Linilya Elf - Something weird happened with chapter 2. Hope you got to read it.

Legolaslover - Thanks a bunch!

Moxie - hehe, snappy Legolas! Just wait til you read the next few chapters. :o)

Maren P - I have committed myself to doing updates at least twice a week. Glad you like it.

A/N - This is a pretty long chapter. Hope you enjoy it!

Chapter 3 – No Reservations

The arrow flew from Legolas's bow and traveled the incredible distance to bury into the skull of a warg lunging at a Kozari guard. Another arrow was notched in the blink of an eye, a skill perfected through the millennia the elf had lived. From astride his stallion perched high up on a cliff looking down into a valley, Legolas found it easy to pick off his targets. It also gave him the opportunity to show off his skills to the Kozari ruler seated on his horse not far away.

Hurrnäd watched the elf in utter amazement. Arrow after arrow the elf released found its target…always. Not a single arrow missed. His grey stallion pranced beneath him, anxious to be in the midst of the chaos in the valley below and despite the movement, the elf's aim remained steady and true. The reins rested on the horse's neck and not in the elf's hands, yet the stallion obeyed the quiet voice commands of the elf in a language Hurrnäd never heard.

With a smile, Legolas took aim again and released an arrow into a warg about to be dispatched by Aragorn. Aragorn stopped in his tracks at the sight of the arrow sticking out of the fallen warg's right eye. He looked up at Legolas with a frustrated look. The ranger had not made a single kill thus far, Legolas made sure of it. It was a game they played at times, stealing victory from each other during the many skirmishes they found themselves battling in.

The camaraderie between the man and the elf was not lost on the Kozari ruler. The two seemed to be joined at the hip, speaking almost as if they knew each other's thoughts even. He wondered if their relationship was more than mere friendship. It was not unheard of among the Kozari, especially among the women. The thought led to other thoughts…his concubines. Their only desire in life was to please him and they had for many years. But he lost interest easily and longed for a different kind of pleasure. The elf maid would surely quench his lust. He would have had her by now if it weren't for her injuries. So he awaited word from the elf's handmaiden on the condition of her wounds. Hurrnäd thought perhaps he was getting too soft. He liked his women hardy and strong, able to withstand his perversions. Seeing the elf before him firing arrows into the hard hides of the wargs in the valley below, Hurrnäd could only imagine the elf maid, Aleera was equally tough as nails.

Aragorn spun in place, his sword raised. All around him were the dead carcasses of the wargs Legolas had so nonchalantly killed from high above. A last surviving warg was chased down by Kozari on horseback and killed. None were left standing. He did not even get a chance to dirty his blade. With a cry of frustration over the stolen quenching of his blood-lust, Aragorn stalked to the nearest fallen warg and buried his blade into its heart. He tossed his head upward to remove the hair from his face as he looked up toward the elf.

Legolas gave Aragorn a smile, knowing he would never hear the end of it from his friend. He looked forward to the ranger's angry curses directed at him. It made for an enlightening conversation. After a moment of watching Aragorn mounting his horse and riding up along the valley road, Legolas turned to find the Kozari ruler staring at him.

"You are very proficient with a bow, master elf," said Hurrnäd.

"There is not much else to do back home but to practice," said Legolas as he strapped his bow to the quiver on his back.

"I am certain you are probably just as proficient with those knives sheathed to your back."

"They have served me well."

Hurrnäd knew very little about elves, except that they were generally peaceful. But looking upon this elf, he could see he was far more than just a warrior. He seemed to take pleasure in killing, turning it into a game. Hurrnäd knew not to even bother asking whether the elf would join his guard. There would be no convincing him. As if in response to the unspoken question, the elf started to move his horse passed him, a look of total defiance upon his appealing features.

"My allegiance lies solely with my friends," he said before whispering something in elvish that made his stallion break into a jog.

Aragorn came up the path and fell into step beside Legolas's horse. His elf friend pretended nothing had occurred. "You denied me the satisfaction of not even one kill."

