Welcome! To Book 1 of the Lunar Series: Dark Moon!

It's been quite some time since my last published work (*coughs*ironman*coughs*) which I have regretfully put on permanent hiatus. But I'm hoping (I truly am) that this one will continue on. Please pray to any deity that it will!

Anyway I used minimal Sindarin in this. But let's just assume they're all speaking it. I only added those Sindarin words for some... pizzazz or something of the like.

I feel as though I have improved in my writing over the past few years but I will let you be the judge of that! So please enjoy the first installment!

- MCL (Goddess of Random)

*Note: Legolas was born (according to what I have searched) in T.A 87. It would make him 27 at the beginning of this and if I'm calculating correctly he'd appear about 7 years old here. (I coo over the image of baby Legolas.)

Part 1: The Dark Moon Is Rising

Chapter One: Freedom's Forthcoming

T.A 114

As age old stories have gone for years, we start our tale with a timeless phrase.

Once upon a time, there in the east of the maps of Middle-Earth, deep in the forest and caverns of the elven kingdom of Eryn Galen, stood a king. An elven king with lavish robes of burgundy and gold, with a crown of autumn berries and red leaves.

Thranduil, son of Oropher, king of the woodland realm, stood in the halls of the healing house, hands clasped tightly behind his back. Should anyone walk past, or catch a glimpse of him, they would see a calm and collected monarch. That was what they saw for that was all Thranduil allowed them to see until his gaze would fall upon them, staring them down with cold blue eyes— any curious elf would immediately avert their gaze, bow their heads in reverence and return to their prior task.

When the Elvenking had finally gotten rid of the unwanted attention, he returned to staring into nothing, his thoughts racing as they drifted towards what laid past the doors behind him. His hands tightened their grasp behind his back, fighting with himself to not rush into the room, knowing that Nostalion, the head healer, would only drive him outside again.

With an inaudible sigh, he shook his head and turned his attention somewhere else— or specifically, to someone else. He looked down on his right, lips quirking up into a small smile when he found his little leaf in the exact same stance he was in.

Young Legolas stood with his hands clasped behind his back, trying with all his little heart to mimic his Adar's stoic countenance, much to his sire's amusement. But every so often he would glance back at the doors behind them, his little forehead furrowing in concern before he would suddenly remember himself and return to his previous stance.

With a soft smile, Thranduil settled a gentle hand atop his little leaf's head, causing the elfling to turn his gaze to his father.

"Ada, how much longer must we wait?" Legolas huffed, puffing his cheeks. "It has been ages."

"Patience Legolas." The Elvenking chuckled, gliding his fingers gently through his son's golden hair. "A prince such as you must learn patience."

"I have been patient!" The princeling protested in what could be taken as indignation. "But Nana's been in there for so long now. It feels as though my sibling will never arrive."

Patting Legolas' head gently, Thranduil gave words of reassurance— not only for his son but also for him. "Patience. They will arrive when they and the Valar will it so." Seeing the put out expression on the elfling's face he hurried to find the words to appease him. "But I have no doubt it will be soon."

The young prince stared up at his father, bright blue eyes searching for a falter. When he found none, he nodded and turned back to his previous stance once he saw the Elvenking do the same. He stared down at the corridor, a question bouncing off the walls of his mind, itching at the tip of his tongue.

"Ada—"

"Your Majesty!" An elleth burst through the doors, a wide smile upon her face. "It is done. You may—"

"Is she well?" Thranduil cut her off, nerves creeping into his voice. "Are they well? Were there any complications?"

"Well, if you would stop your fretting for just a moment and step inside then you would be able to find the answers yourself." An ellon appeared beside the elleth so suddenly it made her jump. "Honestly my lord, you'd think this was the first time you were going through this."

"It did not take so long before with Legolas, so forgive me for my worrying Nostalion." Thranduil pursed his lips in infuriation at his head healer and old friend. He took in the ellon's harried appearance, from his dishevelled hair to his robes, and wondered just how difficult the birthing was. "May we see them now?"

"Yes, yes." Nostalion waved a hand, gesturing for him to enter. "Come along, the queen would like to see you now. And I think our prince would like to meet his new sibling." He winked at the elfling who was now bouncing on the balls of his feet, smiling widely.

