Aerlaer was having a wonderful time larking about with her friends. She wondered why Legolas had not joined them. Maybe they do not dance like this in Mirkwood. She laughed lightly to herself, she knew exactly how they danced in the Greenwood… Quickly, she sobered, suddenly losing time.

"Aerlaer, here, you look far too serious." She glanced up to find Orophin had returned into the fray, handing her a goblet.

"Thanks." She murmured, shaking her head slightly, pushing a few strands of hair from her face. She was on her third goblet of the strong, Elven wine and could feel it affecting her a little. What is Orophin doing, trying to get me tipsy? She took her leave from the dancing and Celeth and Nellad followed her back to their original benches.

"Oh, that was such fun!" Celeth gushed, "Although I had hoped Legolas would have danced too." She finished with disappointment.

"Perhaps he does not wish to make a fool of himself as we were." She replied to her friend with a playful grin. Admittedly, she could not exactly picture the wood-Elf playing up in such a way. She glanced about searching. He sat with Gimli and Aragorn, across the glade. Aerlaer smiled as she noted how animatedly he spoke with Gimli, a goblet in his hand. She wondered what they spoke or, more likely, bantered about.

Celeth sighed. "You are such a lucky thing, getting to travel with him."

"Mmm what?" Aerlaer turned to her friend before processing her words. "Oh, yes. His fighting skills are quite sharp, amazing really and, he has a keen eye." She mused, remembering the skirmishes they had so far been in and the Troll in the mines he had successfully taken down.

"Oh, Aerlaer, surely you've noticed how beautifully handsome he is?" Nellad spoke up with a laugh.

"Uh, I guess so." Aerlaer replied non-committedly. She watched now as her own grandfather led her grandmother out to dance. Her grandmother smiled and then laughed lightly at something her grandfather said. Aerlaer felt a rush of love towards them. They were her family. Her earlier time in Lothlórien had never been easy, certainly not at first but, her grandparents had always been, in their way, on her side.

"You guess so?" Celeth echoed her and Aerlaer turned back to her friends who both gazed at her incredulously. Feeling this conversation was going to turn into an interrogation, she shrugged, focusing again on her grandparents. She had always loved watching them dance.

Amatthor saved her by whisking Nellad away for a dance. And Celeth, feeling left out, called out to Orophin to dance with her. The blonde haired ellon winked at her as he led Celeth away. She watched them, enjoying a short moment alone as she sipped slowly at the sweet liquid in her goblet. As the slow song ended and a cheerful, quicker song began to play; Galadanor appeared in front of her.

"May I request this dance my lady?" He bowed low and exaggerated. Aerlaer couldn't help but laugh at his antics and standing, took his offered arm with a grin. Galadanor was a very good dancer and always fun and, holding onto arms and shoulders, she laughed joyously as they spun about to the erratic temp changes in the song. As it ended, the next song proved just as quick and she danced through that one too, knowing it well.

Galadanor returned her to the edge of the dancers, once the second song had ended and he was immediately beckoned to dance by a pretty, copper haired elleth. Grinning, Aerlaer pushed him away and towards the elleth and made her way towards a table to take another goblet. She welcomed the cool, sweet liquid as it hit her senses. She was having a wonderful time and, after the chaos and pain which was the mines, it was nice to simply relax and be an elleth.

Not a warrior, not continuously on guard. The strong wine was certainly having an effect and she hoped she could gracefully handle the drink she now slowly sipped. If not, she supposed she would receive a reprimanding by her grandfather. No, certainly not a warrior right now but once again a Princess.

…

Boromir had been sitting and talking with the Hobbits, who had taken rest from the dance area. They had indulged in too much Elven wine and were feeling very merry, but, perhaps he had too, for even Frodo's presence and that which he secretly carried did not bother him.

He'd been watching the Elves dance as he talked with the Hobbits and had noted, Aerlaer was a beautiful dancer. He had compared her to Galadriel, noticing they moved in the same graceful way, making them stand out from the others.

