CHAPTER 13

A/N All of you can thank my mother talking too much on the phone while hogging the television. Go Marlins! Being left with nothing else to do but clean or sleep, I've finally started typing this chapter somewhere other than my head.

Legolas and Elenya sat in their respective chairs silently watching some birds resting on the branches in the trees outside. Elenya was now wearing one of several new dresses brought in for her in the past few days. Her first one was hanging in the closet, back from the cleaning elves it had been sent to.

Legolas languidly sipped some water while Elenya absentmindedly picked at some apple slices.

A slight knock on the door broke them out of reverie.

"Who is it?" he asked, but there was no answering call, just the small swoosh of a note being slipped under the door.

Elenya watched as he stood and retrieved the note, and silently read it to himself.

"Is anything wrong?" she asked.

"No. Here,"he handed her the note, "it concerns you as well."

Elenya read it to herself.

To Legolas, Prince of Mirkwood.

This is to alert you that there will be a dinner tonight hosted by myself, Thranduil. Lady Elenya's parents will also be in attendance. Neither your presence nor Lady Elenya's is required, but you are invited as well.

On another note my son, if you stay in that room another week, you will have benefited from this tradition longer than anyone before you. Perhaps I should warn Lord Elrond his record is being taken?

With Love,

King Thranduil of Mirkwood

" Lady Elenya'?" she whispered. "I am not a Lady of the court."

Legolas took the letter from her and looked over it. "I doubt it was a mistake on his part. There must be even more to this birthday tradition than we were told."

"Mother said I would rise in esteem for doing this. She didn't say I'd rise in rank as well," she said a bit confused.

"Well," Legolas said with a small smile, "it's nothing bad. So now you are a noble. It has advantages."

She smiled back at him. "I suppose. This has been all too strange. I really would like to speak to my parents about this. Perhaps they could tell me more."

Legolas sat back into his chair with a sigh. "I suppose we should attend that dinner tonight. If we leave now, we can probably get our bearings straight in time for dinner. Being in this room all these days has made me a bit dazed."

"Me too." Elenya became a little deflated at the thought of having to leave Legolas. She really hoped they could still form some sort of friendship after this. Maybe more in the future? But she did know they could not stay in here forever.

Legolas seemed to sense her reluctance. "We can still meet next Friday for lunch like we said," he offered.

Elenya smiled and then realized something and blushed. "Legolas! It is next Friday! We've been in here over a week."

Awareness dawned on him. "Oh, well how about next Friday from today? Next week we'll have lunch and a walk just like I promised."

"Sounds wonderful." And then as an afterthought she added, "we won't be partaking in well, I mean to say that after we leave this room that this physical intimacy between us is over now." Her words trembled slightly and it was hard for her to look him in the eyes for fear of what he might say.

"I know, Elenya. I would not use you in that manner. I would not have participated in this in the first place save you were such a temptation," he smiled shyly.

"Do you regret anything this week?"

"Never," he said firmly. "I just mean to say that I understand that this was an exception. A birthday tradition we were lucky to part of."

"I'm happy I had the chance to share this with you, Legolas. But now I would wait for my husband as I originally planned, and hope that what my mother said is true, and that this week between us will not deter any potential husbands."

"Do not worry, Elenya. I'm sure it will not. And I also would like to wait now for my future wife. I promise not to touch you again in that manner even if you asked it of me." Something about those last words made Legolas feel a sudden loss, and without thinking he muttered, "unless you are my wife."

All thought quickly flew from Elenya's mind and she could only focus on the last word he said. Wife. She sat there mutely, not knowing how to respond.

Legolas, having just realized what he just said, decided now would be a good time to end the conversation.

"Come, Elenya," and he held out his hand for her to take as he stood up. "Let us rejoin the rest of the world."

She nodded and took his hand, and they walked towards the exit.

The couple was suddenly overwhelmed as they walked out of the room together.

There were two maids on the bench in front of the door. One maid had them wait there in front of the room while the other maid walked swiftly down one of the hallways.

In a manner of minutes a team of about 10 elfmaids came back with the original maid. About five went into the bedroom carrying baskets of linens and different cleaning materials. Two were empty-handed but rushed in after the others.

The maid that had left was now ushering them in the direction of his father's study. She said the King wanted to speak to them.

Some of the other servants that arrived with the maid were trailing after them asking Elenya odd questions about her favorite colors and fabrics, and even flower.

Elenya answered despite having been a bit startled at the sudden rush of events.

They finally reached Thranduil's study and were led inside. The maid said his father would be in shortly before closing the door behind her.

They sat down in opposite chairs in front of Thranduil's larger chair.

"I don't think I prepared myself for what would actually happen when we left," Legolas said.

"Silly of us to think we could just walk out and go on about our lives, I suppose," she answered.

Just then the king walked in from a different door.

