~In the Garden that Evenging~

LUNA P. O. V.

"How are you this evening Luna?" Thranduil asked me as we walked in the chill night air, our arms linked together as we walked.

"Well my Lord, though I am curious about one thing?" I said, waiting for Thranduil's response.

"That is?"

"Why is Angelica so? I have tried to understand her reasoning, and work with her but it appears I cannot. I honestly wanted to kill her for her actions earlier, and the fact that she was so reckless, she almost jumped out a window!" I cried, desperate for answers.

Thranduil chuckled at me, a small smirk on his face as he studied me with a grin in his icy eyes.

"We all have our reasons for being the way we are, Angelica lost her mother when she was an elfling, and has never been the same since. Hostien and her father are the only ones that make her truly happy." Thranduil glanced at me, uncertainty in his gaze, "I sympathize with her, and we both know the loss of someone dear to us. That is why I put up with her treatment of my halls, she will heal in time."

"Oh." I felt ashamed of my replay, and I felt sympathy for Angelica. As I thought of my own loss I began to understand her actions, and in that moment my opinion on her changed, she reminded me so much of my little sister, and me.

When I had lost my sister I was always angry, hurt, unstable, and pretty reckless, I missed her so much! The ach in my heart had never gone away, and I had the same ach for my father. I missed both dearly.

I hadn't really payed attention to Thranduil as I was vary lost in my thoughts, it was when I felt him place a hand on my back, and the other on my shoulder, and bend down to my height so he could look me in the eye did I snap out of my haze.

"Oh," I blushed heavily at our proximity, "I am sorry." I said, looking down and blushing harder when I felt his breath on my face.

His hand came under my chin and titled my head up to meet his gaze, "You know her pain?"

"I...I.I," I tried to look elsewhere the tears already forming in my eyes.

"My wife was murdered." He said evenly, no trace of grief in his voice but when I looked into his icy eyes they seemed to be shattered, "Killed right in front of me... I was never there in her last moments; she died while I tried to get to her." His gaze had drifted off but, returned to me as he finished his last sentence.

"I lost the only elleth I thought I would ever love."

I didn't realize what he had meant, but now my tears fell freely, "I lost my sister, and father, they had traveled outside of Rivendell's borders. My sister was found of wild flowers and my father would often take us." I choked on my words, a sob escaping my lips, "I..I sho..uld..d have been..n there, I sho..ul.d have died with them!" I fell forward, wrapping my arms around Thranduil's neck as I cried into his shoulder. He pulled me closer to him, holding me as I cried.

We stayed like that for so long; I honestly did not know when we started walking back to the palace arm-in-arm, me leaning heavily against him, emotionally exhausted.

He walked me to my door and wrapped his giant robe around my shoulders, he held my hand, kissing my knuckles, he took a step forward, kissing my cheek and then my forehead, leaning into the kiss he poured so much emotion into the small gesture, and as he pulled away he looked at me and bowed.

"My Lady." And then he was gone, with my heart in tow.

~In the Forest~

Legolas's P.O.V.

We walked at a steady pace, neither of us talking to each other. Angelica was front of me, give me side glances here and there to make sure I was still behind her. She was unusually quiet, I wondered what she as thinking about, if she was still upset about the bow or was it.. the kiss. I had to admit, I never thought anything could be so wonderful. When we kissed I felt like I was walking on air, all of the pain I had been feeling vanished. So what do we do next? Does she love me? She had too, she kissed me back so she has to, right? Where does that leave us? What if she doesn't love me? What happens then? Will there be no us? I was so wrapped up in these torturous questions that I didn't notice when Angelica stops all the sudden so I almost ran into her.

"What?"

"Shh.." She said while looking ahead. There were two men, dressed in brown and green with black patches that looked like some sort of badges. They were walking towards us, arguing about something, not noticing we were there. Angelica and me quickly dodged behind two trees so they would see us and we could hear what they were saying. We could hear them but they were speaking in a different language, I only hoped that Angelica knew what they were saying.

"So how do we know she's there?" said the one man who was shorter. They had stopped and were in the other side of the trees, they were so close I could touch them.

"We don't know, but we have to take a chance. Saab is very angry that she escaped and we have lost her trail." Said the other.

"It's those elves. I bet she's run to them for help. They're the only ones who could hide her well enough." said man number one.

"Well what do we do? We have to give Saab facts, not assumptions or he'll have our heads cut off." said man number two. I felt something tickle my nose, I needed to sneeze but if I did I would give us away.

