THE FORGOTTEN

I Elleth Dínen Pȇd

The Silent Elleth Speaks

Author's note: The chapter in which – Legolas wakes up, Nûrhel speaks up, and Lothril lies down.

When she awoke, she found Thranduil standing next to her bed with a freshly carved staff he was half leaning on as he woke her with a hand on her shoulder.

"Good morning, Lothril. I hate to wake you, but someone is asking for you," he said with a smile.

The smile told her everything. She flung her blankets off, couldn't have cared less that she was in her pajama tunic and leggings, and demanded, "Where is he?"

"Follow me," he said and turned and led her next door to Legolas' room where he was sitting up and looking perfect.

He held out her hand in invitation and she all but flew to him. "I see you were right. I think I shall make our wedding after all," Legolas said with a smile as she crawled onto the bed beside him.

"Of course I was right!" she smiled. "I did not forsake my family and world for you just to give you up after a few months. You are not allowed to die until after we sail and I can go visit your fëa in the Halls of Mandos until you are reincarnated."

"You can do that?" he asked, wide eyed.

"Why not? If my disembodied spirit could have a reincarnate Finrod as a teacher, I fail to see why I could not come see you. Besides, I think Mandos likes me," she answered with a grin. "But how are you feeling? Does it hurt?" she asked as she began unbuttoning his tunic.

"Goodness, not even a kiss first?" Legolas teased.

"I want to make sure you are healed enough to handle it," she quipped absolutely flatly.

They both seemed utterly oblivious to the fact Thranduil was standing there not four feet away, and somehow… he got a funny feeling this little back and forth was absolutely normal flirting for the two of them.

She got his tunic open and carefully undid the bandages. She supposed they had been changed after they got here as they were clean and it didn't seem like there was any bleeding or seepage. This was good. She finally got down to skin and there was a hideous scab, but that was a good sign. She only wished she could finish healing it the rest of the way and have him be back to perfect in an hour, but she was definitely not rested enough for that yet. She was however, rested enough to see how his wound was. She laid her hand very gently over the wound and only sang for about half a minute and then sat in silence with her hand upon his chest as if listening then carefully removed her hand.

"It seems like you are healing quite nicely. All that is left is a shallow wound that is closing as we speak," she said. "So I think you are well enough for a kiss."

"Perhaps I am, but are you?" Legolas asked, looking concerned. "You look pale suddenly."

"I am just tired. Nothing taking it easy and some food will not cure," she said dismissively.

"Ada, ring for some food for her, please," Legolas said, seeming to remember his father all the sudden. "I was right – I was dying and you pulled me back from the brink and nearly broke yourself."

"It was within my power and strength," she said stubbornly. "But that does not mean there is not a price to pay, and now I am paying it. And you are well worth a bit of exhaustion for a couple days."

"Thank you, meleth nin," he said tenderly. "And now that I am suffering from naught more than a shallow flesh wound, you are going to go from healer to patient and I am going to let Ada rest and take care of you myself."

"Don't be-" she started and he kissed her lips.

"I shall suffer no arguments. You are going to rest right here beside me and eat breakfast and then spend the rest of the day being lazy while I dote on you," he said with that look on his face that told her that was exactly what he was going to do and no amount of protest would change it.

And to be perfectly honest, she was too tired to argue.

"And you, Ada, I thank you again for watching over me, but I think you are not as healed as I am. I am quite well and I shall get out of bed and dress presently. You need to go rest your leg. Were our clothes brought from camp?"

"They were brought. Your trunk is at the foot of the bed and Lothril's is in her room. And since you are clearly well enough to give orders, I, the lowly king and your father, shall take my leave and do as I have been told. Only, do not push yourself further than you are ready… either one of you," Thranduil said with a half grin and then left. It was ridiculous how adorable those two could be together.

As soon as his father was out of the room Legolas took her hands between his and held them tightly with his eyes closed lightly as if concentrating as he was listening to something. He looked her in the face and said quietly, "I almost regret asking to see you this morning. Lothril, you ought not to have gotten out of bed! You ought to have told Ada to send me to you! Meleth nin, you nearly spent yourself trying to save me!"

"I think that is a slight exaggeration," she protested quietly, honestly having trouble recalling the last time she did feel this tired after walking into the next room and getting into a bed.

"Is it? Lothril, your fëa has not felt this dim to me since the day we met. What can I do to help you recover?"

"Just rest, food, and sleep," she answered in the most reassuring voice she could conjure. "And really, I will recover what I spent just now as soon as breakfast comes."

