SPECIAL NOTE! This chapter has now been beta'd by the wonderful Nightowl01 and I want to say a very big and special thank you! Nightowl01 has offered to beta the story for me and I couldn't be more grateful!
Author's Note: Hello everyone! I want to take the time to thank you all for reading my story! I have rewritten my original story and I think it is much better this way, but let me know what you think! Please be kind in your reviews! I love reading them all and constructive criticism is welcome! However, I do realize that the story I have written is not completely in context with the great J.R.R. Tolkien's' story so please take this in to consideration. I do not own anything from the world of Middle Earth, just my own original characters. If you would like to use my characters in a story please email me! Thank you!
"I know you. I walked with you, once upon a dream. I know you the gleam in your eyes is so familiar a gleam." ~Disney's Sleeping Beauty
Chapter 1: Once Upon A Dream
He knew it was no more than a dream. She was so young, no more than a child even measured by human years. To be truthful, this was not so much a dream as it was a memory. A very precious memory, since the person it centered on was gone. Lost to him, he feared, for all time. Deep-rooted sadness threatened to engulf him, but he forced it back. Even though these memories were painful, they were all that he had left of her. He focused on the scene playing out before his eyes.
The memory was of the first time they had met. She was visiting Mirkwood for the first time. Her father was here on business and she was finally old enough to accompany him. As it was a very important meeting the Elders were attending, she was to stay with him. As the son of the king of Mirkwood, he felt that he should be allowed to attend. He was denied that right however, and informed that he would be entertaining the daughter of an attending Lord instead. Seeing this as a punishment, he was not in the best of moods when he was introduced to her. "It is good to see you again Prince Legolas," said the Lord Elrohir as he inclined his head.
"And you as well, My Lord." Legolas bowed his head.
"I would like to introduce my daughter, Alatariel." The girl was half hidden behind her fathers' leg, staring up at him with the brightest green eyes he had ever seen.
"My lady," Legolas bowed his head again.
The little girl stepped out beside her father and made a perfect curtsey, "Your Highness."
Elrohir bent down to his daughter then and turned her to look at him. "You will behave yourself young lady. Do you understand? This is not Rivendell and you will respect our generous host's home. You are not to run around and play as you do when at home."
Legolas thought this a strange warning to give to so small a child, but dismissed the thought as just a precaution of a protective parent. At least until the girl responded, "Yes Ada, you are understood." She paused and looked the prince right in the eye and added, "But he does not command me." Legolas was startled by such a strong declaration. Elrohir shook his head as though it was no more than he had expected.
Turning to Legolas he said, "I apologize for any trouble she might cause. Please, if you have need, send for me or my brother, Elladen."
Legolas inclined his head, "Of course my Lord, but we should be fine." Elrohir shook his head and smiled at the confidence of the young prince. When Elrohir was gone, Legolas turned to the child, "What would you like to do my lady?" An odd gleam stole into her eyes and a grin split her face.
"Well, -Ada- has been teaching me to shoot a bow. I am quite good. We could practice." Legolas was relieved. The archery range was a second home to him so he agreed readily. "Wonderful! I will show you the way." Little did he know how disastrous the day would end. Missing arrows, two wounds and countless frightened servants. He could hardly look Elrohir in the eye at the end of the day.
The memory began to grow hazy and Legolas knew he was waking up. What he wouldn't give to go back to that day. He hadn't known at the time what an important part of his life she would become. That would come decades later. His eyes fluttered open allowing the rising sun to hit his blue eyes. It was just barely light. The dawn of a twenty-year torture. Alatariel had vanished on this day without a trace though many, including Legolas had searched for her. To be honest, Legolas still searched. Every day. He still felt her out there, just beyond his reach.
Some dreams felt so real that he could swear he felt her breath on his ear whispering, "I love you." Legolas climbed from his bed in the Mirkwood palace and walked to the open balcony. He would start this day like every other since she had been missing.
Searching, always, forever. Little did he know that today would not end like the others.