Chapter 3

You wake up the next morning to find Elora perched by your side waiting to hear all the details about what the King had said to you. You had been so tired from the day's events, that you had gone straight to bed without speaking to her.

"So?" she looked bright-eyed and you could tell she was excited.

"My Lady? What did he want?!"

"I- uh thought you said he wanted to check if I was ok?"

"Well that's what I assumed…"

Stretching your legs, you pull the covers up around you, making you feel secure. It suddenly hits you that tonight you will be attending the Ball.

"Err, well…anyway, he kind of asked me to go to the Ball with him. Tonight."

You rub your eyes, not quite believing the words that just came out of your mouth.

"Are you serio- oh! This is unheard of, my Lady! You'll certainly cause a stir with the King on your arm!"

"Yeah…haha.."

You giggle nervously and contemplate whether you made the right choice. There are so many questions you have. Who will be there? Why out of all the beautiful elf maidens you have seen in the halls, would he choose you?! And what about-

"Tarron!"

"What on ear-"

You spring out of bed, knocking Elora to the floor, you dash over to the open wardrobe near the bathroom. Bursting full of extravagant dresses, you pick out the least elaborate one. It's pale blue with long sleeves; the stitching is plain, and, to your delight, it is far less revealing than the dress you wore last night. Fumbling with the lacing at the back, you groan,

"I can't believe I forgot about him!"

"My Lady…"

Clambering back up, Elora shuffles over to you and begins to lace up your dress.

"..who you talking about?"

"Tarron! I haven't seen him since yesterday morning! I don't even know where he is or if he's even here! I bet the King threw him out, you should have seen the way he looked at him, it was as if he was the enemy!"

"He'll be fine, my Lady. The King wouldn't-"

As soon as she finishes the lacing, you rush over to the doors and fling them open in spite of their weight. You're worried. Back in your village, you and Tarron were hardly apart. You had grown up together and everyone knew that you were inseparable. Your friendship was strong and being away from him just for a day felt odd.

Running down the long corridor that opens out from your chambers, you had forgotten to put the cream slip-on shoes that Elora had placed by your bedside. Unfortunately, this only comes to your attention once you feel a dull throbbing pain spreading across your left foot. Cringing in pain, you bend down to gently rub it,

"Oh! Excuse me, many apologies my Lady, I- aren't you the human girl?"

"Ah, yes…I was just, erm.."

You muddle your words, trying to think up an excuse for bursting out from your chambers.

"Allow me to introduce myself: I am Prince Legolas, son of King Thranduil."

Not realising the King had a son, you look at him in shock. Bowing low, he takes your hand and places on it a chaste kiss. You immediately see the similarities between him and his father. His long blond hair, shorter than the King's, but exact in colour, he resembles a younger (and in your opinion, less attractive) version of Thranduil.

He rises to his full height, with an all too familiar smirk forming across his lips. He's certainly inherited his father's arrogance. Surprised he hasn't asked you what you're doing, you try to stutter out your name,

"I…I'm…"

"I know who you are. My Lady, the whole of this Kingdom knows who you are."

Blushing, you avoid his eye contact, afraid that his father has told him of the incident by the river.

"Oh, erm…"

"And where is a young lady such as yourself wandering off to at this early hour?"

He folds his slender arms, and looks down at you, one eyebrow raised in expectation.

"I'm trying to find- uh, my friend. Tarron."

"Ah yes, the strange elf. Well it appears you are in luck, my Lady. I am looking for the Captain of the guards. She is rumoured to have taken an interest in your…friend…"

He wrinkles his nose as if he's disgusted by the Captain's apparent interest in Tarron. Although you've never seen her, you feel pretty confident that her affections would not be returned. Even if she is a radiant beauty, you doubt that Tarron would have the courage to talk to her. You and Tarron shared many things in common, but out of all of them, you were both burdened with an overwhelming sense of awkwardness when it came to relationships.

As the Prince stands opposite you, you wonder whether he is keeping the distance because you're a human – but then again, it's not as if you're a dwarf… As if he knows what you are thinking, he puts your doubts to rest as he offers out his arm to you,

"Follow me, I'm sure we shall find them."

