Midnight Swim
Legolas and Fiondra had almost finished eating their supper when Fiondra realized something. Between mouthfuls of the tender fish, Fiondra exclaimed, "Eru, I've only just noticed. Where's Master Gimli?"
Legolas swallowed and wiped his lips with a napkin. "He ate a bit too much at dinner and became ill. He'll be fine on the morrow."
Sympathetically, Fiondra said, "Please give him my best wishes for a safe recovery."
Legolas nodded and wryly said, "Tomorrow he'll do the exact same thing and he'll moan and complain even more."
Fiondra laughed lightly and Legolas grinned. They continued talking throughout the rest of the meal, telling stories and making jokes. Fiondra shared how a young elfling had run up to her the previous day, mistaking her for his naneth. The poor elf child had grown quite loud and upset when he realized that Fiondra had no idea who he was.
When Fiondra had finished with her tale, Legolas noticed her wistful look. "You would like children of your own?" he asked her seriously.
She smiled at him and replied, "Someday, yes."
Legolas quietly said, "You will make a good mother."
Fiondra thought he was joking, but the look in his eyes was anything but. She looked down and murmured, "Thank you."
Now mindful of the seriousness he had just displayed, Legolas looked out of the window. "The moon is full tonight. Would you care to join me for a walk?"
Fiondra smiled and rose from her chair. Legolas did likewise, and helped her put on a thin, white shawl. Legolas put on his bow and quiver and took Fiondra by the arm.
"Shall we walk by the more secluded stream?" Legolas asked, looking down at Fiondra.
When she replied, her voice was dripping with mischief. "Would that be the bathing brook?"
Legolas' eyes sparkled. "Perhaps."
Fiondra laughed and hugged him with one arm. "You rascal," she teased. "Let's go. I'll race you!" She took off running, her laugh floating on the breeze back to him.
Momentarily surprised, Legolas shouted, "That's not fair! Come back!" He loped after her, her laugh still taunting him.
A matronly elleth peered out of her window. "Do you have any idea what time it is!" she shrieked. "Go home where you belong!"
Legolas tossed her an apology over his shoulder and the elleth stared in shock as the Prince of Mirkwood chased after a fleeing elleth. "Well really!" she muttered huffily, and went back to bed, slamming the shutters on her window.
X X X X X
Legolas reached the creek, breathless. He looked around, but saw no sign of Fiondra. "All right, you beat me!" he laughed while panting. "Now come out...I promise I'll behave!"
When he heard no response, he took off his bow and fitted an arrow to it. Legolas walked along the stream, passing under many trees. He peered up into the shadows, but saw no danger. Neither did he see the figure that leapt onto him.
Startled, he dropped his bow and the figure laughed. "Well," Fiondra burst. "It seems his Royal Highness isn't so attentive after all!"
As the elleth dusted herself off, still laughing, Legolas said mockingly, "I promised to behave if you came out when I called. You didn't, so I don't have to behave."
Before the words could register with the elleth, Legolas had taken off his quiver and her shawl. He then picked up the protesting female and jumped with her into the brook.
Fiondra reached the surface and sputtered, "You aw-awful pest! This water's f-freezing!"
Legolas grinned. "A trick for a trick." Fiondra splashed him and he splashed her back. A water fight erupted and they did not cease until Fiondra's lips turned blue.
"How c-can you stand this water?" she chattered to Legolas. "It's too early to be bathing, especially in the middle of the night!"
"When one travels with a Fellowship, and there are no heated baths in sight, one will wash with whatever water is available. Including the freezing mountain springs," Legolas replied with a smile. Then concerned, he said, "Come; it will do you no good to be in this water any longer."
He climbed onto the grassy bank and then turned to help Fiondra out. "I don't have a towel or cloth besides this thin shawl," Fiondra said regretfully.
"Then you will have to rely on my body heat," Legolas murmured softly.
Fiondra turned beet red, but did not object when he pulled her close to him for a long, intense kiss. "Is that better?" he asked slyly.
Fiondra swatted him. He laughed and put his arm around her waist. She molded to his body and both felt so natural walking intimately together, that neither one thought of how strange they looked to watching eyes.
X X X X X
Fiondra hummed a song as she brushed out her hair before she went to sleep. Her relationship with Legolas was improving and Midsummer was not too far away. As tonight with the stream had proven, he loved being around her and joking with her and she with him. What other elleth does he do that with?
Without realizing it, she stared out her bedroom window and began softly singing an ancient love song. Fiondra continued to sing as the heartfelt words lulled her to sleep.
X X X X X
The night slowly wore on. Four o'clock came and someone stole into Fiondra's tiny home. They took care not to disturb any of the few object's in the elleth's house. When they reached the bedroom, they crept in and went to Fiondra's bedside. Swiftly a cloth was thrust in Fiondra's mouth and her hands and feet binded. The struggling elleth was swept into a sack and the house was left. It stood there alone, the sole witness to a mysterious kidnapping.
X X X X X
Ooh, what's next? Sorry, you'll just have to wait. Truthfully, I only have a scant idea myself, and the chapter may take a couple days to write. Chapters come faster when I get more reviews! (Hint hint.) Thanks! And yes, I do know that this chapter is pretty short compared to my more recent chapters, but I felt that this was a good breaking point. Although slightly evil. Well, thanks for reading!