"We'll have to take a chance, she's probably there anyway. I mean, where else can she go? It's not like.." And that's when I sneezed. I couldn't keep it in any longer, thankfully it was quiet, maybe they didn't hear it,"Dasi- wait..did you hear something?" Apparently it was louder then I thought.

That's when they spotted us.

"Ahh! Elves! Let's get out of here!" I don't know what they said, but I knew they had spotted us and probably had no intention of sticking around for tea. They shot some arrows at us missing and ran. Me and Angelica shot up from behinds the two trees and tried to catch they but we lost them unfortunately because their clothing blended in too well.

We stopped and ran back to the palace which was fairly close. I might have not been able to know what they were saying but I knew it was not the normal for two men to be in Mirkwood and doing what ever it was that were doing. We we're running and surprisingly I had a hard time keeping up with her. While I was running next to her I asked Angelica what they had said and she gave me a summary of their conversation. Once she was finished I knew I had been right in thinking something was wrong.

We entered the palace gates slowing down our running a bit. We burst through the palace doors and to the dining room since it was noon and they would be eating. When we rushed into the dining hall all eyes were on us as tried to catch our breaths so we could say something.

~Meanwhile over on the Palace Wall Lookout~

Aurathiel's P.O.V.

I stood there, bored out of my mind. I had been on duty longer because Feren was running late, again. Man does that ellon get in my nerves sometimes. He's always flirting with someone. Yeah everyone except me, a small voice in my head said. What? Where did that come from? You're jealous cause you wish he would talk to you. No I'm not! I tried to shut out the voice but what it said kept nagging me. I mean, I know I was short and had freckles and probably a bit tanner than most but did that really make me the ugly? I'm probably just overreacting. Why would I care what pretty elleths he talks to?

While I was still waiting my thoughts drifted, slightly against my will, to Feren. His light brown hair, his toned body, his green eyes. I could stare into them all day...

"Stare into what?" Said a voice from behind me. I jumped not expecting that and turned around to see Feren.

"Feren!" I yelled asked.

"What?" He asked with a smirk,"Did I scare you?"

"No, but I didn't know you were there!"

"Sorry," he said not looking let he meant it, "So what could you stare into all day?" He asked with a smirk.

Did I say that out loud? "You heard that?"

He smirked even more,"Yes, you muttered it but I could still hear you." Wow, I really need to pay more attention to what I'm saying.

"So..."

"So what?"

"Are you going to answer my question?"

I stood there for a second, there was no way I was telling him that I was thinking about him so I came up with an excuse. "I was taking about the forest. I could stare into its unending canopy of greens and brown." So it was a lousy answer but I was under pressure at the moment and that was the only thing I could think of.

He looked at me with a raised eyebrow obviously not buying it. Then something must have crossed his mind and he smirked and said,"Well since you like seeing it so much I wouldn't dream of depriving you of it," with that he started to turn away but I grabbed his arm and said an immediate,"No!"

He turned around back toward me and I let go of his arm. "So what were you talking about earlier?" Thankfully I didn't have to answer because we spotted something creeping outside of the wall. We quietly looked over and saw two men dressed in brown and green sneaking around the walls. Me and Feren jumped over the wall and onto some tree branches so we could follow them. Because we were far up and humans don't have as good as ears as elves do they didn't hear us.

We kept following them until a pinecone fell from one of the branches we were standing on. Drat! They see sure to notice that. And they did, they looked up and cried something in another language and bolted off with me and Feren right behind them, or rather over them in this case. We chased them into the forest and almost lost them several times beaus elf their clothing. We shot some arrows but they missed because we were focusing on running. We jumped down closer to the ground while running in the branches after them until we finally hit the ground.

We kept running and we came across some bushes that were poky. One of the men got their clothing stuck on one of the sharp branches and it torn his sleeve in half and something else. He ran off but we had lost him because we were trying to not get poked ourselves.

"Do you see them?" I asked as we reached the spot where we had lost them.

He looked at me surprised by the question. "No," and then he smirked," You're short for an elf."

Now that made my blood boil,"So?" I said not bothering to hide my anger.

His grin widened. "Ooh, and feisty. You know you miss a lot since you're short."

"You miss a lot since your tall."

"Like what?" He said and cocked his head toward me.

"Like this," I said and I held up a ripped up band that was black and ripped and had a gold symbol of a hawk. He's eyes widened and I smirked, it was finally his turn to be surprise. I turned mad started to walk back. He stood there for a moment dazed and then snapped out of it and followed me.

~Back in the Dining Hall~

"What on earth is going on?" Asked the King slightly confused at the sudden interruption of the finishing of his meal.