"Next time," said Legolas, trying to contain a smirk.

"Perhaps I should have invited Arwen's brothers instead of you. They would not have shown off their skill."

"They have no skills to show off."

Aragorn turned to Legolas. "You have seen them in action?"

"Aye. They could not hit a warg if it were standing two feet in front of them and on its back waiting for a belly rub."

Aragorn laughed. In truth Legolas respected the skills of Elladan and Elrohir, the twin sons of Lord Elrond. They were in fact very skilled fighters. But they were forever a favorite target for Legolas's pranks and jests, simply because they naively fell for them everytime. Legolas smiled to himself as he recalled one of those pranks. He had crawled into their bed chamber one evening in Rivendell and upon crying out in pain, both Elladan and Elrohir jumped from their beds to see who it was. Seeing Legolas crawling on the ground, they assumed he had been injured and rushed over to help him. Legolas sat back on his heels, his hands covering his face and he moaned in pain. Then he moved one of his hands enough to drop something on the ground. It was an eye. Elladan and Elrohir both screeched in horror, thinking it was one of Legolas's eyes, until Legolas removed his hands to reveal that it was not. While Legolas laughed, the twins shook their heads in disgust and went back to bed. The eye had come from a wild boar Legolas had killed earlier in the day and he could not help but pull the prank on the skittish twins.

Back at the Keep, Legolas headed up to his room, hoping to find Aleera out on her balcony. He had not mentioned her to Aragorn. He wanted to learn more about her before he revealed her to the ranger. When he stepped out on the balcony, he found Aleera leaning on her balustrade, gazing out at the sun as it was setting.

Aleera whirled around when Legolas stepped out onto his balcony. She had been waiting for him all day, wondering where he had gone. He was clad in a green tunic of soft suede over the silver shirt she had seen him in the night before. On his wrists he wore dark leather vambraces. He also had weapons strapped to his back, a bow, quiver and two knives.

"Good evening, my lady," he said amicably.

"Good evening," she said warily. "Were you out hunting?"

Legolas unstrapped his arsenal of weapons and leaned them against the doorway. "These are the weapons I always travel with. Hunting would be a reasonable description, for today I sought to help rid Lord Hurrnäd of the wargs that threaten the western route."

"Are you a skilled archer?"

"I am a humble elf, but some say that I am highly skilled."

"Is the monarch skilled with the bow?"

"I know not for I did not see him raise a bow."

Aleera's eyes were drawn to his lean physique, slightly broad shoulders and slender waist and hips. When he removed his tunic after removing the vambraces, she felt her cheeks heat up. He was still dressed in a shirt, but seeing him undressing before her caused her stomach to unexpectedly flutter. "Are you a warrior?" she asked, attempting to alter her mind to safer places.

"Aye," he replied

"What war do you wage?"

"I wage war upon those that threaten my home."

"Where is your home?"

"I am of the woodland realm. Mirkwood to be precise."

Aleera tried to remember that name, but it did not come to her. "You wage war even on the women and children?"

"I kill only those that oppose my king. But that does not include women and children."

When she sighed loud enough for him to hear, Legolas smiled. "You seem relieved."

"I abhor the thought of war."

"I abhor it as well. Yet there are times it is necessary."

"Perhaps."

He decided to change the subject. "Is that a new gown?"

Aleera looked down at herself briefly, at the red gown she wore. "Aye. I believe it is a gift from Hurrnäd."

He smiled again. "The color suits you."

She found herself smiling back at him. "I have others. Would you like to see them?"

"I would indeed."

Aleera ran inside and hastily removed the red gown in exchange for a blue one. When she stepped out, she twirled the full skirt around. "Do you like this one?"

"Very much."

She stopped twirling and turned to face him. "Has Hurrnäd ever loved another woman or elleth?"

"I do not know him well enough to make such an inquiry."

She twirled around in her gown again. "Do you think he dances?"

Legolas laughed. "Most kings do. I am certain he will truly enjoy dancing with you, my lady."

