Aspect had never liked big groups of people. What she liked less was sitting still, being pretty and proper just to be stared at by boys. Legolas had just gone to find something to drink, and left Aspect all alone with a bunch of old 'friends'.
"So," one of the girls started, looking at Aspect. She had long, light hair falling down her shoulders and over her brown dress. "Legolas landed on you, after you left him several times?" She stared envious and angry at Aspect. Aspect had never learned the girl's name, though they grew up together.
"You are not even an elf, what a shame," another girl said. Aspect just looked at them both. Never learned their names, no need to do that for now.
"What do you mean he has 'landed'? It is not like we are engaged - or even together," Aspect shoot back.
"So the rumors are not true?," the light-haired girl asked.
"What rumors?," Aspect answered, looking suspicious at her.
"King Thranduil has decided a wife for his son," the girl said, looking at Aspect with discontent. Aspect didn't answer, she just looked unknowledgeable back at her. "You, stupid. You should be happy. This whole party is only made for you, for that whole occasion."
"What? No. Me and Legolas are not even together. There is no way he will do what his father apparently said," Aspect said back, with a small snort. The two girls lit up and looked at each other.
"So you are saying," said the light-haired girl. "That Legolas are for anyone to take?" She gave Aspect a superiorly smile when Aspect didn't have the chance to answer, as Legolas came and sat down besides her again.
"Here is your drink, Aspect," Legolas said, smiling to her before putting down a cup of wine in front of her. "So what were you ladies talking about?" Legolas was in a good mood, swaying his head back and forth, looking at them.
Aspect opened her mouth, ready to answer, but the light-haired girl broke her off. "Oh not much, just talked a little about boys, right Aspect?," the girl said, giving Aspect a fake smile. "And how you are the most handsome of them all here, and how we would like to have a dance." As the girl spoke, she reached over the table and stroke Legolas' arm. Legolas got put out, and just looked at his arm.
"I... I do not feel like dancing right now," Legolas stuttered, looking back and forth between his arm and Aspect. Aspect was defeated. She meant what she had said to the girl, but why did this make her angry?
"Oh, you are so strong," the girl said, smiling, as she took a tight grip around Legolas' biceps. "Come on, Legolas, just one dance. Only you and me, close together in rhythm with the music." The girl sounded as flattering as she could. Aspect couldn't even look at them. She took a tight grip around her cup, before she took a sip. It tasted horrible, but still she took one more.
"It cannot hurt, can it? Only one dance," Legolas said, now only looking at the girl's hand on his arm. "Just let me finish my wine." Aspect chugged the rest of her drink.
"Great!," the girl said happy with a fake laughter, casting a glare at Aspect. I won. Aspect suddenly stood up before she grabbed Legolas' cup. Without warning, she threw the wine in the girl's face. It colored the surprised face, with the light hair, blood red.
"I am going to get more wine," Aspect said, holding her tears back. She turned around and marched through the group of people dancing. Before she knew it, she was running.
"Aspect!," she heard behind her, but she didn't stop before she barely could hear the music.
Aspect stopped and looked around her. She was in the middle of the forest. It was a slight breeze, making the air cold. "Aspect, wait!," she heard Legolas yell. She saw him coming towards her, knowing there was no reason to run. "Aspect! What is the matter?," Legolas asked when he came up to her. Aspect just looked at him. What was she going to say? There was no good reason to what she had done; so she said it as it was.
"I do not know," she said, looking defeated at Legolas. "It is just that... The past days have been hard. Thranduil has pressured me to stay here and learn to be a good wife for you and everyone is telling me that you are going to ask me to marry you, but no one approves, and when that orc of a girl started acting that way, I just... I just could not handle it." The words streamed out of Aspect as a river in the spring.
"Aspect I am so sorry," Legolas said, dragging her in for a hug. Aspect didn't resist. She let her tears loose, quietly. "I am so sorry you had to go through that. I did not know you felt that way."
