Summary:
Althea is the only daughter from Arthion the Dúnedain ranger and the elf princess Serethiel. After her mother’s disappearance, her father remarried. Her step mother and step siblings all make her the servant of the house and chores within the village. So when Althea is to go visit the prince of Mirkwood, things start to change within her life that cannot be undone.





Chapter 1: Many meetings and Tales.
Her eyes adjusted to the darkness of the night as the stars blinked down upon her. The moon was not seen for that night, she was asleep with the playful Sun. Althea felt her legs and toes going numb though she heard sounds that weren’t normal. A stick snapping in two, the restless wind with the ever-s0 dancing leaves, heavy footfalls sounded loud with the silent of the still night.

Remembering that Althea had come all this way to Mirkwood from the Blue Mountains, 25 long days ride on a young colt, was shaky. She remembered why she was on the ground and not on her new horse and why she came alone. Her father, a hard stubborn man from the Dúnedain rangers was friends with the Mirkwood King Elf.

Her awful step mother with her two daughters and four sons were greedy. Making Althea do all the house work and the chores outside of the house as well. Not a single one of them cared about Althea, they just saw her as a servant and they always came first before her.

In every way, Althea outshines her step siblings by beauty, grace, respect, maturity and hospitality to the local villagers. They know that her life was not like her step siblings and when she was out buying stuff for herself, they would always give her a bit more then usual.

Blinking when she heard more footsteps, Althea glanced around and hid behind a tree. Of course that did nothing when she heard male voices in the Elvish language.

“Lady Althea?” one of them called out.

Althea knew that voice at once, she didn’t care if Aragorn was older then her, she knew his story like he knew hers. Walking out from her hiding spot Althea saw Aragorn ready to fight with his sword held high in the air.

“Calm your self, Aragorn. It is only I, Althea from the Blue Mountains,” she announced to him.

The dark cloaked figure that stood aside stepped forward and bowed to her. A little unsure of this elf or person, her eyes were fixed upon him.

“Welcome, milady, to Mirkwood. I do hope your travel has been uneventful and safe,” he spoke to Althea as he then bowed to her again.

“It was until I had to battle a spider that was almost the size of a small mountain boulder. My young colt took off after the spider was killed, I do not know where he went,” She replied back to him, curtsying to him.

“Aye, he is with us, though you will need to ride with me. We are here to take you to the Palace of Mirkwood,” Aragorn said to her as I nodded.

They walked through the thick black trees, sticks, branches and other stuff kept on snagging onto Althea’s dress as she would fall or trip from it. When the elf jumped into his saddle, Althea looked at Aragorn for help.

“Who is he?” she whispered to Aragorn.

“That is one of the guards here in Mirkwood. You will meet the prince and the King of Mirkwood later on tonight. It will take us a while to reach the palace, Althea,” he replied to her, helping her up into the saddle.

Aragorn then jumped into the saddle as Althea blushed when she felt his large hands on her waist. Yes she knew how old he really was, old enough to be her grandfather, though she couldn’t help but notice how handsome he was.

“It will take us most of the night to get to the palace, so get some rest Althea,” he whispered to her and his horse shot forward with the speed of the wind.

Althea stayed quiet as they raced through the tangled pitch black forest of Mirkwood. It didn’t take her that long to pass out into a very deep sleep-Aragorn only smirked at this.

Within Althea’s dream was something that has been haunting her since her mother disappeared. She was in the same tangled twisted forest as the shadows were more pronounced and she could hear horrifying snarls, cries, and growls. Althea couldn’t see them, but she knew the orcs were there within the hidden ferns and trees.

“Althea, fly! Fly! You need to get away from here!!” she heard her mother cry out before a blood curdling scream erupted from her mother; echoing off the ferns and trees before it became silent.

“Mother, mother!!” she cried out though all she got was an eerie silence in return.

“Althea, wake up,” she heard in her ear as she was being shaken from her sleep.

Blinking a couple of times, Althea gulped as she saw the bottom of Aragorn’s jaw and heavily sighed. That was the first time in years that she has dreamt that dream, let alone it going further then before. Shaken from the reflecting images of her dream, Althea didn’t notice the horses slowly down from a gallop to a trot as the forest cleared into fields and a palace that she was going to be living here for a while.

Already awaiting for them was the King of Mirkwood with two of his royal guards. Aragorn halted their horse and dismounted first. Althea blinked and then felt herself sliding out of the saddle as her legs were wobbly, like that of a new born horse.

“It has been a long ride, milady,” Aragorn stated to her, holding onto her until she could stand on her own.

“Hannon le, Strider,” she replied back to him.

Smiling softly at her, Aragorn walked over to where King Thranduil was, his bright hair gleamed within the moonlit night. Althea walked after Aragorn and then halted, her memories from what her mother said of King Thranduil were correct: he was tall, taller than Aragorn; his pale blonde hair was to the middle of his back though a crown of silver and gold leaves were catching the light from the moon. What captured Althea the most was how blue his eyes were. Deep pale blue eyes that have seen more then she has lived.

“Lady Althea, welcome to Mirkwood. I hope you are well after your steed came here empty of his rider,” he greeted her; his voice was filled with disappointment.

“Sorry, my lord, but spiders attack me, unless you would have dispatched some of your royal guards,” She retorted back, curtsying anyway.

Aragorn then spoke in Elvish, as Althea did not understand what he had told the King. He seemed to have not listened to Aragorn’s words and starred Althea down. His eyes gave nothing but rage away. However that was not why he was being so rude to Althea. It was the fact that she was looking more like her mother in pale moonlight then she has ever before.

King Thranduil knew Althea’s mother, she was very beautiful in every sense of the word and she was never violent to any being or creature. It was very tragic when king Thranduil heard the news of her supposed “Death”. He knew that the father never wanted to live in one town until he died, he was a Ranger of the dying Dúnedain, he traveled most of his youth and that was something that always started the arguing.

“I will show you both to your rooms,” he whispered to her and then walked away.

Aragorn and Althea didn’t know what to think of this, though they followed the King of Mirkwood none-the-less.

The still silence of the tiring night was loud. Nothing moved or made a sound. Althea glanced at Aragorn who had a very still facial expression. With a heavy sigh, Althea looked towards the ground as she and Aragorn were lead through tunnels and more tunnels. Until they were in the heart of the palace, Aragorn took his leave into a small room as King Thranduil kept on walking.

“Good night, Strider,” Althea mumbled to him as he nodded in return.

Althea stumbled and tripped over her feet, until she passed out from pure exhaustion. What Althea did not know was that, King Thranduil had caught her before she hurt herself any further and his son had carried her to her room. It was actually, Legolas’s room, though he did not mind giving it up for her.

It wasn’t until mid morning that Althea woke up. Where the night ruled, dark and shadows jumped out, the day was too bright and showed colors that were there before. The high arches of the room made it feel open and with the cream warm colors of the walls were loud to look at.

Althea turned onto her back and sighed. Within a few minutes she was up and had already dressed herself within the dresses that were held in the wardrobe. When her door opened she spun around on her heels as she fired an arrow at whoever was entering her room.

The prince ducked out of the way before the arrow had imbedded itself within his chest as he stood up and yanked the arrow free from the door. Blushing from embarrassment, Althea starred at the prince.

‘He looks like his father, only younger and probably more deadly with his anger.’ Althea thought to herself.

“Milady, how I would love to teach you how to use a bow and arrow correctly, please do not destroy my room,” he told her, his eyes held her frozen.

“Your room?” she asked him, confused on why she was within this grand room and not her own.

“My father was most worried about you when you passed out of exhaustion and my room was the closet one. I do hope you had a good nights rest,” he replied back walking closer to her.

“Milady, how I would love to teach you how to use a bow and arrow correctly, please do not destroy my room,” he told her, his eyes held her frozen.

“Your room?” she asked him, confused on why she was within this grand room and not her own.

“My father was most worried about you when you passed out from exhaustion and my room was the closet one. I do hope you had a good night’s rest,” he replied back walking closer to her.

Blushing with embarrassment Althea mumbled “I am sorry, my prince. I did not mean to cause trouble for your father and the kingdom,”

“You didn’t, my lady,” he whispered to her, she looked up as she saw him standing very close to her.

Her brown eyes widen with surprise as she looked at his eyes, they were so blue and clear and bright. They held another world within them that she couldn’t understand or know about. Suddenly with a force that nearly knocked the wind right out of her lungs, Althea felt so very young when she was standing this close to the Prince of Mirkwood. So young did she felt that, she was felt almost like a blink in his eyes of his immortal race.

He moved closer to her, leaning down to her face that Legolas had to stop himself. He sighed softly into her hair and then turned away from her before he walked away and out of her room.

Heart pounding, her breathes in short gasps and her knees shaking from the weakness that Legolas left in his wake, Althea didn’t know what just happened between them. One moment they were talking and the next the air around them was intense and filled with sexual tension.

“What does this mean?” she barely whispered to herself as she sank to the floor.

Knock, knock!

“Lady Althea?” Aragorn’s voice came from her closed door.

“Come in, Aragorn,” she whispered as she couldn’t get up from the birch hard wood floor.

When the door closed and Aragorn kneeling in front of her, she looked up stunned and frighten. Aragorn could only guess what had happened when the Prince was in the room, though that was all he could do was guess.

“Please help me up,” she asked him, her eyes still wide as her face was flushed.

Nodding to her, Aragorn helped her stand and walked her over to the bed. Althea then told him what had happened and how she felt about it. Aragorn didn’t say anything though a knowing look came into his eyes as Althea stopped talking.

“The Prince of Mirkwood is about to marry, milady. This other elf princess is that of high birth, a distant cousin to Lady Arwen of Rivendell, Princess Alya of the Ered Luin Mountains. She will be staying here until the marriage, which will not be taken place so quickly. The prince and myself will have a dangerous mission to par take,” Aragorn tried to explain to Althea.

“You’re holding something back. Something that is very dangerous and yet there is hope for our world to continue to live in peace. Aragorn what is it that you are not telling me?” she stated as he stared at her with knowing, she never missed anything-even if he hinted it to her, she never missed that something might be wrong.

The next words that Aragorn spoke of to her, she realized what was at stake, “The One Ring has been found. I am to depart within that of tomorrow. Do not follow me where I am about to go! I will be tracking, two hobbits; one has the Ring and the other does not. Stay here until Legolas goes to Rivendell. Stay here where it is safe, Althea. The enemy will be out and searching for his missing Ring-”

“He will be searching, also Aragorn, for me as well. If you do not remember correctly, my mother married my father out of haste for that the enemy was searching for her. Nay, not the Dark Lord himself, but that of the white wizard, Saruman. If the enemy has risen again, I am in danger just as much as the Ring Bearer,” she interrupted him with sadness.

