disclaimer: if you recognize it, it's not mine. everything else is. don't sue…i only own lint and an old beanie collection

Chapter 6

Later that evening, Linilya wandered about the palace, exploring her surroundings. She had only been out of her room a few times, and even then, she'd been accompanied by someone. The firelight flickered merrily on the walls of the corridors, casting the hallways in waves of light. The passages were long and windy, snaking through the length of the palace.

Before long, she found herself at a dead end. Two large doors stood before her, the great golden handles gleaming softly in the glow of the torches. A beautiful leaf and tree design was etched into the rich wood, and was inlayed in green and gold. The handles were a bit dusty, as if they hadn't been used in a long while.

Curious of what lay behind them, Linilya cautiously gripped the lever and pushed downward. A soft click resounded through the corridor, signaling the door's release. She pulled it open slowly, heaving against the heavy weight of the large door. The room beyond the doors was dark and nothing could be seen at first by Linilya's eyes. She took a few steps forward, careful to watch her stride. She gazed around, the shadowy forms soon taking shape as her eyes adjusted. It seemed as if the walls were filled with shelves. What was on them was beyond Linilya. She took a few more wary paces, wishing to know what this mysterious room was. What she thought to be a window was on the abrupt right of her, though it was covered by a heavy curtain. Little light peeked through around the edges, letting her view some of the shelves…books.

Suddenly, something took hold of her arm and yanked her back. She whirled around and came face to face with Legolas. He hurriedly closed the doors and turned back to her, a startling look of anger and worry clearly on his face.

"What are you doing here?" he hissed, his eyes narrowing.

"I'm sorry, Legolas, I didn't know I wasn't allowed…I was walking and I found the doors…I just wondered what was there," she stammered out her answer.

His gaze softened as he realized her innocence and his firm grip on her arm loosened. "It's all right. I overreacted. I apologize."

Linilya looked up at him and met his eyes. "What's in there that you don't want me to see?" already having a slight idea.

"Nothing," he answered quickly. "No one is allowed in there but Ada and I. That's all."

Without knowing where it came from, Linilya said, "It was your mother's library, wasn't it?"

Legolas glanced at her and a small fleeting smile crossed his features. He nodded slowly, the pain and grief assailing him yet again, as it had done the past 2500 years. His head hung and he turned away, resting his temple lightly on the door. He ran his hands down the luxuriant wood with his eyes closed, letting its coolness seep into him.

Linilya watched this with a deep sympathy. She could feel the pain radiating from him, like warmth comes from the sun. He must've lost his mother when he was very young, she concluded, realizing her statement was cause for his suffering. Linilya moved closer to him, resting her hand on his shoulder. When he made no move to stop her, she shifted to his side. Once she had, she possessed a clear view of his countenance. A single tear streamed silently down his cheek and he made no attempt to wipe it away. The sight almost made Linilya cry; it was so moving to see such a strong person shedding tears of depression and suffering.

She softly pressed her thumb to his cheek and dabbed the tear off his face. "It's all right, Legolas. I know you must miss her terribly," she whispered.

"I was only four," he choked out. "It happened so quickly. Ada was with me at the range and the orcs attacked. She was in her gardens, tending to the roses. Someone screamed, a child I believe. Ada sent me back to the palace. That's when I saw her," Legolas paused and drew in an uneasy breath. "She was bleeding, an arrow was embedded in her chest. The life was already leaving her. She…" He stopped again, breathing shallowly, trying to keep the tears from streaming down his face.

"She passed in your arms," Linilya finished, somehow knowing the end of the story.

He nodded and turned away again. Linilya grasped his arm gently and rotated his body to face her. She clasped his face in her hands and met his heartbreaking gaze. She gave him a small, weak smile and shook her head.

"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I'm so sorry." She carefully wrapped her arms around him in a comforting embrace. Her cheek made contact with his strong chest as he pulled her closer to him, yearning for her serene composure. His chin rested softly atop her head, his face tipped upwards at the ceiling. Slowly, gaining his self-control, he lowered his head, running his nose lightly along the side of her face. His hands meandered down her back to her hips, letting them trace over the supple curve of her body.

