AUTHOR'S NOTE: Well, I have to say that I would have like more reviews, but
I do appreciate the few of you who have taken the time to review. But I do
understand that it is near Thanksgiving and some people are away from home
- and their computers. Or at least that's what I am telling myself, so just
play along, ok? So to those of you who have reviewed, thank you very much!
Diplomatic Solutions. Or Not:
"Please?" he whined, for what must have been the fiftieth time.
"No!" I insisted. "You know how I despise those things!"
"Yes, I do know," Legolas replied. "You despise them as much as I do. But why should I have to suffer alone?"
"Why do you want to drag me into it?" I countered.
"I am not trying to 'drag you into it'," he said, crossing his arms indignantly. "I am requesting your presence to help me survive it." I could not help but laugh at this.
"Help you survive? This is a dance, Legolas, not a battle. You would not be exaggerating, would you?" He only shrugged. "Besides, will Aldeon not be there?" Legolas raised an eyebrow.
"You know as well as I do that he will be with Firine the entire night," he said, and I knew it was true. Ever since Aldeon had gone sweet on a local elf maiden, he was constantly either with her or talking about her. For a couple years after the fire, he had been very shy around everyone, much less pretty maidens, but now that five years had passed and his eyes had completely healed, he had become quite the socialite. until he and Firine became exclusive, that is.
Using his last weapon, Legolas turned those puppy-dog eyes on me and stuck his bottom lip out a bit.
"Are you not a little old for pouting? You are so childish sometimes." He did not reply, only stuck his lip out further. I rolled my eyes and groaned. "Do you not have some pretty maiden dying to go with you?"
"Well, I had hoped so, but this particular pretty maiden is also hard- headed and not cooperating," he said, raising his eyebrows. I sighed.
"Fine! I will go to the dance, but I refuse to stay longer than a couple of hours," I said. He grinned and hugged me. I stuck up a finger and wagged it in his face. "But you owe me. Big."
"Without a doubt," he replied. I groaned again as I realized something.
"I am going to have to find a dress," I moaned. His grin spread even wider.
"Done." I looked at him in surprise.
"Done? What exactly do you mean by 'done'?" I saw that mischievous gleam in his eye.
"Well, I was hoping you would say yes, so I went ahead and had one made to save you the trouble."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"There is no way I am going," I said as I stared sullenly into the mirror.
"Yes you are," said Legolas without a hint of worry. Of course, because he had nothing to worry about. He was wearing attire as formal as mine, but most elves were used to seeing their prince like that. He actually looked quite handsome in a navy blue tunic with gold embroidery. I, on the other hand, felt very silly in a matching dress.
"I never wear anything formal! There is no way I can walk in there like this! Everyone will burst into hysterical laughter."
"No, they will not! It is not as if you will be the only person there that will be dressed up. You would look much sillier walking in wearing casual clothing. Besides," he said slyly, "You would not want to give Marilla the satisfaction of knowing that you were too scared to show up, do you?" I sent him a dirty look for using her against me. But it worked.
"Fine," I mumbled. "You knew you would convince me anyway," I said. He shrugged.
"Diplomacy runs in the family."
"As does overconfidence." He ignored my last comment as he bowed gallantly and extended his arm.
"Shall we?"
"If we must."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Prince Legolas!" Legolas and I both winced as we heard the shrill voice across the room as we entered. "Prince, over here!"
"Just smile and nod," he whispered as she approached. "Hello, Marilla," he said after he pasted on an extremely bright - and extremely fake - smile.
"Good evening, Prince Legolas," she said. I would never understand how any glass stayed intact around her. She turned to look at me with the usual repulsion. "How charitable of you to bring. her with you." 'charitable'?! I nearly said something, but for Legolas's arm coming around me. She looked as if she had eaten lemons when she saw that. Just to heighten the effect, I leaned into him. She looked at me with hate oozing from her expression. I was enjoying every minute.
