Hello. I got struck by the muse again, and this is what came flowing out of my jumbled mind. This story takes place TA 598, when Mirkwood was still known as Greenwood the great. It shouldn't be known as Mirkwood for about another 400 years or so. Many debates have been made on the age of Legolas, and I am going with Peter Jackson's idea that he was born in TA 87 making Legolas 511 in this story. Tatharwen is 6 years younger than him making her 505. Tatharwen is, in fact, elvish. The word Tathar means willow, and wen is maiden. Willow maiden. I thought it was beautiful, so if you don't like it, please go elsewhere.


The Prince of Greenwood raced through the halls of his father's domain, trying to escape the angry cook who had caught him and his accomplice sneaking around her kitchen. He looked back to see his friend Tatharwen keeping pace with him. He slid to a halt in front of a closet near his room and she ran in after him and slammed the door behind her. They stood for a moment in silence, hoping that they had lost the cook before they doubled over laughing.

"Legolas I told you she would catch us, she always does!" The prince grinned at his friend, barely able to make out her fair hair in the darkness of the closet. The two young elves were practically inseparable, and they reveled in driving the palace staff insane. Tatharwen's father was one of King Thranduil's must trusted advisors, and so the two had met as elflings, forming a bond almost instantly. They did everything together. He went riding, she went riding. He learned to use a bow, so did she. Now, they helped protect the borders together. Legolas was the youngest of King Thranduil's sons at just a few years over five hundred. Tatharwen was only a few years younger than he. Many of the elves laughed at the two trouble makers, wondering if they were not twins separated at birth, for they were so alike in looks. She matched him so closely it made people shake their heads. They had the same fair skin, the same dark blue eyes, and the same golden hair. The biggest difference was that Tatharwen's hair fell in gentle curls while the prince's was straight.
The two sat laughing in their closet for another moment before they poked Tatharwen poked her head out to check and see if it was safe. When she stuck her head out the first thing she saw was a silver belt buckle. Looking up she saw King Thranduil staring down at her. She gave him the biggest grin she could muster, stood up straight, and side stepped out the door, giving him a bow. He sighed at her and shook his head.

"Good morning, Tatharwen. I assume my son is in the closet hiding?" He ignored her border guard uniform and the fact that she bowed instead of curtsying like the rest of ladies of his halls. It was normal for her, she saw herself as a guard, not a lady. She gave him another bright smile.

"Indeed! He is choosing what linens he should ask the servants to put on his bed next. He says his current sheets are much too scratchy," She said her smile never faltering. He shook his head and reached behind her, opening the doors, only to find Legolas inside holding a set of green silken sheets, his smile matching hers.

"Tatharwen these sheets are MUCH nicer, I told you I would find them in here. Good morning father!" Behind the king Tatharwen was trying her hardest not to laugh, and doing a very bad job of it. Legolas kept his cheerful face as his father stared him down. Eventually the King just shook his head and sighed.

"What am I going to do with you my Greenleaf?"

"Have me fed to the spiders?" Thranduil sighed. His youngest son gave him more trouble than the other two combined.

"Remember the banquet tonight, and don't be late. And you are banned from the kitchens for the rest of the day." Thranduil walked off shaking his head, leaving behind the two young archers. Legolas chuckled at his father's retreating figure.

"Come, since we're banned from the kitchen we might as well go down to the field. Meet me there after you get your weapons." She nodded and dashed down the halls, leaving the hall where the royal family lived and going into the area for the nobles. She ran into her room and quickly strapped on her quiver and bow, and added strapped on her sword belt. Tatharwen smiled at her sword. It was an elvish broadsword, given to her by her grandfather before he was killed in battle. It was the one thing she did differently than Legolas. Where he used a long knife, she used her broadsword. She ran her hand along the hilt and traced the vines on it with her fingers like she did every time she picked it up. After a moment she ran out the door and down the halls, toward the training field. When she got there she saw Legolas had already claimed a target and was firing at it lazily. When she was about ten feet behind him she drew an arrow and drew back on her bow, letting it fly toward the target. He spun around and she laughed at him. He looked utterly terrified for a moment.

"Did you think I was an orc? Shooting so precisely at the bulls-eye?" He glared at her and she laughed again.

"That wasn't funny what if I had moved?"

"Then your father would have my head and you could chase me in the Halls of Mandos until we are brought back to this world." He glared for another moment before laughing as well.

"I don't think that Namo would be very happy to have an elven prince chasing around a dead guard because she shot him in the head."

"No, I should think not." Tatharwen seemed to be getting bored and started firing at the target. He watched her for a moment before joining in, taking turns.

"My father told me something interesting last night," Legolas said, not taking his eyes off the target.

