No matter how neutral his words had been, I was taken aback by the seneschal's outrageous statement at the lunch table. I did not doubt that he meant to tell me that he would have his way with me again. How dare he! I was upset enough to have offered him a lecture on manners and dignity of bearing right there and then, if I hadn't been so surprised at seeing Mary leave the table and the king sit again, with a strained expression marring his handsome face. I didn't see Mary's face, but she seemed a lot more subdued than usual and I suspected this wasn't just her customary rebellion.

The rest of the meal was quiet. Thaladir refrained from making more embarrassing comments, and Helca seemed satisfied with the empty chair beside her. She didn't touch the king quite as frequently as before, but it was still much too often for me.

Ithilwen accompanied me back to my room and I was satisfied to notice that I could foresee her turns in the corridors almost all the time now. Before long, I'd be able to make my way through at least part of the Halls of Mirkwood without an escort and I looked forward to it. No matter how well I was taken care of, I wanted to be able to go where I wanted to, when I wanted to, and not always have to wait for the king to send someone to take me there.

After I rested for a while, I went to Mary's room. I wanted to make sure she wasn't ill after all, and I also hoped to hear what had happened in the dining room that had made her leave so suddenly. I wondered if Helca had perhaps been mean to her, or if Master Darek had made her indecent offers, but it didn't seem very likely. I trusted my friend to be able to handle the ice maiden, and the Town Master wasn't a creep like Renk. But she hadn't looked entirely well this morning...

After knocking, I studied Mary's door while waiting for her to open. The veined wood was adorned with an extremely natural-looking beech branch with the carving of a raven, complete with a tiny black stone as the eye, perched on it. I felt the bird under my fingers, admiring the craftsmanship, and then knocked again. There was no answer. I opened the door and found Mary's suite empty. Everything looked exactly the way it had when Thaladir had escorted us to lunch, so it didn't seem she had come here after she left the table.

It was Miriel who solved the mystery. She had entered silently while I was in the dressing room, and I found her putting the bed's spread back in place. I watched her do that, slowly, with perfect movements, and then she went on to snuff out the candles in the candlesticks. She looked sad, and I was almost afraid to ask her about Mary.

"My lady has departed to Imladris with the prince," she said, and continued after a deep sigh. "His Excellency indicated that her return should not be expected."

I couldn't answer her at first. This was shocking news indeed!

"I'm very sorry to hear that," I managed to say, while trying to look reasonably touched by the information. "Well, I will not hinder you in your duties," I added, before making a quick retreat to my room.

This was far better that I'd ever expected! With Mary gone I would have the king entirely to myself! And he would love me truly now that his senses weren't muddled by the presence of two mortal women. I would be with him all the time and we would live happily ever after!

And Mary would be happy too, with the twins, so I didn't feel too bad about her either. Perhaps Thranduil and I could visit them some time?

The last traces of the wine cleared away from my head while Legolas and I flew over the miles and miles of Mirkwood forest on our way to Rivendell. The swiftly moving storm clouds were soon below us, obscuring the Misty Mountains when we flew above them, only revealing a snow-covered peak here and there.

I was hoping to forget Thranduil as soon as I possibly could and yet everything I saw only reminded me more and more of him. The trees, the occasional animal bounding along below, sun glinting on water, and then the thick, dark clouds, all reminded me of the king. It was only after we left the forest and crossed the mountains that I felt as if I could begin to concentrate on my future.

When the great eagle descended through the thick clouds on our final approach to the valley of Imladris, we were quickly drenched when we came out beneath in a cold shower of rain. Despite the bad weather, Lord Elrond was on hand to greet the great eagle. He did not seem surprised to see us arrive so soon ahead of schedule, as I would have expected him to be.

Legolas explained to him how the storm had forced an early departure from Mirkwood while he handed me over to him, with reassurances that a hot bath and a good meal would quickly cheer me to my normal happy state.

"I doubt it," I told them both. "I think my heart is broken." But Legolas, following behind as we approached the entrance to the Homely House, chuckled at my declaration.

"Not broken, I think," he said to Elrond. "Just a little bruised."

"Perhaps," said the Elflord, "but a complete physical examination is in order, before a correct diagnosis can be pronounced and the proper course of action for a full recovery can be determined."