He raised a brow and gave her a doubtful look. "Have you been seen by a healer?" Legolas asked.

"Yesterday, and they agreed that all I need is food, rest, and sleep. And now that you are awake and I know you are well, my rest shall be better rest and not full of worry," she replied.

"Then I am glad I awakened so early this morning so I may put your fears to rest," Legolas said gently. "I will dress now and then see to you."

"I can go back to my room if-"

"No, no, you shall stay put right here. I do not want you to even think about moving again until the color returns to your cheeks," he said gently but firmly as he let the backs of his fingers stroke her cheek. "You must rest now so I do not worry. We have not known each other two years and already I have thought I lost you twice, battle notwithstanding. I do not think I can handle a third time before we are wed."

"Alright, I shall stay still right here."

"Thank you," he replied and gave her a swift, soft little kiss.

After breakfast Legolas asked to borrow a harp and the rest of the day was spent in a very peaceful and relaxing manner for Lothril. Legolas played quiet and restful songs, singing every so often, and he insisted Lothril either lay down or recline all day and urged her to sleep if she felt so inclined. She did nap a little on and off all day, and each time she drifted off, Legolas would hold her hand or cradle her against himself and sing softly to her. He was pleased to see her color improve as the day went on and he could feel her growing stronger as her fëa and hröa rested. As whatever she had done to save him had clearly accelerated his healing by weeks and he could even now feel himself healing faster than normal, he decided to risk slowing his progress, as he was almost certain it was down to little better than a scratch,and lending her some of his own strength.

He could not pour himself into her like she seemed to have done into him, but he could come along beside her and bolster her. She was still asleep and he paused his singing to see how she was doing as she laid against him. He was already holding her hand and he laid his other carefully over her heart. She was feeling stronger. He let his hand linger on her chest a few seconds longer than strictly necessary. It was reassuring to feel her steady heartbeat and the gentle rise and fall of her chest as she breathed. She was alive, she was whole, she was well, just tired. He removed the hand from her chest and gently tucked her hair behind her beautiful, perfectly pointed ear.

His darling… his lover… his heart… his savior…

He held her a little tighter.

By the next morning Lothril was looking and feeling significantly better and Nurse Legolas declared she was well enough to go downstairs for breakfast. A prognosis seconded by Ada Thranduil, to the wry amusement of Lothril, the only semi-trained healer amongst them.

Though the staff had kept the presence of the royal family mum, Lady Gormes showed up quite coincidentally to drop off some things she had promised to Farion and to pick up the glass for a lamp he had offered to have his glass blower make a replacement for. Everyone was downstairs enjoying lunch when a servant came in to the dining room and urgently informed Farion that her ladyship had arrived.

Farion paled a little. "I completely forgot! She told me she was going to drop by while I was hunting and leave some books and fetch her lamp. She always like coming herself because she enjoys driving. My apologies, your highnesses! I ought to have remembered and done something to avert this."

"Do not worry over this," Thranduil said. "You have been very busy helping us and seeing to many details, and this was one you would not have had to worry about at all if everything had gone as planned."

"Thank you, King Thranduil," Farion said, sounding and looking extremely grateful and almost relieved.

They heard the front doors open and the voice of Lady Gormes directing servants where to put the things she brought, asking them where her lamp was, and telling them she wanted to have lunch before she left. Except for the lightly haughty tone to her voice, she almost sounded like a normal person to Lothril. Maybe without her fawning friends around and only her nephew and the king and the prince for an audience she'd behave herself. Maybe she only performed for an audience. That wouldn't be the first time Lothril had seen someone like that…

The doors to the dining room opened and Lady Gormes looked surprised but very quickly rearranged her face into something less shocked and more congenial as she bowed to the king.

"Your majesties, Farion, I apologize for my appearance. I had no idea anyone would be here and expected only the servants. Had I but known I would have dressed more appropriately and had myself announced," Lady Gormes said, seeming embarrassed.

Lothril hadn't thought anything of not being directly addressed, but Legolas and Thranduil both clearly took umbrage as Legolas' face hardened and he shifted slightly in his seat. Thranduil though put a hand on his son's arm and gave him look.

"And Lady Lothril," Lady Gormes added a moment later, "It is good to see you again also." Her tone wasn't exactly friendly, but it wasn't rude or hostile either.

