Legolas led Linnah out of the hall and on to the open balcony. The music drifted with them out into the night air. He released her hand and taking a step back, bowed deeply to her.

"My Lady?" he asked, righting himself and extending his hand. "Shall we dance?"

"I…," stammered Linnah. She was very shaken up from her encounter with the king and Lord Orlindel's comment did not go unnoticed. "Dance?"

"Why not?" he asked, smiling broadly. He was not about to let Orlindel nor his father ruin his evening with her. There were too few of them left.

Linnah paused and then said sheepishly, "If you wish." She curtsied properly and rising to take his offered hand said, "I would be honored, my Lord."

Raising Linnah's hand high and clasping just her fingertips, the prince danced her around him in a circle, keeping time with the music. Linnah tried desperately to remember how the steps to this formal dance went. She had watched the royals do this so many times while attending these feasts. Sometimes the servants had small gatherings of their own, usually in the kitchen. Often dancing occurred, but it was never this formal and she told him so. Legolas kept his movements fluid and slightly shifted his hand in hers so that he now circled around her.

"Perhaps we should join the kitchen party later?" he said laughing. His blue eyes never left hers, his love for her evident. Linnah moved left when she was supposed to move right and collided into him. Laughing again, he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into kiss him.

Melting against him, she heard him say, "Maybe we should skip the formal dancing." Still holding her close to him, Legolas began to sway his hips to the music. Linnah looked up into his handsome face, moonlight and shadow accentuated his chiseled features. With his clothing so formal and the crown about his head, he was a sight to behold. She felt intoxicated and it was more from his majestic presence than the effect of the wine. She sighed as she moved her body in rhythm with his.

"I like this much better," she said smiling.

"Mm, so do I," he replied, gazing down at her. He brought a hand up and used the back of his fingers to delicately stoke the side of her cheek. He sighed. "I apologize for my father's behavior in there," he said motioning with his head toward the Banquet Hall, "as well as Orlindel's."

"In regards to the king, I should be the one apologizing. It's my presence that seemed to anger him. You should have told me this was your mother's," said Linnah touching the necklace lightly.

"I wanted to wait until the right time to tell you. I was worried that if I told you before the meal, you would refuse to wear it. I'm sorry you had to find out this way." He looked at her lovingly and said, "Please don't fault yourself for my father's anger, Linnah. His troubles are deeper then just our union. My father has seen many winters and the winter that is almost upon us may be his last." Legolas paused and sighed sadly. "War is coming, Linnah. It is unavoidable now. Like his father before him, he will fight to the death to protect his people and so will all the elves who serve him."

"And so will you," said Linnah softly, more as a statement then a question.

"Yes, so will I," replied Legolas, looking determined. "It is my duty; one I am fully prepared to fulfill." He smoothed a stray mahogany hair behind her slightly pointed ear and said, "But my destiny is to be with you as well. This uncertainty will pass, my love. Before you know it, we will be together untroubled and all of this turmoil will seem a distant memory." He ran his fingers once again over her face.

Linnah closed her eyes for a moment to concentrate on the touch of his fingers and the feel of his body moving in rhythm so close to hers. The smell of the garden below them invaded her senses and when she opened her eyes again, she was looking over the balcony down at the Lady's statue. Legolas had refused to tell her the details of Lady Elessa's death. But he did tell her that he was there with her, at the end. In this at least, she was relieved. Unexpectedly her thoughts turned toward her mother. She asked, "Legolas?"

"Yes."

"I have been told much about my mother's arrival here and of her death, but I have yet to be told where she was buried."

"Oh, Linnah. Forgive me for not informing you of this sooner," said Legolas stopping their dance mid-movement. He took her hand and said, "Come with me."

Linnah followed him down the steps and onto the garden path. They wove their way through the varying displays of lush flowers and plants. Linnah recognized the low bench as they approached a small clearing in the garden. It was the same bench she had been sitting on when Aragorn had come upon her singing. It was her favorite spot in the whole garden.

Legolas sat her down next to him on the bench. "Linnah, see the area that the moonlight is shining on?"

"Yes, of course. Those are my favorite of all the flowers here. I have always wondered why they only grow in this one spot."

Legolas spoke softly, "This is where your mother lies, Linnah."

Linnah looked into his face and saw that there was no mistake about his sincerity. She slowly turned her eyes from his to the lilac flowers before her. She then stood from the bench and knelt at the edge of the flowers.

Legolas stood behind her and waited patiently for her to return to him. He felt her sorrow and his heart ached with hers. Linnah bowed her head, as tears formed in her eyes.

"Mother?" Linnah whispered. "I have sat by your side countless times, but never did I know I was so close…" Her tears began falling from her face and onto the bodice of her dress.

