~~Hello lovely readers! I hope you enjoy this brief chapter, I tried something a little different~~

Chapter 14

Legolas

Eowyn's class had been fun, even after my unpleasant brush with Thorin the period before.
Today we were learning all about horse grooming, since certain horses were being used in a procession for the festival coming up.

Shadowfax nickered at me as I walked up to his stable, he obviously wanted a treat.

"Hey boy. Here, I think I have an apple in my bag." I chuckled as Shadowfax brushed his muzzle against my head.

While digging through my bag I not only found an apple, but the purple stone used as a key for my Dragon book.
I had completely forgotten about that stone! I held the warm stone tight in my hand.

It would make a pretty jewellery piece...I thought reaching for some silver wire and decorative chain jewelry in my bag.

The egg shaped rock was just small enough to fit into a decorative wire cage that I then hooked onto a necklace chain. I tugged on the stone a few times, making sure it was secure and placed tried to clasp it behind my neck.

I startled as I felt cool hands touch mine and finish clasping the ends of my necklace together.

"Legolas." I stated with a smile turning to hug him.
"Hey! What are you doing here?" I asked still clinging to his embrace.

He chuckled while playing with a tuft of my hair, "I'm helping with the horses today.I wanted to make sure you were okay."
He said ending our hug and petting Shadowfax's forelock.

He began speaking again, "I also would be honoured to formally invite you to accompany me to the harvest festivities; if you'll have me as your escort." Legolas spoke.

"Of course I'll have you as my escort! Silly elf." I teased him.

He turned to me smiling and froze suddenly, he turned pale as if he'd seen a warg.

"Legolas?" I questioned timidly.

He walked up to me and lifted my stone necklace away from my neck, as if he was examining it.

"How came you by this?" He demanded quietly.

I was startled, and for some reason, I found myself not wanting to tell him.

"I found it." I replied simply, staying calm under his icy gaze.

"How?" He asked again still holding the purple stone.

"I just, stumbled across it. Why?"
That wasn't really a lie, right? He nodded as though he had been contemplating something, then his face changed and he snapped out of whatever mood he had been in.

"It's beautiful. Valuable, probably, when you wear it try to hide it, I don't want somebody to steal it from you." He said almost as an afterthought and he let the stone rest back around my neck.

I touched it, feeling slightly peculiar about Legolas's demeanor.
"I uh...I really have to groom Shadowfax..." I trailed off trying to hint at him to leave me be.

He smiled, "Yes, of course, for the festival. We should dress alike for the ball, my father will be there."

Just like that Legolas turned and walked away. I stood there feeling like I went through a cycle of whiplash.
First he acts all lovey, then he freaks out about my stone, then turns around an tells me it's beautiful and to keep it hidden, then he decides to drop the fact that the KING of Mirkwood, aka; his FATHER will be at the event so I should dress nice?!

What in Durin's name! I groaned leaning against Shadowfax. I had to get my priorities straight, and being introduced to an elven king was probably at the top of my list.
I'd have to start looking for a new dress, and figure things out with Legolas. Hopefully that would all be cleared before my Wednesday night detention. This week was going to be one mordor of a mess.

~~Legolas's POV~~

I smiled and while walking through the stables I noticed Vanaéze struggling at a stall to clasp her necklace together.

She was so zealous and young hearted.

Well, any student is young compared to me.
I thought with an ironic grimness.

I loved Vanaéze's happiness, it was infectious. I smiled again as I crept up behind her and let my cool hands touch hers.
She must have been surprised, however she didn't show it. I knew she must have been smirking as I finished hooking her necklace together. She turned into my open arms.

"Legolas." I loved how she simply said my name, not at all like a crazed fangirl.
"What are you doing here?"

I chuckled, "I'm helping with the horses today. I wanted to make sure you were okay." I frowned slightly, remembering Thorin and his pettiness.
I couldn't stand that arrogant dwarf! I turned away, I didn't want her seeing that I was still upset.

"I also figured that I also would be honoured to formally invite you to the harvest festivities; if you'll have me as your escort." I continued our conversation, trying to keep the atmosphere light.

I heard laughter in her voice as she teased me, saying "Of course I'll have you as my escort! Silly elf."

I smiled and turned towards Vanaéze, I wasn't prepared to see what I did.

There, dangling from the very same necklace I had just latched; was a purple stone.

It couldn't be.

I was frozen to the spot

Not after all this time.

She noticed my attitude, I clenched my jaws together,
"How came you by this?" My voice sounded like a hoarse whisper in my own ears.

She looked scared, "I found it." She replied quietly.

"How?" I asked, trying to sound less concerned than I was.

"I stumbled across it. Why?"

I blinked, trying to figure out what was happening.
This couldn't be happening.
I needed to be alone, I needed to think. She had no idea, she could never know.

I forced a smile, "It's beautiful. It's probably valuable, when you wear it try to hide it, I don't want somebody to steal it from you."

I suddenly realized I had been holding this stone in my hand the entire time, I gently laid it back on her neck.

Vanaéze began talking to me again...I felt like I was in a daze and could barely make out what she was saying...something about tending to Shadowfax for the festival.
I shuddered internally and with a jolt I realized my main motive to come to the stables, "Yes, of course, for the festival. We should dress alike for the ball, my father will be there."

I didn't see her face as I walked away.

She can never know.