My old friend, Thranduil

Chapter Three

Angelica helps me into a dress for today, and while she is lacing it up Legolas walks in and smiles at me when he sees me.

"Looking beautiful, as usual Lady Maybelline." He grins.

"And you look dashing, as always, Prince Legolas." I say, smiling back.

"So what should we do today?" Legolas asks, sitting on the end of my bed and watching Angelica start on my hair.

"Anything not involving your father sounds amazing."

"Well are you up to a little archery?" He asks.

And that was how almost two months passed. Every morning Legolas came and fetched me, then we would spend all day doing whatever whim he had taken, and we would sneak back in through the kitchens, grab a bite to eat for supper, and then he would walk me to my room and make sure I was set before retiring.

"May? Are you decent?" Legolas asks through the door, a week and a half ago he walked in on me half naked, we had a good laugh at that we did.

"Yes Legolas, open the door and come in!" I call to him from my vanity, in the middle of doing my hair.

He opens the door slowly, the expression on his face bearing sadness.

"What is it?" I ask him, abandoning my hair and rushing up to him.

"I have been summoned to the council of Elrond, I should be back soon." He says softly, as if ashamed.

"Legolas, you look me in the eye when I tell you this. You need not be shy around me, we established that a long while ago." I say.

"May, I leave tonight, but before I go their is something I must do. Can you meet me by the gate when dusk has just fallen?" He asks.

"Of course I can Legolas." I say, smiling sadly at the thought of losing my friend.

"I have buisness to attend to now, but I shall see you this evening." He says, bowing and walking out.

I lock myself in my room, shaking with nerves, waiting sadly for dusk so I can meet Legolas.

The room becomes immaculate, some things even shining, before I finish my hair and slowly sneak out.

Thranduil is taking supper, so all I have to do is wait until the guards pass, and then I'm sprinting down the grounds toward the gate.

Until my feet catch in a tree root, switch sends me tumbling down the slope towards my friend.

Laughing, he pulls me up and hugs me close.

"I will miss you Legolas." I say softly, wiping away tears.

"Oh May, don't cry for me. You're wasting you tears." He says, wiping off the ones that managed to escape with his thumb.

I smile sadly up at him and lean against the tree for support.

"I have something for you. Well, two somethings." He says, handing me two little boxes.

I open the first which has two matching brooches, Legolas pins one on my cloak and I pin the other on his.

"There, now I'm yours May. You can communicate with me whenever with yours, and I can with mine." He says, pushing my long hair back.

"Prince Legolas, it's time to leave!" Someone shouts.

He pulls me into a long, warm, meaningful embrace, then jogs over to the small group and mounts his horse. I stay hidden in the shadows while they ride out, waving goodbye to Legolas when he looks back and waves before disappearing from view.

I make my way back to my room and collapse onto my bed.

Now I'm stuck with Thranduil.

All alone.

The joy.

I sigh and close my eyes.

"Goodnight May." Legolas's voice whispers.

"Goodnight Legolas." I tell him.