A/N: "...and even more Lembas bread." Err...I mean rated R stuff. (Sometimes I'm so silly)

Linnah was now in Lady Elessa's chamber, but the chamber was empty. She set down the tray on a small table and noticed a note stuck in between the frame and the mirror on the Lady's vanity table. It read:

"Linnah, I decided to rise early today and go riding with Orlindel.
I should be back by the mid-day meal. Meet me back here at that time.
Signed, Lady Elessa."

"Well, I guess I should bring the tray back to the kitchen," thought Linnah absently. She picked up the tray and made her way out of the Lady's chambers, down the hall and into the stairway. A few downward steps and her breath was stolen from her body. Her feet refused to move. Legolas was climbing the stairs towards her.

He was already smiling with the knowledge of her. The prince had sensed her before he even saw her. They were alone in the stairway and he took full advantage of it. He stopped at the step just below hers. Noticing the contents of the tray she held, he calmly picked up a piece of the untouched fruit. Lifting it to his mouth, he took a large bite. Legolas never stopped smiling as he did this and his twinkling eyes never left hers.

"My Lord," Linnah began nervously. She fumbled for words as she watched his beautiful mouth chew the fruit. "This is the Lady's tray."

Legolas swallowed and said, "It does not look like the Lady had much of an appetite." He grinned and looking at her knowingly, slowly wiped a slight trace of the fruit's juice from the corners of his mouth. "I, for some reason, am hungrier than usual this morning."

Linnah felt her knees start to give and she almost dropped the tray. Legolas reached out to help steady her and the tray and said, laughing in spite of himself, "Here, let me help you with that."

"Thank you, my Lord," said Linnah handing the tray over to him. Her heart was beating so hard, she thought it might leap out of her chest. "I just...feel a little tired."

"Hmm. I see," said the prince thoughtfully. "Do you think you could find the strength to follow me to my chambers?"

Linnah looked at him shocked. She wasn't sure she heard him right. "Your chambers, my Lord?"

"Aye. I can't see all this food going to waste and I am not accustomed to delivering my own tray."

"Oh," said Linnah. Then trying to pull herself together, "I will attend you then, your Highness."

"And I you, my Lady," said Legolas, giving her a wink.

Linnah was left speechless. Her mouth opened and refused to close, as she watched him walk past her with the tray. He stopped after a few stairs and turned to look at her, smiling. "Well? Are you coming Linnah?"

Before she could respond, he turned back and continued up the stairs ahead of her. She finally got her feet to move and trailed behind him. He purposely did not look back at her now, which allowed Linnah the freedom to stare at him unashamed. Legolas was wearing his crown and his more formal silver and blue attire. "He must have just come from the king's throne room," she thought. His soft boots made no noise as he climbed the stairway. His blond hair laid straight and smooth on his broad shoulders. She could make out every shift of muscle in his strong legs under the dark gray leggings.

The prince felt her eyes taking him in. He smiled to himself. They came to the entrance of the hall that led to his chambers. Entering the hallway, Legolas allowed Linnah to pass him so she might open his chamber door. They entered his chambers and Legolas placed the tray on the nightstand next to his bed. "Linnah, would you get the door, please?"

Linnah closed the door and before she could turn around, he was instantly behind her, wrapping his arms around her. An impassioned ache attacked her as he kissed her neck and ears. He whispered huskily, "All morning you have entered my thoughts."

"I had almost convinced myself last night was a dream," said Linnah breathily, leaning back against him. In her head she heard his voice, "Aye Linnah, a beautiful dream." Nervousness left her at the feel of his familiar touch. She felt safe being held tightly in the strength of his arms. He turned her around easily to face him. She closed her eyes as he leaned in to kiss her mouth. His kiss became more impassioned and he lifted his hands to either side of her jaw as he kissed her. Her cheeks became flushed.

Legolas pulled away from her slowly and not removing his hands, took his time to gaze down at her. "I wish all things in Middle Earth could be as serene as the vision I behold," said Legolas softly. But after his morning meeting, he could not keep back the uneasy feelings that took shadow over his thoughts. His brows knitted together and his face suddenly became serious. He let his hands leave Linnah's face and he took hold of her hands in his.

"My Lord?" asked Linnah, concerned at the change in the prince's expression.

"I need to speak with you for a moment, Linnah," said Legolas quietly.

"Of course."

He led her across the floor and motioned for her to sit in one of the chairs in front of the fireplace. When Linnah was seated, he offered her a piece of fruit off the Lady's tray. She refused, so he took it for himself and sat down in the chair opposite hers. Legolas started to peel the fruit slowly and turned his words over in his mind before he spoke.

Linnah remained quiet while she patiently waited for him to speak. It was so easy to just sit there and look upon him. He was looking down at his hands as he worked the skin loose from the fruit. He looked so handsome and regal in his dress tunic, vest and silver crown. Very much the royalty he was and yet tried so hard to make others ignore.

Legolas looked up at her and started to speak, but when his eyes fell upon hers, he stopped and instead just smiled affectionately at her.

"What is it, your Highness?" asked Linnah smiling back at him curiously.