Just then Nûrhel came in and looked every bit as surprised as her mother had, but she was still in her cloak and had clearly just come in from outside and a brief stroll as some fallen leaves clung to the hem of it. "Oh, my apologies for my appearance, your majesties, Lady Lothril, I did not know you were here and took a brief walk through the garden just now and-"

"We understand Nûrhel. Our presence here was not planned or announced," Thranduil said kindly. He didn't really know her, but she had always seemed nice and nothing like her mother or father, so he pitied her a good deal.

"You are too kind, your highness. Thank you," Nûrhel said with a polite bow.

"Ladies, come and join us for lunch. We are but recently sat down," Farion said. Well, at least his aunt seemed to be on marginally good behavior.

They sat down beside Farion and as servants laid out plates and silverware for the lady and her daughter, Gormes said, "Your majesty, I recall you saying you were not planning to be in the neighborhood during the hunting trip. I hope your presence here does not indicate some unfortunate turn in your plans."

Reasonable inquiry, so Thranduil indulged with a polite answer. "A nearly unfortunate turn, but one that has turned into merely an inconvenience."

"Oh?" she inquired.

"We were met with a hunting accident that resulted in injuries to my person, but I am healing well and thanks to the efforts of Lady Lothril. She was present when it happened and was able to tend me," Thranduil answered. "She is a very talented healer."

Lady Gormes looked quite surprised at this. "A healer? Then I am surprised you went on a hunting trip at all, Lady Lothril, unless you went as a healer. They say the gift is diminished if one takes life."

"I went as a hunter," Lothril said. "But even after slaying dozens in battle, I have noticed no great change in my abilities. That may be though because I am only peredhel and have blood of the ainur in my veins."

"Blood of the ainur? How can that be?" Lady Gormes asked, acting like she had never heard that rumor before.

"My forebears were elven prisoners of Morgoth and through dark and forbidden arts were exiled to a different world, the one from which I hailed. When he was thrown down at last by the Valar, some of the maiar volunteered to follow the exiled elves in an attempt to rescue them and bring them back, but alas, they could not return until they forsook their physical bodies. In the intervening years though between their exile and their learning that fact, they wed and bore children who grew and did the same for a few generations until I was born. I am the first and only one of their children to come here without dying first," Lothril answered.

"Oh! So then you know of your lineage through tradition?" Gormes asked, sounding like she was ready to hear a juicy bit of gossip.

"No, I learned it through Elbereth. When their fëar returned to Mandos, their memories of that world were dim, so though they know who was amongst the exiles, they could not say who exactly my forebears were. Possibly all of them, but no one is sure. The only thing that is somewhat certain is that I am Sindarin, but that is all I can say with much certainty," Lothril answered.

"You learned… through Elbereth?! But how can that be?" Gormes asked, looking a cross between being genuinely awestruck and like she was getting some of the best gossip ever and straight from the horse's mouth.

"I died last winter and went to Mandos and then my spirit was sent back," Lothril said very matter of fact.

"Then you – oh my! Then truly, you have had no chance to be properly educated as a lady," Gormes said… aloud.

Farion almost groaned and his dishes rattled slightly as his elbow came down on the table and he hid his face in his hand. She did not… Nûrhel looked borderline mortified and both Thranduil and Legolas looked like they were ready to be full out enraged depending on the next words out of her mouth.

Lady Gormes though was completely ignorant of their reactions as Lothril maintained a polite look on her face.

"Then if you like my dear, we can be friends and I will happily tutor you on the finer points of being a lady of the court. And I must say, considering your circumstances, you have done an admirable job of conducting yourself properly," Gormes said in a most flattering, brown nosing sort of way.

Nûrhel looked down at her half eaten plate and said in a quiet and timid voice, "Well I think she has been doing an excellent job and does not need any help."

Thranduil, Legolas, and Farion all stared at her in wide eyed, open mouthed shock. Did she really just… stand up to her mother? Even a little bit? Farion suddenly smiled. He was never so proud of her as at this moment.

"One day you will marry a lord and you will see that there is more to it than that," Gormes said patronizingly. "You must forgive my daughter. She can be a little impetuous at times." She looked at her daughter and hissed, "Now apologize for being outspoken."

Farion scoffed and Legolas almost laughed. Nûrhel and impetuous did not belong in the same sentence.

"N-no. I will not. I was merely expressing my opinion," Nûrhel said. "I am allowed to have an opinion, Naneth."

"Indeed she is," Thranduil said, coming to her aid. "I like to hear the true opinions of my lords and even their daughters."

