Author's Note: I had waaaay too much fun writing this one-no idea why. I could just picture the two of them in my head, teasing one another...again, too much fun! I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. :O)

"Oh, these lilies are lovely today!" exclaimed Erumar as she leaned in close to breathe them in. As some of the most colorful flowers in the garden, she and Thranduil always made it a point to walk past them in their rounds about the rows.

Thranduil stood just beside her, and of course, his gaze was not on any flower but upon her as he replied with agreement, "Yes…lovely, indeed." He often did this, and she never made any mention that she recognized he was speaking of her, never blushed or gave any other recognition. He did not know whether he should assume that she did not know, or whether he should assume that she was simply ignoring him, unwilling to play along. Still, it made him smile, and she was beautiful. He loved the way her long, raven hair spilled over her shoulders and down her back, reaching nearly to her waist.

Her fingers lifted one of the lily-faces to her nose as she moved from flower to flower, and he simply trailed along behind her, hands clasped behind his back, simply watching her enjoy the day. They spent many days like this when he made the time. But…he did have something on his mind.

"Shall we return to the subject at hand?" he asked, prompting her and she rolled her eyes, her face hidden from view.

"Must we?"

He sighed.

"I suppose that means we must," she replied, turning to look at him.

"Or you can continue to avoid me."

She laughed, blushing. "I am certainly not avoiding you! If I were, would I be here right now, walking with you, talking with you?"

He tilted his head, narrowing his eyes. "You cannot really consider talking about the lilies as talking. And this is the first time you have looked at me since this conversation began."

She waved her hand at him, turning back to begin walking again. "You are exaggerating."

"Am I?" He attempted to reach out and catch her arm, but she darted ahead two steps and he just missed. "Erumar—"

"Yes," she replied with another laugh. "Exaggerating." He did not lunge for her again, assuming that would be a bit forward and he did not wish to end up chasing her all about the garden. Instead, he simply followed her around another corner and into another row of flowers.

"You know," he said thoughtfully, a wry smile on his face, "I do not think I have ever had someone completely dismiss me as you are doing."

"I am not dismissing you," she argued gently. "I simply do not want to have the discussion you wish to have. Therefore, I am going to change the subject."

He clasped his hands behind his back again and chuckled as he watched her lean forward to admire a bush of clumpy but vibrant viburnum. "You could at least consider having it with me. I can be patient."

"You may be waiting a very long time. Are you that patient?"

"Mmmm…I could be for the right reasons."

"This is not one of those. You are wasting your time."

Smiling, he continued, "When Tauriel mentioned that—"

"Did you know that Tauriel and I went for a swim?" she asked, suddenly turning toward him, her eyes wide and a story within them. He was so distracted by the turn of her expression and the thought of her swimming that he did not realize she had changed the subject on him and played right into her hands.

"Swimming? When was this?"

"Just yesterday, actually."

He looked suspiciously at her. "I thought you were out for a ride."

"We were," she replied, "but then Tauriel showed me a place that Legolas used to go swimming when he lived here. It was a beautiful place I would have never known was there, and was a challenge to get to." She smiled. "I was glad she was there to show me or I never would have found it."

She continued on for a little about how beautiful the place was, waterfall and all, but he found himself easily imagining...well, fantasizing about her swimming in that pool. Appropriate or not, for a moment that was all he could think of, hair soaked, droplets of water on her skin… It took him a moment to realize that he was daydreaming and he wondered if his eyes had glazed over—and if she had noticed. He blinked and glanced at her, hoping she would not observe him doing so; again, either she had not detected it or she had no intention of commenting on his mental absence as she was saying something about a toad.

"—what he was doing there, but Tauriel felt poorly for him and fished him out." She laughed. "She has such a heart for the forest. But the swimming was wonderful. I hope we can go again soon."

He cleared his throat, shaking his head to rid himself of swimming images of her. "You have been out riding many times. I am surprised it took her this long to show it to you. If I recall correctly, having only been there a handful of times myself, it was quite beautiful."

"Do you know how long it has been since I was swimming? It was before I lived in Lórien," she added, surprise in her own voice. "I was thinking about it just this morning. So long ago. Do you like to swim, Thranduil?"