Althea knew the stories, she knew the reasons why her mother fled and married her father and yes it does involve Saruman, but she kept this one secret to herself. Her mother married her father because she was supposed to be a Queen where Saruman lives. Out of haste and fear, her mother married her father- always moving but when Serethiel became of child, Arthion settled down within the very tales and legends where the shire folk lived. Yes she remembers that beautiful valley, the little rivers, and the vast peaceful country and that the Elves would come down to visit with her and her parents.

Aragorn had done the same, but he mostly looked out for her; teaching her how to use a bow and arrow with that of the sword and knife. Practicing daily on how to win a battle fight, coming out a live and using her senses and tracking. Aragorn was a very good teacher though it took her a while to know the moves and such.

However, they moved to that little town where she just came from until her mother’s sudden disappearance and her father remarried not three falls back. Aragorn watched Althea as he saw her transform from a youthful child to an adult as she thought.

“He was searching for your mother all of these years and yet he did not”

“Please do not say the words that even I know of. But no. He has not caught her or I and I plan to keep it that way,” she quickly interrupted him, wanting that image out of her mind.

Aragorn nodded and then helped her up as her stomach snarled with hunger. Althea, hungry for breakfast, didn’t want to leave the room though she did. Her thoughts were gentle and at ease though her heart pounded hard when she saw the Prince of Mirkwood walking a head of them as they all walked to the great hall of the Palace of Mirkwood.

_________________

Legolas, Prince of Mirkwood.

Chapter 2: A stroll through the Forest.
At breakfast, Althea saw who this princess from the Ered Luin Mountains was. She was beautiful, far more beautiful than herself. Her attitude foul and debasing, changed Althea’s mind when she thought on how much she could defend herself from a pack of wolves or worse, Orcs? That thought and many more that followed afterward, she was in a much better mood. However Althea had to meet her, just like she had to meet Prince Legolas and King Thranduil, properly.

Every single elf, whether he or she was a guest or was living there, was in awe of Althea, more so then the royal Princess of Ered Luin. Even Aragorn was smirking a bit.

“How are you, my lord, on this lovely morning?” she asked him with a very graceful curtsey.

King Thranduil smiled back, “I am doing well, my dear. Thou the question should be asked for you and not me,”

“I am doing fairly well, my lord. Though the little surprise this morning was much unexpected from your son,” she replied back as she saw from the corner of her eye the Prince blush.

“Surprise?-”

“Oh no. He didn’t walk in on me getting dressed. He just frightened me when I was still waking up. You understand that when you’re journeying through lands filled with orcs you’re always on alert. That instinct never goes away, even when you think you are in a safe place that you know of, that instinct is always there with you,” she interrupted him, knowing shining in her brown eyes.

“That is understandable, my dear. And I should have talked to my son about that, before he walked in on you,” the King replied back, his eyes then landed on his flushed frustrated son.

Smiling softly at the sight between what had just happened King Thranduil knew that this will not end so pleasantly for Lady Althea. Though the King did not mind this, he knew his son needed someone to keep him on his toes now and then.

Althea saw Legolas walk stiffly over to her, bowed to her while he took her hand into his and very gently brushed his soft lips to hers. All the while he was doing this, Althea was frozen when she looked into his eyes; they were burning for revenge but so clear that she could easily look into his soul.

“My Lady, please forgive me for walking on you this morning. I was only concern if you were emotionally all right or not?” he told her, his voice steady but stern.

“You are forgiven my Prince, though I do hope that it does not happen in the mere future,” she breathlessly whispered to him.

“Do not you worry about that, child.” Princess Alya interrupted them as she walked forward towards Althea, “My future husband knows better now. Can we please eat or I will faint for not eating,”

Althea arched an eyebrow at this snotty spoiled Princess and rolled her eyes. King Thranduil and Aragorn just nodded as everyone started to walk to the wooden tables filled with mouth watering of all sorts’ of food. Legolas sat across from Althea though he sat beside his future wife. Even though it brought great pleasure to Althea, which he had to sit beside her, she was curious, on what was he thinking of or about.

‘His stare is so deep, I wonder if I can sail to Valinor and back?’ she thought to herself as she began to eat her dinner.


Althea walked slowly back to her room. She was breathless on what had transfigured since dinner. Hot iron tears rolled down her swollen face as she swore lady Alya to the pits of Mordor.

After dinner was finished, King Thranduil announced for them all to walk to the other room. It was almost like that of Rivendell’s but much grander. Arches were carved from many rare or extinct trees; it was a soft cream with a huge roaring fire place in the middle of the room. You could come here to think, sing or just get lost in the old tales of the Elves.

Aragorn asked Althea to be her escort to this room and she smiled a yes at him. She and Aragorn whispered what they both thought of the snotty princess and how Legolas would handle this one. It made them both giggle and laugh at the weird and strange ideas, making Princess Alya turn back every few minutes to look at them.

King Thranduil started up a song. Althea fell silent at once. She knew what he was singing about and it made her stare into the fireplace with great sadness. What the king of Mirkwood sang of was her Mother. Everyone watched not only the King but also Althea. Aragorn wondered why the King was singing something that cut the wound inside of Althea’s heart more. Aragorn would never get a true answer out of King Thranduil for a long time.

She didn’t cry, she didn’t even move as her thoughts turned into memories of her mother and for a long time, even after King Thranduil stopped singing of her mother, she remained within her memories. It wasn’t until Legolas walked slowly over to where she sat.

“Lady Althea?” he whispered as another elf took up to singing something cheerful.

Blinking she looked up as Legolas had to breathe to keep his heart beating; he saw the sorrowful storm that raged within her soul.

“My Prince,” she barely whispered back to him.

Without words, Legolas offered her his hand in for dancing, she accepted it. Through ease and grace, he hugged her close to him while they gracefully twirled around the large room. Something was in the air between the two, everyone felt it as they saw the two of them danced effortlessly around them. King Thranduil did not show any emotion about this, though he was smiling from the inside.

Like that of two jig saw puzzle pieces, Althea and Legolas were meant perfectly for each other. They were both the right height for one another, the softest of touches from one another sent a spark through their souls.

Althea didn’t realize how close she was to him when she forgot that they weren’t dancing anymore. Both of them were leaning closer to each other in a far corner of the room, his eyes fixed on hers. Legolas couldn’t help but wonder how he could another world shining within her dark brown eyes.

She didn’t even see it coming, neither did Legolas or anyone else for that matter. No one saw how fast Princess Alya walked over to the two of them, yanked Althea away and spoke in elvish to her. Not understanding what had happened, besides her arm tingling with pain, she looked back at Legolas as Princess was screaming in Elvish.

“You are never going to be one of us!” Princess Alya growled at her.

“What does that have to with me-”

“If I ever see you near my betrothed, it would look as if your mother’s disappearance look like a grateful get away to Valinor. We all know that it was your fifthly mortal father that killed her out somewhere where no one would hear her pathetic screams for help as he took her life away!” Princess Alya interrupted her.

Anger rose within Althea as Aragorn held her back, “That was not so polite, Princess Alya! You do not know her mother or father, and yet you speak ill will of them, as if you were there and yet you were not!”

“Aragorn, let me go!” Althea hissed at him as she then struggled to get free so she could teach this spoiled rotten Princess a thing or two.

Legolas was appalled from Princess Alya. He thought she would hold some respect towards Althea, but he was wrong on that.

“Take it back, Princess Alya,” he snarled at her.

“What? Taking her side are you? Well, I guess I am not welcomed here,” was all she replied with and walked away.

Althea still struggling with Aragorn; who in his opinion was very strong for a woman. Suddenly, it happened so fast that Aragorn and everyone else was stunned, Althea broke free and ran towards the Princess. With a spin and swing towards Alya, Althea gave everything into that punch. Alya screamed but they were both broken up by Legolas and his father.

“Althea, enough,” Legolas whispered to her as he forced her to walk backwards.

“That is what you dissever you *beep*!” she snarled at Alya, not struggling so much against Legolas.

“You think that was false? Guess again you worthless mortal! Your father murdered your mother so he could be with that ugly disgrace of a woman that you call her step mother,” Princess deadly whispered back, holding onto her broken and bloody nose.

Everyone gasped as Althea stopped struggling altogether with Legolas. The news hit Althea like a gigantic wave from the seas, her father murdered her own mother so he could travel once again with a woman who really didn’t care about the enemy or where she was.

“Yes, you stupid human, I was there when he sliced her with his hunting knife. Her screams echoing around that little cove of rocks! Her blood splashing against the grass as he killed her for his own pleasure,” Alya continued to talk about it as King Thranduil forced her to stop and be taken to her room.

Althea, stumbled away as everyone was very still and silent. Legolas and Aragorn didn’t know what to say about it, for they know Althea’s father and they both know that he wouldn’t do such a thing. Then again, it was a possibility


When she got to her room, Althea crumbled to the floor as she sobbed her heart out. She didn’t hear the quick footsteps nor did she feel her body leave the ground as another body cradled her to him. She cried until she fell asleep. Concern etched onto Legolas’s face as he watched her sleep. King Thranduil was gone for some time until he walked tirelessly into Legolas’s room as he saw his son softly stroking her hair.

“The Princess will stay here until she can journey safely back to her home lands. Until then, my son, I do not want you near her. If she is that horrid, I do not want you to marry her,” he told him, as Aragorn walked in.

“Strider,” Legolas greeted him as Aragorn heavily sighed.

“Even in this great sadness, I must leave for the Shire. I also got some more information out of the Princess. She made it up so that she could hurt Althea greatly. I am sorry,” he gravely replied back to them.

“This is upsetting though I do not understand why the Princess would act this way; Althea is no threat around us or here in Mirkwood. But still, go with peace and stifle,” King Thranduil told him as Aragorn bowed and then walked out of the room.

The next day, that shinning morning, Althea woke up with dread and deep sorrow. She knew her father was harsh with his actions when it came to raising a child, but she also knew that he would never kill her mother, her father loved her mother too much to do something like that.

Still, Althea got out of bed, got dressed after her bath and headed to the great hall to eat breakfast. It was not that exciting, though the elves around her treated her as if she had lived there for years. It was peaceful and calm. Everyone was busy but it was nice to have silence.

After she had eaten and drank her fill, she walked out into a hallway and followed it to the main arch way. When she rounded the corner she saw the courtyard where she arrived with Aragorn a few days ago. Letting her feet decide, she walked out into the woods of Mirkwood.

Her mind wandered on a lot of things while she walked onto a less traveled trail. The playful sun shined within the branches of the trees, the ever-teasing wind played with the ever-dancing leaves, while the little creatures of the forest went about their business of today.