After we finally got away from Marilla, Legolas and I went to find Aldeon. As expected, we found him away from the crowd with Firine on his arm.
"Hiding, are we?" I asked as we approached. He turned to look at me with mock disbelief.
"Maranwe? At a social event? In a dress? How is this possible?" I glared at him before laughing.
"I am actually not quite sure myself; perhaps you should ask the diplomat here," I replied, gesturing to Legolas. Aldeon looked at Legolas, confused. Legolas shrugged.
"I only had to get down on my knees and beg."
"Liar!" I said. "He made me feel guilty about not going to anything," I said before Legolas could chime in with any more outlandish explanations. Firine smiled.
"Perhaps you will enjoy it and come to more. Legolas suffers so while trying to fend off. certain people," she said, sending a significant glance in Marilla's direction.
"Yes, I had the feeling I was being brought along as nothing more than a body guard." Legolas scowled.
"Nonsense. If that were the case, then why was I the one having to keep you from attacking her earlier?" I shrugged.
"She started it."
"Now who is being childish?" I had no comeback to this, and he was standing conveniently close behind me, so I simply elbowed him in the ribs. "Oh!" he complained loudly. We heard the first strains of music coming from the front of the room.
"If you will excuse us," Aldeon said as he and Firine moved around us, "I think we would rather dance than beat up on each other." He looked hard at Legolas for a moment before leading Firine away.
"What was that all about?" I asked. Legolas turned to me with an innocent expression.
"What was what all about?" I sighed exasperatedly as gestured to Aldeon.
" * That * . The look!" I said when he still acted clueless.
"Oh, that was nothing," he replied. I decided to not pursue the matter further, but I knew what was 'nothing', and that look was most definitely more than 'nothing'. "Care to dance?" Legolas asked, interrupting my train of thought.
"What?" Legolas pointed out onto the dance floor.
"Dance. You know, when two people move to music together?"
"I know what dancing is," I huffed. "But I would prefer to." I trailed off, trying to think of anything other than dancing, which I knew would serve no purpose other than showing my inability to do so. "Well, something other than dancing."
"Look, I brought a beautiful maiden to a dance, so it seems only logical to dance with her," he stated matter-of-factly.
"Flattering me with nonsensical compliments will not get me out on the dance floor," I said. I saw his determined look, however, and I knew it would not be that easy.
"Yes, but unless you would like to wrestle me in front of everyone here, and in that dress, this will," he said as he simply grabbed me around the waist, lifted me up, and carried me the few feet to the dance floor.
"You. you." I hissed in his ear as we danced. I could not think of a name despicable enough for him under the circumstances. "How dare you?" He shrugged.
"Maybe next time I ask you to dance, you will accept of your own accord," he replied as we twirled around once.
"Maybe next time I will call Marilla over. I am sure she would gladly take my place," I threatened, though both he and I knew that I would never give her the satisfaction.
"Oh. No!" he feigned horror. "I have had to undergo that torture before. She is so busy wagging her tongue while she dances, she does not even notice that she is flattening your toes." I caught a glance of her sitting at a table, watching Legolas and I closely. Just to rub it in, I wrapped my arms tighter about his neck and stepped in close - very close. I could feel his breath on my neck as he chuckled and said, "I knew I was a fairly good dancer, but I have to say I did not expect this." He had tightened his arms around me, and I was trying to concentrate on the steaming Marilla instead of how closely we were dancing - and how he did not seem to mind. I did not really mind either, but I would not have admitted it for anything.
"You should not pride yourself so much," I said. "I saw Marilla watching us across the room."
"Oh." Of course I was only imagining the disappointment in his voice. Whatever it was I was heard, however, disappeared as all I could hear in his next statement was pure mischievousness. "Well then, in that case." I barely had time to gasp in surprise before he quickly lowered his face and his lips met mine.
