A Touch Never Felt

Disclaimer I do not own any of Tolkien's creations. I only own anything you don't recognize, so don't sue me. That would be really dire…Hehee.

Important NO FLAMES PERMITTED! You have been warned…

Author's Note: Well…here's an update to the story. Eh heh. Enjoy.

Chapter 4: Elven Ears?

I watched as King Théoden left the room, Éowyn walking swiftly behind him with the children at her side. I then looked down at my feet. Maybe Éowyn was right about Ronin. Maybe he did love his job more than me…no…that couldn't be true. When I snapped back to reality, I noticed that Legolas, Aragorn, and Gimli were all staring at me. "What?" I asked harshly. They just shook their heads. What was with these people? All they did was stare silently and give me questioning looks. I always hated when people did that.

"If you guys are just going to stare, I'll just leave," I said as I turned on my heel and strode out of the room. I made my way slowly down the dark hallway. It was lit by dim torches, but I could see rather clearly. It felt so cold…being surrounded by the same stone that had always contained me. I felt trapped within these walls, though I came and went as I saw fit. I walked over to a wall and placed my palm against it. It was like I could feel the souls of others all around me…watching my every move.

I gently walked up the stone steps and down the hall to my room. I guess this was it. I'd be leaving tomorrow, never certain if I would return again. As I opened the door, I felt eyes on me and looked around. Surprisingly, there was no one there…yet I could feel the presence of another. That was one of the many things I hated about being a slightly different woman. Everything had gotten so complicated once I reached age thirty.

I shrugged and walked into my chamber, shutting the door behind me and locking it. I stared at the door and abruptly leaned against it and burst into silent cries. I didn't even know why I was crying. "Are you feeling well?" I turned around to face my bed and saw a shadowy figure lingering in the darkness. I couldn't see who it was, but they were sitting on my bed! No one sat there but me…considering this was a male I was speaking to! I instantly dove forward and knocked whoever it was onto their back, causing them to lie beneath me.

"Who are you?" I asked as I gripped their wrists firmly and pinned them to the stranger's side. A strong wind suddenly blew open my window and a gentle moonlight caressed the invader's face. My eyes widened at the sight and I glared down at him, my heart pounding. "Legolas?" I asked.

"Yes, now could you get off me?" I then realized that I was still lying atop him…not where I wanted to be. With a shiver, I jumped off him and walked over to my dresser and lit a candle.

"What are you doing in my room?" I inquired as I walked over to my door and lit the torches on either side of it.

"You seemed angry downstairs, so I came to check up on you."

"Well, I don't need your concern, Master Greenleaf. I'm perfectly capable of handling myself." When I turned around, I realized that the "elf" was standing directly in front of me! How did he sneak up on me like that? He caught me off guard!

"Then why were you crying?" he asked. I pushed past him and walked over to my window, sticking my head out into the cool night air.

"I wasn't crying," I said softly.

"But I heard you-"

"I said I wasn't crying!" I shouted as I faced him and crossed my arms. He slowly began walking toward me, the silver moonlight highlighting his features. I have to admit, he was one of my most attractive men I had ever laid my eyes upon…but he was no Ronin. As his blue eyes came into the light, I began to feel uncomfortable. The idea of being locked in a bedroom with a strange man I had only met was not my idea of a good thing. "Stop," I said as I put my hands out to keep Legolas at a distance, "Just leave me alone."

"Why are you so nervous, my Lady? I did not come here with evil intentions."

"Then take your 'pure' intentions and get out of my room!" I shouted as I walked around him and over to my mirror. I slowly began to comb my fingers through my hair and glanced at Legolas, trying to send him the message that I wanted him to leave. I knew he would not touch me, so that was some relief, but I still didn't trust him. It was never easy for me to trust anyone…especially men. The only one I could ever trust was Ronin. He had always been there for me, but now I rarely ever saw him. Yet, our love was strong. There was no way anyone would ever change that.

"Well, I can see you have a lot on your mind, so I'll let you be," Legolas said as he walked toward my bedroom door and unlocked it. I watched him in the mirror silently, thanking everything I had that he was leaving. "Didn't you ever wonder about your ears though?" he asked.

