Calmacil watched the goings on in confusion. First she seemed happy with the elves, then she was angered by them and they followed her out of the hall.

Well, one did. The dear prince was left standing in the hall until he sank back down into his seat, frowning at the table. How sweet it was to see him separated from her. If he knew better, he would have thought the look on the elf's face lost.

With a slight smile he stood up, excusing himself quickly and mostly without being noticed. Taking the back halls until he was away from the sounds given off by the party of elves, he quickly made his way to the room the short maid with curly hair had told her the girl had been assigned to. He lifted his hand to knock, but was stopped by her suspicious voice.

"Who is it?"

With a smile he pushed against the door, one hand on the knob. "You shall have to open the door to find out, milady," he called through it.

"Actually, I'd rather not," she informed him primly. "I am in need of nothing, and wish no more than sleep until dawn."

"Wish you not to meet your husband to be?"

"I shall not meet him here," she retorted. "I shall marry no one."

"The match has been made."

"Consider it unmade, then."

"It cannot be."

"Even the ring of power could be unmade. And it was. Two of those who helped in its destruction assure me this match can be undone. Who are you to stand against not only my wishes, but their assurances? Be gone. The door shall not open to anyone until morning."

"If I had pointed ears, would your consideration be different?" he asked, anger burning in his mind and voice. He looked at the door, wondering how much force would be needed to bring it down.

"No it wouldn't. I do not wish to marry, neither elf nor human. For the only time, good night."

"The only good night for me would be with you."

Silence came from behind the wooden door.

"Milady?"

Finally he walked away, considering ways to get her away from her constant companions long enough to convince her to stay with him.

Lunian closed her eyes in relief when the heavy steps left the area just outside her door. She'd gotten to the point where she had been mentally judging the distance between her window and the next one, wondering if she could manage to climb using the jagged chinks in the wall to get there to escape the man.

A light rap came on the door, causing her to jump. "Who's there?" she asked cautiously, though she would almost be certain it was an elf, since she hadn't heard the approach.

"Legolas."

She closed her eyes once more, this time in relief, before quickly moving to open the door. Without thinking she threw her arms around his neck. When she realized what she had done she backed up with a soft blush. "I'm sorry," she murmured, meaning not only for grabbing him just then but for the way she had acted in the dining hall.

He smiled faintly and tucked her hair behind her ear. Slowly he nodded. "I just… wanted to be sure you were… settled…" he opened his mouth again, but closed it without saying anything else.

She blinked and looked up at him, having never seen him not in complete control of himself. "What on earth is the matter?" she asked, reaching up to touch his forehead. Warm, but not hot.

He caught her hand and kissed her palm. "I'll see you in the morning," he murmured, before bowing his head slightly and walking out.

Her jaw fell open as he brushed against the doorway, avoiding a resounding crash only by twisting his shoulder out of the way at the last instant. What was going on? Elves don't bump into things! She knew that because she had spent years waiting for one to do so someday, just because she always felt so clumsy and cloddish around them. She still hadn't witnessed it, but that was the closest she'd ever come.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Thanks to Cuthien for pointing out my elfin verses elven mistake. Since my spell checker (now, after I fiddled with the dictionary) accepts both, I don't always catch it when I use the wrong one. I'll go back sometime and fix all the mistakes in previous chapters. Thanks to everyone else who reviewed, and I hope you enjoyed 'clumsy elf'. I just couldn't resist, since they're supposed to always be so graceful. *Evil Grin* Nea.