A/N: Ohh! Ok, everybody ready? One, two, three: *collective gasp!* So Leggy got some guts, but does anybody else get the feeling that this will not be the romantic kiss we've all been waiting for? Hmmm..perhaps some reviews would speed up the writing process.
Diplomatic Solutions. Or Not:
"Please?" he whined, for what must have been the fiftieth time.
"No!" I insisted. "You know how I despise those things!"
"Yes, I do know," Legolas replied. "You despise them as much as I do. But why should I have to suffer alone?"
"Why do you want to drag me into it?" I countered.
"I am not trying to 'drag you into it'," he said, crossing his arms indignantly. "I am requesting your presence to help me survive it." I could not help but laugh at this.
"Help you survive? This is a dance, Legolas, not a battle. You would not be exaggerating, would you?" He only shrugged. "Besides, will Aldeon not be there?" Legolas raised an eyebrow.
"You know as well as I do that he will be with Firine the entire night," he said, and I knew it was true. Ever since Aldeon had gone sweet on a local elf maiden, he was constantly either with her or talking about her. For a couple years after the fire, he had been very shy around everyone, much less pretty maidens, but now that five years had passed and his eyes had completely healed, he had become quite the socialite. until he and Firine became exclusive, that is.
Using his last weapon, Legolas turned those puppy-dog eyes on me and stuck his bottom lip out a bit.
"Are you not a little old for pouting? You are so childish sometimes." He did not reply, only stuck his lip out further. I rolled my eyes and groaned. "Do you not have some pretty maiden dying to go with you?"
"Well, I had hoped so, but this particular pretty maiden is also hard- headed and not cooperating," he said, raising his eyebrows. I sighed.
"Fine! I will go to the dance, but I refuse to stay longer than a couple of hours," I said. He grinned and hugged me. I stuck up a finger and wagged it in his face. "But you owe me. Big."
"Without a doubt," he replied. I groaned again as I realized something.
"I am going to have to find a dress," I moaned. His grin spread even wider.
"Done." I looked at him in surprise.
"Done? What exactly do you mean by 'done'?" I saw that mischievous gleam in his eye.
"Well, I was hoping you would say yes, so I went ahead and had one made to save you the trouble."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"There is no way I am going," I said as I stared sullenly into the mirror.
"Yes you are," said Legolas without a hint of worry. Of course, because he had nothing to worry about. He was wearing attire as formal as mine, but most elves were used to seeing their prince like that. He actually looked quite handsome in a navy blue tunic with gold embroidery. I, on the other hand, felt very silly in a matching dress.
"I never wear anything formal! There is no way I can walk in there like this! Everyone will burst into hysterical laughter."
"No, they will not! It is not as if you will be the only person there that will be dressed up. You would look much sillier walking in wearing casual clothing. Besides," he said slyly, "You would not want to give Marilla the satisfaction of knowing that you were too scared to show up, do you?" I sent him a dirty look for using her against me. But it worked.
"Fine," I mumbled. "You knew you would convince me anyway," I said. He shrugged.
"Diplomacy runs in the family."
"As does overconfidence." He ignored my last comment as he bowed gallantly and extended his arm.
"Shall we?"
"If we must."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Prince Legolas!" Legolas and I both winced as we heard the shrill voice across the room as we entered. "Prince, over here!"
"Just smile and nod," he whispered as she approached. "Hello, Marilla," he said after he pasted on an extremely bright - and extremely fake - smile.
"Good evening, Prince Legolas," she said. I would never understand how any glass stayed intact around her. She turned to look at me with the usual repulsion. "How charitable of you to bring. her with you." 'charitable'?! I nearly said something, but for Legolas's arm coming around me. She looked as if she had eaten lemons when she saw that. Just to heighten the effect, I leaned into him. She looked at me with hate oozing from her expression. I was enjoying every minute.
After we finally got away from Marilla, Legolas and I went to find Aldeon. As expected, we found him away from the crowd with Firine on his arm.
