Disclaimer: I own nothing LOTR. It all belongs to Prof. Tolkien.


Chapter 2: Homecoming

"Things look so different now."

Thranduil nodded at the young princess' observation. The trees seemed thinner now, as many had been destroyed in the fires of the battle that had only recently been won. Mirkwood had been forever changed, and it seemed like the darkness was slowly fading away. Animals inhabited the forest, birds sang in the morning without fear, and even the sky seemed a brighter blue than before. The War of the Ring had been far-reaching and epic in proportion. It made his heart glad to know that his family and people had emerged unscathed, for the most part. There had been losses, but not nearly as many as had been expected. The Wood was joyous once more, especially as it waited for the return of its Prince from the war.

The King noted with a smile Nevethiriel's impatience with Legolas' slow arrival. Though she had impressively and willingly buried herself in the survival of the Wood, it was clear that she worried for her husband, and her heart wrenched every time the news boded ill for the resistance against Mordor. But instead of wallowing in her despair, she had decided to aid in the fight from where she was, insisting she take Legolas' place in the ranks during his absence. With the aid of the Elves in Lothlorien, the armies of Mirkwood had rid themselves of Sauron's presence in their lands. She had proven to be a most formidable warrior, issuing commands and carrying out missions with the prowess of a hardened chief. Nevethiriel had certainly taken the Wood by surprise, but they had nonetheless welcomed her spirit and courage with open arms.

It was the first time in months Thranduil had seen the elleth in a dress, as billowing layers of clothing were not conducive to skirmishes with orcs. Her customary vambraces were gone, as well as her quiver full of Mirkwood's arrows. Instead, she was simply dressed in a light green day gown, her arms and shoulders bare to the warm kiss of the spring sun. Her auburn curls fell softly down her back, pleasantly contrasting with the silky material. The only evidence that remained of her participation in the war was a small cut above her right eye gained from a foolish move in her own footwork.

"It's a lovely day, Nevethiriel. You should be down there, outside the walls," Thranduil suggested, grabbing her concentration from the trees before her.

"I will wait," she insisted stubbornly. "It is early yet."

Thranduil watched as she leaned slightly over the wall, her eyes drifting over the people below. A sudden sound caught his attention, its familiarity sending jolts of fear through his veins. He turned his gaze towards the trees to see a dark, slender blur gliding through the air. His horror, however, dissipated as the arrow plunked harmlessly into the wall, just below where Nevethiriel had been leaning.

The young elleth gasped and jumped back before a look of confusion mingled with hope lit her eyes. The arrow was one of Mirkwood's. It was fletched with golden pheasant feathers and matching etchings. The sharp whistling of another arrow in flight caused her to look up just as it sunk into the wood next to the first. This one was of a Rivendell design, the blue fletching and silver patterns on the shaft easily identifying it. The only Elf in the Wood that possessed such arrows was Nevethiriel herself, and she had only given one away…

Her emerald eyes glanced up at the trees once more, realization dawning on her. She met Thranduil's gaze unwaveringly, before gently pushing past him and hurrying towards the stairs. Taking her skirts in one hand and the railing in the other, she rushed down the steps two at a time. Ignoring all ideals of protocol and restraint one of her position was to possess, she flew past the open gates and out onto the green. A riderless horse broke from the trees, and she squinted for any sign of its owner. Movement from behind the white steed drew her eyes and she focused in on a short, rotund man with a beard. What in all of Arda was a Dwarf doing in the Wood? But before she could think on it, her awareness was suddenly drawn by another's laughter. His golden hair caught the beams of sunlight perfectly, illuminating his tall Elvish figure, and from across the way, his keen blue eyes met hers, and her heart leaped in her chest.

"Legolas!"

Without so much as a look back at Thranduil or the shocked Elves behind her, Nevethiriel took off for the Elven Prince. Legolas dropped the lead he had on the horse and abandoned his guest. He only took but three long strides, and he swept her into his arms and whirled her about. Finally lowering her back down to the ground, he captured her lips in a sweet lingering kiss. Her arms wove tightly around his neck, and she clung to him as if her very life depended on it.

With a warm smile, he broke from her and rested his forehead against hers. "Neveth," he whispered, holding her tightly to him.

"I've missed you so much," she replied. "I was so worried about you. I thought I'd never see you again."

"I told you I would come back for you. I love you," he answered, his hands tenderly cradling her face.

She broke eye contact with him and gazed down at the ground, her cheeks flushing with color. "I love you, too."

"My heart sings to see you, meleth. You mean the world to me."

"Then kiss me again."

Legolas gave her a dazzling smile, more than willing to comply. He pressed his lips to hers, gloriously happy to have her by his side again. It didn't take much before he coaxed her lips apart and slid his tongue into the warmth of her mouth. She moaned heatedly into his touch and he tightened his hold on her hips. It had been seven months since he'd last been given the chance to be intimate with his wife, and his first instinct was to carry her off into the woods to ravish her for a week. It was his father's carefully timed clearing of his throat that broke them apart and reminded him of his duty to his people.

"Ada," he acknowledged the elder Elf with a bow of his head.

"It is good to see you again, ion nin," the King said, embracing his only child. "I think a celebration is in order." He paused to watch his son's reaction. "Tonight, perhaps?"

Legolas scowled. "Ada, no! I have only just arrived and…it would be unfair if I were exhausted from my journey and could not attend to my people."

Thranduil shot his son a knowing look. "Don't be ridiculous, Legolas. You have not been home nor seen your wife for seven months. Everyone in the Wood knows that neither of you will be doing much sleeping this evening."

Both Elves blushed furiously at that statement, and Nevethiriel moved to stifle her embarrassed laughter into Legolas' shoulder.

"Ada…I don't think…"

"Nonsense," the King stated. He leaned in and whispered in his son's ear. "I know you have missed her touch, and judging by the way she hurried out to meet you, she has missed yours as well. Go. Make love to your wife. The night is yours."

"Thank you, Ada."

Legolas took her hand, apologized to his Dwarfish friend after a quick introduction to his father, and then made hastily for his chambers, eager to get his wife to his bed, despite the fact that the sun was still high.


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