"It's nothing...I just...I just wish not to bring worry to your beautiful face." He sighed deeply and looked back down at his hands. The peel was now in a small pile at his feet, but he was absently turning the fruit over and over with his fingers.

Legolas wanted to tell her about the growing danger outside of Mirkwood. He wanted to warn her of the possibility of war. How could she possibly understand? She has been insulated from the outside world her whole life, her only contact with the negative unfortunately exposed to her by Orlindel. Legolas wanted to protect her, to shelter her from darkness and yet he could not always be at her side. He was the son of the king and as such, had other duties to fulfill. The prince finally decided that prudence was the best course of action.

He didn't look up but started to speak, "As you can see by my clothing Linnah, I have just come from the meeting I spoke of earlier this morning in your chambers." He paused to take a bite of the fruit.

As he finished chewing, Linnah thought, "Was it really just this morning we were together?"

"As it turns out, I have some additional duties to attend to, starting this afternoon. I may not be able to see you again for a while."

"Oh?" Linnah was starting to become worried in spite of the prince's trying to avoid it.

He looked up immediately, sensing her despair. "Oh Linnah, it's really nothing, please do not be worry." He sighed. He couldn't bring himself to tell her what was really troubling him and instead said, "I am just unhappy that I can not spend more time with you. Before I found out about the new duties, I was planning to steal you away from Elessa this afternoon. And now I can not."

Linnah smiled and offered, "Well if it makes any difference, my Lord, the Lady is out riding and will not be back until the mid-day meal. I have no other obligations until then."

The prince's countenance changed immediately and he gave her a mischievous grin and exclaimed, "Oh yes you have!" He dropped the fruit on top of its discarded peel and surprised Linnah, who squealed with delight, as he at once scooped her up and lifted her into his arms.

Legolas reasoned that his new duties would not begin for a few more hours. A few hours best spent in the company of his sweet elf maiden. He sensed forebodingly that his world was about to change, but for now he could loose himself once again in her deep hazel eyes. Eyes the color of the forest he loved.

"Come into my bed, Lady Linnah," he whispered huskily in her ear.

"Yes, my Lord," said Linnah, feeling her heart start to pound violently in her chest once again.

He carried her over to his bed and set her carefully down. While Linnah looked on with her eyes full of passion, he removed his boots, socks and vest. She rested back against the mountain of pillows behind her and watched his slender, well defined torso emerge from the tunic he now pulled over his head. Her whole body was reacting to the vision before her, anticipating the feel of his skin on hers, feeling the almost painful ache of her lower region, ripening itself for his entry.

Legolas smiled softly at her as he slowly untied the lacings of his leggings and slid his thumbs under the band, pulling them down and off. He stood before her tall, proud and already fully aroused.

"Should I leave my crown on?" asked Legolas teasingly.

"Not if you want me to call you Legolas," said Linnah, letting out a little gasp of surprise and immediately clasping her hands over her mouth.

The utterance shocked and excited him. He moaned inwardly, removed his crown quickly and practically leapt onto the bed. He aggressively pulled her to him and kissed her with a fever heat. Into her mouth he demanded urgently as he kissed her, "Speak it again, Linnah."

"My Lord!" exclaimed Linnah, taken by surprise at his impassioned behavior. She brought her hands to his shoulders and pushed him back slightly. "Please remember that I am newly introduced this form of intimacy."

"I am perfectly aware of that Linnah," he replied calmly. He smiled slyly and bit his lower lip as he ran his hand up her leg and under her dress. "But I am also aware...," as his hand reached the end of its journey, "of the heat I feel here." He emphasized his point by sliding two fingers slowly under the thin fabric of her undergarment and dipping them in gently.

She gasped and threw her head back in ecstasy at the entrance of his long fingers. She was still sensitive from the night before and it would not take much manipulation on his part to bring her to completion. Linnah reached up and held on to his shoulders to steady herself.

He leaned his face close to hers and she felt his hot breath on her lips. "Now speak it again, Linnah," he demanded once more.

"Legolas," she moaned. "Legolas, ahh, Legolas..."

The prince's eyes were ablaze as he looked upon her, his fingers skillfully moving in and out of her. Linnah's mouth was open slightly as her breath was coming faster. And although her eyes were locked onto his, they had a glazed, faraway look to them. He knew she was very close.

As predicted, it did not take long for him to fulfill his unspoken obligation and Linnah wrapped her arms around his neck tightly as her body trembled with intense release. Into his ear, Linnah whispered breathily, "Thank you Legolas."

He smiled as he removed his hand slowly and kissed her fevered brow. Her eyes were closed now and her breath was coming in short gasps. She slumped back into the pillows. The prince decided that his maiden was in no position to move, so he gently undressed her, carefully unlacing and unbinding her clothing. Linnah was so spent, she could only utter a slight whimper as he finished removing the last garment and made her as naked as he.

Legolas kissed her softly over every inch of her flesh and laid down beside her. He stroked her hair and ran his fingertips lightly over her skin. After several minutes, when she finally opened her eyes and whispered his name again, he mounted her. He kissed her deeply and drove himself into her fully, taking his time, his eyes never leaving hers.