Sebstar: thanks!

Legolaslover: I really wanted to introduce him as a character. he's going to be instrumental in helping lena get her memory back. thank you!

spotnmushlover246: sure, sure

Marisa: hi! hehehe, thanks. you better get working on your story. love it lots!

beautystar: thanks. glad you like it so far

Myri78: yeah. school sucks. yeppers! I couldn't leave him behind, could I?

Leah's Lovely: thanks much!

Okanim: yay! sibling rivalry…hmmm. I could work that in somewhere. oooh, extra milky ways…yum!

lindelea: thanks much!

aurora-myst: ew, proofs. hated those. hehe. thanks!

Annadin89: term papers suck too. I hated those for earth science. our teacher was whacked out. anyway…thanks!

Miss Independent3: hehehe. good thinking. thanks for the review!

Megara: me too. I wish I had a brother. ooh, all three of them together…maybe I could do a swimming scene in Rivendell…how would that be?

Midnight Ocean: thanks. here ya go!

GreenEyedElfGoddess: no one does, but hey. i'll think about it (yeah, i wish). thanks! of course, he's going!

Disclaimer: you know, yadda yadda. don't sue me.

Chapter 22

Elenayave shivered nervously as she stood behind the double wooden doors that led into the Hall. This was to be the first dinner in which the entire kingdom was to be present since she had been taken. Legolas stood calmly next to her, smoothing out his tunic and listening for their introduction. He beamed at her and took her arm and linked it with his own.

"You look beautiful," he said quietly.

"Thank you," she replied and then quickly checked her hair.

Legolas grinned in sympathy. He certainly knew how she felt. He could remember the first time he'd walked through those doors with her on his arm, the night he'd asked for her hand and announced their betrothal. He'd been trembling so badly he could hardly make it to his seat. When she'd inquired as to his well-being, he'd told her he was shaken by an earlier accident out on the archer range. He doubted that she fully believed him, but it had stopped her line of questions he could tell she wanted to ask, and he'd not let on as to what was going to happen. Yes, indeed. He remembered it as if it were yesterday.

Legolas shifted anxiously from one foot to the other as he stood waiting to enter the feast hall. He was dressed in his more formal attire: white buckskin breeches and a matching jerkin and boots. His hair was unbound and cascaded freely over his shoulders and down his back. A silver circlet sat atop his brow, making his appearance all the more regal. But the telltale signs of a faint blush were spread over his high cheekbones and his apprehension was clear to the elleth that stood rather calmly standing next to him.

"Legolas," she said, laying her hand on his arm. "Are you all right?"

"Of course, mela," he assured her. "I just…well, there was a slight accident at the range today and, uh…I'm just on edge, that's all," he stammered.

Elenayave was hardly convinced, but she knew he would tell her later if he wanted. "You have no reason to be nervous. You've been introduced here thousands of times, I'm sure."

Legolas laughed nervously and thought, 'Never with my future wife on my arm', but he didn't dare voice his thoughts. He had every detail planned out perfectly and could only hope that things would go smoothly.

"His highness, Prince Legolas, and his lady, the Lady Elenayave of Imladris!"

At the announcement, Legolas offered her his arm and the doors opened to them. Elenayave quickly slipped her arm around his and allowed him to guide her to the head table in the vast room. Everyone in the hall stood as they entered, and Elenayave suddenly felt self-conscious under their scrutinizing gazes. She gripped Legolas's arm tighter and stepped up her pace to avoid dragging slightly behind him. Finally, they reached the place where Thranduil already stood waiting for them. Legolas bowed his head in genteel respect to his father, and Elenayave immediately pulled up her ruffled skirts ever so slightly and curtsied. The king inclined his head in acknowledgement, and the three sat down.

