Many thanks to all reviewers, including etheraldragon, fire-vampire, Myri78, nilimade, StarAngel Caelum SunSoar, feanen, LOTRfan120, Namarie an Lalaith, Deana, angela, Magicgirl810, and I-Love-Logolas. I am truly glad that all of you are enjoying this story so much. It's for people like you that I write at all. I appreciate your comments and want to thank you for taking the time to read, and review. Also thanks to those who have put me on their favorites, and/or their author alerts. I pray I won't fail you!
A/N: To Namarie an Lalaith: Thank you for taking the time to correct me. I realize that "Greenleaf" is a translation of Legolas' name and I also know that Fiondra and some other of my names are not Elvish. And although I appreciate the correct translation of Clear brook to Clear Stream Maiden, I feel that if I changed Fiondra's name to Limolwen now, I would be changing my character. My thanks anyway, and I'll be sure to use correct Elvish in the future. :)
A Bed is a Strange Thing
The next few weeks passed uneventfully. Thranduil had a group of elves start to work on a new home for Fiondra. It was small, but just enough for an elleth who had neither husband nor family. The house was located not far from the palace, and it was near to the creek. Fiondra went there daily to check on the progress of the little house.
Fiondra had been back in Mirkwood a month from her release from exile when the first big thunderstorm came. A bolt of lightning shattered the night sky. Thunder rumbled in response, and rain came down slowly at first, then faster and more rapidly.
Wearily, Fiondra got out of bed and wrapped a light blue shawl about her shoulders, covering her thin, white nightgown. She shivered as the night was again enhanced with blinding light. She was so immersed with the magnificence of the storm that she didn't notice the approaching elf until he was beside her.
"It woke you too?" the elf's voice whispered in her ear.
Fiondra turned in surprise, but quickly relaxed. It was Legolas, not an intruder from the village.
"Yes..." she breathed in reply. "Isn't it wonderful?"
Legolas made a face. "It's brilliant all right, but I would have preferred it hadn't blown rain all over my bed. It's completely soaked and so was I, until I changed."
Fiondra laughed softly. "That's a problem easily righted. Just change the bedclothes!"
Legolas gave her a sheepish look. "You see, that's the problem. I've never made a bed before, and I'm not sure where the bedclothes are kept. I thought you could help me; perhaps loan me a blanket and a pillow?"
Fiondra shook her head at him and laughed, "Is that what you came in here for? I must say, it isn't proper for you to be in an elleth's bedroom."
Legolas looked as though he hadn't thought of this and he blushed. He started to apologize, but Fiondra held up a hand. "Come: I know where spare sheets and blankets are kept. I will help you change your bedclothes." She led the way out of her room, with Legolas close behind.
x x x x x
"There. Done." Fiondra smiled across the bed at Legolas, who looked both accomplished and flabbergasted. The Prince obviously had known nothing of bed-making before this night. He had put the sheets on sideways, the blankets backward, and the pillowcases on inside-out. Fiondra had gently corrected him and Legolas had graciously accepted her assistance.
Legolas was now grinning at Fiondra from his place on the other side of the bed. "Do you know my favorite thing about a freshly made bed?" When Fiondra shook her head "no", he continued. "It hasn't yet been jumped on." He leapt on the thick mattress and Fiondra gasped in sudden realization.
"Legolas! You can't... We can't – aah!" She was cut short as the stronger elf pulled her onto the bed with him. His blue eyes smiled at her.
"Who says we can't?" he asked her.
At a loss for words Fiondra said, "Well...It wouldn't be proper!"
Legolas grinned at her wickedly. "Your being in my bedroom isn't proper." Without waiting for a reply, he took her hands in his much larger ones and started bouncing up and down on the springy mattress. A moment later, Fiondra began to do the same. Surprised, Legolas gave her a slow smile.
Fiondra blushed and threw back at him, "Oh Eru, who cares about properness?"