Althea wondered if the Princess’s cruel words were really true. Did her father, her own kin, kill her mother? What was the purpose of doing that? Her father adored her mother from the time that he laid his eyes on her until she disappeared. It was just in the past few years that he got remarried and tried to live on. Even as she walked under the canapé of the forest of Mirkwood, Althea knew that her father will never love another woman like that of Serethiel.

She blinked a couple of times, wondering how she came upon a vast golden field? Looking around herself, Althea walked out into the opening of the field and when she was in the very middle of it, she laid down on the ground. Her mind so full of doubt from the night before, she closed her eyes and fell into an easy slumber.

It wasn’t that long before she felt that of another person within the field. Slowly she opened her eyes, not daring to move just yet as she fingered her small dagger on her left calf. The light but proud footfalls told her that it could be a man. Breathing in she unsheathed her dagger and only looked up an inch with her eyes. The man wasn’t that far away. Shifting her hands under her chest and then waiting for another few seconds, Althea arched from the ground and flung the dagger with all her might at the enemy.

A sharp metal against metal echoed in the field, though the man stopped where he was.

“Have peace, Lady Althea!” King Thranduil told her.

Her eyes cleared of confusion when she saw that it was indeed the King of Mirkwood. His dark green robes shimmered within the sunlight though it made him look very young. So young did the king look that Althea blushed with the thought that he could pass off as his son.

“My lord, I am sorry,” she whispered to him.

“A common mistake made by many. Though your aim was almost spot on,” he replied back with a smile as he walked closer to her, closing the gap between them.

Althea kept her ashamed brown eyes down casted as she did not know what else to say to him.

“Do not be ashamed by what you did, you were resting and I snuck up on you. I thought I could speak with you for a while?” he told her, smiling a little.

Althea didn’t know what to think of this, at one side she could talk to the King of Mirkwood and see what he wants or just say no about the whole thing.

‘My mother knew him and she always said that he was the greatest listener and the most trusted Elf that she has have ever encountered upon this middle-earth.’ She thought as she then nodded to King Thranduil.

Althea watched the King as he hid his emotions within an emotionless expression though his blue eyes were a raging. Raging raw emotions: regret, sorrow, joyful, relief and anger. So many that swirled and blended together that Althea was concern. Concern for the King and what he may tell her.

“You do not remember or know of this memory of your mother, Princess Althea, thou I believe it is time for me to tell you. Oh. Oh yes, yes, you are Princess; of royalty and that of your mother. Many of my kin say that you are almost, in appearance and how you treat others, like your mother.

The memory that I remember and hold very dear to me was when I first met her and that was through my beloved wife, Eleniel. It was long ago when their paths crossed and it was your mother who needed help from a group of spiders. Charging up upon my wife’s horse and started to shot arrow after arrow at the horrid creatures, your mother was forever in debt to my wife and then sooner to I.

“Serethiel was very much like Eleniel, as one would say that they were almost like blood sisters after a many long year of absences from one another. Always laughing and smiling but knew that the truth of the situation that was at hand more than anyone that I knew of. Even the guards were a bit puzzled on how she knew so much and stayed hidden from everyone. Oh yes, your mother stayed at times, to herself and most of us did not know why for a long time.

The memory that I remember, and I am sorry if it has taken this long to just get to it, you must excuse an old elf King for many are memories popping up that I remembered of your mother. Anyway, I was out within this very field, she was lying down just like you were though she has spent almost two years here and knew it was me approaching her.

“What does the King of Mirkwood want from Serethiel, now?” was what she asked me.

“I cannot come and sit with you even though my own son is running around bear naked with his mother chasing after him trying to get him dressed for the coming spring festival?” I asked her in return.”

Althea couldn’t help but smile at this as the King chuckled softly; it seemed that something was haunting him. Ever since her mother died it seemed that the King of Mirkwood wanted to say something important to her, though she couldn’t put her finger on it just yet.

“The Prince of Mirkwood will not get dressed because he knows that it is very boring for a young Elf. There are no games for the children to keep them occupied so that the older elves can socialize and dance to the wonderful spring,” she replied to me.

“Then, I guess, what should I do?”

“Make the Spring Festival, for some time, a ball for him. He will think of how fun it will be and then soon enough he will learn how important the festival really is,”

“Hannon le, Serethiel,” I said to her and I didn’t speak to her again for I had a lot to do that day.

What I didn’t know was that your mother would not be at the festival. Oh no, she was in one of the many gardens here. Speaking to your father for he had come up from the plains of Rohan, rested within Rivendell and made his way through the forests until he reached here. I have only met him thrice times and during those times I felt something heavy on my heart and what that was I do not know.

“Later on that evening, I saw your mother and she looked upset about something. What that something was, was that the enemy found out where she has been hiding all of these years and they were coming for her. So that night, after we celebrated the joyful of spring, I lent her my swiftest stallion and some clothes that would hide her more so from the enemy.

From the silent of the night, she was gone and her husband, your father went with her. It wasn’t until a few short years later I found out she was with child with you, after she had saved my son from an orc attack near the river. She fought to not only save my son’s, her life and yours, but she tried with my beloved wife. I saw the truth singing within her sad exhausted brown eyes as well as my son’s.

“Later that night, she went into labor. I had my best healers surrounded by her and it was very long into the night. Before dawn, she had given birth to you. Yes Althea, you were born here. I do not know what your mother told you where you were born, but you were here for I do remember it as well as my son, Aragorn and Mithrandir or Gandalf.

I made her stay here for three months. Knowing that my heart would be heavy while she had you. The enemy was looking for her severely and so I decided that may be within Rivendell it would much safer for her. Legolas and you were inseparable; he looked after you when your mother needed her rest. Also, Althea, we have never seen the most likely pair of you two. He would make you smile, giggle and be content until it was time for you to have a bottle of milk. Oh yes, he was very protective of you, always had his bow and arrows with his twin knives ready at hand.

“If there never was the most protective elf, it would be my son when you were just beginning your life in Middle-Earth. When you left with your mother four weeks after I discussed with her about both of your safety, I saw something change within him. That change, Althea, has made my son become the way he is today. He knows that something is troubling you, even now, he may not approach you about it but, he does care for you,” King Thranduil said to her.

Althea was quiet. She had a lot to think about from what King Thranduil just told her for she knew her mother, but she didn’t know her life before she was born.

“My lord?” she softly asked him, her eyes were far off not seeing the present time.

“Yes,” he replied, waiting for her question.

“Is that why your son offered his room and stayed completely away from me? Because I was born when his mother died?” she asked him, blinking her eyes towards that of the King’s clear blue eyes.

The King was silent for he knew his son and how his son feels about Althea. Althea waited, hoping to hear what she guessed was true.

“As I have said before to you, Princess Althea, he is very protective of you. Not in the same day did he loose his mother, but he gained a new friend. I shall leave you for you have lots to think over and I need to get back to the palace before my guards come searching for me,” He very carefully worded to her and got up and walked away.

Never in her whole life did Althea was more confused and frustrated by King Thranduil, but she was content for the time being. Lying back onto the long wild grass, Althea heavily sighed and just let her mind wandered. Before long she was asleep and did not know that a pair of crystal blue eyes was watching over her, protecting her while she rested.

* * *
That evening, Althea was getting ready for another evening ball. Brushing through her long dark brown hair, adding a few white flowers within her braids, the only piece of jewelry was her mother’s necklace which was made out of gold, with purple and white diamonds. It was very elegant and perfect for tonight’s event.

Althea had thought over the conversation that she had with King Thranduil; it made her see how much the King himself loved her mother. After she had her nap, Althea wandered about in the forest a bit more and then headed back to the palace as she never suspected a elf within a tree, watching over her as he did when she was just a new born.

After she looked over herself in the mirror, she knew she was ready but she gasped when she heard the knock on the door. Heart pounding, she walked over and twisted the door knob to her right and pulled open the door.

“Yes?” she asked as she saw before her an elf.

Bowing low to her the elf then said “Good Evening, Princess Althea, I am here to escort you to the ball for tonight and hopefully offer you a couple of dances as well,”

Althea’s brown eyes widen at who this he-elf was! Prince Legolas didn’t look like himself: his hair had no braids on the sides but he had his half pony tail as he wore a powder blue vest and matching leggings. His eyes were burn silver like that of his crown, while Althea blushed with embarrassment. She was warring only a medieval style pale ivory dress with a V neckline and waistline and a split down the front of the A line skirt. The sleeves are fitted to the elbow then long flowing chiffon which splits at the elbow.

The dress features intricate but delicate embroidery on the bodice which also runs down the front of the split in the skirt and around the bottom of the fitted part of the sleeves. The dress has a lace up back with modesty panel. The train is approximately 1 and a half foot long.

She looked normal compared to him! Her hair was hanging around her shoulders and the heavenly sent of lavender could be smelled from it and her skin.

“Hannon le, my prince,” she breathlessly replied to him after she got her senses back.

Legolas just smiled softly at her which made her knees shake. Gently taking his arm, Althea was lead out of her room and down the hall way. Many candles were lit for them to see by for the night sky was hidden by dark clouds as the playful stars and singing moon wailed.

Althea felt herself blush with each step that she took while she thought ‘How could this be the same elf that I saw not so long ago? I didn’t mean to stumble across his practicing range area of his bow and arrows. He did look handsome when he took aim at the tragic practice though.’

Legolas didn’t say anything about how beautiful Althea was tonight nor did he say anything earlier this afternoon. He almost let loose his arrow upon her when she tripped over a hidden tree root, he could see that she was still thinking on something, but he didn’t know what her thoughts could be. He couldn’t read them, not like that of Lady Galadriel.

“How are you doing, milady?” he softly asked her, his eyes focused straight a head.

Looking up Althea flushed and whispered “I am fine, my prince. How are you?”

“I am also fine. Thou this afternoon could have been deadly,” he replied, looking at her then.

She held his stare and said “I am sorry, for I did not mean to intrude on you while you were practicing. Have we not discussed this before?”

Legolas chuckled softly “Yes we have, milady and your apology is accounted for. Though, what was it that was troubling you before you saw me?”

“That one, Prince Legolas, is for no one to know about,” she replied to him, looking down.

Legolas stopped walking and turned to her, his arms gently at his sides. His silver eyes held so much concern that Althea thought she could literally drown in them.

“Holding your emotions back can be deadly, Princess Althea. Even the wisest of all elves need to console with someone if they are troubled by their own thoughts and emotions,” he said to her, hoping that that would ease her to letting him know what was on her mind.

Althea sighed heavily before she said “I was thinking about my mother. When she was here and trying to figure out if what I remember fits with what that of your father told me this past afternoon?”