A complete physical examination. I did not like the sound of it. This was all I needed. One more Elf monarch who wanted to get his hands on me before my feet had even hit the ground. I felt irritated and unaccountably wary. Did none of these elves have anything better to do with their time now that the Dark Lord had been vanquished?

"I can walk now," I told Elrond as we entered the foyer. "You can put me down, right here." It grated on me that he paid no attention to me. Instead, he spoke to someone in the crowd of elves standing there to greet the Mirkwood prince and then carried me down the hallway toward his wing. I thought I heard a familiar voice responding to him.

"Was that Sheraiah?" I asked as I turned to see Legolas bending over her hand, then I declared, "That is Sheraiah! Hey, where are you taking me?"

As my heart began to beat a little faster, I realized that if Sheraiah was in Rivendell, then that meant the twins must be here, too. It also occurred to me that this was the reason Legolas had been so sure that my coming with him might have been, well, not the worst idea I ever had. He had told me I might find a few surprises when we arrived.

They must be hiding somewhere ahead, I told myself, waiting to jump out and surprise me. But they did not. Instead, I ended up in Elrond's room and a small group of helpful elves, who had followed closely behind us, was dismissed with orders to bring warm towels, a fresh robe, and some tea. I wondered why the appearance of Elrond's sons was being delayed.

"Where are they?" I asked as soon as the door was shut behind us and we were alone. "I know your sons are here, I'm not stu ... well, maybe I am stupid, but I'm not deaf or blind."

"You are not stupid," Elrond said, "and your perceptions have served you well. My sons are here, planning your eventual rescue from the depths of Mirkwood's most highly guarded dungeons. I have sent them on an errand that should keep them occupied for the rest of the day. They were expecting Legolas to arrive in a few more days. They were not aware you were going to be visiting here at all, with the prince."

As he spoke, the helpful elves, dispatched to fetch the towels, robe, and tea, had returned with these items and had left us alone, again. Elrond did not seem willing to allow anyone else to stay in his rooms to assist me; instead he turned me away from him to unfasten my gown.

Letting Elrond do this for me was probably not the wisest course of action taken so soon after walking away from the only other Elflord who had ever undressed me. But there was no way I could unfasten it with those tricky little hooks by myself. And I was uncomfortable enough to want out of the rain-sodden dress that I submitted to its removal without argument.

The sound of knocking right next to my ear made me yelp. Legolas merely smiled and guided me away from the door so he could open it. I know it was glaringly apparent that I had just been very passionately kissed for I could feel that I was flushed. It's a real pain in the butt to be so fair skinned that even the least little excitement is very visible on my face.

If Legolas was affected at all his face didn't show it and the fact that his tunic hung nearly to his knees hid the other evidence of our activities. I was beginning to suspect that this was the real reason that male elves wore their tunics long, or chose to wear robes, in the first place.

As soon as the elf that had knocked had set the food requested on the table, he departed, respectfully bowing to both of us. Legolas simply stood across the table from me, regarding me silently. The look in his eyes sent a delightful shiver down my spine. He noticed it, smiled, and held out his hand.

"Aren't you hungry?" I queried, arching a brow at him and vainly attempting to regain my composure. He shook his head; a slight smile forming across his beautifully sculpted face.

"No. Are you?" He cocked his head, regarding me closely. I grinned.

"Not for food," I replied as cheekily as I could, considering that he'd had his hands all over me only moments before. His smile deepened and became even more sensual and my heartbeat sped up at the sight.

"Well then, let us satisfy one hunger and create another." He held out his hand to me again and I stepped around the table and took it, allowing him to draw me into his arms. My clothing had become nearly as damp as his during our rather intense embrace against the door and I was starting to shiver with cold as well as of desire. He ran his tongue along the contours of my lips, and then stepped back a little.

"Come; we will continue this in a more comfortable place." He led me into the bathing chamber.

The large tub was already full of steaming water and I felt warmer just looking at it. Legolas leaned in and gave me a searing kiss before stepping away again to shed his clothing. I watched, fascinated as ever by his beauty. He was lean, but the muscles rippling beneath his skin rivaled those of any athlete I had ever seen. His archer's hands worked the ties of his leggings and I again had a vivid flashback, this time of the last time I had shared a bath with him. By the time he had laid the last article of his clothing aside, I was fairly vibrating with the need to touch him. I began to un-tuck my shirt, but he laid his hands over mine.