Legolas chuckled and she let out a giggle. Soon, both were jumping about in a circle, laughing hysterically.
They kept abusing the mattress until Fiondra's foot snagged on the heavy blanket. Caught off her guard, she knocked Legolas down onto his pillow and she fell on top of him.
Her face was just inches from his and he whispered, "This is a bit awkward." Fiondra's face flamed and she quickly rolled off of the elf's lean, muscular body.
Before she could leave his chamber, Legolas grabbed Fiondra's upper arms and lowered his mouth to hers. Unlike the other kisses they had shared, this one was one of need and longing. Better than words, it conveyed Legolas' true feelings for Fiondra.
The kiss didn't end until Fiondra remembered their new status as "just friends". In regret, she said, "Legolas, I thought we promised to be friends only. I thought you wanted to make sure that your heart was not mistaken."
Knowing that she was right, Legolas muttered, "Stupid vow. Why'd I have to make it in the first place?" Then, seeing Fiondra's sad smile, he burst out impatiently, "Why does Midsummer have to be so far away?"
Fiondra put a finger to his lips and murmured, "Patience, Legolas. It is only two more months, even if they may be long. But when that time comes, we will see what your heart will decide. Now I must go before someone discovers me missing. We made quite a bit of noise."
Legolas grinned. "We did, didn't we?" He led her out to the hall and groaned. "We're too late."
Thranduil was frowning at them curiously. Fiondra's hair was disheveled and Legolas' tunic was unusually crooked. "It is a good thing that I was the only elf you woke, son. What were you doing in there? Or do I even want to know?"
Fiondra turned red and abashed, Legolas said, "Jumping on my bed, Ada."
Thranduil raised his eyebrows and asked in astonishment, "Jumping on the bed?"
Fiondra mumbled, "Yes, sire. We apologize for waking you."
Thranduil dismissed her comment, saying, "Just be glad that no one else discovered you. That would have been a scandal for certain. Jumping on the bed, indeed. Now you both best be off to bed."
Highly embarrassed, Legolas turned to escort Fiondra to her room. He pulled apart the curtain and was ushering her inside when Thranduil spoke again. "I must tell you, Lady Fiondra, your house will be finished by the day after tomorrow. Good night. Legolas, do not linger for too long." When Legolas had nodded, Thranduil disappeared into his own bedroom.
Legolas looked back at Fiondra, who was still flushed. He cleared his throat and said, "I'm quite glad we did that tonight. We might not have had a chance otherwise, if you're indeed leaving the palace soon. The shame was well worth it. Elei velui, Fiondra. And may they be about me." He grinned at her and bent to kiss her hand.
As he went into his room, she softly called, "Elei velui, ever egotistical Legolas." Then hugging her arms across her chest, she clambered back into her own bed. She lay there awake until the falling rain soothed her to sleep.
x x x x x
Taking off his wine-colored robe, Thranduil also slipped into bed. His stern façade had dropped and he was chuckling quietly. He had loved the look of guilt on his son's face. It was so blatantly clear that Legolas was in love with the pretty elleth. And she seemed to be quite taken with him. Thranduil also thought that it had been sheer genius of him to have the elves hurry the construction of Lady Fiondra's house. "After all," he yawned, falling into sleep. "Absence makes the heart grow fonder. They'll be wed before harvest-time." He also fell asleep to the flowing raindrops.
x x x x x
Down in the village, someone else had been wakened in the night, although not from the thunderstorm. Alqua brushed her hair as her most recent lover left her for rest of the night. She too was thinking of Legolas and Fiondra. "I must keep them apart," she said through gritted teeth. Alqua viciously yanked through a tangle of blond curls. "I think it's time I went to Aglarsîr again. He can easily be persuaded to occupy Fiondra's time." Setting down her brush, she gave an evil smile to her reflection. "Oh, yes... Aglarsîr will be quite taken with that witch. And then Legolas will come to me, at long last." She cackled huskily and crawled into her sullied bed, dreaming of riches and being Queen.
x x x x x
Elei velui, Fiondra – Sweet dreams, Fiondra
That's this chapter, my friends. Yes, although it's a bit unconventional, poor Legolas needs to have some fun now and again. Please review!