Concern entered Legolas’s heart, he knew what his father told her, he was there within the trees listening.

“You are not alone, my princess. Sometimes in the middle of the night, I would get thoughts of my mother. You would not remember that far back, for you, my princess is half mortal. Your memory would not reach that far when you were just a new born. I however, do remember those days once you were here and they did happen,” Legolas said to her, his silver eyes sadden.

“I am sorry, my prince that I have caused you grief, I did not mean too,”

“Nay, milady. Do not blame yourself for something that happened long ago. But come, we must go to the Ball or my father will frown upon us until the doom of our time,” He told her and once again they were walking down the hallway.

By the time that they entered into the great hall, Althea couldn’t help but stare at how beautiful the great hall looked! Candles were every where and well lit too, elves were dancing, singing, or talking among themselves though Althea could not find the source of where the bright light was coming from. As if she was out of this world, she remembered that Elves glow themselves.

“Well if it isn’t the Prince of Mirkwood who has finally arrived,” they both heard the female voice that belonged to Princess Alya.

Althea wanted to so badly slap her off of her high horse and give her a real sense of what life could like if she wasn’t that being a high born Princess. Legolas however didn’t smile nor did he say anything in return. Sensing the same emotion that she had, Althea gently rubbed her thumb on his forearm and that made him look at her.

The questions swirling within her brown eyes was all Legolas needed to know and they both walked away, not saying anything to Princess Alya as she fumed with pure anger. How dare they ignore her! Just wait until her father hears about how they are treating her.

“My Princess, may I have this dance with you?” Legolas softly asked Althea when they were in the middle of the dance floor.

Glancing around her, since every elf was now looking at them, she blushed as she nodded a yes. Legolas smiling softly at her, he very gently pulled her slim waist towards his, put her left arm around his neck and took her right hand in his. Before Althea knew it, she was dancing very elegantly and gracefully with Prince Legolas.

All around them, every single elf was commenting how perfect the pair were for each other. The people of Mirkwood were smiling and giggling when the couple passed the tables, even King Thranduil was in awe of them.

Althea had a terrible time trying to think of something to say but she couldn’t. His dancing was flawless, flowing and it made her look wonderful as well. Looking down at her, Legolas smiled softly at her.

“You seem quiet tonight, my princess?” he whispered to her.

She flushed very badly and mumbled something that he could barely hear that made him chuckle. It was almost like soothing music to her ears.

“Please do not tell me that you are tongue tied by our dancing?” he teased her a bit.

“Nay, my Prince. For one who can just be in awe of how beautiful this place is, is so overwhelming to one’s mind. I have never been to such a ball, what is all this for?” she said to him, smiling in return.

“That my princess,” he began as he twirled her out and then back into him. “You will understand soon enough,”

Arching a slender eyebrow up at him, Althea held her tongue and just starred at his chest. Althea disliked not being told what was going to happen. She knew that something was up, she knew when she hasn’t seen Aragorn around here.

Legolas breathed softly into her heavenly hair as he slowed their dancing twirls to a slow romantic dance. She rested her head against the breasts of his chest as he rested his chin a top of her head, his blue eyes were fair off.

They weren’t alone with the dancing, almost all of the couples were out on the dance floor and were cuddling and snuggling close to one another while the soft flutes, harps, and soft singing voices of this romantic dance. King Thranduil couldn’t help but smile at the sight before him while he sat on his thrown.

Althea suddenly snapped out of it as she moved out from under Legolas’s chin and looked up at him. He looked down wondering what has gotten into her as she pulled his hand and he followed her. Very quickly they were out of the great hall, down into the front of the palace and quickly into the dark forest of Mirkwood.

The waxing full pale moon was out, dancing with that of the singing bright stars. Althea couldn’t help but smile and giggle softly as Legolas walk right beside her and holding hands as they walked through a hidden path of the forest.

It wasn’t that far into the forest where they both stopped. The sounds of two other living beings were out here too. Heart pounding, knowing that she had brought some sort of weapon with her, then Legolas and her both heard a couple moans.

Instead of fear of that the enemy was within the forest again, that fear turned to anger within Althea. Stomping away, not really caring if the couple did hear her or not, she walked to where they were.

A sharp gasp and the moaning and groaning came to sudden halt. Right before her eyes were Princess Alya and a guard half naked and were pleasuring one another. Hot iron anger coursed through Althea’s veins and bloodstream for she could not understand why Princess Alya would cheat on Legolas with another elf, let alone one of his guards!

Walking steadily towards Princess Alya, Althea swung back and slapped the princess with all her strength. The Princess cried out and then held onto her face as she felt ashamed. Legolas stepped forward as he made Althea walk away after she uttered one word “Glamog” which meant Orc in the common tongue.

“Princess Althea,” Legolas whispered after she was quiet.

They had stopped near a small waterfall and when Althea looked up. Legolas’s clear blue eyes as her anger was quite forgotten when she looked into his eyes, the windows of entering his soul she felt her heart stop. Never was there any being more beautiful then Legolas.

“I am to depart from Mirkwood, to Rivendell. Lord Elrond has also requested for your safety for he knows that you are here, to come to the Last Homely house within Middle-Earth. We will leave within a few days,” he whispered softly to her, trying hard not to startle her with this news.

Althea said nothing in return. She was trying to think of what Lord Elrond would want with her? If he had requested Legolas and herself for something important, she had no choice but to go and see what Lord Elrond wanted. Legolas shifted his weight from one foot to the other, waiting for her to gather her thoughts.

“Alright, we will leave Mirkwood in a few days. Though, my Prince, do you know what he wants from us?” she said to him.

“Yes, but I cannot speak it here,” he told her, taking her hand into his and walking back towards the palace.

Althea felt giddy with happiness, he took her hand again! She was surprised how gentle he was for she has heard stories where the Prince would have his way, yelling and such. With him showing her that he wasn’t at all those things in the stories, she was taken back.

They passed through the entrance hall and then the Great hall as they passed the ball and everyone within it. Legolas escorted her back into the heart of the palace, back to her room. When they approached her room, he opened the wooden door and let her pass by him as he walked inside after her and closed the wooden door.

_________________

Legolas, Prince of Mirkwood.

Chapter 3: The departure from Mirkwood.
Authion. Wild, noble but only one being could ride him. That being, was calling him by long low whistles. A branch snapped in half when she turned around at the sudden noise, his golden rich body with his midnight black mane and tail flowed in the light breeze. Lowering his proud noble head, he looked into her brown sweet gentle eyes. His ears twitched forward and backward until Althea reached out towards her wild buckskin stallion.

“Authion,” she whispered with joy as he snorted in bowed his head in greeting in return.

While she has been staying within the palace of Mirkwood, Authion has been traveling all over the forest trails, valleys and foothills of the Misty Mountains. Orcs hunting him but he was always one step a head of them and lead them into their own deaths with the Rangers of the North.

“How are you my beautiful friend?” she asked him, her hand petting his nose, neck and his itchy spots that she knows of.

Authion’s head arched up, his upper lip moved upward and moved about as she found one of his itchy spots. Giggling a bit at how her stallion was enjoying this, stopped scratching that one spot as he snorted with annoyance and heavily sighed.

Althea smiled only to her self when she started to walk slowly into the tangle forest of Mirkwood. She didn’t notice the faint trail that she was walking upon that headed towards the old forest road and where the Celduin or River Running, in the common tongue, was.

Playfully Authion nudged her shoulder as he trotted a head of her as he swished his long midnight black tail at her. Not going to let him get away with this, Althea bolted after him. For a mortal chasing after a horse that was very fast in speed, she knew that she would never catch him, though many did not know him like she did.

Ears back and digging his hind legs into the soft ground, Authion charged forward and away from Althea as she couldn’t help but giggle at him. He gave a playful buck and cantered away into the forest. Slowly down to a walk, Althea just walked the rest of the way towards the loud running Celduin.

Low hanging branches annoyingly got in the way as Althea made her way towards the banks of Celduin. The wild ferns covered forest floor like a thick warm blanket, the bank of the hill suddenly disappeared as Althea had to walk slowly down it. Before her eyes, the swift running Celduin was passing by as she listened to the surroundings around her.

She knew Authion would come charging at her if she had her guard down. A few second went by before she looked around herself.

‘What is that splashing sound?’ she asked herself as she walked down into the waters of Celduin and followed the sound until she stopped very suddenly.

Right before her eyes, well muscled and flawless was his half naked body. Blushing at the very sight of Legolas bathing within the Celduin, Althea started to back away. The loud splashing sounds made him turn around and it was then that Althea stopped breathing. The way his ice blue eyes pierced through her, the soft ease of his smile, and how easy it was for him to just ignore the fact that she had stumbled upon him bathing.

His long hair was damp and a much darker and rich golden color as he walked slowly over to her. The water line stayed where it was, never going any further down, it stayed where it was.

“Mára aurë. Manen nalyë? <Hello>” Legolas asked her, his eyes grazing over her body and then settled onto her surprised brown eyes.

Speechless she was, for she has never seen him naked nor does she wants to interrupt his bathing.

“Mára aurë, nin- cón. An anno- nin, <Hello>” she replied back, knowing that she was a bit rusty with her elvish.

“What is there to forgive milady? It was not your fault that I would be here,” he spoke to her in the common tongue.

Blushing at his statement, Althea looked down into the water.

“Princess Althea,” she heard him whispered to her.

Bright were her auburn eyes as she lifted her gaze back onto that of Legolas. He, with his hand and index finger, was beckoning her to him. Blood rushing to her face, Althea didn’t move for she was frighten on what might happen if they pushed it too far already.

Legolas, beautiful as he was, walked forward, as he was making the water line go dangerously low on his naked body. Panic raced through Althea’s heart as she saw him striding over to her though she was relieved that she saw his leggings still on.

“My Princess, will you not join me for a swim?” he whispered softly to her when he had reached on the shore.

“I cannot, my Prince. We need to pack and yet you are out here bathing or wanting me to join you for a swim?” she replied back sweetly.

Legolas nodded and then walked past her towards the shore where he left his tabard. Althea followed him until they both herd the heavy footfalls that of a horse. Legolas; being a prince and fearing that it might be the enemy, pushed Althea behind him with his bow and arrow drawn and ready to fire upon.

Authion came galloping up towards Althea who pushed Legolas’s bow and arrow down to the ground as she walked up to her stallion. Neighing and rearing up on his hind legs with joy, Authion came back down on his front legs as he let her pet him.

“Easy, my friend. You might want to neigh next time when you seek me out,” she whispered to him, wrapping her arms around his thick proud neck.

