~ Éowyn attracts an audience and has a job offer to the elves. Wynne and Legolas do something brave. ~

49. Preparing For a Party

"I knew they would be friends! Look how cute Elboron is, lending his little wood horse to Muzadi. Nugu? Nugu!" Sidra elbowed her husband whose eyes again had strayed to the boy's mother. "Would you quit that," she hissed.

"Um what?" His face turned a darker shade of gray.

"They are all doing it," murmured Wynne, observing the company on the patio where chairs had been set out for the guests to enjoy the midday sun. Nodir and Bronedir sat on either side of the Shieldmaiden, engaging her in conversation, and a bit further away even Thranduil threw glances in her direction.

Well not all, actually. Galion was more interested in playing with the children and Legolas did his stomach-strengthening exercises on the lawn. He looked unusually content today, and if he gazed at anyone, Wynne smugly noticed it was mostly at her.

Gimli came out to join them, his girlfriend in tow. "Ach, lovely morning!"

"Try noon," remarked Thranduil dryly.

Éowyn abandoned the elven brothers and moved her chair to Wynne's and Sidra's. "Your sons are adorable, madam," she said with a dimpled smile.

Dimples? She even had bloody dimples! When Eru dealt out graces to his creations he must somehow have slipped and given a double share to this woman.

Sidra beamed at the praise. "Please, call me Sidra. And your boy is lovely as well. Is he going to be a big brother soon?" She indicated Éowyn's waist, that, now that she pointed it out, actually seemed a bit swollen.

"He shall, aye." Éowyn laughed happily. "This autumn. You must advise me how to best break it to Elboron. Your boys seem to get along so well!"

The women began to speak animatedly about siblings and childbirths, and Wynne's attention swiftly returned to Legolas who had just finished his last sit up.

He wiped his face on a towel and came to sit cross legged by her feet, ignoring his father's frown. "What a fine day! And tonight a feast too. Will there be dancing?" he asked Éowyn.

"We could have dancing if you like," she dimpled. "My husband has engaged a group of musicians for tonight and I'm sure they can play anything we ask them."

"Dinnae serve strong drinks to the laddie, mind ye," sniggered Gimli, pulling a chair to sit by them. "Has Master Elf told ye of our drinking contest?"

"Not much," said Wynne, smirking. She knew he had not been honest that time!

"Let's talk about something else," Legolas suggested. "My lady, I must compliment you on this park. The honeysuckle is amazing and those cute linden saplings over there too."

"Thank you. Faramir and I have actually been meaning to talk to you and your father about trees."

"Oh? I love talking about trees." His face lit up, despite Gimli's rumbling laughter and sly comment about elves and their trees.

"The forests around our estate in Emyn Arnen are in a sad state after the many wars. We have been meaning to employ some of your wood-elves to restore the entire Ithilien if we can. Faramir can probably give you the details about payment and such when he is back from today's meetings downtown."

"I am sure my father would freely supply saplings and workers to such a noble cause." He seeked out Thranduil's gaze.

"Of course, my lady, it would be my pleasure to help." He drew his chair nearer.

Soon the three of them were deep into an engaged conversation about Éowyn's visions for her country, with the elves supplying ideas about suitable tree species and how to provide the human inhabitants with firewood and building materials without disturbing the forests.

Wynne listened, not without interest. She loved the idea of a country where humans lived in harmony with nature. Perhaps with horses grazing under the trees?

As evening approached, she became a bit nervous about the impending party. If there would be dancing and everything, should she not at least try to look a little finer than a peasant girl?

She decided to accept Sadoreth's offer of a bath and then had to look on as an army of servants bustled in with buckets and towels.

"Do you need help bathing, m'lady?" asked the girl when the tub finally was filled.

"No thank you." She shuddered. Did fine folk even have servants washing their naked bodies for them? Had they really no sense of privacy at all?

When finally alone, Wynne sank into the tub and leaned back with closed eyes, enjoying the calming warmth.

Was Legolas having a bath as well right now? It was likely; he probably bathed every day if he could. What would he do if she sneaked into his room and joined him? She grinned at the thought. Would he be shocked? Or happy?

