The SONGS of SPRING

PUT THAT DAGGER AWAY!

'Are you not looking for Beren?' he asked. Legolas tightened his grip even more.

'I---I was just on my way going back to the show,' Raen stammered. 'Apologies my Lord, but if you could show me the way I would be greatly indebted to you.'

Legolas suddenly snatched her arm instead of an embrace and for a moment he paused and looked at her, thinking if he should speak his heart - but he didn't.

'It's that way,' he said pointing to the hallway to the right. 'Let me walk you back to the king's hall. Any unfamiliar faces get into trouble. Come with me.' And he released her arm and walked towards the hallway.

Raen couldn't risk getting caught and she followed closely, besides she was already fingering her dagger by her side. If she could get the Elf-lord somewhere no eyes were looking she may get a chance of killing him herself, she thought. 'You must have liked the show, my lord. What do you think of the reenactment?' She tried to make him feel at ease.

'It was better than I thought,' he said without looking back.

'Oh.' Raen was flattered.

'I thought it would be worse, Beren was not the man for you.'

'Beren is brave and noble, I think he's the perfect man for Luthien.'

Legolas recalled Beren's words and he clutched his hands to a fist. He wanted to tell her who she really was but a part of him was afraid. Afraid that she might do what she have done before. They've walked a while and came to hallway leading to the back stage and there were no guards on the look. Raen saw an opportunity and she unsheated her dagger as she walked closer behind Legalos. Heart pounding her palms were tingling. And when she was about to stab him from behind Legolas paused and turned, he said, 'He is no less ugly, and think about what kind of life that man could give you? Banishment, mortality, pain.' It wasn't long he realised he was raising his voice.

Then he turned back again and walked briskly while Raen was tucking her dagger at her back. Why on Arda was he mad, she thought, and she cringed her nose plotting her next attempt.

'You must have known many lores and legends my Lord, the show quite did a good job impressing you,' she shifted her tone as if she was amazed.

'I am not impressed at all.'

'Then what did you think of the show? You hated my dance, do you?' Raen held her dagger in a reverse grip waiting for a perfect chance to slit his throat as he turns again, while her eyes scanned the sides and corners of the hallway. But they've gotten twenty strides and Legolas was silent like a shadow. Then she walked faster behind him before she misses her second chance. And when she was about to plunge the knife to his back Legolas spoke without turning back.

'It was not terrible, though I hated seeing you dance the first time.'

Raen quickly tucked her dagger again as he cast a sideway glance. Raen did not understand, his words did not mean anything to her for she could not remember him, or anything about the night she danced with the Prince of Dale the first night she arrived at Mirkwood. That night Legolas fumed as he watches by the dais beside his father, jealous and helpless he did not had the courage to tell her. Long he waited until they done but before he could steal her hand from the Barding she turned her eyes away and drowned herself with wine.

'Well, that was my first time,' Raen said smiling sweetly at him. She did not get anymore words from him, not that Legolas was the unwilling - he was almost tempted to tell her the truth. But all the whilst he would glance sideways and admire her discreetly. Raen was about to thrust her dagger the third time but they have come near the actor's room and Curumir popped out of the half opened door.

'There you are,' he shouted in a rather angry tone. 'Come quick and put on your Elven togs!' And he vanished just as fast as he has appeared.

Legolas halted and turned to her, looking down at her face he noticed her both hands tucked behind her waist. 'You heard the man, go now while you have the time.'

'Thank you,' Raen murmured throwing her eyes sideways. Suddenly she found herself staring back at the Elflord only this time she was not thinking of cutting his throat. Swallowing her pride she lifted her chin and looked straight to his gray eyes. 'I- I owe you an apology for bothering you this much, if there's only one thing I ----'

'Raen!' Curumir's voice echoed from inside the room.

But Raen pretended not to hear, gathering her remaining wits she continued, 'if there's one thing I could ---'

'Raen?!'

'Coming!' she shouted back. 'Seriously, this is truly embarrassing,' she said as if talking to herself. Legolas was caugh smiling, amused of how she had reacted so poorly in front of him. And he thought of the day she asked him if they could be friends near the sparring hall in Rivendell. Legolas returned a rather unfriendly response and she walked out stomping her feet back to the guest house like an angry child. He looked at her differently since then and there he realised her doom if he'd let his feelings be known.

'Yes,' you can do something in return,' Legolas stirred. Raen felt her cheeks tightening as the Elflord inched his face closer. 'Put that dagger away and hide it well. A guest carrying a weapon inside the King's house is easily misunderstood.' Then he walked past by her and strode off.

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A/N

Raen should really try harder - it takes more than just a dagger to kill an Elflord. :)