"Stop. Let me do that." He didn't touch me at first, just stood close enough that I could hear him breathe and looked at me. I tried to reach out and lay my hands on his chest, but he stopped me, gently pushing my hands back down to my sides. He leaned forward, brushing his lips across mine so lightly that I wasn't even sure he had. Abruptly, he moved to stand behind me and I felt him lift the long braid at the nape of my neck.

Legolas removed the elastic band, and gently loosened the hair, spreading it across my back. His fingers grazed the back of my neck as he lifted my hair away from it, giving his mouth access. My breath caught in my throat as he began to press open-mouthed kisses on the skin he had just exposed. I shivered again, this time definitely not from cold and I felt him smile against my skin.

His fingertips skimmed lightly over my shoulders and down my arms to my waist. He pulled my shirt free of the waistband of my pants and slid his hands beneath it, caressing the skin of my abdomen with the lightest of touches. He then grasped the hem of my shirt and pulled it over my head. His hand flattened against my belly as he pressed the full length of his body against me and lowered his head to nip gently at my neck. That tore it for me and I turned in his arms. Reaching up, I slid my hands into his hair, pulled his face toward mine and kissed him hungrily. Not surprisingly, he didn't object.

His hands deftly unhooked my bra, and I briefly wondered how he had gotten so adept at doing that. Rational thought fled then as his thumbs found my nipples. The next thing I was aware of was his knuckles brushing my skin as he unfastened my pants and pushed them down my hips. The predatory look on his face when he looked me in the face again drew another shiver from me. The rational part of my mind made reappearance at that point, telling me that Legolas was far too smug and that I needed to take the situation in hand, as it were.

I had the distinct satisfaction of watching his control disappear as I grasped his arousal and ran my hand up and down its length before rubbing the pad of my thumb across the tip. A moan escaped him then and he wound his fingers in my hair tightly, pulling me forward to kiss me none too gently. I continued my torture of him, drawing a steady stream of moans past his lips. Suddenly he tensed and grasped my hand, pulling it away from his shaft.

"Stop! Your hand is not where I wish to spend myself." His breathing was ragged and I could see him fighting to regain his control. I was none too steady myself at this point in time and not trusting my voice, I merely grinned at him. The feral look was back and I felt his muscles tense.

Before I could react, I had been lifted and my back braced against the bathing chamber door. He hissed between his teeth as he sheathed himself in me, drawing a gasp from me. I wound my legs around his waist and gripped his shoulders tightly. He stilled for a few minutes, adjusting and regaining a measure of his control. He locked eyes with me as he began to move.

Legolas maintained a steady rhythm for a bit, but both of us gradually surrendered all semblance of control. Our pace became frenzied and the door creaked ominously. My release began first and I sucked hard on his shoulder as it took me. That triggered his climax and he buried his face in my neck with a deep groan.

For a few minutes all either of us could do was hold onto each other and breathe. He recovered first and eased out of me. He set me on my feet, steadying me when my knees wobbled. Another smug look crossed his face then, but I let it pass without comment. He slid into the tub with a sigh and I settled between his legs, leaning my back against his chest. We just sat there for a long while, relaxing.

Happily humming I danced through my room, and finally just stood at the window, completely lost in thoughts about my bright future with the king. I just couldn't wait to see him again at dinner!

Ithilwen disappointed me gravely. Instead of taking me to the king's dining room, she brought a tray. The negotiations would continue during dinner, she said, and the meal would be served to the participating parties in the throne room. I ate the soup without joy, though I'm sure it tasted as good as everything prepared by the elves, and I felt very lonely.

It was wrong of me, I knew, to expect the king to want to spend every waking hour with me. And I knew that the ongoing negotiations were important to him as they were crucial to his subjects' well-being during the winter, but it didn't make it any easier.

I was glad when Ithilwen asked if wanted to go for a walk. The fresh air was good for me and the garden was still beautiful with its autumn colours. Most of the leaves would soon be gone in the storms, she informed me, and we were lucky to have this opportunity of a walk. Soon, the winds that had forced the prince to depart before time would confine all of us to the halls for days in a row, and then winter would set in. I missed Mary already.