He smiled. "I honestly do not know when I swam last. I remember Glosvana and me taking Legolas when he was very young to the very spot you are describing. He must have shown it to Tauriel at some moment after she came here."

She noticed that it had become, at most times, easier for him when he mentioned Glosvana in casual conversation. It had taken them months of walking and talking to get to this point, and still she was usually never ready or willing to talk about Haldir. She wondered how long it would take her to finally be able to discuss him without stabbing pains assaulting her.

"Who was the better at it?"

"Oh," he laughed aloud, "she was the one who taught him. I was the one who nearly drowned him. Poor boy."

She laughed, too, in surprise. "I suppose she was the better swimmer then!"

"No, on the contrary, I was. I simply was not the best teacher for him. He learned strength from me; he learned the moves from her. I think Tauriel was even better than him; she arrived with that skill already. If I am not mistaken, it saved her life when her parents were slain."

Erumar nodded. "Yes, she did mention something about that yesterday, but it was very brief. There are moments in conversation with her that I feel as though I hit a wall. Yesterday we were speaking of Legolas and after a certain point she would say no more." Erumar thought of the story she had been telling—about the first time she had followed Legolas out here, discovered where he was sneaking off to, and cut off when she realized she had embarrassed herself by telling a story where she had obviously seen him naked, infatuated with him as she had been then. Erumar could barely get two words out of her for half an hour after that. "I take it that she was definitely in love with him at one time."

Thranduil sighed. "Yes, or at least infatuated with him, as he was taken with her. And how could they not be? The two of them were similar in many ways; kindred spirits, and both quite alone. Knowing Enguina, I can be relieved that my keeping them apart did not destroy Legolas's chance for a fulfilling marriage…I can only pray that one day, Tauriel will find the same." He shrugged. "I suppose that is in Ilúvatar's hands. It is so far in the past now; it is difficult to feel guilty about it."

She slipped her arm through his, falling back and into step beside him. "As a parent, we all do foolish things that we think at the moment are best for our children. You did what you thought was right at the time."

"Yes. Right or wrong."

She nodded. "Right or wrong," she agreed.

He gave her a sideways look. "You know, I often think the same about you, from time to time."

She looked up at him. "Hmm? What do you mean?"

"You said that you were speaking to Tauriel and after a certain point within the conversation, she would say no more." There was a little glimmer in his eye as he spoke and her brain triggered a warning. "I feel the same way about you. I keep trying to ask you about—"

"Ugh," she complained, tugging her hand out of his arm and moving away from him. "You are incorrigible. And just when I thought I had been so successful…"

He laughed, and this time, he did catch her arm, but it was to walk with her, not slow her down. "You were," he admitted. "You successfully distracted me for nearly ten minutes."

"It was not long enough apparently."

He chuckled at her again. "Oh come now, at least tell me a part of the story surrounding it."

She shook her head at him, lifting her chin in defiance. "No."

He sighed. "Oh, woe is me. I can discover nothing about you. I cannot draw you out of your shell to answer me anything."

"Now you are definitely exaggerating," she scoffed, slipping her arm back through his. "I have answered everything you have asked—"

"Your hands?"

"Out of bounds."

"The reason you use a fork with your left hand and not your right?"

"When did you notice that?"

"How about what you were writing two months ago by the falls that you would not let me see?" he said the last as he leaned in close to her, raising his eyebrows.

She was surprised that he even remembered that, though she was not about to tell him now either. "Well…I have answered except…a few minor things, I suppose."

"Mmmm."

"Do not patronize me," she said. "And honestly, there are probably just as many things you will not answer for me…I just have not thought to ask them yet."

He laughed. "That is because there are very few things that I would not tell if you were to ask me of them. I do not have many secrets. You, on the other hand, hide too well. Though, I am always hard at work continuing to discover you." He smiled and the two of them restarted walking again, moving out of the garden and towards the cliff edge that followed the Forest River around Lasgalen. He watched her eyes follow the falls that flowed near the bridge. "It is beautiful here, is it not?" he asked her softly as they paused at the entrance to the path that would follow along the cliff side.

