AN: I am going to be answering all the reviews personally now. I love reading my personal replies to the reviews I send. Good idea ne? Oh and this is the last chapter that I had pre-written before I started posting this. I shall do my best to finish the next chapter soon.

Sakura Sama:My dear, if I told whether or not they will be joining the fellowship would that ruin the surprise? But I will say this: Legolas is going to take them to Rivendell when he gets better. After that, we shall see ne? But if you are really desperate for the answer put your email on your next review. I shall send you the answer personally.

Dracuras the Dragonmaster: Long time no see old friend. I am glad that you are reading this fic. It is nice to know that you still know that I exist even after you graduated. You may be all grown up now but you're still a geek. The thought is very comforting I must admit. I am dedicating this chapter to you! (huggles)

Gildholen Eledolin: Did I spell that right? My oh my that's a mouthfull. I cannot exactly recall whether or not it is mentioned in the Silmarillion but it is common belief in the LotR fandom that Elves sleep with their eyes open except when their bodies are under a great deal of stress. Now if you can forgive that run-on sentence...

SlummyRedDragon: Thank you, I shall do my best to avoid that. I actually have a tentative plan for this fic and shall do my best to stick to it. Wish me luck! XD

Chapter 5: Lessons in love

Miroku sighed. No matter what he did he couldn't prove his love to Sango. He had had her like putty his hands so many times. Somehow he always managed to screw it up. Miroku had no idea what he was doing wrong. What added insult to injury is that Inu Yasha and Kagome had managed to work things out. Their relationship was far from perfect. That much was obvious. But at least they had a relationship to speak of.

Miroku sighed again and picked moodily at his food. He was in the hall where the Elves all ate together. He could see the high table where Thranduil and his elder sons sat discussing something that appeared quite serious. He saw Calengaladh scowl about something and then Mithsirion got up and walked off, appearing as though on some urgent business. From what Miroku could tell, Mithsirion was always on important business.

Just then Thaurondo sat down beside him laughing merrily. Miroku glared at him, jealous of his cheery mood. "Ah, I'm famished! I feel as though I'm wasting away to nothing. A strong wind could blow me away I should think!" He dished some food onto his plate and grinned at Miroku. "So I hear the young princeling has awakened! That's good news no?"

"Princeling? You mean Legolas?" Miroku asked staring incredulously at the gate warden. "He doesn't seem all that young." Thaurondo snorted most unelvishly.

"He's nearly five hundred years my junior. I can call him whatever I like. Plus we're pretty good friends. I know he wouldn't mind. Elbereth knows he never shows me any respect."

"Five hundred years!" Miroku exclaimed in shocked disbelief. "Just how old are you?"

"Three thousand seven hundred and twenty nine." Thaurondo frowned. "I think. We elves don't really keep track. What? What! " He laughed, savouring Miroku's utterly shocked expression. "You didn't know that Elves are immortal? Oh that's right! You're not from Middle Earth are you?" Thaurondo winked at the monk. "We all have our secrets. Luinel just happened to tell me yours. Don't worry. I won't tell a soul. You keep Luinel and Legolas' secret and I won't tell your secret."

"Thank you for that. I knew you Elves were trustworthy." That over with and Thaurondo now happily eating next to him Miroku went back to picking at his food.

"What ails you my friend?" Thaurondo asked with concern.

"Woman troubles," he said. Thaurondo nodded.

"Sango perhaps? Don't look so shocked. It's written all over your face. Hers as well if I'm not mistaken. I believe she shares your feelings. One or both of you just needs to come out and tell the other. I have the feeling that Sango is waiting for you to do just so." Thaurondo grinned taking a sip from his wine glass.

"I've tried to tell her several times. But it never seems to work," Miroku said, setting his fork down. Kagome had brought over some of those strange eating utensils one time trying to explain more about western culture to the rest of the gang. She had taught them how to use them and Miroku was now glad that she had. It saved them all from a potential embarrassing situation and an empty stomach.

