The hallway was even more dimly lit than the stairway. This was an area of the castle she rarely came to and only then when escorted by some higher ranking male attendant. At the far end of the curving hallway was yet another staircase that eventually led down to a back entrance into the castle's library.
Linnah nervously made her way down the hall and slowed her pace considerably, when she heard the gentle sound of a male elf singing. She wasn't sure where the voice was coming from. As she neared the great wooden door of the prince's chambers, the lovely voice stopped. Linnah stopped and waited for the voice to return. After a moment of silence, she continued to the door. She knocked quietly on the heavy chamber door and asked timidly, "Your Highness?" There came no response. Linnah waited a few moments and knocked again. There was still no response and then thinking the room empty, took a deep breath and slowly opened the prince's door.
"Your Highness?" Linnah asked again a little louder, just in case. Peeking in, she saw that the chamber was indeed empty and Linnah, for the first time in her life, moved quietly into the prince's room.
His room and furnishings were more elaborate then any other she had seen. She took in the enormous, ornate bed chamber. Beautiful, rich tapestries hung on the walls. The huge bed was situated against the wall to her left. Four deeply carved posts held up the canopy, which along with the bedding was a deep burgundy. On the headboard was carved the sign of the House of Mirkwood as well as the sweeping curves of an old Elven blessing. Just next to the bed was a small nightstand. At the foot of the bed sat a large chest. To her right, against the wall was a large, ornately carved wardrobe. Across from her, against the far wall was a writing desk and chair. Over this, a large window overlooked the central garden. Heavy burgundy drapes that matched the bedding were swaged on either side. Nearby, a large fire blazed in a grand fireplace. In front of the hearth were two, large overstuffed chairs. Past the fireplace, to the right was an open doorway to the bathing room and above the fireplace's curving mantel was a life size painting of Prince Legolas.
Linnah found herself drawn to the painting of the prince. Though she had grown up in the same castle as he, she felt as if she beheld him for the first time. The painting showed him standing in a wooded area, with his bow and arrow readied in hand. His arms down and the arrow pointed toward the ground. He looked directly towards the painter with an intense stare. She felt as if his blues eyes were peering into her very soul. She gazed up at him, taking in his features. His strong jaw and fair skin. His shoulders broad and strong, his large hands grasping tightly the bow and arrow …the bow she now carried.
"Oh my goodness!" thought Linnah suddenly, as she looked down at the bow in her hand. She immediately snapped out of her dreamlike state. She then also noticed that the singing had returned and was now coming from the prince's bathing room.
"Oh no, the prince is bathing," thought Linnah frantically. She looked around fast for a place to set down his weapons. "I'll just set these on the bed and leave as quickly as possible," she thought.
Orlindel was reclining naked in a warm, fragrant bath. He had his head tilted back slightly, his eyes were closed, and he was singing. His arms were outstretched over the top of the deep marble tub. There had been something wrong with the fixture on his tub and Legolas had kindly allowed him access to his private bath.
The bathing chamber was lit with a small torch and lots of candle light. He had sensed her as soon as she had neared the bed chamber, but now as he continued to sing, he wondered just how far she would come. He marveled at his good fortune. He knew it was Linnah. Though he would not be able to explain it himself, he could sense the human in her and something else he could not quite put his finger on. "Now," he mused to himself, "how long can I make her think I am Legolas?"
Linnah was just reaching for the handle of the chamber door, when she heard very clearly in her mind, "Linnah. Come to me."
Linnah stopped dead in her tracks. The singing had not paused, yet she heard the voice very clearly in her head. She stood frozen to her spot, her hand still reaching for the handle. Again she heard him, his voice soft, "Come to me Linnah. I will not bite."
Linnah was sure she was just hearing things, but decided against her better judgment to go to him. She hoped that His Majesty would have an attendant in there with him and if so, the attendant would be posted right inside the doorway. From the angle she was walking, she would see the attendant before even getting close to the bathing room.
Moving slowly, she kept her eyes fixed on the doorway. A low stool came into view, but there was no attendant seated there. Instead, there were leggings, a vest and a tunic draped over the seat. Soft leather boots were placed underneath. Linnah felt her breath catch in her chest as she moved forward silently.
Next into view was a low counter with glass vials containing various bathing aids, such as oils, soaps and salves. Among the vials were lit candles. Linnah tried her hardest to visualize herself being invisible, as she was taught by the chamber maids and stepped directly into the light of the doorway.
