DISCLAIMER: I do not own any Tolkien related creations and writings. Only my OC Hallethril- which means 'seashell listener'(Half+lethril). Please correct if you please because the name frame that helps me create the names with the correct prefix and suffix blended together froze up. If it fixes, I'll edit the name, but for now it's an original name.

A/N PLEASE READ (!): This is my second LOTR story, third if you include the Hobbit. I originally had my first ever LOTR story years ago titled 'A Moment That Lasts Forever' for all the 200+ fanfiction veterans I remember who followed it and who remember reading it before I deleted it- stupidly, and erased it completely. A regret. However, I felt replacing Elrond's wife with an OC was not right, and I grew to feel funny writing it and publishing it. It unsettled me and I couldn't bear to leave it up, untouched, and hurting my heart at seeing what I once was recreating. (Elrond and Celebrian forever!)

So now- out of the blue- after a longggg break from anything dealing with and thinking of LOTR getting all fangirlish, LOTR is back at the forefront of my mind, and I fell in love with the idea of writing a ThranduilXOC. Since his wife is never mentioned of course, or that he was ever married. It's safe to say he was at least since he had a son, Legolas.

I mean not to compete with other ThranduilXOC stories, and I apologize if this sounds like every other story- but it shows we do in fact have all the same mindset of the tale of him and his 'wife' or 'late wife' as the movies depict. I wish for this story to be a pleasure and enjoyment to you all as it is growing to be for me... yet another fanfic I am starting and will complete somewhere before the end of time lol! I only have one completed story so far! (Writing never truly ends! It's only redrafted, redrafted, and drafted again..)

I don't know where I'm going with this, but I say please bear with me- and for those of you who are waiting for updates on my other stories, they will come. Breaks and abandonment happen much to my disappointment I couldn't control.

Without further adieu, please enjoy!

'His perfect match was found much to his great astonishment. Her too, though she went through (more) trials to finally see. Both finding solace in eachother at the time they most need it-a love deeper than any sea. They fell in love under starlight and she can see the waves she's so fond of crash in his eyes, but he learned in time that some stars don't shine forever. Or could they...'

Prologue:

(~) The Swan and the Stag(~)

Remaining unseen and soundless is something I am brilliant at. I've hid myself from all of my kin- the elves- for many, many years because alarmingly, I am scared of them even though I'm one of them. I have been living in a village populated by men since my life took a plummet off a steep cliff and into a shallow ravine. Of course I come out of hiding within the village because they not only accept me, enough, but they do not remember me after what happened, especially as new lives replace the old through the years and I meet the next generations. I trust them. And I'm safer than anyone could imagine.

I am immortal as are all my kin so when tragedy strikes them they can plunge into a depression and fade away from time or within a second if it's worse. For those who have lived so long and greatly timeworn, they can bravely choose to fade willingly. Luckily that wasn't me. I feel I have the strength in me to forge on even if I had given up my Elven lifestyle. Is it luck? A curse? Or a blessing? Sure I am scarred deeply, but I was raised by my mother and father to be irrepressible and resilient.

My name is Hallethril and my elongated story is indeed a long one. Let's begin with that I've been forgotten by all of my kind because my memory has been buried in Aman's chief city Alqualondë with my lost people and my parents. All who I have loved are gone. My parents, friends, and the one whom I was courting have died trying to protect me—securing me out of the eastern shores of Valinor, onto a boat for one in the cover of night with only the light of the stars, the moon behind shielding me from view of the slaying sons of Fëanor.

Thank the Valar.

But was I angry with them for allowing all of this to happen. The Valar, that is, not the sons. Our interest was not so high in the Valar in fact, and the Noldor elves lost any of the trust and heart we had for them. Even before we met others, we kept to ourselves preferring the company of our own people and other Elven cultures. Even if we (elves) are all beloved by the Valar- Teleri elves did not show much care to think of them.

How could I not. Every Teleri I've known and seen fell into the bright blue sea, turning to red foam. I saw no others make it out; probably because I was too scared, sobbing in pain from both my heart and spirit, and forging forward against the tide making my way to Middle-earth, my forever home. Destined home. My true home no more.

My kind was peaceful and lived to the most extent on the lonely isle that was given to us: moving with the rolling tides and sand swirling beneath our feet either in or out the water, and sung with everything and everyone in harmony. We kept to ourselves; this is where I get my skills of hiding from! Being quiet came from my father, who was a ship watcher. Nothing but the sound of the seas filled his senses and the cooing of swans and gulls. My family never had to sing much, but only take in and revel in the beautiful life we were blessed in living.

I sailed off in not so quietness, hearing the cut off yells of people and the explosion of thunder and homes and ships. I still go death in the ears at times from all the noise; my nose can still smell the smoke, and my eyes water. And the sobs haunt my throat making it constrict and sore.

All the swans and gulls were gone that night.

My mind did find ease somewhere along sailing with a soothing voice speaking in my head: You will endure many, but you will continue to be, evermore. To listen, with your ears and heart. To love, with your heart and soul. But my heart has not eased much since the day. It's almost as if a seashell was kicked up by one of the waves, hitting my face, and while swallowing the water it landed where my swan heart is and entrapped it. The sound of the ocean heard distantly in my ears and every breath that escapes my small lips.

Anyone with good eyes could have seen the darkness across the sea and knew that no one could have survived. They are wrong because I survived. I sailed onto empty land, unseen except by the Valar (I recognize now), and walked until I reached civilization which is the village I'm residing at today. I have seen only one of my kin, the messenger who rides to our town once every few years, but he never sees me. Good. I avoid my kin as much as I can all because I'm scared of them, the Teleri are all wiped out I'm sure, I don't know how (if any remain) they are thinking now, and I don't trust them. I don't have to know, and I seek to never know.

And so the memory of my people was lost (but little did I know this wasn't true). I still have my good memories that are with me every single day I'm here in Arda. They keep getting clearer and clearer as I get older. My father's voice, my mother's face, and my love's face and battle cry stays in mind.

Memories and questions fly all around in my mind like bats- no longer swans and gulls.

And they haunt me.

...