"Come Ada!" Legolas grabbed his father's hand, dragging him (rather unsuccessfully I might add) into the room. "We must go see them at once!"

"Legolas daro í!" Thranduil exclaimed in exasperation, taking the reigns as the two of them stepped into the room. "That is no way for a prince to behave!"

"He has my eagerness meleth nîn," A soft voice chimed in, tinkling with laughter. "I do not think you will be able to quell him so easily."

Hearing the voice, the Elvenking's eyes darted to the bed in the middle of the room. "Melda." He breathed out as he took in the sight of his wife. Her dark brown stark against the white pillows she leaned back upon, her face flushed from exhaustion, but her eyes…Her wide and beautiful green eyes were sparkling with joy as she looked down in her arms where a bundle lay, cradled to her chest. He felt his throat closing up all of a sudden. "Indilwen I—"

"Come my lord," Indilwen smiled, a hand extended towards him. "Come and greet your daughter."

A girl.

A daughter.

His daughter.

Thranduil felt as if the wind was knocked out of him at that reveal. With long strides he approached the bed, settling down by his queen's side carefully, taking caution not to jostle her and the babe. He sat there patiently, gazing down at the small bundle in his wife's grasp. Indilwen smiled up at him, carefully placing their daughter into her king's waiting arms.

And in that moment, everyone around him seemed to disappear for Thranduil, save for the child in his hold.

Everyone watched in reverent silence as Thranduil, proud and great Elvenking, softened before their sight. His cold blue eyes transformed into pools that reflected such tenderness and love that the healers looked away, making quick leave of the room as they all felt that that moment was too poignant and significant for them to intrude upon.

He leaned down, nose touching the top of his daughter's head where faint wisps of what would be golden hair were already peeking through. He took a deep breath, taking in her scent, how she felt in his arms, and how she looked at that moment, sleeping peacefully in his arms as if the world was perfect and everything was alright. He would engrave that moment in his memory for all eternity. His eyes brimmed with tears as he gazed down upon the blessing before him.

"My child." Thranduil breathed out in awe, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. "My daughter."

Nostalion remained in the room, knowing that Thranduil would not mind. After all, the healer had been there when he had been born as well. He watched with a faint smile, having seen that look upon his face once before when their prince was born.

And speaking of the prince…

Legolas stood at the foot of the bed, watching as his father's attention was taken up completely by his sister, not really minding at all. But he waited, still hesitant to approach as he did not really know what to do with himself at that moment. He had never had any interactions with babies as they were all too small to play or speak with.

Indilwen, who finally managed to pry her eyes away from the entrancing picture that Thranduil and their daughter made, found her son standing nervously at the foot of the bed. "Legolas, ionneg, will you not come greet your sister?"

With much reluctance, Legolas hopped onto the bed, crawling towards them and settling down just in front of his father. Warily, he leaned over to gaze down at his sister, squinting his eyes. "She is so… tiny." He muttered, scrunching his nose.

All the adults in the room laughed at his statement, causing the princeling to duck his head in embarrassment. "Give her time and she will be just as big as you are." Thranduil chuckled, shifting his daughter (His daughter! His! He can barely believe she was his! in his arms carefully. "Here Legolas, hold out your arms for a moment."

Legolas did as he was told, not really knowing why he was doing it at first, but soon he realized that his father intended for him to hold his sister. "Ada!" He squeaked out, dread rising in him. "What if I drop her?!"

"Hush your fretting!" Thranduil smiled down at his son, placing his daughter into his arms and helping him support her so his fear would not come true. "There, I shall help you hold her up for now."

Legolas bit his lower lip, looking down at his sister, astonished when he found a pair of green eyes staring up at him. Eyes as green as the leaves of the trees of Greenwood in summer. They stared at each other, blue clashing with green as they assessed with minds far more advanced than a child of man, but then again, they were not of the race of men.

"She is so quiet." Indilwen hummed happily, leaning back against the pillows once she saw that her two children were enthralled by each another. "Legolas was much fussier when he was born. Do you remember?"

"I do." Thranduil sighed, slowly letting go of his children (not that they noticed as they were still busy staring at each other) and leant back with his wife, wrapping an arm around her shoulders as he pulled her against his side lightly. "He cried and cried, until he was back in your arms, fed and rocked to sleep."

