Warning: This chap has a PG-13 rating for a little language and innuendo.

Chapter 2: Secret Letter

Miranu stirred slightly and awoke to the smell of bacon and eggs. He felt eyes on him, piercing into his back and turned to see Linwe with a dreamy look on her face as if she had just seen heaven. He looked from her to Tamuril, back and forth, with a very confused look on his face. Hesitating for a moment, he spoke," You" he pointed at Tamuril, " snuck out again didn't you?"

Tamuril grinned evilly and answered, "Yeah, I sure did. Snuck out, crossed the Sleepy River, picked up your girlfriend on the other side, dodged giant spiders, and rode Morgwen full speed back to the camp, crossing the Sleepy river a second time. Oh, and did I mention a dodged giant spiders? So, how many rules did I bend and break, huh?"

He gave her an exasperated look and said," I will not even begin to count."


Tamuril laughed and said, “ Here we go...”

Miranu continued,” Now, Tami, you know you are not to leave the campsite before sunrise, you are not supposed to cross the Enchanted River without an escort, you are not supposed to be on the other side of Mirkwood without me, your father, or Legolas, and you are not to call Linwe my girlfriend!"

"So, in other words that would be about three?" Tamuril asked.

It was more of a statement than a question. "What about the one about me?" Miranu pleaded.

"I don't consider that a rule. It is considered more of a personal dilemma. And even though you are the Son of the Prince of Mirkwood, I still don't care," Tamuril said defiantly, "and what, you don't like little Linwe?" she said as she made kiss noises.

Miranu cringed and said,” No, Not particularly.”

Tamuril began to put out the fire, “ Okay, let's pack up. We really need to head back home before my mom and dad freak.”


Miranu stopped short of folding his sleeping bag. "What have you done now?”

His answer was a sheepish look from Tamuril, "Nothing much, I just took a few extra coins for the trip."

She could almost count off on her fingers for his reaction. One, two, three... " You What!?!' Miranu shouted.

"You heard me" said Tamuril matter-of-factly, an evil smile playing on her lips.

"Okay, is there anything else you would like to share with us?"

"Not that I really wish to share but..."

"But what?" he asked as he prepared himself for what was to come.

"Okay, I borrowed my mom's riding gloves, I borrowed my dad's mithril blade, I left my fan daggers at home, and I ripped Linwe's dress."

He stared at her, "You are so dead when you get home. Is there anything else you would like to share?"

"No, not really…"

()()()()()()()()()()()()

By noon that same day, Tamuril, Miranu and Linwe reached the palace gates. The courtyards were swarming with Elves like a beehive swarming with worker bees. Everyone was busily trying to finish his or her tasks before the Grand Ball that night. Tamuril wasn't quite sure of the purpose or reason for the ball, but she had her suspicions. As long as her parents weren't trying to marry her off to some stuck-up Elven Prince she was fine with it.

As Tamuril walked with her companions to the palace steps, she admired the place that she had always called home. The gardens, waterfalls, and towering pine trees were both homely and tranquil. She could see the archers and warriors on the practice fields training the novices in the afternoon classes. Just as she climbed the last step, she heard a familiar voice behind her, "Welcome, Tamuril, my champion."

She whipped her head around at the words he spoke, turning to see an elf with silky blonde hair just past his shoulders, piercing, azure, blue eyes, and a tall, slim-but -muscular build, wearing a silver-blue tunic with black leggings covered by a mauve colored dickey-style cloak.

"Legolas Greenleaf! You bull-headed prince!" she yelled jumping into his arms as he spun her around in circles until she began to be dizzy.

He brought her down to him and planted a huge kiss on her right cheek, leaving a faint red mark. She rubbed the spot until it faded. "Put me down!" she said.

He only raised her higher into the air. She flailed her arms and kicked her legs, but he was too tall and too strong for her to break free. She finally gave up and fell limp to his chest. He laughed heartily at her antics and tickled her sides, causing her to kick and squeal. She was very ticklish. She never let anyone know it, though Legolas had found out and was taking advantage of it at the present time.

"Please...Legolas...Please, Stop...!" she cried out between squeals.

He ceased his tickling at her request, gently placing her feet back on the ground and giving her one of his smiles. "So, how is my dark-haired flame?" he asked in a saccharine voice.

"She is quite fine, thank you!" said Tamuril in a sarcastic tone.

"When you get to your room, check your desk, I left something there." Legolas said with a sly look on his face.

"You didn't!" said Tamuril, with a fake shocked look on her face, "By the way, do you by any chance know what the occasion is tonight for the ball?"

Legolas shrugged and said, "I wish it was for my birthday today, but I guess me turning 3000 isn't important enough to register any celebration."

Tamuril looked up sharply, "Today is your birthday?" she asked.

"Yes, my birthday."

She devised a plan in her head and began to work out the details. "Well, pleasure meeting you again, my Prince Legolas. I hope to see you tonight."

They embraced and parted their separate ways. Linwe was stifling giggles. "What is your problem?" Tamuril asked playfully.

"Oh, nothing, just a brief meeting between my best friend and a certain Prince of Mirkwood. That's all…" replied Linwe in an I-know-something-you-don't-know voice.

"What is your point exactly?" questioned Tamuril.