He thought of Legolas, compared to Haldir and his brothers and all the other male elves here. He moved more gracefully. More like Aerlaer did. Perhaps it was due to an air of royalty but, he doubted it. He could liken Legolas's movement to a cat and, chuckled at his comparison. He looked over to the Elf who was sitting alongside Gimli and Aragorn and noticed how his head turned slightly, looking at something or someone. He glanced away to answer something Aragorn had said and then spoke to Gimli, but Boromir noticed again how Legolas once again turned his gaze away.

This time he followed the Elf's gaze to where Aerlaer stood, goblet casually in hand, watching the dancing. She stood alone, perhaps the first time he had seen her alone all evening. He looked to where Legolas sat and noticed an almost wistful gaze upon his face. Suddenly, Boromir had a brilliant idea.

…

Legolas had watched Aerlaer leave the dance area and head to the drink table. This would be her fifth drink, he'd calculated. He had been acutely aware of how many drinks Orophin had handed to her. He himself had downed six goblets and was halfway through the contents of a seventh.

The sixth had finally hit his bloodstream and he was feeling a little more cheerful, as he bantered with Gimli over Elvish and Dwarfish customs. Boromir suddenly appeared before them, a grin on his face as he asked Aragorn to shift along.

"You are drunk." Legolas stated, a smirk on his face, as the Gondor man sat down heavily beside him.

"I am." Boromir agreed. "But you my Elfy friend are not!" He exclaimed, throwing an arm about his shoulders. Legolas gazed at him, completely baffled by the intoxicated man. "There is a lovely Elf over there and, I think you should ask her to dance." He whispered loudly into Legolas's ear and pointed.

Legolas looked to where Boromir gestured, eyes narrowing. Aragorn also looked and chuckled. "I believe there is already a fair quota of Elves for her to dance with this evening." Legolas replied curtly, feeling near transparent for the thought of asking Aerlaer to dance had crossed his mind more than once.

"Ah yes there are many, but they are not you." Boromir drawled out with a chuckle and Legolas wondered just how much wine the man had consumed. He leaned in closer. "I think what the fair lady would like, is to dance with an Elf that is as graceful as her." He gazed about conspiringly before leaning in again to whisper. "Not these buffoons." Legolas let his gaze flicker back towards Aerlaer. She still stood in the same place. She was still alone. Could he?

"What do you think?" Boromir pressed, grinning.

"Hmm, I don't know, maybe?" He muttered, not fully warming to the idea.

"Excellent. I shall call her over! Aerlaer!" Legolas physically cringed as Boromir suddenly shouted out the elleth's name. He sent the man a scathing glare.

"What are you doing?" He hissed in dismay but Boromir merely grinned.

"Giving you a nudge." At that, Aragorn chuckled and Legolas made sure he too received a dark glare. "Aerlaer!" Boromir called out again and this time gestured the elleth to them and she smiled brightly and began walking over, skirting around other Elves. Cursing under his breath at the turn of events, Legolas downed the remaining contents of his goblet.

Cursing under his breath, Legolas downed the last of the strong Elven wine from his goblet.

"Hello." Aerlaer greeted Boromir warmly and Boromir looked up at her, the picture of innocence. So far, Legolas had sent her a brief smile and turned his focus to those dancing.

"Oh good, you're here." Boromir drawled out. "Legolas was just saying how he was going to ask you something." Seething at the drunken man, he wished he had his bow on him, if only to crack it over Boromir's head! He suddenly realised Aerlaer was waiting patiently for this question of his. Sighing, realising he was in a way getting what he wished, that was of course, if she accepted which she may very well not, he looked up into her curious eyes.

"I was wondering if you would care to dance with me?" He mentally congratulated himself on asking her so casually. He felt nervous, waiting for rejection, expecting rejection. Instead her whole face lit up in a beautiful smile.

"Of course, I'd love to." His heart soared; dignity still whole! She held her hand out to his and he took it carefully, rising from his seat. Slightly shocked by his unintended actions, he led her towards the other dancers.

…

As they came to stand in the group of dancers, who were pausing, awaiting the next song to begin or, changing partners, Aerlaer turned to Legolas. She wondered why it was only now he had decided to dance.