"I just want things to be as they once were. I do not want any pressure on anything. I just want to live my life and be free," Aspect said.
"I know, and I want that for you too," Legolas said, still holding Aspect tight. Suddenly, he let the grip go, and grabbed her hand. "Here, come with me. I want to show you something."
He started walking, and Aspect followed. They went past the party, over the bridge and through the gate into Mirkwood's halls. They went through halls, past rooms and up stairs. Suddenly, Legolas opened a door - out. He let Aspect step out first, out at the balcony to one of the highest towers in Mirkwood. Aspect went over to the railing, looking at the view.
There, looking like a bug-colony, was the party. They could still hear the people yelling and having fun, but also the music. "We have the best part of the party now," Aspect said, smiling to herself. Legolas stood behind her, watching her. "No people, but we can still hear the music." Aspect closed her eyes and started swinging slow to the calm music playing from down under her. Legolas smiled.
Aspect swung around herself, now looking up at the clear night sky. "This is beautiful," she whispered. Legolas slowly came up to her, grabbing her arms carefully and holding her tight. They both looked at each other, smiling, as they swayed slowly to the music.
As the party started to calm down at the ground, Legolas and Aspect lay besides each other on the floor of the balcony while looking at the stars. Aspect yawned - she was exhausted - but her eyes were still stuck to the beautiful stars above her. "You should go to bed," Legolas carefully said with a small laugh.
"No," Aspect said, shifting position to laying on her side before she put her head on Legolas' chest. "I just want to stay like this forever," she said, closing her eyes. Legolas lay his arm around her, and started lightly playing with her hair.
"We could," Legolas said, smiling by the thought. Aspect moved so that she faced him.
"I know, and I would like that, but I do not think anyone else would approve," Aspect answered sad. Legolas put his hand on her cheek, carefully stroking it.
"You have never cared about what others think, so why should you now?," Legolas asked. "I want you to stay here with me, and that is what matters." Aspect didn't have a comeback. They ended up staring into each others eyes for a while.
Then he suddenly kissed her. His lips was soft and warm, and it almost hurt against Aspects cold ones, but she didn't stop him. She didn't drag herself away. She didn't stand up. She didn't leave him. She stayed. She grabbed his cheek, as he stroke his hand down her bare arm, slow and careful. He moved his hand down to her hip, dragging her closer.
Still, she didn't leave. She didn't run. He moved his hand from her hip, up her side and to her bare back. This time, his hand felt cold against her skin, making her jump - but he didn't let go. Even when Aspect responded with moving her hand from his cheek, he had his hand steady placed on her warm back.
Aspect removed her lips from his. Legolas opened his eyes, looking a little surprised at Aspect, but still, he had his hand on her back. Aspect faked a yawn. "I think I should go to bed," Aspect said. Legolas now let her go, jumped up at his feet and helped her up. He didn't let her hand go.
"Let me help you to your room," Legolas said, giving her a kind smile.
Due that Aspect hadn't payed attention to where they had walked earlier, she gladly thanked - though she had a feeling Legolas didn't want to leave her alone.
They both stood outside Aspects door, looking at each other, still holding hands. "You are sure you will not be lonely?," Legolas asked careful.
"I understand where you want with this Legolas, and I really do not feel like it is the right thing to do right now," Aspect said, looking into Legolas' eyes. She didn't feel right, and it couldn't be just because of the one glass of wine.
"I just want to hold you, Aspect. Let us stay like on the balcony forever," Legolas said, stepping closer. "You even said it yourself." He grabbed her other hand, swaying it careful from side to side.
"It was nice, was it not?," Aspect said, mostly to herself. "I guess, we can in a way still be at the balcony here too." She blushed and gave him a small smile. "But if you try anything more, I will not promise that I may eat you." Aspect looked serious at Legolas. He nodded quick, with a small, relieved laughter.
Legolas softly kissed Aspect's forehead - and there they lay, Aspect in Legolas' arms - safe and sound. The whole night, they stayed just like at the balcony, in each others peaceful and good company.