21 A Simple Snag

"The garden is lovely this evening isn't it, Elladan?" Eirien sighed happily as she leaned on Elrohir's arm. "It reminds me of 'The Lorien Song' where the poet talks about the stars."

"Where upon the Mallorn pale, the heavens cast their silver light." he quoted with a smile.

"I thought you said you had not read it." Eirien said with a frown, her eyes narrowing.

"What?" Elrohir asked, suddenly uneasy.

"When we danced at the ball, I mentioned it and you said you had not read it." Eirien replied, tilting her head to meet his gaze.

"I must have misunderstood you." Elrohir said with a smile, cursing under his breath. "The hall was very crowded and it was a bit hard to hear."

"Oh, yes of course." Eirien smiled back, shrugging off his mistake. He gave an inward sigh of relief.

"Do you know my favorite part?" he asked mischievously, she shook her head playfully and he drew her off the path. He led her to the very edge of the Bruinen, slipping one arm around her waist as she leaned back against his chest.

"All the guardians of the skies shall never shine as she who's feet these gardens tread." he whispered softly against her ear as she gazed up at the stars "the light upon Earendil's brow is naught but pale beside the glory of her radiance."

"I like that part too." she whispered, trembling slightly as his hand found hers.

"Strange." he said with a frown, leaning closer so that their faces were almost touching.

"What is it?" she asked, turning her head to look up at him. Her lips were nearly brushing his cheek and he tightened his arm around her waist at the softness of her breath on his skin.

"Grandfather does not seem to shine so brightly this night as he does when I walk here alone." he watched her out of the corner of his eye as she blushed prettily. Her face broke in a shy grin and she planted a quick kiss on his cheek.

It was all Elrohir could do to keep from gasping at the thrill that shot through him. He had not expected such an innocent act to have such a profound effect on him. He could feel butterflies beating madly in his stomach and it was suddenly very hard to swallow. Ever so slowly he turned her to face him, his breathing sharp as his hand left her waist and he hesitantly reached up to gently caress her cheek.

His heart was thudding wildly as her hands brushed against his chest and she met his gaze. The breeze fluttered her hair and he smiled softly as she caught a lock of his own hair, brushing it back from his face.

Their lips were nearly touching now and he could feel her trembling as she leaned against his chest. He could not remember ever seeing anything more beautiful and ever so cautiously he drew her into a tender kiss.

His free arm slipped around her waist, cradling her close as the fingers of his other hand feathered caresses on her cheek. She let out the softest whimper of delight, causing him to shudder as he slowly tasted her, the tip of his tongue gliding over her full lips. No trite lovers game had ever evoked the response of her simple kiss. Her fingers tangled in the sleeves of his tunic and he was shocked to discover that he was trembling nearly as much as she. Their lips parted and he rested his forehead against hers, with an adoring smile.

"That was very nearly perfect." Eirien whispered, her eyes shining brightly at him.

"Only nearly?" Elrohir asked with a teasing frown that made her giggle.

"Well," she grinned with a coy look, her voice still a bit breathy. "I suppose you will just have to practice."

"I suppose I will." he replied, and before she could say any more, he did.

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"Of course it is a good idea, Indelin." Meril said with a perturbed frown. "It is an excellent idea. You are just not thinking."

"I do not understand how my meeting Legolas in the stables is going to help you." Indelin replied, sounding a bit frustrated.

"Do not be a goose," Meril snapped "You are not meeting Legolas, you are meeting Orophin!"

"But you said Rumil..."

"Rumil is trying to help his brother seduce me." Meril cut her off "No one in their right mind would attempt something so foolish with the prince. Do you not see? They expect to lure me to the stables with Legolas but it will be Orophin who comes instead."

"Oh," Indelin replied, looking at her with wide eyes. "But when Orophin comes and finds me, do you not think he will be angry? He might just turn around and leave."

"Do not worry yourself over that." Meril replied with a grin, she didn't see any reason to tell Indelin that the door would be locked, it would only make her panic. "It will be dark, the moment he comes in you must kiss him."

"Ki... kiss him?" Indelin asked, her voice trembling.

"Yes, and you had better do a good job of it too if you expect to keep him." Meril replied seriously.

"But I've never kissed an elf before." she said with a small voice as Meril rolled her eyes.

"Indelin, has your Naneth taught you nothing?" the older elleth demanded.

"I am beginning to think she was a bit uninformed on the subject." she sighed in reply. Meril shook her head in resignation.