"Of-of course, your majesty," Gormes said, trying to smile but clearly annoyed at the censure.

Nûrhel looked at Thranduil like she was ready to burst into tears of gratitude.

Lothril knew though that this would be a short lived victory for Nûrhel unless she had the guts to keep standing up to her mother. Maybe she did, but if she was forced back to a house with an overbearing mother and apparently a father who was oblivious to the situation, she was likely to get beaten down lower than before. She was getting ready to issue her an invitation to stay at the palace as her own personal guest for a while, but before she could speak, Farion did.

"Cousin Nûrhel, I have been thinking of this for a while, but as I am betrothed to Sílrien and there is still a while until we wed this summer, I was wondering if you would like to stay here for a while and help me make this stern house a bit more suitable to welcome a wife? And then perhaps after stay on and be a companion for her for a time? She lives closer to the palace and I am sure she shall miss her friends living away from them, but you are both friendly are you not?" Farion offered.

The truth of it was, Sílrien pitied Nûrhel just like everyone else did and Nûrhel had no real friends. He hadn't asked Sílrien's opinion on this, but he was certain she would approve of him rescuing his cousin and he was also fairly certain they would get along nicely if they got to actually know each other.

"I think that is a marvelous idea," Lothril said with an encouraging smile to Nûrhel.

"I… I think I will, cousin. Thank you," Nûrhel said. Her mother shot her a withering look. "That is…" then she caught Lothril looking at her with an encouraging smile. Lothril gave her a nod and the encouragement steeled her resolve. "I will stay. Thank you."

"Then you should send for your things this very hour," Lothril said with a smile. "No sense in going home first when you are already here, and I am certain your father's servants are quite competent enough to pack without your oversight. In the meanwhile, if you are in need of a change of clothes, I will happily let you borrow anything I have with me."

Lady Gormes looked like she was ready to burst. This was intolerable.

Legolas on the other hand never looked so proud and he wasn't sure if he was more proud of Lothril or Nûrhel for finally standing up to her mother. No, at the moment he was more proud of Nûrhel. This was at least five hundred years in coming.

"Nûrhel, as your mother I must protest," Gormes said, her outrage sounding barely contained.

"Protest what?" Lothril asked, her voice taking on a sharp edge Lady Gormes had not heard from her before. "A grown elleth accepting an invitation and making a decision for herself?"

"I am sure I do not know how things go with Sindarin and Noldorin elves in Rivendell, but here proper ladies are expected to consult their husbands or parents before making such decisions," Gormes replied, her voice barbed and borderline hostile.

"Is that true?" Lothril asked, looking at Thranduil.

"I certainly never expected Queen Lauríel to ask my permission before accepting a personal invitation, nor did King Oropher demand consultation from Queen Doroneth. Nor were such requirements placed on me when I was prince nor have I placed them upon Prince Legolas. And it is not a thing I have observed to be true from other lords with their wives nor their daughters," Thranduil answered. "Indeed, I would be surprised to learn that Lord Himben would make such a requirement of his wife or daughter. Tell me Farion, is your uncle, Lord Himben such an ellon that he would demand consultation before his daughter accepted a personal invitation?"

Farion answered truthfully, "Indeed, he is not. Whenever I have seen him consulted on such matters, he has always amicably agreed they ought to do what they wish and with a good will."

"Hmm, then it seems to me, Lady Gormes," Lothril said, "That you are perhaps a little confused as to the traditions of your own people. I have been making a study of late of various cultural customs and traditions of both Sindarin and Silvan elves. If you like, I would happily share my notes with you and provide you with tutelage as to what it means to be a proper elleth."

Lady Gormes turned an angry shade of red and Lothril was absolutely certain if the king himself hadn't been sitting right there, she would have flown across the table and struck her, or at the very least screamed insults at her. As it was though, the very king was sitting there. She gave a very strangled sounding, "excuse me" and stormed out of the dining hall, screaming for her cloak to be brought to her before flying out the front door where she proceeded to scream at her coachman to take her home immediately.

Poor Nûrhel looked both triumphant and scared. She had done it! She had gotten out from her mother's heel. Simultaneously, she was now on her own and she knew that whatever her father might do, her mother probably just disowned her.

Lothril immediately came around the table and sat in the seat Gormes had just vacated and put an arm around Nûrhel and said, "I am proud of you."

Nûrhel burst into tears which resulted in Farion immediately coming over to the other side of her and taking her hand and Thranduil calling for some wine for the elleth. "Thank you," she barely choked out.

