"Love can be found in unexpected places. Sometimes we go out searching for what we think we want and we end up with what we're supposed to have." ― Kate McGahan

Chapter 3

It was several weeks later, while walking in the hills which surrounded Elrond's house, that Legolas came upon Amber, who he had not seen since that first feast. She was laying in the grass, under a shaded tree canopy. Her eyes were closed and remained so as he stopped upon sighting her.

"How goes your day, elf kin of mine?" she asked, without opening her eyes or moving from her relaxed position.

"What told you of my presence?" he asked, as elven footsteps were usually without sound to mortal ears. Smiling, with her eyes still shut, she lifted her hand and tapped twice at her nose.

Legolas raised his eyebrows, "You know my scent from a day's acquaintance?" he asked, amusement colouring his question at her strange gesture.

"I can distinguish all those who I have met just once, but it has been weeks, not a day"

"Yes" Legolas replied, "but only one day I have seen you"

Amber's smile widened and she turned her face towards him, opening her eyes, which glowed more honeyed in the midday sunlight. "Elves are never as observant as my kin, that is for certain"

Legolas opened his mouth to protest, having never been called 'unobservant' in his life, nor any elf he had known. Something of what she had said stopped him, though, and he found himself instead responding to a different thought. "Have you been observing me?". He had never been so blunt with a lady before, but he had never met one who challenged him as she did, seeming to delight in his discomfort at her steady gaze.

"Of course" she replied, nonchalantly shrugging one shoulder as she raised herself to sitting. "You watched me, I was intreaged".

He flushed slightly at her insinuation, however true it was. "I have not seen your kind before. I know now that you are my kin. I wished to know more of your..." he cast his mind for a word that did not betray too much his reluctant fascination "..differences to me". He inclined his head in achowledgement that his words were not as polite as he would wish when speaking to a woman, giving her room to deny his curiosity. He knew, truly, that having found her alone in such a place he should not linger, lest there were insinuations made; but his desire to know more about her won in the battle with his conscience. He hoped that with her people, such things were not treated with too much severity.

While these thoughts warred in his head, Amber regarded him curiously, seeming to consider his words. "I cannot tell if you are truthful. Your anxiety tells me you either lie or fear me".

Legolas frowned, wondering how she could sense his emotion. "Nay" he said, "I neither fear nor lie to you. I simply worry that my presence here is not welcome, especially as you have clearly come to find solitude" it was mostly the truth of his feeling. The rest he had not the courage nor boldness to say- that he wished to know her more than he thought wise, that his heart had yearned for another look into her eyes since he last saw her at the feast. These things he regretted to admit even to himself, for fear of the consequences of such an inappropriate interest.

Amber, who had looked around herself at his words, observing her solitude, nodded. Legolas thought for a moment that she wished him away as she agreed with his assessment; but then she raised her face towards him almost shyly, saying "long have I dwelt with only my family and the animals with whom we live. I am not used to so many strangers" her eyes drifted over the house of Elrond, far below them in the valley.

Legolas nodded, understanding suddenly, her isolation. "For many years, I have remained close to my father and our kin, with little contact from outside of Mirkwood. I feel that I have missed out on much that goes on in other lands". He had missed out on meeting her. They had lived so close, and yet she was a stranger whom he could not have imagined, were he to take inspiration of every woman he had met in his nearing 3000 years. All fell short of her in his eyes, though he did not guess at why this was, fearing his heart was not ready to see it.

She eyed him with curiosity and then motioned for him to join her on the grass. He looked to her and then the surrounding hills, wondering, again, if he were making a mistake to follow this desire to know her better. His father had warned him against the allure of a beautiful woman, though he had never had trouble heeding it until now. His inner desire got the better of him and so he went to her, sitting on the grass, a mere foot away as she had gestured for him to do.

"Tell me of your homelands" she asked him, turning her face and laying her head on her arms, which lay atop her pulled up knees. She once again wore the tattered travelling garments he had first seen her in, and he wondered idly why she did not clothe herself in garments offered by the elves of Rivendell, as many of the visitors had.

He considered her question, knowing not where to begin, for the tales of his land were many and spanning centuries past. He eventually decided that a description of his current day home would be best; it had changed so much since before the darkness had come to Mirkwood.

As he described the underground city, the forest as he knew it, the people and their roles; she listened, making no comment, watching him speak with an unnervingly steady gaze that was unlike any two-legged creature he had known.After such a time had passed that the sun, which had been high above them was now low on the horizon; he paused, unsure as to go on now that evening approached.

"And what of your peoples' leader?" she asked him, her voice startling him for it had been since long since she last had spoken.

"Aye, my father" for some strange reason he had felt reluctant to explain his own place in his world, perhaps for shame as to how her mother had been excommunicated by her kin, led by his own father.