Aleera became light-headed and stopped twirling. "How shall I greet him? Do I fall to my knees? Do I address him as my lord?"

"As is customary, I believe you would bow to him and address him with respect when others are about."

"But what do I call him when we are alone?"

He shook his head and shrugged. "I do not know. Perhaps he will ask you to call him by his given name." Legolas heard footfalls on the stone stairway, coming from inside. The footfalls paused outside his door. "Excuse me, Aleera. I shall return shortly."

Aleera watched him disappear back inside. She bit her lower lip and leaned back against the balustrade. Not having anyone but Roxana to talk to, it was refreshing to be speaking to someone who appreciated what she had to say. Roxana was sweet enough, but Aleera had a sneaking suspicion that the girl was resentful of her.

Legolas approached the door and opened it. Aragorn stood on the other side, his hand raised and ready to knock.

"We are being called to dine with Hurrnäd."

With his outer tunic still in his hand, Legolas quickly slipped it back on and followed Aragorn down the stairs. A guard stood at the bottom of the staircase and he led the man and elf down a corridor and around a corner. He gestured to a room, but it was not the dining hall.

It was a library with thousands of books lining the shelves on the walls. Seated near a stone hearth was Hurrnäd. He held a goblet in one hand and a book in the other. When Aragorn and Legolas entered, he looked up and put the book aside. "Ah, there you are. Come and drink with me, my friends." He stood up and gestured to two goblets and a decanter on a small table. "You must taste our specialty. Made from the finest and ripest grapes in all of Kozar."

Aragorn picked up both goblets and handed one to Legolas. The three of them toasted and drank.

Legolas narrowed his brows at the bitter tasting brew, looking down at it. Then he got a better look at the goblet in his hand. He recognized the reckless craftsmanship for he had seen many in his days. There was no mistaking it. The goblet was made by an Orc. "Tell me something, Lord Hurrnäd," he gestured with his goblet. "Where did you come about these goblets?"

Hurrnäd turned to the elf and the look in his eyes told him that he could no longer maintain the pretense.

Legolas exchanged a glance with Aragorn. "I know the work of Orcs. For over two thousand years have I battled their kind and seen their spoils." He turned back to Hurrnäd, waiting for the Kozari ruler to deny the claim that he indeed dealt with Orcs.

Hurrnäd took his seat once again and drained the contents of his goblet. "You are very perceptive, master elf. And so I have had some dealings with the filthy creatures."

"What you do in your own kingdom is no concern of mine," said Aragorn. "However, it is my duty to inform you that dealing with Orcs will only lead to trouble for you."

"I am well aware of that fact, Aragorn. Only twice have they ventured into our borders. And twice we dispelled them. The dealings I spoke of have nothing to do with trading. By force we took what they had and sent them on their way, tail between their legs if they had one."

"Why did you not mention this yesterday?"

Hurrnäd shrugged. "No reason other than not knowing enough about you and your elf friend."

Legolas felt that Hurrnäd was still hiding something. He decided not to probe him any further for the time being. He also wanted to mention Aleera, but decided against it for now as well. All would reveal itself sooner or later, the longer he and Aragorn stayed at Kozar Keep.

Legolas stepped out onto the balcony later that evening, hoping to find Aleera there. When he saw that she was not, he leaned on the left side of the balustrade and called out to her. "Aleera, are you asleep?"

A moment later Aleera stepped out. "Nay, I am awake now. You never returned so I grew weary and went to rest."

Legolas could not stop his eyes from taking in the sight of her small frame nearly visible within the rather sheer nightgown she wore. "I see you have no reservations," he said with a chuckle.

"Whatever do you mean?" asked Aleera.

"Your nightgown. An elleth betrothed to the king should not reveal herself to any other."

"What other?"

"Am I not here or am I invisible to your eyes?"

"You flatter yourself too much, Legolas. My heart belongs to Hurrnäd. I mean no disrespect, but I have no interest in you or any other."

