presence of the other was comforting. When they got to the end of the flower bed, Lalaith stood. "Come, we can wash our hands." They went back to the fountain Legolas had brought the water from and cleaned the dirt off.
"Now," Legolas said, "We admire our work."
She laughed softly. "All right."
He led her to a stone bench from which they could see the elanor seedlings and they sat down.
"You know, Lalaith..." he started.
"Yes?"
"These past three days, since I met you...I've had more fun during our three conversations than in a lot of time I've spent before. You're not like any elf maiden I've ever known."
She smiled. "I'll take that as a compliment. You know, you're not exactly like any elf I've met. You take an interest in me and my opinions despite the fact that I'm just a maiden. No one else understands the desire I have for adventures and travel."
He smiled. "And yet you refuse to leave Mirkwood as a servant."
"If I cannot go of my own volition, is it really worth it? I want to go as I please."
He nodded. "True...travel as an ambassador is not the same as travel for pleasure."
There was a pause for a few moments.
"I don't know what I'll do when I have to leave," she said. "I admit, it's a paradox, I want to go away, see the world, and yet I don't want to leave here."
"You know that when you leave here it will mean the dream of seeing the world will have vanished," he said.
She nodded, staring him directly in the eyes. "Yes. How do you know these things? How can you express my thoughts so beautifully?"
Legolas smiled gently. "Lalaith...I think I am beginning to understand." He suddenly found himself leaning in closer to her and the next thing they knew they were entangled in a kiss. Legolas softly took her into his arms and pulled her close. Lalaith was surprised, but not unpleasantly. When at last they broke the kiss they still held close to one another.
"Lalaith?" Legolas asked in a whisper.
"Yes?"
"I think I love you." The thought was almost as shocking to him as he said it as it was to her when she heard it.
Lalaith was blushing furiously. "Legolas...I..."
"Think of it, Lalaith. It's perfect. We both admitted that we like each other's company. You could stop serving and still stay here, and your father would still be pleased. And we could travel together. But most importantly, I just like being with you. Whenever I'm not with you I'm looking forward to seeing you again. In just three short days you've completely changed my world."
She read the sincerity written in his eyes, and the fear that accompanied it. He wasn't sure if she felt the same, but what he had said was completely right. Her world had been changed in the same way, and at last she realized what she felt for him. "You're right. It is perfect." They kissed again briefly.
"I do love you," he said, ecstasy written on his face.
"I love you, too."
He held her close to him.
She sighed. "It's only been three days and somehow it feels like we've been so slow about this, like we should have known this the moment we met."
"I think we did," he said. "It just took us this long to realize it."
She relaxed in the comfortable hold of his arms for just a moment, cuddling her forehead against his neck. "I need to go back to the kitchen right now..." she said.
"I don't want to ever let you go." He smiled.
She smiled back. "And I don't want to go. But right now, I have to. I can see you again first thing tomorrow morning. We can watch the sunrise from our stream."
"Is that the soonest you can be spared?" he asked. "I want to spend every minute with you that I possibly can."
"Yes, unfortunately. Right now I have to help with dinner, and then tonight after the dishes Elen and I have been assigned to help polish silver. But I will be at our tree bench before the last star fades, all right?" She gave him one last peck on the lips before he let her go.
"All right." He helped her to her feet and walked her to the gate. "I'll be counting the moments."
She walked off, a spring in her step, laughing as she went. "So will I!"
Legolas found Gimli in the library, perusing a volume with a blue cover.
"You were right, laddie. I might just develop a taste for Elvish literature."
Legolas sat down across the table from him. "Gimli, have you ever been in love?"
Gimli tilted his head. "Of course not, save for with the Lady Galadriel."
"I didn't mean unrequited love," Legolas said. "I mean being in love with someone who loves you back."
"No, laddie. Not Gimli, son of Glóin. But what reason--ah..." A light of understanding came into Gimli's eyes. "So she IS more than just nice to talk to." He laughed deeply.
Legolas leaned back in his chair. "I realized today how much I really cared about her. And also, we had talked about how hard it is to live up to people's expectations, but then I suddenly realized that if she and I were together everyone's expectations would be satisfied, and we would both have exactly what we want."
"You need to tell her you're the prince."
Legolas sighed. "I know. I just hope that she understands."
"If you've been talking about your father's expectations, then telling her should simply make things clearer to her."
"I suppose you're right. I'll tell her the next time I see her."
"That's right, laddie." Gimli bent back over his book. "The sooner the better."
Later that afternoon, with an hour or two left before dinner, Gimli decided to take a nap. Legolas went for a walk. He ambled around the palace grounds, but ultimately found himself by the stream. He went and sat on his branch and pulled his knees up to his chest. Pleasant memories of Lalaith aside, he never tired of watching the stream, never changing, yet never the same.
As he was sitting there, he heard someone walking from the kitchen and heading his way. As whoever it was came closer, he distinguished that it was a woman, probably heading for the stream to draw water. At that thought he turned around.
"Legolas!" It was Lalaith, and as she saw him her whole face lit up with a wide smile. "I thought it was you, but I wasn't sure from behind..." By that time Legolas had gotten up and had pulled her into a hug.
"This is a nice surprise, love," he whispered.
She smiled even wider and gave him a quick peck on the lips. Then she bit her lip. "I'm not free right now," she said. "I'm fetching water."
"Well, in that case, let me help," he said, taking the tall pitcher from her hand and walking over to the stream. He lowered it into the water and let it fill, then took it to her. "I'll walk you back," he said, making no motion to hand the pitcher back to her. He held the handle in one hand and took her hand in the other.
