Legolas, Thranduil and his guards made their way through the Great Hall. Lords, Ladies and servants bowed and curtsied as the king passed. With the uproar now quieting, everyone was milling about or going back to their previous business.

Thranduil motioned for a servant to come to him. When the servant came near, the king asked that Gillel bring wine to his throne room. The servant nodded, bowed to the king and then quickly went away. Two other attendants came forward and took their weapons for cleaning. As they stood there removing their weaponry, Legolas could not help scanning the hall for Linnah. She would have to be told about Elessa and he wanted it to be him. He wondered what she had done with herself after he had left her. He was surprised that she was not there, awaiting his return, as she was so upset about him leaving.

The group entered the throne room and the guards stayed near the doors as the prince and his father continued towards a large table inside. Thranduil motioned for Legolas to sit. Then the king took a chair opposite them at the table. The prince waited for his father to speak. Nothing was said until Gillel entered the room. He was holding a tray with four goblets and a large decanter of wine. Legolas at once sensed an unease surrounding the butler. Gillel's hands were shaking slightly as he set down the tray on a side table and again as he poured wine into a goblet for the king.

"Is everything alright, Gillel?" asked Legolas.

"Um, yes of course, your Highness," answered the butler.

Thranduil even looked up at Gillel, who was not a very good liar. "What is wrong, Gillel?" asked the king.

"Nothing that is worth troubling you about, Sire," answered Gillel as he placed a goblet in front of the king. "A servant collapsed during the uproar, but I have it under control."

"Which servant?" asked Legolas as unpretentiously as possible. "It couldn't be...," he thought to himself.

"Linnah, your Highness." At this, both Legolas and Thranduil immediately stood from the table and then realizing neither knew the other's reason for their reaction, looked at the each other momentarily in surprise.

Selihl's face was deeply troubled as he watched over Linnah. He held her hand and whispered quietly to her. "I don't understand what has happened to you Linnah. I hope you can forgive me for my words earlier. I meant nothing by it, really. You are as dear to me as my own sister. I acted foolishly. Please speak to me Linnah. Please say something."

Adriel sat opposite Selihl on the bed and watched her friend intently.

Linnah's face turned towards his voice and her eyes focused on his face. "Selihl?" She looked around her and saw Adriel sitting next to her as well. "Where is Gillel?" she asked weakly.

"He was summoned to the king's throne room," answered Meena, now entering the room. She turned her eyes toward Selihl. "I just stopped by for a moment. I brought Linnah some tea, but I must go back to check on the kitchen staff. I will return as soon as I can. Fetch me if she worsens in the slightest, understand?"

"Of course, Meena," answered Selihl.

Meena set the cup of steaming tea on Linnah's night stand and then walked over to her and gave her a motherly kiss on the forehead. "Rest child, you are in good hands."

Linnah nodded and waited until Meena left. She then looked at her friends and asked, "Is the prince alright? Are the orcs gone? Did he find Lady Elessa?"

"I have not yet heard word about the lady, but Prince Legolas is safe and the orcs are no more. Our prince is a great warrior, Linnah. Why would you worry so about him?" said Adriel.

"I...," began Linnah, thinking of the right way to respond. She was too physically and emotionally exhausted to hide her feelings from them. Looking into her friends' concerned faces, she couldn't bear the burden of a lie and said, "I love him."

"Yes, of course you do," said Selihl simply, patting her hand. "We all care greatly for the royals."

"No, Selihl. You don't understand...I'm in love with him." At this, the elven male dropped Linnah's hand in shock.

"Does he share this feeling for you?" asked Adriel.

Linnah realized at that moment, that she herself did not know, for sure. "I don't know. It has never been spoken, only implied." Linnah started to cry. "But he must...he must love me."

Selihl looked sternly at Linnah. "This is forbidden to us, Linnah. You know that as well as I. Servants do not bed royals. Servants do not allow themselves to fall in love with those whom they serve."

Linnah stopped crying and looked at Selihl stunned. "I never said I bedded him."

Adriel immediately looked at Selihl and waited for him to respond.

Selihl sighed and then softening his face, confessed, "I saw you earlier, Linnah. Lord Orlindel had forgotten something in his chambers and I was on my way to retrieve it for him, when I came upon you and Prince Legolas in the stairway. I overheard your conversation. I know you followed him to his chambers." Selihl paused as he weighed his next words. He hated to say it, but he felt he must. "Linnah, you are not the first he has taken there."

"Selihl!" exclaimed Adriel, shocked at his forwardness.

"I am not blind, Selihl. I grew up in this castle, just like you. I know of this," said Linnah tiredly. In her heart, she had just chosen not to think about it. Then she thought to herself, "No wonder Selihl was in such a dark mood earlier in the kitchen."

Selihl lifted her hand into his again and continued as gently as possible, "I know you are in no condition for a lecture, but as your friend I have to say that thinking anything can come of this is ill-advised. You know how these royals are, Linnah. There is nothing for you in this, but pain and torment. When he has had his fill of you, he will move on to the next maiden." He shook his head sadly, "I would wish better for you."

"He is not Lord Orlindel, Selihl. You are too close to that royal to see that others are far better. Legolas is nothing like his cousin."

"What did you just call him?" asked Selihl, shocked. Adriel now looked at Linnah in the same manner.

Linnah paused a moment and said, "I called him by his name. It is something that he has requested of me and I have chosen to honor that." Though she disagreed with his assessment of the prince, she still turned over Selihl's words in her mind. If she let herself believe Selihl to be right, with all that she had just been through, she would surely die of a broken heart, and no ounce of human blood in her veins could save her of this. She looked at Selihl earnestly. "Please understand, I have to believe you are wrong about him, Selihl. My spirit could not take it if I thought you were right."

"For your sake Linnah, I hope that I am wrong as well."