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Disclaimer: what's Tolkien's is Tolkien's, everything else is mine. don't sue me please.

Chapter 24

Legolas awoke to the feel of Elenayave crawling back into the bed. After a long night at the forest circles, they'd eventually retired for the night and gone, not to their chambers, but to the flet he'd had built not too far from the clearings. Once there, he'd made sure that Lena was well satisfied and completely sleepy before he'd even let her think about laying down to rest. It had taken quite a while, but after the fourth time around or so, she had started to become drowsy, though still alert enough to enjoy what was happening.

As he was still slightly groggy, it took him a moment to regain his bearings and to realize where he was. The talan was mostly empty airy space, save for the four poster bed covered in sheer draperies and the one nightstand carved out of rich wood. There weren't really any walls to the talan, but the tree branches protected them from wandering eyes. A small silvery ladder was rolled up near the far side of the flet to allow easy admittance to those they wished to welcome.

"Lena?"

"Hmm?" she mumbled, snuggling up against his bare side.

"What were you doing?" he asked, slightly disappointed at the fact that she was now dressed.

"Nothing, Legolas," she said soothingly. "Just go back to sleep, love."

Legolas felt somewhat ill at ease knowing that she'd been out and about without him noticing, but he knew she could take care of herself. Settling back down into the warmth of the covers, he wrapped her slender frame in his arms again, and drifted off to sleep.

Elenayave smiled when she felt his breathing slow and she knew he'd returned to resting. It had been difficult enough wriggling out of his arms the first time. It was slightly cool outside and the only clothes she had was the sundress she'd worn to the circles. She felt bad for leaving him, even for a moment, after the treat he'd given her before, but she knew there was no other time that would be better to get Alaninwen. More than likely, the elleth was off in some other Elf's talan or room and not her own. And of course, she'd been right. So much for her undying love for Legolas, Elenayave thought. It had only taken but a moment to mix the potion for disaster for the next morning. But it didn't help that she could hardly remember her way to the flet where she'd left Legolas.

He'd led her there at a brisk trot after sneaking out of the circle under his father's nose, and it was pitch black in the forest at night. No light from the stars shone through the thick canopy of branches. Not to mention, she'd been a little less than sharp due to the wine she'd consumed. It only took a few times of going up the wrong ladder and seeing things she didn't really want to see, before she found her way back. And before she crept into bed with Legolas, she decided she'd never look at Armereth the same way again.

The sun shone through the branches of the tree, effectively waking both Elves that lay tangled in the sheets of the bed. Songbirds could be heard singing in the nearby trees, and bits of blue sky were visible between the boughs. But it was really the person shouting below the tree that got their attention.

"Legolas! Elena! You have to see this! Get down here and hurry up!"

Legolas stirred, pulling the pillow over his head, and mumbled. "That had better not be Armereth, or I'll kill him."

"I think it is," Elenayave said, grinning. "And apparently, he wants us to wake up."

"I'm tired," Legolas grumbled and tightened his grip on her waist. "You should be too. Ignore him."

"Legolas, it is well past dawn. We have to get up anyway. No doubt your father will be looking for you."

"Why are you so chipper this morn?" he asked, yanking the pillow off his head and slowly complying.

"Oh, I don't know. But I have I feeling that today is going to be a wonderful day! Now get up!" she exclaimed, planting a kiss on his cheek.

"Are you two coming or not?" Armereth yelled up at them.

"Would you wait a moment?" Legolas snapped back, not at all happy about being forced out of his warm bed with his wife.

Elenayave watched Legolas pull his breeches and loose under-tunic on as he stumbled around the talan, muttering under his breath.

"I swear! I thought these ceaseless interruptions would stop once we were married. But no! Ada says, 'Beget a child, Legolas. You must have an heir, my son,' but how can I if he never gives me the time!"

"Stop ranting and get down the ladder, Legolas. You're holding up Armereth," Elenayave commanded, pointing at the silver ropes at the edge of the flet.

"Ladies first," he replied kicking the ladder down so it would unfurl. He swept his arm toward the ladder dramatically and gave her a mock bow.

Elenayave rolled her eyes and scurried down the ropes, much as she had the night before. Legolas followed not far behind her. Coiling the rope around his arm, he knotted it into a loop and catapulted it back onto the platform. Meanwhile, Armereth raised an eyebrow at Elena.

"Have a little too much fun last night?"

"Not as much as you, I'm sure," she quipped, remembering stumbling upon his flet in search of her own. "I hadn't known that position was possible."

Armereth gave her a wide grin, but his cheeks burned bright pink. "Well, neither did I. But if it works…perhaps you'd like to learn, my lady."

"If you're going to try to seduce my wife, Armereth, at least do it where I can't see you," Legolas broke in. "Now, what is all this nonsense that you got us out of bed for?"

"You'll see," he replied. "You'll forgive me once you do, I'm sure of it."

"This had better be good," Legolas stated.

Armereth led Legolas and Elena through the gates back into the palace. The three Elves wound through the corridors until they reached the doors to the dining hall.

"If you brought us here because they're serving hot cinnamon rolls this morning…" Legolas started.

But he was immediately cut off when Armereth opened the door and he saw Alaninwen standing before his father, having some sort of heated discussion. He stopped midsentence and stared. The mirth on Thranduil's face was barely concealed, but Legolas picked up on it immediately. He heard Elenayave start to giggle next to him, and Armereth was trying desperately to hide his grin. And he could see why. Alaninwen's hair was a very dazzling shade of green.

"Lena…what did you do?" he asked, holding in his laughter.

"It's just a little trick I learned."

"How?" he questioned, smirking now.

"Food coloring," she replied.

Alaninwen turned upon hearing the doors to the Hall open, and locked gazes with Elenayave. She pointed her finger accusingly at Elena and started trembling in rage. "You…you did this!"

"Now, now, Lady Alaninwen. You have no proof of that," Thranduil stated, smiling. "I know for a fact that both Legolas and Elena were at the circles last night and neither returned to the palace until now."

"But…she…it had to be…I…" she sputtered, filled with so much anger she couldn't even string words together to form a coherent sentence. "My hair is green!" she finally managed to spill out in a screech.

"I noticed," Elenayave replied smugly, crossing her arms across her chest.

"The color suits you well, Alaninwen," Legolas said with a laugh. "I think it looks stunning."

Her eyes darkened and her face turned a deep shade of crimson. "Why you little wench!" she screamed at Elena. "You'll pay for this!"

Legolas immediately narrowed his eyes and stepped in between the two elleth before they ended up in a fighting match. Pushing Elena a little behind him, he confronted Alaninwen face to face. "You dare to threaten your princess? That act is treasonable, my lady," he spat out the words. "It is not to happen again, do I make myself clear?"

Alaninwen backed off slightly and forced a bow of her head. "Of course, your highness." She did not have the courage to go against the prince or the king. But she glared at Elenayave none the less. She scowled and turned her nose in the other direction as she stomped off back to her chambers.

As soon as she was gone, the Elves in the Hall burst into laughter. Finally, someone had put the elleth in her place. And who else, but their own princess?