She was insufferable at times, but I missed her company.

On the way back from our walk, just before entering the gates, Ithilwen and I met Thranduil, who was standing on the top of the stairs. He was gorgeous as always, and I felt a familiar tingle in my stomach at the sight of his regal profile, lit by the torches flanking the entrance to the halls. When we came closer, I saw that his jaw was clenched and he looked determined, but also worried as he stared out into the semi-darkness.

I had expected him to greet me with open arms and carry me off to his rooms, but he just gave me a polite smile, the flicker of anxiety in his gaze lessening as he spoke to me, but not going out completely.

"Goodnight, Mal," he said and gave me a chaste peck on my forehead. "Ithilwen will show you back to your bedchamber now."

His words were neutral, but they shocked me deeply. What was this supposed to mean, more negotiations? All-night discussions about wine and apples and potatoes and what not? Or something horrible beyond my imagination?

"Don't you want me anymore, my lord?" I asked in a small voice.

"On the contrary," replied the king with a chuckle. I thought I could detect the faintest hint of bitterness in his voice, but if so, it was already gone when he continued, "But mortals require more rest than elves, and you will rest better alone, than with me." With that, he turned away and went down the stairs.

He had probably just said the truth, but the thought of sleeping in my own room when the king wasn't occupied with Mary still felt more like a rejection, than something he would do for me out of consideration. The king's words did not comfort me at all, and as I watched him disappear out into the soft night I heard the high-pitched sound of my fragile dreams cracking, one by one

At first, I tried to quell my suspicions about Lord Elrond's intentions. His attitude was fatherly and I had the feeling that a sleep spell was going to be prescribed after I had some tea. So far, it seemed the elves' favorite way of dealing with difficult humans. His fingers were not as swift at undoing my gown as Thranduil's, which was kind of sweet.

However, when my damp gown hit the floor, it was comforting to have on both the modest Mirkwood-issued undershift and underpants that I otherwise hated wearing. I assured the Elflord that they were dry enough to keep on after he offered to help me out of them. I wished for the robe which lay tossed over the arm of a chair and suddenly felt another wave of irritation sweep over me.

"How did you know I was coming but the twins didn't?" I asked. "Even I didn't know I was coming until I jumped aboard the eagle." Without answering me, he held the robe open and I gratefully slipped my arms through the sleeves and swiftly pulled the attached belt closed in a tight knot.

"Are you a mind reader?" I asked.

"I am not as skilled as Thranduil," he admitted with a touch of regret in his otherwise proud voice. He guided me back to the soft chair and poured some tea for me to go with a small supper that had been delivered on a tray.

As I relaxed in front of the cheery fire and ate my simple meal, it struck me that I could not have ended up in a place anywhere else in Middle-earth that was a better antidote to the harsh, stony underground world of Thranduil's realm than Elrond's plush and polished chambers.

"So," I asked as he sat himself in a chair next to mine, "did someone in Mirkwood send you an emergency message?" I put one of my hands up to my head and wiggled the fingers to indicate a mental telegram being transmitted via Elven brain waves. "Probably Thaladir."

"It was Thranduil, actually," said Elrond. "Rather loudly, I might add."

I had the feeling that he related little of the exact message he had received from Mirkwood to me. Briskly he reported that the king had insisted that I be cared for properly, that I might be feeling ill, and also that I be informed that he would be sending an eagle to Rivendell as soon as the storm had cleared.

"What for?" I felt alarmed by the news. And absurdly pleased. At least Thranduil had noticed I was gone. That was something. But I wondered why he expected me to jump on that eagle and fly right back. I was not sure yet if I ever wanted to see the king again. But I was pretty sure I did not want to return to Mirkwood.

Lord Elrond leaned forward and put a hand on my knee. His long, elegant fingers wrapped themselves around my leg a bit more possessively than I would have wished for at that moment. I had an instant desire to strike it away, but I suppressed it and remained motionless.

"You do not have to leave," said Elrond. His eyes were kind, sympathetic, and a little too hungry. "If you would rather stay here in Imladris, you would be more than welcome." His hand on my leg gave a gentle squeeze, as if to emphasize his words, while he continued, "We specialize in mending both broken and bruised hearts here."