"Well, why don't you tell me about one of them? A time when you were so close that she almost told you she loved you." Miroku looked at Thaurondo, trying to decide his motives. He looked about Sango, Inu Yasha, Kagome and Shippo were no where to be seen so Thaurondo wasn't trying to embarrass him or anything. His Elven friend seemed to genuinely want to help.

"One time we passed through a village where all the men had disappeared. They had gone up onto the mountain and were never seen again. It had been said that a youkai, or demon, was the cause. According to rumour the youkai was a princess who was with an army of vanquished soldiers. Every one of the soldiers protecting the princess had died. Apparently her anger at being abandoned had turned her into a youkai. I couldn't believe it myself. So I had to go up the mountain and see if the rumours were true.

"Sango went after me to… make sure I didn't get hurt I guess. I had wanted to do this alone because I wanted to defeat the youkai without the need for a battle. I have special powers which I had believed in those circumstances would have exorcised the youkai. I gave her a magical bracelet which made it so that the youkai would not be able to see her. I wanted to protect her in return you see.

"In order to get to the youkai we had to pass through a magical barrier. I had no problem getting through but Sango… Well suffice it to say that we were separated. I found myself in the midst of a thick fog. Then, suddenly, the princess was there. Oh, she was beautiful! She asked me to come to the castle and I did. She told me her story and I learned that it was not hate, anger, or even bitterness that had turned her into a youkai. She had been lonely. She asked me to spend the night with her. I was going to but Sango attacked."

"Hold on! How can you expect Sango to love you and believe in your love if you sleep with other women?" Thaurondo arched an eyebrow and shook his head. "You're a real letch aren't you? No wonder she attacked."

"I suppose so. But we aren't a couple yet so it's not like I'm not being unfaithful or anything. She was just trying to protect me. She did seem rather shocked that I wasn't bewitched by the youkai. The youkai had heard Sango's voice and, in anger, had turned into her true form, a wild dog. It was huge! I knew that the real princess was still inside. The youkai had been using her body to steal the youth from young men in order to gain eternal life and power."

"How horrible!" Thaurondo exclaimed and the colour drained from his face. "You have monsters in your world that do such things! But I don't see what this has to do with proving your love to Sango."

"I'm getting to that. Just be patient. Using some sacred scrolls I was able to separate the princess from the wild dog. Sango and I then worked together and destroyed the demon. The castle we were in disappeared, as did the fog. The princess then disappeared. Her soul was finally at peace and able to pass on. When we got back everything seemed normal but Sango was really depressed. Kagome told me and I went to ask her what was wrong and comfort her if I could.

"She was sitting by the river tossing rocks at the fish. I sat down next to her and asked her what was bothering her. She said she had been stupid to follow me, that I could have defeated the demon on my own. I told her that she was wrong and I had relied on her strength. It had been true. I had not anticipated that the actual youkai would have been that strong. I told her that her concern for me meant more than that of any other woman."

"Good! Good! What happened next?" Thaurondo asked excitedly. "Honestly I don't see how you could have made a mess out of this one. Go on!"

"She blushed and turned her back to me, probably thinking of what to say. But then my… err… habit kicked in." Miroku smiled sheepishly.

"Habit?" Thaurondo asked, taking another sip of wine.

"He gave her rear a good massage," Inu Yasha said, making his presence known. Miroku gave a startled yelp and Thaurondo sprayed his wine across the table. The Elf wiped his mouth and stared incredulously at Miroku. He turned to Inu Yasha.

"You must be joking!" Inu Yasha laughed at Thaurondo and shook his head. Kagome giggled and leaned on Inu Yasha's arm. They had both wandered down there after exploring most of the upper levels. "No wonder Sango isn't all yours! Women, above all, need respect. You need her to know that's she more important to you than anything else. Running around with other women and 'your habit' show her that you don't respect her at all. Keep your hands to yourself for Elbereth's sake!"

"You're wasting your breath Thaurondo," Inu Yasha said. "We've told him this many times before and it hasn't been hammered into that thick skull of his yet."