The dinner passed reasonably well, he thought, considering he and his father knew the situation and she didn't. Legolas smiled inwardly as he picked at the little remaining food on his plate. Elenayave had finished quite a while ago and was carrying on a conversation with Thranduil. Some couples were already up and dancing and Legolas knew that sooner or later he and Lena would be among them. He ran through the intended events in his mind, piece by piece, willing himself to remember every line, every planned touch, every gentle kiss. It was the least thing she expected, she was sure. In fact, he had made it seem that it was just a Greenwood tradition for the prince's lady to be introduced with him. She had no idea what awaited her on the balcony after the first few dances.

Elenayave visibly relaxed as the vision left her and she turned to Legolas with a smile. "This can't possibly be that nerve-wracking, can it? I'm not proposing to you."

"Nay, mela. But I know sometimes it is very difficult. But trust me when I say that you will get used to it. This sort of thing becomes natural after a certain amount of time."

"His highness, Prince Legolas, and his lady, the Princess Elenayave!"

The introduction had changed since that night, obviously, but it was still their cue to enter through the now opening doors. She could see the ocean of Elves standing and awaiting their passage to the table at the far end of the room. Taking a deep breath, she locked arms with Legolas when he inclined his head and held out his arm for her with a soft smile. Slowly, he started down the narrow way between the tables, stopping every so often to acknowledge his people with a slight bow of his head. Elenayave did the same to those that greeted her. She could hear the soft greetings from all sides, the whispered 'Good evening, princess', or softly spoken 'My lady'.

A slow smile spread across her features. Finally. She was among her people again. It seemed like it had been such a long time since she been to a function like this. She noted thatAlaninwen sat not much further down at the head table and she groaned inwardly.

"What's wrong, Lena?" Legolas whispered out of the corner of his mouth.

"Alaninwen is here and I do believe she is scowling at me."

"Let her scowl then," Legolas stated, pulling out her chair for her. "She is only jealous that she is not in your place."

Elenayave offered the king a warm smile and a small bow of her head, and he took her hand and softly placed a kiss on its back. Sitting down, she looked around her, searching for any more familiar faces she might have known. Finding none that jumped out at her besides that of Legolas's friend, Armereth, she settled back into her seat and waited for her food.

A plate of steaming roast venison was set before her, along with an array of fresh vegetables and a roll. She figured it was a typical meal for the time period, and she felt somewhat ridiculous for wishing she could have been at McDonald's with a nice juicy hamburger and some French fries. She giggled and Legolas immediately turned to her, intrigued.

"Lena?"

"I know this is going to sound really odd, but I suddenly have this craving for french fries."

"French fries?" he questioned with a frown. "What are french fries?"

She wrinkled her nose and thought hard. How could a french fry be explained to an Elf who had no concept of the technology she was used to?

"Well, it comes from a potato. It's cut into a long thin stick shape, and then deep fried in cooking oil. They look rather golden brown and are somewhat crunchy, and really good to eat."

Legolas looked fascinated for a moment. "I've never heard of such a thing. It sounds…interesting."

"I might be able to figure out how to make some here, if you have the right stuff in the kitchen."

Alaninwen snorted in derision. "If this is some sort of food from the human world you supposedly went to, perhaps it's not a good idea for it to be eaten here."

Elenayave's eyes narrowed. "Supposedly? What do you mean supposedly?"

"Do you actually think you were truly there? Doesn't it seem a little odd that you say you were in a different world and yet your body remained here, in the healing halls?" she inquired, leaning towards her with a leering smile.

"Why should it concern you anyway, Lady Alaninwen?" Legolas smoothly cut in. "The word of Mithrandir and the princess should be enough."

"Not that I doubt them, my lord. Not at all," she backtracked quickly, not wanting to appear too treasonous. "It just seemed strange, that's all."

"Well," Elenayave seethed. "It's the truth, however strange it seems."

Alaninwengave her a sickening smile and nodded overdramatically. Turning back to her friends, she spoke quietly among them, and Elena could hear them twitter and giggle. With a sigh, she focused again on her plate and poked her fork delicately into the meat. An overwhelming thought of the movie Bambi rushed at her, and she stopped the fork midair, halfway to her mouth. Why? Why was she having all these sudden thoughts of Earth, when she was perfectly happy where she was? She placed the fork carefully back on the plate and reached for her glass of wine.

