Topic of Discussion

What she said still startled Le'ariel, but of course, she wasn't one to talk about it with anyone. She didn't know why it lingered in her mind for so long either. It wasn't like she was worried about what she said because she knew it would never escape her lips again. That...she was sure of.

"What is matter with you?"

"Huh? Oh, nothing. Sorry...I was, umm...day dreaming," she smiled it off.

Velhar was surprised. "You? Day dreaming? I did not know you even knew the word."

The chambermaid stuck her tongue out at her friend.

"You changed a little, I noticed."

"Really? How so?" She continued to change the bed sheets.

"You seem more...relaxed. Livelier even."

Le'ariel laughed at his observation. "Livelier?"

"Everyone servant knows you as Le'ariel the Workaholic. I think they might even name a special chamber right after you one of these days for the all work you put into cleaning these rooms. Instead of you jumping from one task to another, it is nice to see you doing nothing occasionally. You are even smiling more."

She laughed again. "Goodness. And all this time, I was unaware on how boring I was."

"Now you do," Velhar smiled.

"Anyway, thank you for helping me today. These new comforters are heavier than I remembered them to be last year."

"You know the king likes the extra fluff during the winter, especially when he sleeps. Why are you setting out two? "

"Well, one is for the king and the other is for the queen. Apparently, the elven-king snores the loudest this time of year," she whispered. "The queen cannot stand it so the beds are separated apart from one another." She lifted up the very bottom sheet to show that their Majesties mattresses were actually sets of two, held together by latches and padding to give the appearance of one.

Velhar laughed at the thought. "How interesting."

I I I

Legolas blew cold air from his mouth to show how crisp it was that morning. "I love this time of year."

"Yes, it seems you are out more instead of staying inside where it is warm."

"The forest is more my home than the palace. I feel freer out here." The prince looked around at the changing leaves and how they covered the forest floor like a blanket, and smiled. "Besides, we elves can adapt well enough to changing weather."

"Speak for yourself!" Adanion removed the fallen leaf from his shoulder.

"It is only fall and you are already being an elf-babe," he teased.

"Hey, I am out here. Am I not?"

"Yes, but for how much longer? I bet you will not set one foot out here once the snow hits. Last year you barely set foot in the courtyard with some excuse of getting your boots wet."

"Ah, yes...but that was before I got acquainted with Le'ariel," Adanion winked.

Legolas threw the twig he was playing with in the distance. "As I recall, she was out more than you as well."

"Not this year. Hopefully, I can get back into her good graces."

"How?"

"You will see. A charmer never reveals his secrets right before he swoons a maiden. You, most of all, know should know that."

The prince snorted at his words. "If you say so..."

Adanion discreetly eyed him. "Tell me, cousin, why have you not tried pursuing Le'ariel? Clearly she is an attractive female and a hard worker."

"Not to mention very stubborn and opinionated. She always has something negative to say to me or about me."

"You cannot blame her. She is not a high-class maiden like Lady Varien. She does not understand a royal or a noble's life unless she is exposed to it firsthand."

"And you plan on doing that?" Keldir looked skeptically at him.

"Well, I can try? I am not saying I can turn a servant girl into a well-known maiden overnight, but maybe change some of her manners."

"Such as?" Legolas raised an eyebrow.

"Her stubbornness like you said. Sometimes females need to know when to obey and when to keep certain thoughts to themselves."

The elf-prince was suddenly bothered by what he heard. It sounded like his cousin wants to tame Le'ariel like she was some sort of wild beast. Knowing her well enough, however, he knew the chambermaid wasn't going to stand for it. Legolas could see this whole plan of his blowing up in his face. He didn't like Adanion's idea but was curious to find out what would happen.

"Good luck then," he simply said.

Adanion quietly nodded and also stared off in the distance, leaving silence and the wind between them, both lost in their own thoughts. Adanion hoped for Legolas to defend her or say something else that would give him more of a clue as to how he really felt for the female elf. However, nothing came. His next idea was to preoccupy his cousin's mind with other things in case Le'ariel was his main focus.

He just had to speak with a few other elves.