"What?" I said as I turned to face him, but Legolas had departed the room and left my door open a crack. I quickly ran to the door, shutting it fully and locking it before sitting back on my bed. How dare he leave after asking me such a question? Oh well. I would deal with him in the morning.

As I pulled back the top layer of my hair into a small pony-tail, I stared into the mirror and looked at my ears. What did Legolas mean last night about them? Sure, they were pointed, but who cares anyway? "He's just playing with my head," I mumbled as I adjusted tied the gold string that I wore around my waist over my dark purple gown. I was going to have a long talk with that "elf" when I got a hold of him.

I quickly darted down the stairs and down many corridors until I reached the Great Hall. Théoden, Eowyn, Aragorn, Gimli, and that jerk were all already seated and eating, not even realizing I was missing. Humph. That figures. I regained my composure and walked over to the table, taking the only seat available, which was directly across from Legolas. "Good morning, my dear," Théoden said as he took a sip of his drink and looked at me.

"Fine, I guess," was my reply as I looked around the table, noticing that Gandalf was missing, "But where is Gandalf?"

"He is preparing for an early departure, my Lady," Aragorn said gently. I simply nodded and began eating some eggs quietly, feeling someone's gaze on me. When I looked up, there was Legolas, staring at me like I had done something wrong.

"Why are you looking at me?" I asked.

"Have you given any thought to your ears since we spoke?" I cringed at the remembrance of Legolas being in my chambers after dark. It was very inappropriate and completely uncalled for…but he looked so nice in the light. Wait, what am I thinking? This guy is far from what I want in my life. "Well, have you?" he asked again.

"I don't what you're talking about," I replied with a stern face.

"Don't play games with me, my Lady. It's uncalled for."

"Uncalled for…UNCALLED FOR?" I screamed as I slammed my fists on the table, "And you coming into my chambers after dark wasn't?!" Gimli's mouth formed a small "o" at my comment.

"I was only trying to be a gentleman."

"Gentlemen do NOT enter a woman's bedroom without permission! You men are so wretched!"

"I'm an ELF, not a man."

"How many times do I have to tell you…elves don't exist?!"

"Okay then, if elves don't exist, then I'm not an elf and you're not an elf; even though elves have pointed ears such as mine and yours. If you choose to believe elves don't exist, then I don't exist and neither do you. Therefore, only reinstating that elves are real both you and I exist, unless of course you think that I don't exist and neither do you. Which would only mean that none of us exist because if I don't exist and you don't exist, Gimli and Aragorn couldn't possibly be real, because they're talking to us. And real people can't talk to nonexistent people. So I don't exist and you don't exist along with the elves, which we are both, by the way, whether you believe it or not. Do you understand?"

"Huh?" I asked. What in all hell are you talking about? You're not making sense."

"You know for a fact that I am. Maybe you should open up those elf ears of yours and listen more carefully," he replied calmly, "You know that what I speak of is true. You ARE an elf. That means you are immortal. What age are you now?"

"Thirty," I said softly.

"Yet you look that of twenty or a little younger. That's not a normal trait. You will live forever unless you die of a broken heart or are slain in battle. That's the only way."

"NO! ELVES DO NOT EXIST YOU IGNORANT JERK!"

"It's not necessary for you to raise your voice to me."

"I can't believe you! Why are you arguing with me about something that isn't true?!"

"I'm not the one yelling, Ancalimë. Therefore, I'm not fighting with you on this matter. You'll have to face this fact about yourself sooner or later. Might as well do it now." I stood up quickly and slammed my hands on the table again. Why was he being so…I don't know…difficult? He couldn't accept the fact that I was right and he was wrong.

"You little-"

"Ancalimë, enough!" Théoden ordered as he stood from his seat and stared at me. When my eyes met his, I suddenly felt a tinge of fear. What was he going to do…lock me up? "Listen, the elf is right about you."

"I can't believe what you're saying, King! You and Èomer both told me that they didn't-"

"We lied to you, but I'm telling you the truth now. Everyone here knows you're of Elven descent. We took you in and loved you so much that we practically made you one of our own. I didn't want you to feel different by knowing the truth."