"Quite understandable. A crown tends to be irresistible to any maiden," he added with disdain. In truth he could not understand what was so irresistible about ruling a kingdom. It was tedious work as far as he was concerned. He would rather be out in the midst of his people, dwelling as they did, feeling the same hardships. The only thing good about being a prince was that he could make decisions on improvements to the lands and that he also had the privilege of fighting on the frontlines. Every maiden in Mirkwood vied for his attention, wanting to be the next princess. The thought of those maidens left him with an empty feeling in his heart. They cared nothing for him except for his crown.

Aleera glanced up at the stars above. "The sky seems so close from up here. I sometimes imagine myself floating from this balcony and flying into the night sky so I can catch the stars in my hand."

Legolas pulled himself from his depressing thoughts. "It would be a sight to behold."

"When do you suppose Hurrnäd will reveal himself to me?"

"I know not. Perhaps he is very busy these days."

"Too busy to see his betrothed?"

Legolas remained silent for a moment, glancing down at the courtyard. "You are right, my lady. There is nothing more important." He looked back up at her again, a sad look on his face. This betrothal seemed more and more far-fetched to him as time wore on. He was surprised when she smiled and twirled around on her balcony, as if she did not have a care in the world. Such innocence and ignorance of what fate might await her. "Aleera," he called to her.

Aleera stopped twirling and came over to lean on the balustrade facing him. "Aye, Legolas?" She reached out her arms, trying to touch his balustrade, but only making it half the distance.

Legolas could not resist the urge to reach out his arms to touch her fingertips. She laughed when she drew her hands away from his at the last second.

"Such an interesting name…Legolas. It means green leaf, does it not?"

"Aye."

"Are you a green elf then?"

Legolas was curious as to how she would know the origins of elves if she had no memory. "I am a wood elf of Mirkwood. The green elves are from Lothlorien."

"Lothlorien…Lothlorien." She repeated the name many more times in her mind, closing her eyes and trying to remember why the name sounded familiar to her tongue. "I know this name."

"Perhaps it is where you are from," suggested Legolas.

"Where else do elves live?"

"Aside from Mirkwood and Lothlorien, elves live in Imladris, which is known to men as Rivendell. It is where my companion, Aragorn resides."

"Is he the man I saw with you yesterday?"

"Aye. We are here to hopefully form an alliance with Kozar."

"How do negotiations go so far?"

"I am uncertain at this time, but we have only been here a short time." Legolas did not want to tell her that he did not trust Hurrnäd very much.

"Man gonoded eraid derithach sí?" (how long will you stay here)

"Pedich lam edhellen?" (you speak elvish)

"Elo! I knew not that I even spoke it," she said in surprise. (oh)

"But you are an elf," Legolas said, trying to urge her to dig deeper into herself. "Our language should be natural to you. Although we all know the language spoken by Men and most other races of Middle-Earth, the Common Tongue is secondary."

"I truly wish to remember my origin, Legolas. It is difficult not knowing who I am and where I come from, or how I even came to be here, betrothed to the ruler of these lands."

Sensing her sudden depression, Legolas decided to lighten her mood. "Do you know what I think?"

"What do you think?"

"I think you are the daughter of a king."

"And how many elf kings are there?"

Legolas shrugged indifferently, making up a number far larger than what was true. "There has to be at least… thirty or forty."

Aleera smiled. "You jest. I do not believe that."

At least she was smiling again. "I meant to ask earlier, what did you do all day, Aleera?"

"There is naught to do but to comb my hair, tend to my nails and get lost in my thoughts. I so wish to venture from this tower."

"When I next have an opportunity, I shall speak to Hurrnäd and ask that he let you out."

Aleera excitedly leaned on the balustrade. "Will you really?"

He gave her a smile. "You seem excited."

"Aye, I am. As I say, there is only so much thinking I can do with no one to speak with." And her thoughts had been distressing of late. She had too much time on her hands for those thoughts to surface.

He tilted his head, sensing the change in her mood again. "There is something else you wish to tell me."

She backed away from the balustrade. How did he know she had other thoughts on her mind? "I dare not say."

"Am man?" (why)

"It is something I would only confide to a friend."

