Disclaimer: Don't own Lord of the rings.





It is better to be hated for being yourself than to be loved for being somebody you are not.





In the very center of the kingdom Mirkwood, where many an elf can be seen bustling about their business, there is a crossroads. Thousands nay millions of feet have traipsed wearily along the three busiest roads. They lead to the castle, the village center and of course point in the direction of the great yonder (the village's nickname for anywhere that isn't Mirkwood). The fourth and lesser traveled route, changes gradually from a civilized cobble stone road, to a dirt track that winds steeply up the mountain as you travel along it. At first there are many stone cottages dotted along the path, but as the trees become denser the dwellings become fewer and further apart.



Deep in the darkness of the woods, about a half an hour's journey from the nearest house, there stands a cottage. Made of stone, with smoke rising to the chimney that stands in the thatched roof, .it is identical to every other cottage that stands in these woods. However the occupant of the house is as dissimilar from every other being in Mirkwood as copper is to bread.





The occupant is an elf. She is fair of face with a sheet of long blonde hair that falls past her knees. Christened Esmerelda by her human father and elfish mother, she lives alone bar her tabby cat Toby. Like every other family hers held secrets, but as her parents now lie in the cemetery buried side by side, it is up to her to uphold the family honor.



On this particular day the prince of Mirkwood and his great friend Aragon were hunting in the woods. They had already caught many rabbits and Legolas was chasing a deer on his steed.





He galloped through the trees, in quick pursuit of the escaping deer. So intent was he on catching his prey he did not notice the figure darting out in front of him until it was too late. He watched in horror as the figure of the beautiful girl flew through the air, and hit her head against a rock with a loud crack.



He hopped from the stallions' back and raced to the crumpled form of the girl lying on the ground. He pushed her hair back from her face to reveal a dark bruise on her temple. Aragon bent down beside him and exhaled loudly.





' We should take her to the castle Legolas, she looks bad', he advised.



Legolas nodded grimly and scooped the small figure up into his arms. They rode quickly to the castle with the female elf laid carefully in front of Legolas.



Aragon laid a comforting hand on Legolas's shoulder as the waited for the healer to come out and tell them the news. They had brought the girl to the castle healer, a kindly old elf, and explained what had happened. For hours they had waited outside the room where she lay, waiting for news of her health. The oak door opened with a creek and the healer poked his head out.

' She's resting at the moment your highness ', he quietly informed Legolas.

' Will she be ok? ' The prince asked concerned. Ever since the horse had struck down the girl he had been racked with feelings of guilt. The healer shook his head sadly and sighed.

' The force of the blow has done a great deal of damage you majesty, it's actually a miracle that she's made it this long'. . Legolas nodded his head and prayed that the girl would somehow miraculously make it through. ' Can I go sit with her?', he asked politely. Athru, for that was the healers name nodded his head. 'I do not see what difference your presence will make however'. Legolas ignored this comment and hurried to the she elf's bedside.

Esmerelda was aware of a person breathing heavily beside her. Her head ached like a thousand needles pricking her skin and her eyelids felt too heavy to open. She heard the creaking of a door and footsteps approaching her. Something wet was placed over her forehead reviving her enough to wince her eyes open. She was temporarily blinded by the brightness of the room, but as she grew accustomed to the light she could make out two elves. One was blonde and strikingly handsome, the other was a young nurse with her back to Esmerelda. The handsome elf was saying something to the nurse. She strained her ears to listen to what he was saying.

'.I have never seen this girl around the village Elenna have you?'

The young nurse turned around quickly and Esmerelda snapped her eyes shut.

' Indeed you majesty I have'. The nurse spoke with a voice ravaged by the effects of tobacco pipes.' Her face is on many a poster, wanted for murder she is'. Esmerelda groaned inwardly, she hadn't murdered that princess she had just been in the wrong place at the wrong time.twice.' I must inform the guards at once', the prince sounded shocked and Esmerelda couldn't blame him, she didn't look like the murdering type. She heard the chair he was sitting on being scraped back and his footsteps padding out of the room. Once she was sure he was gone she leapt nimbly from the bed, and tiptoed quietly from the room- one eye on the nurse who had her back to her yet again. She pulled the door behind her and noted with relief the key in the lock. As quickly as she could she turned it, locking the nurse in and placed the key in her pocket. She stole a furtive glance around her. To her left was a long dark winding passage and to her right was a set of stairs. Her sensitive ears pricked at the sound of footsteps hurrying up the stairs, so without a second thought she sprinted down the passage. The walls were lined with paintings and wall hangings and at certain intervals there were dark oak doors. She turned this way and that not sure where she was going, until she came to another set of stairs. She peeked over the banisters and saw a small entrance hall below. A large portrait of the handsome elf was hanging in a gold frame and beside it was an open door. The sun was shining in on the stone slab floors and little specks of dust were dancing in the light.

Unbeknownst to Esmerelda Legolas had seen her escaping from the bedroom and had followed her on her madcap race around the castle. He kept to the shadows and watched as the beautiful elf lent over to see if the entrance hall was clear. This is my chance he thought and raced forward grabbing the convict by the shoulder.

Esmerelda recoiled in shock as a cold hand touched the bare skin of her shoulder. The owner of the hand pulled it away, as her skin became too hot to touch.' Ow' she heard a male voice cry in surprise. She spun around to look her attacker in the eye and came face to face with the prince from the portrait. She hesitated for a moment to bask in his beauty, but snapped to attention to shield a fist that was coming her way. Anger boiled in her belly, all the nobles were the same with tempers like mules and the arrogance of a thousand men. She looked behind her and noticed that the drop to the ground wasn't too far. She pushed the price away with surprising strength for such a slight girl and leapt from the banister to the ground below.



Legolas scrambled to his feet and ran to the banisters just in time to see the girl race through the open door. Legolas swore loudly, and turned to go and find his father and see if he knew anything about this mysterious girl.