"Hide in one of the stalls." Meril said, trying hard to be patient as she drew her arm around the younger elleth's shoulders "when he comes in, throw both arms around his neck and give him a nice long kiss, and for Eru's sake do not stop until he kisses back."

"Meril, I cannot do this." Indelin said, twisting her fingers uneasily.

"You can, and you will!" Meril insisted "Indelin, if I do not get rid of him soon I shall never snare Legolas, he will not be here long. I am running out of time!"

"Meril, perhaps Legolas is not the right elf for you." Indelin said with a frown "He is very handsome and brilliant but I would not want to be a princess for anything in the world, you would have no freedom at all!"

"I am not you." Meril replied, her lips pressed in a thin line.

"Of that much we can be certain." Indelin agreed.

"It is not a debate, Indelin." Meril insisted, her expression a bit desperate. "I am to snare Legolas and you are to snare Orophin, if you wish to do so then you had better make your way to the stables quickly."

"I still think it is ill advised." Indelin replied with a defeated slump to her shoulders as she walked off toward the stables. Meril watched her go with a smile of satisfaction, confident that a little push in the right direction was all her young friend needed.

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Legolas hurried through the woods with a look of sheer panic. No place in Rivendell seemed to be safe from Meril and her advances were becoming more insistent and increasingly harder to ignore. He reminded himself sternly that now was not the time for paranoia. The key to all survival strategies was to remain calm and approach the situation logically.

There was the light crunching of footfalls on the gravel path and with wide, startled eyes Legolas bolted to the nearest tree, scrambling up into its branches soundlessly.

Orophin rounded the bend, looking down the trail with a scowl, he was certain that he had heard someone on the path not a moment before. He had been searching everywhere for the Mirkwood prince and could find no trace of him. He folded his arms over his chest, considering what to do next. He had not counted on tracking Legolas to be such a time consuming chore.

A single leaf fluttered down from the lindon tree overhead and his frown deepened as it landed on his shoulder. The lindon did not shed their leaves so early and this one was still a vibrant green. He tilted his head back, looking up into the canopy. Legolas was crouched on the branch not far above him, looking very much like a hunted animal.

"Wood elves." Orophin snorted. "Whatever are you doing up there?"

"Trying desperately to remain unwed." Legolas hissed back angrily. He dropped to the ground with cat like grace, straightening his tunic and mustering his dignity.

"Legolas, I have never know you to have trouble with the fairer sex." Orophin said slyly.

"Trouble getting rid of her!" Legolas snapped, "She must be completely mad, she will not leave me alone for even a second!"

"Are we by chance talking about Meril?" Orophin asked with a happy grin.

"How perceptive of you." If Orophin was slighted by the barb he did not show it. He glanced down the path the way he had come.

"I have a suggestion." He said, his grin widening. "Why don't you hide in the stables and I'll see about distracting the fair flower."

"Why the stables?" Legolas asked in confusion.

"Why not the stables?" Orophin shrugged.

"Good point." the Mirkwood prince nodded. "What will you do about her."

"I shall think of something." Orophin said with his most assuring smile as he patted Legolas firmly on the back.

"Do not be taken in by her," Legolas replied seriously "She is a crafty one."

"So much the better." Orophin replied, "They are terribly dull when they are stupid. Go on now, I will see that she does not follow you." Legolas did not wait for another invitation. He turned and swiftly made his way toward the stables, slipping through the trees in silence.

He quickened his pace, the sooner he was hidden, the better. Meril would find it far more difficult to pursue him with Orophin in tow and he hoped that the Lorien elf would be enough to keep her occupied.

The sound of light footfalls met his ears and in horror he stopped dead on the path as a figure appeared ahead of him.

"Estel!" Legolas said, breathing a sigh of relief "Thank the Valar it is only you!"

"Whatever is the matter with you?" Aragorn asked in mild annoyance as Legolas gave him a rather fierce hug. He would never understand elves.

"I thought you were that elleth!" Legolas breathed clutching his forehead.

"You thought I was an elleth?" Aragorn gave him a look that said he was not sure weather to be confused or insulted.

"I am so relieved you are not!" the elf continued to ramble as if he had not heard him.

"So am I."

"She will not leave me alone." Legolas said lowering his voice as he looked back down the path. "I can go nowhere to escape her."

"You have my deepest sympathy." Aragorn said drily. "Eru knows the last thing I would want is to be chased through the garden by a beautiful maiden."