Legolas was surprised and in complete awe of her stallion. Althea was normal in height of her race, though she looked small compared to her powerful and majestic horse. A bright golden coat he had with his mane and tail pitch black that of coal. He was a beautiful sight to behold and even though he acted childish with her now; fake bites and galloping away and then coming back, Legolas couldn’t help but respect her stallion and friend.

“What is his name, my princess?” he asked her, not taking a step towards them as he put his tabard back on.

After Althea settled her stallion down she whispered “Authion. Authion is his name though at times he acts like a new born foal,”

“Authion, a star. Where is his star?” Legolas asked her.

“When he was younger he had five white hairs in the middle of his forehead. Now though, he has none but I was very joyful when I named him a few years back,” she replied to him as she mounted her stallion.

Legolas stayed where he was until he saw Authion trotted towards him and stopped with a low bow. Without thinking twice, Legolas mounted the young stallion as he stood up and tossed his head with a rear and a neigh. Wrapping his arms around Althea’s slim waist as he gripped his inner thighs on Authion’s rib cage as they moved at a very fast trot.

“My Prince?” Althea said to him.

“Yes milady?”

“When will we leave Mirkwood?”

“Soon, Princess Althea but with royal guards this time,”

“I handled myself until that stupid spider attacked me by surprise,”

Legolas chuckled softly to himself “I’m sure you did,”

The very powerful smell of rain or grapefruit with herbs that smelled exactly like rain was filling Althea’s nose to the point where she was getting dizzy. Leaning back into his chest, she closed her eyes and inhaled deeply.

“Are you alright?” she heard him in a whisper.

“I will be,” she answered him as they walked through the thick forest and came back into the glade of the Palace.

“We will leave this afternoon,” Legolas then answered her, hoping that they will reach Rivendell before the Council meeting.

Later that day, Althea was feeling much better and that she was on her way to Rivendell with Legolas and five of his best royal guards. All of them were carrying their own clothes, food and water that should last them until they got to Rivendell.

Althea was sad that she had to leave King Thranduil as she now understood why her mother spoke so highly of him. He was pleasant, sensible and considerate when it came to her. When it came to the other Princess had left early in the morning; they were only giving them a head start, King Thranduil was very stern and truthful towards her.

As they road through the rest of the afternoon and evening, they did not encounter any spiders or orcs which was odd. They camped when it was just twilight of the night and let their horses and they rest.

Althea was fast asleep before the others and this concerned the Prince greatly. They didn’t do much except ride almost all day and evening. Consulting this to one of his royal guards, Saeldur.

“My Prince, have you forgotten that quickly that she is part mortal too? Her soul must be tired from a long days ride,” he told him as Saeldur kept watch for the first half of the night.

“I must have-?” he started but glanced towards where Althea was laying down.

What caught the Prince’s ear was a soft terribly moan that came from Althea herself. Saeldur wrinkled his brows together with concern as Legolas was on his feet at once, walking towards her.

“Althea, please, awake my princess,” Legolas said to her with a soft shake of her shoulder.

Snapping her eyes open, breathing hard as if she had run fifty miles. Fear was clearly present within her dark brown eyes. Legolas let her get into a sitting position but what he did not expect for her to do was start to cry.

Troubled and alarmed by this, Legolas picked her up into his arms and walked over to the fire. Althea clung onto him as if she were a baby, but it tore at his heart to see her like this.

“Althea, what is wrong?” he said to her after he sat them down on the ground near the warmth of the bright fire.

Althea said nothing in return. She couldn’t speak just yet of her nightmare. It was the same one; like that she had the night before. Tears ran down her face as she snuggled more so into Legolas who was greatly concern for her now.

“My Princess?” he said to her, hoping that would make her speak of whatever she dreamed of.

The soft tenderness of his voice, the ringing of supplest of bells, calmed her mind and heart. Making her realize that she was not dreaming at all and that she awake. Legolas started to rub her shoulders as he did whenever she was quiet as a baby.

“I dreamt of my mother,” she began as he remained silent. “She was screaming at me to run. But where should I run? And why? I couldn’t understand as I began to run. Then I was within a battle, orcs all around me, fighting and shouting with strange men. Men that have not been seen for a very long time.

“I saw a white figure that I thought I saw Saruman, but he wasn’t exactly like Saruman- he was very different some how. Then I saw him. I saw the Eye of Sauron. Searching, always searching…for me,”

Tightening his arms around her, Legolas held her near to him. She snuggled into him as her fears were settling down.

“Do not fear, Nîn Meleth,” he whispered to her as she very slowly fell back asleep.

Legolas held onto her until he was certain that she was in a very deep sleep. He did not move them ‘til an hour had gone by nor did he move away from her for he, himself, never wanted to see her that upset. Oh yes he knew that she would dream that nightmare again but not from this journey. For now though, Legolas lay still and let Althea sleep on top of him in the peaceful starry night.

_________________

Legolas, Prince of Mirkwood.

Chapter 4: Getting to know one another.

Althea was laughing. She was laughing with Legolas. They were riding out on their horses and he just told her on how his father got him to learn the history of Middle-Earth.

“So you were teaching your father while he acted like a little boy and you the parent?” she giggled at him.

“Yes milady,” Legolas said to her, smiling and laughing too.

Althea had a good giggle fit on that for some time. Legolas then was silent for he was well within his thoughts. He was relieved that she was laughing again, that night when she woke up and needed comfort from him, he will never forget it. It shook his entire being that she was troubled by her nightmares. It was a few days out and they still had a long way to go until they reached Rivendell.

Noticing the Prince falling silent, Althea was silent too though she could not help but wonder what made him so silent. Was it the old memories when he was growing up or was it a completely different matter altogether? Whatever it was, the guards seemed to relax a bit. She noticed with irritation that the guards would close in on them when they were laughing and talking about a lot of stuff and then when they were not, they fall back and be relaxed.

The one thing that aggravated Althea more was when she was trying to talk to Legolas, a Royal guard would be in between them, forcing them apart instead of letting them be together. It annoyed her so much that she lashed out on them when she noticed it. Legolas got upset with her about snapping at his royal guards which in turn, turned that into an argument the second day that they were out from Mirkwood. Last night was the same as the pervious one: her moaning and crying out in her sleep until Legolas had to wake her up.

It tore Legolas apart that she could not have a peaceful sleep. The argument that happened during the day was long forgotten as she slept on top of him again.

Althea blinked and then glanced over at Legolas, her heart was racing with emotions that shouldn’t be there. Authion flatten his tan ears back and was itching for a run thou Althea did not allow it.

Hearing whispers from the royal guards, Althea heavily sighed and gave on soft squeeze of Authion and he shot forward. Legolas nudge his horse into a full gallop as well as Authion was much too fast for him to catch them.

“Althea, daur!” He shouted at her, but Authion speed up.

“Authion, easy boy,” she whispered to him as he locked his legs, skidded to a halt and reared with an angry neigh.

“Althea, do you mind telling me what was going through your head when you bolted like that?!?” Legolas angrily asked her when he caught up to them.

Glaring at him she then said “He is young and even though I pull back and tell him no, he does not listen to me. What am I to do with him? Smack him along side the head and teach him a lesson? Whip him to the point of he is frighten of me? No! He is my stallion and unless you have forgotten, Prince, he feelings everything that I am feeling, so forgive not just him but me as well!”

A couple of the royal guards got in between them as Authion bared his teeth and snapped at them. He hated this just as much as Althea did, so not to hurt the prince, she gave her young stallion a hard nudge and cantered away. Legolas felt an understanding with her but also hurt by her actions more then her words.

For the rest of the day she dared not speak to him or go anywhere near him. Always out in front and at a very fast pace as Authion would buck, kick and bite if a royal guard would ride up beside him.

Althea was over her irritation with the prince as she had almost all day to think. Her emotions were well hidden from the others and that included Legolas. Authion felt all of her emotions as he would act upon them, bucking, kicking, biting, galloping as fast as he could go and neighing as if he was called to battle.

Legolas knew that something was going on within Althea’s mind. What her thoughts and emotions were he could only guess. He saw her slump within her saddle but would straighten out and trot forward, always a length or two ahead of him. At other times he would see her shoulders shake on their own accord.

He left her be, knowing that words would only anger her more. His guards where whispering about her rude behavior towards their prince and were calling her nasty names.

“Dain!” he ordered them and they fell silent.

Later on that night, Althea was up for her watch and even though she didn’t mind it, it actually gave her some time to think. Even though she has been thinking all day; well some parts of the day at least, she couldn’t help but think about Legolas.

Yes she knew that he was different from her own race, immortal elf and all, but she couldn’t figure out what was so different about him then his royal guards or any other elf for that matter.

‘His family knows mine, no big deal there. He protected me while I was just a new born, watched over me while my mother rested. So what is so different about him?’ she thought to herself, gazing into the flickering warmth of the fire.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw one of the guards get up from his bed roll and walk over to her. She normally didn’t speak to them but he seemed troubled by something.

“Is everything alright, Sir?” she asked him, never taking her eyes off of his movements.

Dark raven black hair he had, cascading down his shoulders and stopping just the middle of his back. Clouded gray eyes he had, but they were of the color steel. His name was Herion and he acted well towards the meaning of his name which was chief.

He didn’t say anything in return to her. He just sat there and starred into the flickering flames of the slow burning fire. Althea remained silent; she knew that Herion was giving her a very hard time on this journey to Rivendell. She knew that it was him by the whispers that always came from behind her and Legolas.

“Why did come to Mirkwood? The prince was fine without you,” he hissed at her like that of a rattlesnake.

Looking up at him, Althea whispered “My father remarried to a woman who was abusing me, let alone her children from several different marriages,”

Like that of a lightning strike, Herion turned to her and hissed “So you think you could come and live among us? Your mother was nothing more than a tramp in Mirkwood. Poisoning the mind of the King and the Prince, let alone the queen. When I saw the Queen socializing with your tramp of a mother, I knew it would end terribly and it did. She was murdered by a group of orcs and leaves the Kingdom in disarray.

Later on that same day, that very night the tramp has you. She lets the king sees you, letting him think you were safe and letting his son; the remaining sane elf around these parts, protect you. Watching over you as if you were from Valar itself,”

“What is it that I offend you so greatly? What was it that made you so bitter that you can easily taste it like Iron?” Althea snarled back at him, her eyes keen on his every move.

SMACK!

Althea was thrown backward by the sudden surprise of Herion backhanding her. Tears welled up within her eyes and frightfully looked up at Herion but someone was standing over her, a bow cocked with an arrow that was ready to be fired upon.

“You are relieved of this company, Herion. For I have heard and witnessed everything that you two have said to each other. And if I ever see you backhand Althea or any kind of woman, you will no longer be with the Mirkwood Elves or any other of our kind,” Legolas whispered very angrily at Herion who face had paled.

