Disclaimer:  Not mine, not stealing, not plagiarizing, and could care less.  Just writing a fan fiction since everyone else and their dogs are doing it.

Chapter 2:

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"Everyone, please.  If you would join us in the other room, you will all be treated to fine wines and a feast fit for… a king!" Aragorn added the last bit with an outrageous smile and the entire room exploded with laughter and cheer.

Arwen gave her new husband an admiring smile and took his offered arm.  They headed the procession to the Feasting Room and took their places at a long table at the North end of the room.  There, joining them was Arwen's father, her brothers, and the rest of the immediate kinsmen.  Gandalf sat to Aragorn's right. The remaining Fellowship mingled among the other guests to eat with and listen to and tell of exciting journeys.

Melayren chose to sit with her mother, Saradell, among the elves at the West end of the hall. There she had an open view of all that took place in the room.  She observed the merriment and smiled, but her focus was concentrated on one particular elf.  She studied Legolas through her eyelashes or from the corner of her eye.  Melayren was an exceptional judge of character just from a person's actions. Her real gift was being able to read people through their eyes.  She wasn't able to read thoughts as Lady Galadriel was, but she knew when a person was troubled and in emotional pain.

Legolas was sitting among friends listening and telling stories when Melayren decided to cause a small commotion and draw as much attention to herself as she could.  For almost an hour, Legolas had not even given a passing glance in her direction and she wanted to look into his eyes again.

With her eyes fixed on Arwen and Aragorn, Melayren took a deep breath and reached for her wine goblet.  She gave the goblet a quick and forceful push with the back of her knuckles.  The goblet pitched backwards in the unfortunate direction of Melayren's mother.  Wine splashed over the front of Saradell's gowns.  Saradell gave a sharp cry and grabbed for hand cloths.

"Oh, Mother, I am dreadfully sorrowful," Melayren tried to sound as convincing as she could.  She did feel sorry that she had to use her mother in this way, but she was starting to feel desperate.

"Melayren, what has come over you?  Pay mind to what you are doing," softly hissed Saradell.  "Just look at this…"

"Mother, you may have choice of my gowns as repay, for my gracelessness."  Melayren didn't even spare her mother a second glance.  She was intent on watching the table in front of her.  To her dismay, half the table was staring at her except for Legolas.  He seemed intent on the conversation with the Dwarf Gimli and three elves from Rivendell.

Across the hall, four elves broke out in unison, "Ho! Ho! Ho! To the bottle I go…" The room burst into laughter and the 'Drinking Song' was underway.

Melayren looked at the frowning face across from her and sighed, "Come dearest Mother, let us get you an unsoiled dress."  Together the two women walked arm and arm to the resting chambers.  Melayren was not about to do a song and dance for a look into the Prince's eyes. Frustration weighed heavy on her brow.

******

Legolas and Gimli made way to vacant seats and sat at one of the tables laden with roasted boars, fresh and steamed vegetables, leavened and unleavened breads, many different types of fruits, and dressed pheasants.  There were goblets of three different kinds of wine, tankards of Mead, and cool, clear pitchers of water.

The table filled quickly and he glanced once around to see who would be sharing in the two friends' conversation.  With complete satisfaction, Legolas happily greeted all at the table in his area.  He reached for some bread and a pheasant drumstick.  Gimli was reaching for his second helping of the roasted bore and his tankard of Mead was nearly dry.

When he raised his blue eyes, he saw the lovely maiden who had ridden behind Arwen when the caravan arrived.  He was taken by surprise each time he studied her face.  Her resemblance was like no other that he had seen.  Her hair, shorter than most elf maidens',  was a rich brown with strands of gold running throughout.  Her skin was not fair like her mother's. It almost resembled precious bronze.  She clearly had Elvin eyes, slightly tilted and brilliantly blue.  To Legolas, she had a beauty like no other.  He found it very difficult to avert his eyes when he could feel that she was watching him as well.

Gimli began to tell a story to the others and Legolas tried to join in at every opportunity that was allowed.  He didn't want to look up and find the maiden's eyes looking back into his.  He had felt a stirring, in the deep of his stomach; that he had avoided for centuries.  There was something in her eyes that made him feel as if she saw into his soul.  Legolas was not one to bare his burdens, or feelings, for it was best to appear strong and clear minded.

Gimli's elbow nudged Legolas, "What about that my friend?"

Legolas looked into Gimli's bright eyes and tried to imagine what the Dwarf had just inquired about.  Before he could reply, the Elf Viland, from Rivendell, replied, "I think the games tomorrow will be very competitive.  It will also take quite a while to eliminate some of them.  I believe there are three different divisions that King Elessar…"

The conversation continued without Legolas' input.  He heard a sharp intake of breath and a cry of disbelief from the table in front of him.  He smiled briefly as he saw that the comely maiden, although magnificent in appearance, was apparently clumsy.  He quickly hid the smile, and his face, when she looked away from her mother and in his direction.

A few tables behind Legolas, some elves began to sing and sway back and forth while holding their tankards.  Joining the conversation at his table, Legolas didn't notice that the two female elves had left their table, until they had reached the South end exit.

*****

From the front of the Hall, Arwen had observed her cousin's curiosity and interest of the handsome Prince of Mirkwood.  She saw in Legolas' face what her Melayren had not.  Arwen was going to take it upon herself to see that the two meet, for there was no elf pair better suited than Legolas and Melayren.

Arwen chanced a look at Gandalf and found that he was smiling at her.  His look of amusement told her that he had witnessed the same exchange, between the two tables before them.  No words were necessary, so Arwen and Gandalf continued to feast and watch the happy residents.