Note: The usual warnings. Enjoy a chapter of mosty fluff!

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Merenwen awoke the next morning rather late. Over the years, she'd discovered hardly anyone slept late in Thranduil's halls. So, she was rather surprised.

She turned over to see Legolas still asleep next to her and smiled. He rarely slept late, either. She started to reach out to touch his face when a hand came up and captured her wrist.

"Do you honestly think that because I am still in bed, I am still asleep?"

She pulled her hand away, watching a small smile tug at the corners of the elf's mouth. She let out an indignant 'Hmph' and turned her back to his own.

Legolas turned and found her back to him. He propped himself up on one arm before lightly touching her arm with his free hand.

"Do not be angry with me, bain, beautiful."

Merenwen could hear the smile in his voice and slapped his hand away, smiling to herself. That hand moved to her back and traced her spine, making her shiver.

"Stop."

"Stop what?"

She rolled to her back and looked up at the elf leaning over her. "Feigning innocence."

"All right." He leaned down and kissed her, working with the already loose ties of the sheer garment she wore.

"That is not what I meant," she laughed.

Legolas looked down at her. "Well, what then?"

"Oh, never mind," she answered, shaking her head.

"Why do you tease me so?"

"'Tis too easy, beren melethron, brave lover."

"Not anymore. As nobility, being found with me like this might be compromising."

She shrugged, not caring. "When has that changed?"

"Well, at least call by 'highness' or something along those lines."

Merenwen laughed. "Now that would not happen."

The prince laid back on his side. "And why not?"

"Do not get me started on that. I know you better than those who would call you by your title. I know the truth." She poked a finger at his chest.

He held her hand there for a second. "And what resides in my heart."

"And elsewhere," she mumbled.

"Merenwen!"

She laughed as he nuzzled her neck and tickled her side.

"Legolas!" Cries of his name accompanied a pounding on his door.

Both elves froze. Legolas turned his eyes quickly to the door. Merenwen placed her hand over where Legolas' rested on her hip.

"I think that is Gimli," he said, actually relieved that it was the dwarf and not his father. That would be too embarrassing to be caught in bed with Merenwen by his father. Even though it had happened before.

Legolas quickly got out of bed and picked up his previously discarded shirt from the floor and pulled it on, not bothering to fasten it. "I shall see what it is he desires. Stay there," he said, gesturing to her in bed.

"Do not let me be the reason to so quickly dismiss your friend."

"Do not put such convincing ideas into my head," he warned, going to the door.

She groaned and started to say something but decided better of it.

Legolas opened the door just enough to allow himself to be seen.

Gimli stood there, happily waiting for his friend. He was rather enjoying the look on the elf's face at having being awoken.

"You really shouldn't sleep so late. You have a guest," he joked.

"What is it that you need?"

"Nothing really. I wanted to see if you were up yet, which I see you are now. I thought you were going to show me around today?"

"I was. Later."

"Well, what's the wait? Let's go now!"

"Now?"

"Yes, we could bring your Merenwen with us."

"Merenwen?"

"Yes. Why must you repeat everything I say? Come now, get dressed!" Gimli said, trying to force his way past the elf.

Legolas held his ground, having a very good reason for the dwarf not to be in his room. And she was sitting in his bed. "Gimli, give me some time. I've just awoken," he lied easily.

"All right, but I'm waiting for you." He moved to stand by the door.

"Fine, fine," Legolas answered, closing the door. He leaned against it for a moment before looking at Merenwen and rushing over to her. "I promised him I would show him around, but he wants to go now and is insistent on you coming as well!"

"Does he know I am here?"

"I think not, but it is none of his concern what goes on in my room."

She blushed, feeling the heat fill her face.

"Well, what would you have me do then?" she said, sitting up fully, allowing the covers to pool around her waist.

He glanced at her and quickly looked away, immediately desiring her again. "Not that." He picked up her dress and handed it to her. Then, with quick elven movement, he retrieved new clothes for himself.

"I cannot come out of your room wearing yesterday's dress in front of the dwarf."

"I know that," he answered, quickly donning clean leggings and a tunic. He cursed in Dwarvish, for there were no efficient curses in the fairer elven languages for his needs. Of all the passages within the palace, he had to receive a room that did not have any. His father must have seen that coming when he was a young elfling. He cursed again before an idea struck him.

"I have an idea. Your room is not far from mine." Glad I requested that centuries ago, he thought. "You can get back there and change after I lead Gimli away."

She nodded, throwing back the covers, getting up, and pulling on her dress.

"When did we get so accustomed to this?"

"I think that was when we were a thousand years of age. Of course, I might recall you were the one who wanted me to – Oh, you meant escaping these inconvenient, potentially embarrassing situations." He grinned mischievously.

She gasped, playfully smacking his arm before he kissed her.

Gimli started pounding on the door again. "Are you ready yet?"

"I must go," he managed between kisses. "Listen for me carefully."

She nodded.

Legolas turned to go to the door but stopped. He groaned and immediately turned toward her, capturing her face in his hands, and passionately kissing her, still physically pinning for her.

Merenwen laughed, however muffled by his mouth and threaded her fingers in his long golden hair.

"Master elf!"

"Haven't you had enough?"

"I've never had enough of you to keep me satisfied," he answered, letting his hands and eyes wander over her figure.

"Though I do long for the world to fall away, leaving just you and I and we could forever stay joined, you are the one who has said that it is not the way the world works." She traced his jaw skillfully, knowing the familiar contour of his face.

He drew back in surprise and raised an eyebrow. "When do you listen to me?"

"Good question. That I do not know."

He smiled and motioned for her to move away from the door as he went to it. She quietly moved in the direction he bid her to. Then, he ran a hand through his unbraided hair and stopped abruptly.

"Hand me a brush," he whispered hurriedly, holding out his hand.

Merenwen could not help but grin. Always bent on perfection, she thought. She retrieved his brush and tossed it to him, watching him run it through his fair hair quickly.

Legolas sighed in satisfaction as he set the brush on a nearby table and made quick work of braiding his hair back from his face. He then grabbed a longer tunic and opened the door.

"I'm here! Have some patience, Master Dwarf!" He closed the door behind himself and joined his friend in his outer room.