Linnah let herself cry for a moment and then continued, "Thank you for protecting me. For bringing me to this place and saving my life. I can not imagine what it must have been like for you, when you realized you were no longer safe in the arms of the one you loved. You were so brave. I pray that in my journey ahead, I will show half as much of the courage you possessed. I will do my best to honor your memory and make you proud of me." Legolas placed his hand gently on Linnah's shoulder and gave it a tender squeeze. Linnah grasped onto his hand continued to cry quietly.

"She is with you Linnah," said Legolas, smiling kindly. "She will always be with you. The bond between mother and child is greater than any bond that exists in Arda and beyond. I see her light in you; her kindness and unselfishness. Without you realizing it, she has guided you this far and without a doubt, she will light your path home."

Linnah turned her face towards the prince and smiled behind her tears. "Thank you for that, Legolas. Thank you so very much." She reached out to him and he helped her to her feet. He handed her a soft cloth that he had in his pocket. It was ornately decorated with silver thread and in one corner was the insignia of the House of Mirkwood. She used this to dry her eyes. Linnah stood silently by her mother's grave for several minutes, unconsciously fingering the queen's necklace about her neck. Legolas patiently stood along side her. After a time, she said, "Thank you," again, as she handed him back his handkerchief.

"Please Linnah, you keep it," he said, squeezing his hand over hers. She nodded her thanks and put the handkerchief into a pocket in the skirt of her dress. "Now," he said lightly, changing the subject, trying to cheer her up. "Shall we go to the kitchen and see if we can't get some more food and drink?"

"Aye, Legolas. Some more drink would suit me just fine."

They left the garden and ventured back into the Banquet Hall. Many eyes followed them as they walked past the king without so much as a glance in his direction. Much to the shock of the kitchen staff, they entered the busy kitchen and took a seat at the servants' table. Meena hurriedly came over to them and after curtseying to the prince, sat down by Linnah.

"Linnah, dearest, you look radiant. I knew the dress would be perfect." Then she leaned into the table and said to Legolas, "And you don't look too bad yourself, if you don't mind me saying so, my Lord. It's good to see you fully clothed for once!"

"Thank you, Meena," replied Legolas, laughing good naturedly. Then looking lovingly at Linnah said, "But I believe Linnah out-shines all of us here tonight."

Linnah blushed and Meena responded, "I couldn't agree with you more, your Highness. Now what can I get you both?"

After more food and a great deal more wine, the kitchen staff had another shock when Aragorn entered the room and sat down across the table from Legolas and Linnah.

"What's the world coming to when a guest of the king, a servant dressed as royalty and the crown prince himself sits with the help?" asked a cook loudly to Meena. Aragorn and Legolas looked at each other and then burst out laughing.

Aragorn then turned his laughing eyes on Linnah. "I am ready for my dance, Linnah. I believe you have kept me waiting long enough!" he said, suddenly slamming his hands down on the table in mock anger and standing.

Linnah looked at Legolas, who only shrugged innocently and said, "I try not to argue with rangers who are full of drink. Especially if it's Dorwinion wine."

Aragorn looked at Linnah mischievously and winked at her. Then he grabbed her hand and practically flew her out of the kitchen and into the Banquet Hall. Linnah stumbled after him and was amazed that, once he was dancing her in front of the minstrels, she was actually able to keep from crashing into him as she had done earlier with Legolas.

Orlindel watched them carefully from across the room. He was talking with another Lord of the castle, but his eyes continually wandered back to Linnah. When the other lord noticed the direction of his stare, Orlindel said quickly, "It's disgraceful for a servant to act in this manner, especially with a guest of the king." He drank deeply from his goblet and asked, "Who does she think she is?" But in his mind's eye he could see himself alone with her, rending her dress from her body, exploring her charms and claiming them for his own. Or better still, swelling her belly with his heir...The one Legolas denied him.

After several dances, Aragorn reluctantly handed Linnah back over to Legolas, only because by that point Legolas's jesting of 'arrows at ten paces' was becoming less of a joke.

Linnah felt the prince's warm hand on her lower back as he said, "I feel compelled to be outside, under the stars." They said their "good-night" to Aragorn, who placed a hand on his chest and bowed to them.

Linnah allowed herself to be led once again out of the Banquet Hall, but this time it was toward the front of the castle. They made their way through the Great Hall and up the slope of the Entrance Hall. Linnah had no idea where they were going as they passed through the Great Gates of the castle. As they came upon some slightly startled guards, Legolas turned to them and said, "Tell no one where we are going, I wish not to be disturbed this night." The guards nodded their heads respectfully in response.

"Where are we going?" asked Linnah.

Looking into the trees, Legolas responded softy, "I have a talan that I keep for nights when I need to get out of the castle. I am taking you there."

Linnah's body warmed with anticipation as she smiled to herself.