AN: I'm just pumped I made my update goal. I can't promise regular updates other than I'll update on a random day whenever I get the next chapter done. I do have an actual plan written out for this though, so this will actually be finished up in a couple of chapters. I'm a little worried that it's going to be rushed, but I've also wanted to pick this up a little bit. Let's just see how this goes.

Guest: Thank you so much! This really kept me going while writing this chapter. All of the advice really helped me to get back into the swing of this!

Chapter 5

All throughout work the next morning, I kept to myself. My mind was reeling over what Meluines had said. As much as I agreed, I didn't completely feel comfortable with what she was saying. Our status as servants was there hold us back, but "in this instance why should we let it?" I wasn't sure I could trust her. One minute she said we should mind our own business, yet in the next she was urging me on.

Perhaps I was just overreacting out of fear; perhaps my instincts, which were screaming protests about her, were right.

Shaking my head, I busied myself in the tunics in front of me. I needed to clear my head. A warm bath and a walk would do me good. I was too tightly wound, and in all of my tension, I was driving myself crazy. I needed to pull myself together. Losing my nerve now would be costly and likely send me to the King.

The King. The source of all of my fear. Swallowing, I willed my breaths to even out. I didn't want to draw any attention to myself. Closing my eyes, I drew in a deep breath, letting it out after a moment. I could do this. Finishing the tunic before me, I grabbed another one, finally starting to feel at ease.

I got lost in the monotony of the work, focusing on what was before me and nothing else. Before I knew it, the work was over, and Braigves was ushering me out of the workroom, laughing at my dazed expression. A slight blush forming on my cheeks, I apologized, waving to her as she walked away.

Just then, a presence came up behind me. Her breath grazing my neck, I heard Meluines whisper, "May I walk with you?"

Without hesitation, I started walking to my quarters, nodding before asking, "Is there something you need?"

"I have an idea." Her face turned towards mine as she fell in stride beside me. Shifting my head, I watched as her eyes glinted. "It's more of a suggestion really. Tonight seems like it would be a good night to talk to him again."

I narrowed my eyes. "Do you think so? It's only been two nights since our last conversation."

Meluines was silent for a moment. Facing ahead again, she whispered, "I realize that, but if we don't press him, we won't get answers. If we wait, we lose this." The urgency in her tone caused my hesitation to rise slightly. Was this turning into something more with her? Was she only after the gossip? Clearing her throat lightly, she turned to face me as we stopped before my door. "I understand what you might be thinking, but I promise I'm only concerned, just like you."

Putting my hand on my door, I studied her face. A heavy moment passed before I heard myself whisper, "What must I do?"

While her plan was relatively simple and fundamentally sound, it was also thoroughly ridiculous. I shifted my bare legs in the tub, sloshing the warm water over my smooth skin. Letting out a strained sigh, I draped an arm over my face.

She wanted me to go walking in the gardens and "happen" to come across Legolas, then ask him questions about his well being. It wasn't necessarily a terrible plan in itself, but it also was elementary and lacking in depth. Obviously that's how one talks to others! At the same time, that's not how one goes about getting information out of another.

Stifling a hiss of irritation, I shifted, disturbing the water again. Some slipped out of the tub, hitting the floor with a splat. Loosening breath, I sincerely hoped that this plan wouldn't also go "splat." However, it was a plan, and I was getting sick of all of this drama, so there really was no other easy alternative for me. That is, unless I wanted to keep suffering.

It all came down to whether or not I wanted to be safe. I could either do something with my extended existence, or I could choose to do nothing. Drawing in a breath, I held it for a few heartbeats, finally making up my mind. As soon as I finished with my bath, I was going to use Meluines's absurd plan and get answers.

Swallowing my hesitations, I walked through the gardens swiftly enough to prevent myself from appearing too strange yet slow enough to search for the Prince's face. Leaves hindered my view as the soft greenery brushed my face. A slight wind breezed by me, causing the few stray hairs around my head to brush my cheek. Birds chirped overhead, and in hearing them, a bit of my anxiety was relieved.

Where was he? Meluines had said he was going to take a walk this evening. It didn't help that there were more than a few blonde heads in the garden.

Deciding to take shelter in a clearing, I hurried my pace, eager to be out in the open. When a clearing opened up in front of me, I relaxed, continuing my stride to an open bench. I hadn't planned on sitting, yet I supposed I did look a little out of place wandering around and gazing a little too intently through the leaves. If I were sitting, I could pretend that I was merely observing the life around me.

A flurry of voices caught my attention. Shifting my head in such a manner that ensured I wouldn't be blatantly staring, I watched the pair of elves get closer. While one was blonde, she clearly wasn't Legolas. Neither was the red haired ellon at her side. Their hands clasped together, the couple strolled easily through the gardens, taking no notice of me as they were deeply distracted by the other.

Not wanting to make them uncomfortable, regardless of the fact that they hadn't noticed me, I dropped my eyes to my lap, desperately waiting for them to move on. It wasn't that they were overly affectionate; it quite the contrary as they were just enjoying being in each other's presence. The apparent intimacy still seemed like something they wouldn't appreciate outsiders watching, so when they were out of sight again, I raised my head, exhaling in relief.

Just then, soft footsteps sounded behind me. At first, they were so faint that I believed my mind had imagined them, but it quickly became apparent that someone was approaching me from behind. I didn't dare turn to face them, so I leaned back against the bench, crossed my legs, and folded my hands over my lap.

The lone pair of footsteps faltered for a moment, then started back up a heartbeat later. At first I was worried that the owner of the steps was retreating due to my presence, but they carried on nonetheless.

"Are you following me now?" The Prince's cool tone was laced with traces of hostility.

Turning around, I veiled myself in confusion. "What do you mean?"

He raised an eyebrow and approached me. "Must I spell this out for you, servant girl? You somehow keep appearing in places that I'm at or trying to get to."

The bite in his voice caused me to flinch, yet his tone was causing anger to brew in my stomach. "What if it was mere coincidence that I'm out here as well? Perhaps work was taxing on me today and I needed a walk. You can't claim to know that, now can you, Prince?" Immediately after it sprang from my mouth, I regretted the snarl that escaped my lips. Unfortunately, my pride refused to make me apologize for it.

The Prince took a deep breath and held it for a moment. I raised an eyebrow, waiting for him to rebuke me, deliver a comeback, or send for his father. Genuinely sincere, he let out the breath, voicing his apology. "Forgive me, I shouldn't have assumed. However, you do see my cause for such a conclusion, don't you?"

Nodding, I swallowed, picturing Meluines in my head urging me forward. Licking my lips, I cursed myself for what I was about to do, given the previous tension between us. I started out slowly, regretting this whole plan as I went yet refusing to back down in spite of myself. "I know you probably won't appreciate this, but I do have reason to believe that you are unwell."

I watched as he closed his eyes and let out a strained sigh. "Must you always bring this up?" Opening his eyes again, I watched as the coldness returned to his eyes. "My personal business does not involve that of a servant. If I say I'm fine, that means there is nothing wrong."

"I must apologize for countering this, but I have reasonable suspicions-." I stopped mid-sentence as he grabbed my wrist and pulled me towards him.

"I cannot tolerate this any longer. I'm taking you to my father."

Straining against his grip, I tried in vain to remove his crushing hand. After several heavy moments, when it became apparent that he wasn't going to let me go, I stopped struggling, feeling my stomach fill with dread. Letting out a sigh, I adjusted my pace to match his and let him take me to see the King.