The first notes of the next song began and for a moment, Legolas gazed at her with indecision and she began to wonder if she should suggest they forget the whole dance when he placed a hand lightly on her shoulder. In return she reached up to place her hand upon his shoulder. He still held the hand she had offered him when he had asked her to dance and, as the music of two harps now came together, they began to dance.

It felt a little strange, dancing with her comrade, the Elf who she fought beside on the quest but, it also felt strangely right. The song was slow and she knew it; a ballad of sorts of love defying time itself. A song she would usually scoff at to her herd-mates. They were no longer here and it was a burning feeling across her heart. She felt the hand around hers tighten a little and glanced up to see Legolas gazing down, nervously? It seemed an odd expression for him.

"This song is probably not as jubilant as you are used to?" Aerlaer murmured and his gaze became quizzical.

"Oh, yes, it is admittedly slow but it is nice." He replied, spinning her lightly about him. The action was so smooth and easy and she came floating back to him perfectly to the highs and lows of the ballad. She glanced back up at him, smiling and his face lit up into its own smile, his eyes warm. He was a wonderful dancer, she realised. Better even than Galadanor, who was one of the best dancers in the realm.

The way Legolas danced, however, made her feel as if she were in a dream. Gazing up at him again, she noticed how finer boned he was compared to the Elves of Lothlórien; his jaw was not so heavy set and his hair was slightly more silver than even that of Haldir. He really is striking. He twirled her again and this time, when she danced back towards him, the hand he placed back at her shoulder left her skin tingling.

…

Whether it was a trick of the blue lights twinkling in the trees above or not, Legolas was sure Aerlaer's eyes were sparkling brighter than he'd ever seen them before. They were a mixture of swirling blue, indigo and silver. As the chorus heightened, he spun her yet again and the soft petal like falls of her dress, swirled around her.

His breath caught as her hair swirled too, the lights influencing it, making it look as if light refracted off wavy strands as they shifted. Instead of resting his hand back on her shoulder, he unthinkingly placed it on the small of her back. In turn, she stepped in closer to him and reached her arm further passed his shoulder, her hand edging closer to his neck. He involuntary let out a sigh, the feeling of her hand warm and gentle. Foreign and yet, welcome.

He could have danced with her a thousand times for it felt so natural, so right, so perfect. He hadn't felt like this since, since… The song began to end and once more he spun her and when she came back, his hand once again found the small of her back and the other, he rested upon her shoulder as her own hands both rested upon each side of his neck. She was so close and he easily caught the scent of violets which was entirely her and entirely mesmerizing. Just like her eyes. He could not look away from her deep, indigo blue eyes.

He did, his eyes flickered to her lips of their own accord and now he fought the crazy impulse to lean down towards her. She was still gazing at him, her expression one of content and then, she smiled and, the way the simple yet sweet action made her lips curve, lost him the battle and he began to bend his head down…

"Ahem."

Legolas looked up swiftly to the nearby sound, his earlier intentions vanishing and yet, when he realised who had uttered the interruptive sound, he barely concealed his absolute displeasure. Orophin stood but feet from he and Aerlaer. The elleth quickly dropped her arms away from him, taking a step back as he let go of her and Legolas realised the song had ended. He felt as if he had been brought, crashing out of a dream. Yet dreams didn't feel so real.

"I was hoping to steal this fine treasure of an elleth for a dance. You don't mind, do you?" Orophin questioned. He sounded innocent but Legolas could see the challenge in his eyes and, he didn't like it. He chose to ignore it and shrugged neutrally.

"If Aerlaer permits, be my guest." He answered back graciously, thinking how much he'd like to strangle the other Elf in that moment. He didn't need to go to Valinor, did he?

"Are you sure?" Orophin questioned again. Is he deaf or stupid? Wondered Legolas, he'd already said yes once. Instead he answered impishly.

"I am sure Aerlaer is more than capable of making that choice herself. You do not need to ask me." He smiled and, turning to Aerlaer, said with feeling he meant; "Thank you for a lovely dance." Before turning on his heel to walk back to the others.

"Legolas?" Aragorn murmured as he reached him swiftly. "Is all well?" The Ranger frowned in worry.

