Linnah walked quickly down the hall and back to her room. She had finally found her way back on her own, but in her upset state, she neglected to find the fallen tree and retrieve her servant clothes. She also walked in what seemed like circles several times and nearly got herself entangled in a spider's web. Luckily no one had witnessed her enter the castle and she easily slipped down the hall, from the kitchen to her room in the servant's quarters.
Every servant's room had the same furnishings: A simple bed, a tall wardrobe, a small nightstand, and a tall reading lamp. Each bedroom, though small, had a private bathing room attached. The bathing room consisted of a simple tub, chamber pot and wash basin.
Linnah opened the door to her room. It was dark inside and she moved instinctively to the wardrobe and opened the bottom drawer to remove a candle. She placed it in the candle holder on the nightstand and as she lit it, soft light flooded the room. She picked up the lit candle and started to sing softly to herself. It was the same haunting song she had been singing earlier in the garden and in front of the castle. The images the song conjured began to take shape. The translucent couple danced around her room. Immediately she started to calm. Linnah took up the candle holder and without turning around, walked straight into the bathing room and partially shut the door behind her.
Had she turned around at that moment, she would have seen Legolas enter her room and close the door silently behind him. He watched her from the once again darkened room. He had planned on announcing himself, but her beautiful voice had silenced his and he stared at the vision she created with her song. The prince did not recognize the dark haired human, but the elven maiden looked familiar some how. He almost wished the maiden would lift her face from the shoulder of the male she danced with, but this was not to be.
The prince stood completely still just inside the bedroom door. He watched Linnah go into the bathing room. His face was calm and he gently smiled. It pleased him that she had found her way back on her own. Somehow he knew that she would. She had always had a strong spirit.
Linnah set down the candle on the edge of the basin. She went to the tub and lifted a small handle attached to it. Warm water ran into the tub from a hot spring deep below the castle. She started to remove the lavender dress.
Legolas used the sound of the running water to move closer to the door of the bathing room. He watched her slowly remove her dress and underclothing. His inner voice was telling him to leave, that this was completely improper, but he was transfixed by the sight of her; the swell of her large breasts, the graceful curving of her hips. Linnah gathered up her beautiful mahogany hair and twisted it around. She then took a hair clip from near the basin and clipped her hair up on her head. She bent over slightly and added sweet smelling oil to the water. The prince watched her step into the tub and push down on the handle to stop the flow of water. It wasn't until the sound of flowing water stopped, that the prince realized his breath had quickened by what he saw.
Linnah leaned back, resting her head on the edge of the tub. She paused in her song and sighed deeply. The water felt so good and calming. For the first time all day, Linnah allowed herself to completely relax. The floating images disappeared.
Legolas was trying to decide what to do. He knew he should leave and come back later, but his feet wouldn't allow him to move. He needed to speak with her urgently. As Linnah cleansed her body, he too needed to cleanse the heaviness from his mind. Throwing caution to the wind, he decided to inform her of his presence.
Somewhere in her head, Linnah heard the prince's voice. He was speaking very softly and slowly. "Linnah, please do not be alarmed. I am here with you and mean you no harm."
"What? Did she just hear right? Who was with her?"
"It's Legolas and I'm behind you, just outside the door," said Legolas gently.
Linnah felt the breath catch in her throat. Thoughts raced each other round and round in her mind. "What was he doing in her private chambers? Did he need her assistance? Was this what she was to expect, now that she attended royals? That she could be called upon whenever one had a whim, even when it meant invading her privacy? He must have been standing there long enough to see her undress. Entering her room without her permission! Did he really think her that simple? Was she to endure more insults? What makes the royals think that they can just take their liberties with her, whenever they wished? Then she thought suddenly, "Oh no, what if it's not the prince and really Lord Orlindel again?" Throwing politeness to the wind, she repeated the words sternly that had been asked of her earlier in the prince's chambers, "How long were you going to stand there without announcing yourself?"
Completely caught off guard by the commanding voice that came from her sweet lips, Legolas answered in barely a whisper, "I do not know, my lady."
Turning her head slightly, without facing him she said angrily, "I have no idea why you have come here or why you felt you could take this liberty with me. I have endured enough of your whims to last a lifetime. I know my words hold no sway over yours, but I will have to ask you to leave me now and at least honor my privacy in my own chambers."
Legolas felt truly wounded by her anger even though he knew he deserved it. Getting caught up in his voyeuristic moment, he'd overstepped his bounds and regretted his decision.
Quietly he said, "Linnah, I'm sorry. You are right to be angry with me. My only excuse for this intrusion is...well, I came here to..." He bent his head and sighed. "I seemed to have lost all my good sense. Please forgive my invasion of your privacy. I got caught up in the moment, you see..., what I mean is, I...," He shook his head, not sure of how to explain himself properly. "Whether you believe it or not, your words do hold sway over me Linnah and I am truly humbled before you..." As the prince turned to leave, under his breath she heard him say, "You deserve better than this."
She heard the door shut softly behind her. "Oh, by the Valar, it really is the prince!" Without thinking twice, she said loudly, "Your Highness! Wait!"
The door opened slightly. "Yes?"
"Please wait for me in my room while I put something on. I wish to ask you something."
"Of course Linnah," said Legolas, relieved that she was still willing to speak to him. He closed the bathing room door and sensing his way to her bed, sat down in the dark to await her.