Song to play for this chapter: anything by Enya especially the song "Lothlorien" toward the end of the chapter.

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Legolas could barely keep himself from laughing out loud at the awestruck princess and the steely, death grip she had placed on his arm. Melenia simply stood and stared at the elves through wide eyes. Never in her life had she seen such a sight as the one before her at this very moment. The elves spun and laughed and twirled as they wove through one another in their intricate, delicate dance. They emitted a radiant glow that rivaled the stars in the heavens above, and she found herself standing before them, absolutely dumbstruck. These creatures were not, could not be earthly! "The answer is simple," Melenia, thought inwardly, ""I'm dreaming. This is some, wild fantastic dream and I will wake up any moment now!"

"Come dance with me Princess," Legolas coaxed gently. Even if she did not want to dance with him, Melenia found herself powerless to even think of resisting him. And so, she soon found herself caught up in the mesmerizing frenzy she had just been observing. Legolas led her around the makeshift dance floor with such flawless grace. Everything became heightened by a hundredfold. All the passion, love, joy, carelessness, freedom that the elves could muster within themselves was poured into the air, forming an intoxicating blend.

The dance was simply addictive, so Melenia heeded its seductive call and she danced and danced and danced with Legolas, the King, and other elves that simply asked. A small seed of joy was sown into her spirit, and her even toned cheeks glowed a bright pink. Try as she might, the Ice Princess could not make an appearance tonight.

During one particular dance with the Prince of Mirkwood, Melenia emerged from her trance and used it as an opportunity to glance around the clearing. Her eyes quickly fell on the only two people who were not dancing. Eowadia and Téril stood at the edge of clearing, one staring at her shoes and the other with a look of indecision clearly painted on his face. Melenia's mind began to reel, and she furrowed her brows as she sank into deep thought. Her body moved of its own volition to the music as her mind began concocting a plan. Of course, in her state of obliviousness, she failed to notice her body reacting to Legolas' touch. She did not feel the goose bumps that formed on her back as he held her tightly nor did she even realize that his hands left a trail of fire wherever they went. She even missed the shiver that racked her body as his breath grazed her neck. The Princess was much too deep in thought.

The music carried the pair across the ground. Legolas found himself lost in reverie among the beats of the song. Melenia was a wonderful dancer, and she seemed to forget who he was as the music surrounded her. He could not help himself from thinking she was quite delightful when she was not yelling at him or trying to maim him with a sword. But even the ever-attentive Prince did not notice that he kept pulling her closer to him so he could revel in her wildflower filled scent. He did not realize that he was holding onto her for dear life or that his lips came very close to her own several times. The atmosphere had intoxicated him, and he would not have it any other way. So it could be said that Legolas was quite surprised when Melenia stopped dancing abruptly.

"I've got it!" she shouted enthusiastically.

"What do you have?" Legolas asked, his even voice masking his confusion.

"Come on Legolas! We have no time to waste. We cannot stand here all day! There are things to be done!" Melenia grabbed his hand and began pulling him away from the ball and into the surrounding forest.

"She just called me 'Legolas'" was all the Prince could utter as the enigma called Melenia pulled him behind her. When she felt that they had gone a good distance she stopped abruptly once more.

"I need your help," came her simple statement. Legolas, deciding to put off thinking about this strange turn of events until later, quickly replied to her plea.

"What can I do for you Melenia?" he asked, purposely using her first name to gauge her reaction.

"Eowadia and Téril have got to be the thickest people in love I have ever met," she began pacing around the small clearing. Legolas only chuckled in return, so she continued earnestly. "I mean honestly, two people who are that attracted to each other emotionally and physically should not stand around like two overgrown infants for Eru's sake!" She turned to Legolas only to find him looking at her expectantly with a small smile on his lips. "Therefore," she announced triumphantly, "I have a plan!"

"A plan?" Legolas calmly asked as he crossed his arms over his chest and cocked his right eyebrow.

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"No! For the last time, I will not do that!" cried out a stubborn Legolas.

"Why not?" cried Melenia incredulously.

"Because it is not honorable nor does it--"

"Display loyalty or blah blah blah blah blah…" Melenia quickly cut him off. "We have an opportunity to make people's dreams come true. That is honorable, is it not? When you kill an enemy on a battlefield that is deemed honorable but when it comes down to it you are still killing someone!"

"What if your plan backfires?"

"It will not!"

"Téril will hate me forever!"

"He will not!"

"I still have my doubts," Legolas replied quietly as he crossed his arms across his chest.

"Does that mean you will help me?" Melenia asked as her lips curved up in a small smirk.

"How can I say no to someone as persistent as you are?" he asked as he threw out his arms in defeat. Melenia let out a melodious, joy filled laugh before grabbing his hand and dragging him back to the ball. She had already wasted enough time spending an entire hour trying to convince the stubborn Prince to help her.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Eowadia began humming to herself as she inspected her sandals for what must have been the twentieth time that night. How much longer would the insufferable ball last? The thought of retreating back to her quarters in the palace looked very tempting. She turned on her heels, ready to give in to temptation when she felt a hand on her shoulder.