He left his hand there, on my leg. I looked down at it as I contemplated the possibility that one Elflord was just as good as another. There was no one around right at that moment to stop me from finding out and Lord Elrond does have very nice hands. I watched, almost mesmerized, as he found my bare thigh through the parted folds of the robe and began caressing me. It felt nice. I did not have to be a mind reading elf to understand the message from his warm touch.

"What about the twins?" I asked. His fingers on my inner thigh gripped tightly for a moment, almost reflexively, in response to my question. "Are you sure they will appreciate you handling my case, Doctor Elrond?"

"They had already asked me to...well, intervene, if necessary, when finally they had rescued you," said Lord Elrond. "They believe Thranduil has you under a spell and they are confident that I can, after a proper examination...," he removed his hand from my leg and lifted one of my hands to his lips, kissed it gently, then continued, "pursue a proper course of healing action."

The heated look in his eyes was unmistakable. I had an unexpected urge to strike him once again. But instead, after he used my hand to draw me into his lap, I let him kiss me.

I followed Ithilwen back through the corridors like in a haze, and when we entered my room it felt alien. It was still the most beautiful room I had ever seen, but I suddenly hated it. I assured the elf-maid that everything was fine, so that she would leave me as soon as possible. She insisted, however, on helping me change into a nightgown and even tucked the blankets around me before she blew out the candles and left me to my confused thoughts.

Eventually I fell asleep, but I woke up in the middle of the night and felt so lonely and miserable I just had to see the king. Barefoot and in my thin nightgown I stepped out into the hallway and tried to find my way though the winding corridors to the official parts of the palace. I was grateful that some of the torches were left to burn both day and night, as I wouldn't have had the slightest chance without them.

The thick door to the throne room was ajar, not fully open, but enough to allow me to hear that the room was deserted. The sentinels outside the big dining hall looked a bit surprised at seeing me this hour, but didn't change their neutral, though vigilant, expression when I opened the door enough to peek in. I saw some of the servants moving about, but there was no sign of the king or his guests.

I continued towards Thranduil's private rooms, and though not completely awake I felt more confident than before. This was an area of the palace I was more familiar with and soon I stood outside the king's bedchamber, where I hesitated. This was probably a bad idea. He didn't want me there. I started going back, only to stop outside the great hall. No. I did not want to be alone. Again I turned in the opposite direction.

When I was back at the king's door again and was about to open it, I realized that it wasn't really a wise thing to do, as a great warrior king like Thranduil would probably be able to kill unexpected visitors in his sleep. The thought of being found on the floor in the morning with a wrought neck wasn't too appealing, even if it did give me some pleasure to think about how the king would regret this horrible deed and mourn me forever, and even fade away and die. It would serve him just right!

I had almost made up my mind about opening the door when I heard noises from the room, unmistakable, terrible sounds of pleasure. Mercifully enough, the oaken door shut out the details, but the loud moans left little to the imagination and hurt just as much as if I would have seen the cause of them. I wanted to go back to my own room, but in my agitated state I couldn't even find my way back to the dining hall.

Exhausted and disoriented, I finally just sank to the floor in a heap in the corner outside the king's bedroom. The moans and groans eventually ceased and I cried myself to sleep. In the early morning hours, I was found by Ithilwen, who helped me back to my own room.

In the end I could not surrender fully to Elrond's desires. We had ended up in his bed for my examination, which was hardly a surprise. At first he acted clinically, which made me giggle, as his hands slowly traveled over my torso, gently pressing or prodding as he asked me things like, "Does this hurt?" or "What about when I do this?"

His warm hands made my breasts tingle, and when he asked me to part my legs I felt a rush of warmth envelop me. His fingers were gentle as he slid them between my thighs and I had to bite my lip to keep from moaning as he caressed me there.

Before long he was naked, too, and lying next to me, one hand between my legs to prepare me for my cure and his mouth on mine delivering lavish kisses with artful skill from centuries of practice. But his most passionate kisses and stroking hands provided nothing more than sporadic pleasant diversions from the swirling thoughts that continually invaded my mind like clouds.

