Close Proximity

Out of breath, she answered. “I got lost!” She laughed lightly, but realising this wasn’t the time her face lost all humour. “I went for some air in the gardens, and had trouble finding my way back. I’m sorry.” She added, looking at her guardian.

Tulo looked back a frowned. “He’s see everyone, now. You’re the only one left.” Cara watched her as she reachorwaorward and plucked a leaf from her hair. “Now, you don’t even stand a chance.”

“Well,” she replied, a little more angrily, trying to straighten her robes and move about in her shoes more comfortably, “if I don’t stand a chance, then can we go now?” The woman glared at her, and held her hands in front of her. “Look, I don’t care what some stupid elf prince is going to do, just because he was in the Fellowship.”

“Cara!” Snapped Tulo, warningly.

“What?” She continued. “If he can’t find a wife on his own time, why should it trespass on ours?”

“Cara!” Glared Tulo, looking nervously behind Cara, wearing a false smile.

Cara looked confusedly at her, before turning to see what was catching her eye. Directly behind where she had been standing now stood Imbrothàid, who she knew to be Prince Legolas’ mother. Also, next to her stood the elf from the pool. She looked at him, for a moment, before turning to Imbrothàid, more nervously. She opened her mouth for a moment, watching her, but no words came out. The elven queen merely watched her struggle, angrily.

“I-um,” stuttered Cara at the older elf, who watched for a while, before speaking with a false smile appearing on her face.

“Legolas, my son, this is Lady Cara of Edoras.” As she spat out her name, her angered eyes bore into Cara, who looked away, embarrassed for a moment before realising what had beeid. id.

“Legolas?” She asked, confusedly, looking at the elf she had met before.

“Prince Legolas.” Corrected Tulo, smiling superficially with his mother.

Legolas stood grinning, with perfect composure at the young lady’s confusion. “How do you do?” He asked, bowing as she did the same. “I trust your journey from Edoras was well.” She glared at him for a moment before answering.

“I am very well, thank you. And the journey was comfortable.” Imbrothàid took her sons arm for a moment, ready to usher him on.

“Tell me, Lady Cara,” he began, taking her hand, “would you be so gracious as to commend to me the next dance?” His mother let go of his arm, and could barely hide the distaste she was feeling.

“Uh, Legolas, my child, you really should not neglect the rest of your guests.” She said, still smiling in that saccharine way. He ignored her and bent down to kiss Cara’s hand. She watched him, still unsure of what to make of the situation, but within her, an anger grew.

“I am not neglecting them,” he said softly, still watching Cara, not releasing her hand, “I am planning to dance with one of them.” Imbrothàid replied by smiling, lowering her head slightly, before turning and leaving the conversation. Legolas ignored her. “May I have the next dance?” He asked, again.

“I-” She began.

“She would be delighted.” Said Tulo, beaming at Legolas and then at Cara.

Cara looked down for a moment and took a deep breath before looking back up. For some time the prince had held her hand, and finally he relinquished it, and Cara snapped it to her side.

“Until then, then.” He replied, bowing and leaving the conversation to stand by his mother, who was talking angrily to the king. Legolas just stood there are looked around the room, every so often he would rest his eyes upon her, before starting another circuit.

“Well, well, well!” Smiled Tulo, happily. “After beg beginning I thought you were done for!” She continued in the same cheerful tune. “But he evidently likes you best of the party, if he asks to dance with you first.”

“Dear Aunt Tulo,” pleaded Cara in her own response, “do not make so big an issue of such a small problem as having to dance.”

“Problem! Hah!” She scoffed. “You will stand up and dance with him-“

“I’m already stood.” She interrupted. Tulo continued as if nothing had been said.

“And then everyone can see how beautifully you dance. Problem, no indeed.” She said, with a proud grin on her face. “Oh, and did you see the way he held your hand for so long? He had not kissed anybody else’s as well! Oh, you were so singled out!” Cara began to show more of her frustration and anger.