She peered over the edge before continuing to walk with him, he along the edge and she farthest away. "Stunning," she said, and looked up at him. "I can think of no reason to hurry my stay."

"I hope you have found many reasons to stay," he added. "Two years here is not nearly long enough to experience all Lasgalen has to offer."

She smiled. "There is really no other place that I can imagine myself at the moment."

"You could make this permanent, you know," he reminded her. "This could be your home. You could remain here forever and everyone would be delighted. Everyone speaks of your staying here. In fact," he laughed lightly, "I think everyone already assumes you will."

"I have not made up my mind yet," Erumar replied, and she could have admitted that she probably would, but did not say it. She watched as swallows flew from one side of the cliff to the other. "Most things are so peaceful here, so beautiful. I almost think it is lovelier right here than the garden."

Thranduil brought his hand to his heart. "You have gravely wounded me."

"Oh, stop that," she laughed. "There is something about the falls that stir my soul; it reminds me of home. I have always loved the water, since I was a girl. Have you ever been to Imladris?"

"No," he replied. "I have never had the privilege. After the Last Alliance, and the death of my father, I had too much to be concerned with here. I never made good on Elrond's invitation, and now, as I am to understand it, not much remains."

"Well, the falls here remind me of the water there. When I was young I would swim every day that I could, even in the winter." She laughed. "It was cold, but I would brave it."

"I can see you now," he laughed with her. "Was Arwen with you?"

"And her brothers. As I grew older I became a bit more practical, but I have never outgrown how much I love it. I remember that I could outswim any of them at any given moment. Once, Elladan was so frustrated that he nearly drowned me." She chuckled. "Arwen was not pleased with them."

"I would think not." He smiled down at her. "Did you race Tauriel across the water yesterday?"

She gave him a wicked smile. "I thought you would never ask."

He raised his eyebrows at her, surprised to see such an interesting expression on her face. "And? Did you win?"

"Oh…I crushed her!" she laughed aloud, and Thranduil grinned, her joy in victory infectious.

"I wish I had been there to see it. Tauriel is fast; you must be quite amazing."

"I do not know about amazing, but I was quicker than she was. Perhaps I am part fish."

"Perhaps you are," he laughed with her. "But wherever are your fins?"

"Places a lady should not speak of," she teased, raising her eyebrows, and it was the first time she had ever seen him blush. "Oh, my goodness, King Thranduil…embarrassed?"

"Not at all," he said, but he glanced away, lifting his chin with feigned disdain as he attempted to make a joke of it. "It is simply too warm. I have been out here for several hours, and I am probably getting too much sun."

He had never heard her laugh so hard in all the time he had known her. If he could blush more, he would have, but that was impossible. He was blushing not only from her words now, but also from her laughter and once more imagining her swimming in next-to-nothing. He tried to put that aside, but as she continued to laugh he continued to imagine, and it only grew worse and more complicated as it went on.

"Oh go ahead and laugh at me," he sulked momentarily.

"Oh, lord…" she laughed, barely able to breathe, "I am."

He turned and gaped at her. "You are cruel. Why did you never warn me?"

"I forgot how shamelessly evil I can be," she teased, trying to regain control.

"Well, it is good that I am getting to know you then. I shall have to be more careful." She laughed a little longer and he sighed. "You can refrain at any time now."

"I am so sorry," she said, and he knew she was not at all.

"You are cruel," he repeated. "I will not easily forgive you."

"Oh stop," she laughed, reaching up a hand to wipe her eyes, "of course you will!"

"No."

"Yes."

"No, I will not."

"That is stubbornness talking."

"Indeed," he said, sticking his nose in the air.

"Be careful," she said, "a man who cannot laugh at himself is in danger of appearing arrogant."

"I cannot laugh at myself when you are mean."

"Mean?" she asked innocently, placing a hand on her chest. "Me? I am never mean." She laughed again and tugged on his arm; he did not budge at all, nor lower his head. "Thranduil…" she added, dragging out his name in a sing-song voice.

He turned his head, secretly smiling and then set his chin again, shaking his head adamantly. "I will not forgive you."

"Please? Look, I will even apologize. I am sorry, Thranduil. Can you forgive me?"

He was silent for a moment and then he shook his head. "No."

