Chapter 2

That night after dinner the elves gathered together to share songs and music with each other. Legolas as was his custom opened the meeting with a short speech then the other elves took it in turn to give their contribution. The final elf to contribute, a female shyly made her way to the center of the room. Legolas gazed at her, her beauty entrancing him. Her pale blue dress set off her eyes perfectly and her hair tumbling round her shoulders made her look beautiful. He did a double take when he realized he was looking at none other than Manquárë. She was even more gorgeous than he had realized. Manquárë opened her mouth and began to sing. Legolas was captured by the sheer beauty of the song and her voice and listened his mind a thousand miles away daydreaming of the two of them together as husband and wife.

At the end of the song Manquárë looked around and her eyes met his. Her face relaxed into a smile as she took her seat. Legolas then got up again and closed the evening's proceedings with a song. Manquárë was entranced by his rich baritone tones and just gazed at him open mouthed. He had changed into a silver tunic, which set off his blond hair and blue eyes perfectly. He looked more gorgeous than ever. The elves went their various ways at the conclusion of Legolas' song. Manquárë too had gotten up to leave but Legolas quickly moved towards her and catching her arm turned her to face him.

"That was beautiful Manquárë," he said.

"Thank you Legolas. Your song was exquisite," she said.

"Would you care for a stroll?" Legolas asked her.

"Sure" Manquárë said.

They turned and strolled out the door and along the paths Legolas knew so well. He told her that Elrond had called a council and that his father wanted him to attend.

"I may be gone for sometime Manquárë so I thought I should warn you"

"Can I not come with you Legolas?" she asked.

"It may be too dangerous Manquárë," he said.

"But I'm as good a fighter as you Legolas. Please let me come," she begged him.

In the end he consented to her accompanying him as long as she stayed close by him all the time.

"Oh thank you Legolas," she said.

If the truth were told Legolas had consented to her going with him because he cared deeply for her and didn't think he'd be able to bear being without her for a long period of time. They continued to stroll along the paths of Mirkwood talking about the forthcoming trip.

A few days later, Manquárë found herself seated upon a horse in front of Legolas. Only his father was present to see them off.

"You two make a good couple you know" he joked with them as they prepared to set out. They laughed good-naturedly as they set out. Once out of Thranduil's earshot Legolas commented that the idea of them becoming a couple was not that far fetched.

"Oh I don't think so Legolas, you're a noble elf and I'm just well… a normal elf" Manquárë finished.

"Why should that be a problem? As I said before I want to marry for love not because my intended is noble like me or whatever"

"Yes you were saying that a few days ago but what does your father have to say on the subject Legolas?"

"He's left it up to me to choose my intended" Legolas said.

"Oh" Manquárë said then fell into silence.

They continued on in silence until the sound of Orcs in the distance caused Legolas to tell her to stay silent. He dismounted and told her he was going to scout out the road ahead and see what the Orcs were up to.

"Be careful" Manquárë told him.

She watched as he silently moved off unslinging his bow and withdrawing an arrow from his quiver. He notched the arrow to his bow and held it ready to fire at a moments notice. She held her breath as he disappeared into the bush and didn't let it out again until he reappeared a few moments later.

"They seem to be massing just ahead of us Manquárë so we're going to have to divert from our path as I don't wish to have to fight our way through them" he said.

"But that my be precisely what they want us to do. How many of them were there?"

"Lots" Legolas said, "and I don't believe they know of our presence"

"Oh" Manquárë said.

Legolas remounted and they headed into the bush and began skirting around the Orcs. However Manquárë sneezed alerting the Orcs to their presence and a hail of arrows came their way. Legolas cursed under his breath and instantly replied with a hail of arrows of his own which took out half a dozen Orcs. They spurred the horse on as they heard the Orcs pounding through the bush. Manquárë screamed as an arrow pierced her shoulder. Legolas angrily nailed the Orc who had shot her with an arrow in the forehead. Suddenly they had lost the Orcs and after riding further on to be sure Legolas stopped the horse. Manquárë was sobbing and the arrow was still sticking out of her shoulder.

"I'm sorry Manquárë but this is going to hurt" Legolas said.

He grasped the shaft of the arrow in both hands and suddenly pushed it right though her shoulder so it emerged out the other side. He then snapped the barb off and withdrew the arrow. Manquárë had screamed when he pushed the arrow through as it had really hurt.

"I'm sorry but I had to do that as the barb is hooked and I wouldn't have been able to get it out any other way" he said upon seeing her tear streaked face.

"I'll live Legolas" she said.

He told her he needed to look at the wounds and moving behind her undid the top few clasps of her gown and slipped it off her shoulders. She relaxed as she felt his hands sweep her hair to the side then gently explore the wounds.

"You know, you have very nice shoulders," he told her.

"Are the wounds bad?" she asked.

"They're bad enough. I want you to remain still whilst I find some athelas," he said.

He didn't take long to find some athelas and returning to her quickly made it into a healing past and carefully rubbed it into the wounds. She gasped as he touched the wounds, as they were still painful. He then bound her shoulder and told her not to try to use it then slipping her gown back over her shoulders he did it up again. Then he told her that her hair was a bit matted with blood. However there was a stream nearby so he offered to wash her hair for her.