"Oh really? It must have been very interesting indeed for you to remember it. For I know your attention wanes when anyone speaks."

"Very funny. He told me that it isn't right that I always just assume you will accompany me to dinner. He said I have to ask from now on." She paused, and grinned at him.

"Well, what are you waiting for?" He laughed, and bowed deeply to her.

"My dearest Lady Tatharwen, I would be honored if you would give me the pleasure of accompanying you to the banquet this evening."

"No, I do not think I will!" She said, sticking her nose high in the air. He feigned heartbreak, and fell to the ground clutching his chest. They stayed this way for a moment before bursting into laughter. They both knew that she would go with him. Grasping his hand she helped him stand, and they continued firing at the target once more. After close to an hour they decided it was enough, and grabbed grabbed their arrows from the target. Walking back to the palace they were rather quiet.

"Legolas?" Tatharwen said softly. He made a noise to show he was listening and she continued

"I've been meaning to tell you something. Something rather… Awful really." He turned his head and raised one eyebrow.

"Keeping secrets from me? I'm hurt!"

"Stop joking, this is not the time for jests. My father…" She paused and bit her lip for a moment before continuing. "My Father has been speaking of sending me to Rivendell, to train, and be more serious. He has been speaking to your father about it." Legolas froze; handle on the door leading inside the palace. He spun around and saw the tears in her eyes.

"It's just something they have talked about, nothing is decided."

"Why would they send you away? You are one of our border guards! We need you here. I need you here!" She frowned and he watched as a tear slipped down her cheek.

"Father said that I need to learn to be more serious. I would be training under Lord Glorfindel, alongside Lord Elrond's own sons. Please, Legolas. Talk to your father about this? I don't want to leave Greenwood." He nodded, and put an arm around her shoulders.

"Maybe we shall both be more serious from now on. For it is probably my own behavior that has brought this on as well," He said, ushering her in the door. They walked down the hallway in silence, both wrapped in their own thoughts. When they reached the royal quarters she pulled away from him.

"I am going to read for a while before the banquet. " He nodded and she went to turn away, but he grabbed her hand.

"I will talk to my father, tonight. After the banquet. I will see you before it starts. Wear blue." She turned again and walked down the corridor, leaving him staring after his best friend. He walked into his room and lay down on the bed, staring at the ceiling.

"They can't send her away. This is practically exile, they can't do it!" He tried to reassure himself. But what if they did?

"No, I will talk to father tonight. All will be well." And with that thought the prince drifted off into a light slumber.


Tatharwen was pacing her room. Where was Legolas? He should have been here almost ten minutes ago. She stopped in front of her door, and made up her mind. Picking up her skirts she dashed down the hall toward Legolas' room. Coming to a halt in front of his door she banged on it. When no answer came from inside she rushed in, only to find him asleep on his bed.

"Legolas Thranduilion WAKE UP!" He sat bolt upright and stared at her in her dress.

"Oh no, we are late!" He ran to his closet and she heard him fussing around inside. He came out a couple moments later dressed in black breeches and buttoning up his blue tunic. She helped him button it and then sat him in front of the mirror, fixing his braids.

"Your father is going to kill us, you know this I presume? After his warning earlier…" Legolas sighed as her hands worked through his hair.

"I know this Tatharwen. Are you finished yet?" she struck him on the head.

"No, sit still. You were sleeping and ruined your braids." He groaned but did as she asked. After a moment she pulled away and grabbed his hand, pulling him out of his seat.

"Finished, let us GO before we get murdered." They swept out of the room and dashed down the halls. As they reached the main dining hall they paused at the door, straightening each other out from the mad dash they just ran. Legolas gave a nod to his father's herald, and they were announced.

"Prince Legolas Thranduilion and Lady Tatharwen." They walked in and saw that, once again, they were the last to arrive. Legolas looked at Tatharwen out of the corner of his eye and saw her large smile, and perfect posture. Was she afraid of nothing? They swept into the room and he helped her into her seat before taking his next to his father, as his brothers were away. His father frowned at him and Legolas tried not to squirm.

"You are late. Again," His father whispered into his ear. Legolas turned a bit red before answering.

"Yes, I am terribly sorry. It is my fault, I fell asleep and never picked Tatharwen up from her room. She awoke me and we rushed here." His father sighed and rubbed his temple.

"Legolas, you are a prince of greenwood. My son, you must learn responsibility, being on time would be a good start." Legolas frowned at his plate and his father just sighed and turned to Tatharwen's father, Arandur. The meal went by rather quietly for Legolas, and he wished that Tatharwen had a seat next to him. At the end of the meal his father stood and a hush went over the hall.