The other elves were awake and were glaring at Herion who started to back away from the company until he mounted his horse and rode away. With keen eyes, Legolas followed him until he could no longer see him. Althea didn’t move, her senses were still getting over the shock but she wished that Legolas had one of his other guards to ride with Herion back to Mirkwood.

Swiftly turning around, Legolas kneeled down in front of her as she backed up away from him. Hurt swirled around his blue eyes as he stayed where he was. Althea stopped and started to cry softly to herself. Legolas opened his arms to her as she hesitantly moved towards him.

When she was completely in his arms, trembling with hurt, Legolas held her close to him, rubbing his hands up and down her back, letting her go through her emotions.

“My Prince,” one of the other guards stated to him.

“I will take care of her, thou if any you three harm her like Herion just did, I will not be ashamed to battle you,” Legolas replied back to them as they nodded.

“My Prince, we have been trying to keep this from preventing however, it has happened and we would never harm Princess Althea let alone put such poisons words into her mind and soul,” one of them said to Legolas who was hugging Althea to him.

“Legolas,” Althea whispered to him as he felt her tense before she broke down crying again.

Confusion and understanding he tighten his hold a bit as Legolas held onto her, rubbing his hand up and down her back, and gently kissing her forehead every now and then.

Exhausted from her tears and situation Althea fell into a very deep sleep. After Legolas made sure that she was completely asleep, he picked her up and walked over to his bedroll. Snuggling into his chest, Legolas didn’t know if she was awake or not was very still. A minute went by before Legolas pulled the blanket over their bodies and was in a state of sleep.

A couple days went by and Althea was talking and telling Legolas every memory that she has ever had that she could remember. Her fears and the nightmares that will not go away.

Legolas’s remaining royal guards, Manwë, Aranion, Maldor, and Hirnaeranin were starting to get to know Althea as well. Most of the time, they would join in when Legolas was telling a story or two of his growing up in Mirkwood. They would make the Prince blush and smile with embarrassment though he did not mind it.

They finally were out of the forest, heading down towards the foothills and valleys of middle-earth. It was very long; sometimes Althea would be walking and giving her very spunky stallion a chance to run until she whistled to him for his return.

Legolas would join her on her walks as the royal guards would remain on their horses. During the night, when Althea was sleeping on top of Legolas, she would not have any of her nightmares.

Very slowly, the days went by as Althea started to be more quiet then usual. Her stallion kept on acting up to the point where she would let him run off on his own and she would either walk or ride on Legolas’s horse. Legolas didn’t understand why he was acting up so much, though Althea just let it go.

Gradually the valleys turned into small plains as they in turn, turned into mountains as they journeyed through the misty mountains. It took them a week to get through the mountains. Sometimes Althea had to be carried thanks to the freezing snow by one of the guards, but Legolas would scout ahead and would come back either saying it was alright to go ahead or to stay where they were.

“Legolas, what was my mother like?” she asked him one day as she was riding in front of him again.

He scooted her more closely to him and tightened his hold on her a bit as he sighed. Yes he knew of her mother, but it was hard to discuss about her mother because Serethiel was like the mother that he lost long ago.

“Legolas?” she asked him again, turning her shoulders as she could look into his eyes.

“She was very much like you. Caring, passionate and stubborn you two are, though when you two feel like it, you two can become very stern,” he whispered into her ear as he wouldn’t say anymore.

Althea was surprised by his answer as she felt his sadness. Leaning back into him and snuggling into his chest, she rested her hands onto his upper thighs as she closed her eyes. Barely touching her forehead, she felt his lips ghostly touch her from him.

“Hannon le,” he whispered almost to himself.

The others, Manwë, Aranion, Maldor, and Hirnaeranin were some what in awe of the Prince and Princess. It wasn’t the conversation that the two shared; it was just the sight of them. You could feel the love radiating from the two thou they weren’t in love yet. It was just by the sight of them, you could tell that they would make a very powerful couple whenever that happens.

Legolas kept his thoughts to himself but he was very troubled by something. What that something was, he could not tell. It wasn’t Althea or his royal guards, it was apart of some greater force. The closer that they crept to Rivendell the more powerful the feeling got.

Authion had come back, tugging on the reins of Legolas’s horse that would buck from annoyance but Authion would stop and neigh angrily to his horse and then settle down.

Althea didn’t understand it just as much as Legolas could. The season around them was slowly changing, Althea could feel it within the restless air and ground. She was walking beside Legolas and his horse when she saw her young stallion come galloping, his powerful legs pushing into the ground as he propelled forward for her.

Her brown eyebrows were knitted in confusion as he had his ears flatten against his neck. Legolas then muttered to himself something in elvish but Althea could tell that it wasn’t a good thing to say.

“Authion, what’s wrong?” she whispered against the wind as he drew near to her.

Neighing with fright, Authion slid to a halt and nudge her to the point it looked like the young stallion would harm her. Althea stumbled and tripped a lot but she knew something was wrong.

“Authion, dár!” Legolas cried at him as Authion wouldn’t let any of the guards or Legolas near her.

Stopping and glaring at him, Authion then charged at Legolas as Althea was getting back on her feet again. Legolas swiftly turned his horse away and galloped away until he saw Authion galloping easily next to him.

“Authion, stop!” Althea cried at him and was running when she heard a loud smacking sound.

Fear gripped her heart as she saw Authion buck as Legolas’s horse and canter back to her. Fear was then replaced with anger as she rushed over to Authion who had his drooped down, as if he was ashamed of something.

“Legolas, what on earth did you do to him!” she snapped at the Prince who rode back to her.

“I did nothing-!”

“Oh that is utter bull! He was trying to tell me something and you had to go and smack him!”

“I had no other choice, what else could I-”

“He was trying to show you something that your eyes failed to see!!” Althea shouted at him as she mounted her stallion and with a soft nudge sent him into a easy gallop with his head down.

Legolas felt anger at her and didn’t ride after her. If she wanted to act like a child, let her! He didn’t care.

Days passed and when they were about less then 100 leagues from Rivendell. The trees were changing as well as the landscape itself. Little clumps of trees were dotted here and there, but the soil was softer here, easy enough for the horses to gallop upon.

Suddenly as if Althea was expecting it, the land grew cold and hard as a cold wind came blowing through with that of a harsh scream upon it. Authion neigh with challenge and of fright. Legolas and the other elves around her gave her a sheer cry but Authion darted away with four black riders riding right behind her.

“Althea!” Legolas cried but he could do nothing about it as he watched in horror as the black riders of Mordor chased after her like some sort of animal for sport and fun.

_________________

Legolas, Prince of Mirkwood.

Chapter 5: Althea’s Bane.
Fear gripped her heart but an understanding from long ago was flowing through her like that of an ancient river. Thousand of years were felt through Althea as she rode swiftly from the four black riders. She finally understood what her mother went through when Sauron was at his peek of power. All of the knowledge that she got from her mother was suddenly sprung up into her mind.

She didn’t see him, nor did she have time to pull on the reins of Authion’s bridle. The trees held their secrets as she felt an iron hot of metal pierced her right shoulder from one of the Nazgul.

Racing after what they had seen, Legolas wanted to protect Althea as much as he could but the horses stopped abruptly when all of them heard the loud piercing scream that was well ahead of them.

“Althea,” Legolas whispered fearfully and nudged his horse into a fierce gallop with his royal guards right on his heel.

Authion gave a loud cry and galloped away with the rest of the ring wraiths behind him. Nasty cries and hisses were made from them as they drew closer and closer. Althea felt the pain seeping into her body like that of a poison; her heart pounding wildly, the ringing within her ears was loud and noisy and then she heard the one who stabbed her.

“Give up, Maiden Althea, the dark lord is waiting for you after this,” he hissed evilly with a sick smile sound to her.

“Never,” she whispered back as Authion had to gallop near the Loud River.

It was hard for Authion and that of Althea for it took them an hour to get the Ring wraiths off their trail and stay in the forest. Althea’s idea was to go a round until they reached the Fjord. Yes it might take them a bit longer to reach Rivendell, but it was the safest place to cross the Loud River.

Authion was always galloping, cantering or trotting for he knew that his mistress has fallen ill. Night came and Althea was stunned that she could see so easily of the shadows from the darkness of the night. It was comforting to her hurtful eyes as she felt the pain worsen in her right shoulder.

On her own, Althea would never get off her horse though she was tired and wary. Authion stood watch as they had chosen a small glade that was semi hidden with bushes and trees. That night Althea cried out in her sleep but the black riders never came forward to claim her. They knew what was haunting her dreams and so they left her be.

Dawn broke and Althea was awoken by the nudge of Authion. Her breathing was harder now, the poison from the blade was now fully within her body and that of her blood stream. As she felt her heart thudding harder now to just keep oxygen flowing through out her body, she grew tired by just getting up and mounting her horse; who rocketed forward towards the Fjord.

As the day grew into the afternoon, Althea felt lost. It was hard going around and even harder from her wounded shoulder but she pressed on, knowing that her route would be safest for her. Authion never stopped nor did he slow down to a trot, he had to get his mistress some help and fast.

Slowly the high noon sun was beating down upon them as Althea thought of Legolas, King Thranduil, Aragorn, her mother and father. The more she thought of them the pain grew even more. It was like that of an ivy plant, sucking all of her health out of her as she gets one step closer to death.

The sounds of water splashing reached her dull ears, though this was not the Fjord. It was the birth of the Loud River. Here the currents were strong; they branched off into lots of smaller rivers but always flowed at a Southwest. The river was up to Althea’s thighs, Authion had to swim to get across as his ears flatten against his head. The cries of the Black Riders were nearby.

With one of the currents, it swept Althea out of her saddle and she barely held her breathe as she went under the water. Her numb hands moved around, feeling the best she could, for a rock to hold onto. It wasn’t until she grabbed hold of a rock that sliced the top of her hand as she held onto it. Forcing herself up against the fast moving waters, Althea breathed in some air but when she saw Authion on the other side of the bank, she kicked her numb legs forward and just went with the current-not against it.

By the time that she had gotten to the shallow pools of the bank, she was breathing a lot harder than before and was shivering. Authion dipped his head as she held onto his neck as he lifted her up.

“Thank you boy,” She whispered to him as he then bowed down to her.

Smiling a little at her young stallion, she climbed onto his back as he then got up and started to trot when the cries of the Black Riders were fierce. She looked behind her when she saw the four of them on the other side of the bank, rearing up on their horrid pitch black steeds and crying for her to come back.

“Run, boy. Run as if the wind is on your tail,” she frightfully told Authion as he then kicked it into high gear.