"All right…what must I do to make up for making fun of you in such a cruel way?" she said with a sigh.

He looked down on her, his face absolutely triumphant before she realized what he was about to say. "Well, there is one thing…"

"Ugh."

"Go on," he said, raising his eyebrows. "Answer my questions."

Her eyes narrowed. "What were they again?"

"What was it you were singing that Tauriel said was so beautiful?"

She was silent for a moment, but then she sighed, giving in. "It was a lullaby."

"Did you sing it for your children?"

"Yes."

"Will you sing it now?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"I am not in the mood."

"I am," he said, a bit more serious just so she would understand that he really wanted to hear it, and he was not about to let it lie. "I think you should think about it before you say no."

She tilted her head back and forth. "I have thought about it."

"And?"

"No."

He chuckled, then said, "I think you should reconsider."

"Yes well…" she replied flippantly, "life is full of disappointments. You might as well start with this one."

There was a brief pause, as though he was trying to decide whether to be offended or not, and then he suddenly burst out laughing. "By heaven you are stubborn!" He shook his head as she smiled and laughed with him.

"I know, I know," she sighed. "I suppose at this point, it is only on principle." She looked up into his face. "You really do want to hear it?"

"Yes," he admitted emphatically.

"Then you have to sing something afterwards."

He laughed at her. "Heavens no. Singing is not something I do. Ever. And you are the one seeking forgiveness, not me."

She titled her head at him. "You would forgive me anyway."

He looked back at her, a slow smile forming on his lips. "Yes, of course," he replied, his voice now tender and no longer teasing. "Will you sing it, the lullaby?"

She sighed. "If you wish it."

"Please."

There is a song that a mother sings

A child hears and it gives them wings

To dream of daybreak and what it brings

A vision of the meadow

In spring, the field is wet with dew

Each day is full of skies so blue

And ev'ry flow'r has sprung up anew

A vision on the meadow

In summer, the newborn fawns will play

Leaping with joy, why, no one can say

Then slumber beside their mothers, they lay

A vision in the meadow

In autumn, the colorful leaves abound

As sunlight fades they strike the ground

The trees are filled with the robin's sound

A vision in the meadow

In winter, the grass is painted white

Everything sleeps, quiet in life

The glittering flakes are a wondrous sight

A vision on the meadow

May sweet thoughts be of times to come

When you will wake and night is done

Smile in your sleep, all good dreams be from

A vision of the meadow

When the song was done, she simply stood beside him, quiet, her eyes closed; she was not going to look at him to see his impression. He could not help but stare at her, having lived the seasons within her beautiful and moving song. She did have a lovely voice, and he was grateful to have been present to hear it and the words of her lullaby.

"It is no wonder Tauriel could not stop speaking of the loveliness of your song," he said gently. "It was beautiful, and a perfect lullaby for any child."

She bowed her head, blushing. "Thank you," she said.

"You did not wish to sing it because you were embarrassed," he said gently. "I did not mean to embarrass you in the least. It was a privilege to hear your voice." He took her hand once again in his and laced it through his arm once more. "I hope this will not be the last time I have it."

She smiled, shaking her head. "You shall have to convince me in some way, I am afraid. I do not sing often."

"What moved you to sing to Tauriel?"

She shook her head again. "I do not know. The moment, I suppose. We were in the midst of a meadow ourselves and the water falling was so soothing and…" She shrugged. "It felt right." She looked up at him as they continued walking. "And why do you not sing?"

"I do not have the voice," he answered honestly. "Singing has never been one of my gifts. Legolas received his mother's voice, praise Ilúvatar, for Enguina would never wish him to sing if he sounded like me. Now, reciting poetry or a lay perhaps…that I am capable of doing."

"Oh, please do recite some poetry," she murmured, and he knew she was teasing him.

"I am not sure we know one another quite well enough for me to do that yet," he teased back, laying his hand over hers.

"Perhaps on a special occasion?" she asked, her lips curling into a smile.

"On very special occasions."

"Such as my birthday."

"That could be one such occasion," he agreed. "I shall have to plan all year for that."

She laughed, patting his hand. "Knowing you, Thranduil, I am sure you will."