"Lady Eowadia, you cannot possibly think of leaving before granting me one dance," came a smooth voice that she recognized quickly. Upon turning around, her suspicions were confirmed. There stood the irresistible Prince of Mirkwood arrayed in all his glory. He smiled softly and her heart flipped, for it seemed that no woman was immune to his charms.

"Of course my lord," she replied quietly as she allowed Legolas to lead her out onto the dance floor. The song started slowly and then suddenly grew faster until the elves seemed to be hopping around the clearing, still caught in their indestructible trance. All faces were covered in smiles except for the face of one elf that watched as a certain friend of his danced with a certain grey -eyed maiden. He watched as Eowadia giggled and flushed as Legolas drew her closer and closer and whispered things into her ears. He watched him run his limber fingers through her golden brown hair and over her small waist. He was practically on top of her!

"Téril! I have not seen you in days!" Melenia's cheery voice cut through his thoughts, which were beginning to go down unmentionable paths.

"Princess Melenia, how good to see you again!" he feigned happiness and excitement as best he could.

"Are you enjoying the ball master Téril?"

"Why of course!" a brief moment of silence descended upon the pair.

"Well, it seems that two other people are enjoying this ball as well!" Melenia said with all the merriment she could muster in her voice. Téril turned to follow her gaze, which happened to be on Legolas and Eowadia.

"Oh, right…" Was that sadness she detected in his voice? Perhaps a tinge of jealousy? Perfect!

"Eowadia must be the luckiest elf I know! Most would kill to have the Prince look at the them let alone dance with them or touch them as he is with Eowadia."

"Yes, the Prince is a wonderful man," Téril managed to reply through clenched teeth.

"He seems to really fancy her. He told me earlier, as we danced, that he thought her to be the most beautiful maiden in Mirkwood. They make such a cute couple! What do you think Téril?" Melenia turned her head toward the soldier in order to fully catch his response, but he was not there. In fact, he was weaving his way through the dancing elves in a straight beeline toward the happy couple. Elation washed over Melenia as she watched Téril in his bitterly, livid state. Hopefully he would not hurt Legolas too much.

Legolas laughed inwardly. Melenia's plan was not working at all. Once again he was right and she was wrong! Yet, a strong hand grasping his shoulder knocked him out of his happy thoughts. He turned to face a red-faced Téril.

"Yes Téril?"

"If you would excuse me my lord," he spat, "I would like to have a word with Eowdia in private." Legolas turned and gave Eowadia a desire filled glance before turning back to Téril.

"If you must, but bring her back to me quickly. I enjoy the lady's company."

"I will try my lord," Téril nearly growled as he grabbed Eowadia's arm and began trudging into the forest.

"You are quite an actor." Legolas turned his back to the retreating elves to face the grinning Princess.

"And you are quite a conniver." Her smile grew wider but she said nothing more as she bolted past Legolas in the same direction taken by the pair. His arm reached out quickly and held her back from trekking any further. "What are you doing?" he asked as he pulled her back in front of him.

"Going to see what will happen," she said while looking at Legolas as if he were the daftest person she had ever met.

"Planning and meddling is one thing, but spying on personal matters is another. I will not allow you to do that."

"And why not?" She asked, her fury surfacing for the first time that night.

"Because," he took a deep step closing the gap between them, "personal matters are just that: personal between two people. Private and intimate things are not meant for the eyes of others." His breath tickled her lips and sent a new sensation through her body.

"So… how long do you think it will be before they declare their undying love for one another?" she asked, her voice faltering slightly.

"I would give them till the end of the night," his voice had a new quality to it that she had not heard before.

"So what shall I do until then?"

"Dance with me." It was more of command that a request and before Melenia could answer she was swept into Legolas' arms and onto the dance floor. Intoxication settled upon them once more as they moved to the beat. The world faded and there was only the music and the other body that moved in conjunction with their own. Time passed and neither one of them noticed. It wasn't until the music slowed into a lulling ballad, signaling the end of the ball, that the two emerged from their trance. The elves all around swayed slowly to the smooth music as the night of festivities came to an end.

"They have returned," Melenia motioned over to a very content looking Téril and Eowadia as they moved to together to the music.

"Your plan worked well," Legolas smiled down at her as they swayed to the soft music.

"It did," she smiled back and closed her eyes, allowing herself to get lost in the song. It was a good night. She had danced and laughed and the Ice Princess had not made an intrusion at all. As the music washed over her body Melenia imprinted the moment into her mind. It was a rare moment, when only she occupied her body. This serenity would not last and she knew it. Soon memories of him would return and the Ice Princess would reign once more, but right now she was just Melenia and that was something to be cherished.

Legolas looked down at the maiden in his arms. She was actually smiling a broad, genuine smile, a stunning smile. The woman he was dancing with was not the same maiden he had met mere weeks ago. He decided that Melenia was a fascinating creature. It was then, at that very moment underneath the starlit sky of Mirkwood, that Legolas thought that Melenia was beautiful.