chapter 1

During the early years of the third age of Middle Earth lived a powerful and wise king. His name was Thranduil. He was the king of the woodland realm of Mirkwood, also called Greenwood the Great. His woodland realm, filled with large evergreen trees, was peaceful for many years during the time his father ruled until Sauron brought to it giant spiders, wolves, and orcs.

Thranduil had a grand kingdom. His palace was extremely large. It consisted of an east and west wing. The palace had a large and a small dining hall, a ballroom, large bedchambers, an archery field, stables full of pure white and black horses, and many different gardens. His palace had cream-colored marble floors with gold specks in them. The ballroom had a large candle chandelier and large glass windows that stretched from the floor to the ceiling. The ballroom also led to the gardens that were filled with red and white roses and beautiful large trees. The bedrooms had fine silk and other fabrics in them. The archery field was a treeless area with targets lined up around it. The dining room was attached to the slightly smaller kitchen by large wooden doors.

Thranduil had a wife, Queen Seremela, who had golden hair and bright blue eyes. She was wise and beautiful. Her golden hair fell to her below her waist and her eyes danced with emotion. She was the Thranduil's most precious jewel. Queen Seremela gave Thranduil one of the grandest gifts any woman can give her husband, a baby. His son, Legolas, was born during the year of the birth of Lord Elrond of Rivendell's two sons, Elladan and Elrohir. Legolas had his mother's eyes and hair but was much like his father in his ways of acting. Queen Seremela died minutes after the birth of her son for a reason none of the elven healers could figure, and it frightened them. They searched for a cure but they found none.

King Thranduil also had a grand army. His army was commanded by an elf only a few years younger than Thranduil himself. Thranduil gave the elf the title Lord, and his wife the title Lady of Mirkwood. This elf became known as Lord Myweil Myran and his wife became known as Lady Morwen Narethan. Thranduil gave the Lord and Lady the end of the west wing of the palace to them for a wedding gift. They were also given their own servants to tend to them. They were forever thankful towards their King and friend.

Lord Mywiel had brown eyes and blonde hair that stayed pulled back halfway most of the time. Lady Morwen had bright blue eyes like glass and long dark hair that looked black in the night, but in the light gorgeous blonde streaks glowed. Their son Valain Myran, who was a year younger than Legolas, was given his own rooms not too far away from his parents. Valain, like his mother, had brown hair that normally hung down in his face, but he had his father's chocolate brown eyes. Lady Morwen was very happy with her life and family. She couldn't have asked for more. But deep down inside her, her heart wished for something more. Lady Morwen wanted a baby girl. The Lady of Mirkwood, as she was called sometimes, got her wish. Three months after her son's hundredth birthday she was blessed with a baby girl. But a terrible fate did not let her embrace her blessing for long.