With a secret mission to marry an elf, Wynne must join Legolas' and Elvenking Thranduil's new quest as a horsekeeper. She begins an adventurous journey, encountering orcs and monsters, friendly uruk-hai, a lady dwarf and many Fellowship heroes - but...
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~ Wynne gets a nice hairdo and Legolas jokes about lembas as usual. ~
10. Braided by an Elf
Wynne left the dishes to dry and seated herself in front of Legolas.
She loved to have her hair done. Back home, it usually was Mother or Grandmama who did it. Mother handled her hair briskly and it hurt when she untangled knots, but Wynne still liked it. Grandmama was more careful and made the nicer hairdos.
Legolas' touch was completely different from theirs, however. He used a bone comb instead of a softer brush but despite that it didn't hurt at all. He worked through her hair with gentle strokes, unwinding each tangle. Wynne closed her eyes with pleasure.
When he began gathering the hair on the sides to braid it, a tingling sensation spread through her, a flutter she couldn't define – like she was nervous, for some reason.
Despite the growing darkness and her fatigue from the long day on horseback she felt far from sleepy.
It was over much too soon and she stifled a sigh when she rose. Touching the sides of her head she felt three thin fishtail braids on each side and wondered what it looked like. It was too dark to use the river as a mirror.
"It suits you."
"How can you tell? It's pitch black here."
"Elves' eyes do not need much light to function."
"You remind me of cats. Agile and graceful, and with night vision. Do you eat mice as well?"
"Is this your way of thanking me for my effort? By mocking my race?" There was laughter in his voice. "Besides, you know what we eat. It is lembas. Only lembas."
Wynne laughed too. "I knew you would say that."
oOo
Except for Thranduil who had the first watch, nobody stayed up long that evening. The elves were more tired than usual after the improvised party yesterday and Wynne was exhausted from the previous night's sleeplessness.
She had no problem at all falling asleep this time; the hair massage must have relaxed her enough to forget her troubles.
She woke up well rested and with an almost hopeful feeling for the first time since she left her home. The worries that had hovered over her seemed more possible to overcome, as if Mother's demands didn't reach this far. In addition, her resolution to cease the role-playing and be herself among the elves was hugely relieving.
It was a warm, sunny morning, so Wynne went to the river for a refreshing swim.
Her wound prickled when the water reached her thighs and she decided to remove the bandage and examine it. It was sore and slightly swollen but the stitches had held and she saw no signs of infection.