"Yes, all is well." It was not. He kept his expression neutral but he felt confused and contemptuous. "I think I shall head back to camp." He decided, wishing to simply leave. Aragorn nodded.

"The Hobbits are already there and we will not be far behind you, mellon nin." Legolas merely nodded, before turning to leave the glade, making sure he did not catch glimpse of the dancers again.

…

Orophin spun Aerlaer around the dance floor and she laughed at his charming antics. He was just that, a charmer and funny one at that. The song they danced to was another love song but of a lighter tone and with a slightly faster tempo. Orophin was also a very good dancer and she had danced with him many times in the past. She realised now that he simply could not match the natural grace and poise of a certain wood-Elf. Orophin held one of her hands in his and the other, he rested on the side of her middle back and, she noted his hands were colder than the other Elf's had been. They were not comforting either, she realised with a start.

Orophin, noticing a falter in her step, took it as an opportunity to pull her a little closer. He felt familiar to her and she did not think too much of it, smiling into his deep, intense, blue eyes. He smiled back and, as the song ended, lead her in hand to stand privately under the tree's surrounding the glade.

Aerlaer made to let go of his hand but instead, Orophin turned her to face him, taking up her other hand in his. She gazed up at him in confusion. "Orophin?" She hedged uncertainly but he merely smiled down gently at her.

"You know how much I care for you, Aerlaer. I think maybe you care for me the same?" Such words she had not expected and she gazed up at him in shock, lost for her own words. He swallowed, seeming to become more composed and went on. "I cannot bear to think of you in harm's way. When I heard of what had happened to your herd, I felt sorrow for you but I rejoiced; you were safe. Now you put yourself in danger again." He dropped her left hand and reached up to hold her face, a look of fondness in his eyes but, there was something else there too which looked almost desperate. Her mind was reeling, just what was happening?

"Please stay here, with me. I can keep you safe here." He whispered and leaned down and placed a lingering kiss upon her cheek before dropping both his hands to his sides. "Please think about it?"

Mutely she nodded at him, unsure what to say and he smiled, looking both relieved and joyed. She felt as if a weight had settled inside her.

"I am glad you will, we will speak in the morning, my sweet Aerlaer." With that he bowed politely and made his leave. Aerlaer stood rooted to the spot, completely stunned. What had just happened? She thought wildly. She needed to head back to camp and think, Get the elven wine from her system. She was no one's sweet anything!

Feeling completely out of sorts, Aerlaer bid her other Lothlórien friends a good night. Thankfully they had not seen or heard her and Orophin's conversation so, no questions were thrown her way. She then walked over to her grandparents to wish them a good night. She wondered if her grandmother knew for she gave her a searching look.

"I trust you had an enjoyable eve." She murmured and Aerlaer automatically nodded.

"Yes, I think Mithrandir would have enjoyed this." Her grandmother smiled wistfully, gazing out into the trees in the direction Moria lay. She turned back, placing a hand on Aerlaer's cheek. "Rest young one, there is much on your mind but only after sleep will you find the answers." Aerlaer rolled her eyes with a small smile but nodded nonetheless. Farewelling both, she made her way from the glade, hoping rest would bring about the enlightenment she needed for there was so much to think about.

…

Legolas lay on his back, staring at the stars thoughtfully; the others were deep in sleep, Gimli and Boromir snoring occasionally. He heard the nearly silent footsteps on the ground and a swish of fabric and finally the sound of a light body settling onto pillows in the tree root nook near his. Good, she's back. He thought; smiling contently, finally letting sleep take him.

…

The eve had grown late and Galadriel now walked quietly beside Celeborn, down a narrow path.

"It is he, I am certain." She murmured to her lifemate and he tilted his head.

"Should they know of this?" Celeborn asked and she thought carefully.

"No." She sighed. "All shall pass as time means it to, as fate means it to." She paused, running her hand down the silvery bark of a mallorn sapling, feeling its youthful lifeforce. "They will truly find one another again when the time is right, when fate wishes it to be so." She turned to face Celeborn. "It is safer this way, if the full truth were revealed, danger to them would be imminent.

"What does the mirror show?"

"That, I will discern from the Ringbearer, himself."