She smiled widely, blushing. "Thank you."
At the door to the kitchen he paused. "Here," he said, holding out the pitcher for her.
"You can come in, you know. I don't think anyone will mind if you hang around while we're cooking dinner. They keep telling us that we can talk as much as we want as long as we work while we talk."
Legolas paused. He couldn't be seen with her or everyone would know, and his secret would be out before he was ready. "Ah...well...I'm expected to be there, I mean, at dinner, you know...I really do need to dress..."
She checked over his clothes, all silks and velvets in pale blue that matched his eyes. "You're fine."
"For dinner with Thranduil? No, not really. Much as I would love to stay, Lalaith, really, I can't..."
She frowned. "We can't keep this secret forever. Sooner or later we're going to have to let everyone know about...about us," she faltered.
He smiled. "It's not that. And we will tell people, just as soon as possible. But not right this minute."
She frowned. "All right. But soon?"
"Very soon."
"Then I'll see you in the morning?"
"Of course." He quickly gave her a kiss before she walked through the door.
He ran around to another entrance and went inside the palace, and rushed towards his room. He decided that he needed to change just to keep his statements the truth. Gimli was in his room when he got back.
"I thought you weren't seeing her until tomorrow morning," Gimli said.
"How did you know that I did?" Legolas asked.
"Come, now, laddie, we traversed across half of Rohan in a matter of days and you never tired once, then you walk into your bedroom out of breath and you mean to tell me that I can't put two and two together for myself?"
Legolas smiled. "Of course." He hadn't realized he was out of breath, but now he paused to catch it. He laughed a little. "Amazing, I've never felt that before..."
"You Elves..." Gimli sighed with a smile. "Never been out of breath, indeed."
Legolas started pulling fresh clothes out of the drawers and changing, pulling his shirt over his head. "It's not just that, mellon nin," he said. "Watching her smile when she sees me, talking with her about seeing the world..." Gimli rolled his eyes, provoking Legolas to add, "The feel of her lips upon mine..."
"You kissed her?" Gimli asked. "You really need to tell her, laddie..."
"I will, when I next see her. Tomorrow morning, before the sun rises."
Gimli hmphed. "It must be very convenient to never need sleep."
Legolas laughed. "Sometimes. Come, it's nearly time for dinner."
In the kitchen, Lalaith stood by a fire, stirring a pot of stew.
"So are you going to tell me?" Elen was suddenly there.
Lalaith sighed. "You're never going to give up, are you?" Elen had been pestering her all day.
"No, I'm not." Elen smiled widely and mischeviously.
Lalaith considered it. Elen would find out, sooner or later. She wanted to wait for Legolas to give his approval, but after all, Elen was her best friend. "All right. If you will swear to keep this absolutely secret until I say otherwise, I'll tell you."
Elen squealed in delight. "I swear!"
Lalaith glanced around to make sure no one else was listening. "You remember that you missed me at the banquet the other night?"
"Yes, you said you were here."
"Well...I wasn't here the whole time."
"Where were you?"
"At the stream..." Lalaith was enjoying building up the suspense.
"Why? What's going on? Just tell me already!" Elen cried.
"I was at the stream...with a handsome young courtier."
Elen's eyes widened. "You're jesting."
Lalaith shook her head. "Elen, I...I'm in love. We're in love."
"And you met him at the banquet?"
Lalaith giggled, thinking over how it had happened. "In a way. He was trying to get away from the boring speeches and I caught him, and we went walking...and the rest is history."
"So that's where you've disappeared to all these times. Are you getting married?"
Lalaith paused. "Well...he hasn't officially asked me, but I'm sure..."
"I wouldn't worry about it, it's only been three days. Tell me about him."
Lalaith grinned. "He's tall and handsome, with flaxen hair and pale blue eyes....And he loves to travel, he said we could see the world together..."
"Oh, how perfect for you. No wonder you've fallen for him. What's his name?"
"Legolas."
Elen frowned. "There are no courtiers named Legolas," she said. "That's the prince's name."
"And he was named after the prince," Lalaith said. "I asked him."
"But that's what the prince looks like, too," Elen said. "Blonde, blue-eyed, tall, handsome..."
Lalaith frowned. "But he said he was a courtier. He couldn't be..."
"Listen, I've seen the prince. I serve him dinner. Is your Legolas' voice deep but soft?"
Lalaith nodded.
"Is he poetic and gentle?"
Lalaith nodded.
"But still brave and strong?"
Lalaith nodded.
"And he travels a lot?"
Lalaith nodded.
"And he arrived home the day of the banquet?"
"He said he'd been gone until recently when we were talking about it. But...oh! Elen! One of the first things he asked was whether or not I recognized the name Legolas...and I said that I assumed he was named for the prince...it couldn't be, do you suppose?"
Elen frowned. "He isn't the kind who would treat a girl that way, I don't think...but we'll settle it once and for all. You can serve the King with me tonight. The prince will be there and you can see for yourself."
"But why would he have any reason to lie to me like that, Elen?"
"It may be that I've missed a courtier."
Lalaith shook her head. "He said he knew all the servants by name, and when I mentioned you he recognized your name."
Elen frowned. "Well...don't worry about it until we know for sure."
Lalaith nodded. "Of course." However, she was beginning to feel sick to her stomach. Surely he couldn't be the prince. If he was, that would change everything. That was too far above her, surely the prince couldn't really be in love with her...so why the grand charade?
A/N: Why indeed? In the next chappie: The big confrontation! Will it be enough to ruin a beautiful relationship? Drop me a review!