If they were married he would certainly be happy. She could picture him pulling her down into the water to sit on his lap. Then he would touch her like he did yesterday, caressing her naked skin...

Tentatively, she touched her nipple, but it didn't feel the same to do it herself. Her fingers traveled downward instead to where she had felt him when he pressed herself against him. She imagined her hand and fingers were his body. That actually did feel a bit like it had yesterday, even better because there were no clothes in the way.

Why had she never thought of trying this before? Of course, she normally never bathed alone; back home she would be in the laundry room with Mother or Grandmama nearby. But in bed at night?

Well, she certainly could begin now. Might not be a bad idea to practice a little before she would get the real deal, she figured.

The bathwater had gone cold when she got up to dress, feeling unusually relaxed. She chose her other dress this time. It had a rusty red color and a ridiculously low cut that made her breasts almost fall out. Maybe Legolas would like that though? He certainly seemed to enjoy touching them. This way he would be able to see part of them as well...

Her hair was obstinate as usual. She combed it as well as she could but without the elvish hair oil it surrounded her head like a brown, fluffy sheep. If only... She had an idea.

Again on her tiptoes, she walked down the corridor and knocked at the now familiar door, secretly hoping its inhabitant would open wearing very little.

"Wynne! You cannot keep coming here..." Legolas hustled her inside, quickly shutting the door.

He did indeed not wear much, only his shift, with the night robe hastily thrown over it. He smelled lovely, his long hair still damp and unbraided.

"I love your dress." His eyes were glued to her cleavage.

"Can you do my hair?"

"I really should not..." But he was already moving to her side.

With a pleased grin she sat on his bed while he commenced to plait her hair like he had twice before. It felt like ages ago. That time she had still been shy even to look at him. Now she kissed him after he had finished, stroking his bare back under his shirt while he explored the visible parts of her cleavage.

After a long time he reluctantly broke the kiss, and with Wynne as a happy onlooker he dressed himself in almost black hose and a tunic with embroidered green leaves.

"That is my name." He indicated a leaf. "Legolas means 'green leaves' in our language."

When he began to plait his own hair she noticed it was in a different pattern than his usual. He made three fishtail braids on each side of his head, just like he had done on her.

"My father will explode when he sees this." He smiled nervously.

"Because you made the same braids on you?"

"Aye. It means we are courting." He hesitated. "Ada distinctly forbade me to court you until we come to Minas Tirith, so he can observe how you manage in finer society. His words." He gave her a featherlight kiss on her cheek. "But I shall not obey. Not this time." He repeated the action on her other cheek, sending chills down her spine. "I am an adult. He has no power over me."

"I don't want to stand between you."

"You will not. He likes you."

But Wynne was not so sure and she felt a twinge of misapprehension. She did believe Thranduil cared for her, he was not one to feign such emotions, but she was also certain he wouldn't hesitate to take any measures to protect his son. If he thought she was bad for Legolas he would find a way to get rid of her.

"Should we really, though?" She anxiously fingered her braids, quite forgetting it was she who had asked for them.

Legolas took her hand and kissed her palm. "Aye. I am tired of the pretense. Last night it became so obvious to me how much I need you. I think you and I are meant to be together. Call it destiny if you will, or perhaps we were just lucky to meet. We are good for each other."

She pondered that and then nodded. "We are. I am never more happy than when I am near you. Even talking about sad things with you feels good."

"I am glad you see it the same way. It will help us resist. It will help us persist." He fetched the circlet he had worn yesterday and placed it on his head. "I hate this thing," he grumbled. Then he held out his arm to her. "Shall we?"

With her stomach full of butterflies, she obeyed, placing a small hand on his arm.

They left his room together, walking side by side toward the dining room. Then a voice full of surprise and displeasure came from behind them.

"Legolas! And... Wynne!"

A/N:

Heh busted almost at once... Will they be able to resist?

By the way, I forget to thank you all for your kind votes and comments on previous chapters, they really mean a lot to me, and gives so much energy to keep writing. You are the best! ♡♡♡

Image Credits:

Public Domain (Wikimedia), source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cornrows_Into_Braided_Bun.JPG