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Disclaimer: I own nothing associated with Lord of the Rings. It all belongs to J.R.R. Tolkien and the movie producers. I only own Amaris.

Note: Dialouge in bold is spoken in Elvish.

Number 53: Father's Explanations and Nerves

Legolas and Amaris stopped outside of King Thanduil's study. Legolas raised his left arm and knocked on the large wooden doors. "Enter!" King Thranduil called from the other side. Amaris looked at Legolas and he smiled at her as he opened the doors. The king looked up from the roll of parchment he was reading and smiled at the two as they entered his study. "You are probably wondering why I have requested your presence." Legolas nodded his head as they came to a stop in front of his desk.

"Yes father. We are curious," Legolas said. King Thranduil just smiled at his son and then looked at Amaris. She instantly gave him a smile and bowed her head slightly to him. The king's smile grew when she looked back up at him.

"There will be a celebration in one week. You will announce your betrothal at the celebration and we will then officially welcome you, Amaris, to Mirkwood," The king stated with a smile. Amaris smiled at him and Legolas nodded. King Thranduil looked at Amaris and smiled. "I do not want you to feel unwelcome, Amaris, and I do not want to appear as rude as I did this morning; however, I would like to speak with Legolas in private once again." Amaris nodded and slowly let go of Legolas' arm.

"It is quiet alright, your majesty. I understand, after all, Legolas has just returned home after being away for almost two years and you would like to spend some time with him," Amaris said as she smiled at the king. She turned and looked at Legolas with a smile. "If you should look for me after your time with your father is concluded, I will be in my chambers." Legolas smiled and kissed her forehead.

"I will come to you once I am finished here," Legolas said. Amaris smiled at him and nodded. She looked back at the king.

"Until later, your majesty," she said with a slight bow of her head. The king bowed his head to her and she turned and left the prince and king. Legolas smiled as he watched Amaris quickly leave the room and then his smile left his face as he turned back to look at his father. The king gave Legolas a knowing smile before he stood and walked over to the balcony and leaning against the door frame. He looked out over the city surrounding the palace and smiled. Legolas walked over to him and stood next to him.

"What is if father?" Legolas asked. The king glanced at his son and sighed.

"She reminds me of your mother, Legolas," the king said his voice quiet. "I did not mean to be so harsh with you earlier, it is just when I looked into her eyes for some reason I thought of your mother. Amaris' soul shines through her eyes and I could tell immediately that she is a kind and caring elleth as well as a fierce warrior." Thranduil paused and looked at his son whose eyes bore into his. "She carries the same color eyes that your mother had." Legolas furrowed his brow trying to remember the exact color of his mother's eyes but it escaped him. The king smiled at his son. "You may not remember Legolas but I do. I have spent the remainder of this late afternoon contemplating your words to me. You did speak the truth to me, my son. When I fell in love with your mother I was determined to never let her leave my side and if you must know, I did the same as you. We bound ourselves to each other before I even informed my father of my decision to marry her." Legolas' eyes went wide and his mouth parted slightly in the surprise but he quickly recovered and closed his mouth. Thranduil chuckled at his son and gently shook his head. "Needless to say, he was not happy but once he met your mother, he came to the same realization that I have." Legolas swallowed and tilted his head to the side slightly.

"What realization is that father?"

"The realization that you are happy, and she is your match, so, I have absolutely no say in the matter. I know that our people will love her for she will remind them of Elráwien with her smile and grace." Legolas smiled at his father and bowed his head. Thranduil could tell his son did not want to be there at that moment and that he wanted to be with his beloved. No one else would notice but Thranduil could tell. "Dinner will be served in an hour. Please inform Amaris of the same, my son." Legolas bowed his head and began to back away.

"Certainly, father. I will see you in hour," Legolas said and then he quickly left the room. Thranduil let out a light laugh and shook his head before returning to the parchment he had left on his desk.

-

Legolas quickly made his way down the hall and when he reached Amaris' room he knocked on the door but received no answer. He paused for a moment and he felt her presence in the room. He knocked again but still no answer. Legolas opened the door and stepped inside. Once he was inside the sight before him brought a smile to his face. Amaris' slippers sat next to the bed and Amaris laid on the bed asleep. Legolas quietly closed the door behind him and walked over to the edge of the bed. He looked down at her and his smile grew. Her dark hair fanned across the pillows she laid upon and her green eyes were clouded but the color still shined through. "Meleth nîn, wake up," Legolas said. She did not wake and Legolas just smiled and shook his head. "Amaris." He paused and still had no response. He thought for a moment and then a wicked smile graced his lips. He leaned down and gently kissed her still lips. He pulled away to see her reaction but she was still in Elvin sleep. He leaned in and kissed her lips again, only to have her respond this time and her fingers entwine in his hair holding him to her lips. Legolas smiled against her lips before he deepened the kiss and Amaris eagerly accepted him as his tongue found hers.