That night, she was shivering so badly that Authion had to stop, Althea slowly slid down as he then laid down next to her. The warmth that invaded her mind was overwhelming but she welcomed it with open arms. Authion kept watched as Althea fell into a very deep cold sleep.

Her dreams were that of Legolas and herself. It was when she was born, very young memories she saw in her dreams but she knew that they were real.

~*~
“Legolas?” King Thranduil called out, he was searching for his son.

“Yes, Father?” he softly heard from a little area of the gardens.

Walking over to where he was, King Thranduil smiled at the sight before him; Legolas was laying down with a very newborn baby Althea sleeping on her back on his chest. Legolas could not have been that of a teenager in the Mortal Man race, but he was much older than that in his own Elven race.

“How is she doing?” King Thranduil asked him, kneeling down so that he wouldn’t have to stand.

“She’s so quiet, Father. She does not fuss or cry like that of Mortal Man, she only looks at you with her big blue eyes and blinks and you can see what she wants within them. The only time that she did fuss was when I had to change her and that was over a hour ago,” Legolas replied in amazement of Althea.

King Thranduil smiled “Yes, she is very special, Legolas. What else, son, are you confused on?”

His son looked over at him before he looked back to little Althea who moved and her hands spasmed out a bit before relaxing again.

“What is her race, Father? Her mother is a elf, but her father is that of the Dúnedain? So what does that make her?” Legolas asked him, rubbing softly one finger up and down Althea’s small back.

“She is that of the Men, my son. She is a Dúnedain but has the choice to become a elf if she wants too,” His father finally answered his son.

“How? How can she if she is that of the race of Men?” Legolas curiously asked him, his eyes never leaving small peaceful face.

“That is something that I do not know of, Legolas,” His father told him.

~*~
Althea opened her exhausted eyes and saw that it was a new day and that she had to get going. Her muscles ached and her mind was weary though her spirit was very strong, if she didn’t make it to the fjord today then she knew was going to die by the wound in her shoulder. She mounted her horse and sat there listening.

“Authion, Rivendell,” she whispered to stallion who was already up and eating the small patches of grass.

With this command, Authion shot forward from their sleeping area. Althea felt the tension within the air, she could smell it with every breathe, something was going to happen and it was going to be bad.

Most of the morning she rode until she saw the road to the fjord. Sighing in relief, she quickly nudged her stallion to go a bit faster. A cold wind came down with that carried a horrible cry. Althea’s heart stopped with fear as she turned around to look behind her. There all four of them on their terrible steeds were the Black Riders.

Authion neighed like he was going into Battle and sprang even faster towards the fjord.

“Give up, Maiden Althea! We are here to claim you!” one of them hissed at her.

“No! Leave me alone! You will never have me!” she screamed at them.

All of the Black Riders laughed at this as one of them replied “Oh but we will, Maiden Althea. You will be taken to Saruman after today!”

“NEVER!” she cried back as Authion continued to gallop away.

Before long she heard that of splashing once more of the Loud River and up the steep bank. Suddenly, something that stirred within her soul she felt young again.

“Valinor avo etelehta le cirith! <Valinor>” Althea cried out as she started to hear a very loud noise from the river.

The four black riders were wadding through the waters of Loud River when the river itself came alive. Rushing forward it did, coming at them like that of a command, though Althea knew she was safe for now. Authion snorted as he then cantered away with Althea passed out on top of him as she knew no more.

_________________

Legolas, Prince of Mirkwood.

Chapter 6: Dreams, reunions and understandings.
“Althea, what are you doing?” her mother softly chuckled at her, as she walked on wobbly legs towards the end of the hallway.

Giggling and pure laughter. Her small little legs carried her into the tall thick grass fields as the forbidden forest loomed around her. Not too far away was a very breath taking beautiful dark hair, fair flawless face with bright hazel green eyes woman.

“Althea, stay in the meadow please,” Serethiel told her worrying a bit when she only saw her daughter’s head a few feet away.

“Lady Serethiel, I will watch after her,” came a very young voice beside her.

Glancing to her left she saw the young Prince Legolas as he walked past her and out where Althea was.

“Hannon le, Legolas,” she replied to him as she knew he had heard her.

“Even thou you are mother, Serethiel, you know she will be alright around here in Mirkwood,” She heard Aragorn say to her.

“Yes but a mother will never stop worrying about her child or children, Strider,” she replied keeping her eyes on where Legolas was running around with an excited Althea on his shoulders.

Aragorn didn’t say anything as he knew she was right for his own mother did when she was dying on her bed.

“Is this where the council meeting starts, Serethiel?” King Thranduil softly asked as he too joined them.

Smiling softly at his little joke Serethiel replied “No, milord. My daughter wanted to be out in the meadows of your kingdom and your son offered to be with her,”

“I know that I suggest this idea every now and then, but I am going to do so again, what do you think of my son and your daughter marrying one another?” he asked her, knowing her answer already.

Serethiel however was thinking of that the past couple of days for she knew within her heart that the young Prince of Mirkwood was slowly starting to love her daughter.

“What if I agree to your idea?” she whispered to the King of Mirkwood.

Surprise was written over his face as he didn’t know what to say about this. Yes his son has had many offers but King Thranduil knew that his son was starting to love Princess Althea as she slowly grew from a baby to a toddler and hopefully into a young woman.

“Then we will have to discuss this matter within my”

“No, now,” Serethiel interrupted him.

Something wasn’t right and Serethiel knew it as King Thranduil and Aragorn noticed it within her bright worried eyes.

“Alright, we will do it here,” King Thranduil told her as an elf came up with a table, another came up with parchment leaves, ink bottle and several quills.

King Thranduil started to write as he made out the main purpose of this marriage of their children. Serethiel added a few things of her own as King Thranduil nodded in agreement and when all of it was over with they both signed it with Aragorn being a witness to it all.


~*~
Althea ran through the hallways, she was older now, around the age of 9 and she couldn’t wait to see Legolas again. Her mother was talking to the King of Mirkwood and it bored young Althea to pieces so she snuck out and wanted to see Legolas at once.

Running down another hallway, she slowed down to a walk as she heard voices. One was of a male and the other of a female. When she stopped to listen to the strange language of the elves, Althea heard one voice that she knew anywhere.

“Legolas, do you really have to look after her?” the female asked him.

“I am not looking after Althea, she is a very good daughter that of our family friend. You would be surprised on well behaved she is,” he replied back to her and then walked down the corridor where Althea was.

Panicking Althea quickly thought of something and started pace around. When she heard Legolas round the corner and walk up to her, she stopped and looked behind her.

“Hello, Princess Althea. I do hope your journey to Mirkwood was safe,” he greeted her with a soft smile.

“Hello Prince Legolas and yes it was. Guess what Mom just got me?!” she asked him, jumping up and down on her heels.

Smiling at her excitement he said “What did she get you?”

“Your suppose to guess, but she got me a horse! He’s young, just a baby he is, we had to bring his mother too,” she squealed with delight.

Legolas knew something had happened if they had to bring a mare and her foal along the way. Kneeling down to her height, Legolas looked at Althea for she didn’t know what was wrong.

“That is a huge responsibility for such a young Princess. Are you sure that you are going to take care of him?” Legolas teased her a bit.

“Yes, mom told me so herself before we got off her horse,” Althea replied back, confused.

“Do you know where she is?” Legolas then asked her.

“She’s with your father, talking to one another. Very boring if you ask me. They don’t do anything except talk all the time these days,” Althea complained to him as he got up from the ground and took her hand in his.

“How about we go and join them. I am guessing they don’t know where you are?” he guessed.

“But I don’t want to, Legolas,” Althea whined at him.

“I need to talk to your mother, Althea,” He replied back, smiling at how strong willed she was.

Pouting just a bit, she nodded her head and began to walk forward. Legolas couldn’t help but chuckle softly at how she was reacting to all of this.

Althea glanced over her shoulder and saw a very beautiful she-elf that was glowing in the later afternoon sunlight. She couldn’t help but wonder why she was here, who was she and what were she was talking about with Legolas?

~*~
Slowly she felt comfort all around her, soft as silk one might say. Even though her eyelids felt heavy she forced herself to open them. When she did she swathe ceiling of her room and then looked down at her room; the sun soft rays were pouring in her room with that of the sounds from forest and waterfalls were soothing.

A wooden wardrobe against the far wall that lead into what she guessed was the bathroom. She glanced to her left and saw a huge spacious balcony that over looked Rivendell.

“I see you have woken up,” she heard a old raspy voice from her right.

Looking over to where the voice came from she saw Gandalf standing in her door way. She couldn’t help but smile a little though she wanted to sit up except her right arm wouldn’t allow her to do so.

“Lord Elrond will see to you about your arm however for the time being, Princess Althea, you will have to stay in bed til this evening,” Gandalf told her, seeing her discomfort to try and use her right arm.

She nodded to him, not knowing if she could use her voice or not. Her memory was a jar; her arm was fine this morning, she wasn’t supposed to be at Rivendell right now, she was suppose to be riding out towards Mirkwood.

“What day is it?” she asked Gandalf, as he sat in a chair close to her bed.

“It is October the 20th and its high noon. Prince Legolas was very worried about you when he brought you here. Lord Elrond was frightened that you might have been slain from the enemy, thou you weren’t. You have a very strong will and brave for making that decision when you did,” he replied back to her.

“About what?” she asked him, confused as ever.

Gandalf didn’t reply back at once, for he knew the wheels in her head were starting to turn again; it was just taking a little while to get them to turn. Then suddenly, as if she was reliving through all of her memories when she left Rivendell to Mirkwood and then back again, she gasped. She remembered every single one of her memories.

“Legolas,” She whispered and tried to push herself up, though Gandalf gently pushed her back down.

Ignoring this Althea successfully pushed herself up and rested against her pillows. Gandalf however was beaming with pride for he knew that she wasn’t going to just lie in bed, her and Legolas were one almost.

“The Prince of Mirkwood is out in one of the gardens of Rivendell, Princess Althea,” She heard another voice.

Looking to her doorway again, she saw Lord Elrond. He too looked relived that she was awake.

“How is he?” she asked him when Lord Elrond walked over to her bed.

“Worried, concern, and trying to understand something that you will later, know of it,” Lord Elrond answered her, checking her right shoulder.

Nodding to him, Althea saw another elf come in.

‘When will they just leave me be? Yes I know I took a wound from the enemy, but please. I need my space and I need to see Legolas at once.’ She thought irritably to herself.

The she-elf that came in had a tray full of all sorts of food that made Althea’s stomach growl with approval. Gandalf and Lord Elrond let her be as she ate her late breakfast. Though she was awake, her thoughts kept turning back to Legolas and the last thing she saw before she fell into darkness.