A/N: To Namarie an Lalaith: Thank you for taking the time to correct me. I realize that "Greenleaf" is a translation of Legolas' name and I also know that Fiondra and some other of my names are not Elvish. And although I appreciate the correct translation of Clear brook to Clear Stream Maiden, I feel that if I changed Fiondra's name to Limolwen now, I would be changing my character. My thanks anyway, and I'll be sure to use correct Elvish in the future. :)
A Bed is a Strange Thing
The next few weeks passed uneventfully. Thranduil had a group of elves start to work on a new home for Fiondra. It was small, but just enough for an elleth who had neither husband nor family. The house was located not far from the palace, and it was near to the creek. Fiondra went there daily to check on the progress of the little house.
Fiondra had been back in Mirkwood a month from her release from exile when the first big thunderstorm came. A bolt of lightning shattered the night sky. Thunder rumbled in response, and rain came down slowly at first, then faster and more rapidly.
Wearily, Fiondra got out of bed and wrapped a light blue shawl about her shoulders, covering her thin, white nightgown. She shivered as the night was again enhanced with blinding light. She was so immersed with the magnificence of the storm that she didn't notice the approaching elf until he was beside her.
"It woke you too?" the elf's voice whispered in her ear.
Fiondra turned in surprise, but quickly relaxed. It was Legolas, not an intruder from the village.
"Yes..." she breathed in reply. "Isn't it wonderful?"
Legolas made a face. "It's brilliant all right, but I would have preferred it hadn't blown rain all over my bed. It's completely soaked and so was I, until I changed."
Fiondra laughed softly. "That's a problem easily righted. Just change the bedclothes!"
Legolas gave her a sheepish look. "You see, that's the problem. I've never made a bed before, and I'm not sure where the bedclothes are kept. I thought you could help me; perhaps loan me a blanket and a pillow?"
Fiondra shook her head at him and laughed, "Is that what you came in here for? I must say, it isn't proper for you to be in an elleth's bedroom."
Legolas looked as though he hadn't thought of this and he blushed. He started to apologize, but Fiondra held up a hand. "Come: I know where spare sheets and blankets are kept. I will help you change your bedclothes." She led the way out of her room, with Legolas close behind.
x x x x x
"There. Done." Fiondra smiled across the bed at Legolas, who looked both accomplished and flabbergasted. The Prince obviously had known nothing of bed-making before this night. He had put the sheets on sideways, the blankets backward, and the pillowcases on inside-out. Fiondra had gently corrected him and Legolas had graciously accepted her assistance.
Legolas was now grinning at Fiondra from his place on the other side of the bed. "Do you know my favorite thing about a freshly made bed?" When Fiondra shook her head "no", he continued. "It hasn't yet been jumped on." He leapt on the thick mattress and Fiondra gasped in sudden realization.
"Legolas! You can't... We can't – aah!" She was cut short as the stronger elf pulled her onto the bed with him. His blue eyes smiled at her.
"Who says we can't?" he asked her.
At a loss for words Fiondra said, "Well...It wouldn't be proper!"
Legolas grinned at her wickedly. "Your being in my bedroom isn't proper." Without waiting for a reply, he took her hands in his much larger ones and started bouncing up and down on the springy mattress. A moment later, Fiondra began to do the same. Surprised, Legolas gave her a slow smile.
Fiondra blushed and threw back at him, "Oh Eru, who cares about properness?"
Legolas chuckled and she let out a giggle. Soon, both were jumping about in a circle, laughing hysterically.
They kept abusing the mattress until Fiondra's foot snagged on the heavy blanket. Caught off her guard, she knocked Legolas down onto his pillow and she fell on top of him.