Linwe simply laughed and shook her head saying, "You two make such a good couple. You should ask him if he wants to court you. I heard he's free!"

Tamuril just shook her head and stared at Linwe with a you-have-to-be-the-stupidest-Elf-in-Middle-Earth look and said, "Linwe, what possessed you to think I would want to court my own brother-in-law? We are just really good friends."

As she walked off towards her room, she swore she heard Linwe say something to the effect of, "Yeah, suuuuure..."

()()()()()()()()()()()()

She entered her room and immediately threw her sword belt and bow onto her weapon table, slung her quiver onto her bed, hung her over-tunic in her laundry room and removed her Elven shoes, locking the door as she went. She let her hair down from the 30 braids she had intricately woven into it and brushed it out. It was as wild as a warg's fur. She entered her bathroom and drew a steaming hot bath to clear her mind. She walked to the window and looked out onto the courtyard. She breathed in the fresh Mirkwood winter air, the scent of pine trees filling her nose. She removed her leggings and walked to her desk. She found the letter that Legolas had left. She stripped down and entered the steamy-hot water of the bathtub. She soaked for a moment, and then reached for the letter. The envelope was labeled TAMURIL. She proceeded to read it.

Dear Tamuril,

I am sorry we couldn't have met when I rode in. I have returned from a great battle. I am sorry you couldn't join the boys and I on this one, but I know that you had more important business to attend to here at the palace. I know you would have enjoyed killing those Mamukil, Oliphants, and Orcs. I had to sneak you this letter through your friend Kilmay in the kitchen because of the high security measures that are being taken here now, since the Great Mirkwood Disaster. How have you and my son Miranu been getting along? Let me know if he has done anything to offend or upset you and I shall set him straight. No one messes with my favorite niece-in-law! I hope to see you at the ball tonight. Don't wear a dress, just to peeve your father. Well, I must depart.

Best of wishes and lot's of love, Your Prince. 


~Legolas Greenleaf~

Tamuril quickly put the letter away and washed her hair. She reached for her towel only to find that it wasn't where she had left it. "Where could it have gone?" she thought aloud.

She was answered by a soft, flowing, but deep voice, "It could be over here!"

She whipped her head around flinging water all over her intruder. He reached up and flicked a water droplet off of his nose and said, "Nice shot!"

Tamuril's eyes grew as wide as saucers, "Legolas Greenleaf, what in the name of Illuvitar are you doing in here?"

Silence and eyes traveling up and down her body met her. Thank Illuvitar the water had clouded enough to hide her body. "That was not a rhetorical question!"

"I know that, but I would rather think of it as one." he said teasingly.

She was staring at him in shock and disbelief at what he was doing. Was he flirting with her? "If you are not going to answer, would you be so kind as to hand me my towel?"

He pondered for a moment, then spoke, "As much as I am enjoying the situation I am in right this moment, I think I shall be kind enough to honor your request."

He handed her the towel and turned around out of respect. She stepped out of the tub and wrapped the towel around herself, draining the tub and wringing her hair out.

"So, did you get my letter?" He asked, still turned around.

"Yes, I did. And I shall speak of the contents with you at a later hour. At the moment I am still wondering what exactly you were doing in my room while I was bathing." she said all in one breath.

He cleared his throat and spoke; "I was just walking down the hall to see your father when I saw that your door was locked but ajar. I knocked, and when you didn't answer I entered to see if you were here. I closed the door and began to look around. Then I found you here. You had your eyes closed so decided to play a joke on you. You never noticed me until you looked for your towel. I had no intention of humiliating or walking in on you. I just did."

"Oh." was all she could say at the present time.

"You can turn around now."

He did as she told him. He had never noticed how muscular she had become until that moment. She cleared her throat. He snapped to attention. "I'm sorry. It was rude of me to stare."

She couldn't help but notice that he was just a tiny bit edgy. "It's fine, apology accepted." She said, hoping to calm his edginess.

He began to shift his weight from side to side. Was the Crown Prince of Mirkwood nervous? "I need some help picking out what to wear to the ball tonight. Would you please try to be of assistance this time and not criticize every outfit I like?"

He nodded and said, "I shall try my best to hold my tongue."

She led him to her closet, "I need a dress to fool father and a tunic to wear to the ball. What say you in advice?"

He studied the choices for a moment. "I think that you should wear the silver tunic to the ball tonight. Oh, and the ice blue silk dress to fool your father. I think it complements your tan skin and dark hair and eyes."

She thought for a moment. "You know what?" she asked him.

"No, what?" he answered.

"I think that you might actually have taste here. They were my choices."

He smiled and said, "We must think a lot alike. Oh, and wear the diamond studded chain I gave you last decade for your birthday as your headdress."

She smiled and replied, "Exactly what I was thinking."

He helped her into her dress and attached the chain to her hair in a warrior style braid. Then he studied her as if something was wrong. "What?" she asked.

"You forgot your Morningstar pendant." he said as he hooked it around her neck.

"Thank you I would have forgotten about It." she giggled as she hugged him goodbye.

"See you at the ball tonight." he said with a true smile.

They did their Elven Bows and he exited the room to ready himself for the ball tonight.

A/N: Just a warning ahead of time, there will be a sudden, surprising twist to the story in the next few chapters. Read and review if you wish. The next chapter is rather short so it should be up relatively soon.