Angelica got her breath back and said,"We saw some men in the forest on the way back and we think they're planning something against someone in Mirkwood."

King Thranduil was taken by surprise for he had not expected that answer. "Slow down. This sounds important and I want all the details. Sit down and have some food and drink to refresh yourselves and then tell me everything you know."

Angelica and Legolas sat down and when they had finished refreshing themselves they told Thranduil what had happened with the two men. He sat there a bit puzzled.

"Are you sure you don't know who these men were or any clues as to find out where they at from?"he asked.

Legolas shook his head no but Angelica remembers something unusual about them,"Actually, I think I did. You see they wore these bands around their leg arms arms and they were black with go-" but she as interrupted by Feren and Aurothiel coming in.

"Sire, please excuse is but there is a matter of great importance we must speak to you about," said Feren as he bowed.

"And what might be so important?"

"Well you see..." But Feren was interrupted by Angelica this time.

"What's that?" She asked, referring to the piece of torn cloth in Aurathiel's hand.

"What? This?" Said Aurathiel holding up the black piece of torn fabric. Dasia flinched as she saw it, an expression of reorganization crossed her face, an expression that Angelica did not miss.

"That's it!" She exclaimed.

"What's it!" Asked Thranduil, clearly confused at the nature of this outburst.

"That's the band that the two mean we saw earlier today were wearing!" Angelica explained.

"You saw those men too?"asked Feren slightly surprised. Angelica nodded.

"How did you get the band?" Angelica asked.

Feren explained his and Aurathiel's encounter with the men and Angelica summarized when they met the mysterious men.

"So who are these men after and who is this person they're working for?" Asked Haldir, still taking in everything that had been said.

"My best guess is towards the south," said Feren.

"If so then why are they here mad who are they looking for?" Chirped up Luna surprising everyone. It was funny beach was soon as she said that everyone looked at Angelica.

"What?" She said confused from all the sudden attention.

"Do you know who they're after?" Asked Orophin.

"Well it's not me if that's what you're thinking," everyone seemed a bit relieved,"but I think they were after someone in this room." Angelica finished looking In Dasia's direction.

"Who could that be?" Asked Seregon.

"Do you know someone in specific Angelica?" Thranduil asked looking in her direction knowing she had a name.

Angelica wasn't sure if she should mention names but she decide it would be in everyone's best interest to know. "Um...well I'm not entirely sure but I have a good reason to believe that they are after...um....Dasia." Everyone as shocked by this, they had not expected that.

"How have you come to know this?" asked Orophin very concerned especially from what he as told the previous night.

"Well," she started,"Like I said, I'm not entirely sure but I think they are because before they had discovered is they were talking about this person running away and they almost said all of her name before we we're seen and they said Dasia. Also, when Aurathiel held up the band I could tell that Dasia recognized it." She hated to be put on the spot but she hated even more of putting Dasia in the spotlight.

"Dasia?" asked the king,"Is this true? Are there men chasing after you?"

She didn't look at anyone excreted Orophin who slid his hand under the table and held her hand and gave her a slightly squeeze for reassurance. "Yes." She said quietly.

"Why didn't you tell us before?" Asked Hostien with general concern about her new friend.

"Because I was afraid that you would send me back."

"Back where?" Asked Haldir, his interest also peaked.

She took in a large breath and looked to Orophin who nodded."A long time ago my village outside of Rohan was attacked by some men and orcs. All of our fathers died trying to fight them but there were too many. Our mothers and siblings were all taken away from each other and sold into slavery. I was sold against my will and at the time I didn't know what was going on, I was brought to the main house who's supposed to be my master. As I got older he became more the demanding and abusive of what I had to do and I finally couldn't take it anymore and ran away."

Everyone seemed shocked by this story, no one was prepared for what she had said. Thranduil just sat there, thinking for a moment taking in this information.

"I'm sorry for your loss." He said finally.

"Are....are you going to send me back?" She asked fearfully.

He sat there and then made a decision,"No. To send you back into that situation is absolutely out of the question. It is wrong that you were forced into this and it was right of you to run away. However, staying here is not in yours or anybody's best interest since these two men know your location at present. You must leave Mirkwood."

Dasia looked like she would cry and Orophin spoke up,"But not alone?"

"No, of course not. That would be too dangerous. I think her friends should help her in this."

"You want us to go?" asked Hostien, getting excited at the sound of a trip.

"Yes. I believe you are old enough to figure this out for yourselves. Once you have come up with a plan come and tell me. I shall now leave you to your planning. Luna?" He walked up to her and they headed for to there "noon" walk.

"So what's the plan?" Asked Piper.