Linilya relaxed in his embrace, letting him do as he wished for the moment. She'd never felt so comfortable in her life. Suddenly, she felt his warm lips press against her neck, and she jerked in surprise. Legolas didn't seem to notice, and continued on his trek. Her grip on the back of his tunic tightened and her eyes grew wide. Her brain was screaming at her to get away, but it seemed as if her body was glued to the spot, not allowing her to move. It hit her, abruptly, that her body was used to such attentions from this particular Elf, and that it had always liked where activities like this had led. Where it had led, Linilya pondered, but the answer that her body gave her didn't agree with what her mind was saying.

"Legolas," she managed to say, the name rolling softly off her tongue. It was supposedly more of a plea to stop, but it came out as a pleasurable moan, and Legolas paid no heed to her. Her arms were pinned firmly between her body and his, and he held her tightly, yet gently, against him. She felt his mouth move over her now delicately pointed ear, which she had acquired when she'd arrived, and he softly nipped on the heated skin. Linilya cried out involuntarily, the sound forcedly pushing itself between her lips. The flesh there seemed more sensitive than usual, and she thought perhaps it was an elvish vulnerability.

Legolas took her exclamation as a sign to continue, and persisted his slow, sweet torture. Linilya felt his hands wander her sides and back, exploring the supple curves of her body. Her body reacted to his soft caresses, moving to lean into his touch. Her mind swirled, her thoughts jumbling up in her brain. What was he doing to her that had such a strong affect on her? It seemed he knew every little place she wanted to be touched, every little spot she wanted to be kissed. Of course he did, she reprimanded herself. He'd obviously done this plenty of times, before she'd disappeared. Maybe Elenayave was ready for this, maybe Elenayave wanted this, but Linilya didn't. He was moving way too fast. Legolas moved in for a kiss while her head was turned towards him, but before he could reach her lips, she turned her face. Legolas slowed, seeing the move was intentional, and softly kissed her cheek.

"What is it?" he asked, his voice slightly deeper than usual. His eyes were dark, almost completely black now, his desire and want clearly evident. He brushed some stray strands of hair out of her face.

"No," she whispered quietly, pushing against him gently.

Legolas cocked his head and looked at her, confused. "No? No what?"

"No this," Linilya said, pointing at him and then at herself, backing away from him.

His eyes narrowed slightly, not out of anger, but in puzzlement. He gazed at her longingly, the love in his eyes almost her undoing. The innocence with which his next question was asked shocked her. "Why?"

Linilya looked down at her feet and shuffled them, trying to avoid his questing blue orbs. She let her gaze travel back up his body, noticing the slight bulge in his leggings. Her eyes widened and she pressed herself against the wall, watching him as he shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot.

"Do you not want me?" he queried softly, his voice barely audible in the twisting hallway.

Linilya was thoroughly confused. She'd never elicited such a reaction from a guy before. She didn't know how to handle it. She shook her head slowly. It wasn't that she didn't want him, that was certain. Her body ached to be near him. He obviously was having the same problem.

"It's not that, Legolas," she said quietly. "I'm not ready yet, that's all."

His gaze softened in understanding and he smiled. "Please let me show you how much I love you," he pleaded. "Maybe you'll remember something, our bonding, what you mean to me."

"Not yet, Legolas. Please, wait for me."

He looked at her for a while, then nodded. His eyes had returned to their normal blue, and he seemed more comfortable in his stance. He held out his hands to her, letting her take them to follow him.

"Do I frighten you?" he asked suddenly, as they walked through the winding corridors.

"Maybe a little," she replied. "But it's only because my brain doesn't know you yet. The rest of me was certainly willing," she added honestly.

Legolas smiled to himself, knowing that she was telling the truth. When her memory came back, she would be quite willing, he thought. Until she approached him, though, he would have to wait.

i know this one's short, but there's a lot more to come in the next chappie. Another flashback, one of their happier memories. now push the little blue button on the left side of your screen…see that one there? ready, review!