"And how do you think I feel now that I know?!" I could feel tears pricking my eyes as I spoke loudly. "I refuse to believe this." With that, I stormed from the room. Little did I know that I was being followed by one of my kind.

As I walked into a hallway and rounded a corner, I suddenly felt horrible. What was I doing lashing out like that? That wasn't me. Well…okay maybe it was, but it still didn't feel right for some odd reason. The one thing that angered me the most was that people were lying to me again. First I'm told that I'm a human girl, but now I hear that I'm of a race that doesn't exist. The question is…who's telling me the truth and when was the truth being told? I was beginning to hate myself, for now I was confused even more. Why was I wandering Rohan at a young age? Who was my real family? Did they not want me or something? It was the most unusual thing. I had always felt different, but why did it all have to come into play now?

I stopped walking and leaned back against a cold wall, reveling in the loneliness that surrounded me. That's when I felt most comfort…when I was alone. There had never really been anyone else for me to count on besides Èomer and Amalthia. Now Èomer was banished unjustly and Amalthia…well…she didn't seem to be around anymore. Sigh. Life had gotten to be such a royal pain in the behind. "Why me?" I asked quietly.

"Why you what?" I jumped at the voice and then looked to my side to see Legolas, of all people, standing there.

"Never mind," I replied as I began walking away again. His attitude was not the key to happiness, so I didn't want to deal with it.

"Ancalimë, why won't you just listen to me?"

"Because you're a lying, sneaky, ignorant low-life who needs to stay out of my way," I said as I kept walking away. When I felt him grab my arm, I stopped and faced him, anger flashing through my eyes. However, when I looked into his I only saw a soothing expression, not one of anger or dismay. It was amazing how calm this man could stay in a time of such pain, with the war beginning and all. "Let me go," I said softly, hoping he would comply.

"I'm afraid I cannot do so, my Lady. You have so much to learn."

"Learn of what?"

"Of being an elf, of course."

"Legolas, I don't want to know of what is not needed. I'm a mortal girl who just wants to be left alone. Why can't anyone understand that?" I watched as he slowly lifted a hand to my cheek, but when his fingers met my skin, I backed up a step. "Don't touch me."

"I'm not one to harm a lady," he whispered, "I simply want to show you something." With those words, he took a step forward, causing me to back up. What I didn't realize is that I was now backing up towards a corner.

"What would you like to show me?" I asked.

"To show you, I must see your ears."

"You will leave my ears alone and-" I cut myself off as I felt cold stone through the back of my dress. When I glanced around, I realized that the elf had backed me into a corner…the devil. He didn't relent. He simply walked toward me until he was within a foot of me. I could feel his warm breath on my neck, which made my skin crawl, yet soothed my soul. It was very wrong. I watched his out of the corner of my eye as he leaned over one of my shoulders and brought his lips close to my ear. I shivered, but it was not from the cold. It was so much more than that. "W-What are you doing, Legolas?" I asked nervously.

"Just relax, my Lady. This wont hurt at all," he whispered against my ear. I then felt a hand touch my other ear and then a fingertip along the shell of it. Legolas was touching me! GROSS! Yet…it wasn't. I felt so many sensations run through my body all at once that my knees began to feel weak. A soft sigh escaped my lips and I leaned back against the wall. "See how sensitive they are?" he asked.

"Uh huh," was all I could manage as my eyes closed and I reached up grip the front of his tunic. Then it hit me. What the hell was I doing?! Still, this felt so right. Never before had anyone ever stirred these feelings within me. I actually didn't even know I had them until now. "Legolas…"

"Yes, my Lady?"

"Get off me!" I screamed as I pushed him away and started wiping my neck and ears as if I was trying to get his breath and touch off me. I gave him a death glare and then straightened out my hair as I walked past him. "I have to prepare to leave now. I suggest you do the same," I said as I left, knowing he heard me with those damn ears of his. As I made my way to my room, I recalled what had just happened. My ears…what I felt…everything…

Was he right about me? Was I an elf?

Author's Note: Okay, I've been having major writer's block with this story. I'll try to write more, but it might not be for a while. Please forgive me for that. Thanks.