"Alas, if it were only the garden!" Legolas replied, too distracted to catch the sarcasm. "She came to the ranges today, the great hall, the library."

"Did you try the male's bathing chamber?" Aragorn asked.

"Aye." Legolas replied, wide-eyed. "so did she."

"Try Ada's study." Aragorn smirked "no one ever goes there by choice."

"She touched my... ears." Legolas whispered, his face growing rather white. Aragorn stared back at him blankly.

"You're going to have to help me with that one, Legolas." he shook his head with a sigh. "I have no idea what you are talking about."

"You know, she... well she," Legolas stared back at the young human as he blushed. "She tried to seduce me."

"Wait, are you saying?" Aragorn stopped quickly, shaking his head furiously "No, on second thought there are some things I just do not want to know."

"Estel, what am I to do?" he asked desperately, "She has me so rattled I can not even think!"

"Well that is certainly true." Aragorn replied. "Who is this elleth?"

"Meril," Legolas sighed shaking his head.

"My sympathies Mellon nin." he said, giving the elf's shoulder a squeeze "But you are doomed, it would be better to surrender now and keep your dignity."

"You are not helping." Legolas replied angrily, wrenching his arm free.

"I can offer you no help." Aragorn shook his head with a grin "I have known Meril all my life, she is both indomitable and untamable. What's more she is as fine a warrior as any in Imladris, she will not give up the hunt easily."

"I am not accustomed to being the prey." Legolas said with a defeated expression.

"Go and speak to Ada, he will tell her to leave you alone." Aragorn suggested. Legolas looked back at the human in horror. The last thing he wanted was for Elrond to know about this.

"I can not drag your father into this." he sighed, shaking his head as he continued toward the stables.

"Well, do not go that way!" Aragorn laughed, grabbing him by the arm. "I saw her there not a moment ago. Go back to the house, stick to your room or the hall of fire she will not try anything there." Legolas nodded in agreement before leaving the path and making his way toward the house. Aragorn chuckled as he watched the retreating form of his friend disappear in the darkness. He had never once in all his life seen anything disturb the elf's austere bearing and he found the spectacle quite entertaining.

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Author's note - I'm sure most of you noticed that ff.net had some problems this week and sad to say I never got any of your reviews, to my knowledge, they were posted to the web site and I will answer all of them that were published. If you reviewed and it was not published I am SO sorry. PLEASE review again, and please let me know! I can't do much but complain to ff.net but I appreciate you all so much I feel obligated to at least apologize personally.

From here the story gets a little sexier, a little darker, a bit more twisted, and hopefully, more hilarious. Hold on tight, it's going to be a bumpy ride.

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Historical Note - Earendil The Mariner was the father of Elrond and Elros. after coming to Valinor he was fashioned a crown holding the last Silmaril, a gift from his wife Elwing, granddaughter of Beren and Luthien. Legend holds that he sails his ship across the night sky to cast the light of the Silmaril upon Arda.

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TSS - Thank You! I'm so relieved *someone* feels sorry for Meril! I thought I was writing her completely wrong. She is annoying but she's not heartless and I kept feeling like everyone hated her. (I really felt bad for her. I didn't expect everyone to just fall in love with her but if she was really despised I knew it would be my fault... I'm talking about an OFC like they're people again aren't I?)

grumpy - Aragorn's a kid but he's not stupid, what would a princess of the Noldor see in a scruffy human boy? *wink* He and Indelin are roughly the same 'age' he's 20 and she'll be 50 in a couple of weeks. And we all know how everyone treats Indelin...

Heikaru/JSaintG7 - thanks!

Converted - it is *splendid* isn't it? Deluded elves, deluded men, the delusions are getting thick around here... Maybe Glorfindel will let you borrow his horse.

Cerridwen - Trust me, Aragorn is in for a very rude awakening!

Jesla - *Just for you* [TV Announcers Voice] - What elf will Indelin find in the shadows of the stable? Will Meril trap Legolas? Will Legolas ever get a bath? Tune in next time for another dramatic episode of 'As Middle Earth Turns'

Aliel - When we come to the end of this ride I want everyone to sigh and say 'Yes, that's exactly how everything should be.' It's just that kind of story.

b-witched - I love the twins too, stupid males that they are!

Kath - Clicking is good... eternity with the March Warden's sexy arms helping you hold your bow. Oooo, now that has appeal!