Nessa followed Legolas up into the grand castle, trying hard not to gape at its beauty. Ñandelle still slept soundly in her brother's arms; nothing was going to wake her up. Tyalië, Legolas's elder sister, stood talking to some handmaidens across the room.

"Tyalië!"

She turned, she had the same honey-blonde hair as Legolas, but hers was tied back gently in a long braid. She wore an elegant ruby red dress that was well fitted for her delicate form with long drooping sleeves. "Legolas! Where have you been! Altar was getting worried!" She scolded him,

Legolas shook his head, "I told him I would be at the archery fields! Little Ñandelle here wanted to learn," he smiled and looked at his sleeping sister.

"And who might this be?" She raised an eyebrow and looked at Nessa who was trying to hide behind Legolas in desperate hopes that this she-elf wouldn't see her.

"Tyalië meet Nessa, Nessa this is my elder sister Tyalië. She is visiting us for a little while because her husband is off on a hunting trip with a few companions."

"Nice to meet you, milady," Nessa smiled, trying to be polite.

Tyalië smiled broadly, "I guess Altar won't mind that you went to the archery fields this morning, seeing as how you met a she-elf there."

Legolas's eyes got wide, "no! No! No! It's not like that Tyalië! She's just a friend!"

Nessa raised an eyebrow as she watched the two siblings argue, well Tyalië teasing her younger brother and Legolas trying to deny everything.

"Then why did you bring her here?"

"We're going to the library to read."

"And who's idea would that be?"

"Why does it matter?"

"It was yours wasn't it! I cannot wait to tell Altar!"

"It's not like that! You mustn't tell Altar!"

"And why not?"

Legolas sifted uncomfortably and leaned in close to his sister, "because she is a peasant, you know how Altar does not approve of me making friends with anyone with no status!" Legolas whispered to his sister.

Tyalië frowned and nodded her head, "alright then, I shall not tell him," she sighed. "Here, hand me Ñandelle, I'll put her up in her room."

"Thank-you!" Legolas aid quickly as he handed his younger sister to Tyalië.

"And Legolas!"

"Yes?"

"If Altar finds out, I cannot help you. You know this right?"

Legolas smiled, "do not worry, I shall make sure that he thinks you knew nothing of this. No sense in dragging us both down, now is there?"

Tyalië nodded and walked off.

Nessa turned to face Legolas, "What was that all about?"

Legolas sighed, "I'll tell you when we get to the library."

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

After dodging several guards, Legolas finally showed Nessa the giant library. She walked inside in complete awe. This was ten times as large as Rivendell's library, with shelves that reached all the way to the high ceiling and lined the walls with only spaces for magnificent windows.

"Do you like it?" Legolas asked timidly, "I mean I have never been to Rivendell's library, I would not know how it would compare."

Nessa turned to face him, smiling, "this is the best thing anyone has ever done for me." She walked closer to him, and wrapped her arms around him, "thank-you, so much!"

Legolas smiled, and wrapped his arms around her, "your more then welcome."

She pulled away and began to look about the volumes among volumes of books stored in the library, "which one is your favorite?"

Legolas walked over to a shelf adjacent from Nessa, and pulled out a worn copy of a book with red leather surrounding it, "this one, "Arrow through the Heart". My Naneth would read this to me over and over again," Legolas smiled at his fond memory of his Naneth, "I used to hate this story because she read it so often, now it's one of the only things I have left of her," he added on a sadder note then smiled, "I think you might enjoy it."

Nessa smiled, "but before we read, do you mind telling me what you and your sister were discussing earlier. I have never been one to left in the dark for long."

Legolas sighed, "it is a long story."

"I have time."

Legolas paused, "my Altar is obsessed with trying to find me a bride," he sighed and shook his head slowly.

Nessa frowned, "so?"

"I have to marry and she-elf of status."

"And?"

"Nosey one aren't we?"

Nessa smiled and nodded, "but you did promise you would tell me. It's your own fault."

Legolas smiled, "Altar loves seeing me talking with she-elves of status, in fact he encourages it, everyday actually," he sighed, "but he also believes I am wasting my time talking with a she-elf of no status."

Nessa sighed, "oh."

Legolas frowned, "but I disagree!" He added quickly.

She smiled and shook her head, "not the romantic type are we?"

Legolas smiled, "Well, I do not have to read to you if I do not wish to," he teased.

"Now that I think of it, you are completely wonderful elf. One of the best I have met in Mirkwood!"

Legolas laughed, "shall we begin?" He asked, taking a seat on a nearby chair. Nessa smiled and sat down in the chair next to him,

"Please do!"

"All right then," He smiled and began to read the story. Nessa sat up straight, her mind focused solely on the poetic words forming the figures and shapes in her head into people and places. Wonderful places. Wizards and oracles. Mortals and elves. The world in books was so much more perfect then the world outside. Everyone received their happy ending.

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

"As he lay dying in her arms, he whispered his last words, 'I love you.' Her tears fell hysterically as she embraced him, 'I will always love you,' she whispered reassuringly as he died in her arms," Legolas took a deep breath, "the end."

Nessa wiped her eyes clean, "that was beautiful."

Legolas smiled, "I knew you would like it."

Nessa looked out the window, and her eyes got wide, it was dark. Very dark. "Legolas! What time is it?"

Legolas frowned, "I don't know, sometime past dinner I suppose."

"Alassea and Mablung are going to have my head for this!" She yelled, jumping up.

Legolas followed suit, "Huh?"

"The elves I'm staying with! I told them I would be back well before dinner!"

"Here, let take you home, I'll tell them what happened. They'll understand," Legolas tried to calm the frantic Nessa.

She put a hand to her forehead, "I promised I'd watch the elflings tonight! Oh no!"

"Nessa, breathe, just come with me. I'll get you home as quickly as possible."

She nodded, "Thank-you, Legolas, for everything!" She said, "but I can make it home on my own. Besides won't your Altar wonder where you are?"

"No, come on, I'll take you. My thank-you for helping out Ñandelle this morning."

Nessa nodded, "you better know where you are going!"

Legolas smiled, "trust me, sneaking out is my specialty!" He said with a devilish grin, grabbed her hand, and started out on a light run.

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

Within about fifteen minutes, Legolas and Nessa stood on the doorstep of Alassea and Mablung. They stood facing each other, panting from their quick run.

"Thank-you, Legolas, I have had fun today. More than I have had in a long time." Nessa smiled, and started to push open the door.

"Can I see you tomorrow?" Legolas asked quickly,

Nessa turned to face him, smiling. "I would love to. What time shall I meet you?"

"Same time as before?"

Nessa frowned, "Would you mind terribly if I brought along three other elflings?"

Legolas smiled, "I'm sure Ñandelle wouldn't mind a few playmates."

"Then I shall see you tomorrow," she smiled, "goodnight, Legolas." She said as she walked through the door, and closed it behind her.

Legolas stood on the doorstep for a moment, taking in everything that had happened to him in such a sort amount of time. He sighed heavily, and turned to head back to the castle with a spring in his step and a smile on his face. He had never had such a perfect day like this before.