As the song finished, Legolas led the she elf over to a passing servant and picked up two chalices of wine, handing her one and sipping from the other. He was now certain she had no idea who she had been dancing with but whoever was she? He had to know, despite the rules of the celebration being that no one was to know one another's names.

"What is your name?" He asked and was rewarded with a light, musical laugh.

"If I told you that I might just have to kill you and that would be a pity." She answered impishly and he grinned.

"Oh I'd like to see you try." He quipped humorously and she flashed him a bright smile. "Please tell me though who you are." He pressed eagerly and she shook her head still smiling.

"That would go against this whole celebration would it not?" she answered coyly, her blue eyes dancing like light refracting from sapphires. He decided to try something to see if she would figure out who he was and if she figured it out, if her attitude would change.

"I could order you to tell me you know." He whispered lowly into her ear and was met with a smirk.

"I'd like to see you try." She replied with a smirk and a regal air to her and he shook his head in amazement. She seemed like she should be an elleth of the court but he was sure she was not; she was so much more fun and interesting.

She watched him from behind her mask and behind the chalice she held to her lips before taking another sip.

"Do you not want to know who I am?" He asked curiously and she shrugged with a small smile.

"I am under the impression you would only give up such knowledge in return for that very knowledge from me. What is a name but something to be used as a command to be called hither or thither? To be instructed by to do something or be something? Your name would make no difference to me I do not think as it does not define the type of elf I have ascertained you are." She smiled and he only just stopped his mouth from gaping open. Never had he heard something so thought out and intelligent come out of another elleths mouth. Not that he thought the court elleths heads were completely empty but they were too placid and agreeable. This elleth before him had a mind of her own and her words had resonated with him completely as if she knew the pressures of higher ranking. Who was she?

A slower song now played and he placed his chalice down and held out his hand to her with a smile and understanding what he was offering, she placed her finished drink beside his and took his hand again and placed his other hand upon her bare back, holding back the sudden, crazy urge he had to run his hands along it to feel the softness of her skin and toned muscle beneath. She placed her other hand lightly upon his shoulder and he felt warmed by her touch.

"If you will not tell me your name then can I at least know about you?" He murmured and to his delight she nodded.

"Ask away." She replied. "But whatever you ask me you have to answer about yourself." She replied with another impish smile.

"That is fair." He chuckled. "Do you live in the halls of the King?" He asked firstly and she shook her head.

"Under the trees." She replied.

"I live in the halls." He replied and she looked curiously at him.

"Is it much fun?" She asked and he found himself shrugging.

"Truthfully? No." He sighed. "It gets tedious and boring, too much expectation." He admitted. "What do you enjoy doing?" He asked her.

"Running, climbing in the trees, exploring, dancing and singing and weapons training." She answered and he grinned.

"I like doing those things too and I like riding. I especially enjoy archery practice. I am hoping soon I will be allowed to join the guard and get away from the confining walls of the King's halls." He said. "I don't think I have ever seen you on the training fields though?" He said confused and she flashed another smile at him.

"Well you would not know would you, for I am wearing a mask." She said cleverly.

"No I guess not." He replied, trying to remember if he had ever seen any dark haired elleths on the fields recently. He hadn't.

"What is your favourite nut and favourite fruit?" She asked him.

"I like hazelnuts but I would like to try a coconut and I do like apples." He replied and waited for her answer.

"I too like apples but I like almonds the most. I've not tried coconut either." She answered and he nodded approvingly. This game of questions was fun and he was pleasantly surprised just how many things they had in common. He still wanted to find out who she was though.

"Where in Arda would you like to journey?" She asked and he thought carefully, for he had never left his father's realm.

"I would very much like to see the mallorn trees of Lothlórien someday and the sea. I would like to see the sea." He replied wistfully knowing the chances of him leaving the forest by his father's leave were slim.

"Lórien is beautiful, especially in spring." She breathed reverently and he looked at her surprised that such a young elleth had been to the Golden Wood. "If you ever do go there, try and go in spring, the trees shoot with new leaves and the old ones fall to the forest floor and turn the entire woods to gold. It is especially beautiful at sunset." She explained with a smile.

"You have been there?" He asked in wonder and she nodded.

"I would like to see the sea someday too; my descendants lived by the sea." She answered.

"Where by the sea did they live?" He asked casually, hoping she would give some detail away to her identity but she just smirked.

"Nice try." She replied and he sighed in exasperation.

"How old are you then? I wonder if you are older than I first thought if you have travelled to the Golden Woods." He asked instead but she shook her head, shaking with laughter.

"Didn't your mother tell you, you should not ask the age of a lady?" She replied and he felt a twinge in his heart at the mention of a mother figure. No she hadn't. He had been too young to be taught such things by her before she died.

"Apparently not." He plastered a smirk onto his face and then the smirk became bigger and natural as he realised she had slipped up.

"Ah so you are a lady? Not just a maiden." He quipped and was delighted to see a look of annoyance cross what he could see of her face.

"One point to you." She muttered and he laughed and twirled her lightly around before pulling her back in close.

"You really should tell me your name." He leant down and whispered into her ear. "You could whisper it to me." He suggested but again she shook her head.

"What would you do with it." she laughed quietly as she looked into his eyes.

"I do not know, but it would mean I could put a pretty name to a pretty face." He said softly.

"How can you call my face pretty when I have concealed it?" She asked bemused and he laughed quietly.

"Anyone with a soul as fun and bright and refreshing as yours would undoubtedly have a beautiful face." He whispered, smiling down at her and she gave him a near heart stopping, brilliant smile.

"I'm still not going to tell you." She whispered back to him and he laughed as he spun her around the glade to the slow, melodious song.

…

"What are you afraid of?" Aerlaer asked the blonde elf as they moved steadily around the dance floor now.

"Having to someday leave Middle Earth without having seen all of its wonders." He answered thoughtfully. "What fears do you hold?"

"Being caught and wargs." She replied and he quirked his head at her. "And a world without light." She added quietly.

"I have never dealt with wargs." He murmured.

"They are vile creatures, too many sharp teeth and long claws. They are easy to overpower on their own but when they travel and hunt as a pack they are dangerous." She explained with detest.

"You have fought them before?" He asked intrigued and she nodded.

"Where?" She suddenly realised she was becoming too close to giving away telling information.

"The time I journeyed to Lórien." She replied, annoyed she had to fib. "Have you ever been to Rivendell?" She asked curiously and was saddened to see him shake his head.

"I've never left my… I mean the Woodland Realm." He said wistfully and she noted the forlorn tone of his voice.

"But why ever not?" She asked, confused. "You are what a hundred? Two hundred years of age?" she guessed. "How have you not left this realm once?"

"Two hundred, excellent guess." He replied with a small smile. "One day I will explore the other elven realms but I would like to become a better skilled fighter first." He replied carefully and she nodded. It made sense she guessed, rarely had her herd ever seen any of the elves of Mirkwood ever leave their realm.

"I think one day you will." She said positively and was rewarded with a warm and grateful smile.