"Are we not friends, Aleera?"

"You are too close to my lord. You would tell him my secrets."

"Nay, I would not share your secrets with him or anyone."

"And you are an ellon. I cannot possibly confide such delicate matters to an ellon." (male elf)

"You think me not capable to give advice in delicate matters?"

Aleera smiled at him. "You are quite persistent, Legolas."

"I wish to relieve you of your troublesome burdens." Legolas hopped up to sit on the balustrade, his legs dangling over the side precariously. "I will confide in you a secret I have, if you confide in me what is on your mind."

"Bado minui," she said as she leaned on the balustrade again. (you go first)

Legolas glanced to the left and to the right, as if checking to see if anyone else was around to hear. All he accomplished was Aleera growing more impatient. He leaned forward in her direction. "My friend, Aragorn? He is destined to be king someday."

Aleera frowned at him. "Is that it? That is your secret?" She had expected something scandalous, if not worse.

"Aye, what else did you expect?"

"That you have six toes or that the dead speak to you in your dreams. I care not about the secrets of your friend."

"Six toes?" Legolas snorted in abhorrence at the very idea. He was not the most perfect elf in all of Middle-Earth, but he certainly had no such visible imperfections.

"Surely you have a secret you can tell me about yourself."

Legolas sighed heavily, thinking of only one thing that he could tell her. "Very well, I am ashamed to admit that I fear the Balrogs of Morgoth."

Aleera squinted her eyes at him. "If I had an idea what a Balrog was, I might say it was a justifiable fear or a silly thing. You have nothing else to give me?"

"Nay, that is all."

She gave him a look. "I know of one thing, wood elf. You thrive on conceit," she said in mild antipathy.

When she rolled her eyes and looked away, Legolas took the moment to smile at her brazenness. For some reason he found it amusing to see her feign disgust over him. "So what is this secret you hide in your mind from me?" He reached out his senses to her, feeling that she was actually rather distressed about it.

Aleera finally turned back to him, biting her thumbnail apprehensively. "I am nervous, Legolas."

"I sense it, Aleera. What are you nervous about?"

Aleera conceded to telling him her concerns. "I have a feeling that I have never been with anyone before."

Legolas had suspected as much.

She sighed heavily and leaned on the balustrade again. "Never having been…intimate, it is only fair that I am curious as to what transpires when…you know…"

"I see."

"Will you tell me, Legolas?"

"Do you wish me to speak freely or do you wish me to taint it with pleasantries?"

"Let me hear pleasantries."

"Very well." Legolas reached up to scratch his forehead and spoke whatever words came to his mind. "Your monarch would desire to bask in your inner light, to feel your aura and hear you voice blissfully loud in his ear."

Aleera laughed. "Pleasantries indeed. I know not anything you just said."

Legolas joined in her laughter. "Aye, but the color on your cheeks belies what you think the meaning might be."

"I will hear you speak freely now."

Legolas's jaw tightened slightly. This was the second time since speaking to her the night before that their conversation headed in the direction he had no desire to follow. Since in truth he had been the one to press her into telling him what troubled her, he had no choice but to continue. He chose his words carefully this time, leaning forward with a bit of a smile. "To devour you and taste your essence. To caress you in places you have never been touched before. To hear your cries of passion…calling out his name and wanting more."

Butterflies danced in Aleera's belly at the words he spoke and she had not realized she held her breath until she released it. Then Aleera swallowed hard at her thoughts of Legolas being the one to bring out such cries from her. Unfortunately she spoke her thoughts aloud. "Would you desire it?"

Legolas raised his eyebrows in surprise and blinked several times after hearing her bold question. This coming from someone so innocent. But he saw that she was quickly flustered with herself.

"Forgive me," she hurriedly said. "I did not mean to ask such a personal thing of you."