The prince was in his bath. Thankfully he was facing away from her. His long blond hair cascaded past his well muscled shoulders to his back. He was very slowly washing his upper chest with a small wet cloth. He dipped the cloth under the water. His mouth moved softly in song as he squeezed the cloth, letting the water run down his neck and onto his chest. Linnah swallowed hard.
Orlindel stopped singing abruptly and without looking up or turning around asked silently, "How long were you going to just stand there without announcing yourself?"
"Um, I…, oh, Your Highness, I thought I heard you call and I, um...," Linnah had no idea what to say. Her heart was racing.
"Oh, you heard me then. Good. I need your assistance," said Orlindel, hiding a smile.
"If you please Sir, I will fetch an attendant right away." She started to leave. In the back of her mind, she wondered how he had known it had been her in his room.
"No, Linnah. It is you I want."
Linnah stopped moving. "Me, My Lord? I am just a hand maiden and could not be useful to a prince."
"I'm afraid I need help with my braids."
"Your braids, My Lord?" asked Linnah confused.
"Yes. I left the vial I needed on the counter. See the red one?" He pointed towards it without turning. "It has the salve to remove the sealed ends. Could you get it for me? My hair is in need of washing." He paused and then added, "Handmaidens are very experienced with braids, are they not. Linnah?"
"Yes, of course." Linnah moved across to the counter and picked up the vial. She turned and held it out to him, her arm extended. With the other hand she was shielding her eyes.
Orlindel made a tisking sound and said, "I am not ashamed, as you should not be. It is our way Linnah."
"But you are royalty, My Lord," she responded. When she did not immediately lower her hand from her eyes, he dropped his voice deeper and said, "Look at me, Linnah."
Linnah tentatively removed her hand from her eyes and nearly dropping the vial, cried out in surprise when she realized it was not the prince. Orlindel looked back at her intensely, his dark blue eyes challenging her. Her knees feel weak. Above the water, his magnificent chest glistened, the skin flawlessly smooth. His strong arms were up on the edge of the tub. A sly grin played on his face. Below his chest, she could not make out his body as the bath water was clouded by fragrant oil. She was glad for that. If she took in anymore, she would surely faint.
His voice got her moving again. "Linnah, are you alright? Are you troubled by what you see?" Orlindel asked, biting on his lower lip and feigning innocence.
"Yes. I mean, no. I mean…, I thought you were the prince," said Linnah flustered.
"Interesting Linnah. Would that have made a difference?" asked Orlindel, smiling. When Linnah did not immediately respond, he continued, "When you are able to move again, will you please slide that stool over here and free me of my braids?" All Linnah could do was curtsey and follow the Lord's command.
Orlindel was enjoying his effect on her. Many an elf maiden stared at him in this manner and he took more of them to bed then he wished to count. Linnah was different though. He had watched her grow from a mere babe to the dark haired maiden he saw before him. And as she grew, he noticed her body becoming fuller and more curved. Her breasts were larger than other elf maidens and the fact that she was half-elven intrigued him. He had waited patiently for the years to pass and now she was exactly perfect in age. She was so different than what he was accustomed to and after last night at the banquet table, he had wondered how he would approach her again. But this accidental encounter was perfect. She was a fine prize and he would be claiming her very soon.
Linnah carefully removed the clothing from the seat and slid it over, behind the Lord. She sat down and opened the vial, pouring a small amount of the red liquid into her hand. Replacing the vial's stopper, she set it onto the floor next to her and rubbed the liquid between both of her hands. Softly, she gathered his blond hair and started to work the liquid into the ends of his braids.
"Oh, this can't be really happening," she thought. "I am touching a Lord of Mirkwood!" she thought again, "and he is naked before me!"
Orlindel laid his head back, closed his eyes and again began to sing softly. In her head, Linnah heard his voice. "Hush Linnah. I can sense how fast your heart is beating. Relax and take comfort in my song."
Linnah tried her hardest to relax, but this situation was completely wrong. "How did Lord Orlindel come to use the prince's bathing chamber?" she thought to herself. She finished rubbing in the salve. Her hands moved slowly, carefully unwinding his braids. The air in the room was still and silent, save for Orlindel's voice. She felt the weight of the humid air on her skin.
"I shall faint dead away if the prince walks in," thought Linnah. "I have to get out of here." She removed her hands from the lord's hair and instinctively started to get up.
"Don't stop Linnah. Your touch feels good," said Orlindel calmly, unmoving.
"Yes, My Lord," said Linnah, her voice was quivering. She was torn in her emotions, eager to serve, to prove her worth as a servant, yet confused as to the limits of her service. In her innocence, it never occurred to her that washing his hair wasn't all the touching he had in mind.
