A/N: Hello all my lovely readers! This story is a prequel to my last story entitled "Autumn Woods" but it's not a big deal if you read that one first. This story is meant to give our two main characters a little more background and give them more depth. I really hope you enjoy this story!

Chapter 1

"Iasbelin!" Halchon yelled up the stairs to his sister.

"What?" Iasbelin yelled back. She was busy sewing a doll for her recently arrived niece in Rivendell.

"Would you be able to set another place for dinner? I have a friend coming over." Halchon yelled. Iasbelin rolled her eyes and set down the doll. She rose from her chair and walked over to the railing of the stairs. She looked down at her brother and studied him.

"Who?" She asked skeptically. Iasbelin cared little for her older brother's friends. They were all males for one, and secondly they were all on the Guard with him. They were loud and rarely had manners.

"He has not been over before. He recently joined the Guard and I thought it would be nice to invite him over for dinner." Halchon responded. Iasbelin snorted and walked the rest of the way down the stairs.

"Does he not have a family of his own who can feed him?" Iasbelin replied.

"Obviously, I just thought that it would be nice. Could you please just do it?" Halchon asked annoyed. Iasbelin huffed and sulked over to where the dishes were stored and grabbed another setting. She threw the plate down on the table dramatically. Halchon rolled his eyes and returned back to the paper he was reading. "You know for an Elf of your age you certainly act like an Elfling."

"I will act how I please." Iasbelin replied

Ever since her mother and father had left to go to Rivendell to see her sister she was stuck doing the majority of the house work. She really didn't mind it but she really had wanted to go to Rivendell with her parents. She was the youngest in the family and the only unmarried one. Halchon's wife had sailed about twenty years ago and her sister, Glinith, had married a handsome Elf from Rivendell and moved there. She was the only one left and at the age of one hundred and forty-five she expected to have already married.

"What time is your friend coming over?" Iasbelin asked as she stirred the stew.

"In about fifteen minutes." Halchon responded not looking up from his papers. Iasbelin mumbled an acknowledgement and averted her eyes back to her cooking.

True to Halchon's word about fifteen minutes later there was a knock at the door. Iasbelin looked at Halchon who stayed stationary.

"Are you not going to get it?" She asked.

"No" Halchon replied casually. Iasbelin huffed and walked over to the large oak door that allowed entrance into their small home. She peered around the door and caught a glimpse of the Elf who was waiting on the other side.

"Hello, you must be Iasbelin. Halchon has told me much of you." The Elf greeted. Iasbelin smiled at the Elf and gestured for him to come inside.

"Ah. Legolas, it is good to see you." Halchon greeted as he placed a hand on the Elf's shoulder. Legolas smiled at him and placed his hand on Halchon's shoulder.

'Why didn't he tell me that the prince was coming to dinner.' Iasbelin mentally groaned.

"It is good to see you as well, Halchon. Thank you for inviting me for dinner, and thank you for preparing dinner, Iasbelin." Legolas smiled.

'Well at least he has good manners.' Iasbelin thought.

"The pleasure is all mine. Please have a seat, and I will have dinner right out to you." Iasbelin said pleasantly. Legolas smiled at her politely and sat at the table. Iasbelin kept the smile on her face until she reached the kitchen. She grabbed to stew off the fire and poured it into three bowls. She balanced the bowls on her arms and walked back out into the living area. She placed the bowls down in front of the two Elves and placed one at her place.

"Thank you." Legolas said when she placed a bowl in front of him. Iasbelin smiled back at him and returned to her seat.

"Tell me, Legolas, how do you find your service on the guard?" Halchon asked. Iasbelin averted her eyes to her stew and tried to tune out the conversation.

"I pleases me. I am glad my father finally agreed to letting me serve my realm. I also enjoyed meeting all the other Elves on the guard." Legolas replied. Halchon nodded and turned to Iasbelin.

"Legolas is a master archer. He is unparalleled in his ability." Halchon told Iasbelin. She looked up and gave a small smile and a quick "Oh." before returning to her meal. Legolas stared at the Elf oddly. "She is not herself as of late. Our parents went to visit my other sister in Rivendell. She and her husband welcomed a daughter a few days ago." Halchon said proudly.

"Congratulations. What is your sister's name?" Legolas asked.

"Her name is Glinith and her husband is called Callon and their new daughter is Meren." Halchon replied. Legolas nodded and returned to his food. "Legolas," Halchon asked.

"Yes?"

"How fairs your father and mother these days?" Halchon asked. Iasbelin looked up and stared intently. She knew that they were speaking of the King and Queen.

"They are well. My father has much stress due to his position but he manages it well. My mother thrives in court life." Legolas replied. Iasbelin was still staring as Legolas after he said this. He eyed her intently. "How old are you, Iasbelin?" He asked. Elves really did not mind asking each other's ages since they were immortal.

"I am one hundred and forty- five." Iasbelin replied. Legolas looked at her index finger and back up to her.

"Not married?" Legolas asked.

"Neither are you!" Iasbelin said offended. She got up from the table and grabbed her dish. She stormed into the kitchen.

"I did not mean offense." Legolas said.

"I know, she is one of a kind. Just ignore her when she had those outbursts." Halchon replied as he turned his attention back to his food.

Iasbelin gripped the counter and looked out the window at the setting sun. She hated being reminded that she did not have a husband yet. She also hated the Royal Family. She was a Silvan Elf and the royal family was of the small majority of the Sindarin Elves in Mirkwood. She knew that they looked down on their distant relatives and she knew that they would never give up lordship over them. It was true that Mirkwood was in great peace with Thranduil on the throne but she knew that there would come a time when Silvan Elves grew tired of being ruled by those who saw themselves as superior.

Iasbelin took a deep breath and walked back into the dining room. She greeted the Elves with a smile.

"I am sorry for my outburst. I did not mean to make you feel uncomfortable, Prince." Iasbelin apologized.

"All is forgiven, Iasbelin. Please do sit and enjoy dinner with us." Halchon replied instead of Legolas who just sat there staring at his food.

A/N: I hope you liked the first chapter! Please leave a review.