"Aye, I would desire it," he finally said softly, surprised at his response. What was even more surprising to him was that he truly meant every word. When had he unconsciously unlocked the door in his mind that led to such thoughts of intimacy? He had steered clear of the female persuasion at every opportunity and had justifiable reasons. So how did this elleth manage to knock down the barrier he worked so hard to erect? And doing so at breakneck speed. (elf maid)

"I know not what to expect," she said quietly, breaking the silence.

Legolas gave her a sincere smile, again trying to lighten her mood. "I would show you, but I fear you would no longer wish to meet your betrothed." He said it in jest, yet he truly wanted it to be so.

At that she smiled in response. "Surely, you do not expect me to believe such a thing. Aye, you are a fair and handsome ellon…but you cannot sway me from my king." (male elf)

"And if I were to prove it?"

"You cannot. You are over there and I am over here. Are you to blow kisses into the wind for them to reach my cheeks?"

Legolas laughed. "Nay, my lady." Then he surprised her by standing up on the balustrade and launching himself the distance between their balconies. He reached her balustrade and easily pulled himself over. "And now I am over here."

"Are you insane? You could have fallen to your death, you foolish elf."

"Foolish and insane? I have been called far worse."

When he began moving toward her, Aleera took a step back, but immediately halted herself. She did not want to show him any fear. She knew he would not harm her. When Legolas reached for her hand and softly caressed her knuckles with his thumb, a shiver went through her at such a simple touch. Then he moved closer to her. Immediately she noticed his size. He was not broad-chested as some of the guards she had seen around the courtyard. Legolas was lean and narrow hipped, but he was a whole head taller than her. His presence alone so close to her nearly overwhelmed her.

"Have I swayed you yet, my lady?"

"Nay," Aleera replied too quickly, yet quite nervously.

Legolas leaned toward her. He fought to manage his senses which had suddenly gone completely out of control and that was due to the alluring affect she had on him. Not to mention the fact that he could clearly sense that she was aroused by his presence.

Aleera closed her eyes as his lips brushed against her right cheek. His breath was warm against her skin. He slowly kissed her cheekbone, the hollow beneath it, the side of her jaw, the side of her nose, her chin…and then he moved to the other side. Upon her forehead, he kissed the scar at her left temple, where she knew she had received a blow that forced the memories to fade from her.

Legolas became lost in the feel of her soft flesh beneath his lips, the arousing scent of her breath and the heat that surrounded her. He moved his lips over hers, pressing against them softly. His stomach tightened in knots as a blaze suddenly began building within him. It was the same heat he felt whenever a sense of excitement came upon him unexpectedly.

Aleera felt his lips against hers a second time, this time his mouth was slightly open. The tip of his tongue grazed over her bottom lip and it jolted her out of the trance he had put her in. She slowly and bashfully pulled away. "Nay, no more."

Legolas searched her eyes in confusion, at first not understanding why she would not allow him to continue. And then he woke to the realization of what had transpired. Luckily his tunic hid the evidence of his full arousal.

"Legolas, please go." Aleera rushed inside and prayed that he would not follow her. She fell face down on her bed, clutching her suddenly aching chest. The moment she had left his presence, the ache had begun and tears formed in her eyes as she willed the pain to recede. But to no avail.

Legolas jumped back over to his balcony and went inside. He frowned at the sudden tightness he felt in his chest. There was a decanter of wine and a goblet on the small table where he normally laid his weapons. He quickly filled the goblet and gulped its contents, hoping the heat of the drink would ease the pain and deflate his arousal. After pouring a second time from the decanter, he gulped the contents again, cursing his elven heritage for making him impervious to the affects of alcohol unless he consumed an enormous quantity of it.

After consuming the fourth goblet, Legolas gave it up and plopped down on the bed, cringing at the pain in his chest and clutching at it. Something was happening to him and he had no idea what it could be. Despite the sudden illness, his thoughts drifted to Aleera. How could he have become so fully aroused by merely kissing her? Granted, he had not kissed very many maidens in his lifetime, but none of them had ever affected him in such a way. He was desperate to understand why he could not control the urge to satisfy this sudden primal hunger within him. Aleera was not his for the taking and the last thing he wanted was to hurt her.