The eagle would be coming. Why? What did Thranduil expect me to do? Did he want me to return to Mirkwood? After I had walked out on him? Did I want to return to Mirkwood? Could I return and share him with Mal, and his seneschal, and that Helca? I found it hard to concentrate on the lavish attention being paid to me by the handsome Elflord beside me. I kept interrupting with spontaneous questions, such as:

"Did he say why, exactly, he was sending that eagle?" or, "Did he sound really angry or just normal for him angry?" or, "Did he actually say to care for me properly, or did he advise you to protect yourself from me?" Lord Elrond finally gave up trying and plopped in a defeated heap of elf flesh, with an exasperated sigh, next to me on his bed.

"Perhaps," he said slowly, "my sons are right and you are under some kind of spell." I felt sorry for him, a little. I had been hopeful that whatever enchantment Thranduil had over me, the equally mighty Elrond could overrule, or override. I pulled the covers up to my chin as I sat against the headboard of his bed and contemplated the defeated Elflord.

"No," I told him, "I'm not under a spell. It's worse than that. I chose to feel this way." I explained to him what had happened with the king and me the night Mal was brought into the royal bed with us. I spared him the details but gave him enough to understand that I had somehow pledged myself to Thranduil, and had become his subject, of my own free will.

"But," I added as I felt my heart twist, "I think there has been a breach of contract and now I want out." I took a few deep breaths then added, "I was hoping you could help me. I guess this is something I will have to do on my own. Although I have no idea how."

"Contract?" asked Elrond. "Tell me more." I told him as much as I could remember from the conversation I had with the king the night I had sworn my undying allegiance to him. As I spoke he sat and nodded wisely now and then. He visibly flinched when I told him how Thranduil had called me a bridge.

"A bridge?" Elrond's eyebrows lifted high. "He used that word exactly?" He suddenly grew silent and thoughtful, and respectfully helpful. I was swiftly put back into my robe, but, as we stood next to his bed, with him standing before me tying the belt, the twins burst into the door.

Never had they looked more dashing and devilishly handsome than they did at that very moment when they stood in a pose of happy expectation and took in the view before them. They were a bit rain-dampened and their hair was curlier from the wetting they had received from the storm still lashing the valley outside. Their faces were red from the wind and cold and their boots and cloaks were spattered with mud. They stood frozen in place for a heartbeat, and then hastily departed the bedchamber.

"Well," I said to Elrond, "they seemed surprised. Didn't you tell me that they asked you to intervene?" He drew in a deep breath at my question and I knew, instantly, that the intervention that the twins had asked for, from him, probably did not include him being stark naked.

A room had been made ready for me while I was being examined by Lord Elrond and I was escorted to it by a graceful golden-eyed elleth named Glorcheniel. I had only just been helped out of the robe and into a nightgown when the twins came in to welcome me properly. Neither of them mentioned the scene they had witnessed earlier in their father's bedchamber. They had not changed a bit. But, they found a much different Mary than the one they had sent off to Mirkwood just that short time ago.

"You are under a spell," declared Elladan. I had let him kiss me but that was all. It was a nice kiss but it did not stir me even as much as his father's had earlier.

"We have the cure for this," promised Elrohir as he nuzzled my neck from behind. It felt nice, they felt nice. They know what I like, where I like to be touched, how I like to be made love to. They were persistent and determined, but together they were still no match for one particular Elfking. Not even with their father, Elrond, thrown into the mix.

How long Legolas and I lounged in the tub I didn't know. We played a bit more, washing each other's hair and body. I took a rather long time with his hair. I had discovered on our first encounter at my house that doing anything with his hair aroused him. That degenerated into other things, and we got the floor rather wet. He then re-filled the tub with fresher, hotter water and we settled back in to relax; Legolas once again leaning back against the edge of the tub and me sitting between his legs and leaning against his chest. The bathing chamber door opened abruptly and I jumped, and then scowled at the two intruders.

"Knocking would have been appreciated." I glared at both Elladan and Elrohir, who grinned unrepentantly. I felt as much as heard Legolas growl.

"Orcs never knock," he stated flatly, adding his glare to mine with equal lack of effect.