'Never mind that you've never had any before', she thought as she took a small sip. Its taste was heady and rich as it flowed smoothly down her throat, and it left a bittersweet aftertaste in her mouth. She took another swig before setting her glass down on the table. Immediately, she felt warmth flood her cheeks and she started to feel a little better. The abrupt confrontation withAlaninwen had put her on edge and on the defensive, a feeling she wasn't quite used to. But the wine seemed to relax her, at least a little.

She had been so busy focusing on her plate, attempting to eat the venison, that she completely missed Legolas's question. Alaninwen's giggles brought her back to reality.

"I'm sorry, Legolas. What?" she asked, shooting the annoying elleth a warning glare.

"I was asking if you felt all right, Lena. You don't look well."

"Oh. I'm fine," she replied, giving him a smile. "Really, I am."

"Perhaps the wine is too strong for her, my lord,"Alaninwen suggested. "She might not be used to drinking such in the other world."

Legolas stared at her, clearly catching on to the taunting tone in her voice. "And mayhap you should watch your tongue, lady. Do not speak so lightly or you may find yourself without one."

Alaninwenquickly shrunk back and returned to finishing her meal.

"Now, now, Legolas," Thranduil broke in before things got out of hand. "There is no need to make empty threats. Especially to a lady."

"They are not empty," he murmured, only loud enough for Elenayave to hear. "Nor is she a lady."

"Don't get yourself in trouble, Legolas. It's all right. She's right. I'm not used to it," she soothed, trying to break the tenseness that now hung over the table.

He relaxed slightly and flagged down the servant passing by the table. "Could she have a glass of water please?" he asked.

"Of course, my lord," he replied, and then bustled off to get it.

She continued to pick at the food on her plate, not sure if she dared to try the venison or not. Obviously, it didn't possess the mind numbing effects of the wine, but she was still leery. Out of the corner of her eye, she sawAlaninwen huddled in conversation with one of her friends, and an ill feeling sank into the pit of her stomach. Elenayave had a feeling that she hadn't been quite so lenient withAlaninwen before her accident, and perhaps the lady was taking advantage of her weakened intellectual state. But she knew not what to do anyway, so there was little she could do to prevent what happened next.

Alaninwenreached for the basket in the middle of the table that held the bread. As she did so, her friend next to her took hold of her other arm and pulled, as if to get her attention.Alaninwen swayed dangerously in her seat and flailed to keep her balance. Her slender arm swung into Legolas's wine glass, sending it flying. The goblet bounced as it fell, spraying the rich red liquid down the front of Elenayave's gown. She gasped and pushed her seat back, immediately standing up. Alaninwen, on the other side of the table, stood up and covered her mouth innocently with her hand.

Instantly, Legolas was on his feet beside her, napkin in hand, trying to wipe up as much of the wine as possible. Elenayave stood with her fists clenched, shaking and seething inwardly at the elleth's 'mistake'.

"Oh! Your highness! I do apologize,"Alaninwen offered, a look of feigned horror on her face.

"Still your tongue, Alaninwen!" Legolas cried, absolutely livid. "I do not want to hear another word from you!"

Thranduil sat in his seat, watching the whole scene unfold. Feeling horribly sorry and embarrassed for Elenayave, he quickly stepped in. "Legolas, why don't you take Elena back to your chambers to change, and then join us later at the circles? I'll handle the rest from here."

"Thank you, Ada," Legolas replied, sendingAlaninwen a glare as he took Lena's hand and helped her get away from the table. "We will return later."

there ya go guys! let me know how i'm doing. and guess what! we're going to rivendell sooooooon! yeah. all you elrohir and elladan fans beware! we'll have three mischievious elflings on our hands!