AN: Hey... It's been a long time. I know I had a goal, but that kind of didn't end up happening (so much for my self motivation)... Well, at least this is proof that I'm still alive... I did get kind of busy (busier than expected actually), but that's not a good excuse for however long it's been (since I don't know, nor do I really want to know because it'll probably just make me feel bad). So, I don't know how good this one is (it's been a while, but like before, that's a bad excuse). Yeah, sorry guys...

Guest - Thank you! I was kind of torn between no romance and romance, but went with no romance... No idea if I've said that elsewhere... Regardless, I felt like no romance would be a slightly better way to go, though romance would probably make the plot easier... Heh... I hope this isn't, uh, *cough* too late?

Chapter 3

I knew what I was going to do, but I also knew I ran the risk of getting caught and being punished. It was unacceptable to walk to the Prince's chambers in the middle of a night with a weapon in tow, or to even seek out the Prince's council in general. My stomach knotting, I rolled over in bed, feeling the mix of cool metal and smooth rope brush against the skin of my thigh beneath my nightclothes.

If I expected to walk out and visit the Prince in nothing but my nightclothes, I would be called indecent, but at the same time, it would look less suspicious. The guards would be more likely to ask more questions if I were dressed in all black. In my nightclothes, I could at least claim I needed some fresh air.

Unable to handle the weight of my plan anymore, I threw back my blankets, placing my bare feet on the ground, and stood, feeling the hem of my nightgown brushing the top of my knee. Lightly creeping over to the entrance to my small chambers, I opened the door, slipping out into the dark corridor. I wasn't sure what I expected to find behind the door, but there should have been at least someone. However, as I looked up and down the hall, seeing no one, I couldn't help but feel a small burst of reassurance.

Heading left, I clung to the right wall enough to avoid being easily noticed, but was close enough to the center of the hall to avoid suspicion. I didn't want it to become obvious I was sneaking around the castle at night, but I also didn't want to give myself away. Especially when I carried a blade that wasn't my own.

The word 'thief' came to mind, and all at once, I was painfully aware that what I was doing looked rather suspicious. I was alone at night. I had a weapon that wasn't mine. Trying not to panic, I fought to keep my breathing even. All I could hope for was an unnoticed passage there and back.

The end of the corridor drew closer, but along with it came a pair of hushed voices, both getting louder. My stomach dropping, I raced to hide behind the nearest pillar. Through my fear, I could hear a piece of their conversation.

"...been acting unlike himself," the first elf, a male, said.

The other elf, a female this time, responded, "Leave this be. It's not our place."

The male didn't pay her any attention, "He's starting to worry me. I've never seen that look in his eyes before."

"I told you, we aren't to discuss what we've seen," The female hissed. "We should just leave this entire thing alone."

That didn't satisfy him. "We can't just leave-"

"Yes we can, and we will." Her tone sharpened significantly. "Come, we shouldn't linger."

To my surprise, the male didn't argue. Gradually, they went on their way in silence, leaving me free to continue about my way.

Curling my body around the pillar, I looked around to be sure no one was coming. When I didn't see anything, I crept out, took a deep breath, then ran the last few corridors before nearing the Prince's rooms. Slowing my pace to a walk, I made sure no one was coming before approaching his door. Lifting my hand, I knocked twice, wincing at the sound. It appeared to be dreadfully loud compared to the relative silence I had experienced on my way over.

Nothing happened for a few heavy moments. Fear rumbled in my stomach, and I thought about leaving this entire thing alone. No one, save for myself, knew I had come, and it would stay like that if I left now. Turning my back, I began to walk away, but a hand gripped my wrist. Stiffening, I stifled a gasp as they turned me around. Lifting my eyes slowly, I met the fierce gaze of the Prince.

"What is your business here?" His tone, which was coldly hostile, wasn't what surprised me the most. The skin around his eyes was slightly puffy, as if he'd been crying. At my poor response time, he went on to threaten, "Speak. If you do not, then I will take you to my father, something I guarantee you will not appreciate."

Stammering, I managed to get out, "Uh, k-knife." With my free hand, I lifted the hem of my dress to reveal the tip of the metal resting just above my knee. Looking down, he noticed the knife, then looked back up at my face, his eyes revealing nothing. I swallowed, then went on, "Is it yours?"

Breaking eye contact once more, he looked down the hall, then pulled me into his room, shutting the door swiftly behind us. "How did you come by this?"

"It was with a pile of laundry." The look of anger in his eyes did not make me feel safe. For a moment, I considered it lucky I was the armed one, then I figured it would hinder me more than help. "I work with the laundry, and it fell out and cut the arm of one my companions."

"Why did you not give it to the senior servant?" His tone was growing less hostile and more accusatory. Did he think I was going to murder him? If that had been my plan, I wouldn't have knocked.

Freeing my wrist gently, I began to untie the blade from my leg. "She took my companion to the healers and did not return until later. I took it upon myself to have it taken care of." When it was free, I held it out to him. "Is this yours?"

Taking it in his hands, he looked it over. I didn't think he'd say anything, but to my eventual surprise, he muttered, "It is." Looking up at me, a little confusion crept upon his features. "How did you know it was mine?"

"We met on the bridge a couple of weeks ago, and you were missing a knife then. I wasn't sure if it had been yours, but I knew an ordinary guard would have no knife like the one in your hands." Clasping my hands behind my back, I held the rope tightly between my fingers, running my thumb against its fibers.

His eyes went back to the weapon in his hand, and for a second, I wasn't convinced he wouldn't use it on me. Tracing a finger against the flat of the blade, he murmured, "Thank you for returning it, but you best be on your way." I opened my mouth to say something, but he cut in before I could say a word. "No, I am fine. There's no need to ask." Standing there awkwardly, I tried once more. His tone darkening again, he said, "Servant girl, you are dismissed."

Curtsying quickly, I let myself out, then ran back to my chambers.

So many thoughts were swirling around in my head. Rolling onto my side, I brought my knees up to my chest, hugging them, wishing the sick feeling in my stomach would disappear. I didn't know what was going on anymore.

Who were the two guards talking about? I didn't recognize their voices, much to my displeasure, but I wasn't sure that completely mattered. Were they talking about Legolas? It had sounded like whoever they were talking about had done something to them, or had done something that they witnessed. They mentioned a look in his eyes.

What of the Prince? The look in his eyes was quite unlike himself. Remembering back to our initial meeting on the bridge, there wasn't really anything in his eyes that would signal something was off about him. He looked as though everything was normal, yet I couldn't shake the possibility of his hiding something.

Perhaps the most perplexing was the Prince's behavior to me earlier. Why was he so upset? It almost appeared as though he'd been crying, but that didn't make any sense. Why would the Prince have been crying? Maybe he was merely tired.

Nothing made sense anymore. Stretching out on my back, I sighed. It was late, and I had work in the morning. I wasn't awake enough to comprehend all of this at once. Closing my eyes, I shifted slightly, trying to get comfortable. I'd think about this again in the morning.