"Hiding, are we?" I asked as we approached. He turned to look at me with mock disbelief.
"Maranwe? At a social event? In a dress? How is this possible?" I glared at him before laughing.
"I am actually not quite sure myself; perhaps you should ask the diplomat here," I replied, gesturing to Legolas. Aldeon looked at Legolas, confused. Legolas shrugged.
"I only had to get down on my knees and beg."
"Liar!" I said. "He made me feel guilty about not going to anything," I said before Legolas could chime in with any more outlandish explanations. Firine smiled.
"Perhaps you will enjoy it and come to more. Legolas suffers so while trying to fend off. certain people," she said, sending a significant glance in Marilla's direction.
"Yes, I had the feeling I was being brought along as nothing more than a body guard." Legolas scowled.
"Nonsense. If that were the case, then why was I the one having to keep you from attacking her earlier?" I shrugged.
"She started it."
"Now who is being childish?" I had no comeback to this, and he was standing conveniently close behind me, so I simply elbowed him in the ribs. "Oh!" he complained loudly. We heard the first strains of music coming from the front of the room.
"If you will excuse us," Aldeon said as he and Firine moved around us, "I think we would rather dance than beat up on each other." He looked hard at Legolas for a moment before leading Firine away.
"What was that all about?" I asked. Legolas turned to me with an innocent expression.
"What was what all about?" I sighed exasperatedly as gestured to Aldeon.
" * That * . The look!" I said when he still acted clueless.
"Oh, that was nothing," he replied. I decided to not pursue the matter further, but I knew what was 'nothing', and that look was most definitely more than 'nothing'. "Care to dance?" Legolas asked, interrupting my train of thought.
"What?" Legolas pointed out onto the dance floor.
"Dance. You know, when two people move to music together?"
"I know what dancing is," I huffed. "But I would prefer to." I trailed off, trying to think of anything other than dancing, which I knew would serve no purpose other than showing my inability to do so. "Well, something other than dancing."
"Look, I brought a beautiful maiden to a dance, so it seems only logical to dance with her," he stated matter-of-factly.
"Flattering me with nonsensical compliments will not get me out on the dance floor," I said. I saw his determined look, however, and I knew it would not be that easy.
"Yes, but unless you would like to wrestle me in front of everyone here, and in that dress, this will," he said as he simply grabbed me around the waist, lifted me up, and carried me the few feet to the dance floor.
"You. you." I hissed in his ear as we danced. I could not think of a name despicable enough for him under the circumstances. "How dare you?" He shrugged.
"Maybe next time I ask you to dance, you will accept of your own accord," he replied as we twirled around once.
"Maybe next time I will call Marilla over. I am sure she would gladly take my place," I threatened, though both he and I knew that I would never give her the satisfaction.
"Oh. No!" he feigned horror. "I have had to undergo that torture before. She is so busy wagging her tongue while she dances, she does not even notice that she is flattening your toes." I caught a glance of her sitting at a table, watching Legolas and I closely. Just to rub it in, I wrapped my arms tighter about his neck and stepped in close - very close. I could feel his breath on my neck as he chuckled and said, "I knew I was a fairly good dancer, but I have to say I did not expect this." He had tightened his arms around me, and I was trying to concentrate on the steaming Marilla instead of how closely we were dancing - and how he did not seem to mind. I did not really mind either, but I would not have admitted it for anything.
"You should not pride yourself so much," I said. "I saw Marilla watching us across the room."
"Oh." Of course I was only imagining the disappointment in his voice. Whatever it was I was heard, however, disappeared as all I could hear in his next statement was pure mischievousness. "Well then, in that case." I barely had time to gasp in surprise before he quickly lowered his face and his lips met mine.
A/N: Ohh! Ok, everybody ready? One, two, three: *collective gasp!* So Leggy got some guts, but does anybody else get the feeling that this will not be the romantic kiss we've all been waiting for? Hmmm..perhaps some reviews would speed up the writing process.