"Why do you care for me in such a way?" Manquárë asked him.

"Because I care deeply for you," Legolas told her.

She consented to him washing her hair and carefully knelt down by the stream and lowered her head. He scooped up water in his hands and used it to wet her hair then gently worked the knots out.

"In my bag there is some shampoo. Could you use it please?" she said.

He went to her bag and finding the shampoo returned to her and used it to wash the rest of the blood out of her hair. Finally he was done and she was able to get up and return to their things. He could see that she was finding it difficult to keep her shoulder still so made her a sling from some material that was wrapped around some extra arrows he carried. This made Manquárë feel a lot better so Legolas found some wood and got a fire going. After sharing a delicious meal, which Legolas had cooked, the two of them lay down on the ground and shared some songs and poems. The moon came out and its light was reflected in Legolas' hair making him look even more masculine and handsome.

"Manquárë, what happened today is just a taste of things to come. I'm giving you fair warning" Legolas said.

"I'll cope" Manquárë told him.

They continued to gaze at the stars for a short while longer then Legolas doused the fire and they went to sleep. The next morning they set out early as Legolas wanted to reach Rivendell by nightfall. Again they heard Orcs but were left alone until just before Rivendell. There they came across a party of Orcs but the Orcs didn't sense them so Legolas silently dismounted and unsheathing his knives crept up to them and knifed them before they knew what had happened. He returned to Manquárë and after he'd remounted they rode past the Orcs bodies. She turned her head away as they passed the bodies, as the sight of them wasn't very pleasant. Finally they reached Rivendell and the elves there welcomed them.

The next day Manquárë accompanied Legolas to the council of Elrond where it was discussed what should be done with the ring of power. It was decided that it had to be returned to where it had been forged and destroyed. To Manquárë 's horror, Legolas volunteered to assist Frodo who had said he'd bear the ring. Later after the council he told Manquárë that he had felt it his duty to assist Frodo.

Oh Legolas, I can't bear the thought of you going into more danger" Manquárë said.

"I suppose you want to come with us," Legolas said.

"It would be nice" Manquárë said.

Legolas heaved a sigh before telling her he'd see what he could do. To tell the truth he wanted her to accompany him on the quest because he cared deeply for her.

At dinnertime he told her he had gained permission for her to join the fellowship. She beamed and hugged him for all he was worth. During the meal he introduced her to the other members of the fellowship. There were four hobbits, Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin, two men Aragorn, a ranger and Boromir, a dwarf Gmili and Gandalf a member of the Istari. Manquárë smiled and said hello to each as she was introduced. At the conclusion of the introductions one of the hobbits, she couldn't be sure which one said,

"Hey Leggy do you like her?"

"Firstly the name is Legolas and secondly I care for her as a friend only" Legolas said scathingly.

The hobbit seemed to deflate, well and truly put in his place. Manquárë saw him take a drink and then he turned to his neighbor and whispered.

"I reckon he does like her"

"You heard the elf. Shut up." His neighbor said.

After dinner Manquárë retired to her room and packed everything she thought she would need. Then she changed into a more formal gown in preparation for the dance that was to follow. Finally she made her way down to the great hall adjacent to the dining room. Shyly she entered the hall and found a seat on the sideline. Legolas was dancing with some female elves and Manquárë could see that they were all over themselves trying to get his attention. She wandered to the food table and getting some food returned to her place and ate the food watching Legolas as she did so. He was wearing a pale blue tunic, which enhanced the blueness of his eyes. Finishing the food, Manquárë decided to get some fresh air so made her way outside. There she leant against a pillar and relaxed, her thoughts drifting to Legolas. She knew more than ever that she desired a relationship with him. Legolas coming outside interrupted her thoughts.

"Manquárë, I was wondering if you'd care to dance with me?" he asked.

"I'd love to" she said"

"Is it ok if we stay out here?" Legolas asked.

"Sure why not" Manquárë replied looking into his eyes.

The next song came on so Legolas drew her close and they slow jammed to the beat. Manquárë relaxed in his arms and closing her eyes allowed him to gently sway her to the beat. Her eyes shot open a few minutes later when she heard the titter of female elves. Legolas cursed and thrust her away.

"Hi Legolas" came a chorus of female voices.

"Hi girls can I help you?" he asked.

The female elves asked him to go and dance with him so he headed back inside one of them on his arm. Manquárë followed them a few minutes later entering the hall to see Legolas dancing with one of them. She found a seat again and sat and watched them. At the end of the dance Legolas returned her to her seat and then joined Manquárë. They talked quietly until another female asked Legolas to dance.

"How about you dance with me instead of her" Manquárë said cutting the female elf off in mid sentence.

"Thanks I'd like that" Legolas said, flashing a grateful smile at her.

Legolas lead her onto the dance floor and took her in his arms. The two of them swayed to the gentle music that was playing. Legolas smiled at her as they danced and she smiled dreamily back at him.

Chapter 3