"Just like Indilwen when she was born." Remarked Nostalion from his place in front of the door. "She had quite the voice when she first saw the light of this world. It is truly no wonder why Prince Legolas takes after you so much."

Indilwen looked up at him, eyes alight with mirth. "And what was Thranduil like when he was born? Pray tell Nostalion."

"Quite the same as our princess." The healer chuckled, shaking his head in reminiscence. "He came into this world so silently we thought he had departed prematurely had it not been for the rising and falling of his chest. Gave his parents and healers quite the scare he did. And this should be quite telling," He grinned at the Elvenking whose eyebrows were raised in amusement. "If the prince is anything to go by, as he took after the queen, I do not know what the whole kingdom would do should the princess take after our king."

Thranduil rolled his eyes, hushing his wife when she let out a loud laugh but a smile was on his lips nonetheless. "If she were to take after me then she would one day be one of the finest warriors this kingdom and all others have seen in ages to come." He nodded affirmatively. "I shall make sure of it."

It was now Indilwen's turn to roll her eyes. "Do not go making up your daughter's future so early on now." She admonished, lightly slapping her husband's chest. "She is to be free to make her own choices as I was. If there is any attribute she should take away from me it is that and you will help reinforce it."

"You are going to teach her to rebel at such a young age?" The Elvenking gasped teasingly. "Legolas is well on his way to becoming an unruly ellon, what shall I do should both our children become insubordinate?"

As the couple continued to banter, Nostalion slipped out of the doors, gazing at the family one last time before shutting the doors behind him and heading towards his rooms to retire, a contented smile upon his lips.

"That is not what I meant and you know it!" Indilwen huffed, crossing her arms over her bosom, bottle green eyes glaring up at Thranduil. "Do not tease me Thranduil!"

"But you make it so easy my love." The Elvenking laughed, leaning down to place a tender kiss upon his queen's lips, long enough to quash her aggravation directed at him. "I thank you Indilwen. I thank you with all my being for giving me another child. She truly is beautiful. And I can imagine now that she will grow up as fair and kind-hearted as her Naneth. I do believe I shall have a hard time fending off suitors when the time comes."

"Be that as it may, she will have the freedom to follow her heart's choice." The queen sighed, reaching up a hand to stroke her king's cheek. "Please? Will you promise me that Thranduil?"

"I—"

"Ada? Nana?"

The two monarchs looked up from their conversation, attention now trained upon their children, blinking when they found Legolas smiling brightly down at his sister and she had her lips wide open in a gummy smile, hands reaching up towards Legolas' nose.

"Yes Legolas?" His mother answered, feeling herself warm over with such happiness at the sight of her two children. "What is it my little leaf?"

Legolas looked up, blue eyes wide with delight. "What shall you name her?" His attention was now solely focused on his parents which seemed to displease his sister as she then grabbed a lock of his hair with one chubby hand and tugged.

Thranduil gently pried open his daughter's hand and took her into his arms once again, standing up and pacing the floor as he thought. Long before the birth, he and Indilwen had made an agreement that it would be his turn to name this child as she had been the one to name their firstborn. He gazed down into his daughter's green eyes thoughtfully, contemplating earnestly. It seemed an age before he finally spoke.

"Lainathiel."

Indilwen's head snapped up towards her husband, her drowsiness that had arisen with her husband's long contemplation was now gone. She stared up at him and found that his eyes were now trained on her.

"Her name will be Lainathiel." Thranduil said, his voice echoing with finality. "As a reminder of a promise. One that will never be broken even in death."

Lainathiel - Freedom

Indilwen- Lily (I know I'm so unoriginal)

Nostalion - Gentle

And there we have the first chapter of the first installment!

Tell me what you think! Read, Review, Follow, Fave? Fangirl with me over Thranduil and his sassiness? Like yassss Thrandy yassss!

Kidding.

You're all probably wondering why Lainathiel was born so close to Legolas? Don't worry there will be explanation. I swear, but it will be in later chapters. Or later books. You never know cause I make it up as I go sometimes.

Next Chapter: What The Lady Saw

The elves of Lothlorien and Imladris are visiting. The Lady of Light comes baring some very enigmatic news.