What Say You?

Adanion showered Le'ariel with more attention than she was ever used to, which also canceled more bonding moments with his cousin. Legolas and Keldir didn't fuss about it as much as they did when he first began to pursue the female elf as they grew accustomed to his ways. Legolas still kept reminding himself that at least his cousin was enjoying his stay in Mirkwood.

Le'ariel, however, didn't understand why Adanion wanted to be around her so much. She wasn't blind to the fact that Adanion fancied her but his infatuation was getting in the way of her daily chores. She owed a great deal to Sirawen and Velhar for covering some of her duties. Duties they were tired of doing.

She started to run out of excuses to get out of a field day with Adanion and he was such a persistent elf. Every so often Le'ariel ended up losing to him. But, she had to admit, spending time with him was better than making up the beds and washing dirty sheets.

I I I

"I believe this is the first time in a long time that I have seen you indoors, my dear."

"Oh, hello, mother." Legolas looked up from his carving. He was sat by the windowsill when the queen entered the throne room.

"What are you making this time?"

"Hmm...I am not sure yet. We shall see when I get some sort of defined shape out of it," he smiled.

"Not with your cousin today?"

Legolas looked out the window. "No...not today. I believe he is with Le'ariel...again."

"Does it bother you that he is spending so much time with Dalorien's daughter?" she tried making him to look at her.

He turned to her with a bewildered look on his face. "What? Of course not, why should I? As long as he is happy here, I am fine with whom he spends his time with. I will admit though, that I do miss doing things with him like we used to when were younger. But, we are adults now and things change..." his voice grew quieter. "And besides, who am I to tell him who he can or cannot be with?"

The queen sat next to him. "Does it bother you that Le'ariel is spending so much time with your cousin?"

"Who, Le'ariel?" He lightly chuckled at the absurd thought. "Why on Middle-earth would her spending time with Adanion bother me?"

"No reason, dear. I merely thought now that you two seemed to be getting along better...you would also be spending more time with her."

"Doing what exactly?"

It was now the queen's turn to laugh. "You are asking me? You are the prince…use your charms and think of something." She playfully elbowed him. "That should not be too hard for you to manage, should it? Find out what she likes and then take it from there."

"But, this is Le'ariel," the elf-prince rolled his eyes. "She intrigues me but I do not need to go through lengths to compete with Adanion over her. It is not like that between us. We are only...friends."

"Well then, answer this...do you enjoy spending time with Le'ariel at least?"

"Of course I do but—"

"Enough said." His mother stood, cutting him off and walked out of the throne room with a small grin. "Have a good day, Legolas." The queen waved by the entrance.

The prince quietly laughed at his mother's behavior. "What has gotten into her today?" He shrugged off the conversation and continued with his carving.

I I I

"I know, I know...I truly do apologize," Le'ariel said over and over again.

"I am tired of your chores," Sirawen whined.

"You are tired!" Velhar looks at her with a weary look on his face.

"I know both of you are and, again, I am sorry!" Le'ariel sat herself down on one of the kitchen stools. "It is not like I mean to put my duties on top of your own...but Adanion..."

"It is always Adanion," Velhar replied bitterly. "Honestly, where do you see this going, Le'ariel?"

"What do you mean?"

"You and the prince's cousin. Is he truly the one for you? The one elf you want to spend the rest of your days with in Middle-earth or is he just someone you enjoy receiving attention and gifts from?"

"What?" Le'ariel stood, offended by his accusations.

Sirawen placed a hand on her shoulder to calm her down. "What Velhar means, Le'ariel," she glared at him, "is that…it is great you are having fun with Adanion, but he is also interfering with your responsibilities and you know this. Indeed, he is charming and sweet and seems to care for you, but we already have enough work to do between the two of us combined, let alone include yours in our schedules. Of course you know we are here to help you as you would do for us, but your outings with Adanion have become so frequent that you are running us ragged covering for you."

The chambermaid unclenched her fists, sat back down quietly, and paused for a long time. "You are right. Not only has he gotten in the way of my responsibilities but he has also turned me into a terrible friend."

Velhar bent down so that they were eye level and softened his voice. "I did not mean what I said. Look, Le'ariel, spend as much time as you like with Adanion. We think you deserve to have fun and be able to relax a little from all the chores you manage. But, you must also remember your station and your obligations. We do not have the same time or luxuries as the nobles do. And if the servants cannot fulfill their tasks, who do you think Minar will use to take in their place? Herself? The nobles? Of course not! Elves born to privilege do not do such things."

"Legolas does..." Sirawen quietly spoke up. Both Le'ariel and Velhar looked at her. "What? Well he does...or at least he used to when he was about a millennia."

"Yes, I remember hearing about that," said Le'ariel. From Legolas himself...

"You know, I have noticed the prince looking somewhat glum these last few months. I heard he does not go riding in the forest as often as he used to. I wonder what the matter is with him?" pondered Velhar. "Surprisingly enough, he seems to be avoiding the elf-maidens as well."

Sirawen pulled up a stool next to Le'ariel. "Perhaps because Le'ariel is not available to converse with him?" she winked at her.

"What are you talking about now?" Le'ariel rolled her eyes.

Velhar raised an eyebrow. "Yes, what are you talking about now?"

"Well, remember that whole running in the maze ordeal the prince put you through, Le'ariel?"

"Yes...what about it?"

"The next few days after that little adventure you two had, the prince seemed…different."

Velhar finally stood and crossed his arms. "Different how?"

"He seemed...happier...in a better mood...as if he was looking forward to each new day or something of the sort."

"Like he was in loooooove?" Velhar made a goofy face and laughed.

"Oh, bite your tongue, Velhar!" Le'ariel glared at him. "Whatever the case is, it had nothing to do with me. I have barely spoken to him since."

"Maybe that is the problem?" Sirawen said in a daze.

"There is no problem! If the prince can take me blindfolded at his command, then surely he can easily ask or try to speak to me about anything else he wanted."

"Hmm…I think it would be a tad difficult because of Adanion," Velhar replied with his arms still folded.

"Oh! What if Legolas was jealous?" Sirawen giggled. "Maybe he has been gloomy and pouting because he cannot spend time with you like his cousin has?"

"Enough!" Le'ariel finally stood. "There is nothing between me and the prince so give your imaginations a rest. If anything, Adanion should spend more time with Legolas, not me. He came to Mirkwood to visit his cousin, not mere a servant. I know what I must do now." The chambermaid walked out of the kitchen with a new plan in mind.

"Where are you going?" Velhar called out to her. He shook his head and sighed when she didn't respond.

Sirawen also stood and squeezed his shoulder. "I guess we will find out soon enough." She gave her friend a pat on the back.