A/N: Hello, nostalgic readers! (If you're new, just ignore this.) You may have noticed that this story has been revamped. I didn't like where it had gone before, so I changed it up a bit, just like the rest of the trilogy.
Prologue
Legolas suffered for Melian, and was down and morose for many weeks after her rejection. His father had been right in refusing the marriage, but his son still did not understand how the elf-maid could have loved another behind his back during the entire time he courted her. He did not come out of his room for days, and when he finally did, Laine, his best friend, noticed that he was pale and drawn.
Her heart broke to see him like this, and she longed to tell him that Melian was not a traitor to his heart and that she was not in love with another, but she could not go back on her word. The servant girl was smarter than Laine had first given her credit for, and knew that the king would never let his son, the Crowned Prince, marry a mere servant girl. Even if he had, word would get out and Mirkwood would become the laughing stock of all of Middle-Earth. Laine knew that Legolas did not care about any of that, and tried to tell this to Melian, but the servant girl held resolute and would not allow her lord to be ridiculed.
The human girl, being a very headstrong person herself, understood the elf-maid's feelings. She had come to like Melian and their friendship had grown to a point where they understood the other's motives almost completely. However, Melian refused to serve Legolas any longer, as that would only make her see his hurt and internal wounds everyday. She wanted Laine to make him happy again.
"How?!" the girl had asked her. "All he wants is you right now. All I am is his best friend, and I doubt he'll choose that over a lover." Melian had shaken her head, meaning she did not know what was to be done, but had begged Laine to continue to try and cheer the prince up. The human girl only sighed reluctantly and tried, unsuccessfully, once more, to make Legolas happy.