"Sorry! Had we known that you were entertaining, we certainly would have knocked." Elladan smirked at us. "Very good, Legolas! I do not believe I have ever seen you secure pleasurable company this soon after your arrival in all the time I have known you." I had to stifle a laugh as I caught the gesture that Legolas made in return out of the corner of my eye. The twins did laugh.

"For shame, princeling! And in front of a lady, too." Elrohir's smirk was identical to his brother's.

"What lady? Where?" I returned, smirking myself. The twins laughed again, and Legolas gave a small chuckle. "Ok, you're orcs, he's not being particularly courtly, and I'm no lady. I think that sums it up. Now, what do you want?" I surreptitiously ran my fingertips along the inside of Legolas' thigh as I spoke and his hand tightened on my leg. Elrohir leered at me for a moment before he replied.

"Well, we actually came to greet Legolas."

"Yes, but we did not know that he would have a companion." Elladan grinned at me and I flushed, making his grin wider. I decided to distract them. I could feel tension in Legolas' body and I figured that he was losing patience with the dastardly duo. I was rather amused by the whole thing, but I knew I'd have more fun with Legolas if he was in a good mood.

"How is Mary faring? She looked rather upset when she arrived." Identical looks of shock bloomed across their faces and I felt Legolas stifle a snicker.

"Mary is here?" Elladan and Elrohir exchanged a brief glance. "Our apologies, we must go see to Mary. Excuse us, please." With that they left as abruptly as they had entered. As soon as the door had shut, Legolas burst out laughing.

"I do not think that Lord Elrond wished for his sons to know of Mary's presence here just yet." He kissed the top of my head affectionately. "You are a brave soul to risk his wrath."

"That's their problem. By the time they sort it all out, I'll be relatively safe. Besides, I can always claim that I was trying to avoid a diplomatic incident. I know you well enough to know that you would have done something horrid to both of them in retribution if they hadn't left in short order. I was attempting to preserve the peace." I turned and grinned guilelessly at him, earning another chuckle.

"You are as wicked in your way as they are in theirs," he concluded, tipping my chin up so to kiss me.

"As you are in yours," I whispered back. There were no more words for quite awhile.

Much later, we sat at the table in Legolas's rooms nibbling on the food that had been provided. He described a very funny incident that he had witnessed in his father's home and had me laughing until my sides ached. Every so often, I caught myself just staring at him. I had done the same thing when he had visited me.

I had to swallow hard at the sight of him. Legolas was breathtaking, there's no other term that even came close to describing him. He moved like a panther, graceful, lithe, and dangerous, but I never noticed the danger until it was too late. By the time I saw it, he had me exactly where he wanted me. The sweetness in him deceived me into forgetting that he was, in surprising ways, his father's son.

I was in deep trouble.

The next morning I had the opportunity to speak with Mary at breakfast. She seemed much changed, and I worried for her. I was not alone in that, I saw; as I watched the twins fuss over her. Legolas alone did not seem very disturbed over her and I wondered what he knew that we didn't. Failing at worming it out of him, I sought Mary out for a private conversation in her room.

I really needed to pick her brain about Thranduil. I needed information and ammunition. As much as I adored Legolas, as much as I was attracted to him, I didn't want to let him walk all over me. Forewarned was forearmed, to my way of thinking. I just hoped that I would be able to stick to my resolve.

In the end, I actually did very little in the way of 'picking'. Mary seemed to need to talk about Thranduil and it required little or no prompting to get her to do so. We were both careful to have these conversations when the twins and Legolas were otherwise occupied.

What Elladan and Elrohir didn't know wouldn't hurt them, and neither Mary nor I were comfortable discussing the father in the son's presence.

During my first full day in Rivendell, I stayed mostly in my room, coming down to join the family for meals before retreating back to be by myself and moon over my situation and miss Thranduil. And Miriel, and Mal. And there were times when I would pray fervently for the storms to clear right away so the eagle would come. And there were times when I did not.

I was not really ever sure why I had left Mirkwood to leap aboard the eagle with Legolas, but I felt that I should be happy with my decision. Or at least, not regretful.

Sheraiah came by and we talked about our Mirkwood elves, Legolas and his father. Neither one of us had a clue as to how to advise the other, but it was nice to have someone to talk with who understood the mortal female point of view.

