Hey lovely guys! I hope you're enjoying the story as it comes, we are venturing deeper into the relationship of Isil and Legolas and where it'll take them. Only I know and not even then, I coming up with all kind of story ideas but I promise I will stick to the one that suits this story best. And we're not even approaching halfway yet!

Let me know as always of things, POV, enquires and I'll be happy to reply to them!

kate )

I really like this story so far, definitely a good one. i saw you mentioned something about being deaf, did you ever learn sign language? i'm in an american sign language course right now, and i definitely find the entire thing just amazing. i give huge props to you.

In response to this question, I don't really mind people asking me about my deafness (its never a disability to me, just an added part of my character.) yes I am deaf but the law in this country states me as hard of hearing as I can talk – which is pretty fucked up as my deafness is severe. I was born deaf after a difficult birth and it wasn't until I was three did my parents find out I was deaf after many doctors mis-diagnosis. My mum taught me how to speak. Whilst people my age were learning all the key skills we all need such as maths, English and so on, I was learning how to talk and adapt, hence my poor knowledge in maths – ergh! English was something I could only just get to grasps with as I view it a different way due to how I hear it, sign it and see it (lipreading – a whole new essay that I will tell you about if you want me to!) I write stories as not only do I shut myself off from time to time from the mad world when it gets too much and formulate ideas but also as a way to understand the language I could never get to grips with. I do know sign language, its my second language and I also know American and universal sign language, I think it's a brilliant form of communication as its not for the faint hearted is it, you have to use facial expression as well and even mime entire scenes to tell a story or to give an account. You should see my deaf buddies when they have a few too many shandies! its great and I encourage you to continue with the course and enjoy it!

You would be humoured to know that even Legolas got a sign for him in BSL (British sign language!)

If any of you wish to know more about being deaf, don't be shy to ask!

Don't owe anything to do with Tolkien or LOTR, but all I do owe is my genius!

This chapter is for you guys who wanted him to say it......he does.


Servant Rule Number 18:- Listen to your master, his words are of vital importance no matter what topic.

"May I be excused for the night, its been a long day and there are matters I have to see to before the morn." Legolas raised to his feet to excuse himself, he ignored the wizard's eyes that shone with the knowing humour that he was actually going to seek out Isil.

"Certainly, you been here long enough." Thranduil nodded. Legolas spoke a few words to Aragron and Gandalf then left the room to retire down the corridors towards his own quarters and if he was to walk on further, he would get to Isil's.

"Who is she?" came a voice that halted Legolas and made him turn to where a statue of some elven warrior, stood at its base was Sana. Dressed in a blue dress that was provocative at best, he looked at her to see her eyes narrowed dangerously as she stepped into the light.

"Who is who?" he baited her, knowing full well what she meant.

"The whore who took my place at the studding, who is she?" Sana hissed, she looked positively furious and he knew she was from what he heard. She was teased for bedding him by other courtesans though she knew she wasn't, others didn't know that as they seen her favour and assumed it was her he studded. Her aura of hostile anger spiralled from her and Legolas for one moment didn't know what to say or do, but one look at her eyes dispelled any doubts.

They were evil.

"That is none of your business Sana, though I regret using your favour in place of hers, I didn't wish to be disturbed." Legolas calmly replied, she stepped forward once again and he could see how her eyes narrowed and she pressed her lips into a thin line.

"How dare you use me in such a way!" she hissed with barely concealed fury and Legolas bristled.

"How dare you force me into such actions! You must think me stupid for I have heard words in court that you been telling lies that I hold you in affection and that I wish to announce my engagement to you. What must I do to get the message across that you will not ever be the one I'll love!" his voice rose in anger till he shouted the last line of words he have tried to bite down in the last few days.

Sana flinched as if she been slapped and looked at him with a new founded hostility, "You best be careful milord for you have angered me greatly." With a curtsy, she walked away, leaving Legolas to stare at her as she swept down the corridor.

Was that a threat?

Isil? Where are you?

He waited for a moment for the connection to clear then came her calm reply, I'm in my room.

I'm on my way.

There wasn't a reply but from what he felt, she awaited him most passionately and he headed to her quarters most impatiently.

He got to her door to hear she wasn't alone.

"He's being such a bastard!" came a wail from within Isil's room and at the voice's tone, he knew it belonged to Keay, he heard Isil's quieter reply, "Maybe you should just ask him hmm? He cant keep dragging you around like this. Either he desires to be with you or not."

He knocked on the door and heard her call out for him to enter to which he complied. He saw Keay wiping her eyes on the corner of a day's work, stained apron and saw that she was crying. Her posture that was usually poised and dignified was now slumped in defeat and Legolas could guess that it concerned Arkle, the one elf in the whole kingdom who didn't know what love was even if it bite him in the butt.

"What's ailing you, my little maid?" he crooned and in one affectionate gesture, he wrapped her in his arms whilst looking at Isil who was sitting on her bed, with her sewing lying abandoned in her lap.

"T'is nothing but love." Keay sniffed and Legolas looked down at her red face that he so often saw with a smile that was now hidden behind a watery grin.

"And who is the unlucky fella?" Legolas asked, awaiting an answer to confirm his educated guess.

"Arkle."

Bingo.

"I always did think there was something on between you two wasn't there?" Legolas smiled as he looked at Keay. His expression caused the maid to stammer for a while till she took a deep breath and retried the one sentence she stumbled over.