"You have nothing to fear, cousin," Farion said. "Your father is a fair ellon and he will ask for all the facts, despite whatever your mother may say and he will still love you after this. In the meantime, I will take care of you and I will not let your mother anywhere near you."

"She is probably going to go home and burn all my things. She gets into such tempers," Nûrhel said thickly, trying to control her tears with little luck. A servant brought the wine and Lothril encouraged her to drink a little.

"Surely, your mother shall not do that," Farion said comfortingly.

Lothril looked over at Farion and said, "That is a charitable opinion of her, but I must agree with Nûrhel and suspect she will do just that."

"Then if she does, I will see to it you have everything you need," Farion said. "You shall not go without so long as you are under my roof."

"Thank you, cousin, but I do not want to be a burden thrust upon you suddenly. You shall have a wife soon and –" Nûrhel began to protest but Farion cut her off.

"Nonsense! You are my kin and I love you and I will not see you cast out into the cold. Besides, I am rich enough. I can afford to keep my cousin clothed properly and keep a wife."

"And I will help, mellon," Lothril said. "My sister Arwen gave me a number of dresses and I think your build is closer to hers than mine is and they have not yet been altered to fit me. I will send for them at once if a messenger can be spared and you may borrow them until you can have your own clothes made." She would have given them to her outright, but now that she had five minutes out from under her mother's thumb, Lothril was getting a feeling she had a sense of pride developing and she didn't want to be a charity case. However, friends loan friends clothes in a pinch, and she hoped Nûrhel would see it like that.

"Thank you! That would be most welcome!" Nûrhel said, her eyes lighting up a little. "And I will send them back as soon as I have my own things, I promise."

Lothril smiled and Farion called for a pen and paper and a messenger and within five minutes one of his fastest messengers was riding off to the palace carrying a list of dresses for Estelneth to pack up and send the same day she got the letter stuffed in an envelope bearing the king's seal.

"There, now that that is settled, why do you not go upstairs and rest a little," Lothril suggested. "Relax and rest and we shall see you at supper."

"I think I shall. Thank you… thank you all, your majesties included," Nûrhel said humbly.

"You are most welcome," Thranduil said warmly.

She left the room with Farion escorting her and Lothril wanted to do hand springs except she was still too tired for it from healing Legolas. She felt like she had just helped rescue that girl, even if only a little bit. Legolas came around the table and sat in an empty seat and as soon as she turned to him he kissed her rather passionately and she could feel all sorts of love and pride in her from him.

"I am so, so proud of what you did just now!" Legolas said smiling. "You are having quite a week! You helped kill your first boar and helped a village by doing so, you saved my life, you helped heal Ada, and now you have rescued an elleth from her wretched mother! I am not sure what else there is you could possibly do, but I think you can be readily excused from doing anything at all the rest of the week, at least."

"I am proud of you also," Thranduil said, coming over to her, "but you will forgive me if I do not express it quite how Legolas did."

She stood up and he gave her a hug and a kiss on the cheek. "You have done amazingly the last couple of days, but I think I must insist as a father that you go upstairs now and rest yourself. You are still weak from saving my son and helping me and you are looking tired again. Legolas, you should go with her and attend her."

"Gladly," Legolas grinned and offered her his arm.

Lothril was very glad the upstairs hall was empty as they both entered her bedroom. These shenanigans in the palace were one thing. Doing it here felt like some sort of scandal. Legolas didn't seem to care though. He was nothing but smiles and adoration. As soon as he shut the door behind them he was bidding her sit and doting on her, asking if she wanted anything to drink, a blanket to curl up in, maybe a neck and shoulder rub? She had been looking a bit stiff, after all.

She had been prepared to flat refuse everything and insist on just sitting next to him, but the neck and shoulder rub did in her resolve. "Well, my neck and shoulders have been a bit tense at that, but this chair is too high."

"Then we shall go to the bed," he said simply and offered her his hand. She sat down on the bed more or less in the middle and he said, "No, I think it will be better if you lay down on your belly."

"Oh, yes, it probably would at that," she said. "I know you are mostly healed, but I would hate for you to pull that scab open."

Yes, that was it. That was exactly why he said that. Of course, Lothril. No possible other reason. Goodness, was she ever going to be easy to surprise when they were married… She was wearing the one and only dress she brought on the hunting trip because, as she put it, she was a chronic over packer. This time though it paid off, given the situation they were currently in, and furthermore, this particular dress had a lovely scoop neck that dipped down the same amount front and back, giving him clear access to the top few inches of her shoulders. It also had a handful of buttons going down the back to make getting it off and on easier without having to go over her head.

