A/N: Thank you for the reviews/follows/favorites!

I tried to finish this chapter as quickly as possible, because I won't have time to write for at least a week and I didn't want to leave it hanging. So, here it is.

Enjoy!

„Ah, at last they arrive," Elrond said when he caught a glimpse of the green banner of the Woodland Realm on the horizon. He then hurried into the lobby to greet the newcomers. The atmosphere of the lounge had meanwhile calmed a bit and the elves had formed smaller conversation groups around the room. Several of them had also left for a little walk before the party. The musicians had taken a break and Namiriel found herself again in the company of excessively talkative Thannor, from whom she had heard almost every detail about his life. She herself mainly remained in the role of a polite listener, although she didn't pay much attention. Therefore she was quite startled when Thannor asked: "What do you think?"

"I'm sorry, what..." Namiriel winced.

"What do you think?" Thannor repeated his question.

"Could you specify a bit? My thoughts must have drifted away," Namiriel said, still at loss. She mentally cursed herself for not paying attention. Thannor slightly raised his eyebrows as if he was expecting her to be joking, but Namiriel's face remained completely serious. Seeing her bewilderment, he finally said: "I think the dwarves know how to make the best armor, do you agree?" Wait, why were they talking about dwarven armor? Namiriel thought. Apparently she had paid even less attention than she had intended. Trying to make the best out of an embarrassing situation, she answered: "I must disagree with you. The Ñoldor crafts are also very praised, especially when it comes to weaponry."

"Yes, in that you are correct, but even a Ñoldor sword can break against dwarven armor," he said.

"Then one shouldn't use the sword flatways," Namiriel told just before Elrond entered the room with the elves of Greenwood. Cheerful chatter commenced and the newly arrived elves were quickly involved in the conversation circles. Namiriel used this opportunity to excuse herself from the company of Thannor and catch a few words with Elrond. She moved through the room, that had once again become crowded, and quickly found Elrond speaking to a taller elf. The elf was quite handsome. No, very handsome, she thought. His long silvery garb was richly decorated with green embroidery. He had long silver-blonde hair and on his head he wore a crown of spring flowers entwined with green branches.

Elrond noticed Namiriel as she gracefully walked between the elves and when she stood beside him, he said: "Thranduil, may I introduce you my daughter, Namiriel." Thranduil slightly turned his head towards her, nodded politely and responded: "It is a pleasure to meet you,"

"And you, my king," Namiriel bowed her head and curtsied, recognizing him as the king of the Woodland Realm. She turned to Elrond and asked: "Do you know where I could find Círdan. I did not notice when he left."

"I saw him a few moments ago, among other things he also expressed his wish to speak with you," Elrond told her, "He was going to the upper gardens, you can find him there."

"Thank you," Namiriel said, not wishing stay in their company for long. Thranduil seemed a bit too taciturn and stern for a person one would want to have a long conversation with. "My king," she said again and smiled to Elrond, excusing herself from their conversation. She had wished to speak with her stepfather for a bit longer, but it would have been inappropriate for her to interrupt them. Besides, she didn't want to talk with him in front of the king.

She walked down the hallway, trying to avoid running into the hurrying elves. Going up the stairs, she reached a large room with an open balcony. Here it was a lot quieter than downstairs and the thundering of many waterfalls could be well heard. She continued down the hallway, one side of it only defined by pillars and a balustrade, leaving the passage open to the weather. For that same reason, this part of the building was rarely used in winter. Soon she crossed a bridge and found herself in one of the most tranquil places in Imladris – the upper gardens. She followed the trail between the trees and sprouting flowers. In a quiet corner between the vines of ivy, she finally found Círdain, sitting on a bench.

"I wondered if Elrond gave you my message, Tithenil," he said. "Come, sit with me."

Namiriel smiled and took seat next to the man. "To tell you the truth, I was looking for a reason to get away from all the hustle," she responded.

"Did that young elf give you any trouble?" He asked with a smirk. Namiriel laughed and said: "No, he didn't. He was just being talkative. Maybe a bit too talkative, I give you that, but he meant no disrespect." Círdan smiled thoughtfully and uttered: "Oh, Tithenil, you are just like your father – patient and modest. He always preferred the stillness of thought to a noisy company."

"Am I? I didn't know that. Elrond doesn't speak much about him," She said.