Her face was just inches from his and he whispered, "This is a bit awkward." Fiondra's face flamed and she quickly rolled off of the elf's lean, muscular body.
Before she could leave his chamber, Legolas grabbed Fiondra's upper arms and lowered his mouth to hers. Unlike the other kisses they had shared, this one was one of need and longing. Better than words, it conveyed Legolas' true feelings for Fiondra.
The kiss didn't end until Fiondra remembered their new status as "just friends". In regret, she said, "Legolas, I thought we promised to be friends only. I thought you wanted to make sure that your heart was not mistaken."
Knowing that she was right, Legolas muttered, "Stupid vow. Why'd I have to make it in the first place?" Then, seeing Fiondra's sad smile, he burst out impatiently, "Why does Midsummer have to be so far away?"
Fiondra put a finger to his lips and murmured, "Patience, Legolas. It is only two more months, even if they may be long. But when that time comes, we will see what your heart will decide. Now I must go before someone discovers me missing. We made quite a bit of noise."
Legolas grinned. "We did, didn't we?" He led her out to the hall and groaned. "We're too late."
Thranduil was frowning at them curiously. Fiondra's hair was disheveled and Legolas' tunic was unusually crooked. "It is a good thing that I was the only elf you woke, son. What were you doing in there? Or do I even want to know?"
Fiondra turned red and abashed, Legolas said, "Jumping on my bed, Ada."
Thranduil raised his eyebrows and asked in astonishment, "Jumping on the bed?"
Fiondra mumbled, "Yes, sire. We apologize for waking you."
Thranduil dismissed her comment, saying, "Just be glad that no one else discovered you. That would have been a scandal for certain. Jumping on the bed, indeed. Now you both best be off to bed."
Highly embarrassed, Legolas turned to escort Fiondra to her room. He pulled apart the curtain and was ushering her inside when Thranduil spoke again. "I must tell you, Lady Fiondra, your house will be finished by the day after tomorrow. Good night. Legolas, do not linger for too long." When Legolas had nodded, Thranduil disappeared into his own bedroom.
Legolas looked back at Fiondra, who was still flushed. He cleared his throat and said, "I'm quite glad we did that tonight. We might not have had a chance otherwise, if you're indeed leaving the palace soon. The shame was well worth it. Elei velui, Fiondra. And may they be about me." He grinned at her and bent to kiss her hand.
As he went into his room, she softly called, "Elei velui, ever egotistical Legolas." Then hugging her arms across her chest, she clambered back into her own bed. She lay there awake until the falling rain soothed her to sleep.
x x x x x
Taking off his wine-colored robe, Thranduil also slipped into bed. His stern façade had dropped and he was chuckling quietly. He had loved the look of guilt on his son's face. It was so blatantly clear that Legolas was in love with the pretty elleth. And she seemed to be quite taken with him. Thranduil also thought that it had been sheer genius of him to have the elves hurry the construction of Lady Fiondra's house. "After all," he yawned, falling into sleep. "Absence makes the heart grow fonder. They'll be wed before harvest-time." He also fell asleep to the flowing raindrops.
x x x x x
Down in the village, someone else had been wakened in the night, although not from the thunderstorm. Alqua brushed her hair as her most recent lover left her for rest of the night. She too was thinking of Legolas and Fiondra. "I must keep them apart," she said through gritted teeth. Alqua viciously yanked through a tangle of blond curls. "I think it's time I went to Aglarsîr again. He can easily be persuaded to occupy Fiondra's time." Setting down her brush, she gave an evil smile to her reflection. "Oh, yes... Aglarsîr will be quite taken with that witch. And then Legolas will come to me, at long last." She cackled huskily and crawled into her sullied bed, dreaming of riches and being Queen.
x x x x x
Elei velui, Fiondra – Sweet dreams, Fiondra
That's this chapter, my friends. Yes, although it's a bit unconventional, poor Legolas needs to have some fun now and again. Please review!