After a moment of bliss that disconnected them from the world around them Legolas pulled away from the kiss. He smiled down at her and looked into her eyes. She smiled at him and his eyes were drawn to her lips. They were a deep pink and slightly swollen so he leaned in once more and kissed the corners of her mouth. He pulled away and cupped her cheek in his hand.

"Dinner will be served soon, meleth nîn. Would you like to change or shall you remain dressed in this gown?" Legolas asked before he leaned in and kissed her forehead. Amaris smiled at him and brought her hand up to his that rested on her face.

"I will wear what I have on, or would that not be alright?" she asked as she looked deep into his eyes. He smiled and shook his head.

"It will be fine meleth nîn." Legolas leaned further over her and climbed over her to rest on the bed next to her. Amaris let out a giggle and turned on her left side so she would face him. Legolas wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close to him before he once again captured her lips with his. Once they pulled away, Amaris sighed.

"This bed is very comfortable Legolas. I have not laid this comfortable since we left Rivendell." Amaris rested her head against Legolas chest and closed her eyes in thought. Suddenly, she opened her eyes and smiled. "Legolas," she paused and raised her head so she could look him in the eyes. "Are there any waterfalls near the palace?" Legolas cocked an eyebrow at her and smiled.

"Why do you ask?" Amaris smiled and gently shrugged her shoulders.

"I am just curious." Legolas smiled drew small circle patterns on her lower back and laughed lightly at her as the action caused her body to shiver. He was avoiding her question because there were two waterfalls close to the palace. One was used by the all the elves and the other was in a more secluded area and only the royal family knew its exact location. He planned on taking her there soon and he wanted it to be a surprise and judging by the reaction to his movements he had succeeded in her forgetting her question. "Legolas, that is not funny. You know what you do to me and that is not appropriate right now. Especially since we will be leaving for dinner shortly and there is no time at the moment to par take in activities I have longed for since that night in Minas Tirith before we marched for the black gates." Legolas raised an eyebrow at her confession and Amaris buried her face into his tunic. "Why did I say that!" Her exclamation was muffled as she called out into his tunic. Legolas just laughed at her and held her tighter to him.

"It is quiet alright Amaris. You just expressed both of our thoughts." Amaris quickly looked up and him and sighed as she shoved him gently. She snaked herself out of his arms, rose from the bed, and slid on her slippers. She turned and looked at Legolas as he laid comfortably on her bed and she stuck her tongue out at him. Legolas just laughed his musical laugh and Amaris smiled at him. She walked over and sat down in front of her vanity and began to brush her hair. She got lost in her thoughts as she ran the silver brush through her hair when she felt a rough but gentle hand take the brush from her hand. She looked up into the mirror and smiled at Legolas' reflection. "What troubles you, meleth nîn?" Legolas asked as he began to run the brush gently through her hair. Amaris briefly closed her eyes and sighed at the feeling of Legolas' gentle hands separate and brush her hair. When she opened them she looked up at Legolas through the mirror.

"I am just nervous I guess. I still am not certain that your father fully approves and I am worried that your people will not like me." Legolas stopped running the brush through her hair and looked into her eyes through the mirror.

"My father does approve and as for our people they will love you. Your soul is too kind and pure for anyone to hate you." Amaris gave him an uncertain smile but he placed his hands on her shoulders and stood in front of her so his eyes locked with hers. "How many times must I tell you not to worry?" Amaris smiled and laughed quietly before nodding her head at him. Legolas smiled before he continued. "All that truly matters, meleth nîn, is that I love you with every ounce of my being and the elves of Mirkwood will grow to love you as well. Of that I am certain." Amaris stood and wrapped her arms around his torso as she leaned her head against his chest. Legolas smiled and wrapped his arms around her. He placed a kiss on the top of her and she looked up at him. "Let your nervousness melt away meleth nîn. All will be well as I have told you many times before and I have yet to be wrong." Amaris nodded her head.

"That is true. You have yet to be wrong. There is always a first for everything, meleth nîn." Legolas laughed and shook his head.

"This, however, is not that time." He kissed her lips gently and took her hand to lead her down to the dinning hall for dinner with his father, his advisors and most likely Isindil.