"I can see why. You are a lot like him – you have his golden hair and his bearing. But you have your mother's voice," Círdan said thoughtfully. "And her eyes," he added. Namiriel smiled dolefully and remained silent for a moment.

"My dear Tithenil, I did not wish to sadden you," he said, taking her between his arms.

"No, I'm all right. It's just that I've missed you so much," she whispered, hugging him tight.

"You know you are always welcome in Mithlond," he told, but she shook her head. "There is nothing for me in Mithlond except sadness. My home is here, in Imladris," she said. He nodded. In some ways, he could understand her reluctance to return to her hometown, the place where she had spent her childhood until she travelled to Imladris a few years before the forces of the Last Alliance marched to Dagorlad. He gently stroked her hair and said: "If ever should you reconsider, the gates of Mithlond are open for you."

Namiriel looked at him and softly whispered: "Thank you, Círdan, for everything."

"You need not thank me. I gave a promise to your father and it is my duty to keep you safe, my Princess. I intend to fulfill it," he said seriously.

"Thank you nevertheless," Namirirel repeated. They sat there for a while, enjoying each other's company, until they saw en elf hurrying towards them.

"Milord, milady, Lord Elrond has invited everyone to the hall," he said. It seemed like he had run through the whole city to find them.

"Thank you, we'll be there shortly," Círdan answered. The elf nodded to both of them and quickly left.

"Come, Tithenil, tonight is the night of celebration and it is not the time to be sad. Besides, we shouldn't keep them waiting," Círdan said, reaching out his hand for Namiriel. She took it and together they went back over the bridge and into the house.

Many elves were already in the hall when they arrived. The room was high and spacious, although over a hundred quests had gathered there and even more arriving. The walls were covered with carved wooden panels and its large windows overlooked the valley. The light of the setting sun had filled the room and it reflected from the crystal chandelier, making it look like it was ablaze. On the right side of the room was a small stage for the musicians. At the moment they weren't playing, but they would start as soon as the sun sets. Three long dining tables stood in the back of the room in a U-shaped formation, leaving a large portion of the floor open for dancing. In a richly decorated fireplace, the fire had been lit.

Namiriel walked across the parquet floor to the curved end of the table where she noticed Arwen speaking with her brothers – Elladan and Elohir.

"Hullo, sister!" Elladan cheered.

"Elladan, Elohir! Good evening," Namiriel responded and Elohir helped her take seat beside him. The tables had been served. The best tableware had been put to use – golden chalices and cutlery, dishes, platters and bowls. And it all shone in the light of the setting sun and many candles. Food was plentiful, although the elves don't eat much. Roasted rabbit meat and venison with different berries, freshly-baked bread, cheese with herbs, spring salad and so on. For drinking they had jugs full of mead and the elves of Greenwood had brought with them three barrels of the best wine from Dorwinion. The mood was sublime and everybody was quite excited.

Finally, Elrond arrived with his wife. They took the middlemost places at the table, Círdan and Thranduil with their closest companions on Elrond's right hand, his wife and children on his left. On the one end of the table were the Silvan elves from Greenwood and the elves of Lothlórien. On the other end were the elves form Imladris and Mithlond.

When the room had calmed down, Elrond stood up and said: "It gives me great pleasure to welcome you all here. Tonight marks the end of another yén. It has become a tradition to celebrate this event each time in a different place. Excactly a yén ago we were all together in Mithlond and today we meet here, in the halls of Imladris. This yén has passed very quickly and almost obliviously. Why? Because we live in a time of peace. Peace that has been hard-earned and won. Peace that once seemed impossible to achieve. And now we can taste its fruits. But still we cannot forget that peace is fragile: it is reliant on the relations between different societies and people. This is why we need to strengthen the ties between us – it helps to keep the peace that holds darkness at bay. And that is also one of the purposes of this celebration, to strengthen the ties between us. Eat, dance, converse and find new friends, because friendship doesn't only create a bond between two people, but it also helps to bind us all. Thank you and have pleasant feast!"

A/N: Tithenil, the name Círdan has given Namiriel, can loosely be translated as "Little One".

I didn't find much information about formal elven feasts on the Internet, so I improvised a little. I hope you don't mind :)

Also, I'm aware that Thranduil only spoke one sentence in this chapter. But don't worry, you'll be seeing more of him.

And of course, I'd love to know what you think of this story!