To Hide a Princess

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter 16

legolas has been getting restless lately. I think he's tired of me avoiding him. I can't blame him, I'm getting tired of it myself. It's exhausting fighting what you want with every fibre of your body. I even ask myself why I am doing this. The only result i can come to is that I'm scared. Of dependence. Of loving. Of losing. It's happened too many times before. I'm going to have to give in soon. I want him. I'm going to have to face it.

I don't know how to go about it. Refusing and denying everything one second and agreeing and loving him the next. This is unnatural. Strange. And it's my own fault. What I have to do I don't know. But I have to do something. It's my fault I'm in this situation now. And I'm going to be the one to fix it.

I think I'm just going to have to stop fighting him on everything. I won't tell him my past but I may as well be a friend. It's not want we want but it's most definitely an improvement.

I wake up in the early light with my new resolution. I had a nightmare last night when I reflected on my life like I was dead. I had no love ever and my disappearance had not been noticed. The worst part though was legolas had forgotten met. He had a beautiful young woman who he loved. They were married and had a beautiful little girl. It wasn't me that he was in love with and that s what hurt most.

I quickly wash in the waterfall and wander down to the castle kitchens. I can smell them from several halls away. It just gets met gradually more hungry. Eventually I reach the warm bakery kitchen. I'm friends you could say with most of the kitchen staff as when I get bored I often come down to the kitchens and they teach me how to make different food. I never knew how to cook good food before. It was always whatever I could catch over a fire and quickly eaten before moving on to avoid getting caught by any orcs.

Today Maryan had been baking and naturally had extra food for me.

"Elemmire" she calls, seeing me through all the heat and steam.

"Maryan!" I return happily. We run towards each other anew embrace. She's a very sweet woman. Reminds me of my mother she's very caring and always tries to feed me up.

"I can guess what you're here for" she laughs making me laugh with her. It's infectious. "I have some fresh rolls right over there and those pastries just on that table there that Freyen made earlier. I'm sure he wouldn't mind you taking one." She chuckles with a naughty gleam in her eyes. W both know Freyen is the more grumpy cook who is a little more rough around the edges. He has a soft spot for me though since I helped him cook they other day when his joints were sore. I think he sees himself as a father figure to me. I don't mind though, I see him that way too. He's really a very sweet man, just a little more rough an grouchy. He lost his soul mate only two years after he met her but he has a beautiful daughter called Safayena. I've only met her twice but she's lovely. The first time I was in the kitchens helping Freyen and she came in. He introduced us and I spent the next afternoon playing with her in the waterfall and teaching her the harp. I've promised her lessons every week which I have to admit I look forward to. I also introduced her to Oro and now their such good friends that they barely leave each others sides. They are just so lovely together. I fancy myself as a little bit of a matchmaker when they grow up.

"Thank you Maryan. You can read me so well!" I exclaim

"it isn't hard dear, you're always hungry. And this is a place of food. It's not hard to guess you want food! Now you go and I'll tell Freyen you say hello and took his food!" She chuckles before shooing me to with a kitchen towel. "We have a very busy few days now before the ball so off you go and I'll see you soon dear. Off you go!"

Ball. What ball?

I wander along the halls and courtyards thinking about this ball. I wonder what it's for and if I am meant to be going. Or if I'm even meant to know about it. I have no dress suitable for a royal ball. I must ask legolas or arsenal about it. I don't ever like to distract Elrond. He always looks busy wi a very important duty.

I am shocked out of my thoughts when I crash into someone. With my head in the clouds I wasn't watching where I was going. I brace mull to hit the ground but am caught before I hot it by strong arms. I look up into the eyes of a laughing legolas. I suppose that it would have looked quite funny. He helps me up, still laughing a little. At least I still have my pastry. However my bread has disappeared. That was my breakfast! I step back and lean against the all looking at legolas ho's laughter has reduced to his signature smirk.

"I never thought you my dear were such a klutz!" He starts laughing all over again. This time I can't help but join in. Ye I can fight but it appears I lack in common sense and balance when I'm only walking. Classic. Only now do I find my bread. Legolas has it! No fair! He sees my eye line and brings the bread closer to me. I reach out to grab it just as he take a huge bite out of it. Still smirking. Damn.

"Oh miss Maryen! If my heart wasn't already taken!" He jokes pretending to swoon. Her cooking was just that good. I out by hands on my hips and mock glare at him.

"That was my breakfast thank you very much thief!" I joke back at him. He looks at me in pretend shock before taking another huge bite, the playful glint in his eye ever present. This time though I just tap my fingers together like I'm making an evil plan, I'm just trying to hold my laughter in.

Now he pretends to panic and goes running down the corridor wailing.

"The lady's out to get me!! Save meeee!"

it is one if the funniest sights to see. Legolas, a captain and major fighter in the gaurd, looked up to by all soldiers, being chased by me, a small, almost fragile looking girl. The guards we run pass just laugh, knowing who i am. After all their mainly here to stop me from leaving.

I eventually catch up with legolas as I start to get out of breath. I think he was just going slow for me. He is a lot stroner after all. I quickly catapult myself onto his back laughing as I wrap my legs around him. He bursts out laughing and starts to spin round to get me off. Start to slip and just as I'm about to fall he spins and catches me so now we're face to face with my legs wrapped around his front. He's still laughing and so am I. I just can't stop.

I just look up at him and lean in. He do too and I let my eyes flutter shut. Again he mirrors this, his eyes shutting. Just as our lips are about to meet I turn my head and he kisses me on the cheek. I just whisper in his ear.

"gotta try harder than that. Pay back for the bread"

And with that I left him racing back to my room to prepare for Safayena's harp lesson this afternoon.