Chapter 2/11
 
“Kauri?” Legolas turned to the servant as they entered the bedchamber. 
 
“Yes?” Kauri asked eagerly. She had heard of Legolas, the youngest and 
fairest prince of Mirkwood. Because of his part in the Fellowship of the 
Ring, the elven archer had become well known and the desire of many she 
and he elves’ hearts.
 
“Would you mind telling me where I could fetch some warm water for a 
bath?” Legolas looked at Kauri’s dreamy expression inquisitively.
 
“Huh?” Legolas’ question pulled Kauri from her thoughts. “Oh yes, your 
highness,” Kauri replied her face turning crimson with humiliation. “I will 
have the bath servants prepare your water.”
 
“Thank you,” Legolas said slowly, wondering why Kauri had seemed so 
uneasy around him.
 
Without another word, Kauri left the bedchamber and disappeared down 
the long narrow corridor.
 
Legolas observed his surroundings. The bedchamber was large and well 
decorated. Long wispy curtains moved softly as a light wind blew through 
the open windows in the room. The bed was enormous and comfortable 
looking adorned with a deep green, plush elven embroidered comforter 
and pillows. The entire room smelled of the forest, sweet honeysuckle and 
gentle rain. Legolas felt at home.
 
He sat on the bed, placed his pack on the floor and removed his shoes. He 
heard footsteps coming towards his room. Moments later, twelve servants 
bearing a large tub of hot water, scented oils and cloths for washing 
emerged into the room. Four of the servants, male elves, carried a large 
basin of steaming water. They entered a small room adjacent to Legolas’ 
and carefully poured the water into a lofty marble tub. One of the female 
attendants arranged the bath cloths and scented oils near the tub neatly 
while the other servants, two males and five females stared at Legolas and 
whispered.
 
“Your highness,” one of the male elves said avoiding Legolas’ eyes. 
“You’re only to pull the stopper at the base of the tub when you’re done 
bathing and the water will drain.”
 
“Thank you,” Legolas said wondering why it took twelve elves to bring 
water, scented oils and bath cloths.
 
The elvish servants reluctantly left the room, and glanced back at Legolas 
longingly, whispering frantically.
 
Legolas stared after the servants shaking his head from side to side. *Were 
the elves of Rivendell always so strange?*  
 
Legolas glanced through an open window and noticed that dusk was 
drawing to a close. The first stars were beginning to peak out from 
underneath the blanket of the sky. *I must make haste.*
 
Hurriedly, Legolas undressed and stepped into the warm water. He 
grasped a bottle of scented oil and poured a small amount into the water. 
He effortlessly unbraided his hair and dunked his entire body into the 
shallow pool. He reemerged feeling refreshed from his long journey. He 
took a neatly folded cloth, submerged it into the water and began to wash 
away the day’s toil from his smooth, flawless, ivory skin.
 
Legolas loved to bathe. He could have stayed in the water for the rest of 
the evening, but his thoughts were interrupted when he heard someone 
coming. His elvish senses told him that it was Aragorn.
 
Legolas pulled the cork at the bottom of the tub and watched the water 
drain with fascination. He took a large cloth and dried himself thoroughly 
before tying the towel tightly around his waist.
 
“Legolas?” Aragorn called out timidly upon entering the prince’s 
chamber. *I’m nervous. Why am I nervous?*
 
“I’m here,” Legolas replied as he emerged from the bathing room.
 
Aragorn gasped softly at the beauty before him. Legolas only wore a large 
bathing cloth around his waist. Aragorn’s eyes tried to take in the entire 
sight all at once. He looked at the slightly parted towel that revealed one 
of Legolas’ well-muscled thighs. His heart raced as his eyes moved up to 
the elf’s center searching for the bulge of his male hood. *There it is.* His 
eyes studied the elf’s taut stomach, lightly muscular chest and moved to 
his appealing looking mouth.  Aragorn looked at the prince’s perfect nose 
and then his eyes, those blue eyes,
 
“Aragorn? Are you well?” Legolas asked concerned.
 
“Yes, uh, yes Legolas,” Aragorn felt his face flush with shame.
 
“Not you, too,” Legolas said in mock indignation.  
 
“Not me?” Aragorn asked softly trying to regain his composure.
 
“I seem to say the wrong thing today,” Legolas said thoughtfully 
retrieving a comb from his pack and dragging it through his damp hair.
 
Aragorn watched the elf in silence for a moment. He watched the way 
Legolas’ arm muscles flexed each time he pulled the comb in a downward 
motion and he felt heat spread through his body.
 
“Uh, yes. I mean, no,” Aragorn shook his head from side to side. *How is 
it that I can speak in front of hundreds of people without faltering, and I 
cannot seem to utter a single sentence in front of one of my oldest and 
dearest friends?* 
 
Legolas studied Aragorn silently. *Something is ailing him.*
 
“What I mean to say,” Legolas said while placing the comb back into his 
bundle and withdrawing some black leggings, “is that everyone seems 
uneasy around me.”
 
“Nay, Legolas,” Aragorn said beginning to relax. “It is awe that you sense 
from your kindred not discomfort. It seems that you have gained many 
admirers.” 
 
“Hmm,” Legolas muttered as he reentered the bathing room out of 
Aragorn’s sight. He reemerged without the towel but with the leggings on 
in its stead. Aragorn could plainly see the outline of the elf’s maleness 
now. *I wonder what it looks like when he is aroused? What am I 
thinking?*
 
“So then, Aragorn,” Legolas said in a tone so serious that Aragorn was 
immediately pulled from his fantasies. “Are you one of my admirers?” 
 
Flabbergasted by the question and the piercing look Legolas was giving 
him, Aragorn found that he could not speak.  
 
“’Twas a jest!” Legolas said laughing at the king’s speechlessness. 
“Aragorn, you are not yourself tonight,” Legolas said seriously with a bit 
of humor still in his voice. “Perhaps you should go see Lord Elrond. He’ll 
know what ails you.”
 
Legolas stepped in front of Aragorn and placed one of his hands on the 
king’s shoulders. Aragorn could feel Legolas’ touch through his tunic as 
warm heat made its way down from his shoulder to his crotch.
 
“You are right, friend,” Aragorn said pulling away quickly hoping that 
Legolas didn’t notice. “I will go see Elrond straight away.”
 
Aragorn turned and left the room.
 
In the corridor beyond the prince’s room, Aragorn decided that he would 
not burden Elrond with his bizarre behavior. He decided that the journey 
from Gondor to Rivendell must have exhausted him. *It shall pass.*