Chapter 22:

I found myself face to face with a person I immediately recognised. Rather like Gandalf, I would have known this person anywhere. The pointed ears, the longish blonde hair, the pale, elvish complexion. I had, of course, seen him in the forest - but now he was standing right in front of me.

"Legolas!" I blurted. This was so bizarre. Legolas had been my favourite character ever in the Lord of the Rings, being one of the best looking of all of them (with Aragorn and possibly Merry, Pippin, and Frodo). Of course, there he had been played by Orlando Bloom, who was just as hot...I pressed a hand against my forehead. I was confusing myself.

"How do you know me?" asked Legolas, looking surprised.

"Oh! Uh, Tauriel warn – er-r-r-r, told me about you," I replied.

He shrugged and said, "Well, you are to come with me."

"How come I can't go with the dwarves?" I asked, allowing a little anger and frustration to seep into my voice.

Legolas sighed. "Father says that any women prisoners should be treated as guests," the elven prince informed me. I frowned.

"I am no petty woman," I snapped. "I don't do the whole 'oh, it's a woman, let's pamper her' thing."

He smiled, as if amused by me. "I can understand," he pointed out. "Our elven women are very independent as well. However, what Father says is what must happen."

I growled deep in my chest and his smile widened. "Come," he told me. "We're going to your room."

I followed him with crossed arms and a scowl. They had taken my swords, but not my dagger or my necklace. Something told me to wait, though, and let Bilbo deal with it. I felt a breath of air next to me and I whipped my hand out and poked a head of curly hair. I heard a squeak, and for a second I saw Bilbo as the Ring slipped off his finger for a second. Nobody else noticed, though.

We reached a door in the hallway, and Legolas stopped. "This is where you'll be staying," he said, sounding for all the world like a bellhop or servant at a hotel. He showed me in and stood in the doorway.

I turned and smiled flirtatiously at him. "Thanks, Legolas. Tell your dad that if he ever wants to talk, I'll be here." It felt a little odd, flashing that smile at anybody but Kili, but it had the desired effect. Legolas looked absolutely perplexed.

I sighed. "Listen, Legolas. Can you please let us go? We're not doing something horrible. We're not going to turn around and kill you. W're not -"

"No," Legolas interrupted quietly. "I wish I could, but I can't go against my father's wishes. It would be easier if you talked, told Father what you were doing in our forest."

I decided to try a different tactic, but part of me hated myself for it. I leaned towards him, causing him to back up a step. I fluttered my eyelashes and flashed that flirtatious smile at him again, and pleaded, "Come on, Legolas. Please? I promise we'll be good." I felt like one of those shallow girls who would throw themselves at guy because they felt too self-conscious to not be dating somebody.

It almost did what I wanted it to do. He leaned forward a little bit, tilting his head as if to kiss me, but then he pulled back and looked at me accusingly. "How are you doing that?"

I continued to smile that way at him. "How am I doing what?"

He blinked, then grinned back suddenly. He ignored my question and said, "I probably won't be seeing you, Freya. I'll send in Tauriel, or someone." He turned around and left, closing and locking the door behind him.

I sighed and leaned against a wall, letting that horrible expression slide off of my face. "Bilbo?" I called softly. I heard a slight thump outside the door and a gasp. "It's fine, I just want to ask you something."

I heard another thump that I took to mean yes.

"Don't tell Kili about that exchange, yes?"

I heard a brief chuckle, and Bilbo's voice whispered, "Of course not, Freya."

Sorry this is short. Please review!