She tipped her head slightly in response to his words, seeming confused. "You are the son of your chieftain?"

"Aye, my father is the king of our people. Thranduil is his name" he nodded, solemn all of a sudden.

"Your father is Thranduil..." she frowned slightly, "my mother spoke of him to me once, for she does not often wish to speak of her first kin..." she seemed sad. Legolas bowed his head.

"My father is not kind to those who leave us" he wondered then if his father would show him the same as Amber's mother, should he choose not to return to their people, for his heart wished him away.

Amber nodded. "My mother told me so, although she seemed sad to have not seen her people in an age. I think she misses them sometimes, most especially now that my father is dead" she worse a forlorn expression, looking away from him and to the grass below her feet as they lay out on the hill.

"You must miss him greatly" he said, kindly. "I miss my own mother, though I lost her when I was only young. She died defending our people, for which I am glad, for hers was a willing sacrifice".

She looked again at him, her amber eyes shining with a new wetness. "I would wish for such a death, if my death I could choose" she said, voice filled with emotion "like my brother, Fébeorn"

Legolas met her eyes and observed the pride and sorrow there, tears making her eyes shine but not yet spilling over her cheeks. "His sacrifice will not be in vain. We ourselves will ensure the prude of our fallen kin and the safety of those still living". He placed has hand, reaching across the space between them, gently on her shoulder. At the contact he felt a thrill travel his body from his fingertips, warming his limbs and silencing any thoughts that had begun to form in his mind.

She allowed the touch, leaning slightly into his hand and closing her eyes. The tears which had yet held, now fell, tracking down her soft cheeks and to the earth from her chin.

After a while like this, both lost in their own thoughts, Legolas heard the faint bell from the house low in the valley. Amber seemed to have heard it also, for her eyes opened and she looked towards the dwelling. Once again, Legolas wondered how close she was to his kind and how different. She seemed to him more like than human men and women, with whom he had often felt much like despite their differences.

He rose, holding out his hand to her, "The dinner bell. I believe we are wanted" he said, although this was not strictly true, as they would not be missed should they not attend the meal. He found he did not want to stay overlong and get further lost in her mesmerising eyes, wet now with tears. The strength of feeling this brought in him was frightening, much did he now wish to destroy any foes who had brought her this sorrow. Instead he wished them to return, so he could escape the powerful feelings which held him currently.

She nodded, not looking at his face and took his hand; though by the perfect balance with which she rose, she had clearly not needed assistance. She took her hand then out of his for which he was both terribly sad and also grateful, the energy which had startled him at the skin to skin contact still scrambling his thoughts.

They walked back together in silence, and although not willing to push his heart beyond the endurance it had had through their companionship that day; Legolas observed her when he felt it not impolite to do so- noting her prowling movements as she stepped down through moss and over branches without losing balance or footing, seeming not to pay mind to her steps as she looked ahead at their path.

When they came at last to the homely house of Elrond, Legolas turned to the lady Beorning and bowed. "I must bid you well. I thank you for your companionship this afternoon. It was most welcome"

Seeming pulled from whatever thoughts she had been having, Amber startled slightly at his words, looking at him with surprise "you will not dine tonight?"

"Nay" he said, "My belly is filled with conversation and I have no great desire for further sustenance"

Her eyebrows pulled together as if she could not imagine anyone denying a free meal. Eventually she nodded and smiled at him, "I was grateful for the company of one who can speak of more than their own deeds. Fare well, my distant kin" she turned and began to walk towards the banquet Hall.

Legolas mused at her words, imagining the many suitors she must now have, for her beauty could not have gone unnoticed. He had not attended formal meals since his first evening here as he had not wished for continued questions of his father's goings on; preferring meals in the quiet of his room here at Imladris. He realised that he may have missed much, seeing Amber interact with the many elves and perhaps other folk who had remained here for the current time. He frowned slightly, not enjoying this thought.

"Until another day, my friend" he said on a whim at her retreating back.

She paused, turning her head slightly at his words. "You do not fear my friendship? Most think I will devour them once I grow tired of their company" she seemed to grin, teeth glinting in the candle light of the open-air corridor on which they both stood.

He smiled, amused at how quickly others seemed to fear her; he could not imagine it, though certainly she unnerved him. "I shall take my chances" he replied, smiling.

She nodded at this. "Aragorn said I should make other friends, for there must be some as brave as he. Very well, I shall now count you in that number. Though it makes my friendships two"

A warm feeling spread in Legolas' chest, thinking himself to be closer in her esteem than any others here besides Aragorn who she clearly had a friendly bond with. It pleased him to think that others were not so close, though that thought felt too akin to jealousy for his liking.

Amber lifted her hand in a gesture of farewell and, smiling, turned the corner towards the banquet Hall. Legolas smiled to himself, glad, as he had often been since his arrival; that he had ventured to Imladris.