"I apologize for the wait, I was in the caves with some of the guard," he said and took his seat. "Well then, it's nice to see you two again."

"I suppose Elrond has nothing to fear about losing his title now," Legolas said.

His father laughed. "I suppose not. But don't mention it to him. It's been a very long time since he has been teased about his endurance, I imagine. You will probably get a few jokes yourself, my son. "

"Really? But those maids in front of our door stopped giggling days ago."

Thranduil laughed again.

"But anyway, there are things I brought you here in order to say." The two sat silently listening. "I want you, Elenya, to understand that you would have never been banished from my kingdom. I know it is a little late to tell you now. But Feryn is a bit sensitive when it comes to these matters and I have spoken to him already. Don't be surprised if he comes to you with an apology. I apologize to you myself. It was I who allowed him to be in charge of Legolas' birthday preparations."

"But isn't it the law that if I had refused I would have been banished? My father said so as well."

"Well, yes. I could have. To refuse something which is considered such a valued gift would be an insult. I didn't know Feryn had threatened you with banishment until later on. By then the maids informed me it would have been pointless to intervene as you two had already partaken of each other."

The two young elves blushed.

"I hope, Elenya," Thranduil began again, "that Feryn's threat was not the reason you chose to agree to be with my son. If it is I owe you a greater apology."

"No, my Lord," she answered quickly. "Yes, I was scared at first, but I actually agreed because a conversation I had prior to all this with Legolas I mean, Prince Legolas led me to believe that he would have refused me anyway."

"Do you accept my apology then?"

"Yes, my Lord," Elenya replied. She could see Thranduil was at least in some part remorseful about Feryn's actions.

"Banishment for refusing is an old law. The same type that insists we are gentle with all living creatures. And now our green woods are tainted. The forest infested with spiders. What I mean to say is, some laws are too old to apply and need to be rethought. You may leave now. The maid outside will take you to get ready for this evening. Is there anything you wanted to say before you go?"

One big question popped up in Elenya's mind. But then she remembered that the letter referring to her as Lady Elenya was addressed to Legolas alone. Afraid to betray the confidence she bit her lip and shook her head in the negative.

"Very well, you are dismissed," he said. " We will see you at dinner."

They exchanged their good-byes and Elenya walked out.

"Legolas I know what you are thinking," Thranduil said.

"And what is that?" He had watched Elenya as she walked out the door. His feelings were so muddled he didn't know where to begin. He would miss her companionship. That was certain. But were all these feelings the product of being so physically intimate or something more?

"I went through it all too, you know," Thranduil said. "And yes, you will miss her."

"Do you still miss your gift, for lack of better word."

"After we realized that there was nothing more between us than a deep respect and caring we became very good friends. Even today we still share at least one dance at every party."

"You mean she's still here? Who is she?"

Thranduil sighed. "You know her Legolas. You've known her all your life. But I cannot reveal her to you further without braking a promise I made many years ago when you were first born."

Legolas grew a little frustrated. "I don't understand."

"Don't be angered. You will be furious later anyhow, save it for then. For now let us discuss the Lady Elenya."

Thranduil was trying to distract his son now.

Legolas wasn't easily fooled "Fine. I see you will not discuss this further with me and I can accept that it is your private life. About Elenya, why is she suddenly raised in rank now?"

"It is part of the tradition. It is done in order to reflect to what esteem she has risen. She will have rooms in the palace if she wishes it. They have been set aside for her for centuries."

"And why wasn't the contraceptive drink provided for her?"

"Legolas, that flower only blooms once a year in which it can only be harvested for those purposes for about a week when it is in full bloom. And if that weren't already obstacle enough, it only grows in Rivendell."

"Oh. She was very angry about that."

"You know Legolas, if she were to bare you a child"

"No, she won't. Arwen gave us her own potion."

"Really? Estel I presume?"

"Yes."

"Well then, no need to discuss that then, nor Arwen's personal life. But let me ask you, am I right to also presume you are developing feelings for Elenya now?"

"I'm not sure. I liked her before, or at least I thought her very beautiful. I'm supposed to meet her for lunch next week."

"Legolas, I know how it feels. For your own peace of mind meet her for lunch. Spend some time together now without the physical intimacy and see how you feel then."

"And what if I decide that I do like her, and want to court her?"

"Then you'd be the first case in history to do this with your 1000th birthday companion. But no one says it can't be done. Just remember: no more sexual activities."

Legolas laughed. "Yes, I know. Elenya and I already discussed this together earlier."

"Good. Well, then I'll see you tonight at dinner."

They said their good-byes and Legolas left with a light step and a feeling of delightful anticipation.

A/N I didn't get tickets for Trilogy Tuesday. By the time I scrounged up some money it had sold out. So, if anyone has an extra ticket for it at Adventura or Boca Raton, let me know. San Fransisco is going for over $400.00 on Ebay. That person probably bough tthat ticket just to exploit LOTR fans.