"Its not a crime for two servants to love each other is it? Its not as if I'm seeing a lord or something." Keay wailed as Legolas exchanged a look with Isil at how close she was to the mark regarding them.

"True, there's no laws regarding a relationship between two servants. Come, I'm sure he'll come around. I've noticed how sprightly he's been of late whenever your near him.....and yes I do know what you were up to in my bathroom yesterday, anyone in Mordor could hear you were giving him a very good service...if not, a highly vocal one." He teased and smiled when she blushed and averted her eyes, "I didn't know you were next door my lord....or hear us so."

"Who didn't hear?" Legolas jested and was rewarded a stiff giggle from Keay at her own embarrassment.

"If he doesn't come around, I'll speak to him." Legolas gave her a friendly squeeze with his arm that was around her shoulders as she nodded, "Thank you milord."

"Legolas, please. Especially when I'm down here in the servant quarters." Legolas insisted.

"Alright Legolas, and anyway, what are you doing down here?" Keay snapped out of her self pity to inquire his present appearance in Isil's room.

"I've come down to see if Isil's completed some tasks I asked her to do......you did managed to sharpen my swords?" he looked at Isil who rolled her eyes before indicating to where three swords were laid on top of a trunk. "All done."

"And did you...?"

"Fletch your arrows? Yes, they've been sent to your room." Isil interrupted.

"And have you managed to repair my clothes?" Legolas asked with a bemused smile.

"Now that.....is something I'm still doing." Isil grimaced with despair as Keay giggled at the interaction between Legolas and his maid.

"Would you want me to walk you back to your room?" Legolas asked politely but Keay shook her head, "I'll be fine...and thank you both of you." She smiled shyly and left the room with a quiet goodnight.

"She is a good girl really." Isil pondered aloud to which Legolas turned from the closed door, Keay just departed through and retorted, "Unlike you , you mean."

Isil smiled a very satisfied smile as she replied, "I was provoked."

"You didn't have to send me that image to my head!" Legolas objected about the earlier mental conversation they had that day.

"You deserved it." Isil smiled, and Legolas could only smile back, "Ai, that's probably true."

He seated himself by the small fire that was a blazing and looked around Isil's room. Though basic and a bit dingy, he helped put a right to that by giving her a few things that lightened up the place.

A quilt upon her bed made from various patchwork of cheery material scraps. A small plant in a pot he gave her as she could watch it grow. A fluffy cushion on which sat Estel the kitten, was on her bed as well as Estel who himself was an important birthday gift.

Her shelves held some books he thought she'd like and behind the door on it's hook was a bathing robe in a splendid scarlet that he thought would suit her complexion well.

He picked up a book, another of his gifts to see it was full of poetry. He saw where her fingers have folded the top corner of certain pages to mark out poems of her own taste and he absentminded turned a few pages.

"You're quiet tonight, what's on your mind?" Isil asked, not looking up from repairing his breeches which had a hole in one knee.

"You." Was his quiet reply

"Me? What am I doing there?" She looked up from one stitch to see his troubled face.

He told her of Gandalf's news and having to guard Gollum so that he doesn't escape into the hands of the orcs who would torture him for information he so valuably held.

He told her of Gandalf's news that orcs have been stirring in the deepest of Mirkwood and evil is not far away from the palace itself. The myths of the ring of power were being brought up and whispers that it have been found were growing rife.

"....And I may have to leave to Rivendell for a council held by Elrond in place of my father. Gandalf agreed it would be most plausible as I'm to bring Gollum with me. Dark times are ahead of me, I can feel it and I fear it greatly though not for my welfare but for the fact that I will have to be parted from you." Legolas finished telling her, by then he had her full attention and her hated sewing was forgotten in her hands as she looked at him.

"Me?" she whispered, as if she didn't hear him correctly.

"Yes, you. Isil, I think I love you. The bond we share now only confirms it." He replied, "It will pain me greatly to part from you when that day comes."

"Its unfair of our current situation though." Isil sadly smiled.

"I don't care, we'll find a way through this." He insisted and Isil nodded, wishing she could believe it herself.

"Do you....hold me in a similar position in your heart?" For once in his very long life, he felt the waves of shyness over took his nerves and his tongue felt strangely dry whilst he enquired subtly as he without looking the fool.

"Of course Legolas. I love you too." She whispered and he smiled at those words he never thought he hear. The rapid beating on his heart in the build up to her answer exploded with the realisation that she too felt the same way and he smiled with a sigh.

"Just put down your hated sewing and let me love you." He asked to which she smiled and relied, "Gladly."


He loved her that night like no other, worshipped her with his body, seduced her with his touch and captured her with their tempo they built together.

His lips were like prayers, raining down upon her as they rode past each fire of passion with a recklessness that left them dazed and contented.

As he laid in her small bed that just held his body comfortably, he whispered sweet everything and nothing in her ear as she drifted off to sleep, smiling in his arms as her ears picked out the steady momentum of his heart that soothed her.

For along time after Isil fell asleep, Legolas stared at the dark ceiling with many a thought running through his head, Estel jumped up to make a comfortable threesome, all sharing the tiny bed and exchanging body heat. He felt the kitten's rumbles of delight of finding someone to stroke him, shudder through the quilt that was wrapped around his waist, exposing his bare torso to the cool night air.

So intense was his worries that it wasn't until first light drifted through the window did he finally get to sleep with the thoughts of Isil lying there next to him, in love with him.