The pounding rains kept everyone indoors that evening. The twins coaxed me into the Great Hall of Fire and there the hours drifted by painlessly. I loved sitting at the great windows to watch the boiling rolling clouds as they poured great sheets of rain upon the enchanted valley and I thought about Thranduil.

I tortured myself with visions of him in Mal's arms, or Helca's. I did not know which was worse to imagine. I felt sure that each minute I was away from Mirkwood the easier it would be for him to just forget I ever existed. I tried to enjoy myself, which should have been easy.

Every elf in Rivendell accepted me for who I was. No one complained about my manners or speech. No one was going to make me wear underwear. No one ever gave me the evil eye. No one sneered at me in disapproval.

Nothing made me feel happy.

The following evening, after a dull day mostly spent with Ithilwen, as Thranduil again was occupied with negotiations, the king's seneschal appeared on my doorstep. "His Majesty has assigned me the task of making sure his concubine stays in her own room until the morrow." It seemed like Thaladir tried to tell me much more with that phrase than what was carried by the mere words. I thought I could detect reproach for robbing the king of his counsel in the trade discussions, but I also got the feeling that the seneschal wasn't too sorry about this change in his duties.

"By all necessary means," he added in a dry voice contradicted by the look he gave me that can only be described as lewd. He didn't need grapes to make me blush.

A soft knock was heard on the door, and it was opened and a chair, which I recognized as coming from the king's study, was brought into the room by a servant elf. The seneschal placed it against the door and sat in it, composing a very physical hindrance to any thoughts I might have had of leaving the room.

I did my best to ignore him and even undressed in the middle of the room, right in front of him. I didn't have the nerve to look at him, but was satisfied to hear him draw in his breath more than once. Then I went to bed, still naked, but cursed myself when I realized I had forgotten to blow out the candle on my desk. I wanted to hide in the dark and mourn the loss of the king, not be ogled by his seneschal. But I regretted my bold behaviour and didn't want to cross the room again, so I left it burning.

Sleep refused to come and after an hour or so when I saw that the room was still lit by the candle, I couldn't resist casting a quick glance at Thaladir. He was still watching me, staring right at me with his arms crossed over his chest. The frown was in place and he looked every inch the stern seneschal who had instructed me in proper manners on my second day in the royal halls of Mirkwood. He was very good at hiding the side of him that he had allowed through during yesterday's lunch. And during that hot night with the king, my last, as it seemed now.

I don't know what made me act like I did, but I suddenly asked him if it wasn't better that he joined me, instead of unnerving both of us with his staring. It was not an act of lust from my side, but it felt meaningless to deny the seneschal what his master obviously didn't want anymore, and at least I would be distracted for a while.

He was startled when I spoke, but I saw the fire rising in his eyes as he realized the full meaning of my words. It was as if he thawed when he slowly uncrossed his arms and stood from the chair. His features changed from strained control to sizzling lust and I thought he would jump straight at me without taking off his clothes, just like the previous time.

Instead, I found myself watching Thaladir with growing eagerness as he undressed, peeling off one layer of clothing after the other, and meticulously folding each garment and putting it on the chair before proceeding to the next. It went on for a long time. Sleeveless robe, robe with long sleeves, belt, thigh-long tunic, right shoe, left shoe, hose, pants... undertunic... underpants. Underpants? I didn't know elves even wore those...

When he had finally finished, it was the naked body of a seasoned warrior, not a scholar, I saw. Though more slender than Haldir, or the Elvenking, whom I did not want to think about, he had the same clearly defined muscles that told of centuries of hard physical training. I watched them play under his glowing skin when he went to the desk and I heard a faint fizzling sound as the candle was put out and the room became dark.

Then I heard nothing until the bed creaked in protest of the added weight. I felt smooth skin against mine, and warm breath in my ear as the seneschal spoke for the first time in hours. His voice was nothing more than a soft whisper, but I heard him as clearly as if he had shouted. "Istannen, gerithon le ad." [I knew I would have you again.]

Thaladir proved to be a much more skilful lover than I had expected from the cold and controlled impression he usually surrounded himself with. And so, this was the first of many nights I gave my body to the seneschal, but in my mind I was crying for the king to love me, or like me, or even to hate me, but at least notice my presence in his halls.

To be continued...