"I wish to make an announcement. One of our own has earned a great honor, a chance to learn from one of the greatest warriors among the first born. Lord Arandur and I have been in contact with Lord Elrond of Rivendell, and Lord Glorfindel." Legolas' blood ran cold, and he looked down the table at Tatharwen. She was frozen in her seat, her eyes wide as the plate she had been eating from.

"They have offered to teach our own Lady Tatharwen to train under Lord Glorfindel. We know she will learn much from him, and we look forward to her return, when we will promote her to captain of the guard." This was too much for Tatharwen, and she stood and fled the hall. Legolas looked up at his father who stared after her, a bewildered expression on his face. Looking down he saw the cold stare his son gave him and frowned.

"How could you do this to her Ada?" Was all the young prince said before he bolted after his friend. The King whirled around to his advisor and sent him a look so fierce that the elf shrank into his seat He regained his composure and realized the rest of the hall was staring at them. He sent his icy gaze around the hall before sweeping after his son and his son's friend. Why had the girl acted in such a manner? Surely her father had told her about their plans. He came to the garden and listened for a moment. He heard sobbing on the far side and strode over to where the noise was coming from. He turned a corner and found his son holding a sobbing Tatharwen. They looked up as he approached and he felt terrible. Legolas stood and angrily came up to him.

"How could you do this? She is my only friend; I have no others that treat me as just another elf. Only her! And now she is being sent into Exile to Rivendell?" Thranduil was shocked. His youngest son was furious. While Legolas could be quite the handful his son had never been one to get angry.

"My Greenleaf, this is not exile-"The king started.

"It is exile; you are separating us because you find us immature." Tatharwen came up to him and put a hand on his arm to calm the prince. She looked up at Thranduil, sadness written in her eyes.

"Your majesty how long before I am sent? How long will I have with my friends?" Thranduil knew that 'my friends' meant Legolas. He sighed heavily before answering.

"Two weeks. Lord Glorfindel wants you there before autumn." She nodded and wiped her eyes, turning to go back inside. Thranduil and Legolas stared at each other before the son gave the father a withering glare, and marched inside. Normaly Thranduil wouldn't let his son behave this way, but considering the shock he had he forgave his insolence. The king went to leave the garden and saw Arandur standing in the shadows. The lord and advisor stepped forward, and bowed to Thranduil.

"I am sorry your Majesty, I had felt it better to let her know this way, as an honor from the king. I was mistaken." The king glared at his advisor.

"She thinks I have exiled her and my son now hates me for it. If he questions me again it is you who will answer, not I," The angry king said before leaving the gardens. He walked back into the palace and went to the royal apartments. He stopped at Legolas' door and heard his son raging inside. A crash on the wall made the King flinch. No, he had never seen his son this angry, and never at him.


Tatharwen lay in her room silently weeping into her pillow. Sent to Rivendell? Away from everyone she loved in Greenwood? It was late, and she knew it, but she couldn't take the silence or being alone any longer. She did something she had not done since she was an elfling. She pulled on her robe and left her room, silently moving down the halls. She reached the royal quarters and stealthily moved down the hall, slipping into Legolas' room. She saw him sit up and reach for the knife he kept under his pillow until he saw it was her.

"Tatharwen what-"She cut him off by holding up her hand.

"I can't sleep. Can I stay with you tonight?" He frowned, but moved over giving her room to lie down. She slid in next to him and they lay staring up at the ceiling.

"We haven't done this since we were elflings," Legolas stated, folding his hands under his head.

"We haven't had anything to fear since we were elflings. We have always had each other."

"We still have each other, we can write." She frowned and turned on her side to face him.

"Legolas, promise me one thing?" He nodded and also turned. "Don't forget me; don't ever stop writing to me. Even if I can't return them because Lord Glorfindel is a cruel taskmaster, write to me often?" He grasped her hand and stared her straight in the eye.

"I swear, I will write to you about anything and everything. And I could never forget you, you are my best friend, I have to have someone to pick on," he said, and impish smirk gracing his fair face. Smiling a little she sat up and hit him with his own pillow before lying back down.

"I'm going to miss you" He gave her a sad smile and grasped her hands once again.

"We still have two weeks; we will make the most of them." She smiled at him once more.

"No vaer i dhû Gwador," She said before drifting off into the waking dreams of the elves.


Well, there it is. Yes, I know that 500 is rather old, but I imagine that for elves it's more like later adolescent years. And I can see Legolas as a bit of a prankster and trouble maker. Poor Tatharwen and Legolas. Attached at the hip and now being separated. For those of you who are thinking "Oh, he's already in love with her. You damned author!" No, you are wrong. Yes, he loves her. But for now she is a sister to him.

No vaer i dhû Gwador = Good night brother.