"Well I believe we should decide who's going." Said Haldir. On that note Feren and Aurathiel left the hall leaving behind the band.

"Well we know Dasia, and Orophin are going." Said Hostien.

Piper looked and Seregon and then nodded,"Me and Seregon are game."

"Alright," said Haldir.

"I'm in." Said Angelica.

"Me too!" Piped Hostien.

"What? You can't go." Said Legolas to Angelica.

She looked at him with an raised eyebrow,"And why on earth not?"

"Because it's too dangerous."

Hostien snorted," Too dangerous for who? You're talking to the best fighter in Middle Earth."

"She has a point." said Haldir.

"Well you're not going without me."

She rolled her eyes,"Okay."

"Well now that that's settled, we best get planning."Said Hadlir. And so they group got together and started to make plans.

~Outside the Dining Hall~

Angelica P.O.V.

The meeting of what to do about Dasia was done so I decide to head to my room to freshen up since I had been in the forest all night.

As I was walking out Hostien was right behind me ready to interrogate me about the past night and what had happened.

"So you got your weapons back I see." Said Hostien in a hinting voice.

I grumbled, I was still ticked at her for what she had done and for setting me up.

"Oh come on! Stop being a stickler, what happened?"

I still said nothing ignoring her, although she was my best friend and like a sister to me I was still mad at her. I reached my room still saying nothing to her. As I was getting changed she huffed and plopped down in the bed.

"Will you at least tell me why your mad?"

I coughed, hard. "Why I'm mad?!" I couldn't believe she just asked what that question.

"Yes."

"Hostien, you took my bow do heaven's sake! Do you know how much that freaked me out and on top of it you set me up with Legolas!" I said angrily from behind the dressing screen.

She was quiet and then finally said,"Okay, so I get that. But it was the only way I could get you too see that you love him! Are really upset right now because of your bow or because of something happened?" I was sliding my boots on again when she said this and I stopped and looked at her.

"So something did happen." She said with a smirk on her face.

I stopped looking at her and finished putting my boots on. I walked over to the dresser to re due my hair. As I was brushing my long hair, Hostien kept probing me.

"Please tell me what happened." She said with her lip sticking out. I looked at her an rolled my eyes and kept brushing. She looked disappointed and then a grin spread across her face.

"Okay, well since you obviously are unwilling to tell me I'll just have to ask Glimfeather." With that she started off the bed. I dropped the brush and tackled her back on the bed.

"Don't you dare."

She grinned, she knew she had me."Then tell me what happened."

I sighed and got off her and picked up my dropped brush and started to brush my hair again.

"Okay, so you were slightly right." I mumbled, but she heard every word.

"I knew it! So what happened?" I told what happened up to the part where I was thrown like a torpedo at Glimfeather.

"What? Did he really throw you?"

I nodded "So what happened after you missed Glimfeather?"

I blushed slightly at what happened, knowing this was why she was looking for. "Well I was close to hitting the ground when I realized I was falling and Legolas ran up and caught me in the air."

"Then what?" She said excitedly sitting at the edge of the bed.

"Then he wrapped his arms around me and twisted so I wouldn't hit the ground. We rolled down the hill an then stopped when we got to the bottom."

"And?"

"And what?"

"Oh come on, I know there's more. Otherwise Glimfeather wouldn't have given you the weapons back."

I sigh and shook my head. She knew me too well and had really figured this out. "So we stopped at the bottom o the hill and I was on top of him when I heard him coughing. I raised my head and woke him up and all he could say was 'Well I guess that didn't work'. I of course was mad cause I thought he was dead and I started to rant about what I would do if I had lost him."

"Really Angelica? He should've shut you up."

I said nothing looking away from her and finishing my braids that pulled the sides of my hair back out of my face.

"Did he?"

"Did he what?" I repeated back trying to sound innocent,

"Did he shut you up?"

I cleared my throat,"Um, yeah....sorta."

Now she knew there was more I wasn't telling her."How?"

"He um...he....he kissed me." As soon as I said I prepared myself for the loudest squeal in middle earth which Hostien willingly supplied.

"He did?!" 

"Yes." I said blushing slightly.

"Did you kiss him back?"

"Well no, not the first time." I had said it before I could take it back.

"The first time? You mean you kissed more than once?!" Way to go Angelica. Nice job.

"Uh, yeah. It was only two times, it's no big deal."

"No big deal? Angelica, this is a big deal! He kissed you twice!"

I didn't say anything. "He did kiss you twice, didn't he?"

"Well, I might have kissed him the second time." Her squeal was even louder this time, which I quite frankly didn't think was possible.