‘Why was Herion there? On the other side of the bank waiting eagerly? Was it him that told of the enemy of where we were? If so, what did it cost him when that plan failed? His life?’ she thought to herself as she closed her eyes and could easily see that last memory before darkness took over.

When she opened her eyes she saw that a little boy was in her door way. Sandy blonde hair he had with gray eyes.

“Sorry to interrupt here, but Master Elrond, my master needs your help with his shoulder again,” The little boy told Lord Elrond.

“I will be there as soon as I am finished with Princess Althea, Young Master Samwise,” Lord Elrond replied back.

Althea however, kept her eyes on Samwise as he gazed at her with awe. Sam never met a Princess before in all of his lifetime.

“Samwise Gamgee, this is Princess Althea; daughter of Serethiel and Arthion. Princess Althea, this is Samwise Gamgee, a hobbit from the land that his race calls the Shire,” Gandalf introduced them to each other.

“A hobbit,” Althea stated looking at him with warmth in her brown eyes.

“Yes, Milady and it’s a honor to actually meet you,” Sam replied back with a low bow.

“I have been to your land, when I was very young, Master Samwise. The Shire use to be my home and how I use to play within the fields,” she told him as Lord Elrond and Gandalf looked at her.

No one was supposed to know that she grew up within the Shire, not even the Hobbits themselves. However Althea ignored the looks and knew that Aragorn was right, if the hobbits were going to help this world of theirs, then they better start trusting them.

Sam was in awe that she grew up so very close to where he and his family lived. He bowed again and hesitated. Althea could see that Sam wanted to walk forward and when she nodded to him to walk forward she saw another hobbit, slowly walking towards her doorway.

“Mister Frodo! What are you doing out of bed?!?” Sam asked him when he glanced over his shoulder.

“I want to know if you were alright Sam,” Frodo softly replied to him.

Althea took one look at Frodo and knew that he was the one that Aragorn talked about, the hobbit that was carrying the One Ring. Frodo too looked back at the beautiful young woman within the bed.

“Princess Althea, this is Frodo Baggins, nephew of Bilbo Baggins. The two of you share the same wounds,” Gandalf introduced them to one another.

Lord Elrond and the maid walked out of the bedroom as Frodo and Sam walked closer to Althea.

“She’s a Princess, Mister Frodo and she use to live within the Shire when she was growing up,” Sam explained a bit more to his master, helping him walk closer to the bed.

Frodo said nothing as he looked at her. He knew who she was; it was Aragorn who told him of Princess Althea and where she was and why she was here. When they both had sat down in a comfy chair next to Althea’s bed, Frodo couldn’t help but stare at her.

“Hello Princess,” he softly greeted her.

Shaking her head Althea then replied “It’s just Althea, Frodo and it’s nice to meet you,”

Gandalf slowly got up and when all three of them were making little conversations between themselves he walked out of her bedroom. Althea was a bit thankful that he was gone for the time being. She had respect for the old wizard but sometimes he can be a bit annoying.

“Aragorn told me of you, Althea. When we were traveling from Hobbiton to Bree and then to here,” Frodo softly said to her.

“He also said something of you to me as well,” she replied back to him.

Frodo looked at her with curiosity as she ate her breakfast.

“He only told me that you were the one of two hobbits that was carrying the One Ring. I knew that the enemy was back, they have hunted for my mother and me for a very long time now,” she said to him and Sam.

“Hunted? What do you mean, Princess Althea?” Sam asked her.

“Orcs have always been chasing us, trying to capture us wherever we go. It wasn’t until just recently that the Nine took over their hunting of me,” she answered him as she lowered her shirt to show them her wounded shoulder.

Frodo looked at it as he saw that it was almost like his; right shoulder, sword wound and he bet it was from the Witch King. Althea covered up her shoulder again as she blushed a bit. Sam however, was bothered by this as he never was “hunted” like Althea was.

After a while, they fell into a comfortable silence, Althea noticed that Frodo was fast asleep within his chair. Pulling back the covers of her bed, she moved her legs and let them dangle over her bed before she firmly stood up. Her legs were wobbly and weak though she didn’t pay any attention to that. Sam had gotten up and even though he was blushing the whole time, he helped stable her legs.

Althea very gently picked Frodo up and began to walk forward. Sam helped her walk out of her room and down the hallway. When she came to Frodo’s room it almost looked like her own however it was smaller for the young hobbit that was fast asleep within her arms.

“When he wakes up, Sam, I will be outside looking my company, Prince Legolas. He is a Prince elf from Mirkwood. At dinner however I will meet you again,” she softly whispered to him.

“Thank you, milady for bringing my master back here to his room. I will tell him that you said that, milady,” he replied to her as she walked over to Frodo’s bed, pulled back the covers and very gently rested Frodo’s body on his bed.

Sam then put the covers over his master’s body when he noticed Althea was swaying a bit. Althea sighed softly before she walked out of the room and back towards her own.

When she got back inside her room, Althea walked over to the wardrobe and opened it up. She found lots of dresses and such. After she picked a dark purple with soft white mixed within it, she went to the bathroom area and took a bath.

The heavenly but concentrated smell of Lavender swirled around Althea as she let her mind, emotions and soul go. Baths always relaxed her and she could think of what she needed to do and what had happened so far of the day.

After she had her bath, Althea dried herself off with a towel and then put on her clothes. When she was finished with that she walked back into her room to find the she-elf maid holding a brush and a butterfly burette for her hair.

“I hope you do not mind me combing your hair, milady?” she asked Althea.

“No I do not mind. Pray, please tell me of your name?” Althea replied back as she walked over to where the dresser and hanging mirror was next to her bed.

“My name is Geliriel. I have lived within Rivendell for a long time,” Geliriel told her as she started to brush Althea’s drying hair.

They both fell silent as Althea wondered where not only Legolas was but her stallion, Authion. Was her stallion within the stables and barns of Rivendell or was he galloping freely across Middle-Earth? Also what of Legolas? She understood why he was so worried about her but there was something when Gandalf said it. It was as if Legolas was in love with her or something of the sort.

After Geliriel was finished brushing Althea’s hair, she braided it and then put it into a half pony tail.

“Hannon le Geliriel,” Althea told her as she stood up and walked out of her room.

The hallway was empty of any one, it felt as if you are home but no one was around. Althea walked towards Frodo’s room and then turned left. She slowly looked around though she couldn’t find the way to the gardens. Out of the corner of her left eye she saw a small hidden trail and decided to follow it, just to see where it might lead her.

So Althea walked through the bushes and shrubs as she saw the trail leading down a bit and then going to the right. Walking through it was beautiful. The leaves of the trees of Rivendell were a contest autumn and it felt relaxing in a very sad way. She knew that all of the elves of Middle-Earth were leaving thanks to the enemy and also the fact that their time here on Middle-Earth was over.

“Althea,” she heard a head of her as she looked up.

There, in front of her sitting on a bench was Legolas. How she found Legolas was beyond her, though she was happy to see him again. Getting to his feet, Legolas walked gently up to her, bowed and then Althea didn’t except him to fully engulf her into a hug.

“I never left your bed side as I feared that you would wake up without me there, thou you did,” he whispered into her hair.

“I am alright, Prince Legolas. Nothing”

“Althea, you took a sword wound from the Witch King himself! That wound will never fully heal, you will carry it for the rest of your life and you will get ill again. The sword that the Witch King wielded with was a Morgul Blade, poisoned forever whoever is wounded by it, you will never be full and one,” he interrupted her, pulling back as he looked into her stunned brown eyes.

“A Morgul blade?” she whispered to herself, knowing that she took a very powerful blade wound.

“I should have protected you more; been more careful on where we were. Althea I am so sorry,” he replied to her, crest fallen that she got hurt during their journey to Rivendell.

“Legolas, I do not think that you could have done anything if the Witch King was riding with the rest of his men. One way or another the prophecy of me will come true, it’s just how many times will I escape their clutches is the concern here,” she told him, gently hugging him to her.

Legolas hugged her tightly to him as he knew she was right, he couldn’t always protect her forever. She was mortal only blessed with a longer life span that of the others of her mortal race.

Safety and comfort was what Althea felt when she was in Legolas’s arms, holding her tightly to him. All of the whole of Middle-Earth could be falling apart while she was in his embrace.

Slowly they both pulled away from each other and started to walk back to her room as Legolas could see that Althea was getting tired. Althea however had lots of questions that she wanted to ask Legolas about but, she knew it would cause him grief to relive those memories when she had to literally ride away.

“Where is my stallion?” she asked him as she had to know.

“He’s in the stables, thou he has caused some trouble when I brought you,” he replied to her.

Stopping and looking up at him, she asked “What do you mean by that?”

“When you fell from his back and the water subsided, the remaining Ringwraiths were taken by the river, your stallion guarded you to the point where I had to talk to him in elvish just for him to move away from you limp body. I did not strike him but he did bit me for what I did to him, but now I see that he was just trying to warn us,” Legolas replied back to her.

She wanted to say ‘good you deserved what you did to him’ but she didn’t.

“Has he caused any trouble since I was asleep?” she asked him as they started to walk a different way.

“No, although he has been neighing a lot this morning and then went quiet. I went to go see what was troubling him but nothing from my point of view could be found. May be you could see what was wrong with him?” Legolas asked her as they neared the stables.

“I know what was wrong with him, but Legolas you should know this by now, he senses a lot more than normal horses. He is Prince just like you. His sire is Shadowfax while his dam was that of my mother’s horse,” she explained to him.

Legolas looked stunned at her as she whistled softly. Althea heard nothing while Legolas did and then came the sound of hooves trotting out of the barn. Smiling at her young and proud stallion, Authion then sprinted towards Althea with joy. Oh how he was worried about her she could easily see that when he locked his legs and slid forward.

“Hey there boy,” she whispered to him, gently walking forward and wrapping her arms around his neck.

Lowering his head and resting it on her shoulder Authion nickered lightly in her hair. Althea couldn’t help but giggle at this, for it tickled her shoulder. Legolas was in awe, this was the son of Shadowfax, the Lord of the horses and he belonged to Althea for Legolas could see their attitudes and personalities were the same.

“I am sorry that I have worried you so, I was injured but I am not anymore. Though I am getting tired,” she told her horse who nudged her towards Legolas with a snort.

Smiling softly at him she nodded and whispered “Stay in the stables, I can’t risking you to roam the plains of Middle-Earth when the enemy is looking for me. Stay in the stables and behave as if you were home,”

Putting one tan ear back with a shake of his head she knew that he had understood her as he walked back with his head held high. Legolas very gently put his arms around Althea’s waist and guided her back to her room where she fell asleep within his arms.

_________________

Legolas, Prince of Mirkwood.