Nervously, you take his arm as the both of you walk off down the remainder of the corridor. The silence is uncomfortable and it reminds you of your meeting with the King, but as you take the next turn left, he tries to make conversation,

"So, how do you like it here? It must be very different to where you come from…"

The tone in his voice has changed, it appears far lighter, as if he is trying to appeal to you and before you can answer, he continues,

"..you don't have to fear us, you know? My father does not dislike humans as he does dwarves. Those foul creatures, dirty, smelly, thieving-"

He composes himself.

"I can assure you that whilst you remain within these halls, no harm will come to you. Just don't disobey my father again and you'll be fine."

He winks.

You roll your eyes, realising you were right. Of course, everyone must know about what happened. Shrugging off the embarrassment, the both of you come to a standstill outside two lavish wooden doors, not dissimilar from yours. The Prince releases your hold and knocks firmly, his face resuming its serious demeanour. You take small steps forward, hearing voices from inside the chamber, you recognise Tarron's instantly.

It begins to creek open, as an elvish face pokes out from behind it.

"Legolas! Er, I mean, my Prince."

She quickly corrects herself upon noticing your presence as he shoots her a fierce look.

"Tauriel. The King wishes to speak with you."

"Yes, my Prince. Of course."

As she opens the door wider, you see a flushed Tarron standing behind her. Maybe you were wrong? From what you could see, she was beautiful, with long vibrant hair and high cheekbones, the usual elven traits – but she stood out somewhat. Could it be that he actually likes her?

Suddenly, the atmosphere becomes tense as Tauriel steps forward to move past Legolas, but he catches her arm and leans in close,

"I would think it ill for a Captain to be spending her time conversing with guests instead of patrolling our borders, do you not agree?"

Pulling her arm from his grasp, she replies sternly,

"Perhaps, my Prince, but then isn't that what you're doing?"

Looking over to you, she smiles sweetly. As she leaves, her auburn hair swishing at her back, you form the opinion that the two have some sort of history. The air was thick with unresolved tension, and whether or not it was sexual was to be discovered later on.

You look back to Tarron, then over to Legolas, who clears his throat,

"I am sorry about her. Tauriel can be rather difficult at times. Anyway, I must be heading back, I shall leave you to it…but I'll be sure to see you tonight, my Lady, at the Ball?"

"Yes, my Prince."

"Good, farewell then, my Lady."

Unsure of how to act, you curtsey as he leaves. The reminder of the Ball makes you sweat and you had forgotten about it until now, glancing over to Tarron he had already wandered back into his chamber.

"Um, hello? Am I invisible?"

You wave at him, but he turns so his back is facing you.

"Why did you have to do that?" he barks,

"Do what?"

You get the feeling that you won't like where this is going. He spins round angrily,

"You made her leave! We were getting along fine. I was actually having a conversation with a real, live woman, and you messed it up!"

Fists balled at his sides, you have never seen him like this. His face grows redder as he starts walking towards you, gesticulating with his hands, he tries to make his point.

"Did you know that after you were escorted back to your chambers, it was me who got the blame? It was me who had to take the blame for you!"

Feeling bad, you avert your gaze. But, it was his fault! Wasn't it? He was the one who dragged you out and he was the one who told you to jump in the river. You feel the need to defend yourself, raising your voice, you lift your head up to shout at him.

"Ok, first of all, it wasn't me who told her to leave. Secondly, I was worried about you! I haven't seen you since yesterday!"

You try to reason with him, but it seems to make things worse.

"Well I'm fine! And so are you by the looks of things. Flirting with Princes, I warned you about them! The only reason we are here is beca-"

"Because the King 'fancies' me and we are in some crazy plot that he has to keep us here forever? You're pathetic, do you even know what you are saying? And I wasn't the one chatting up an elf in my chambers!"

"I-Just go."

"What?"

"Leave."

"Fine, I will!"

You slam the doors behind you, frustrated at Tarron's dumb-assery, you exhale loudly. As you harrumph back down the corridor, you feel your cheeks growing damp and realise small tears are falling…you thought Tarron would be the last person you would fall out with.