"Well have you told him what else he can do with his hands or have to just told him to lay off?" Inu Yasha was silent. "I thought so. Listen Miroku, Sango probably does like to be touched. But there are other places that you can do so. Put your arms around her shoulders, take her hand, run your fingers through her hair if you have to but leave her bottom alone! Humans! Sometimes I just don't understand!" A couple of beautiful Elf maidens walk into the hall and caught Thaurondo's eye. He drained the last of his wineglass. "Here, Miroku. Watch this."

Thaurondo walked up to the maidens, smiling jovially. He bowed low and they giggled. Thaurondo struck up a conversation and Miroku watched them flirt. Miroku couldn't understand a word that they were saying. He had the feeling that didn't matter. He needed to pay attention to the body language. He noted with some embarrassment that Thaurondo's hands never once strayed to a She-Elf'sbackside. Thaurondo brushed his fingers down the side of one of the maidens face and she turned bright red. She said something that caused the other girl to giggle like mad and Thaurondo to smile. Thaurondo took her by the waist and together they walked out of the hall. Before they disappeared Thaurondo turned and winked at Miroku.

Inu Yasha laughed and sat down across from Miroku and Kagome sat down next to Inu Yasha. "It seems as though you guys will have to continue your 'lesson' later Miroku."

"Oh, shut up!"

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"Legolas, how do you feel?" Hithwen asked, leaning over the bed, when Legolas awoke again.

"I've been better," Legolas groaned, trying to sit up. Hithwen gently pushed him back down.

"You've also been worse. Stay down; you gave everyone quite a scare you know, Luinel not least of all." Hithwen smiled affectionately at Legolas. Her husband, Vanaaduial, and Legolas were the best of friends along with Thaurondo. As such, Hithwen and Legolas were also close friends and had been so for hundreds of years.

"How bad was it?" Legolas asked, sinking comfortably into the pillows.

"For a while there we didn't think that you would make it. You're lucky those people brought you back so fast. A few more minutes and not even the Lord Elrond would have been able to save you. What were you thinking going out on your own li—" Legolas cut her off.

"Oh yeah! What about those people? The Lady Kagome and them! Are they alright? I sincerely hope Ada has treated them well. Calengaladh probably gave them a hard time. Did they relay my message?"

"Yes, your father is aware that Gollum has escaped. Mithsirion has most of the army out tracking that wretch. Personally, I don't think that we'll find him. He's too crafty for that. And they are all settled in quite nicely. They've managed to befriend both Thaurondo and Luinel. I don't think that Calengaladh was too bad. That Inu Yasha seems the type to really voice his opinion and he didn't seem to complain about Cale at all."

"When did you get the chance to meet them?"

'They stopped by this morning to check up on you. They seemed quite concerned. They ah, also know about you and Luinel?"

"What!" Legolas cried, sitting bolt upright again. "How?" Hithwen pushed him down again.

"Luinel was with them when they came to see you. She took one look at you lying her unconscious and I think that she forgot that anyone else was in the room to be honest. Do not worry, they swore that they would not tell. I think that they were very happy for the two of you to be honest. You had awoken then, don't you remember?"

"Oh, I remember Luinel calling to me and my awaking to her beautiful face. But I hadn't realized that those guys were here at the same time. Oh well, now I don't have to worry about them finding out at an inconvenient time."

"Hmmm… would you like me to inform the King that you are awake? Your in luck Legolas, you should be up and about by this time tomorrow."

"That would be lovely," Legolas said with a smile.

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AN: Yada yada. Another short chapter I know. I probably should have put this chapter with the last one since they are similar in theme but do you have any idea how long that chapter would be? Honestly, sometimes it's hard to find a balance. Oh, well. I'm not really sure what the next chapter will be about but it will probably involve getting ready to leave for Rivendell since Legolas is feeling much better now. Honestly, I'm way too cruel to the bishounen I write about. Heh heh… don't phone the pet police on me! XD The person to review first gets to glomp Fluffy-chan.