He began gently massaging her shoulders and his warm hands caused her to immediately sigh with pleasure. He had only been at it a few minutes before he heard a mumbled, "This is nice."

"It is my pleasure," he said quietly in reply. He began absentmindedly humming to himself as he worked on her.

After another handful of minutes she mumbled, "You are very good at this."

"Thank you," he replied quietly and began gently massaging her neck a little.

"Mercy," she sighed as he began on her neck. "Am I ever tight."

"You are as taught as a bowstring. Just relax though, my love. You need not speak unless you wish it," he said quietly and then started very softly singing.

He hadn't been exaggerating when she said she was taught as a bowstring. In fact, she was more so. She almost seemed ready to snap, but as he worked on her he felt her slowly relax and that made him very pleased. Once her neck seemed to have all the tightness worked out of it, he returned to her shoulders until they felt soft and then he let his hands feel down her back and he realized her whole back was a tight mess.

"Lothril, darling, would you like me to continue?" he asked.

"Legolas, I will literally let you do this all day," she answered in a half muffled voice.

"Would you mind if I undo the back of your dress so I am not working through so much fabric?" he asked.

"Go for it," she answered. "I would let you strip me to the waist. I mean, it is not like you haven't seen my mostly naked back before, but I just so happen to have an under dress on that ties in the front and I am not moving. So I hope you do not mind working through that."

That was a bit bold of her to say, though he loved hearing her say it. "That is well. I am sure it is thin enough to not be a bother." He undid the buttons closing her dress and neatly folded over the fabric so it was laying open like a book, and began working down her back. No, that under dress wasn't going to be a problem at all. It was quite a thin fabric and he could as easily feel the warmth of her skin through it as he did when his hands were on her bare skin.

He slowly worked his way down her back, singing softly all the while, and only stopped his descent when he realized he was at the top of her hip.

"When we are married," she mumbled, sounding very nearly half asleep, "I want you to start this at the top of my head and not stop until you reach the sole of my foot. This is amazing. I cannot remember the last time I felt this good."

He broke into a smile. "I am very glad to hear it. I want you to always feel this good and I am thrilled to be the one to make you feel this way," he said as he began buttoning up her dress again.

"You always make my heart feel this way," she said, still sounding supremely relaxed and nearly sleepy. "But it is really nice to have my body feel this way too."

It was amazing to him how marvelous those words made him feel.

"Legolas, I almost feel bad for asking after all that, but would you mind getting me something to drink?"

"Do not feel bad! I want to take care of you, Lothril. Of course I will get you something to drink. What would you like?"

"Water is fine."

"You are so amusing sometimes. I do not think you could have asked for anything easier," he said as he merely leaned over towards her nightstand and poured water from the pitcher into a cup.

She rolled over lazily and he made her sit up against him before he handed her the cup.

"How are you feeling now? Is there anything else you need?" he asked.

"Hmm… I just got the best massage ever from the best ellon ever and now I am snuggled against him. What more could I want?"

"Something to eat, some wine, sleep, kisses," he suggested.

"I could go for some kisses, but I am afraid I am far too relaxed and lazy give them," she replied and sounding every inch of the relaxed and laziness that she claimed.

"What about receiving them?" he asked quietly.

"I think I could receive a few, but really, you have me feeling like jelly. Very happy jelly."

He knew what she meant, but it was still silly and he chuckled a little before moving her to one side and laying her down against her pillows. "Today I need nothing in return save knowing you are relaxed and pleasured, and you may tell me how relaxed and pleasured you are in the laziest ways you can contrive," he said before giving her a very long, slow kiss.

A few hours later a gentle and melodic tinkling of bells could be heard throughout the house to summon everyone to dinner. Thranduil, Farion, and a timid but liberated looking Nûrhel reached the dining room about the same time and only had to wait a minute for Legolas and Lothril to join them.

Thranduil had to give them credit for their subtlety. He was seriously doubtful Farion or Nûrhel saw what he saw. Behind the pleasant and polite smiles and chaste hand holding Thranduil saw a very relaxed and rested looking Lothril and an immensely pleased and proud looking Legolas. He strongly suspected Lothril's look had nothing to do with sleep and Legolas' had everything to do with her not sleeping. But they were not home, so he kept his cheeky comments to himself. Not his cheeky smirk, just his cheeky comments.