Near the side of the tub, were two pitchers of water. She picked up one of them. Gently, she tilted his head forward and began to pour the warm water over Orlindel's hair. The water flowed over his head, face and shoulders. A nagging thought started to press into her mind. She ignored it and continued to rinse the salve from his long hair. She was supposed to be doing something and she couldn't remember what it was...Shrugging the feeling away, she took up some lightly scented soap and began lathering the lord's hair. She used her fingertips to massage his scalp.
"Mmmm, Linnah, that feels good," said Orlindel, resting his head in her hands.
Linnah did not know how to respond, so she simply said, "I'm glad you like it, my Lord." Then she admonished herself sarcastically, "Good job, Linnah. Once you've mastered conversing with royals, you can take up advising the king. On second thought, maybe you should just stick to washing and braiding..." The thought awoke her forgotten task and Linnah remembered…, "Wait a moment! Braiding...Lady Elessa! Oh no, she is waiting for me!"
Linnah picked up the other pitcher and quickly rinsed the soap from his hair. As if the situation wasn't uncomfortable enough, this was her first time being specifically chosen by the Lady and she certainly didn't want to start off on the wrong foot and ruin her chances of ever attending her again. Besides the fact that she could never tell the lady about what, and more importantly, who it was that made her late.
As Linnah checked that his hair was rinsed completely, she said politely, "My Lord, your braids are out and your hair is clean. If you please, I am past due to attend the Lady Elessa. She is awaiting me this instant."
As her hands started to leave his hair again, without warning and in a flash Orlindel reached up over his shoulders and seized her wrists. Linnah let out a gasp in surprise. His grip was not tight enough to hurt, only to immobilize. In a blink of an eye and without releasing her wrists, he turned his body to face her. Water splashed over the sides and sloshed inside the tub. By his movement, her arms were now crossed in front of her, his chest now leaning against the interior of the tub.
He ignored her surprised look. "Do not go. I don't wish it," said Orlindel softly, his calm and handsome face inches from hers. "My wife can afford to wait, Linnah. I am a Lord and I will take precedent over all duties you may have. I need you to finish what you have started."
Until now, Linnah had let her mind be calm with the knowledge that he had been facing away from her, that she could maintain her composure by not having to look directly into his eyes. Now without a choice in the matter, she was beside herself. Linnah was also a little confused as to what he meant by finishing what she started. As far as she was concerned, hair washing was all that he had required of her.
Linnah somehow found her voice and said quickly, "My Lord, I am sorry if I have offended you. I beg your pardon. You asked me to assist you with your hair and no more. I believe I have fulfilled that request."
Orlindel smiled at her naive boldness and said, "I see. Then you may go." He paused. "If you are certain there is nothing else that I could possibly require of you."
"I do not believe I could help you further, My Lord," said Linnah, imploring him with her eyes. "Please release me, the Lady waits."
His eyes lingered on hers for a moment longer and he smiled with a wicked cunning as he gently let go of her wrists. Linnah started to relax, but he was far from finished with her. As he released her, he pushed back from the edge of the tub and slowly stood up in the water. With his hands at his sides, he made no motion to cover himself. The water beaded and ran down his slender, toned body. His long blond hair now loose and wet, clung to his face, neck and shoulders. His intense dark blue eyes locked on hers as he slowly brought a hand up to his flat, chiseled stomach. Seductively, Orlindel gently caressed his fingertips leisurely back and forth over his own bare torso, running them from under his chest to just below his navel.
Linnah could not help herself. She sat there looking up at him fully, staring in awe and disbelief. Never in her life had she seen a male stand before her naked, lest a royal. And though she had nothing to compare it to, she was sure that he was superior in build. The way he was touching himself now, so slow and deliberate…She was still in shock and frozen to her seat as she let her eyes roam freely down over his face and neck, to his broad shoulders and arms flexing and unflexing with the sensual movements of his fingers. Her eyes followed his fingers as they continued down his well defined chest, still glistening with moisture from the bath, down his smooth, flat stomach, and then down to his…"Oh by the Valar!"
Orlindel smiled at her knowingly, one eyebrow raised. In her head, Linnah heard his voice softly say, "I require no more of you, Linnah. Are you sure that it is not you that may require something of me?"
Her head was reeling. Barely audible, she simply whispered, "I must go now," before jumping up and running quickly from the room.
Orlindel made no move to stop her and as he stepped out of the bath he puzzled over her reaction, unused to maidens denying him. "Maybe if she was spoken for by another, that would explain it," he thought. It didn't occur to him that she was just too innocent to handle his exquisite torment.