“Problem, yes!” She shouted slightly. “My feet are killing me in these shoes, and now I am supposed to dance with someone who heard me say that he couldn’t get a wife! This is indeed a problem.”

Tulo fanned her niece’s problems away with one hand. “Oh please, Cara. Just go up there and dance!” No sooner had she said this than the previous dance concluded and the applause went up to those involved.

Legolas walked forwards, through the stream of smiling future brides, to Cara, who stood nervously, taking a deep breath and then walking to meet him in the middle. He took her hand and led her to the centre of the room. A large space began to clear, but soon was filled again by other couples, ready to dance.

The music began.

Legolas took Cara in his arms as they prepared to saunter around the room, he was still smiling, though she had gone somewhat serious and tired with the whole situation. They all began to move.

“I thank you for allowing me this dance.” Said Legolas, looking down at her slightly, though she was shoulder height. She stared back up for a moment, before breaking his eye contact and looking around the room to see Tulo talking with some of the others.

“It is I who should be thanking you,” she said, still tiredly, “you have made my family very happy. This is something she will be talking about for months.” Legolas laughed a little. From where she danced, pressed closely to him she felt his laughter stem through her own body, and smiled. There was a short pau

“Is your mother travelling alone?” He asked.

“Who? Tulo?” She asked, “She is not my mother. She is my guardian, who prefers I call her aunt, so if anything use that.” There was a short pause. “Yes, we are travelling alone.” There was another short pause.

“Do you like the party?” He asked.

She paused and stared at him for a moment, he looked back down. In their close hold there was little room between them. She looked away. “You know full well my sentiments.” She replied. “So tell me, Prince Legolas,” she added, “are we going to talk about what happened in the gardens or what?” He smiled at her, and she looked away.

“In the gardens?” He asked, knowing what she meant. She waited for a response that she wanted. He sighed. “You mean, you want to know why I didn’t tell you who I was.” There was a pause.

“If you knew that I didn’t know you were the Prince then why didn’t you tell me, or at least stop me when I was talking about you so openly?” There was a bite in her voice.

“Would you have preferred that?” He asked.

She watched him. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?” She said, in more of a statement than a question. He grinned. There was a pause.

“Do your feet still hurt?” He asked.

“Why? Am I dancing strangely?” She asked, seriously, being careful where she stepped and what she did.

“No, no!” He ushered. “I just wondered. This must be painful for you.” She looked at him with no expression on her face.

“It is.” She replied simply.

“And then, after this party you must return to Edoras, which is a long journey away, is it not? That must cause more pain.”

“It is and most probably it will.” She said. “Though, I suppose it’s just because of these shoes I’m having to wear.” He smiled. “What?” She asked, smiling back.

“You are nothing like the others.” He replied.

She straightened up. “Why? Because I do not fuss about you, and instead say what I want wI waI want?” He smiled at her, and the watched each other for some time.

“Yes, that.” He replied. “But also because you’re beautiful.” She tensed slightly in his grip and became motatitatic. “Have I made you uncomfortable?” He asked. There came no reply. “I have. I am sorry.”

“No, I-” she began, “it’s nice to have a compliment. I just was not expecting one from you.” He held her more tightly as the music began to slow.

“I cannot think why.” He said, as they came to a standstill and stood apart. There was a long pause as they bowed and the music concluded. The rest of the party applauded as the dancers led their partners off the floor. “You are very beautiful.” He said as they were away.

“Thank you.” She said, feeling a littore ore confident.

Imbrothàid’s voice called from not far away. “Legolas! Legolas! Come over here for a moment.” Legolas turned for a moment and took a deep breath.

“Thank you for the dance.” He said. “I shall find you again before the evening is up and we can continue our conversation. Otherwise you must stay the night and commence your journey onwards in the morning to Edoras. I shall alert those concerned.” He smiled and took her hand again, kissing it. “Thank you, Lady Cara.”

“Prince Legolas.” She nodded.

“Just Legolas.” He replied, holding her hand for a few moments before hearing his mother’s voice call again. He smiled at her, turned and left.

o0o