Deep in Greenwood, an Elfling prince that looked to be 17-19 in appearance walked the forest with his closest friend, Arieal. This Elfling was the young prince and heir to Greenwood,Thranduil, son of Oropher king of the woodland realm.

"The forest is beautiful this spring," Arieal spoke in a soft sweet voice that would calm even the hardest of hearts, her golden hair flowing down her back. She wore a flowing white silky dress with pearls and beads woven in the hems, her silver eyes bright with life and wisdom, set on a pale youthful face. She tread the forest barefoot.

"Yes, it is, the leaves are full of color and the trees sing joyous songs," Thranduil commented in a deep smooth voice. He to had long golden hair. It was straight and hung perfectly framing his sharp handsome face, a diamond circlet adorned his head. His eyes were a piercing grey-blue. He wore a simple silver robe with designs encrusted in the material, unlike his companion he wore knee-high boots.

They always went for a morning walk together, always treading the same path.

Arieal stopped suddenly, "Thranduil, do you see that?" she inquired, gesturing further down their path.

Thranduil followed her gaze and noticed a new path that had not been there during any of the other mornings they had traveled here, "Yes I do, it seems like the trees have moved... do you hear that?" he responded looking up at the towering trees above them, "the trees here, they do not sing, they worry... Arieal something is amiss... We should return and tell the king. Come." He said turning back towards where they had come from, but Arieal did not follow, she was looking at the new path, her brows furrowed in concentration.

Thranduil looked back at her, "Arieal, come we must tell my Ada of our discovery."

"Thranduil I hear someone through that path, listen," she whispered, looking him in the eyes. They both listened in silence, then they both heard it. A cough, several weak coughs but they were there, "Thranduil that sounds like a child! We cannot leave without helping them." Arieal immediately walked quickly but gracefully toward the path only to be stopped by Thranduil grabbing her arm.

"Hold Arieal, it could be a trap" he warned.

"And if it is not, then we would leave a child in the forest alone, they could be lost, or injured, come Thranduil, we must investigate."

Thranduil sighed and looked to the new path where the coughs were heard and then back to Arieal, a small smile graced his lips as he sighed. She could always convince him to do as she pleased, he could not tell her no easily.

"Alright Arieal, we will investigate."

She smiled, a beautiful smile that enhanced her already stunning face before continuing to the new path, Thranduil close behind.

They followed the path, the trees grew not weary the further they went making the elves uneasy. Soon they reached a small clearing, and after a quick glance around Arieal saw what had made the noise, as did Thranduil, "it is a child, Thranduil we must help them!" she exclaimed rushing forward. Kneeling next to a child lying curled up, she rolled the child onto their back. It was a little girl, appearing 7 or 8 at the most. She had long light brown hair with golden highlights. Her ears were pointed much like an elf, but her aura did not feel quite like an elf. Arieal placed a soft hand on the girl's forehead and retracted it, "she is burning with fever, and yet her hands are freezing."

Thranduil knelt on the opposite side of the girl and examined her closely, "look at her other arm, it must be broken," he observed the awkward angle in which her forearm was, his eyes softening as he studied the girl's face. He shared a fondness all elves had for children, and seeing this one injured and weak tore at his heart as it did Arieal, "We must get her to the healers."

"I don't think it would be wise to move her, we do not know what other injuries she may have, we must bring the healers here, go, I will stay with her."

Thranduil looked up at that, his eyes wide, "I cannot leave you here alone,"

Arieal chuckled lightly at that, "Thranduil I can care for myself and a sick child, no go quickly, you are faster than I."

Thranduil let out a slightly frustrated sigh before standing, "I will return shortly," and with that, he turned and began running with grace back through the forest. He covered ground quickly and was only a few minutes before the kingdom came into view. He stopped before the first guard he saw outside the gate leading into the kingdom. The guard bowed in respect to the elven prince.

"Go and alert my father that Arieal and I have found an injured child in the woods, and bring him down the path, their is a new path leading to her," he ordered before running to retrieve a couple of healers.

Thranduil quickly lead the healers to where they had found the child, they crossed paths with the guard who was leading none other than the king of the woodland realm himself.

Oropher shared many of the same characteristics as his son, having the same golden hair, fair skin, and silver-grey eyes, he wore golden robes with a solid red cloak over his shoulder that billowed out around him as he walked. His crown was of spring flowers and berries, matching the season.

Oropher turned at the sound of approaching footsteps, his steely gaze finding his son, "Ion, show us this child," he ordered.

Thranduil bowed his head and quickly ran ahead of the small group, the others following close behind, he only prayed they were not to late.

(Thank you Earthdragon for the review, I hope this makes a bit more sense, though it is explained as to why they did not want to risk moving her as Arieal states, that they know not what other injuries she has. But I hope that what Thranduil does now makes a little more sense)