"Yes." I said regretfully. She was way to excited about this and it was scaring me.

"Did he kiss you back?"

"Yeah." I muttered.

"Angelica this is great! I'm so happy for you two!"

"Why?" I asked her confused by her statement.

"Because you both finally admitted that you loved each other and now you'll be able to be together!"

"Um, Hostien. We aren't courting."

"What? Why not?"

"Because he never asked, like I said it was just a kiss, nothing more."

"Well I disagree. If he hasn't asked you yet he will soon."

I hadn't thought of that. Half of me wanted too and the other didn't. I had been trying to work about having relationships but I haven't gotten that far and I was afraid of rejection.

I shrugged,"Well I'm going to go take a walk."

"You can't hide from him forever!"Hostien called to me as I exited the room.

No, but I can try.

Legolas's P.O.V.

After the meeting I went upstairs to my room and freshened up. Just as I had finished I heard s knock at the door. I went to open it, Haldir was standing there. As soon as I saw him I started to close the door but he stopped it.

"Legolas, please let me explain."

Alright, so he deserved that much. I sighed bad let him in.

"I know what you must be thinking and I'm asking to you to listen until I'm done explaining."

I nodded, but made no promises.

"I know you think I took your white knives," I huffed, 'think' no I know he did,"but I didn't."

"Well then how did Angelica's bird get them?" I asked and cocked my head towards him with a raised eyebrow.

"Well, why don't you ask Piper."

"Piper?" I asked surprised. He nodded and then it clicked. Piper, of course! Why didn't I think of that? Isn't she the one who keeps telling me to talk to her? I was slightly angry and thankful at the same time. Me and Haldir talked for a bit about hat had happened in the forest.

"So are you going to ask her?"

"Ask her what?"

Haldir shook his head,"You two really aren't good at this whole relationship thing. Are you going to ask her if you can court her. are or not?"

"Court her?" I had to admit that the thought had crossed my mind several times. I just hadn't had the guts to ask her in fear of rejection.

"Yes, so.."

"I'll try." I finally said, it couldn't hurt.

~~~

Dinner passed on quietly an when it ended KIng Thranduil and Luna went for their walk. Haldir and Hostien went off somewhere and so did Orophin and Dasia. Seregon, Piper and me wandered around the palace talking. But I couldn't stay focused on the topic because my thoughts kept drifting towards her. I finally bid them goodnight and went back to my room. I sat on my bed thinking about what I should do, till I decided I wasn't going to hide anymore. I got up and walked out of my bedroom and went to the place where my questions had to be answered.

~In the Combat Chambers~

Angelica's P.O.V.

I put away my daggers in the hidden part of my tunic and wiped the lot sweat in my face off. I walked over to the bowl of water and I splashed my face with some water and then dried it off with a towel. I stood there looking at my reflection, I had pushed myself hard in practice. I turned away from my reflection and went to the door that lead out. I opened the door and turned around to lock it with the key I had. When I turned around I was up against the door with something soft against my lips.

When we parted I looked to see Legolas in front of me with his arms on each side of me, preventing me from escape.

"Why are you running away from me." He asked softly looking into my eyes. Ugh, I hate those eyes. They always get me into trouble.

I shrugged not sure of what to say. "Are you still mad about earlier today?"

I wasn't sure,"I don't know."

He looked at me,"Angelica look at me." I raised my head instantly wishing I hadn't. I could see the longing in his eyes looking as if he was desperate.

"I would normally say sorry for my actions earlier today, but I can't. Because the fact is I'm not sorry, and if I said I was it would be lying about my true feelings for you. And I'm sorry if you don't like the kiss, but I did."

I looked down,"I enjoyed it, I just..." I couldn't finish.

He lifted my chin up,"What's wrong?"

"I'm not good at this whole relationship thing." I blurted out.

"So what does that mean, because you're not good at it your just going to give up?"

I didn't say anything. "Do you love me?" Ah, the question of the hour.

"If you don't then say it."

"Legolas-"

"Say it."

"I don't-" but my words were cut off from his lips pressing against mine. We pulled apart and he looked at me.

"Look, we both know we love each other and neither of us are good at this, but will you at least give me a chance?"

I looked at his eyes and knew he was right. I sighed, "Yes." He smiled at me and walked my back to my room.

"Goodnight." He said and planted a kiss on my forehand.

"Goodnight." I said back and opened the door to my room and closed it after he was gone. Hostien wasn't back yet so that gave me some time to get a hold of my emotions. Am I doing the right thing? I I asked myself and then went to bed.