CHAPTER 36:

The Day Off – Part I

Velhar's explanation no longer mattered to Sirawen, even after she heard it. Just knowing he was spying on them made her blood boil under her skin. He did well to avoid her the following day until he knew she had settled down a little.

A few weeks are nothing to an elf. A few decades, however, is when Velhar should really start to feel concerned. He especially avoided her when she was around Le'ariel. There was no need to have the chambermaid become suspicious of her friend's ill behavior. Sirawen also did well to hide it because she didn't want Le'ariel getting upset either.

"So, tell me. How did it go last night?"

She sighed. "Not very well."

Sirawen grabbed her hand for comfort. "I am so sorry! Tell me what happened."

"Nothing!" Le'ariel burst out suddenly and took her hand back.

"What do you mean?" Sirawen frantically searched for an explanation on her face.

"I met Legolas in the Grand Hall," she began, "where we said we would meet after supper. We were on our way to his chambers to talk when his father stopped us just before we hit the staircase."

"King Thranduil?"

"He apologized for intruding and said that he needed to speak to Legolas, looking very concerned. He said it was of high importance. I mean, what was I supposed to say? No?"

"Yes!"

Le'ariel raised an eyebrow. "To the King of Mirkwood?"

Sirawen looked down sheepishly. "Well, I suppose...not."

"I told Legolas it could wait another day. I was about walk away when he grabbed my hand and said he promised that he would meet me in my quarters tonight. No interruptions. He gave me a kiss then left."

"What timing..." Sirawen shook her head at the king's sudden bad timing. "Do you really think it was that important?"

Le'ariel shrugged. "It must be from the look on the king's face. I have seen Legolas leave his study many times looking concerned after their discussions, like his father was giving him bad news each time they spoke."

"Have you ever asked him about it? Just out of curiosity?"

"No. It did not seem right to do so. Even if I did, I do not think Legolas would tell me. He never likes for me to worry about him...or any elf for that matter. I think it has to do with the whole 'duty as a prince' thing. The strong facade he needs to maintain, not just for me, but for our people."

"Do you think...it has to do with you perhaps?" Sirawen cautiously said her words as to not offend her friend.

The chambermaid pondered for a moment. "I do not know..."

Sirawen shook her head to dismiss the idea and smiled widely. "No, of course not. The king and queen love you! If they did not approve of you and Legolas, the king would have surely done something about it by now. Even Legolas, I am positive, would say something to you about that."

"I suppose he would..."

"Le'ariel!" Sirawen snapped her fingers. Her friend looked as if her mind was floating elsewhere. Le'ariel blinked. "Do not worry about that! I am sorry for letting something stupid such as that escape my mouth."

"No, no. It is not that. I was just thinking..."

"Thinking…what?"

"What will happen to Legolas and me after tonight?" A solemn look was now on her features.

Sirawen took her hand again. "You will be all right. The point is that you will no longer be hiding the truth from him. I mean...not that you have been lying, so to speak..."

"Yes, I have. By not telling him about the letter from the very beginning, I have lied to him. Legolas will be furious."

"You do not know that." Sirawen stroked her hair. "If he loves you he will understand."

"Let us hope you are right..." Le'ariel tried to give a hopeful smile.

Sirawen gave her some words of encouragement before they parted ways to attend to their chores. As usual, Le'ariel headed first to the Eastern corridor to clean rooms and take the laundry to the washers. She changed her routine by starting at Legolas's room first, which is at the end of the hallway, then worked her way down to his parents. It seemed more logical that way.

She had laughed at herself about vowing to never enter his chambers again those many decades ago, but after things changed, she found herself eager to be inside. It was his scent in the room that she grew to love. The chambermaid also didn't bother knocking anymore. She did, however, step in quietly in case he was still asleep when she get there—which, of course, wasn't always the case.

Slowly, Le'ariel opened his door. She peered inside and saw it was still dark. Legolas would sometimes open his velvet drapes in morning before he left for patrol so she could better see in the room. The chambermaid left his door ajar and headed for the window. It was easier to see where things are in the light. As soon as she was inside, the door immediately closed behind her. Before she could turn around, a pair of arms slinked their way around her waist and pulled her against its body.

Le'ariel jumped, gasping loudly, and was about to scream when she heard a familiar voice.

"Good morning, love." Legolas kissed the back of her ear.

"Legolas!" she hissed in relief and anger after turning around to face him. She hit him in the arm.

"Ouch," he chuckled softly.

"That is what you get for scaring me!" she glared at him, waiting for her heartbeat to slow down. "You are lucky I did not scream or beat you over the head with something."

The prince still had his arms around her waist. "I knew you would not do such a thing..." he whispered in her ear.

Le'ariel crossed her arms against his chest, loosening his hold a little. "And what if I did?"

"Well..." he brought his face closer to hers, "then I would tell whoever it was that came running to the door, that everything was all right and that I merely scared the chambermaid by accident. That is what I did, do you not agree?" A smirk now appeared on his lips, "Perhaps even add that I was naked. That is why she was startled."

"Very funny." Le'ariel rolled her eyes at his fully clothed figure. "What are you doing here, anyway? I thought you were on patrol this morning?"

He unfolded her arms and places them on either side of his shoulders then brought his arms back down to her waist. Le'ariel let her arms rest where they were, clasping her hands behind his neck. "Today is...our day off."

She raised a confused eyebrow at his answer. "Our day off? You have lost me."

"We both have been preoccupied with our duties and responsibilities to others that we have neglected to fulfill our own obligations to one another. I have missed you, Le'ariel." He looked deep into her eyes with longing. "And after last night when I was whisked away—yet again by my father—I realized that I could not let my duties overrun my personal life. That goes as well for you."

Le'ariel stroked his cheek. "I understand that perfectly, Legolas, but...my duties are a part of my personal life. Have you ever heard of a servant take the day off? That is unheard of! Even Minar and my mother have never done such a thing. Working is all I have ever known."

The prince cupped the sides of her face with his hands. "And it should not be that way." His voice was gentle. "Regardless of station or nobility, we are all entitled to do the things we love to do, things that we do not need to ask permission to enjoy. Those time to be alone or be with friends, loved ones—even time to give in to our hobbies—without the authorities giving you orders on how to go about your day."

She smiled at his sincerity toward their people as a whole. "Is this merely an idea you wish or..."

He already knew what she was getting at. "I plan to speak to my father. But, not today. Today it is just Lady Le'ariel and I." He gives her a kiss and looked into her eyes again for some sort of response.

Le'ariel stood on her tip-toes so that she could place her forehead against his. Legolas was almost a head taller than she was. He picked her up to support her weight and bent his head down so that she didn't have to try so hard. "I still do not know how I am going to get out of my chores without Minar having a fit."

"Already taken care of," he smiled. She gave him a questioning look that he just laughed at. "I had a message sent to Minar late last night telling her that Lady Le'ariel Goldenfig will be absent from her duties today."

"You what?" she exclaimed.

"Do not worry, love. I told her that I needed you for a new project that would take the entire day for us to complete."

"What project? What else did you say?"

"The perks of being a prince is that I never need to fully explain myself," he grinned. "She is not entitled to ask any questions. I even stamped my seal on the parchment to make it official."

"Minar might not be, but I am entitled to ask questions and you still have not answered it, Legolas." Le'ariel began to get anxious. She was about to cross her arms again when he stopped her halfway and placed them back on his shoulders, and this time, held them there.

"This is the project." He kissed her cheek.

"Again, I am not following you?"

He softly laughed at her naïve observation. "Our day off is the project, love."

"Oh..."